Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 3

Regis paced his study, ignoring his cane. Noctis had missed the Council meeting and while he hated them, he never missed them without warning. So he had called him, only for there to be no answer, Ignis and Gladio also failed to answer and Clarus had confirmed his son never returned home the previous night. Cor had called out the Crownsguard and put Regis into lockdown, just to be safe. Which meant he was locked in his rooms, totally cut off from the world. The Crystal still thrummed with a link to his son, thankfully, Noctis still lived, but there were many ways to make living a curse.

Cor walked in and Regis turned, seeing the tightness in his face and his heart sank before he laid out three top of the line Crownsguard issued phones. "We found them in a warehouse on the edge of the immigrant sectors. We found the Princes' car in one of the Guards parking structures, and one of the 'civilian' marked cars missing. A search of their rooms showed that personal possessions and clothing is missing from Noctis' apartment and Scientia's as well. Nothing from Gladio's room at home is gone."

"You think they ran away?" Clarus snapped and Cor shook his head.

"I think someone wants us to think that. Security tapes from both buildings are being reviewed now."

There was a knock and a guard entered, handing Cor a computer, he read the screen and scowled.

"One of the hidden exits from the city was used last night, the proper codes were entered so the system didn't flag it. One vehicle went through."

"They would never willingly leave the city," Regis snapped, eyes shifting towards red and both men could feel the magic gathering in response to his fear and anger.

"Do you want the Hunters alerted?" Cor asked, the Hunters were the closest to soldiers that they had outside of the city.

Regis hesitated, the Hunters technically answered only to themselves and not all were completely trustworthy. "Not yet, it may be a ruse to make us think they have left the city."

"The Guard and Glaive will search the entire city," Cor promised before leaving.

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Prompto checked in on Noct, glad to see he was looking less like a corpse now, rigor had come and gone and while his skin was very pale, it was beginning to take on the characteristics of a vampire. He left the tent and sat by the fire, Ignis crawling over from his spot to curl up in his lap like an overgrown pet, head against his unbeating heart and Prompto lifted a hand to gently run through his hair. Ignis lifted his head and Prompto stared into innocent green eyes, full of utter devotion and trust. He didn't want to turn Ignis, ever, he wanted to keep him safe from the horrors of the world which had faded from his mind over the last few days without him pushing for Ignis to remember. It was all still there, just buried deep in his mind, unable to even give him dreams. The cave was Ignis' whole world now, the only home he knew, and he was utterly content.

Prompto looked to where Gladio was keeping watch. He still remembered his life and Prompto honestly wasn't sure about turning him. He was dangerous enough as a human. "Do you think you have been missed yet Gladio?"

Gladio turned his head to look at him, amber eyes calm. "Yes Master. Noctis had a Council Meeting the morning after you freed us." It was how he saw what had been done, they had been freed from lives of pain and danger.

Prompto nodded, it had been two days, they would be searching the city but would the realise they had left? The car was hidden from view which made them harder to find and no one had seen them come to the cave. The odds of anyone actually figuring out what happened were low, even if they found the warehouse, which was likely due to the abandoned phones, there was no evidence of Noct's turning or anything else that had happened. Would they even connect the disappearances with Niflheim?

Ignis nuzzled at him and Prompto looked down at him, leaning in and inhaling his scent, shifting him up to nuzzle his throat. That was when he realised he was beginning to get thirsty; it wasn't bad yet, but better to quench it now than take any risks with two humans around. As if sensing his need, Ignis shifted, baring his throat in offering, eyes falling shut, face peaceful. He'd never bitten a human to feed before, but it was something he had wanted ever since being turned. He nuzzled the warm skin and Ignis sighed, utterly relaxed. Prompto opened his mouth, fangs extended, and carefully bit down over the vein. Ignis moaned, hands clutching at his shirt, and Prompt began to drink. He'd never tasted anything like human blood before this mission and he wasn't sure how he would go back to anything else. He grasped Ignis closer even as the human whined and whimpered in pleasure, the bond ensuring he felt only pleasure, unlike an unbonded human who would be in agony if not under a vampires power. He drank deeply but then forced himself to stop, pulling off to take a few deep breaths before sealing the wound as Ignis shuddered in his arms, going limp.

