When they arrived back home, they were greeted by Void and Ziggy as usual. The presence of their little boys did lighten their spirits a little.

Noctis scooped up Void to let him drape over his shoulder. "What an awful morning. What do you want to do now?"

"I don't know," Prompto said as he picked up Ziggy. "I still feel so... uncomfortable? Or uneasy? You know, with that file? I keep thinking back to it."

Reaching out to pull Prompto in close, Noctis buried his face into his chest. "That file doesn't have to define you. You're more than that."

"It just makes me sick that I could have, I would have..." he choked on a sob. "If I hadn't been stolen, who knows what could have happened."

"It didn't happen though. Remember that." Noctis whispered. "Remember where you're at now."

"I'm with you," Prompto replied.

"And you'll always be with me."

"Thanks Noct. Uh, can we not tell Gladio and Ignis yet? Assuming they don't already know? Just wanna wait a bit..."

"Of course we don't have to tell them. This is your decision, take all the time you need."

Prompto hummed another soft 'thank you' before they moved further into the apartment. "Maybe we could just go back to sleep? I feel so tired."

"You know I'll never turn down sleep. Come on, let's sleep away this crazy."

They walked all the way to the bedroom, ready to just flop down and after they set down Ziggy and Void they did just that. Prompto snuggled up against Noctis, rested his head against Noctis's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

A few days before Noctis and his retinue were set to head out for Altissia, the envoy from Niflheim arrived in Insomnia. Regis did his best to shield the younger generation from having to deal with them, eventually denying Prompto from coming to the Citadel completely while they worked on the Empire's claim on him. The moment Versteal entered the Citadel, he was demanded to perform a paternity test if he wanted to continue to claim Prompto was his stolen son. With a lot of grumbling, the samples were gathered so each side of the negotiations could run their own tests.

That evening, Regis and Clarus arrived at the Princes' apartment with a small envelope and solemn expressions. Prompto and Noctis had been playing video games all day. After they packed for the trip, they had wanted to take their mind off everything and video games were the answer.

But now there was a knock on the door. Prompto glanced at Noctis and sighed. "So... ready to answer it?"

"Yeah, no more secrets." Noctis said softly. He leaned over so he could press a soft kiss to Prompto's lips before he went over to answer the door.

"Good evening Noct, Prom." Regis greeted them as they stepped into the apartment.

"Good evening... At least we can hope?" Prompto half asked.

Regis held out the envelope to Prompto. "In an attempt to be open with you, I wanted you to have those yourself. The Empire has the same documents you have in your hands."

Prompto nodded as he sighed deeply. "Right... like it makes much difference."

"Not particularly, but at least we can try to level the playing field as best as possible." Regis said honestly.

Inside the envelope were a series of tests which were conducted to test the familial connection between the two of them. Each test confirmed Prompto and Versteal Besithia were related by blood.

Prompto almost felt like he was going to crush the letter in his hands. He could tear it up and pretend it never happened, but it would never wash away the truth. Instead of letting anger out, overwhelming sadness decided to take its place. He leaned against Noctis, craving his warmth and support as the tears started again.

Noctis quickly wrapped his arms around Prompto to pull him in tight. "What's the plan? I'm keeping Prompto," he said protectively.

"And that's why we planned this trip," Clarus said. "We aren't letting the Empire get away with this so easily. There's never been any record that Aldercapt said that Besithia's son would be his successor. We're still trying to look into that."

"Until we leave, can we stay away from the Citadel? So they can't pull anything now they have some proof?"

"Yes that was the plan since the Empire is currently staying there. We have plenty of Kingsglaive guarding them but we can send a few here as well as have Ignis and Gladio stay the night as well," Regis answered.

Noctis looked down at Prompto and gently wiped off a few tears. "This is a decision for us. Do you want Iggy and Gladio to stay with us during the trip?"

Prompto nodded. "Yeah. It would be safer that way. They are your retinue anyways, right?"

"They are. Alright, then, yeah, let's get used to spending way too much time together early." Noctis tried to joke.

"You mean waking up to go on runs with my brother and then eat delicious food by Iggy? Sounds like a plan!" Prompto smiled with a little chuckle.

"Oh no, more morning people in the apartment." Noctis groaned.

"Just gotta deal with it now," Prompto laughed.

