Disclaimer: Not mine

Edited

Chapter 8

Prompto got off the bike and made up the hill to the top of the Haven, pulling out their camping gear to set it up with the ease of years of practice, despite the time spent in the city it was a routine he'd never forgotten, one of the perks of being what he was. Harry hauled the bike up and they settled in for the night, Prompto happy to let Harry handle cooking while he texted Noct to let him know they had safely made camp for the night, only to have to answer a call from him minutes later.

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Harry just chuckled, you'd think it'd been months and not hours that they'd been apart. It was a good sign though, as long as they could keep it up and once again he found himself pondering an immortal King so that Prompto would not know the pain of outliving the one he loved. They were still both very young though, it would be best to wait until Prompto stopped aging, unless the Prince were mortally wounded anyway.

"Hey Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Been to Tenebrae recently?"

"Not since I kidnapped you, why?"

"Well, Noct and Lady Lunafreya are pen pals, top secretly of course. They use this dog that can travel in time and space or something. I was thinking we might, stop in a visit her?"

"I'm sure we can arrange something," he shook his head, amused by Prompto's antics. It was also good to see no jealousy, then again thanks to the bond Prompto knew exactly where he stood with his lover.

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Noctis stretched and stared mournfully at the never shrinking pile of paperwork on his desk. He had a new, bigger, office just down the hall from his Dad's. It had a way better view than his old one too, and Iggy liked having the adjoining one. Gladio didn't have an office but the Shield didn't really need one, not until Noct became King anyway.

He got up from the desk to look out at the overcast sky, it looked like it would rain soon. Prom's last text had them heading for Galdin Quay, lucky them. A day at a resort sounded very nice to him. it was good Prompto had taken the chance to go with his Dad, he'd been right about how swamped Noctis would be, he wouldn't have had much time to spend with him at all. It didn't stop him missing him though, without the bond it would be so much worse.

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Prompto followed his Dad through the narrow streets that lined the canals of Altissia. They had arrived that morning and booked a room at a hotel and now were exploring since they hadn't been there since Harry had brought him to Lucis as a child. The city hadn't changed at all that he could tell. Eventually they slipped into the lower levels of the city, where things weren't so bright and shiny for tourists. "Dad?"

"You need to learn to hunt and here's as good as place as any," he explained.

"Dad…."

"This is something you need to be able to do Prompto. So far you've been lucky, with access to either animal, packaged or a permanent donor. There will be times when you need to feed and there'll be none of those nearby. You're a bit old for me to catch your dinner for you," he finished teasingly and Prompto swallowed heavily.

There'd been a handful of times as a kid when he'd drunk from Harry himself due to a lack of available hunting in the area or being on the train or boat. Harry had hunted first and then had fed him right from his own wrist. Prompto had loved it, it had helped him feel safe and even closer to his Dad. The idea of hunting a human…even if to feed and not kill, it wasn't something he liked at all.

They stopped walking and Harry leant against a wall, magic wrapping around them for privacy. "There are a few ways to hunt. One way, the person is too distracted to notice but I doubt you wish to use that method."

"Definitely not," Prompto answered immediately. He had no intention of even pretending to be interested in some stranger.

"Which is why we're here," Harry agreed. "Close your eyes and take deep, slow, breaths," he whispered and Prompto closed his eyes, smelling the salt of the sea…and blood. "Someone nearby is bleeding, follow the scent."

Prompto moved through the shadows, Harry with him. They found a man lying in the street, bleeding from a fight and Prompto hesitated but then moved in, letting his fangs extend as he bent down to the wound, drinking from it. He drank deeply and it felt good to drink blood from a person again but still not as good as with Noctis. He licked the wound help to close it and then they moved the man so he would be safer before heading for the hotel.

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Regis watched with pride as Noctis gave the speech. No one watching could tell his son was petrified by public speaking. He was watching from the car; this was a small affair and it was a cause close to Noctis' heart which was why he was the one out there.

"Can't even see him shaking," Clarus teased and Regis chuckled.

"He's growing up so fast," Regis admitted softly.

"Hmph, you think he's growing fast; you should see Iris lately.

The ribbon was cut, photos taken and then Noctis was scrambling into the car despite his well pressed suite, looking shocked to see Regis. "Dad?"

"You did very well out there son," he praised and Noctis ducked his head slightly. Gladio got in and sat beside his own Father.

"It's just an animal shelter opening." He settled into his seat and Regis smiled, reaching out to ruffle his hair and Noctis tried to dodge, laughing.

"It's a wonderful first step Noct and I am proud of you," Regis emphasised.

Noctis shifted as his phone beeped and pulled it out, laughing as he looked at the message. He turned his phone and Regis looked, seeing the photo of Prompto soaking wet in a fountain. He glanced at the text beneath and chuckled. He had been concerned when he had found out young Prompto was leaving the city, but he also knew that it was best to see now if they could stay together through such trials and so far they were coping well.

He would wait a few more years before acting, young Argentum would need a title of some sort to sooth the Council and a year or two in the Crownsguard would be good too. He would ensure Noctis had as happy a life as possible and pray the Prophecy came to be fulfilled when he was much, much older. Heirs would also be needed at some point, he was hoping to get to greet his grandchildren, unlike his Father who had died several years before Noctis was even conceived.

