Blessings of Eos
Chapter 18
Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy
Sunday was more of the same; lazy lounging, Dr. Argentum's cooking, and Prompto sharing more bits of his past. About mid-afternoon Noctis got a text from Ignis, informing him and Prompto that the school would be closed the whole week, while the Crownsguard finished its investigation, the structural integrity of the building was examined, and temporary classrooms obtained. Unspoken was the determination as to if the school was still secure enough for him to attend. It was upon receiving the text that Noctis realized he would either have to borrow Prompto's clothes to go home in, or wear his school uniform. "Hey, can I borrow some things to go home in? It's that or my school uniform, and Ignis will fuss over the wrinkles." Noctis asked Prompto while they sat at the kitchen table, having been gently cajoled into at least looking over their school assignments by Dr. Argentum.
"Sure man." Prompto was well aware of Ignis's fussing over Noct's appearance.
Dr. Argentum walked into the kitchen from the laundry room, bearing two sets of uniforms hanging up. "Okay, I did the hard part; you two can figure out who's is whose."
Noct blinked, not having realized his school uniform had been picked up and washed. Truthfully, he hadn't really thought about it since he took it off Friday. "Thanks, Dr. Argentum." Eyeing the two uniforms, he decided his was probably the one on the right.
"You're welcome. You can give the hanger back when you return Prom's clothes, I know I certainly didn't care for wearing my school uniform when I didn't have to." She told him, handing over the uniform he was reasonably sure was his, and dropping Prompto's over his head.
"Did you have to do that?" He whined, removing the uniform from his head as he stood to go hang it up.
"Do you really want to know the answer?" She reminded him with a raised eyebrow.
Prompto was smart enough to keep his mouth shut at that.
"Your mom's really into the whole domestic thing." Noct commented that night, curled around each other.
"She's always so busy, so it's like a break from real life, only having to worry about cleaning and cooking and laundry. She'll be bored of it halfway through month two, but as long as she keeps cooking I'm not saying anything." Prompto confided, his nervous energy over tomorrow starting up as he drummed his fingers on Noct's arm.
"Are you sure about telling them?" Noct couldn't help asking yet again, as he began to massage Prompto's head to try and calm him down.
The fingers slowed, but didn't stop. "I won't be if you keep bugging me about it."
"Sorry."
The drumming fingers gradually stilled the longer Noct rubbed his head. "Last call on asking anything; can't say if I'll want to talk about it again." Prompto reminded him.
Noct chewed on his lip. "You said that you shouldn't have known about the Sun?" He inquired.
"…there was a video, with a scientist and a unit that had undergone the final transition but not final processing. They went out into broad daylight; the scientist was fine, the unit was burned to ashes within two minutes. We were told that…that's what would happen if we went Outside, since we weren't human. Nothing with even a trace of blackness was human back there. I was kinda scared, when She asked if I wanted to go with Her Outside, but…I couldn't help feeling safe with Her. I thought that I'd have to do something in order to go with Her, cuz as far as I knew at the time, you couldn't get anything without doing something. She just said that She had been looking for someone and that She thought She had found them. I couldn't really believe She meant me; I was too uppity for a unit, as the guards liked to say, since I'd question things. And this was before I really comprehended that I was human just like all the people who had said I wasn't." His lips quirked into a smile. "I could hardly believe what She said next."
"What was it?" Noct whispered. It felt like speaking louder would break the mood.
"She…She said She wasn't looking for the best unit; She was looking for the best person." Prompto's eyes were watery, remembering Miss Aerith's words. "'Course, once I was Outside I was too distracted by all the new things to see to remember to be scared."
"I'm surprised it didn't take longer to reach Insomnia, with how distracted you can get." Noct commented.
Prompto pouted, but didn't bother with a rebuttal. Staring at each other, barely inches between their faces, it felt like the most natural thing in the world, to meet in the middle, their lips brushing against each other. It didn't last long, and neither boy felt the need to comment or try to explain. Prompto just smiled as the kiss ended, tucking his head under Noct's chin as he had the previous two nights. Noct returned the smile before burying his nose in his hair, breathing in cinnamon and something like sunlight as they both drifted off to sleep.
