Disclaimer: Not mine

Started playing Jedi Fallen Order today, still prefer FFXV. The controls are a pain to remember and way too finicky to do things. I think I fell about 100 times trying to jump and catch a rope.

Pairings now chosen for this! Noctis/Ignis/Gladio and Noctis/Prompto for now.

Chapter 6

Noctis watched Prompto sleep, he wasn't an expert on humans, let alone MT's, but he thought he was sleeping more normally than he had been at first. Now that he was aware of it, he couldn't stop hearing the core and he shifted the blankets to stare at pale skin, carefully pressing down where Prompto had, watching the shift under the skin, the red glow coming through the skin. He froze as Prompto shifted slightly, groaning softly, but then he settled and Noct found his hand in bright blonde hair, running through it, offering comfort.

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His head was throbbing and he felt really sick…he didn't get sick…he tried to move but his body felt too heavy. Had he been hurt? He groaned and then he felt cool fingers in his hair….Noct…he struggled to open his eyes, to ask what was going on. It felt like he had weights attached to his eyes but finally he got them open, everything blurry.

"Prompto?"

"Mmmm…N…Noct…" he tried to lift his head and then he felt cool hands under his shoulders, pulling him up and he swallowed hard, he was thirsty, really thirsty. "Wa…ter…" there was the noise of movement and then a bottle was pressed to his lips and he swallowed, tasting juice. Juice…good for blood loss.

"Drink slowly," Noctis told him and he struggled to focus, to remember what had happened. "You lost a lot of blood."

"H'rt?"

"You stabbed yourself," was the answer. "You don't remember?"

He kept drinking the juice, struggling, and then… "Oh…" he'd cut his arm open to prove he wasn't a machine. He looked up at Noctis, trying to tell what he was thinking, glad his vision was clearing up. "You stayed," he whispered.

"Well it's pouring out there," Noctis looked away. "Think you can eat something?"

Prompto considered it before nodding, trying to push himself up further but it didn't really work so Noctis shifted behind him, supporting him while dragging the food bag closer. "Something easy please."

"Right," Noctis dug around and then held up a granola bar.

Prompto nodded and Noctis opened it for him, handing it over and Prompto managed to get it up to his mouth, taking a bite and chewing slowly. He was feeling a lot better already and he knew it meant his healing had kicked into overdrive with the intact of fluids. He stayed still as he ate, enjoying having Noctis hold him, something he doubted would happen again. Just because he'd stayed while Prompto was vulnerable, didn't mean he'd stick around once he was stronger and the rain stopped. The last real danger was the Prairie Outpost and Niff base near it, once past that it was a clear shot through to Hammerhead and Noct would be safe there.

Staying at camp with him had been dangerous, they were too close to both locations, too easy to find. Noctis could have left him behind and snuck by on his own. He would have either died or healed. Did that mean he believed him? That he still wanted him around?

Eating the bar had him exhausted and fighting to keep his eyes open but he didn't want more sleep.

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Noct looked down, seeing Prompto fighting to keep his eyes open, so he shifted around until they were laying down, taking the risk to stay curled with him. "Go back to sleep," he whispered.

"Don't wanna," Prompto mumbled and Noctis bit back a laugh at how childish he sounded. He looked cute, half asleep and hair a mess.

"You need it, you lost a lot of blood. I won't leave," he promised and then he felt Prompto's hand fumble at his so he took it, squeezing gently. "I promise. Sleep," he made eye contact, pushing. Normally it wouldn't work on an MT but if Prom was still mostly human…blue eyes fell shut as he went to sleep. Huh, so that did work, that was another check in the proof Prompto was still partially human. He tugged the blankets around Prompto since his own cool temperature wouldn't be helping Prompto recover. He should let go but he also didn't want to, it was comfortable and he missed the guys and the easy affection between them.

He knew staying where they were was dangerous. That they were close to two enemy bases, the Hunters and the Empire, but he didn't know where to go to get past them. Them…he was crazy but…he didn't want to just leave Prompto. He couldn't take him to the city, it was way too dangerous for everyone. Hammerhead maybe? Cape Caem or Galdin Quay? They were all towns with good links to the Crown, Prompto wouldn't be looked down on for leaving hunting there. Then again, he'd been at Caem when he was taken so maybe it wasn't that safe.

