Disclaimer: Not mine

Edited

Chapter 9

Two bikes pulled into Hammerhead and stopped at the pumps, the riders were dressed in Hunter black, one black haired and the other blond. Cindy stared before grinning. "Hey Argentum!" she called and they both looked over, the younger waving. "Been ages since you boys have been through here."

"Been busy," Harry answered, lifting her off her feet to swing around, making her laugh. He'd gotten to know Cindy and her Grandfather well over the years Prompto had lived in Insomnia, as had Prompto when he'd joined Harry on hunts. The pair were top notch mechanics and they liked working on Harry's bike since there were so few outside of Insomnia.

"I like," she grinned at Prompto, running a hand over his bike. "Can I take a look?"

"Sure," he agreed. Runes ensured the bikes remained in top form but there was always the chance Cindy, or her Paw-Paw, would know of an upgrade. They'd found Prompto's abandoned and wrecked near the old mines and had spent three days getting it back into shape with magic and a repair kit.

"Where ya'll headed?" She asked as she pulled out some tools and Prompto leant against the pump to watch.

"Home, it's been almost a year since I left," he answered wistfully.

"Miss it huh?"

"Yeah. It's been great travelling with Dad again too though," he hated that he couldn't do both. But if he signed up for the Crownsguard he would be stuck in the city, not that being with Noct wasn't worth it.

Harry left them to it and headed into Takka's to see what local hunts were available.

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Prompto spotted the envelope with his name on it and grinned, reading the short note from his Uncle, dropping his bag on the bed. His room was untouched, still very empty, but relatively clean. He went back to the kitchen and found the shelves had been stocked, though he'd need to pick up milk and a few other perishables, he'd be alright for blood for a while too thanks to the Armiger. He'd missed the house, having a proper bed every night; spells never got things quite right.

He was being very careful to keep his end of the bond shut down, wanting to surprise Noctis. He went upstairs and showered, dressing in comfortable casual clothing before heading out to get food. He had time to kill before Noctis would return to his rooms and he could go visit. He grinned as he walked towards the local grocery store, he was looking forward to seeing him again, phone calls just weren't the same. He grabbed the food he needed and went home to put it away and air out the house, texting his Uncle to say thanks for the food.

He wished Harry had come, but his Dad was at least staying local for a while, if not in the city. He'd taken on a bunch of local hunts in case he was needed and to help Prompto adjust to him being gone again. They'd put a major dent in the Empires' forces, and it would take time for their army to recover, giving Lucis some breathing space. He knew Noct would have put the pieces together, would know they were behind it, but he wouldn't have said anything. No one could prove anything beyond they had gone to Tenebrae since Lunafreya had the phone they had given her, but there was no way she'd tell anyone in the Empire.

He waited impatiently until the city darkened with the night, lit only by the lights and billboards of a city that lived up to its name. Only then did he slip from the house and towards the Citadel.

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"I'll get the dishes Iggy," Noctis told the older male as he moved about the kitchen. "You're exhausted, go home and sleep," he ordered gently but firmly.

"Your Highness," he tried to argue and Noctis crossed his arms, staring at him until he sighed and deflated. "Very well, I shall see you in the morning." He gathered his things and left and Noctis went to his kitchen, putting the dishes in the sink.

Eleven months later, he still missed his apartment, missed the freedom it had given him, the informality it had encouraged between them. He'd been called 'Highness' a lot more since moving back to the Citadel and he wished things could be like they used to be. It didn't help that he was worried about Prompto, it had been a few days since his last call and he wasn't getting much through the bond, enough to know he was alive but that was about it. He put the dishes in the drying rack and went to his bedroom, unbuttoning his shirt as he went.

An arm wrapped around his waist, another over his mouth and he reacted on instinct, going to break the hold, before his body went limp even as his mind panicked. He felt sharp fangs graze his throat and he moaned in pleasure behind the hand on his mouth which moved away. The grip went from restraining to supporting him since his body had decided it didn't want to support his weight. His head fell back onto the shoulder of the one holding him, and he felt the other chuckle, nuzzling at his bared throat. "Prom…" he whined, unable to help it. It had been far too long, and the bond snapping back to full strength threatened to totally overwhelm him.

"I missed you," Prompto murmured in his ear even as he lifted Noctis up and carried him over to the bed. He gently lay Noctis down on the bed and then lay beside him, wrapping his arms around him and Noctis pressed as close as he could, tugging at Prompto's clothes.

Prompto shifted to lean over him, smiling down at him and Noctis smiled back. "Missed you too," he agreed, fumbling at Prompto's belt. "Please…"

"Easy, focus Noct," Prompto gently stroked his cheek, pulling back on his end of the bond, watching him blink dazedly but slowly the sheer need diminished, dark blue eyes clearing.

Noctis reached up to gently trace Prompto's face. "Prompto," he whispered, smiling at him. "You scared me…how'd you even get in here?"

"Magic," he grinned and they both laughed.

"So will I react like that any time we're apart for a bit?"

"Maybe," he admitted. "Planning on going somewhere?"

