His performance was impressive, and even though Cor had been certain it would be, he was still proud of his son. Prompto had had his doubts about his training, even as eager as he was to follow Cor’s footsteps into the Crownsguard. Cor understood, as Prompto struggled with the larger swords and lances. He was fast, and therefore decent with daggers, especially with Nyx’s tutelage. But it wasn’t until Prompto moved to firearms that he really started to shine. He was better than most of the Crownsguard, possibly even Cor.

That’s what this assessment was about. Proving to Prompto, and incidentally the council, that his skill level was far above average. He was an asset to the Crownsguard, and Cor wouldn’t let anyone say any different.

Prompto put down his weapon and turned to Cor after shooting the last target. Cor grabbed the target and brought it over to show Prompto. A perfect bullseye, even from a tricky shot.

Prompto smiled up at Cor, shifting his weight back and forth as he waited for Cor’s verdict.

“You did good, Prompto. 99th percentile, easily. You should be proud of yourself.” Cor’s smile was small, he didn’t want to be accused of favoritism, but he couldn’t help but smile wider when Prompto threw himself at him and squeezed tight.

Cor patted Prompto on the back before disengaging. “Go on, go celebrate with your friends.”

Prompto ran off, holding the last target, to the side where Noctis, Gladio, and Ignis were waiting for him. They all congratulated him as he showed off his bullseye.

“He’s really good.”

Cor turned to find Nyx standing next him, having collected the rest of the targets while he and Prompto were talking.

Cor smiled. “He is. It will be good for Noctis to have someone good with ranged weapons in his retinue.”

Nyx snorted, and nodded at the teenagers still celebrating Prompto’s success. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s why Noctis wants him along.”

Cor pressed his lips together as he watched Prompto sling an arm around Noctis’ shoulder. The boys were both smiling, and Cor could see the flush on Prompto’s cheeks from here.

“It’s adorable,” Nyx said with a smirk.

Cor sighed. It’s not that he minded Prompto having a crush, but it would have to be on the prince, and all the politics that came with it.

“Then you can be the one to talk to him about it.” Cor was not sulking. Honest. He’d hoped he would have more time before he had to worry about this.

Nyx laughed and shook his head. “Oh no, this is all your problem, not mine.”

Cor frowned. “He’s your son, too.”

“But you’re the one with the experience managing the royal family. If he was dating a Galahdan, I’d take point.”

“He’s not dating, he’s fifteen.” Cor couldn’t quite keep the horror out of his voice.

Nyx laughed again, and nudged him with his shoulder. “You keep telling yourself that. It’s not like you weren’t off fighting daemons at fifteen.”

“It’s not the same thing.” Cor crossed his arms, trying not to glare at the kids as they walked off.

“He’ll be fine, he’s got a good head on his shoulders, thanks to his dad.” Nyx took Cor’s hand and gently pulled until he uncrossed his arms. “Besides, the prince isn’t the only one who finds competence attractive.”

Cor just raised his eyebrows.

Nyx placed a hand on Cor’s cheek and smirked. “I, for example, find your skills very hot.”

“Is that so?” Cor’s lips quirked up at the corners.

Noct and Iggy are going to show up on his doorstep at 8am sharp, expecting him to be dressed and looking half-decent, as if that’s even possible when his best clothes are already three years old and too small; and they’ll run away in shame because how could he ever hope to stand beside his best friend when he looks as poor as his bank account says he is. Or maybe they just won’t let him graduate, that’s a possibility. Maybe the Principle will deem him too poor to stand among the nobles and the Prince, considering how amazing everyone else is going to look he won’t be surprised. They’ll just kick the poor Niff kid to the side like they always do. Hide him from view to make sure he can’t tarnish their perfect image. Not that he blames them, he’d do the same in their position.

