Noctis could hear them again. He wished he couldn't.
Ardyn didn't go to Somnus every night. It was only a few times a week. This was meant to make his victim feel alone. Noctis had sure felt that way. Always worrying when Ardyn would come next. Any little sound would startle the Chosen, making him think the daemonic man was returning. That constant feeling of dread during that time was exhausting.
"Do not touch me!" Somnus sounded disgusted. Noctis had been too. Ardyn liked to touch. To kiss. To stroke. To make his body feel things it shouldn't.
During Noctis's time imprisoned, some nights had been met with physical violence when he would not succumb to Ardyn's demands. Sometimes it was psychological and emotional when Ardyn would remind him of all his failures and make feel like he was less than nothing, when Ardyn would smirk and make Noctis's own traitorous body react in ways he wished with all his heart it wouldn't. The humiliation afterwards would make his face burn red. Some days the ancient man would just sit and talk to him like they were old friends. He would offer 'comforting' touches as he tried to convince Noctis to give up.
It had been both horrifying and mortifying for Noctis. It was likely even worse for Somnus.
The dark-haired man wondered if Ardyn did to his brother the same things he had done to him. He had also been chained up, naked, while Ardyn could do whatever he wanted to him until they gave up, save rape. He didn't want that, the Accursed had said. He'd wanted the Chosen willing.
He wanted Noctis broken, had wanted him to stop resisting.
It was still rape, despite what Ardyn tried to imply. And the humiliation was much more than if his captor decided he would just take what he wanted from the beginning. But even so Noctis had given in.
So would Somnus, with enough time.
The Chosen loathed how he was allowing this. He was right here. Listening to this horror be repeated one another. He knew where Somnus was locked away. He could help! He could even speak. Offer comfort to his ancient progenitor in his suffering.
… But Noctis wouldn't. He was too afraid of Ardyn. For himself, his friends and for humanity.
Noctis deep hatred of himself grew with every encounter he was forced to overhear.
"I may do as I wish. Nothing can save you now." Ardyn laughed, bringing Noctis back from his thoughts. "Won't you indulge your brother?"
"My brother was not sick. He was not a depraved monster like you!" Somnus refused vehemently. There was the sound of flesh being struck and Somnus grunted in pain. He heard Ardyn chuckle then.
"You never really knew me did you, brother? The real me?" The Accursed was no doubt grinning by the sound of his voice. "What if I told you that I wanted this long before I became the monster you believe me to be?"
"I'd say you lie." Somnus scoffed. Noctis liked how the Founder still sounded unbroken, but even he could hear the faint undertones of something else. The start of despair?
"No, Somnus. I tell the truth when I say I have imagined having you more often that you would ever want to believe. Your dear brother, uninfected by this cursed sickness still desired you. But I would have never acted upon it then, while I have no reason to deny myself now."
"Foul creature, you cannot make me believe your lies." Somnus spat.
"Then pain awaits you." Ardyn responded icily.
Noctis tried to block out the muffled grunts of pain, turning into cries then wails of agony. It was futile. He shivered in fear, remembering the pain he endured at Ardyn's hands.
Noctis heard it while trying to sleep on another night. A soft, sobbing gasp. Ardyn sometimes turned the speaker on, even on days he did not visit his brother. This was one of those. The Founder King had been left alone to stew in his thoughts.
It was just that one sound, months after Somnus had first been imprisoned. The owner of it controlling themselves before any more of his sorrow could be heard. Even if he must not be entirely sure anyone was around to hear him.
The younger brother refused Ardyn at every turn. Pain and suffering were his only rewards for his strength of will. But Somnus was slowly breaking. The despair was taking hold. Noctis himself spent many nights sobbing.
Noctis wished to help. He really did. He ached for it.
But Ardyn would hurt him. Hurt them all.
The failed King couldn't risk everyone's lives. Or Ardyn's wrath.
"You remember how we were after mother and father were killed?"
No response. There was the sound of movement and then Somnus cried out in panic.
"Don't! " Even though Ardyn had done this many times already, Somnus seemed to be as disgusted and horrified as he was the first time.
"Then answer me, brother." Ardyn hummed. "We were close, were we not? We spent even more time together after that."
"Take your hands off of me! " The response was desperate. And then finally. "..Yes!"
"Would not others think it very strange that two grown men would sleep together that way we did? Tangled up in one another's arms?"
