Disclaimer: Not mine

Edited

Chapter 4

Prompto finished his drink and went to wash the mug thoroughly, watching the water turn a slight pink colour. His need for blood had slowly increased over the years, his body needing more to deal with puberty. He still didn't need to feed as often as a full vampire, but he'd only needed it twice a month when he'd first been changed, now he was up to once a week. He was just thankful his sun sensitivity hadn't increased, he burnt easily, but no more than anyone else with really fair skin.

He honestly hadn't expected to still be in the city after so long and yet he was still there, and tomorrow was his fifteenth birthday. Four years since he had travelled the world with his Dad. He still saw him a few times a year, heading out to Hammerhead, going on brief hunts during vacations, or his Dad coming into the city, but he still missed him. He knew Harry had been doing work he hadn't dared take Prompto on and he hated the idea of him hunting alone, but it wasn't like anything could kill him.

It wasn't the Argentum's that kept him in Insomnia, their work had picked up over the years and he knew that Andria was nervous around him, especially since his need for blood had begun increasing. She was rarely home anymore, unlike Theo who made sure to make it home every weekend. He liked having the man as his Uncle. He had listened the night Prompto had staggered home in tears because he had nearly attacked a girl. He'd been out to eat, they had flirted, and he had gone with her, the problem was one need had fed the other and he had barely managed to pull back before he sank his fangs into her throat. Theo had hugged him, not afraid that Prompto might feed from him. They had talked long into the night and Prompto hadn't let himself give into any kind of lust since.

Prompto had never fed from a person and he was hoping to never give into that urge, especially without Harry there to pull him off. Blood from a living human was apparently the best there was, and it could be incredibly hard, if not impossible, to stop the first few times. He'd been tempted so many times since living in Insomnia but had managed to keep control. His Dad had said it was inevitable that one day he'd bite someone, but he really didn't want it to happen.

He snorted in amusement, what would Noct say if he ever told him he wanted to suck his blood? Because he did, he really did. Sometimes he dreamed about sinking teeth into Noctis' throat and drinking deep. He couldn't help it, Noctis smelt so good, and not just his blood. He groaned and buried his head in his hands, he was attracted to his best friend…the Crown Prince!

It could never happen. Even if he was fully human, not born in Niflheim….Noctis would need heirs. He'd heard Noctis talk about Lady Lunafreya before, heard the tone in his voice and it hurt. And yet he stayed in Insomnia, torturing himself, he could not bring himself to leave. He knew his Dad suspected something, but he never pushed, letting Prompto decide how to handle it, that made him the best Dad in the world.

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Noctis smiled as Prompto threw an arm over his shoulders, chatting away as they walked towards the arcade. It was nice not having to have as many guards around when they went out. He'd been mad at his Dad at first, but Prom had assured him he didn't mind, was honoured the King was trusting him that much.

He was amazed by how well the other teen could hide weapons, in school uniform or casual clothes. Noctis knew he had at least one gun and several knives on him, but he couldn't figure out where. He was even spending time at a gun range to ensure his shooting skills remained sharp in case they were needed. They went inside and went to their current favourite game to start playing.

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They played for a few hours when Prompto suddenly frowned, inhaling deeply, he could smell it, old blood, gunpowder… he glanced around, searching for the source to see two men blocking the back entrance. "Noct…" he whispered. "We need to leave, now."

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Hearing the serious tone, Noctis looked up, seeing Prompto glancing around, tensed for action. Noctis nodded and slipped his hand into his pocket for his phone only to grimace when he pulled it out. "No signal." Someone had to be using a jammer which meant whoever it was, they were organised.

"Back exit's blocked, there has to be someone out front too," Prompto told him, softly, making sure it looked like they were still absorbed by the game even as he drew a knife. Noctis knew he was wary of using a gun in the arcade, he didn't want to risk anyone to friendly fire. Not that he thought it would stop their assailants.

"Odds they're not here for me?" Noctis asked and Prompto snorted. "Yeah," he sighed. He couldn't call a weapon from the Armiger until needed, as soon as he did they would know they'd been made since it was impossible to hide the flash of blue light.

"Come on, I don't want to miss out on Iggy's cooking!" Prompto said at a normal volume.

