Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 5

Gladio watched as Prompto relaxed in Noctis' lap, wide blue eyes struggling to remain alert despite the soothing hand running up and down his back. He didn't need to understand what was being said to see how confused the poor kid was, how he was struggling with whether or not to believe them, to trust them.

He drew out his phone and opened the file that Noctis had forwarded from Cor, reading the truth about the kid who had become one of them, Noctis' best friend, someone they all trusted with their lives. He no scientist so a lot of it was gibberish to him, but what he did understand…he felt sick. Prompto…their bubbling blond bundle of sunshine and nerves…was an MT. It felt like some kind of bad joke, except the Marshal wouldn't mess around with something like that. No wonder Noct was so upset.

He glanced up to see Noctis showing Prompto something on his phone, the kid's eyes going almost comically wide, and then a familiar noise came from the speaker and Gladio bit his cheek to keep from laughing. At least Chocobos seemed to be a love, no matter his age. Then again, he'd probably never seen one before. A glance at Ignis showed he'd realised the same and was thinking…looked like they might be taking a trip. They'd have to camp and make sure to keep mostly out of sight, but Wiz would keep quiet about them having a child with them and wouldn't ask questions.

Could they risk travelling with Prom at the moment though? What would happen if they ran into an Imperial patrol or something? Would Prompto trust them enough to stay, or would he try to return to them?

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Noctis held Prompto as the kid relaxed against him, relieved that Prom was able to trust him enough to let him sooth him. Was it that some part of him that remembered him, some part untouched by the de-aging?

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He couldn't help relaxing, barely listening at all to the men as they spoke quietly. The images of the animals had been amazing, they looked so soft and fluffy! And the noises they made! He felt…safe, something about Noct made him want to trust him, believe him. He dared to move, to curl closer, a hand fisting in his shirt, tensing for a blow, harsh words…but there was nothing, just a gentle hand running over his hair. He pressed his face into the dark cloth, unable to help it as he trembled. He felt the hold on him shift slightly and then something soft and warm was being wrapped around him.

"It's okay Prom, I've got you," Noct whispered in Gralean. He felt a brief pressure on top of his head. "We'll keep you safe."

It had to be a lie! It had to be…didn't it? What would anyone want with such a defective unit? They were trying to make it betray the Empire…

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Ignis watched Prompto's small melt down, gently tucking a blanket around him to ensure he remained warm, Noct whispering to the boy as he shook. Once sure Noctis had it under control, he too turned to the file forwarded from the Marshal. It was going to give him nightmares for months to come. Especially the pictures…he'd seen some horrible things, mainly since Insomnia had fallen but they still made him feel sick. How could they do that to so many children? Clones…he had never imagined that was possible. Maybe that was how they could do it, they didn't see them as human let alone children.

Eventually, he got up and began on a late lunch, bland, easily digestible food for Prompto and simple sandwiches for the rest of them, too worn out to feel like cooking anything else.

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His head snapped up, eyes wide as it searched the sky, and then he was scrambling up and off the glowing rock.

"Prom wait!" he heard Noct yell but ignored him.

He ran as fast as he could, following the noise of the drop ship. He had to make it, he had to. Things there made sense, worked properly. Not like the hunters who kept calling him a name and said he was one of them. He'd miss the food and warmth but he didn't belong! He heard a noise and turned his head, gasping as a sword slammed into the tree just behind him and then….Noct appeared! He ignored the blade in the tree to lunge and it tried to dodge but then Noct got an arm around it.

"Prompto please," Noct yanked him in close to his body as it struggled, trying to kick the hunter.

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As Prompto took off, Ignis was already mentally kicking himself. Barely a day and they had become too complacent, if they lost him… He ran through the trees, tracking the noise of the dropship and Noctis' pursuit up ahead. Noctis had the best chance of catching him since he was warping but Ignis was hardly going to leave them alone with Imperials nearby, especially with Noctis still recovering from the flare up in his back.

Had Prompto been purposely trying to get them to lower their guard? Or had he truly been responded to their kindness? They should have been more alert to the possibility of ships passing by considering how close the base they had cleared out was.

It was an utter relief to see Noctis with his arms around a struggling Prompto. The boy was thrashing and kicking and Ignis hesitated, but he wasn't calming. He hated to resort to such a thing, but they could not afford for someone to hear. He approached and drew out the potion that he'd insisted Noctis prepare earlier, just in case. He broke the bottle against Prompto and he instantly went limp as the magic took hold, falling into a deep sleep.

"Iggy," Noctis whispered.

"We can't take the risk that was heard," he argued, taking the sleeping body from his Prince. "We need to get back to camp." He got Noctis moving, Prompto carefully cradled against his own chest. He knew he may have destroyed any chance of the child ever trusting him, but better that then in Imperial hands.

