Never wrote solely a FF15 fic before, but here goes nothing. This is a non canon AU. Has elements it's from canon but it's more just a modern AU thing.

Chapter 1

Noctis stared forward at the bland beige wall. He was trying his best to focus on how boring and dull the color was, hoping maybe he could just tune out whatever it was that Ignis was saying to him. After what he had been through, why did he had to be 'mom' lectured on how not to over do it while being hospitalized? That was the last thing that he wanted.

"Noct," Ignis said as he stopped talking. "Are you listening?"

"Yeah yeah…" Noctis muttered.

"Are you really?" Ignis asked, not at all convinced.

"Noctis slowly tried to turn onto his side, facing away from Ignis with his body aching at every movement. He regretted doing it after but didn't let Ignis know. "Yup."

"I can tell that you are not," Ignis replied bluntly. "And facing away from me isn't going to help."

Noctis sighed deeply before he turned himself back. Ignis was always nosy like that, but it was his job anyways. Always looking out for him stuff even when he didn't want it. But he was still his friend either way.

"Thanks Iggy," Noctis replied. "I know you're just trying your best to help."

"This isn't easy on any of us Noct, I only wish to make sure that you are going to properly adjust."

"Yeah I getcha… going to be stuck here for awhile until I recover. I figured that much," Noctis grumbled.

"I'll be sure to bring things from home that could make your time here much more comfortable. I will also bring your schoolwork once we inform the school and sort that out."

"Ugh! I still gotta do school?"

"Not immediately no. You will be given time to work on your recovery. But you cannot avoid your studies forever."

"Watch me try," Noctis replied. "Hey… any idea what the deal with my phone's going to be?"

"Since the culprit has yet to be located, we've done what we can to track it, but also to disable the number to be on the safe side."

"Ugh so now I'm without a phone?"

"Not to worry, Gladio will be bringing you your new home later today."

Noctis sighed with relief as he laid back into his pillow. "Thank the gods… I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my phone."

"Maybe you'd actually put your mind to more resourceful things. You know…" Ignis tapped the side of his chin. "Maybe that's actually a good idea."

"What? Ignis no! You can't do that! I need my online connection and my games like King's Knight or I could die!"

"I think the incident you were in would classify more as something much more deadly than whether or not you play a game," Ignis deadpanned.

Noctis sighed once more. He knew Ignis wasn't really scolding him over what had happened. It wasn't his fault anyways… not fully at least. But he wasn't ready to talk about that yet. He wanted time to just relax and get his mind off of the subject.

Everytime he closed his eyes he could still remember. He could remember the shadows that loomed over him, growing closer and closer…

Noctis opened his eyes to see Ignis looking at him, no doubt studying him with his sharp eyes. Eventually he closed his own eyes and nodded. "Very well. I'll let you have some alone time. Remember Gladio will be by later to visit."

Yeah. Thanks Iggy, serious," Noctis said trying to sound as thankfully as he could.

"Of course," Ignis replied before heading to the door. "Get rest if you are able."

"Not a lot else I can do for right now," Noctis replied before he watched Ignis leave the room.

Now left alone Noctis groaned audibly. "Ugh this sucks."

Thankfully he didn't have to wait too long scrolling mindlessly through the TV channels. Gladio walked into the room without knocking of course, but it wasn't like he would be barging in on Noctis doing anything. He couldn't really get up and leave the bed on his own anyway.

Gladio walked over to Noctis, his arms crossed as he glared down at him. Noctis returned an equally deep glare in return. "What?"

"You know what," Glaido grumbled.

Noctis frowned. He knew what Gladio was doing. He knew why the guy was trying to burn his stare into him. But Noctis was in no mood for it. He wasn't ready to be reprimanded until he graduated high school. "I know what you wanna say… but don't. Just don't."

"I'm not saying anything. But at least you are smart enough to be mulling it over already."

"You have my new phone?" Noctis said suddenly. He seriously wasn't ready or even wanting to talk about it yet. If he could just avoid it for now… that would be good enough.

Gladio rolled his eyes and pulled out a new sleek phone in a black case. He placed it down on the table next to Noctis's bed. With a grunt Gladio turned around and headed to the door. Clearly he was still annoyed with Noctis, and Noctis knew exactly why. But still he really just wasn't ready to talk about it. He knew Gladio would only repeatedly scold him for his foolishness.

Taking his new phone he glanced up to see Gladio at the door with one hand on the handle. There was a wavering expression. One that showed Gladio was concerned more than he was angry. But he still was terrible at this kind of thing overall. "You feeling better?"

"Some…" Noctis answered softly.

"Good. Just get some rest."

"That's what everybody tells me… I'm trying to…" Noctis replied.

After that Gladio left the room without another word. There was nothing but the soft sound from the TV that filled the room. Noctis knew that all of this was going to take time. Not only for his recovery but also not having his friends overly worry about him. He knew that both Gladio and Ignis were no doubt thinking about it. How they found him bleeding and crying out in pain. How much they regretted not knowing what had happened.

