Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy XV or any of its characters.
Title:the world at your fingertips, you just need to seize it
Summary: As far as the six year old Noctis was concerned, his entire world consisted of four walls and Father always told him it's safer to stay inside than going outside. It's when those walls come down that Noctis's entire world changes.
Rating: T
Warnings: Potentially disturbing imagery, emotional abuse
Author's Notes: This was the chapter I was waiting to write for a long time. It was certainly an emotional rollercoaster to write and I hope I was able to do all the characters justice. I have to say I enjoyed writing Ardyn, especially with the way he would twist certain words or details and of course, since we are seeing things from Noctis's perspective, he would believe Ardyn without a doubt.

" The bonzai tree Prompto gave me has been growing this big," Noctis spread out his arms to indicate the size to Father. " Ignis has been showing me how to water it though, at least once a day, so it can grow even bigger."

" Oh really?" Father arched an eyebrow.

Down the empty hallways they went. There was a spring in Noctis's step as he held Father's hand. He was so content with being reunited with Father to notice how quiet the Citadel was and how devoid of other people it was.

" When it's nighttime but not quite bedtime, Ignis would teach me about stars. I didn't know the sun was a star! When I told Luna about it, she sent me lots of star stickers."

" Lunafreya, hmm?" Father sounded amused.

" Yeah. She's the Oracle in Tenebrae," Noctis elaborated, just in case Father didn't know. " She sends Umbra to deliver messages to me and he's brought me lots of cool things. Like coins, drawings and stamps."

Noctis glanced back behind him, wondering how far they had travelled from the room. He didn't recognize this particular plain boring hallway, devoid of any ornaments or paintings. " I left them back in the bedroom. Should we go back so I can show you?"

" No, no," Father said lightly. " If we go back now, we won't get the treasure."

He bobbed his head in agreement. The treasure must be retrieved first as Father reminded him. He couldn't wait to bring it back to Ignis, Prompto and Gladio to see after they woke up.

They were in an elevator now and Father began pushing some buttons as the elevator shuddered and began to descend.

" Are we almost there?" Noctis couldn't help but whine a little. It seemed like they have been walking and talking for hours. His bare feet felt exceptionally cold and tired against the elevator's slates.

Father chuckled as he poked Noctis's forehead. " Patience, my little sweetling."

Noctis wrinkled his nose, remembering how Father liked to call him different nicknames each time. It was a little strange hearing his friends always calling him by his name 'Noctis' when Father had so many other names and adjectives for him.

" Here we are," he announced as the elevator rattled open and they entered in a large and lonely room.

It was basked in slivers of blue and white and silver dancing across the ceiling and the walls. It was completely bare except for a giant luminous rock in the middle, pulsing and humming as if it was alive.

" Wow," Noctis breathed, drinking in the sight. " It looks amazing."

" Indeed it does." Father smiled indulgently.

" Is this the treasure?" he asked as Father led him closer to it.

" Yes. But the real treasure lies within the crystal."

Noctis frowned. Even as he stood within an arm's distance from it, he couldn't see anything inside the crystal other than the strange blue light emitting from it. " How do we get it then?"

Father's smile widened. " Not 'we', my dear Noctis. Only you can."

This was just like one of his books, Noctis thought gleefully. How only the chosen knight was able to enter into the forbidden castle to save the princess. Noctis always wanted to be someone special. " Really?" he excitedly said.

" And this is how you do it."

Father took Noctis's hand and placed against the hardened edges of the crystal.

For a moment, nothing happened. Noctis glanced back from Father and the crystal. Father was smiling and patiently waiting. Did Noctis do it right? Or perhaps Father was wrong and there was nothing special about Noctis at all.

Until the crystal sparked and came alive.

Electricity streaked and coursed through Noctis's veins, sending a fire throughout his body, leaving him unprepared for the onslaught. His hand was etched into the crystal, rooted in place as his nails plunged into the rock. He couldn't move even if he wanted to. He wanted to open his mouth to cry out for Father but no words came forth.

Voices and visions dug like knives against his skull, all so loud, all so painful, until all of it was a jumble of noise and blurred images.

