1 Prompto's Gift

The unending dusky twilight hung over the deserted town, casting its haunting glow over everything. In the labyrinth of empty streets, hurried footsteps echoed in the silence. Labored breathing and the occasional distressed mutter melded with the footsteps, breaking the monotony of the stomps. A weary figure dashed through the shadows, casting a panicked glance over their shoulder.

Darting out into the open square, an uneven cobblestone caught the figure's foot sending them barreling to the ground. With a pained grunt, the figure curled up into the fetal position. Prompto knew that it was a fool's errand when he set out hours earlier. But maybe it was his confidence for cockiness, but he decided to go anyway. Now, however, he was paying for his lapse in judgment.

It was at moments like these that he could practically hear her scolding him. Thinking of the face she would make if he didn't return tonight, he grit his teeth and stood up once more. No matter who bleak everything else seemed, he couldn't give up here. He'd finally worth fighting for again, something that made living in this hell bearable.

A sharp pain shot through his ankle as he staggered over to a broken down wall, leaning against it to catch his breath. Lifting his pants leg he let out a hiss as he watched his ankle slowly begin to turn purple. Cursing under his breath he fished a worn, but lovingly cared for, whistle from his pocket. He didn't want to bring one of his only remaining friends into this, but it seemed he no longer had a choice.

Staring at it for a moment he fought with himself before taking a deep breath and putting it to his lips. A loud shrill sound erupted from it, causing his ears to ring. But instead of fading it lingered in the air like an ancient magic. A wave of guilt washed over him as he listened to the sound.

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Hundreds of miles away, on the outskirts of Lestallum, Miranda was petting an increasingly panicky Chocobo. The poor dear's pitch black feathers were puffed up due to her anxiety, causing her to look like a giant puffball. Whispering soothing words, Miranda continued to smooth Daila's feathers, trying to mask her own unease in the process.

"It's okay, Daila, I'm sure he just got distracted by a good photo spot." She cooed, to convincing herself just as much as the large bird.

However, her words were cut short, when all of a sudden Daila seemed to freeze up. Like a statue, she stood there motionless. As if stopped in time, her feather's weren't even affected by the ever-present breeze around them.

Then, without warning, Daila snapped her head in the direction of the ruins of Insomnia. Seeing Daila's reaction Miranda also froze up. There was only one thing that could make Daila react in such a way, and it wasn't a good sign. Not wasting any time, Miranda clambered onto Daila's back. And just as soon as she wrapped her arms around her neck, the Chocobo dashed off at a breakneck speed.

Miranda's heart sunk into her stomach, as Daila cut a path across the barren wasteland between Lestallum and Insomnia. Prompto... Where are you? The more she thought the more she feared. Yesterday he said he got an update from the HQ and needed to make a trip. But he didn't tell her what the update was about, or where he was heading.

She'd be lying if she said her alarm bells didn't go off, but she trusted Prompto and knew he'd be fine. However, now she was regretting not demanding more information out of him. The closer the duo got to Insomnia, the further her stomach dropped. For what reason would HQ send him to the former crown city? It had already been declared forbidden zone, due to the mass increase of monsters... So why?

Prompto's freckled covered face with his signature goofy ass grin flashed across her mind. Dammit Chocofloof, if anything's happened to you I swear I'll kick your butt.

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Back in a desolate street in downtown Insomnia, Prompto hid in a small space between a broken wall and damaged trash can. It wasn't the best hiding place, but it was the best he could manage at the time. Using the first aid skills he'd picked up over the years, he bound his surely fractured ankle.

Wincing as he wrapped it, he was glad he followed Ignis' advice and brought along an emergency aid kit. Looking at his now ugly slightly purple toes he sighed before trying to out his sock and boot back on. As he was tightening his laces, a crisp cracking noise came from the other end of the alleyway.

Hearing it he instantly stopped all movement. Holding his breath, he strained his ears, listening for more movement. From the entrance of the alley, a ragged breathing and the sound of claws on pavement could be heard. Prompto knit his brows as a solemn look appeared on his face.

Sabertusks...

