Year 1

"I'm sorry, but we can't risk removing those implants."

Prompto sat in stunned silence as the words sunk in. A hand slipped into his pocket, finding the phone case there and running his fingers over it. An unconscious habit he had picked up that grounded him.

"There's nothing at all that can be done?" Ignis asked from where he stood just behind Prompto.

Mara shook her head. "There's not," she said to Ignis, then turning back to Prompto, elaborated, "Your spinal implants have been completely fused to your spinal cord. How, I have no idea. I suspect that is how you had the maneuverability in the armour, it getting signals directly from your brain so that it worked with your movements instead of against them. Incredible technology, genius in a way. But irreversible. To remove them would damage your spinal cord, if not server it completely. You would be completely paralysed if it didn't kill you outright. I'm sorry, but the best option now is to learn to live with them."

Prompto nodded silently but didn't say anything. Ignis rested a hand on his shoulder and spoke for him. "Thank you for all you've done. Even if this wasn't the result we hoped for, it is better than we faced before."

"Of course. I'll see myself out. Be sure to contact me if any complications arise," Mara replied. With one last sympathetic look to Prompto, she turned and left.

After the door closed, Ignis walked around and knelt in front Prompto, a hand on his knee. He said nothing for a few seconds, perhaps waiting for Prompto to speak, but when he was met with only silence, he spoke up. "Prompto, are you alright?"

"The pain is minimal," Prompto answered absently.

Ignis smiled sadly. "I meant emotionally, not physically."

Prompto looked up, then, and started into Ignis's unseeing eyes. "I had hoped…" he started, but then shook his head with a sigh. "It doesn't matter. I'm not human. Not really. And I never was. I just have to accept that. C1094's not some separate person. It's just me, doing atrocious things, wearing another name."

"Prompto-" Ignis started, but Prompto cut him off as he stood.

"It's fine, Iggy. I'm fine. I'm just… gonna go have a shower. I need some time to think." He started moving towards the bathroom as he spoke.

"Of course. Well then, if you don't mind I think I'll head out into town. There are a couple things I would like to pick up."

That gave Prompto pause, and he half turned back to look at Ignis. "Will you be alright on your own? I… can come with you if you prefer it." He didn't want to, he wanted to be alone, being surrounded by the Lestallum crowds was not something he felt he could handle, but he had to ask. It would be worse if Ignis got into trouble just because Prompto was moping.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Your listening trick helps a lot, I'm thinking perhaps everyone should be trained in it," he said with a smile that Prompto hesitantly returned. "I'll be back in a few hours. Then I think I'll have a hankering for some ribs. What do you think?"

"That… sounds really good. Thanks, Iggy," Prompto said sincerely, knowing that Ignis never really had a 'hankering for some ribs' and only said that because it was one of Prompto's favourites. He appreciated Ignis's efforts to make him feel better nonetheless.

Ignis nodded, then closed the door behind him, leaving Prompto alone to his thoughts. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, heading towards the shower. He stripped himself of the clothes Gladio had bought him the night of his first surgery and stared at his reflection in the mirror. His hair was starting to grow back now from where it had been shaved away to get at his head implant, though it was noticeably paler than the rest of his hair. There were fresh scars on his arms, legs, and collarbone, and stitches still in his thigh which was the last of the implants that had been removed. They would scar and fade as well with only the memory remaining of what had been there.

What set his stomach rolling, however, were the five metal plates down his spine, implants that he could see in the mirror reflected in the shower glass. Ardyn had done that to him. He had been strapped down to a medical table, face down, the straps so tight they cut in, preventing all movement. He even remembered the first half of the surgery, the scalpel slicing through his skin, hooks pulling the flesh apart, and then a drill into bone-

Prompto threw himself across the bathroom as nausea bubbled up and he threw up what little he had managed to eat for lunch. He and this toilet were old friends now, best buddies. He visited it with his mouth at least once a day, though sometimes more often if he had nightmares. It took away the half digested food and bile and black goop, and propped him up as he lay draped over it, shaking and sweating.

How was he supposed to completely banish C1095 now? Noct was gone and they had no way to reach him, Gladio was often away on hunts, and, as much as Ignis had helped him more than anyone, he wasn't a commander. He had been advisor to the crown prince, a role which held some authority, but wasn't the same. With these things attached to him, and Ardyn still out there somewhere, C1094 was only just below the surface, waiting for the chance to take control.