He stayed awake all day and night, making sure Prompto drank every time he stirred and to his relief the next morning Prompto woke up normally. "You look better."

"Feel it," Prompto stretched and then slowly sat up. "Thanks…for looking after me," he offered a shaky smile and Noctis nodded.

"You did the same for me," Noctis shrugged slightly. Was that why he had stayed, returning the favour?

"Any sign we've been spotted?"

"Nothing I've picked up," and he'd been keeping his senses peeled, checking the perimeter whenever he had left Prom's side.

"We should move," he reached for the food bag, grabbing a serving of cup noodles, eating them cold.

Noctis nodded and began packing things up, keeping an eye on Prompto as he downed his food and then carefully got up. He was hiding it well, but he was still tired, Noctis could tell, but they really should move on. They soon had the camp packed away and then they were in the truck, heading towards Leide. They didn't get all that far before Prompto put the truck in reverse, back around the corner. They silently got out and Prompto led the way up an embankment where they lay down and peered out at what they had glimpsed.

"Blockade," Noctis hissed and Prompto nodded.

"There's only so many roads we could have taken. Backtracking will take far too long and there's likely blockades there too. We could fight our way through, but we don't know how many there are further in and we'd be alerting the Empire to our location. We could ditch the truck and head in on foot but that's a lot of desert to cross, especially for you with how strong the sun is. We could backtrack to the last station we stopped at, they had a Chocobo rental stand, I sell the truck and we take the birds. We'll still be exposed to the sun but we'll be able to move faster," Prompto murmured softly.

Noctis frowned, none of the options were good. Yes, they could try another way into Leide, but they would all give them a longer journey once past any possible blockade. This one was only three days from Hammerhead. There was risks to every option….walking was the most dangerous in the long term, it would push their travel time up a lot, leaving them exposed. Attacking the blockade though was also very high risk, who knew how many MT's were hidden within.

Fighting MT's now….knowing they started out as human babies, it made him feel sick. How much worse would it be for Prompto to fight them? Could he make him do that? He glanced at Prompto who looked at him and offered a sad smile. Most of his smiles had a sadness to them, barely noticeable, but this one was obvious.

"They aren't human anymore Noctis, just miasma powered machines. Killing them is freeing anything that might be left. I've done it before, it's the unknown numbers that have me worried, I don't have unlimited ammo and your magic burns through your reserves, in this heat…"

There was a way to give Prompto unlimited ammunition… Ignis would give him the stare and Gladio would kick his ass for even thinking it. It would tie them together for life…unless Prompto betrayed him and then the magic would extract a price from the mortal. Every instinct said he could trust Prompto with access to his magic…and it would mean it wouldn't be so taxing to give him spell flasks and he might even be able to help heal him if he got hurt again. If they chose to backtrack then he was buying human appropriate potions, he didn't want to watch Prompto bleed out or something. They should have stocked up after using the last one during the fight with Deadeye but funds were tight. He liked the idea of having Prompto linked to him, even when they parted he'd always know Prom was okay.

"Backtrack," he whispered and Prompto nodded so they slipped back to the truck, driving for the Alstor Coernix Station.

He closed his eyes as if resting, considering things. He had made his choice, instincts or not, he trusted Prompto. He'd given so much proof that he wasn't the enemy, that he cared about him and not because he was the Prince. He'd given up his life as a Hunter to get him home safely, had fed him his blood… even if Prompto was fully human, he would still like and trust him.

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Prompto parked the truck and got out, looking around subtly but there was no sign of increased Imperial presence in the countryside. He began unloading the truck, watching in awe as things vanished in a flash of blue light, leaving them with one bag each. Once that was done, they got back in and drove to the station. Noctis jammed a baseball cap on to help hide and keep the sun off his face as they got out. He led the way into the service station and headed for the counter. "Hey," he greeted the man who grinned.

"Need fuel?"

"Actually, I was looking to sell her, need to upsize. Anyone looking to buy?"

"Not that I know of. Old Mick might take it off your hands, he runs scrap metal and the like. He'll be in the diner."

"Thanks." He grabbed a few things to re-stock with and then Noctis put down some curatives as well. They paid and then headed over to the diner where Prompto ordered some chips to 'share' plus two bottles of water, the only fluid other than blood that Noctis could drink, though not in great amounts. He sipped slowly, pretending to help eat the food while Prompto asked about Old Mick and then went to work negotiating a fair price. Finally they shook hands and he handed over the keys.