It was a very, very good thing Aerith was nowhere near the real world, as She surely would have woken up a lot of people with Her squeal. She didn't bother preserving the moment as a photo; it was enough for it to live in the memories of the people involved. It would be years before either boy really sat back and realized this was when they realized they were in love with each other. Outside parties would contest, but both were adamant on the point. In the quiet moments like this one, curled around each other in the darkness, it was easy to be honest about their feelings, even if they weren't spoken out loud or consciously acknowledged. In the darkness of night, warm and safe with your beloved, it was enough.
Prompto practically vibrated through breakfast, his parents and Noct wisely not even attempting to hand him anything directly. Michael even went as far as to stick a straw in his orange juice, so he didn't have to try picking up the glass. "I'm not that nervous!" He protested, completely ignoring that the table was moving in time with his nervous energy.
Michael, Eleanore, and Noct just shared a look between each other. "Right…it's not like you have a track record of breaking dishes when you're nervous anyway." Eleanore commented, practically dripping sarcasm into her scrambled eggs.
Noct managed to keep his amused snort under control, even if the elder Argentums weren't fooled. Michael had slipped him a copy of the picture of five-year-old Prompto in the act of leaping at a fish trying to catch it, and it was safely hidden away in his math textbook, literally the last place Prompto would ever look.
Somehow they reached Noct's apartment without incident. With the way Prompto was constantly in motion with his nervous energy, Noct was reminded of a puppy. True, he may channel a cat when his head or back was rubbed, but when he was nervous? All puppy. Noct wasn't sure how he managed to eat breakfast without wearing most of it.
Ignis and Gladio were already there. Taking in Prompto, Ignis was glad that Noct had texted that they has already eaten breakfast, and that he and Gladio had made sure all breakables were out of range.
"Y'know, you keep the nerves up and I'll have to incite another choco-mog fight." Gladio commented, both amused and worried at Prompto's nervous energy. It was worse than their first proper meeting.
Prompto managed to pause himself, taking a deep breath. "Sorry! It's just…I've never had to really tell someone before. My parents already knew and Noct just caught me at the right time, so it wasn't like I had time to get nervous." He admitted, flopping onto the sofa.
The four sat there in silence, Ignis and Gladio not attempting to rush things. Finally, Prompto began. "The magitek troopers Niflheim has; they're not completely robots. They were people, at least before they turned into daemons and got fitted with the armor and magitek. But they…they can't just turn anyone into a daemon; no way of controlling the outcome. So they start in utero; they've got these womb tanks, so they don't have to depend on the crap shot of human reproduction and so they can start the infection. It's small at first, but the amount slowly increases as the units-that's what they're called-are 'born' and grow up. About the ages of 12 to 17, during puberty, it reaches the point of no return, and the final transition happens. They can't remember anything from Before when that happens; for some reason the frontal lobes take the brunt of the trauma in the transition."
Prompto had taken off his wrist band and stuffed it in his pocket before reaching the apartment, just pulling his long sleeved shirt down enough keep his wrist from showing. He pushed the sleeve up, baring the bar code while not looking at it. "I…I was supposed to have been one of them. I don't really know why me and not a different unit, but I was saved when I was five. She brought me to Insomnia. They had put a bomb in me a couple years before, but crossing the Wall meant it deactivated, killing me from the inside. Mom…she was the one who operated to take it out. I dunno why, but it hit me this year, the eleventh anniversary of being saved…that I really shouldn't exist. 'Prompto Argentum' shouldn't have been." Not really sure of what to say after that, Prompto just stopped talking, fiddling with the cowrie shell bracelet on his wrist. It had started as a necklace, but he got too big to wear it as such.
Ignis pushed his glasses up his nose. "No wonder then, that His Majesty consented for Noct to spend the weekend with you."
"It was Dad's idea, actually." Noct admitted.
