Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 3

Noctis groaned and held on tight to the table as Ignis' strong fingers dug into abused muscles. The problem with attending school was being trapped in the chair all day and his muscles were letting him know how much they disliked that. He was used to spending the majority of his days in the pools, waterproofed workbooks resting on the ledge for him to work from, or lying on his stomach on his Dad's office floor or even his own bed. But if he hadn't started school he'd never have met Prompto and made a friend.

With the way Prompto's place was set up, Ignis had gotten it cleared for Noctis to spend time there after school, he could easily navigate it in the chair or even on foot when he felt up to it. The bathroom was even set up to take a chair and there were still handrails at the toilet, not that he was planning to need a shower while there. Still, it was nice to know that things were accessible should he need them.

The massage finally finished, leaving him a lot more relaxed and then he got up and stretched before diving in, sighing in relief as the water closed over his head. Nothing beat open water, but the Palace pools were the next best thing, water piped in from the sea surrounding the island the city had been built on. He wished he could show the pools to Prompto, then again he didn't know if he could swim, but surely it would be good for him, he had seen him wince after hunching over books for too long, stretching to make scar tissue move.

Prompto belonged with them, he felt it, but no one was willing to give the blonde access to the Citadel and the secrets within, not yet. They wouldn't have approved of him telling Prom as much as he had, that he could use his legs, so no one but Specs knew that he had. He knew Prompto's heritage would make them even more wary, after all Niflheim were their enemy, home of the Harpy and Isonade, their mortal enemies. As much as he hated to even consider it, it was possible Prompto carried the genes of one of them, though obviously dormant or he would have sensed it the moment Prompto approached him the first day of school. If the gene was dormant and Noctis exposed him to their magic…there was no telling what it might do, it could wake those genes, work as it should, or try to do both or do nothing at all. Without Prompto they would always be incomplete which meant eventually Prompto would need to be told and offered the bond, despite the risks. It would have to be Prompto's choice.

He surfaced and went to the edge, resting his arms on it to look up at Ignis. "Coming in?"

"Not this time Noct, I have a meeting to attend," he smiled, kneeling and running a hand through wet black hair before donning his gloves. "I'll see you later," he promised before leaving and Noctis dove down, letting the water sooth him.

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Prompto lay on the grass beside Noctis, enjoying the rare autumn good weather and a day of no school or work. His backyard was small and not the best kept, but it did have a high fence, letting Noctis out of his chair while outside. They were being lazy, occasionally pointing out funnily shaped clouds as they drifted by.

"So, what's all the racket about?" Noct asked as he rolled onto his side, stretching.

"Annual street fair," Prom answered, yawning. "Celebrating the coming winter, up till a few years ago Gralea and most of the surrounding area was arid and hot. So winter was a big thing. Even though the place is frozen now, the refugees here still celebrate it," he explained.

"Do you go?"

Prompto hesitated, glancing at his friend but there was no condemnation there, just curiosity. "Sometimes, the food's good and the games were fun when I was little."

"I've never been to a street fair," Noctis admitted wistfully and Prompto shifted onto his side.

"I'd invite you, but I doubt you'd be allowed," he admitted. "And it's not easy to navigate in a chair, tried it one year myself." He stretched out his back, wincing slightly as he felt old scars pull and then sat up. "I could take photos of it, if you want?"

"Really?" Noctis sat up more slowly.

"Sure, not as good as going but…"

"That would be great Prom, thanks," he grinned before sobering. "You know, Specs gives great massages, good at loosening up scar adhesion and muscles."

"He know you're offering his services as a masseuse?"

"He won't mind."

"Did you know he's been sneaking groceries into the cupboards?" Prompto asked and Noctis blinked in surprise.

"Actually, no, but that's Ignis, he hates seeing empty shelves," Noctis shrugged and then shifted, pulling himself up into his chair, wincing and Prompto moved to help. It was a bad day pain wise, which was why they had been lying down, it took the pressure off his spine.

"Okay?" he asked gently, settling the blanket in place over his friends legs.

"Yeah," Noct managed a smile, slumping back and letting Prompto push him inside.

