~Squall~

Zell and Seifer come into the dining room finally, the last to arrive since the two decided to train a bit longer than they usually do this morning. I continue pacing, my coffee gripped in hand. Laguna keeps an eye on me as I do, refraining from sounding like a broken record and asking for the fifth time if I'm alright. Another sleepless night came and went, my thoughts consumed with Prompto, but now images of Cloud and his haunting eyes as well. Who is this Leon they mentioned, and why does Cloud think I am him?

"Looks like I'm not the only one that had a rough night," Seifer mentions, sliding into a seat beside Zell. The two proceed to dig into their breakfasts, needing the refuel after burning so much energy off this morning. I ignore the comment, continuing my motions while my mind further wanders.

"Does vampy Vincent know we're awake?" Seifer asks Laguna between bites. Laguna drops the finger his cheek was leaning on, turning to nod at the two blondes.

"I sent guards to inform them when I arrived here a few hours ago. Seems there wasn't much progress made between the two last night. The guards that were stationed outside the room reported no disturbances or attempts at leaving before they went off duty for the day."

"So now we sit and wait," Selphie chimes in, keeping her eyes on the brunette girl beside her. Rinoa twirls her fork in her eggs sluggishly before finally setting the utensil down. Selphie smiles weakly, patting her arm before taking a sip of her coffee.

"Is that the plan?" Zell asks us, glancing between Laguna and me. I look over at the president and watch him shrug.

"Not much else we can do really, unless we want to take another stab at learning about the groups or dream world again. Are you guys even up for that?" Laguna asks the room. Quistis sets her mug down on the table, folding her hands into her lap and looking at me.

"I'd like to stay close to Odine, maybe see what other information I can get out of him." I nod after a moment of consideration. If anyone could get anything out of the man, it is Quistis, especially since she already got under his skin when she outsmarted him before. Ellone nods her head as well before looking at me, silently asking me if I'm up for another romp around unknown land. I gulp the last of my cup before standing in front of the man holding the carafe, holding the cup out for him to refill for me.

"Well, I'm ok with going back out and seeing what else we can find out about the mobs. Beats sitting around here waiting for who knows how long," Seifer mentions, eyeing the blonde beside him. Zell nods, shifting his empty plate away from in front of him and leaning back in his chair. Rinoa and Selphie look at each other, an unspoken conversation occurring between them. I take a sip of coffee, watching the two of them.

"If you don't feel up for it, just stay with Laguna and wait for any word from Vincent and Cloud. I'm sure he wouldn't mind the extra people around to alert the rest of us should something happen." Selphie stares at me for a second before looking back at Rinoa, who keeps her eyes in front of her and slowly nods.

"Aye Aye, Captain!" Selphie sings, wrapping her arm around Rinoa's shoulders and tugging her closer. Rinoa's face splits into a smile which makes Selphie squeal.

"Fine, you two stay with Laguna, Ellone and I will go back to her room and reconnect with the Noctis group. Quistis can keep an eye on Odine while the rest of you can go out and see what else you can find out about the groups," I instruct everyone with a sigh, gulping down the rest of my cup before the man refills it again. I ask him to have a pot brought to Ellone's room again when she stands up from the table and heads for the doorway. "Anything happens, you know where to find us," I mention to Laguna before taking my leave. Ellone waits for me on the other side of the doorway, a worried expression on her face.

"Are you sure you're up for this, Squall?" She asks me as she places a hand on my forearm. I smile at her, resting my hand on top of hers briefly before dropping it back down beside me.

"Sure Sis, we need to figure out as much as we can." Ellone nods in agreement, leading me toward her room. Once inside, I take my usual position on the couch and lay flat against the cushions, closing my eyes. The man enters the room, dropping the fresh pot of coffee off on the end table above my head before taking his leave.

"Alright then, you ready?" Sis asks, seating herself beside me on the floor, her hand on my arm once again. A quick nod assures her I am and we begin. My consciousness fades into a calming trance, pushing the tension and stress of reality away from me. Regardless of the majority of my emotions being forced out of focus, I still maintain an excited need to see Prompto, my nerves starting to get the best of me before I disappear into the darkness.

~Noctis~

My vision blurs around the edges, light beaming into my eyes harshly when I open them. I groan out my angst toward it, shifting my arm so it covers my eyes. "Noctis?" a voice beside me calls out before I hear a shuffling sound. Pressure against the surface I am laying on dips down beside me while a hand touches my forehead.

"Is he stirring finally?" Ignis's familiar voice asks the person beside me, worry deep in his words. More shuffling on my other side before a hand gently grasps my arm and removes it from over my eyes.

"You gave us quite the scare, Noct," Gladiolus mentions through a heavy sigh, pressing his forehead against the palm of his hand. My eyes struggle to focus on the heaping man, his facial features staying blurred.

"I'll alert the doctor that you have awoken," Ignis announces, turning away from me and exiting the room.

"W-Water," I whisper against severely chapped lips, deciding against dropping my arm over my eyes once more. Gladio stands from his own chair, holding a hand out to stop Prompto from retrieving it. He quickly leaves the room to go find liquids for me. A warm touch against the back of my arm urges me to move it to my side, staring into the bluest of skies in his eyes I can ever remember seeing.

"You're not Noctis, are you?" The blonde whispers, his gaze flicking between both of my eyes. Before I can utter a sound, Ignis returns with a woman in a white coat, her focus on a clipboard she grips in front of her.

"Prince Noctis? How are you feeling?" she asks without glancing up from the papers. I shift my eyes back to Prompto's, swallowing air since my saliva has all but evaporated. A slow nod is all I can manage, making the blonde above me slightly frown.

