Ardyn spent the next few encounters preying on the guilt that Somnus finally let show. He spoke a lot, sometimes in hushed whispers where Noctis could only catch a brief word or two. When Ardyn spoke normally, he would tell his brother how much he had loved him, how much he still loved him. The Accursed sometimes spoke of their childhood, of what he once wanted for himself and the both of them.

The Accursed even spoke of his time in Angelgard, of what he had experienced there. He spoke of how lonely he had been. How abandoned, how angry he felt. He told his brother everything he had done to get himself to where they were now. A place in which he could get his revenge and take back what he believed was his. The throne and even Somnus himself.

The older brother told Somnus again and again how everything would be better once he gave in.

Ardyn used Noctis's failures to help break him. He would use guilt for his brother. The Chosen didn't believe most of what Ardyn was telling Somnus. It was just an act, but it sounded so convincing.

The Founder spoke very little during that time but Noctis heard him apologizing several other instances. He refused less to whatever Ardyn was doing, though it didn't seem the Accursed was taking as much physical advantage of the situation as he could have. He seemed to spend most of the time just laying by his brother while he spoke or even at times, slept.

Noctis once again remembered his own experiences. Near the end, when he was close to giving up, Ardyn was less handsy and appeared to be more gentle, understanding and sympathetic. An act, once again, but it had worked. The Chosen had been so exhausted, both mentally and physically. He just wanted it to be over.

Somnus was at that stage too.

When Founder did speak, he would plead, part of him maybe still believing he could somehow change his brother's mind. He asked Ardyn stop this. To let him and Noctis go. To free them of the Starscourge. Noctis wondered if that was even possible at this point.

... The Founder King even admitted to his brother that he couldn't take much more of this. That he just wanted this all to end. That he was so sorry for everything.

While any refusals might have caused Ardyn to lash out before, it did not now. Even when Noctis would occasionally hear Somnus struggling to free himself from an embrace or a kiss from his brother. Instead, the Accursed would gently tell his brother the only path to end it was to submit. That everything would be alright afterwards. That he needn't worry about anything else once he accepted his place. The older brother would once again tell him he loved him. That all he wished was for Somnus to feel even a little of the same.

Ardyn would now stay with Somnus the entire night whenever he came to see him. Noctis would fall asleep and wake to hear the older man leaving his brother's room the next 'morning'.

Noctis heard Somnus break down finally, his open weeping causing Noctis's own tears. The Chosen still ached to help. To tell Somnus not to give up. To offer him comfort so that he would continue to fight.

Instead it was the Accursed that offered the comfort. Through whispers, kisses and not-so-innocent touches. Just like he had done to Noctis when he had broken down in tears. Ardyn was telling his brother many of the same things he said to Noctis.

It was close to the end, the Chosen thought to himself. He felt like throwing up at the shame of it all. For allowing this.

Noctis fell asleep through most of another encounter a few weeks later. He hadn't slept much. Even when it was quiet, the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, his own guilt, had kept him up. He wasn't able to sleep anywhere else either and ended up wandering through parts of Insomnia like a zombie.

The Chosen awoke only to hear that Ardyn was already in the middle of another 'session'.

But things were very different this time.

"You've fought against the darkness for so long. You've waited for as long as I for an end to this. And it is finally over... But perhaps not quite how you must have expected it." Ardyn's voice held another, very familiar, note to it. Noctis's eyes widened and he felt his body still with dread.

"It will be alright Somnus. You do not have to fight anymore." Ardyn's voice was soft. Soothing almost, laced with unbridled lust. Noctis shuddered at it. He remembered when that very tone had first been used on him. He had been in tears, wishing wholeheartedly for that nightmare to be over. He didn't want to be in pain anymore. He didn't want to be locked up anymore. He wanted out. It had sounded so much better to give in. Let Ardyn have what he wanted. He had already seen everything, touched everything. Why did it matter after that?

… And it felt better than the pain, even despite the humiliation. The Chosen finally given in to that monster… Would Somnus too?

"Just accept this." Ardyn whispered. There was the sound of a kiss.

"No… Stop this… Please." The words coming from Somnus's mouth sounded so broken. The Chosen dug his nails into his palms. He wished for Somnus to defy his brother. Even if he felt he was a hypocrite for wishing such a thing. He had given up so much easier.

"Hush. Let it go, Somnus." Adryn cooed. More kisses. There was a soft, unfamiliar cry.

"Ardyn, no…"

Noctis realized this may have been the first time he heard Somnus call his brother by name.

"Please, my brother, give in. I do not wish to hurt you any more." The Accursed continued. "I truly desire you not your constant agony... Please Somnus, we can end this... Allow me this for abandoning me in the darkness. You owe me."

There was a shuddering, tearful breath in response. There was a minute of silence and then faint sound of movement.

The clatter and clank of chains was no longer present. Ardyn had removed them.

"Accept me." Ardyn's voice was soft and commanding. Both at once.

Noctis could hear more movement, the rustling of sheets, and then a sharp gasp. He heard a deep moan that Noctis instantly recognized as the Accursed's. He had heard the same sound many times, up close and personal.

