The three brothers were all breathless for they couldn't believe that they were actually seeing their friend. The three all wanting to say something, anything to their friend but their words fail to form sticking in their throats.
"Prompto..." Noctis finally whispers.
"Don't give me that!" Prompto snaps as he turns to face them his eyes were cold and harsh showing just how upset he is as lightening lights up the world around them acausing Prompto to flicker showing the dog that nearly attacked them as thunder rumbles over head.
Prompto opens his mouth to say something but no words leave him causing him to shake his head in disappointment.
"Its great to see you again." Noctis says smiling. The sight of his best friend was making his stomach light and his knees weak. He didn't have to look at his hands to know that they're shaking.
If this was a dream then he doesn't want to wake up from it. He wants to reach out and touch the photog, to embrace him, to pinch him just so he can be sure that who he was seeing was really there.
He steps forward.
"I can't believe you guys..." Prompto mumbles softly he sounds irritated and angry and so many other things that if the others hadn't known better they would've thought that it was Ignis speaking through the blonde "What happen?" Prompto questions.
Noctis falters and stops walking looking at his feet.
No one said anything and this makes Prompto chuckle sadly "Why?" The gunmen asks sadly as he looks to his friends "Why did you guys change?"
"Why are you guys-" Prompto looks at them each with his eyes shining with unshed tears "You know much it hurt watching you guys tear apart our friendship and not being able to do anything about it? Doesn't that upset you? Didn't our bond mean anything?" Prompto asks weakly.
"Why?" Repeats Noctis softly his voice shaking a bit "Why? You seriously asked that..." Noctis says sounding upset "You...I-..." Noctis looks away shaking his head "It's...you..." Noctis sniffs "Nothing is the same without you." He says with a small sob.
"That doesn't mean you got the right to shield the others off! You three should've gotten closer, you should've been seeing as your lives as things that could easily be taken away. You three should've been there for one another!" Cries Prompto before throwing his arm in Ignis' direction "Ignis is a clear example of that!" Screams Prompto.
Ignis grew stiff as he shuffles uncomfortably before looking down at his feet "He tried killing himself and instead of being caring you yelled at him, you hit him...Iggy needed you...he still needs you...and it's not just Ignis. Gladio. Gladio needs you too." Prompto says looking towards Gladiolus who looks away biting his bottom lip.
"Gladio is suffering too. He's trying to be strong for you and Ignis by keeping what he feels bottled up...but, he's hurting so much." Ignis looks towards Gladiolus "Gladio..." he says softly. Gladiolus shuffles scratching his head as he grows uncomfortable. Tears blind him as his breathing quickens he opens his mouth to explain but nothing comes out causing him to swat the air shaking his head. Prompto looks at the Shield sympathetically "Big Guy?" he calls out softly getting Gladiolus to go ridged "Thanks." He says softly getting Gladiolus to look at the deceased gunmen.
"Thanks? Why are you thanking me?" Gladiolus asks softly "I didn't d-" Gladiolus stops talking due to a feeling of being choked up "I didn't do anything..." Gladiolus' voice breaks making it tighter and higher "you were the one that..." Gladiolus looks away as the built up tears spill down his cheeks.
"You saved Iggy." Gladiolus sobs.
"I know. But you were the one trying to keep everyone together, you were trying to be the rock like back when we learned of Insomnia's fall." Prompto says sadly "And I know that Noct and Iggy are grateful for that."
Prompto pulls Gladiolus into a hug holding him tight "And just so you know, it means the world to me too."
Gladiolus isn't able to hold it in any longer, his eyes water greatly as he feels Prompto embrace him. It takes a few seconds but Gladiolus slowly realizes that the youngest feels solid like how he was back when he was alive except his skin, cold and the color of stone. Gladiolus grips the back of Prompto's vest and lowers his brow to rest on the smaller male's shoulder as a loud choked sob escapes him.
It tore at Ignis and Noctis to see Gladiolus so upset and in tears for the Shield almost never cries, they can count on their hands how many times they seen him like this. The first being when Insomnia fell only to learn that his dad had perished. The second time was when he saw his baby sister safe and sound, whilst the third being times involving Prompto and his death. Other than that the two never saw him shedding tears, they couldn't recall if he ever cried as a child and he definitely didn't cry after being slashed in the face. And they know he didn't break down when he was cut in the chest.
So seeing him here clinging to the tiny photog as he sobs noisily into his shoulder hurt their feelings. Making them feel helpless in how to help the one who was there for them.
