AN: GG: We give you all the family bonding! Enjoy another chapter of more bonding!

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After Regis left, Prompto exhaled sharply. "I thought I was going to die from that! The king was talking to me again!"

Noctis poked Prompto gently in his side. "I told you Dad liked you. Believe me now?" he asked with a smile.

"Yeah I believe you now. But he didn't make a dad joke!"

"Please don't make him make a dad joke. I will have to whine at you massively."

"Awww, but what if I want to see you all pouty?" Prompto teased.

Noctis laughed at that and gently pushed at Prompto's shoulder. "Then you're just a meanie head."

"I'm your meanie head," Prompto replied as he puffed out his cheeks.

Noctis leaned forward to press a quick kiss against the puffed up cheeks and pulled him in close. "You are mine."

"And you're mine."

Regis watched the pair with a smile from the doorway, glad to see them like this. He knew there was still a lot more to handle before they were alright, but at least they had moments like this to keep them happy. Quietly, he slipped out the door and let them enjoy being together.

"So," Prompto said after a moment. "Now we go see Gladio and family?"

"If that's what you want to do. I bet they'd be happy to see you." Noctis replied with a shrug.

Prompto squeezed Noctis's hand tightly. "Yeah, let's get it over with."

Noctis took his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Come on then, let's try the training grounds."

"Alright let's go."

Together, the two of them walked down to the training grounds. There they saw that Gladio was training like usual, breaking training dummies into many pieces.

Another training dummy was broken down before Noctis could make himself move. This just confirmed he had hurt his friends more than he expected. He cleared his throat softly before stepping further into the room.

"Hey there Gladio. Every-everything alright?"

Gladio nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, everything's fine here. Just did another session of training."

"Are you... never mind. Dad just told us about you and Prompto. Did you already know about it?" Noctis asked. He was already filing away the destruction to bring up to someone.

"Oh," Gladio looked at the two before smiling slightly. "It's about Prompto and my dad adopting him right?"

"Yep. How long has this been planned? And, does that mean Prom gets to learn some cool tricks?"

"I was just told about it recently. But I figured my dad and yours were planning this early on. And that depends," Gladio looked at Prompto. "You want to learn some cool tricks?"

Prompto nodded. "Cool tricks sounds, well... cool."

Noctis smiled at that. "At least you get the brother who's used to being an older brother. Igs would probably just mother hen you."

"I'll be the best brother you know," Gladio said with a smile. "You can just ask Iris, and she'll tell you."

"Would you like me to- let you have some time to bond? I doubt you can leave the Citadel, but there's plenty of space to go hang," Noctis asked hesitantly, fingers immediately fussing with his shirt at leaving Prompto so soon again.

"Up to you and blondie," Gladio shrugged. "It's whatever you want."

"Uh, I guess we could have some brother time? I don't know..." Prompto whispered.

Noctis reached up to take Prompto's hand and squeezed it hard, to try and show how much he wanted to stay at his side. "Hey, remember what Dr. Iovita said? We can trust them. And you have your phone, if you want me to come back."

Prompto hugged Noctis, sighing deeply into his hair. "Yeah I know. I'll remember to text you as soon as I can."

He pressed a quick kiss to the blond hair before pulling away and leaving the room quickly. Otherwise he knew he wouldn't.

Gladio watched the hug quietly. "Don't worry, I won't keep ya too long. How're you doing? Alright with the changes?"

"Uh yeah, I think so. Kind of weird basically living at the Citadel now."

"Well, as soon as you'd like, we've got a room for you at the Manor. Sure Dad would love to have you there," Gladio offered as he went to put the training sword away.

"Wait manor? You mean you don't live at the Citadel?"

"I mean, I have a room just in case I need to stay the night, but nah, we have a manor. Dad goes home every night pretty much to see us. That's why you haven't really seen Iris that much."

"Oh I had no idea. That's totally cool!" Prompto exclaimed. "So I'll get to live in a manor?"

"Yep. I think it's pretty cool. And I'll show you some good running routes. Have you been able to start running yet?"

"Start running? I have barely been able to get a good run! The track in the Citadel is fine, but I hate just running in a circle."

Gladio hummed some at that. "Want to see if I can take you out for a run? You know Noct won't join us though."

"Yeah... still can't convince him. But I'm ready to take you on and out run you!"

"Oh, you think you can out run me? I'd like to see you try Blondie."

