Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter 17
They both stiffened as someone knocked on the door. Ignis looked at Prompto who shook his head, he wasn't expecting visitors, his parents wouldn't need to knock. Ignis stood, summoning a dagger and headed for the door. He glanced back at the couch to see Prompto had pulled out one of his training guns, aiming steadily at the door, safety off. Ignis hid the dagger and cracked the door open, surprised to see who had come.
"It's alright Prompto," he called, releasing his dagger and stepping back, letting the Marshal in, glad he'd had the candles burning. He heard the soft click of the safety being put back on.
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Cor was surprised but pleased by the sight of Argentum with a gun in hand, seeing him flick the safety back on before setting the weapon aside. The kid looked okay, a little pale maybe but otherwise healthy. It had been a week since the attack, so it appeared Ignis' diagnosis had been correct, blue eyes watched him, curious and a bit nervous, but clear and focused. The boy had been every lucky. "Mr Argentum," he greeted.
"Um…Marshal." He shoved the gun case further away and Cor chuckled.
"I'm glad you two are taking your security so seriously," he assured the teen.
"What can we do for you Marshal?" Ignis asked as he joined the younger boy on the couch and Cor took a seat across from them.
"Lockdown is ending tomorrow, though security will remain heightened," he told them and Ignis nodded. "I wanted to get a verbal report from Mr Argentum as to what happened. Most of those on campus saw nothing due to being in other buildings or inside when the explosion happened. You were outside?"
Argentum nodded. "We have a table a bit away from the others outside. I was waiting for Noct and I saw him leave the building. He...he was just about to step onto the grass when it just blew. I felt something hit me…then Iggy was there. There were no strangers around, and nothing looked out of place," he shrugged, fidgeting slightly.
"When do you think he'll be able to pass the firearms exam?" Cor asked Ignis who looked briefly surprised before nodding.
"When can he be tested?"
"What?" Argentum looked between them.
"You pass the exam and you'll be given permission to carry a weapon, even on school grounds. That has always been the goal of your training," Cor said, and Argentum nodded slowly.
He stayed a few more minutes, ensuring the house was secure, before leaving.
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Prompto couldn't help pacing nervously, arms wrapped around himself, even as Ignis finished preparing the meal in the kitchen. They knew…they'd practically always known and now he was at Noct's apartment, waiting for him to come home. They hadn't seen each other since the attack though they'd spoken briefly on the phone.
The door opened and he turned to face it, freezing in place, heart in his throat and then Noct was there, alive, healthy, and looking him over in return. He stayed still, not sure what to do and then Noct moved, rushing to his side and Prompto fell into the hug, clinging to him. "Noct…"
"I'm here," the Prince murmured, holding on just as tightly.
Prompto turned his head, pressing his nose into the juncture of Noctis' neck and shoulder, inhaling his scent, whining softly in distress. A hand lifted to run through his hair, Noctis just standing there and holding him, showing no fear or discomfort.
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Gladio watched as for the first time in their presence, Prompto reacted like a werewolf, scenting Noctis, whining softly. How much of his natural behaviours, his instincts, did the kid bury every day? He moved away and into the kitchen to help Ignis, giving them privacy. He could see it too, Prom saw Noctis as his pack which meant he was completely safe with the wolf. As those MT's proved, anyone trying to harm Noctis would have to get through Prompto.
Ignis looked up at him, smiling in relief, and Gladio moved closer to wrap an arm around his shoulders briefly. They may not be as tactile as wolves, but it was good to be able to reassure themselves the others were okay after what had happened.
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Noctis was content to just stand there, holding onto Prompto. He'd been so scared for his best friend, that someone would realise… but nothing had happened, his secret was safe. Gladio had told him about the fight in the car on the way home, neither willing to say anything while inside the Citadel. Hearing how Prompto had taken out another wolf alone and then helped Gladio with the last, that he'd let Ignis close before shifting back…he hated that Prompto had been forced into revealing his secret like that but at least it was all out in the open now.
They eventually ended up on the couch, Prompto's head in his lap and arms around his waist, Noctis petting his hair. If Prom were a cat he'd be purring.
"I'm glad you're okay," he whispered and Prompto looked up at him, eyes flecked with gold, before nuzzling Noctis' stomach, making him laugh.
Prompto removed an arm from around him, gently taking hold of Noctis', turning it to reveal the scars from where he'd been bitten, running his fingers over them. "You're okay?"
"All healed, promise."
"Come on you two, time to eat," Gladio called and they reluctantly disentangled themselves, heading for the table. Prompto hesitated near Gladio who reached out and yanked him into a hug. "Thanks for doing my job for me," Gladio told him and Prompto slowly relaxed.
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Noctis lay curled with Prompto, dried tear tracks obvious on pale, freckled skin. It was a good thing he had a massive bed, letting all four of them fit. Finding out the truth of Prom's past…the horrors he'd been subjected to, it made him feel sick and more determined that the Empire had to be stopped. If Prompto hadn't gotten out when he did…he could have been one of those MT's, he wouldn't have had his best friend. He didn't care what Prompto had been made to be, he was Prompto Argentum, they were pack.
The idea that Prompto's wolf saw him as pack leader was a little daunting but he wouldn't say no. Anything he could do to make things easier for Prom, he would. He'd just have to watch what he said now he was aware of the authority Prompto had allowed him to gain over him.
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Gladio was the first awake, beating even Iggy, so he just lay in bed, watching the other three sleep. Honestly, he was surprised he'd slept as well as he had considering the nights revelations. No wonder Prompto's wolf form was so large, how quickly he'd taken to the gun training… and yet, he was still Prompto, the shy and kind of geeky kid.
