Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 8

"We need to talk, all of us," Noctis answered as he sat down. He didn't really want to do this, but it had to be done. For their unique relationship to work they had to communicate, no matter how much he hated it. He took a deep breath and looked at them, it felt right, seeing them like this. When he'd first seen them at Hammerhead it had been a shock, not right, but now they were as he remembered.

He spotted Prompto shifting nervously, hands trembling slightly, and he wanted to tell him it would be okay…but he didn't know if it would be.

"Talcott talked a lot during the drive from Galdin and I've seen some for myself… you split up when I was gone. Why? Even as the Crystal was dragging me in, I knew you would all be okay, because you had each other. Was I really all that was keeping us together? Because if I am…then how can this work?" he stopped, his own hands trembling slightly. He didn't want to do this, didn't want to risk losing any of them, but what else could he do?

"Noct…" Prompto whispered, fiddling with his glove...the one on his right wrist and Noctis felt sick, surely they wouldn't have…they'd accepted him in the Keep.

No…they wouldn't have cut him out because of where and how he was born. But what if others had found out? He got up and walked over, gently clasping his hand in his own, tugging the glove off to reveal the barcode. It wasn't a tattoo; he could feel the raised lines beneath his fingers. He gently stroked the skin and Prompto shivered so he pulled him into a hug. "Oh Prom…" he whispered. "I don't care about this, you know that. I meant what I said at the Keep," he promised and he felt Prompto cling to him.

"There was some trouble…after some older refugees from Niflheim arrived, they recognised his resemblance to Besithia. The Marshal had to step in on Prompto's behalf, we did not know about it until after," Ignis admitted sadly. "I spent the early days after you vanished adapting to my new reality. I refused any help, I needed to regain my independence. After, I secured an apartment in Lestallum for us all to stay in when we were in the city."

"You should have seen him Noct, Iggy was amazing," Prompto smiled at the other blond who smiled back.

Good, that was good, whatever had happened, those two had worked things out. And Gladio wasn't looking at any of them. There'd been…issues with his Shield the majority of the trip, surely they hadn't lasted the whole decade? He could take Gladio bullying him, pushing him, he just pushed back. Ignis would be more subtle but he would put Gladio in his place if needed. But Prompto?

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Harry nodded to the man as he joined him in the hallway, content to silently watch as Harry repaired a section of the ceiling. Hermione and Ron were taking a day off from repairs fully and going through more records, letting their magic recharge. "Did you want something Marshal?" he asked as he worked.

"Why are you so willing to help?" he asked bluntly and Harry looked at him before focusing on his work.

"This is our home now too, why wouldn't we help? Rebuilding from war is something we've gotten experience in. This world has the chance to rebuild, ours was more of a patch job, the war didn't change as much as either side had hoped for," he explained sadly.

"And what will be the price for your aid?"

"Nothing more than the chance to live in peace. We're not doing this for payment sir, it's the right thing to do."

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Gladio could see where the discussion was going and he wanted no part of it. He'd done his job; he'd protected the people while Noctis was off with the Astrals. So what if he hadn't spent a lot of time with the others? They'd all had jobs to do. There hadn't been time to worry about other things, not when they had to keep as many people as possible safe and human. And yeah, he'd not wanted to see the blond for a while…which was dumb, they would have gone to the Keep even if he hadn't gotten snatched but maybe they all would have been better mentally than they were. He couldn't help how he felt.

Ignis' comments had gotten rather pointed after a year or so, as he became aware of the distance between them. So he'd kept his distance from both of them. Ignis had been able to comfort Prompto, he knew they'd been sleeping together too once Ignis had settled into Lestallum properly. Eventually he had started showing up at the apartment more but there was a wall between them he didn't know how to break.

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Prompto looked up as a hand landed on his arm, Ignis smiling softly at him and he managed a smile in return. He'd needed to hear it again, that Noct didn't care what he was. Who knew what the people would say once they found out about them? He still got looks from some people, despite everything he had done over the years to protect them all. As far as some were concerned a Niff was a Niff, so how would they react to Noct bringing down the walls between nations? Cor's support had helped keep things from getting violent but it wasn't just Lucians, there had been some instances with refugees from Niflheim, they called him empty, a machine…he didn't really blame them, the Empire had used MT's to control its own population towards the end.

It had hurt, after everything he'd worked so hard for, that was why he had pulled away, hunting on his own. It was safer to watch his own back than to wonder if his partner was going to stab him in it. The hunters who knew him from the time on the run with Noct had been fine, but some of the newer ones had always eyed him warily. There'd been once….he'd never told anyone…a group had cornered him, tying him up, stripping him, searching for any sign of the Scourge or machinery, so sure they'd find something. He'd told Ignis the injuries had been from a bad hunt when the man had heard him limping, not wanting anyone to do anything. They'd needed every hunter they could get.

