Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 6

Gladio watched the interactions with the new guy, Harry Potter…the name didn't sound Lucian. How could Noct be so comfortable with someone he'd never met? Let alone close enough to kiss! Though, he'd admitted to thinking the other man was dead so that explained no recent mentions of him, but nothing at all? It just didn't add up. Then there was the armband and jacket, both bearing altered forms of the Royal family crest, an armband Noct had looked very happy to see. He slipped over to Cor who glanced at him. "How well do you know Potter?"

"Not at all, met him at one of the blockades, he was helping a group of refugees escape the city. The King himself lodged his file three years ago, listed as presumed dead."

"Presumed dead?" He eyed the young man closer.

"No way to confirm or deny it apparently. The King didn't say a lot but if you remember, Noctis was rather different for quite a while."

"Mourning," Gladio realised. "Who is he? How could we have never met him if they're that close!" He snapped as Noctis shifted to drop a quick kiss on Potter's lips, getting a happy laugh from the other.

"Regis knew."

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Noctis stuck right beside Harry, not willing to let him out of his sight. He'd grabbed Prompto to walk on his other side, knowing that his best friend would pull away if given the chance, assuming he wasn't wanted. "What was it like in the city?" he asked quietly.

"Chaos," Harry admitted. "I didn't see a lot, too busy buying them time to get out, but the damage is worse closest to the Citadel. The outer areas aren't as damaged from what I saw on my way out. About Captain Drautos…" how exactly was he meant to explain the trusted man was actually a traitor?

"Did he survive?" Noctis asked hopefully.

"He did, for a while, but he didn't make it out of the city," Harry sighed, he wished that there was an easy way to tell Noctis that the man he had looked up to had betrayed them.

"Why not?" Prompto asked.

"I was fighting General Glauca and Nyx told me he was Captain Drautos," he answered and Noctis froze.

"What? No…" he remembered his last words to the Captain, telling him that his Dad was in his hands…how could he? They had trusted Titus; how could he betray them? And…Harry had held something back earlier, but he'd been too focused on his Dad's fate to really notice, was this it? Had he been waiting till they could focus more on the news?

"Your Highness?"

"Drautos was a traitor," Noctis answered the Marshal, hands shaking slightly.

Cor looked to Harry. "Are you sure?"

Harry nodded. "Nyx identified him, Drautos was also Glauca."

"Was?" Ignis asked, pushing his glasses up.

"I killed him covering their escape." Harry could see them reassessing him after that announcement, head of the Kingsglaive meant he was one of the elite. For Harry to have killed him meant he was very good.

"Good," Noctis muttered, saved him having to order the man's execution for treason.

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"Long years ago, we waged a fierce battle here against the empire. It all went to ruin, and after that, the empire moved in like it owned the place," Cor told them in an effort to get their minds off the news about Titus. It was hard to believe the man was a traitor and yet…in a way it also made sense.

"Trespassers in our own lands," Ignis stated coolly, not liking the fact that the Empire had claimed land so close to the city so long ago. What had once been a town built around a mine was nothing but ruins now, it gave them cover but also their enemies.

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"Yeah. Price of losing the war," Noctis looked around the ruined land, seeing the broken remains of a town or city. He felt Harry squeeze his hand and leant into him for comfort. He glanced over, seeing serious green eyes scanning the ruins. Harry had been thrown into battle at eleven and then into a full war later on, even if it had been one fought somewhat in secret. Had he seen worse than these ruins?

Then they were ducking behind the ruins staring at the Imperial forces between them and the Trench.

"Er, how do we get through all that?" Prompto hissed in concern.

"Take 'em head on, or sneak up from behind. The choice is yours," Cor answered, wanting to see how the boys would handle the fight since he couldn't stay with them past this Tomb.

Noctis glanced at Harry, surprised to see him draw a sword, how had he missed the fact he was carrying a sword…and a shorter blade on the other hip. He shook his head and summoned his own sword as Prompto summoned his gun. Across the way the others readied their weapons.

"Noctis, get the snipers," Ignis whispered and he nodded before looking at Harry, head tilted questioningly, and Harry nodded. In the next moment both were gone, surprising the others, except Prompto. He aimed over the ruin he was taking cover behind and opened fire. The other three launched themselves into the fight.