– The king! Yet not a king! Tis only a –

– dare he use our own flesh and blood to –

– a winged figure, larger than anything he had ever seen, unfurling its wings decked in gold –

– act now or he will win! Everything will be for naught! Is this how our line is to end? At the hands of a madman? If we do nothing, the child will –

– caught on fire as stars fell from the darkened sky, smoke and ash rose from the earth, an animalistic howl tore through the world, sword and ice ravaged through the –

– shrieking, a figure coated in darkness, skeletal bone eating away at flesh, reaching out in mindless fury, " I will have my revenge!" he snarled –

– Get away! He's a monster disguised as a human! Get away! While you still –

– " I beg of you," a man's voice was saying, desperate. " Help us to stop him so that my son can be returned," his voice keening in despair –

– already ensnared in his grasp. There is little we can do now. Perhaps –

– a soft feminine voice sounding vaguely familiar, " And so, let the Covenant be forged", as snow began to fall –

– gem encased in an intricate ring resting upon wizened hands began to dim –

– not ready for this Providence. Too young was the child. The Accursed had a need to use the child for his magic and powers were locked and sealed by the King of Lucis. What unspeakable measures the Accursed had turn to, for this unspeakable crime of –

He didn't understand. He didn't understand any of this, what he was seeing, what he was hearing. Everything blurred and snared amongst each other, burning at his eyes. Power and energy surged through, burning and sizzling at every inch of him, down to the bone. Nothing was left untouched.

It all became too much.

He had to escape. He had to get away.

With a cry wrenching from his throat and pain lacing throughout his arm, Noctis managed to yank his arm back, breaking apart from the crystal.

A scattering of blue crystals filled the air, resembling large snowflakes, swirling around his arms and hands, before melting into his skin with no more than a brief caress.

The once glowing crystal became dim and faded, dwindling away to resemble a blackened husk.

The fire was gone from his veins, leaving him now chilled. No more voices clawed at his ears. The only sound was Noctis's own harsh breathing. No more images burned against his eyes. There was no one here but him and Father.

Trembling from head to toe and covered in a cold sweat, Noctis turned to Father. " What happened?" he uncertainly whispered. " Did – did I get the treasure?"

Father was smiling however. " You did exactly what needed to be done," he replied before he suddenly and abruptly swept Noctis off his feet and embraced Noctis.

Noctis was frozen, uncertain what to do now that the long-sought intimacy he always craved from Father was so freely and willingly given.

It wasn't the same like the hugs Noctis had received from his friends. Ignis was always gentle and comforting, his embraces always welcoming and obliging. Gladio's hugs made him feel secure and safe, like his arms could protect him from any danger. Prompto would nuzzle him, bringing him close, like he wished to never part from Noctis.

This embrace from Father wasn't quite like any of those. Noctis could feel something simmering at the edge, prickling his skin, biting at his fingertips. There was a pull from his chest and a horrible terrible feeling sinking in his stomach and all of this made him feel ill.

He tried to take a step back but Father held on tightly.

" Father," he whined, hating how pleading he sounded, how uneasy he felt.

" Just a moment," Father murmured. His face was buried in Noctis's hair. He had never allowed himself to be this intimate and close to Noctis before.

Noctis could only remain still, closing his eyes, wishing that awful feeling worming through him would stop.

A shockingly clamorous ding and ratter from the elevator made Father finally remove himself from Noctis who was still thinking the entire embrace was only a surreal dream.

" Ahh," Father grinned in pleasant surprise. " Our guest of honour arrives. Late as usual."

Noctis didn't get a chance to ask who this person was because stepping out of the elevator was the black king.

Here, in the obscure glow of the crystal, the black king appeared like an ancient gargoyle wearing human skin. His black clothing was rumpled and ruffled as if put on in a hurry. The black king's chest appeared to heave in exertion as he walked forward. A slim cane in his hands seemed like it was the only thing keeping him upright.

Barely able to hold back the frightened gasp, Noctis grabbed Father's sleeve. To his shock, Father obliged him and even gathered Noctis up into the safety of his arms.

A myriad of emotions flickered across the black king's face as he looked between Father and Noctis standing so close to the ashen crystal, some too quickly for Noctis to decipher. What he did manage to catch was that there was rage and terror, a burning cold fire in his eyes.

" Ardyn."

The black king said the word like it was a curse.

Noctis shrunk against Father's side in fear (where had he heard the name Ardyn before? It sounded familiar) but Father was supremely unconcerned. If anything, Father appeared to be enjoying himself. How strong and brave Father was, to be able to stand so unafraid of the black king.

" My dear Regis, how good it is to see you again," Father crooned. " That cane is a new touch though. Hope managing the Wall hasn't been too draining for you."

The black king's expression was blank yet his eyes continued to blaze with fury. " What purpose do you have coming back here?" he spoke, his voice soft yet brimming with barely contained hostility.

" Why, I simply came to retrieve my beloved Noctis." Father hoisted Noctis a little higher, almost like he wanted to show the black king who he had safely in his arms. " You see, you had taken something quite dear to my heart. It was only fair that I take it back in return."

Noctis blinked, surprised at hearing such concern for him from Father. He had not known Father to speak so openly about his affections for Noctis.