"Goodbye sleep, it was nice while it lasted." He said softly.

Regis laughed. "I'm sure you'll get some sleep when your brothers are here. But what is most important is that you leave before the peace treaty signing."

"Do you think something is going to happen?" Noctis asked. "Can't you say more?"

"Just an uneasy feeling. With the Empire here it's best to get you two as far away as possible," Regis answered.

"Alright, please, be careful."

"I will," Regis said as he sat up. "We must return to the Citadel, but tomorrow I will see you in the morning to send you off."

"Okay, we'll finish packing then." Noctis got up to walk them out of the apartment before falling against the front door.

Ziggy came scampering up to Noctis, trying to climb into his lap. He barked a few times before setting down and smiling with happy pants.

Noctis smiled at Ziggy and made sure to pet him vigorously. "How are you doing, Prom?"

"I'm the stolen son of a Niflheim scientist! How do you think I feel," Prompto spat.

"Okay, I walked into that. What do you want to do?"

Prompto was laying down on the couch, curled up on himself. "I don't know. I just don't know. Everyone's going to hate me now."

"Your Dads don't hate you. I don't hate you, and you know Iggy and Gladio won't hate you if they knew." Noctis reached out to gently brush his fingers through the gelled blond hair.

"Yeah... but the rest of the world? We spent the last few years being together and we had so many people accept us. But with the Empire spreading that news... how are people going to react now?"

"I don't think we'll have much time to find out. Perhaps that's another reason why Dad's sending us out. So we can't... stew on this all the time."

Prompto frowned. "Do you think they told the rest of the world? Would the Empire tell every place to be on the look out for the fucking 'stolen son' of the Niflheim Empire?!"

"I don't know. There's no way to know. But, I'm here for you. You don't have to deal with this alone."

"But you don't understand!" Prompto cried. "All my life I knew something was different about me. I had this stupid barcode that I wasn't suppose to show anyone! Every bully called me a dirty Niff. I didn't want to believe them. B-but... but now..."

Struggling to find the right words to soothe Prompto, Noctis reached out to pull him in close.

Prompto clung to Noctis's shirt, continuing to let out all of the stress that had built up only over a couple days. It hurt feeling all of the sadness and negative feelings rush from Prompto, but Noctis kept on holding him tightly.

"Promise you won't leave me," Prompto whispered.

"I promise I won't leave you, love." Noctis swore.

"Thanks. Feels good to hear it. I'm sorry though..."

"Why are you sorry?" He asked while reaching up to gently brush aside the tears to help clean up his face.

"Cause I'm such a mess and hurting you with my own emotions..."

"And there's nowhere else I would rather be. Always going to be here for you. I'm not leaving you."

"Even if I hurt you by feeling like this?"

"Even if I get hurt by it. You aren't going to scare me away."

"You're too good to me," Prompto sighed.

Noctis smiled a little and leaned in to kiss Prompto's forehead. "Only because you're just as good to me."

Smiling Prompto finally began to relax. "I'll always be good to you."

"I know. Do you want to head to bed? Or just stay curled up here?"

"It's not even lunchtime... I'm a bit hungry, but I don't wanna move."

"What'll you like? I'll bring you something to eat." Noctis offered.

"Hmm can I trust you to cook for once?"

"Dude, I've been a decent sous chef for you. Don't worry about it."

Prompto smirked. "Alright, then can we make some pancakes?"

"Definitely. Breakfast for lunch, coming right up."

As Noctis went to cook Void and Ziggy jumped up onto the couch, moving closer to Prompto.

He smiled again as he went to pet both of them. "I guess you guys wanna help me feel better too, right?"

Void settled on Prompto's lap with a purr, rubbing against his hand happily.

Noctis spent a while in the kitchen, keeping his cursing mostly down, and after a bit came out with a tray with two plates of mostly unburnt pancakes for both of them.

"Hey look at that! The kitchen survived. Iggy is going to be so proud!"

Ziggy let out a bark.

"No I said Iggy, not Ziggy you silly dog."

Noctis laughed at that. "Now you see why I call him Zig. And see, I managed just fine. Anything for my darling husband."

"Ziggy. Zig. Zigster. All names work!" Prompto laughed. "And as thanks buddy. Now let's dig in and forget our worries for the day!"

"I like this plan." He smiled.