Prompto goes toe to toe with Gladio and anxiety

Prompto Week Day 6 (10/24): Favorite Trait

Prompto had this quiet inner strength that I rarely see
portrayed. Or maybe I’m looking in the wrong places. Anyways, that’s
my favorite trait of his. He’s very scattered and flighty. He reacts the most out of the guys, and is definitely the most anxious. But in certain parts of the game, he goes still, and I don’t know if it’s just me, but he gets this expressionless look on his face that just speaks volumes about the situation. This is pretty much a written form of Off the Rails,
and the Hand of the King, two chapters that I felt showed off this side of him the best. 

The train rattled down the tracks at an even pace, and the
sound was the only thing that was filling the silence between the four men who
had once been closer than brothers. Prompto had tried to start up small
conversations with all of them, but the only one who even bother talking back
to him was Ignis. Dear Ignis, who’d lost his sight. Like Prompto, no one
bothered speaking to him. No, the other two filled their days with speaking
about him instead, often in arguments.

So when Gladio stood up from his seat after a short burst of
conversation between himself and Ignis, Prompto turned his head slowly,
following Gladio’s movement. He watched with weary eyes, not that Gladio saw or
Noctis cared. By the look on the shield’s face, he knew to brace himself for another
argument. With the smallest sigh, he turned his head back toward his lap,
dropping his gaze to his hands. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Ignis
tightening his grip on the cane across his legs.

He was just as sick of the fighting too.

Prompto had been content just to let them yell at each
other, to ignore them. There wasn’t much else to do, considering Gladio never
was one to let himself feel anything but anger. However, when Gladio’s hand
shot out and grabbed Noctis’s collar, his head snapped back toward them, eyes
now watching intently.

“Maybe when you’re not too busy moping, you can look around
and give a shit about someone worse off than you.” Gladio’s words were all
barbed-wire and razors hidden inside a voice pitched low. Meant to hurt Noctis
more than anything.

That was bad enough as it was. Prompto’s head felt slowly
drawn back toward Ignis, and from the brief glance he’d allowed himself, he
could see that Gladio, whether he’d meant to or not, had hurt him as well. The
two then continued arguing, oblivious to the discomfort they were causing their
friends.

The feeling was back.

The rolling twist in his gut. The feeling of his voice being
stolen away. The one that cause his mouth to dry, his eyes to lower. The need
to check, double check, and triple check his actions. If he made one small
misstep, what would happen? Wouldn’t they throw him away? Could he even afford
to choose a side? Especially since they were so fractured already…

“Enough Gladio!”

Ignis’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, registering
the slight ache hidden under Ignis’s own anger. And suddenly, the need to
remain quiet didn’t feel like a need for the first time in his life. He looked
at the pair and saw the anguish on Noctis’s face as Gladio called him a coward.
In Gladio’s eyes there were traces, of all things, panic. It was hard to keep
his own panic in check with what he was about to do, but he managed. Even in
the face of Gladio’s biting words. He didn’t want the situation to worsen. So,
when Noctis tried to shove Gladio away from him, Prompto stood up and stepped
in.

“Don’t do this-!” He tried to get between the two, placing a
hand on Gladio’s chest and Noctis’s shoulder.

But the second he made contact, Gladio put his hand on his
face with such force, there was an audible smack right before he shoved and sent Prompto
stumbling into one of the seats. Normally, such an action would have left him
feeling like a scolded dog. And he quite nearly did. His face slightly hurt
where Gladio’s hand had been, and he had to brace himself against the back of
the seat he was shoved into.

Six he forgot how strong Gladio was, and the surprise
registered on his face. Before Altissia, they’d have laughed it off as Gladio
apologized for his actions. Because sometimes he forgot too. And they’d have
all gone back to joking around and goofing off. But the shield didn’t even
bother looking at him, only caring, it seemed, to hurt Noctis.

At the very least, Noctis had glanced at him to make sure he
was okay before going back to the argument.

Prompto watched the two for a bit longer, a frown on his
face as he puzzled over what to do. No longer could he just sit by and watch
his friends viciously rip each other to shreds. They all knew each other too
well not to know just what to say to cause the most damage. And they were all
too hurt right now to be hurting each other.

“Then get a grip! Pull your head out of your ass already!”
Gladio said with the same dark expression he’d been wearing the whole fight.

He watched as Noctis’s jaw clenched and he turned on heel,
leaving them for who knows where.

“Noct!” He turned as well, and meant to follow, but found
himself frozen to the spot when Gladio’s booming voice rang out behind him.

“Leave him.”

Prompto swallowed slowly and watched as Noctis walked off. The
tone of voice Gladio used had only ever been used in combat. And while Prompto
was worried for both of his friends, his mind was screaming that Gladio just
might be the biggest threat to them at the moment. He knew he was hurting too,
but there was no excuse for his behavior.

His eyes narrowed into a sharp stare, and he turned around
slowly. Blue eyes found the shield’s back, and he watched him until he was
through the door. Only then did he let himself relax. He moved to take his seat
back beside Ignis, who had remained silent through-out the rest of the dispute,
and dropped heavily into the seat. That small burst of bravery had drained him
mentally. Physically, he was already exhausted. And emotionally? He dared not
to think of his own emotions right now. He hadn’t even done much good for all
the trouble he went through. They still were fighting, they hadn’t even paid
him any mind really. The whole event, on his part, had been worthless.

