"I'm going on ahead!"
"Catch me if you can, slowpoke!"
Prompto lurched in the saddle as his chocobo dodged around a boulder. Behind him, Noctis laughed as his chocobo jumped over the boulder, clearing it with a flap of it's wings.
"You'll have to try harder than that, Prompto!" Noctis called as he ducked low over the chocobo's neck. Prompto grinned, urging his own bird forwards. Oh, it was on. Grass and bushes blurred past as they raced.
Finally, they pulled up with a whoop. The birds stood on an outlook where they could see Hammerhead basking in distant evening light. Deftly pulling open the fastening on his camera case, Prompto leaned back so he could capture a shot of Noctis looking out over the view. Perfect lighting. That one was going in the collection.
"Getting dark fast," Gladio said as he and Ignis caught up to them, "We shouldn't hang around here."
"According to our tipster's instructions, the haven should be just ahead." Ignis unfolded the map to check.
"It just keeps getting dark earlier and earlier." Noctis mused. Something in his voice made Prompto shudder.
"Yeah," He agreed, "Maybe it's just the season?"
Noct opened his mouth to say something, but Prompto was already pointing out across the plain.
"I think I see the haven!"
"Right. Let's go."
Snapping one last photo before putting away his camera, Prompto smiled. "I can almost smell the food cooking. What'll it be tonight, Ignis?"
"After our hunt today we have a selection of rather choice steaks. Perhaps something along those lines would strike Noct's fancy?"
"Sounds good to me," Noct said, "As long as it comes with sleep afterwards."
"Hey guys," Gladio called, "Magitech engine!
"Looks like we'll have a bit of exercise before dinner," Ignis was already dismounting and summoning his daggers
"Every time…" Noct sighed. "Right, let's make this quick."
Prompto double checked that his camera was secure before summoning his own pistol to hand. It appeared, and his fingers closed naturally around the smooth grip. He might not be as much of a fighter as his friends, but at least shooting came naturally to him.
"Hey Noct," He called, "Want me to show you how it's done?"
Noct was staring down the Imperial MTs as they leaped from the carrier.
"You can try," he drew back his arm, short-sword appearing in his hand a split second before he flung it forward. The weapon flew straight, and in another second Noct warped away.
"Damn, that's cool." Prompto muttered under his breath. He tried not to say it out loud where Noct could hear, but the way the prince flew around the battle field with weapons flashing was a thing of beauty. One more picture wouldn't hurt, right?
"Prompto!" Noctis called, swinging his sword around to hack at a magitech trooper.
"On it!" Just one picture would have to do. He jumped over the bank, sprinting until he could line up a shot. Two hands on the gun, sight down the barrel, and pull the trigger.
The infantry trooper fell back in a cloud of smoke as Prompto's bullet took it right in the forehead.
"Nice one, Prompto!" Noctis warped forwards to slam into another trooper who held a flagpole. Prompto grinned, running to join him.
"And that's that." Ignis said calmly as the last trooper fell with a dagger implanted in it's faceplate. "Everyone worked up an appetite?"
"I'm starving," Noctis brushed the dirt from his hands.
"Good. As they say, hunger is the best seasoning."
"Nah," Prompto said, "Pretty sure the best seasoning was whatever you put in the curry last night."
"A good spice blend certainly doesn't hurt," Ignis agreed, "but perhaps we should continue this conversation once we reach the haven." He nodded to the side, where darkness seemed to be swirling in the gathering gloom.
A giant red hand suddenly shot up out of the ground, then slammed it down as the rest of the giant daemon began to force it's way through.
"Yeah, time to go!" Gladio shoved the reigns of Noctis' chocobo into the prince's hands, holding his own and Prompto's in the other. By the time the giant was on it's feet, they were halfway to the haven.
"Now that was fun!" Prompto gestured with his fork to Noctis as the prince looked through today's photos on his camera. Ignis walked past towards the camp stove where meat was sizzling, but he paused to look over Noctis' shoulder. The photo was one Prompto had taken earlier, during a quick fight with some troopers. Noctis and Gladio were in the middle of an impressive joint maneuver, both great-swords twirling.
"We should hold onto this one." Ignis smiled. "To remember."
"Yeah," Noctis looked up, "especially with good food at the end of it."
"Shall I take that as a hint, then?" Ignis turned to check the food, still smiling. Noctis handed back the camera.
"You're always getting better at those photos," he said.
"Want to come with me tomorrow morning to get some more shots?"
Noctis groaned, flopping back in his folding chair. "What is it with you guys and early mornings?"
