Final Fantasy XV: Silence and Love

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XV or anything related to the Final Fantasy franchise.

Warning: Child abuse, eating disorders, and selective mutism. YAOI! Please forgive us for any offensive materials that may insult you. You don't have to read this if any makes you feel uncomfortable.

Chapter 1

Darkness.

Please don't go. I don't want to be in here. I can't breathe. Please let me out!

Pain.

It hurts. Make the pain go away.

Screams.

Mommy! Daddy! Please stop. It hurts!

"Vile things like you don't deserve to live. You are a monster."

I'm not a monster. I'm not a monster, Daddy.

"Be grateful we took you in even though you belong in the streets like those soulless soldiers."

I'll be good, Mommy. I promise I'll be good.

A big, rough hand reached out grabbing a fistful of blond hair, not caring for the screams of anguish coming from the small boy. A pair of blue-violet eyes stares pleadingly and tearfully for the owner of the hand to stop hurting him. The young boy wish for his father to stop hurting him.

Please don't hurt me, Daddy.

Unfortunately, the boy's father didn't relinquish his tight hold of his hair. The sheer coldness in the man's eyes sends uncontrollable fear down the boy's spine, making him cry more. The man suddenly reached out with his other hand and yanked the boy's right wrist.

The blond child can only see black lines on his pale, bony wrist.

His barcode.

The reason for his existence and the cause of his pain.

"If you want to be a good boy, then hold still."

The glint from a knife was the only thing those blue-violet eyes saw before it came down to his wrist.

Prompto woke with a soundless scream, sweat clinging to his too thin shirt and eyes bright with tears, which trails down his pale, freckled cheeks. He hiccuped, trying to control his breathing but it only resulted in uneven pants. He roughly wiped away his tears before sitting up on his bed. Tucking his legs up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them, Prompto bury his head into his knees. He let out quiet sobs, trembling from the aftermath of his nightmare.

Night terrors weren't new for him. He had them every night for as long as he can remember.

They were either the same dreams of his adopted parents abusing him or someone else hurting him. Sometimes, Prompto dreamt of lying in deep, cold darkness where the walls around him are too cramp to move around. He would hear a deep, dark laugh, sounding as though the owner was enjoying watching Prompto's torment.

Watching him break even further apart.

Those dreams were the ones that terrifies Prompto the most.

When his breathing was somewhat even, Prompto lifted his tired blue-violet eyes towards his window. He can see peaks of light edging at the horizon meaning dawn would break soon. It also means he has to get ready for school soon.

Normally, no child would consider waking up at the break of dawn just to go to school, but Prompto was no normal child. His nightmares plagued his mind every night, stripping his ability to sleep peacefully. Not only that, his school takes about an hour to walk from his home.

At least, I could get decent pictures of the sunrise.

With that in mind, Prompto carefully gets out of bed, shivering from the coldness when his bare feet touches the wooden floor. He went on with his morning routine: brushing his teeth, washing his face, gingerly wiping away the sweat from his body with a wet towel, brushing his hair, and wrapping a bandage around his right wrist.

He ignores the fading bruises and scars decorated on his person.

You can get hurt so many times and you wonder when the pain will lessen. It doesn't.

Prompto quickly got dressed into his white T-shirt which was swallowed by his oversized dark-grey hoodie, a pair of faded jeans, white socks, a wristband over his bandage-covered wrist, and shuffling into his worn out tennis shoes.

His clothes practically drowned him, but they managed to stay on.

He puts on his black rimmed glasses while packing his notebooks, pencils, sketchbook, towel, first-aid kit (he was clumsy sometimes), and an umbrella (it was suppose to rain later in the afternoon) carefully into his backpack. He fetch his camera that has a baby chocobo and a moogle charm hanging from the strap.

Soft calls of "Kupo!" and "Kweh!" rang throughout his bedroom.

Within seconds, a pair of light and sparkles appeared, transforming into a chocobo chick and a moogle. The chocobo chick was small, fluffy, and yellow with obsidian eyes. Her name was Kiki. The moogle was white with a big red nose, a pair of red bat-like wings, a red pom-pom on its head, and is carrying a wand with a clock attach on top. His name was Koko.

Both flew towards Prompto to give him hugs and cuddles. He can't help but give soundless giggle at their show of affections.

Prompto loves them. They were his precious friends ever since he first saw them.

"Prompto kupo! Good morning kupo!" Koko greeted. He sat on Prompto's shoulder while twirling his clock wand.

"Kweh, kweh!" Kiki chirped her greetings while snuggling into Prompto's other shoulder.

He, in return, gently smiled back at them. Just seeing his little friends washes away the lingering nightmare from his mind.

"Will Prompto take pictures again kupo? Or will you draw instead kupo?" the moogle questioned. Koko sees the camera shifted up. "Take pictures kupo!" He waved his wand excitingly, knowing the shots his caretaker takes will be good.

