Disclaimer: not mine

Edited

Chapter 11

Every break between meetings Noctis was checking his phone, sending encouraging messages. He knew Prompto would ace the exams but that didn't stop his boyfriend from worrying. He understood, Prom had to walk a narrow line between hiding too much or too little.

He had no idea how others would react to what Prompto and his Dad were, and he never wanted to be the reason they were discovered. He was sure that he could convince the guys, even his Dad, that they weren't a threat or anything. Harry couldn't die so there wasn't much risk there, but Prompto? He was harder to kill but he could still die and that would kill him, he couldn't imagine losing him like that.

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

Prompto leant against the wall, breathing hard, glancing at his phone when it beeped. He smiled at the message and sent a quick one back. He ignored the eyes on him from the other Crownsguard hopefuls, he was used to people staring, if it wasn't his looks then it was because he was a Hunter so young. He could sense Cor watching from above, Gladio and Ignis with him, and it felt good to know those two were there for him. Cor was there for everyone, but it still felt nice to know he would keep things fair.

The written tests had been done first thing in the morning and he'd been careful, not wanting to give away his perfect memory. He still wanted to score well, especially after all the work the guys had done with him, he didn't want to disappoint them, but there was no way he would let himself get a perfect score.

They'd stopped for lunch and now it was the physical testing. They'd already been forced to run laps until they dropped or were told to stop. He had fun with that since he ran every day, but it was obvious who didn't run at least semi-regularly. He'd gone until told to stop at a good speed, though obviously not his real fastest speed.

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

Gladio watched as Prompto ran around the circuit, pleased with how well he was doing. Some of the candidates were just embarrassing to watch. A year on the road and then some work with them had Prompto in peak condition. They couldn't stay long, they had their own duties to attend to, but they could check in when they had some spare time.

"He's doing well," Ignis commented and he nodded, Prompto was no one of the few left on the circuit. It wasn't surprising, the kid ran every day and had admitted that they tended to travel on foot now he was older when hunting.

Gladio looked over at where Cor was evaluating the candidates. "When is firearms testing scheduled?" he asked, and Cor smirked.

"Next," he answered and Gladio settled in, no way he was missing this!

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

Prompto put the weapon down and stepped away. The problem with the name Argentum was that it meant in individual testing he went second. It made it very hard to decide how much to hold back. Firearms was the one area though where he wasn't holding back, and he was very pleased with how he'd done. He removed the ear protection, not that it helped a lot with how sensitive his was, and found the room silent.

He turned to find everyone staring in shock, then a few began clapping while others muttered. He refused to let on that he could hear what they were saying but it hurt, even if it was true, he was as good with guns as he was partially because he was a Niff, had been trained to shoot long before Harry had saved him. Even one of the instructors was eyeing him but he didn't react. He kept his head up as he retook his place in line.

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

"Go blondie!" Gladio grinned and then saw the slight frown on Ignis' face. "What? He blew them away!"

"And I am very proud of him," Ignis agreed, waving a hand at the others. "It is their reactions I am not happy with. This may need watching. Marshal?" he asked, and Cor nodded.

"Room's being recorded," he hit a few switches and they heard everything that had been said during and after Prompto's turn.

Gladio's hands balled into fists. Yeah, he hadn't been sure of the kid at first, but that had been more worry about him distracting Noct. Some of what they were saying was downright nasty and totally untrue.

"I received a file this morning, sent by Harry Argentum," Cor offered, and they looked at him. "Information on Prompto's mother. He should have his own copy waiting for him."

"And?" Ignis asked tightly.

"He's no Niff," Cor gave them, eyeing them.

"We do not care either way Marshal," Ignis glared at him. "However, knowing enables us to respond to such accusations with the truth."

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

Noctis knew people would talk but he didn't care, he'd gotten Specs message about what people had been saying about Prompto. He didn't know that Prompto would have heard it all, but Noctis did. He was even still in full Council raiment as he walked through the halls, people staring in shock as he passed them. He approached the testing room as the door opened, candidates spilling into the corridor only to freeze as they saw him, but he ignored them all until Prompto stepped out. He grinned at him and Prompto smiled back.

"Meetings done?" Prom asked cheerfully, bag slung over a shoulder.

"All done," he assured him before wrinkling his nose. "Working you hard?"

Prompto shrugged, falling into step with him. "Dad's done a lot worse than make me run laps or climb a rope in an indoor gym."

"This I have to hear," Noctis smirked, flinging an arm over Prompto's shoulder even as the blonde laughed.

