AN: In case you were under the impression that this is going to be a nice hanging-around-for-the-feels story, well, heads-up: it's not. This is where the things will go south big time. If you're a Prompto lover, dude, you might like to grab a tissue.
The others' heads snapped at the direction in break-neck speed. Truly, a dropship lowered itself, its deck already open, and they witnessed about a dozen magitek troopers jumping out of it; someone cursed under their breath. "Just as I thought this party couldn't get any better," Gladio grumbled as he called his weapon back and placed himself readily in front of Noctis.
"Prepare yourselves! Here they come," Ignis shouted, already drawing his daggers out of the eather and stepping to Gladio's side between the younger men and the enemy.
"Right," the raven-hair nodded as he, too, called his weapon back in hand. Prompto raised his gun to take a steady aim at the troopers rushing towards them, their axes raised. The bangs echoed around the rocks hollowly, and the first trooper dropped to the ground.
"Nice one, Prompto!" Noctis cheered before dashing to clash blades with another one. The rusty edge of the magitek's weapon sparked as the sword ground against it.
The forces collided like two waves. On one hand, the men were outnumbered. But their skills far exceed those of the clumsy and simple-minded magitek troopers, and they were making progress. Gladio cleaved a few of them in half in one neat horizontal swing of his blade, and the others tore into their own opponents with less force but even greater precision. They had downed most of them when Prompto cried out, his voice trembling in surprised shock, "There's another one!"
Another dropship had drawn close, already lowering its deck into a ramp. A short distance away, a third ship made its way over to their location. "And there's more! It's an entire fleet!" As he looked around, from every direction an Imperial ship seemed to be approaching. He counted quickly: eleven.
"It's an ambush!" Ignis shouted, striking to impair his current opponent's optic sensors. "We'll be outmatched! Run!"
"Noct! Get out of here!" Gladio grabbed the younger man's shoulder to push him away from the battle as he himself kicked the trooper that tried to swing at the raven.
"Not without you!" the prince spat back.
"Are you demented?! Get going already!"
"But what about–?!" Noctis was interrupted by the adviser's urgent,
"Everyone! Run! Now!"
The additional troops had reached them. These ones armed with swords and some more axes, they were coming at them. Not thinking twice, the Lucians dashed to the opposite direction, hoping to lose them on the terrain.
"Everyone alright?!" Ignis almost barked, his voice intermitted due to running. He noticed something crimson in the corner of his eye and turned briefly to inspect the wound on Gladio's shoulder. "Gladio, you're bleeding!"
"Nevermind that," was the large man's gruff response. "Just keep running!"
"I take it that it's nothing serious the… Shit!" They skidded into an awkward halt one after another as what they saw sunk in. In front of them, another dropship landed its crew to block their way. There were a few shocked gasps; Ignis didn't bother thinking whose. The stomping behind them got closer as their assailants closed in on them.
"This way! Hurry!" He led them to the left, hoping to be able to circle around the supports. His hopes were crushed as the lines of magitek troopers marched towards them from left and right. "No." The gasp was quiet but audible. A sound of utter desperation as the enemy closed in on them from all sides.
"We're surrounded," the adviser grunted out the obvious.
"Any chance of breaking through it?!" The prince's voice carried hints of barely contained panic. His eyes were everywhere, desperately searching for a way out.
Gladio snorted. "Well, if they're expecting us just to lay ourselves down quietly, they'll be mistaken," he grunted.
The magitek troopers surrounded them, forcing them back to back. Ignis pulled Noctis behind him, daggers held defensively in front of him. They fidgeted like that for a few moments, on the edge and ready to fight for their lives when the attack would come. The grotesque machines had their weapons pointed at them, but weren't moving.
"What are they doing?!" the gunslinger burst out. "They're just standing there! Why aren't they attacking?"
"That would be because I've told them not to," came a velvety voice from behind the wall of troopers. A few of them made way, and toward stepped Chancellor Izunia, smiling a sweet smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Would you like them to? I can let them, you know…" As if on cue, one of them leaped to slash its axe at the blond's general direction.
"Prompto!"
He fired out of reflex, splintering the metal frame of its head panel. Its attack faltered, it stumbled forward; a few sparks flew out, and the red of its eyes flickered before fading out. Eyes wide, Prompto shakily lowered the hand that was still aiming the gun to where the creature had been. He let out a shuddering breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. It took a moment for Noctis' hand on his shoulder to register.
Ignis nearly hissed as he spoke, "Izunia. What do you want?"
Those eyes shone with mischief and ominous satisfaction, and everyone gulped in a fearful breath. "I would like you lot to come with us. In particular," he fixed Noctis with an unfaltering stare, "-you, Your Highness."
"Hmph! You expect us to come quietly?" Gladio snapped at him, holding his weapon at the ready. His features were stern, enraged, and he visibly bit his own teeth. The Chancellor eyed the brute in an amused way.
