Dangling the hope in front of him, while Prompto knew how unlikely Ardyn thought it was (how unlikely he thought it was), just dug the knife in deeper. His lips quivered, everything in his throat and chest so tight it hurt. Prompto swallowed hard, struggling to keep the growing despair opening up inside him from overtaking his anger, trying to snap instead of sob. The result was thin-voiced and unconvincing.

"Keep dreaming, asshole," he hissed, and even if the words sounded on the edge of tears, his eyes were hard and hateful. "I'll never cooperate with you."