Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 5

"Noctis would never hurt me," Cor agreed, and Noctis couldn't help flinching back, huddling in his jacket.

"I am Noctis. I can still feel the magic of the Crystal. I'm still me. Yeah, I can smell your blood, hear your heart but that doesn't mean I'd ever try to feed from you. I'm not a monster Uncle Cor." He took a cautious step closer and Cor stood his ground. He lifted a hand and caught the minute movement that was Cor fighting not to flinch from his fingers, gently tracing the warm cheek. Guess that answered the question of whether or not his skin felt cold. He could almost feel Cor coming to the realisation that he was too close, that he'd never be able to call his sword fast enough if Noctis went for his throat. Noctis purposely avoided even trying to meet his gaze as he stepped back. "Look," he stepped back and summoned the Engine Blade from the Armiger before releasing it again. "Please," Noctis whispered, pleading for acceptance. If Cor couldn't accept him then what would that mean for him ever going home?

"Where are the others?" Cor asked warily, not taking his eyes off him.

"Close," he promised. "Didn't want to crowd you," he shoved his hands in his pockets, partly to keep them away from the sun and partly to make it so any attack would be slowed, hoping that would help. He chewed at his lip, not sure what to do or say next. He ended up moving back, perching on a rock, legs crossed at the ankles, making himself vulnerable.

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Cor watched as the vampire did everything he could to be as little threat as possible. He wanted to believe it was real, that this was Noctis who would never harm him and not a vampire trying to lull him into a false sense of security. Knowing there was another vampire there, an older one, did not help him relax. He wanted this to be Noctis and he acted so much like him, but how could he be sure? He had to, he had to tell Regis if this was truly his son, that he was worth making contact and changing laws for. His word would either break his friend or give him hope. "How are you feeding?" he asked bluntly and Noctis blinked, surprised by the question.

"Animal blood as well as from Gladio and Iggy."

"You're feeding from your friends?" Cor demanded. "And don't say they volunteered, not when there's an older vampire with you."

"We both know they would for me," Noctis shot back at him before looking away. "I have to have some human blood, I'm too young to drink only something else. I don't hurt them! I only take a little and never too close together."

"There are places to get bagged human," Cor pointed out and Noctis nodded.

"We've been hiding from the Hunters; we haven't figured out where to go yet. Especially since I'm rather recognisable."

Cor nodded, while Noctis had never been the most public of figures, especially for a Prince, his image had been wide spread from the public events he had attended. They did not want Niflheim to try and take him while he was so undefended. Two vampires and two humans would be easily overcome should the Empire send a force after them. that reminded him, "Your Father would like a photo."

"Proof of unlife?" he tried to joke but nodded.

Cor pulled out the special camera and Noctis shrugged out of the jacket since the sun had moved closer to the horizon, leaving him more in shadow. Cor took several photos, some close ups of his face, others showing his full body, before returning the camera to the Armiger.

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Noctis stayed still for the photos, wondering how his Dad would react to them, to how he'd changed. "Uncle Cor?"

"Yes?"

"Was Dad serious? About the law and approaching the others in the city?"

"He is."

"Oh…" he slipped his jacket back on. "You won't let him do anything dangerous, right?"

"Of course not," Cor stated, his job was to keep the King safe and they both knew it.

"Does he blame me?" he asked softly, not sure if he wanted to know.

"For what?" Cor's voice gentler than before.

"This…for getting turned. We were just having fun; the club wasn't in one of the dangerous areas."

"From what you said on the phone, you were targeted. That was not your fault. Perhaps there was more you could have done to ensure your safety, but nothing can be done about it now. If anything, he feels guilty that you were targeted because of him."

"I don't blame him, you'll make sure he knows that, won't you?" Noctis pleaded, he didn't want his Dad to feel guilty.

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That was so much the Prince he knew, to not want Regis to blame himself. "Where is your Sire?" he asked and Noctis glanced away, shoulders slumping when he didn't answer.

"He's watching," he admitted, not surprising.

"I want to meet him," Cor told him and then fought not to jump as another figure was beside Noctis. A hood was lowered to reveal a head of messy blonde hair and bright blue eyes, he even had freckles. He looked like a teenager, totally unthreatening. Except for his being a vampire. He must have been turned younger than Noctis was. "Prompto, I presume?"

"Yes sir," he answered, and Cor watched as Noctis shifted closer to the other vampire, without seeming to notice he was doing it. He also avoided making eye contact with Cor, which was nice.

"How old are you?" he couldn't help asking and the blonde shrugged.

"Twenty one or so. I thought you'd be taller."

