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Chapter 10

"So I'm finally getting to meet the kid, huh?" Gladio asked, arms crossed, as he watched Ignis move about the apartment.

Ignis stopped and turned to look at him. "Do be kind Gladio. Prompto may not look it, but he is very ill."

"How ill?" Gladio asked warily and Ignis looked away. "Iggy?"

"It is unlikely he will live much past thirty," he admitted softly and Gladio stared in shock, he hadn't realised Noct meant the kid was that sick. "He will need more and more medical aid as he gets older to even live that long."

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He did not like lying to Gladio but he would not risk Prompto's safety. Gladio didn't know him and had no reason to remain silent. He knew sooner or later Gladio would find out, but he hoped he would know Prompto well before that happened, would be able to see the boy wasn't a threat. "Then again, with some of the bullying going on it may not be his illness that kills him," he snarled slightly, he'd used his clearance to gain access to the report, had slipped into the school to see the stairs for himself and Noctis had been correct, if Prompto were human, the fall would have killed him.

"What do you mean?" Gladio asked in concern and ignis sighed.

"He was pushed down the stairs at school, luckily Noctis saw and was able to catch him on the third one down so other than a sprained wrist and some bruises he was fine. However, had he been left to fall…we would not be having this conversation."

"Tell me you're joking!" Gladio demanded and Ignis shook his head. "They were expelled?"

"Suspended."

"Does the King know?"

"He is aware of the incident, however it had nothing to do with their friendship which ties his hands. According to Noctis, the other students can be rather cruel in what they say about Prompto. He misses a lot of class due to being too ill to attend and he is not allowed to participate in any kind of sport or even the physical education classes, I am sure you can guess how the other students take that."

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Gladio grimaced, poor kid, sounded like he couldn't catch a break. He was very lucky Noctis had seen him fall too, hopefully any other vampire student at the school would have done the same if necessary. What had those kids been thinking? If they'd killed another student they'd be in serious trouble. That they'd only been suspended was concerning but there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't even see about getting Noct's friend some defence training if he couldn't even participate in sport. "So what do you really think about the k…Prompto?"

"Despite his health, he is a happy young man, rather isolated and a bit unsure of himself in social situations because of that. His first thought when we pointed out the apartment was that Noctis must have incredible views. In fact he spent the first half hour taking pictures of the city, he is a gifted photographer. Several of Noctis' grades have gone up as well due to his assistance. He is also incredible when it comes to dealing with Noctis' moods, as his Mother is also a vampire he needed no instructions on how to react. He has never been afraid of Noctis and will happily sit and chat while Noct is drinking without any discomfort at all."

He almost sounded too good to be true…except for the death sentence he was living under. No one had ever discouraged Noct from making human friends, in the safety of the city they could live a century, sometimes a bit over, but to befriend one with such a severely shortened lifespan? Noctis was no stranger to death though and if he could really have a friend outside of them, even if only for a few years, it was worth it. It wasn't often he wished they were like some of the myths, but for Noctis to keep his friend, for the poor kids Mother who had to watch her son die so young…yeah, he wished they could 'turn' people.

It was good that he could deal with Noct's vampiric instincts and nature, it meant he wouldn't have to watch himself too much. Then again, Noctis didn't look threatening, he did. He'd need to watch his strength though, if he wasn't allowed to play sport then likely his body was rather weak and he didn't want to hurt the kid on accident.

Gladio watched Ignis set the table and frowned. "New cutlery?"

"Let us say that silverware and rambunctious teenagers are not always a good mix. Not even you should be able to damage these," Ignis smirked and Gladio flashed a bit of fang at him playfully. He got the feeling he didn't want to know what had happened the actual silver stuff. He didn't get why it was used anyway, like a werewolf would be able to hide so well it'd take that to out it.

He straightened up as the front door opened and he heard Noct talking to someone. He could hear the steady beat of two hearts…no, the second was a little faster, nervous to meet him? He didn't want to scare the kid so he uncrossed his arms and slouched a little to lessen the height difference since Ignis had mentioned Prompto was slightly shorter than Noct.

The two younger teens moved into view and Gladio got his first good look at Prompto Argentum. He'd seen his photo in the file Ignis had put together and he'd glimpsed him at a distance at the school but that was it he wasn't much shorter than Noctis, and he might grow some more in the next few years. His hair was a very bright blonde and his blue eyes were just as brilliant in colour. His skin was pale and covered in freckles, limbs lanky. He was thin and he looked tired, though Ignis had said he'd only been back at school for two days since his last batch of sick days. Despite the weakness of his body and the slight nervousness at seeing him, there was also a quiet strength there. Not surprising really, he'd been sick all his life but still fought on.

Gladio stepped forward and held his hand out, wondering if he'd take it, grinning when he did. "Gladiolus Amicitia, call me Gladio. Good to finally meet you," he offered as they shook.

