Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 6

Noctis curled around Prompto in bed, hand absently stroking his hip under his shirt. Something was…different since he'd come back and Noctis couldn't figure it out. It scared him a little, but Prom showed no sign of wanting to end things. Maybe his parents had said or done something to upset him? Well, with the intensive training Cor and Iggy had planned, Prompto wouldn't have the time to go see them for years.

Prompto half twisted to kiss him, and Noctis grinned into it, kissing back eagerly. "What's wrong?" he asked when they parted.

"Nothing," Noct denied, and Prompto frowned. "Really," he promised. "Brain just won't shut off."

Prompto rolled over and kissed him firmly. "Want help?" he offered, and Noct felt his face warm, but he nodded. Prompto's hands slipped under his shirt, caressing his skin, as they kissed. He shivered slightly, because of magic or the Crystal, his family tended to be a little cooler than others, Prompto was always so warm. "Love you," Prompto murmured between kisses, working his way down Noctis' neck.

He groaned, hands moving over Prompto's back, encouraging him. Things were becoming a lot more heated than they normally let it, but he couldn't bring himself to care. When Prom's hand got caught in his shirt, he simply yanked it off, they'd been topless in bed before. Prompto kept his hands from wandering lower but Noct just wriggled until the loose pants he was wearing slipped off his waist.

"Noct?" he asked, eyes a bit wider than normal.

"Not all the way, not yet but…"

Prompto nodded and kicked his own off even as Noctis finished removing his. They then began exploring areas they hadn't before.

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Regis moved out of sight, not wanting either boy to see him. Seeing them so close, he had to fight the urge to get his son away from Argentum, but if he did then Noctis would become suspicious…and who knew who else would see.

He watched them as they sat beneath a tree in the garden, lying against each other as Arg…Prompto showed Noctis something on his camera. To someone who didn't know, it looked totally harmless, two best friends laughing and enjoying some down time. But to him, the lingering touches were obvious. He saw Prompto look towards Noctis and had to turn away at the emotion in his eyes… it reminded him of himself with Aulea. Prompto had no reason to think he was being observed, to put up an act, not even Noctis had seen his face…it was love, pure love.

There had been no incidents since he had been freed and now Regis was starting to believe there never would be. Cor had passed him the boys' true training scores, if he wanted to harm any of the boys, he could easily do so, and he'd been considered a failure? Cor had checked every report Prompto sent to his handlers, to ensure they found out what they wanted them too and nothing more.

It was a juggling act because if he was caught in a lie or leaving something obvious out…Cor was worried they had some way to remotely kill the boy, and after seeing what had been done to him, Regis had to agree it was possible. Dr Albero was just looking for a reasonable excuse to get him under her care to make actual scans, very carefully, and then they'd have a better idea of exactly how he'd been altered.

He glanced back at the boys and shook his head as Noctis attempted to shove Prompto's face into the grass, the blond flailing and laughing.

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Gladio smirked as he stood across from Prompto, the kid was a twig but he wasn't going to underestimate. He'd seen his firearms score and he was rated pretty well with a knife too. Lestallum did have its issues after all so it made sense the blond had some skills, even if he'd never advertised them. Still, he needed to know how to handle larger blades and opponents and Gladio got work with him there. Even if he never used them, he had to work with people who did, and possible face enemies who would as well. Ignis was going to work on pole arms later, Prompto likely had the upper body strength for it from shooting, it was whether he'd have the gymnastic ability.

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Prompto read the handbook, glad for once for the bionic eyes since they didn't tire like organic ones, though his poor brain did. There was so much to learn to be part of the Crownsguard.

It still felt like a dream, he kept expecting any moment to wake up back in that room with the King with a death sentence hanging over him, or even back in the Imperial base. Instead he spent at least three nights a week in Noct's bed, their physical relationship having taken a big step forward which had been….really good. the hadn't had full on sex and he doubted they would any time soon, but he didn't want to, he wasn't ready for that. He dread the day that Noct had to marry, if he was still around then, how would he bare to watch Noctis with someone else, a woman?

He forced his thoughts back on track, did the law have to be so mind numbingly boring? Still, he had to learn the parts of it that would apply to his position as one of Noct's Retainers. There were things that he was legally allowed or even obligated to do that were illegal for anyone else, but would those laws apply to him given his true circumstances?

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"Dad? Can I talk to you?" Noctis asked as he peered around the door. It was a relief when his Dad waved him in, and he took a seat in the armchair opposite the one his Dad was in. He tried not to fidget but something must have shown since his Dad set his tablet aside and leant forward.

"What is it Noctis? Is something wrong?"

"No! Not wrong," he shook his head. "It's…well…" he felt his face heating up. "About moving back here."

"Yes?" His Dad looked worried and confused now, great.

"Do I have to, right now? Can't I wait another year or two?"

