Over the next few weeks, Prompto started to think he was getting the hang of this whole training thing. Shooting around warping had become more comfortable once it had been pointed out that perhaps the Glaive should be warping like they were attacking the same thing instead of all over the place like a giant cheeseball.
Prompto's words. Not Cor's.
At the very least he was far more confident than he had been when this venture started. In fact, Prompto found himself actually looking forward to these sessions with Cor.
"No weapons today. I think it's high time we begin your hand to hand combat training,"
Prompto stared mouth agape at Cor's words. Okay, so training excitement took a slight dip in enthusiasm. "Oh, uh no thank you," He responded with a quick shake of the head as if Cor were merely offering him mints.
"It's nonoptional," Cor crossed his arms over his chest given Prompto a dull look. "It's basic Crownsguard training."
Prompto opened his mouth to argue that his use of guns wasn't basic Crownsguard training and that he was content with just throwing the entire rulebook out the window for the duration of his lessons. The look on Cor's face had him thinking the better of it instead and opted for a different approach. "Okay, right, but like, see I'm a ranged fighter which means I'm going to stay at a range," He pointed to the opposite end of the room. "Over there."
"And what happens if you don't have a gun?"
"Well, then I'm fu-."
"You're still learning it."
Prompto let out a small groan in protest he thought the days of ending up flat on his ass were behind him. He had completed all the required gym class credits before he graduated high school not having to do that anymore should have been one of the perks. Apparently not.
It didn't help that Cor should have his name changed from Cor the Immortal to Cor the Relentless. Prompto barely had a moment to have the wind properly knocked out of him before Cor was commanding him to get up and try again.
"Isn't there a beginner mode you can start me off on?" Prompto asked as Cor pulled him to his feet this time. They had been at this for a few hours now, and he found himself no closer to being able to take down Cor.
"I suppose we could ask Gladio for some assistance,"
Prompto made an indignant sound only to realize that Cor was serious about the consideration. "Okay, no offense, but catoblepas wrestling isn't entry level,"
"It would allow me to take a more outside perspective and we can find where you're going wrong," Cor explained pulling out his phone.
"I think we can safely say that I shouldn't be attempting to wrestle brick walls," Prompto muttered hugging his arms tightly across his chest.
Cor paused looking Prompto up and down. "Given your stature, you're going to need to becoming accustomed to fighting those larger than you,"
Prompto would concede that was fair. He wouldn't only be able to fight people who were his size and skill level, but that didn't mean he had to start with Gladiolus Shit Brick House Amicitia. "His arms weigh as much as I do!" He whined.
That was more than likely an exaggeration, but from what Prompto had seen of his best friend's Shield the comment wasn't that far off. For a big guy, he was also stealthy. Prompto hadn't even heard his approach that day Gladio startled him in the arcade. He had suggested afterward that Noct might consider putting a bell on the guy.
There was no way Prompto would be able to bring down Gladio with the same ease and finesse Cor had used at him. It was far more likely that he would flail, tug, and pull at him like some struggling cartoon animal.
"The bigger they are, the harder they fall," Cor was doing nothing to hide the amusement at Prompto's exasperation.
"The bigger they are, the harder they can throw me into the nearest wall," He retorted.
"Well at the moment he is our only choice," Cor responded pocketing his phone once again. "Noctis won't be up at this hour and Ignis is far above your skill level. Besides, Gladio is more than happy to help."
Somehow, Prompto believed that sounded far more ominous than Cor intended. With an exasperated groan, he flopped back on the mat staring up at the ceiling. "So, how much does this affect my final grade?"
"Hand to hand skills are essential for any member of the Crownguard," Cor stood beside Prompto and gave him a gentle prod with his boot. "It is not something that you will be able to pick up instantly. For starters, you were doing quite well. I have confidence you will get the hang of it in time."
"You had me flat on the mat in thirty seconds," Prompto countered.
"Which is twenty more seconds than when we began,"
Prompto felt a small burst of pride at the comment. In retrospect, lasting against Cor for thirty seconds was probably no small feat the Marshal had to have kicked many a trainee's ass, and Prompto had been good enough to add his name to that list.
