#i'm trying to clear out my drafts cause that 38 is really menacing nowadays

[angelic-guardienne]

Chocobros finding their s/o tortured and tied up by MTs? Any type of torture. How do they deal with the idea that their S/O got hurt because of them and how do they try to take care of them?

I decided to take this one on as an OT4+!, since I’ve been sitting on it for so long and not been able to come up with good enough reactions for all the bros. I’m sorry this took so long, and I’m sorry if this doesn’t really fully answer the prompt... hggggnn...

Tagging: @themissimmortal @nemo-ne-impune-lacessit @roses-and-oceans @for-lack-of-a-better-world @alicemoonwonderland @joioliviapolaroid @crazykruemel @ponkita @amicitonia @tales-of-a-fallen-star @goldenrosechain @valkyrieofardyn @insomniacapples @kawaiinekorose @kerrtrash 

Content Warning: Implied heavy torture, kidnapping, angst

All of them are absolutely distraught once the battle is over and they can’t find you. It’d been an ambush by the empire, one they hadn’t been truly prepared for, so everyone got out pretty banged up -- except that suddenly didn’t matter anymore because you were gone.

Noctis can’t sleep and constantly looks somewhere between the verge of tears and rage. Prompto is reviewing all of his battle photos to try and find the point where you’d been snatched or literally any evidence as to where you might be but comes up dry. Gladio’s gonna wear a hole in the ground with all his pacing and a hole in his friends with all that aggression. Ignis can’t cook properly and is endlessly fidgeting with his glasses, he constantly checks his phone for more information from any possible source.

Eventually, Cindy tips them off much like she did with the Regalia -- the bros have to take time to rush and gather more information and formulate a plan before they can go and rescue you. Despite wanting to get it done ASAP, they can’t risk rushing in blindly and possibly getting you killed.

When they finally do get things sorted out, they go to rescue you like the knights in shining armor that they are, fighting through a seemingly endless horde of MTs and imperial soldiers to finally get to you... they’re shocked beyond words at the state they find you in.

There’s no time for that, though, they can do a full damage assessment when you’re safe, right now all that matters is that you’re alive and that they really need to get out of there before backup shows up and they put you in even more danger. They’re putting their rage towards the Empire aside -- you’re their priority right now.

Except, when you finally wake up, everything is wrong and there’s none of the relief. You cower away from Prompto’s touch, begging him not to hurt you anymore. You’re wholeheartedly convinced that Ignis tries to poison you every time he cooks, even when you see all the others eating the same food. You avoid Gladio like the plague, telling him that you couldn’t handle seeing him die again. You can’t make eye contact with Noctis without almost having a panic attack.

They’re all even more distraught now. Had they really taken so long? Were they too late? What the hell had they done to you?

They’re all so angry, but they’re keeping it under wraps so they don’t make things worse for you. They can’t bear seeing you like this, but they’re not sure what they can possibly do to make things better for you. They’re glad you’re alive but they wouldn’t call you safe just yet. They’re so worried about you.

The executive decision is to leave you in Hammerhead with Cindy and the rest of them so you can recover and be out of danger. Hopefully, you’ll be happier there than you are with them. They’re not happy, but they have your best interest at the forefront so they’re willing to do anything.

Prompto and Gladio are visibly taking this all the hardest, but they’re all totally wrecked -- Noctis has shut himself off and Ignis has bottled everything up to the point of almost being cold. Car rides don’t have their usual warmth because everyone is on edge and anxious. No one can really think straight while you’re in such a state.

Doubtlessly, they exert their angry energy by taking down a few more bases out of pure revenge. The Empire would pay for what they did to you, and every part of that payment would be in blood.

Right, just before their rampage makes headlines, Cindy gives them a call. See, this whole time she’s been helping you recover, and while she doesn’t know the full extent of what was done to you, she has a general enough idea. She relayed that information to the bros, kind of like a status update. This stokes the flames, but Cindy tells them not to do anything reckless and stupid, because she’s steadily working towards getting you to consider seeing them again.

That changes things a lot. There’s still the rage, of course, but the bros are trying to direct it towards something more productive -- like doing hunts to raise gil for your return, things like that. Cindy’s been texting Prompto to ask for pictures here and there, and he eagerly sends them.

Eventually, they get another call from Cindy -- you’ve requested to see them.

When I tell you those boys dropped everything to pile into to Regalia to speed over to Hammerhead… they dropped everything.

The hesitation only sets in once the car is in park and they’re lingering right outside the garage, waiting for Cindy to come out -- how are you gonna react to seeing all of them again? Should they go in one at a time? What if they overwhelm you? What if you have a relapse when you see them again and you get scared of them again? So many questions, they might actually be panicking.

Cindy strolls out of the garage, and she’s by herself, and the bros are expecting something terrible to come from her mouth, but she just tells them to keep calm, talk in low tones, try not to rile you up or make any sudden movements -- she’s gonna bring you out in a second, but they have to cool it because you’re still kinda skittish.

After everything’s settled, Cindy goes back into the garage. She’s not gone for very long, but it feels like an eternity to the bros -- they’re anxious to see you.

Cindy reappears, this time holding you gently by the arm and helping you walk. Your time at Hammerhead has done you very well; you still have a limp, but you’re looking much healthier than you were when they found you. You just look… better.

It’s silent for a bit as you look at them, just take them in, and they wait as patiently as possible. When you move, there’s a sheepish little smile on your face, and you hobble forward and pull Prompto into a hug, since he literally looks on the verge of tears no matter how much he’s trying to hold it in.

(He does cry when you let him go)

You try to apologize for a lot of things, but the bros don’t even let you get that far -- they tell you that nothing was your fault, nothing at all, and then they all request to hug you. They each get separate hugs and kisses and such.

Even though you’re doing a lot better, you are still recovering and all, and while you do invite the bros to come around more often, you tell them you think it’s best that you hang back for a little while longer, at least until this limp goes away. They agree -- they’d rather you be at full strength for your return.

It’s not a perfectly flawless recovery; you still have nightmares about your capture, you still have relapses sometimes, but in general, you’ve done so much and the bros are so proud of you and they just love you even more, like record-breaking levels my friends. They still blame themselves quite a bit, knowing that you were most likely captured because of your relationship with them (there’s some debate that you should probably not travel with them anymore for that reason, but you argue relentlessly and they eventually acquiesce)

So yes, it’s a happy ending. Not a flawless one, but a happy one nonetheless.