Gladiolus lets out a deep gut wrenching sob as he buries his nose in the crook of Prompto's neck. His tears staining his vest which Gladiolus grips tighter turning his knuckles white.
The oldest so desperate to express his hurt, to express his regrets, his love for and towards the youngest brother were lodged in his throat and it pained him so for he knows that he'll never get this chance to talk to his best friend ever again. He wanted to say something anything to the blonde who despite drove him up the wall he cared and still cares about.
Prompto on the other hand didn't need to hear the words the other was trying to speak for he could tell all that he was trying to say by him crying.
Its takes a couple of minutes but Gladiolus finally calms down enough to almost breathe normally for his fit of crying had left him with the hiccups. Sniffling, Gladiolus lingers in the hug for a moment longer relishing the time he is having with his friend. Prompto pats his back "Its gonna be okay." He says before Gladiolus breaks the hug.
He sniffs as he wipes at his eyes with the bottom of his hand nodding.
"Noct." Prompto says now addressing the king.
Noctis stiffens as he shly faces his best friend. It honestly feels weird for Noctis to be intimidated by the small blonde for Prompto has never given off an air that was to be feared. He was always kind and welcoming not to mention caring but never frightening like how Noctis feels now.
Noctis could feel himself shaking as he looks away from the blonde as butterflies fill his belly "Noct?" Prompto starts causing Noctis to shake his head "Prompto...I-...I'm-" Noctis shakes his head as he searches for the right words to say. "Sorry?" He mutters softly as he looks up at his best friend "I'm sorry." Noctis repeats sounding like he was on the brink of tears for he knew he had to apologize. But to who exactly wasn't very clear. He knows he must apologize to his Shield and advisor because they were both wronged by him and then there is Prompto who he didn't revive.
"Who's the apology for?" Teases Prompto as he embraces Noctis, pulling his friend in for a hug "Both of you guys?" Noctis says with break in his voice but Prompto only shakes his head as he rubs his friend's back "You don't need to apologize." Prompto says softly yet Noctis only begins to hyperventilate and his body trembles under the hug.
Noctis didn't understand why was Prompto being so nice now? Noctis, despite being overjoyed at getting to see his friend again, half expected the gunmen to do something more...well for a lack of better words vengeful. He thought with all the thunder, lightening, scary beast form, disappearance of animals, and anger he displayed minutes ago that they would end fighting him.
But now. Prompto was as docile as a lamb who was only interested in hugging his friends. The King didn't mind but it felt wrong in some kind of way, like if Ray Jack were to go through all this peril and danger only for the boss he meets at end to smile and wave at him offering a snack and some tea.
And at the same time Noctis couldn't believe he was comparing this to King's Knight. He had to know if Prompto was okay with this, he has to know if they were really not going to fight. Taking a deep breath and mustering up the best sturdy voice he can Noctis asks "You're not going to fight us?"
"Fight you!?" Prompto sounds hurt "What gave you that idea?" Prompto asks looking at his friend "I mean, you had all those dogs vanish and then you were that daemon dog and you were trying to fight us but..." Noctis says rambling with tears pooling in his eyes "And not to mention when you yelled at us I thought you-" Noctis shakes his head as his words fail him. Noctis sniffs as a sob leaves him "I know you're angry and thats why you're-" Noctis' voice quakes as it threatens to break, he closes his eyes as a sob leaves him "Why you're not resting peacefully." Noctis weeps "Its not fair, I'm so sorry its not fair! I should've protected you better!" Noctis sobs. He buries his face in Prompto's shoulder as a gut wrenching sob leaves the prince as he hugs Prompto tighter.
"What kind of King am I if can't even protect those who I love? I couldn't protect my dad and I couldn't even protect you, my best friend!" Wails Noctis as he clutches the front of his friends' vest. Prompto only frowns as he holds Noctis tighter listening to his friends sobs he can only rock him a bit as he he shushs him softly "Noct. Listen, you're not to blame. You didn't do anything wrong. And don't doubt yourself, you're gonna be a great king." Prompto says softly "What happen to your dad was out of our control. You know that. And what to me...well, I'm happy that its me and not one of you guys." Prompto says.
"But I never wanted to fight you guys. All that you guys saw was just for show. When I saw you guys I was just so happy and angry at the same time. I was happy because I saw you all and angry not because I'm dead but because you all weren't getting along. I watched helplessly as you guys fought with one another. I couldn't do anything..." Prompto's eyes darken "I couldn't say anything...and I tried interfering but it didn't do anything to stop you. It hurt because I thought you guys would've bonded closer or something." Prompto pauses his voice was soft "Well at least that's what I was hoping. I didn't like that you guys weren't talking or that Gladio was always angry or that Ignis always cried and blamed himself. Seeing all that and knowing that there wasn't anyone there to help you guys out when you needed them the most was upsetting." Prompto explains sadly "I just wanted you guys to know its going to be okay and that things will be getting better and you guys will get to a point where you can talk about me and not cry or get sad." Prompto continues.
