Prompto took in slow rattling breaths, his body hurt and he wanted the pain to end. The tearing of his flesh and the constant pulling of his sore weak arms made him want to give up. He sniffs however doing so fills his mouth with the taste of copper.

The gates opened with a clanky rattle and Prompto tenses up refusing to open his swollen eyes. He couldn't bear the thought of this being yet another sick joke that Ardyn is showing him or another Magitek coming in to beat him down like the one that came in seconds after the one who carved messages into his body.

He hears frantic voices and his name called but he doesn't care to respond. They weren't real, and like his nightmares those who came in will only add to his pain. They will make him bleed, they will scream nasty words at him, only for him to wake up in the cell once more.

He feels the constant buzzing of the machine slow and soon stop all together. The tight brace around his belly opens with a click and the cuff on his wrists release him. He falls yet he's caught by many arms. He's cradled for a moment as he's gently lowered to the ground.

'Why? Why me?'

Prompto was scared, he wanted to kick and push the others away. He wanted them gone to leave him be and to let him continue to suffer in silence, but the familiar scents that fill his nose makes him want to believe. The voices laced with concern makes him want to believe so badly.

He wanted to believe so badly that this was real. He wanted to believe so badly that his friends finally came for him and was taking him away. Yet he didn't want to be tricked again, though he couldn't recall them having their scents in his nightmares, but he couldn't be certain, perhaps Ardyn was just concocting another dream. Just another dream to make him feel stupid, to get his hopes up only to twist it into a cruel reminder that he was stuck here to be tortured. Flailing his arms weakly as a raspy cry escapes him, Prompto tries to fight of the newcomers.

"Prompto. It's okay. It's okay it's us. It's really us." Noctis's voice reaches him but Prompto knows better than to trust this illusion.

Yeah right...this is another trick...a-another da- w-why can't he j-just leave me alone!?

Prompto tries again to move and push the offending limbs off, he tries to shout out, to scream at them but his voice is to weak and his throat is dry as a bone. He tries to punch at Noctis but his arms refuse to cooperate. That's when he feels large strong arms grab his shoulders and pull him close into a tight hug from the back.

He sees the large tanned tattoo arms and the smell of leather mixed with sweat and earth reaches him. And when the other spoke the deep rumble of their voice chills the blonde making a lump form in his throat and his eyes sting.

'Why? Why what did I do to deserve this? I-Is it because I'm one ofthem? Is that why I'm being tortured? With this...this false comfort. Ardyn knows my friends won't accept me...they...they...'

Promptos' throat burns as realizing that his friends would most likely want nothing to do with him when they learn he's a Magitek. He was alone no one wanted him. Not his biological parents, not his adoptive parents, and now his friends will probably want nothing to do with him.

And yet this Gladiolus-

"Please Prompto. Stop it...no more. You don't have to fight anymore. You're safe. You're going to be okay." Prompto went rigged not realizing he was squirming but the words that left Gladiolus had him unsure. Gladiolus never spoke to him like that, never, that weak tearful voice that he shushes him with as the embrace lingered.

Prompto was beyond scared, he was visibly shaking as his stomach began to cramp up painfully, how long has it been since he last his medicine? "Prompto, it's really us." Noctis says his voice quaking as he puts his hand on the blonde's head. Maybe it was the tone, maybe it was the smell of his friends, maybe the words uttered. Whatever it was it had Prompto believing them.

"N-Noct?" Prompto squeaks weakly looking up finally meeting the gaze of those who entered the cell. They looked liked his friends, they sounded like them as well. But he wasn't stupid as many would like to believe. He couldn't let his guard down for he could easily be in another dream.

Prompto had to know. He had too.

"Tell me...were you worried about me?" Prompto sounded so weak and small as his voice trembles through sentence. Hearing the usually energetic and loud blonde sound more like a beaten puppy tore at the hearts of Noctis, Gladiolus, and Ignis.

Noctis looks his friend over, taking in all of his visible wounds and his heart tightens "What kind of question is that?" The kings own voice quakes as it threatens to break "Of course we were worried about you!" He says pulling him into a hug as if expressing just how much he cared and missed the youngest of their group.

