Chapter Text
Being the only son and heir to the King of Insomnia wasn't as exciting as most people expected it to be. Noctis spent most of his time alone in his private apartment, hidden deep in the city, playing video games and avoiding his princely duties. Even though he was sometimes criticized as a slacker by the media, Noctis wasn't concerned. He knew how to do everything that was expected of him; there was just no need . There had been some brief tension with Nifleheim a few years ago but King Regis had managed a successful treaty. Noctis had to admit he'd learned a lot during the negotiations but, in the peace that followed, there just wasn't much for a young Prince to do. He still trained weekly with Gladio, his official Shield, and got lessons in history and etiquette from his Hand, Ignis. Though he considered them friends, he didn't really have any desire to socialize much more than that. He liked being alone. He liked playing video games and relaxing away from the palace. He understood, of course, that becoming king one day and being forced to take on the heavy responsibilities of the crown was inevitable, but that knowledge only made him more determined to enjoy his numbered days of freedom.
Today was no different. Noctis was still in his pajama pants at three in the afternoon, relaxing in his favorite recliner, and mashing away at the buttons on his controller when the sound of the lock on the front door clicked open and Ignis walked in. Taking in the Prince's state, he shook his head with a long-suffering sigh.
"Hey to you too," Noctis muttered.
"I don't mean to be judgemental," Ignis answered evenly, unbothered by Noct's sassy greeting. "But I did expect you to be dressed at the very least."
"You left me alone."
Ignis made a soft sound of offense. "I told you yesterday I was going to be busy at the rescue facilities this morning. That is no excuse for you to neglect yourself."
"Eh," Noctis brushed off Ignis' criticism with little effort.
Ignis, seeing his chance, moved to stand next to Noctis, looking at the game on the television without actually watching it. "Speaking of the rescue..." he began, a hint of guilt already in his tone.
Noctis paused his game and shot Ignis a look, "Not this again. Ignis, you know I don't want a hybrid. Not even as a temporary foster. I've never even had a regular pet."
"They're not pets," Ignis countered, ready at the smallest provocation to defend hybrid rights. "They are intelligent and capable and don't deserve to be mistreated as if they were little more than animals."
"By the Six, Ignis, I know . You don't have to preach to me every time I misspeak."
"I do, and you don't know. You've never even spent time with a hybrid, much less witnessed the abuses they might suffer."
Noctis sighed. "I know. I'm just not comfortable being responsible for another person like that."
Ignis, assuaged by the way Noctis referred to hybrids as people the second time, nodded. "And, nevertheless, I'm going to ask once more because I have a new rescue in desperate need of a home. A temporary home! Just for a week or two!"
Ignis had asked Noctis to foster many times before, only to be turned down each time. Noctis was spooked by the level of responsibility and uncertain end times. Ignis knew what the Prince truly feared was failure to provide proper care and so he never really gave up. Despite Noctis’ personal misgivings, the Prince was kind and gentle and Ignis trusted that he was, indeed, capable of being a responsible caregiver.
"You know my answer," Noctis said dryly.
"This time is different. Please, just hear me out before you make a final decision."
"Ugh. Can't Gladio do it?"
Ignis rubbed the back of his neck. "Actually... he's already helping me out. We rescued three new hybrids from an abusive home. It's all pretty hush-hush because the original owner is very well-known. We can only place them in secure homes. Gladio took one and he's already got one from an earlier rescue, plus his own personal companion. He's full. As am I and the other workers. I truly need your help this time, Noctis. Please. I'm begging you." Ignis watched with bated breath as Noctis huffed and sighed, silently fighting with his opposing desires to help his friend and to protect his languid lifestyle.
"I don't know..." Noctis took on a petulant tone.
"Please consider. This is the last one needing rescue. Even Cor took one of them. It'll only be a week, two at the most. We've got help for them lined up. I just need to place this one ."
Noctis let out a long, heavy sigh. He flopped back against the back of his chair and rubbed his face. "You ask me this but you know I don't have any experience. How am I supposed to pull this off, huh? I don't know anything!"
