Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 23

Cor pinned Prompto to the mat, again. He straightened and offered the teen a hand up, why was he throwing every fight? He said he wasn't worried about hurting Cor just because he was human but maybe it was instinctive? How hard had he been working all these months to make sure he never gave away what he was? It would be hard then to give his best. "Enough for now," he offered, seeing him relax.

They moved off the mats and Prompto grabbed his water bottle, slumping down on the bench. He was showing signs of exertion so he had been trying to an extent at least. He would talk to Gladio about it, see if it was just him or if Prompto was holding back with everyone. It had to be hard, how much would have changed for him when he was infected? He had to admit, the kid was brave, first his illness and now this.

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Thaddeus took a deep breath, glancing at the clock. He was nervous, how could he not be? He was about to examine his first werewolf. He had heard of the Argentum boy from the Prince, he had asked him for how to help him a few times. He had offered to examine the teen himself, to see if there was something more that could be done for him medically. At least now the boy was safe from his lifelong illness, that was good, right? The Prince obviously trusted him, despite his now being a wolf. Nothing would happen.

He nearly jumped when a knock sounded. "Enter," he called.

The door opened to reveal Scientia and a blond teen. Scientia ushered the younger male inside and the teen hesitated, breathing deeply, and Thaddeus realised he was scenting the air…he should have opened the window or had air freshener or something.

"Prompto?"

"He…he's really nervous…scared…I can smell it," the blond stammered.

Scientia rested a hand on the back of his neck and Argentum turned to him. "It's alright Prompto." The young Adviser looked at him, eyes cool.

He should have realised, Argentum had been a wolf for several months now, his senses even in human form would be heightened. The scent of fear or even nervousness should set off hunting instincts and yet he seemed upset by it. Thaddeus took a deep breath and stepped out from behind his desk. "I apologise Mr Argentum," he offered his hand.

The teen turned back to him, blue eyes wide, but then he slowly extended his hand, watching him for his reaction, and Thaddeus forced himself to remain calm. Their hands met and they shook.

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Prompto just wanted to turn around and leave. The room was heavy with the scent of the Doctor's nervousness, practically fear, but he'd agreed to be examined. This was the Doctor who looked after Noct, making him the best choice. So having the man apologise and offer his hand was a shock.

He took a deep breath, he needed to calm down himself. The Doctor was human, he had every reason to be nervous about suddenly having a werewolf patient, especially one that he thought was only a few months old. He sat on the table when asked to, staring at the wall as the Doctor checked him over, making sure to give him the arm without the barcode, not wanting to risk him seeing it. It was nothing like the labs in the facility, nothing bad was going to happen. Everything was fine.

"Prompto," Ignis called his name, and he looked at him. "Breath, it's alright."

He sucked in a deep breath, closing his eyes, and then Ignis was there, hand on his shoulder.

"That's it, I'm here, no one will hurt you," Ignis murmured, and Prompto leant into him.

"Sorry," he muttered, a hand moving to clutch Iggy's jacket.

"Are you alright?" the Doctor asked, and Prompto could smell a surge of nervousness.

"Not going to change," Prompto promised, breathing in Ignis's familiar scent. He relaxed as Ignis' hand moved to run through his hair.

"Let's move to the desk, I'm done with the basic checks," the Doctor offered, and Prompto got off the table.

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Noctis looked up as the door opened and Ignis led Prompto into the apartment. When Prompto immediately moved to him, Noctis wrapped him up in a hug, Prompto practically crawling into his lap. "What happened?" he demanded of Ignis even as he pressed his lips to Prom's throat in offering, feeling him shudder, hearing a very quiet whine.

Noctis immediately opened his mouth, biting down as his fangs extended, feeling Prompto immediately relax. He only took a mouthful before licking the wound to encourage healing.

"Nothing happened Noctis, just a lot of tension. Prompto was able to pick up Doctor Wilton's nervousness via his scent and I think being examined brought back unsavoury memories, despite how different the environment likely was," Ignis explained as he moved to the kitchen.

Noctis nodded, shifting on the couch to lie down with Prompto held to his chest. "It's okay Prom," he murmured.

Prompto just cuddled into him, rubbing his face against his shirt…mixing their scents, seeking comfort.

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Regis read the report Doctor Wilton had compiled on Prompto. Thankfully, it appeared he was fully healed from his illness. His weight was more than his height and build would suggest, likely the stronger muscle of a werewolf even in human form. Prompto had answered the questions asked of him too, expanding their knowledge.

His phone buzzed and he picked it up, reading Noctis' message. And it appeared that it may be his only visit with Doctor Wilton from what Noctis was saying. He had not thought it would cause the boy that much distress, then again he had likely spent most of his earliest years in and out of hospital. That would leave its mark, even if he was too young to really remember. If the Doctor wanted to see him again, perhaps it would go better if he went to Noctis' apartment.

