Our story opens in a small, overcrowded street not too far from the central district of Insomnia. Dusk is gathering, making the shadows of the nosy neighbors who dotted the street grow long. A silent ambulance is parked in front of the house next door to where the incident occurred, lights flashing ominously against the darkened windows of the humble abode. In the distance, the sirens of a second ambulance are fading into the rest of the ambient traffic noise as it carried its occupant to the closest hospital.

They really should have figured it out sooner. All the different ways they were shown, but did not see; the times they were told and did not hear.

Ignis glanced in the rearview mirror, doing his best to keep his composure. So much had happened in such a short time. But there was no going back, now.

"Are you sure you don't want to let the paramedics help you?" He asked, his voice calmer than he felt.

Huddled in the backseat was Prompto, legs drawn up with his one good arm wrapped around them. Ignis knew it had to be painful; the brief glance he had at the bruising along the blonde's ribs earlier told him as much. Prompto was doing his best to keep his composure, but it was a losing battle. His head was turned to the side, profile telling a devastating story. The boy's eyes tracked the motions outside the car, bright with unshed tears.

"No, I'm ok. Just…let them help the others first." Prompto's voice had that dreamy quality that Ignis usually associated with tiredness, but knew it to be better attributed to the state of shock the boy was sliding into.

Not knowing what else to say, Ignis lapsed into silence for a while, watching the scene outside the window. The street was flooded with cars and people; some there to help, others there to gawk. There were a few police officers keeping the crowd back, while one officer seemed to be stationed with Mrs. Argentum, who was pacing the porch and chain smoking.

Ignis startled when Prompto spoke up, his voice thick with emotion as his freckled face scrunched a little in the half-light. "Is Gladio gonna get in trouble?"

Something tore in Ignis' chest, his eyes automatically darting to where the shield sat in the back of one of the police cruisers, holding a bloodied cloth to his face. The officer speaking to him was less than half his size and seemed more than happy to keep her distance.

When he turned back to Prompto, the boy was looking at him with those big lavender-blue eyes. He grit his teeth, finding it difficult to look the blonde straight on without rage playing across his usually schooled features.

"No, he won't be in trouble. There were witnesses to the attack on Noctis. Gladio was acting in his royal capacity, there's no question of that." Ignis cast the boy what he hoped was a comforting look, but the blond seemed less than convinced.

Prompto swallowed a sob, turning back to the window. He whimpered a little as he re-adjusted his position before settling again. "I've made such a mess of things." He whispered, finally burying his face in his knees.

XVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXV

Penny's Arcade; two years ago. In which the first sign should have been noted by the usually astute adviser.

Noctis was leaning up against the counter in the food court, looking for all the world like a poster child for boredom. It was a practiced affectation, however, and anyone who really knew him could see he was excited. Ignis shook his head at the boy as he took a glance over the menu. On the other side of Noctis, Gladiolus was nonchalantly scrolling through his phone, looking up every once in a while to scan the room for threats.

Noctis didn't often ask to spend time outside the Citadel, so Ignis was rather interested in meeting the young man with which he had deigned to spend his free time. Sure, he'd done his research, but had not found anything out of the ordinary in this Prompto Argentum's records.

Noctis suddenly straightened up, his eyes lighting up in excitement. Ignis followed his gaze to the small exuberant blonde clad in an oversized gray hoodie and extremely worn jeans bounced up to Noctis and attempted to throw his arm around the raven haired teen's shoulder. The adviser watched in amused horror as he was stopped abruptly by Gladiolus straight-arming him in the chest, knocking him to the ground. The warrior never even glanced up from his phone.

A small crowd looked on as Noctis spat a few angry words Gladiolus' way and proceeded to help the freckled boy to his feet. Though he was holding a hand to his chest where the shield had made contact, his face held a bright smile.

"Oh, no, it's ok Noct. Totalllly my fault. I was stupid to run up to you like that!" He laughed a little, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I mean, what else was he supposed to do? Not protect the prince?" Before anyone could say anything further he turned to Gladiolus, who had finally put his phone away.

He waved at the larger man, keeping his distance but attempting to appear friendly. "Dude, you're so huuuge! Like, what do you even eat?"

Ignis stepped forward then, putting himself between the grumpy shield and the blond. "Everything is the short answer. You must be Prompto."

The younger boy grinned, his freckled cheeks pink from embarrassment. "Yeah, uhm…I mean yes, sir. That's me. I'm guessing you're Iggyyy…" he faltered a little at the perturbed expression that fell across the sandy haired teen's features. "…niiis. Uhm, Ignis?" He shifted from foot to foot looking at the adviser nervously.

"Nice save." Noctis stage-whispered and elbowed the blonde in the ribs.

"I do prefer Ignis from those to whom I am not overly acquainted, but—" he glanced at Noctis and rolled his eyes. "I suppose it would do no harm if you were to refer to me as Iggy."

The freckled youth beamed up at him and stuck out his hand to shake. "Nice to meet you!"

Ignis felt his face fold into a smile of its own volition. The kid certainly had pep. "Likewise. Now, I'm assuming that you two would like to get some lunch before beginning your gaming?"

This time it was Noctis who slung his arm around the other boy's shoulders, pulling him towards the menu board.

"Oh, uhm, I ate before I came! I didn't realize that lunch was part of the plan." The blonde placed a hand to his flat belly, pinkening a little as he glanced over the options.

