Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter 15
Ignis let himself into Noctis' room to find Noctis straddling Prompto, with the King smiling in amusement at them. "Has something happened?" he asked, alarm growing, and then Noctis' head snapped around in his direction, blue eyes looking him over as if…checking for injuries? "Noct?" he whispered and Noctis reached for him. Ignis moved to the bed and Noctis slammed into him, wrapping his arms around him, nuzzling his throat and then kissing him and Ignis kissed back, holding him close, Noctis' legs around his waist. "Noctis," he choked when Noctis stopped to let him breath.
Noctis gently stroked his cheek and Ignis leant into his touch. Noctis knew him! Movement caught his eye and he saw Prompto sitting up, watching them with a wistful sadness and Ignis knew he was expecting Noctis to leave him. They would have to convince Prompto otherwise somehow. Noctis kissed him again, softly this time and Ignis gently ran a hand through his hair.
"I've missed you," he admitted and Noctis nodded. "Noct?" he asked and then glanced at the King.
"He can't speak, he's tried," His Majesty told him and Ignis gently set Noctis back on the bed where he immediately crawled into Prompto's lap, causing the blond to blush and them to chuckle. Ignis sat beside Prompto, letting their shoulders brush. The King reached over to brush back some of Noctis' hair and Noct leant into the touch. "He recognised both of us and where we are, panicked a little over Prompto being here, so it appears his memory is returning."
Noctis cocked his head, obviously curious and frustrated by his inability to speak. He huffed and then turned to nuzzle at Prompto who wrapped an arm around him, Noctis purring softly before settling in.
"Um…." Prompto looked at Ignis, obviously worried and Ignis smiled at him.
The King chuckled, drawing their attention to him. "I think you boys need to talk," he offered standing and Noctis whimpered, reaching for him.
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Regis hugged his son, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I'll be back later Noctis, I promise. No one knows you are here; it's been too dangerous. Do you understand?" he asked and Noctis stared at him before slowly nodding. "I'll come back tonight, we can have dinner together," he reached out and gently squeezed his hand. He stood and nodded to the other two boys before leaving.
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He watched his Dad leave, wanting to call out to him to come back. His head was a mess, everything jumbled. Why couldn't he talk? He cuddled into Prompto, seeking reassurance, listening to the steady beat of his heart and the hum of his Core, enjoying his body heat. Seeing Iggy sitting next to him felt good, right. He reached out a hand and Ignis took it. he knew they were in the Citadel, could feel the Crystal nearby, but…it wasn't his rooms or the medical ward. Dad had said no one knew he was there, why? What had happened? Prom wasn't meant to be in the Citadel.
"Noct?" Prom called and he looked up at him, seeing the concern in his eyes. He leant in and kissed him gently, wanting him to be happy. "Noct, I…" Prom looked at Ignis with wide eyes and Noctis frowned, didn't Prompto want him anymore?
"Shh Noct," Ignis murmured, rubbing his back. "Prompto isn't rejecting you. Things have been rather…tense and we haven't had the chance to speak to him about these issues."
But why not? He looked between them and then reached up to cup Prompto's face in his hands, seeing the confusion there, the sadness, and he shook his head before kissing him again, reaching for the bond between them, it was different to the one with Specs because Prompto had no powers of his own, but he could feel Prompto's uncertainty. He stopped to let him breath and then very carefully mouthed the words, wishing he could truly say them.
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Prompto hated how he was feeling, he should be happy for Ignis and Noctis. They kept saying he had a place there, but he knew he didn't. He couldn't stay, he'd never be accepted even if the portable dampener was working. Why was Noct kissing him with Ignis watching? Was he confused maybe?
Noctis gently cradled his face in cool hands and he felt something, gently nudging the magic that still felt strange inside him. He couldn't pull back when Noct kissed him, he couldn't push him away even if it was the right thing to do. When Noctis pulled back he carefully mouthed three words and Prompto swallowed. Noctis smiled shyly and he smiled back shakily.
"I…but…" he looked at Ignis.
"Prompto, Noctis loves you, I don't need my abilities to be able to tell that," Ignis offered. "He loves Gladio and me as well."
Prompto frowned in confusion, okay? Noctis huffed in frustration, obviously he was missing something. Noctis looked back at Ignis who nodded. Noctis got out of his lap and sat on the bed, grinning. To Prompto's surprise, Ignis touched his cheek, encouraging him to turn towards him and then he was kissing him, gentle but firm and Prompto gasped in surprise. It wasn't like the other time Ignis had kissed him, there was no power in it, just a kiss, and yet it was even nicer than the other one. He was still confused but…he hesitantly kissed back, he liked Ignis.
