Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 4

Ignis stared at his reflection in the mirror, taking in the formal clothing in black, the human disguise he was wearing and smiled, pushing his glasses up his nose. He still couldn't quite get the colour right so he wore glasses to help distract from the colour of his eyes. Today was a big day, Noctis' third birthday…the day Ignis Scientia was being brought in as the first of his Retinue. Over the last three years he'd read a lot about human children, knew Noctis wouldn't remember him as anything but his Adviser-in-training, their time spent playing in his suite, meeting Prompto…any of it.

His things had been packed and moved to the appropriate room connected to Noctis' own chambers already. All that was left was his formal induction in the Throne Room, a place he'd never been before. He knew about the Oaths and Noctis' magic and what would be expected of them when they got older, he wasn't sure what would happen in Noctis tried to grant him access to his magic. He had learnt of the Astrals, especially Bahamut and his link to the Royal Family, recognising them from the stories. His kind worshipped no gods, not like the humans, but Noct's magic was a gift from the Astrals, like the Crystal. Would they allow him to be linked? Attempt to kill him for daring to try? He'd find out in eleven years.

And that was another thing, that it would take Noct so long to become fully grown. It seemed human children grew at a slow, steady rate compared to his kind. He had been what would equate to as a baby for about two weeks, a toddler for a further three, and then had grown to his current size, which he would remain at for another two to three years before growing again to be what he supposed would equate to mid-teens? Then he would have a final growth to adult status. Thankfully, the human shift could be altered at will to appear to age as one of them. Couldn't have a twelve year old looking like they were sixteen or a fourteen year old appearing to be in their twenties, that would get far too much attention.

He straightened his collar and checked his hair before leaving the suite for the last time.

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Cor watched Ignis walk towards the Throne where Regis waited with Noctis. He smothered a chuckle as he heard the whispers of how adorable he was, how serious looking. He had to bite his lip as one of the crankiest Ladies on the council murmured over how utterly sweet his little clothing was and his glasses… good, no one seemed at all suspicious. Another commented that if Noctis couldn't have an Armaugh at his side then a Scientia was a good option.

Ignis' introduction to the Court could not have gone any better.

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Regis smiled as he saw Ignis walking down the hall, Noctis' hand clutched in his as his son tried to drag the older boy along faster, chattering happily, Ignis smiling indulgently. When Noctis stumbled, Ignis simply picked him up, settling him on his hip as they kept on going.

Not once had he ever regretted his decision that day before the cell, to try and communicate with the little shadow under the cot and he knew he never would.

Cor had begun working with Ignis on combat training and had admitted the kid had natural acrobatic ability to make a professional gymnast jealous. Ignis was working with Cor because they didn't want anyone seeing something they shouldn't. He was faster and stronger than he appeared as well and Cor was not only training him to use those advantages but how and when to hide them.

He dreaded the day when Ignis would be forced to use that training but he knew it would happen one day. Sooner or later, there'd be an attempt on his son's life, it was part of being a royal. It was why noctis was being taught to run and hide, at the moment it was a game, but as he got older his training would increase. He wished Noctis could remain this innocent forever but sooner or later the realities of royalty would affect him too.

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Ignis nodded in encouragement as Noctis haltingly read the very simple sentence from the book in his lap. He knew it would take Noct longer to learn language than he had but he thought he was doing really well so far. Even after a year at his side, sometimes everything felt new, like he had only just left his secure rooms.

He knew he hadn't been imprisoned, that Regis…the King had not seen him as a prisoner since those early days in the cell. It had been for his own safety. He still remembered being called a monster by that lady, the way the Hunters had reacted to him…and he never wanted to go through that again. Regis, Cor, Clarus…Aulea, they had never treated him like a monster, they'd been wary at first but he could understand that. He knew to them he had looked like a daemon, a threat, but they had taken the chance that he wasn't, that he could understand them. They had been kind and gentle in ways he had never expected humans to be.

Even if he could, he did not think he would leave. It would hurt to lose them, to lose Noctis who looked up at him with such trust, to lose the little blond baby growing up somewhere in the city. He missed his nestmates but many of them would have left in the search of a mate, joining other clans. It had just…happened earlier, that was all.

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Clarus watched as his son looked Ignis over, not appearing impressed….until Ignis had him flat on his back on the training mat. He smothered a laugh at the shocked look on Gladio's face when someone he saw as a scrawny kid a year younger than him, beat him.

The two should have met years ago but in the end they had decided against it, the fewer people who knew the truth, the safer Ignis was. And his son may not have reacted well to Ignis' true appearance, as much as it hurt to admit that. He loved his son but he was not blind to his fault, even at such a young age. He was eight and already had a temper that would need monitoring, training to ensure he controlled it and never lashed out.

His first meeting with Noctis, with the young Prince he would serve as Shield to…had gone worse. Gladio had not been impressed by the small boy with big blue eyes who had clung to his Father's leg. Everyone else found him utterly adorable and he hoped that would win his prickly son over.

He thought some of the issue came from Callaia being pregnant again. Eight years was a large age gap between siblings and Gladio was used to being their sole focus, now their attention was shifting to the baby who would be born soon. Hopefully once he or she was born, Gladio would warm to having a younger sibling.