Ignis sat up straighter, feeling hopeful. "It's really not that difficult," he assured the young prince. "Prompto is only a few years younger than you. He can pretty much take care of himself. All he needs is a safe, quiet, understanding home for just a short time. Please. I will quite literally beg if I must."
Noctis sighed again and tossed his hands in the air. "Fine, fine! I give in. I'll do it. But only for two weeks! I know how these 'quick stays' can end up long in the end and I'm not okay with that."
"Your Highness, thank you! You won't regret it, I promise-"
"I mean it, Iggy. Two weeks. And don't call me that."
Ignis couldn't help but laugh. "My apologies. And yes, two weeks. Not a day longer. You have my word. And my thanks. I knew I could count on you."
Noctis huffed through his nose and looked away. Truth be told, now that he saw how ecstatic Ignis was at having him accept, he felt a bit guilty that he'd held back for so long. Noctis knew how much the hybrid rescue meant to Ignis. It was second only to serving the Crown and, at times, even that was a real contest. Noctis cared too, but in a more off-hand, uninvolved kind of way. His father had just had a Serious Talk with him a few days ago about the importance of finding causes that were actually important to him on a personal level and how getting involved might improve his public image. Maybe it was fate?
"Well," he said, finally responding to Ignis, "I guess you should give me the run-down one more time. Unless you've already got him squirreled away in your car?"
Ignis wished he could take the high road with Noctis' playful jab but he had actually brought supplies over in good faith. He hadn't been kidding when he'd said Noctis was his last option. "A-ah... I do have some basic supplies," he admitted.
Laughing, Noctis turned his game console off and stood up. He knew there was no sense in fighting it. Best to just get it over with. "Let's get them in, then," he said. "You can explain it all as we go."
Glad for the help, Ignis accepted, and after a quick elevator trip down to the parking garage, they were soon headed back up with arms full of items and Noctis glaring daggers.
"You said basic supplies," he accused sourly, shifting the pile in his arms to scan his thumbprint at the door.
"This is basic! Oh, very well, I may have gotten a few extra toys. And blankets. And... food."
Noctis gave Ignis a pointed look.
"He's too skinny!"
Shaking his head and trying not to smile, Noctis sat the pile of stuff on the round dining table near the entrance. "Alright, let's start the lessons, I guess. What is all this crap?"
Ignis cleared his throat, getting himself into teaching mode. He started with the largest item. Patting a yellow and white striped pile of fabric, he said, "this is a sleeping tent. Usually we encourage sharing a bed or having their own but for recent rescues, a private place to sleep or hide is very beneficial. We can put this one in the corner there." Ignis nodded to an empty corner in the living room.
"Sure," Noctis agreed. "How do you even set this up..." He plucked at the fabric curiously. "Is it gonna be big enough? Doesn’t look like it..."
"Yes. He's been using this one since we brought him in. Here, let me show you how to assemble it." Ignis gathered the supplies for the tent and together they headed into the living room. As Ignis began assembly, he continued the lessons. "He's most likely going to hide as soon as I leave. Don't let that bother you. He will eventually come out. Just talk to him."
"Uhh... about what? Aren't they like kids? I'm terrible with kids."
Ignis shook his head. "Common misconception. They are just as smart as humans. It's their vocabulary that is limited. It makes them sound childlike and that is often mistaken for a lack of intelligence. And you can tell him he's safe. Go over any house rules. Announce big sounds so he doesn't get spooked. Tell him about yourself and what you like. Anything, really. The more he grows accustomed to your voice, the better."
Noctis nodded as he listened, his lips pressed into a thin, worried line. It already sounded like a lot to remember. At the least, getting the tee-pee style tent put up was relatively simple and they were done in just a few minutes. Ignis tied back one of the flaps to the entrance and tucked a few pillows and a blanket inside. He finished it off with a plush carrot, perched perfectly against the soft pile.