"Prompto Argentum, though I guess you already knew that. It's nice to meet you too."

"Noct tells me you're the best at first person shooters, mind proving it?" he smirked and Prompto blinked at him in obviously surprised but then he grinned slightly before looking to Noct who nodded.

"Go on, show Gladio who the best is," he urged and Gladio laughed, leading the kid into the living room to set up a game.

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Noctis slumped back on the couch, that couldn't really have gone any better. Obviously Ignis had warned Gladio to take it easy on Prompto and Prompto had been a bit nervous but Gladio had been smart to offer to play a game with him, it had served as a good ice breaker. He opened his eyes when the couch dipped to find Gladio sitting at the other end. "So?"

"He seems a nice enough guy," Gladio offered. "You were right about his skill at games."

"They don't need two players or a lot of physical energy," Noctis answered sadly and Gladio nodded in understanding. So far, Gladio didn't seem at all suspicious, something he was very glad for. He didn't like lying to Gladio, he was his Shield, but that was also the reason he had to keep the truth from him. He knew Gladio would probably work it out eventually, but the longer it took the better since then he would know Prompto and realise himself that he wasn't a threat. He could take Gladio's anger over keeping this secret.

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Prompto staggered to his feet and then dragged himself up the stairs, forcing himself into the kitchen where he grabbed the pre-made nutrient shake from the fridge, drinking it. He then staggered to his bedroom to collapse into bed, falling asleep quickly.

He woke for lunch and smiled when he saw a text from Noctis, sending a reply while he ate before heading back to bed.

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"No Prompto?" Gladio asked and Noctis shook his head.

"Off sick," he shoved his hands into his pockets, shoulders slumping a bit and Gladio nodded.

That sucked for the kid, excursions were the best bit of school and Prompto was missing one to the Citadel. It was why Gladio was there, any time the class left the security of the campus he had to accompany Noct. It was the Citadel, the place Noctis had lived most of his life, so a tour through the public areas wasn't all that interesting for them but he would bet Prompto would love it. They'd have to look at arranging something for Prompto later, he'd be snapping away like mad at the architecture.

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Noctis had a pretty good idea why Prompto was sick, he was avoiding the Citadel. Not that he blamed him, if he was going to be outed, it'd be here. There was so much even in the public areas that was designed to catch a werewolf that his attending would have been way too dangerous. Honestly, Noctis wished he could join him, he was bored out of his mind and he hated the looks he kept getting from the other students and the guards saluting when they saw him.

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Gladio smirked as Noctis hit the mat, rolling to absorb the impact and get back to his feet quicker. He didn't give him time to get his bearings, pressing the attack, always pushing Noct to get better. The kids magic had its uses but…there were days he wished Noctis wasn't burdened by it, when he could see how it and the Crystal taxed his body to the limit, making him sleep and need more blood than the rest of them did. Thankfully, he'd never misjudged his own needs so badly that he had gone for a classmate or anything. Still, it made school hard and Gladio had the feeling that if Noctis hadn't made a friend he would have been trying to get out of school in favour of tutors.

He was getting better at fighting every year, even when he tried to slack off his training. Gladio had been working hard to fit it in around time spent with Prompto since the kid was off sick so much. Noctis would train a lot on those days to give him more free time when Prompto was okay. Once he'd started doing that, Noctis had stopped complaining so much about training, knuckling down to it.

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Noctis smiled, leaning back against the tree as he listened to Prompto chatter away. Thinking back to the first day of school, Prompto had changed a lot. He'd been so nervous that day, for a lot of reasons, but now he was a lot more relaxed and outgoing. Noctis was his only friend though, but Prompto didn't seem to care. Thankfully, there had been no more instances of potentially deadly bullying but he was still bullied. It had been bad enough hearing the whispers himself, but it was worse knowing Prompto could hear them too.

He did wonder how good Prompto's senses were in human form. Being infected young or even born a werewolf meant he would have above human abilities but just how far above? He'd seen the reports over the years but those were mostly on MT's who definitely were not normal wolves.

"Any plans for the summer?" he asked and Prompto rolled onto his stomach in the grass to look up at him.

"Not really? Dad said I could go to Altissia with him if I feel up to it but I don't think I will. Last thing I want is to be stuck in a hotel sick."

"That'd suck," Noctis agreed and Prompto stuck his tongue out at him childishly, making Noctis laugh.

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Regis smiled at Noctis across the table, he looked forward to every family meal with his son. They were less frequent now that Noct was living outside of the Citadel but he believed Noctis needed the space and time away to become independent. And he had done well, his grades had improved considerably in several classes and he had made a friend!

