The woman, whom Prompto now knew was Dr. Ambrose, smiled benignly at him as Noctis wheeled him into the room.

The prince patted him on the shoulder before promising to meet him for lunch later and heading to his own appointment. Once alone, Prompto allowed the silence to stretch between them, not sure as to what to say to this stranger.

"If you don't know where to start today," she said, as if reading his thoughts, "I was advised that you have broken two mirrors, and are insisting that you will continue to do so. Perhaps you would like to talk about that?"

Prompto scoffed quietly. "Not really. Besides, I thought what we talk about is supposed to be private." He didn't look at her, instead staring out at the clear blue sky beyond the window.

"What we talk about will always remain private, but that doesn't mean that your friends and family are not allowed to speak to me about their concerns. Count Scientia is worried that you may be pushing yourself into a shame cycle."

Prompto did not reply; made no action indicating he'd even heard her.

The clock tick tick ticked.

"But," she continued, "we don't have to talk about that, if you've got something else on your mind." She folded her hands upon the desk. "We can talk about anything you want. Or, if you need another day to just let your emotions out, that's ok, too. Whatever you need."

Prompto still didn't speak to her, not at first. He pushed himself up out of his chair and made his way over to the window. They were up on the seventh floor, and from this vantage point, he was able to view several parts of the citadel grounds. Below, in a courtyard, a tiny Cor Leonis ran drills with potential Crownsguard and Glaives; though separate divisions, they were weeded out in the same manner, and Prompto could already spot a few recruits that were lagging behind the rest.

"Do you ever feel like you just can't quite keep up? That no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do or how good you are, that you're always like….I dunno, five steps behind?"

There was a slight smile in Dr. Ambrose's voice when she replied. "I think most people feel that way, at least sometimes."

Prompto nodded almost to himself. He lifted a hand to the window, finger tracing the outline of a tower that stood tall in the misty morning light just across the courtyard. "I don't know what I ever did to deserve the people who care about me. Noctis is like…the coolest, you know? Heh, I know that's like a stupid way to put it, but it's true. Noct could hang around anyone he wants, and he picks me. And, I mean I'm grateful, I just don't get it."

"Why do you say that?" Dr. Ambrose interrupted, trying to rein in and refocus his thoughts.

He still wouldn't face her, and simply shrugged one thin shoulder as he continued to stare out the window. "S'true. I mean, I'm a refugee of the land of his enemy. And, I know he catches hell about it, sometimes. I hear the other kids in school; their snide remarks and cruel jabs. His life would probably be easier if he just like, hung out with noble kids, you know?

"But also, there's this part of me that's selfish, I guess. I like that Noct likes me. I want him to. It has nothing to do with his status, you know. He's just…

"Did you know that Noct volunteers every Saturday morning at the animal shelter? I mean, he's mostly just going in and playing with all the animals, but it helps get them used to humans, you know?"

His hands clenched tightly at his sides. "He's a brilliant student; he makes straight A's without even trying. He's genuinely kind and he just wants for everyone to have a good life. And he's a nerd. He has like thirty seven Alchemy: the Decline decks built. Half of them suck, but still."

Prompto finally turned back to face Dr. Ambrose, violet eyes wet with emotion. He bit his bottom lip hard before finally continuing. "And there's this whole thing between us, now, and it's like I just don't get why he still bothers? I don't understand why he came to save me in the first place. It had to be the stupidest decision of his life. He should have just let me go."

"Is that what you would have preferred?" Dr. Ambrose's voice remained impassive, but Prompto stiffened all the same. The woman seemed to have an uncanny ability to dig into his innermost thoughts without even trying.

"No," he lied, shaking his head vigorously. They both knew the answer was actually 'yes', but the doctor was kind enough to drop the subject for the time being.

"Your new physician says you're doing better and should be able to go home by Monday or Tuesday. How do you feel about that?"

He shrugs again and finally turns to face her, meeting her eyes timidly. "I mean, my dad's supposed to be coming home in like a week and a half, so I guess I'm ok with it. The solitude sounds kinda nice, actually."

"Would you like to talk more about your parents?" Dr. Ambrose gestured to the chair across from her desk and as he settled himself into it, she busied herself getting a bottle of water for him from a small refrigerator near her filing cabinet.