Noctis hiccups as he continues to snivel "But it's my fault. Its all my fault." Noctis sobs "I was the one who drove Ignis to want to commit suicide, or for-forcing Gladio into being the one-..." Noctis gasps sniffing a bit. "Noct. You can't blame yourself...please don't blame yourself." Prompto says softly "You didn't do anything wrong. You were upset and grieving too, just like them." The blonde explains.
"You are an amazing friend and I know you would've done anything for us, for me. I know that you wanted to give it to us both but we only that one. It doesn't make me mad or envious that you gave it to Iggy I'm happy that he got it. But I need you and the others to be strong for me, for each other. You guys gotta stick together and be strong okay?" Prompto says with a smile.
Noctis on the other hand only continues to cry his grief and misery into his friend. He was so overcome with emotion and relief that he just couldn't keep it bottled up anymore. He hated that he had felt so angry and he feared that no one would've understood where his pain was coming from but to hear that Prompto understood and knew of his pain made Noctis feel a bit better. Now the dark king knows that Ignis and Gladiolus knew how he was feeling and knew what he was dealing with but it was always Prompto and his thoughts that haunted the boy. Like how his father's thoughts are weighing on him. He is afraid that his father is disappointed in him but part of him hopes he's proud. Proud of what he has put out and shown him and hopefully he'll be proud of the king he'll become.
But for now he's happy that he is able to make his peace with his best friend in the world.
It takes a moment but when Noctis finally calms down enough to speak Prompto simply chuckles a bit "You okay there buddy?" He jokes. Noctis smirks as he wipes at he eyes "I'll be okay." Noctis coughs as he looks at the youngest.
As Prompto and Noctis talked a bit Ignis found himself watching the two, well Prompto mostly. He knows he seen him in the photos he's taken but seeing him like this was a whole new experience. It was surreal almost.
He can only stand there watching his friend, his chest hurts and his eyes water greatly. Ignis reaches into his back pocket and pulls out the camera that Prompto used to carry. With trembling hands Ignis looks down at the camera only to find that the once damaged camera is once again in perfect condition.
He hits the on button only to see the image he had taken of Prompto sitting at his grave the week after his passing. Seeing the image and seeing the blonde here in person yet knowing that he was dead was still upsetting. Ignis closes his eyes and it takes him a moment to realize that he wasn't breathing making his chest ache.
With a rush of air Ignis lets out a strangled sob catching Prompto's attention. Ignis looks back to the image and tears splash onto the small screen forming tiny puddles.
Ignis is afraid. Afraid of what Prompto is going to say or do to him, because of the simple fact Noctis chose to revive him instead of Prompto. The blonde must resent him which explains why he hasn't spoken to him.
And it hurts. It hurts so much because Ignis thought they were pretty close.
"I like this one. Not to mention the lighting is perfect!"
Ignis looks up, Prompto was standing next to him with a kind smile on his lips "Oh and that one you took of the field but came out blurry was really cool too, just remember to focus it next time okay."
Ignis was shaking.
Here he stood in front of his friend chatting like they had done so many times before when he was alive.
Ignis swallows thickly as his vision becomes blurry "Prompto..." he whimpers softly. He wants to step forward his knees feel incredibly weak as he tries to step forward but was rooted to the spot out of what he thought to be fear.
He's scared. So very scared that Prompto is feigning kindness towards him. Waiting for the right moment to strike him down and unleash his true feelings onto him for being left for dead and the anticipation was making Ignis lightheaded. He watches as Prompto raises his arms and brings them around him causing Ignis to close his eyes.
Prompto frowns realizing that Ignis is trembling like a leaf. He raises his hand and gently begins to pet his friends hair "It's okay Iggy, don't be scared just it's me." Prompto says softly yet this makes Ignis shake his head "You're not mad at me?" He asks weakly in a weepy voice.
This confused Prompto. "Why would I be mad?" He asks softly but at this point Ignis has become choked up and he is no longer able to speak without the fear of crying.
"Why would I be mad at him?" Prompto asks looking towards Noctis and Gladiolus, the blonde already knew the answer but he just wanted confirmation. For he recalls those nights where he would look down and see Ignis laying awake at night blaming himself. Or those days where he would visit as a ghost or as Pryna only to find Ignis muttering to himself about what he could've done to save the gunmen.