But then he felt Ignis’s hand come to rest on his shoulder
and gently squeeze, as if reassuring him he’d done sometimes of value, then let
go to rest back around his cane. Prompto had turned to look at him when he’d
first felt his hand on him, and while Ignis’s expression didn’t change, the
action spoke volumes. They’d never been the closest of the four. So it meant a
lot to Prompto that Ignis had bothered reaching out.

He had to discreetly wipe away a tear or two, mentally
cursing onions to Ifrit’s side and back even though no onions were present, and
then pulled out his phone to distract his thoughts with King’s knight.

~

Fire lit up the night, spreading across the waters of the
Malboro and its descendants, ending that particular line of the noxious
creatures. Ignis stood among the flames, looking toward the heart of it unflinchingly,
unlike the rest of them. The light from the flames blinded them while he was
left unbothered due to his own blindness.

“Is it dead?” Gladio asked gruffly, using his sword to prop
himself up.

Prompto, smiling for the first time in what felt like weeks,
let out a chipper, “It is!”

He practically scampered over to Ignis’s side, making sure
to disturb the water enough so Ignis could hear him coming, and added, “And
it’s all thanks to Iggy!”

Gladio, even though he was still a distance away, let out a
relieved sigh that could be hear by all of them. And for the first time in
days, the kindness he was known for had found its way back into his voice.

“Iggy. You saved us.”

Prompto’s own voice softened as he put a hand on Ignis’s
back briefly, almost too gentle to be felt through his jacket, before pulling
his hand away. “Seriously. We’d be plant food if it weren’t for you.”

“Happy to help.” The ghost of a small smile crossed Ignis’s
face, even if his voice was flat and emotionless.

There was peace among them, the familiar comradery that
they’d built together over the past few months. For a second, Prompto thought
things were starting to look up.

But then Gladio opened his mouth.

“What, no royal commendation from his majesty?” His voice
was sarcastic, lacking the bite it’d had on the train. But it still made
Prompto frown at Gladio, and his hands clench at his side.

“None for you at least.” Noctis said in an almost lilting
tone. His voice reminded Prompto of a pretty bottle filled with poison.

Thankfully, Gladio decided not to drink the metaphorical
poison and let it go as Noctis walked off. Prompto let out a small sigh of
relief and watched as Gladio followed Noctis, and then began to walk with Ignis
as well. But then a small gasp caught his attention, and as soon as Prompto
heard it, he whirled around and had his arms on Ignis in a second flat. It was
almost habit now, catching him.

He helped Ignis back up, pulling him free of the water and
choosing to ignore the curses Ignis muttered to himself. When he had his
footing, Prompto let go. He knew Ignis didn’t like to be coddled. To which
Ignis pushed up his glasses and said, “Thanks.”

“No prob.” He shrugged even though Ignis couldn’t see it,
and stayed at Ignis’s side while they caught up.

Noctis opened the way of the tomb by way of burning what was
left of the Malboro eggs, and they all exchanged little quips to fill the
silence. An improvement over the quiet tension they’d all been feeling for a
long time. Soon enough, Noctis got what they’d come for and they were beginning
to move out, planning to make a bee line for the train now that they knew the
way.

But then Ignis surprised them all.

“A moment.”

They all paused where they were and turned to face him.
Prompto looked him up and down, trying to see if he was hurt in the fight and
just hadn’t said anything. But nothing seemed amiss, aside from how waterlogged
they all were.

“Is everything okay?” Gladio asked.

Ignis put both hands on the top of his cane, and held
himself tightly, as if bracing himself. “It bloody isn’t. And I won’t suffer
this pointless bickering in silence any longer.”

Prompto let out a small huff of surprise. Ignis, level
headed Ignis, had finally snapped. Even though he sounded tired, the echo of
anger lingered in the air. Prompto dared a glance at Gladio and Noctis before
returning his eyes to Ignis.

“Let’s be frank. My vision hasn’t improved, and probably
won’t.” He spoke with finality that cut them all deeply. Probably himself the
worst. Noctis stood at his side and looked at his advisor with an expression
that was profoundly sad.

Prompto had to bite the inside of his cheek to prevent
himself from letting out a strangled noise of distress. Vision. He’d known in
his heart that it wouldn’t return. But the conversation before they’d faced the
titan was always in the back of his mind these days, causing him to hold onto
hope for his friend that his vision would return. So he could see the world
clearly again.

“Yet in spite of this…” Ignis squared his shoulders and
opened his eyes for the first time since the accident. “I would remain with you
all. Til the very end.

Prompto opened his mouth to agree, not bothering to think
twice about it. Because how could they leave Ignis behind? However, Gladio cut
him off before he could voice his thoughts, causing him to turn to look at him.

“Sorry, but I object. War is a matter of life and death.”
Gladio shrugged, as if expecting that would be the end of it.