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"Dad!" Noctis called, smiling widely and Regis laughed, scooping his son up. The seven year old was still rather short and thin which made it easier to do. He was obviously not going to be the largest of men when grown but that didn't matter, magic would help to compensate for a lot.

"How was school?" he asked and his heart clenched when his sons face fell, the boy shrugging. He had hoped by sending him to public school that Noctis would be able to make friends but two months into the new school year, at a proper school rather than small kindergarten, and he was as isolated as ever.

Ignis was the only friend Noctis had but the boy struggled sometimes to meet Noctis' needs in that department. He did not doubt that Ignis loved Noctis fiercely and would defend him to the death, but sometimes the emotions in the Citadel overwhelmed him. he still struggled sometimes in expressing emotion in a human manner all of the time. That meant he could appear cold at times, analytical, as he tried to work things out.

Things with Gladio were still, awkward. The birth of little iris and Callaia's death had hit the boy very hard. Thankfully he had latched on to Iris, doting on her. But it meant he spent very little time with the other two boys.

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Ignis got out of the car with Noctis, not liking how reluctant he obviously was. He blinked, glancing around, feeling something….familiar. Who could…green eyes widened behind glasses, Prompto! Was it possible? He couldn't see the familiar blond hair but how much could he have changed over the years? Prompto and Noctis had bonded so quickly, if they saw each other again, would they be drawn to each other again? Noctis needed a friend other than himself so badly.

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Ignis jolted out of a deep sleep, looking around blindly for what had woken and then it hit him. Fear….anger…desperation… he scrambled from the bed and dressed, rushing from his room, worried. Noctis was with Regis on an excursion outside of the city, for the first time in Noctis' life so he knew his Prince was fine. So what could be causing such emotions in the Citadel? He ducked down a hall, looking for Cor since Clarus had gone with the pair and it wasn't like he slept at the Citadel anyway. Surely Cor would know what was going on?

"Ignis!"

He turned to face Cor as the man strode towards him, his emotions in turmoil. "Marshal?" he forced the formality used in public, concerned.

"Come with me," Cor ordered and he followed. He led Ignis to the medical wing and the apparent ten year old frowned.

"What is wrong?" he asked as they entered a waiting room.

"We haven't received much information but, they were attacked. There have been fatalities but Clarus signalled both the King and Noctis are alive," he explained quickly and Ignis blinked in shock.

Attacked? How could that be? No one knew the route they were taking, they had plenty of guards too. "Are they hurt?" he asked, feeling his skin itch with the urge to shed his human disguise and go after them, to rip any who dared lay a hand on Noctis apart with his bare hands.

"Easy Ignis, breath with me," Cor's voice broke through the rage and he blinked, obeying. "Good, that's good," he felt a hand running through his hair and he relaxed slowly.

"Marshal?" he asked in confusion.

"Your form was shifting," Cor told him and Ignis flinched, ashamed. "It's the middle of the night kid and very stressful, I'm not surprised you're having trouble holding it," he assured him.

Ignis nodded slowly. He usually changed back to sleep and give himself a break. Having to pull the disguise back on had taken more effort. He closed his eyes, centring himself, shoring up his shields. They waited in tense silence, Cor receiving updates every few minutes and when he looked at Ignis, he just knew. Noctis…

Doors slammed open and he caught a glimpse of a too still and pale small body being place on a gurney, an exhausted Regis handing his son over to the medical staff.

"Regis?" Cor called and the King turned to them, even on his black clothing the wet blood was obvious.

"Daemon attack," the weary man answered and then Cor was there, helping him to a seat. "It targeted Noctis, killed the guards and the nanny with him. if it hadn't been drawing things out…"

"Don't Regis, don't torture yourself," Cor told him firmly.

"Cor…his spine…" Regis whispered and Ignis saw Cor blanch.

He looked between the two men, worry growing as he called up everything he had studied on human anatomy. The spine was vital and easily damaged. He looked back towards the room Noctis had been taken to, fingers twitching. Could he? He was still young, not fully grown yet but…

"How bad?" Cor asked and Regis slumped.

"I had to use an elixir or he wouldn't have survived the return journey. It was a Marilith and Ms Blake had been cut in two at the waist, it looks like she threw herself over Noctis to protect him but the blade went through her to slice into him. He's lost so much blood…"

They sat in silence for hours, Clarus eventually joining them in their vigil. Ignis did his best to help the mood but his own shock made it harder to do. He was surprised when Regis wrapped an arm around him, tugging him closer but eagerly curled into his side like he used to. If he missed anything about life in the secure suite, it was the easy touch and hugs. Such things would not be proper if seen and so rarely happened anymore.

Finally, the door opened to admit a doctor and Ignis straightened, how had he missed him approaching?

"Your Majesty," the doctor bowed.

"My son?"

"Is alive," the man assured them all. "We've just finished surgery and he is recovering; we will be keeping him unconscious for the time being to allow his body to begin healing."

Regis nodded. "How bad is the damage?"

The doctor shifted slightly and Ignis could feel his dread even before he answered. "His spine is damage Sire; we won't know until he wakes whether or not he will ever walk again."