He tilted his head back as Gladio entered the room getting an upside down view of the skeptical look that was being leveled at him.
"How am I supposed to train him if you've already wiped him out?"
Prompto rolled over and scrambled to his feet. "Just taking a break," He muttered rubbing the feeling back into his arms. His previous mental image of Gladio did not do the other justice. If it were possible, the Shield looked, even more, intimidating in person. Prompto was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Cor wanted him to fight this monster.
Gladio ignored him and turned his attention to Cor. "So what do you want me to do?"
"Prompto is learning the basics of hand to hand combat, and it was brought to my attention that it would be far easier for me to instruct while he practices with someone else," Cor explained nodding towards Prompto. "So, I suppose for now you'll be our interactive training dummy."
Gladio barked on a laugh that sent Prompto scowling. "Think that's gonna be fair?" He asked sizing Prompto up as he spoke. "Could pick him up with one arm and Noct in the other. He ain't gonna learn much."
Cor set a hard gaze on Gladio. "He'll learn if you take this seriously with the intention of instructing him,"
Gladio snorted and relaxed his shoulders taking a more comfortable stance as Cor paced around him nodding once satisfied that everything would be set for his instruction. Not that Gladio gave so much as an inch once the practical application round began.
Each time that Prompto attempted a maneuver on Gladio he ended up laid back out on the mat. He didn't miss the exasperated glances that Gladio was shooting Cor after each try. It was evident the longer this went on, the more frustrated and sloppy Prompto became.
"I think," Cor began as Prompto hopped up from the mat looking ready to kick Gladio in the shins. "That now might be a good time for a break."
"I'm fine!" Prompto called out making a swift kick to the back of Gladio's knees in his own form of protest.
An action that the larger man had apparently anticipated as he spun around on the spot and pulled Prompto into a headlock. "Well I'm gettin' tired of knocking you on your ass, so we're going to get some lunch." Gladio retorted dragging a reluctant Prompto out of the room.
A few moments of silence passed after the door swung shut and Cor tilted his head upwards. "And what does his Highness think of all this?" He asked halting a quietly retreating Noctis in his tracks.
Noctis shrugged stuffing his hands in his pockets as he stared absently across the training room. "S'not like I can knock down Gladio either. But I'm still going to Altissia," And that was never for lack of trying. Noctis knew Prompto's current frustration all too clearly.
"Bear in mind that there is no trip to Altissia without you,"
Noctis rolled his eyes and leaned against the balcony. He wanted to point out that it was unlikely that many people were running around Eos with Gladio's build. Instead, he stopped himself and gave a thoughtful hum. "Yeah, well I mean he's not going to end up alone either so what's the point in Gladio wailing on him?"
Cor stiffened keeping a watchful eye on Noctis now. "So are you volunteering?"
"Volunteering what?" Noctis sputtered in surprise by Cor's response a twinge of hesitation in his voice at his reluctance to accept whatever Cor might have in mind.
"I assumed you were suggesting more teamwork based exercises. Given the nature of your trip and the assumption that the group of you will be sticking together I feel there is merit in your suggestion,"
"Uh," Noctis hesitated a moment trying to remember where exactly he had suggested any of that. "Wait, you want Prompto to kick my ass?"
"I'd rather you work together and kick Gladio's," Cor admitted. "I think perhaps it's best that Prompto learn to work in a unit towards a common goal. The hand to hand combat can come later perhaps against someone more realistically proportioned."
In hindsight, Cor could now see that Gladio had not been the best choice for that endeavor and that wasn't just because of his stature. While Ignis might present a more challenging opponent, he didn't lack in patience or understanding when it came to instruction.
After all, he did spend his life tending to the king's wayward son.
"Friggin' tree," Noctis muttered.
"It would be wise of you to get changed before they come back from their break,"
"What? You wanted to do this today?"
"The sooner, the better, right?"