"Ah, Mr. Amicitia. The king's shield. So very much like your father…" Gladio couldn't help hissing at the way the man spoke about him. So… devilishly somehow. "My, that looks dangerous. Let's put those away now, shall we?" He held out his hand, smirking, and suddenly, with a crystalline jingle, their weapons were dismissed.
"Huh?!" Prompto exclaimed as he flexed his empty hand.
"What the…?!" The shield stepped back to take a close combat stance. He felt Noctis' hand on his back as the other swayed a little, feeling lightheaded suddenly.
"You bastard," the prince hissed, "What the hell did you do?!"
The mauve haired man chuckled lightly. "Tell me, prince Noctis, how does it feel? A little... congested?" Noctis gasped audibly. He felt… wrong. Like something was amiss. And he understood what it was as he tried to recall his weapon. It refused to come. His eyes widened.
All of them, out of his reach.
Ignis gulped down the acid from his tongue before speaking, "That is an impressive regiment you have with you, Chancellor." It was mere prattle. Flattery would get them nowhere, he knew that, but for now, playing time was their best option. "What grants us this pleasure?" Despite his best efforts, he almost spat out the last word. His heart raced, and he understood that whatever game the man was playing with them, they were nearing the game over, and Ignis wasn't sure this mode had a Continue option. He wasn't sure at all.
There was a glint of something wicked in the man's eyes, and the smirk took a sharp edge. "Why don't you ask your friend?"
The answer caught Ignis off guard. "What?" he let out in a whisper.
Izunia's eyes shifted, and when he spoke, he spoke to someone behind the brunet, "In fact, I should congratulate you, Prompto. You served your purpose better than we thought." He grinned a Cheshire smile and added, "Looks like Besithia did find some use for you, after all."
Ever since the Chancellor had walked in, a growing dread had twisted his insides. He hadn't noticed he had started shaking. And as those words left the Chancellor's lips, Prompto felt his blood turn into ice. Panic unlike any he had ever known washed over him like a high tide; his breaths came in pants, his palms were getting sweaty. "Wha- what?" It was small, and it was pained. His eyes like saucers, the gunner eyed the man in utter horror. Disbelieving, engulfing horror.
The others' gazes shifted from the pompous man to the utterly shaken blond and back. Confusion, disbelief, reluctance to believe what was being said, and the creeping doubt - all of them showed in their faces.
"Prompto?" Noctis asked tentatively.
The blond was shaking his head over and over again. "No." His voice grew more vigorous. "No! It's not like that! I'm not like that!"
"Prompto. What is going on?!" Ignis demanded, his tone taking a piercing edge. The blond ignored him; the sky blue gaze had locked into the amber of the menace wearing an angel smile.
Ardyn chuckled, a sound void of humor and compassion, "But of course you are. Did you really think that being raised Lucian would undo what you are?" All the response he got was a shocked gasp. "Such naivety. And yet you have served the Empire well, little tool," he almost purred as the words rolled from that dangerous tongue.
"What the hell are you saying?!" Noctis snarled, the situation getting the best of him. His emotions flared, the usual cool cracking.
Every fiber in his existence smiled as Ardyn spoke, "Simply this: it is thanks to your dear friend there that we were able to track you, Your Highness."
"What?!" Prompto's eyes went wide; it felt like he was suffocating. This couldn't have been happening! He was trembling from head to toe now, his breaths coming in interrupted, panicked pants. He let out a small yelp as Gladio grabbed him roughly.
"Prompto. What the hell is going on?!" The words were harsh, but Gladio's voice betrayed all the confusion, all the hurt, all the betrayal. He was begging him to tell him he was wrong, that this was all wrong.
Prompto's voice trembled. "Please, Gladdy, it's not what it-"
"Then what is it?!" he roared suddenly, shaking him a little. "What is he talking about, Prompto?!"
"I-" 'It's not like that! I-'
Ardyn feigned shock, "Oh, you hadn't told them, have you? Oh my, did I spill a secret?! My bad." The smirk on those lips sent shivers down Prompto's spine.
"Prompto…" With Noctis' voice came the tsunami of desperation. It was a voice that didn't want to believe. Without thinking, without preparing he glanced at the prince - and his heart skipped a beat. In his eyes he could see a whirlpool of emotions. But he could pick up two: there was betrayal, and there were the seeds of hatred.
Hatred.
Noctis hated him.
"No," he mouthed. 'Noct, please! It's not true! I-I didn't… I never…' In a moment of panic, he jerked himself free from the bodyguard's hold. "You've got it all wrong! I'm a-"
"You're an Imperial tool planted at a young age into Lucis," Ardyn almost hollered, enjoying every second. "And you accomplished your task astonishingly."
The shaken man hissed, "I'm not your plaything."