Fighting back to back with Harry to take out the snipers and then the two Magitek armours was exhilarating, Prompto soon joining them in appearing all over the battlefield. They had trained together in the field but that had always been against each other. Despite three years apart they moved easily together, covering each other, working to take down the enemy.

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Cor watched the two boys fight side by side in surprise. They were amazing, as if they had trained together since childhood, which was impossible, and they were easily able to adapt to Prompto's darting around them, shooting at the troops. He did not like mysteries like this, especially when he would be sending them off alone. They finally finished the fight and headed for the tunnels which held the next tomb. "Here's where we go our separate ways. Take this key. It unlocks the doors to the other tombs," Cor took the key out of his pocket and threw it to Noct. "Seek them out and lay claim to the power they hold. You'll need it."

"And what will you do?" Noctis asked, obviously not happy.

"Keep an eye on the Niffs. Find out what they're up to. But you should focus on your own task."

"I will. You take care." Cor nodded to them and then left. He had a lot of work to do but he wished he could have stayed with them longer. He didn't like feeling he was leaving something unfinished, there were too many questions concerning Potter and he would have liked to ask Prompto more about what he remembered rather than waiting on him sending a report via phone. Who knew how long the network would function, or remain secure should Niflheim take it over.

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They made their way to the Haven near the outpost quietly.

"It would seem we have an equipment problem," Ignis offered as they began setting up. "We do not have any spare gear and the tent is rather cramped with four of us."

Harry just shrugged. "No problem," he assured the older man. A little surge of magic and camping supplies appeared.

Noctis grinned. "Cool." There was no way that was a normal tent, it was probably the one Harry had spent what should have been his seventh year hiding out in. he'd not had many chances to see Harry used his pocket. "This the tent?"

"Yeah…don't think I ever cleared it out after…not sure what might be in there," Harry admitted and Noctis grinned, sticking his head in. It was amazing to see something from Harry's world. The tent was quaint, old fashioned, but so much bigger than it looked with a kitchenette, fireplace, rugs on the floor and three doors inside. He knew two of the doors led to bedrooms and the other to a bathroom. He blinked as he spotted a bra over a line…a washing line? There was a pair of boxers, some shirts, a skirt… obviously they had all forgotten to come back for their clothes after the battle.

"I think Hermione would have wanted her bra back," Noctis laughed and Harry groaned.

"We left the washing up."

"Yeah."

Curious, Prompto moved to look in, eyes widening. It was one thing to hear about if from Noctis, here was concrete proof of Harry's world and very different magic. And yeah, there was a bra hanging up.

"Probably wouldn't fit her anymore, anyway, not post baby."

"Any food you won't eat Mr Potter?" Ignis asked as he set about setting up the grill, all while listening in. he wondered who this Hermione was, Noctis obviously knew her name, how close was she to have shared a small tent with Potter?

"Harry, please. And no, I'm not picky," he shrugged and Noctis almost growled, but Harry smiled softly at him. "Do you need any help?"

"You can cook?" Ignis glanced at him.

"Since I could reach the stove."

"Dursley's," Noctis snarled and Harry grabbed his shoulders.

"Hey, I haven't seen them for years and I'll never see them again. Besides, never would have survived that year without the skills they made me learn," Harry soothed him gently.

"They should have paid for what they did to you," Noctis leant against him and Harry kissed his forehead.

"They will, one day," Harry promised softly.

Soon they were settled around the fire, eating. Harry sprawled on the rock, back against Noctis' legs. He could have transfigured a chair for himself but not yet, not until a lot more secrets were out in the open.

"If I may ask, how old are you Harry?" Ignis figured a few questions to get to know their newest member should not upset anyone.

"Twenty…I think, what month is it?"

"May," Prompto told him with a grin.

"Huh, so I'll be 21 in two months."

"How could you not know the month?"

"Lost track of time while travelling to get here," Harry shrugged. It wasn't like he knew how long he'd been in the Nexus, but he didn't count that time anyway. He'd celebrated his twentieth birthday what felt to him like seven months ago, but he wasn't doing it again.