The black king's eyes narrowed. Even from the distance, Noctis could see how tight the black king's jaw was. " You are no more than a coward," he said with nothing but contempt in his voice. " To kidnap and use a child for your own gain."

Noctis barely had any time to ponder about the black king's words (Kidnap? Didn't Gentiana mention before about Noctis being captured before? What did they both mean?) when Father started laughing.

" What harsh words to use," Father impishly said, grinning so wide his teeth was white against the dimness of the room. " I do care very deeply for Noctis's health and well-being. His happiness is one of the many joys in my long life. I wouldn't be much of a father if I did not."

There was a crack in the black king's visage, merely hiding an enraged beast from within. " You have no right to call yourself a father to Noctis," he coldly said. " That title does not belong to you."

" No?" Father's smile widened. " Now that's an unfound accusation! Tell me, is this child anything but the child I raised? Unlike someone else?"

For a wild minute, Noctis thought the black king would attack Father. He seized a handful of Father's jacket for comfort, whimpering.

But the anger mingling in the black king's eyes was now mixed with another emotion – anguish.

" I know Noctis far better than you," Father blithely continued. " And he knows me. So what does that make you to him then, hmm? You are nothing more than a stranger to him – and the one thing he is most frightened of."

The black king clenched his teeth. It appeared he was left inarticulate with fury.

Father held Noctis a little tighter as if displaying their familiarity, even nuzzling a quick kiss against Noctis's forehead, to Noctis's surprise and the black king's ire. " I must say, now that he's grown so big over the years, I can see a little resemblance of myself in him," Father added with a touch of mockery. " As expected of my dearest child, of course."

Something snapped in the black king and the next thing Noctis knew, swords crystallized out of the air behind the black king, burning blue. The swords came flying, howling and shrieking, all aimed at Father and Noctis.

Noctis screamed, burying his face against Father for some meagre protection.

Something yanked inside Noctis, something painful and sharp that made him cry out. Tears prickled his eyes and he dug his nails against Father's shirt to try to gain some relief.

It must be the black king's doing. He must be casting an evil spell on Noctis so he could win against Father!

Please stop him, Father, he silently begged. Please stop the black king.

When at last the harsh sounds of metal and steel faded away, Noctis felt brave enough to peek out from Father's jacket.

Father managed to project dozens of crimson swords and weapons around him and Noctis, surrounding them almost like a barrier. He had not known Father capable of such things.

The black king had fallen, his cane clattered on the floor somewhere far away, his own sapphire weapons still floating and frozen in the air above him. He was clutching the side of his stomach, his withered hands blossoming red underneath.

" Tsk tsk. You are getting sloppy in your old age," Father mocked. " Do be careful with those weapons of yours. Wouldn't want you to overexert yourself in the effort."

" Only a monster would use a child as a shield," the black king snarled, futilely attempting to stand.

" Me? A monster? Perhaps you should see what your own hands did."

Father grabbed Noctis's chin and forcing him to tilt his head towards the black king.

And that was when Noctis realized there was a stinging pain across his cheek. He quickly touched his cheek to determine what was the cause and his hand came away bloody. One of the black king's weapons must have cut along Noctis's cheek. It was twice now that the black king found a way to hurt him without touching him.

" It seems my barrier wasn't as strong as I thought it would be," Father smiled wryly. " Poor Noctis ended up getting harmed in your attack. In the end, it is you who is the real monster for causing him to bleed."

Noctis could only stare at the blood coating and painting his fingertips, feeling his breaths coming in short intervals.

The black king looked horrified, his face turning pale. " Noctis, I – I didn't mean to – I wasn't aiming for – "

The elevator, exceptionally adapt at interruptions, rattled noisily once more and this time, a group of people clamoured out, urgent and anxious and hurried.

It was Gladio, Prompto and Ignis, along with Cor and another man whom he did not recognize.

For a moment, Noctis's face lit up. He could finally breathe again. His friends were coming. They were coming to help him and Father fight off the black king and defeat him once and for all.

Only for that fantasy to shatter when Cor, Gladio and the other man held their swords against Father – against Noctis, as Prompto and Ignis hurried to the black king's side, trying to help him stand, trying to heal his wounds.

Confusion, shock and hurt flooded into him, numbing Noctis to the core. Why were they doing that? And why were they looking at Father like he was the enemy, not the black king?

" W-why are you helping the black king?" Noctis finally managed to whisper. His trembling voice managed to resonate throughout the room, turning all attention towards him.

Ignis looked pained. Prompto swallowed. Cor's expression was carefully sculpted into something hard and cold.

Noctis was however staring hard especially at Gladio, at the mighty sword in his hands, as if he was looking at him for the first time. Gladio had told him before, he would only raise his sword to protect others. The fact he was raising his sword against Noctis meant he saw Noctis as the enemy and someone to be slain.

