when light fades

⭐️ prompto argentum

prompto is a sergeant and is in the dog squad or search and rescue.

in either case he works with a german shepherd called gunner.

prompto is the one that usually gives chase to the perp, which kinda scares the crap out of the other three cause shit he's quick.

in stakeouts, prom is always given a sniper position, while and he likes to snark at the others about random things he sees.

his dad was part of the military which is kinda why he wanted to join up but he failed the physical exam for the army and went for the police force instead.

⭐️ noctis lucis caelum

noct is a sergeant in the dog squad and has a black lab called shiva.

his dad is the chief commissioner of the police force and he automatically dislikes anyone who tries to give him handouts because of it.

he’s fairly lazy but incredibly focused when on the job.

as a child, noct was attacked by someone who had taken an unknown substance which left him nearly paralysed after he was stabbed in the back.

⭐️ ignis scientia

ignis is a senior sergeant in the tactical operations unit and is on the fast track to becoming a superintendent.

ignis is the brains behind their every move, and it frustrates him to no end when prompto refuses to let a guy get away.

his parents are entrepreneurs and away a lot, so he was raised by his forensic pathologist uncle.

⭐️ gladiolus amicitia

gladio is a senior sergeant in a branch of military police that liases with general police.

his dad clarus is the deputy commissioner and his sister iris is a year away from graduating from the police academy.

he originally wasn’t going to join the military, but he figured he wanted to be a little different from the rest of his family and the army fit him more.

⭐️ all together...

they normally wouldn't work together, but they end up being put together on a special task force dedicated to classified and high priority cases.

gladio and noct like making fun of them but they still kinda worries every time prom gives chase and iggy looks like he's gonna tear his hair out.

prom was also the top shooter of his class, but noct was the smartest and they like to hold it over each other's heads.

prompto and noct met at the start of the police academy and they shared a dorm for the entire time.

they’re tailing a suspect in an undercover operation and prom goes missing, which freaks them all out since he’s usually so alert and on his toes.

noct is two seconds from calling his father to arrange a search party.

Gladio was first to go, heading out towards Old Lestallum to join his sister — Iris Amicitia the Daemon Slayer, she was called now — and he said the briefest of goodbyes before disappearing into the darkness, greatsword strapped to his back and glinting through the shadows.

Ignis was next, blind but determined, having practically forced the others to help him relearn how to fight without being able to see his enemies.

Cindy had wanted to argue with him, tell him it wasn't safe anymore, but he refused to listen. He had already failed in keeping Noctis safe, Ignis had spat, he wasn't going to let him return to a world overrun by daemons. No one dared mention the possibility that the King may never return.

And so Ignis left, heading to an undisclosed location, without saying goodbye.

Prompto stayed for a while, keeping to himself in a way that concerned Cindy, but she was too uneasy to ever bring it up. He helped her with mechanical repairs, however sparing they were in the new darkness, between taking hunts from nearby civilians. 

They avoided all talk of their missing friends, taking meaningless conversation topics and wringing them dry.

Prompto learns his way around the small kitchen, between routinely cleaning his guns and keeping their meagre finances in order. Cindy lets him, idly wondering when his and hers became their, but it keeps Prompto's hyperactive mind occupied and away from the destructive habits and thoughts that had plagued him for the several months after the darkness descended.

If taking care of their food and money made him happy, Cindy won't stand in his way.

She just hopes something more happens soon, and this royal soldier can get back to his duty.

The years pass, and Hammerhead becomes a sort of makeshift headquarters, where Gladio, Iris and Ignis all come back to update Prompto on the world outside the floodlight bubble that surrounds the garage.

They always look like they want to question why he hasn't left; like they want to question if something has developed between Prompto and Cindy that was the reason as to why he stayed. There wasn't, Prompto shut the line of inquiry down, but it didn't stop the suspicious glances.

So their ragtag group continued that way, the ever-present darkness doing little for their hope of the King's return and the never-ending daemon hordes wearing their bodies down to the bone.

It was a routine that eventually became comforting.

Leave the safety of the lights, kill as many daemons as you could manage, return to the lights and collect the bounties.

Rinse and repeat after a meal and some sleep.

Then it changes, ten years after the sun had set for the last time. Cindy gets a call from Talcott, from out on the road gathering supplies in his truck. He tells her something she'd almost given up hope ever hearing, hanging up to contact Gladio and Ignis both.

Prompto comes in from working on the Regalia, the only thing Ignis left behind.

She wants to make him sit at the table before she reveals the news, but he insists on remaining standing, arms crossed over his chest. His knees buckle instantly when she tells him and Cindy barely catches him before he hits the floor.