He’s two seconds away from just giving up for the day, closing his curtains and pretending the world doesn’t exist when his doorbell rings. Moaning in frustration he slithers off of his bed and onto the floor, reluctant to face whoever decided to interrupt his internal lamentations. Did they not know it’s rude to interrupt a man while he’s contemplating his life choices? He makes an attempt to flatten his hair down as he stumbles down the staircase, taking it two steps at a time. He’d learnt months ago that getting to the door in record time is important especially considering the only people who ever come to his door are either debt collectors or someone coming to check the gas meter. Both of whom are super impatient and rarely willing to hang around just because the teenager living there was having a little breakdown.

The doorbell rings again, this time followed by three harsh knocks.

“Coming!” He shouts as he jumps the final three steps. Normally he’d spare a second to check who was on the other side before opening the door, but whoever it is sounds impatient enough already and he really doesn’t fancy getting into a fight. So he opens the door without a second thought, eager to get the conversation over and done with so he can get back to his bed sooner, and promptly freezes. There standing in his doorway with what is obviously a suit bag thrown over his shoulder, is Noctis.

“You going to let me in?” Noctis asks casually, shifting from one foot to the other. “Prom?”

“Oh, uh, yeah!” Nice save Prompto. Such intelligence, much wow. He steps aside allowing his best friend into his humble abode, which he’s only just realised looks like a tornado’s blown through it. Ramuh strike him down. He doesn’t even bother to try and explain away the mess, it’s not like Noct’s apartment is any better. Noctis doesn’t even hang around, he glides straight through the living room and up the staircase as though he owns the place, which he might as well considering how much of the furniture he’s insisted on buying over the past year.

“You coming?” Noctis calls, peeking over the edge of the staircase to look at him with a raised eyebrow. Oh right. Noctis. Suit bag.

“Yep!” He replies with a grin that was only half-forced before shutting the front door and bolting after his best friend. “So what’s up? Thought you had that thing with your dad this afternoon?”

“I do but it’s not til five.” Prompto digs his phone out of his back pocket to glance at the time, 2.38, plenty of time he supposes; although he does stil set an alarm for 3.50 to make sure they don’t lose track of time.

“Still doesn’t explain why you’re here.” He jokes, sliding past Noct to take his rightful place on top of his Chocobo bedding. Noctis just looks between him and the crumpled clothing on the edge of his bed. “Don’t judge me.” He huffs but he does scramble to his feet and put the clothes away. Noctis just laughs and flattens out the bedding so he can lay the suit bag down.

“Iggy dropped this off this morning, thought you’d want it today rather than panicking tomorrow morning.” He explains, unzipping the bag and presenting Prompto with what had to be the most expensive suit he’d ever seen. Prompto’s not sure how long he stands there just staring at it, his mouth agape but it’s long enough that Noctis snorts and elbows him in the side. “Come on dork, try it on.”

Wait. What?

“What?” Noctis rolls his eyes but smiles all the same.

“This,” He says slowly motioning to the suit “Belongs to you” He points at Prompto. Okay, what? He’s no fashionista, but Prompto’s quite sure that the fabric isn’t just a cheap cotton or something similar that he could have picked up from a store.

“Noct,” Prompto says breathlessly. He can’t accept it, not when Noctis has quite literally kitted out his entire home in the last year. Not when he’s made sure that there’s permanently food in his cupboards, that his heating is always on and his roof will always be over his head. It’s too much. Six damn it, it’s too much. He’s not quite sure how it happens but one moment he’s standing in front of his wardrobe, biting his lip, and the next he’s on the floor crying with Noctis’ arms wrapped around him.

“Hey Prom, it’s okay.” Noctis soothes, rubbing his back and gently nuzzling the top of his head.

“It’s too much Noct,” Prompto sobs as he buries his face in the soft fabric of Noctis’ t-shirt “I don’t deserve any of this! I don’t deserve the suit, the food, you.” He knows Noctis knows it’s true, he has to. Surely someone in the Citadel noticed how much the Crown Prince has been spending on the stupid Niff pleb, if no one else Ignis had to have picked up on it by now. There’s no way Noctis could order so many things for him and have it go unnoticed.

Apparently he’d been speaking aloud because Noctis moves quicker than he’s ever done before and takes his face in his hands. “It’s never enough.” He says firmly, a steely determination in his eyes. “I’d give you the world if I could Prom. Bahamut knows you deserve more than that.”