"What's the word, doc? Is Noct gonna be alright?" Prompto questions her impatiently, now keeping his eyes away from mine. The doctor presses a button on the wall behind me, shifting the hospital bed I am laying on into a seated position. She pulls a pen light out of her coat pocket and instructs me to follow it with only my eyes, shifting it back and forth in front of me. She changes direction, moving it up and down a few times before replacing the light in her pocket. The doctor then removes her stethoscope from around her neck and places the cold object against my apparently bare chest.

"Deep breaths please," she asks, listening intently. She shifts the device around to a few locations before moving it to my back, repeating the motions. Giving us all a nod, she wraps the stethoscope back around her neck and quickly checks a few things off on the clipboard. "Everything seems to be in order, gentlemen. It appears he just took a nasty spill after the battle you mentioned earlier. I'll get things in motion to get you out of here." She turns to leave the room, pausing at the doorway before turning back to face me.

"And Noctis? It's good to have you home, your highness." Her words ring out in my tiny room after she leaves, my eyes snapping to Prompto's and Ignis's. Gladiolus reenters the room a bit later, handing me a pink plastic cup full of ice water. I gulp the liquid down thirstily, paying no attention to the drops falling from my chin onto my chest.

"So, are we good?" Gladio asks the others, crossing his arms in front of him while staring at them. Ignis nods, leaning down to retrieve my clothing. Apparently I am completely stripped, I notice when the brunette hands me my shorts as well as my shirt and short-sleeved jacket. They take their leave, Prompto trailing behind the others as he glances over his shoulder at me. His fingers twist the blinds over my window closed before he steps out, shutting the door lightly behind him. I slowly stand from the bed and begin redressing, my mind racing with what to say to the curious blonde.

Don't say anything. Not yet.

I stop myself from pulling my jacket all the way on, unsure if I had really heard that voice. Was that Gentiana?

Almost there, Squall. You are all so close.

My vision blurs again around the edges at the mention of that name. I know that name, right? A banging on the outside of my door snaps me back as I finish tugging my jacket on. "Let's go," Gladio urges when I open the door and face them. Prompto keeps a sharp eye on me, but doesn't say anything while the others turn and lead us out of the building.

"How's it feel to be home, Noct?" The bigger man questions me, smacking his hand against my back abruptly. I shrug while I check out the hallways we are walking through. So, if this place was destroyed, it sure is lucky the hospital still stands. I wonder how many survivors there are. A new depth of heaviness in my heart is reached as I think of how many souls were lost that day. I quickly regain control of my composure though, not wanting to bring the heavy mood to my surroundings of patients, medical staff or especially not to my companions.

"Where should we go from here, I wonder?" Ignis says aloud, pressing his glasses closer to his face. My mind floods with the conversation we had with Gentiana, recalling her order for us was to return here, but nothing on where to go after we got here.

"We'll figure it out as we go, I'm sure," I mention hoarsely, my throat still appearing to be dry. Prompto turns his head toward me, staring at my side as we continue walking out into the main lobby. I glance over at him, remaining silent. He eventually looks forward again, but keeps a step or two behind me so he can see me at all times. Does he not trust me? Through the double doors, I see the remains of buildings standing haggardly all across the street, rubble littering the roads and preventing any vehicles from passing by. People walk around carrying belongings, all looking a bit worse for wear but at least they are alive. Once we step out of the hospital, a familiar pair of dogs catches our attention, sitting at the edge of the stairway that went down to the street.

"What're you two doing here?" Gladio and Ignis ask, walking toward the dogs. I stop in my tracks, the names of them I couldn't quite remember. Prompto takes a few steps and turns in front of me, facing me head on. The moments fill with an uneasy silence, Gladiolus and Ignis completely unaware of what is happening between the blonde and me as they get closer the dogs.

"Who are they, Noct?" Prompto finally breaks the awkward silence with the question. I stare into his eyes, wishing the scowl appearing on his face would cease. I slowly slide a finger against his forehead, hoping my touch will stop the frown from spreading. I hadn't meant to do it, it just sort of happened, but once my skin connects with his, the concern on his face eases. The blonde shuts his eyes instinctively after a second before rejoining the moment and twisting away from my touch. "Who are they Noctis?!" Prompto yells his question this time, almost like he is yelling to keep himself focused while also gaining the attention of the others. Ignis and Gladiolus glance between each other before quickly turning back to face us.

"I-I don't know, Prompto," I breathe out, my head starting to throb against the brightness of the sun in the sky. I wince at the light, but the blonde refuses to allow me to look away, staring deeply in my eyes.

"What do you mean you don't know? How can you not know them Noctis?!" The others are quickly approaching, hearing the blonde's words and frowning themselves.

"I-I'm not Noctis," I whisper, clenching my teeth at the swelling tension behind my eyes. I pinch them closed to avoid the sunlight, but Prompto jerks my arm to get me to open them again. When I do, his expression shifts, his mouth hanging slightly open while his eyes widen.

"Squall?" He whispers back, shock forming on his face. I manage a quick nod before dropping to my knees, holding myself up with my hands against the pavement.

"Noct!" Gladiolus and Ignis yell as they begin to run back to me, but everything around me fades away, my vision only highlighting the two dogs now standing near the stairs. Both animals begin to run toward me at full speed, lurching over piles of rubble and stone with ease. Their two forms begin to morph together before everything completely fades away, the last thing I hear is Prompto calling out my name, Squall's name.