Disclaimer: Not mine

I'm doing the rainbow frogs quest but the one in the Vesperpool isn't showing up or even making croaking noises. I've been to all the little islands in the area and even triple checked online guides, I've completed the quest on previous play throughs too. Any ideas why the little guy isn't there?

Chapter 5

Prompto clutched his bag closer to his chest as he followed the older boy through the massive hallways. He didn't understand why he was there, why him? He'd wanted to approach the Prince since the first time he'd seen him, something about him making him want to reach out, but no one ever wanted to be his friend so why would Noctis be any different? He'd heard about the attack, everyone had, and was relieved when the news came that he was recovering. It made sense that he wouldn't be returning to school until fully healed but being approached by the Crownsguard because of that had never been something Prompto could have imagined.

He'd been offered the chance for private schooling in the Citadel where he would learn beside Noctis. He didn't understand why they'd picked him, nervous fingers playing with his wrist band. He didn't know the meaning behind the mark on his wrist but he knew it was bad. Sometimes…people would say mean things to him because of how he looked, not just because he was starting to get a bit heavy, but because of his hair colour. He was Lucian, even if he was adopted, so why did it matter if he looked to pale to be one?

Being picked to keep the Prince company made no sense at all, they'd never spoken, weren't in the same class, so why him? But he hadn't been brave enough to ask.

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Ignis felt sick as he walked just ahead of Prompto, able to feel the insecurity, low self-esteem, all of it. What had the Argentum's done to him to change him from the bubbly baby to this? He paused outside of Noctis' rooms, wanting nothing more than to wrap the blond up safely in arms and wings but he couldn't, so he settled for resting a gloved hand on his shoulder, saddened when he tensed. "Are you alright Mr Argentum?" he hated being so formal but the boy didn't know him.

The blond head jerked up and down in a shaky nod and he sighed, making Prompto flinch.

"Mr…may I call you Prompto?" he asked, keeping his tone soft and hesitant blue eyes glanced up at him. It was interesting to note some of the purple had faded since he was a baby, but it was still there. Prompto nodded again and Ignis smiled at him. "Thank you, you can call me Ignis. I just wanted to ask, have you been around anyone who has been badly injured or ill?" he asked.

"No si…Ignis?"

"While Noctis is recovering, he is still in pain, which can lead to him being irritable and even a bit snippy. It isn't anything personal but a reaction to how he is feeling. I'll be staying in the room with you as well, alright?"

Prompto nodded again so Ignis opened the door.

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Noctis lay propped up in his bed, school books scattered around. Dad had said that one of his schoolmates would be joining him from today and he wasn't looking forward to that. It wasn't that he liked being alone but they all just wanted to be around the Prince, not him. He just wanted things to be like they had been before, when he could walk and run and before he'd seen…he shuddered and took a few deep breaths, he was not going to let some strange kid see him cry! This was such a dumb idea that he couldn't believe Specs had been the one to suggest it.

He glanced up as the door opened and Ignis walked in, smiling gently at him. Then a boy his own age walked into the room, clutching his bag tightly and Noctis frowned. He didn't recognise the blond at all.

"Noctis, this is Prompto. While you attend the same school, he isn't in your class," Ignis introduced them and Noctis nodded, that explained why he didn't recognise him. Then again, most of his school mates were just blurs in his memories. It was kind of scary but they said it was because of the trauma of the attack.

He saw the blond shift nervously and realised he was being silent. "Hi," he finally offered and the other boy looked up at him, eyes hidden behind glasses.

"Hi, n…it's nice to meet you," he shifted, very obviously nervous and Noctis bit back a groan, yeah, this was going to go so well.

Ignis guided Prompto over to the bed and helped him get set up before retreating across the room to read or something, leaving them alone.

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Prompto knew his heart was racing and he half wanted to run but he couldn't. This was the chance he'd wanted since the first day of school last year. Noctis didn't say anything mean yet at least, he'd frowned but…it hadn't been angry, maybe…confused? That made sense, he probably didn't recognise him, had been expecting someone from his own class. He could do this; he just had to keep calm and not babble…or pass out. Deep breaths. "So, what do you want to work on?" he asked, proud his voice didn't tremble at all. He glanced up, feeling eyes on him, to find the Prince staring at him.

"Do I know you?"

Not what he'd been expecting. "What?" he blinked in confusion.

"Have we talked before or anything, I…I don't recognise you."

