Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 12

Ignis held Prompto close, feeling the younger man slowly relax even as Ignis rocked them slightly. He felt a hand gripping his shirt, Prompto rubbing his cheek against it, a move he'd seen with the Marshal and Noctis. He felt a slight tug on his shirt and glanced down, seeing the slight frustration on Prompto's face. "Prompto?" he called gently, and blue eyes rose to meet his. "That is my shirt, do you want it off?" he felt another small tug. "Alright, can you sit up for a second?" he felt Prompto press closer before he reluctantly pulled back a bit. Ignis quickly unbuttoned his shirt and let him slip from his arms, leaving on his necklace there and then Prompto was pressing against him, rubbing his cheek against bare skin and Ignis fought down a shiver at the contact with Prompto's much warmer skin.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Noctis watched quietly as Ignis removed his shirt, obviously making Prompto happier. He waited, hoping for a moment of realisation but there was nothing, no recognition. Then Prompto yanked at the shirt they'd put on him while he slept and Noctis shifted closer to help him pull it off before removing his own. It was weird considering how body shy Prompto had always been, but he would do anything his friend needed.

Ignis shifted to lie down and Noctis lay down as well, pressed to Prompto's back, hand running up and down his side as he felt Prompto relax between them. His body was settled but with the bond, Noctis could feel the mental pressure Prompto was under, yet he was forcing himself to ignore it, to focus on them, but how long could he do it for? He pressed his face against smooth skin, inhaling Prompto's scent, it had changed with his Awakening, but under the change, it still lingered, the scent that meant Prompto. His skin was so warm now, how would they keep people from noticing? Could they hide this from those who would realise what it meant?

"Noct?"

"Yeah Prompto?" he smiled when Prompto twisted his neck to look at him.

"Okay?"

"Is what okay?" he slowly leant in and nuzzled at Prompto's throat, feeling him begin to tense for a second before he slowly tipped his head to give him better access. He was in awe of his friend, his memory was obviously a mess, there was a voice in his head that came and went commanding him to kill, he was dealing with who knew what instincts, but he still fought against all of that to trust him. Prompto slowly lifted a hand and Noctis stayed still until the fingers came to rest in his hair, pressing into the hesitant touch which grew surer at his encouragement.

"You're cold, not sick?" Prompto turned his head enough to look at Ignis as well and the older man smiled, lifting a hand to gently stroke Prompto's cheek.

"We aren't cold Prompto, this is our normal temperature. Is it uncomfortable for you?"

What if it was? Would Prompto not want to be touched by them? That idea made him feel sick, but he didn't want Prompto to be uncomfortable. Yeah, he felt overly warm to them, but it was kind of nice.

Prompto shook his head, his other hand moving to wrap around Ignis' arm, to keep him there and Ignis smiled again.

"It's alright, I won't move," Ignis promised. "So long as you are alright."

Prompto nodded again, shifting slightly to get more comfortable. "Iggy?"

"Yes, Prompto?"

"Saved me?" he asked quietly and Noctis felt a surge of hope, was Prompto remembering? He lifted his head from where he'd been nuzzling to get Prompto used to the move, it was a common greeting among them after all, a show of trust and affection. He heard the soft, subvocal noise Prompto made when he did and couldn't help smiling, even as Prompto's hand slipped from his air. He removed his hand from stroking Prompto's side to take the hand in his, Prompto squeezing his hand and he squeezed back. It seemed Prompto wasn't having trouble with his new strength which was good.

,,,,,,,,,,

"Do you remember?" Ignis asked gently. While he would be happy that Prompto remembered anything to do with him, he did not want the boy remembering the attack.

He heard the barely-there noise when Noctis stopped nuzzling and he was glad to hear it, that Prompto was not simply tolerating their touch. He had done some research on Harpies since learning of Prompto's mixed heritage, not wanting to be caught off guard should Prompto ever show any signs of their behaviours. He had not expected a full transformation, at least not without it ending in tragedy. There was a lot they did not know, and he made plans to speak with Lord Ardyn since surely, he knew more with his great age?

He knew Harpies were quite physical within their own clan, especially towards their young, but he did not know how that was expressed. He had felt Prompto beginning to tense when Noctis first nuzzled him but was that because it was not something they did, because Noct was a mer, or because they were not his clan? Prompto had leant into his touch to his face and there had been no fear or disgust in his eyes which was good. How was he fighting his new instincts so well with his memory the way it was? It would be understandable if Prompto remembered everything and could use his memories of them to fight it, but Cor and Noct had said that Prompto hadn't recognised them for a while, and he still didn't seem to know himself or Gladio.

