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Nightfall
The first night Noctis and his retinue had camped at a Haven was a sign for things to come. Had any of them actually encountered Daemons before or had more than just the general knowledge of them, they would have realized how strange it was to see one so near to a Haven. As it was, the light of the Tonberry’s lantern was easily dismissed in favor of enjoying the first night beyond the Wall.
All four of them had noticed it, of course, but they were safely within the bounds of the Haven where no Daemon could enter. Gladio and Ignis both registered the Daemon as a minor threat, so long as they stayed in their camp, before dismissing it from their thoughts in favor of discussing the plan for finding the Dualhorn tomorrow. Noctis barely gave it more than a cursory glance, more preoccupied with trying to distract himself from his upcoming wedding with a few rounds of King’s Knight on his phone.
Prompto, the last one to notice, gave the Daemon the most attention.
He knew it was a Tonberry, one of the few Daemons he could recognize on sight, and one of the most dangerous types of Daemons one could encounter. They were most commonly found in caves and heavily wooded areas where it was easy to get lost, their lanterns often mistaken as the light of a fellow traveler in the dark with a mildly alluring effect like moths to a flame. While slow moving, if one got too close they could slash faster than a blink, and they were known for holding grudges. Prompto knew all of these things, had seen pictures of their abyssal eyes and glinting knives, and knew that, logically, he should be terrified of the Daemon.
Looking through the viewfinder of his camera to get a better look, Prompto found the minuscule monster adorable. The Tonberry was small in stature, the perfect size for carrying in one’s arms, and the brown robes that covered it looked soft and comfortable. The knife was a little intimidating, the way it gleamed in the light of the lantern, and it was proportionate in size to the Tonberry. The lantern was also proportional, bright enough to illuminate the area around it and soft enough not to blind when Prompto looked directly into the light.
A blink and a soft ‘ah’ later, Prompto knew with absolutely certainty that he wanted to hug the Tonberry.
Noctis, best friend that he was, must have had some vague idea of the photographer’s thoughts when he didn’t even bother looking up from his phone when he said, “No,” in his most lazy drawl.
Prompto couldn’t quite keep the pout out of his voice when he replied, “I didn’t say anything!”
“You didn’t have to,” Noctis responded with a bored look, “that was your bad idea sound.”
Sputtering indignantly, Prompto gave Noctis his best glare. The effect was like being glared at by a chocochick, all ruffled feathers and harmless chirps, that Noctis knew calling cute would result in even more intense ‘glaring’ from his best friend. With a noise not unlike an annoyed chocobo, Prompto said, “I don’t have a bad idea sound!”
A snort and the sound of a clearing throat came from the Haven’s two other occupants and Prompto gave them a glare too. When it didn’t have any effect on Gladio and merely caused Ignis to smile, the photographer turned away from the entire group with a huff and once again gave his attention to the Tonberry in the distance.
The Daemon was closer than before, features clear without Prompto needing to look through the viewfinder, but still far enough away for the rest of the group to ignore. The more Prompto stared, the more adorable the Tonberry looked, until he had to look away before he attempted to go out and hug it for real.
Prompto looked at Noctis, and how he was practically laying in his chair with how slumped he was, and decided it was time for some sleep before he had any more ‘bad ideas.’ With an exaggerated stretch and a yawn, Prompto got up and headed for the tent, “I think it’s about time for some shut-eye. ‘Night guys.” A round of responses followed him into the tent and all thoughts of oddly adorable Daemons fled when he caught sight of his sleeping bag. He was asleep before he remembered to zip it closed.