Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 16

Noctis clung to Gladio, kissing him, feeling his hands around his back, easily supporting his weight. The water was warm as it ran down his back, the bathroom filing with steam, but neither of them cared as Noctis rocked against him. He needed them to stop treating him like he was made of glass! Yeah, there were gaps in his memory and he still couldn't speak, but he wasn't gonna break. He wanted his life back, just with Prompto in it now too.

They'd explained he'd spent time in a feral state and that was scary, he'd been warned his whole life what that could do to his kind, but he was okay. He didn't remember what had caused it and from the scars on Prom's body, he didn't think he wanted to. There was something sadder about the blond now too, a slight shift to his scent. He was just glad Gladio and Ignis were being so accepting of him, trying to help Prom adjust. He knew he'd messed up, but Iggy had fixed it, explaining things to Prompto. They were off doing something, leaving him alone with Gladio for the first time. He'd wasted no time in dragging him into the shower for the most privacy possible.

Yeah, he still couldn't speak, but he was starting to think maybe he never would. Maybe that should freak him out, but it didn't, he could still communicate in other ways. He grinned and dragged his fangs down the sensitive skin of Gladio's throat, making him groan.

"Noct…" Gladio yanked his head up to kiss him again, turning to pin him against the shower wall.

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Ignis glanced at Prompto as they walked through the halls, relieved to find him much ,roe relaxed than Gladio had said he was last trip. He knew exactly what Noctis and Gladio were doing with the time alone, but he could ignore it.

The King wanted to see Prompto but had been unable to slip away to the Isolation wing so Ignis was bring Prompto to the King. Someone had bought Prompto more clothing in the right size, ensuring he didn't stand out, though he wasn't yet dressed as a member of Noctis' Retinue, for obvious reasons. The black would contrast nicely with his bright blond hair and it would let everyone know the he was protected by the Crown.

Ignis knocked on the door and the King called for them to enter. He opened the door and smiled at Prompto, gently urging him inside. Seeing the King while caring for Noctis was apparently different to being summoned and he could feel Prompto's fear. He took Prompto's hand, gently squeezing his fingers, smiling softly, before stepping back. Prompto managed a shaky smile before he stepped into the room.

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Regis watched as Prompto entered his office, blue eyes darting around, taking everything in quickly. "Good afternoon Prompto," he greeted, standing up to move around the desk, offering his hand and the boy hesitated before taking it. Ignis would need to start tutoring him on Royal protocol soon but it was his office and if he wanted to shake hands rather than have people bow then that was his choice. He led Prompto across the room to a corner of comfortable couches, not wanting to make their meeting any more stressful for him. "I am glad the clothing fits, once Mage Altius heard of your recovery she insisted on buying you some things and Captain Ulric knows better than to tell a woman no when it comes to shopping," he offered teasingly.

"Altius?" Prompto asked and Regis nodded.

"She was the Mage on the team who brought you in." And therefore knew the truth, Prompto's eyes widened as he realised that. "How is Noctis?" that was a subject sure to relax Prompto and sure enough his eyes lit up.

The young man was definitely well and truly in love with his son and even what little he had seen would indicate the feelings were mutual. He just hoped the four could work things out between them to include him. Regis was quite happy to listen to Prompto speak of his son and how they were all helping with his recovery, though it hurt to hear that Noct was still mute.

"I have been speaking with medical experts and various elders among groups such as the Galahd, though others so as to keep the patients identity secret. They all appear to agree that Noctis may never speak again," Regis admitted, seeing the stricken look. He reached out and patted a pale hand, Prompto was almost as pale as a vampire now after months indoor. "There is still a chance his voice will return with time but there are no guarantees. I plan to speak with him about moving back into his Citadel quarters. There had never been a mute King before, but there is nothing in the law to say it cannot be done. Noctis is still able to communicate in other ways after all."

"What will happen to me?" Prompto asked nervously.

"You are Oathbound to my son Prompto, I will not send you away. You can become a visible member of his Retinue, your past as a hunter will likely come out if you do but you saved Noctis and the people will likely find it romantic. If you wish to leave the city then it will be allowed, though I know Noctis and the others will insist on ensuring you are well set up somewhere safe and that you remain in contact. It would be dangerous, you are back on the Empire's radar now and if they find you,"

"They'll try to use me against Noct, finish the conversion," he shuddered.

"You can remain in the city and even the Citadel even if you do not wish to be visibly linked to Noctis."

"That would hurt him though, wouldn't it?" Prompto grimaced and he was right, Noctis would be hurt if Prompto wished to remain a secret. "What happens when someone finds out…what I am?"

"We have medical proof that you are still very human, and you are bound by Oath to Noctis, proving your loyalty. There may be some trouble but nothing that we cannot handle." Regis hesitated, he'd had the staff doing research but in the end, there was no way to know for sure. Should he bring it up? "Ignis can begin teaching you while you decide, you don't need to give an answer today. He'll be working with Noctis as well to ensure he remembers everything he needs to."

