Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 4

Prompto stood on the ledge, Noctis beside him, black wings fully extended, and he slowly brought his own at as well, revelling in the freedom of being able to do so. They were strong now, the tiny feathers healthy, bones strong. After a year of gentle exercise and training it was time to see what his wings could do. Gladio, Ignis and Cor were spread through the room, ready to intervene if it looked like he was in trouble and Noctis couldn't handle it.

"Ready?" Noct asked with a grin, offering his hand and Prompto took it, grinning back before Noct was pulling him off the ledge, their wings spread out, forcing them to let go of the others hand.

Prompto focused on letting instinct guide him, flapping his wings to gain altitude. He felt…free. Gliding was so easy, and he twisted and turned through the air, whooping in joy. Noctis paced him as best he could, grinning at how happy Prompto was. Soon all four of them were playing around in the air, all keeping an eye on Prompto who eventually had to land, breathing heavily as he grinned.

They got cleaned up and headed back to Noct's apartment where Prompto lived these days, though his official address was Cor's tiny apartment outside of the Citadel. Cor had gone to Regis and when his parents had returned to the city they had found themselves arrested for their treatment of him. They should have informed Cor when his wings developed but instead they had isolated him, made him hate himself and fear anyone finding out. At seventeen there wasn't much need of a guardian, but Cor had quietly filed the papers, with the help of Regus and Clarus, to make himself Prompto's legal guardian. They thankfully managed to do it without the Council finding out and raising a stink over it.

Graduation was in three days and they were both excited to be done with school, although Prompto had signed up for a photography course while waiting for his application to the Crownsguard to be processed. With the King himself backing it as well as Cor it was basically a formality. He would officially be one of Noctis' retainers once he got through training.

Noctis had been sneaky and gone against convention, giving him access to magic already. It hadn't come easily to Prompto at all. He still struggled at times to pull what he meant to from the Armiger but at least he was able to retrieve things now. The only theory they could come up with was because he was from Niflheim and there had never been magic on that continent, leaving the people basically unable to wield it, or it was something that had been added into his genes, such as the creature he got his wings from that made it harder. According to the file, his body had adapted to the Scourge faster than normal, so maybe whatever caused that made magic harder for him, there was no way to know. They'd had Noct's personal physician go through Prompto's medical file and then run some tests on him just to see how he was since there was no telling what the various genes may do as he got older, after all, MT's weren't designed to be long term troops. So far everything looked okay although one odd thing had popped up, a similar gene in Prompto that was found only one place else….the Lucian Royal family, although it was dormant in Prompto's case. Which meant one of the two human DNA donors was somehow distantly related to Regis and Noctis. Very distantly seeing as there was nothing else in common between them but somewhere in Prompto's family tree was a Lucis Caelum. That had freaked him out a little. Ignis had thankfully pointed out that there was no way he could ever be asked to rule should something ever happen to the King and Noctis since the relationship was far too distant and he would likely be unable to wield the Crystal's magic since he'd had so much trouble with what Noctis shared.

Things between him and Noctis were going better than he ever could have dreamed of. They were being careful not to rush anything, especially with all of the things that Prompto had been hit with since revealing his wings to Noctis. They still slept in separate bedrooms and everything. Prompto had to admit that his back and wings definitely felt better since he could stretch out in the massive spare bed, not that anyone really considered it that anymore. Pretty much everything he owned was now in the room, photos covering the walls and Ignis had bought bedding to suite his taste rather than the Royal black. Once high school was done, Noct would be expected to take on more Royal duties, not to mention more training so living in the same apartment at least meant they would see each other at some point every day.

Their lives were changing and for once it didn't scare Prompto.

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Prompto knelt before the King, head bowed, but he could feel Noctis' eyes locked onto him as he gave the Crownsguard oath. He managed to get through it without forgetting a word or stuttering or babbling which was great and then Noctis stepped forward, dressed in Princely raiment and offered his hand. Prompto took it and kissed the back as Noctis summoned up his magic, making it look like it was only now being granted to the blonde. It meant it would appear that he was a prodigy when it came to wielding magic, like Glaive Ulric but they weren't going to admit Noct had done it early, the idea was to keep the Council from looking too closely and realising who Prompto was, though now that he was one of Noctis' retinue they couldn't really say anything,

Once done they returned to the apartment for a party to welcome Prompto officially into the retinue.

"Kinda feels like cheating, making people think I've only just been linked to Noct's magic," he admitted from where he was sprawled half in Noctis' lap, enjoying the sword calloused fingers that were running over his wings.

"There is no official rule stating that this is when the magic is to be bestowed. If it makes you feel better, then just don't deny or confirm when it happened," Ignis answered, for once relaxing with them, leaning against Gladio who was gently preening one of his wings for him.

"I guess…" he sighed, going boneless under Noctis' expert ministrations. How had he ever lived without this? He couldn't imagine going back to a time when he had to hide his wings all of the time. He felt lips press against the back of his neck and smiled, wrapping an arm around Noct's waist.

"What's for dinner?" Gladio asked after a while.

"Green curry soup, fresh bread and salad," Ignis answered, sleepily. "Just heat the oven and stove, I prepared it all earlier. Chocolate lava cake for dessert."

"My favourites," Prompto smiled happily and Noctis laughed, ruffling his hair. Of course Ignis had cooked his favourites, it was a celebration for him.

