Disclaimer: not mine

I've lost it all! FFVII did something to crash my PS4, had to reinstall the software so I've lost all my game data! I had almost 200hrs of FFXV on there and now it's all gone! Even with the reinstall the PS is still being glitchy, slow to respond, freezing, restarting for no reason, pretty much unusable…what was on that game disc? Think I want a refund or a new one or something.

Chapter 6

Ignis let himself into the apartment, not at all surprised to find Prompto's shoes by the door. He was sure Prompto spent more time in Noct's apartment than his own on the floor below. Not that it mattered since Prompto was officially a member of Noctis' Retinue and therefore expected to be at his side as much as possible.

Prompto Leonis was much happier than Prompto Argentum had been, he had grown into a happy, confident teenager who was a crack shot, despite the general Insomnian dislike for firearms. It wasn't something he had learnt in Niflheim, he'd been a baby, but they did wonder if something in the genetic mixing had been done to improve hand eye coordination and the like to ensure they would all be good shots. He'd lived with Cor until they had turned fifteen and moved into the apartments for high school. They had been home schooled up until then, saving them the stress of returning to public school even once Noctis was healthy enough.

Noctis had healed and grown strong again, but his back would always trouble him to some degree. Regis used a walking stick now and Noctis would eventually need one too. For now though, he was doing well. He trained every few days, sometimes with Gladio, sometimes with various Glaive and Prompto. His warping abilities were coming along very well, though his other magic was very limited. He could barely manage elemental spells using flasks and that was all really. It was concerning to say the least. How was he to power the Glaive when the day came? Though if it was only a matter of raw power then it would be fine, Noctis had plenty of that.

Ignis had done his research and he watched those around him, Regis was aging faster than he should be and Clarus had explained it was because of the Ring, Crystal, and Wall. The average human male in Insomnia lived to around ninety, maybe one hundred, years. Historically, the Kings were lucky to make their seventies. He did not like those numbers.

"Hey Iggy!" Prompto greeted him from where he was lounging on the couch, Noctis tucked into his side, half asleep, as they watched a movie.

"Prompto," Ignis smiled. "Highness." He moved to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

He ignored the two whispering teens on the couch, he could hear if he wished but he didn't like eavesdropping.

"None for me Ignis, I'm meeting Dad for dinner," Prompto called, standing up and stretching. He grabbed his black jacket and moved to put his shoes on.

"Alright, enjoy your time with the Marshal," Ignis called to him and then laughed when Prompto darted into the kitchen to hug him before leaving.

"One day, he'll run out of energy, right?" Noctis groaned from the couch and Ignis glanced over to see Noctis levering himself up.

"Most likely," he offered and then frowned. "Are you feeling alright?" he asked in concern, not sure what he was feeling from the Prince.

There were still days he wished Noctis remembered more from before the attack but his memories of the first eight years of his life were fragmented and humans did not remember the first two years of their life, sometimes even more. He'd been so much happier as a young child and baby. Though, he'd been happier the last few years which was a relief. Ever since Prompto had taken his Oath to Noctis and been linked into his magic actually. Gladio had been the first, although things could still be tense between Prince and Shield, Gladio did not seem to know when to back off when it came to Noctis and Noctis' lack of drive when it came to training really annoyed the older human. On those days, there was always the feeling of heavy exhaustion and pain hanging around Noctis so Ignis did his best to cover for him but sometimes Gladio didn't want to listen. He did have a point; an assassin wouldn't care if Noctis was having a bad day but pushing too much on those days could make things worse for days after.

Ignis was the only one not bound to Noctis, though few knew he wasn't. He didn't even know what excuse Regis had given to Noctis about it but Noctis had hugged him that day. He would like to be so deeply connected to Noctis but no one knew what would happen if they tried and it wasn't worth the risk to both of them.

"I'm fine," Noctis answered, wandering into the kitchen to lean on the breakfast bar, watching him cook. He could feel Noctis struggling with something, he had been for a few months now and Ignis wanted to ask but wasn't sure how since Noctis gave no visible cues of his troubled emotions.