"Thank you," Regis whispered and the doctor nodded.

"He won't wake but you can sit with him if you wish Sire, just be careful of the equipment." With that the doctor left and Regis buried his face in his hands, shoulders shaking.

Clarus settled a hand on his back and Ignis shifted back, curling towards him, wrapping small arms around his waist, wishing he could drop the shift, give him a better hug with longer limbs but it'd do. He felt a trembling arm wrap around him in return.

Finally, he calmed and stood, drawing Ignis up with him, taking his hand. They walked into a stark room with a single bed in the middle, surrounded by machines and equipment. Cor and Clarus hung back as they approached the bed and Ignis stared down at Noctis, the boy still far too pale, tucked under a mound of blankets, hands on the top, various leads and tubes running to his arms. Regis carefully took one limp hand in his, squeezing gently.

"You're safe now Noctis, we're home," he murmured.

Ignis slowly reached out to touch Noctis' other hand, finding his skin almost cold. He…he can't feel him and he whines softly in distress.

"Ignis?" Regis asked, looking up at him in concern.

"I…I can't feel him," he whispered.

"He's sedated Ignis," Regis moved around the bed to rest a hand on his shoulder. "It's not like sleep, it's an unconscious state. He can't feel anything," he promised and Ignis nodded slowly.

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A week later Noctis was back in his own bed and they were waiting for him to wake, his condition stable enough that they had moved him in order to help keep him calm when he woke. The worrying thing was, the drugs had been stopped days ago and yet Noctis showed no signs of waking.

Once alone in the room with him, expected to call for help at the slightest change, Ignis locked the door and then sat on the bed beside him. It was strange, seeing Noct so still when he was usually so full of energy. Assured of privacy, he shifted forms, and instead of a thin ten year old, a winged form looking closer to sixteen now sat there. He placed a hand on Noctis' stomach, not daring to roll him to touch the wound, the other hand settling on Noctis' forehead. He closed his eyes and focused, he'd see it done before, knew the theory, but had never attempted it himself.

The thought of Noctis unable to walk or run anymore….he couldn't let that happen, not to the bright boy he'd known since he was a born.

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Regis was surprised to find the door locked but then figured Ignis may have grown too tired to hold human form and locked it for privacy. He unlocked it and slipped inside to find Ignis sitting beside Noctis, head bowed, wings flared out, one hand on Noct's head and the other on his stomach…over where the back wound was….and his hands were…glowing? He hesitated but in the end, he trusted Ignis with Noctis' life so he simply took a seat after re-locking the door.

So he sat for hours, after texting Clarus that he was not to be disturbed, thankfully meaning he's there to catch Ignis when he collapses. He can't lift the boy anymore, not so much a boy now. It has been a long time since he saw his true form and he looks more like he's in his mid to late teens now which was a bit of a shock. How fast did his people age and how long did they live for? He carefully settled Ignis down on the empty side of the bed, being especially gently with his much larger wings.

Once that was done he turned to his son, finding he looked better than he had since the attack, his skin a healthier shade, fading bruises gone. He picked up a small hand and it was warmer too. "Noctis?" he called, rubbing at still child soft skin. "Please wake up son," he begged, he didn't know what Ignis had done or how but it was obviously some form of healing. He felt tears gather as one finger twitched in his grasp, the first movement Noctis had made. "Good boy," he praised, "that's it, you can do it. Open your eyes Noct." He squeezed the small hand in his and felt more fingers twitch, trying to squeeze back. Ever so slowly, blue eyes fluttered open, unfocused and struggling to remain open but he did it. Regis gently stroked his hair back from his face as Noctis blinked.

His mouth opened and closed, throat working as he swallowed and Regis let go long enough to give him some of the ice chips that had been left behind the bed for when he woke, watching Noctis suck on them. "D…a…"

"I'm here son, you're safe," he promised as blue eyes slid shut again.

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Cor watched as Noctis took his first steps on shaky legs, clutching the bars for support, Ignis hovering nearby. Even with the healing Ignis had managed, Noctis would always bear the scars of the attack. The doctors had been amazed at his recovery and Regis had made a very vague reference to the Crystal to cover for Ignis' actions. They had thought he would be confined to a wheelchair for life and yet three months post the attack here he was up on wobbly legs. He was still weak, sleeping a lot more than normal too, but he was well on the road to recovery.

The bright bubbly boy was gone now though, he was quiet and withdrawn for the most part. Who could blame him after seeing so many cut down around him? Hopefully with time he would recover mentally and emotionally as well, especially with Ignis at his side.

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"What is it Ignis?" Cor asked, surprised to find him in his office doorway.

"I believe Noctis needs a companion his own age, a schoolmate would be ideal, and it would allow him to work on his school work with someone attending the classes," Ignis explained.

"I thought he hadn't made any friends?"

"He hasn't," Ignis pushed his glasses up. "However, this student wants to be his friend, they just lack the self-confidence to approach him."

Cor would never argue about someone's emotions with Ignis. "Name?" he asked and then blinked, was that a smirk?

"Prompto Argentum."

TBC…