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Gladio leant back against the couch, shirt off in case there was any spillage, Prompto straddling him. Normally blue eyes were halfway to gold already.

"Sure?" the wolf asked shakily, and Gladio simply bared his shoulder and neck.

"Go for it blondie," he told him, lifting a hand to the back of Prompto's head, urging him in.

He felt Prom nose at the skin before pressing his lips there, testing for the right spot. Gladio made sure he didn't tense, it wasn't going to be like being bitten by another vampire or anything, it was going to hurt. He could handle pain though and he wasn't going to let Prompto feel bad over causing him pain. He felt Prompto's teeth rest against the skin, no fangs like a vampire but the teeth felt sharper than a humans. Prompto rested one hand on his other shoulder, the other holding his arm still in case he jerked, smart. He felt a flash of white-hot pain as sharp teeth sank into him, but he forced himself not to tense or try to pull away.

Gladio kept his hand just resting at the back of Prompto's head, feeling him trembling in his lap. "It's okay," he told him.

Prompto whined softly but then slowly he loosened his jaw and removed his teeth, licking at the wound. It wouldn't promote healing but Prom seemed to be enjoying his blood. He stopped, shifting position, offering, and Gladio sank his fangs into warm flesh, Prompto's blood was far better than anything bagged and with how quickly he healed there wasn't aby problem with all three of them taking the occasional drink. That it helped Prompto with the whole pack bonding part was just an added bonus. He pulled back and licked the wound to help it close quicker.

"Okay?" he asked, hearing Prompto almost panting for breath.

He lifted his head, showing his eyes were fully gold now, but Gladio wasn't worried. He looked a little spacey but that was normal for when one of them bit him. Prompto shook his head to clear it and then reached for the medical supplies, cleaning the bite on Gladio's shoulder before covering it with a bandage.

"Relax Prompto, it's fine."

"It hurts though," he whispered.

"You telling me there isn't even a seconds pain when we bite you?" Gladio countered, and Prompto shrugged slightly. "Prom…"

"But then the bite feels good and that doesn't," he waved at the gauze covered wound.

"Yeah, but it doesn't hurt either now, promise." He reached out and ruffled Prompto's hair. "Come here," he tugged him back in, just holding him, feeling Prompto relax. It was funny how normal it felt now to let Prompto curl up against in or even in his lap, there was nothing to it beyond his need for contact. They were his pack after all, he had become very tactile with all of them and they had adjusted to it.

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"Hey Dad," Noct grinned as he leant in the door. "You wanted to see me?"

"Come in and sit Noctis," his Dad answered, standing from behind his desk to move to the couch, and Noctis joined him, curling into him. "How is everything?"

"Good. Gladio's got a new scar," he wasn't going to come out and say that Prom had bitten Gladio. "Iggy won't do our homework for us," he mock complained, and his Dad chuckled.

"Good, Ignis is your advisor Noct, not your brain." He ruffled his hair and Noctis tried to duck.

"Daaad," he groaned.

"Does Prompto like the apartment?"

"He's at mine most of the time, I think he's more comfortable in the familiar. He's not used to money outside of mine," he admitted.

"That's understandable, he'll get used to it in time. Have you talked to him about the Armiger?"

Noctis sighed and shrugged. "I get it, he doesn't want me to feel his pain, but Cor's been hurt and sick and it hasn't affected you badly. So does that mean you trust him?" he looked up at his Dad.

"I trust his devotion to you; a blind man could see it."

"Sometimes…it scares me Dad, the way he looks at me."

"Noctis?" His Dad now sounded alarmed which wasn't what he'd meant to do.

"He looks at me like…like I'm everything. I don't know if he even knows he does it. I…I don't want to mess things up or let him down. I don't know how to be a pack leader," he admitted.

"I'd say you're doing your best Noctis, and Prompto knows that. All you can do is your best; will you mess up? It's very likely, but you also have Gladio and Ignis to help when that happens."

"Practise for being King?" he asked jokingly and his Dad laughed.

"Not for many years yet."

He really hoped his Dad was right, he didn't want to be King for at least a century or two but he could see the way the war and having to hold the Wall was draining his Dad. He hated it, but what could he do?

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Prompto grabbed his phone as it rang, seeing his Dad's number. He hesitated, how was he meant to tell his parents that the King knew! That he was now living in Noct's building… "Hey Dad."

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David collapsed onto his hotel bed, the phone dropping to the mattress as he stared blankly at the wall. The King knew about Prompto. He had walked in on his son feeding from Prompto, had picked up his scent… Prompto had kept the fact that the Prince and his Retinue knew about him, had known about him almost from the start. And they were covering for Prompto, pretending he had been infected during the school attack…they really must care deeply for Prompto.