Prompto rested his forehead on the cool bowl and tried to focus on his breathing. He could do this. He had to do this. He just… had to find something, or someone, anything to focus on, a purpose or whatever.

One thing at a time, Ignis had told him. First, he had to shower. Then dry and dress. Then help Ignis with dinner, as much as he could anyway. Maybe Ignis would have some ideas on what he could do after that.

With the water as hot as he could stand it, ignoring the way his back implants heated up and scalded the skin around them, he scrubbed himself raw, trying to wash away all the negative thoughts and feelings, all his worries and fears and insecurities. He allowed his mind to go blank, it was easier that way. One thing at a time.

Year 2

Prompto stared at Gladio as the words sank in. The Crystal was gone. Just… gone. As if it had never existed. Noct was inside the Crystal but if the Crystal was gone then Noct was… Noct was…

There was a roaring in his ears and the world was turning grey, distant. And then suddenly there was a hand gripping his elbow, holding him steady.

"Woah, easy there, buddy."

Gladio's voice cut through the fog and colour leached back into the world again. Prompto looked up into Gladio's warm, concerned eyes.

"Why don't you sit down," Gladio said, but he didn't wait for an answer before guiding Prompto to the nearest seat.

"We don't know anything yet, we'll keep looking for it. I'm sure it'll all work out," Gladio was saying, but Prompto barely noticed, just nodded absently.

What would happen now? Prompto had worked hard to push Ardyn's influence away over the past year largely by asking himself what Noct would tell him to do or think with regards to any given situation. Would Noct care that he still had implants in his back that couldn't be removed? No. He had seen the scars on Noct's back. When surrounded by people and becoming overwhelmed at the need to watch everything for potential threats, what would Noct tell him to do? Breathe slow, step aside, and trust that danger won't come in a busy street. Even though he wasn't really there with him, Prompto felt as though he was simply by the voice in his head reassuring him of what Noct would say or do.

Holding a hand out, Prompto hesitated a moment, afraid to know the truth, then pulled a potion from armiger, unknowingly repeating the exact same action Gladio had performed when he first found out. It came, and he sighed in relief as he sent it back. At least Noctis was still alive. He would come back. He had to come back. Everything had gone to shit, surely he could come back and help make things right.

He heard Ignis and Gladio talking quietly amongst themselves, but Prompto paid them no mind. Instead he reached into his pocket and pulled his phone out. Ignis had bought it for him a few days after learning that the last of his implants couldn't be removed. He had thought being able to play some King's Knight would take his mind off it.

Now though, he held it face down on his leg, running his fingers over the case. The tactile sensation was soothing, grounding. It kept him firmly rooted in reality. And he needed that, right then. Everything he knew had been turned upside down over the last two years. His commander was gone, and with it his purpose. His hopes that he could be normal and not have any sign beyond a few scars of what Ardyn had turned him into was dashed. Then they had been forced to move out of the Leville and into a small apartment that he shared with Ignis and Gladio. It was cheaper, and really, fairly nice compared to where a lot of the refugees were living, but it was cramped with all three of them living there.

"Prompto?"

Ignis's voice cut through Prompto's depressive thoughts, and he turned towards him. "Where's Gladio?" he asked, noticing that the man wasn't there.

"He's gone out to get a few things from the market for me," Ignis explained. Prompto frowned as he watched Ignis; the man seemed to be unsure of something, shifting on his feet as though nervous. That was very unlike the Ignis Prompto knew.

And then, he finally came to a decision. "Come with me, if you would. I have something for you. From Noct."

Prompto felt his heart leap and he jumped to his feet. "From Noct? You've seen him? Where is he? Why hasn't he come back here?" He cut himself off from asking more questions when Ignis rose a hand to stall him.

"I haven't been in his company since Gralea, no," Ignis said and the wording made Prompto realise his own words may have been a little insensitive. Ignis didn't show it though as he opened the door to the sole bedroom in the apartment. "This is something he asked me to give you before we were separated. At the time, he wasn't sure… that is…"

"He didn't know how human I was," Prompto filled in. "It's okay Iggy," Prompto added, seeing how uncomfortable that statement made the man. "I didn't even know how human I was at that point." That was another thing he had worked hard at over the past year. That he really was Prompto. Prompto the human, perhaps born in Niflheim but no longer beholden to it. C1094 was dead, as was the MT that it was made into. Prompto the human, the one who enjoyed photography, found chocobos to be the cutest animals on Eos, and who waited for his King to return had survived.

