Author's Note:
Riku: It is time we return to the angst that happened last time. The gala went a little south... and they were captured. What will happen to the boys now? Let's find out!
-
As the boys walked, Noctis could hear the panicked breaths and whimpers from Prompto from his side. No doubt there was also a bag placed over his head too. The walk was awkward and rushed, causing him to stumble over his feet and try to get to Prompto. He couldn't though, and eventually he was forced to his hands and knees to crawl through something.
"Keep moving!" One of the voices instructed. "Don't stop."
"I'm sorry," Noctis whispered into his mask while trying to keep up with the brutal pace set for them. Finally they got out of the tunnels and were soon scooped up and thrown into a vehicle.
Prompto yelped when he was thrown into the vehicle, followed with another set of soft whimpers.
There was chuckling heard from one of the captors. "Looks like we got a little scared chocobo as a bonus."
As the vehicle started to move, Noctis did his best to inch over to his friend's side and press against him to try and comfort him. He hated the shake he could feel. "I'm sorry Prompto." He whispered.
"N-Noct," Prompto's voice cracked, still so nervous and weak.
"I'm here. I'll do what I can to keep you safe." Noctis promised softly. He had to keep calm, try to find a way out of this.
Or at least hope the tracking device in his suit would lead people to their side.
"B-But... but we-we're... they..." Prompto's breaths were now wheezing and heavy. He was most likely crying and his throat was already swollen.
Noctis shifted enough to try and wrap around Prompto as much as he could. "You can do it. I believe in you."
"I-I'm, I can't," Prompto sobbed. "I can't d-do it."
"Then trust in me. I'll get us out of this. I'm so sorry." Noctis said softly, trying to resist his own tears.
Prompto clung to him again, letting out more sobs from his torn throat. Every sound he made hurt Noctis deeply. "I'm s-still... scared. What w-will we do?"
Noctis let out a little sob at the question before he took some deep breaths. "Follow their instructions, try and find an opening to escape."
"I can't," Prompto repeated from before. He continued to desperately cling to Noctis, on the verge of hyperventilating. "I c-can't do t-this."
"Breathe, come on, breathe some." Noctis begged as the vehicle came to a stop.
"That's enough love birds." One of the men barked while Noctis felt a hand wrap around his ankle to pull him away from Prompto.
"Break them up, and remember our deal. Leave the chocobo alone. We're focused on the prince."
"N-Noct!" Prompto cried as they were pulled apart.
"Prom! I'm sorry!" Noctis yelled as he was yanked away from Prompto and shoved into a set of strong arms that clamped around him.
"No! D-Don't take h-him!" Prompto screamed. Sounds of him struggling followed, no doubt being restrained by one of the other men.
"You picked such a pretty pet, didn't you princey?" The man carrying him asked. He felt the change in temperature signaling they had gone inside. The bag was ripped off his head as he was thrown into a cell and the door slammed closed.
Across from him he watched as Prompto was unceremoniously tossed into the cell. The bag was taken from his face, and Noctis's heart sank when he saw just how terrified Prompto looked. His eyes were red and watery, tears stained down his puffy cheeks.
Noctis felt a sob build in his chest as he threw himself at the cell toward Prompto. "I'm here, I'm here." He whispered.
Prompto scrambled to the front of his own cell, gripping the bars tightly. "Noct!" He tried to reach his arms through the bars towards Noctis's cell.
Noctis reached out to try and touch Prompto, the sob finally breaking through his lips. "I'm here, I'll help you, promise."
Unfortunately since their cells were across from each other, Noctis was unable to reach Prompto's hand. One of the men who captured them also marched over and grabbed Noctis's wrist. "Don't think you can try anything funny."
Noctis flinched at the hard hold. "What do you want? You know we don't negotiate with terrorists."
"Exactly. There's no negotiation, only demands and bargaining. You don't think your dear old dad won't do anything to get you back?"
"So this is for money?" Noctis spat.
"Isn't it always?" the man cackled. "But this is also about tearing down the monarchy."
"You won't manage that, he won't budge to your demands." Noctis could feel his magic shimmering under his skin at the threat to his family, but he had to keep his calm as much as he could.
"Even when his son's life is on the line?" The man asked as he took out a switchblade. "Or is the king too high up on his throne to even care about his son?"
"We know where we stand with each other. Don't worry your ugly mug too much."
The man sneered, snatching a clump of Noctis's hair and yanking his head closer to the bars. He brought the blade right up to Noctis's face, glaring deeply. "If you think you can be smug, don't think we won't punish you for it. We don't care about you being in 'pristine' condition after all."