"There we go," he said, dusting his hands off. Turning to Noctis, he continued. "So, he will likely choose to sleep on his own while he's here. Most hybrids like to snuggle with their owners but these are special cases so they're a little different. As long as he's getting enough sleep, you won't have to worry much. He might have nightmares. If he does have trouble sleeping, let me know and I will get some medication to help. A mug of warm milk is typically enough, however."
Ignis led Noctis back over to the table. He began to fill a small cloth toy box, in matching yellow stripes, with the various toys: little pillows, plushines, and dolls, some of which contained hidden squeakers or rattles. When he noticed Noctis’ brow creeping higher and higer, Ignis smiled. "Okay," he admitted, "maybe they do have certain childlike tendencies. They never really grow out of the desire to play or hoard." Ignis shrugged as he picked up the toy box and carried it in the living room. He placed it on the floor, near the tent. "But again, our rescues are sometimes different. We do want to encourage a little play when possible. Develop some positive memories and associations. Are you still with me?"
Noctis widened his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. "I think so? I don't think I can do all this, Iggy. It's so much to remember."
"This is just talk. Working with them is mostly instinct. You're good at that. I have no doubt that you can, indeed, do all this. Now." Ignis clapped his hands together. "This part is important. Eating. Prompto cannot cook and knows to leave appliances and such alone. He can do simple things like make himself drinks or get a snack when he's hungry. But he probably won't. He was barred from doing these things on his own so just remember to include him. If you're hungry, maybe he is too. Check in on him."
Nodding, Noctis made a mental note to go buy more snacks. As far as he was concerned, a good excuse for snacks was always a good thing. And if that hybrid needed to eat, he could definitely provide some good, if not a bit unhealthy, options.
"This." Ignis pulled out a wide, heavy container from the bags and sat it on the table. "This will help him gain weight. Make him a smoothie with it once a day. The directions are on the back. Glass of milk, two scoops, stir, and done. It's sweet so most of them like it. The texture can be rather grainy, however."
Noctis grinned at the overly-cutesy pink, red, and white packaging. A bright yellow daisy mascot proclaimed itself to be a hybrid favorite. "What does he like to eat? Do you know some of his favorites or anything like that? I can do a quick grocery run tonight."
Ignis shook his head. "Sadly, no. I just grabbed this from our stock. It’s strawberry flavored but if you think he would prefer a different one, by all means, feel free to purchase more. As long as he gets the extra calories. Prompto has been very quiet so far. I'm sure once he settles a bit, you can ask him yourself." Ignis continued to unpack a few groceries. He arranged tins of cookies, fresh fruits, and other pre-packaged snacks in the center of the table.
"So no insight into his personality either?"
"A little. He's gentle, curious, shy... He can be skittish but that's likely due to the abuse. He responds well to food and he really wants to play, though I haven't seen him gather up enough courage to go through with it. Reminds me of a certain young boy I used to know." Ignis grinned at Noctis, remembering fondly their first years together. When introduced to one another, Noctis had been painfully shy and it had been entirely up to Ignis to break the ice and coax little Noctis out of his hermit-like seclusion.
Noctis blushed and gave Ignis' shoulder a gentle push. "Shut up. Weirdo." It was the best he could come up with and he accepted Ignis' laugh with a fond smile of his own. “Alright, so food, sleep, play. Fuck. I don’t even know what type of hybrid he is.”
“He is a low-grade Nibel Rabbit. Blonde with bits of white.”
“Low-grade?”
Ignis sighed. “I thought you knew that , at least. Humans decided it was up to us to grade hybrids on this supposed idea of ‘purity,’ which really just means how human they are. High-grades have very little animal-like qualities. Usually just a tail or something similar. Medium-grade hybrids might have a little fur and low-grade hybrids can have entire limbs that are animal-like in addition to all the other qualities. Prompto is considered low-grade because his feet are more like paws and his legs are a bit furry around the ankle. He’s also got rabbit ears and a tail.”
“He’s got a bunny tail,” Noctis repeated incredulously.
“Rabbit tail, yes.”
“Is it-”
Ignis smiled knowingly. “Yes. It is just as adorable as it sounds.” After a brief pause, Ignis continued. “There is one more thing.”