"Nonetheless, it was a disservice to you to assume otherwise," Ignis said and Prompto shrugged, forgetting Ignis couldn't see it. "He wanted me to wait to give it to you until I was sure you would appreciate it. But that took so long, what with all the surgeries, that I thought you might resent me keeping it for so long."

"Ignis, I could never-"

"Let me finish," Ignis cut in, raising a hand to bade him to wait. "Gladio and I, we should have handled…" He sighed, irritated. Prompto remained silent and let him gather his thoughts. "I know that learning of the Crystal's disappearance would make you feel lost and adrift, so perhaps this could help ground you again, give you something to work on, a purpose." He was holding that old messenger bag they had found in Gralea and from it he pulled…

Prompto's eyes widened as he stared at what Ignis was carrying, was holding out to him. "Is that… what… how?" Prompto stuttered, not daring to take it.

Ignis smiled and pushed it into Prompto's hands; he had to take it or risk dropping it. He took it and turned it over. It was a camera, and not just a cheap one to replace the one he had lost in Gralea. Besides, Noct could not have known that something would occur to cause him to lose his old one. No, this was a good quality camera, the best probably, Prompto thought.

"Noct bought it while we were in Altissia. I'm not sure when he got the opportunity, but apparently he heard us talking one night after you woke from a nightmare. It left him feeling guilty about leading you through things that were emotionally difficult, such as the caves we traipsed through. He wanted to give this to you to make up for that."

"He doesn't need to make up anything to me. I would follow him anywhere," Prompto said.

"I know that. And, I suspect, he did too." Ignis paused, then said, "Go ahead and check it out."

Prompto turned it on then, ensuring that the flash was turned on, pointed it at the advisor. Bringing it into focus (a manual focus!) he held the button down. It clicked several times.

"Not me!" Ignis snapped, though his voice was far from angry.

Prompto just laughed and started flicking back through the photos. He didn't realise it was on a burst setting but he didn't regret that; the photos showed Ignis's expression morphing backwards from irritated amusement to passivity. And then… He stared. "What?" he whispered disbelievingly. There was another photo. The last one he took before everything went to shit. It was of Noct, pushing his greens to the side of the plate in the train's dining car.

Heart racing, Prompto pressed the scroll button almost frantically. There were there. All of them. Every single picture was there. He had long since given them up as lost, but here they all were. He sniffed.

Ignis spoke, his voice quiet. "Noct also mentioned he found your old camera in the Keep. He rescued the memory card from it."

Not letting go of the camera, Prompto practically launched himself at Ignis in a hug that was awkwardly returned; Ignis wasn't one for outward displays of affection but Prompto didn't care. Right then, short of being able to hug Noct, Ignis was the next best thing.

Year 4

Click.

The haven lit with a bright flash of light for a second and Prompto grinned as he looked down at the photo he had just taken.

"Will you shut that thing off already," Gladio growled at him.

"No way. I've gotta document everything for when Noct comes back," Prompto said proudly.

"You don't have to document me taking a piss," Gladio pointed out. "Delete that shit already or I will." Pants done up, the big man stalked towards where Prompto was sitting in order to make good on his threat.

"Alright alright." He pushed a button. "Deleted, see?"

"Hmmm," was all Gladio said, though he did back off again, picking up his cup of noodles and finishing them off. Prompto, meanwhile, grinned privately to himself; he hadn't deleted it at all, but instead deleted a blurry picture he hadn't really liked. Gladio's photo didn't show anything, of course, he wasn't a perve, but it was obvious what was going on from the way Gladio was standing. It was going to be fun to show Noct these photos! Surely he couldn't be too far away now.

Prompto had spent the last two years photographing the people of Lestallum, refugees who came in, vendors and their wares, even the view from the look out, the landscape lit by the meteor and floating bombs outside the bounds of the city lights. He wanted to document everything he could, how the world was slowly changing with the lack of sunlight.

Now though, he wanted to get photos of hunters in action, doing their part as defenders of the people and all that heroic stuff. And truth be told he wanted to take a break from being always surrounded by people. So he had asked to come along with Gladio when next he went on a hunt and here they were.

"We should get some shut eye," Gladio said after a while. "Take this thing on after a good night's rest." Of course the phrase 'good night's rest' was now irrelevant, they just slept when they were tired, but Prompto knew what he meant.

"You can sleep first, I'll stay up and keep watch," Prompto offered.

