Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 15

Regis ducked out of view, smiling softly at the sight of his son and future son-in-law further down the hallway. Seeing them together and so happy brought back happy yet painful memories of when he and Aulea had been young and in love. Even after almost two decades he still missed her so much.

He closed his eyes as he heard Noctis laugh, his son laughed so much more since meeting Prompto, and it had increased again since Prompto had returned to the city for good. Noctis had been so closed off, so…cold, since their return from Tenebrae so long ago… he loved his son so much and seeing him so alone had hurt. While Regis hadn't been given the same attitude as others, his son had still changed in his interactions with him after he healed. He'd never blamed Noct, trauma affected everyone differently, his son had been protecting himself.

He would be proud to call Prompto his son and was pleased by how willing he was to learn everything he needed to one day rule at Noctis' side…if that day ever came to pass. The only cloud on the horizon of that dream was the Prophecy. Would Noctis live long enough to actually rule Lucis? Then again, with the way the war had been going, would his son inherit an actual kingdom or just Insomnia? No matter what they did, the Empire always seemed two steps ahead and MT's were far easier to replace than human soldiers. However, that had shifted not so long ago, with many Imperial bases being attacked and destroyed…while Argentum was away. No…that wasn't possible, two men could not have caused such wide spread destruction, even if one was tied to the family magic. And yet the timing matched up. Did they owe the Argentum family even more than he had ever assumed?

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Harry lay back in the bed of his hotel in Gralea, staring at the ceiling as he considered options. The Emperor was insane, that much he knew. Ardyn's information was very concerning but how to ensure it reached the right people in Insomnia without giving anything away? He doubted the King would care that Harry had Imperial sources but if the Council found out then their objections to Noctis courting Prompto would explode.

A way to heal Ardyn needed to be found, what he was doing was only a temporary measure.

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Ignis saw the closed door and could feel the strange energy that was the 'wards', which meant they were otherwise engaged. It was strange…but the idea of Prompto drinking Noctis' blood no longer really bothered him. A blind man could tell the two were deeply in love and it was just part of their relationship.

He began setting out the paperwork that needed to be done before the boys left the Citadel for their 'camping' trip. The four of them would be spending the night in the nature reserve, in two tents for privacy. Noctis had jumped at the chance to go fishing, even though normally he wouldn't like the idea of camping.

He heard the lock click, the sound of their laughter preceding them as they left the bedroom. Ignis looked up and smiled at how genuinely happy and relaxed Noctis was. "Paperwork is on the table, the sooner it is done, the sooner we leave," he told him, and Noctis groaned but went to handle it.

Prompto laughed but grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl to eat. Ignis found it interesting that he could digest food as well as blood, it seemed to him like the ability to eat one would rule out the other.

The outer door opened and Gladio walked in, frowning when he saw Noctis working. "Aren't you done yet?"

"He only just started," Ignis informed him.

Gladio groaned and threw himself down on the couch, Prompto laughing at his reaction.

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Noctis leant back against the cooler, his bare feet in the water as he waited for a fish to bite. Prompto was sprawled on his stomach beside him, watching the water. "Wait…can you tell where the fish are?" he asked, and his boyfriend smirked at him. "So unfair," he grumbled.

"Wouldn't it take the fun out of it if you could though?" he asked curiously, and Noctis shrugged.

He supposed Prom was right, it would make it too easy if he could tell where the fish were beneath the surface. Then again, some places had water clear enough that anyone could. He smiled when Prompto shifted, resting his head against his thigh. They'd needed the break from the Citadel and the Royal life, everyone was relaxing, even Iggy. He bent over and kissed Prompto's temple before grinning as he felt a tug on the line.

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Prompto lay in their tent, Noctis curled against his side, head on his chest. Of course, Noct was fast asleep. He could almost imagine they were camping out in Lucis somewhere if he couldn't feel the magic of the Wall far above their heads.

He knew his Dad didn't like the Crystal's magic and having met the King, felt the magic of the Ring he wore…Prompto agreed with him. He would love to give the Draconian a piece of his mind but that was best left to the person who would survive doing that. The Lucis Caelum had magic so what was the point…except to control them?

He lifted a hand, running his fingers through Noct's hair. He could hear Gladio and Ignis, fast asleep in the tent across from theirs, giving them as much privacy as possible. Not that they'd done anything they'd need privacy for, not like a tent was sound proofed after all. Besides, cuddling was nice.

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Harry watched the Glaive preparing for battle and then slipped into the Imperial base, planting the information for them to find once they had taken it. He'd have to stick around to make sure they did win and stop the Empire from finishing the building of the new base so that they would find the planted intel on the Empire's desire to attack Insomnia.

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Drautos listened to the report, mentally fuming. How had that information been there? No one should have had it, especially on a base in Lucis! The Emperor would not be pleased but hopefully he could convince the King and Council that it was a hoax, false information to take their attention from the front. Blasted Ulric being the one to find it and report it straight to Clarus since Drautos had not been on the mission or even technically in the city, not that anyone outside of his men knew that they knew how to cover for him.

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Ardyn listened as Aldercapt berated his military officials over the leaked intel. Not once did the deranged man suspect it was Ardyn himself who had handed it over to someone who would ensure the King's men found it. Harry was rather good at sneaking in places he shouldn't be, perhaps even better than he was.