Gladio had moved closer, running a finger over the bar code. Prompto couldn't stop the shiver, not used to feeling anyone touching it. "Does it do anything?"
"Not that I know of." Having enough of his bar code out in the open, Prompto put his wrist band back on.
"How did you learn the details?" Ignis asked delicately.
"It wasn't ever hidden from the units, what would happen, even if I didn't learn the exact terms until later. The Lady who saved me…She grabbed like everything they had on me, so I'd have the information one day. She got all the info on the process too, and Mom told me what she knew of it, when she explained the medical history part of my file." Prompto had stopped vibrating, slowing relaxing the longer Gladio and Ignis stayed calm.
"Who'd have the guts to waltz in and swipe a baby MT straight from the factory?" Gladio looked sheepish at his choice of words, but there wasn't much point in sidestepping the issue.
Prompto snorted. "Aerith Gainsborough, that's who."
Ignis and Gladio both made weird, strangled noises. "Holy shit; she's like a Crownsguard legend!" Gladio exclaimed.
Ignis began cleaning his glasses, less out of necessity and more for something to do with his hands. "There are reports of 'Aerith Gainsborough' in Crownsguard records going back centuries. It's been assumed that it's an alias, passed down from one 'Aerith' to another, possibly at times mother to daughter like the Oracle."
Prompto barely hid his smirk. Only Noct noticed however.
"Yeah, she saved His Majesty and my dad during the war. Dad swears that her angry is not to be wished on anyone." Gladio added.
"Everyone keeps saying that! I don't get it though, She's too nice and pretty to be scary!" Prompto complained.
"All reports agreed that her anger is a fearsome thing to witness, however it is noted that it takes a lot to incite such a response." Ignis said.
"What, haven't you heard 'Beware the Nice Ones'?" Gladio asked.
"Ooo, TvTropes, right?" Prompto said. At Gladio's answering nod he continued. "If you put it that way I guess I get it, but it's hard to believe. Especially since She started a splash fight with me and declared She won because She was bigger, despite being equally wet."
"Wait, I've seen you without your shirt on; shouldn't there be a scar from where the bomb was taken out? Or put in?" Gladio realized.
"They did something with genetic manipulation, when I was in the womb tank. I heal faster and better, so no scars or other evidence." Prompto admitted, finally stopping his fiddling of his bracelet.
"'Other evidence'?" Ignis inquired.
"…the third time I refused to take part in target practice, one of the guards stomped on my right leg. By all rights, it should still be a bit of mess, even with all they did fixing it. While I was awake even. But there's no sign I've ever had my leg broken, or either of my arms from the first two times." Not really thinking about, Prompto had pulled his right leg up to his chest, resting his hand in the vicinity of where the breaks had been.
Hearing this, it took all of Gladio's willpower to remain calm. Ignis wasn't having any easier of a time.
With a flash of insight, Ignis asked, "Does that to do with your aversion to vanilla ice cream?"
Prompto grimaced. "Five straight kill shots meant vanilla ice cream at dinner. I wound up with a lot of vanilla ice cream. Also why I like the spicy stuff; it had all the necessary stuff, the food, but no taste or color."
Silently Ignis vowed to not procure any more vanilla ice cream. And to stock up on spices, and experiment with ways of making the meals more visually entertaining in terms of color.
Gladio debated asking Prompto if he'd be interested in training with Noct, especially the firearms part, but he wasn't sure how he'd able to swing it for it to be approved.
After a few minutes of quiet, Prompto stood up. "I gotta go; since school's closed Mom wants to try and get me past 'cook on HIGH for 3 minutes' in terms of my cooking skills."
"She was the lead surgeon on the Zanarkand twins' separation, correct? I suppose she was able to get some time off, given how successful it was." Ignis commented.
"She got three months. She'll probably get bored of all the domestic stuff before the end of month two, but I'm not complaining as long as she keeps cooking." Prompto said. "Hey Noct, do you think we could get away with going to the arcade during the day this week?"