Gladio hesitated. "We're in a haven, Prom. No need to keep a watch here."

"Yeah, I know. Still the daemons are stronger aren't they? It'll be better to keep an eye on them just in case," Prompto said, hoping he sounded convincing enough. The fact of the matter was he slept very little. While the sickness that had plagued him when they first arrived at Lestallum had abated, and with it his MT-red eyes and black veins, he was still beset by constant nightmares every time he closed his eyes. They disturbed his own sleep enough, the last thing he wanted was for them to disturb Gladio's as well.

"Alright," Gladio eventually agreed and Prompto breathed a silent sigh of relief. "Just be sure to-"

"Wait," Prompto cut in.

"What?"

"Shush shush," Prompto urged. He could have sworn he heard-

Kweh.

There! Prompto leapt to his feet and scooped his gun up. Slinging his camera over his shoulder by its shoulder strap, he ran towards the sound, leaping off the edge of the haven.

"Prompto, what the hell?!" Gladio shouted behind him, but Prompto paid him no mind, running towards the sound. He could hear Gladio behind him, swearing all the while, getting his own sword and following behind him.

Prompto slowed about fifty meters from the haven and paused to listen again. For once, when Gladio caught up, he didn't say anything. "That way," Prompto said, pointing with his gun in the direction he heard another fainter sound and the two were off again. There was a cliff face ahead of them and, following it along, a small gap with an arachne chittering, trying to reach inside it.

"Hey!" Prompto shouted and aimed and shot his gun in a fluid movement. That drew its attention.

The daemon swung around and screeched at him.

"Damnit Prompto, quit rushing ahead! You're as bad as Noct," Gladio complained as he leaped forward, bringing his sword down on the creature. The two of them fought well together; Gladio keeping the daemon's attention while Prompto shot at any openings provided, his uncanny accuracy hitting the creature's weak spots with ease, blasting through the gaps of the carapace.

The fight still took longer than it should - the daemons were becoming worryingly stronger the longer the night lasted - but a single daemon was still no match for two seasoned fighters. Soon enough it was gone, its dead body dissolving in an all too familiar (for Prompto) black goo.

"Okay, now what's the deal? There are plenty of daemons out there and that one wasn't our mark," Gladio said, resting his sword on his shoulder as he turned to face Prompto.

"Didn't you hear it?" Prompto asked as he approached the gap in the cliff face.

"Between you and Iggy," Gladio muttered under his breath. Louder, he added, "Hear what?"

"This," Prompto said, as he saw what he was looking for. The bright yellow feathers of a chocobo. He smiled. "Hey there, little guy," he cooed, voice gentle and soothing. "It's alright, it's safe now," he said. Well aware of how skittish the birds could be, especially when trapped and around so many daemons, he took his time approaching. Slow and soft, hands out before him, making no sudden movements.

"That's a tame one," Gladio said from behind him, looking over Prompto's shoulder.

"It's bridle is stuck in the bush there. It would have been daemon food if not for us," Prompto said. To the bird, he started making shushing noises as he got closer, though the bird didn't seem too worried about allowing him close. Carefully he reached out and took hold of the bridle and began untangling it from the bush.

"Wonder where it's rider is," Gladio said, looking out over the darkened plain. There was no sign of any human life out here and hadn't been since they arrived.

"There you go," Prompto said proudly once he got the chocobo loose. Instead of letting her free though (he could tell it was female even if Gladio couldn't), he continued holding the bridle. "We should take her back to Wiz. She must have come from there."

"Prompto. We can't just take off to the outpost. That's three days ride away by chocobo, and even longer walking with all the daemons around. We have a hunt to do and its rider is probably around somewhere, we should look for them too," Gladio said, sword resting against the cliff face and arms crossing over his chest.

"I want…" Prompto grit his teeth and looked away. He no longer really felt any pain when expressing what he was thinking or feeling, but sometimes, like now, it was still hard. The words didn't want to come and that ever present 'I don't know' phrase was always on the tip of his tongue as an excuse, a way out. And Gladio's aggressive stance wasn't helping at all, though he did wait patiently, knowing that this was something Prompto still struggled with.

Prompto knew what he wanted, it had been turning over in his head for a few weeks now, he just didn't have the courage to say anything. But then this chocobo appeared and needed his help and everything fell into place. Finally, running his hands over the soft feathers, focusing on their texture and not looking at Gladio, he continued, "I want to take her to Wiz. I think I need to do this. You were always planning on taking this hunt on your own anyway, you're more than strong enough to. And you might even find the rider and be able to help them get back to Lestallum. Iggy's doing much better, and Aranea's been helping him whenever she's in town, I'm just a third wheel with them. I don't belong here anymore, not really."