"Yeah, sure," he said, accepting the offered drink. Talking about his parents was definitely a safer topic than Noctis or anything that had happened to him during his captivity.

"Clear your mind," Maren Spencer intoned as he placed his palm against Noctis' chest. The raven haired teen rolled his eyes and huffed, but complied.

He was in to see the so called 'magic specialist'. The man was in his forties; skin waxy from lack of sun, wild hair receding from a permanently furrowed brow. He dressed simply and lived the same, spending the majority of his time in the citadel walls, dedicating a serious portion of his life to the study and practice of Lucian magic.

Noctis found him to be particularly boring.

The man peered at him, poorly hiding his aggravation. "I need you take me to where your magic is housed. Once your mind is clear, complete the circuit so we can begin."

Noctis sighed through his nose, nearly rolling his eyes again. "Why are we doing this? You know I hate it when we do this. Barely even works half the time."

Maren dropped his hand from the prince's chest and frowned. "Ignis has advised that your 'magic is on the fritz'. He seems quite concerned. From what he's described, I'm thinking that it has grown beyond its confinement, and that can be dangerous. We need this to work so that we can figure out exactly what you're dealing with."

Noctis' shoulders slumped in defeat. He supposed he had no choice. He certainly didn't want to be a danger to himself or others, especially not Prompto. He huffed quietly to himself and allowed Maren to make contact once more.

He closed his eyes and began the process of clearing his mind. He'd had to become adept at this as a child; his powers had had as many growth spurts as he'd had, and the resultant catastrophes around the citadel ranged in severity from small fires in his room to the kitchens having to be shut down for three days because he froze everything solid.

He was not a fan of the particular technique that Maren was attempting to use. It was extremely intimate. The only person he was alright with taking to the place his magic was housed was Ignis, and even then it felt like an invasion.

But, it was for Prompto. So, he opened up his mind and allowed Maren in.

Maren was strong in Lucian magic, able to claim a small bit of royal blood of his own as the descendent of a bastard child of a long dead king. His magic was housed in an old tree that grew in mire, with sucking wet mud that would try and pull you under in places. It was one of the largest stores of magic he'd ever seen, and it was difficult to maintain.

It was nothing compared to Noctis'.

The beach is sandy and white; the light of the sun reflecting off and softening everything at ground level in a gentle haze. If you stepped into the water, you'd be able to see clear down to your feet for the first several strides before the ground below you drops off suddenly in places, leaving you struggling to stay afloat.

Noctis is stood on a pier when Maren finds him. His dark hair is a mass of twisting shadows against the blue sky. He is wearing a loose black T-shirt and black shorts that ended just below his knees. Beside him a fishing pole is leaning up against one of the supports, awaiting its lure.

Maren joins him above the sloshing waters, staring out across the deep blue bay. Water stretched as far as the eye could see, meeting the sky at the horizon line; the light lively blue and dark midnight hue meshed seamlessly in the middle, both existing in perfect harmony with the other and stretching out infinitely in each direction.

Noctis did not look at him when he approached, only waved a hand vaguely out at the mostly placid waters. "Seems the same as always."

Maren had to disagree as he came to stand next to the prince and gazed out over the water with him. The last time he'd been here, the water had been clear near the shore, eventually turning a brilliant turqoise near the horizon line, with pockets of royal blue where his magic was heavier. Now, even the shallows were getting deeper; the recesses were growing darker. A network of near black spiderwebbed its way across the water, following the divots and making its way ever closer to shore.

It was intimidating, to say the least.

"Ok, Noctis, I need you to focus. Is there any area you are feeling a particular pull from?" Maren studied he waters, frowning to himself. They seemed to be flowing strangely, the miniature undulating waves making him a little sick to his stomach.

The prince shook his head. "I told you, looks the same as always. Feels the same as always."

Maren glanced over at the teen, a little startled at how bright the neon maroon shade his eyes glowed was, how the light from it made his flat expression almost sinister.

A wet slap echoed behind him, the dock vibrating with the force of the sudden blow. Maren whipped around, heart pounding hard as a thick tendril of darkness flopped about sightlessly on the wood, tapping its way closer to the pair at the end of the pier. He watched, astounded, as another burst up from the water; a faceless mockery of Leviathan rising boldly against the backdrop of blue. It, too, fell forward and landed on the dock, slapping around a moment before joining its brother in snaking its way towards them.