"When did you and Noctis meet?" Gladio decided to join in.

"We were eight, after the Marilith attack," Noctis answered that one. He glanced down at Harry who nodded, and he knew the wizard was trusting him to tell as much as he wanted. "Remember the light that healed me and fixed my memories?"

"I could never forget," Ignis answered. Having Noctis awake and yet staring at him without recognition had terrified him. No one had ever worked out where the light had come from, the King had been utterly sure it hadn't been the Crystal.

"That was Harry, he healed me. Without him…I was dying before I woke up, he saved me from that and then healed me," Noctis stated firmly, dropping a hand down and Harry reached up to take it.

"But there was no one in the room but myself and the King," Ignis denied.

"Do you recognise my accent?" Harry asked curiously and Ignis shook his head.

"As much as it pains me to admit, no. As part of my training I was exposed to every accent possible. Obviously at least one was missed. Your name added to your accent leads me to believe you are not native to Lucis."

"I'm not. I am from Britain, England to be more specific."

"I have never heard of such a nation," Ignis frowned, a small island nation far away from Lucis and Niflheim and so overlooked by both?

"Because it doesn't exist here," Noctis told his Adviser.

"What?" Gladio butted in, very confused and wary.

In answer Harry lifted a hand, waving his fingers and the two jolted as a shimmering image of a globe appeared in the air before them. "Earth," he stated and then the image zoomed in. "Britain," it zoomed further. "England."

"How…" Ignis stared with wide eyes. He could feel something….like the light that had healed Noctis all those years ago.

"Magic," Noctis grinned. "It's different in Harry's world. They can do a lot more with magic than we can." He slipped off his seat to sit beside Harry, leaning against him, Harry wrapping an arm around his waist. Noctis smiled and shifted until he was lying with his head in Harry's lap, gentle fingers running through his hair. He shivered as he felt Harry's magic sink into his body, relaxing tense muscles.

"Never imagined I'd get to see it," Prompto whispered and Harry patted the rock at his side where Noctis wasn't lying. He hesitated, not wanting to intrude but them moved down to the ground, surprised when Harry's free arm wrapped around him, letting him lean against him. He'd never been accepted so fast by anyone other than Noctis. "I'm glad you're not dead and are finally here," he murmured.

"I'm glad I'm here too," Harry answered softly, looking down to see Noctis was falling asleep.

Ignis and Gladio just stared from the image to the three on the ground. Seeing their young King so relaxed only went to show how much he trusted Potter….Harry. There were very few people Noct would allow himself to be so vulnerable around, they were all in that number and so was this newcomer. A different world….

"Ignis?" Gladio whispered and he glanced at his friend, seeing the question in his eyes.

"I don't know," he admitted. It sounded crazy and yet…that feeling was unmistakably the same power that had healed Noctis. Without it Noctis would have been an amnesiac paraplegic. "We should retire for the night," he said louder and Prompto sat up, blinking sleepily but he stood and stretched.

Harry got up, gently lifting Noctis who just curled in his arms. He glanced at Prompto and smiled. "You can share if you want," he offered before ducking into the tent.

Prompto hesitated before following him into the homey tent, it was even more amazing to actually be standing in it.

"Let me get him settled and I'll make sure there's nothing worse in the other bedroom for you," Harry opened one of the doors and carried Noctis in. He soon emerged and went into the other room, quickly clearing out anything Hermione had left behind, changing the bed to be bigger. Prompto may be the shortest of the group but he was still taller than a seventeen year old Hermione had been. "All sorted," he held the door open and waved Prompto in, smiling as he stared in awe at the bed. "Bathroom's the other door. Bathtub and shower never run out of hot water so take your pick."

"Wow," was all Prompto could manage and Harry chuckled.

"Sleep well." He left the blonde to explore and went back into the room he had once shared with Ron. The two beds had been transfigured into one larger one and Noctis was fast asleep beneath the covers. Harry stripped down and crawled in, curling around him. He knew Ignis and Gladio would have more questions in the morning, that they didn't know what to think of him, but that was okay. They would get to know each other as they travelled. He kissed Noctis' cheek and closed his eyes to sleep.

TBC….