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Gladio was relieved to see them, he hadn't liked letting them go alone, but they were faster and stealthier than he was. And it had paid off, Ignis cradling Prompto in his arms as they emerged. He had the camp already packed so they moved right to the car, for once Noctis in the front passenger seat. Gladio got in the back with Prompto, securing his seatbelt tightly and ready to restrain him should the sleeping potion wear off and he tried to get out of the moving car.

It didn't take long to confirm Iggy was heading for the Chocobo outpost, a place that could hopefully calm and keep Prompto's attention for days while they waited for the magic to wear off and return him to his true age. Even once that happened (because he refused to think it wouldn't), they would still need somewhere to stay while Prompto dealt with what happened…and that they now knew the truth about him.

It was hard to look at Prompto and think MT. He was nothing like the daemon controlled armours they fought sometimes daily and yet if things had been different, he could have been, that or long dead. Cor himself had rescued Prom from that facility, had been involved, at least at a distance, in his life since. If the Marshal believed there was no threat, that Prompto was loyal, then who was he to doubt it? He knew why Prompto had never said anything, he was probably terrified they'd abandon him, or worse since the Crown City had fallen. It did explain a lot about his many issues at least, his claustrophobia for starters and his skills with guns and imperial tech. it was good that he could take what they had forced on him and turn it against them.

He reached out and gently ran his fingers through Prompto's hair. He would be their Prompto again soon, he would.

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Noctis carefully lifted Prompto from the backseat, his back was okay, he could handle carrying him for the short walk to the nearby Haven. He just needed to assure himself that Prom was fine, only asleep. Gladio just rolled his eyes but went to work setting up camp so that Ignis could get started on a late dinner. He could hear the first daemons appearing as he reached the Haven, they had cut it rather close but they hadn't wanted to travel in the morning when Prompto would be awake.

Noctis wrapped Prom in a blanket and then sat with him in his lap before giving him a remedy to undo the effects of the sleeping potion. That thing had been a pain to make…and he'd made three more during the drive just to be safe. They were a lot harder than the ones he usually made but they also weren't available to buy, leaving him no choice if they wanted a safe way to sedate Prompto.

Prom began to stir so Noctis rocked him gently. "It's okay, you're safe," he began whispering to him, hoping to keep him calm.

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He was warm again…there was a voice…he jolted, trying to struggle but there was something trapping his arms. He had to get away!

"Prompto please, it's okay."

He knew that voice, Noct, the hunter…he'd been…he'd almost made it to a patrol. Iggy had done something….he went limp, the fight draining out of him as he realised it was dark now. The patrol would be gone.

"That's it, you're alright," Noct told him, but he wasn't alright.

He had to go back. It was dark, they would go to sleep, and he would run.

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Ignis watched as Prompto obediently ate the food he was give, wary for any signs of discomfort considering the day they boy'd had. The last thing he needed was to be sick. He was being a little too well behaved for Ignis' peace of mind after that escape attempt. He could tell Gladio and Noctis saw it too. They didn't want to put him to sleep for the night, who knew what long term effects too many sleep potions close together could have on a child, especially one so underweight. As much as Noct may wish otherwise, Prompto would have to sleep between Gladio and himself as the lightest sleepers. Noctis could sleep through anything and Prompto would be able to use that should he try to run during the night.

In the morning, they'd take him to see the Chocobos and get him some appropriate clothing, hopefully that would cheer him up.

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Noctis held tight to Prompto's hand as they walked into the Outpost, glancing down to see his eyes go wide at the sight of the massive, sleepy, birds. Thankfully, he'd been too worn out to try and escape during the night and had slept right through. He gently squeezed the small hand in his and Prompto glanced up at him. The kid hadn't spoken since they'd stopped him and he hated it, but at least he wasn't totally ignoring them. "Let's find you some clothes that fit better, then what do you say to feeding some of the Chocobos?" he suggested, seeing his eyes get impossibly wider, hearing Gladio chuckle at the reaction.

They went to the small shop and began looking through the children's sized clothing. They couldn't buy much due to a lack of funds and also not wanting to buy a lot only for him to change back. Still, it was good to see the awe when he was given the fuzzy Chocobo shirt, and Noct grabbed him a Chocobo plushie too for comfort. All kids needed a stuffed toy after all. While he paid for the clothes and then Ignis helped Prompto change, Gladio went to buy some greens and once Prompto was dressed in his new clothes they went to feed the birds.

Noctis sat down near some chicks and sat Prompto down in his lap to keep his new clothing clean, placing some of the greens in his hand. "Okay, now open your hand but keep your fingers slightly curled so the food doesn't fall out. Then slowly extend your hand and hold still," he explained, helping Prom get into a good position.

