Bound to Happen

Chapter 1: First Day

"Noctis!" Ignis yelled through the young prince's door "Get up! You're going to be late to your first day of school!"

"Ugh!" Noctis grumbled, throwing the sheets off of him.

Noctis forgot how unbearingly early you had to wake up for school. He used to attend Insomnia Central Elementary school, before the attention got to him and caused him to retreat to his large home for the rest of his years. The first three years were normal enough for him. The people then were just young children and all they cared about were juice boxes and play time. Noctis never really played though, he was too shy as a kid so, he would stay in the classroom and sit, or help the teacher if she needed any with things such as picking and putting up supplies. In second grade, a heavy-set blonde boy was introduced into Noctis' class as a new student. Noctis to this day could never recall his name as they never really spoke much but they did on occasion and the blonde sometimes even stayed in during recess too, since he didn't have many friends.

The third grade was when things started changing for Noctis. The kids in his grade and classes began to realize he was play pretending to be a prince and that he was actually a real prince. They saw what everyone sees in royalty. He was rich, got everything his heart desired, never had to worry about getting into trouble because he was allowed to do whatever he wanted, and was loved and adored by everyone, far and wide. The only thing that had been true was that his family was rich but they didn't spend it carelessly or flaunt it and Noctis was only allowed so much money to spend a month, his father slightly increasing the amount as he got older. Now, at age 15, he was given 10,000 Lucians each month. The other stuff they thought, was garbage to him. He was spoiled sure but he didn't get everything he wanted, he still had to earn some things. Ignis made sure to keep the prince's head grounded once he began his duty as Noctis' advisor. The third one, he always laughed at. He was constantly nagged by Ignis or shrieked at by Gladiolus, his protector and trainer. His father was also not afraid to ground him for things. He was disobedient at times, mainly because he wanted freedom. Every teenager wanted to be free and independent but Noctis had what he believed to be the tightest leash of them all. He in fact did have citizens who did adore him but as being the son of a king, not everyone agreed with the ways things were ran and somehow considered that Noctis' fault. He was certainly not admired by Niflheim for sure.

By the fifth grade, some students grew jealous of him. They totally excluded him and some made fun of him for his hair or his carbuncle charm on his book bag. He wasn't really bullied a lot but when he was, it hurt him deep down, though he would never show it. For the ones who didn't bully him which were a number far larger than the amount of bullies, thankfully, they crowded over him and constantly questioned his life. This caused anxiety deep embed within him and his father thought it was best to pull him out and become homeschooled.

Noctis grew terribly bored seeing the same people in the same atmosphere every day, Ignis, Gladio, his dad, and staff. He didn't have any real friends and never had anyone to hang out with. He convinced Ignis that the reason he was always so moody and "depressed" as Ignis would call it, to put him back in public school and be among people his own age and just be able to be a teenager. It was many trials and tribulations, along with pleading, that he finally said yes, he would speak to his father. The king was concerned and hesitant about his decision but Ignis had believed it would help Noctis and that was enough for Regis to say yes to his son's happiness.

Noctis walked over to his desk where Ignis had left his uniform neatly. He groggily removed his current t-shirt and sweatpants. In the mirror, he could see a small but deep scar on his abdomen from when he was attacked by a daemon when he was younger and he proceed to put the garment of his uniform on. He pulled on his blazer and looked once again at the mirror to tie his tie.

"Eh, what?" he had it in a nasty knot and was embarrassed to admit he didn't know how to tie a tie.

He finally untied the knot and slung his tie over his shoulder and set off to the dining room where Ignis had his breakfast ready for him.

He entered through the large ornate doors to the dining room. Gladio was standing next to it like he always had. Ignis was placing the meal in the spots where Noctis and his father usually ate. Regis sat at his end of the table smiling at his son. Noctis was in complete shock, his father hardly ever had time or was well enough for meaningless meals such as this and he returned his father's smile, walking to his place at the table.

"Hey dad, not used to seeing you at breakfast. I'm still going to school, right?" Noctis now convinced his father may indeed have changed his mind.

Regis nodded and chuckled a little, a rare sight "Of course you are! You have not changed your mind, have you?" he raised an eyebrow, his son often did change his mind last minute.

"No! Its, just different seeing you at this time casually. Almost thought something was wrong." The king's son was starting to feel relieved. He was genuinely worried his father had decided for him not to go or if his father had more problems show up in his latest health checkup but then again, his father might not would have been smiling.

"What, can I not see my son before his first day of school?" he jested, acquiring a laugh from Noctis.

"It's technically not my first day of school dad. Plus, you're usually too busy for stuff like this." His smile slightly faltered.

"I am never too busy for my son!" the king looked slightly hurt at what his son said. He had been very busy lately with Niflheim negotiations and keeping them from declaring war. "And it is your first day Noctis. Your first day at public school in years and your very first day of high school. These years here are-" Noctis cut his father off before he could continue.