"Don't you dare think for a moment that we weren't worried. You had us worried, we couldn't think straight without you. We can never...EVER stop caring about you. And there is nothing in this world that can change that." Noctis states as his voice broke.

The action alone was enough to bring Prompto to tears. His breath hitches as he buries his face in the crook of Noctis's neck. Fat tears stream down his cheeks uncontrollably as his cries heightened and his body trembles violently causing Noctis to hug him closer to his chest.

"Ardyn-Ardyn...he-he told me you guys weren't coming for me. He told me you only wanted the crystal. He-He showed me things...things I don't want to think about or see ever again..." Prompto wails as he tried and fails to dig his fingers into Noctis jacket.

Tears of his own well up in Noctis's eyes as he shakes his head "I...I'm so sorry...it's my fault you went through this. Its my fault that you...if I hadn't pushed you off..."

Prompto feels his throat to tighten as the pain he was feeling from the week in captivity thinking that they forgot about him and didn't care, the ache of being told he was nothing and being belittled and told no one love or wants him around. The mental abuse he endured and the torture he suffered through, the miserable tears he shed every night, and now hearing that his friends cares about him. It all was too much too for him to handle. The swirling mix of emotions bottled up in his heart was bursting at the seams and it all finally came pouring out in the form of tears.

Prompto sagged against the raven haired boy and let's out a deep sob. He hears movement and feels a hand on his shoulder, the rich sweet scent belonging to Ignis reaches Prompto as he feels the other gently massage his shoulder. The tactician's breathing was shaky and his voice, like Noctis's and Gladiolus's was threatening to break as he speaks making his accent thicker "Its going to be alright now Prom. You're safe, you're safe now. You won't suffer anymore, you won't be hurt anymore." Ignis sniffs feeling tears on his cheeks "Go ahead and cry. Get it all out. That's right get it all out." Ignis chokes as he lets out a small sob lowering his head resting it on Prompto's neck.

And Prompto does just that his sobs and wails increase in volume as if he was desperate to show just how hurt he is.

"I-I-I was so scared!" Prompto wails his voice muffled by Noctis's shoulder. Noctis nods as he continues to rock his friend "I know you were. And it's over."

Prompto hiccups trying to calm down but a fresh wave of tears over take him and he begins to sob all over again. Noctis pulls Prompto back for a moment studying his face, his cheeks wet with tears and his nose was running. He pulls him back into a hug and kisses the top of Prompto's head.

The touch of his brothers, their embraces and kind words only makes the tears continue to fall.

'If this is a dream don't let me wake up. If I died please let this be heaven.'

It didn't take long for Prompto to be exhausted by his tears, he was soon slumped against Noctis. His breathing coming out uneven and shaky. Gladiolus stands and gently scoops Prompto up after draping his jacket over him, with an arm around his back and one under his legs the massive man held the youngest of the group close to his chest.

"We need to find someplace for him to recover." Gladiolus says.

"I know a place, I just wish my magic was working so I could call Umbra." Noctis pauses "Prompto shouldn't be stuck here when he's in this state."

"Agreed. But there isn't much we can do about it." Ignis grips his cane tighter "Look on the bright side...at least we have him back alive."

The other two couldn't agree more. To have Prompto alive and breathing was better than getting to travel to the past, though it would've been nice.

With that the group of friends exit the cell and look for some kind of refuge for their friend.

Prompto was lowered into one of the cots in the dorm room that the king lead them to for he mentioned he used one to rest in and none of the daemons and Magitek that were lurking about entered. Though to to be safe Noctis uses the keycard to lock the door. Approaching the bed Prompto was currently sleeping in and Noctis couldn't help but notice just how small and weak he looked.

"Alright the doors locked...that should be extra an amount of security." Noctis says sounding exhausted as he falls into a chair next to Prompto's bed.

"We need to treat any wounds that Prompto may have." Ignis says softly not wanting to wake Prompto "Noct can you get him undress? You see it would be best if we do this while he sleeps." He adds as Gladiolus leads him to a chair "But do be careful we don't want to hurt him any more than he already has been." Ignis says softly as he sits down in one of the chairs near the other bunk bed.

