Author's Note: Hi everyone. So it's really late and my brain has apparently already begun shut down mode, so I literally cannot think of anything to say besides a quick thanks to all those who've followed and favourited this story. Special thanks to my reviewers. Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you think. You guys are awesome.

A.D. Williams: Yep. Noct really liked having him around far too much to freeze him out for too long, especially once Prompto came clean about why he said what he did. That guy is totally adorbs. As for a reveal on the tattoo... I'll let the story answer that question for me. And agreed... I definitely prefer my Prom happy.

Astrid Midnight: Thanks very much. I admit I'm having fun writing it a little differently... definitely more difficult than the canon. And thanks. I wasn't sure about the tattoo thing... but I'm glad you liked it. :)

Anyways, enough from me. I hope you enjoy Chapter 7.

Things after that settled back into the normal. Prompto's cuff was back on Monday morning, covering the tattoo he seemed to dislike so much. His other friends... Well Noctis wasn't sure what they thought of the fact that he and Prompto were still hanging out, but they didn't confront the blonde again.

Perhaps they'd figured it out for themselves, in the end.

Either way, Prompto was back at his side first thing in the morning. Honestly he didn't understand how the guy could be so damned chipper when they'd spent the Six only knew how long playing video games the night before, staying up long past midnight.

Considering the hour Noctis has insisted Prompto sleep on the couch in the apartment – the guy had stated earlier it was far more comfortable than his own bed – but the blonde had insisted he return home. In the end, after a bit of an argument about it, Prompto conceded to Noctis' insistence that at the very least they get one of the Crownsguard to drive him home.

"So I was thinking..." and when Prompto's voice trailed off into nothing, Noctis looked over curiously.

"Sounds pretty dire..." and when Prompto shot him a look, Noctis laughed. "What were you thinking?"

The blonde watched him silently a moment, as if waiting for another smartass remark, before continuing with a grin. "I was thinking that you and I should hit up the arcade. It's very clear you've played that game the other day far too much and have an unfair advantage over me."

Noctis grinned. "Well I thought I was playing 'The Master'. Had to bring my A game."

"Exactly. You've clearly had far more practice on that one... maybe at the arcade we'll be on a slightly more even playing field."

Considering that a moment, Noctis nodded his head. "Fair enough. We can go to the arcade..."

When his voice trailed off, Prompto frowned. "Why am I sensing a but?"

Noctis shrugged. "But... the Crownsguard will need to vet you for that."

Prompto's brows rose to his forehead. "And they didn't for my impromptu visit last night?"

He flashed the blonde a grin at that. "Yeah well... they didn't really know you were coming until you arrived, and it was the king who suggested we speak, so they didn't really want to argue with me too hard on that point."

The blonde grinned back. "How devious of you, throwing your dad's name around like that to get what you want."

"After so many years in that environment you get to know how to work the system."

"But you can't work around the arcade?"

Noctis shook his head. "It'll be Ignis and a couple of the Crownsguard who come with us. The Crownsguard I can sometimes sway... Ignis, never."

Prompto laughed. "Stickler for the rules, huh?" And when Noctis nodded with a sigh, Prompto shook his head. "So your initial invite was bogus then, huh?"

He smiled at that and shook his head. "No. I just panicked and threw the invite out there. Ignis and Gladio would have had a fit."

The blonde grinned at that, nodding his head. "Uncomfortable all around, huh? Well that's fine. We can always go to the arcade whenever. No rush. I'm not in a hurry to be checked out by the Crownsguard."

Noctis had to laugh, couldn't help it, elbowing the guy playfully in the ribs. "If you think they haven't already done a background check on you, you're dreaming."

He saw what might have been panic flash briefly through Prompto's eyes at this before the expression vanished a second later. He wondered then if he'd been imagining things because it was with an almost careless nonchalance that the other then shot him a quick glance, before the blonde was running a hand back through perfectly styled locks. "What makes you think that?"

"Ignis catches us having a heated argument in the hall at school? There's no way he doesn't run your name through the system."

"Well he's not dragged you off by the ear yet so it couldn't have been too bad." Prompto was thoughtful a moment. "So how does vetting someone differ from just 'checking them out'?"