Prompto shook his head. "No…. just…know you saved me." His eyes were wide with awe and…. trust, he trusted Ignis based on that feeling, and likely Noctis' words.

Ignis smiled at him and then slowly lowered his head to nuzzle at Prompto's throat before lifting his head again. "You were hurt, and I found you, brought you here for help," he offered the very basics.

"Oh…." Prompto chewed on his bottom lip and Ignis lifted his hand to gently stop him, not wanting him to hurt himself. "Met then or before?"

Ignis saw the concern in Noctis' eyes and he shared it, was it the missing memories that were affecting Prompto's speech? Or something else? No…harpies could speak, many of the Empires highest officials were harpies after all, was it due to the unknown DNA or even something in the MT process that Prompto had been old enough to go through?

"We have known you for over a year now Prompto, you are a dear friend," Ignis assured him. "Finding you injured like that scared me a lot and it was a relief to be able to help you." How much of what he said did Prompto even understand? A horrible though hit him then, had it been the forming of the bond that had caused the damage?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"We love you Prompto," Noctis murmured, nuzzling again.

"But…"

"No buts," Noctis denied, squeezing the hand still wrapped in his. "No matter what, human, harpy or anything else," he swore.

"Don't understand," Prompto's voice was almost a whine in his distress.

"We know," Ignis spoke up again, lifting both hands to cup his face between them. "We are here to help you, even if you never remember everything, we will not abandon you. I understand how confusing it can be, to find yourself so changed."

"How?" Prompto sounded curious now, no longer distressed and Noctis was relieved, the last thing they wanted, or Prompto needed, was to shift forms out of stress.

"I was not born a mer, I gained my form when Noctis created the bond with me."

"Bond is cold?"

"Yes Prom, that's my magic you're feeling," Noctis answered, gently tugging it and Prompto shivered but twisted to look at him, eyes wide in wonder. "We'll always be able to feel each other."

Prompto frowned, obviously struggling with something. "Burning…hurt, cold made it better."

Noctis managed a smile at that, glad Prompto remembered the bond helping him. With Prompto facing him he leant in and rubbed noses, getting a surprised laugh from the blonde. He was so…innocent, almost childlike and while it was amazing to see, he wanted his best friend back, horrible sense of humour, video game skills, loyalty and all.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Cor looked at the door, hearing laughter, feeling relieved to hear it. That had to be a good sign. He had not been impressed with Noctis denying them all access while Prompto slept, it had been a dangerous move, but he had also had a point on overwhelming Prompto which was why he had stayed in the living room with Ignis and Gladio. He did not have a bond with Noctis and so he had been relying on the boys to gauge how things were, until Ignis hand stood and gone into the bedroom.

He glanced at Gladio who smiled slightly. "I can feel Prompto," the Shield promised. "He feels hot in the magic. He's…. confused, lost…. there's been a flash or two of brief fear…I can feel it," Gladio shuddered slightly.

"Feel what?" Cor pushed and Gladio's eyes showed only misery.

"The instincts he's fighting, they're screaming at him, to defend himself, to attack…and he's not. I thought he was strong, for surviving everything he has but this is…" he shook his head.

"What?" Cor pushed. The boy's insights into Prompto's thoughts and emotions would be the best way to judge how Prompto was dealing with things.

"I don't know if I could fight something that strong," Gladio admitted, surprising Cor.

"They are that strong?" he demanded and Gladio nodded.

"They're lying on the bed, Noct at his back, Iggy at his front and he's just lying there. He barely tensed for a second when Noctis nuzzled his throat. He let Noct at one of his most vulnerable spots, Iggy too a bit later," Gladio explained.

Cor nodded, not liking that Noctis had risked doing that when not sure how Prompto would react. They were physically at their weakest on land, Prompto was at his strongest, if he gave into those instincts for even a split second…. He hated having those thoughts about the boy he had saved so many times. He knew Prompto would never harm them willingly but with his memory affected…. a split second was all it would take for an instinctive reaction he would later regret.

Gladio looked up after a while, staring at the door, and then there came a strange noise, a call and they both knew it was Prompto, even if they had never heard the noise before. "My turn," he stood and stretched before slouching to make himself look as small as he could.