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Noctis knew Prompto was keeping quiet, he'd seen the same behaviours back in school when he had trouble with bullies. He had the feeling he didn't want to know what he'd gone through over that decade, not if he didn't want to rip a few of his subjects apart. That would probably be a bad way to start his reign though. "I don't care what anyone says. You are my Crownsguard and a Lucian citizen. If they have a problem with you they can take it up with me," he swore. He glanced at Ignis who nodded and moved to sit beside Prompto, tucking him into his side, an arm around his shoulders and Prompto slowly relaxed into him.

Noctis straightened up and turned to Gladio, seeing his expression. "Come on," he motioned for his Shield to follow him and saw the slight hesitation before he stood and followed him onto the balcony for privacy. "Do I need to force it out of you or are you going to tell me what happened?" he demanded.

"I did my job; I kept the people safe for you."

"Gladio! Enough. I have put up with your foul temper since Insomnia fell and yeah, I deserved some of it but you went too far and I am done letting it happen. You cannot take you temper out on us! Ignis can take it and brush it off, he knows how to make you shut up when he wants to. I can take it but I am done doing so. But Prompto? You know how he's struggled to feel like he belongs with us. You saw his injuries, how jumpy he was...you know what Ardyn was like…tell me you didn't blame him?" he half begged, half demanded.

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Ron put the file down and sat on the chair he'd repaired. "Do you think this city can really be fixed?"

"With time, yes. Once power is up and running you'll be amazed by how quickly it can happen," she leant over and kissed his cheek. "The lands outside the city will likely be harder to get under control, depending on how animal numbers have increased. Farmland will need to be cleared; roads repaired…"

"So why are we doing all the work and the locals are locked away?"

"You didn't notice? And here I thought you'd outgrown having the emotional range of a teaspoon," she teased and he took a playful swat at her. "There's tensions in that group and they can't afford that when people begin arriving. I would say they are trying to sort everything out."

"Okay, I guess that's a good reason to take the day off," he agreed and she kissed him properly, making him wish the day would end so they could go to bed.

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Prompto curled into Ignis' side like he had so often since Ignis had forced him into his apartment and then kept pushing until Prompto would accept that Ignis still wanted him, still loved him. He felt long fingers playing with his hair and he closed his eyes, enjoying the moment. He could hear Noct's raised voice but ignored it, he didn't really want to hear what they were saying. He felt Ignis press a kiss to the side of his head and looked up at him. He was so happy Iggy had his sight back, even if it wasn't fully. Though he was glad Ignis had never seen the scars he'd collected, even if he'd been able to feel them.

"Noctis is right, you are one of us, and I am sorry if my actions…" Ignis sounded heartbroken and Prompto turned his head away, resting on his shoulder.

"No Iggy," he stopped him there. "You needed the time on your own to adjust, everything happened so fast… I…I knew you didn't want me gone I just couldn't…" he trailed off and he felt Ignis shift and then a warm hand was guiding his head up and he clung to Ignis as he was kissed.

Ignis pressed his forehead against Prompto's, staring into his eyes. "I am still sorry Prompto, we should have leant on each other to deal with our pain and grief."

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Noctis waited for Gladio to answer him, he was not going to let it go. They had to get everything out in the open while they had time and privacy.

"You weren't here! Don't you get all high and mighty with me," Gladio growled.

"You're right, I wasn't here. And I hate that," he answered. "But you cannot use us as outlets for your temper. I know your Dad talked to you about it more than once, Ignis did on the road….but you keep doing it. Cor said the people still want me as King, what do you think will happen if you lash out in public?" He kept pushing because Gladio had to see and admit it was a problem. "I'd have to censure you, Shield or not. I don't ever want to be put in that position."

Gladio just glared at him and walked off.

"Gladio?" Ignis called but he ignored him as well, leaving Noct's rooms.

He walked back into the living room and collapsed on his chair. "That could have gone better," he muttered before glancing up, smiling as he saw Prompto curled into Ignis. "How bad did he get, honestly? And how many people realised?"

"His temper has had something of a hair trigger since Gralea," Ignis admitted softly. "I got a pass for the first few years but he has snapped at me a few times. You may wish to speak with the Marshal."

"He never got violent," Prompto was quick to add.

"If he had, an intervention would have been unavoidable," Ignis offered. That was likely why he'd managed to hold that back. "Gladio has always had trouble dealing with strong emotions, especially when he believes he has failed in some way."

