Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter 9
Ignis smiled at the boys as he set the table for them, moving about as kept an eye on them. It was amazing to see how well Noctis had bonded with the human boy and even more amazing how accepting Prompto was. He had always worried that his Prince would finally make a friend and that friend would freak out when Noctis' instincts kicked in because every vampire reacted differently, especially when magic was added into the mix. Prompto may have a vampiric Mother but Ignis had looked into her, the Votum family had lived in Insomnia for centuries, their vampiric gifts weren't very strong and Sarah Argentum was the last of the family.
Despite that, Prompto was good at reacting how he should when something happened, submitting to Noctis' authority as easily as Ignis himself did, as if used to it. So perhaps her instincts were stronger than one would first assume, leading her son to learn how to soothe them. There were times when Prompto would become still, wary, watching Noctis closely, but it wasn't in fear of Noctis, he could see that,…it was looking for a sign to how he should react to what was happening. He was learning Noctis' reactions and how best to deal with them, all without Ignis having to step in and teach him.
Prompto had definitely gotten the reaction to Noctis' territorial protectiveness down pat very quickly since the behaviour had begun. He would shift slightly behind Noctis, eyes lowered a little, keeping himself still and calm. Any sign of fear would be very bad for whoever else was nearby, unless they were under Noctis' protection as well, then they'd only receive a strong warning. He'd only ever seen Noctis so protective of his Dad, himself, and Gladio. It had also taken longer for such behaviour to surface in regards to them but they were trained to fight, to be able to defend themselves, Prompto wasn't. Maybe they should give Prompto some training? Though he'd never be able to fight a full-blooded vampire, they were just too fast and strong for a human, so maybe a weapon? It was something to consider for the future.
"Food is ready," he called and they scrambled for the table, making him smile. Watching them you'd think they hadn't eaten all day. Noctis hadn't eaten very much, his appetite for food even lower than normal. Prompto seemed to have the teenage ability to eat his own weight at every meal. He didn't mind at all; it was nice to know his work was appreciated. He went to get the rolls and then paused in the doorway, confused, as Prompto went to take the cutlery only to hesitate, fingers hovering over the knife before he moved his hand away. That was odd.
Come to think of it…Prompto never touched the silverware. He would need to speak with him, assure him that it was alright, because he could tell that sometimes the boy was uncomfortable with the signs of wealth around this part of the city. The Argentum's weren't poor but spare funds were lacking, Prompto's medication was not cheap after all. Did he blame himself for his parents financial situation? Did he think he wasn't allowed to touch the expensive things in the apartment?
To his surprise Noctis nabbed Prompto's plate and cut his food up before passing it back. "I saw that fall Prom, you need to rest your wrist," the Prince chided and Prompto flushed in embarrassment.
"It's not that bad, barely hurts."
"Iggy can wrap it for you if you need it," Noctis countered and Ignis frowned in concern.
"Are you injured Prompto?" he asked, stepping into the room.
"I'm okay," he denied and Noctis snarled softly, Prompto instantly dropping his gaze to the table, shoulders slumping, even as Ignis stepped back away from him.
"Some jerks tripped him on the stairs at school," the Prince answered for him. "I wasn't close enough to stop his fall but I did catch him before he could tumble down more than three stairs."
"I see, the students?"
"Suspended for a month. The stairs are tall enough that being tripped the way he was could have…it could have killed him," Noctis admitted shakily and Prompto got up from his chair, walking over to kneel on the floor by Noct's chair.
"Hey, I'm okay. You saved me," he offered a small smile, reaching out to touch Noctis' hand and Noct turned it, holding Prompto's hand in his. "I'll let Ignis look at my wrist."
"Of course, but for now you should eat before the food gets cold."
"You should eat too," Noctis told him so Ignis got himself a plate and sat down, not wanting to push Noctis under the circumstances.
He wondered how much trouble Prompto was having at school with the way he just seemed to accept what had happened. He managed to coax them into talking as they ate, getting Noctis to relax, and when Prompto took more food, Ignis cut it up for him, watching how he favoured his right wrist. Once they were done eating he piled up the dishes and then went for the medical kit he kept under the sink. "Prompto," he called and the younger boy joined him. He slowly reached out and took a warm hand in his. "Any difficulty moving it?" he asked, feeling over the wrist for anything obvious.