"Then you better hope Dad answers his phone, because not even you will get those stories out of me."

"Not even for Ignis' green curry soup?" he asked and Prompto wavered.

"Well…maybe."

"Big bad hunter and he caves for curry," Noctis chuckled as they walked away, leaving everyone staring but for once he didn't care. That should make people think twice about messing with his best friend. "My place or yours?"

"Considering we're next door, does it matter?" they fell quiet until they entered Prompto's suite and his boyfriend shook his head. "Could you have been more obvious?" he teased.

"I know you heard every whisper Prom; they have no right to say all that," his hands balled into fists and Prompto took them in his, leaning in to kiss him softly.

"Thank you for defending me…but we both know they were relatively truthful. Dad wasn't the one to teach me to shoot."

"So? It doesn't mean a thing. They just didn't like having you show them up so much," why couldn't Prompto get angry too? "Specs said they could put the rumours to rest now?"

"Oh," he went to where his mail was placed every day and dug out a large envelope. "Dad finished fleshing out my 'Mum's' history."

"Open it!" Noctis crowded close and Prompto opened it, seeing the picture of a pretty blond woman. "Huh, her Grandmother was from Tenebrae, otherwise strictly Lucian background. Good idea," Noctis offered and Prompto nodded.

It felt weird, having a Mum, even one who had been dead since he was about a year old. It would have been even weirder if he'd had a part in picking a name or something. The only good thing was that it would complete his file and hopefully silence the whispers of him being a security risk.

"Okay?" Noctis asked and he nodded, putting it aside. "So, other than breaking every record for firearms, how did the rest of the tests go?"

"It was harder doing badly?" Prompto offered and Noctis groaned, swatting him with a pillow from the couch. "I desperately need a shower."

"Want company?" Noctis was always willing to help conserve water and from Prompto's grin, so was he.

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

Regis took the file from Cor and read it, smiling softly at the information. He had never doubted the boy but it was good to have confirmation of his ancestry to satisfy others. "How did he do?"

"He'll make it, though there was no doubt. He could almost graduate already," Cor admitted. "We'll put him through an accelerated course for what he needs. I'm assuming Noctis will name him as part of his Retinue as soon as he graduates?"

"That is the plan. Not that he will need to be given access to Noctis' magic then," Regis shook his head. They'd hidden it well, but he had felt the magic. There was no law saying one had to be a Retainer to be given access to a Prince or Princesses magic, it was Noctis' choice. It had likely proven very useful for Prompto while travelling.

"What exactly is the plan for Prompto?" Cor asked.

"His Father is owed a reward from the Crown but turned it down. If the Council is to accept him as Noctis' choice, a minor title would be useful."

Cor nodded, that would remove a lot of their ability to argue against their relationship. Especially since the title was a reward for saving Royalty.

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

Prompto woke up to find that Noctis had rolled over in the night and stolen all of the covers. He smiled and sat up to gently disentangle him, taking his share back before curling around him. It still felt a little odd to be the taller of them, but it made sleeping like that even better, his body shielding Noct's from any danger. It was so easy to forget just how powerful Noct was when he was asleep, he looked so delicate.

With magic, Noctis could be healed of almost anything…but it was also magic that would consume his life one day. He'd seen how King Regis was aging prematurely. The thought of losing Noct to that one day killed him. He'd always known he was likely to outlive him, to outlive all of them, but Noctis should get to live a normal human lifespan.

He knew the Astrals weren't truly gods, Harry was older than them. What right did they have to tie Noctis' family to that blasted Crystal and then to drain their lives away? There was another option…but would Noct ever want that? Being a vampire didn't ensure a long life, they could still die after all, but it did give you better odds. How could he be King if he was functionally immortal though? People would definitely notice, unless he used a glamour to appear to age?

Prompto bit back a frustrated groan, there was no point thinking about it. Noct would need an heir before he could ever consider being turned. He was too old for the type of change Prompto had undergone, he would have to become a full vampire and they couldn't have kids, once again, Harry was the exception and not the normal in that respect.

He closed his eyes and began the mental exercises he'd been taught since Harry had saved him, ordering his mind and allowing himself to fall back to sleep.

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

"There is mail for you Prompto," Ignis called, nodding at an envelope.

"Thanks Iggy," he picked it up and saw the official seal on it, no post mark either. He hesitated but then opened it, able to feel the three of them watching him. He read it and blinked.

"Prom!" Noct called and he looked up, grinning.

"I passed."