"So you take the chocobo back," Gladio said slowly, as if speaking to a child who couldn't see the full picture. "Then what? How will you get back? Cars aren't exactly in plentiful supply, you know."

Prompto shook his head, choosing to ignore Gladio's tone. "I don't think I will come back. Not immediately, anyway. Once, when Noct was still with us, Wiz offered me a job at the chocobo ranch. I think… I'd like to see if the offer still stands. If he'll still accept me being, well, what I am."

Gladio sighed and dropped his arms. Prompto knew he understood the need to belong, and the truth was Gladio was spending less and less time with the guys as it was, more focused on hunts and helping the people where he could. He had his place among them. Prompto didn't. Without Noct he was just some, lost, malfunctioning MT. He needed to be his own person. Chocobos had helped once, when he was lost in his training of only obeying direct orders, not feeling, not thinking. Maybe, just maybe, they could help again.

"Fine," Gladio said. "But you can be the one to tell Iggy. I'm not poking that bear."

Prompto felt a brief lurch at the thought that his leaving might upset Ignis - he didn't want to do that, never that - but he also knew that Ignis would understand, probably even support it. Besides, he wasn't alone now, Aranea was living in the apartment with them more often than not. He would be fine.

"I will," he said. "In a few hours when he's awake. But…" he glanced at the chocobo who was standing placidly by his side. "I should get this bird to her home though, as soon as possible."

"You're not even going to sleep for a few hours?" Gladio asked, though now his voice held more concern than irritation.

But Prompto shook his head. He didn't want to sleep. Especially not now; if Gladio heard him in one of his nightmares he would probably just insist that Prompto not leave at all. He couldn't risk that. "I'm not really all that tired," he lied. "I'd rather just get on the road as soon as possible." That was true at least.

"Alright. Keep in contact at least. Come back to the haven and we'll split supplies," Gladio said, which Prompto agreed to.

Year 6

Crack!

Prompto lowered his gun and turned back to the birds behind him, waving his arms, herding them along the road, before turning and shooting some more daemons.

"Wiz!" he shouted. "To the east!"

"Got it!"

Another shot rang out in that direction, a rifle shot.

Prompto ran to the left, covering the birds from that direction. His phone began to ring from inside his pocket, a generic tune; he didn't use any chocobo tunes on his phone any more. Pulling it out he fired another shot off at an approaching daemon and answered it absently.

"Really not a good time, Gladio," he said. He shot another two times then shouted to Wiz, "I'm out!"

"I got you," the man said, running closer to cover Prompto while he reloaded one-handed.

"Prompto? What's going on?" Gladio's voice came from the phone.

"Chocobo post is down. Reserve batteries ran out and the daemons swarmed. Shit!" Prompto ducked under a sword swipe from a Yojimbo and started shooting into it as he darted backwards.

"Prom You okay? Do you need some help?"

"Help would probably be a good thing," Prompto said. "Howard's leading them, Wiz and I are trying to herd them and fend off the daemons till we can get to a haven that still has wards. The rest… didn't make it."

"We're on our way. What's the nearest haven you're aiming for?"

"Ah…" he was distracted from needing to take down another three goblins. "Pullmoor haven."

"Shit, Prom, that's a long way from the post."

"Yeah well not like we have many options at this point. The closer ones aren't active anymore. Thanks Ardyn."

"Alright, well send me a message when you get there. I'll get a team together to go help you."

"Thanks Gladio," Prompto said, hanging up. His focus now back on the chocobos he noticed two of them getting separated from the group and ran around to the side to herd them back in.

Three hours later found the three men and sixteen chocobos safely up on the haven's sacred ground. Prompto rested his hands on his knees and breathed deeply. They had been forced to run for the last half hour or so and the birds were too scared to allow riders right then, but they made it.

Feeling a clap on his shoulder, Prompto straightened and smiled towards Wiz. "You did good, kid," Wiz said and Prompto's smile spread ever broader. "Couldn't have done this without you."

"I'm sure you'd have managed. But thanks," Prompto said. They began moving through the birds, touching, soothing, checking them over for any injuries, making sure they ate and drank. They had lost a further two birds on the journey here, but otherwise were alright. Apart from those two birds, and the human and bird loss in the initial attack, they had arrived here relatively unscathed.