"I've been running for years! It's kind of my thing besides the video games," Prompto boasted.

"That so? Then challenge accepted. Tomorrow morning alright? I can make sure Iggy knows so I don't take you from any appointments."

"Alright! Bright and early! Be there or be square!" Prompto laughed.

Gladio smiled and held out his hand for a fist bump. "Oh I'll be there, you got it."

"So um... is there anything I need to know? About being an Amicitia?"

"We take care of each other. And we take care of the King, but they're really just like an extended part of the family really," Gladio started explaining.

"O-Oh, like family. I guess that makes sense."

"I kind of messed that up with Noct when we were younger, but- well, I want to make that better," he confessed softly. "All of this- well, it showed me how important he is to me."

"You guys are basically like brothers then?"

Gladio considered that for a moment. "I guess so. I know I would do my best to protect him from anything."

"I want to protect him too. I know he told me not to... but I still want to do it."

"He might have to get over it. You're going to be an Amicitia. We protect our Kings. We'll train you how to do it. Being a Shield is part of being in the family, official title or not," Gladio said as he loosely wrapped an arm around Prompto's shoulders.

"So Iris is also a Shield too?"

"If I can't do it, yes. She's being trained to be one."

"But you'll always be able to do it! You're a mountain!"

Gladio gave Prompto's shoulders a small squeeze. "Well, better safe than sorry. Plus, even if she isn't one, she'll be a kick ass Crownsguard."

"Yeah makes sense... but..." Prompto sighed. "What does this make me to Noctis?"

"Right now? His boyfriend who he's incredibly sappy with. And you know I'm going to have to give you hell for it. Because you two are almost worse than the books I read."

Prompto chuckled weakly. "Like what? How can we be that bad?"

"Do you realize how much you two touch each other? It's cute, but there's a lot of touching. Hugs, kisses, just holding hands. I know if I come into your suite, I'll find you two connected somehow."

"Ew gross!" Prompto stuck out his tongue as he scrunched up his face. "We're not like that."

Gladiolus looked over at Prompto with a raised eyebrow. "Prom, seriously, you are. Not in like, gross ways, but seriously, always touching."

"Uh... thanks then? I guess?"

"I'm glad to see you two happy. You're sweet," he assured him.

"And what about you and Iggy? Wouldn't you say you two are sweet?"

That made Gladiolus pause for a moment as he considered that. "I don't know if- sweet doesn't always seem the right word." He mused. "I don't know how to describe us. We just... work really well together."

"Would the right word be... touchy?" Prompto said teasingly

Gladio laughed at the return in teasing. "I think you might better use subtle. Iggy isn't big on huge displays of affection. But that's alright, I know he loves me in his own ways."

"That's nice I'm... glad you two could find your feelings a lot sooner than Noct and I did."

"I mean, you two were younger when you confessed than we were. Our two year anniversary is still a few months away," Gladio shrugged. "Though, we didn't have the same circumstances to deal with."

"Y-Yeah... I guess not... but wait..." Prompto looked up at Gladio. "We're actually younger than you two were?"

"You are. Igs was sixteen when I asked him out." Gladio explained. "And that was a small disaster in itself."

"What happened?"

Gladiolus gave a soft laugh at that. "So, I knew I liked Ignis, and I thought he liked me back. I took a step and asked him for coffee. He asked me if I needed more sleep and offered to arrange my schedule to help make sure I could get enough sleep with training and school. I didn't know what to do."

"Wow, did he really not get the hint at first?" Prompto asked, trying not to laugh.

"He really did not. I told him my schedule was fine, but I wanted to spend time with him. And to get coffee. He wanted to make a meeting of it and postpone me for a week," Gladio said with a sigh. "So I leaned in so I could kiss him quickly to make him understand what I meant."

"Whoa really? How could you be so forward like that? Weren't... you scared he would be upset?"

"I mean, yeah, I was scared he might stab me with one of his daggers," Gladio confessed with a shrug. "But I had a good feeling he felt the same, so it was a risk worth taking. It got him to actually think about going on a proper date with me."

"I wish..." Prompto looked down at the ground. "I wish I had been brave like you. Th-Then maybe Noct and I wouldn't have had our confession in the worst place ever."

Gladio reached out to rub Prompto's arms gently. "But you told him how you felt, that's the important part. Now you can enjoy the aftermath. And being together with him."