Noctis shook his head but finished the game, ignoring the slight tremor in his hands. Was this a kidnapping or assassination? It had been years since an attempt got this close and he was definitely scared, but he was also angry. How dare these people put everyone here at risk. And Prompto…he would take his unofficial role of bodyguard seriously and he couldn't cope with the thought of him dying to keep him safe.

"Sometimes I think you only hang around for his food," he offered and Prompto pouted, pushing the door open and spinning with the momentum, knife sliding neatly into the side of the man that had been hidden by it. Noctis stared in shock as the man collapsed, blood pooling under him.

Prompto grabbed his wrist and pulled. "Come on Noct," he hissed, pulling him along until Noctis began running under his own power. "Keep trying your phone."

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And then he was yanking Noct to the side as a bullet slammed into the wall nearby. Prompto swore, pulling his own gun out, eyes scanning the crowds. The shot had been silenced so there wasn't a mass panic but if he had to shoot there would be since he didn't have a silencer.

They darted into an alley to cut across a few streets and Prompto grimaced, the alley smelt, and it had hidden the scent of the man now blocking their way through. Prompto grabbed Noctis and shoved him behind the dumpster.

"Stay there, please," he whispered before moving to confront the sneering man.

With Noctis safely out of sight, Prompto blurred, slamming into the man, hearing bone crack from the impact. He wrapped a hand around the man's throat, pinning him to the wall, seeing his eyes widen in shock at Prompto's speed and strength. "Who sent you?" he snarled, and he knew his eyes had changed.

The man struggled in his grip and Prompto grimaced as he felt a knife sink into his side, but he ignored the wound.

"Wh…wh…at are you?" he choked out, eyes wide, legs kicking weakly.

"Why are you targeting the Prince?" he demanded in a growl, feeling his incisors lengthening, hunger growing due to the wound.

"Em…peror…" he gurgled and that was it.

The thought of the place where he had been born and experimented on….targeting Noctis….he leant in and sank his fangs into soft flesh. It was unlike anything he'd tasted before and he drank greedily, feeling the wound on his side heal as he replaced lost blood.

"P…Pr…om?"

The shaky voice snapped him out of the feeding frenzy, and he dropped the man, stumbling back from him, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. He could hear the confusion and even fear in his best friends voice and it hurt so much but he didn't blame him.

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Noctis stared in shock as his best friend held a man up, face buried in his throat, as the man stopped struggling. What was happening? He could see blood on Prompto's shirt, some dripped onto the ground.

"P..Pr..om?" his voice was shaking, and he hated that, but he had never felt so scared before, even when he'd nearly died as a kid. He watched as Prompto dropped the man and knew he was dead from the way he dropped bonelessly to the ground. He'd seen the dead before, it came with the territory of being a Prince and assassination attempts plus they were at war. But this was…Prompto was standing still, back to him, shoulders moving as he breathed heavily, and Noctis was torn between running and going to him.

Staring at his back, Noctis took a deep breath and began walking towards him, only to shout in warning. They'd forgotten the others! He watched as Prompto moved, taking down the three men easily, despite the size difference. One got past him and Noctis materialised a blade, hurling it at the man and warping after it. The blade sank into his chest and the impact of Noctis following it sent the blade right through him.

The last man fell and Noctis turned to face Prompto, staring in shock at silver eyes and elongated teeth…fangs…what? Had…had Prompto been infected and turned into a daemon? But… he swallowed and then let go of his sword, letting it go back to the Armiger before taking a step towards him.

"Prompto?" there was a little dried blood on Prompto's face…he'd drunk that man's blood? He took another step and Prompto stepped back, hand coming up between them.

"Stay back Noct, please," he was breathing heavily, body trembling.

"No," he shook his head. "You're in pain."

"Noct, I….please…you smell so good," he choked out and Noctis blinked.

He smelt good? That was….okay it was a bit disturbing, but this was Prompto, so he stepped forward and grabbed his hand, feeling his pulse hammering through his skin even as Prompto swallowed. "It's okay, we need to get out of here, in case there's more," he urged and Prompto nodded before handing him one of his knives, confusing him.

"If…if I go for you, it'll slow me down, give you time to get clear."

Noctis looked down, noticing the odd sheen to the metal. "You won't," he stated firmly reaching out to wipe away the dried blood on his face since that would get too much attention.

Whatever was happening to Prompto could wait until they were off the streets. Seeing the blood on his shirt, Noctis yanked his jacket off and got it on Prompto to hide the evidence, Prompto letting him do it. He grabbed Prom's wrist and began heading home.