"Dinner's on," Howard said from where he was standing over a pot on a small fire.

"Wait, lemme get this shot," Prompto said as he backed to the edge of the haven.

"Really, Prompto?" Howard complained; that man had never really liked Prompto's photography, or Prompto himself for that matter, but it didn't concern him. Wiz liked him and didn't care about the scars or implants. The first time he saw them was an accident - Prompto was usually so private about getting changed so that no one would see the scars or the metal - but he hadn't remembered to lock the bathroom door and Wiz had wandered right in. He'd actually been concerned, even more so when Prompto had, briefly, told him that he got them while being a prisoner of the Empire. But after being assured that they didn't hurt, that they wouldn't impact his work at all, Wiz left the matter alone since it clearly made Prompto uncomfortable, and he never mentioned it around any of the other workers.

Even now, it was Wiz who came to his defence saying, "Let the kid have his fun. He deserves it."

Prompto shot the older man a grin and rose his camera to take the shot. The flash lit the haven and he checked the photo, pleased with what he saw. "Alright!" he said. One more to keep to show Noct when he returned.

Year 8

Eight years today. Today marked the anniversary of the first day the sun failed to rise. The day Noct disappeared into the Crystal. The day that Ardyn won and Lucis had lost its second war, even if the second one was no where near as widespread as the first, just four guys against an empire.

Prompto still had trouble sleeping, though not always because of nightmares. He would often just lay in bed and flick through the photos on his camera, the occasional tear trickling down his face. He missed his friends, he missed Ignis and Gladio. They talked fairly regularly of course, and met up whenever they were in the same vicinity, but it was different to before. He missed Noct. His best friend. His first friend. The first person who had trusted him and treated him as a person instead of a unit. He had welcomed him when he had every reason to kill him. He had helped him fight against his Inurement, helped him rebuild an image of who he was, who he could be. But most of all he missed what they had before. He missed travelling with the guys, with Ignis behind the wheel and able to see. He missed teasing Gladio about his books, trying to pry from him what they were about. He missed drawing on Noct's sleeping face and then running and laughing when the prince finally found out what they'd done. He missed how carefree they all were and that was something, no matter what happened, that they could never go back to.

All these thoughts and more sped through Prompto's mind, circling and chasing one another, as he followed the tracks of a lost chocobo that had managed to get out of her pen. The poor thing had lost its chick recently and had likely escaped to try to look for it.

Reaching the edge of the ledge, Prompto looked down but it was too far to see if the tracks continued. They had to, he reasoned; he couldn't see where they had turned, though it was hard to tell. As he started to climb down, a light snow began to fall, but it was heavy enough not to need to return. He had to find this bird. Pulling his jacket tighter around him against the cold, he pressed on.

Another hour later, just as the snow had turned to the light, whispy kind, he found her. Prompto closed his eyes and sighed. He was too late, the daemons had found her first, her body was a mess of slashed skin and strewn feathers. Well, there was nothing more he could do now.

Turning back to return to the rest of the flock had Prompto come face to face with a Yojimbo that was standing far too close behind him, its sword raised and ready to strike. "Shit!" Prompto swore as he stumbled back away and drew his gun, firing off a few rounds. They hit but they barely even seemed to bother the thing. The daemons were far too powerful now at the best of times and normally Prompto was able to sneak around them. But a Yojimbo, on his own, and with a very limited supply of bullets? Suicide.

He turned and ran, but could hear it close behind him. Ahead there was a road, but the open space were prime spawn locations for various giants. No better to avoid that. The other side of the road the landscape dropped away to the rushing river. It was the same river they had often enjoyed walking along before all this crap began, but it was a lot higher now and there were chunks of ice lining the side of it. Not ideal, but-

Prompto screamed as a sword thrust through his shoulder from behind. It held him aloft for a moment or two, then threw him aside, tearing the wound wider as he fell from the sword and rolled. One hand pressed to his shoulder, trying to stem the blood flow, Prompto scrabbled to his feet. He ran, booted feet smacking the road and leaped over the side railing and down.

Falling, falling, then splash! The water was so cold the breath he had managed to hold was knocked out in a flurry of bubbles but, worse than that, he had jumped into a shallow area and the burst of pain in his ankle had him seeing stars. Kicking with his left leg and swimming with his right arm, his head burst the surface of the river and he sucked in a large breath of air and sooty-snow.