"You taste so good Iggy," he whispered, kissing his forehead and green eyes fluttered open.

"Pleased Master?" he mumbled, tired and weak.

"Very much," Prompto assured him and Ignis smiled before falling asleep. Prompto carried him into the tent and settled him in to rest, putting a bottle of water within easy reach for when he woke.

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Prompto sat beside Noct, waiting. Instinct told him that the new vampire would be waking soon, so he'd sent Gladio out to kill some beast and collect their blood in several flasks for his first feed. The two humans were as far from the tent as possible while still being in the cave for extra safety. Turning hadn't changed Noct's appearance much, he looked maybe a little older, features having lost the last childishness to them, hair a little longer. His skin was paler as seemed normal for their kind, soft, smooth and cold. As he watched, Noct's fingers twitched. "It's alright Noct, you're safe. I'm here," he whispered, knowing his senses would be hyper sensitive.

Noct moved, body almost flowing up off the sleeping bag and into a crouch, fangs extended and eyes black with hunger, looking completely feral as he growled low in his throat.

"Shh, it's alright, you know me," he extended his hand, waiting for Noct to catch his scent and when he did it was like a switch being flicked, the tension and fear flowing out of him as he crawled over to rub against his hand. Prompto picked up the first flask and opened it, letting the smell entice him even closer and he gently shifted, cradling Noct in his arms as the new vampire whimpered in hunger. He pressed the flask to his lips and tipped it, letting the blood pour slowly into Noct's mouth, watching him drink greedily. It took four flasks before he began to settle, curling into Prompto and making a noise like purring. He'd never heard that noise before…but had any of them been content and well fed? He ran his hand through silky soft hair, nuzzling him, following his instincts to care and comfort Noct. When Noct glanced up his eyes were once again blue since his hunger was sated, for now. "Can you understand me?" he asked but Noct just purred and nuzzled at him, blue eyes empty of any understanding.

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Regis wandered his sons apartment, looking around the life his child had built for himself outside of the Citadel. Normally Noctis would go to the Citadel for dinner with him or to see him so he had very rarely come to the apartment, something he was beginning to regret. He sat on the bed and picked up a pillow, inhaling the faint trace of his child's scent. The longer he was missing with no word or sightings the lower the odds he would ever come home alive. They had found little and what they had made no sense. The three boys had gone out to a club for dancing and had eventually left, possibly with a fourth person. Surveillance showed Ignis returning to his apartment and then Noctis' before leaving with packed bags and he was the one who had opened the hidden gate, in a car with an undetermined number of occupants. Once out of the city they vanished, the car hadn't been seen anywhere since a single stop for petrol.

How could the Crown Prince vanish with no trace? Why had Ignis not given the distress signal at some point? He was alone as far as they could tell, had he been under surveillance and concerned they would realise he was signally and harm Noctis? He didn't believe Ignis would ever do anything to harm his son, even with some of the Council beginning to consider that the young man may have been in on whatever had happened. He would not believe it without solid proof, not with how much care Ignis had always taken with Noctis. As much as he hated thinking it, he would suspect Gladio before he did Ignis.

Why had a ransom call not been made? Their spies had found no evidence Niflheim was involved, but he would not rule them out totally. Aldercapt may be power hungry but he was old and shrewd, he had been Emperor for over a century now, in a kingdom where the majority of people were vampires, that said a lot about him. He would tear Niflheim apart with his bare hands if they had evidence of Noctis' presence there, if they received a ransom call there was little he wouldn't give to get his son back alive.

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Prompto held Noct as he suckled carefully from Gladio, they had run out of stored blood and Prompto wouldn't let Gladio hunt more, not when they had spotted the increased Hunter presence in the area. Gladio was lost in pleasure, Prompto ensuring he felt no pain as Noct fed, hands kneading at Gladio's chest, reminding him of a small, furry animal Prompto had seen in Insomnia. Judging he'd had enough, Prompto gently pulled him off the wound, ignoring his whine of disappointment, sealing the wound himself. "Don't be greedy Noct," he chided gently.

Noct's throat worked, mouth opening and closing a few times as his fangs retracted. "Nmnnn…Nnnn…No….Noct…."

