Chapter Text
After a long and painful push to Hammerhead, the Regalia was finally in good hands. The unexpected attack by Hundlelegs had left the royal vehicle with a nasty tear through the hood that no one had the experience to deal with.
Cindy stands at the entrance to the garage. She lets out a low whistle, "I've seen some bad accidents but, darlings, this is downright nasty. How the Six did you pull this off?"
No one answers, it’s still too soon and their muscles are still too sore.
“Well then, it’s a darn good thing Gramps picked up a new employee.”
“Cid actually trusts someone other than you to touch the cars?” Gladio snorts, “Must be real special.”
“Sure is,” Cindy grins. “The kid’s a whiz with anything Lucian, even stuff that’s usually only found over in Insomnia.” She tugs a sleek radio from her waistband, winking at the boys as she clicks it on. “Hey there, darling, you gotta minute? Our best customer is here and she’s in need of an awful lot of TLC.”
It takes a moment, but the radio beeps and through light static, a voice responds. “Give me five, Aurum.”
“Gotcha, Argentum.”
Noctis freezes at the name. It was a common enough surname but one too familiar.
Noct, please. Don’t let them do this, don’t let them take me! Please, pl—
“Argentum?” Ignis repeats, tearing Noctis from the memory. “Typically a last name, isn’t it?”
Cindy nods, “Sure is, but it’s the only one he’s given us.” She shrugs as she slips the radio back into place. “I ain’t the kinda person to badger people when they don’t wanna talk.” She offers a sly smile, “Told ‘em to call me Aurum, makes us a little pair.”
Noctis swallows. He takes one breath, then another, and one more for good measure. If either of his retainers pick up on his anxious behavior, neither comment on it. They easily could be reliving the very same memories.
However, Cindy pays utterly no mind to the situation. After all, she doesn’t know what they do. What they did.
“Once you’ve gotten an estimate on the time of repairs,” Ignis says and Noctis swears his voice wavers. “We’d like to rent a caravan for those nights, if possible. We certainly won’t be getting far without the Regalia.”
“No problem, darling,” Cindy answers with a nod. She walks over to the car, tugging the two halves of the very damaged hood up. Not a moment later, quick footsteps emerge from the garage not too far away.
A man with messy blonde hair that swooshes upward and bright blue eyes approaches them. Covered in grease stains and scars, he wears a dark gray tank top and black jeans. A bright, chocobo yellow bandana seems to cover a particularly nasty scar that barely peeks out from the sides of the cloth.
He wears a black wristband. Right wrist. Just at the base of his palm.
Noctis takes another set of three deep breaths.
The man doesn’t quite look at them. “Cindy!” He calls out in a familiar voice. One still so His eyes settle on the car. “Woah, did a Hundleleg mistake it for a cuddle buddy?” He snickers at his own joke.
Gladio lets out half a laugh, “Accurate.” Noctis wants to scream . Have they not noticed?
Had he not noticed?
Prompto— Argentum Cindy calls him. He’s at her side, attention completely devoted to their conversations. Just like always. They’re already knee-deep in a debate on how best to repair the Regalia.
Noctis glances at his friends then at the man he’s certain is Prompto.
Don’t go, don’t go, please, don’t go.
“He looks familiar,” Ignis murmurs softly, just loud enough for Noctis and Gladio to hear.
“Definitely not him,” Gladio shakes his head, “Remember what we heard. They’re just clones. It’s not him.”
“It is,” Noctis confirms, soft but confident. “I know it is.”
“Noct, just because you’re still upset about wh—”
“Prompto!” Noctis interrupts Gladio, stepping forward as he calls out his former best friend’s name. Gladio grips his shoulder but he’s already said it.
And the one going by Argentum stills, stopping mid-sentence at the name.
He turns slowly, “Um, sorry? Didn’t mean to ignore you—, ya!” He laughs before he scans the group and his eyes blow wide. “Fuck, I mean! You’re, you’re Noctis. The prince.”
Cindy snorts beside him, “Relax, blondie. You don’t gotta kneel for him.”
“R-right…well, you can call me, um, Ar-Argentum. Pleasure to help you out with the Regalia.”
Noctis stares at him. He stares back.
“Cindy… I’m going to take a break before we start on the car,” Argentum says softly. He barely waits for her response before breaking into a run.