“But I’m a Niff!” Prompto protests, though the intended impact is somewhat lessened by his less than attractive crying.

“No you aren’t. You’re a Lucian citizen but more importantly you’re you. You’re my best friend who puts up with me when I’m the worst person on this planet. You got yourself kidnapped trying to protect me and didn’t tell them anything when they hurt you.” Noctis pauses “I don’t...nothing I do is ever going to be enough to repay you for everything you’ve done for me Prom. Let me do this for you. Please Prom.” And Gods he’s weak. Logically he knows he should tell Noctis to stop buying things for him, to turn away the suit and just wear his original outfit, even if it meant being the worst-dressed at their graduation. Hell he should have just never approached Noct in the first place, kept himself to himself and ignored Lady Lunafreya’s request. “If you think it’s too much we can always get something else, or I can lend you one of mine if you don’t want something brand new.” Noctis rambles on.

Prompto takes a moment to look over the suit, barely visible from where they’re sprawled on the floor. It’s a gorgeous suit if he’s completely honest with himself, and something that he’d never have dreamt of wearing to his graduation. Not to mention it was something Noctis, and apparently Ignis, had thought about and arranged for the sole purpose of making his day that little bit better.

“I don’t know when I’d wear it again.” He finally admits with a sniffle and it’s not a lie. It’s not like he has hundreds of galas and formal events to attend like Noctis and Ignis do, hell the most formal event he’d ever been to was Noctis’ private birthday party in the arcade.

“Ignis says it’s always handy to have a decent suit on hand,” Noctis mutters “Never know when you might need one.”

“Like tomorrow” Prompto jokes weakly

“Like tomorrow.” Noctis agrees with a small smile. “I can take it back if you really don’t want it.”

“I do but…” Prompto pauses, though he’s not quite sure why he does.

“But?” Noctis prompts.

“Is it really okay for me to have it? Like, won’t I look out of place in something that I clearly haven’t bought myself. People will start to think that I’m using you for your money.” Noctis just shrugs and pulls him into a hug.

“I don’t care what they think, neither do dad, Iggy or anyone else who matters. It’s your call though Prom, I’m not going to make you accept something you don’t want.”

“Like my couch?”

“Dude, that thing was a death trap. Gladio said so himself.”

“Yeah well the Big Guy was the one who broke it!”

“A mouse could have broken that couch Prom.” Noctis huffs and honestly he’s not wrong. It was a horrible old couch that had been in the house for as long as he could remember. Knowing his parents, it was probably already there when they bought the place and they just didn’t see the point in replacing it when they weren’t going to be round to use it. “So, suit?”

Prompto smiles, finally allows himself to relax in Noctis’ arms “I’ll wear it so long as you work some Princely magic to make sure I’m not going to be the first one up on stage tomorrow.” The joys of having a surname beginning with the letter ‘A’.

Noctis just laughs and holds him a little tighter “I think we can arrange something. Principle McKellan was trying to convince me to go first anyway, something about appeasing the press.”

“My hero.” Prompto laughs.

Gladiolus had sought out Ignis immediately after discovering about your disappearance. The adviser was fortunate enough to have found you, but you were so close to death that the only way to keep you alive was to turn you. Into what? You were still struggling to wrap your mind around the concept of such a thing existing, still disoriented from your kidnapping. But if your boyfriend was a lycan, then there was really no excuse as to why vampires couldn’t exist as well.

You currently sat in one of the offices of the citadel infirmary, your wounds cleaned and patched up with a blanket wrapped around you as you listened to Ignis and Gladio argue outside in the hallway, flinching a bit whenever your boyfriend raised his voice a bit too much. Your senses were a bit warped and overwhelmed at the moment, so you really weren’t able to make sense of their words. The bright lights of the office were giving you an intense headache, as if you were staring directly into the sun. It’s so bright, you thought.

Although you were sure that they would ask you many questions about what happened, you had questions too. But the most important one sat waiting at the tip of your tongue.

“Iggy, look… I’m glad that she’s safe now, believe me,” Gladio turned back to his friend and motioned to the both of them, “but this life that we live? I never wanted this for her.”