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Prompto let Noctis pull him along, heading for the Prince's apartment. He should rip his hand free, leave the city, go back to his Dad but….Noctis had stayed, despite seeing what he had done. The part of him not revelling in the taste of fresh human blood felt sick at what he'd done. But he'd needed fresh blood to heal, and he'd been so angry…would his Dad be disappointed in him?

He blinked and found they had reached the apartment, Noctis taking him straight to the bathroom and trying to strip him. "Noct?"

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"I need to see the wound," Noctis answered as he got his jacked and then Prompto's shirt off with shaking hands. Daemons weren't docile, they didn't look human… "We'll call my Dad, he'll know what to do, how to help you. Luna…we can get you to Luna…" he was babbling but he was terrified for his best friend.

There was no wound, just some dried blood on his skin, not even a scar. They needed to get him help, fast. No one could blame him for killing those guys, he'd done it to protect Noctis. He didn't know a lot about the Scourge and daemons, but Luna said the two were connected, that infected humans and animals became daemons and he would never wish that on anyone. He couldn't lose Prompto like that. And then there was a hand in his hair, gently carding through it and he looked up into bright blue eyes.

"Noct…it's okay, I'm okay," Prompto whispered. "There's nothing Luna or your Dad can do for me."

"No…" Noctis shook his head, eyes burning with tears he refused to let fall. He couldn't believe Prompto was beyond help.

"Noctis," Prompto dropped to his knees in front of him and Noctis could see fear in his eyes.

Noctis could feel his heart pounding, Prompto looked like he always did, eyes blue and teeth normal. He knew he hadn't imagined that, back in the alley, so that had to mean they had time to save him. "I can't lose you."

"You won't," Prompto stated firmly. "This is…what you saw…I'm sorry. I never wanted you to find out this way, to be scared of me," he admitted softly. "I'm not a daemon or infected with the Scourge."

Noctis frowned…"Then how did you…what was that?"

"I'm sorry," Prompto whispered, averting his gaze. "I've just never known how to tell you."

"Tell me what?" Noctis demanded shakily.

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And that was where Prompto was torn. How much should he tell Noctis? Telling him he was half human was something he was going to have to do, he'd seen too much. But his past? Could Noct accept he had been created to be an MT? Though, if he didn't tell him and it came out later, that would be a lot worse, right?

He took a deep breath. "It's a long story. Can I clean up first?" He still had dried blood on him after all. "And you need to call someone about the attack…one of the guys mentioned the Emperor. I should call my Dad too, about what happened."

He didn't like thinking about what had happened, but his Dad had warned that one day something like that would happen, it was in the nature of his vampiric blood when he or someone he cared about was threatened.

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Noctis winced, he hadn't even thought about calling the attack in, he'd been too worried about Prompto. He looked okay for now though…he chewed his lip and was surprised when Prompto reached out to stop him.

"Please don't bleed."

Oh…but he'd bled around Prompto before. He said as much and Prompto shrugged.

"Let's not risk it tonight."

"Okay. I'll….I'll call Iggy about the guys. You should uh, shower. I'll get you a shirt." Noctis moved back, Prompto's shirt had a large hole in it, not to mention the blood. If Ignis or Gladio came to check on them he didn't want them seeing it and asking questions.

He took a last look before going to grab a plain t-shirt and putting it inside the door for when he was done. He bundled the ruined one up and wrapped it in a bag before throwing it out. He pulled his phone out and called Ignis, informing him of the bodies in the alley, completely freaking his Advisor out, not that someone who didn't know him would be able to tell. He heard the shower shut off and then the bathroom door opened. He waited, figuring Prompto was on the phone and then finally he left the bedroom to join Noctis in the main room of the apartment. He sat on the couch and Noctis sat beside him, feeling more relaxed now that things were being dealt with.

"My Dad will be here by morning."

That was a shock, in four years he had never met Harry Argentum. Prompto was always happy when he spoke of his Dad, even with all the time spent apart and he did occasionally leave Insomnia when school was on break to join him hunting, keeping his hand in.

"I uh, should head home."

"What?" Noctis stared at him. "You're staying here, aren't you?" he needed answers, to understand what he'd seen.

Prompto grimaced, shifting uneasily. "It'd be smarter….safer, if I went home."