Noctis nods as he turns to Prompto and proceeds to pull off his vest.

Gladiolus watches Noctis for a moment before approaching "Lemme help." He says noticing how shaky Noctis was. The larger man begins to gently remove Prompto's boots and socks.

The more of Prompto's clothing they remove the more wounds they find. The more they uncover without his shirt they find cuts, lacerations, and bruises. With his trousers off they find that he has a broken leg and knee. Without his gloves they can see that he is missing fingernails. They found burns on his arms, and his wrists ripped and raw. The sight was enough to make Gladiolus gag and Noctis furious but more that soon melted to sadness, Prompto was practically their baby brother and Noctis felt like they failed him. Part of him feels like they could've tried harder to protect him.

Noctis cusses he blames himself for if he only realized that that Ardyn illusion was actually his friend Prompto would be alright right now. He could be sleeping soundly mumbling about who knows what or playing cheesy apps to prove to the others that he just doesn't play King's Knight. He wouldn't have cried and Noctis wouldn't be feeling bad all over again.

Ignis turns his head in the direction of where Noctis and Gladiolus stood with Prompto "Is he alright?" He asks he felt his heart racing. "He's real sick Iggy. He's broken, he has a broken leg and so many cuts...and-" Noctis trails off his voice quaking as tears fill his eyes "He has a really bad infection." He adds running his hands over his face and up through his hair.

"Its not fair...he didn't...he didn't do anything wrong..." Noctis croaks as turns back to face his crumpled friend. Noctis wipes at his eyes with a small hiccuping gasp as he tries to calm down.

Ignis was silent for a moment, he could smell the infection coursing through his friend he just needed confirmation on it. It was going to pain him but Ignis knew they needed to clean up Prompto and give him some antibiotics. "Noct, I'm going to need you to clean Prompto's wounds." Ignis summons the medical kit "Inside you'll find iodine, you should use it on his infections. Its going to wash out the bacteria causing the infections, you can also use the wound cleanser if you wish." Ignis says before lowering his head "If I could I would do it myself..."

"No don't worry about I got this." Noctis says softly taking the bag from Ignis and setting on the bed beside Prompto. He opens the bag and pulls out the needed medicines, ointment, cleansers, and bandages. As Noctis begins cleaning Prompto's wounds Gladiolus stands making his way to the door picking up the keycard from the dresser near the second bunk bed.

"I'm going to check around and see if I can find us anything to eat, this place outta have a vending machine, cafeteria, or break room seeing how it has dorms. And I'm more than positive that these are for the daemons or Magitek." Gladiolus says turning to face Prompto, who was starting to whimper as Noctis sprays his wounds "And I know one thing, I doubt Ardyn fed Prompto...he must be starving." Gladiolus adds.

"Agreed." Ignis makes a move to stand up "I'll come with you." He says as Gladiolus eases him back down into the chair "Its best if I go alone." Gladiolus pauses realizing that his words had sounded mean "I didn't mean for it to come out like that, I just mean Noct could use the help. And besides I'm more than positive that Prompto would love to see two familiar faces when he wakes up." Gladiolus gives Ignis's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before ruffling his hair and heads out with the doors sealing shut behind him.

It's silent for a moment save for the small hitches in breath coming from Prompto as Noctis touch a sensitive area on his body, leaving Noctis to apologize profusely even if the other couldn't hear him. The king sighs having finished putting bandages over the bruises on Prompto's sides and upper arms.

"Is everything alright Noct?" Ignis asks sounding exhausted. The king laughs weakly "Wouldn't it be easier to just use a potion?" He asks desperately. Ignis sighs "It would be, but you're forgetting that your magic is sealed. You would just be giving him a drink for his wounds. Its not the potion that heals him, it's your magic. Without it we must simply rely on human medicine and medical procedures." Ignis says softly as he hears Noctis groan before shuffling on the bed.

He rolls Prompto a bit, wincing at the conditions of his back "I swear I will make him pay for all of this. You didn't do anything to deserve this treatment." He whispers softlyand proceeds to clean up his lacerations before stitching them up the best he can before wrapping him up in gauze. Noctis pauses and puts away the tools he was using "Hey Iggy..." Noctis mumbles.