"No, it juts aches," Prompto was quick to answer.
The wrist felt a little warmer than the rest of his arm, a sign of injury. "I do not believe you've broken anything; I assume the school checked?" he asked and Prompto nodded. "Good. I'll wrap this for now, you should ice it as well. If it is still hurting by the end of the week you should get it looked at, just to be safe. He pulled out a bandage and wrapped it tightly enough to support it but not too tightly.
"Thanks," Prompto whispered and Ignis smiled at him.
"It's no trouble."
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Prompto rubbed his wrist, it didn't hurt at all now but he knew it would look suspicious if he was healed already. The fall had broken his wrist, the break had just been almost healed by the time the school nurse had looked it over, enough that it hadn't been detected. He kept it wrapped to allay any suspicion, making sure to write slower, though Noct was happy to share his notes for the classes they had together which was nice.
At the end of the week he removed the bandages for the last time, happy the charade was done with. He hated lying to cover how fast he healed but it had to be done. At least the bullies were leaving him alone, for now, obviously shocked over what could have happened if Noct hadn't acted and if Prompto really was human.
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Ignis had been watching the boys and…he was becoming concerned. Little pieces of information, small clues, were coming together in his mind and the answer they gave terrified and enraged him. He didn't want to think it but…he was becoming more and more sure that Prompto was not the human he seemed to be. He was torn, should he speak to someone or keep watching?
If he said something and he was wrong it could destroy the budding friendship he had with the younger male and also see his clearance pulled even if Ignis was wrong. It was his duty to report anything suspicious, especially something that could threaten the Crown. He glanced at where Prompto was sprawled on the carpet, game controller in hand. Was he a threat? The blonde glanced over at him and grinned happily and he found himself smiling in return.
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"Noctis, we need to speak," Ignis called and Noctis looked up from his homework, frowning at the serious expression on his Advisers face. He put his pen down and pushed his books aside.
"What's wrong Ignis?" he scanned him with all his senses, finding no sign of injury or physical distress.
"Have you noticed anything…odd?"
"Odd how?" Noctis frowned in confusion. What was this about? Ignis seemed reluctant but also concerned, an odd combination for him.
"About," Ignis licked his lips nervously. "Prompto."
He fought not to react, to show how scared the question made him. If anyone was going to work it out without any obvious clues, it was Ignis. Sometimes he was too smart and observant. "What do you mean?" he asked, doing his best to act clueless. "Prompto's, Prompto," he shrugged. "He's been great dealing with stuff and he never flinches, even when I drink from an unsealed container. I know sometimes I've startled him but he's never afraid of me, he trusts me." And that was amazing, outside of the Citadel he'd never had that.
"Noctis it is my duty to report anything amiss, for your safety, for the Crown's safety."
"Ignis," he growled but Ignis held a hand up.
"I have not done so, yet. I have suspicions but no facts and I am well aware how damaging a report could be should it prove false."
"And what is it you suspect?" he demanded. He could order Ignis' silence, but would he obey when Noct was only the Prince and not King.
Ignis stared at him and then sighed. "He has avoided the silverware on every visit, with mostly ridiculous reasoning. Looking back, his illness always covers the full moon, no matter what other days he is housebound. I can detect no scent and while my senses are not as keen as a full vampire I should still detect something which suggests some sort of scent blocker is being used. There are other clues but those are the major ones. Noctis…you know what that points to."
"Say it," he ordered and Ignis stared into his eyes before lowering his slightly, able to see how on edge he was and he knew that was confirming things as far as Ignis was concerned.
"Prompto is a werewolf," Ignis finally whispered.
Noctis swallowed but then nodded. "I know."
That had green eyes widening slightly. "How?"
"He fell asleep against the couch, I had to practically bury my nose against his throat but I caught the scent to confirm some things I'd noticed. He also whined in a rather non-human way when I petted his hair. It doesn't change anything Ignis, he's still the same guy, he's Prompto, he's our friend. I…I even checked the records, there hasn't been so much as a suspected werewolf attack in the city the whole time he's lived here."
"Noctis…I know you don't want to hear this, but that may be the plan," he warned.