"He thought you would've blamed him for being the one to get the Phoenix Down." Noctis says softly.
Prompto, holding Ignis snug in his arms looks towards him "Is that true Iggy? You thought I was gonna hate you because of that?"
Ignis only chokes on his tears as a tiny sob leaves him "I'm sorry." The pyromancer cries "I'm sorry." he repeats.
"I could never be mad at you." A small pause "Why would I be mad that my best friend gets a chance to live and continue to do great things with his life? Iggy, I'm not mad at you. I can never be mad at you. I'm happy for you."
Hearing this Ignis sags against the hug as his legs feel even weaker causing him to drop to his knees bringing Prompto down with him. Ignis hiccups as fat tears roll down his face as he clutches the camera close to his chest sobbing loudly "I'm so sorry Prompto it should be me...I should be the one here and n-not you!" he cries. Sniffing he looks up at his friend his face broken up as tears continue to fall "Its all my fault, it my fault you're here and not with us...I should be the one-" yet Prompto looks at Ignis for a moment. He knows that Ignis is suffering, well all three of them are suffering, but Ignis to Prompto is suffering the most for he was struggling with guilt.
Prompto had been a witness to the times Ignis tried to kill himself. He had been the one to heal Ignis' cuts after he cut up his arms, the one to make Ignis puke up the pills, the one who had the rope around his neck loosen and snap.
He was the one that jammed the Quicksilver.
Knowing that Ignis had hit that point in his life tore at him and it took everything in Prompto's power to send a warning to Gladiolus get him back to the cottage. Though trying to get through to Noctis was near impossible.
But despite all that Prompto is just happy knowing that Ignis is alive.
And he needs to show him that. He needs to show him that he was grateful for the time they had together but that Ignis shouldn't blame himself. For he wasn't at fault because he didn't do anything wrong. None of them did anything wrong. And he hates that they think they are responsible for his demise. That's this moment right here is so important to Prompto, to reassure that they all can move on with peace in their hearts.
"Iggy...don't...don't say that." Prompto says softly "I wanted you to live, that's why I had Noct use it on you."
Hearing that still didn't make sense to Ignis "But what of you? Surely you want to live again."
Prompto only pulls Ignis into a tighter hug rocking him as does so "Everything lives and dies and you know we're no exception. The hunts we had gone on including those crazy timed quests the tipsters and Hunters started doing...all those were chances we could've died. We we're lucky to come out of those with just scratches, bumps, and bruises." Prompto says laughing but Ignis shakes his head "That was because I had taken care to ensure that we had the curatives we'd need for them. I failed to check this time around." Ignis keens.
"We all make mistakes Iggy."
"But my mistake costed you your life! A price that you shouldn't have had to pay because of my carelessness! Because of me you're dead. I-I don't deserve-" Ignis hiccups as he grips his hair as he hits himself on the head with a fist and a deep sob leaving him as he curls onto himself sobbing into Prompto's lap "I'm so sorry..."
Prompto hates he feels that there is no real way he can console Ignis without making him feel worse. He hugs him a but closer and lays his head on his back as he rubs his hand up and down along the length of his friends spine "Iggy. You didn't kill me. Noct and Gladio didn't kill me either...it was the Dread Behemoth. That thing was stronger than anything we faced. Don't forget you were the one who carried me to safety before you took a hit too. You remember right?"
Ignis stiffens. Of course he remembers the pain that followed being hit in the back by the beast was agonizing, it excruciating.
Ignis stumbles a bit his vision was slightly blurry due to his glasses having gotten broken and the heavy rain that was falling. Another stumble causes Ignis' foot to slip in the mud bringing him to fall into the muddy puddle with surprise. He looks up towards where the battle was being had and he could barely make out the forms of his friends. He's only really able tell where Noctis is thanks to his warping.
He hears Gladiolus roar out as he swings his sword hitting the beast in the leg. The one thing that Ignis didn't hear was gunfire nor did he hear any sign of Prompto and it was worrisome.
"Prompto!" Ignis shouts as he rushes forward "Prompto, where are you?" He calls out again he looks around frantically as he prays that the youngest is all right. He's about to call out again when he hears his name called out weakly. Following the sound he finds Prompto laying broken amongst the stones and grass.
The blonde lays in a pool of his own blood as he weakly grasps onto a wound on his stomach "I messed up big." Prompto croaks his voice was trembling "I didn't see it's claws..." Prompto adds shaking as Ignis drops to his knees at the side of his friend. He hated that he didn't have anything to give Prompto to heal him. He does know that they have a phoenix down and that to use it, he'd have to wait for Prompto to...