"Could you turn that up please?" Noctis called to the owner who glanced over before turning the radio up, the diner falling silent as they listened to the special broadcast from Insomnia.

"After over a month missing with no sightings, Crown Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum had been declared dead by the Royal Council. The state funeral for the young Royal will be held in three days' time. Condolences have been pouring in to the city. While rarely seen the Prince was well loved by the people. This announcement brings the line of succession into doubt as King Regis now has no living family. Perhaps after a period of mourning the King will finally remarry." A solemn voice announced to the silent room.

"The Prince is dead?" One of the customers asked.

"I may not like vampires, but this is not going to be good," another muttered from nearby and Prompto reached out to take Noctis' hand under the counter, gently squeezing.

"Keep your head down," he whispered. "Don't react."

"They…." Noctis choked.

"Come on, time to go," Prompto tugged him up and then out of the diner, going around the corner into the shade. "Come on Noct, breath," he coached, using the nickname for the first time since the truth had come out. He stroked a cool cheek and Noctis took in a shaky breath and then another. "It's okay, it'll be alright," he soothed and then he had his arms full of supposedly dead Prince, and he hugged him. "You'll get home and it will all be worked out. I bet your Dad will be so happy to see you home safe."

"I miss him," Noctis admitted.

"I know, and you'll see him soon.," he promised. He would get Noctis home no matter what it took. "Come on," he led Noctis back to the station store and went in, going to the phone section to buy one. "There's got to be a number you can call to let them know you're alive."

Noctis blinked at him and Prompto set the phone up before handing it over. "Phones can be tracked…"

"Yeah, which is why after you use it we'll have to destroy it."

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Noctis took it slowly, staring at the cheap phone, trying to think of what number to call. None of the secure numbers would work without a Crownsguard issued phone but the Citadel did have unsecured lines. He took a breath and dialled from memory.

"Good afternoon, Citadel tours, how may I help you?" A subdued female voice answered.

"This is Prince Noctis, code 356940246Mystic," he answered, the code was the only way he had to confirm his identity.

There was silence on the other end. "Uh…please hold."

He listened to the annoying music and then heard the click of the line being transferred. "Sleepy?" a familiar voice asked and Noctis swallowed.

"Uncle," he answered Cor, closing his eyes at hearing the voice he'd known all his life.

"Where are you?"

"Lucis, trying to get home. There's Imperial blockades making it a bit harder," he quickly explained.

"Are you hurt?"

"I was, but I'm okay now. I'm coming home," he promised.

"ETA?"

"Unknown. Having to move slowly to stay under the radar."

"Are you alone?"

"No, I've got help."

"You trust this help?" Cor asked and Noct looked at Prompto who was renting the Chocobos, letting him talk privately.

"Yeah," he whispered. "He saved my life at high risk to himself. I've got to ditch the phone; we think we're being tracked."

"We'll deploy the Glaive throughout Leide, find them and they'll bring you home."

"Okay. Uncle?"

"Yes?"

"Tell Dad….I'm sorry? I miss him."

"I will and then you can tell him yourself."

"Don't cancel the funeral…it's safer if people think I'm dead," he hated saying it but the more people who thought he was dead the more they would brush off his likeness to the Prince as coincidence.

"Understood. Be careful."

"Bye," Noct whispered before hanging up and then dropping the phone, smashing it under his boot.

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Prompto looked over at the crunching sound, seeing the tears in his eyes. "Hey, you okay?" he asked and Noctis nodded shakily.

"Yeah…they took my code and transferred the call."

"That's good, right? They'll tell your Dad and it'll be okay."

"Told them not to cancel the funeral, that it'll make us safer and I hate it."

"I know but you're right, the more people thing you're dead the less people who will look for you. Come on, we need to make a Haven before dark." He led him to the birds and they took the time to make sure his mount would accept him before they took off at a good speed, heading out into the Slough. The idea was to cut across to the Malacchi Hills and then down into the Three Valleys, allowing them to avoid roads and civilisation.

It would add a week, maybe more, to their travel time but it was the safest option. There would be plenty of animals for Noctis in the Hills and they would have to do their best to carry blood with them out into the desert, many of the animals there were not so good to drink from.