Maren let out a string of curses, turning again to face the expanse, finding that several more were rising and honing in on them, the snake-like tendrils threading trough the water towards where they stood. He gripped Noctis' shoulder in a panic, meeting his too-bright gaze. "We have to get out of here; this isn't right!"

But Noctis' face simply broke into a slow insidious smile before it began to crack, revealing a nightmare of violently undulating shadows much like those coming from the water beneath his skin. But, it was his eyes that held Maren's gaze; that stole the breath from his lungs with their intensity. They burned so fiercely that when he finally was able to look away, a perfect afterimage was left behind.

When the prince spoke, the whole world shook, the sky around them turning white. "Now, just clear your mind," he intoned with the voices of a thousand dead men. He stepped nearer, closing the narrow gap between them. "I need you to take me to where your magic is housed."

Maren ripped his hand away from Noctis' chest, sucking in air noisily as he threw himself to the ground. His chest heaved as he clutched frantically at his chest.

Noctis lifted an eyebrow. "You ok, dude?" When no answer was forthcoming, the prince shrugged and rubbed the back of his head. "I told you it was pointless. Got yourself all—" here he just gestured towards Maren's obviously flustered form—"and it didn't even work." He staggered up to his feet, slipping his shirt back on in the process. "Sorry you wasted your time. I guess I'm a little to stressed to let someone in right now."

The raven haired teen leaned down and offered his hand to help the older man to his feet.

Maren stared at his fingers as if they may sting him if he were to accept, and shook his head jerkily. "I…I'm fine. Just…leave me here."

Noctis shrugged and headed towards the door as Maren laid himself out to stare at the ceiling, trying to blink those glowing eyes away.

"Well, you certainly have a bit more pep in you step than you did, earlier. I trust the session went well?" Ignis asked, meeting Noctis in the hall outside the medical wing. The raven haired teen shrugged.

They started walking towards the double doors, pressing close to the side to allow a small group of nurses who'd just come from where they were heading to pass. "Nothing happened. He just sat there for like ten minutes getting all sweaty and breathing hard and then just, like, fell over and laid there. I didn't even feel a thing."

The little group of nurses collectively gasped and then burst into raucous laughter, leaving Ignis to stare at them in bewilderment while Noctis blushed furiously. Choosing not to address the faux pas further, the prince quickened his step and opened the door for his adviser. Once through, they bore left and headed towards Prompto's room.

"Well, that is odd. We'll have to make another appointment and try again."

"Yeah, yeah. Hey, look, so I was kinda hoping to get some alone time with Prompto, if that's alright? Seeing as I have to start back school on Monday and all."

Ignis paused directly outside the door, frowning down at his young charge. "I suppose there's no harm in that. Just see that he eats something, ok? I'll be back to collect you later this afternoon."

Noctis gave the older teen a sly smile. "Yeah, sure, Iggy. Thanks." He nodded to the Glaive who stood at the door and slipped through, humming to himself as he did so.

Once inside, he shut the door snugly behind him, eyeing the blond in the bed. Prompto smiled tentatively at him, and gave him a little half wave.

Noctis returned the smile and pushed himself off the door, swaggering a little as he sauntered towards the bed. There was something powerful coursing through his veins, filling each step with liquid purpose. "Well, hello there, handsome."

Prompto's light giggle did something almost painful to Noctis, who took Prompto's hand as he sat in his chair. "Got any plans for the rest of the day?"

The blond frowned a little, his perfect pout doing nothing to take away from the sweetness of his freckled face. "Nurse just left. Apparently I'm still running a little fever, despite the handful of meds Iggy made me take earlier. They want me to stay in bed the rest of the day."

Noctis waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Why, what a coincidence! That's what I wanted you to do, too!"

Prompto laughed at that, pinkening a little at the prince's tone. "Oh, Noct, you know—" he stopped with a sudden squawk and a high pitched giggle as Noctis stood up quickly and planted his hands upon the blond's shoulders and leaned in for a short, but passionate, kiss.

He drew back a little; just enough to look the other boy eye-to-eye, midnight and midday blues locked on each other.

