Chapter Four: The Problem
Things were getting better. He was recovering. He was fine.
That's what Prompto had told him, and like a fool Noctis had chosen to believe him.
In hindsight, Noctis thought he hadn't believed Prompto due to ignorance, but instead because some naive little part of him had wanted so desperately to hear what Prompto had been saying and for it to be true. Because Prom had been improving, that was undeniable. He just.. hadn't been ready to go on a hunt yet.
Noctis hadn't even wanted to go in the first place, but they'd needed the funds. Unfortunately for them the only hunt currently available in Hammerhead was a particularly nasty, high ranking one. They all knew it would be a dangerous task, but they also hadn't been able to beg smaller tasks off of Cid after their previous run-in with the man. Ignis had decided that it wouldn't be worth it to even try, because they would risk ending up with Cid ranting about how Prompto was "just a machine" again that sounded far too much like the sorts of things Ardyn had been saying.
So after much deliberation they'd accepted Takka's hunt. Technically the hunt was still available, because they hadn't even managed to complete it. Not after Prompto had been seconds away from losing an arm. Possibly even a head.
When Ignis had voiced his concerns that Prompto wasn't fit to go on a hunt.. well, they should have listened. They'd been so experienced in hunting before that Noctis had almost forgotten how a situation could go from in control to potentially fatal in a split second.
Gladio had roared "Prompto, wake up!" Across the clearing, and the blonde had flinched so hard that he'd almost dropped his gun. He hadn't even shot it once, which was.. well, Noctis wasn't sure what he'd even been expecting in that regard. He'd had no delusions that Prompto would be playing a particularly active role in the hunt, but...
He hadn't been expecting him to just freeze up and stare at some point off in the bushes, either. Not when there was a giant Molokujata looking to impale him with its tusks.
If Noctis hadn't warped over and parried the beast in time, well.. he was pretty sure that Prompto would currently be in critical condition. Or dead.
But that wasn't even his main concern right now. Sure, he was shaken by the hunt -they all were- but it was in the past. What was worrying him now was that other than a dazed mumble of "Oh.. Oh, sorry guys.. I just thought I saw something.. Sorry..." after they'd ran from the battle, Prompto hadn't said much at all. The only positive seemed to be that Prompto hadn't taken to isolating himself again, which was an improvement. He still sat with them but he didn't speak, not even to thank Ignis when the advisor handed him a bowl of soup for dinner. Ignis had given Noctis a 'look' at that but hadn't said anything, not wanting to risk a negative reaction if he reprimanded the blonde for his lack of manners.
Noctis was worried, but he had no ideas on how to help. That just frustrated him even more, because it seemed he'd found himself in that situation an awful lot recently.
It was nighttime when Noctis finally started to get an idea of what could possibly be on Prompto's mind. That is, besides the weeks of torture the blonde had been forced to endure. They didn't talk about it, but it had been more than obvious from the state they'd found him in that Prompto had been physically and mentally abused. Noctis' hands still shook in barely contained fury if he so much as thought about Ardyn.
It had been a long day. Ignis had watched over Prompto while Gladio and Noctis had spent a good twelve hours fishing a the nearby lake. They'd caught a few edibles and others that they could sell, as well as one particularly large Fan Bluegill. After the failed hunt yesterday they'd tried to think up new, safer ways to earn some coin. Fishing wasn't sustainable, but it would do for now.
Dinner was finished, and everyone was ready to get some much needed sleep. Ignis had already headed inside the tent and Noctis was putting the clean plates away before bed. But Prompto, Prompto didn't seem to be doing much of anything except sitting on the edge of the haven. His legs were hanging over the ledge, swinging back and forth gently as he stared off into the distance, back to the campsite.
Noctis and Gladio shared a look before both returning their gazes to Prompto's back, Gladio clearing his throat after a moment "Hey, uh.. Prom? You gonna, y'know, come to bed? It's getting late."
Prompto turned his head to face them and Noctis watched as those entrancing red yes of his glinted in the moonlight. It was the only feature that marked him as different to a regular human, but Noctis found those eyes beautiful. He loved the way they almost seemed to glow under the right light, or the intensity he'd see there when Prompto was truly passionate about something-
Not anymore. Prompto didn't seem to get excited about much at all anymore.