"Set the table?"

"Sure, what're we having?" Noctis went to get cutlery from the drawer.

"A new recipe I learned from a Glaive. Meat-and-Beet Bouillon," he answered, waiting for the question he knew was coming.

"Vegetables?"

"Beetroot and potato only," he assured him and Noct sighed but nodded.

"Fine," he grumbled, setting the table for two.

They were soon seated and eating and he was pleased with how the recipe had turned out. "Looking forward to your birthday?"

Noctis shrugged slightly. "Seventeen's not a big deal."

"Perhaps, though it does mean only a year left of high school."

"Yeah, Council and Dad still arguing about University?"

"Somewhat, your Father is pushing for it to be your decision while many of them want you back at the Citadel and more involved in royal duties."

Noctis nodded absently, taking a sip of cola.

"Noctis, are you sure everything is alright?"

Noctis stared down at his bowl, fidgeting slightly.

"Noct?" he was becoming concerned now, Noctis' emotions too messy to read clearly.

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

He didn't know what to do, wanting to say nothing. It was so stupid. Prompto should have stayed…but he'd arranged to be unavailable to forced them to talk, the traitor. This could change everything! And not necessarily for the good. What if he hated him? Ignis could obviously tell something was bothering him and he'd thought he'd done a good job of hiding it.

Noctis took a deep breath and stood up, a confused looking Ignis standing as well but before he could say anything Noctis closed the distance between them and kissed him. He felt Ignis freeze, body rigid and he moved away, backing up. Guess that answered that. He'd thought Ignis…but obviously he'd been wrong.

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Ignis was blindsided when Noctis pressed his lips to his. He had seen Aulea and Regis kiss years ago, he'd seen enough people do so since, in life and on tv. He knew about human romance but…he'd never expected someone to view him as a potential partner, especially Noctis. He blinked, seeing the hurt in Noct's eyes and realised his reaction had caused him to believe the worst. He reached out and gripped his shoulder, squeezing gently. "Noctis wait." What could he say without…he hesitated but then made his choice.

Telling Noctis the truth had never been forbidden, they had just all agreed to keep the secret but now, he needed to know.

"Come with me," he went to get his jacket.

"Ignis?" Noctis asked and he hated hearing the uncertainty in his voice.

"Not here Noct, please. My apartment." He had everything set up there to ensure no one outside would ever know what happened within. Noct's apartment was secure but there was the chance of someone coming to the door.

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

He didn't understand what was going on. Ignis hadn't responded to the kiss but then he'd stopped him from getting away and wanted him to go to his apartment? He stared at Ignis, there was no anger or disgust and he trusted Ignis, he couldn't remember a time he hadn't been at his side. He wouldn't drag him three floors down just to say not interested, right?

He shoved his shoes on and a jacket to hide the ratty yet comfortable old t-shirt he'd been wearing since he was now leaving the apartment and could be seen. They got in the elevator and headed down. Noctis found his curiosity growing, he'd never seen Iggy's apartment before. He'd been in Prom's plenty of times but never Ignis'. They approached the door and Ignis unlocked it, letting him in.

The apartment was utterly clean, everything in its place which wasn't surprising. The kitchen was immaculate and very well stocked. It wasn't sterile though; he could see the more homey touches that kept the place from being too cold. Ignis took off his shoes and jacket so Noctis did too, moving further into the apartment.

"Noctis, I need to know what you meant with that kiss, what you want from me," Ignis finally spoke.

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He knew Noctis hated talking about things but they had to talk. He had to know just what Noctis was looking for from him, because there was so much he couldn't give him. no matter how human he could look, he wasn't. The form he wore was human in every way to the naked eye and even many scans but…it didn't function like one. There was a reason he could dress so formally even on the hottest days, he didn't sweat, his body did not produce waste either. And he had never suffered puberty hormones for which he was very thankful for after seeing others go through it.

"I…." Noctis shifted uncomfortably.