A glance back showed that, if the daemons had even noticed his escape attempt, they hadn't bothered to follow. Good. Paddling to the far bank, he pulled himself out of the water but when he went to stand his leg buckled and he gave a whimper of pain.

"Shit, shit, shit," he muttered. "Wiz is gonna kill me."

On his hands and knees, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, clicking it and grinning when he saw it light up. "Thank the astrals for waterproofing," he said to himself and hastily dialed Wiz's number.

It rang out.

Frowning, he tried again. And again. Each time it rang out. "What the hell." There was no reason he could think of that the man wouldn't answer his phone; he was only in Lestallum, not too far away, picking up supplies. Who else could he call? With an ankle that couldn't hold his weight and bleeding from the shoulder, he knew he wouldn't make it back to the chocobo camp without daemons catching him first. He couldn't call Howard, he was the only one looking after the chocobos they had. Gladio was away, out at Cape Caem apparently. Which only left one person.

He dialed Ignis.

"Iggy? Ah… I think I need some help."

"Prompto? Why, what's happened?"

"Ran into trouble with some daemons," he said, voice tight. As he talked he crawled his way to the stone wall and leaned back against it, breathing heavily. He could do this. He'd certainly been through worse, even if it wasn't recently. "Had to jump into a river to get away, hurt my ankle in the process and I can't get a hold of Wiz."

"Where are you? I'll come find you," Ignis said.

"No offense Iggy but I don't think you coming after me is a good idea. Was hoping you could just find Wiz and-"

"Prompto shut up and tell me where you are. Aranea is here in town at the moment and she can help me if that's what you're worried about," Ignis said and Prompto had to smile at the irritation in his voice; his friend had been trying so hard to prove to both he and Gladio that he was every bit as capable as he had been before he lost his sight. That he fought differently now but was no less deadly. Gladio and Prompto had spoken of it in the past and, while they wanted to believe it, neither of them were willing to risk their friend's life just to prove it. But Aranea was more than capable, he knew that.

"East of Lestallum, north of Narcie Haven. Or where that used to be anyway." So many of the havens had lost their power and that was one of them. It wasn't so bad though since it was close to Lestallum, but there were others further out and away from any kind of civilisation that were causing issues. "Somewhere around there anyway. I'm against the rock wall by the river bank." He shivered and drew his knees up to his chest. "If you could bring a blanket that'd be good… so cold," he said, teeth chattering.

The phone was quiet for a moment, a muffled voice heard as Ignis spoke to someone, probably Aranea, then, "Stay on the phone, Prompto, and keep talking to me. You need to stay awake."

Prompto chuckled. "Not exactly likely to fall asleep here, Iggy," he said. He coughed. "Too cold for that."

"That's exactly what I'm concerned about. Keep talking to me, we're just heading out to get a couple of chocobos to get there faster."

"What… should I talk about?" he asked, then coughed again.

"Tell me about the last few days, what have you been doing?"

And so the two of them spoke, though Prompto was finding it harder and harder to concentrate on what he was saying, or what Ignis was saying in return. He was so cold! The snow was swirling about, floating and flying through the air rather than falling. He stared up at it and watched it as it danced through the sky, following it with his eyes. It was so light that it was affected by his breath, flowing away from him when he exhaled, along with a cloud of steam from his breath, and then back towards him when he inhaled. Some were even sucked inside his nose and mouth but instead of tasting clean and soothing like the snow had in Gralea, it was gritty and irritated his throat, making him cough harder.

Ignis was talking to him, saying something, but for the life of him Prompto couldn't work out what it was. He was cold and tired and he kept coughing. He wasn't sore though, that was something, the cold had taken the pain away. Maybe he should have a nap. It would pass the time before Ignis got here and there were no daemons about. Just a little nap, he thought as he closed his eyes.

"Prompto!"

Dully he felt something tapping on his cheek, hard enough to push his face aside, but he didn't feel any sting from it. He opened his eyes and blurrily saw Ignis in front of him, Aranea standing just behind. Ignis's hands moved over his face, then said, "Damn it where's your mask?"

Prompto took a breath to answer but sucked in a mouthfull of snow and had to cough instead. He closed his eyes again, the lids too heavy for him to keep them open.