Noctis shrugged. "I don't really know the particulars. Mostly it's just been people who work at the Citadel in the past. I've never really had a friend go through it before and I didn't really know Ignis or Gladio when they did." He thought about it a moment. "I think there might be an interview with one of the higher ups, but that's all I know."

Prompto was silent a moment, considering that, and when he didn't respond straight away, Noctis nudged him with an elbow. "Having second thoughts on being friends with me yet?"

He was answered with a chuckle and a quick shake of the other's head. "Not quite yet... but I'll let you know."

He laughed, nodding his head. "Well let me know if that's something that you want... the whole vetted thing. I can ask Ignis to get the ball rolling."

Prompto was silent for a very long time after that, obviously considering the situation from every angle, and for a moment Noctis was almost one hundred percent certain that Prompto would reject the idea. Eventually however, the other nodded and although hesitance oozed through his every word... well he wasn't saying no. "Sure, go ahead. 'Get the ball rolling' as you said. Not like it'll be too horrific, right?"

"Right." In all honesty he couldn't promise anything of the sort, given his lack of knowledge regarding the process. "Did you want me to ask Iggy or Gladio about... well... just so you have some idea of what to expect?"

But Prompto was shaking his head before Noctis even finished. "No, all good. I don't think I want to know. Can't really dread what you don't know, right?" And when Noctis raised a brow, Prompto laughed quietly. "Okay, okay you can. But I really don't wanna know. I don't want to freak and chicken out."

"That's something you'd do?"

Prompto's blue eyes moved to catch his small smile. "What's that mean?"

Noctis shrugged. "Well you know... you're the guy who argues with teachers, doesn't fear the headmaster and is in detention every other day. I guess I just assumed you weren't that easy to intimidate."

"More so than you'd think actually. I have a habit of pushing through that kind of thing. When I feel something is intimidating I just pretend it's not and sometimes it's not."

"But sometimes it is."

"Exactly. So if I don't know what it all entails, nothing can freak me out enough to send me running for the hills."

Noctis just nodded for a moment. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry about what?"

"About all this shit... being my friend is a whole lot of hard work. I'm sorry you have to deal with it."

Prompto's mouth was twisted down into a frown at that and he was shaking his head. "Seriously dude, don't worry about it. Not a big deal. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?"

Noctis laughed. "So as long as the Crownsguard doesn't find anything super incriminating in your past and decides to take you down, you'll be right."

An emotion he couldn't quote pinpoint flickered through Prompto's eyes then – something like fear or maybe discomfort. He couldn't tell because the minute he saw it the expression vanished, replaced by a smile and Prompto was laughing quietly. "Exactly."

When he brought up Prompto's being vetted with Ignis that afternoon his advisor studied him for a moment in the rear-view mirror with a thoughtful frown. "That was fast."

"What do you mean?"

Ignis started, clearly not having meant to speak the words aloud and quickly shaking his head, his eyes refocusing on the road before them. "It's nothing, Highness."

Frowning now, Noctis leaning forward a little in his seat, blue eyes trying – and failing – to catch Ignis'. "Come on, Iggy. You're my advisor, right?" And when Ignis offered a short nod, Noctis mimicked it. "Great. So advise me then. Why is it fast?"

Ignis sighed. It was obvious the other man wasn't keen on having this conversation, but despite that it seemed he decided to answer. "It's... you two were in a fight only days ago. The looks you were giving him, Noct... If looks could kill the boy would have spontaneously combusted on the spot. And now you want him vetted to spend time with you outside of school? Doesn't that sound a little fast to you?"

Noctis nodded. "Well yeah... when you put it like that, sure it does. But Dad suggested I speak with him about everything that happened, and so we talked." He shrugged. "And it was all just some big misunderstanding."

"I see." And when Noctis started frowning at the less than enthusiastic response, Ignis nodded. "Very well. I will speak to the Crownsguard about him. Anything you know about him that might help?"

"Like is he a secret assassin sent to kill me, you mean?" Noctis asked grouchily, his blue eyes dark; irritated.

Ignis couldn't help his smile or the quiet laugh at the attitude he was getting from his young friend and nodded his head. "Like that, yes, or maybe something a little easier... Like his parents, birthday, after school commitments and jobs, people he associates with, birthmarks... that kind of thing."