Noctis groaned and pulled out a chair to take a seat. “Lay it on me,” he said, resigned to being stuck in Hybrid Lesson Time for the rest of the day.
“Medication.” Ignis held up the last bag which contained two boxes, one small and one larger. “First,” he said, pulling out the larger box, “these are scent patches. Hybrids release pheromones and they can be quite potent, especially to other hybrids. It’s just considered polite for him to wear them when going out. No need to start a frenzy. Directions are in the box. And this one...” Ignis pulled out the smaller box and gave it a little shake. “This is his heat suppressant. One every day. Morning or night is easiest. If he misses a dose, it’s probably okay but he cannot miss two.”
“Or he’ll go into heat?”
“Maybe not right away, but eventually, yes. And none of our rescues are in a place where they need to be going into heat. It’s just better that they don’t have to worry about it.”
“I thought those had really bad side effects.”
“Well...” Ignis floundered, looking unsure for the first time since he began talking. “There is a lot of discourse around the subject. We do not want them suppressed for too long, so we seek to get them into therapy and a safe home where they can make the choice to stop suppressing when they are ready. But, yes, there can be bad side effects with prolonged use. If it becomes an issues, we will temporarily have them stop the medication and run their cycle naturally.”
“He won’t be here long enough for me to have to worry about that, though,” Noctis reminded him pointedly.
“Right.” Ignis nodded and arranged the two boxes neatly on the table next to the snacks. “I also got you a calendar so you can mark when he’s taken his medicine. Just to be safe.” Ignis tacked up a small calendar next to the door, then gathered the empty bags and tossed them in the bin. “The rest of the bags are extra clothes in his size. Thank you, again. You have no idea how stressed I have been over the weekend.”
Noctis gave a small smile. Ignis lived in a world of non-stop stress, so it was nice to know he could offer some relief, even if it was a small amount. “So when are you bringing him over?”
“Tomorrow?” Ignis’ voice carried a hopeful tone.
Shrugging, Noctis tilted his head briefly to one side. “Sounds good. Not before nine o’clock, okay? I wanna be awake and, you know, friendly.”
Ignis laughed. “Ten it is.”
The sudden blaring of rock music started Noctis out of his sleep with an inelegant snort. Noctis reached over to the side table and fumbled with his phone. Taking a moment to squint at the time, he swiped his thumb to answer the call. “Ignis? This better not be you telling me you’re on the way. It’s barely eight!”
“I know, and all I can do is offer my apologies,” Ignis answered through the phone. “Prompto is quite the early riser and I thought to take advantage of-”
“Yeah, yeah.” Noctis cut him off and groaned as he tossed his blankets aside. “I’m getting dressed.” He knew better than to argue with Ignis about waking up. It was a battle he'd lost countless times before and Ignis always won.
“We will be there in twenty minutes.”
A quick exchange of goodbyes and Noctis hung up with a roll of his eyes. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and padded his way to the bathroom. After a quick pee, he brushed his teeth and hair, ending it all with a spritz of hairspray and cologne. Back in his room, he dressed in a pair of relaxed jeans and a band shirt. He didn’t see a point in putting on airs. If this Prompto was going to stay with him, he would see Noctis in his more relaxed state anyway. Might as well get it over with.
By the time he finished up and was walking down the hall to the living area, Ignis was already knocking at his door.
“Apologies, your Highness,” Ignis repeated with a small bow as the door opened.
Noctis shook his head, waving off the formalities. “It’s fine. Uh. Where is he?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Noctis caught a tiny bit of movement behind Ignis' shoulder. Huddled behind Ignis, ears pressed down so tightly they all but blended into his messy blonde hair, stood what had to be the most adorable blonde Noctis had ever seen. He only had a quick glimpse before Prompto hid behind Ignis again with a tiny squeak. Noctis felt his heart squeeze almost painfully. He stepped out of the way so the two could move inside.