"Yes Noct?" Ignis asks sounding distracted.

"I just wanna say sorry."

"Sorry? For what, you haven't done anything to me."

"That's why I'm apologizing. If I was stronger then I wouldn't have blacked out after the battle with the Leviathan. I could've healed you...maybe you would have your sight still...I-"

"Noct, I appreciate the thought, really. But know this, things happen for a reason." Ignis states making Noctis shake his head "And what, you saying that Prompto being thrown off the train and abused and tortured by Ardyn was for a reason!?" Noctis growls slightly.

"I don't mean him being tortured Noct, I mean there must've been a reason why Ardyn tricked you into harming Prompto. Think about it, there must have been a motive of some sort be had behind it. No telling what Prompto seen, done, or learned when he was away." Ignis clarifies.

Noctis looks down at his friend who seemed to be sleeping fitfully. The king breathes heavily through his nose "I just don't get what Ardyn was trying to gain from hurting him." Noctis says his voice tight. Shaking his head he stands and moves to Prompto's broken leg "How do I set his leg?"

"Well before we can do that we must align his bones first. And you're not going to be happy with how we need to it." Ignis says pushing up his sunglasses.

When Gladiolus has finally returned carrying a sack of snacks. As he entered the room he found that Prompto's leg had been set and propped up and he was still sound asleep, whilst Ignis and Noctis looked like that had just experienced something traumatic.

"You two okay?" He asks sealing the door once more and setting the sack on a long metal table in the back of the room. Ignis lets out a airy noise while Noctis just laughs a bit darkly. Leaving the bigger man to just nod slowly deciding that next time they a food run that he'll send Noctis.

"Well to my surprise, I managed to find a bunch of stuff...despite how ransacked this place looks. I even found you some Ebony Iggy." Gladiolus says handing the coffee to Ignis. Ignis raises his cut eyebrow in surprise "Thank you!" He says enthusiastically. He wastes no time to open the drink and sip at it relishing in the mocha chocolatey richness of his beloved drink.

With a content sigh Ignis turns his head in the direction of the noise that Gladiolus is making "What is that you have salvaged?" He asks curiously. Gladiolus shakes his head "You ain't gonna be to happy about it. Its mostly junk food. But I did manage to find a can of soup...I thought we could give it to Prompto." He says softly.

Ignis nods "That is a good idea, the soup will be gentle on his stomach."

Noctis turns to the pile of snacks and sighs not feeling hungry, if anything he just wanted Prompto to wake up so that he could learn what happen to him. He returns to Prompto's bed and sits beside him with the intention to finish up treating his wounds, he only had his hands left to treat.

Taking out the needed medicines and supplies he begins again. Treating the least severe hand first before moving to the next when he spots something he failed to notice when he was removing his wristbands and gloves.

A tattoo.

A weird one at that. Consisting of bars various in width with numbers and letters on the top and bottom, it looks like and reminds Noctis of a barcode. Like the ones that practically everything has, why would Prompto get a tattoo of a barcode? Then again it's Prompto, the same Prompto who has done far weirder things so this tattoo was probably so funny joke he had in mind and probably hid it for the right moment. Because Noctis could never recall seeing it at all despite how many times the four of them had been packed together in the tent.

Perhaps it wasn't a joke tattoo. Prompto would've shown them at some point for he was terrible at keeping secrets and the excitement would have had him laughing. Noctis did however notice that his friend would go out of his way to keep it hidden. He'd even wear the wristband to bed and in the water when they would swimming. Maybe it was a bad dare tattoo. Noctis remembers a time before were he and Prompto weren't friends yet. He recalls seeing Prompto who was practically desperate for friends, he had stumbled onto a group of kids who claimed to be cool. Perhaps they tricked Prompto into thinking they were friends only to later on pull a nasty trick on him.