Ignis pulled back and smiled kindly at him, fingers gently caressing his cheek. "We want you to stay Prompto. I know you haven't really had much to do with Gladio yet, be he is in agreement. Noctis and I aren't together the way you think. It is the three of us and if you are willing, once you know all of us better, then we would like you to join us."
"You can…do that?" Prompto asked in shock. Four? He glanced at Noctis to see him smiling and nodding. "Oh. I…"
"if I may ask, have you had a relationship other than with Noctis?" Ignis asked and Prompto shook his head.
Noctis reached over and pressed a hand to his chest where his Core was and Prompto smiled at him.
"Yeah, you remember that," he whispered and Noct nodded. It was good to know Noctis remembered what he was, he didn't want to have to go through telling him again. He looked up at Ignis. "I never risked it, the core makes more noise during exertion and…."
"Ah, understandable. No one will force you into a relationship you do not wish Prompto. If you find yourself only comfortable with Noctis, then we will accept that."
They'd let him be with Noct without being with them too? That didn't seem fair to them.
Noctis tugged on Ignis arm to get his attention, lips moving soundlessly.
"You wish to see Gladio?" he asked and Noct nodded. "Alright, I will call him," Ignis stood and Noctis watched him go before turning back to Prompto.
Noctis indicated his lap and Prompto nodded, so Noctis settled back in and Prompto wrapped his arms around him, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of his head. "I was so scared you'd never get better," he whispered, and Noctis rubbed his cheek against his chest before purring softly. "Love you," he breathed, knowing with his hearing, Noctis would hear him.
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Gladio saw Ignis waiting outside of Noct's room for him and felt hope rise, why call him here instead of the observation room? "Iggy?"
"Noctis is asking for you," he smiled at him and Gladio closed his eyes in relief, he was getting better! "Well, in a manner of speaking. Noctis' memories seem to have mostly returned. However, he still cannot speak. He can understand us, even mouth words himself. He can vocalise in other ways, so it does not seem to be due to damage to his vocal chords."
"Muteness can be a lasting effect of being feral, can't it?" he asked, arms crossed and Ignis sighed.
"Indeed. We must keep hope it is temporary. Also, I've had to speak with Prompto about how our relationship works. He was…under the impression that Noctis would leave him now he was home. Noctis had him very confused when he kissed both of us. Due to his nature, Prompto has never attempted a relationship before. Take things slowly with him."
"Of course, kid barely knows us." Did Ignis think he was just going to walk in and kiss him? He'd helped Prompto back into bed that first day and taken him on that mistake of a walk to get his dampener, hadn't really interacted with him much outside of that.
They went into the room to see Noctis curled up in Prompto's lap, the blond running his fingers through black hair as Noct rubbed his cheek affectionately against his chest.
"Hey Princess," Gladio called softly and Noctis looked up at him, Gladio braced for any reaction, utterly relieved when Noct grinned at him. Yeah, that was the cheeky brat he knew. He walked over and Noctis scrambled into his arms, holding on tightly. "I am never letting you out of my sight again," he stared and Noct pouted before leaning up for a kiss and Gladio obliged, keeping it short and sweet since he didn't want to make Prompto uncomfortable. "Missed you," he murmured and Noctis nodded.
He tugged Gladio down onto the bed, then stared at Ignis till he got on as well. Even with two beds put together it was a tight squeeze but none of them complained since it made Noctis happy.
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Prompto easily supported Noctis as he carefully walked towards the bathroom. After so long in bed, even a vampire's muscles needed time to readjust to walking and Prompto was more than strong enough to help him. He was just glad that whatever they'd done to reinforce his body was as instinctive to modulate as his strength had always been. Noctis stripped while Prompto got the water going and then he stepped back but Noct grabbed his wrist. "Noct?" he asked and Noctis tugged at his shirt. "You want me to go in with you?" that got a nod. He hesitated but then locked the door and stripped, not looking at Noctis, knowing he'd see the scars.
He nearly jumped when cool fingers traced over one on his stomach and Noctis' looked at him with wide eyes, fingers moving to another, and he fought not to flinch, but something must have shown because Noctis kissed him. Noctis still didn't even remember the fight with Glauca and friends, so seeing the evidence on his body had obviously surprised him. When Noctis mouthed a question he nodded.
