Night Light {FFXV/OT4}

Memory Lane

Chapter Nineteen: Memory Lane

-

"Hey there Prompto"

Prompto looked up as he heard the familiar voice, eyes brightening at the sight of Loqi. He sat up from where he'd been curled up in the corner of his holding cell, watching Loqi as the man approached. A happy grin formed on his face, matching the Brigadier General's own smaller yet pleased smile.

"I didn't think you'd come," Prompto admitted, closing his eyes as Loqi hugged him, held him close. "I'm happy you did."

Loqi tutted at that, running a hand through the boy's soft hair. He twirled a few strands around his fingers, rubbing Prompto's back as he did. "Of course I came. I wouldn't go on such a long mission without at least saying goodbye to you. You're my favourite experiment, after all."

Prompto positively glowed at that. His smile brightened as he pulled back from the hug to look up at Loqi, happily situated in the man's lap by now. "Can you bring me back something again? Please?"

Loqi thought about the request for a moment before nodding, resting his chin on Prompto's head, hands comfortably around the blonde's waist. "Sure I can. If you're good whilst I'm gone, I'll even bring back something extra special just for you. Would you like that?"

Prompto nodded enthusiastically at the words, tilting his head back to look up at Loqi. "Yeah! I'll behave master, I promise!"

The Brigadier General chuckled, pressing a kiss to Prompto's forehead. "Good boy. I'll be back before you know it."

-

"Master look! It's so soft!"

Loqi nodded his agreement, an amused smile on his face as he watched Prompto. He'd already been back in Nifleheim for a week but had only just had the opportunity to give the blonde his present. The wait had been worth it though, as Prompto certainly seemed to be enjoying his gift.

"It's supposed to be soft. It's a Chocobo feather."

Prompto brushed his fingers across the softness of the feather yet again, amazed. Sometimes when Loqi went on missions or trips, he brought back items from the outside world. It was always something small, just little trinkets that nobody but Prompto would care about.

It had all started almost a year ago, when the soldier had come to visit and a stray leaf had been caught on his clothes. Loqi had gone to throw it away but Prompto had seen it before he could dispose of it. The blonde had been immediately captivated by the dying autumn leaf, never having seen such a thing in his life.

After a little coaxing Loqi had explained all about trees, bushes and plants to Prompto. He'd even pulled out his phone and showed the blonde pictures, and had then been urged to explain how phones and consequently cameras worked. That had led to many, many /surprisingly good/ selfies of them both on Prompto's part.

Loqi knew that letting Prompto learn about the outside world was incredibly dangerous. The blonde might start to get ideas about escaping, about freedom. He knew that if Prompto expressed such desires to other members of the Empire he'd be put in solitary or even terminated, and Loqi couldn't stand to see that happen.

Nonetheless, he couldn't forget the look in Prompto's eyes when the boy had held a leaf for the first time. Prompto had seen his first glimpse of the outside world (however small) and Loqi just hadn't been able to help himself. So he'd started bringing back gifts and telling Prompto all about the world beyond the walls of the facility, and the war that plagued it. He'd taught him too; how to count, read, write. Nobody else had bothered, so he'd taken it upon himself to educate Prompto at least a little bit.