Then again that couldn't be right. He does remember seeing the wristband on Prompto when he was little. Confused the king shakes his head feeling like he's making a big deal out of nothing. He finishes cleaning and wrapping Prompto's fingernail-less hands as he curses Ardyn for inflicting pain on him. When he sees that man again he vows to kill him, because of him so many bad things happened. So many things that Noctis loved had been ripped away from him, the people he loves had been harmed and hurt. Ardyn made his loved ones suffer and Noctis wanted that man to feel that pain a thousand times over.

As if the Astrals wanted to fuel his rage, Noctis finds himself staring at Prompto. His eyes ghosting over his friend when something catches his eye, something he missed before.

Words. Words that had been carved into the photographer's arms. Cussing Noctis jumps to his feet and moving closer he sees that so many words had been etched into Prompto's skin blaring a deep red against his pale skin.

"Traitor...Loser...Abomination..." a small pause and Noctis cusses "Filth...Failure...Hate...Useless..." Noctis cusses once more his anger and rage now boiling. There were so many other words carved into his skin that Noctis didn't have the heart to read. He turns just now realizing he was called.

"What?" He snaps.

"What are you saying?" Gladiolus asks worried.

"Ardyn...he carved those words into Prompto's skin." Noctis was breathing heavy "He put those words on his skin as a way to make him feel less than. He wants Prompto to feel like he isn't good enough!" His voice was rising. Gladiolus stands and makes his way to the younger members, there he sees the messages.

Gladiolus shakes his head as he puts his hand on the back of his neck slowly pacing the space. Who was Ardyn to label Prompto, who was he to put Prompto's fears out and on display.

Noctis cusses once more his eyes watering "You know what sucks about this? These words: 'Worthless' 'Inferior' 'Doesn't belong'... those words he told me he feels about himself. He thinks all of these things about himself." He growls his voice wobbling as he balls his hands into fists. "What are we going to tell him when he sees that? He's going to think we did that to him!"

"No he won't." Ignis booms "Prompto knows who carved those messages into his arms and he knows it wasn't us. He knows that because he seen the one responsible. Our job now is to make sure he never feels those in his heart. We must do all we can to make him feel important and equal, but most of all he must know he is loved." Ignis explains "If we dwell on those messages then he will dwell on them. The best advice I can give at the moment is to treat them until they fade." He suggests.

Leaving the others to fall into an angry silence. Irritated Noctis takes up the medical bag once more and begins to wipe and clean the words. Noctis doesn't say anything as he begins to run salve into Prompto's wounds and wraps them in gauze. Feeling bittersweet Noctis stores his equipment and pulls the blankets over his friend.

The hour was nearing midnight when Prompto jerks awake, the action sending pain up and down his body making him groan and hiss. When the feeling finally subsides, the blonde is able to look around his surroundings. The first thing notices is that he is no longer in that cell but in a dorm of some sort with a set of bunk beds, table full of food, and three other people.

He feels his heart racing as he looks from the figures in the bunk across from his to the sleeping figure in the chair next to him.

His eyes were playing tricks on him. The person he sees must not really be there, for this is yet another cruel dream and Ardyn will come in to his cell and beat him, make him cry and call him names all over again. Tears well up in Prompto's eyes as his breathing becomes quicker, sniffing Prompto pulls the blankets up over his head.

'Did Ardyn bring me in here? But why, why would he stick me in here? Is it to mess with me? Is he playing with my head again!? Th-Those figures in the beds and in the chair...th-those aren't my friends...I bet they're just stupid MTs...they-they aren't-'tears roll down Prompto's face which he covers with his hands as a hiccuping sob escapes him.

'Why is he torturing me!? Why-'

"Prompto?"

Prompto stiffened as he moves his hands to his mouth to muffle his sobs. He watches as the blanket is pulled back revealing the one face he hoped to see but fears is fake.

King Noctis looms over him, his expression is a mix of many emotions but the one that stands out the most was relief. Hesitant, Prompto can only stare back his breath shaky as he prepares himself for some kind of jump scare, some kind of pain, or something anything that gives him a sign that he's still in the clutches of Ardyn.

