FFXV Drabbles/Oneshots {📥}REQUESTS OPEN{📥}

Fleeting Beauty Ending 2

Like I said in Ending 1, the first part of the story is the same as the first ending, but it doesn't stay the same for too long...

Waiting for the sun to rise the next morning was utter torture for the blond. He couldn't help but beat himself up over the fact that one of his best friends had disappeared without him noticing.

Maybe if I hadn't been so busy trying to impress Cindy, then--

Prompto's thoughts were cut short when he was blinded by the sun creeping over the horizon. He hadn't slept at all that night, his mind not once shutting off. It was like it was trying to make the blond marksman feel guilty about the past few weeks. After all, he had been the one to beg with Noctis and the king to let (Y/n) join them on their journey.

As soon as the sun hit his eyes, Prompto was jumping to his feet, going to wake the others.

"Iggy, come on! Wake up!" he ordered, shaking the tactician by the shoulders. It didn't take too much to wake him -- he was a light sleeper -- but it still felt too slow to Prompto. He wanted -- no, needed -- to find (Y/n), and the quicker the better.

Ignis said nothing as he rose, then promptly went to wake Noctis while Prompto woke Gladio. After what felt like hours -- Ignis insisted that they all eat something before they leave on their search -- the group of four trekked across the deserts of Leide. Their first stop -- the Bandersnatch behind Hammerhead.

***

Prompto was moving with a speed the others had never seen before, not even in training. It was heartbreaking, really: the blond had been so preoccupied with his own interests that he hadn't realized just how much (Y/n) meant to him until it was possibly too late. All of the boys had seen the way she looked at him, except for him. And their hearts felt for the young woman in love.

Noctis, while also being in love with someone, didn't have to worry about said person not feeling the same way. He and Luna had held feelings for one another way before this arranged marriage.

Gladio, well... He would recognize the look in (Y/n)'s eyes even if he was blind: it wasn't one of familial love, like what he shared with Iris, and the love the small girl held for Prompto went far beyond that of a caring friend. Fuck, Gladio had felt that same kind of love a few times before, back when he was a teenager.

And Ignis? He made it a point to keep an eye on all of his comrades, so it was rare that anything slipped past him. He had been the first to notice the longing in (Y/n)'s gaze when she would watch her best friend, and his suspicions had only been confirmed when she had put herself between Prompto and an MT instead of going to protect Noctis, who had been indisposed. But he could never hold it against her; she was Prompto's childhood friend, after all, and she hadn't made an oath to protect the prince with her life like the others had. And besides, he and Gladio had gone to protect Noctis in her stead.

And now, as they followed after Prompto, just barely keeping up with him in his frenzied state, all they felt was a sense of dread. As they crested the ridge, their eyes were met with a horrific scene.

The bandersnatch lay in the small water source in the crater, the water turned red with blood. It was unsure whether it was the creatures or (Y/n)'s, and that sent Prompto into a panic once more. The blond jumped into the crater, his legs carrying him across the desolate earth until he came to a stop at the monster's body. Eyes wide, he whipped his head around, searching for any sign of the girl. When he saw nothing, his mind went into overdrive.

Prompto's surroundings became brighter and it became harder to stand on his own. His limbs tingled with a feeling he hadn't felt in years -- and he hated it. He sank to the hard-packed ground, fingers curling inward unconsciously as the numb feeling spread throughout his body. His limbs felt like lead, and he wouldn't have been able to move if he tried. He tried to speak, but found that -- like with his limbs -- the muscle had turned to lead. Fuck, he couldn't even feel it against the inside of his cheek anymore. Unknown to him, his teeth had started to work on his cheek, and he only realized it when the coppery taste of blood landed on his numb tongue.

Prompto sat frozen as he gradually lost control over his body, and he couldn't help but think:

Is this what it's like to die? Being unable to move even a single finger? Being unable to speak even a single word?

"Prompto," Noct's voice pulled the blond from his musings, and he found that he could now move just a bit. Turning his head towards the prince, the blond couldn't help the whimper that escaped his lips.

"She- she's not--" His voice crackled and his tongue felt heavy once again. Noctis could only watch on helplessly as his first friend broke down in front of him. Prompto had always been so vibrant, so happy when they were in high school, so seeing him this disheartened was a new feeling for the prince -- and he didn't like it.

"Are you sure she isn't here?" Gladio's brows furrowed as his amber eyes landed on a red trail not far from the downed creature. Prompto looked as well, and he was the first to notice the body leaning against the far wall of the crater. He jumped to his feet, regardless of the heaviness he felt in his limbs, and raced across the crater, skidding to a halt beside the girl.

"(Y/n)!"

(Y/n) sat huddled against the wall, the hand pressed to her right side stained red with blood. A pained smile was etched onto her face. Meanwhile her other hand clutched desperately to her dagger, giving the blond hope that she wasn't yet too far gone to save. He crouched next to the girl, his hand coming in contact with her cheek. He hissed and recoiled; her skin was ice cold. Just how long has she been out here?! Shaking his head, Prompto pulled (Y/n) into his lap, hands rubbing up and down her arms in a feeble attempt to warm her up.

His cry had drawn in the other three, and their breaths collectively stopped at the sight that met their eyes. (Y/n) was situated in Prompto's lap, the blond trying desperately to keep her alive, a look of pure pain decorating his face.

"Come on, come on, come on," he chanted, hands gripping her forearms when she didn't respond. The longer she was silent, the more Prompto's heart broke until finally it was completely shattered. His upper body came to wrap protectively around hers, breath hitching when he didn't feel hers on his cheek. The tears that had threatened to spill since last night finally fell, landing on her pale cheeks.

"I'm sorry, (Y/n). I'm so, so sorry...

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you..."

A groan made its way to the blond's ears, and his eyes shot open as the girl in his arms began to move. He heard her gasping for breath, and in an instant he had retrieved a hi-potion to heal her.

Seconds ticked by, each one feeling like a stone being piled atop Prompto's shoulders until he would be crushed beneath them.

"Chickadee?" his voice was soft, as were the fingers caressing her cheek. Slowly, her eyes opened, revealing (e/c) that were clouded over with exhaustion.

"Prom? What are you doing here?" whereas his voice had been smooth, hers was raspy, as if she had been coughing for quite some time before he had found her. A sad smile came to the blond's face.

"Hey there, chickadee," he answered. Helping her sit up, he couldn't help but notice the expression on her face. "What's wrong, (Y/n)?"

"Why are you here, Prompto?" she whispered. Tucking her knees to her chest, she refused to look him in the eyes.

"I came to save my best friend, duh!"

The small flinch went unnoticed by the blond, but not by his companions. (Y/n) curled in on herself even more, resting her forehead against her knees.

"Of course... why else would you come find me?"

I guess I'll only ever be a 'friend' to you, huh? I knew this, but ... fuck, it still hurts. Why does it still hurt so bad? I knew that you'd never see me as more than a friend, but I still hoped... well, until now, I guess.

As Prompto went to sit in a more comfortable position next to the girl, she couldn't help but mutter, "Thanks for your answer, Prom."

"Hmm? Did ya say something, chickadee?"

"No, it's nothing."

At least... now I know...

"Well, either way, I'm just glad you're safe," he hummed, giving the girl a dazzling smile that she couldn't help but return.

"Yeah," her voice small, she replied. "Me, too."