Archive of Our Own ^beta

It would be a bit self-centered to say Ignis and Gladio were the ones who raised Noct. His mother passed away when Noctis was less than a year old, but he still has his father who loves him dearly. He had nannies, tutors, people who took care of him and made sure he was fed, clothed, and prepared to handle anything that was expected of a young prince.

So yes, it could, perhaps, be considered self-centered, even arrogant, to say that Ignis and Gladio raised Noct, but it wouldn’t necessarily be wrong.

Because, see, in Ignis’ opinion, raising a child involves much more than simply providing the essentials and calling it a day, and neither is it enough to love a child if you’re not around to express said love.

Ignis doesn’t blame the King, necessarily. Ruling a country is perhaps one of the busiest jobs one could have, and the day cannot possibly have enough hours to give everything equal attention. But, well, in Ignis’ opinion, there should not be anything more important than your own child, even if you’re the King of Lucis. He doesn’t blame the king, but he certainly doesn’t approve of his choices regarding Noct.

He doesn’t consider himself a substitute parent to Noct, even though the Prince often rolls his eyes at him and tells him “Yes, Mom,” when Ignis asks something of him, and neither is Gladio. They’re more akin to big brother figures, if their relationship to Noct can even be described in terms relating to nuclear family, but family they are.

Perhaps it’s because of both their complicated relationships with their own parents that they latched onto Noct this fiercely. Ignis hasn’t spoken to his parents in years, and his uncle, whom he loves with all his heart, is still an uncle to him, not a father. And Gladio, while on decent terms with his father, still misses his mother dearly and once confided in Ignis about the way he feels he constantly has to impress his father in order to earn his acceptance.

It seems they’ve both been equally eager to make sure Noct still grows up with the warmth the two of them often lacked in their childhood, and for the longest time, they’re a little family of their own, just the three of them.

Then, Noct makes a friend. Prompto Argentum, Noct’s classmate. Niflheim-born and adopted by a Lucian couple as an infant.

Prompto is a darling, and after their initial period of observing him with suspicion - it’s not anything personal, but they cannot afford to be anything but vigilant when it comes to Noct - he slots himself neatly into their dynamic, and soon it’s as if he’d always been there.

It’s thanks to their experience with lonely children that they notice the signs pretty quickly. They’re not immediately obvious, and Prompto works hard to hide them or play them off, but if you know what you’re looking for, it’s rather impossible to miss.

There are various little tells. How he never mentions his parents when he talks about his weekend plans. How he doesn’t have to call home and let anyone know he’s decided to stay at Noct’s overnight. How he’s been working a job for as long as he’s been legal to do so but still doesn’t seem to have money to spend on fun things. His self-confidence is almost nonexistent, and he constantly makes self-deprecating remarks in an almost casual manner, and he’s over the moon whenever someone shows him even the slightest bit of kindness.

And so, it goes without saying that Gladio and Ignis start taking care of Prompto just like they’re taking care of Noct.

Gladio teaches him self-defense and treats him to junk food after dinner, and he starts taking him along on his and Noct’s Outdoor Survival Adventures which consist largely of camping and fishing. Prompto seems to enjoy physical contact, and Gladio’s never been able to show his affection as physically as he’d like, with neither Ignis nor Noct being particularly touchy, so Prompto is the willing victim of most of his friendly hair-ruffling, shoulder-clasping and one-armed hugs.

Ignis starts packing two lunches into Noct’s bag for school when Noct lets it slide that Prompto either eats salads or skips lunch altogether most days. He helps Prompto with his homework and proofreads his essays, and when the time comes for Prompto to get his learner’s permit, Ignis is happy to be his driving instructor.

In turn, Prompto starts trusting them with things one should under normal circumstances trust their parents with. The two of them are his emergency contacts at school and at his job, he asks them for their opinions on his possible career plans, and when he’s sick with the flu for nearly a week one time, it’s not even a question that he’s going to spend his time recovering in Noct’s guest bedroom where they can look after him until he’s better.

When Prompto tells them he wants to join the Crownsguard, they personally vouch for him. The higher-ups are hesitant to accept him as a recruit, in part due to his origins and in part because they don’t believe he has what it takes, refusing to look past the scrawny kid he undoubtedly is. But as it turns out, they have an unexpected ally in Marshal Leonis who shuts down any and all complaints and instead simply asks Gladio and Ignis, “You vouch for this kid?” and signs the papers without further question when they say they do.

It would be a lie to say Prompto breezes through his Crownsguard training, but he works hard and doesn’t give up, so Ignis isn’t concerned when Prompto storms into Noct’s apartment one afternoon, letter bearing the royal sigil clutched in his hand.

“They’re here, they’re here, my exam results!” Prompto gasps in between breaths - he looks like he ran all the way from the bus station to Noct’s apartment.

Noct perks up and puts his controller down. “Well? What’s it say?”

Prompto shakes his head. “I didn’t open it yet, I wanna do it with you guys.”

“Okay, you’re here, open it already,” Noct says impatiently.

“You guys,” Prompto stresses, “All of you. I’m gonna wait ‘til Gladio gets here!”

And so the letter sits, unopened, on the kitchen table until Gladio gets there - Ignis may or may not have texted him and told him in no uncertain terms to hurry up with whatever he’s doing and come here already - and when it’s finally opened, its contents surprise no one except Prompto.

They all take turns congratulating him with hugs in various degrees of force, Ignis heads to the store to buy a bottle of champagne and all the ingredients for one of Prompto’s favourite meals, and Prompto is so overcome with emotions he simply can’t seem to stop crying.

The impromptu celebration turns into a sleepover, and when Noct is in the bathroom getting ready for bed, Prompto steals a moment to hug them both once more and then hands each of them a shiny piece of paper.

“What’s this?” Gladio asks, even though he can read perfectly well what it says on the card.

“Admission to my graduation ceremony. I want you both there,” Prompto says, then hastily adds, “Uh, if you want to.”

Ignis studies the invitation, not really surprised but still disappointed for Prompto. He remembers from his own graduation that each graduate gets two invitations to hand out, and Prompto is choosing to give them to him and Gladio instead of his parents.

He knows better than to comment on that, though. Instead, he wraps Prompto up in a gentle hug, noting how the boy melts against his chest.

“I’d love to be there,” he says with a kiss brushed against Prompto's forehead before releasing him and leaving him at Gladio’s mercy.

Not nearly as gently, Gladio crushes the poor boy in his arms and then messes up his hair for good measure. “You kidding? Wouldn’t miss this for anything!”

When he’s released, Prompto’s cheeks are flushed and he’s smiling at them, broad and genuine, and well, if his parents cannot appreciate him for how wonderful he is, then they don’t deserve him at all.