Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 10

Noctis knew Prompto had hated seeing the doctor and he understood why. He was scared of how people would know when they found out what he was. Noctis though would feel better having official word that Prompto was healthy and he knew Cor would as well, they all would. Even if he hadn't been their Fourth, he was their friend, the loved him and they all wanted him to be happy and healthy. All their secrets were out in the open now and Prompto was healed. His control of his instincts was improving every day as the time with the doctor proved. The real test would be a mer Prompto didn't know but who would they trust to say nothing? Prompto had friends in the Glaive but he had seen most of their mer-forms at some point. A Crownsguard maybe? Prompto knew some in passing but he didn't have actual friends among them. Monica maybe? Or Dustin? They were both calm, level headed, and utterly loyal, they wouldn't speak out of turn.

Noctis looked up as Ignis stepped into the room with a tray. "We missed lunch, I thought you may be hungry."

"Thanks," Noctis carefully sat up but Prompto stirred, waking up. "Hey sleepy, Iggy brought us a late lunch."

Prompto sat up, blinking, rubbing his eyes. "Thanks Iggy."

"You've had a stressful day, you needed the rest," Ignis smiled and ruffled sleep messed blond hair before leaning in to kiss him gently. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay," Prompto told him, digging in to the food hungrily so Noctis did the same. Ignis left and returned with his own meal, sitting on Prompto's other side. Prompto smiled and shifted slightly to be comfortable between them, soaking up the contact. When they were done eating they cuddled together.

"Where's Gladio?" he asked, running his fingers through Prompto's hair as he began to drowse again.

"With Cor, he needed a hand with some of the new recruits," Ignis answered. "I made sure he had lunch before leaving." When Prompto rolled onto his side, hand moving, Ignis took it in his. "The appointment really wore him out."

"Yeah…"

"He's alright Noct," Ignis reached over Prompto to gently stroke Noctis' cheek. Noct leant in, braced over Prompto, to kiss him. They parted to find sleepy blue eyes watching them. "Sleep Prompto," Ignis murmured and he pouted.

"Wanna watch," he mumbled and Noctis bit back a laugh but he also felt happy that Prom had said it, even when half asleep. They'd been careful how much he saw before Noct had bonded him, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. He'd never asked to see anything before.

Noctis leant down to kiss him. "You can watch later, sleep now," he urged but he didn't need to, Prompto's eyes already drifting shut.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Ignis?"

He looked up from where he was preparing lunch. "Yes Prom?"

"Why don't you ever get in the pool when we go down there?" he asked from where he was sitting on the couch with the book Noct had told him to read before his Awakening. He'd only actually read chapter six but now he was reading the whole thing.

"One of us needs to remain with you."

"But it doesn't always need to be you, it's not fair to you," Prompto got up to join him. "You're not still worried are you? Iggy I remember seeing you when you saved me," he grabbed Ignis' hand to stop him working, moving closer and Ignis found himself pressed against the counter. He missed the large kitchen in Prompto's apartment, the one in Noct's suite was state of the art as well, but much smaller since the Citadel kitchens traditionally did the cooking. His thoughts were cut off as Prompto pulled him down into a kiss. "I'm not scared or disgusted or whatever you're worried about," he promised.

"I…alright," he agreed. His knew his fear was silly but he also knew Prompto understood, they had all felt his shame during his first transformations but he'd been getting better at accepting they didn't care or find him disgusting.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

They walked into the pool room together and Ignis glanced at Prompto who smiled at him, squeezing his hand before kissing him. Ignis accepted the kiss before moving to the pool, diving into the water, feeling his body change immediately. He surfaced and made his way to the edge of the pool where the others now waited. He rested his arms there and Prompto knelt down, studying him. It was the first time Prompto had truly gotten a good look at him.

Ignis stared into bright blue eyes, seeking any sign of nervousness, disgust, anything….

"Can I see?" Prompto asked gently and Ignis slowly lifted a tentacle from the water, holding it still when Prompto reached out. He felt curious fingers touch it, the skin feeling very hot to the sensitive appendage.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Prompto carefully touched the raised tentacle, not wanting to hurt Iggy. He ran his fingers over it, finding it felt very slimy, soft, tender and velvety but also slippery and sticky. It was nothing like Noct's scales. It was different, but not scary. The tentacle moved, slowly wrapping around his wrist and he felt the suckers caress his skin, unable to help laughing. "That kind of tickles," he admitted.