"Prompto!" Noctis hissed in embarrassment and the blonde ducked his head.

"Sorry," he offered and then looked up. "Gladio and Ignis are over there." He tossed binoculars at Cor, pointing to the west.

Cor cautiously looked where he had pointed, seeing the two young men in the distance. They looked very different in casual clothing, Ignis' hair un-styled, but it was definitely them. That was smart, keeping the two humans well away from him to ensure he couldn't grab them. Clarus had been upset after speaking with his son, saying he was different, and he could think of several reasons for that with a vampire involved. Maybe it was reckless, but he needed to see for himself that they were not monsters, that they could control themselves, so he moved his hand, letting the jagged bit of metal in his pocket cut into the flesh, feeling the blood well up immediately.

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Noctis frowned as Cor moved and then he smelt it…blood. His nostrils flared at the intoxicating scent, he could feel his fans extend, eyes going dark and he forced himself to stop breathing, closing his eyes, hands balling into fists.

"Easy Noct," he heard his Sire murmur to him. "Just relax and ignore it."

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Prompto shot a glare at Cor as he moved so that he was between the man and Noctis, gently cupping his face in his hands as he talked him down. "That's it, ignore the smell, focus on me."

"Prom…." Noctis whined in need and Prompto stepped closer, wrapping an arm around him, guiding his head down.

"It's okay, take what you need," he offered, fingers moving to run through dark hair and then he felt the sharp sting of fangs sinking into his skin.

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Cor swallowed, watching as Noctis changed before his eyes, blue eyes black, fangs extended but he also remained frozen in place as his eyes closed. Then Prompto moved between them, talking softly to Noctis before pulling him close. It took a few seconds for Cor to realise what was happening….Noctis was feeding from his Sire right in front of him! He grabbed a potion and healed his hand. It wasn't long at all before Noctis pulled back and he saw the blood on his lips until Noctis licked them, cleaning it off.

"Sorry," Noctis mumbled, making sure his face was clean. He then looked up at Cor who found himself stating into dark blue eyes before he realised what he was doing but it was Noctis who quickly shifted his gaze. "Please don't do that again."

"What were you thinking?" Prompto snapped at him and Cor tensed. "He's not even three weeks old! The scent of fresh blood…you're lucky he didn't go for your throat," the vampire told him coldly even as he held Noctis, running a hand up and down his back, soothing him. "You did wonderfully Noct, so proud of you," he told the younger vampire.

"I…I nearly…"

"But you didn't, you managed to hold on. That's amazing, I've never seen a vampire as young as you hold back around fresh blood."

Cor watched them, feeling a flash of guilt for putting Noctis through that. Maybe it had been cruel, but he'd had to test them. He had seen Noctis fight his instincts and hunger, denying himself something he craved… "I'm sorry Noctis. I had to be sure."

Noctis looked up at him again. "Uncle Cor?" his voice was timid, something Cor hadn't heard in years.

He took a breath and then held his hand out to his Prince. He saw Noctis' eyes go wide and then he was taking a slow step away from his Sire and towards him. A cold hand slowly settled against his own and he stepped in to hug the boy. Noctis was stiff in his arms for a second before crumpling into him, clinging, head buried against his chest. His grip was almost tight enough to hurt but Cor said nothing about it. If what Prompto had snarled at him was right, then it likely also took time to get control of his new strength and senses. "I'm sorry Noctis," he whispered as the boy clung to him, sobbing. "It's alright,' he soothed, a hand moving to run through silky black hair.

"I want to go home," Noctis whispered after a while and Cor tightened his grip.

"You will, one day," he promised. He glanced up at Prompto, able to see the sadness on his face in the deepening darkness.

"Daemons will start showing up soon," the vampire warned.

Cor nodded and began disentangling Noctis from himself. "Call your Father again soon," he whispered and Noctis nodded.

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"Uncle Cor?" Noctis looked up at him and Cor looked down, meeting his eyes. He was shocked but then he smiled at the trust he was being shown. He knew Cor was one of the most suspicious people he knew, for him to risk making eye contact was beyond his wildest hopes. "You'll make sure Dad looks after himself?"

"Of course," Cor promised. "You boys look after each other, I expect all three of you to come home one day with your new friend."

Noctis couldn't help grinning at the idea that they'd all be able to go back to Insomnia one day. Even if he couldn't be King one day, he just wanted to go home to his Dad. "We will," he promised. Cor nodded and moved away, back to the car. "Drive safe."

"You boys get to cover too," Cor called back and Noctis waved before he followed Prompto to go pick up Gladio and Iggy to head back to their camp ground.

