Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter 7
Noctis took his seat next to Prompto's empty one, worried, but he had arrived earlier so maybe the blonde simply wasn't there yet. What if he was sick? Or maybe he really hadn't been as okay with sitting with him as he said and had changed classes…or schools. But then he relaxed as Prompto walked in, head down, bag over one shoulder. "Hey," he greeted once Prompto was closer and he looked up, blinking at Noctis before smiling.
"Hi," he sat down and dug his things out of his bag.
Noctis nearly asked if he was okay but then he remembered Prompto's comment about being treated like glass, so he didn't. "Get the homework done?" he asked instead and Prompto nodded.
"You?"
"Specs would kill me if I didn't," he grimaced and Prompto glanced at him.
"Specs?" he asked in confusion.
"Oh, Ignis, my Adviser. You're probably seen him in any broadcasts behind him. Tall, wears glasses."
"Ah, so that's why you call him Specs," Prompto grinned. "Dark blonde hair? Always looks like he's fresh from a fashion magazine?"
Noctis laughed at the description. "Yeah, that's him." They fell quiet as class began.
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Ignis stood beside the car, eyes scanning the crowds of teenagers, looking for Noctis. He finally spotted the Prince and took note of the boy beside him, Prompto Argentum. The basic background check the school had done had shown nothing worrying in his history, although the fact his parents travelled so much, especially with his shaky health….well. Despite his troubles the boy had excellent grades in several subjects, perhaps he would be a good influence on Noct's own study habits.
The two were talking quietly as they walked, the hint of a smile on Noct's lips. It was good to see. It looked like he would need to have the deeper checks run and he hoped the boy passed, it would be good if Noctis could finally make a friend outside of the Citadel. Prompto had been raised by a vampire so there should be no problems there. A few times when he was younger, Noctis had thought he was making a friend with some of his human classmates only for them to become scared or disgusted when he did something totally normal for their kind. It had always hurt to see how their reactions affected the younger boy.
The two split up, Prompto heading down the street with a wave while Noctis walked over to the car. "A good day?" he asked and Noct nodded as he got in.
"Didn't nod off once," he promised and Ignis smiled.
"That is good to hear. And things with Prompto?"
"Good, I think. I'm just…glad he's only got human level hearing. He's not allowed to participate in sport or gym classes and the things they're saying because of it…" Noctis shook his head.
"Children can be cruel to each other," Ignis offered, he didn't like it but there was nothing that could be done. The boy would likely find even worse comments coming his way should he truly become Noctis' friend, mostly from those who would be jealous.
Noctis snickered at that. "You're only seventeen Specs," he pointed out, even if sometimes it seemed he was seventeen going on forty. He knew that because Ignis was half human he'd matured a bit faster than Gladio and himself but from observing human classmates he knew that he was old for his age even by their standards. He hated that some of that was definitely due to him, because Ignis had been attached to him so young. He wouldn't trade him for anything, but he did wonder if it had been fair to the older boy.
They returned to the apartment where Ignis prepared dinner and helped Noctis when he got stuck on his maths homework. When he returned to his own apartment, Ignis sent in the already filled out paperwork in order to get the full checks done on the Argentum family, hoping nothing turned up.
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Prompto looked at his calendar and sighed sadly before picking up the phone to call the school. He liked school for the most part, he liked having Noctis to talk to, though he wished he wasn't able to hear what others said about him. It was weird, he knew he should have to fight his instincts when it came to Noct and yet…not once had he felt any kind of threat from the Prince. He was a Lucis Caelum and Prompto had bene bred as an MT, so why did he feel so….normal around him? It wasn't the meds, they didn't totally supress his animal instincts, so what was it about Noct that made the wolf accept him?
He wished he could call or text him to let him know he was 'sick', but Noctis wasn't allowed to give his number out which was completely understandable. At least Noctis knew this would happen at some point.
Prompto made himself some breakfast and curled up with his books to get some work done on an assignment, he knew he would be given no leeway by his homeroom teacher at least. Most of the others were nicer about it thankfully.
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Ignis watched as Noctis left the school alone, confused. Where was Prompto? He had planned to give them the news himself, Prompto had passed the necessary checks. His parents had fully recorded histories, their family's citizens going back centuries. Prompto's birth mother had moved to Tenebrae to marry her husband and the records on her from there were very spotty. Prompto had a birth certificate and some medical notes as well as school reports from his years in that country but that was it, until he moved to Insomnia and was officially adopted.