His Dad frowned, but it wasn't a 'no' kind of frown, more thoughtful, thankfully. "Why? The purpose behind the apartment was to let you attend high school like every other teenager and to have some space. With your duties now back here, it would be a lot easier on you to live here."

"Yeah, maybe, but…" he took a deep breath. "Prom isn't cleared yet, despite being in training."

"Ah, I see."

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Honestly, Regis did not want Prompto in the Citadel, for everyone's safety, including the blonds. Because being in the Citadel meant he would be in proximity to whoever the other top ranked Imperial agent was…and he now believed that was true and not something Prompto had been told to ensure he stayed in line.

A closer look at things showed errors that should not be there; things like missing reports or misplaced supplies, some things small they were easily overlooked while others were larger. Nothing obvious to make the casual observer suspect anything but if already looking for a spy…well the evidence was there.

Prompto already came for training with Cor and others, and would be present daily once inducted into the Guard fully, at least when Noctis was there. And there was still a part of him that was and always would be wary of the boy, especially after seeing the scan results. If Dr Albero was correct, it would take a lot more to put him down than a human, handy if he was defending Noctis, not good if he was able to be controlled. And the doctor hadn't been able to fully rule it out because Magitek was not something their people fully understood. At least they were positive he no longer carried any trace of the Scourge.

So, did he sign off on Prompto being in the Royal Wing of the Citadel as if he were already part of Noctis' Retinue? He was already bound to the family even if no one knew it. Any action against them would kill him instantly. It would mean turning a blind eye to their activities but all he wanted was for his son to be happy.

Decision made, he picked up his tablet and filled out the paperwork, sending it to Cor and security. "Prompto's clearance should be through by morning," he smirked at the dumbfounded look on his son's face. "He makes you happy Noctis," he smiled at him, and then he was shocked by Noctis hugging him. He hugged him back tightly, Noctis was not one to give much physical affection so he would take it when given.

"Thanks Dad."

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Ignis hid a smirk, turning back to the meal preparation, as Gladio and Prompto teamed up on Noctis who was officially pouting. In three days they would be leaving the apartment, in a way. He knew Noctis' plan and it was a good one, he would be giving the keys to Prompto. It was in a far better neighbourhood and much closer to the Citadel then where he currently lived after all. Plus there would be no rent to pay as it was in Noctis' name. Since he did not live in the Citadel, it was the next best thing. Ignis was just glad Prompto's clearance had come through before the move, although from the sly smirk on Noctis' face, he had the feeling his Prince had intervened there too.

Prompto had become a good friend to them all and he looked forward to the day he took his Oath to Noctis and could join them everywhere and anywhere. His presence had changed their lives for the better as Noctis had started to truly live again and not just nap through his life. Prompto was a genuinely cheerful boy, but he was capable of being serious when needed and Ignis could tell there were tragedies in his past, they had just never asked. Life out in greater Lucis, even Lestallum, could be hard. He'd likely lost relatives and friends to daemons, beasts, the Empire, accidents, or all of the above. He'd nearly died on his first trip back to Lestallum and still could not eat much at all.

Thankfully though, the dietary restrictions were not affecting his training too much since Cor had decided he would be a firearms specialist, a long distance fighter. He was still learning how to fight up close, but it would not be expected of him. Ignis had enjoyed teaching him to use various lances and the like, he had the right build for them, he just wasn't quite as flexible in the right way as Ignis himself was. It was still good to know that he could use one if needed though. He'd never be a sword fighter though, Gladio's stories of his training had been rather amusing, much to the blonds embarrassment.

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Ardyn glanced over the reports sent by Glauca and Besithia's little tin soldier. He found it highly amusing that the thing had gotten so close to the precious Chosen King….and now it was allowed into the very heart of Insomnia! He had honestly expected it to be caught within months at most, after the first lot of modifications definitely. Yet they were completely oblivious to the danger in their midst. Well, it would give him one more thing to taunt his dear great nephew over when the time came.

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Prompto sat in the chair as the doctor attached the leads, closing his eyes to block out the sounds of machines nearby.

"Let me know if you need a break," she offered, and he nodded, taking deep breaths.

Even after almost a year, it was hard to just lie back and let her work. She never hurt him, never did anything invasive, and yet he still couldn't kick the instinctive fear of being torn apart. And she was old, really old, how long till she couldn't work anymore? What if the next one wasn't like her?

"Easy Prompto," she patted his shoulder, and he realised the heart monitor was protesting his heartrate.

Oops. He focused on his breathing, calming down. The replacement heart could handle the stress and accelerated rhythm easily, but it messed up the records if he couldn't calm down. Once a month, he received a full physical check-up because they didn't know if his altered body needed ongoing…'maintenance'. If it did then he didn't know what they'd do.

