Noctis sighs as defeat washes over him. He gazes down at the dark hardwood floors, and a scowl forms as the seconds of soon-to-be clockwork routine dwindle down. Light bursts of air cause him to shiver out of impulse. Despite his uncomfortable chattering and paranoia, he turns his attention to his right palm, where an ancient crystal pulses a pure white color. With a quick close of his eyes and a sigh, he squeezes the crystal tight, causing the room's darkness to envelop him once again. White marks slither across his knuckles and his breathing hitches to shallow wheezes. The clock strikes 7 in the morning, and the terrifying reality brings Noctis breathless.
"Damnit, dad..." his voice trails off to a croak.
The low breeze seeping inside the home seems to halt from Noctis' words alone. He forces his eyes to close and brings his head down to his knees, curled and terrified, helpless thoughts loom over him in the few moments of silence that linger, for Noctis knows the quiet won't last forever. The silence was always temporary.
The entrance to his home barges open with a thunderous roar, causing Noctis to stagger back. He winces and tightens his grip on the artifact. The pulsing from the crystal ceases as its magic seeps inside him, in response, his body becomes weightless but, whether from his anxiety or the magic, Noctis remains uncertain.
Please don't find me. He pleads with himself.
Chills run along his spine, and his body becomes translucent as he grips tighter. Noctis closes his eyes tighter. His breathing halts.
"Noctis, come out here, now!" his father, Regis, commands.
His threatening voice echoes like a yell into a cave along the long-winded hallways. Noctis stifles a gasp his free hand while maintaining his fetal position. Countless curses and yelling continue, and Noctis winces each time his name is called. Footsteps stammer towards and away from the room Noctis hides in.
"Damnit! Where are you!?" His father's voice draws closer.
Noctis clenches his free hand to a close as his father hurls insults. He wipes his knuckles against his forehead, brushing the sweat aside, trying his damndest to subdue the panic. An arctic breeze cascades throughout the home and traces of his father's magical essence dwindle through the cold air. Unsettled by the magic, he gasps and grips the crystal like a vice. His hand sweats fiercely and turns bright red; the searing droplets cascade to the floor. Noctis hand burns like a flame was kindled directly under it.
Don't find me, don't find me.. He pleads in thought once again.
Noctis nearly hyperventilates as the footsteps come toward him again for what seemed like the hundredth time to him.
"Boy, I know you're in here..." Regis' voice trails off, "I can hear your breathing."
Light spills into the room as a creak echoes from the door frame. Though concealed, Noctis struggles not to tremble. Shadows of scuffed shoes flicker from the hallway as Regis steps to enter the tight room. The creaks send shivers down Noctis' spine, yet he forces his breathing to a halt. Regis closes in, and Noctis' eyes well preemptively from the pain to come.
Regis reaches out towards the wall his son leans on, but Noctis tiptoes a few steps away. Creaks come from under Noctis feet. He curses under his breath as his father turns towards the sounds. Regis' face turns bright red, his brows furrow with a scowl that makes Noctis' body go numb.
"What are you playing at?" Regis asks.
Noctis rolls his eyes. Fed up, he hurls the crystal towards his father violently however, Regis catches the artifact between his fingers and throws a sidelong glance at his son as his form reveals itself in transparent wisps.
"P-protect," Noctis stammers the chant with his hands in front of him. A circular barrier akin to white marble circles and glows in front of him at his command. He glances towards his father with a glare that could kill, but, with a snap of Regis' fingers, Noctis finds himself in dismay as the barrier dissipates. Numbness spreads from his hands to his toes, and, out of confusion and despair, he furrows his brows.
"Oh…" Noctis whispers. He sighs, realization hitting him, then mumbles, "Dispel, really...? Get it over with, damnit."
"You're a disgrace!" his father yells.
Regis plants a single blow against Noctis face, but he doesn't grimace from the pain. Blood droplets spread like ink to the floor below him, he goes limp, letting his father shove him around and punch at random body parts like a used doll. He stares absentmindedly out the window, waiting for his father to stop.