After that, his records were as expected and Ignis had done his own research into the boys' condition, saddened by it. Prompto would likely not live much past his thirties, if he did then he would do so under strict medical supervision. How much pain would that bring to his parents, especially his Mother. If only vampires could change humans like in the myths, she could save the boy who had become her son.
"Ignis."
"Noctis," he smiled and took Noctis' bag from him. "No Prompto?"
"He called in sick," Noctis answered, trying to act cool but Ignis knew him too well. He got in the car after Noctis and then passed his phone back to him. "Specs?"
"He passed the background check, you still can't give out your number, not yet. There is no rule about mine."
Noctis blinked and then smiled. "Thanks." He dug out the piece of paper with Prompto's number and hesitated. "Which would be better, call or text?"
"Text, he may be sleeping," Ignis answered. He drove towards the apartment as Noctis typed away.
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Prompto picked his phone up as it beeped, a message from an unknown number. He opened it, frowning, and then he smiled slowly. He quickly texted back and then spent the afternoon chatting with Noctis until the Prince said he had to give Ignis his phone back for the evening. He promised to text before school in the morning before saying goodnight.
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Ignis pulled the car in and smiled as he spotted the mess of bright blonde. "Noctis?"
"Yeah?" the Prince mumbled, glancing up and Ignis nodded towards the school so he looked over, brightening as he spotted the waiting teen.
Ignis got out of the car and raised his hand towards Prompto who saw him, hesitating, but Ignis motioned again so he walked over. He looked a little pale and was moving slower than Ignis had previously observed and he wondered if he should be back at school already. He wouldn't say anything, the boy knew his own health and body.
Noctis got out of the car and smiled at Prompto who smiled back. "You're okay?" the Prince asked, looking him over.
"Getting there," the blonde offered. He looked tired closer up, but he was also obviously happy to see Noctis. He then looked at Ignis, more nervous, so Ignis relaxed and offered a small smile in return. He did not want Noctis' friend to be put off by him. "Hi," the blonde offered and Ignis nodded.
"It is good to see you are recovering," he told the blonde sincerely, seeing his cheeks colour slightly in embarrassment.
"Thanks. Noctis said it was your phone he was using, thanks. It was nice having someone to talk too."
"It was no problem at all," Ignis assured him. "I shall see you both after school." He returned to the car and watched them walk into the school together.
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Noctis sipped at his blood while Prompto crunched into an apple. It was easy to just sit in silence together, neither feeling the need to fill the silence. After three months he had a much better understanding of just how sick Prompto was, no matter how healthy he may look on the outside most days. He'd been keeping how own record of how often he missed school and every month he was averaging twelve days when he was too sick to leave his house. "Doing anything after school?" he asked once he was done with his blood, making sure to run his tongue over his teeth first since it was rude to talk with blood visible on his teeth.
Prompto looked over at him, confused by the question. "Just homework."
"Want to work on it together at my apartment?" he asked, nervous. Being friends at school was one thing, would Prompto want to be friends outside of it. Yeah, they texted when he was off sick using Specs phone, but he had to be desperate for company then.
"Seriously?" Prompto straightened up, eyes wide. "Is that allowed?"
"It is now, clearance came through last night. If you want to?" he tried not to show how nervous he was as Prompto stared at him.
"You really want me around?" Prompto whispered and Noctis' eyes widened before he reached out a hand, hesitating briefly, before he settled his hand on a warm shoulder. Prompto didn't flinch at the coolness of his hand and Noctis smiled.
"We're friends, right?" his heart was in his throat as he asked.
Prompto stared at him and then smiled in return, his hand moving up to rest over Noctis' briefly. "Yeah, we are. I'll come," he agreed.
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Ignis smiled as Noctis held the door open and urged Prompto into the car, glad that things seemed to be going well. Prompto slid across the backseat, setting his bag at his feet, looking around the interior of the car with wide eyes. "Good afternoon Prompto."
"Hi Ignis."
"Seatbelts please," he warned them and they both put them on before Ignis pulled out into traffic.
"I've never been to this part of the city before," Prompto was looking around to try and see everything as Ignis drove into one of the best areas of the city, filled with high end shops and towering luxury apartments. "They're so tall."
"The Citadel is the tallest building in the city but some of these come close to matching it," Ignis offered.
"Are they businesses?"