He was terrified for his son although beyond grateful to the King for not exiling him or worse as the law demanded. It had to be for his own sons' sake, everyone knew the Prince had no friends, except for Prompto. Which meant they owed Prince Noctis everything.

He got up and got a mug of coffee, downing it, before calling Sara to tell her.

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Prompto ducked under Ignis' attack, tagging him across the ribs in return, hearing Noctis cheer while Gladio called out advice to Ignis. He didn't like fighting Ignis, he only really felt comfortable training with Gladio, but he knew why they were doing it. Ignis was great with his daggers and lances, not so good at hand to hand. He was also slower and weaker than Gladio and Noct…and more easily hurt. But the two of them training together was also smart, he just hated the risks.

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Cor watched the four boys as they lounged in the private garden. For once, even Ignis was sprawled in the grass, reading something on his tablet, while Noctis and Prompto played some kind of game on their phones, Gladio reading a book. They'd started bringing Prompto to the Citadel on and off, although mainly to the outdoor areas or Noctis' private rooms. Doctor Wilton was investigating, quietly, better methods for hiding Prompto's scent since it did look odd that the Prince's best friend wasn't seen around more.

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Prompto stared at the man in disbelief. "Why?"

"Do you really think Noctis will accept anyone else?" the Marshal countered.

"But…I can't. He'll feel…" he shook his head.

"Prompto I've been shot, stabbed, thrown out of a moving vehicle…the link wouldn't let him feel all of your pain."

"Even a little's too much."

And that got a slight smile from the infamous Immortal. How much did that nickname hurt considering the man was human and those he cared about had already outlived him by centuries and could potentially further outlive him? The only way for him to live as long as them…well, there was no way he'd want that.

"You're definitely nothing like I'd expect," the man admitted, and Prompto frowned.

"For a wolf?"

"For someone not raised around all this. You'd do anything for Noctis, wouldn't you?"

"He's my best friend," Prompto stated.

"And your pack leader."

He shrugged slightly; friend was more important as far as he was concerned.

"So trust him to know what he's doing. He's seen what you go through every month and he's willing to take on even a lower level of that to give you access to magic."

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Noctis looked up and smiled when Prompto appeared in the doorway. "Hey…you okay?" he sat up in bed, wincing as the scars pulled.

It had been a bad day so he'd spent most of it in bed with heat packs and plenty of blood laced with mild painkillers. It wasn't very often he had days so bad anymore. He held his hand out and Prompto crawled onto the bed, eyes lowered.

"Prom?" now he was getting really worried. He reached for him, tugging him closer, and Prompto curled into him, whimpering softly. "Shh, it's okay, I'm here," he soothed, rubbing a hand up and down Prompto's back.

"Sorry, sorry, so,"

"Shh," Noctis cut him off, pulling him even closer, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. He rubbed his cheek against Prompto's hair, like Prompto would do in wolf form. "Whatever it is, it'll be okay."

He wriggled them around, ignoring the pain, to get Prompto under the covers with him. He was surprised when Prompto offered his throat but it was obvious he needed something from him, so Noctis bit down gently, drinking properly rather than just a mouthful, feeling Prompto relax against him. Whatever had upset him had to be bad. He felt and smelt Prompto's body reacting to his bite even as he licked it shut. With his head against Noctis' shoulder, he couldn't see Prom's expression, didn't know if he wanted him to do anything about it. When Prompto whined and pressed closer, he took it to mean he did. Noctis wasn't surprised when Prompto fell asleep after, Noctis gently stroking his hair, worried.

He was on the edge of sleep himself when the door cracked open, Ignis peering in, looking surprised to see Prompto.

"Everything alright?" he called softly.

"He was too upset to say," Noctis admitted.

Ignis nodded. "Do you need anything?" he asked, and Noct shook his head. "Call if you do, get some sleep." With that he left and Noctis shifted slightly, making sure he had a good hold of Prompto before he drifted off to sleep.

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Prompto woke slowly, feeling utterly safe, surrounded by the scent and feel of pack. He felt totally relaxed and kind of floaty, like…like he'd been probably fed from. A hand stroked his hair and he pressed into it.

"Awake?" Noct whispered.

"Mmmm."

He felt Noct shift them both and then his head was being tipped up to meet his gaze. "Feeling better?"

He frowned slightly, better… oh. He tried to look down but Noct wouldn't let him.

"Hey," he called gently. "It's okay Prom."

"M'sorry," he mumbled.

"For what?"

"Not trusting you to know what you can take," he mumbled, and Noct frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Saying no to the magic."

He heard Noct inhale and then his hand was on his cheek and Prompto leant into the cool touch. "It's okay Prom, you're just being a good friend. I want you safe too."

"You…you've seen it Noct," he stammered.

"If I could take that pain from you, I would, gladly," Noctis told him. "Just like I know you'd take mine. We can't do that, but I can share it."

Prompto closed his eyes but nodded. "'kay."

TBC…