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Noctis held Iggy close, a hand rubbing his back as he gently suckled the wound in his throat, the small feed form Prompto earlier hadn't been enough to deal with the thirst that Cor had caused. Iggy clung to him, making soft noises of pleasure, eyes half closed. Prompto lay behind Iggy, gently stroking his hair. Ignis was squirming between them as Prompto ensured he felt only pleasure from the feeding. Noctis slowly moved a hand down Ignis's body, unsure, but then he felt Prompto's hand over his, encouraging him to help Iggy feel even better. He lapped at the wound with his tongue, sealing it as Ignis gasped and writhed as Noctis touched him.

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Regis sat in his quarters, nursing a glass of brandy as he waited for Cor to return. Cor had to return, if he didn't…no, he would not even consider it. Noctis would never let harm come to the man he saw as an uncle, who had helped raise him, had shown him how to hold his first sword. As much as he loathed the idea though, he had to accept the fact that his son may no longer be the boy he had raised, the son he loved. His Sire was an agent of Niflheim, rogue or loyal they had no way of knowing, and he had total control of Noctis.

The doors opened and he looked up, barely breathing, only to relax as the two men he trusted most walked in. There was no sign of injury, healed or not, on his uniform. "Cor?"

His Marshal pulled the special camera from the Armiger and tossed it to him. Regis realised his hands were trembling as he turned it on and there, on the screen, was Noctis. He closed his eyes as relief poured through him and then opened his eyes to look at the photos. Cor had taken several, headshots and full body portraits. They'd obviously been taken outside, Noctis holding a jacket in one hand, dressed in some of the little clothing he owned that wasn't black. It was definitely his son and yet at the same time, changed. His skin was pale, flawless, facial features changed slightly…older, like he'd finally lost that little bit of childhood that had clung to him. his lips were a darker, richer red, his hair a little thicker, still black and spikey though a little longer too, maybe. He was beautiful, he looked so much like his Mother. "He's alright?" he finally looked up to find that Cor was sitting on the opposite couch with a glass of whisky.

"He seems to be. He was very concerned about how you're dealing with this; he doesn't want you doing anything stupid. I met his Sire, Prompto. He looks even younger than Noctis, but he does seem to genuinely care about Noctis. I tested them, to get an idea if what I was seeing was genuine."

"What did you do?" Clarus demanded, remembering well the trouble that Cor had gotten into when he was younger.

In answer Cor pulled the metal from his pocket. "Cut my hand. It had an instant effect on Noctis, but he managed to hold himself back until Prompto got between us. He was very gentle with him, holding him, he even let him feed from him to calm him down. I used a potion to heal the wound."

Regis sat back, head in his hands. Cor had risked his life to test his son and Noctis had almost gone for him.

"It's him Regis, he's still Noctis, I'm sure of it. Every reaction was pure Noct, even the guilt over nearly attacking me and he did fight to remain still once he smelt the blood. I only saw Gladio and Ignis from a distance, but they looked healthy. Noctis wanted you to know that he doesn't blame you for him being targeted, he was worried you'd blame him for what's happened."

"No…it isn't his fault. Niflheim is to blame and no one else," Regis said, and Cor nodded.

"I told him you didn't blame him, not sure he fully believed him. He's promised to call again. I'm pretty sure they're living rough at the moment. Noctis admitted that they haven't risked any towns because they're worried Noctis will be recognised."

"We need to find a way to get supplies to them," Regis said, and Cor nodded.

"Noctis proved he can still use magic; he summoned his sword to prove it. Can you use that?" Cor suggested.

Regis frowned, he knew Noctis' retainers could use his Armiger and pull items the others had placed within it. Could he do the same? They'd never tried it and he couldn't remember reading anything that suggested it. "I'll give it a try, send a note."

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Gladio sat beside Ignis who was lying back in Noctis' arms, Prompto kneeling in front of him, holding his hands.

"It's alright Iggy, just let it come, close your eyes and let the memories gently rise up and fill your mind," Prompto murmured softly.

Ignis' eyes fell shut, his body limp in Noctis' arms, as he obeyed his Master's commands. Memories began slowly rising from where they had been buried deep. He whimpered, hands flexing in Prompto's and Noctis nuzzled at him, silently trying to comfort him.

"it's alright, it's not scary or painful," Prompto soothed, kissing the back of Ignis' hand and Ignis relaxed again. "When they're all back you can open your eyes again. We're all here for you."

Ignis sighed, head lolling against Noctis' chest but then green eyes slowly fluttered open to meet the bright blue of his Master.

TBC…