The day started like any other. Prompto woke up, made some breakfast, and a snack for work to eat later. When Astrum woke up she took care of him, feeding him, changing him, then playing with him. When it's down time she takes her computer out to do some classes and work done. When it's around time for her to get to work she gets Astrum's diaper bag ready and just on time Ignis knocks on the door.
They both head to the regalia. Astrum is put in his carseat like always. Ignis drops her off at work, she waves Ignis bye as she smothers Astrum in goodbye kisses, causing him to laughs. With one more kiss to her baby's forehead she leaves to work. Ignis smiling the whole time.
Nothing unusual happens for four or five hours of work until it did.
She was taking the order of a detective on his break when they all hear a commotion coming from the kitchen. Prompto was just hoping the day would hurry so she can go home and be with Astrum. He's a healthy three almost four month old baby but she still gets hit with those new mother instincts of wanting him in her arms. To smell his baby smell, to feel him against her chest, to know he's safe in her arms. And she knows it's ridiculous but she still gets those feelings every now and again. All she can do is convince herself to work harder so she can get home faster.
"Freeze!" they all hear so they do. A man with a large duffel bag runs into the dining area out of the kitchen. With everyone staring at him they watch as he makes his way to the door but not with luck as two officer comes in at that moment, but it couldn't have been by accident as they seemed ready for a fight. Prompto, along with the rest of the patrons, duck to the floor as a shootout happens. Prompto tries not to move to much, if she makes the wrong move she will get caught in the crossfire.
Sadly, the officers are terrible shots. Two killed and the other injured along with the detective. But not all is lost as the officers kept him in place long enough for reinforcements to show up, not coming in and risk getting shot themselves.
He starts throwing out demands. For people to close the blinds, for the cook and manager to come on out so no one can ask for help, which at this point is useless as help is already here, just not coming in. When most of his demands are made he orders everyone to gather along the booth so he can see everyone.
It is scary how well thought out this all is. This isn't his first time but he also seems to be in a rush and stressing about something. He walk back and forth, it made everyone nervous as he waves his gun around. Prompto comforts one of the waitresses, her eyes going to everyone. Her manger is being protected by the cook, her older brother. Everyone looks so scared, it's more noticeable when he walks closer. As the man looks like he's thinking she looks over to see the detective and officer trying to help each other. She looks up to the man staring at her. She pales, this can't be good. "Get up." He orders. Prompto looks at everyone, then slowly gets up on her shaking feet. She steps back, but not far as the booth stops her, when he reaches forward. He puts her in an arm lock as he walks outside. He picked her because she is the youngest looking. Everyone has instincts to protect the youngest of the group.
He doesn't stay long outside. He uses her as a shield, so he doesn't get gunned down immediately as he steps out. He takes his time, it seems to get a look at what is outside of the diner. Prompto struggles to get a good posture, with their height different it was difficult. But then he pulls her back, Prompto silently thankful because of all the attention on them. But it's good to know that there are officers outside too. He pushes her to the floor roughly but she bites her lips to not make a sound. She stays still, trying not to move unnecessarily. If she does she might set him off and either get herself or all of them shot. They already have two people dead and two more injured. She can't let anyone else get hurt. She takes deep breaths to calm herself. Those breathing exercises Ignis and Gladio taught her are something she will never forget. He kicks her to the side but Prompto doesn't let pain show on her face. As the man starts thinking about things he goes back to pacing back and forth.
"How are you so calm?" Mercia asks whispering as low as she can, her whole body shaking as she eyes the man. She was quiet enough. Prompto smiles at her which shocks not just her fellow waitress but the others watching her.
"I'm scarred." She whispers back. She raises her hand to show how much it's shaking. Mercia takes it and holds it tight. "But I have my baby at home and I will see him again." She tells them, determination lacing her silent voice. That's what's also motivating, at the moment that's the most, but it also helps that when she and Noct first started hanging out they were both kidnapped. That time was a lot scarier than this, it also didn't help that Noct was too calm for her liking. Especially when the guys were making faces and looks at her, it made her extremely uncomfortable. This time is different. It's been years since then and she learned a thing or two in being in dangerous situations. Ignis and Gladio being the ones to teach her just in case they both got kidnapped again.
She would like to get a hand on one of the officers sidearm, one of them has at least one bullet in the magazine but she doesn't know where the gun landed. Plus she wouldn't know if she could use it, can she shoot someone? Sure he's dangerous, and who knows if he's killed someone before the officers from today, but she has never killed someone. She doesn't know if she can do it when it counts. If she hesitates it would be worse than if she did nothing.
He takes her again, back outside. But this time he talks. He demands to see his brother. Who ever that is. Prompto swears that she saw Ignis but she was to focused on trying to not choke. There were moments she couldn't breathe because he wasn't paying attention to her. Then he talked about playing with her, moving his hand that held his pistol up and down her body, causing her to shiver with fear. She wanted to cry but held it in.
Then before she knew it she's being thrown onto the floor. She starts coughing, crawling to get to the side of the booth.
"That idiot..." she hears being mumbled behind her but doesn't care enough to actually listen until he mutters out loud, "to be seen by a mere waitress." Prompto freezes, she looks up to meet eyes with her manger. He wouldn't happen to be the brother of the man she saw during the thief? It's not a coincidence that he wants his brother who is in jail and was put in there by a waitress, is it? Prompto prayed that he was talking about another waitress. "Wait a..." he says, the blonde could feel his cold eyes boring into her back. Her managers eyes widen, then she sees her manager shake her head. Before she can try and think of a reason her boss would be shaking her head, she felt pain in both her stomach and face. She cries slightly as she's forcefully, roughly, moved to lay on one of her hands as the other cups her cheeks. Her eyes glisten with tears, she tries her best to not let those tears fall. "What's your name?" He wonders. Prompto is frozen. She can't let him have her name. What if he comes for her? Or worse Astrum? "Your name!" He demands with a shout shocking everyone. The others holding each other close.
"P-Pro-" She starts but her stuttering seems to make her fear worse so she takes a breath and swallows the lump in her throat. "Prompto." She says quietly. With the barrel of his gun he slides the few blonde strands of her hair to reveal her name plate. Oh gods, if she had lied to him she would have been in trouble.
"Well, Prompto, you kind of match the description of someone I hate!" He says with so much venom he could be a poisonous snake. He then wraps his large hand around her neck, pinning her to the floor. She struggles, both of her smaller and thinner hands on his rather large forearm. On instinct she starts kicking her feet like it would help her breath better, he sets his gun to the side. "Blonde hair," he says caressing her hair, movement soft compared to what his other hand is doing, "blue eyes," he rubs his thumb on her, following her under eyelashes, "and freckles," he then rubs his thumb against her cheek. Her damn freckles. She always hated them, now more so than ever.
Just as she was feeling lightheaded something comes flying through the air and smacking him in his face. He falls off of her, growling at the group, Prompto takes deep breaths trying to get air back into her lungs. She looks over to see the cook slowly standing up. "Don't hurt her." He threatens. He's always looked out for them all. Prompto notices he's missing a shoe. She turns back to the guy, hearing him growl.
Like in the movies, it happened slow. He raised his arm, hand holding his pistol again, aiming right at the cook.
"NO! STOP!" She cries at the top of her lungs. Not him. He doesn't deserve this. None of them do.
But it doesn't stop him, he pulls the trigger. The sound of the gunshot ringing in all their ears. The rest of the people not able to register the sound of a second gun shot. Prompto looks over to see her friend, the cook, his body falling back. The tears that glazed her eyes finally falling.
"Ronan!" They all, the manager, Prompto, and the two other waitresses, call his name.
