Chapter Text
Chapter 5: The Mission Part 2
Annalynne
A few hours and a handful of drinks in our systems later, we managed to make it back to the hunter's HQ where our "apartments" were. (It's more like a dorm rather than an apartment. The rooms are nothing special, but it's enough and getting to sleep on a full-size bed rather than that cramped twin bed in the campers is something I look forward to every time I come back.)
Prompto almost didn't make it back. I guess with everything that has been going on he had a few too many. It was almost comical how cuddly he wanted to be.
Almost.
But I managed to get him back to the apartment building and was about to take him to his room when I ran into Gladio. There was a glint of humor in his eyes as he took in the sight before him.
Prompto was leaning against me while I was doing my best to support him as I had his right arm draped across my shoulders and my left arm around his waist. He slipped in and out of consciousness during the walk here and was slowly regaining himself.
"This one givin' ya trouble, kid?" Gladio asked.
"Nah," I replied. "Honestly, I've been around worse drunk hunters. A few have woken up with black eyes from me."
He chuckled at that before offering to take Prompto off my hands. I happily handed the blond over and watched Gladio effortlessly pick Prompto up and sling the poor drunk over his shoulder like he was a sack of potatoes. Gladio gave me a quick nod before walking down the hallway towards Prompto's room.
I made my way to my own room and entered as quickly as I could. Dragging a drunk man home combined with the alcohol that was still in my system was making me sleepy real fast. The sweet scent of vanilla hit my nose the moment I walked in. It was a comforting smell. Just like home before the Fall. I didn't take the time to change, just simply managed to get the chest trap called a bra off, kicked my shoes to Eos knows where and fell into bed.
Prompto
The alarm on my phone was louder than it needed to be. Either that or there was another reason for the pounding in my head. My hand lazily made its way to my phone and after a few attempts, I managed to turn the damn thing off.
I turned to lay on my stomach for a moment, burying my head into my pillow before slowly rising. After the meeting with Cor and Dave, I immediately asked Annalynne to drinks so I had nothing packed for our mission. She was probably in the same boat.
I took a bit longer in the shower than was needed, but the hot water did feel nice for a change. An hour after I woke up, I finished packing and made my way to the front of the building. Luckily the apartments the Hunter's gave us were in the same building as HQ.
The first floor of the building is dedicated as the operations point of the Hunter's Society and floors two through ten were all for hunters to sleep. Ignis said that this place use to be a dormitory for the EXINERIS plant workers in the early years but was left empty for years when the plant grew and more workers needed to be hired. Once darkness fell and more people became hunters, they took over the old building.
I made my way outside and saw Annalynne leaning against the building with one leg propped against it. She was wearing sunglasses, her hair pulled into a high ponytail, and had a can in her hand. It took me a second to recognize the coloring, but from how much Iggy loved to drink that stuff I knew it was Ebony.
"Mornin'!" I waved at Annalynne. I couldn't tell what her expression was behind those sunglasses, but she obviously wasn't that much of a morning person.
She dipped her head as far as it would go back and downed what was left of the drink and without looking tossed the can to the side and made it into the trash can a few feet away.
Who on Eos was this woman?!
"You sure took your time getting out here," was the only thing she said before turning to walk towards the street
Definitely not a morning person.
I was about to follow after her when the doors to HQ opened.
"Yo!"
I turned around and saw Gladio and Ignis standing at the entrance. Gladio had a gigantic grin on his face while Ignis was stoic as usual.
"Didn't think you could leave without sayin' goodbye this time, did ya?" Gladio asked.
"It's only two weeks, Gladio," I said.
"A lot can change in two weeks, Prompto," Ignis said. "Besides, now that the light has returned Eos only knows what is lurking out there. Especially at night."
"At least he'll be in the company of a beautiful woman," Gladio says as he nudges my shoulder.
"I may be beautiful, but I'm also quite deadly," Annalynne said as she appeared right next to me. Guess it didn't take long for the Ebony to kick in.
"Almost feel sorry for ya, Annalynne," Gladio said. "You gotta deal with this one over here. I'll gladly trade with you."
Annalynne shook her head at that. "Nah. I'll be fine. Plus, Prompto's not too bad to be around." She looked at me and I swear I saw her wink at me as she said that. I couldn't help but blush a little before clearing my throat.
"Well, look at the time! Guess we better be off if we're gonna make it to Galdin Quay."
"Be safe out there," Ignis spoke up. "And Prompto, do be on your best behavior. You are with a lady after all."
I could hear Annalynne laugh under her breath. "Ignis, you flatter me but I can assure you I am not a lady. I'm a hunter. If Prompto tries anything, well… let's just say things won't be so pretty." And with that Annalynne walked off. I said my goodbyes and quickly followed after her.
"Sorry 'bout that," I said as I caught up to her.
"Don't be," she said. "At least you still have your friends from before shit went down."
A few moments passed and she stopped in front of a motorcycle. Suddenly I felt nauseous and my stomach started making knots into knots. I just chalked it up to the hangover I was probably experiencing and left it at that. Annalynne opened up the storage compartment at the end of her bike and walked to the handlebars where a black helmet was hanging. I quickly stuffed my bag into the compartment and closed it, making sure to keep my own helmet out.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Annalynne got on the bike and I followed suit. She yelled over the engine as she revved it up.
"Hang on tight!"
What she said just hit me as she started pulling away. I quickly placed my hands on either side of her hips as we speed down the street towards the tunnel. After a few moments, I felt one of her hands pull my left hand forward, making me lean into her back.
"I said hang on tight! Don't be so modest or else you'll go flyin'!"
I wrapped my arms around her waist at her insistence as we exit the tunnel. The sun blinded me for a moment, which made me lean into her back even more. I could feel her back vibrate with silent laughter and I knew she felt my grip tighten for a split second. If I jumped off this bike, I just hope Eos would grant mercy on me and swallow me whole.