"Oh, no, I'm in the other class so we haven't really seen each other. I don't know why I was asked; I mean, wouldn't you want someone you know?" Prompto snapped his mouth shut, feeling his face heat up as he stared at his fidgeting hands.

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Noctis watched him fidget, obviously embarrassed but it was a relief to know he hadn't totally forgotten someone in the same class as him or that he had known somehow. "I don't…really know them," he admitted. "And, well, I can't…" he looked away, forcing himself to breath, seeing Ignis look their way in concern. "I can't remember everything from before," he admitted softly. "They said it's because of the trauma."

"I'm sorry, I..I can't imagine…"

Noctis glanced back to see wide blue eyes staring at him but…not in pity or disgust.

"Maybe…if you want…we can go over the stuff from the beginning of the year and then on?"

"Why?" he blurted out and then grimaced in pain as he shifted wrong. "Why did you agree to this?" he needed to know, did Prompto just want to get close to the Prince?

Prompto went still, chewing at his bottom lip, staring at his hands, before he slowly looked up. "Because…because you always look so lonely and I thought…maybe you just want a friend?"

Noctis stared at him, was that really the only reason?

"I…I've never had a friend before, so I don't know if I'd be any good at it."

"You don't have any friends?" Noctis asked, was he just as lonely as he was?

Prompto shook his head, looking down again, and Noctis caught Ignis watching, a sad look on his face but then he smiled at Noctis and nodded at Prompto.

"Okay, want to start with math? Get the hard one done first?" he suggested and Prompto looked up at him, giving a small, hesitant, smile.

"Okay."

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Ignis kept an eye on the boys as they worked together, after a week they were both talking more and Prompto was being a little less hesitant. He'd felt Cor hovering in the hall several times but the man never came inside. It was obvious he wanted to check on Prompto himself but was concerned about overwhelming him. Ignis had spoken with the Guard who took Prompto to and from the Citadel…the man hadn't seen any sign of Prompto's parents once. How much better would his life have been if Cor had kept him?

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Prompto squeaked, unable to help it, eyes wide behind his glasses as the King stepped into the hall. He froze, unsure what to do and….it wasn't just the King but Cor the Immortal too! The two men glanced his way and he flinched back; he was going to be in so much trouble.

"You must be Prompto," the King said and he glanced up to see him…smiling?

"I…uh…yes sir….your Majesty," he stammered, remaining frozen as they approached. To his shock the King rested a hand on his shoulder and just smiled wider.

"Thank you, for agreeing to help Noctis. I know this all must feel very overwhelming for you." He then glanced at the Immortal who stiffened but then nodded. "Cor will see you home today, the two of you need to speak. You will learn some things that may be hard to understand or accept but remember this Prompto, you are a Crown Citizen and what was done, was done to give you the best life possible. Should you ever need help, you have but to ask." With that the King was gone.

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Ignis helped Noctis get settled on his crutches and then picked up his bag, walking beside him as he hobbled from the room. It was taking longer than they liked for his legs to regain their former strength, especially when he'd begun being able to weight bear after only three months but the doctors appeared unworried. It also seemed that he would have to deal with some level of pain for the rest of his life, with good days and bad. Today was a good day, and after Cor had called, it made it the perfect day to go and see Prompto.

The blond had vanished last week and they were both worried about him. Ignis had cornered Cor who had admitted that at the King's urging he had spoken to him of his origins and past. A call to the school shown that he hadn't been to class but had called in sick. Noctis had talked one of the Guard into checking and they had confirmed spotting Prompto alive inside the house. Ignis had not told Noctis the truth about the other boy, it was not his place, but he had said that he had been given some information about his birth family.

Surprising everyone but Ignis, Noctis had insisted on going to see Prompto. Noctis had withdrawn so much since the attack but his time with Prompto had begun helping him to heal, to reach out to someone other than his Dad or Ignis. Ignis wasn't surprised, he knew Noctis had seen his own loneliness and isolation echoed in Prompto. Perhaps…they would be closer friends now because of that understanding than they would have if Prompto had grown up with them?

He hoped that Prompto would tell them what Cor had said, he knew Noctis would not turn on him for something he couldn't help. Should he admit to having known Prompto as a baby? It was possible he could remember that far back as he was known for his incredible memory, it may help him feel better to know Ignis had always known there was something different about him but had still accepted him. He liked Prompto, he was unlike many others in the Citadel.

"Iggy?"

"Yes Noct?" he steadied him as they got in the elevator.