This wasn't good. Gripping his pistol firmly in his hand, he steadied his heart. Sabretusks always travel in packs of at least four. Best case scenario they wouldn't notice him, but given his luck, he didn't count on it. Even though he blew his summoning whistle, Lestallum was just too far away.

As he listened to the heavy breathing of the sabertusk, he tried mentally map the distance between them. With each step closer it got, the firmer his will become. The whistle was already blown, so Daila was already coming. So dammit all, even if she was just coming to fetch a corps, he was going to take these monsters down with him.

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It was hard to measure the passing of time without a sun in the sky, but to Miranda, it felt like an eternity had passed. Thanks to Daila's abilities they managed to avoid the never-ending monsters along their journey. But as the got closer and closer to the city's looming walls, the harder it was to avoid detection. Sticking her body as close as possible to Daila, she prayed that Prompto was still alright.

Entering the city she was greeted by the ever collapsing remains of the once stunning place. A hint of sadness tugged at her heart as she rode through the once lively streets. It had already been seven years since the descent of the darkness. She'd made an effort to avoid the place, and even the thought of it after barely managing to escape all those years ago.

When Niflheim attacked and the old wall awakened, like most people in the city, she sought shelter in Lestallum. And just like everyone else, she had to leave plenty of things behind in the process. She always thought she would return one day, the loss of the light changed her plans. Who would have thought that she would be returning now under these circumstances?

Weaving through the abandoned cars and wreckage, they slowly made their way further into the depths of the city. The further they traveled the more confused she got. They were getting closer and closer to her old neighborhood. A hint of shock mixed with anger filled her as realization dawned on her.

About a week ago she and Prompto had been reminiscing about thing from before the fall. And she had offhandedly said something about regretting the loss of a few things she had to leave behind in Insomnia.

Did that goof forge into this forsaken city for that! She thought to herself as she cursed her big mouth and Prompto's stupidity. If she was right and that thing was the reason for this whole situation, then if they managed to survive this then she was going to beat the freckles off of his sweet stupid precious face.

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A thin trail of blood marked a glaring path out from the end of the ally. To the left and right of the blood where the dissolving bullet-ridden corpses of sabertusks'. At the end of the bloody trail was Prompto, sitting on the ground battle worn and gasping for breath.

I've lost so too much blood... He thought as his vision began to blur.

I'm also running out of bullets... He sighed as he looked at the one remaining bullet in the gun chamber. Remembering how he had laughed back when Gladio said 'to always leave one bullet in the chamber for himself', he knew now just how wise that advise was.

He was too injured, and he could feel the normally controlled monstrous genes inside him beginning to try and awaken. He knew better than anyone that he had a higher chance of turning than others. And now as he sat broken and bleeding in a monster-infested hellhole, he feared that he wouldn't be able to keep it together much longer.

Staring at the battle scared gun in his hand he lapsed into silence. What if he turned into a monster before Daila got to him? Would she still try and take him back to Miranda? Would she run back, aware that her rider was now one and the same as the monsters they so often go and fight? Or would she attack him? To end him like she is trained to do?

These thoughts flooded his head as small blackish spots began to appear on his arms and legs. Seeing them he nearly felt like crying. What he wouldn't give to see Miranda's smiling face again. To see that twinkle in the eye that she gets every time he arrives home after a long hunt. To feel her hands on his face as she caresses his cheeks just to remind herself that he's really there before her. Even the scolding he was sure to get due to this misguided adventure was something he was beginning to long for.

His vision began to fade as he pictured her face in his mind, oh how he wished he could be in her arms once more. The spots on his body grew as the reality of the situation hit him, yet now he didn't even have the strength to lift his arms. Feeling the warmth of the small item in his breast pocket, he closed his eyes. He didn't regret his actions, but he did regret not being able to return home to the love of his life.

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The vivid line of blood in front of her was like a blinding beacon in the night. Completely ignoring everything around her, she jumped off Daila and bolted down the alley. Nothing else was important now, the only thing that mattered was making sure that Prompto was alive. Passing the nearly completely dissolved monster bodies she saw him. His head was lowered and his arms were hanging limply at his sides.