Prompto thought differently. The anxiety he felt coiled
tightly in his chest, but rather than allow it to run rampant, he turned it
inwards. Compressing it down into something like a stone. Like metal. Something
that would refuse to break. Something that would sink into a sea of calm. He
stepped between Gladio and Ignis, his eyes burning with anger and
determination, his hands still tightly closed at his sides. He’d never felt so
steady before in his life.

“But we’ll be there!” He said it like it was the most
obvious thing in the world, his face passive aside from his eyes. Gladio found it
hard to meet them.

“It’s not about us looking out for him!” He said, voice
raising. He tensed, as if ready for a physical fight. Something that Prompto
now recognized was a show to hide the underlying emotions the shield felt.

That allowed Prompto to be unflinching, eyes never once
leaving Gladio’s.

“Uh-huh. Well then he should be free to choose.” His voice
was plain, echoing Gladio’s own confidence in his words. But his eyes slightly
narrowed, and he lifted his chin a little higher as he stared the shield down.

On the off chance he was wrong, and Gladio was about to get
violent, he was very willing to try his hand against the shield.

Gladio’s face turned to one of frustration, and for the
first time in a long time, of fear. He gestured to Ignis. “There’s more to it
than what he wants.”

Prompto’s unblinking eyes allowed him to catch it. That
moment of fear. Gladio was scared for Ignis.

Before Prompto could respond, Ignis’s own raised voice met
the night air. “I know full well!”

The gunner turned around to look at his friend, a moment of
sorrow crossing his face.

“I won’t ask you to slow down.” Ignis said, his eyebrows
pulling down into a frown, “If I can’t keep up, I will bow out.”

The words hurt Prompto, who couldn’t imagine letting Ignis
leave on his own. He didn’t want any of them to leave. (Even if he thought that
they one day might leave him.)

“What says his majesty?” Gladio said, a dare in his voice
for Noctis to also side with Ignis and Prompto. A small sigh left Prompto, and
he allowed his face to turn from sorrow into complete exhaustion. It would be
up to Noctis in the end, whether Iggy stayed or went. Prompto mentally said a
prayer to Shiva that he’d send none of them away.

Noctis, for the most part, looked so lost. As if the thought
of losing another friend was too much for him. His eyes were dull and lifeless,
even as his lips parted to speak. Prompto looked at his friend, and realized just
how big of a toll everything was on him. He’d known, of course, that Noctis was
hurting. But in that moment, the pain was so clear on his face, it became a
genuine fear that Noctis might actually never smile again.

“Noct, you are king.” Ignis said, speaking in a quiet tone,
as if he could see the expression on Noct’s face. “One cannot lead by standing
still. A king pushes onwards always, accepting the consequences, and never
looking back.”

He turned from Noctis then, and walked toward Gladio. To
Prompto’s eyes, it was as if Ignis could see where all of them were. “Gladio,
Noct will take his rightful place, but only once he’s ready.”

At that, the determined expression returned to Prompto’s
face and he turned to face Gladio again, at Ignis’s side. As if daring him to
speak against all of them. But it was as if the fight had gone out of Gladio,
and the brief flash of defeat on his face didn’t sit right with Prompto. But it
was necessary.

He wasn’t going to lose any of them. Not because of each
other at least.

Gladio turned from them then, and sighed to himself quietly.
“Have it your way. We’re still taking a big risk. We better all be ready.”

He gave a pointed glance at Noctis, as if needing to get one
last shot at the king in, and then began walking back the way they’d come.
Prompto let out his own sigh one more, of relief, before glancing at Ignis and
Noctis. Judging by the look on Noctis’s face, he wanted to speak to Ignis
alone. Which was fine by Prompto. He turned from them then and hurried after
Gladio, planning on trying to keep him from returning to the anger. If he could
keep him off balance, even if he didn’t know how to do that, maybe things had a
chance of getting better.

Honestly though, all it would take was a hardened stare from
him. Gladio was used to the flightly blond from the start of the trip. The undaunted
way he’d held himself was a reality check. If Prompto, one of the most scatter
brained of them all, had to change to drastically to deal with him, perhaps he
needed to change as well.

The way back was uneventful, thankfully. They were all fatigued
in all ways. The elevator ride back up was silent once more, each other them
digesting the change that the events of the mine would create.

Noctis, to everyone’s surprise, was the one to break the
silence.

“You guys mind if we stop in Tenebrae?” He said it
carefully, as if he was walking on a sheet of glass hundreds of feet in the
air.

He hadn’t started a conversation ever since he’d woken up in
Altissia. It was a startling change, but a welcome one. Perhaps he was now
healing from the deaths he’d experienced, instead of only hurting.

“Might as well hop off!” Prompto said, the cheer also
returning to his voice. But the face he was making out of sight of Noctis was
at odds with his voice.

He was staring at Gladio, who was staring right back, with
the same face from the mine. As if daring Gladio to say no.

He was still very willing to try to smack some sense into
him if it came to it.

After a pause, Gladio nodded his head, breaking the stare. “If
it helps him move on.”

Prompto then, for the first time in months, smiled genuinely
at Gladiolus.