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Regis looked up as the door to his rooms opened to see Cor storm in, the closest he'd seen to his old friend running in a long time and that had him standing, wondering what could have happened now. "Cor?"

"He's alive," and then Cor smiled.

Regis frowned in confusion and then collapsed back into his chair. "Noctis?"

"Is alive, he called the tour line, gave the code so they transferred him to my office. He gave all the right code signs. He was using a cheap phone which will have been destroyed by now."

"Is he alright? Where is he?"

"I don't know, other than making his way towards Leide. He said he was injured but is now healed. He has help but I don't know who, whoever it is risked their life to save him. the call was recorded," he put the player down and hit play, letting Regis hear his sons voice for the first time since he had vanished from Caem. He sounded healthy. "Likely he called because he heard the funeral announcement."

Regis nodded, Noctis wouldn't want him to think he was dead. "Tell Titus to deploy the Glaive. Once they find Noctis they are to bring him to the Citadel immediately when they find him."

"Of course," Cor agreed.

"These blockades…they need to be dealt with, get with Titus and start working on a plan."

Cor nodded and left. Regis leant back in his chair, rubbing his Ring. Noctis was alive and somewhere in Lucis. What had happened to him? Why hadn't he called sooner? No…without his phone he would know he would only be able to call unsecured lines, lines that could be tapped. If he was avoiding pursuit then he would not call. He sighed and then got up, Ignis and Gladio needed to know. Not that Ignis thought Noctis was dead, he had been the one to insist Noct still lived and they should have listened to him. His powers were different to theirs and he was bound tightly to Noctis. They knew so little of his kind that it was easy to think it was just loyalty and optimism but obviously his instance had been more than that.

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Prompto opened his eyes and blinked up at the tent, what had woken him? it was still dark outside, dark and quiet… so why was he awake? He glanced down, finding Noctis asleep, curled up against him, head on his chest, like how he'd slept before he'd known what Prom was. He couldn't help reaching down to run fingers through fine black hair. He found himself smiling softly as Noct began purring, rubbing his cheek against his shirt.

Noctis was nothing like what he had been taught or even what he'd heard said about him since coming to Lucis. He wished he was fully human, just a normal guy, maybe he could have even grown up in Insomnia, met him at school since he knew Noctis had attended a normal public one. They could have really been friends, without his stupid genetics getting in the way. Noctis trusted him but they both knew he was being influenced to do so, no matter what Prompto had done to try and minimise it. He really liked Noctis, he didn't want to lose the one friend he'd ever had but once they made it to Hammerhead or found the Glaive….he'd never see him again. Maybe one of them would recognise him and kill him on sight, putting an end to everything. He did wonder if Noctis would miss him, grieve for him.

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Noctis purred, enjoying the feel of warm fingers in his hair, rubbing his cheek against rough cloth. He inhaled the scent that screamed safety, drifting somewhere between sleep and waking. He kneaded the cloth with a hand, purr changing pitch as he arched his head back, offering his throat. He shivered as warm fingers traced the skin…warm fingers…Iggy was warmer…but not human warm….Iggy was home, he was…

Dark blue eyes opened to find not his rooms but the inside of a familiar tent. It wasn't Ignis holding him, it was Prompto. He…he should stop, he wouldn't understand the offering. Would he? Then he felt warm lips press to the skin over his carotid and he whined.

"Sorry, no fangs," Prompto whispered.

He froze briefly. So he did know…he should be embarrassed but he wasn't. Ignis fed off him and Gladio and they occasional drank from him. It'd been too long and now that they were relatively safe in the hills, his body was craving Ignis' bite. It wasn't something anyone knew outside of them, his Dad, Uncle Clarus and Cor. The Council just knew that Ignis' needs were seen to privately; they would completely flip if they knew who was helping him. He doubted Prompto would guess that but vampires only bit each other for pleasure. Which meant Prom would know he….well, nothing wrong with that.

"Hey, it's okay," Prompto whispered.

Noctis looked up at him, able to see him even in the dark. There was no disgust at his actions, if anything there was…longing? How alone had Prompto been since his escape? Unable to get too close to anyone in case the realised what he was? He'd admitted Noctis was the only friend he'd ever had. Had he ever even been with someone? He pushed himself up on one elbow, looking down at him.

