Noct's first time sleeping outside when he was younger was something special to remember. Although he was very young at the time, the faded memory was still very dear to him. His father was to busy to take him but Gladio had been talking about going camping with his younger sister ,Iris, for quit some time. It was a regular ritual both brother and sister did every year for his vacation.
Noct was happy for them to be able to bond but could not help wishing that him and his father had something they could do on a regular basis. While his father was king his hours were not exactly normal. More than once, Noct's father almost caught him on a midnight adventure around the palace in the middle of the night.
He would enjoy being about to experience true camping just once though. He would like to experience what Gladio talked about with his stories just once, but when it came down to the facts, Noct was the prince of his country and could not leave the city walls. He had already had multiple kidnapping attempts and knew it was too risky. Even if he did manage to talk his father into it, he knew it would be no fun with all the guards he would insist on.
Being in the palace alone at night was a little eerie but also very fun. As long as Noct stayed out of the living and high traffic areas, he could be as loud as he wanted. He had to be extra sneaky to get around Ignis at times as well. The extra time was well worth the risk though. There were no needs for manners when he was alone. He could yell and run in the halls and sit how he wanted when he was taking a break.
He found a wonderful spot in one of the smaller gardens no one goes to. Many times he fell asleep in the outside garden and did not wake until the morning. He had to wake up extra early because he did not want to get caught. His dad may put guards on him at night as well if he finds out he had been leaving his room. It was difficult to keep his secret when he fell asleep but he just convinced everyone he was going for a morning walks on occasion.
The garden was not very comfortable so he brought a blanket outside and made a hammock of sorts between a couple of trees. The grass looked soft but it could be itchy and the ground was hard. It was the only bit of freedom where he could be himself and not a prince. He felt more carefree in this bit of garden than anywhere else.
His nighttime activities stayed on his mind as he made imaginary comparison's between that and camping. Would they sleep on hammocks and look up at the sky? Could they sleep as late as they wanted or did they have to get up before other people noticed them? What did one even do while camping? Thinking about all the things it could be, Noct decided to do his own research.
He went to the library for several days and looked into books on camping. He did this for almost a solid week before he walked in and saw something strange. Hiding behind a book case in the library, he saw Gladio talking to the librarian. So maybe his research was getting in the way of his daily training but that's no reason to hunt him down. Noct was too far away to hear what the two adults were talking about but after a few minutes of thought, decided it was probably boring adult stuff and snuck out of the library. His stealth training must be coming along well because neither one of them noticed him slip out.
Well, now that Gladio knows he goes into the library, he probably had to stop researching camping that way. He knew that looking into was not wrong exactly but it was embarrassing that he even had to research. Gladio spoke of camping like it was something that everyone ought to know how to do, so Noct felt dumb for not understanding the concept.
Another few days passed in his routine. He would wake up and eat breakfast, usually alone or with Ignis. Perform his studies during the mornings on how to be a proper prince. Manners and history and other boring things. Then he would eat lunch with whichever tutor he was working with that day. After lunch he would get to train with Gladio.
Two days before, something out of the ordinary did happen. Gladio was late. He was always already there when the prince showed up for training but on that day he was not there. Deciding it couldn't hurt to look for him the prince started aimlessly wandering the halls. Nearing the King's chamber and still finding no signs of his teacher, Noct was about to give up hope when he heard raised voices coming from the throne room.
As he got closer he noticed the door was cracked and crept closer to the opening. Well he found his teacher but was he arguing with his dad. Whatever Gladio was saying, he must be real passionate about it because he was moving his hands and talking very loudly. Noct could almost make out his words but not quite.
Noct assumed whatever they had been talking about was decided because Gladio suddenly turned towards the door and began walking toward the prince. Noct panicked and his behind some close by tapestries. He let out a breath he did not realize he was holding as Gladio and surprisingly enough his dad walked out of the throne room.
"I just think it would be good for the prince, he's young so he doesn't understand why he can't" Gladio stated to his king. Noct's ears perked up at the sound of his name. What did he not understand? Is there something wrong with his training? If so, why did Gladio go to his father instead of telling him? He did not hear his father's reply as they kept walking.
He did realize though that he needed to get back to the training deck or Gladio might suspect he was close by. He rushed back before the older male could turn around. He was still catching his breath when Gladio entered but his teacher did not seem to notice. Both of them were out of it during training that day though neither noticed.
Most of the time training was pretty silent with only occasionally speaking. Gladio believed in experiences instead of memorizing facts. So Noct found it odd when he walked into the training hall two days later and Gladio was just standing there in the middle of the floor with his weapon sheathed. Was this a trap? Cautiously he approached the older teen. He did notice Gladio speaking with his father just yesterday so he was hoping he was not messing up to bad.
There regular greeting passed by and Gladio just looked amused at the young prince as the boy tried not to fidget. It was not good manners to fidget. After a few minutes, the younger boy broke and finally asked "Am I doing something wrong with training?" He did not think he was. He felt himself growing stronger all the time but maybe he had offended his teacher.
"No" Gladio said shortly "just wanted to talk with you about your new interest". "Huh?" the boy asked confused. Instead of irritating the older male, the youth's response only made him more amused. "I've been talking about going camping lately with Iris, my sister, and after talking to the librarian, I think someone else is interested in in to" Gladio clarified with a silent accusation. An embarrassed flushed spread across the boys face as he realized he had been caught.
Taking a closer look at Gladio while trying to regain his composure, Noct noticed he did not look like he was irritated or annoyed by the boy's research. He had a gleam in his eyes that Noct had never seen before. A little defensive, Noct answered "well with how much you talk about camping, of course someone could get curious about what it is". Instead of answering his princes defensive stance, Gladio asked something that threw him for a loop. "Would you like to find out instead of just reading about it?"
Caught off guard, Noct began to answer negatively when he looked closer at his teacher. Gladio looked like he was seriously asking the questions. A little nervous several excuses came out of the boys mouth "I can't go outside the city because it's too dangerous and I have to continue my stu..." "I did not ask that" interrupted the older boy. "I asked if you would like to find out about camping".
Ashamed by wanting something he knew he could not have, Noct looked down at his training shoes and simply nodded his head. Gladio did not say anything for a few minutes so Noct looked up at his teacher and saw him smiling. "Well then I guess you're in luck" Gladio presented his words like a prize, "me and Iris would love to have some extra company this year".
"Bu-but you guys have a tradition to uphold" the prince said stiffly. Traditions were one thing that was put in the boys head at a young age. He knew how important they were and they could not be interrupted. He was not expecting Gladio to laugh. "It would not change the tradition to have one more going, and besides I already got it approved" he revealed.
Noct's eyes got wide and he just looked at Gladio. Just when Gladio thought he misread the situation. Noct smiled bigger than Gladio had ever seen and accepted to invitation for what it was. It was like his father's approval opened up a floodgate. Question after question poured out of the young man's mouth. Gladio was stunned for a moment when his prince took a breath for air, he began telling him tales about previous camping trips he has had.
So enraptured, both boys did not notice the training time had extended beyond what it should until Ignis came to collect the boy. With a quick list of what he would need, he was ready to get packing.