He had been surprised when Ignis' first report mentioned the boy and had read everything on this Prompto Argentum that Ignis supplied, ensuring that the security checks were run quickly but thoroughly. What had been found saddened him, but Noctis knew and hadn't let it affect his friendship. He was proud of his son for accepting things would end in grief between them, that if their friendship lasted he would end up burying his friend, and instead of running Noctis was doing what he could to give Prompto a happy time at school. He had seen Noctis in the Citadel, taking photos to share with the other boy, or digging out books from the library that he thought he would like.

There was some concern over the boy with the gaps in his history but getting information from Tenebrae anymore was almost impossible as the Empire hounded them. He wished they could offer more support but they had Imperial bases in Lucis, keeping their troops occupied. Thankfully, the magic of the Fey was strong enough to keep the Empire out for the most part. There had been talks on and off for years about betrothing Noctis and Lunafreya, the Queen's daughter. Uniting the kingdoms would strengthen both against the Empire but they barely knew each other and he had never wanted to force Noctis into a political match. There was still time, Noctis was not yet sixteen, too young to even consider marriage just yet.

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Noctis glanced at his phone, hesitating. Ignis wouldn't like what he was considering but… he was going to do it anyway. He grabbed his school bag and made sure he had the surprise assignment their teacher had announced in it. He didn't know what the man's problem with Prompto was but he wasn't going to let him get away with it. He put his shoes on and then left his apartment, theoretically, he knew how to get to the house, he'd just never done it before.

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Prompto slumped against the counter, drinking his customary shake, longing for his bed. The sound of knocking on the front door startled him and he frowned in confusion. He was considering ignoring it but then whoever it was knocked again and he groaned but made himself move. The closer he got to the door the more confused he became until he pulled it open to find his senses hadn't been misleading him. "Noct?" he leant against the door, unsure.

Noctis smiled at him and then stepped forward, slipping under his arm to support him which was nice. "You look like death warmed up," he commented, helping him to the couch before going back to close the door.

"Why're you here?" Prompto was confused and worried.

"Because a certain teacher is a bastard," Noct answered, sitting beside him and digging through his school bag. He put the assignment on the table and Prompto frowned at it. He felt Noctis' cool hand press against his forehead and he couldn't help leaning into the touch. "Have you eaten?"

"Shake," he mumbled.

"Okay, lay down," Noctis stood and Prompto blinked at him in confusion but then he was being pressed down on the couch, a throw being used to cover him. he sighed as he felt Noctis running his fingers through his hair, it felt really nice. "Go to sleep Prom," Noct whispered.

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He watched as Prompto gave in to his body's need for sleep. Was it this bad every full moon? He looked horrible, totally wiped out by the night before. He hated to think of Prompto dealing with this every month. It wasn't fair. It made him regret his decision to wait for Prompto to approach him about his secret, he wanted to be there to help him, just like Prompto helped him by making sure he stayed awake in class and not being disgusted when he drank around him. He knew Ignis was worried about him being alone during the full moon too.

Once sure he was deeply asleep Noctis got up and looked around, he didn't go anywhere he shouldn't, Prompto would be able to smell if he did after all. He may not be up to Specs standards, but he could cook some simple things so he put a good lunch together for when he woke, with plenty of protein.

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Prompto groaned, trying to stretch out but he felt something hard at his feet. He blinked blurrily up at the ceiling in confusion, pushing himself up enough to find that yes, he was on the couch. Why? Then he saw the familiar bag beside the coffee table…Noct? He sat up further, looking around in panic.

"Hey," Noctis emerged from the kitchen. "Feeling any better?"

"Noct?"

That got a grin. "You were pretty exhausted when I got here. Hungry? I'm no Ignis but I'm not totally helpless in the kitchen."

"Ummm…what?" he was so confused. He watched Noctis approach, reaching out to feel his forehead.

"I brought over the assignment we were given yesterday which is due Monday. You were exhausted though so you've been sleeping on the couch while I put some food together and read," Noctis shrugged. "So, hungry?"

"I…yeah…a bit," he went to get up but Noctis pushed him back down.

"I'll get it, you stay." He came back with two plates which he put down before going back to grab two glasses of soda.

Prompto was surprised to find that the food was pretty good. "Thanks."

"No problem. It's not like you're contagious or anything. It's silly that I've never visited before."

"Are you allowed?" he asked, brain finally working better.

"Yeah, the clearance for you to come to the apartment also cleared my coming here."

"Oh," he hadn't realised that. Had he locked the door to the basement? Noct wouldn't go snooping, he just had to stay cool.

"Hey, you okay?" Noctis asked in concern and he nodded automatically. "If you want me to go…"

"No! I…please…" he looked away; cheeks stained red in embarrassment at sounding so needy but it was always nicer to have someone with him the day after.

"Okay, I'll stay as long as you want," Noctis promised and Prompto nodded.

When they were done with lunch Noctis showed him the assignment and they went to work on it, even though his brain still felt mostly like mush.

TBC…