Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 8

Noctis laughed as he tumbled them down onto the bed. "So proud of you," he murmured.

He knew the ceremony and party after had been hard on Prompto, he got anxious around too many people. He was fine in a crowd on the street but parties and stuff really weren't his thing. Thankfully, as part of Noct's guard he wouldn't be expected to socialise much at them from now on since he was meant to be watching Noctis' back.

"Love you," he whispered as he kissed along Prom's throat, feeling a hand run through his hair.

"Love you," Prompto responded, other arm wrapping around Noct's waist. Soon they were naked, just relaxing, kissing, and touching.

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Cor set the report aside and leant back in his chair. He was really feeling his age…ever since seeing Argentum in that lab…since someone tried to kill Noctis. They still didn't know why the attempt had been made. Noctis was popular with the general populace of the city because he'd attended school and even had a part-time job, plus his volunteer work. So it was most likely someone from outside, revenge against Regis for something? It didn't feel like the Empire was behind it.

He was glad Prompto's acceptance into the Crownsguard and then Noctis' retinue had gone so well. He'd had his concerns about the different magics and Oaths conflicting but thankfully they hadn't. The kid was now more tightly bound to the Crown than anyone else in the Lucis Caelum's service.

All of his medical results so far had been normal, well, what passed as normal for the kid considering what he'd been through. But Cor knew the concerns, that it wouldn't last, that he'd have to go back to the Empire for 'maintenance'. The very idea made him feel sick, what could they take next? What if letting it happen caused the magic to react? Surely the scientists would be cautious of that since his position in Noctis' Retinue was now public knowledge.

They still hadn't found the spy who knew about Prompto, if they could deal with them then the kid would be safer, not to mention everyone would be safer. Who knew how much the spy had access to and sent on. They definitely had connections to the Glaive but that was as close as they'd gotten. Hostilities had been picking up lately and they couldn't afford to lose more men to fights where the Empire knew their plans.

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Prompto stared at the news report, feeling sick at the casualty list, though why they bothered to show it he wasn't sure. The average person in Insomnia didn't care, they thought the war didn't affect them because they were safe behind the Wall. He knew the Empire, one way or another, they'd find a way to bring it down one day and then Insomnia would fall. No one wanted to join up and fight because they lived such happy and safe lives. They didn't think about the rest of Lucis who didn't have such safety.

Unless the entire Imperial government was overthrown and replaced, Prompto didn't see the war ever ending. And he'd received a message, he was expected to find a way to visit his parents soon now that training was done. He was terrified and he couldn't tell anyone, he couldn't just go to the Marshal's office for no reason. He'd passed the message on but had yet to be summoned by him or Lord Amicitia to deal with it.

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Ardyn studied the photo taken by their dear general. Well…that was very interesting indeed. Why had none of the little tin soldiers' reports mentioned anything about this development? Did it not realise what was happening? It wasn't human after all, so not understanding the way the Prince looked at it was possible. Perhaps they should have given it more lessons on human interaction. Oh, but there were so many ways this could be used!

He'd become bored of the status quo; it was time to change things and let dear Noctis begin experiencing misery again. Which file to leak? He couldn't wait to see the heartbreak when he found out the person he was in love with…wasn't a person at all.

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"Nyx!" Pelna hissed, and Nyx turned to his friend, joining him at the desk.

Something about taking the base had him on edge, the Imperials shouldn't have been so easy to push back. But they had their orders, they were to find any intel possible. "What is it?" he kept his voice down and comm on receive only since Pelna didn't seem eager for anyone else to hear. He found a file shoved into his hands so he opened it, staring in disgust at the pictures of a body…and then he went white as he saw a shot of the face. "Don't tell anyone."

"What are you going to do?" Pelna asked worriedly.

"This is way above our paygrade," he murmured. He really, really hoped the pictures were fake. Because if they weren't…no, he wasn't going to jump to conclusions. Normally, he'd take something like this to the Captain or if he wasn't available, Luche, but his gut was screaming to take it even higher.

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Regis had been surprised by the request but had granted a meeting. Nyx Ulric…he had checked over his file since it had been some time since he had seen the younger man. He had such an aptitude for their magic and his appearance…well, yes, Regis had had his blood checked. If he did carry their blood it was too far back to detect.

Regis still remembered the child he had saved so long ago, to see him among the Glaive potentials had been a surprise but not a bad one. There were many comments on ignoring orders but it had always been to save another's life and he could not blame him for that. He had once told Ulric he could come to him should he need to, so what could have had him use that favour?