"I've never really had any schooling," he admitted, flushing, and Regis nodded. He had seen that, had seen that a few hunters had taken to teaching him what was useful that he hadn't learned at that facility.

"If you wish to pursue a normal education then it can be arranged," he assured him.

"I…"

"As I said, there is no rush to make a decision. There will be a formal announcement of Noctis' survival in a month or so, unless someone leaks the news beforehand. Mention will be made that he had help but we won't give out your name without your agreement."

Prompto nodded, obviously uncomfortable, and Regis let him go, not wanting to overwhelm him. He would wait and see how Prompto integrated in the Citadel if he chose to remain, see how he interacted with other vampires, before bringing it up to him.

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Noctis looked around the now bare isolation room, the second bed had been returned and everything was packed up. It was stupid but the idea of leaving…was scary. They'd been safe here and he'd been with those he loved. Once he left things would change. He knew his Dad had told Prompto he could leave the city if he wanted and he was scared that Prompto would want that, would chose to return to the life he knew.

He was also scared about what would happen once the people knew he was alive. He'd heard the radio coverage of his funeral so he thought they would be happy he had survived. How would they react to his having been feral, to still being mute? Sooner or later, the Empire would ensure some kind of footage was released of him in the collar.

No one would tell him what had happened to him, but he could feel the grief from Prompto over it, whatever had happened wasn't good. Had he hurt Prompto? Ignis was enraged but that could be for a whole lot of reasons, so maybe he was better off not remembering. He wanted to see the footage of the fight, he wanted to see what had happened since he couldn't remember. He'd seen Nyx and he had said that he'd faced Glauca! He couldn't believe it, his Dad had to retreat from the General, there was no way he could have fought him even briefly.

"Ready?" a hand rested on his shoulder and he leant back against Iggy, feeling an arm wrap around his waist, lips pressing behind his ear briefly.

He took a last look around and then nodded.

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Prompto watched as Gladio input a code and then the massive double doors clicked open into a foyer with places for shoes and jackets. He then input another code and the inner door opened and Prompto followed him inside, looking around with wide eyes. He'd never imagined…

"Alright there?" Gladio asked and he nodded shakily.

He'd never seen anything like it! He hadn't seen much of the Citadel and most of what he had seen was the behind the scenes bits.

"Well this is the main living area," Gladio waved a hand around the large room filled with couches and a massive tv. "There's a kitchen there but it hasn't been really been used much, Iggy's working to stock it for your use. Down the hallway are three bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, and what is meant to be Noct's office, not that he really uses it. He hasn't actually lived here in years; he moved out for high school and was meant to be moving back in later this year."

"Do you live here?"

"Technically, Ignis has his own small suite a few floors away and I live at the Amicitia estate. Unofficially, I'm usually either in Ignis' rooms or here, same with Ignis. Until you decide what you're doing, you'll be staying in here to stay out of sight," Gladio explained, leading him to the back bedroom.

Prompto looked around, taking in the massive bed with black bedding, the doors against one wall… "Is this the one Noct uses?"

"Yeah, it's got the biggest bed."

"Right…" he still wasn't sure how to deal with that.

"Hey, there's no pressure Prompto," Gladio turned to face him and Prompto looked up at him. Why did he have to be so short? Gladio settled his hands on his shoulders and Prompto swallowed. "None of us are going to force you into anything. We barely know each other yet; it'll take time for all of us to get used to each other. Though there's one thing I'd like to do if you'll let me."

"What?"

Gladio grinned at him. "Kiss you, everyone else has except me."

Gladio wanted to kiss him? He hesitated, staring up at him. He'd been wary of Gladio at first, he was so big, a vampire, but…he'd never done anything to make him scared. He'd done everything he could to help and Prompto could see that having to remain away from Noctis before his memory had returned had hurt him.

He took a deep breath and moved closer. "Okay," he whispered.

The grin softened, a hand moving from his shoulder to gently rest at the back of his head as Gladio leant in. Prompto moved a hand to rest against Gladio's side to help him balance, feeling the cold of his body through his clothes but it didn't bother him at all after so long on the road with Noct and then in the isolation room with him. Kissing Gladio was different to kissing Noct or Ignis and he found himself clinging to him, overwhelmed. When Gladio pulled back, Prompto was gasping for air, able to feel the heat in his cheeks, blinking up at Gladio, dazed.

"Okay?" the vampire asked, and he managed a shaky nod. Gladio chuckled and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "How's your memory?"

"Huh?"

Gladio laughed and guided him from the bedroom. "And I got that reaction without any sex powers," he was obviously proud of that. "We each get our own codes to the doors in case of emergency. Let's security know who's in here if we need to evacuate, things like that. There's a different code for the outer doors to the inner ones too. Cor set you up with your own that you'll need to memorise."

Prompto nodded, surprised he was being given such access, then again it'd be a good way to track him. He'd expected to be pretty much locked in, but it sounded like he was allowed to leave the suite? His memory was excellent, even lacking the implants in his brain.