Without the foreign influences on his mind, he could admit that his rage towards King Regis had been misplaced. The man was not to blame for what Somnus had done to him. Yes, he'd guarded Ardyn's prison and sent soldier to Niflheim to deal with him but he was operating on information passed down from Somnus and Bahamut.

Even the young Prince did not deserve his rage, despite his resemblance to Somnus and his place as the Chosen King of Prophecy. They boy had not asked to be the King of Light. He had seen him in person once, not too long after his birth. He had felt the boys potential, potential he had not lived up to…since the daemon attack when he was a child. Although from Glauca's reports over the last few years, he'd been improving. The influence of Harry's son? That had to be Prompto Argentum, although the two looked nothing alike from the file he had seen. Like his father had helped Ardyn with the Scourge, the son must somehow have helped Noctis.

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Cor studied the information that Sir Ulric had delivered from the base assault. Drautos had brushed it off as misinformation but something had Cor unwilling to do so. Yes, finding it where and when they had was rather…convenient, but then so had the bases blowing up in the first place.

A rebel cell within the Imperial human troops? A group taking 'justice' into their own hands? If that was the case then the information may have been planted by them for their people to find since whoever it was hadn't targeted any of their bases. The group obviously operated on both continents, if they had someone highly enough placed then they could have come across the information legitimately and chosen to let Lucis know.

The problem was, there was no timeline, the plans to much in the beginning stages. He'd prefer to know more but they had no highly placed agents in Gralea.

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Prompto stood still as Ignis adjusted his jacket until the older male was happy with it. He didn't mind, he knew that Ignis needed to ensure everything was perfect. Not that he blamed him, tonight was the ball for Noct's twentieth birthday…and the announcement of their engagement. Which was why Iggy was fussing over his appearance so much. They'd officially courted for the minimum time of a year and now they could take the next step.

"Nervous?" Ignis asked.

"A little," he admitted, gently touching the black band around his wrist, the first official gift Noct had given him. He'd never attended any of the official birthday celebrations before they graduated high school and then he'd left the city. He'd been to some parties since returning but nothing so big, and where the spotlight would also be on him.

"Done," Ignis announced, stepping back. "You will be fine Prompto," Ignis smiled at him.

"Thanks Iggy."

"Do try to enjoy yourself tonight." Ignis stepped back and grabbed a box off the bed, handing it over. "Congratulations on your engagement Prompto, I'm very happy for you both."

"Thanks Ignis, that means a lot," Prompto smiled at him before opening the box to find a set of fine gold cufflinks set with blue stones that matched Noct's eyes. "Iggy…"

"From both Gladio and myself." He put them on Prompto and then laughed softly as he was pulled into a hug. "Careful, don't crease yourself."

"Seriously Ignis, thanks, for everything. Especially…for giving me a chance when you found out the truth."

"You are my friend and a good man Prompto," Ignis smiled at him. "Now, we better get going unless you wish to be late."

"Right," he nodded, and they left his suite to find Gladio and Noctis waiting in the hallway. Prompto swallowed as his eyes roamed over Noctis, seeing his fiancé blush slightly. He'd never seen Noctis look so…Royal. "You look…amazing."

"So do you," Noctis grinned at him.

"Come on lovebirds, time to go," Gladio clapped Noctis on the shoulder and he nodded.

"Ready?" he asked and Prompto nodded, taking the offered arm.

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Regis watched as Noctis and Prompto moved across the floor together, enjoying their first official dance as fiancés. The average citizen may not be able to pick up on it, but to those who knew Noctis, his utter joy was apparent.

"They look very happy," a soft voice commented, and Regis nodded at Harry Argentum. He had sent out the invitation to him personally, to ensure he would be there to see their sons engagement announcement.

"They do indeed," Regis agreed with him. "Will you be staying long?"

"I'm leaving first thing in the morning, there's a daemon problem around Meldacio, they've called everyone in with experience. So how long are Royal Engagements?"

"Between six months and three years," Regis answered, smirking slightly. "I have the feeling we will be seeing you in a few months for the wedding."

Harry chuckled. "Most likely. I think part of Prompto still expects to be told it can't happen."

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Luna looked at the images on her phone, smiling at them. They looked so happy together, she just wished she could have been there to give them her blessing. She didn't understand why she and Noctis had this mythical love story, they'd spent a few weeks together over a decade ago.

She knew she had to marry, to ensure the bloodline of the Oracle would continue should anything happen to her. She refused to marry any of the candidates the Empire or Ravus had sent her way. If she could not marry for love then she would at least not tie her people any more tightly to their enemy.

She hid the phone away and went to her balcony, looking out at the stunning gardens. Her home was beautiful, but a cage was a cage.

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They kissed hungrily, Prom's hands running over Noctis' naked body. His left hand moved over Noct's stomach and Prompto couldn't help glancing down at the ring on his finger that bore the Lucis Caelum crest. Noctis' hand was over his and he looked up into amused blue eyes. He grinned and kissed him again. "Love you."

"Love you too. Now stop staring at your ring," Noctis laughed but tugged him closer, baring his throat eagerly.

Prompto latched onto the warm skin, sucking and licking at it and Noctis held on tight. He sank his fangs into Noct's throat, sucking gently, more snacking then feeding, since they both really enjoyed the process. They were newly engaged, they were allowed to celebrate however they wished.

TBC…