"I'm not really tired." Prompto said, but his voice was slightly off, as though there was a different meaning to his words entirely. And then; "But hey Gladio, 'Mutts of the empire can sleep on the floor where they belong', remember? I wouldn't want to intrude."
Both Noctis and Gladio were stunned. Prompto had turned back to stare off into the horizon as he'd spoken so they hadn't seen his face, but they'd both heard the steel in his voice, the unspoken challenge. It was in equal parts concerning but also a possible sign of progress. Prompto wouldn't go within ten feet of Gladio when they'd first rescued him from Zegnautus Keep, so for him to be so boldly challenging him now? That had to mean something.
After a few moments of stunned uncertainty Ignis poked his head out of the tent, looking up at Gladiolus. "You deserved that" He stated, the slightest hint of amusement lacing his voice, before he retreated back inside the safety of tent canvas. Gladio just shook his head before heading into the tent as well and -after staring at Prompto's back for several moments- Noctis followed. If Prompto needed space, they'd give him space. Anything. Anything to help him heal.
Noctis had honestly not expected for things to get any worse. Unfortunately life loved to pelt him with nasty surprises, so of course the next morning they found Prompto in the worst state he'd been in since they'd rescued him.
The blonde had been outside all night, which hadn't been too much of a concern because the weather was still warm enough to sleep outdoors. But when Noctis left the tent the next morning he'd found Prompto curled up on the floor by the fire, shivering violently. He was crouching by the blonde's side in an instant, grabbing Gladio's jacket from where the Shield had slung it over the back of his camping chair last night. He coaxed Prompto into sitting up and wrapped the jacket around him, keeping a gentle hopefully grounding grip on Prompto's shoulders.
"Hey Prom, you okay man? Look at me. Hey, come on." Prompto didn't seem to respond at all for a few moments before his eyes slowly moved up to meet Noctis', the Prince offering him a weak smile. "There we go. I- what happened, Prom? You shouldn't be shivering, its really warm out here."
A frown reached Prompto's face and he stared off at a spot just above Noctis' shoulder for several seconds, before shaking his head. Without a word he stood up, Noctis doing the same, watching his friend with concern. Prompto stood there staring down at the campfire before he looked back up at Noctis, a frown still in place.
"I'm fine." He said, before taking his seat by the campfire. Noctis privately thought that he'd never heard someone quite so uncertain of their own lie before.
Ignis found that it was quite impossible to miss the looks Prompto was giving Gladio. The Shield had woken up last for once, the previous day of dragging large fish out of the water having taken its toll. When Gladio had emerged from the tent Ignis had been busy cooking, but out the corner of his eye he'd seen how Prompto's whole body had tensed even as his eyes remained fixed on the floor. It was.. concerning. Ignis reasoned that perhaps it was because Prompto had spoken out against Gladio last night. Maybe he expected some form of retribution?
Ignis exhaled slowly as if to banish the thoughts, adjusting his glasses before continuing to eat his porridge. It wouldn't be long now until Prompto could stomach richer foods again. He'd even mixed a few wild berries into today's porridge, giving it a bit more flavour than usual. The berries where somewhat bitter, but overall nice enough. Still, he was looking forwards to a time when he could make proper dishes again.
Noctis and Gladiolus were in conversation about the best tactics to employ when fighting daemons. Ignis had noticed that Noctis had tried to draw Prompto into the conversation five separate times now, but the blonde had brushed off every comment or question with a few words and a shrug before returning to his porridge. That was, yet again, worrying behaviour. Prompto had always been especially receptive to Noctis, so it was clear something had changed, but he didn't know what.
The fact frustrated him, because Ignis was well aware that all three of them were painfully unequipped to deal with Prompto's current mental state. He needed proper treatment, a therapist. However, Ignis also knew that Prompto's past would have to remain confidential until reviewed in extent by King Regis. That meant that only one of the therapists employed by the Crown -the woman usually reserved for traumatised Glaives- would be suitable for Prompto's therapy and for that they'd have to go to Insomnia. Unfortunately Prompto wasn't in any fit state to travel long distances and the trip back Insomnia would take over a week even with the Regalia.
It was a conundrum to be sure, and Ignis knew there was no easy way to solve it. Their only option is to be there for Prompto, to offer the support and closeness they -as his friends- are able to provide.