Prompto froze in shock, it had only been a week! He gently tipped Noct's head up so the new vampire was looking at him, seeing the confusion in his eyes and he smiled. "That's right, you're Noct."

"Noct," he parroted back more firmly before smiling shyly. "Noct."

Prompto was amazed that he was showing any signs of self-awareness so soon. "Prompto," he put a hand on his chest and Noct blinked at him, cocking his head to the side and looking rather adorable. "Noct," he put a hand on Noct's chest and then moved it back to his own. "Prompto."

"Ppp…rrr…Prom…" Noct sounded like a child learning to talk.

"Prom's good," he offered only for Noct to stare in confusion. "Prom," he pointed again and Noct smiled.

"Prom."

Prompto Argentum was the name he'd been given for the mission, a Lucian name, before that he'd always ben unit 05953234, or sometimes 234 when seeing lab personnel for a look over. Claiming it as his own felt strange, he'd never had anything of his own before but now he had them and his name, the clothes he was wearing, even the gun he had been given.

He watched as Noct looked around curiously, spotting Ignis and pointing, frowning slightly and it was obvious he found the older male somewhat familiar, but he did look different to what Noct would be accustomed to. The black clothing, hair gel and glasses were gone, his face now relaxed and open, all making him look younger, softer.

"Iggy," he offered and Ignis looked up at the sound of his name. Nicknames were good, easy for them to remember but not so obviously identifying should they ever be around people.

Noct shuffled over to Iggy and reached out to touch his hair, smiling as he played with it. "Iggy!"

Iggy blinked but sat still and let him play, smiling back at Noct.

Watching them, they kind of reminded him of the children he'd seen on his way to Insomnia, playing at some of the outposts. In a way they were like kids, with very little memory to make them grow up. Though Noct was likely to begin remembering quickly now that he had begun.

He was nervous about Noct remembering. He knew it was possible to obey and yet hate and he didn't want Noct to hate him. Would he forgive him for having no way to disobey? Would he want to go home? Noct moved back and crawled into his lap, nuzzling and purring and Prom smiled, hugging him. "Please forgive me," he whispered, closing his eyes against tears of blood.

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Gladio sat at the fire, smiling as he watched Noct with the little carbuncle figurine Iggy had packed. He knew Noct had had that for a very long time and he seemed to remember it, maybe.

"Glady!" Noct called and he focused back on him to see Noct staring at him, head tilted, eyes creased.

"Noct?"

"Shield? Gladio shield?"

"Yeah, I was your shield."

Noct moved and sat in his lap, fiddling with carbuncle. "Daddy? Where Daddy?"

"Not here, far away," he didn't know if Noct would understand. He could understand simple words and ideas so far. Master said that would improve rapidly and he would remember. Gladio almost wished he wouldn't, that he would stay cute like this. Iggy would and he was happy for Iggy, he was so much happier now than he had ever been before Master freed them. He was happier too, even though he did remember, some memories clearer than others. He thought maybe he should miss his Dad and sister, but this was his family. He looked down to see Noct frowning so he tweaked his nose and the kid laughed.

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He blinked his eyes, staring up at rock and then he turned his head to find blue eyes looking down at him. He licked his lips, swallowing heavily. "W…what did you do to me?" he whispered.

"Welcome back," Prom answered with a sad smile.

He should be panicking, shouldn't he? His body felt strange and yet also normal, like this was how he was meant to feel. He felt safe in Prom's arms, like nothing could ever hurt him. He remembered going to the club, dancing with Prom, and then everything got hazy…then there was the cave….the taste of warm blood, Gladio lying in his arms and making sounds he didn't want to know about from him. Snapshots of being with Prom, Iggy and Gladio, of being confused, not remembering right, but now he remembered. He knew who he was, and he had the feeling he knew what had happened to him and he knew he should be terrified. "Vampire," he choked out, shaking, he was shaking. and Prom was pulling him up, holding him close, nuzzling at him and he whimpered, burying his head against Prom.

"I'm sorry, I had no choice. You're safe Noct, I'll never let anyone hurt you," he swore and some instinctual part of Noct accepted that as truth and felt good to hear it.

TBC…