The One Who Stayed
-The thought of loss makes him tremble. Prompto is unprepared.-
xXx
The king, in his raiments at last, walked proudly through the citadel, his faithful Crownsguard never hesitating at his side. With every step towards the castle, there was another daemon to slay, another enemy to cut down- another reminder that their home had been left to ruin for too long.
Despite how quickly he moved, bullets flashing like quicksilver, Prompto's mind was anywhere but the monsters themselves. Instead, all he could focus upon was the dreary surrounding. Every fallen sign and shattered window caught his eye, pulling him away from the fight, even when his guns remained.
This place used to be their home.
Although the elder two remained silent, focused upon coming up with tactics to take down each new enemy wave, it was clear that Noctis was just as caught up in his memories as Prompto was. His eyes, like the blond's, searched for hints of their old lives in every corner of the street, awaiting the people he remembered to always be there, living their lives peacefully until the attack.
But every so often, Noctis' eyes flashed forward, looking at the majestic spires rising in the distance, marking the old chamber of the Crystal- marking his father's throne.
His throne.
His eyes would mist over, and he'd turn his attention back to another enemy, but his gaze would always return to the castle. And every time, Prompto had to fight down the desire to drop his weapons and just hold his friend. Instead, he focused upon distracting the dark-haired man each time his eyes drifted to beyond the horizon.
"Isn't that the arcade we always used to visit?"
The sign was nowhere to be seen, the store itself decrepit, tattered. But Noctis smiled, whiskers raising as he took a moment to reminisce. He nonchalantly sliced a daemon in two, ignoring the pained screams of the creature, as he examined the storefront. "Yeah. I always used to own you so hard on that one zombie shooter- what was it called again?"
Prompto giggled weakly, shrugging. He fired off two rounds between a daemon swordsman's eyes, sending it toppling to the floor. "Y'know, dude, I can't even remember."
Noctis laughed quietly, flicking blood off his blade. "It doesn't matter what it was." His smile grew fond, eyes creasing in that way that Prompto had always adored. "Going there with you in high school- those times were some of the best I ever had."
Prompto stepped back, spluttering. "Wha- dude, how in the world would going to an arcade with me be that good? C'mon, don't exaggerate."
The corners of his eyes were still creased, smile growing nostalgic as he turned his gaze at last on Prompto. "Don't say that. You're my best friend."
With that simple admission, he stood and motioned to Gladio and Ignis to continue onwards. The others nodded, and the three of them began to walk away, leaving Prompto a beat behind- the blond had to blink the tears out of his eyes from the sudden rush of emotion that hit him as he was suddenly transported somewhere else in his mind's eye.
The street was bright, sky blue, laughter filling the air. Vendors propped their doors open, playing music loud to invite potential customers, and the regular hustle and bustle of the city made it feel vibrant, alive. School was out- children ran across the street, their sweet voices ringing as they played.
Noctis and Prompto walked down the street, still in their school uniforms, bags slung against their backs. The two boys sweat lightly under their blazers- "Why can't we just switch to summer uniforms yet?" "Shut up, Prompto!" "You shut up!"
And then they tussled lightly in the streets until a nearby shopkeep scolded them, and they paused in their fight, looked at each other blankly, and burst into laughter, slinging their arms over each other's shoulders.
And just as suddenly, he was back. Prompto watched Noctis walked forward, summoning his sword once more to strike down the enemies in his path, brandishing it bravely.
Those times with you were the best, too, Noct. Please say we'll make more memories like that.
He knew it was a fool's hope.
The blond shuddering, quickly jogging to keep up with the group, firing headshots into some creeping daemons as they lurked in the shadows.
"Everything alright, Prompto?" Gladio asked, raising a brow at the blond's shaking breaths.
He nodded. "Yeah," he responded emptily, barely even registering the rounds he punched into a nearby warlock. "Everything's fine." But his eyes were transfixed upon Noctis, whose eyes were on the battle, on the street- back up to the castle.
If he was right, Prompto would have to say goodbye again the moment they brought Noctis there. His lip trembled in time with Noctis' shaking shoulders as the king shuddered and continued fighting against the bloody onslaught, and as he himself joined the fray.
Please don't take him away again. A tear rolled down his cheek, and he squeezed his eyes shut, allowing his body to react to attacks with muscle memory, gun raised with practiced precision. I just got him back, please, there are so many things I wanted to say, I-
He wasn't ready.