The King and Marshal had made it clear that they didn't want to let the Imperial scientists have access to him, not because he might betray them, he literally couldn't, but because of what they would do to Prompto. It was…nice, even if their attitude was mostly due to security and being against experimentation on sentient beings. But how long would his handlers accept the excuses given for his not being able to leave the city? Or would they find a way to reach him even in Insomnia?

"There we go, all done and fit as a fiddle." She removed the leads and he put his shirt back on. "Scans all came back normal too so you are free to go."

"Thank you," he ducked his head and then left.

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Noctis grinned slightly as Prompto walked backwards, slightly in front of him, hands moving as he explained some new piece of camera equipment. He saw Prompto pause, frowning slightly, and went to ask what was wrong, only to have Prompto slam into him, taking them both down, rolling to the side. The sound of a bullet impacting the concrete where he'd just been standing had him shoving aside the shock instantly.

Prompto scrambled free of the tangle they'd been in and then dragged him back further into cover even as people scattered. "You okay?" he demanded, looking him over, and Noctis nodded.

"Where?" he asked, and Prompto pointed at the roof of a nearby building even as he grabbed his phone and made a call. Cor, that was good, the Guard would be deployed immediately. Noctis got his own out and called Gladio, his Shield was going to be very angry at not being there to protect him, while also proud of Prom.

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Regis left the Council meeting without a word, walking swiftly through the halls. "My son?" he demanded.

"Unharmed except for possible scrapes and mild bruises according to Argentum, Sire," Ackers answered. "He caught the light on the snipers scope and tackled the Prince, but they don't dare move from under cover without backup."

Regis nodded. Prompto had saved Noctis, had risked his life for his son. He may be generally harder to kill, but a bullet to the brain would take him out as easily as anyone else. Someone had tried to kill his son and he felt his magic stir, the Crystal and Lucii screaming at the threat to Noctis, but he had practice in pushing them aside to focus.

Cor would be going personally to assure Noctis' safety during transport back to the Citadel, leaving Elshett in command while he was out, which was why Ackers was the one reporting to him.

"Have there been any threats?" he demanded.

"None that were considered legitimate, Sire. We have already begun looking into them again."

Regis nodded, as much as he wanted to lock the city down, it just wasn't feasible. Security around insomnia was already tight thanks to the Wall and checkpoints, security that had been increased since they had learnt of the Empire's successfully inserting at least two agents. So had this threat come from within? He knew many were unhappy with some of his policies, had they chosen to target his son?

"I want copies of all reports, send them to Scientia as well," he ordered, it was that or Ignis would hack them to see for himself. He was good at spotting things even some of their most seasoned intelligence agents missed.

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Prompto held tightly to Noctis' hand, glad the seats kept the action hidden. He'd never actually witnessed an assassination attempt before, let alone been right there for one. The last reported one on Noctis had been months before they'd met. Not many people targeted him thankfully.

If he hadn't caught the slight glint of metal…human eyes likely wouldn't have, even ones trained in firearms. He had sniper training himself after all, he knew the signs to watch for. He'd nearly lost Noctis today, despite the fact that his only injuries had been caused by Prompto's desperate tackle. He felt really bad about that, but Noct had just called up a potion and healed them all like it was nothing.

"It's okay," Noct whispered, squeezing his hand, and he squeezed back.

He had the feeling that he'd be staying in the Citadel for at least a few days after that attack. If only he'd gotten a look at who it was, they'd only found the abandoned sniper position, no weapon or shooter. That meant the threat was still out there somewhere. He would not let them get Noctis.

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Gladio paced Noctis' room angrily, Ignis already going through the reports that were starting to flood in. He wouldn't calm down until the guys were there and he could see for himself that they were alright. He knew that even as Noct's Shield he couldn't be with him 24/7, that was why he had a whole Retinue, but it still felt like he'd failed.

The doors opened and they walked in, rumpled and dusty…but unharmed. No...that was blood. "Noct?"

"I'm fine," he promised. "I know why motorcyclists wear jackets though, rolling on concrete is not fun."

"Sorry," Prompto immediately said, and Noctis grabbed him, cupping his cheek in one hand. Gladio and Ignis immediately found other things to focus on, though Gladio did listen, wanting to know more about what had happened.

"Prom, I'd rather a million bruises and scrapes than a bullet any day. Even I can read the angles enough to tell that would have been a headshot. You saved my life, you have nothing to be sorry for."

Gladio saw Ignis blanch slightly at Noctis' admission and knew he'd probably paled a shade or two too. A headshot…not even magic could bring a person back from that. They could have lost Noctis. He felt a bit sick. And very grateful for Prompto's great eyesight and reaction times. They owed him everything. They could have lost Prompto too since if he'd tackled Noct then he would have likely passed through the bullets trajectory. He could have died to save Noctis and he hadn't even finished training yet. They'd gotten too complacent about the two going out alone in the city. That would have to change.

TBC…