There was a knock at his office door and he straightened. "Enter," he called, and Ulric walked in, in full unform, saluting crisply. Regis nodded and motioned to the chair before his desk. "What brings you here, Sir Ulric?" he asked.

"On our last mission, a fellow Glaive alerted me to something he had found. Normally, we would have passed it on to the Captain but given those involved…I felt it should be sent higher. I had no way to contact the Marshal or Lord Amicitia though." He withdrew a file from his coat and placed it on the desk. "The images within are quite graphic your Majesty," he warned.

Regis nodded put took it and his heart sank as he recognised the scar patterns. Sure enough, the head shot was very familiar. "Who knows of this?"

"Myself and Glaive Khara," Ulric answered.

"You are to speak of this to no one, and should you find anything on further missions dealing with this topic, you are to take it immediately to Cor. I will let him know."

"Sire…" he shifted, seeming nervous.

"I can assure you Sir Ulric; his loyalty is to the Crown." He would not confirm the contents of the file to anyone for Prompto's sake. The Empire must suspect, this plus their summons…contingencies would have to be looked into and…his secret may have to be revealed to Noctis. "Thank you for bringing this to me and thank Sir Khara for his discretion."

"Yes your Majesty."

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Being summoned quietly by the King had Prompto's heart in his stomach, but he knocked on the door and entered when called for. He wanted to bolt when he found not just the King but Cor and Lord Amicitia.

"Please take a seat," the King told him, and Prompto nervously sat on the empty chair. "It appears something we feared has come to pass," the King motioned to the table and Prompto looked, seeing an Imperial file there.

He leant closer and paled, swaying as he took in the photos, Cor putting a hand on his shoulder, to keep him from running?

"Either they suspect you've changed sides or they've changed the plans regarding your purpose at Noctis' side. Thankfully, this was found by a Glaive who knows when to keep quiet. We may not be so lucky next time."

"Wh…what's…" his throat closed up; he couldn't breathe.

"Breath Prompto," Cor pushed his head down between his knees. "Come on, you're okay."

He sucked in a desperate breath and then another.

"Prompto?"

He managed to look up at his King, knowing his eyes were too wide.

"Your status can no longer be kept from Noctis or the other two, you understand?" the King asked softly.

He managed a shaky nod, feeling sick. He'd never wanted them to know. Noct…he loved him so much and now he was going to lose him. Noctis would never want to see him again.

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"Have you seen Prom?" Noct asked from where he was lying on the couch with some papers, supposedly reading them.

"Not since yesterday," Ignis admitted. "Cor probably has him busy with something." The Marshal did like having Prompto play office intern and Ignis had always taken that as a good sign for the future. He and Gladio knew their roles once Noctis ascended the throne, but Prompto did not.

"I guess," Noctis checked his phone when it beeped. "Dad wants to see me later."

"I'll get you a suite out," Ignis informed him, ignoring Noctis' groan. It was one thing to lounge about his rooms in casual clothing, it was another to cross the Citadel in it.

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Prompto lay on curled on his side on the couch in Cor's office, mostly aware of Cor working nearby but his mind kind of…drifting. He'd heard the doctor come in earlier but it was too much effort to move, to respond. He thought he'd heard her say something about shock but he couldn't be sure. He felt disconnected from everything, body heavy.

He blinked slowly as a hand ran over his hair, and then something soft and warm covered him.

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Noctis sat on the couch in his Dad's office, seeing a lot of paperwork on the low table there, surprised when his Dad locked the office down. "Dad?" he asked in alarm.

"I shouldn't be the one telling you this son, but the one who should…" his Dad sat down beside him, wrapping his arm over his shoulders. "I love you Noctis and I would never let you be in danger."

"I know," Noct turned his head to see his Dad's face, feeling more and more nervous. "What's going on?"

"For some time now, we've been aware of at least two spies within the Citadel," Regis admitted, and Noctis froze, spies?! "We know because Cor caught one in Imperial hands a few years ago, when questioned they informed of there was another."

"What has this got to do with me?" he asked, was it someone he knew? But that was crazy. It had to be crazy. Maybe one of the cleaning staff or something so he had to change some stuff in his quarters? "Dad?"

"The spy we know of turned traitor to the Empire, to protect you. You're so amazing that you got through a decade and a half of brainwashing and dehumanisation."

He could feel his heart pounding, that didn't sound like just a staff member kind of thing. It couldn't be Gladio, he was an Amicitia. Ignis? No, he'd been with him since they were children. No…no…there was no way.