Ignis could feel his discomfort, nervousness, and he pressed deeper, trying to get a read on him but Noctis was very good at supressing and hiding what he felt. "Please." If it was nothing more than a teenage crush, a dalliance, then perhaps he could give him what he wanted but if it was more…

"I like you Ignis, I really like you," he murmured, staring down at the floor. "I…" he ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"There's no rush," he couldn't help wanting to sooth him.

Noctis looked up at him, finally meeting his eyes, looking so vulnerable that Ignis almost told him to forget it but he couldn't. "I think…it's more than just like. What I want from you?" he shifted, cheeks going a little red. The problem with being so pale was that he blushed easily, then again so did Prompto. "Doesn't matter if you don't like me back. I would never try to order you to…."

Ignis held his hand up, stopping him. "I know you wouldn't and that is an order I would not obey." He took a slow step closer and rested his hand against Noctis' cheek. "I care deeply for you Noctis, I love you but…I can't be everything you would seek in a romantic partner."

Noctis' cheeks darkened further even as he frowned in confusion. "I don't understand."

He had two choices, he could lie, use the excuse the human form gave him…or he could risk everything and tell him the truth.

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"Why aren't you at Noctis' this evening?" Cor asked his son as they settled on the couch with pizza and a movie, a rare treat. He wasn't a gourmet cook and neither was Prompto but they could both get by. Ignis had ensured Prompto could cook healthily and it had helped with his weight when he was younger.

"Promise not to say anything?" Prom asked and Cor mentally prepared himself for chaos before agreeing. "Noct's going to confess to Iggy."

Cor blinked and ran that through his mind again, nope, he'd hear correctly. "Confess?"

"He's head over heels," Prompto smiled even as Cor panicked internally.

After so many years, he knew Ignis well, had helped him to understand humans when he got confused. There had been many awkward conversations over the years. He had never imagined Noctis would fall for Ignis…and he doubted Regis had ever even considered the possibility. If they had realised they would have worked to nudge Noctis away from letting those feelings develop. Ignis could mimic human emotion but… they knew Ignis loved Noctis, loved them, but romance? He would ensure he was free for the next few days in case either boy needed to talk or fight.

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"You know I would never hurt you; you trust me?" Ignis whispered and Noctis' frown deepened.

"Of course I do. Ignis…"

Ignis hugged him, pressing their foreheads together. "Don't be scared, please." He stepped back, moving away from Noct as he removed his glasses and set them safely on the table, wondering if they were close enough for Noct to notice their colour was off. He undid the buttons on his shirt, letting it slip off and Noctis' eyes went wide at the sight, despite having seen him shirtless before, though very rarely. He dread seeing those same eyes wide with fear but… he let go of the human shift, feeling his wings stretch to their full extension before settling against his back, claws and fangs back, his body older looking but still slender, the nubs of barely erupted horns hidden in his hair. He remained perfectly still, hands slightly out from his sides, open, as unthreatening as possible.

He heard Noct's breathing hitch and heart accelerate, saw the pupils dilate, saw his fingers flex instinctively, halfway summoning a weapon but then he stopped, letting go of the gathering magic. Ignis couldn't bring himself to reach for his emotions, too scared.

"Ig….Ignis?" Noctis' voice was higher than normal, barely audible to another human but his hearing was better.

"It's me," he whispered, not wanting to startle him. He'd stopped himself from calling a weapon, hadn't attacked or tried to run, there was a chance that just like his parents, he would see passed his appearance. "This is what I really look like. I was found by Hunters before you were born, brought to the Citadel by the Guard, and locked away in the most secure cell," he admitted and Noctis flinched slightly. "The King came to see me and he was the first to talk to me as if I could understand, to not assume I was some dumb beast or daemon. He risked his life to enter the cell and offer comfort to a terrified child. First him, then Cor, Clarus, and…your Mother. They looked after me, taught me, took me away from the cell. I've always been at your side Noctis, even before you were born. I held you as an infant and you were so tiny and precious. I wanted to protect you, to look after you, and so I learned to appear human. It took time but when you were three I could hold it all day and was given the Scientia name and a forged identity." He paused, not sure how much more to say.

