[It was with the gentlest of touches that Gladio ran the pad of his thumb across where the barcode should have been...
Gladio thought about his reply. Dismissing several options and then, when he couldn't think of a better thing to say, went back to the first thing he'd wanted to.]
I know.
And if it took a hundred billion of them just to get one of you, it's worth it.
[He closes his eyes and takes another deep breath. The touch on his wrist might as well be a brand.]
That's selfish. You know that, right? How many people have suffered and died because of those things? [He tilts his head to look at Gladio.] I'm not...I'm just one person.
[He shakes his head. He's not that important. No more than anyone else.]
I don't not want to exist. I just want what's best for our world. If there's no clones, there's no MTs. And maybe Niflheim doesn't have the army it needs to continue the war, or invade our home.
Believe me or not, but I get it. But how can you say someone else's doesn't do the same thing? Either way they'll raise their army... Either way they'll start their war.
A lot of dominoes had to fall to get to you, Prom. If you wanna stop it you need to go further back than that.
But that's too much of a risk.
What's the point in saving the world, if you're not there to see it with us?
[It was just that simple. And maybe he is as selfish. Maybe he was being dramatic or romantic or trying on some optimism for a change, but he just couldn't see the point of a world without Prompto in it. And he knew that Noctis and Ignis would feel the same.]
[There's a reason Prompto doesn't handle strategy. But this is what he has to work with. They can only affect change so far back - if they can go back at all. And he's not even sure they can change things. All the planning and plotting could be for nothing.
What's the point in saving the world, if you're not there to see it with us?
He's suddenly reminded of Noct's confession, and he feels tense all over.]
I know. But that doesn't change anything. You were still a part of his life. A huge part of it. And you'll be there at the end. We all will. I can't see we how could do anythin less.
My points this, Prom.
[He turned his attention back to him again, even sat himself up straighter and turned so that he could give his friend his full and undivided.]
You're brave. So damn brave. I'm proud of you.
But you need to be there. I don't think I can do it without you and Iggy. I know what has to be done but... I can't do that on my own. And neither can Noct.
[Prompto leans over his knees, hands digging through his hair and clasping at the back his neck. There's a sniffle, and when he comes back up, his eyes are red. He thumps back against the bench like all his energy is gone.]
I'm not going to change my mind. I saw the production facility. I saw what happens to the clones. That's not something that should have ever been allowed to happen. But...
[He sighs.]
But it's not up to me. If Besithia wants to make a bunch of replicas and skew Niflheim's male to female ratio... [He shrugs. A ton of clones set loose on the world isn't great, but it was better than melting them into daemon goo.] I won't argue. But you're not going to convince me MTs should exist.
[He turns his gaze on Gladio.]
And I want to be there with you. I do. No matter what happens, I want to be there.
[Gladio stretched out his arm and hooked it around Prompto's shoulders, tugging him against his side in a one-armed hug.
No, he didn't believe that MTs could have existed. None of it should have happened. But it had all culminated in the making of Prompto and that was an amazing thing. And who knew? Maybe, if given the chance, there could be more like him?]
As I see it... you were born for a reason, Prom. There was no mistake. You were meant to be born. Just like Noct is the Chosen King, just like I'm his Shield and Ignis his advisor. We all have our parts to play, we were all born just when we were needed. How you came to be... sucks. It does. But it's not who you are, you get me? You're Prompto. You're our Prompto. Nothin will change that.
[Prompto goes easily into the hug, even twisting a bit to return it.
It's good, at least, that they agree about the MTs, even if he's iffy on "meant to be" part. Though it is pretty remarkable that he - created in a lab in enemy territory miles and miles away - just happened to be the one kid stolen away, by Cor no less. And then, even after being sent off and adopted by regular citizens, still wound up in Noct's orbit.
So maybe fate had something to do with it. He could get behind that.
He huffs a small laugh.]
Okay, okay. I get it. We're all are meant to be, and you all would be lost without me.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
this_loser) wrote2019-07-26 04:31 am
no subject
Gladio thought about his reply. Dismissing several options and then, when he couldn't think of a better thing to say, went back to the first thing he'd wanted to.]
I know.
And if it took a hundred billion of them just to get one of you, it's worth it.
no subject
That's selfish. You know that, right? How many people have suffered and died because of those things? [He tilts his head to look at Gladio.] I'm not...I'm just one person.
no subject
[He gave Prompto's hand a gentle pat before he pulled it away to drop into his own lap.]
You're a light in this world, Prom. Don't be so quick to see it extinguished.
no subject
I don't not want to exist. I just want what's best for our world. If there's no clones, there's no MTs. And maybe Niflheim doesn't have the army it needs to continue the war, or invade our home.
no subject
A lot of dominoes had to fall to get to you, Prom. If you wanna stop it you need to go further back than that.
But that's too much of a risk.
What's the point in saving the world, if you're not there to see it with us?
[It was just that simple. And maybe he is as selfish. Maybe he was being dramatic or romantic or trying on some optimism for a change, but he just couldn't see the point of a world without Prompto in it. And he knew that Noctis and Ignis would feel the same.]
no subject
What's the point in saving the world, if you're not there to see it with us?
He's suddenly reminded of Noct's confession, and he feels tense all over.]
Not everyone makes it to the end.
no subject
I know. But that doesn't change anything. You were still a part of his life. A huge part of it. And you'll be there at the end. We all will. I can't see we how could do anythin less.
My points this, Prom.
[He turned his attention back to him again, even sat himself up straighter and turned so that he could give his friend his full and undivided.]
You're brave. So damn brave. I'm proud of you.
But you need to be there. I don't think I can do it without you and Iggy. I know what has to be done but... I can't do that on my own. And neither can Noct.
no subject
I'm not going to change my mind. I saw the production facility. I saw what happens to the clones. That's not something that should have ever been allowed to happen. But...
[He sighs.]
But it's not up to me. If Besithia wants to make a bunch of replicas and skew Niflheim's male to female ratio... [He shrugs. A ton of clones set loose on the world isn't great, but it was better than melting them into daemon goo.] I won't argue. But you're not going to convince me MTs should exist.
[He turns his gaze on Gladio.]
And I want to be there with you. I do. No matter what happens, I want to be there.
no subject
But you should.
[Gladio stretched out his arm and hooked it around Prompto's shoulders, tugging him against his side in a one-armed hug.
No, he didn't believe that MTs could have existed. None of it should have happened. But it had all culminated in the making of Prompto and that was an amazing thing. And who knew? Maybe, if given the chance, there could be more like him?]
As I see it... you were born for a reason, Prom. There was no mistake. You were meant to be born. Just like Noct is the Chosen King, just like I'm his Shield and Ignis his advisor. We all have our parts to play, we were all born just when we were needed. How you came to be... sucks. It does. But it's not who you are, you get me? You're Prompto. You're our Prompto. Nothin will change that.
no subject
It's good, at least, that they agree about the MTs, even if he's iffy on "meant to be" part. Though it is pretty remarkable that he - created in a lab in enemy territory miles and miles away - just happened to be the one kid stolen away, by Cor no less. And then, even after being sent off and adopted by regular citizens, still wound up in Noct's orbit.
So maybe fate had something to do with it. He could get behind that.
He huffs a small laugh.]
Okay, okay. I get it. We're all are meant to be, and you all would be lost without me.
no subject
[Gladio chuckled and moved his arm so he could ruffle Prompto's hair and grinned. His hand dropped back down onto his shoulder and rest there easily.]
So lost.