The door opened and he turned to see Ignis and Noct with a few guards around them, keeping Noct out of view? Noctis saw them and grinned, moving forward, and Prompto found himself with a vampire Prince wrapped around him.

Ignis chuckled as the guards left. "You only saw him half an hour ago Noctis," he teased and Noct shrugged. "Let me know when you want dinner Prompto," Ignis told him, carrying a bag into the hall and Prompto stared after him in surprise.

"Ignis likes to cook, he's been looking forward to being back in here so he can cook for both of you. He says it's a waste to cook just for himself since technically he doesn't need it," Gladio explained even as Noctis tugged Prompto over to a couch to curl up together.

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Regis nodded as Cor entered the room. "How did it go?"

"We got them all to Noctis' rooms without much attention. The guard with them said the first thing Noctis did was hug Prompto then drag him to a couch. The boy looked a little overwhelmed, not surprising considering what he's used to." Cor accepted the offered glass, sipping the blood within.

"Do you think he'll stay?"

"It's hard to say. I don't think he wants to leave Noctis, but the question is whether he can adapt to life here. If the truth comes out to soon, he may leave because he believes it's the best thing to do for Noctis' reputation," he explained, and Regis nodded.

He would do what he had to in order to ensure no one could drive Prompto from the city in a misplaced effort to protect Noctis. Just minutes with them was enough to see the bond between them, even without the magic linking them. "Once Noctis' presence is confirmed, Aldercapt will make his next move. I fear what footage they may have…"

"Noctis is demanding to see the footage of the fight since he can't remember."

"Of course," Regis nodded, that should have been released to him as soon as he asked for it. There was nothing too distressing, other than seeing both boys electrocuted before being knocked out or collared. Thankfully Crowe had been too far away and at the wrong angle to catch the moment that had made Prompto scream. It had been bad enough seeing his son so lifeless, he did not wish to see the moment of transition as the collar activated. "Have they learned much from the collar?"

"It's definitely old Solheim technology, Magitek," Cor admitted, and Regis nodded. That had been assumed, although the first record of vampires had been the Mystic. "The techs are going a little crazy over it."

That was understandable, they'd never had access to one and now they had a functional collar plus its control unit. "See if Prompto can record what he knows of them, I'd rather not risk any accidents with it only to find it had somehow permanently locked itself."

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Prompto left the bathroom in a billow of steam and Noct grinned at him from where he was sitting cross legged on the bed. He'd been in there for a while, but his shower definitely beat the ones back in the isolation room. He held his hand out and Prompto walked over, letting Noctis yank him up onto the bed. He curled up against him, relaxing when a warm arm wrapped around him. There was so much he wanted to tell him, but his stupid voice wouldn't cooperate. Typing it out wasn't the same and took too long. A knock sounded at the door and he reached out to hit his hand on the headboard as a signal.

The door opened and Ignis looked in, smiling softly at the sight of them on the bed. "Will you two need anything else this evening or shall Gladio and I depart?"

That had Noctis sitting up, shaking his head madly, looking for his tablet. Prompto sat up as well, worried, even as Ignis moved to the bed.

"Hush Noct, calm down," Ignis murmured, gently taking his hands in his. "There's no need to panic."

"I think…maybe he doesn't want you to go?" Prompto suggested and Noct was relieved he could read him so well, nodding.

"Ah, I see," Ignis relaxed and then let go of his hands only to reach up and stroke his cheek, Noctis leaning into his touch. "Very well, we will take one of the other rooms."

Noctis glanced at Prompto, would he be okay if he asked for what he really wanted? Prompto looked back at him in confusion before his eyes widened slightly.

"I uh…I think he wants us all in here," Prompto finally said and Noctis nodded.

"Noctis, it is unfair to pressure Prompto into something like this," Ignis told him sternly and Noct shifted.

He didn't want to put pressure on Prom, he just wanted them all together, safe. No way anyone or anything could get passed all four of them without someone waking. Prom had shared the bed with him and Iggy, why would adding Gladio make such a difference?

"Just to sleep?" Prompto asked him and he nodded, he knew Prompto wasn't ready for anything else with anyone except him and that was fine. "Okay…if you want to," Prom looked up at a surprised Ignis who stared at him, obviously trying to see if he meant it, before Iggy nodded.

"Very well, I'll speak with Gladio." He left, pulling the door to.

Noctis shoved the covers back, fixing the pillows just right before pulling Prompto down with him, resting his head on Prom's chest so he could hear his heart. When the door opened, Ignis and Gladio walked in, letting Noctis direct where they lay, Gladio pulling the covers up.

"Alright blondie?" Gladio asked and Prompto nodded.

"Night," he whispered in answer, a hand stroking through Noct's hair, and Noctis looked to see Iggy's hand resting lightly on Prompto's side, Gladio's arm around his own waist.

For the first time in a very long time, everything felt right.

TBC…