A fear unlike any she had ever felt overcame her whole being. Time seemed to slow as she rushed to his side, collapsing to her knees as she gently lifted his head with her hands.

"Prompto, Prompto! Hey! Come on, wake up!" Her voice cracked as he gently patted his cheek. "Come on Chocofloof you can't quit on me!" She pleaded as tears began to blur her vision. Placing her hand in front of his nose her heart skipped a beat as she felt a faint breath. Fighting through the tears she quickly moved over to Daila, who was now also at Prompto's side and dug into the saddle bag for the emergency first aid kit.

Daila started making soft clicking noises as she rubbed her head against him, trying in her own special way to get Prompto to wake up.

With the kit in hand, Miranda rushed back to Prompto's side. Pulling a herbal healing paste from the kit she began to patch him up as fast as possible. Noticing the growing spots on his arms, she pulled a vile of alchemized potion from the bag. It was a trial item new from the HQ but she didn't have the time to think too much about it right now.

Getting him as patched up as she could with the supplies at hand, she turned to her next problem. How were they going to get back? With all her strength she lifted his unconscious form onto Daila. He managed to hang on long enough for her to get to him, and gosh darn it she was going to get him home.

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With a groan, Prompto slowly opened his eyes. Confusion was evident on his face as he stared blankly at his surroundings. The ceiling above him looked very familiar. If he wasn't mistaken it was the ceiling of his and Miranda's apartment in Lestallum. Am I dead? He thought to himself as the door next to him slowly opened.

Standing in the doorway was the lady that so often dominated his thoughts. Her eyes that were normally filled with a sparkling light were currently puffy and underlined by deep dark circles. Her exhaustion was as clear as day, but even so right now she was the most beautiful person in the world.

"Miranda?" He asked, his voice rough and full of countless emotions.

Hearing her name she jumped in surprise nearly dropping the try she was carrying in her hands.

"PROMPTO!" Slinging the try to the side she completely disregarded the fate of all the things on it as she pounced on to the startled man in front of her.

"You big doofus! Do you have any idea how worried I've been!" She cried as she buried her face into his chest, "I thought I was going to lose you..."

Hearing her muffled sobs, Prompto's heart panged, "I know, I screwed up." He said as he wrapped his arms around her, wincing as a wave of pain racked his body. Not wanting to make any excuses he just pulled her closer, whispering his apologizes to her as they lay there in the comfort of each other embrace.

After venting for a while, she raised up and looked him in the eye, "Can you tell me why now?"

Looking at her sitting there next to him, he nodded, "Well, honestly I just wanted to get you the best birthday present I could..."

Hearing that she blanked, his answer simpler than she had expected. Reaching into her shirt she pulled a simple silver chain with a small crystal jewel on it from around her neck. Seeing it Prompto scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"You found it..."

"Of course I found it! After all your body was covered in injuries that I had to tend!" She snapped back, the worry that had built up over the last few days turning into anger. "Did you really think that this dumb necklace was more important than your safety?! Do you have any idea what would have happened if I hadn't made it to you in time!"

Her words were like a bolt of lightning, shaking him to his very core. "You were the one that saved me?"

"Who else!"

"I- I thought that it was Daila that found me and drug me back..." Pausing he frowned, "Wait a minute... What were you thinking, to ride into Insomnia by yourself!?"

"I thought that I needed to save your freckled ass!"

Both of them puffed up as they glared at each other. But it didn't take long before the both of them broke out into a fit of laughter. Reaching out Prompto pulled her back into his embrace, where she snuggled willingly into his arms.

"I'm sorry for everything," He said as he placed gentle kisses on her head, "I just wanted to get you a grand gift, something to spice up this bleak time. I love you, Miranda."

Hearing him, she hummed, closing her eyes and enjoying his sweet kisses upon her head. "Well, all things considered, thanks for getting me my necklace. This was the, well, most interesting birthday I've had in a long time."

Opening her eyes she smiled at him before placing a swift kiss on his lips, "I love you too, Prompto."