"Kweh! Kweh!" Kiki chirped back happily. She also loves the pictures Prompto took especially ones filled with nature. She flew out of the room wanting to go outside and greet the dawn.

Prompto followed her out with his backpack and camera in hand, not even stopping for breakfast.

Can't eat when there is nothing there to find.

"Prompto not eating again kupo?" Koko asked, worried for Prompto's lack of appetite. The moogle knows well enough that humans need some food for energy especially in the morning. Sadly, Koko knows why his caretaker couldn't eat.

The blond boy shook his head as he went out of the apartment and locked the door. One time, he received nasty bruises on his chest for not properly locking the door. Prompto found Kiki waiting for them down the stairway. She flew back to them, landing inside of Prompto's hoodie pocket. "Kweh!"

Prompto lets out a soundless giggle as he walks away from his apartment complex and down the street to his school. The sky was brightening up as the sun rises and the air was cool and crisp. He loves these kinds of morning, no sound other than birds chirping and a soft breezes rustling through the trees near him.

He occasionally took shots of the flowers and buildings around him. One or two shots of the horizon with the sun peaking at the edge of the shot, giving the picture a luminous glow. Sometimes, Koko and Kiki will point out random places and objects for Prompto to take pictures of. At least once or twice, there will be a chocobo or a moogle somewhere in a couple of shots. Overall, they were having a fun time being together.

An hour seems to pass by quickly because Prompto was already at the school gates. The gates were already opened for the faculty who comes in early to prepare for classes. Prompto was always the first student to come so he wouldn't be surrounded by many people. He sighed, pushing his glasses back up.

They wouldn't want a monster like me around them.

"Prompto shouldn't look so sad kupo," Koko whispered, worried at the dull glint in those blue-violet eyes.

"Kweh, kweh," Kiki softly chirped, agreeing with her fellow familiar. She never like the idea of her blond caretaker to be miserable in any way.

He never did anything to deserve such pain.

Prompto gently petted them, smiling to ease their worries. He was happy to know how much they care for him even when he doesn't deserve such kindness.

You two deserve someone who is more worthy than me.

Seeing their blond smiled, Koko and Kiki relaxed a bit, but kept cuddling him after sensing his self-doubts. They continued their way to Prompto's homeroom, not worry of people seeing a chocobo and moogle hanging around with a young boy.

Normal humans wouldn't be able to see them anyways unless they have the special requirements to do so.

Prompto entered his homeroom, noticing his teacher wasn't around. Which was fine to begin with because he knows he will breakdown if anyone were to try to speak to him. He would rather blend into the background and keep to himself without wanting to bother anyone.

Besides, there was something he has to do before anyone could see him.

Prompto sat down in his usual seat; a corner desk at the very back row, closest to the rear classroom door. He would love to have a seat next to the window instead, but that spot was taken by a certain prince.

Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum.

The only son of King Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII and heir to the Kingdom of Lucis.

And possibly the only person in the whole freaking universe Prompto wanted to try to befriend.

Prompto first noticed the prince during the first day of their first year of middle school. You would think being a prince would make you overjoy of having people's undivided attention (the blond would rather die than have the many eyes staring at him), but the raven boy would immediately excuse himself as politely as possible to avoid talking with anyone. He stared outside the window or sleep on his desk most of the first day, only speaking when asked by their teacher. The prince has this familiar dull glint in those blue eyes that pulls Prompto's heart.

This pattern continues for the next few months and not a single person made the effort to speak to the prince (if you don't count the number of girls trying to act cute and flirt with the poor raven).

A loner. A prince isolating himself even when surrounded by many people. Someone who was like Prompto in some ways. Someone who was in their own dark world despite being in the light.

Prompto wanted to do something for the prince every time he sees the same lonely expression he knows mirrors his own face.

"Is Prompto going to give the prince another picture kupo?" Koko asked.

The blond nodded, pulling out his sketchbook. He turned the pages to find his latest sketch: a colored portrait of the park near the school. In the drawing, it contained a pond with several trees and many types of flowers around it with the sky turning a bit red and orange from the sunset. The scene gave off a serene feeling, comforting anyone who lay their eyes on such vision.

At the corner of the sketch was a photo of the same exact scene attached with a paperclip. Behind the photo was a little message:

The park is beautiful during a sunset every time I visit. It always relaxes me when I get tired or stressed. The tree (the big one near the pond) I sit next to is always comfortable to take naps. You should try it too. *\(^o^)/*

Prompto pulled the drawing and photo out of his sketchbook and handed both of them to Kiki. The little chocobo chirped and flew to its destination, placing the sketch and photo inside the prince's desk before flying back to Prompto and Koko.