Whether or not Prompto would accept that support? Well, that was another matter entirely.
"Hey man, you okay?"
Noctis was by Prompto's side in a second as the blonde started retching in the corner of their little camp. Prompto just shook his head and a few moments later threw up in a messy puddle on the ground, eyes watering.
Noctis stared down at the black goop he now recognised as daemon blood on the ground. There wasn't as much of it as what Prompto had been throwing up the very first time they'd found him, but that didn't make it any less concerning. Prompto seemed to notice where he was staring and shook his head again, wiping at his streaming eyes. "It's fine, Noct. Just.. leftover. From when Ardyn.. y'know."
Noctis just nodded, because he didnt know, but he didn't want Prompto to feel pressured into telling him about his experiences with Ardyn. "Yeah bud, I get it. Lets just... come on, sit down. I'll get you some water."
A week passed. By now they'd all noticed how Prompto's condition seemed to be deteriorating, but none of them really wanted to ask him about it. How would they even start? Even Gladiolus had tried to think of some way to begin that conversation, and he was pretty certain Prompto didn't want anything to do with him. He understood that, even if thinking of the casual familiarity and friendship they'd had before made his heart ache with a sickening mix of nostalgia and longing.
It had felt good to have a friend like that. Sure, Iggy and Noctis were his friends and he wouldn't trade them for the world. Prompto, though.. Gladio was fairly certain that there was nobody quite like Prompto out there. And that.. well, it made sense. Nobody would've had the fucked up upbringing that Prompto had experienced, nor the strange, twisted innocence that came with being isolated from the world for so long.
Gladio had wanted so desperately to protect him. He'd always had a protective nature, sure, but something about Prompto made it flare. He wanted to make sure the little ball of sunshine got nothing but good experiences from the world that had so far done nothing but torment him.
But then Prompto had tried -had been forced to try- to kill Noctis. So, of course, Gladio had tried to kill him back.
He was still so thankful Noctis and Ignis had managed to stop him. He knew that if he had killed Prompto, he would in fact have been able to forgive himself. It was by all technicalities a breech of his duties, his oath, to let Prompto live. Yet... that blonde ball of sunshine had lit up all their lives. And would again, Gladio was sure of it. They just needed to help Prompto recover first.
He was gaining weight dangerously slowly, even with Ignis' diet plan in place. His current underweight state left Prompto looking gaunt and constantly tired, although Gladio wasn't sure that was all down to the starvation Ardyn had clearly put him through. At first Prompto had been sleeping anywhere upwards of ten hours a night, his body needing to recover from the ordeal it had been forced through. Now.. Prompto still needed to recover, but ever since the night he'd declared he wouldn't be joining them in the tent Gladio wasn't sure how much sleep the blonde had been getting. Not a healthy amount, judging from the deep bags under Prompto's eyes.
Gladiolus still wasnt sure what to make of that whole situation, either. Prompto had both outright challenged and shamed him for his previous words. Ignis had been right - he'd definitely deserved it. But Prompto hadnt seemed the type to call him out like that - was it a sign of progression of regression? He couldn't tell. He wasn't made to handle this kind of crap, to try and understand how someone's mind was working. He just wanted to protect people. That was all. Ignis was the group thinker.
Unfortunately Ignis seemed to be about as stuck as the rest of them. Nobody knew what Prompto needed. Just figuring out how to act around him was a struggle now. Sometimes it seemed like Prompto needed space, and they'd give it, but then the blonde would only grow more and more withdrawn. Or he'd be laughing and chatting with them and it'd seem as though things were maybe getting better, but the next second he'd tense up or flinch for no apparent reason and brush off their concerned questions, insisting "I'm fine", as if they were ever going to believe that.
Prompto was not fine. Nothing about any of this was fine. Prompto was getting worse and they had to figure out why.
When they found out.. oh, once they knew it all made so much sense. And that just made it all the easier to hate themselves for not seeing it sooner.
(This chapter was a bitch to write, sorry it took so damn long! I'm really bad at focusing on a character's emotional state, which is making this alt ending really hard to write because -surprise surprise- it focuses on Prom's emotional state! Ugh. On the plus side the deeper plot kicks in next chapter so.. yay? Two or three chapters left to go, depending on how all this turns out. Would really appreciate any comments because I'm kinda struggling with motivation at the moment x )