"Some are, others are residential," Noctis answered. "That's me," he pointed at one of the approaching buildings. "Twentieth floor."
"The views must be incredible!"
That was not the standard reaction to that information and Ignis smiled, taking it as a good sign. Most would be awed by the obvious wealth, Prompto was excited by the view.
"I guess they are. There's a balcony, you could take some photos of the view from there, give you something new," Noctis offered and Prompto's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Sure," Noctis answered as Ignis parked. They got out and headed into the elevator, heading up. He unlocked the door to his apartment, and they entered, Prompto copying them in removing his shoes and taking off his school jacket.
Ignis headed into the kitchen to ensure they had things to eat, Noctis had told him that Prompto stayed away from most junk food though he would eat a little on occasion. Home-made pizza was far healthier than the takeaway version and could be personalised per person which meant Noctis could avoid the dreaded 'vegetables'. He saw them put their bags down and then Prompto was getting a camera out of his before Noctis dragged him gently onto the balcony to show him the views.
A while later he looked up as Noctis joined him, going to the fridge to get drinks. "Noct?"
"Yeah?"
"What did you mean by giving Prompto something new?" he asked quietly, glancing outside to see Prompto happily snapping away.
"He's been housebound most of his life Iggy, pictures were the only way he got to see the world. They still are when he's sick. He's a great photographer."
"So this will give him new views of the city to look at when he's trapped at home," Ignis whispered and Noctis nodded. He finished setting things up. "Pizzas are done, all you need to do is heat them when you get hungry."
"Thanks Ignis," Noctis carried the drinks out to the living room as Prompto came back inside, cheeks pink from the wind.
"You were right about the views!" he grinned and Ignis chuckled.
"I'll leave you two to enjoy your evening. Let me know when you wish to head home and I will drive you."
"Oh...I'll be fine on a bus."
"Nonsense, I insist," Ignis smiled at him and then left.
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Noctis grinned as Prompto looked around the apartment, he seemed a little overwhelmed but there was no envy or anything else he normally saw in people when it became obvious just how richly a Royal lived. "Hungry?"
"A little?"
"Snacks or pizza?"
Prompto grimaced. "Uh…"
"It's healthy homemade pizza and the sweets are a mix," he assured him.
"Okay," Prompto grinned. "I'm not fussy, whichever you're ready for."
"Snacks it is. Set up a game?"
"Sure," Prompto went over to see what he had before putting one in to load. They settled down, Noctis on the couch and Prompto sprawled on the carpet at his feet.
"Comfortable down there?" he asked and Prompto grinned up at him.
"I think your carpet's softer than my couch."
That made Noctis laugh as they started their game.
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Ignis drove through the city, glancing at his passenger now and then, seeing Prompto beginning to drowse. "I hope you had a good time."
"It was great. I've never been to someone else's place for fun," he admitted, shifting in his seat.
"You've been a good influence on Noctis, his grades are up and I know that some of those are due to you helping him with subjects he usually struggles with. It is good to see him finally making a friend outside of the Citadel."
He could smell Prompto blushing, hear his heartrate pick up slightly… and yet he could barely smell any actual personal scent coming from the boy. Odd but not unheard of, some people didn't have strong scents of their own. Perhaps a side effect of the meds he was on and his illness. Then again, his senses were not as keen as a full-blooded vampire, perhaps to Noctis and the others his scent was stronger.
He finally pulled into the driveway of a modest house and turned the engine off. There was no other vehicle visible, the younger boys parents obviously travelling. "Is there anything you need?" he asked and Prompto looked at him in confusion. "You have no vehicle of your own, do you need anything you cannot carry home?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm good. We have a good system after all these years."
"Very well. You have my number and I assume Noctis' now as well. If you ever need something, please call."
Prompto stared at him hesitating and Ignis could guess why, but finally he nodded. He smiled and then grabbed his bag. "Night Ignis, thanks for the lift."
"It was no problem, sleep well."
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Noctis finished putting things away, unable to stop smiling. They'd had a lot of fun playing games, eating, they'd even done some of their homework together. He'd never had a friend over before and it'd been different, but he was hoping it would happen again. He flopped on the floor where Prompto had been lying and he sighed, he was right, it was comfortable. He stretched out, feeling the old scars tug as he did, closing his eyes to just relax. He frowned, turning his head and then he rolled over, pressing his nose to the carpet, breathing in deeply. There was something, some scent in the carpet….something vaguely familiar….
TBC…