" I thought you said you were going to protect me," Noctis said, his tone sounding lost and quiet. He thought he should have felt angry and betrayed by their actions. But there was nothing but a cold emptiness consuming him and leaving little behind. " ... From him."

For the first time, Gladio looked uncertain and hesitant. He lowered his sword a little. " Noctis, I am protecting you – I mean, this isn't – "

" This isn't what it looks like, Noctis." Cor finished for him. His sword remained steady at Father even if his voice shook slightly at the end.

" Not what it looks like?" Father repeated, laughing. He was the only one in the room who appeared to be amused. " It seems like your friends," – he emphasized with a hint of mockery – " have lied to you. They were working for the black king all this time."

Something splintered and the very world that Noctis knew seemed to collapse and fall down an abyss. " They lied to me?" he said in a small voice.

" No, Noctis." Prompto stood up, shaking his head, eyes wide and desperate and imploring. " Ardyn isn't who he says he is – your real father is – "

" Even now, they continue to try to twist you with their words and make you believe their lies," Father sighed. " I did warn you, didn't I, Noctis? That the black king would try to take you away from me. Who would have thought he would be so cowardly as to use his minions to do his dirty work?"

" Noctis." Ignis's voice rose above Father's. Noctis could only helplessly and fearfully gaze at Ignis who had now become simply another stranger in Noctis's eyes. " Please, listen to me. I know this is all very confusing and frightening for you. But let me explain. Please trust me when – "

" Trust you? Why should Noctis trust any of you?" Father sneered. " You took him from where he believed to be safe and brought him here where your king would be. You led him right into the hands of the person you knew Noctis would rather run away from. You call me vile but what you did to Noctis was no better. How cruel of you to make him believe he was safe and free from harm when you were leading him like a helpless lamb to slaughter."

All the air vanished in Noctis's lungs. All this time he thought his friends were helping him, protecting him. But in reality, they deceived him with all these wonderful gifts and amazing sights so that the black king could get closer to him little by little and separate him further and further from Father.

Father had been right. Father had been right all along and Noctis was just a silly and foolish little boy for believing everything his friends – liars! spies! enemies! traitors! villains! his mind protested and raged – had told him.

A cascade of protests and voices erupted.

" That is not true!"

" Noctis, don't listen to him!"

" Go to hell, you bastard!"

" Please, Noctis ..."

Trust me.

Ignis had told him that once, when they first met back in the room, when he had offered his hand in friendship towards Noctis.

But now, Noctis didn't.

He couldn't.

He didn't know what to believe in anymore.

That seemed to be the final strike that allowed the black king to stagger to his feet, even shaking off the concerned hands of the other man with streaks of black tattoos on his arms like Gladio.

Noctis whimpered, clinging to Father, afraid the black king would attempt to strike him yet again.

" You twist the truth for your own benefit," the black king's voice rang out loudly. " You deal with deception and falsehood yet you claim to hold the higher ground. You call us liars but we all know what you have done to deceive Noctis and imprison and chain him to your grasp."

" Now, now, I am not a man to be so cruel to hold a person against their will," Father smiled evenly. " So Noctis." His attention abruptly switched to Noctis. " Would you like to stay with these men, knowing they lied and tricked you and harboured the black king without your knowledge? Or would you rather come with me where we go far far away from them?"

Gladio snarled something but Noctis wasn't paying attention. He hung on to Father's words like it was a prayer. " We can go back to the room?" he whispered.

" Yes," Father said sweetly.

" Noctis, no!"

Someone was yelling but again, Noctis wasn't listening to them.

They had told him many times he couldn't go back to the room. Now he knew why.

He was tired of this, of all the lies, of everything.

" I just want to go home," Noctis said, choking back a sob as he pressed his face against Father's neck.

" Well that settles it then," Father sounded positively delighted even as Noctis could hear Gladio roaring and someone running forward.

Exhaustion crept against Noctis, gnawing at his limbs, tugging at his eyelids, tempting him with the lure of a blissful reprieve from all the events that had assaulted him with a vicious vengeance.

He wanted it all to end.

He didn't care for the shrieks of slick steel that came from above and Noctis knew it must be Father's own weapons shielding and protecting him from the black king once more.

He didn't flinch at the sounds of metal clashing once again and the thumps of bodies hitting the floor. Voices continued to shout, indistinct and disjointed words that were blown away.

He didn't move when he heard Father saying, " It has been such a pleasure seeing your face again, my dear Regis." Even Father's voice sounded so distant and murky.

He was just so tired.

The last thing Noctis heard before the darkness eclipsed him entirely was a howl of pure rage and grief coming from the black king.