"Told you it'd be fine," Noctis called before diving in as well, he surfaced and joined Ignis at the edge.

Gladio remained out of the water and it was nice of him to stay but he felt bad that he was staying out because of him. He dipped the hand with the tentacle wrapped around it into the cold water, he knew it had been cool before, but now it felt cold.

"Okay?" Gladio asked and he nodded.

"I'm fine, Iggy is Iggy, tentacles or legs," he grinned and Ignis smiled back in relief.

"Thank you," Ignis smiled at him.

Prompto didn't roll his eyes because he understood, hadn't he felt the same when he transformed in the training room? He used his other hand for balance and leant down, kissing Iggy careful of his teeth. He felt the tentacle around his wrist tighten slightly even as Ignis kissed back. Everyone relaxed and they stayed there, talking about Iris and her shenanigans at school, the Council meeting Noct had been forced to attend, even the new camera he'd bought Prompto so he could get back into photography. He kept his hand in the water, the tentacle curled around his wrist, occasionally stroking his skin. It felt…nice.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Regis glanced out his window and smiled at the sight in the garden below. It was good to see the four of them outside, enjoying the sunlight. He spotted Cor hovering nearby them, ready to step in should anything happen. The garden was not one of those open to the public but staff regularly used it or even just passed through. It was a good spot to choose for getting Prompto used to being around others again. The open air should help him feel safe and therefore less likely to react poorly.

Clarus was wary of the boy, but he'd had little interaction with the blond, despite his friendship with Gladio. Most of what he knew was from Prompto's file and that only listed facts. He didn't blame Clarus for being wary, it was what made him such an excellent Shield. Regis did hope that with exposure to Prompto, with what Gladio would share with his family of the boy, that he would come to see Prompto was no threat. No, once he was ready, Regis planned to speak with him and Cor about him officially joining the Crownsguard. There hadn't been a true marksman in the group since Weskham and form what Cor said, Prompto would likely outstrip even his skills.

He knew the boys wanted to see if Prompto could handle actually getting back in the water, if he could still swim with them, but he had advised them to wait for the test results which were taking more time than normal. If it was possible he had an unstable mer-form or something, they needed to know in advance.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Cor watched as Prompto climbed the rope easily, timing him. It was something he hadn't been able to do since before the first attack since he'd never recovered full upper body strength. Now he was managing it easily, far better than some of his most seasoned people could.

Reggie had spoken to him about Prompto joining the Guard and in theory it was a good idea, it would be expected once people learned Prompto was part of Noctis' Retinue. He was a civilian, refugee, nobody as far as others were concerned. Joining the Crownsguard would be expected but it was risky. He trusted his people but could he trust them to treat Prompto well? If he joined, sooner or later, his heritage would be revealed. Would they be able to see past what he was, to accept that Prompto was different?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Prompto sat on the same exam table as he had several weeks earlier, the guys with him for support. He was scared about what might have been found, but it was also a relief to know that soon he'd have answers. He couldn't help nervously drumming his fingers against the table but Iggy gently pressed on his hand to stop him, kissing the side of his head and Prompto relaxed, leaning against him.

"It will be alright, no matter what the results we will deal with it," he promised softly.

"Iggy's right, relax blondie," Gladio smirked at him and then the door opened to let Dr Lorne in.

She smiled at seeing them all. "Your Highness," she bowed and then brought up two reports on the screen for them all to see. "The one on the left is your last test results, the right is the newest." She highlighted three sections. "As you can see, there have been some significant changes. The Unknown result has actually increased some to ten percent. Your Harpy results have also strengthened to forty percent, which I was expecting given your Awakening. As it is under half it may explain why it takes time for you to transform. The biggest change is right here, forty percent mer, meaning you still carry some human DNA, if only ten percent."

"So what does it mean?" Noctis asked for him, holding his other hand.

"The harpy and mer are exactly the same, balanced. My best, educated, guess would be that you should also have a mer-form. Given the time taken to transform, I would be very careful for the first time since entry into the water may not cause an instantaneous change like you are used to," she warned them and they nodded.