Gladiolus eyed him incredulously. "Kid, you're a toothpick. At least order some fries or something. You look like a stiff wind would blow you over."

"Haha, or a big galoot." He shot an impish smile at the shield. "But," he rushed on at the incredulous expression of the warrior returned, and gestured to his thin physique, waggling his eyebrows. "I worked hard for this svelte figure; I'm not about to poison it with salted grease sticks." He bumped shoulders with Noctis, who grinned and shook his head.

"Ah, well then, perhaps a salad." Ignis suggested as he stepped up to the register and began to place the order despite the protests of the younger boy. "In fact, why don't you three go find a seat?"

Not having to be told twice, Noctis gripped Prompto by the forearm and began half-leading/half-dragging his friend to one of the bright orange booths, practically shoving him in ahead of himself, presumably to keep the anxious boy from bolting.

When Ignis joined them, he noted that the blond was rubbing his arm where Noctis had grabbed it. He lifted one eyebrow in question. "Does Noct not know his strength?"

The reaction was immediate; Prompto shoved both arms beneath the table, laughing nervously. "Nah, Noct's a wuss. I just happened to run into something last night and he grabbed right on the bruise."

Noctis uttered an apology at the same moment Ignis asked to see the injury, but Prompto quickly shook his head. "N-no, it's fine! Really. It was my fault, anyway. Shoulda been watching where I was going. I'm just really really clumsy." He laughed again, high pitched and more than a little nervous.

He was saved from further explanation by the arrival of the food, however. They all dug in with gusto, and by the time they'd finished and moved on to the games, the issue was forgotten.

XVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXVXV

Two days prior to that; Prompto is excited (read: nervous) about meeting Ignis and Gladiolus, having only recently made friends with the prince. In a rare moment of peace, he has decided to talk to his mother about his new friend while his father watches the news in the living room.

"…he's just so…so cool, mom. Like, you'd expect the prince to be like aloof and stuff, and he does seem that way from afar, but he's totallllly cool, you know?"

His mother spared him a glance over her tea, giving him a half smile. "So you've said." She replied before going back to work on her crossword.

Undaunted by her near indifference to his excitement, he continued, waving his arms about and gesturing dramatically as he gushed. "And this Ignis guy, he sounds so scary. He's like perfect in every way. Noct says he knows everything, including how to make someone disappear without a trace. I kinda think he may be joking about that one, but I'm not sure I want to find out. And then there's Gladio, his shield. You've seen him on TV, right? Big menacing guy, always behind Noct? Well apparently, he's this like big romantic and has a soft spot for kids...well, kids who aren't Noct, anyway. Noct says that one time—'

"Shiva's fucking tits, boy!" Mr. Argentum stomped into the kitchen, slamming his hand down on the counter and startling the pair at the table. "Won't you just shut the hell up, already?" He grumbled, staring down Prompto until the boy looked away. The older man snorted and made his way to the refrigerator to retrieve a beer. His fifth, if Prompto is keeping proper count.

The blonde whispered a quick 'sorry dad' to his father and ducked his head down farther.

"Fucking sick of hearing about your imaginary friend, anyway. As if the Crown-godsdamned-prince wants anything to do with the likes of you. You've probably been spending all that time away from home in an alley somewhere; doing the only thing Niffs are good for."

"That's not true!" Prompto practically yelled. Though he regretted the words almost as soon as they left his lips, he forced more out after them. "Noct is too my friend! We hang out all the time."

His father slammed his beer can down on the counter and snatched Prompto up by the forearm, pulling him with such force that the chair fell over behind him. He got Prompto turned around and wrenched his arm up behind his back, forcing him face-first into the wall. "You have no respect, you fucking liar." He bounced the boy against the plaster a few more times for good measure.

Then, Mr. Argentum held the boy there long moments, the grip on his arm tightening enough that Prompto's bones rubbed together with the force of it. Unable to silently bear the pain any longer, the freckled youth whimpered out a plea to be let go.

HIs father chuckled at him before using his free hand to punch the boy in the kidney before sweeping his legs out from under him and sending him to the floor. The older man then stepped back a little and sent three swift kicks into the blonde's side.

"You been getting a little uppity lately, boy. Damn near ungrateful. Don't you backtalk me again, you hear me? Raise your voice to me or your mother, hell, you fucking look at either of us sideways and you'll be on the streets. Got it?"

"Yes, sir." Prompto wheezed out, but made no move to stand or look up at his father. He knew better by now.

Wordlessly, the elder Argentum snatched up his beer and went back into the living room where he turned the news up several more decibels.

At the kitchen table, his mother had barely looked up from her crossword after the initial conflict. "No dinner tonight." She said, furrowing her brow as she concentrated on filling out the tiny boxes.

"Yes ma'am." Prompto moaned as he got himself back to his feet, ready to head up to his room.

"Clean up the mess before you go." This too was said without a glance at her son.

Prompto righted his chair and wiped up some of the droplets of beer that had spattered out of the can where his father slammed it down. When no further direction was given, he felt it safe enough to retreat.

He went into the bathroom, as it was the only door that locked from the inside besides his parent's room. He checked out his arm where a hand-shaped bruise was already blooming. He didn't bother looking at his ribs; he just fished out a bottle of aspirin from the basket under the sink and dry-swallowed five in one go.

That night as his stomach rumbled, he counted his blessings. Among them was his burgeoning friendship with Noctis, and the fact that his parents were supposed to be catching a plane in the morning and would be gone for two full months.

It was the little things that got him through.