"We were brothers... Who had just lost their parents. It was not strange to seek comfort after such a tragedy." Somnus stressed out the word 'brothers'. The Chosen could detect a hint of relief in his voice. Ardyn must have stopped whatever he had just been doing.
Noctis also noticed Somnus use the word 'were', as in past tense, in regards to he and Ardyn being brothers. If he noticed then so would Ardyn. But it seemed the Accursed was in one of his better moods as he ignored it this time.
"Then why did you attempt to hide what we did? You would sneak into my room in the dead of the night, making sure never to be seen. You'd do the same in the morning to return to your room. So many months like that, our nights spent together."
"There was nothing illicit in that." Somnus cut in, trying to argue. "I wanted the comfort of a sibling, nothing more!"
"I don't think I ever really understood the desire I held for you until a few weeks after we started that routine. You were curled up in my arms, the tears still glistening on your lashes, so trusting. You were beautiful with that face of peace and innocence as you slept." Ardyn sighed as he said this. "Noctis reminds me of you from those days. An... Unfortunate circumstance for him at one time. Thankfully, he has learned to accept his place with me, as will you with time."
There was a long pause before anyone spoke.
"You… You disgust me. Vile creature, you are not Ardyn!" Somnus spat, likely realizing what his brother was hinting at. The Founder King seemed not to know what happened to the Chosen when he had been defeated and infected. Somnus had been held in the safety of the Ring's magic, oblivious to the outside world, until he had been ripped out by his brother. He had asked Ardyn before, but the man had never told him anything.
Noctis wondered if would Somnus be ashamed and disappointed of his descendant now that he knew...
Undoubtedly, the man thought.
"It is because of you that your Chosen King has met with such a fate." Ardyn's now enraged voice snarled. He had not liked his brother's response this time. "Know that everything done to him is because of your own actions. Drown in your guilt, for everything you experience was first felt by another. By your precious Chosen."
"Monster! You will-" Somnus's words were cut off when they turned into a howl of pain.
Noctis curled into himself, covering his ears and trying to muffle the sounds of violence.
It didn't work.
Afterwards, Ardyn spoke up again as he was treating Somnus.
"I wanted you then, dear brother. And I still want you now, despite everything." Ardyn said.
"I will… Not give you that." Somnus's voice was raspy, verging on tearful.
"I will tell you once again, and as many times as it will take, that this pain is unnecessary. You choose it by resisting me. Accept your place with me and all this can end." Ardyn stated coldy before he left that night.
Again, Noctis heard the sound of almost-sobs.
It hurt his heart.
"Let the Chosen go." Somnus demanded as soon as Ardyn entered the room during their next encounter. Noctis was startled at being spoken about, lifting his head from underneath his pillow to stare at the speaker in his room.
"So the guilt has you attempting to bargain with me?" Ardyn chuckled. "And why should I do such a thing? What can you do if I refuse?"
"Nothing… But you said you did that because of our resemblance. You… Wanted me, correct? Well. I am here." Somnus sounded revolted as he admitted this. "You believe you will eventually get me to… Indulge in your fantasies. You can let him go then. He is no longer needed. He cannot even purge the Starscourge as he is. The man is no threat to you."
The Chosen felt his eyes tear up. Somnus was willing to think of his descendant, even after he had failed him so terribly?
… Noctis didn't think himself worthy of his pity, or even his attempt at saving him. Look what he was allowing happen! The failed King felt his feelings of guilt intensify.
"Hmm…" Ardyn pretended to think it over. "I don't believe I will. I've grown quite fond of the boy. If it eases your heart, know that he does not suffer as you do. He's been thoroughly tamed. "
There was a sound of disgust in response.
"Oh, there is no need for that. I hope to see you and him grow fond of one another in the future. I feel one hundred and thirteen generations would allow dilute the blood enough for your sensibilities."
Somnus seemed stunned as he did not speak for some time. Noctis himself felt the same. What exactly was he implying?
"You are revolting. " Somnus spat, horror evident in his voice. Noctis heard movement, chains rattling, and then a pained grunt, coming from Ardyn. Noctis winced. He had tried to hit the man as well, when the chains were loosened enough to attempt it. It had not ended well.
"You must greatly enjoy my punishments, brother." Ardyn voice lowered, becoming dangerous.