"It's when the lighting's best, dude. Besides," He wiggled his eyebrows, "maybe I just want to spend some more time with my best pal."
Noctis huffed a laugh. "Right. How can I say no to that?" He met Prompto's eyes. Again, there was that look that made him shudder. For a brief moment, a sense of profound sadness hung around the prince. The next instant it was gone, and Noctis chuckled.
"One more thing, Prompto."
"What's that?" Prompto forced a grin, trying to shake off the strange feeling.
"Lose the goatee. It doesn't do you any favors."
"Uh.. What-" Prompto didn't have a beard. He'd tried of course, but hadn't managed anything more than a few scraggly bristles. Maybe when he was older-
Oh.
Prompto cracked open one eye. Sunlight was streaming between the blinds of an old camping trailer. He squinted out the window, where the Hammerhead sign was highlighted against the blue sky.
It was morning.
Prompto groaned and threw back his single blanket. He rolled out of his cot, fumbling for his boots to pull on one at a time. How many weeks had it been, and the sunshine still surprised him every morning?
It takes a long time to adjust after ten years of night, a small voice whispered in the back of his head. But those ten years were like a bad dream. Darkness, daemons, hunting, trying to get people to safety, more darkness… It had been an eternity, but also just a moment. He still couldn't wrap his head around it.
It was too early to try and think about it. Instead he stood and leaned towards the small circular mirror that hung on the wall. His tub of hair gel was getting low, maybe he'd ask Talcott to look for some the next time he went to Lestallum. Deftly, he ran his fingers through his hair, shaping it in the same spikes he'd done since high school.
Lose the goatee. It doesn't do you any favours.
Prompto started as the words from his dream came back to him. In the cloudy mirror his face stared back, almost unchanged except for the trimmed blond hair on his chin. The dreams were getting worse. Every night he'd dream of the good days when they'd traveled in the Regalia, hunting and basking in the sunshine. At the time the destruction of Insomnia had loomed large, but compared to everything that happened after… his heart ached to return to those days.
Or maybe Gladio's teasing was getting through to him.
"Not everyone can grow a luscious beard like you, big guy." He muttered, turning away from the mirror. He checked that the bracelet on his wrist was secure, then flung open the trailer door. It was time to get to work.
"Takka! Good to see you back in town, man!" Prompto called. The tipster jumped, spinning around until he saw him.
"Prompto! They said you were still hanging around Hammerhead. How are you doing?" Takka slammed the door on his old pickup, then walked around to lower the tail board. Piles of crates filled the back, most marked as various groceries.
Well, my dead friend keeps critiquing my facial hair, and I might be going crazy. He didn't say that. Instead he plastered on his usual cheerful grin.
"Just helping folks settle back in. I'm afraid your diner has seen better days, after the hunters used it for a base."
"Not a problem. I'll have it cleaned up in no time." Takka picked up a stack of crates and headed for his diner. Prompto grabbed another stack before he followed. Inside, the old counter was surrounded by empty ammo crates and makeshift shelves stocked with bandages. Prompto had had to learn how to do normal first aid, since Noctis hadn't been around to make health potions.
Takka shoved some empty ration tins off the counter so he could set down his load. "By the way, Talcott asked me to pass along the message that he and Cid were planning to leave a bit later today. They should be along soon."
"Cid's coming back?"
"You think that anything could keep him away from Hammerhead now that it's safe again?"
"No, I guess not. It's just- how's he doing these days?"
"He's been looking better every morning since the dawn came. I thing you'll be surprised."
This time, Prompto didn't have to force a grin. "That's awesome. I can't wait to see them."
Behind them, a shadow crossed the door sill.
"You boys need a hand?" Cindy stood there, a sack of flour over each shoulder. Prompto leapt up to clear a space for them.
"I'll never say no to that," Takka grinned. "Good to see you, Cindy."
"Likewise, we're glad to have you back." She easily hefted the bags down onto the cleared space. She quirked her lips in a smile at Prompto as she passed.
"You need any help around the garage before Cid gets here?" He managed, feeling his ears start to heat up. He was getting better at talking to her, dammit!
"I could probably use another pair of hands for some tidying. But only after we've got Takka settled."
"Then we'll have it done in record time!"
When Talcott's truck rolled into Hammerhead, Prompto was busily sweeping dust off the shop floor while Cindy arranged some tools on her workbench.
Cid sprang out of the truck almost before the tires rolled to a stop, his wrinkled face in a delighted grin.
"Well, never thought I'd see the old place again." He said as Talcott jumped out next to him. Takka was right; Cid looked almost as young as he had a decade ago. There was a spring in his step as he stepped forward to hug Cindy that hadn't been there for years. It seemed like everyone was livelier and younger now that the sun was back.