"Well he's going to have to learn," Noctis sighed. Prompto bunched up more against Ignis and looked at him hopefully so Noct got up and sat in the newly cleared space. He lifted Prom's legs and set them across his lap so he wasn't squished. "I hate this," he whispered. Things had gotten tense between them towards the end, after Altissia, Ignis had withdrawn, Gladio had been lashing out, and he'd been trying to deal with his guilt over Luna's death and being unable to move, to help her. Ignis had cornered him when they were in Tenebrae to clear the air between them and while Prompto had been hesitant while Noctis brooded, he had still stuck by his side so…until Noct had pushed him from the train but they had talked too, the night after they had found Prompto.

Maybe….Gladio no longer wanted to be with them? And hadn't for a while. Was that what the anger issue was really about? Had he grown away from them but been unable to tell them?

"What if Gladio doesn't love us anymore?" Prompto whispered, as if he had read Noctis' mind.

"I do not know," Ignis admitted.

"If he…does that…" Prompto looked up at them and Noctis gently squeezed his leg.

"If Gladio doesn't want to be a part of this anymore, then that is his choice. I love all of you and I don't want out," Noctis told him firmly, feeling his face warm slightly at simply stating he loved them.

Ignis smiled and leant over Prompto to give him a quick kiss, a hand stroking Prompto's hair as he did. "That is Gladio's choice to make, I know mine," he murmured. "I love you all as well and I will not willingly give that up."

With their words, Prompto relaxed, reaching back to take Noctis' hand, his other hand clutching Ignis' side. "I love you guys too," he whispered shakily.

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Cor and Harry shifted back as Gladio stormed passed them. Cor watched him go with a frown, that did not look good. He saw Harry look from Gladio back towards the Royal Wing. Cor walked off after Gladio to see what was going on, he really was too old to be chasing after kids anymore.

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Dinner that night was a bit tense, Gladio and Cor not returning. Harry worked to draw the three locals into telling them more about how the city had been before Hermione began telling them what she and Ron had found during the day.

"We found schematics and maps that show where all the power stations in the city are, if we can get power on it will be a good step forward," she explained and Ignis nodded.

"There is likely still fuel at many of them. The Empire would have looted some but it's doubtful they found them all."

"I may be able to come up with an alternative," she offered and Harry looked at her.

"Runic array?" he asked and she nodded. "Am I anything but a battery to you," he mock whined and she laughed, kissing his cheek.

"Definitely," she whispered in his ear and he laughed, wrapping an arm around her waist as Ron snickered. Eventually she stood and said her goodnights, Ron quickly following and Harry smiled as he watched them go, moving to help Ignis with the dishes.

"I can deal with these, you should go with them," he offered and Harry shook his head.

"No, Ron took the other bedroom last night so it's my turn tonight," he explained but Ignis just looked more confused. Obviously Prompto hadn't said anything after their discussion. "Despite what it looks like, Ron and I are just friends, he was my first ever friend actually. We love each other but not like that. I'm with Hermione and Ron is with Hermione. It's a common thing back home to ensure heirs, we just didn't quite get together the way most thought," he shrugged slightly.

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Noctis listened and…he wasn't sure what he was thinking or feeling. Their relationship with Gladio might be falling apart, the last thing he needed was the complication of falling for someone new as well. But if Harry wasn't with Ron…maybe he didn't like guys? He bit back a groan and then he felt Prompto wrap an arm around his shoulders, leaning against him.

"I like him too," the blond whispered. "I don't think it's that he doesn't like other guys, I think it's just the way he feels about his first friend."

"Everything's a mess, this isn't a good time…" he tried to argue and Prompto smiled.

"Yeah, but eventually we'll get it sorted."

Once the dishes were done they said goodnight to Harry, Prompto surprising him with a hug which he hesitantly returned and then he was gone, Prompto watching him.

"Prom?"

"He tensed….like I did after…after the Keep," he admitted.

"They have come out of a war as well," Ignis pointed out. "Go on, to bed with both of you."

"Iggy?"

"I'll wait up for Gladio a little longer." He shooed them off to the bedroom.

They stripped off and crawled in together and Noctis kissed him, hand hesitantly going to his side. He wanted to be with him, to prove once and for all that he meant everything he'd said. It had been so long, even if he had spent most of their separation asleep. He was relieved when Prompto kissed back, rolling onto his back, tugging Noctis with him so that he was leaning over the blond.

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Ignis smiled when he heard the first moan, good, he knew they both needed to reaffirm their connection. The smile faded and he sighed, what was really going on with Gladio? He'd been so relieved when Noctis returned to them that Ignis had hoped everything would be better. Instead, it felt like they were losing him and with no idea how to stop it.

TBC….