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

Noctis stared at the stranger who had taken Ignis' place, except…he wasn't a stranger. He could see Ignis in his features, his hair, height…. "Ig…Ignis?" he whispered. What was going on? What…what was he? It was hard, fighting the urge to summon a weapon but…Ignis had pleaded for him not to be scared of him.

He listened as Ignis explained how he'd come to the Citadel, a cell….they'd locked him in a cell. Found by Hunters…he could imagine well enough what that meant, they had caught him, hurt him. Mom….he'd known Mom, how old was he really? He looked older now, older than the eighteen he was meant to be. Why didn't he hate them all for his capture? If his Dad knew then Ignis couldn't be a threat because he would never have been allowed near him.

He took a slow, steady breath, and then forced his body to move, taking a half step forward, seeing Ignis tense slightly. Glowing green eyes were focused on him, wary, in a way he'd never seen from Ignis before. He took another step and reached out slowly, Ignis watching him carefully. He had to prove to himself what he was seeing was real. His fingers brushed pale skin, finding it cold now. Noctis gently pressed his hand to Ignis' skin, running it over his upper arm and shoulder, the skin was smooth, unblemished, hairless. He looked up, finding Ignis was watching him, the glow of his eyes much more noticeable so close.

"Ignis," it wasn't a question this time but he still nodded in answer.

He watched as Ignis ever so slowly lifted his hand up and he reached out in return, their fingers brushing before tangling, sharp claws resting ever so gently against Noctis' skin. He closed the last bit of distance and wrapped his other arm around Ignis' waist, pressing his face to a cold chest. He felt Ignis start, but then he wrapped his arm around him in return, gently squeezing the hand he was still holding.

"Iggy," he whispered the nickname. No matter what he looked like, he was still Ignis.

"Thank you," Ignis murmured, almost too soft for him to hear.

Noctis looked up, meeting his eyes again, managing a shaky smile.

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To have Noctis smile at him, to be hugging him, was a far better reaction than he had dared hoped for. Finally, he reached cautiously for his emotions, there was no disgust, just lingering confusion, curiosity, wonder, a little nervousness but that was very understandable. "Do you understand now, that I can't give you everything a human wants in romance?"

That got a frown. "Why?" he let go of Ignis' hand and then slowly lifted a hand to his face and Ignis leant into the touch.

Ignis shifted position a little, pressing their lower bodies more firmly together and he saw the flicker of confusion. He carefully grasped the hand touching his face and lowered it to his pants, Noctis going red, but he gently yet firmly pressed Noct's hand against where a humans groin was, knowing he would feel nothing different than the rest of Ignis' body.

"What?" he looked highly embarrassed but also worried and confused.

Worried? Why would he be worried about…oh, did he think someone had…. "I'm not human Noctis, no matter how good my shift has become. We don't…procreate the same way you do. Physical attraction, sex…it's…" he shrugged, words failing him. "I can copy the appropriate form but it doesn't work the same as a human body does even then."

"Oh," Noctis looked away and he felt his pain and shame.

"Noct," he reached out, always so careful of his claws, gently urging him to look at him again. When he did, Ignis leant in and pressed his lips to Noct's. It was strange but not unpleasant. "You deserve someone who can give you everything." Perhaps…Prompto? They were so close already and Prompto had at least a crush on Noctis.

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He'd thought for a second that the Hunters had done more than just capture him, it was a relief to know Ignis' body was just different to a humans. He idly wondered how they did the whole kid thing then but pushed the question aside. There was more to…to a relationship than the physical, even if that was what most teens focused on. But he wasn't a normal teenager, he was a Prince, he'd had to grow up faster than most others.

He could almost see Ignis considering who would be 'better' for him, wondering who would make Iggy's list. Prompto, probably. They'd fooled around a bit and they were attracted to each other, there was definitely love there too, but the right kind? Prom hadn't hesitated in encouraging him to talk to Ignis though. Prompto's self-worth was a lot better, so that wouldn't be why he'd done it.

"Stop making a list of people 'better' for me," he told him and Ignis blinked, looking briefly startled and he grinned. "I know you Iggy, you so were making a list."