Noctis didn't have a smart response for that, so he opted for a fair bit of grumbling as he wandered off. One of the few perks of having Gladio aid in Prompto's training today was the fact that he would only have to spectate and not participate. Noctis should have known that he couldn't be that lucky.
Prompto raised his eyes in surprise when he reentered the training room later to find Noctis standing there. "Ugh, don't tell me you want Noct to beat me up now too!"
"Why do you all assume I want you beaten up?" The mentality of the training room had Cor seriously reconsidering his current training methods. Allowing Prompto to get pummeled relentlessly wasn't his end goal here.
Prompto gestured wildly behind him at Gladio. "You had me wrestling a steroid-enhanced super soldier all morning! With my bare hands!" He froze a moment, perhaps considering the lack of respect in his tone and quickly amended his comment to add a quiet 'sir' afterward.
"Noctis believes we need a change of pace," Cor pointed between Noctis and Prompto as he spoke. "You two will square off against Gladio. Thus far, Prompto, you've only been working on your own it's time you begin to rely on one another."
Prompto cast another wary look back to Gladio. "Uh, but aren't we going to be on the same team? You know later?"
Gladio snorted. "Wuss,"
Prompto waved off the comment with a grin as he threw his arm around Noctis's shoulder. "I'm just looking out for you big guy. You really don't stand a chance against both of us together."
Cor hid a small smile. He was hoping that he'd be able to hang on to that overwhelming confidence once the actual fight started. "Let's just start with this today and perhaps later, once your place in the retinue is assured, we can have you all practice together."
Prompto's enthusiasm dropped a few notches at the reminder that his position had not yet been secured. Suddenly, he had the need to take this practice exercise a bit more seriously. "Right, sounds good then."
Once they had all retrieved their practice weapons, Cor motioned for Gladio to take a position on the other side of the room.
Prompto glanced at his friend who was idly twirling his sword around seeming unbothered by the task at hand. "How do you wanna do this, Noct?" He asked reading his weapon as Cor stepped back nodding for the fight to start.
"I dunno, plow right through him?"
That had to be the most unhelpful, and seemingly impossible strategy Prompto had ever heard. No wonder it was usually left to Ignis to handle the more technical operations.
It didn't take Prompto long to see why Noct had been so nonchalant about the entire thing. It was clear going head to head with Gladio was something that he was used to. Zero surprises there as Gladio had been his training partner for years they knew each other's moves.
Which also served as a drawback. Noct and Gladio knew each other's moves leaving Prompto edging along the back feeling as if he should be staying out of the way. It wasn't until Gladio snatched Noctis by the collar of his shirt and tossed him across the floor that he turned his attention on Prompto.
"This ain't a spectator sport," Gladio shouted over at him. "You just going to let me trash him like that?"
Prompto didn't have to answer as it appeared that Noct wasn't going to stand for it himself. A quick flash of blue and Noct reappeared slamming into Gladio only to be blocked by the other's greatsword. Noct took a few unsteady steps backward before sparing a glance in Prompto's direction and offering the other a nod.
Prompto swallowed hard. He couldn't just stand back and let Noct do all the work. If he wanted it to be his job to protect Noct, he'd have to start proving he could.
This time when Noct went in for another swing Prompto covered him with a burst of cover fire. Which appeared to surprise Gladio who assumed he would still be standing there with his mouth hanging open. Gladio brought up his sword to block the spray of paint bullets that would have been hammered into his side.
The momentary onslaught divided his attention enough to allow Noct the opportunity to get inside knocking Gladio back with his weapon. Noctis took a few staggered steps backward and looked to Cor for approval.
Meeting with the Marshal's neutral expression, Noctis turned to Prompto giving his friend an appreciative smile. "Nice one, Prompto."
That was all the encouragement Prompto needed to feel bolder in the fight. As he moved in, closer Gladio took advantage of the proximity and grabbed Prompto by the arm ready to bring his weapon down on him.