"No..." Somnus voice sounded strained. "Ah… This isn't…"

Soft laughter, sounding triumphant, was the response received he from Ardyn. He could hear another few kisses being placed. "Relax Somnus. I will take care of you. Just relax. Trust me. "

"Ardyn… I..."

"This..." The Accursed moaned, drowning out whatever might have been said. Whatever denial. "This is what I've desired for ages. I will love you Somnus, perhaps enough for the both of us. You need not be in pain anymore. This is a far better, is it not?"

There was a muffled cry, sounding quite broken, in response to Ardyn's words.

"Dry those tears, Somnus. Everything is forgiven. Everything is as it must be. Obey me and all will be well for the rest of time." Ardyn murmured.

There was another kiss. Ardyn sounded a little out of breath, a little strained as he spoke next.

"Despite the outcome, know you did well for them, brother. You fulfilled your duty to those cursed Astrals as you believed were destined. But that time is over. They can't have you now. You will be by my side this time. I will never let you leave me again." The triumph and delight in Ardyn's voice was so very obvious. "Now please, allow me."

Noctis heard no words after that and once again attempted to cover his ears. But even so he heard the sounds of the Accursed's pleasure. Somnus stayed mostly quiet throughout. Just as Noctis had. Maybe he too was as disbelieving as he had been for what he was allowing to happen. The humiliation of this first time would make it easier for the next, Noctis remembered.

Afterwards, The Ardyn did not leave for some time. He could hear his voice, but once again it was in low whispers, meant only for Somnus's ears.

When it was blissfully quiet for a few minutes, the silence was broken by open weeping. The Chosen had sobbed like that too.

Noctis then heard the sound of movement again, and Ardyn's low voice. Offering comfort to his brother through the tears, just like he had done for his first victim. Another manipulation.

The failed King wished so much he was stronger than he was. He had allowed this to happen. Never in his life had Noctis hated himself more.

He leaned over the side of his bed and retched. If the Chosen had anything to throw up, he would have then but being infected with the Starscourge meant he did not have to eat or drink. He'd barely done such things since his defeat.

The speaker remained silent for weeks.

Noctis rarely saw Ardyn and he only called for him a few nights during that time. It was a blessing but Noctis wasn't thankful for it.

He knew what that meant.

Much later, the newest resident of the Citadel was given a place in Noctis's room. Ardyn dragged in the elder Caelum, clad in simple garments that finally covered his nakedness. The Founder looked awful, his skin pale with dark circles around his blue eyes. His eyes themselves looked dull and glassy. He stood not as a King, but as someone brought down to his lowest. Maybe that was also how Noctis looked all the time.

In contrast, the Chosen had never seen Ardyn look as lively or as ecstatic as he did now. His eerie golden eyes were lit up with his delight. It was disturbing to behold, knowing what had caused that.

"I feel you must have some things to discuss but my brother may not be up for much of a conversation tonight. He had a bit of an… Episode the other day and is still recovering. Allow him a night of rest and I'm sure you will be able to get your proper introductions done with tomorrow."

Noctis flinched, instantly knowing exactly what he meant. There had been a commotion a few days prior and he had not heard or seen either of the brothers in the last few days.

Somnus had probably tried to flee.

The Chosen had tried as well at one time. It was a few weeks after he given in, but one day it felt like reality slapped him across the face. He had stopped in the hall of the Citadel, falling to his knees and gasped for breath. The moment of clarity at his situation had caused such an instinctive reaction in him.

Run.

His body on autopilot, even knowing what would happen if he was caught, Noctis had attempted to do just that.

The Chosen didn't make it far... And Ardyn made sure to make him regret it.

The Accursed left his two acquisitions alone, taking his leave after that statement about his brother.

Noctis couldn't bring himself to look at his ancestor directly for long. He didn't notice that Somnus had the same reaction to him.

Both were ashamed of themselves.

Both felt they should have fought more.

Both felt they should have saved the other.

Both felt they had failed.

"I must ask for your forgiveness." The words were spoken by Somnus. It was dark in the chamber, it had been for some time after the lights were turned off. Both men were too lost in thought to sleep, laying on opposite ends of the only bed. Noctis laid upon his back, Somnus on his side facing away from him.

"It's not your fault." Noctis turned his head and replied, guilt making his voice hoarse. It was Ardyn's fault. For choosing such a path as his. For laying his hands on them like he had. But Noctis could not not deny he himself held some blame as well. For allowing this to happen to Somnus. For failing in the first place.

Noctis hesitantly moved over towards Somnus's side of the bed. When the Founder didn't push him away, the Chosen pressed himself closer. The older man winced as he turned around, settling on his other side to face the young King that looked so much like him. He moved to allow the Chosen a more comfortable space beside him.

The failed King teared up at the feeling of someone else. Someone else who was not Ardyn. It had been so long since he had been able to speak to anyone but the Accursed. To feel the touch anyone who had not been that daemonic man.

Maybe Somnus felt the same as he draped one arm over the younger man.