Noctis snorted, he hadn't left the city in a decade. He ran his hands over Prompto's shoulders, down his sides, refamiliarizing himself with his boyfriends body and Prompto grinned before his clothing vanished and Noctis blinked in surprise before laughing as his own vanished with a faint ticklish sensation, almost… "Did you send out clothing to the Armiger?"

"Yeah, I've spent a lot of time practising and playing with what it can do. Much easier than glamours to make people look past something," Prompto admitted and Noctis laughed.

"Geek," he teased playfully, feeling the slight coolness to his skin. "You're hungry," he sobered as he realised that. He felt his heart speed up in anticipation even after so long without. He tugged Prompto closer, baring his throat.

"Noct…" Prompto groaned, resting his head against his chest.

"Want you, please," Noctis answered, tugging at his head.

Prompto shifted up, tongue lapping at the skin of his throat and Noctis sighed in pleasure, letting his head roll to the side, giving him full access. He felt the skin go numb and then the sharp pressure of Prom's fangs sinking in before he began sucking at the wound and then it hit him in a way it hadn't since the first few feedings, euphoria, pleasure, and need. He was distantly aware of the noises he was making but didn't care at all, weakly trying to move against Prompto who began moving with him, touching him and it felt so good.

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Prompto moaned in pleasure as hot blood spilled over his tongue and down his throat. Nothing else compared to this, to Noctis' blood. He had missed it so much, not just his blood but the closeness, the trust, the love. He moved against him, forcing himself to pull back before he took too much blood, staring into unfocused eyes…just like the first time he'd ever fed from him. At least this time he felt no guilt in helping Noctis get what his body wanted.

When it was over he pulled the covers over Noctis and sat beside him, watching him sleep. He couldn't stay, too many questions would be asked over how he had gotten into the Citadel, let alone one of the most protected suite of rooms within. He kissed Noctis' forehead and then redressed, slipping a photo onto the pillow beside him before slipping away.

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Noctis woke slowly, body lethargic…naked, he was naked…why? And then he remembered Prompto, feeding…he reached out, but the bed was cold, so he opened his eyes to find he was alone. Had he dreamt that? He looked around and there, on the other pillow, was a photo. He picked it up and smiled at the image of the two of them at graduation, it hadn't been a dream, Prompto was back. He grabbed his phone and hit dial.

"Morning sleepyhead," Prompto answered immediately, and Noctis laughed.

"How soon can you be at the steps?"

"Twenty minutes."

"I'll meet you there, get you in here officially."

"On my way," Prompto promised and Noctis scrambled up to shower and dress.

It was then that it hit him, just how vulnerable he was when it came to Prompto. He knew there were people in the Citadel who'd been happy when the blond left, not liking a 'hunter brat' who looked like a Niff so close to him, saw it as dangerous. They didn't know Prompto really was a Niff, they just suspected. If he didn't have the morals he did, if Harry hadn't raised him, Noctis knew it would be easy for Prompto to use him, to kill him even. Then again without Harry he wouldn't have a link with him. He trusted Prompto to never use the bond against him, no matter how much a predator he was. He had changed, last night had been enough to see that, he'd mentioned vampire training on the phone once too, but he was still Prompto, just a more grown up Prompto. He shook such dark thoughts off and ran a brush through his hair.

He left his bedroom to find Ignis cooking. "Need to make enough for one more," he called as he went to grab his shoes.

"Oh?"

"Prompto's back, I'm meeting him on the steps," Noctis grinned and left his rooms, not seeing the soft smile on Ignis' face, his Adviser happy for him.

"Tell him to wear his tags to be safe!" He quickly pulled up the copy of Prompto's clearance file he kept on his phone and sent it to the main gate, including his clearance to carry weapons, to ensure he was allowed inside.

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Nyx hated Citadel guard duty, though being on a gate wasn't too bad, not compared to standing in an empty hallway for hours on end. The only people approaching were those who had tours booked for the public areas of the Citadel; school groups mainly, and the kids all gawked at his braids and uniform, different to the other guards.

He let his eyes wander over the people as they went about their busy lives. He went on alert as his eyes landed on a young man, wild blond hair, casual clothes…but the way he moved screamed at every instinct Nyx had…here was a predator. He saw the light glint off something around the young man's neck and as he got closer he realised they were hunters tags.

"Hi, Prompto Argentum, I'm expected," the boy spoke in an odd accent and it took him a moment to work out it was a mix of those found outside the wall and within.

Nyx glanced at the guard who was checking the system, the man's eyes widening so Nyx shifted to look. This wasn't just some hunter kid…he had clearance to carry concealed weapons inside Insomnia! And…ah, Nyx remembered talk of the Prince's school friend, so this was him?

"You're cleared," he offered, and the younger male grinned at him before going inside.

Nyx glanced back and was surprised to see the Prince skid to a stop at the top of the staircase even as Argentum lifted an arm to wave. Prince Noctis all but warped down the stairs as Argentum broke into a jog, the two meeting mid-way and he turned his attention away as the Prince pulled the other close, resting their foreheads together. Looked like that rumour had some basis in fact then, Crowe would make a killing in the betting pool.

TBC….