"Noct?" Prompto asked, obviously trying to make him out in the dark. Noctis reached out to trace his face and Prompto shivered but then reached up to grab his hand. "Noct don't."

"Why not?" he asked softly.

"Obviously you're with someone and managing to keep it out of the press. You'll be back with them soon."

"it's complicated," he admitted. "Part of that is we're okay with being with others."

"Noctis…you don't even trust me, not beyond how you're being influenced."

Noct shook his head and then realised Prompto couldn't see him so he reached for the lamp, switching it on. "I trust you," he said once Prompto could see him. "You could have let me die, turned me in at the blockade….you nearly killed yourself to show me the truth. You're my friend Prom, I know that, past the influence." He ran his fingers down Prompto's cheek again and Prompto swallowed, licking his lips nervously and Noctis leant in, pressing his lips to Prompto's. Maybe it was stupid and crazy but…he didn't want Prompto to be so alone.

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It had taken him a few minutes to work things out and then he'd felt Noctis arch his head back, exposing his throat and he remembered something from his last lessons at the facility. He couldn't help himself when he pressed his lips to the offered skin, hearing the ever so quiet whine. "Sorry, no fangs," Prompto whispered to remind Noct just who he was with, that it was him and not whoever Noctis' partner was.

That was a shock, how had that been kept from the press? After all, there was only one reason for a vampire to bite another. "Hey, it's okay," he promised when Noctis froze for a second, not like he would tell anyone. It didn't disgust him or anything, everyone deserved someone. He'd never dared himself, too dangerous, too much chance of being discovered. Noctis couldn't help whatever he'd been dreaming to make him think he was with his partner. He felt Noctis move and tried to see him in the dark. He had better night vision than a normal human but not good enough to really see anything in utter pitch blackness.

"Noct?" Prompto asked, feeling a cool hand trace his face and he shivered but then reached up to grab his hand. "Noct don't."

"Why not?" was the soft question and it stunned him briefly.

"Obviously you're with someone and managing to keep it out of the press. You'll be back with them soon," he promised.

"it's complicated," Noctis admitted. "Part of that is we're okay with being with others."

"Noctis…you don't even trust me, not beyond how you're being influenced." This was all because of what he was, Noctis would never actually want him. He blinked as the camp lamp turned on, looking up at Noctis.

"I trust you," he said once Prompto could see him. "You could have let me die, turned me in at the blockade….you nearly killed yourself to show me the truth. You're my friend Prom, I know that, past the influence." Noctis ran his fingers down his cheek again.

Prompto swallowed, licking his lips nervously, it was just the influence of his being an MT causing this. Then Noctis leant in, pressing his lips to Prompto's. He stiffened, he wouldn't kiss back, this wasn't real, but….it felt nice. He'd never been kissed before…he hadn't gotten to that part of training.

"I trust you Prom," Noctis murmured against his lips.

He wanted so badly to believe him, staring into his eyes. "Noct…I…."

"I know you're human Prompto, I couldn't put a machine to sleep like I did when you were recovering," he admitted and Prompto's eyes widened. He'd….oh…he knew he was vulnerable to such things because he was still mostly human but he'd never really thought about it. They were both vulnerable to each other. "I tried to tell myself to leave you when you were unconscious but I couldn't, not just because of the trust. I know it's there and I can think around it. I like you Prompto, we're friends, right?"

"Right," he agreed, unable to help smiling slightly. Friends, his first ever friend.

Noctis smiled at him and then brushed his lips against his again. "I like you Prom and I know…once I go home, we'll never see each other again and I hate that. I know you can't trust anyone close, because they could work it out."

He stared at Noct, not sure what to do. Noctis was beautiful, anyone could see that, but it wasn't just his appearance. He could be moody and quiet sure but he had a good heart. The idea of letting this happen was very appealing but was it right?

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Noctis wanted him to say yes so badly, because he liked him, he was kind and attractive and yeah… he was craving Ignis badly. He'd been ignoring it as best he could since waking in Prom's apartment but they'd never been apart for so long before and it was getting dangerously distracting. He needed something to take the edge off, though he knew nothing would fully work until he was home and had Ignis' fangs in his throat. That he could give something to Prompto in return, something he wouldn't risk with anyone else, was definitely a bonus. He leant down and kissed him a third time and this time Prompto relaxed, a hesitant hand lifting to curl over his shoulder.

TBC…