"Dad, tell me," he demanded, wanting him to deny it.

"Prompto," his Dad murmured and Noctis doubled over, retching.

He felt his Dad supporting him, rubbing his back even as his lunch hit the carpet.

"Easy, you're alright son, it'll be okay. I've got you."

He turned, burrowing into his Dad like he had when he was little, clinging. His Dad just wrapped his arms around him, holding him, as Noctis felt tears streaming down his face.

Prompto…he loved him so much…was…was any of it real?

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Regis rocked his son gently, murmuring comforting words. He didn't care about the mess on the carpet, though perhaps having a bin handy would have been smart. He'd tried to ease into it but Noctis hadn't let him, he'd wanted Noctis to have examples of how Prompto had helped before revealing his identity. He knew what Noctis was likely thinking, that the boy didn't love him, was using him, but Regis didn't believe that for a second.

There was nothing he could do for the moment but just hold his son and be there for him, he wasn't ready to hear anything, not yet.

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Eventually, he ran out of tears, exhausted as he slumped in his Dad's arms. His back was going to be killing him tomorrow but he didn't care. What did it matter? He felt…empty, drained.

"Noct?" his Dad called and he moved a little. "I need you to listen to me, alright?"

He didn't want to, he just wanted to go home and pretend it was yesterday, when he was happy. When…when Prompto would smile and kiss him, but it was all a lie.

"Noctis?"

"Mmmm," he mumbled, getting a soft sigh form his Dad.

"If there is one thing I am certain of, it is that Prompto loves you with everything in him."

What? That…it couldn't be true.

"What the Empire did to him…it gave Cor nightmares. He was sent to Insomnia to get close to you and report back and at first he obeyed. But you, my wonderful son, you taught him so much, most importantly, you taught him love. He began altering his reports, leaving things out. He couldn't outright lie about much because he knew there was another spy."

Could…could it be true? What could they have done to him that would give Cor, the Immortal, nightmares? He listened as his Dad explained about Prompto's trips 'home', stomach rebelling but it was empty, the year Cor had tried to save him only to learn the truth. Prompto hadn't tried to escape, hadn't turned Cor in…nothing. He'd….he'd just surrendered, had sat there with a sword at his throat…

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Prompto opened his eyes as the door opened, seeing Noct…Noctis. He could feel his magic, he hadn't been cut off…yet. He couldn't bring himself to move though, too tired. Noctis stepped into Cor's office and closed the door behind him, slowly walking towards the couch, staring down at him. Blue eyes were colder than he'd ever seen them and he felt sick. All Noctis did was stare at him and he wanted to die, he'd never wanted Noct to know.

"Is it true?" he finally asked quietly.

Prompto swallowed, trying to speak, throat parched. That got a frown and Noctis vanished for a moment but then he was back with a cup of water. He knelt down and held it to his lips and Prompto struggled to lift his head to drink.

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He'd had so much rehearsed in his head and then he'd seen Prompto curled in a ball under the blanket on Cor's couch, blue eyes unfocused, skin pale. He looked so small, young…and the anger faded, just leaving exhaustion, a state he was used to. Despite everything…he loved Prompto.

"Love you," Prompto croaked after some water.

Noctis reached out to cup his chin, staring into usually bright blue eyes. How could he believe anything he said? Prompto had lied and fooled them all for so long. The Oath…he wasn't just bound to Noctis but his Dad as well, he'd read the Oath Prompto had given, had never seen one so restrictive before. If he even thought of betraying Noctis to the Empire, to anyone, the magic would punish him depending on the severity…right up to killing him. And his Dad swore he'd never felt it even twinge.

"Are you real?" he whispered.

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Cor made sure everyone kept well clear of his office. Noctis was as close as he had to a nephew but over time, he'd become close to Prompto. The boy was hard not to like. He prayed things went well, that they could get passed the truth of his origins, but he knew it could mean the end of their relationship. If Noctis severed their bond…what would the Empire do to him? Could they kill him remotely? There was a good chance they could.

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"Are you real?"

He couldn't help the small whimper at the question, his worst nightmare. He was a clone, made…was he real?

"You…" he clumsily pulled one hand out of the blanket, weakly reaching for Noctis, touching his arm. "Made me real," he whispered, seeing Noctis' eyes widen in confusion. But it was true, before Noctis he'd just been a living machine, not human, not a person. How could he explain that?

TBC…

Poor Prompto! And Noctis.

I never knew, Pelna's voice actor in English also is Young Xehanort's! Wow, small world.