"So that's why I feel drawn to the water but also wanting to run," he offered and she nodded.

"Likely. It is possible that once you are in the water that sensation will fade, the mers instincts taking precedence over the harpy's. I don't want you near water alone until we are sure of everything though."

"Of course, we will ensure we remain with him when near the pools. Would it be of any help for you to be present the first time he attempts to swim?"

"Medically, there is little that can be done. If something does go wrong, your Highness will be able to do more than myself or any of the medical staff."

"So perhaps the King or Lord Ardyn should be present."

She nodded in agreement. "Other than that, you are complete healthy Prompto. I would like to see you every three months, baring anything coming up. Alright?"

"Thanks doctor," he managed a smile for her, mind reeling with everything he'd found out.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ignis kissed Noctis, one hand buried in his hair, gently push him back onto the mattress, hearing the high pitched whistle coming from his throat as he did. He slipped a hand under his black shirt, stroking his skin, and then he glanced up to see Prompto watching with wide eyes.

The bed dipped as Gladio sat down behind Prompto who started slightly as an arm wrapped around him but then he leant back against Gladio.

Noctis whined for attention and he focused back on his Prince, kissing him even as he undid the buttons on his shirt, Noctis wriggling out of it once it was undone. They hadn't done this before, the most Prom had seen was them kissing, holding each other on the couch, sharing the bed fully clothed.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Gladio pulled Prompto flush up against his body even as Iggy got Noctis out of his shirt. He slid his hand under Prompto's t-shirt, caressing hot skin, feeling Prompto shiver. They'd been waiting, holding back, for Prompto's comfort but now it seemed he wanted more than just kisses and hand holding. He'd gone further with Noct the night before his first conscious transformation but clothing had remained on. Experimentally, he tugged up on Prom's shirt and Prompto helped him pull it off. He took his own off at the same time, pressing skin to skin, enjoying such a different sensation of hot skin against his own cooler skin.

"Okay?" he asked even as he nibbled on an earlobe and Prompto nodded, moaning softly.

He glanced up at where Ignis and Noctis were lying, both now shirtless, hands wandering. They had a good idea, so he shifted his hold on Prompto, settling him down on the bed on his back beside Noctis, waiting to see if he was against the idea but all he did was reach for Gladio so leant down and kissed him, feeling Prompto grab his shoulders, keeping him there.

After a while, Ignis nudged him so they swapped, Gladio moving to Noctis while Ignis to took his turn to begin truly learning Prom's body. Noctis was moving against him wildly, seeking more, the blocks on the bonds between them vanishing, their minds touching deeply and then all thought washed away.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Gladio chuckled as Prompto hit the mat, hard, but turned it into a roll, getting back to his feet quickly. He was getting better at fighting beyond firearms. He was training with Iggy at the moment, working on his speed and agility. While Prom now had the strength for prolonged sword use, he still wasn't comfortable with one so they had decided to see how he went with daggers and lances instead.

The kid had learnt how to store and summon his guns and so now he was technically always armed, the Armiger ensuring he never ran out of ammunition, Gladio just wished there'd never be a day where he needed that. So long as the war lasted though, sooner or later he'd end up having to pull the trigger, before or after Noct became King.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Noct grinned and splashed Prompto who sputtered and mock glared at him, wiping the salt water from his face. Gladio laughed from where he was leaning against the wall and Iggy even glanced up from his book. Prompto had been near the water enough that they no longer felt it necessary for one of them to stick by his side. They traded off one of them staying out, just to be safe but Prompto was fine, they were just waiting for him to be ready and for either his Dad or Uncle to have the time to be there.

Prompto shook his head and went to stand as Gladio went to slap his shoulder, the force and being part way through standing throwing off his balance. He scrambled to catch himself and Noctis' eyes went wide as he watched as if in slow motion as Prompto fell forward into the pool.

"Prom!" he screamed and then dove down, terrified.

He didn't see Ignis' eyes go wide even as he pulled his phone to call the King, or the look of horrified guilt on Gladio's face before he dove as well. The section they were in was deep, very deep.

TBC….