He's not wrong, Noctis thinks while gazing at the snow. The pure white color almost feels like a taunt compared to the blotched blood and dark wooden floors. He wants to melt away like the snow would, as he wouldn't have to endure the pain. It would be nice… He thinks.
Noctis turns his attention away from the scenery and sighs as he resigns to the endless abuse. He recalls again why the endless abuse takes place.
As a Callum, his bloodline set him to inherit a royal title and ancient magic. Regis only saw him as a useless pawn, however. He wanted another son because of how much an abomination he saw Noctis as. Ever since his parents discovered Noctis' natural affinity to be healing and dispelling curses, Regis swore Noctis be useless until the day he'd die.
HIs father tried for years to conceive, but only to end in miscarriages and a daughter, useless to Regis' plans, who ran away at a young age. Regis, now infertile and desperate, decided on a new plan.
An arranged marriage for Noctis with Lunafreya, a mage who became attuned to black magic. If Noctis couldn't lead a kingdom through power, he'd have to marry someone who he could protect with his holy magic. Regis was reluctant towards the thought ever since Noctis' mother died. Noctis always paid silent respect to his mother, thankful for the sacrifices she made to keep his father in check.
Bruises form on Noctis' forehead and back. His father withdraws from the onslaught of punches and huffs wildly as he stands up.
"You better cover that one on your face up before school." Regis huffs as he turns towards the door to leave, "otherwise you won't breathe to see tomorrow, boy."
Noctis sighs as his father slams the door behind him. He knew covering up the bruises with makeup would take several minutes.
Why? He asks himself, wondering how much longer he'd have to deal with this. Ever since mom died, you've gone mental. Noctis bites his lip as his eyes shift around the room, half expecting his father to burst through the door again. He shivers the traumatic experience tugs at his anxiety like an arrow to a bowstring.
Standing up, he winces in pain and staggers around before exiting his failed hideaway. He trudges to his room as tears cascade to the floor. Uneasy soft whimpers escape him as he reminds himself he'll be safe at school soon. He takes a few more turns down through the castle's long hallways before reaching his bedroom.
His room appears monochrome compared to the vibrant castle hallways, and only contains the essentials: His bed, a small circular desk, and a small makeup station with a cracked mirror. Noctis sighs and sits down in the chair he's become all too familiar with.
"You better cover that one on your face up before school," he says, mocking Regis' gruff tone.
Noctis cups his mouth and drums his other hand on the desk as he stares ahead, remembering his father will never change. He clicks his tongue as he leans back in his chair, weighing the options. He slams his hand that cupped his face on the station in front of him and groans. He pulls himself upright and fiddles in the nearby cup of supplies for a blending brush along with some foundation.
Exasperated sighs escape him, and the brush collides with his face, merely clockwork routine to the teen. Dull pain strikes him with each stroke, but the bruises remind him, if unconcealed, he could be on another dimension of pain. With regards to his safety, he carries on with an occasional wince.
"Fuck," he whispers.
A bruise near his eye flares with a pain that forces them to a close.
"Almost done," he reassures himself.
He applies the remaining foundation and, without care, tosses the brush into a cup of cosmetic supplies. He whispers several foreign chants to himself, and the foundation shimmers into light blue particles. Though the pain lingers, the bruises appear gone, and not a trace of foundation in sight, like nothing ever happened. With his work finished, Noctis turns towards the door to leave.
Chills creep down Noctis' spine as he navigates the long-winded hallways. Though he knew the layout, another onslaught of attacks from his father haunted him with each step he took, yet he could easily dismiss the fear. His father, though cynical, wouldn't want him late for school. Noctis smiles as he steps outside. The cool winter air presses deep into his skin.
Noctis stares blankly ahead as he walks forward and plans his day at school, oblivious to his surroundings. Lunch with Prompto, letting Luna copy his math homework, and falling asleep during history were the best things he could ask for.
"Mfh.. hey!" Noctis snaps out of his daydreaming to see his shield, Galio, pushing Noctis off of him.