Ignis raises his hand to summon the medical kit but before it could materialize an explosion of pain ripples through Ignis as he feels his flesh being shredded. Ignis cries out as he falls to the ground clutching his side only to find that it's slick with blood. Towering over the two was the behemoth, it roars out loudly with it's yellow teeth flashing at the boys. Ignis knew it's intentions and he knew he had to act fast with the little strength he had left.
The beast raises it clawed foot and brings it down over where Prompto lays, moving quickly Ignis summons his daggers and points the end up getting the short swords stuck in the monsters foot. The behemoth jumps back, the wings snapping against the air as it hisses in agony. Ignis slowly gets to his feet where he picks up Prompto wanting to get him to a safe spot away from the monster. Half dragging and half carrying his friend Ignis manages get Prompto behind a large rock before being spotted by the beast. Wanting revenge for it's paw the dread behemoth roars out before lifting it's massive tail and bringing it down onto Ignis.
That's all Ignis could remember of the battle because after that he recalls waking up and Prompto was dead. Ignis feels himself being pulled closer "You were hurt really bad, and I felt that it was important for you to got it. You are really important to Noct and Gladio and there is so much you can do for them. More than I ever can." Prompto says softly. He hears Ignis sniffle and he can feel his tears dripping onto his neck and a sob fills his ear.
Prompto smiles as hugs him closer "But, you're just as important. I-..." Ignis hiccups and he frowns as he buries his face into Prompto's shoulder. Prompto continues to hold him as he pets Ignis' hair as he feels the other grip onto him as if he was afraid that he would shove him away. Rocking him a bit the gunmen looks towards his other friends nodding towards them bringing them over joining the hug.
"Guys." Prompto starts "I love you all...you mean the world to me and know that even though I'm not here with you all and you aren't here with me. Know that we're in each others hearts."
With the brothers broke and weeps as a group.
"Oh yeah before you guys go back, I wanna give you something so that you will never forget me." Prompto says as he starts with Gladiolus as he hands him his bandanna "I don't really know what you could do with it but I want you to have it."
Gladiolus nods his thanks as he smiles at the blonde before pulling him into a hug "I'm gonna miss you." He says patting the youngest on the back before letting go of him allowing him to go to Ignis "As for you Iggy, you already got it." Prompto says nodding towards the camera "I'm counting on you to take cool ones so you can show me them when we see each other again. Okay?"
Ignis smiles nodding "Of course."
"Don't think I forgot about you your Royal Ness." Prompto teases as he walks up to Noctis "This is for you." Prompto says as he places a green and white wristband into his friends hand. Noctis looks at what was passed to him only to find himself speechless "This is your-" Noctis starts to say which only makes Prompto smile "Now its yours." Prompto says nodding "I wish my stuff was a bit cooler or something. But I just want you guys to remember me."
Noctis shakes his head "Who cares if these are expensive or not. What matters is that they belonged to you...we will never forget you...and I promise once we take back Insomnia I will honor you...we'll build you a statue or a building or something...but I swear you will not fade into history!" Noctis says nearly sobbing.
"Thanks buddy." Prompto smiles as he looks up towards the sky as sunlight begins to spill down onto them brightening up the dark world around them.
"Well, guess this is it." Prompto says smiling sadly "I love you guys." Prompto snaps his fingers "Oh yeah, Noct by the way your dad says he's proud of you. Later!" He adds.
Noctis feels his breath stick in his throat as his heart blooms with happiness and with that a bright light engulfs the others causing them to shield their eyes.
When they deem it okay to look again the first thing they noticed was that the storm that they had been caught up in is gone. They see that the sun is out and that the dogs they needed to find were in their kennels looking at them curiously.
"Hey everything is back to normal, I guess." Noctis says looking around.
"I guess." Gladiolus adds.
Noctis looks down at his hand still seeing that he had the wristband.
"Look there!" Ignis shouts pointing towards the sky getting the others to look up, there in the center of the clear blue sky sat a rainbow.
"Lets get a photo of it."
"Yeah, but lets be in the shot too."
"Yeah."
That night as the brothers sit together around the campfire going through the photos, they see the one of the rainbow. There stood Gladiolus in the middle with Noctis on his right and Ignis on his left, both of his massive arms around his friends shoulders each wearing a grin on their faces with the rainbow behind them.
But what made them save the photo wasn't the rainbow, but the smiling blonde who had photo bombed them, posing on his knees sitting directly in front of Gladiolus.