Cor watched him go, with Gladio there he felt better.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Prompto lay quietly between them, eyes closed, focusing on their touch and soft words. It was still there, in the back of his mind, the scary, cold, voice demanding he kill. It wasn't cold in the way the bond was cold, it was very different, and he didn't like it. He curled further into them, clinging to them and he felt the cold rush of the bond surge through him. He clung to it, not really knowing how to, but with it he could feel them.

"It's alright, we're here, we have you," Noctis whispered in his ear.

"You're stronger than any voice Prompto," Iggy promised.

"Hurts," he whimpered, rubbing his cheek against cool skin. He wanted it to stop! They loved him! They were his clan! He would not let anything hurt them. Incomplete…he heard himself call out for the missing member.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Noctis closed his eyes in pain at Prompto's whimpered admission of pain. He could feel it, echoing in the bond, whoever it was, they weren't giving up. Then again, neither was Prompto. He could feel Prompto's determination to protect them, the whisper of clan through the bond, even as a strange call came from his throat and Noctis reached for Gladio, knowing that was who Prompto was calling for, even if the blonde didn't.

He knew what clan meant to harpies; their whole lives cantered on their clan. They knew little of how they were structured though, how they functioned. In return they knew very little of how mers formed their bonds and groups, but it would make helping Prompto harder because they didn't know enough.

The door opened and Gladio slowly walked in, hunching down to appear smaller. "Room for one more?" he asked and Prompto's head jerked up, wide blue eyes focusing on him. "Hey blondie, can I come over?" he asked and Prompto stared at him.

Noctis and Ignis remained quiet, wanting to see how Prompto would react to the most physically threatening of them. They kept the bond wide open, Prompto didn't know how to use it, not yet, but he could still feel their support and love. Then Gladio opened his end and Prompto gasped, eyes even wider.

He scrambled free of them and they let go as he crawled to the edge of the bed, both wondering at that, Prompto hadn't walked since his transformation. Then to all of their relief, he got off the bed, stumbling, staggering towards Gladio who moved, catching him gently by the shoulders.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"Easy Prom, I've got you," Gladio soothed, relieved that Prompto wasn't scared of him, he could feel the instinctive need to attack but the kid was pushing past it, relying on what he could feel through the bond. Gladio drew him closer, hugging him, feeling him rub his face against his chest. He looked over to find the other two shirtless as they sat on the bed, good thing he never wore a shirt then, his top open, allowing Prompto the contact he obviously needed. "I'm here," he promised. This was a fresh start with him, in a way, he knew Prompto had held back at first because he had intimidated him, because he'd been standoffish, protecting Noct until sure the blonde wasn't a threat. This time, if Prompto didn't remember him, he'd know him as a protector from the start.

He looked down and found Prompto staring up at him, so he freed one hand and slowly let it rest on blonde hair, ruffling it gently and he grinned when Prompto laughed.

"Gladio?" he asked, seeking confirmation and Gladio nodded.

"That's me."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Cor heard Prompto laugh again, the door having not fully closed behind Gladio. That was good, it was a happy, innocent laugh, nothing cruel or cold in it. He shifted to see through the gap in the door, finding Gladio hunched over…holding Prompto in his arms, he could see Prompto's arms wrapping around Gladio's waist. It was a good sign.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Gladio carefully scoped Prompto up, carrying him back to the bed, getting them settled on it, Ignis and Noctis pressing in close.

"Prom?" Noctis asked and Prompto looked at him. "We're going to try and stop the voice, alright?" he asked and Prompto's eyes widened.

"You can?" he asked hopefully.

"I don't know, but we're going to try, if you want us to," he promised. "It could hurt…it could do nothing…it…it could destroy all of your memories…maybe even…kill you, we have no way of knowing," Noctis choked out and Prompto pressed closer to him. "My Uncle Ardyn, he's the oldest person alive, we can ask him."

Prompto looked lost and Ignis sat up a little. He gently ran his fingers through soft blonde hair and Prompto relaxed into the touch.

"Prompto, may I ask some questions. It's alright if you don't know the answers, I would just like to see what you remember," Ignis told him gently and Prompto nodded hesitantly. "There's no pressure, if you can't remember just say so and we'll move on."

"Kay," Prompto whispered.

"Can you tell me your whole name?" Ignis asked and Gladio shifted his hold on Prompto, ensuring he wouldn't feel trapped. Noctis held his hand gently, stroking the skin gently to help keep him calm.