That he'd escaped and survived on his own all the way to Lucis was a miracle, one they were all grateful for.
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David barely kept from running into the house and a second later Prompto leapt down the stairs, obviously having heard his car and key in the lock. He looked him over, seeing no sign of injury and then he was holding him tight, trying not to cry in relief. How close had they come to losing their son? An explosion could kill a werewolf just as easily as it had humans and vampires. What if the MT's involved had detected him and targeted him?
"I'm okay Dad," Prompto whispered, clinging on just as tightly.
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Obviously, the school had been shut down, there was far too much damage to re-open any time in the near future. For now, classes were being given online so Prompto was spending most of his time at the apartment, studying with Noct or making sure he was ready for his test.
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Gladio watched as Prompto put the gun away and stretched. The kid turned and caught him watching, head tilting to the side, obviously curious, and Gladio smirked. "Come on," he waved him closer and Prompto walked over.
"Yeah?"
"Let's see what you've got."
Blue eyes went wide. "What? No…" he backed away and Gladio held his hands up.
"Easy Prom. You took out that first wolf without shifting, right?" he asked and was given a wary nod. "I'm not suggesting an all-out fight, just want to get an idea of how well you can defend yourself. We'll be careful, okay?"
Prompto hesitated before slowly nodding. "Okay."
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Prompto lowered the gun, watching as his scores were gone over, nervous. The Marshal had come to watch! Cor Leonis himself! The first human to ever hold his position. No pressure. He glanced over at Gladio who grinned at him, flashing a thumbs up. Ignis and Noctis were upstairs, waiting in the apartment.
He was shocked when the Marshal handed over a laminated card and a weapons case. "Good work kid." And then he and the examiner were gone.
"High praise from Cor," Gladio clapped a hand to his shoulder. "Come on, Ignis is cooking your favourite to celebrate."
"Did you tell him I passed?"
"Nope, we never had any doubt you would," Gladio smirked as Prompto went to clean up and then they got in the elevator.
Once they'd eaten, he opened the case to find a brand new handgun with his initials engraved on it, as well as a holster for it that could be worn at the small of his back to conceal it.
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Prompto grinned as he opened his front door to find Noctis waiting. "Thought I wasn't going to see you till Saturday?"
"I can go?" he offered and Prompto pulled him inside, getting a laugh from the Prince. He dropped his bag beside the couch and then collapsed on it, Prompto joining him, absently watching the movie Prompto'd had on. "Hey Prom?" he asked a while later, hand absently petting soft blond hair.
"Mmmm?"
"I've been doing research and…I want to add you to the Armiger," he told him and Prompto sat up, staring at him with wide eyes.
"Noct…"
"It was different when you didn't know that I know, but everything I found says it'd be safe."
"How much would you feel Noct? Shifting is…it's nothing I'd ever want you to experience even second hand."
Noctis shrugged, there was no real way to know. "I'd be aware of it? Like Dad's aware when Cor gets sick or hurt, but it doesn't hurt him. It's your choice Prom, but you'd be safer with access to my magic."
"What would happen when I leave Insomnia?"
Noctis frowned. "What?"
"Noct…this 'disease' is meant to kill; I can maybe stretch it to early or mid-thirties but that adds the problem of I won't look that old. Sooner or later either I'll appear to healthy or too young and have to leave."
He couldn't leave, what would he do without his best friend? He'd thought ahead to when he was King but…that could be a century away. What would they do in the meantime? "We'll think of something…or Ignis will." Surely he could find something? If anyone could, it would be Ignis.
Prompto looked sceptical but settled down to finish the movie.
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There was a ceremony at the school for those who had died in the bombing, and it had been decided that the King himself would attend, which meant Noctis wouldn't. They were still keeping the two Royals apart in public to keep the Throne secure. Since Noctis wasn't going, Prompto didn't either, not wanting to be in a crowd that big, especially since there'd be photographers and a live broadcast. He was a clone after all, the last thing he needed was a picture ending up in Imperial hands and either them coming to retrieve him, kill him, or leaking his file to the Crown in order to deal with him.
It was never really a concern when out with Noctis since photos of the Prince were so rare that he often wasn't recognised on the street. His volunteer work was kept away from the cameras, as was the casual job he'd recently quite due to the rising security concerns. Most of Noctis' public appearances were ones with very little press coverage, or clear rules of not photographing him. Noct had to be the most low-key Royal ever.
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"Prom?"
"Yeah?" he looked up from his textbook to see Noctis watching him. "What's up?"
"The full moon's this weekend…"
"Yeah?" he shifted in his chair, not sure where he was going with that line. Noct had known about him before he'd started visiting him the day after, so it'd be okay, right? Maybe he was just curious about something?
"Could I see?"
Prompto's eyes went wide. That was not at all what he'd expected! There'd been two full moons since the bombing, one he'd spent with his Dad, the other alone. While he hadn't retained the clarity of self he'd briefly gained after killing the MT's, he had been more aware. So the odds he'd attack even a stranger were the lowest they'd ever been. He knew Noct, he was pack. Had Noct been conscious enough to see him shift that day? Though changing like that and under the effects of the moon were very different processes. "It's not a pretty sight," he offered and Noctis rolled his eyes.
"Considering the changes involved, of course it isn't. I just...I wanna be there for you," he muttered before shrugging. "So do Ignis and Gladio."
Oh. Well, he hadn't seen that coming at all.
TBC…