“Prompto!” Noctis shouts after him, but there’s no point in a chase. Prompto was always faster and Noctis was already spent from pushing the Regalia for miles. All he can do is stare.
“Do you know him?” Cindy asks, “Gramps said he picked Argentum up somewhere near Lestallum. Kid looked pretty roughed up and out of sorts.”
Noctis was still staring when Ignis spoke.
“We…” Well, Ignis tries to speak.
“Maybe,” Gladio offers up instead, “Someone like him, but we left on bad terms. Worse for him than us.”
Cindy hums, “Hopefully it’s something you can make up, if he is the one you’re looking for.”
Noctis wants to speak up. Tell her the truth.
They left Prompto to die.
They did nothing to save him.
—
Argentum stumbles into the small room given to him. Photos cover the wall, stuck up by Cindy whenever he shows interest in one.
He shuts the door behind him, grateful for the lock on it.
They wouldn’t chase him down, would they?
His breathing picks up then sputters out. Breathe, Argentum, breathe.
In for four. Out for five. Breathe with me, okay? In for four. Out for five. He hears Ignis’s voice, warm and gentle, leading him through the steps. It’s a bittersweet sensation.
Ignis is here. Ignis is just outside. Ignis would never breathe with him again. In his head, Ignis still does.
Argentum pulls the bandana off, casting a glance at the thick scar. It should disgust him, rationally, he understands that.
The disgusting scar takes the place of the port that once lived there. Still a reminder of what he is, yet also a reminder that he wasn’t there anymore. Argentum takes a deep breath in, a deep breath out.
Prompto!
Noctis’s voice echoes in his head.
MT Unit NH-05953234. That is your designation. You understand, you will comply.
His mouth goes dry as he pulls his knees against his chest.
05953234. It’s easier to remember. It’s less painful to remember.
He debates running away for only a moment, before shaking the thought off. Abandoning Cid and Cindy is not an option. Their efforts are what got him here, made him human again. Argentum licks his lips and leans against the door.
The metal on his back thuds when it hits the wood, but he doesn’t flinch. He’s plenty used to that.
It reminds him of meeting retired Crownsguard. An event to honor their actions where Noctis had brought him along.
They were each battered, scarred by their actions and marred by their sins. Gladio whispered to him, softly, about the metallic limbs and bars that kept them alive.
Back then, he hadn’t yet dreamt of joining the Crownsguard. He had been too busy shoving down the desires for his friends. Both those of the romantic and protective sort.
They were alike now, Argentum thinks, soldiers unable to escape the marks of their actions. At least, those soldiers could be proud of what their actions accomplished.
He blinks, then forces himself to his feet. Argentum simply sighs as he stretches. Maybe they’ll get the idea and allow him the honor of continuing to live.
The radio buzzes, as if hearing his willingness and responding.
“Argentum! Breaktime’s over, sweetheart.” He smiles at the nicknames. Cindy uses them on everyone, but they still feel full of love. “Are you alright to work? I hate to push you, but I need yer help on this repair.”
“I’m alright! Sorry about that, Aurum,” he laughs. “I just panicked over seeing the Prince. That’s real important shit, y’know? And I completely focused on his car!”
“Uh huh, whatever you say, sugarplum.”
“You think I’m lying,” Argentum says, not as a question but as confirmation of a fact.
Cindy doesn’t miss a beat. “Duh, you’re a bit flighty but you flipped out real bad. And, no, he’s not anywhere near me, so he won’t overhear ya.”
He sighs, “Cindy… If I ask you to keep him away while I work on the Regalia, would you even be able to do that?” He bites his lip, regretting the question as soon as it left his lips. “L-Like! They don’t have to stay away entirely, but I can’t…”
“Definitely, I have some errands that need doing.” There was a pause. “You’ve told Gramps a bit about what happened, yeah? You don’t need to tell me about it, but you can tell me what I can do to help you.”
“...thanks, Cindy.”
“Always, you’re family, now, Argentum. You can’t get away, even if you wanted to!”
“There goes my plan to sneak out,” Argentum groans, over dramatic and theatrical. “I’ll be out in a sec.”
“Head to Garage 2, the boys tugged the girl in there and headed to a caravan to get some rest.”
“Copy that, thanks.”