Disclaimer: Not mine

Edited

Chapter 3

Regis listened as his son talked about the friend he'd made at school, Prompto Argentum. Apparently the boy was living with his Aunt and Uncle in order to attend school since he had been raised by his Hunter father. He was sure someone was already compiling a file, but he would need to ask for it himself. The name Argentum vaguely rang a bell and he was curious about a boy who had managed to make Noctis interested. "Has Ignis met him yet?"

"No, Prompto's joined the track team and photography club and they meet after school. He's free tomorrow since it's Friday and Iggy's picking me up so I was hoping they could meet then."

Regis nodded, Ignis was a good judge of character. "He has not asked," he began only for his son to cut him off.

"Dad, no! We just talk at lunch and before the teacher arrives. He's got great stories about life outside of Insomnia. He barely knows his Uncle and Aunt and is trying to get to know them as well. He didn't even recognise me until I told him my name."

"I'm sorry Noctis," Regis sighed.

Too many times before, Noctis had thought he was making friends only for them to want him for his position. He hated how isolated his son was, outside of Ignis and Gladiolus. If this Prompto really just wanted a friend then he would do what he could to make it easier for the boys.

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Ignis stood beside the car, eyes scanning the crowd of younger children even as he ignored the Crownsguard member who had driven him. He couldn't wait until he was old enough to drive himself. He had three more years until he could begin learning…technically he already knew how but could not get a license. He had deemed it too dangerous to not know, what if an assassin took out the driver? He needed to be able to take over in an emergency.

He finally spotted his charge emerging from the building, bag over his shoulder. Walking beside him was a slightly shorter blond haired boy, slender like Noctis but he could see from the way his uniform sat that he had more muscle. He knew the basics of the boy, living with his Aunt and Uncle, his Father a hunter, no mention of his mother. Beyond the wall that meant she was likely dead. He was two months younger than Noctis as well. He looked cheerful enough and to his shock, he heard Noctis laugh at something the other boy had said.

"Iggy!" Noctis called when he spotted him, dragging the blond over. "Ignis Scientia, this is Prompto Argentum. Iggy is my Adviser," Noctis introduced them.

"Nice to meet you," Prompto offered his hand and Ignis shook it.

"Indeed. Are you accompanying us?" Ignis asked, it would be a good chance to observe him himself.

"Uh, no. I gotta head home. I'll see you on Monday?" Prompto looked at Noctis.

"Sure," Noctis agreed. "You can come."

Prompto shook his head, "My Aunt was a family dinner to celebrate my surviving the first week," he explained with a grimace. "Have a good weekend!" he waved and jogged off, vanishing into the crowed and Noctis watched him go.

"Do not worry, this is actually a good sign," Ignis offered, adjusting his glasses, able to tell Noctis was unsure.

"What?" His Prince asked in confusion.

"He did not change his plans in order to cosy up to you, it is another indication he is genuine in befriending you."

"Oh," that cheered Noctis up.

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Regis opened the file that was sitting on his desk when he entered his office, seeing the name Prompto Argentum on it. The file was thin, not surprising as he had only just moved into the city. His guardians were listed as Theo and Andria Argentum, both citizens of Insomnia. His Father was listed as Harry Argentum and that was why the boy's name was familiar.

He had met Harry Argentum only once, but it had been an unforgettable meeting. Argentum had been young then, maybe fifteen? He'd been a Hunter, even at such a young age, and had been working with Ezma Auburnbrie when Regis and his friends had been travelling to Accordo. They had just left them when they'd been attacked by two Catoblepas' and it had been Harry's help that had won that fight. It was nice to know he was still alive out there.

Comparing the photos of Father and Son, the boy obviously favoured his unnamed Mother. Harry was there, in his cheekbones and the line of his chin, the slightly aristocratic shape that had had Regis wondering at a very distant relationship between himself and the Hunter once. Prompto's eyes were blue but a closer look revealed barely visible flecks of the same green as his Father as well.

Based on young Prompto's appearance he would likely have some trouble in areas of the city, some would take him as a 'Niff' and frankly, without knowing who his mother was, there was no way to deny it. The Argentums were all citizens of Lucis, even if Harry himself was not a citizen of Insomnia, but without knowing his Mother's name they had no way of knowing her nationality. And that was very clearly highlighted in the file under potential security risk. If the boys remained friends then he would need to suggest that Prompto contact his Father to supply even the very basics on the woman to help quiet any rumours.

Perhaps, the reward Harry had denied should be awarded to his son, once his people had observed the boy for a while longer. He appeared smart; the one test they'd had already showed good grades. He was already trained to fight too, which would give Noctis an extra layer of security at the school. Yes…but he would wait to be sure the son was definitely like his father.

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Cor nodded at the Prince who slumped, exhausted. His sword vanished into the Armiger and then he was drinking water. "Better," Cor offered and Noctis grinned briefly. "How is school?" He didn't spend anywhere near as much time around the Prince as he had when he was younger, and he found he missed the boy who used to call him Uncle Cor.

"I made a friend," Noctis admitted and Cor was relieved to hear that but also wary. "His name is Prompto and his Dad is a Hunter. He came to Insomnia for school and lives with his Uncle and Aunt. He's really smart too."

Cor frowned, what were the odds of two kids named Prompto whose Dad was a Hunter? "I thought your friend's name was Argentum?"

Noctis blinked at him, obviously surprised, then shrugged. "That's his family name."

"We've met…can't be two hunter kids called Prompto." He'd shrugged off the resemblance when the kid had been described but the same name?

"Really? When?" Noctis asked in excitement, obviously wanting to know more about his new friend.