The man chuckled darkly, "Is that what Lucis made you believe? Such a simpleton." He shook his head mockingly. "That imprint on you is proof enough. You are Imperial property, and as such we'll always be able to track you down."
Prompto gasped, wide eyes moistening up, "You mean…?" His eyes were drawn onto his right wrist, that which he knew hid there, underneath that wristband.
Ardyn's smirk said it all. "Did you really think you could run from us, tool?"
There was a grunt, and Prompto's heart leaped, not too pleasantly. It had been a grunt of disgust. Desperate gaze turned to look at Gladio, the shield eyeing him like he was something abhorrent. The blond gulped, the stare turning his stomach.
Gladio shook his head in disbelief, putting a little distance between himself and the gunner. When he spoke, it was so much more than just an accusation. It was personal; it was vindictive. "Traitor."
Prompto could have sworn his heart stopped beating. His legs were lead as nausea spread through him. "No! It's not like that, I swear! I-I didn't know…!" His voice broke at the end, coming awfully close to a sob. For a moment, there was nothing, nothing but his ragged breathing. Then,
"What are you, Prompto?" Noctis' voice was inconceivable, with an undercurrent of disbelieving rage. It was poison. Poison that went straight to the heart. Prompto wished it would just take him. He wanted to just disappear.
"Do it, little tool," Ardyn taunted, "Let's hear you deny it. If you can, that is."
Prompto found he couldn't. Couldn't because Ardyn was right. "I-" The words died on his lips. What could he possibly say that wasn't another lie? He was done, cornered. His most carefully guarded secret was out, and there was nothing he could do to make it right. Or even less wrong. His knees buckled a little. Ardyn was right! How could he have been so stupid as to let himself think he could change himself?! Change something like that? But like a fool he had tried, tried so hard he had started to believe it. And he could have never imagined how wrong he had been!
He should have known better! Should have understood to stay away! And as Prompto watched in horror how his friends' expressions went from shocked and confused into betrayed and disgusted, he felt his world coming crashing down.
"Guys, please…! Listen, it's not what you think!" he tried.
"Save it," Noctis almost hissed. "I don't wanna hear it." The deep blue of his eyes glimmered with treacherous moisture.
Ardyn had watched the scene unfolding before him with glee. His order was almost missed, "Bring them." As the magitek troopers dashed to grab a hold of them, Prompto's legs gave out. Slumping onto his knees in a broken heap, he watched helplessly how his friends struggled. Gladio managed to smash three of his attackers until they could overpower him. From amidst the chaos he saw one of them bringing something bar-like down into the back of Noct's head; he seemed to freeze for a moment before going still, falling limply against his assailants.
"Noct- ugh!" Ignis was silenced when a heavy kick landed into his gut, the man bending over in agony. Prompto's eyes couldn't help but follow the blood as it spurted from the man's mouth onto the gravel. Ignis' hands were forced behind him cruelly and he was pushed forward.
Prompto didn't resist as he was dragged away. He couldn't bring himself to care at the moment. His legs scraped against ground, but he didn't even notice it. He felt empty, although his mind raced.
Whatever was going to happen to them now was because of him.
They were taken inside one of the dropships. The troopers were half-walking, half-dragging him, holding him from his arms. Prompto winced under their death grip; as if trying to fight it would do him any good at this point.
They stopped abruptly, one of them pushing a panel on the wall. Prompto hadn't realized it was a blast door until it slid aside to reveal darkness. "Uagh!" he gave a surprised yelp when he was shoved inside roughly. He stumbled on numb legs, hands scraping against concrete painfully as he fell. There was a sharp hissing sound, and he was sealed into darkness.
On his hands and knees, Prompto drew in a labored breath after another, willing his limbs to stop shaking. His chest felt like caving in under the pounding of his heart. "Hello?" he croaked out quietly. There was no reply, not even an echo. Forcing his libs to obey, he pulled his knees to his chest and let his head drop as he hugged himself, and let the sobs come.
In his mind, he was back in that same dark place he had been in when he had been younger, alone and forgotten. 'Mommy, why do the other kids make fun of me?' he recalled asking his mother once when he was about five. It was one of his earliest memories; his mother's reply would stay with him forever,
'It's because you're different, Prompto.'
He had begun to shake again. Ragged breaths were turning wet. Guilt clenched at his heart, holding it in an icy grip. Was it selfish of him to want to die where he was? By the looks of it, they were doomed anyway.
Prompto didn't dare let the thoughts of what was going to happen enter. They were wanted alive, and for whatever reason it was, it couldn't be anything pleasant. A fresh pang of guilt hit him and he hugged himself tighter for any idea of comfort it brought. He just wanted someone to tell him it was going to be alright. That everything was going to work out alright. But there was no-one, and he knew the things between them would never be alright again.
Ardyn .3