Prompto raised a hand in greeting to Talcott. "My man! How's it going in the big city?"
Talcott nodded back pleasantly. "Every day more people head out to reclaim their homes. It's amazing how fast the city's emptying out."
"Are Ignis and Gladio still coming out today?"
Talcott hesitated. "Ah, no. Ignis was held up arranging supplies and seeds for the farmers reclaiming their land. Gladio got word from Cor that there was a pocket of Imperial remnants near Insomnia. They went to clear them out before any settlers got hurt."
"Oh." Prompto stifled a sigh. "Always busy, those two. So Cor the Immortal's still kicking?"
"He's barely slowed down at all. By the way, Ignis did arrange for me to give you this." He rummaged in the cab of his truck for a moment, then pulled out a small paper package that he handed over. Prompto could tell what it was by the shape and weight before he looked inside. A new tub of hair gel.
"Heh. So he hasn't forgotten me. Thanks for bringing this, man. I'd be lost without my hair gel."
"Hey boys," Cindy called. She had her phone up to her ear, but looking at them as she listened. "We had a supply truck break down on the road north. They need a repair kit."
"I'm on it!" Prompto saluted with two fingers as he stuffed the package into his pocket. The Daemons might be gone, but there were plenty of other dangerous creatures out on the roads. Unless you were a crack shot hunter, of course. He already knew where Cindy kept the repair kits, so he was off a minute later. If Gladio and Iggy were working so hard, then he had no right to sit around and mope.
One repair kit delivery turned into a hunting mission, then a supply run for some wild ingredients, then hunting down another lost caravan. By the time Prompto stumbled through the door of the old trailer it was nearly midnight. He was too tired to feel the usual pang of sadness when he saw the table and old plastic chairs where they used to sit and play King's Knight. He wasn't too tired to worry about the dreams, though. Kicking off his boots, he flopped back on the bed. Dusty and sweaty as he was, he couldn't manage a shower tonight.
He just hoped the dream wouldn't be too happy. Those were the worst to wake up from.
It wasn't a usual dream. This time, he stood on a dock in the pre-dawn light. Thick trees surrounded the water, thick roots twisting about. The Vesperpool.
"Prompto." A familiar voice. Painfully familiar.
He looked up. An instant before he's been alone. Now, Noct stood before him. Not young Noctis that had travelled with him, but Noctis the king. He looked better than he ever had in those few days they had been together. Kingly raiment clean and unburned, sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Hair brushed away from a clean, bright face, he also looked younger and more alive somehow. As soon as the thought hit him, it hurt. More alive? That's what he should be.
Prophecy be damned, there was no way that a teenager being forced to lose his family, home, and finally his life was the best case scenario. Prompto would never believe it.
In front of him, Noct smiled and held out a hand.
"Prompto, I have a job for you. Are you gonna stand there all day, or come and help me?"
Unwilling tears began to spill down his cheeks. With a sob, Prompto dashed forwards to take the hand. For a moment their fingers touched and he felt the solid, warm, alive touch. Then Noctis disappeared in a flash of blue light, leaving a warp afterimage. It stood there smiling for a moment more, then it too faded.
Prompto opened his eyes with a gasp, sitting straight up in bed. In his mind's eye he could still see Noct's smiling face beckoning to him. All the other dreams had been memories, or almost memories. But what he saw tonight was impossible. It had never been.
"What the hell." He flicked on a light and began to rummage around in his bedside drawer. This was insane. He was just going mad with grief, right? Or was it some kind of mental disorder. Did most people have real dreams like this? Maybe it was somehow a side effect of his heritage?
"No, that's stupid." He stopped that thought in it's tracks Every day, he reminded himself that it didn't matter where —or how— he was born. Noctis accepted him, and that was enough.
There it was. He lifted the razor out of his drawer and headed for the mirror.
One last look at the best beard he'd probably ever grow.
"Goodbye, buddy." He whispered. "I still think you look cool."
A quick buzz, and then his old, baby face was staring back at him. He grimaced, then pulled a face. What had gotten into him? Shaving because a dream told him to? Never mind. This was hardly the craziest thing he was about to do.
Not stopping to question his actions, he shrugged on a jacket over yesterday's clothes, kicked on his boots, and picked up the rucksack that always sat by the door. When he picked his phone off the charger it said that it was 2AM. If he hurried, maybe he would be on time.
Whether or not he was going mad, Prompto couldn't rest until he at least tried to get to the bottom of this.