Ignis looked down and nodded, staring at the gash in his wrist that was slowly healing over. “I am aware of that, but she wouldn’t be alive had I not done something.”

Gladio sighed in defeat as he walked to the closed office door and took hold of the handle, giving a hesitant “I know” before stepping inside.

You looked up at the sound of the opening door, your body relaxing at the sight of your man who gave you a sad smile. He stood in front of where you sat on the counter, gently taking your hands in his own. Ignis quietly stepped in, leaning against the wall by the doorway.

“How are you feeling, baby?” Gladio leaned towards you, pressing his forehead against your own.

You smiled and gave a small nod before leaning into his touch, “Much better than I did an hour ago.”

There was suddenly a flash in your mind, a memory, one that you remembered so clearly: It was of when you first laid eyes on Gladio, back in high school. You sat in the library, reading peacefully in the silent solitude of the room’s corner. Glancing up to take a break from the pages, your eyes instantly met with the most gorgeous amber orbs you had ever seen. He had been staring at you from across the room, and now he had caught you in the simple spell of his captivating eyes. The rest was history.

Another flash, but something was off. You did not remember this, mainly because it wasn’t even a memory of yours. It was Ignis behind the wheel with Gladio next to him. Circa pre-graduation. The shield tells his friend that he was going to ask you out during the firework show after the ceremony. There’s a pause before the adviser voices quiet encouragement, never taking his eyes off the road. I wish you happiness, he says.

You blinked, mind buzzing with confusion. What was it that you saw? The images were so clear…

“That’s good,” he hummed.

Silence filled the room, the three of you struggling to speak again as if the floor was made of glass and the slightest sound could shatter it. Ignis was the one to break the uncomfortable stillness.

“What did that man want from you, Y/N?”

“…. He wanted Gladio.”

The shield gave a puzzled look, “Me?”

“Yeah,” you continued, “He knew that you were a lycan and was using me as bait. He wanted you dead.”

“Who was he?”

Ignis dug a hand into his pocket, pulling out a chain that held dog tags at the end and bounced them in the palm of his hand. “His name was Furore Lee. According to his tags, he was a prestigious hunter.” He stuffed the chain back in his pocket and murmured, “not so ‘prestigious’ now, I’m afraid.”

There was a quiet knock on the doorframe, all three of you turning to spot Cor with Noctis and Prompto behind him. The two younger boys squeezed past the marshal and rushed over to you, forcing Gladio to step back.

“Oh my gods, Y/N, are you okay?” Prompto looked you up and down, eyes wide in horror at the sight of all your bruises and bandages.

“Y-Yeah, Prom, I’m fine now.”

Ignis and Gladio stepped out into the hall with Cor upon his request, shutting the door behind them. You couldn’t help but giggle as your friends voiced their concerns, having only heard about what happened till after they had found you.

Noctis rested a hand on your shoulder.

Another flash. Noct sitting with Prompto on the couch of his apartment, video game controllers strewn aside and huddled close together. Noctis was trembling and choking back tears with his friend gripping his hand in a reassuring manner. I’ve got you, buddy. This was one of the prince’s memories, only this time you could feel the emotions of the moment. Astrals above, the crippling and all consuming fear he felt…

“Glad you’re safe,” he smiled.

You blinked, staring at Noct in bewilderment. He narrowed his eyes and asked what was wrong.

“I… I’m not sure,” you paused before you asked, “Noct, did you know? About Ignis?”

The prince rubbed the back of his neck, “Yeah, actually. Sorry we kept you out of the loop, you know how my dad is about these things.”

You shook your head, “Don’t worry about it.”

The three of you turned to the sound of the door opening, Ignis stepping into the room with Gladio in tow with the marshal already gone. Noctis and Prompto stepped aside as the royal adviser came to stand before you, folding his arms over his chest.

“I’m sure you have questions.”

“Only one,” you admitted, “… How long have you been a… y'know?”

Ignis took a deep breathe, an amused smile tugging at his lips. “Since I was very young. It was one of the main reasons as to why I came to live in Insomnia with my uncle.”