"We knew that much," Gladio rolled his eyes and then snatched the letter, whistling as he read it. "Advanced classes, considered graduated from several of them. With this load, you'll be done with training in six months tops."

"Yes!" Noctis cheered. The sooner it was done, the sooner he could officially make Prompto one of his and then let the world know just how much Prompto was his and he was Prompto's. He couldn't wait for that day.

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

Harry smiled as he read the copy of his acceptance letter that Prompto had sent him. He was proud of him for going through all of that to remain with Noctis. He would need to arrange to be back in Insomnia for the ceremony, he couldn't miss it.

For now, he was having fun taunting the Empire. Night time raids on bases, whole squadrons of MT's that vanished without a trace (transfigured into innocuous items on the base), food poisoning, itching powder in the washing…anything to make their lives just that bit more unpleasant. He didn't want an astronomical death toll on his hands among the human soldiers.

He had been considering taking out Aldercapt and his Council, would the war effort continue if they were dead? Then his snickered, Prompto would kill him if he ended up Prince of Niflheim because Harry conquered them, though it'd be worth it to see the look on his face when told. He had no desire to rule an Empire, any more than Prompto would wish to be Prince…hmm…what would his title be if he and Noctis married?

He put his phone away as the sun finished setting, heading off to handle the rather nasty daemon that had set up shop a little too close to Galdin Quay for anyone to be happy about. It was just high enough ranked that the locals couldn't handle it, not without casualties anyway, but he was happy to handle it on his way through.

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

"Hey Prom! Luna," Noct called, tossing his phone over and Prompto caught it without looking.

He pressed it to his ear, smiling. "And how is the ever marvellous Oracle this evening?" he asked, earning a gentle laugh. He liked making Luna laugh, she had little reason to be happy in her life. He liked easing her burden, just like he helped Noctis.

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

Harry looked at the message he had intercepted and nodded to himself. It was time the man was dealt with, past time really. Without Verstael Besithia he would not have his son, but the man had created too many horrors for the Empire. Killing him would be doing the world a favour. His mad genius would be difficult to replace. Others may be able to continue his work, but it should slow the creation of new monstrosities. And he didn't like the idea of him coming to Lucis, why was he? He never left the labs except to see the Emperor. Was it a trap, to lure the saboteur out? Well if it was, they were in for a surprise.

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

Prompto drank deeply as Noctis moved against him, hands gripping his shoulders. After almost six months back together, he was once again able to withstand the sensations feeding caused, no longer being consumed by them, and they both found it even better. It still left him feeling weak, but he retained control of himself, as much as he ever was in bed with Prompto anyway. Which meant the sound of a dropped tray had his eyes snapping open, looking over Prompto's shoulder to see Ignis in the open doorway, even as Prompto froze. Noctis felt his fangs retract from his throat, his tongue lapping quickly at the wound to seal it, but Iggy wasn't dumb, there was no way to clean all the blood up without him seeing or wondering what they were doing.

How had he gotten in? The wards…and Noctis mentally swore. Had Prompto activated them all? They'd been more distracted than normal, rushing to get to the bedroom…it was the only explanation.

"Highness?" Ignis called, sounding shocked and unsure.

Noctis turned his head to meet silvery eyes that were quickly shifting back to blue. What were they going to do? He reached up to wipe some blood from beside Prompto's mouth and then gently pushed him back so he could sit up. "It's okay Specs," he called out to his shocked Adviser.

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

Ignis entered Noctis' suite quietly, smiling fondly when he spotted the scattered clothing. One day, they would grow up, but it was nice that they could still be free, at least behind closed doors. Prompto's graduation ceremony and swearing to the Crown was in a weeks' time, after that they could be more open about their relationship.

He went into the kitchen and prepared drinks and snacks for them, going to the door, finding it was quiet with in, the door not shut properly, which should signify it was safe to enter. He pushed the door open and entered, looking up and finding he had been wrong. Prompto was on top of Noctis, naked, moving in a very obvious manner, he could see Noctis' hands on his shoulders, his bare legs…and then he found the tray tumbling from his hands as he saw the way Prompto was latched onto Noctis' throat, his own working as he swallowed…

"Highness?" he called, feeling utterly lost, mind trying to work out what was going on but unable. He watched as they went still, and then Noctis was pushing Prompto back, sitting up, shielding himself by moving a leg.

"It's okay Specs," his Prince told him but…that was blood on his throat…

TBC...

Poor Ignis got an eyeful he really didn't want.