Thinking on his feet, Prompto grabbed him back and pulled himself outwards putting as much distance as he could between himself and Gladio while the latter still had a tight grip on his left arm. He fired a round prompting Gladio to release him as sizeable orange paint splatters bled onto Gladio's training gear.
He immediately backed off after being released as Noct claimed the closer range warping in for another swing at Gladio as Prompto continued a round of cover fire.
"Prompto!"
He took his cue as soon as Noct called out to him sliding across the floor next to his friend as they began a tag teamed assault on Gladio. When Noct swung low Prompto fired above only to then duck and fire low as Noct moved above his head for another blow.
"I think that's enough," Cor watched as Noctis and Prompto high-fived one another as they moved away from a less than enthused looking Gladio.
"Think we got you there, Big Guy," Prompto grinned as Noct gave him a friendly shove and headed towards the wall to retrieve a bottle of water.
Gladio gave Prompto a harsh look one that had the blond swallowing back any other comments he had at the ready on Gladio's performance. "Yeah, I wouldn't be celebrating just yet if I were you."
Noctis walked back over confusion evident on his face. "Why not? You're totally covered in paint, and I got a ton of hits,"
"I'll show you why " Gladio responded grabbing Noct by the arm and turning him so Prompto could see the orange paint spot that dotted Noct's shoulder. "You hit Noct."
Prompto paled. He had thought he might of clipped Noct earlier when the latter was coming out of a warp but had hoped he had missed. Apparently, he hadn't been as lucky as he thought. He opened his mouth to say something but immediately closed it. There was no excuse for that. Don't injure Noct was rule number one when it came to training for this and he screwed it up on his first time working with him.
Noctis pulled at his shirt attempting to get a closer look at the mark. "S'no big deal, he just grazed me," He shrugged looking at Gladio. "I look a hell of a lot better than you."
"That's not the point," Gladio shot back. "He isn't paying attention. You two are running around out here treating it like it's some stupid game."
Noctis rolled his eyes. "Yeah, cause you never hit me in training," He rubbed at the spot removing a bit of the mark. "I probably warped in the way. Just as much my fault as his. I'll pay attention to where I'm going next time,"
"He needs to pull his head out of his ass and-."
"I think that's enough for today." Cor interrupted taking a stern glance between the three of them. "Noctis, Prompto, the two of you get cleaned up and head off. I'll see you both tomorrow,"
Both Prompto and Noctis exchanged wary glances silently deciding it was better to just do as Cor had asked rather than argue further. Noctis figured that if Gladio was the one being held back right now, it wasn't the two of them that were in trouble here.
Not that he'd put it past them to be jointly collaborating on a punishment for them.
"I'm sorry," Prompto blurted out as soon as they rounded the corner into the changing room. "No offense dude, but the Glaive I'm used to working with is a lot bigger than you so I mean my aim was totally off."
Noctis shrugged. "Not a big deal. Like I said. My fault too, and it's just paint it washes out."
Prompto sighed trying not to roll his eyes at his friend's flippancy. "Yeah, I know, but it isn't always going to be paint."
Noctis slammed one of the locker door tight. "And Gladio's sword isn't always going to be wooden but that doesn't stop him from swinging it when my head is still right there," He looked back over at Prompto. "Seriously, don't worry about it."
"The Marshal ended training early though," Prompto said grabbing his bag and placing it on his shoulder sparing a quick glance back towards the room.
"Yeah, well, I think that's more something Gladio is going to have to worry about not us," Noctis nodded towards the exit. "Come on let's find Specs and get out of here. I need a shower and a probably a nap."
"You think I overreacted," The edge had fallen out of Gladio's tone once it was just him and Cor standing there. Cor hadn't spoken since he had sent the other two from the room and with each passing second of silence, Gladio had become more and more uneasy in his presence.
Cor shook his head. "Not necessarily," He said. "Your sentiment was correct. It's your manner that disappoints me."
"They aren't taking this seriously," Gladio immediately argued. "Can't have them out there goofing off like that."
"I don't think they were," Cor countered. "I believe they worked well together and were simply excited by that prospect. It's unfortunate that he hit Noctis, but you're expecting perfection on the gate, and that's a disservice to everyone."