He could hear Gladio snapping away with his phone, Ignis using Prompto's camera, but he didn't mind. He thought Prompto might like the pictures once he was back to normal. Soon, they were covered in eager chicks and he smiled as he heard the soft huff of a laugh from Prompto. It was wonderful to hear.

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He liked the baby birds…the chicks. The clothing was nice too, soft and warm. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to feed them every day and…it was nice to be warm when he slept but that was bad thinking, it would get him punished. He had to leave somehow, the longer it took the less he wanted to leave. He'd been good for three days now, they seemed to be lowering their guard again. However they'd made him sleep, they hadn't done it again.

Leaving would make Noct sad and he didn't want to do that….but he had to. The big one, Gladio, wasn't so scary anymore. He'd held on to him while he rode on one of the big Chocobos and had gotten him something Iggy called ice cream which had been very nice. He'd even learnt a few words to communicate with which was amazing, shouldn't he expect Prompto to learn his language instead? Iggy gave him food that tasted good and fed him all the time, even when he tried to deny being hungry. He always explained things too. None of them made any sense! He was an MT but they were treating him like he was human.

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Noct laughed, gently splashing Prom who shook his head, wiping at his eyes, pouting. "Come on, sooner you get clean the sooner you can try whatever Iggy's whipped up tonight," he teased.

Prompto nodded eagerly and began to clumsily wash himself in the small lake, Noctis giving him a hand with his hair, steadying him.

"I think if the weather stays nice we should give swimming a go," he offered, and Prompto titled his head, curious. It hurt that he still wouldn't talk, but he responded in other ways. "Swimming means you wouldn't be scared of the water, you could go in deeper and even under and not be scared of drowning." He couldn't think of another way to explain.

He got Prom out and dried before heading back to camp, glad they'd managed to get him shoes that fit so they didn't have to carry him everywhere. They would have, but it was better for him to walk and keep himself fit. He didn't fight holding hands which was good. Noctis wanted so badly to believe that escape attempt had been a one off…but he doubted it would be, Prom was biding his time…and they were doing a good job of wearing him out during the day so he'd sleep through the night.

He'd never spent much time with kids, even Iris, so having one around was very different. It wasn't a bad different, teaching and showing Prompto everything he'd missed out on was fun and heartbreaking at the same time. But no matter how good a day…he missed his best friend. He'd shown no signs of remembering anything, and every time Ignis checked, there was no change in his height either. How much longer could they keep him with them before they had to take him to Caem to stay with Iris and the others? He'd be safer there, he could be a kid.

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Ignis sat with Prompto in his lap, his notebook in front of them. Even as a child, Prom was not dumb, he just hadn't been taught. So he had decided to begin his education…just in case. To start, he was attempting to teach him Lucian so that he would not stand out as a foreigner. The Empire may now control Lucis, but that did not mean everyone was willing to let them overrun the locals and the last thing they wanted was for Prompto to end up hurt. Maybe, he would be willing to speak if it meant learning to understand them all.

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"Highness?" Cor answered immediately. "How is he?"

"Still not speaking," Noctis admitted tiredly. "Ignis has started trying to teach him Lucian. Does…does anyone at Caem speak Gralean?"

"Cid does and he's there to fix up the ship. Monica speaks enough to get by as well and she's begun teaching Iris and Talcott just in case."

"It's been a week…how long can it last?"

"The longest I've ever heard of a spell lasting on a person is two weeks but that was nothing this complex," Cor admitted. He hated the idea that the Prompto they all knew may be gone for good.

"Then we'll stay here another week unless Imperial activity picks up. If…if there's no change then, we'll start making our way to you."

"Of course. Has he tried to escape again?"

"Yeah, last night. Thank the Astrals a mouse could wake Ignis," Noctis sighed, and Cor bit back a chuckle. "We're taking turns hunting for cash and staying with him. Thankfully he's still Chocobo obsessed. I think Wiz wants to keep him, kid or not."

"Does he know?"

"I think he's worked it out, but he's never said anything about me to anyone."

"Alright, let me know if anything changes." They hung up and Cor sighed, closing his eyes. Couldn't those boys ever get a break?

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He needed the bathroom, badly…or a bush…they were in the tent? He groaned and began trying to get up, feeling very restricted for some reason. He felt cloth rip as he tried to kick free, not like it'd wake Noct.

"Prompto?" Ignis' voice reached him.

"Ignis? Stuck," he mumbled, still half asleep, and then groaned as he was blinded by the lantern being turned on. He felt his sleeping bag being unzipped, Ignis helping him free, and then he was being crushed to his chest. "Wha?" he blinked the sleep from his eyes but yep, Iggy was hugging him?

"You're back," Ignis murmured, a hand at the back of his head, holding him still.

Back? What was going on?

TBC…

Yeah, so this isn't going to be a massive fic, sorry if that's what you were looking forward to.