"I called him, the day I worked it out, the day I had that nightmare. I'd caught his scent in the carpet but hadn't realised…till I dreamt of the attack and the scents from it. I watched him so closely Ignis, no one is that good of an actor. No spy is so good they have no tells. When he smiles at me…it's real, he's always so happy to see me, you too now you've been letting him in. He burnt himself on a knife getting snacks, that's the only time I've ever picked up on fear, he lied and said he jammed his finger in the drawer. When those guys tripped him on the stairs, I saw it, he could have caught himself but he didn't because a human couldn't have. When I caught him he was so surprised but then he…he was so relieved? Happy? He's never aggressive, at all, which means his control is crazy since everything I've read said that being a werewolf increases aggression, even in the most laidback people, even if they don't act on it," Noctis made himself stop and breath.
Ignis reached out and put his hand over Noctis'. "You truly believe there is no threat?"
"I think he came to Insomnia to be safe, to get away from where the Empire could find him. Maybe he really is the Argentum's cousins son and he was infected so she sent him away to keep the empire from finding him. Or he was born in Niflheim, human or wolf, and escaped. His scent reminds me of Niflheim so I think he escaped, a refugee, just not one who could legally enter the city," he stopped, blinking in surprise.
"Noct?"
"I just realised, in class, whenever the Empire's brought up, especially when it's the really bad things they've done…he flinches. It's not really noticeable, but I sit right next to him."
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Ignis listened to Noctis' explanation of why he believed Prompto was not a threat. The idea that Prompto was simply another refugee, just one who couldn't enter the city in a legal manner, was not one he had really considered. The fact he flinched, even so slightly at mentions of the Empire leant strength to Noctis' theory. A spy would never flinch like that at mentions of their home, they would be proud of their actions while flinching suggested fear, perhaps shame. Prompto had lived in the city since he was eight, he could imagine a man finding an abandoned child out in Lucis and being unwilling to leave him there to die. Was that how he had come to the city? Or was he really an Argentum.
Ignis sighed but then nodded. "Very well, I shall remain silent. However, any sign of danger and I will inform the Marshal."
Noctis nodded. "Thanks Specs, he won't let us down, I know it."
"How did he take it when you told him you know?"
"I haven't, and I'm not going to."
"Pardon?" Ignis was surprised.
"I want Prompto to trust me enough one day to tell me, to know I won't hurt him."
"Noctis, no matter how much he comes to trust you, that day may never come. A paranoid protection of his secret has likely been ingrained by now," he warned gently. It would come out eventually, unless Prompto planned to leave the city before his lack of aging could be picked up on. Unless he claimed his Tenebraean Father was of the Fey, granting him an extended lifespan. His own Mother had been human, despite being from that country. Besides, it would be too easy to disprove such a claim and he carried none of the usual physical traits that anyone with Fey ancestry did.
"Think we can keep Gladio from realising?"
"Once he has met Prompto, I doubt it. I am surprised his secret has been kept so well so far, then again he has never been around so many people before. Then again, if Gladio does not see him regularly, he may not put the pieces together. I've noticed certain objects have vanished from here, I assume that was to keep Prompto safer?"
"Yeah, I've hidden everything that could hurt him but in places I can easily get to if needed. I wanted to replace the silverware but.."
"I definitely would have noticed and commented. I shall arrange suitable replacements. Rambunctious teenagers and silverware are not a good mix," he smirked and Noctis grumbled over getting the blame. Ignis went to the kitchen and got out a few pieces, bending them easily.
"Oops," Noctis snickered.
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Prompto looked down, ready to come up with some excuse….except the cutlery was different. There was no stinging scent coming from it, it was duller in colour too. He glanced up and Noctis shrugged.
"Had a small accident with the silverware so Specs swapped it out for something less malleable. He reckons not even Gladio can get this stuff to bend," he offered before digging in and Prompto carefully touched the fork.
The metal didn't burn, he felt nothing at all, so he picked it up and began to eat. He had the feeling he was better off not knowing what Noct had done or how badly he'd damaged the silver set, not with Iggy glowering at the Prince.
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David watched his son get ready for school, looking happy and excited…because he finally had a friend, maybe two from the way he was talking about the Prince's Adviser lately. He was worried about the friendship but he wouldn't say anything. Prompto knew the risks and he would never willingly endanger them. He wished he could do more to give Prompto a happy life and sometimes he wondered if it would have been better for him to grow up somewhere like Lestallum, where he wouldn't have to hide. It was too late now; all they could do was hope his secret was never discovered.
TBC…