"B-But I didn't really tell him," Prompto said, shaking his head. "He told me first a-and I didn't believe him. I was scared to believe if it was true or just lies."

"But you did believe him in the long run. You're both adorable and very much in love. So something must have happened for you to believe him."

"I just felt really shitty after yelling at him," Prompto said, choking back a sob. "I accused him of things I shouldn't have. I-I don't even know why he forgave me."

Prompto's crying made Gladio pull him in close for a loose hug. "Hey there, it's alright. He did though. I imagine it couldn't have been as bad as you're thinking. Neither of you were in a good place, you can't blame yourself for what you did in there."

"B-But I can't stop thinking about it. He forgave me, yeah. But it doesn't take back what I said," Prompto said as he sobbed, clinging to Gladio's tank top.

"Have you talked about this with him? Now that you aren't in the middle of everything? Or with your therapist? Since this is bothering you so much?" He asked gently, rubbing Prompto's back gently.

"N-No I haven't. I don't want to make him remember that. It hurt him pretty bad..."

"And it's hurting you pretty badly. You both deserve to heal from this. Don't keep this bottled up and hurting you."

Prompto nodded. "I'll... I'll try. I want to trust Noct, I love him a lot."

"And I know Noct. He's absolutely smitten with you. You'll find a way to make this work, even with a rocky start," Gladio said as he tightened their hug.

"Thanks Gladio," Prompto whispered as he relaxed in the hug.

Gladio smiled as he felt the trembling form relax a little bit into the hug. "No problem. That's what brothers are for."

"So we've had our first brotherly bonding moment?" Prompto asked.

"I'd like to think so." Gladio replied and grinned widely.

"So... if I am your brother..." Prompto asked, as he started to laugh. "Does that mean I get to call you Gladdy?"

The question made Gladio smile some. "Sure, only you and Iris, our little secret."

Prompto went and hugged Gladio again. He smiled broadly this time. "Thank you. Seriously. Talking really helped me out here."

Gladio returned the hug easily. "I'm glad I could help. I'll bring Iris over soon so we can hang out together. Feel free to call or text whenever you want."

Prompto nodded. "Yeah for sure. Gotta have a proper siblings night right?"

"Exactly. If you have a favorite food or snack, let me know, and we'll get it ready for you."

"I'll keep it in mind. So um..." Prompto started to move in place, a little anxiously. "I can probably go back to Noct now right?"

"Yeah, let's get you back to Noct." Gladio said as he ruffled the blond hair gently. "You're both improving."

Prompto smiled before he ran off, waving to Gladio as he left the training room. He pulled out his phone and started typing away.

Prompto: Noct. Where ya at?

Noctis: room. you coming back?

The reply was nearly instant on Prompto's phone

Prompto: Yeah! Heading right there! Hang tight!

Noctis didn't respond to the message as he was too busy pacing around the main sitting room alone.

Prompto ran back to the room as soon as he could. He opened the door without warning and ran right over to Noctis, pulling him into an embrace.

The embrace startled Noctis some before he quickly pulled Prompto in tightly and buried his face into his blond hair.

"Miss me buddy?"

"Yeah." He said softly. "And worried. But you're here, and that's great."

"I'm always here."

"I know. I'm sorry, I shouldn't- it's stupid to worry like that. I'm alright," Noctis said as he made himself try to pull himself together and move out of the tight embrace.

"It's not stupid. I'd be doing just the same."

Noctis gave a small huff of air. "How'd it go with Gladio? You two going to be okay?"

"Yeah... I think so. He isn't so bad. I think he'll be a good brother."

"I'm glad to hear that. I bet that's one of the reasons Dad picked Clarus."

"Cause he trusts him and stuff right?"

"The trust, and he knows he's a good father to two kids."

"Guess your right. But me being his son now won't change anything between us... right?"

"No, definitely not. You and I were this first."

"And we'll keep on being this," Prompto said before giving a kiss on Noctis's cheek.

Noctis smiled at that and gave Prompto another big hug. "Video games for a bit, then that ridiculous homework Igs gave us?"

"Yeah! Sounds like a good plan. We have our little routine. It's nice."

"I like our routine. And, I think we're doing well with it. So, come on, video games time. Otherwise we lose it all to homework."

"Anything but the dreaded homework ha ha!"

Noctis smiled at that and guided Prompto over to the couch so they could start up the game they were working through.

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AN: Riku: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! See you all next time!