"Kweh?" the chocobo asked if she did a good job. Prompto gently caressed her, appreciating her effort for doing this little mission for him. The chocobo chick snuggled into his hand, loving the soft and gentle touch of her caretaker.

Before long, there soft noises coming from outside indicating more people are now coming. Koko and Kiki gave Prompto one last hug before transforming back into charms on his camera. The blond boy smiled lovingly at the charms as he placed his camera back into his backpack.

Students began pouring into the building and classrooms. With the room filled with people, Prompto tried to keep himself from shaking. The increased noise level started to irritate his head, but he kept his focus on his notebook, distracting himself from looking at the mass of people around him.

Fiddling with the sleeves of his grey hoodie, Prompto noticed from the corner of his eye was Prince Noctis sitting down at his desk. The raven has his head lean onto his hand, looking out of the window. The morning glow shining on the prince was breathtaking, making the raven seem not of this world.

Prompto's fingers itches for his camera to take such a rare sight.

The bell rang, signaling the start of homeroom. The teacher quickly tells the rest of the class to be seated.

The school went on as usual; boring lesson, boring teachers, school lunches that seen better days (still taste better than nothing), students falling asleep, and so on. Prompto sympathized with some students, but he needs good grades to keep his adopted parents satisfy.

Though, he barely pay any attention to the last lesson of the day, not because the blond didn't understand (he was a math and science wiz, thank you very much), but noticed from the corner of his eye was the prince reaching inside his desk and pulling out the sketch and photo Kiki delivered.

Prompto could hear his heart beating louder, almost drowning out his teacher's lecture. His hand tighten around his pencil, reigning in his desire to fully look at the prince. He could feel himself heating up at the fact the prince was going to look at his pictures.

I hope he likes them.

Noctis was bored.

Nothing new if you know the raven well enough (ask Ignis or Gladio). His teacher went on about probability and fractions which he can care less about. Most of the things entered one end of his ear and exited through the other.

When will I ever use fractions when ruling over a kingdom?

Noctis sighs, turning his head towards the window. It was a dreary day outside. Dark clouds covering the sky and the sound of thunder rumbling.

Astrals, he despises when it rains. The aching pain from his back injury acts up when the days get like this.

The prince sighs when he noticed something peeking out of his desk. He blinks before realizing it was one of those again.

Noctis carefully pulls out both the sketch and photo without drawing anyone's attention. His blue eyes scanned the sketch and it never seems to cease to amaze him how well-done each detail was drawn. Each pencil stroke was carefully drawn and shaded beautifully; the colors added to the sketch brought it to life. The entire scene was like the one in the photo too.

Speaking of the photo, Noctis picked it up and turned the picture around. His lips quirked up to a tiny smile at the little message. It was goofy and thoughtful.

He never found out why, how, or who gave these to him, but they did make him feel better. Sometimes, the prince wishes he could meet the person who gave him the little light that shined like a beacon in his dark world.

It felt much different than the messages he and Luna exchanged over the last fours years in their little book.

Don't get him wrong, Noctis always felt relieved knowing his childhood friend was safe even when she was a prisoner on her own land. But the sketches and photos his secret friend (if Noctis could call him or her that) placed in his desk almost each day gave him something he haven't felt in a long time.

Happiness.

It was weird. Someone, who wasn't duty-bound or trying to get on his good side, was making Noctis feel better about himself. That the next day will be better than yesterday. That the world was alright even when there are times the prince feels like giving up. His chest felt lighter. His mind was clearer. He felt like he can breathe again.

Noctis traced the message with his fingers. As usual, the sender never sign their name, but the prince always sense they were nearby somehow.

He wishes he can meet the person and thank him or her for doing this.

Noctis turned his head towards the window again, but his tiny smile didn't leave his face,

Where are you?

If Noctis was more aware of his surroundings, then he would have felt a pair of blue-violet eyes watching him, smiling contently at a job well-done.

Author's Note: Well this was a good start if I say so myself. Ain't that right, Cousin?

BLANK: You can say that again. Even though it pains me to help write our Sunshine (Prompto) in a miserable life later on, I know there will be fluff too.

I hope we did well for our first time writing for this particular fandom. Final Fantasy XV is one of our favorites despite the ending being left to be desire. As you know, this is an AU! I will say this now: Pryna never got hurt and Prompto never receive a letter from Luna.

BLANK: Prompto is much more different here. Two of the important changes here is that he isn't chubby and that he's selectively mute. We have reasons as to why we decided to write it like this, but we aren't saying.

If you didn't already know, the official pairings so far are Noctis/Prompto and Gladiolus/Ignis. We might add more, but who knows!

BLANK: Leave a review because they will help us write better and faster. Any flames or bad attitude such as saying you hate this story without any reasons will automatically get flag. If you don't have anything good to say, keep them to yourself.