Instead he's met with gentle pets to the head. Prompto could only continue to stare as Noctis pets his filthy blonde hair. "Hey you feelin' better?" Noctis asks softly. Prompto whimpers softly as he simply blinks at his friend, Noctis smiles sadly as he continues to pet his friend and in a soft tone he speaks "Its okay you're safe now Prompto...as soon I get my magic back I'm getting you out of here." He says softly making the blonde blink sending the gathered tears down his face.

"Noct?" He asks softly "Noct is it reallytrulyyou?" Prompto asks his tone is full of desperation as his voice quakes making his already light voice go a bit higher. Noctis nods "Yeah it's me." He says reassuringly helping Prompto sit up. Sitting up and looking around the small space Prompto begins to feel his throat tighten as he looks to the other sleeping forms in the other bunk.

Following the blonde's gaze Noctis nods as he begins to rub Prompto's back "Yeah, that's them. We're all here, we're all real, and we will do anything to keep you safe." Prompto looks back to Noctis his eyes watering as his lip begins to tremble "Noct?" Prompto hiccups as tears well up in his eyes "Y-You guys came..." he pauses letting out a small gasp "You're real...I-I thought..." and a small sniffle "I-I'm so...thank you for being real!" Prompto wails tossing his head back as tears roll down his face and a wailing sob escapes him.

Noctis pulls him into hug and Prompto begins to weep even harder into his friend's shoulder clinging to his shirt as he does so. His cries don't go unheard as Gladiolus sits up in the top bunk rubbing his eyes "Is he up?" He asks his voice heavy "Yeah he's awake...he's-" Noctis stops talking tears having reappeared in his eyes. Gladiolus doesn't need to hear and explanation he knows Noctis means that Prompto is happy, happy to be free from the clutches of Ardyn, happy to no longer be tortured, to be safe, happy to be with his friends again.

Gladiolus moves to the lower bunk and gently shakes Ignis awake "Iggy, Prompto is awake." Gladiolus says getting Ignis to roll over and sit up "I hear crying is he alright?" Ignis asks his voice thick with sleep. Gladiolus nods as he helps the younger male out of the bed "Yea he will be." He says as they approach the others.

Noctis continues to hold his friend rocking him a bit until he calms down, Gladiolus smiles a bit before returning to the table where he picks up the soup can and heads to the back of the dorm where he finds a hot plate to cook the soup. Ignis presses close to Prompto letting him know that he's there which seems to calm him down a bit. It takes a few minutes but Prompto finally calms enough to talk, he sniffles wiping at his eye.

"Thanks guys." He says weakly with a sniff as he wipes at his eyes once more "Thank you for coming."

Ignis raises his eyebrow "Wait, are you seriously thanking us for saving you?" Gladiolus asks before Ignis could. Prompto nods "I-I just thought that...you guys wanted go nothing to do with me...I thought you'd be-" he pauses allowing Noctis to chime in "What made you think that?" He asks and Prompto shifts in his seat tears forming once again.

'Why do I keep crying!? H-Haven't I cried enough already? H-How do tears keep forming?'

Noctis tangles his hand into Prompto's hair "Look there isn't anything you can say that would've made our decision coming here wrong. We came for you because we love you. We couldn't go on without you and we wouldn't go on without you at our side. You're an important person Prompto. You're you and you just being here with us, its more than we can ask for." Noctis states and Prompto bites down on his tongue refusing to cry again. He wanted to show the others that he was strong, that he was capable of handling himself, that what Ardyn did to him didn't affect him.

Tears brim in Prompto's eyes and he cusses "I-I can't stop crying." He says angrily "I-I'm trying to stop...b-but my...my-" he stops talking when he feels a hand on his shoulder.

"Prompto, no one is asking you to stop crying." It was Ignis his tone was gentle "We understand that what Ardyn has done was frightening and you must have thought that didn't care or something along those lines. Tears are a way to express the pain in your heart, don't be afraid to let your tears show." Ignis says softly.

And with that Prompto caves, letting out another wave of tears Prompto begins to ramble gets everything that Ardyn has said, done, and shown him off his chest.

Everything except the part of him being a Magitek.


I just wanna thank everyone for having stuck with me and this story, I wanna thank everyone who commented and faved this story it means so much ^w^.