"You won't hurt me," Noctis stated firmly. Surely if he was then he would have done it in the alley.

"You saw what I did back there."

"Yeah, to people attacking us, but you backed away from me."

"Noct…"

"I trust you," Noctis shifted to stare at him and Prompto stared back, unsure. Noctis stared into blue eyes, noticing the green flecks before glancing down at Prompto's mouth, seeing him lick his lips nervously. "Did it hurt?"

"What?" Prompto frowned in confusion.

"The…teeth?"

"Oh, no, it doesn't hurt."

"Can I see?" Noctis asked, unable to keep from being curious.

Prompto blinked at him, obviously shocked. "I, uh…no one's ever asked that before. Then again I've never let anyone see or know before…"

"Don't worry then," Noctis shrugged, looking away and then he looked down to see Prompto's hand moving slowly, hesitantly, to rest on his. He turned his hand, locking their fingers together, needing Prompto to know he trusted him.

He looked back up and Prompto offered a shaky smile before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. When he opened his eyes they were silver…like mercury, no pupil visible. He licked his lips and then opened his mouth, revealing sharp fangs. Seeing them from so close, Noct figured he should be afraid, but he wasn't. Prompto had told him he wasn't infected with the Scourge or a daemon or anything and he believed him. He didn't know how this was possible, but he'd known Prom for four years and he had never harmed him, he had protected him, helped with homework, played video games…he was his best friend. Noctis reached out only to have Prompto snatch his wrist.

"Let's not risk blood, okay? They're sharp," he warned and Noctis nodded so he loosened his grip.

Noctis watched as the…fangs retracted; the silver faded back to the normal blue. He kept his grip on Prompto's other hand, not wanting to let go, worried Prompto would run.

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Prompto looked down at their still joined hands, maybe Noct was right, maybe it was safe for him to stay. He still felt full from the alley, sated in a way he'd never felt before, from bagged human or fresh animal blood. With how tempting Noctis had become as they grew up, he was worried he'd give in…but maybe not while he was so full.

Dad had warned him that one day he'd sink his fangs into someone and that it would make it harder to go back to other sources and he had been so right. He knew his Dad had had donors at various times in his long life, humans or humanoids who knew what he was and allowed him to feed from them. Maybe he could find someone like that one day.

"I'll stay," he promised, making eye contact again to show he was serious. "You keep that knife handy, just in case."

"What would it do to you?"

"Hurt, it's edged in silver and while it won't kill me, it will cause debilitating pain till removed."

"Prom…"

"Noctis please, I could never live with myself if I hurt you. I'll heal, even from that knife, temporary pain's better than…" he didn't want to say it.

"Fine," Noctis grumbled.

"I don't think it'll be necessary but better safe than sorry. I've never…done what I did back there. Was warned to try to never do it, because it'll make it harder to keep from doing it again."

"You drank his blood."

"Yeah. I need too, but I usually drink bagged or animal, never from the vein. It was very different. Like the difference between canned food and Iggy's cooking."

That made Noctis snicker. "He's coming once the mess in the alley is dealt with."

Prompto nodded. "Are you going to tell him?" he was nervous.

"Do you want me too?"

"Not particularly. I know you've got tonnes of questions but please, wait till my Dad's here?"

"Where will we meet him? Security's going to be tight for a while."

Prompto laughed. "Trust me, he'll get in here, probably while we're still asleep."

Noctis nodded, even though it was obvious he doubted that. He would see. Nothing could keep Harry Potter out, not when he had magic and vampiric abilities at his disposal. Noctis got up and turned on the game system and they settled in to play while waiting for Ignis and Gladio.

They showed up, looking very concerned and relieved to see them both uninjured. Ignis made dinner while Gladio grilled them and Prompto could feel Noctis' shock at how well he lied to the Shield about what had happened. Eventually the two men left, trusting the Glaive and Guard posted through the building to protect Noctis who dragged Prompto to his bedroom to sleep, the bed more than big enough for them to share. He wasn't letting Prompto out of his sight for a while.

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Noctis was shocked to wake in the morning, curled around Prompto, with a man standing at the foot of the bed, arms crossed over his chest.

"Do I need to give the Prince a talk about intentions?"

"DAD!" Prompto groaned and Noctis looked from the man to his best friend, this was his Dad?

TBC…