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Noctis walked down the hallway, enjoying a good day. Prompto had promised to bring photos of the fair to school the next day and he was looking forward to seeing them. Today was a very good day, he wasn't limping or dragging a leg or anything and was walking at a normal pace. Hearing raised voices he hesitated and then ducked into a room as two arguing Councillors approached, curious. He shut the door most of the way and remained still, listening closely only to slowly pale. No… they couldn't…could they? As soon as they were gone he bolted, stumbling slightly now and then but he reached the pools and didn't bother stripping, letting his magic deal with his pants as he dove in, going deep where he curled up in a corner, arms wrapped around himself, eyes closed, trying not to cry.

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Regis looked up as someone knocked on his door. "Enter,' he called absently, he didn't have any appointments for the afternoon. He was surprised to see Gladio, looking mildly concerned. "Gladio?"

"It's Noctis, I think you need to come You Majesty."

"What has happened?" He demanded, grabbing his walking stick and hurrying over.

"We don't know. He was wandering alone, enjoying the freedom of a good day. He's in the pools but he won't come out or talk to us. I…I think he's been crying Sire. He wouldn't come out even for Ignis' cooking and a promise of no vegetables or time to go to Prompto's after school tomorrow."

Regis frowned, it had to be something serious. Noctis did not like anyone to see him cry, which explained the pools, you couldn't see tears underwater. He'd been so much happier this year, what could have happened? It seemed more than a possible argument with his friend. They entered the main room to find Ignis just getting out and drying off.

"Any change?" Gladio asked and Ignis shook his head as he put his glasses back on.

"None, he won't speak or respond to me."

"Leave us," Regis ordered and they both bowed before retreating and Regis stripped out of his Kingly raiment, placing aside jacket and shirt before diving in, allowing magic to deal with trousers and shoes. He swam down and saw the miserable lump that was his son. He wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into his chest, letting out the soft clicking noises used to comfort the young. He ran a hand up and down Noctis' back, careful of fins and scars. The blue/black of their scales seemed to merge together as he held him close. "What has happened?" he asked after he felt some of the tension drain away and Noctis clung to him.

"Please don't send me away," he begged, and Regis tightened his grip.

"I would never send you away Noctis, you are my son and I love you," he swore. "What has brought this on?" even when Noctis had been half out of his mind from daemon venom, lost in nightmares, being sent away had never been his fear. How could Noctis think he would ever willing part with him? He had nearly lost him back then; he would do all in his power to ensure his sons safety and happiness.

"I…I heard…they said I should be sent to Leviathan," he choked out and Regis' blood ran cold.

"Who said that?" he demanded quietly.

"Don't know…Councillors…they were arguing…I heard them. They…they said," he shuddered, burrowing closer, long trailing fins limp.

Regis fought to remain in control of his magic, not wanting to scare his son. To even considering sending Noctis to Leviathan…he would have to investigate, see who was talking about such things and nip it in the bud. Who knew what she would do to Noctis, yes, she could heal him but…she could just as easily claim him as one of hers and he would lose his son forever. He had seen that happen, once, as a child visiting the waters around Altissia. A local boy whose parents had been desperate to save their son from the Scourge… she had answered them, a mist had risen from the sea, surrounding the boy, sinking into him and his face had gone blank, eyes golden and then he had walked into the sea, with no reaction to his parents cries. Regis had seen from beneath the waves as his body twisted and transformed into one of her children, nothing human or mer left of him. The Tidemother was capricious and easily moved to anger, as Niflheim had been reminded of several times over the years. They had taken out Shiva, but Leviathan was a harder target for even the inhuman soldiers of their enemy. Her children protected her against any threat, although she had woken four times in the last century, despite the distance they had felt her wakening's, felt her wrath. And now his Councillor's wanted to risk his son to her intervention. "I will never let that happen," he promised again.

"I can't take the throne till I'm twenty one….if anything happened to you before then…"

Regis closed his eyes, knowing it was true. A regent would be installed to rule in Noctis' name until he turned twenty one and that Regent would have the power to decide if Noctis should be taken to Leviathan for 'healing'. There were safeguards he could put into place to try and protect Noctis should anything happen, name a guardian or five in advance. Clarus, Cor…Cid would surely return under such circumstances, Weskham perhaps would return as well. Titus might be able to step up, though whether or not he could stand against the Council would need to be considered. Of course there was another option….but would he come? It had been so long since he had last come to Insomnia and Regis didn't blame him but surely he would return to protect Noctis. "I will do everything I can to ensure you will be protected," he swore, kissing the top of his sons head. "You truly believe this young Prompto is your fourth?" he asked and Noctis nodded against his chest.