"What if…what if he doesn't want to see me anymore?" he asked and Ignis gently hugged him, careful of the crutches.

"I do not see that happening, and if he did say that, I believe there would be a reason behind it that was not due to you but something he believes about himself."

"Oh," Noctis whispered and Ignis was relieved to find he felt better now. Prompto's low self-esteem was very obvious after all.

They reached the garage and got in the waiting car, Ignis in the back with Noctis in case he needed something during the drive. It took a while to reach the small house due to traffic, Noctis enjoying the view of parts of the city he hadn't seen before. The car eventually pulled into the driveway and Ignis helped Noctis out who paused to stretch a little after being forced to sit up in the car. They made their way to the front door and Ignis could feel the despair hanging over the house, immediately beginning to siphon some off. He wasn't at all hungry but the idea of leaving Prompto in such an environment was not one he liked. Something needed to be done about his living arrangements. Perhaps they could bring him to the Citadel as Noctis' official companion?

He knocked on the door and waited but there was no answer.

"Maybe he's not home?" Noctis asked, glancing at the car which would wait until they were inside and then return when they called.

"No, I saw an upstirs curtain twitch when we pulled in," Ignis semi-lied, Prompto was upstairs and aware someone was there.

"Know how to pick locks?"

Ignis shook his head, a fond smirk on his face, even as he pulled out a key. He'd had Prompto's copied in case of emergency. He opened the door and made sure Noctis was safely on the couch before heading upstairs, knocking on the bedroom door. "Prompto? It's Ignis, Noctis is downstairs. Will you open the door?" he asked, hearing a thump and wincing, hoping he hadn't hurt himself. "Prompto?" when there was no answer he opened it and glanced around, finding Prompto curled up in the corner. "Oh Prompto," he whispered. He walked over, making sure to make enough noise that Prompto would hear him coming. He then knelt down in front of him.

Prompto was a mess, his hair lank and greasy, limbs trembling even as he huddled…had he showered at all? Misery and self-loathing radiated off him with no relief.

Ignis reached out and carefully pulled him out of his huddle and into his arms, wishing he could shift forms to be bigger, to cover him with his wings. He held on tightly and rocked him, running his fingers through blond hair even as he focused on projecting calmness and acceptance, letting that use up enough energy to let him feed on the negative emotions. He blindly reached for his phone to send a message to Noctis so that he wouldn't worry too much. Eventually, he felt Prompto beginning to relax a little, affected by his projecting and feeding.

"It's alright, you're not alone," he whispered, feeling Prompto jolt slightly as he realised he wasn't alone. "None of that now. You need a good hot shower, some food, and then sleep."

"I…Ig…Ignis?"

"And Noctis is downstairs. We've both been very worried about you," he answered, carefully pulling Prompto to his feet. He sat him on the bed and quickly gathered comfortable, clean, clothing before getting him to the bathroom. Prompto went red when Ignis helped him strip down and then shower but he was too unsteady for Ignis to leave him alone. "You have nothing I haven't seen before Prompto; I have helped Noctis since the attack."

"But I'm fat and ugly and"

"Hush, you are not fat or ugly or anything else. Some children carry extra weight for longer than others, puppy fat I believe they call it. You are carrying perhaps a little more weight than is fully healthy but if you wish, then that will be fixable. I assume with your parents never here; you have to get your own meals? Have you been taught about balanced meals?" he asked gently and Prompto shook his head. "I enjoy cooking, I will teach you filling yet simple and tasty meals. You're easy since you actually eat vegetable when given them unlike someone else currently in the house." He was pleased when the ghost of a smile briefly appeared.

"Exercise is another method to help control weight, my own routines are unsuitable due to our different body types but it is a simple enough thing to have one of the Citadel trainers work with you. If you don't like your glasses there are methods such as contact lenses and you may grow out of needing them at all, or be able to get corrective surgery when older. Blond hair and blue eyes are not ugly either," his sharper than human hearing had picked up on some of the slurs thrown Prompto's way.

He got Prompto dry and dressed and then helped him downstairs to find an anxious Prince lying out on the couch. "Prompto," Noctis called, eyes scanning him for any sign of injury, seeing he was paler than normal and leaning on Ignis. He held his hand out and Ignis guided Prompto over to him, the boy hesitating before slowly taking the offered hand. He ended up sitting on the floor beside the couch. "Why haven't you come to the Citadel? Don't you want to?"