"Perhaps," he admitted, a small smile tugging at his lips and flashing a little bit of fang.

"Ignis…how old are you?"

"Ah, that. We age differently, in quicker bursts. I appeared to be about five when I came here but I was only about…eight months old? Humans are one of the very rare species where the baby and toddler stages last years. I remained that physical age for about four years before growing to appear about fifteen. I am now physically an adult and with only…with only one adult feature left to grow in."

"What is it?" Noctis asked, looking him over.

He held his hand out and Noctis gave his, relived when he lifted his hand well above his waist. His fingers were guided into blond hair and he felt a hand…nub, on his head, hidden by his hair. Ignis let go of his hand so he ran his fingers across to the other side, finding another nub.

"Horns?" he guessed and Ignis nodded. "Huh, how big will they get?"

"Everyone's are different."

Made sense, even animals with horns or antlers each had their own individual look. And that comparison made him feel bad. "So do only guys have them…um...you are…"

"Male?" Ignis asked, amusement in his tone and Noctis nodded.

"By human standards, yes. We don't really differentiate gender. Mates pick each other based on a whole lot of criteria." Ignis turned reaching for his shirt.

"You don't have to, if you don't want to um…shift? You probably don't get a lot of time like this, do you?"

"Usually only at night," he admitted, hesitating.

"Can I?" Noctis indicated one of the black leathery wings and Ignis turned, stretching them out. He carefully touched the nearest one, finding it warmer than Ignis' skin though still cool. It was soft too and obviously sensitive as it twitched under his fingers. "Can you fly?"

"Yes, there's a room set aside for my use in the Citadel. You can come if you wish."

"I'd like that," what would it be like to fly? Better than warping probably.

"We should go back to your apartment, you didn't actually finish your dinner," Ignis reached for his shirt again and Noctis didn't stop him. It probably felt strange to not look human around him after so long hiding his true appearance.

"Okay, though I'm not really hungry." He shrugged but then thought of something. "Is this why you haven't taken an Oath?"

"No one knows how the magic would react to me. I am hardly defenceless Noctis, I have my own abilities."

"There's more to sharing my magic than just fighting," he pointed out. He liked feeling part of Prom nestled against him, always knowing he was okay. There were days he'd like to shove Gladio off the roof but it was still comforting to know he was there. Ignis just smiled sadly and Noctis knew he wouldn't agree to try it, not for himself, but for Noctis' safety.

Just before they left the apartment he turned and hugged Ignis again. "I'm not scared of you," he promised softly and Ignis' arms wrapped around him in return. "You're Iggy, no matter what. And I don't care if you think there's someone better, cause I think you're more than good enough," he rushed the last out, breaking the hug to bolt for the stairs, warping up them.

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Ignis blinked, startled, had Noctis just warped up the stairs? He…he really wasn't scared, Ignis couldn't feel any fear coming from him anymore. It was kind of him to say Ignis was good enough, but Noctis was a teenager, even if Ignis agreed to try, sooner or later Noctis would grow frustrated with a purely emotional relationship, with nothing more than kisses and hugs. Better to preserve what they had than to risk it.

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"So, how'd it go?" Prompto asked and Noctis didn't know what to say, it was Ignis' secret.

"Could have been better," he admitted as he grabbed his gym bag. They were due at the Citadel soon. "He uh…he's not interested in…sex so he's convinced it wouldn't work." There, an explanation that didn't give away his secret.

"Oh, are you okay with that?" Prompto asked gently, concern clear.

Noctis ran a hand through his hair. "I told him I don't care but I don't think he believed me. Cause that's all teenagers think about." He rolled his eyes and Prompto snickered.

"Well, most do," he pointed out.

"Yeah, but find one normal person who works at the Citadel."

"Point. So, you're not giving up?"

"No."

"Good," Prompto grinned at him and Noctis grinned back as they got in the elevator and headed down to the garage.

TBC…

So now Noctis knows the truth about Ignis. How long till Prompto finds out? I time skipped by quite a bit this time.