Noctis was able to keep from making a noise at being yanked by his hair, but he couldn't help his face twisting up some. He stared at the switchblade and Prompto looked horrified in the other cell. As long as they were focused on him, he could live with it.
"I think you talk a big game." He hissed.
"Takes one to know one," the man laughed. "Now... we just need to do a quick check. Please stay still and cooperate otherwise..." he followed Nocits's gaze to Prompto. "Well you can take a guess."
The man snapped his fingers and some of the other men matched forward.
When he was let go, Noctis stumbled back some. Then, he backed up against the wall as two men came into the cell and started to pat their hands over him. "What are you-?" He stopped talking as he was backhanded to keep him quiet.
"There's more where that came from if you resist." The man snarled. He pulled out Noctis's phone and a tracker from different pockets to take away.
Noctis was glad that the last ditch tracker was still safely tucked away in his shirt stay.
"Can't have you letting anyone find you two just yet," the man replied before he placed the phone and tracker into a bag.
Noctis looked as a pair of men were doing the same thing to Prompto, though he only had his phone and camera.
"What happens now?"
"Now we wait," the man said as they closed the cells again. "We hope you enjoy your stay, ha ha!"
Even though it felt like they were alone, Noctis knew they were being watched somehow. He sat down on the ground, holding his cheek gently.
"You okay?" Prompto's voice came softly.
"I should be asking you that. Are you okay?" Noctis asked as he looked over at his stressed friend.
Prompto wrapped his arms around himself, shuddering slightly. "I... I don't know. A-Are they even going to give us food? We can't just starve here!"
"I don't know. Sounds like they want us mostly in one piece, so hopefully." Noctis mused. "They'll use your safety against me, but I won't let them touch you."
"They already took the jacket... ruined the suit and everything..." Prompto muttered.
"We can replace that, I'll get you a hundred if you want."
"But the cufflinks... those look really... well special. They're probably going to pawn them now or something."
Noctis bowed his head at that. "The cufflinks... no shop would take them. They're too obviously royal." He said softly. "It's a mark of being close to the royal family, and special."
Prompto lowered his head, averting his eyes. "Well maybe no shop in Insomnia. How do you know they won't try to sell them to Niflheim or something?"
"Usual protocol is to lock down the borders until the situation is taken care of. No one will be leaving anytime soon."
"Are they really going to find us?" Prompto asked. "I don't want to die here."
"I believe in Ignis and Gladio and everyone. They won't leave us here."
Noctis assured him.
Prompto hummed. "Yeah... okay."
"We have trained for this most of our lives. I'm sorry you got into this. But they won't give up till we're found. And everyone associated with this is taken care of."
"Thanks, Noct..." Prompto sighed. "I'm glad you can be calm about this at least. It helps a little."
"I'm trying. I'm here for you, even if I can't be there."
Lifting his head, Prompto stared across at Noctis. He started to smile again. "Thanks."
Noctis gave a little smile at that. "You're welcome. As I said, here for you. You still have to come up with something to borrow."
Prompto chuckled softly. "I'll keep trying."
"You're doing your best. Just keep doing that." Noctis assured him softly
Prompto nodded again. He then wrapped his arms around himself before looking around the cell. "There's not even any blankets here... y-you think if we ask, they'll give us some? Probably not..."
"I doubt we would get blankets. That would be too kind," He said softly.
"Greeeeeeat, so we're going to freeze."
"You won't freeze. Maybe a bit miserable, but... no freezing," Noctis said softly. "I'll find a way to get some heat if I have to."
"Let me know when you find a way."
"Dude, you'll know cause you'll have fire next to you," Noctis said softly.
"What are you just going to just poof fire into existence?"
"I've been working on my elemancy with dad. I might have some fire to use."
"But no way they'll let you set fire in here! They'll totally know!"
"I'll only do it if we get desperate. But, it's something I can do to take care of you."
"You don't need to treat me like I'm a baby... I'm not that helpless..." Prompto said as he leaned up against the wall and stared off to the side.
Noctis stifled a snort at that. "I dragged my best friend into a hostage situation because I'm an idiot. I'm sorry if I want to take care of you. I just... I can't imagine you being hurt because of me."
"Hmm," Prompto hummed. "I'll try not to get hurt, okay?"
"Good, that's the best I could ask for. And I'll do what I can to keep them off of your attention:" Noctis promised. He only hoped that he would be able to keep hold of that promise.
-
Author's Note:
GG: I'd say we're sorry, but, well, there's so many more chapters to go with this. I'm holding my apology for later.