From this angle, he couldn’t see Prompto’s face but he took advantage of the chance to look the hybrid over anyway. Ignis had been right. He was too skinny. His fur was shaggy, like he needed a good brushing, and clearly no one had bothered to do his hair properly that morning. It sat in a spiky mop atop his head, poking in all directions. Noctis wanted very badly to reach out and comb his fingers through it. Prompto wore a simple red tank top that didn't quite fit and a pair of capri-length sweatpants. He wore no shoes but with the pawed feet, Noctis figured he didn't really need them. And there, poking out where the shit and pants met, a pointed blonde nub of a tail twitched nervously. Noctis had never wanted to invade someone's personal space so badly before. Instead, he closed the door.
"Prompto..." Ignis reached behind himself and gently guided Prompto out from behind him. "This is the man I told you about. His name is Noctis and he's going to look after you for a while."
The hybrid fidgeted, twisting his shirt in his hands and switching his weight from one foot to the other. He glanced up at Noctis, meeting his eyes only a moment before looking away again.
"Do you want to say hello?" Ignis asked, placing a comforting hand on Prompto's shoulder.
Prompto shook his head almost fitfully.
"Very well." Ignis turned his attention to Noctis. "We are working on independence," he explained. "Prompto is learning he can say yes or no and not get in trouble. Please don't take offense. It is simply part of his healing process."
Noctis shrugged. "Fine with me," he answered. "I've never been into formalities anyway. I'm not going to pressure him."
Ignis asked Noctis if he had any new questions and the two of them began to talk. While they went over some last minute information, Prompto glanced around the open area. He recognized some familiar things in the kitchen, including that gross strawberry drink mix Ignis made him drink everyday. It made him feel a little more comfortable, seeing things he recognized. The kitchen was a bit small but well-lit and a few dishes sat in the sink. It felt relaxed. Not too many distractions or too much noise. The living room was simple and comfortable, featuring a large TV and entertainment center. It needed dusting. He spotted a familiar bed in one corner, bright colored and inviting-looking. Prompto knew right away it was for him and being tucked safely away in the tent seemed much better than standing out in the open. He glanced between the two men. They were still talking and Prompto let out a soft whine. When that was ignored, he began tugging on Ignis' sleeve.
"Yes," Ignis answered after a few tugs.
Prompto looked at the tent and whined again. He gave another insistent tug.
Ignis chuckled softly and patted the top of his head. "This is Noctis' home, Prompto. You'll have to ask him."
Internally, Prompto groaned. He wasn't sure yet about the new man. Noctis. Handsome Noctis with the soft smile. But still a stranger. He frowned and huffed.
Noctis laughed softly. "Go ahead," he said, opting not to force Prompto to speak. "You can use that any time you want, okay? It's yours; you don't have to ask."
That was all the assurance Prompto needed. He scampered over, dropping to his knees and climbing happily inside. He curled up with the pillow and cute plush carrot he found inside, nuzzling into the softness to self-soothe.
Ignis watched Noctis with a knowing smirk as he observed the way the other man smiled in Prompto's direction. He knew Prompto's natural demeanor would successfully break through Noctis' apathy. The young prince had never been able to resist cute and needy. Even if their reactions had been hesitant and limited so far, Ignis had hope for the pairing. Maybe he could even convince Noctis to continue fostering longer than two weeks...
"I can hear you plotting." Noctis said, frowning at Ignis. "Stop it."
Ignis laughed quietly and bowed his head. "I've been caught. Well, if there is nothing else..."
Noctis shook his head. "Nah. I think we can take it from here."
"Eat."
Noctis rolled his eyes. "I will. Go."
Now that the time had come, Ignis was much more anxious than he'd expected to be. He couldn't help but feel as if Noctis were growing up a little, accepting responsibility and taking control right before his very eyes. It was a touching moment and Ignis had to resist the urge to hug Noctis. He had to maintain his composure, after all. "Very well. If you need anything, I am a text away. Do not hesitate."
Ignis let himself out, stopping just outside the door. He looked back over his shoulder. "And Noctis? I'm proud of you."
"Ugh, Gross." Noctis closed the door, hoping Ignis didn't have time to see his blush.