"On a mission. I barely made it to a Haven one night, they were already camped there. He's a real chatterbox, or he was. That was just over a year ago."

"Still a chatterbox," Noctis confirmed, shocked to find out the Marshall knew his friend. "Could you…help with getting him clearance? Since you know him?"

"I spent one day with him over a year ago your Highness, that is not long enough to know someone. I can interview him if that would put your mind at ease," he compromised and Noctis nodded.

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On his own for the first time in years, Harry took a few harder hunts than normal, staying close to Insomnia in case there were issues. After a few weeks he boarded a boat, heading across the sea and into Tenebrae where he sadly took in the changes since the Empire had taken tighter control of the country.

Eventually, he crossed the border into Niflheim itself. Prompto was safe in Insomnia, freeing him to investigate further. He would never dream of taking his Childe back there, no matter what. He smirked darkly, the tip of a fang poking out, he had a lot of work to do. He would do everything he could to ensure an end to the Magitek troop research and creation.

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Cor leant against the car, watching the kid jog towards the house, good to see he was keeping fit. He couldn't believe he was in Insomnia; he'd asked the kid and he had claimed to never want to live in a city so why was he there? He noticed when the kid saw him, brow creasing briefly in a frown before blue eyes widened in recognition and he grinned.

"Mr Leonis!" Prompto stopped, stretching lightly as he breathed deeply.

"Hello Prompto."

"I'm glad you made it home safe," Prompto grinned at him.

"Thanks you. May we speak inside?"

"Sure," Prompto unlocked the house and led him inside. "Is this about Noctis?" he asked as he grabbed some water and two glasses, no one else appeared to be home.

"You passed the very basic security check when the two of you began spending time at school together. However, the Prince has asked for you to receive clearance to spend time together outside of school without an entire company of guards around. Part of that process is an interview."

"Oh…" Prompto seemed surprised to hear that.

"Understand, you don't have to do this, you just won't be able to be around the Prince outside of class."

"No…it's okay," he shook his head. "I just…he really wants to be my friend?" he asked softly, sounding unsure.

Cor nodded, he remembered seeing Prompto play with the other children at the Outpost, but he'd still seemed on the outside. Had the kid ever had a friend? It seemed he needed this as much as Noctis did. He took a sip of water and then set up what he needed before beginning, listening as Prompto answered all of his questions; explaining how he'd grown up, the places he remembered going, hunts he'd participated in, why he had come to Insomnia.

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Prompto answered the questions easily, Harry had drilled him just in case something came up. He didn't even hesitate when questions that covered his time in the labs came up, giving the stories of staying with other while his Dad hunted. Those named were dead, so it was safe. Then came the question he hated, who was his Mum.

"I don't know," he admitted softly, staring at his water glass. It was the truth, no name had been given in his file for any genetic contribution outside of Verstael Besithia and Harry had left it up to him to come up with a name for his Mum, something he'd never been able to do. "Dad doesn't talk about her. Just that she gave me to him as a baby, that she was sick and couldn't look after me."

"Sorry," Cor offered. He moved on to less personal questions to give him a break. "Still a crack shot?" he asked as he was wrapping up and Prompto grinned before shrugging.

"I know I'm not allowed to carry weapons here, Dad's going to kick my butt so bad next time," he grimaced, and Cor chuckled.

"You're young, you'll get back in practice easily enough. Are you planning on leaving?"

"Maybe…I don't know. I guess the city isn't as bad as I thought it'd be. And it's nice always having hot water. I miss the freedom of hunting and Dad though."

Cor nodded and gathered his things before offering his hand and then his number. "In case of emergency."

Prompto grinned and saw him out. He had the Immortal's phone number! He did kind of wonder how Cor would react to finding out his Dad was actually Immortal and that Prompto was close enough too.

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Harry stared at the file, frowning. He didn't know the name Ardyn Izunia, but he definitely knew the face. Ardyn Lucis Caelum….the man who was meant to be the first Lucian King. He hadn't been there when things had gone sour between the brothers, but he knew the Astrals, Starscourge, and Crystal were all involved….which explained how the man was still alive when Harry hadn't been around to turn anyone and none of his Children had been alive anymore to do so. Whatever had happened, Ardyn had been executed, the Oracle of the time had died, and Somnus Lucis Caelum had supposedly cured the world. By the time Harry had arrived in the area the man had been crowned King and what rumours there were didn't have enough information to get the exact story out of. He'd put it down to sibling rivalry gone too far. Perhaps he should have looked deeper.

It went a long way in explaining how Niflheim had mastered magitek so easily when the technology had been mostly lost. He really needed to stop taking such long naps! Maybe a short one every eighty years? Long enough to pass as his own son or grandson if he wanted too, surely that would keep him from missing too many important events…maybe. Harry grabbed the intel he'd come for and then set the explosives, another base taken care of.

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Regis looked up as Noctis entered and smiled at his son, passing over a file to him. Noctis glanced down before grinning, and Regis was glad he could make his son happy.

"Thanks Dad," he put the file down and darted around the desk to hug Regis before rushing off, phone already half out of his pocket.

Regis chuckled and looked down at the file of one Prompto Argentum, and the new security clearance stamped on the front. He could go to Noctis' apartment, Noctis could go to the Argentum house, and Prompto could come to the Citadel with an escort, though not into the high security areas such as Noctis' suite. He could join him in the library and even the gym set aside for general staff use.

Should they remain friends, that clearance would be gradually raised. He would also be given permission to be armed, hopefully within the next two years, as extra security for Noctis. Maybe it was putting pressure on the boy, but he had the feeling he wouldn't mind at all.

TBC….