"I dunno; I'd rather get past that one boss than hit the arcade. See you tomorrow then?" Noct asked.
"Yeah."
"You do realize you're stuck with us, right?" Gladio asked as Prompto got his shoes on. "You signed up for the long haul after all."
"Indeed." Ignis added.
Prompto just smiled, a mix of relief and gratitude on his face. "Yeah…yeah I know now. Thanks guys."
"Why you thankin' us? You got Prince Charmless over there to lighten up." Gladio asked.
"Hey!" Noct exclaimed.
Laughing, Prompto left the apartment. While his mom did want to try and improve his cooking skills, a text to Jeff at the range meant he could come in as much as he could get away with. Prompto was hoping they'd start doing the training part, where they'd go outside the Wall and take up hunts, pretty soon. Jeff wanted him to get familiar and comfortable with every class of gun in a controlled setting first, even if his preferred ones were handguns and maybe a shotgun.
Once he was sure Prompto was out of earshot, Gladio started a profanity recital. Ignis pulled out a cucumber and starting chopping with more force than normal. Noct, taking in their reactions, debated bringing up what Prom and he discussed. He didn't want to put it off too long, but he didn't want those two going on rampage either.
Noct waited until Gladio had covered every profanity he knew, from minor all the way up to major, in modern and old Lucian, and until Ignis had diced the cucumber down to quarter inch cubes. "I knew the Nifs were kinda twisted, but I never expected anything like this." Gladio sighed.
"It certainly explains why the Marshal wanted you to read his file Noct. But given that eleven years have passed, anything that could have happened would have already. I can't say to quite understand how this gradual infection works, but it would seem that without constant maintenance it could not progress any farther and might well have decreased." Ignis declared, pulling out a tomato and giving it the same treatment as the cucumber, if slower and with less force.
"It's part of why he approached me at the start of high school, despite attending the same schools since I entered public school. All that's left is a film of blackness over his aura, where the bar code is." Noct said, slouching on the table. "But there's something else we need to talk about."
Gladio took a seat at the table, and Ignis abandoned the tomato slaughter. "After he told me, I was kinda horrified. I mean, I don't think I could smile and laugh the way he does with that hanging in the background. He thought my silence meant…something else. Not a hundred percent sure on the 'else' but where he thought I'd stop hanging out with him. Prom asked if I could pretend to still like him at school. The football team thinks that I'm letting him hang out with me and call himself my friend in exchange for fucking him. And they've been wondering about sampling the goods." Noct told them, scowling at the table.
Gladio slammed a fist into the table, breaking it. The tomato slaughter resumed with a vengeance. "If I could draw your attention away from the profanity and slaughter…" Noct said, after a few minutes of his Shield and Advisor demonstrating what they were all feeling in regards to the news.
"Now, Prom's concerned that if I intervene, it'll just make things worse. The football team's built like Gladio and like to travel in packs. Evidently, they only recently started asking him directly, confining themselves before to when neither of us was present, and making sure this doesn't reach my ears." Noct crossed his arms. "Both of you have been to the school enough times that it would be entirely conceivable for one or both of you to have overheard something. The only limits, per Prom's request, is for no permanent damage and nothing that could indicate he's said anything to me." Noct smirked. It was a smirk his father had taught him, for when to put the fear of the Stars in their enemies. "Other than that? Make them pay back tenfold."
"They'll be paying back a hundredfold, I can assure you." Ignis declared, the light glinting off his glasses while Gladio bared his teeth in a smile that was more about scaring the other side than any positive emotion.
"And Gladio? You owe me a new table."
Mama Ignis and Papa Gladio on the move! Given how Ignis's Japanese voice actor played Light Yagami in Death Note, it's probably a good thing it doesn't exist in this world. Has Ignis been properly verbose?
Hadn't particularly wanted the boys to be romantically involved pre-game, but they're too cute together for me to drag it out four more years. Even though it means I'll have to face the classic 'OMG we can't be together anymore now that Noct's getting married' plot. That's what I get for not fighting harder when they hijacked the story.