Your brows furrowed as the information sunk in; he had been a vampire since before you two had even met, and he had kept it from you this whole time- they all did. But that also meant that Gladio knew. You turned to your boyfriend, the look in your eyes saying it all.

He shook his head. “I wanted to protect you.”

A sigh left you. There were so many secrets that they had kept from you and you still had so many more questions. But you were so tired. Gladio could probably tell, moving over to you and wrapping an arm around your shoulders.

“I think we should call it a night,” he said.

Noctis and Prompto took off, leaving the three of you to make your way out of the citadel. You were descending the stairs when the adviser stopped at the bottom and faced you.

“Y/N, I believe it’s best for you to stay with me for now.”

Gladio narrowed his eyes, his hand holding your own. “Why’s that?”

“She’s a freshborn,” he started with the adjustment of his glasses, “meaning she needs guidance. It will save the trouble of research and her having to deal with the first days on her own. Aside from that, your apartment has been broken in to. I highly advise that you consider relocating.”

“I think we’ll be able to manage-”

You cut Gladio off, “He’s right.” Gladiolus looked at you, brows shooting up. “I don’t think I can go back to our apartment,” you continued, “and Ignis… I trust him. I’m sure you do, too.”

The shield glanced back between the two of you, conflict brewing in his eyes like a storm. He didn’t want you to leave his side so soon, especially after the events of the night, but Ignis indeed had a point. And with the bond that the three of you shared, it didn’t even warrant a reason for mistrust.

Gladio nodded after a few moments,“Alright… but only until I’ve moved our stuff out.”

You wrapped your arms around your boyfriend’s waist, feeling his own strong ones engulf you in an embrace as he leaned down to kiss you sweetly. He smiled as you pulled away, brushing his knuckles along your cheek.

“I love you, Y/N.”

“I love you too, Gladio.”

Just as there had been much to learn about lycans, there was much to learn about vampires. Thankfully, Ignis would be able to personally guide you through the changes you felt. He immediately debunked all the stereotypes you had heard from movies and TV shows.

“Garlic?”

“Whoever came up with that is a fool,” he scoffed.

“Sunlight?”

“Some discomfort, but you can build a resistance to it. And no, we do not glimmer in the sun. That’s just bollocks.”

You laughed.

“Wooden stake through the heart?”

“Who wouldn’t that kill?”

“Can we…. change into bats?”

Ignis gave you a side glance from behind the wheel, looking very unimpressed.

“No.”

It was about two in the morning by the time you had arrived at his apartment. He insisted that you slept in his bedroom while he took the couch, ever the selfless one. The first night, as Ignis had said, was indeed difficult. You had been tossing in turning, your throat incredibly parched. By the time you had shuffled into the kitchen, the adviser had already been waiting there with a glass of crimson liquid in hand.

“That’s not cranberry juice, is it?”

“I’m afraid not,” he said with a chuckle.

It was there as you hesitantly drank that Ignis told you of the intake that would be recommended until you got your bearings. To make sure that you didn’t go ravenous with hunger, you’d need to drink about half a gallon of blood per day and pace yourself till you could go three to four days without needing to feed. The amount was ridiculous, but it was necessary. How you would get the blood? It was surprisingly easier than you thought, the citadel infirmary would receive a generous amount from regular donors which was entirely at Ignis’s disposal- and now your own as well.

All blood wasn’t safe, however. That of any other supernatural being, daemon, or from the deceased was poisonous. This included the very blood that ran through Gladio’s veins. This would be more difficult than you had imagined.

“Human and animal blood is the go-to choice,” Ignis said as he took the empty glass from you and went to wash it.

“….. What about vampire blood? Can we drink that, too?”

He glanced back at you before returning to his task, “It is recommended to only drink from our own when incredibly wounded, as it is the equivalent to taking oxycodone.”

It certainly explained why he had urged you to drink from him when he first turned you and why it had the effect it did.