"I'm okay," he promised, sooner or later he'd have to tell him that he was more machine now than ever. Noctis wouldn't care…he wouldn't.
He helped Noctis into the shower cubicle, smiling when Noct insisted on helping him wash, ever so careful of the scars. He kept a hand on him to help him keep his balance but Noctis managed to stay on his feet. He enjoyed washing Noctis, they'd only been together in that tent, never well-lit enough to get the kind of view he had now. He'd seen Noctis naked, had helped wash him, but it was different now that he was awake and recognised him. He groaned when Noctis pressed their bodies together, they didn't have time, Ignis would be back soon. That just got a cheeky grin.
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Ignis paused and glanced towards the bathroom, hearing the shower running and…Noctis was definitely feeling better then. He shook his head, smiling softly, as he put down the tray of food for Prompto. Hopefully they wouldn't be too long in there or else it would go cold.
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Gladio glanced down at Prompto, able to smell how nervous he was as they walked down the hall. He was dressed in black gym gear and the only looks anyone gave him, were ones that were wondering who the new guy was. There wasn't any suspicion which was good.
The mobile dampener was working well, he was now wearing the second prototype after R&D had decided it needed some modifications. Now they needed to put Prompto through his paces to ensure the power drain wasn't going to affect him. Gladio was looking forward to seeing what he could do but also ready in case he reacted badly, he hadn't really put his body through its paces since the surgeries after all. If a lot had changed then another breakdown may happen. Gladio had made sure to book a room with a lock. Cor knew and would keep the curious away. If Prompto could handle the various machines then he might suggest a gentle spar to see how his hand to hand was since he seemed to prefer guns.
He was worried about Prompto, he knew everyone involved was. The kid had been tortured, mutilated, but he kept ignoring it in favour of helping Noctis. And maybe it was helping him somewhat, but he needed more help. His Dad had admitted they were trying to find someone but those with high enough clearance tended to work with the soldiers and after so long were rather biased against anything to do with the Empire and especially MT's. It was good he'd had those few cries, but that wasn't enough to deal with everything.
If Noct could talk, maybe he could help Prompto, but he still couldn't speak, and concern was growing that he may remain mute. There had never been a mute monarch before but there was nothing in the law that would disqualify him from taking the Throne because of it either. Besides, the Crystal and Ring had the final say. Noctis hadn't exactly been a chatter box since the childhood attack but it was strange to see him silent, and obviously very frustrating for him. He'd been given a tablet so that he could use it to communicate since not everyone could lip read entirely accurately. Thanks to that they discovered he had gaps in his memory, nothing alarming, and nothing important, thankfully. Just day to day things like the address of his apartment or the colour of his car. Ignis was running him through a few schooling related things while they were in the gym to see if his actual education had been affected. At least he could still read and write, if he'd had to relearn that it would have been a pain and made communicating a lot harder.
He watched Prompto warm up slowly and then set to work recording the info the scientists wanted on what machines he used on what settings and for how long. They'd compare the info to the power readings in the lab. Seeing him on the weights…he was so scrawny and yet he could lift as much as Gladio himself could!
"Could you lift that much before?"
Prompto shook his head, putting it down. "I carried Noct all the way back to Meldacio without any trouble and I could carry more than what he weighed, but not this much." He stared at his hands, his skin was almost as pale as Noctis', though covered in pale freckles.
"Hey," Gladio called and he looked up, startled. "Wanna hit the mats?" he offered and Prompto's eyes went wide.
"Umm…"
"Nothing serious. We should test your reflexes for a fight though."
Prompto hesitated but eventually nodded.
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Ignis watched as the two walked into the room, Noctis grinning at them. Gladio was grinning and even Prompto had a small smile, all good signs that things had gone well. "How did it go?"
"He may look like a scrawny twig," Gladio began.
"Hey!" Prompto glared at him.
"But he can lift as much as I can," he finished.
"Impressive," Ignis nodded to him and then delicately sniffed the air. "Showered and clean clothing please gentlemen," he ordered and Gladio laughed.
"Go ahead, I'll wait."
Prompto nodded but detoured to the bed at Noctis' insistence for a congratulatory kiss.
Ignis waited until he was sure Prompto was under the water. "How was he?"
"He did fine, hesitant on the mats but that's understandable with the changes he's gone through. Rough around the edges but since he seems to prefer firearms that's not surprising. He's still better than a rookie in the Guard."
"Good," Ignis nodded. Noctis was just smiling proudly, holding up the tablet where he'd typed in 'told you so'.
TBC….