"Tell me no. If you don't want me to keep going, tell me no, now." The raven haired teen's voice was husky, his eyes half lidded. When Prompto answered with silence, a brief spark of maroon passed through his irises and then he was on the bed, crawling up Prompto's body, gently forcing him against the raised back of the bed.

The freckled teen situated himself to accommodate the unexpectedly affectionate prince; he tilted his head back, opening his neck up for Noctis' warm lips to press against as he wrapped his arms around the raven haired boy. His breathing picked up, but he never protested; his soft moans and whimpers in direct delighted response to the attention Noctis was lavishing on his neck and collarbone.

When they kissed again, there was something like hunger in the way they began to devour each other. Their tongues darted out between panted murmurs of affection, exploring their new surroundings as their mouths crashed together again and again. Two sets of hands roved over taut bodies, tentatively at first, but then with vigor.

But, as suddenly as it started, it came to an end. One second Prompto was gripping Noctis tight against his own body, whispering 'yesyesyes' into his ear as Noctis' teeth went to work in the crook of his neck, nibbling gently in all the right spots…

… … and the next Prompto was pushing him away, looking seven shades of upset. His hands shook as they pressed against Noctis' chest, his lips working hard, but unable to form words.

It took just a moment for the haze to clear from Noctis' mind, but as a lone tear spilled down Prompto's cheek, he sat back and slowly untangled himself from the slightly smaller boy.

"I'm sorry, Prom. I'm not sure what came over me, I—"

"No! It's ok, it's totally me, I'm just…there's…I'm fucked up, Noct." More tears now flowed from his eyes, the red rims making the lavender in them stand out all the more.

Noctis frowned at Prompto, his brows furrowing in consternation. "Prom, you had really fucked up things happen to you. But, you're strong, and even if it's hard now, things will get easier. I love you so much—"

"But why? Noct, before all this happened, we weren't even close to whatever it is we're doing now. And I..I…" his breathing picked up, his posture suddenly screaming 'wild animal'.

Noctis held up both hands, placating. "Prom…I've always cared for you, you know that. You mean so much to me. Loving you is just…it's just how I feel. It's natural. And…I never thought for a minute that you could feel the same; that you wanted to be anything more than friends, so I stuffed it down, you know? I put it behind me and did my best to not think about you in that way.

"But then someone took you from me." Noctis' eyes narrowed and the room filled with the scent of ozone. "And the things they did to you—" he looked away, shoulders shaking in a few dry sobs. "You didn't deserve that, any of that."

"Noct—"

But the prince continued, his voice hitching every so often. "I watched the videos; all of them. I…I didn't want you to be alone. It was my fault. Nothing like that would have ever happened to you if you weren't my friend; if you didn't mean so much to me."

"But, Noctis…"

"Prom—I love you so much. I love you so much I killed for you. And I don't regret it, not even a little. You're the only person in my life that loves me for me. You're beautiful and funny and sweet and strong and godsdammit, I love everything about you."

Before another bout of rambling could begin, Prompto was on him, pressing his trembling lips against Noctis' in a softer, sweeter version of their earlier kiss. He drew back, and the prince's heart dropped a little as he took in the tears still glistening within the blond's eyelashes. But, when he spoke, he didn't sound upset.

"I love you, too. But, I can't…I don't know when…"

Noctis blanched, realizing what Prompto was alluding to. "Dude, that is so fine. We can wait as long as you need. I was just…I don't know what came over me. I just saw you here, and I wanted to touch you, and kiss you, and—"

show the world you are mine

"—hold you." He finished up lamely, startled by his own possessive thought.

Prompto smiled at him, leaning back into the bed. "Well, I think I can accommodate you there."

Noctis slipped a happy expression on as he languidly crawled back up the bed, depositing errant kisses on Prompto's chest, neck, and cheek on his way up. He situated himself half underneath the blond, pulling him into his chest and holding him tight.

They murmured softly to each other for a while after that, intertwining the fingers of their right hands together. Noctis lay awake for a long time once Prompto finally drifted off, the light from the midday sun shining through the blinds, laying stripes of light across his face. He relished each freckle, each strand of blond hair, each twitch of soft pink lips.

He loved Prompto Argentum. And he would kill anyone who came between them.