"Prompto…." He frowned in confusion and it was obvious he knew there was more. "I…I don't…" he shook his head, closing his eyes and they remained quietly supportive. "Ar… Arg… it's there!" he shook his head, a tear slipping free and Ignis gently wiped it away.

"Shh, it's alright, don't try and force it."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

In the living room Cor closed his eyes, reaching for his King, letting him know what Noctis wished to know from the eldest Lucis Caelum, feeling Regis' agreement to speak with him immediately.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

He knew it, he did! He had another name, it was important. He wanted to remember so badly. He could feel their sadness that he didn't, and he didn't want them to be sad. Why couldn't he remember? What was wrong with him?

'Nothing…my son, my soldier. Kill them….do what you were made to do…'

Prompto cried out in fear as the voice surged back louder than ever and then the cold water flooded through him, pushing it back and he clung to the feeling of water. They wrapped themselves around him, he could feel them, in his mind, around his body. They were his clan and he would not listen! He couldn't remember the voice, but he knew he was scared of it, he wasn't scared of them, he knew they would never hurt him. He chose them.

"We're here Prom," Noctis whispered in his ear.

The voice retreated and Prompto sagged between them, panting. He clicked in his throat in upset as someone left but then he was back, a cool, damp cloth gently wiping across Prompto's face. He forced his eyes open to find Iggy leaning over him, washing his face and Iggy smiled softly at him.

"Better?" Iggy asked and Prompto managed a tired nod. "Try and get some sleep, we'll be here."

"Promise?" he mumbled.

"Promise," Gladio spoke up. "We won't let anything happen to you."

"Just rest," Noctis nuzzled his throat and Prompto let his head flop to the side, giving him better access even as his eyes drifted shut.

They would look after him, he could sleep.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Noctis looked up as the door opened and his Uncle entered the room.

"Don't you boys look cosy," he teased but his eyes were serious. "How is he?"

"Still fighting," Noctis answered, pride obvious. He nuzzled at Prompto's throat and he sighed in his sleep, shifting slightly to be more comfortable.

,,,,,,,

Ardyn smiled at that, the trust the boy was giving to them. "Can you do that with him awake?"

"Yeah, he started to tense the first time but he then he accepted it, wanted it. It's still there, the voice, it comes and goes, and he's doing great at ignoring it and the instincts. He…I heard him, in the bond, calling us his Clan."

"Good," Ardyn nodded, moving silently to the bedside. He was amazed the boy had been able to do that, he had never heard of such a thing happening. Especially since he knew who the head of his Clan was, he had met the harpy scientist twice and he deeply regrated not killing him when he'd had the chance, then again, if he had, young Prompto would never had existed.

"You know something," Noctis stared at him and Ardyn nodded.

"You know where he comes from?"

"Prompto explained, that he was meant to be an MT, that he was 'made' in a lab, but Cor rescued him," Ignis offered and Ardyn nodded.

"The head of the project is Verstael Besithia. He is a rather vain man," would they realise from that?

Ignis straightened slightly. "Are you saying, Prompto is related to him?"

"The only way to provide the numbers necessary for the program was using cloning. Every MT is made from his genetics. And yes, he is a Harpy, an old and powerful one at that. That young Prompto can fight him at all is amazing."

"Prompto's strong," Noctis stated firmly.

"So I see. You want to try and break the bond to his genetic clan or at least shift it?"

"Can we?"

"I doubt anyone has ever tried."

"You've known people before...that later Awakened."

"Yes, I have. But what happened to them was nothing like this. The transformation was quick, violent, and left nothing of the person I knew behind." He still mourned for Gilgamesh, they had been good friends, even before he had served as Somnus' Shield. He had been one of the first Harpies, though Ardyn still did not understand how he had become one. Why had the Astrals cursed him so when he had loyally served their family? Somnus had died without ever knowing why and even Ardyn had been unable to gain an answer in the last two thousand years. Could they have saved Gilgamesh by bonding with him? His had been the only Awakening he had personally witnessed, until Prompto, and he never wished to again. Neither of them had been able to bring themselves to end his life and Gilgamesh had vanished, he did sometimes wonder what had become of him and he hoped none of the current clans were descended from him.

"He can't fight forever, can he?" the young Shield asked and Ardyn sighed.

"It is not likely. The mind can only take so much."

"Then we have to try," Noctis whispered.

TBC…