Gladio stayed quiet allowing Cor's words to sink in before he spoke to refute them. "I don't think that kid is the right choice, Marshal."
Cor's shoulders stiffened, and his eyes narrowed as he eyed Gladio. "That's not a statement you should be making lightly, Gladio, I trust you can back it up?"
"I get that he's Noct's friend and all, but he's more of a liability than an asset. Ignis and I can't be looking out for Noct and him. It's just not practical. We need someone who already knows what they're doing not someone who needs to be taught."
"So, you're assuming you're an asset?"
That one threw Gladio off a moment it felt like a trick question. For a brief moment, he was questioning his own position as Noct's Shield. It sounded as though the Marshal was implying Gladio was a liability as well. "I am," He said finally with as much confidence that he could muster.
Cor just stared in response giving Gladio more pause. "An asset would be smart enough to see the value in a diverse group of retainers. Noct clearly understands that. Perhaps it's your placement that we should be reconsidering."
Gladio swallowed hard nodding at the criticism. He was not bold enough to argue the point further with Cor nor did he have an adequate response.
"Gladio, if you continue to only find value in force and brute strength your position is one doomed to failure. Prompto is not the only one that has much to learn. I sincerely hope that you take what little time you have before your departure to consider that."
"You're definitely sending him with us then?" Unless Gladio was mistaken his words sounded as if he was meant to get used to the idea of Prompto coming along. Not that Gladio had something against Prompto personally he just wasn't anyone Gladio was looking to have a professional relationship with. He knew he could count on Ignis to watch his back and for Noct to cover his own.
What little interaction he had with Prompto in the past did not leave him with the confidence that he could similarly count on him.
"That's up to the king, but thus far he has my recommendation. There are a few things he could stand to fine tune as with all of you, but he is not so incapable that I worry for any of your safety."
Gladio nodded. That answer was as good as a yes. If Noct wanted Prompto on this trip and he had Cor's recommendation, King Regis would not deny his son's request.
"You're more than welcome to continue to join our remaining sessions," Cor offered when he noticed Gladio's grudging acceptance of what was to be.
Gladio nodded. "Yeah, I think I will," If anything it would be for his own piece of mind. The shot that hit Noct aside Gladio would have to admit that Prompto was pretty good. He could have done without the dramatic flair the blond seemed to perform everything with, but there was no denying he was a decent shot.
Just looking at the state of his own clothes he could tell that he would have been murdered ten times over if Prompto had been operating with a real weapon. Gladio hadn't managed to pin the kid down himself. Even when he managed to get a hold of him, Prompto had turned it around.
Gladio really hated admitting that. Especially after convincing himself that guns were cowardly Niff weapons.
"Are we clear on things going forward now?" Cor asked noting Gladio's more subdued posture.
When Gladio nodded in the affirmative Cor dismissed him.
"I understand you gave Gladiolus a talking to this afternoon,"
Cor looked up from his desk to find Clarus standing in the doorway looking pleased with himself. It was the type of expression Cor loathed to see on his old friend's face. It was usually a vague warning that teasing was soon to follow.
"Well, I apologize if I overstepped my bounds," Cor respond putting his work aside to give the Shield his full attention.
"Not at all," Clarus snorted. "I should say that he could use a bit of a talking to from time to time. And if I'm not mistaken he did insult your dear son's capabilities, so I'd say he had what was coming to him,"
Cor closed his eyes and let out a steadying breath. "We both know he's not my son,"
"I think you're the only one who thinks that, and perhaps him though that's only because he doesn't know. You are going to tell him, aren't you?"
"And what good would that do?" Cor asked seriously. "That is not information you drop on anyone. Especially if he's going to be heading off with the prince and his retinue his attention and focus does not need to be divided. He's better off not knowing."
Clarus nodded. He would admit that Cor had a point with that. "What will be your excuse when they come home?"
Cor sighed giving his friend the barest of smiles. "I will decide on that when we get there."