"... fire…"

"... clothes…"

"... bleeding…"

"... mask…"

Words that held no meaning floated by Prompto and he fancied he could almost see them. He felt his wet clothes being stripped from him, then being dressed in something that was warm and dry, and some kind of cloth placed over his nose and mouth. There was warmth to one side of him, and a dancing light too. There was a sharp sting in his shoulder, and he gasped but couldn't find the energy to move.

At some point he was lifted and placed onto a chocobo (he recognised the smell and the touch of their feathers), the warmth of someone behind him with a strong arm around his waist holding him in place. He didn't mind; he knew he was safe, that Ignis was there, and he was reliable.

The next time Prompto opened his eyes he was laying on a bed and there was a plastic mask over his face. Not having any memory of where he was or what had just happened he ripped the mask off and sat up in a quick motion. His gun, where was his gun? There was no way he would let Ardyn at him again! But his gun was nowhere to be seen. Prompto's breathing began to quicken and with it he began to cough, a deep hacking cough. Leaning over he held a hand to his shoulder, the movement hurting it, pulling at the stitches he could feel in there, his other hand covered his mouth. When the coughing eased and he pulled his hand away, he saw specks of blood.

"What-" he started.

"Prompto, it's alright," Ignis said from the doorway, "you're safe. But you need to put that mask back on. It's just oxygen but it will help repair your lungs."

"Iggy…" Prompto breathed. Relaxing again, he did as he was told and laid back down, fitting the mask again. It wasn't Ardyn, he wasn't trapped, and looking around, he recognised the single bedroom in Ignis's apartment.

"Why were you out there in that weather without a mask? And why didn't you tell me that you had been stabbed?" Ignis asked as he sat on the edge of the bed, his voice sharp. He wasn't using a cane any more to get around, Prompto noticed.

"The snow was heavy when I left, didn't think I would be long or that I would need it," Prompto said.

"You should always have it on you, regardless. Always," Ignis said, his voice firm and, to anyone else he might have appeared angry but Prompto knew he was just worried.

"I know. I'm sorry," he said. "The stab wound… I don't know. I guess it didn't seem important." He fell silent again, then, as the thought occurred to him, "Wiz, did you find Wiz? He'll be worried if he gets to the outpost and I'm not there."

"It's alright, he knows. Get some rest," Ignis said, standing. "I'll wake you when dinner is ready."

Prompto nodded and closed his eyes, but opened them again when he called, "Ignis." Ignis paused in the doorway, and half turned back. "Thank you. For finding me and… everything."

Ignis gave a small smile and a nod before taking his leave, allowing Prompto to rest some more.

Year 10

Prompto had come around to Ignis's apartment early with the intention to help him get the place ready for their little dinner party, but he need not have bothered. Ignis always kept his apartment spotless. It helped him navigate, he said, though Prompto suspected that Ignis was always an obsessively clean person.

"Hey Iggy," Prompto said, leaning against the counter and watching the man slice vegetables with nearly the same speed as he used to.

"Hmm?"

"Do…" he traced circles on the countertop with his finger. "Do you think Noct will come back soon? I mean really, not just hope, we all hope it, but realistically. It's already been ten years, and the world is so different now. And if he does, what if he hasn't aged, and we all have? Do we even know what absorbing this power entails?"

"I have been doing some research on the subject, yes," Ignis said as he dropped the carrots into a pot and moved on to the potatoes, his hands swift and sure. "From what I have learned, for Noct it will pass as though a dream and, when he is ready, he will simply wake up. Though being that we have yet to find where the Crystal disappeared to all those years ago, where he wakes, I have no idea."

"But… what if he doesn't come back? What if this is it?" Prompto asks, his voice low, not looking at Ignis.

Ignis stops in his cutting and rests a hand on Prompto's shoulder, causing the shorter man to look up. "We have to believe that he will come back. He's still alive, we know that. And as soon as he's able to, he'll come back."

Prompto's smile was shaky but he gave a nod anyway. "Yeah. Thanks, Iggy. I just wish… there was some way to contact him, you know? Tell him what's happened, how the world needs him, how we need him."

"Hey guys! I got the beer!" A shout from the doorway announced Gladio as he pushed it open.

Prompto pushed his low mood away with an effort and fixed a bright smile on his face as he moved to help Gladio bring in what he had brought.

The evening passed smoothly, conversation flowed, and friends of old caught up over all they had missed.

And then Ignis's phone rang.

-l-l-l-

I would like to write some more scenes with Prompto's time at the chocobo ranch in the future, maybe as a series of one shots after this story is finished