He glanced out at the city as the car made its way back to the Citadel. "Did you know that speech was televised throughout Lucis?"

"What?" Noctis practically squawked and Clarus chuckled while Gladio laughed.

"I wonder what young Prompto would think of it?" Regis asked and Noctis groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"Blondie would probably pay more attention to the suite and cute animals than the words," Gladio offered.

"Gladio!" Noctis hissed, mortified.

Regis just smiled and drew his son into a talk about fishing, letting him calm down for the rest of the drive. Times like this were too few.

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Luna gasped and spun, sensing that she was no longer alone, only to find two men within her room, two strangers, though one perhaps was still just a boy. She summoned her trident, ready to defend herself but the elder held his hands up.

"We are not here to harm you Oracle," he spoke softly, calmly and the blond beside him smiled shyly.

"Sorry for scaring you…you're just as pretty as Noct said!"

"Noct?" her eyes widened slightly, surely Noctis had not sent them? Wait…blonde…armband, freckles… "Prompto?" she asked, and he grinned, bowing to her.

"At your service."

"What are you doing here? How did you get in?" Please don't let this be an attempt by Noctis to 'rescue' her.

"We have our ways," the older man offered, bowing to her. "Harry Argentum, your Highness."

"Brothers?" she asked and Prompto laughed.

"He's my Dad," he grinned, and she let go of her trident, not feeling at all threatened by Noctis' Hunter best friend or his Father. That was when she noticed the tags they both wore around their necks and the black clothes and felt a little foolish for calling her trident. "Here," Prompto held a package out to her and she took it, unwrapping it to find a phone.

"It's completely secure, our numbers and Noctis' are pre-programmed in. Should you need anything you can call or text."

Luna stared down at the phone in awe. She'd never been allowed one before, even if she had, it would have been of Imperial design and definitely listened in on. "Thank you," she whispered.

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"You can store it with your trident so they can't take it. Noct's usually free after five," Prompto explained.

She was so pretty….no wonder Noct had a crush on her. Noctis had said the law made allowances for the King's preferences but… If they hadn't met, would Noct marry her since she was a Princess? Would he still marry her? They both needed heirs, right?

She surprised him by walking up and clasping his hands and then she totally shocked him by kissing his cheek! "Thank you, for being such a good friend to Noctis, I know he was very lonely before. We cannot say much in our notes to each other and I worry for him."

"I think he'd say you're the one to worry for since you're living in Imperial held land," he offered, and she laughed.

"True, but the Empire cannot harm me if it wishes to keep the good will of the people. I am the Oracle after all."

"But there may come a time they decide they no longer need you, so be careful," Harry warned, and she nodded.

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"I will be careful," she promised.

Harry looked to the hall. "Someone's coming."

She glanced that way and when she looked back, they were gone. The door opened and one of the guard looked in, saw her alone and left. She went to the window and looked out but saw no sign of them. How?

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Two figures dropped from the mountainside and over the wall, neither dressed heavily despite the freezing temperatures.

"This is…" Prompto whispered, Dad had destroyed this place once already, why had they rebuilt?

"Want to sit this one out?" Harry asked and Prompto shook his head, calling his rifle from the Armiger.

Being able to store his gear and weapons came in handy, it was better than just having them invisible. Seeing the facility back up and running again brought back memories he'd rather not remember. Endless drills and tests, squads of others with identical faces…all of them were probably full MT's by now, or very close to it. Were any still here?

"Prom?" His Dad called gently, and he took a deep breath.

"Ready." He would free them the only way he could, for now. They would beat the Empire and then they could help those who could still be helped, until then there was nothing he could do but stop or at least slow 'production'.

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"We've had reports from agents within the Empire, a base and some sort of scientific facility have been destroyed," Cor put the reports down and Regis picked them up, looking through them before handing them to Noctis.

Noctis had a very good idea who was responsible, though he wouldn't say a word. It explained why they had been in Tenebrae; it was on the way. But why? They had said they were staying in Lucis, had they gone to give Luna the phone and then decided to have some fun while in the area? He was glad they'd gotten a phone to here, it had been so good to hear her voice again. They'd taken to chatting for a few minutes every night and then he would text Prompto who might call back, attacking bases explained why he hadn't said a lot on where they were or what they were doing at the moment. He was so going to talk to Prompto tonight over hiding this stuff though! Not like he'd tell anyone! It also explained why he could barely feel him; they were on the other side of the planet! He hoped they came home soon. After four and a half months, he really missed Prompto and wanted him back with him. He understood why he had to go, and he wouldn't ask him to come back, didn't stop him wishing though.

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Prompto sat on a cliffside, watching the sun set as he cleaned his guns, another base burned to the ground. That made their fifth. He glanced over at his Dad and grinned. "Where next?"

"Back to Lucis, there's some Imperial bases there that could do with blowing up," he smirked and Prompto grinned.

They'd have to be more careful in Lucis, didn't want to get caught by their own side or cause trouble for the locals after all. But after seven months…it'd be good to be on the way home. He missed Noct so much, phones just weren't the same and it wasn't always safe to call. He actually missed Insomnia even! He'd been training hard too, getting more in touch with his vampire half and sometimes it creeped him out, but it was part of who he was, and he had come to accept that.

TBC…