"My best years of my life yea, but I'm the prince." He countered to the cliché statement he knew his father had meant. "That load of crap is for normal teenagers. I'm not normal. I have these powers. I have to train to for my life or for others in case of assassination or war. I have to worry about thousands of people and a country, not something normal teenagers worry about. I have no time for." He was trying to hold back tears, remembering the blonde boy who would rarely but still talk to him and eat with him at lunch. The blonde always brought salads of types and Noctis always wondered how he enjoyed them. He considered him a "friend" and all these years he feels he abandoned the boy. "And dad, your health…" he always hated thinking about his dad's health and how it was getting worse.

"Do not think about my health, that is not for you to worry about and you don't have to worry about most of the things you listed until you are crowned King. I want you to know if you have friends you have been meaning to spend time with I will arrange time in your schedule son, you know I will." He was stern with his tone.

"How am I not supposed to worry about you!?" he slammed his fists on the table causing the silverware to clank. "YOU'RE MY DAD!"

"Yes, but I am fine Noctis, please do not stress more than you need to, you will have plenty of time for that later in life. Now, eat your food." He gestures to the plate of eggs and toast with a glass of orange juice.

"Fine." Noctis was always a sloppy eater. He was loud with his utensils and was dropping crumbs everywhere.

As he ate, a servant watched disgusted by the mess she was going to have to clean up and as they both finished their meal she gathered the dishes to the kitchen. After she was gone, Ignis came in walking by Gladiolus and the two exchanging a nod. Ignis brushed a couple of crumbs off of the prince's blazer and saw the undone tie.

"Noct. Why have you not done your tie yet?" he gave a stern look to the young man.

Noctis fiddled with his fingers in his lap with his head down "I, uh…" he was growing red in embarrassment.

Gladio chuckled and saw right through Noctis' embarrassment. "Wow! The crowned prince doesn't know how to tie a tie!"

"Shut it Gladio!" Noctis snapped. Gladio only laughed louder.

"Is this true Noct?" Ignis spoke and he and Regis gave the prince a concerned look. The advisor slightly ashamed and doesn't recall teaching the prince to tie a tie.

"Kinda…" Noctis avoided eye contact with everyone.

Ignis sighed along with the king. The spectacled man grabbed the tie off of Noctis' shoulder and then pulled it around Noctis' neck and proceeded to tie his tie for him. The young man was so embarrassed. He should know these things, if he were to be respected as the future king.

Gladio was still laughing "Noctis, get your bag and meet me at the car." Ignis grabbed the chuckling man by the ear and drug him out wincing in pain.

Noctis wondered how Ignis could get away with that, if he tried he would have a hell of training to do. Noctis never questioned it further his stubbornness was already punishment to Gladio. He grabbed his bag and proceeded through the Citadel's long and seemingly endless hallways and large decorative doors.

Ignis was already waiting in the car and ready to go of course. He was always as swift as light and sometimes Noctis swore he was inhuman with his kind of speed and being perfect in almost everything. The prince climbed in the back of the very comfortable and luxurious car Ignis used when driving Noctis around. He rarely used the Regalia unless he was teaching the fifteen-year-old to drive so he could be used to it since, the king had planned to announce it as a gift for Noctis on his 16th birthday on August 30th of summer of next year. He always enjoyed having a birthday before school started, no one made a big deal and he didn't have to waste a day he was supposed to enjoy working.

"Everything in order Noct?" his advisor looked at him through the rearview mirror.

Noctis whipped out his phone to play King's Knight. "Mhmm." Was all he replied.

"Very well then." Ignis returned his attention to the road.

The school wasn't that far away from the Citadel, it was maybe 10 minutes. It was one left from the gates and a straight road to the school. They passed a blonde walking up the hill and Noctis couldn't imagine himself walking voluntarily anywhere.

Ignis pulled up in the circle around where parents dropped their own kids off at the school. "Well, I hope you have a good day Noct. If you feel it is too overwhelming, call me, Gladio, or your father and I will come to get you but if you can please refrain from calling your father unless it is a panic attack."

Noctis as halfway out the door "I'll be fine specs, I'm not a cry baby anymore."

Ignis sat there for a moment and watched as Noctis had entered the school. Feeling bad him and the others bet on the prince's mental health and wondering whose would actually be correct. They had all bet on when the prince would crack under pressure from either the attention he didn't want from others or realized he didn't want to be at a public school anymore. Gladio had bet the earliest time, right in the middle of his first class. Ignis was the second with him calling after lunch. His father Regis had hope in his son to stay the whole day but still expected Noctis to change his mind about school when he got home that day. Ignis got out of his thought with the sounds of honks behind him and drove back to the Citadel.