The following morning, Gladio had brought some extra clothes along with your toiletries. It made you laugh when he called it your Slumber Party Pack. His hand cupped the back of your neck, pulling you close for a passionate kiss that you eagerly met. You could feel the pure adoration that he poured into you when his lips met your own, making you melt into his arms. Gods, you loved him.

“I still have a meeting to attend to today,” Ignis said as he slipped on his shoes, “but after that I will return. For now, keep the curtains closed. You will be sensitive to the light for a bit.”

“And I’ll come visit you as soon as I’m out of work,” Gladio added.

You had been to the adviser’s apartment before, but now that you were there by yourself, there were things that you didn’t notice until now. On the wall there had been frames with pictures of Ignis with his uncle, many of the four boys, and some of just Noctis and Ignis when they were kids. You were organizing your items in his bedroom when you noticed the frame on the nightstand that you had been too tired to notice the night before, and you recognized it.

It was of Ignis and Gladio with you in between them, you were all laughing and sitting on a brick wall. This was back in high school. Although you were indeed a part of the prince’s retinue, you had always been closer with the older boys. You picked up the frame, your fingers brushing against the glass as you smiled. Only you could make the prim and proper strategist laugh so hard.

There was a flash, back to the very moment the picture was taken. Ignis holding a hand over his mouth to hide his wide grin while Gladio was nearly doubling over from your joke. You looked between the two, remembering how happy you felt. Your best friend and the boy you were falling in love with. There was a voice, however, that was like a gentle whisper. As if it was just a feeling, a sense of hope, but it wasn’t your own.

Please let me be the one.

You carefully lowered the frame, taking a step away. The image was revealing itself, but there was still some missing pieces. Some things you didn’t know. A tension rising. Why were you seeing these things? These memories that didn’t belong to you?

Ignis returned as he had said after a couple of hours. The look he gave you when he entered was that of surprise, as if he didn’t expect you to still be here.

“You okay, Igs?”

“Yes,” he said as he removed his coat, “I’m just not used to having someone to greet me when I come home.”

You couldn’t help the smile that spread across your face, giving a small shrug as you turned to head to the kitchen. You were pouring the crimson liquid into two glasses by the time Ignis had joined you there. He had disguised the bottles that contained the blood, giving them the appearance of wine. Sneaky as always. You offered him the other glass, which he accepted with a gracious smile.

He brought the glass to his lips, the glare on his frames concealing his eyes. “Have you been drinking the necessary amount?”

“Yeah. This should be about it for the day, actually. I always hated the taste of blood before, but now.. it’s like drinking water.” You took a few sips before you continued.

“Gladio texted me a couple of minutes ago. Said he’d be over in about two hours. What do you say we make dinner for three?” You traced the rim of the glass with the tip of your finger, watching as Ignis took his time with his drink.

“Yes, that sounds fine. I already have a dish in mind that you can assist me with.”

“Great.”

There was an uncomfortable silence that filled the space between the two of you. He could probably read your unease like words on a page.

“Y/N… Is there something wrong?”

You looked down at your half empty glass, not sure of how to string your thoughts into words without sounding crazy. Ironic, considering the past two days having been nothing but crazy.

“I’ve been…. getting these visions.” Your eyes snapped up to look at him as his posture straightened, as if you had fully caught his attention.

“What kind of visions?”

“I think they’re memories, b-but they’re not my memories. I sometimes feel the emotions of the recollection, too. It happened with Noct and Gladio when they touched me.”

His intense emerald eyes were locked on your own, sending a shiver down your spine.

“Fascinating,” he said calmly, “It’s a mind link.”

“A.. what?”

He stood beside you, resting his glass on the counter space that was behind you. “Each vampire has a unique power. I have the ability to alter one’s perception to some degree. You, on the other hand, can connect with others on a psychological level; share in their memories and emotions through physical contact.”

Alter one’s perception? Did that mean induce hallucinations or something? It then occurred to you that this entire time, you had yet to touch Ignis since your abilities became active. You saw his hand not that far from yours, curiously reaching out in hopes of what you would see, but he pulled away before you could touch him.

He avoided the nonplussed look you gave him, his voice barely above a whisper as he took a step away from you.