#regdyn

"Yeah, uh..."

Angry? Noct guessed he was angry. Disgusted, too. Wasn't this guy related to them? Distantly, sure, and only half-related, but.

All he could really think was what the fuck.

"I don't know how you can call us 'friends' after keeping my own dad's survival a secret from me. Don't know how he can call himself my dad, either, but that's kind of the usual from him. Honestly, I don't really want to talk to either of you again."

Ardyn nodded. He didn’t seem surprised. What he’d done was cruel, and he could understand if Noctis would never forgive him.

“At first it wasn’t on purpose. I was focused on keeping him alive, after dragging him over my shoulder through the canals. Then he needed help from his injuries. Still needs me to practically carried on some days,” He said. “But after things leveled out, Regis, Clarus, Cor, and myself all decided we shouldn’t distract you from your goals. I always meant to tell you once your reached Cape Caeum, but what I did was cruel and nothing I can say makes a proper excuse.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. A headache is forming over the mess he created. His lies and manipulation now at risk of stopping his plans. He had to at least salvage the relationship enough to keep the boy alive.

"Did I have much of a choice?" Regis asks as he looks over, not out of harshness, but curiosity. After all, at this point, there was very little he could do on his own, needing a caretaker pretty much at all times. Even if he was angry and wanted to leave, he doubt he could make it out the door on his own without falling. "After all, it is you that is keeping me alive." If Ardyn wasn't around, he would have died a long time ago.

“Of course, you’d always have a choice,” Ardyn says. “I’d set you up with a nurse somewhere if you preferred but. . .”

Suddenly He felt cold, even against Regis’ soft skin. The former king was a delight to have under him, his reactions all perfect. But he didn’t want the man if the feeling wasn’t mutual. 

 “You didn’t have to do this as a thank you,” He said, his voice low. “I had thought you found me just as attractive.” 

He moved so he was over Regis again, nose to nose. He could feel his breath mingling with his own, a near kiss. Romantic, but for a darker edge. Not quite anger, more like disappointment. Or maybe just despair in the form of rage. Either way, their nude forms did nothing to ease the tension.

“Were your words just playing hard to get?” He purred, “Or should I leave.”