"I used to sleep like this with Ardyn… When we were younger." Somnus mused. He laughed joylessly. He sounded hopeless, tearful. "I wonder if I led him on in some way. You would not be in this position, if not for me. He is right. I didn't love him enough to save him. I should have prevented this. I should have never let him become what he is now."

"I don't blame you." Noctis said quickly. He didn't blame him. It was not his fault. But the Chosen knew it would not change Somnus's mind, not right now. "It's the Starscourge's fault, not yours. "

"No… I do not think I can believe that anymore. I am truly sorry, Noctis. You should not be here. You should not be a part of my brother's sick fantasies. You should not have borne witness to what happened in that room." Somnus murmured as he pressed his face into Noctis's shoulder. The younger man was startled that the Founder knew. Ardyn must have told him. Was his ancestor not mad about that? For allowing his suffering?

It… Didn't seem like it.

The Chosen wrapped his arms around Somnus. He quickly felt something wrong underneath his hands and felt the Founder flinch. There were two raised areas, scar tissue no doubt, side by side on his back. Noctis paused and slowly moved his hands up, feeling another scarred wound beneath his hands a little further along. Three wounds had been inflicted somewhat recently.

Somnus didn't say anything but Noctis knew how those scars came to be there. They would take some time to heal completely.

After Noctis had tried to run, Ardyn had dragged him back to the Citadel. He had thrown him to the ground and impaled him straight through his chest with Regis's own sword, which he had taken from Noctis after his failure. In the Accursed's anger, the sword had gone through everything in its path, Noctis's body and even the stone floor until only the hilt remained visible above his chest.

Noctis had screamed. The pain had been excruciating as it was a Royal arm. It had burned his infected body. The Scourge and Ardyn's dark magic kept him alive during that horror. The older man had waited by him for almost a day, watching him, threatening him, leaving him in such a state where every second, every breath, every movement caused such agony.

The daemonic man had left at one point, coming back with someone. A human, but not anyone Noctis knew. The younger man had been shocked, not realizing humanity still lived. He had believed Ardyn wiped them out. But the Accursed revealed that was not so. He even told the Chosen that his friends were still alive and that they occasionally attempted to reach the Citadel to see if their King was still among the living. Ardyn's daemons never let them get very far into Insomnia and always left them defeated so they could stagger back home. The older man said it was because he knew they would have their uses in the future.

After that revelation, Ardyn had violently butchered the man he brought with him, his screams echoing across the Citadel. Covered in the unfortunate man's blood, his eyes burning with fury, the Accursed told the Chosen that it would be one of his friends next.

The failed King had begged for mercy. Swore to Ardyn that he would not run again. Ardyn had accepted it and removed the sword. He then partially healed the wound he inflicted, helped Noctis to his room, cleaned the blood off both of them while telling him how lenient and forgiving he had been. That he could do so much worse.

Noctis knew he could.

"I am so sorry." The Founder King apologized again, breaking Noctis out of that horrific memory.

"No… I'm the one who should be sorry." Noctis shook his head, tears beginning to fall. "I failed you. I failed all of you. And now we are stuck here, with him."

The Chosen wrapped his arms around his ancestor once more, gently this time. Careful of the wounds. Somnus returned the embrace. Both were silent in their guilt and self blame.

"I have not given up, Noctis." Somnus finally whispered after some time. "I still have hope."

"Can we do anything against him like this?" Noctis replied bitterly, his own hopes of freedom having been eroded away. "He can control us. He holds the rest of humanity hostage. Do you know there are some still alive?"

"My brother has shown me... And shown me what he is capable of if I disobey. I don't… I don't think I can defy him again. Not until I am certain I can do what is needed." He felt the Founder shudder. "But I refuse to lose hope. And I ask for your help in this. To figure out some way to defeat him. I only fear that the sole person able to save this world is Ardyn himself. He would have to allow us… He has the ability to absorb the Starscourge. It is part of the reason he became as he is."

Noctis wasn't sure he could accept. He knew what defiance meant. So did Somnus. Did he really want to face Ardyn's anger again?

Somnus took a deep breath, as if he had already decided. "If anything remains of my brother like he wants me to believe... Maybe if I do as he asks, give him exactly what he wants, I can eventually convince him. I have no room for shame in this."

Noctis didn't say anything and Somnus himself sounded rather unsure. The Chosen couldn't believe Ardyn would ever allow such a thing… But who was he to know? Maybe whatever sick obsession the Accursed had over his brother would give Somnus a chance to take advantage of it. The younger man felt a brief flicker of hope at the thought. It had been a while since he had felt such a thing. Even as small as that hope was, Noctis felt a little lighter.

"I will help." Noctis finally responded. "I don't know if we can really do this... But I will help."

"Thank you." Somnus whispered. And both men fell silent afterwards.

The Chosen knew that he wasn't alone anymore. He and Somnus were together in this. Maybe the Founder could convince his brother. Maybe there was another way that the two would discover one day. It may not happen for some time. Maybe even by then it would be too late for humanity. But Eos might live on. And they would be able to free themselves of this fate.

That night, for the first time in a long time, Noctis slept well.