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"Okay," Cor said, crouching down, pointing to the front entrance of the Niflheim base. "Right there, that's the shot."
"Got it," Prompto whispered, lifting his camera up to his eye, adjusting the focus.
Cor laughed. "Why are you whispering? They can't hear us out here."
"For dramatic effect," Prompto whispered. "It'll make the photo better, just trust me."
The two of them crouched together beside some bushes, more than far enough that they wouldn't be spotted by the guards outside the base, and though there were scout patrols, Cor had carefully observed them the day before bringing Prompto in to help him take photos. He could do recon without photos—certainly had before—but Prompto and the other boys were in the area anyway, and this base was a big one. It would be a huge help, to use those photos to plan a more strategic attack. He could show it to the few remaining members of the Guard, work with Monica and Dustin to take it out once the boys were on their way again.
"Okay, got it," Prompto said, and patted his camera.
"Great. That's the last one we'll need." He clapped a hand to Prompto's shoulder. "Let's get back to the bike."
Turning from the base, they slunk through bushes and trees, keeping a careful eye out for that patrol until they were well in the clear. Only then did they both straighten, ambling back to where Cor had parked his motorcycle. On the way, Prompto rambled to him about what he, Noctis, and the others were up to, assured him he'd develop the photos once he got back to camp and hand them over, and went on a long infodump about some of the stranger habits of chocobos.
Cor just laughed and made a comment or an attempt at a joke on occasion, then passed Prompto his spare helmet as they reached the parking lot.
It was nice, driving his bike with the young man who was effectively his son warm against his back, arms wrapped around Cor's waist. It wasn't often these days Cor shook hands, nevermind hugged anyone at all.
When they arrived at the base of the rocky hill serving as the boys' current campsite, Prompto hopped off first and Cor followed more slowly.
"Won't be longer than a few minutes," Prompto assured him. "I'll get you those photos so you can get back, too."
"Thanks," he said, leaning back against the seat of his motorcycle, helmet tucked under his arm. "Hey, Prompto?" he asked, trying not to make it sound like an afterthought.
"Yeah?" the young man turned back. And he really was a young man now. So grown up. So much different from the baby he'd rescued, from the little boy he'd helped raise. And Cor was...
"I'm proud of you," he said, quiet and honest.
Prompto turned a little pink and laughed, embarrassed.
"I really mean it," Cor assured him.
After a moment, Prompto nodded. And then he said, just as quiet, "Thanks, dad."
They stood there together, a few feet apart, too awkward to look at each other. Prompto turned at last, promising he would be back soon. And Cor watched him go.
Watched, as he climbed up to the campsite. Watched the other boys greet him.
He was so... so happy, that Prompto had them. Had a family he belonged to.
But with his boy grown up, and his city gone, and nothing but too much weight on his shoulders and no one to share it with, he couldn't help but stand there and feel...
Lonely.