Healing Hurts (FFXV)

Healing Hurts

Prompt: After the Fall happens, Prompto spends his time looking after the guys and staying up late to help them with their nightmares. Eventually, this takes a toll on him and he falls very ill. The guys realize what he's been doing and feel super guilty for not realizing he needed help sooner. (+Gladio has the worst nightmares, ++Prompto reminds Ignis to eat, +++Noctis finds Prompto passed out in an armchair)

In the beginning, Prompto's list of things he hated was exceptionally short. He couldn't stand any intentional harm toward domestic creatures, the scale still scared him stiff, and tofu wasn't food despite anything Ignis said.

It only took an instant. The walls of Insomnia fell and its people burned with its crumbled concrete towers. In the aftermath, he stood on a ledge overlooking his fallen home with his closest friends. He felt his list growing longer than it had ever been before. He despised the Empire with a burning passion, hated the freezing rain that made his pants stick to his skin, and he couldn't stand to watch his friends suffer while he stood by helplessly.

The Regalia was filled to the brim with tragic silence as Ignis turned the sleek car into Cindy's gas station. She was unbearably stuffy; Prompto twiddled his thumbs uncomfortably, praying for someone to speak up. Finally, Ignis took a deep breath.

"I suggest we get some rest before meeting Cor," he uttered, looking up into the rearview mirror in an effort to catch Noct's eye.

Prompto watched the advisor nervously, glancing into the backseat. Gladio's head rested against his headrest, eyes screwed shut and brows furrowed tightly. If it was appropriate in that moment, he might've taken a photo—for the sake of memories. Noctis sighed and pushed his door open, slamming it shut behind him.

Frowning, Prompto bit his lip and watched his best friend trudge through the cold rain. Ignis sighed, taking the keys from the Regalia's ignition and wordlessly leaving the shelter of the car to follow in respectful silence. The blonde dug his teeth in harder. He wanted to do something to help so desperately he thought his chest might burst by the time he made it to the caravan. Taking a deep breath, Prompto pressed his boots to the floor, stretching across his seat and twisting around to look at Gladio. The shield's face remained pulled into a tight frown; he looked angry. Gingerly, Prompto reached out and shook a firm shoulder.

"Nap time's over, big guy," he mumbled, patting the rough beard along Gladio's jaw in an effort to awaken the beast of a man before him.

"Should've... Noct..." Gladio grumbled, shifting in his sleep. Prompto felt another pang of helpless guilt resonate through his chest. What's he dreaming about? Trembling fingers swatted harder at tattooed skin, Prompto's toes pushing him closer to Gladio. C'mon... "I can't..." Gritting his teeth, Prompto grabbed both shoulders and shook even harder.

"C'mon, Gla—"

"%^&*!"

Blinding white pain seared across Prompto's forehead as Gladio sat up abruptly, swiping at the sweat that beaded his face. Grimacing, the blonde clutched the bruise forming on his head.

"You alright, big guy?" he asked innocently, greeted with unreadable amber eyes.

"Yeah," Gladio grumbled, reaching up one hand to push his messy hair off his face. Prompto's eyes narrowed momentarily. Was he... Shaking? "Sorry 'bout that."

"No biggie," Prompto shrugged, feigning indifference. Really, it wasn't a big deal. His head still hurt a lot, though. He paused his next teasing words upon catching Gladio rubbing his face tiredly. "You... sure you're good?"

"I'm fine," Gladio replied defensively, raising his walls abruptly with a sharp glower. Half a second later, the swordsman clambered away to the Crow's Nest, shutting the car door just a bit too hard behind him.