Noctis relaxed a little at the explanation before shrugging his shoulders. "Um... His dad I know. He's one of the teachers at school; Mr Melior, but he's adopted so..." and he shrugged. "His birthday is October twenty-fifth. He's mentioned a job... I think in a video store, but he doesn't really talk about it a lot. His other friends I don't really know... we don't hang out with those guys. As for birthmarks... I dunno. Maybe." He paused a moment before adding, "I know he has a tattoo on his wrist," and he automatically rubbed the spot on his own wrist when he mentioned it. "A barcode. NH, something... a bunch of numbers, I can't really remember them, but from what he tells me it's pretty recent, so probably not helpful." He took a breath, thinking through the information he'd given and wondering if he'd missed anything. "I think that's it. Is that enough?"

He couldn't really understand the look Ignis was giving him now. "What?"

"You've only just met this guy... you know an awful lot about him for such a new friend."

Noctis just shrugged. "Yeah well... guy talks a lot. And I suppose I'm a good listener."

"When you want to be."

Noctis faux-glared at Ignis' teasing – "Hey!" – but couldn't help his smile when Ignis gave him an innocent shrug in response.

"Very well, I'll speak to the Crownsguard tonight and we can start the vetting process. I'll let you know when we need him at the Citadel for his interview."

"Thanks Iggy."

Ignis just nodded with a smile. "Of course."

Apparently the process didn't take very long at all, because it was only the evening of the day following his request that Ignis came back to him with the news that one of the Crownsguard would be available to see Prompto the following day at two o'clock in the afternoon.

"But we have school."

"He has already been excused from his classes. Could you please pass the message on? A car will be sent to collect him from the front of the school a half hour before his appointment; please inform him that punctuality would be highly appreciated. Cor is a busy man and doesn't like to be kept waiting.

For a moment after the short speech Noctis just stared at him a little dumbfounded, blue eyes wide, before shaking his head clear. "Uh... Cor? As in Leonis? The commander of the Crownsguard?"

Ignis nodded at the clarification and it became obvious when Noctis caught sight of the other's frown that the choice of interviewer in this case was unusual. So if Cor didn't interview all those who needed to be vetted, what exactly was so special about Prompto? Or was it simply because of exactly how close to the Prince of the Kingdom that he would be allowed? That made sense...

Right?

"Uh... sure, yeah. I'll let him know. Thanks Iggy."

"As always, I'm happy to assist."

For a moment Noctis watched in silence as Ignis walked deeper into the Citadel before taking a breath and drawing his phone from his pocket.

Noctis (7:45pm): Were you serious when you said you didn't want any details about this vetting thing?

Prompto's reply came swiftly.

Prompto (7:46pm): Totally serious. Nasty surprises are far better than dreading something, don't you think?

Noctis (7:46pm): I prefer to be prepared.

Prompto (7:47pm): To each their own, I guess. Why, what's up?

Noctis (7:48pm): You have an interview with one of the Crownsguard tomorrow afternoon. 2pm. A car is picking you up from the front gate at school half an hour before. You've been excused from your classes.

He didn't receive a response immediately like he usually did, and Noctis wondered what might have been going through Prompto's head at the news; he wondered if the other guy was trying to figure out exactly what it was that he'd left out.

Prompto (7:55pm): Okay cool. Thanks for letting me know.

It seemed more subdued than he was used to from the other guy and it only made him worry all the more.

Noctis (7:56pm): You okay?

Prompto (7:56pm): Fine. Just... I dunno. It's an interview with the Crownsguard. Kinda a big deal.

If only he knew.

Well... maybe it was a good thing he didn't know that he would not only be sitting through an interview with one of the Crownsguard, but their commander. No doubt it would only worry him more.

Noctis (7:57pm): Guess so. They're pretty cool guys though. Seriously... it'll be fine.

Granted, he'd likely not have classified Cor as one of the 'pretty cool' ones. More often than not the man was serious and stern; though that said he was more than fair. And Prompto wasn't exactly a pushover.

So really it would be fine.

Prompto (7:58pm): If you say so.