"Oh, shit! Sorry Glads..." Noctis avoids eye contact. Gladio glances down at him with a concerned look.
Fuck. Noctis thinks in a panic. Smooth move.
"You doing ok today, kid?" He runs his arm to Noctis' shoulder and looks into his eyes. "You seem hella distracted for a prince with no duties."
"Just planning my day at school," Noctis mumbles. He isn't entirely untruthful.
Noctis glances up to Gladio's honey eyes. Halting his breath, he fixes his gaze away from Gladio. He winces as a gale swipes his face. Gladio furrows his brows and puts a hand to Noctis' shoulder. He traces his hand up against his cheek with a gentleness that leaves Noctis breathless. Noctis tugs back, but Gladio holds him steady with his free hand on Noctis' shoulder.
"Stop," Gladio commands as he tightens his grip on Noctis' shoulder. Noctis grimaces from the sting caused by Gladio's touch. "What the fuck happened to you?" an awkward silence encompasses them.
Noctis stands in place, his gaze unmoving from the street and shallow breaths uneven. It would be the ultimate release to tell Gladio everything. He sighs, discontent strikes him once again. His father would drag him to a dungeon for months and cover up the truth if he so much as whispered what happened behind closed doors.
"This is gonna sound super silly." A fake smile tugs across Noctis' face with a low giggle. "Gladio, you know I'm a klutz. I fell straight down after i got out of bed this morning. Thankfully I had enough time to cover it up."
Gladio tilts his head, confused. "Noct... I doubt that would cause a little breeze to hurt y..."
"Straight into my doorknob!" Noctis blurts, barely stammering an excuse out with a nervous laugh.
Gladio glances at Noctis in dismay, and Noctis could only hope he'd fall for his bluff. His shield analyzes him a few moments after he drops his smile.
"Oookay then." He turns away from Noctis and heads towards the regalia. "I hope you don't butcher yourself at school with that graceful start to your morning, prince."
Gladio turns to smirk at Noctis as he walks towards the car. Noctis smiles back at him and climbs inside with a soundless exhale. Gladio turns his head toward him with a sidelong glance, furrows his brows, and purses his lips as he fidgets the silver keys into the ignition.
God knows what's on his mind. Noctis thinks. Hopefully, I convinced him nothing's up.
The car crescendos from a low purr to a roar as Gladio backs out of the castle grounds and drives him to school. Noctis leans his head against the car's window and closes his eyes. The gentle pulses and rumbles across the roads lull him to sleep.
"Hey, Noct, wake u-," Gladio says with a push on Noctis' shoulder.
"Nmmmph." Noctis slaps his hand away and curls a little tighter in the space he fell asleep in. "Can I just skip today?"
Noctis' eyes flutter open from the half-assed attempt at sleeping for twenty minutes. God's know his father's abusive habits keep him on a knife's edge with sleep. The anticipation grips him like a vice.
"No, your majesty," Gladio quips with a pointed look. He rolls his eyes at how childish Noctis acts for his age. "And... If you ask me again tomorrow I'll pick you up an hour late."
Noctis sighs. Low sounds of the car humming fill the void. He straightens his back against the seat and turns to match Gladio's glance towards him. Noctis pouts at Gladio and his shield returns with an exaggerated eye roll.
"Get going and I'll come pick you up an hour early, ok?" Gladio's words were like giving a child candy to Noctis. His face goes from somber to a content grin.
"Just don't send me home early, okay?"
"Sure thing.." Gladio's voice trails off with a quizzical look.
"Great, see you later Glads!"
Noctis exits the car, then turns around to close the door. With a quick smile to Gladio and a wave of his hand, he shuts the door and turns to leave, ready for his boring mundane tasks. He grumbles, wondering why a prince had to complete normal classes.
Gladio glances back at him, not buying his story for a moment. He closes his eyes as he chants inaudibly, then points his fingers towards Noctis. A translucent magical ring materializes above the young man.
"Who the hell is hurting you, and why are you lying about it?" He asks himself. "Regardless, I'm sure Regis would love to know about this..."