He knew who the boy was, he hadn't at first but one look at Ignis' security clearance work and he had realised. He had met young Prompto once, though he doubted the child remembered. He had been strapped down in isolation, thrashing and fevered, his body rejecting the Scourge he had been injected with since birth, even as the child had screamed at them, terrified because they were the enemy he had been trained to hate. Breaking the brainwashing had taken time, patience and kindness but it had happened, turning the half feral MT in the making into a bright, inquisitive child. He had doubted Cor's decision to bring the boy to Insomnia until he had seen how much the boy had changed…and then he'd nearly been killed only a few years later. They had done such a good job that he had nearly died, the boy who had been brought to the city would have sensed the incoming attack and could have dealt with his attackers…had they done the right thing? Did they have a right to take a child and make them fit what they saw as the correct way to exist? Perhaps one day he would ask Prompto if he resented what they had done. But it did raise a question, could Prompto be brought in? They had run many tests on him, but not a test for certain DNA traits, it was a test that would have to be run now though. If he carried the blood of their true enemy, the magic could kill him or worse. They would have to be very careful. "We will need to run tests due to his being from Niflheim."

"You don't think he could carry their dormant genes, do you?"

"Without knowing his birth parents we have no way of knowing without the tests," Regis answered. Parents…he had read Cor's report, seen the photos, of rooms of tubes filled with babies of varying ages…babies that all looked identical. The files stolen had mentioned using stored DNA to create the children and that DNA could have come from anywhere. "This won't be an easy process," he warned and Noctis finally smiled slightly.

"I know."

Having Prompto stand with them would be an extra layer of protection for Noctis should Regis somehow perish before he was of age. With their group complete their magic would be stronger than ever. Regis just prayed he could be brought in and that they wouldn't know the pain of a lost bond or one that never fully formed.

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Cor knocked and waited for the kid to answer, smiling slightly when the blonde wrenched the door open, already grinning widly at him.

"Cor!" Prompto stepped back to let him in and once the door was shut he had an armful of happy teenager.

He hugged the boy tight; it had been too long since he'd seen him. "You've grown again," he commented as they sat.

"Two inches since you're last visit," he announced proudly, curling up on the couch.

"Congratulations," he got comfortable.

"Social visit?"

"Partially," Cor admitted and Prompto froze so he drew out a familiar kit and the teen slumped, dejected.

"They haven't wanted tests since the attack," he whispered. "Is this…cause of Noct?" he asked, and Cor nodded. "Oh."

"He's trying to get you cleared for at least his apartments in the Citadel, this is part of that. They want to be sure nothing's changed through puberty."

"I don't feel any different, except for the whole tripping over my own feet stage but everyone did that," he blushed slightly at that admission.

"Even I suffered that," Cor admitted, though military training had helped deal with it quicker than the average teen. He couldn't tell him what they were actually checking for and he prayed the tests were negative, for his sake and Noctis'. He knew how lonely Prompto had always been, between the Argentum's travelling and his own work leaving him very little free time. he had wanted to keep Prompto, but he couldn't, no one would let the boy live in the Citadel where he could learn all their secrets. He'd been rescued too young to have been informed of his enemies abilites and the Council had made it clear he was not allowed to know which meant he couldn't live in the Citadel. If he was Noctis' fourth though, there was nothing they could do to stop him being told.

"Okay, sample away," he sighed, opening his mouth for the cheek swab. He winced slightly when a few strands of hair were pulled, silently clipped his fingernails and then held still as a vial of blood was drawn. For a normal person, taking that many samples was overkill, for an once MT it was standard, not that there really was a standard since he was unique. He then took the offered sample cup and walked off to the bathroom, returning it sealed and in a bag.

"I'm really sorry about this Prom." He put the samples away as Prompto smiled wearily.

"I know Cor."

"How's your photography coming?" he asked, relieved when that perked Prompto back up and they were soon surrounded by photos as Prompto showed him the best of the lot. The kid had real talent and he was determined to make sure that potential was nurtured. He'd noticed that Prompto hadn't put in any applications for further education and he had a feeling he knew why. He would not let Prompto be drive out of the city due to xenophobia and the crazy cost of living. Besides, who knew what certain people may due if they discovered he was trying to leave, he could easily see them jumping to conclusions and assuming he was returning to Niflheim with information on the city and the Prince. He was not going to let that happen.

TBC…