He waited a few hours mindless scrolling through his phone, checking feeds and other various things. So far no reports had been let out about what had happened to him. There was no way that they'd let this slip out to the press.

Noctis scoffed as the thought entered his mind. "Crown Prince beaten up by common thugs. Royal family disgraced." He laughed bitterly at the thought, trying to imagine what his father would say. Actually he didn't want to imagine that.

Eventually a message popped up followed quickly by another. All from one contacted labels Specs. Noctis clicked on it and opened up the messenger app.

Specs: Checking in.

Specs: Gladio informed me that he delivered the phone.

Noctis hummed to himself before typing out the reply.

Noctis: yeah I got it.

Specs: Everything should be in working order. Gladio spent the time to fill in as many contacts as he knew you had. There may be a few missing, but you are the official judge of that.

Noctis: you let him reinstall every on my phone?

Specs: I was more concerned with talking with the doctors.

Specs: So yes, I let him handle that. I can assure you he wouldn't do anything idiotic given the situation.

Noctis knew Ignis was right. He thought for a moment before typing out his next reply.

Noctis: yeah…

Noctis: you're right.

Noctis: Hey, you wanna play some King's Knight?

Specs: Not at the moment. Still working on important paperwork.

Specs: Maybe later if I am able.

Noctis: okay.

Noctis: I'll ask Gladio

Noctis switched out of the one chat and opened a new chat with Gladio considering it was a new phone.

Noctis: yo, Gladio!

Noctis: if you aren't as pissed anymore, you up for some King's Knight?

Noctis watched and waited for a few moments. He wondered if Gladio was still mad at him, but either way he just really hoped he could at least play the game with him.

Gladio: Uh I think you have the wrong number.

Noctis blinked at the response. It didn't make any sense to him. Why would Gladio try to pull something like that? At a time like this?

Noctis: don't shit with me

Noctis: it isn't funny!

Noctis waited as he watched the text bubble, waiting just to see what Gladio was going to say back.

Gladio: But I'm not this Gladio guy!

Gladio: I swear!

Noctis: sure…

Gladio: Why don't you believe me?!

Gladio: Did you even check if the number is right!?

Noctis was going to reply again, trying to call Gladio out on his stupid prank, but instead he actually decided to actually check the number. He opened up the contacts and checked under Gladio's name. When he saw the number his eyes widened.

Gladio's number… had a mistake. The last five digits were supposed to be 53734 but the numbers in the contact was 53234. It only took a matter of seconds to realize what was going on.

"Oh my gods! He fat fingered his own number! And he didn't even check!"

Right away Noctis added in the real Gladio number while renaming this mistake number as ? for the being.

Noctis then reopened the contact with who he figured was just some stranger.

Noctis: hey um… sorry.

Noctis: turns out Gladio was dumb enough to fat finger his own number

?: omg serious?

?: I mean like I don't know the guy but how do you screw something up like that?

Noctis: leave it to him to figure out some way

Noctis: sorry if I scared you at all

?: No no it's fine!

?: it was just so out of the blue but like I get it!

?: You're cool!

?: wait!

?: I don't mean like I'm saying you're cool.

?: I mean like, you know, like the expression. That's what I mean!

Noctis couldn't help but laugh. Whomever this was seemed to be pretty energetic.

Noctis: nah I get it.

Noctis: you're cool

Noctis waited a moment before he sent one more message.

Noctis: like the expression :P

?: Hey!

?: Very funny ha ha.

Noctis: anyways sorry to text

Noctis: you know cause the mix up

Noctis: I'll let you go

Noctis was just about to close the app when he saw a sudden Wait! pop up from the stranger.

?: Um like you said King's Knight?

?: You play it?

?: I mean!

?: Obviously you must play it! Cause why else would you be asking.

Noctis: yeah, what about it?

?: I play it too!

Noctis: really? Cool!

Noctis hummed to himself as he stared at the messenger. He still has no idea who he was talking to. It was just some complete stranger. They honestly could have been anyone. But for some reason Noctis found it a nice change of pace. Whomever they were, it made him curious.

Plus they played King's Knight, which was always good in his book. He knew he could just text Gladio later, but he had told Ignis he would ask him. Knowing how Ignis was, he would definitely find out if Noctis never ended up texting Gladio.

So he quickly sent a message to the guy, asking to maybe play some King's Knight sometime later.

Right away he went back to his new contact.

Noctis: hey,

Noctis: do you maybe wanna play some King's Knight with me?

?: Wait serious?!

?: But you don't even know me!

Noctis: well I know you aren't Gladio, that's something

Noctis: we can still play though

Noctis: I think it would be fun to play with someone new

?: Wow really?

?: You mean it?

?: Thanks.

Noctis: but first what's your name?

Noctis: can't really keep you as ? in my contacts

?: Oh!

?: Yeah! Same for you!

?: I'm Prompto!

So there we go with chapter 1. Just a little idea I was thinking up. But either way hope you all enjoyed!