Ignis retreated to the kitchen to prepare a healthy, easily digested, meal for the three of them. He also messaged both Cor and Regis, something had to be done about his living arrangements and his absent 'parents'. When he walked out with the meal he found Prompto playing with his wrist band and not looking at anyone. "Eat up," he prodded and they ate in silence, Ignis hesitating but hopefully it would help. He still waited until Prompto was done eating though.

"Prompto," he put his hand over the band and the blond looked up. "I know what is under this." Blue eyes went wide. "I was there, when Cor brought you to Insomnia. You and Noctis even met, though both too young to remember it. It does not change anything."

"But…"

"You are a Crown Citizen, where you were born and why does not change that.

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Noctis listened and he wasn't an idiot, he could put the clues together. Prompto had been born in Niflheim, so what? "Prompto, Ignis is right. Who cares where you were born? You were a baby, not like you're a spy or something."

"I…I could be."

"You were a baby," Noctis stated flatly. He watched as Prompto looked away and then shaking fingers pushed the wrist band he always wore off, revealing the black lines on his wrist. Noctis took a deep breath and then sat up, feeling his back and leg twinge but he ignored it to tug at Prompto, pulling him up onto the couch where he slowly wrapped an arm around him. he took his hand and ran his fingers over the tattoo…except it wasn't because the skin was raised. He'd touched Uncle Clarus' tattoo and it was smooth.

"M'not real, just a science experiment," Prompto muttered.

Noctis had the sudden desire to meet the Emperor, to show him just what he thought of him. "What do you mean?" he asked and then listened as Prompto told him what Cor had told Prompto…or how his brain had translated it. He hugged Prompto and it felt kind of weird but Prompto needed to see that it changed nothing. "You're my friend Prompto. I don't care where you came from or why you were born. You aren't dangerous or a daemon or anything else that's going around in your head. Do you really think you weren't checked out by the doctors at the Citadel? That you would have been adopted out if there was any danger?"

"But…."

Noctis was relieved when Ignis re-joined them, sitting on Prompto's other side. "I spoke with the Marshal, he's on his way," Ignis told them and sure enough Cor was soon inside the house, blue eyes pained.

"Hey kid," Cor murmured as he knelt before the couch. It was obviously that whatever he had told Prompto, he hadn't expected him to react like this.

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Ignis closed the door and walked down the hall, heading for his own room, exhausted. They should have checked on Prompto earlier, Cor should have followed up even… there was no use thinking on it now. Prompto and Noctis were fast asleep in the Prince's rooms and they had brought everything Prompto owned with them. He had seen and felt the anger Cor had felt at seeing how little he had.

Ignis was already mentally re-arranging everything in their lives to accommodate another child. How would Gladio react to his presence? He hadn't seen much of the young 'Shield' since the attack, he had been around while Noctis was unconscious but then had returned to his own training and looking after his sister.

He shifted and stretched out all his limbs, enjoying the freedom of stretching his wings, of being taller.

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Regis smiled as he watched the two boys together in the rehabilitation room, usually used by those injured in the line of duty. Noctis was struggling through his exercises, working to build muscles in his legs and back, Prompto doing the same exercises right beside him. Hearing how the boy had reacted to learning of his past had left him feeling very guilty about pushing Cor to tell him but he seemed to be recovering well, thankfully. They were helping each other heal with a protective Ignis hovering over them and Regis had no doubt he was helping too.

Noctis was beginning to catch up on his schoolwork, though no one was sure when he would be able to return or if it would be better for him to be schooled within the Citadel. He was showing more interest in life again, not withdrawing into himself as much.

It was easy to tell Ignis was in his element looking after both boys, helping Prompto learn to cook and even Noctis had grudgingly started eating some vegetables, unable to resist the puppy eyes from Prompto when he had helped cook them. Ignis took care of Noctis, refusing help from nurses or nannies, and Regis wondered if Ignis blamed himself for what had happened, for not being there to protect Noct. Cor was impressed with his training and skills, but he was still a child, even if he was not as physically young as he appeared in human form.

Speaking of Cor, that was a man on a mission. He had given him permission to go, and he was currently hunting down the Argentum's with paperwork for them to sign. Rather than drag it all through the Courts, risking the foster system swallowing Prompto up, Cor had paperwork that would mean the Argentum's gave up all rights and responsibility for Prompto to Cor. It was rare he was deployed anymore and Prompto wasn't a baby, Regis had happily signed the papers himself to ensure no one could argue with Cor taking custody. They wouldn't tell Prompto until Cor returned successful.

TBC…