The next day was just like any other day, except Noctis had barely tried to make conversation. He half avoided Prompto. After his outburst from yesterday, he wasn't surprised. The blond took his usual seat in the back of the classroom, taking out his English books. He sat back, staring at the teacher who had just walked in. His eyes averted to the lazy lump beside him, the Prince. He didn't even look up, he looked just like the spoilt brat he thought he was. With a sigh, he focused back on the blackboard. Copying the teacher's words she just wrote down.

"Prompto?" Noctis shook him out of his thoughts. He looked at him questionably.

"What is it?" Noctis sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"You know, I want to be your friend. I totally understand if you don't like me, I mean, ehh. I just like hanging out with you, playing games. A-and what I'm trying to say is. You can always talk to me if you need. I'll listen. I'm here, that's what friends are for." He gave Prompto a reassuring smile. The blond looked away for a bit, hit by the kind words of the Prince. He nodded in return, he was at a loss for words.

"Actually, maybe you can help me." Noctis smiled and looked at the blackboard. Maybe he should write down his homework for Monday.

The bell rang and college was over for the day. Prompto waited outside, leaning against the bike shed in the back. He heard some shuffling behind him and turned around to great Noctis, except it wasn't him. It was Omen and two of his basketball friends.

"What do you want?" He tried to sound nonchalant, which seemed to work.

"Where's your best pal? I can't believe he'd be friends with a Niff." Prompto flinched. Did he know he was a Niff? He gulped.

"A Niff?" He said in response, hoping to get some information out of them.

"You might as well be one." He crossed his arms and continued. "You live home alone, presumably haven't seen your parents in a while, maybe an orphan?" He chuckled. Prompto took a step back, they didn't seem to know he actually was from Niflheim.

Omen grabbed him by the throat and held him against the wall. Prompto choked back a sob in pain and tried to look him in the eye.

"You don't belong here, Argentum. You should leave Isnomnia altogether before I make you leave." He scoff and let the blond drop to the ground. He kicked him in the side, nodding to his friends to join in. One of them grabbed him by the arm and smacked his back against the wall, the other kneed him in the stomach. He let out a loud growl in pain, but Omen put a hand on his mouth to shush him.

"We wouldn't want anyone to hear you, right?" Prompto teared up, frightened.

Omen yanked back his hand only to punch him in the face. His cheek swelled up instantly and turned bright red. His breathing fastened.

"Why do you hate me, what the hell is your real reason for doing this?"

"You're not the smartest are you? Want me to explain it to you?" He started and made the two friends hold him against the wall, both taking one of his arms.

"Your father was part of the Crownsguard, a while ago, obviously. Now we all know, that isn't - or wasn't your real father. They adopted you after some crazy accident, which nobody ever talks about. Your father was friends with my father, who also worked under the king. Now, they both fought among the Glaives, against Niflheim, several years ago. When Niflheim send out non-human beasts to fight off the Glaives, my father was attacked. Everyone left him behind, to die. Including your father. My father saved yours many times, yet he left mine to die." Prompto gulped. Was his father among the Glaives that saved him?

"There was a lab where they experimented on young kids, training them to become MT's and fight in the war against Lucis." He huffed, kicking him in the shin. The blond cried out in agony.

"Apparently most of the kids turned into monstrosities, and couldn't be saved. One kid did, but we never heard anything about him ever since." Thus concluded his story, punching him again.

"Your father killed mine, like all the other Glaives. If there'd be another war, nobody here would survive." He huffed and grabbed him by the shirt, motioning for the other guys to let go of him.

Prompto tried to pull away, but Omen was stronger and yanked him back, ripping his tee apart in the progress. Omen laughed at him, seeing a fragile guy shivering on the ground. His side was bruised. He rolled over to get back on his knees when Omen put his foot on his back.

"Nice scars on your back, seems like you weren't liked by many before me!" He burst out laughing and waved his hand in the air, telling the guys to leave. The three of them turned around chuckling, leaving Prompto's sight shortly after.

He heard a muffled voice in the background shouting. He couldn't hear who it was, he just lied there on the grass. Covering his head, his ears ringing. His sobs were silent. He winced with every small move he made.

"Prompto? -to! Pr... TO!" His vision was blurry and his breathing slow. His heart rate seemed to be at the speed of light. The last thing he remembered was someone touching his shoulder, presumably to try and wake him up.

Noctis had left the building after having to stay for detention. He hated detention, but he didn't want to be treated any different from the other students. He fell asleep in class once again and this time his teacher had wanted him to stay.

With a groan he pushed open the front door and looked around. No Prompto to be seen yet. He passed a few late students who most likely stayed back to do some homework. He heard a few of them whisper as Noctis passed them. They looked at him too. Normally he didn't care, but when he heard Prompto's name, he swiftly turned around looked one of the girls straight in the eye.

"Did you just say Prompto?" The girl squealed, not sure how to act around the Prince of Lucis. She awkwardly bowed and said she overheard the basketball team how much they hated him. And that they knew he waited for Noctis at the bike shed in the back. They waited him up after school, like a classic school-bully act.

Noctis thanked them and made haste around the back of the school. He noticed the shed in the distance.

"Prompto! Prompto!" He repeatedly said as he got closer to the rundown shed. It was old, but still in function.

He noticed something shifting in the distance. Noctis walked around and saw a figure curled up in the grass.

"OH god Prompto! What happened?" But by the time he said his name, the blond seemed knocked out cold. He took his wrist to feel his pulse, he was careful to take the wrist without the wristband.

His pulse was weak and his body was covered in bruises. His side was bloody and bruised and his back had scars here and there. They looked old.

The Prince took out his phone and dialed the number he knew by heart. Ignis.

He sat by Prompto's side, trying to wake him up, whilst Ignis came running from the parking spot.

Nobody really came to this side of the school, only the first years to park their bikes, but they'd already gone home. Ignis pushed back his glasses and took a hard look at his fragile body. He was shivering and unconscious. A little underweight, but not too heavy. His face swollen and red and his body bruised and scarred. A single tear left Prompto's eye as he was lifted up by the driver and carried to his car.

They drove off towards the hospital, when Prompto woke up.

"W-where am I? Where are we going?" He managed to say with a hoarse voice.

"The hospital, you're severely injured. It could be critical if we don't act soon." He didn't take his eyes off the road. Prompto coughed heavily, blood dripping from his mouth. He cried in agony as his coughing had just made the pain in his abdomen worse. He had a few broken ribs, he could tell. The blond looked up, seeing Noctis face crunched up in concern, his hand behind Prompto's head for support. His other hand covered the blond's right hand. The blond blushed a little at the sight of their hands together. His hand was warm and soft. But soon that thought faded as he realised what Ignis said. The hospital.

He was scared to go to hospitals, he didn't want anyone to see his tattoo.

"I-I don't want to go there. I can't. T-they can't... Know." He started shaking, crying. Noctis looked down at his crying friend, but smiled softly at him.

"We're taking you to our private hospital, you'll be in safe hands. I promise." Prompto choked back a sob, feeling vulnerable being topless. But the Prince didn't stare at him, he looked away, respecting his silent wish.