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Prompto followed Noctis around, dressed in his finest clothes, in black of course, not visibly armed but ready and able to defend his Prince at a split seconds notice. Ignis was talking with someone across the room and Gladio was watching them all from his Dad's side. Today was the big day, Noctis was officially twenty years old. Whispers were flying over whether or not the Prince would be looking for a bride soon and who the lucky lady would be, if not the Lady Lunafreya since she was basically a prisoner in Tenebrae when not travelling for her duties as Oracle. Why the people thought they would be a good couple he didn't know, there had never been the case of an Oracle marrying the King. Their various relatives occasionally married but not the direct heirs. Noctis' great-great-grandfather had been an Oracle's son who had wed the reigning Queen of the time. that was the last time the bloodlines had mixed, although apparently there was rumour that his Mother had Oracle blood but even further back in her family tree. It was why there was no hope of tracking Prompto's link to the Royal family, too many cousins and multiple births to the reigning monarch to even try and track down who he was descended from. Though, for the last four generations, there had only ever been an heir born, no 'spare'. Some people thought the strain of the Wall was what was causing the drop in birth rate, but no one could say for sure.

They hadn't gone public with their relationship and he dreaded the backlash when they did, especially amongst those who wanted Noct to marry Lunafreya. An heir would be provided at some point, though neither of them was looking forward to that, and that was all the law required. They both knew it would need to be within the next year or so due to the way the Crystal drained the ruling King's strength. Regis looked older than he was, and his health was declining. Noctis wanted his Dad to have time with his grandchild, unlike Mors who had died years before Noctis was conceived.

Prompto glanced down as a hand brushed his and then glanced up, seeing the question in Noctis' eyes. Maybe this was as best a time and place as any, so he slowly let their fingers tangle together, making sure it was their off hands, just to be safe. It took time but eventually people began to notice and whisper, but they said nothing to either of their faces as they wandered over towards the King who smiled and clapped Prompto on the shoulder, visibly giving his blessing. That made the whispers louder.

The official announcement was made three days later.

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"This isn't fair!" Noctis snarled as he stormed into his chambers in the Citadel where they were staying for a few nights due to too many meetings and training sessions.

"Noct?" Prompto rolled off the couch, seeing the look on his lovers face.

"Did you hear about the envoy?"

"Who hasn't? was it really the Chancellor himself?" Prompto moved to help him out of his suite even as Noctis nodded. "Then there's really to be peace?"

"As long as I marry Luna and we give up all territory outside of Insomnia," Noctis answered and Prompto froze. Noctis cupped his face in his hands and kissed him. "I want to marry you," he swore, gently brushing back an errant strand of blonde hair.

"But for peace?"

"Yeah. Either we take the peace and use the time to regain strength, or we keep fighting and possible lose everything."

"The Glaive won't like that," Prompto warned, they were 99% refugees who fought because of the promise of retaking their homes. If that promise was broken… "You or your Dad needs to talk to them, not just Drautos. Make sure they know this isn't the end of their hope."

Noctis nodded, Prompto had made friends with many in the Kingsglaive and he spent a lot of time out in the refugee sectors, helping out. It was part of the reason there had been little public disagreement when their relationship was made public. Prompto was known to the people, at least the refugees and those in need. Those who had said something were the wealthy and native Insomnians, much of that because Prompto himself was not native. "I love you," he murmured and Prompto grinned, kissing him.

"I love you," he whispered back and then stared him in the eyes. "If marrying her is what has to happen…then do it. I can live with being royal boy toy or whatever."

"Consort," Noctis snorted, shaking his head. How was it Prompto could always lift his mood. He knew Prompto was right, and it would mean any easier way to provide an heir but…he hadn't seen her since they were kids. A line here and there, stickers, seeing her in Imperial news…it wasn't the same as truly knowing her. What if they couldn't make a marriage work beyond the necessary politics?

"I'll never leave you unless you order me away," Prompto swore and Noctis wrapped him up in his wings, feeling Prompto's emerge and wrap around him in return. It was rare for him to let them out anywhere, but the apartment or private training room and it felt good to know he was beginning to feel safe in his Citadel rooms.

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Noctis opened another box and frowned, putting it on the reject pile as his Dad went through a nearby display case. "Was it this hard for you?" he asked, and Regis laughed.

"If you ask Clarus, it took me six months to find the perfect one."

"I don't have that long," Noctis grumbled.

"True, but I trust we will find what you need."

"I can get something reworked for Prompto before we leave, but I don't know Luna's size!"

"A standard size will be fine, it can be altered later," Regis assured him. he moved to another drawer; he was sure it was here…somewhere. "Aha!" he stared at the row of rings and plucked the one he had been looking for out. "What about this?" he held it out and Noctis joined him to look at it. The stone set within was a deep blue, almost black, and the band was white metal, though not shiny so it shouldn't catch the sun when out and about, a good thing for when in a fight. "This was your Grandmother's, the stone matches your eyes nicely," Regis smiled and Noctis blushed slightly but took the ring and placed it in the blue ring box he had with him, ready to be taken for alterations so that it would suite a man's hand.

"Luna's to go," he muttered. Three hours later they left the jewellery vault with a second ring in a black box. This one was also white precious metal although far shinier, set with a lighter blue stone, a diamond either side of it. Noctis had seen it in a painting of one of his ancestors from centuries ago, an oracle's second daughter who had married into the family, so it seemed right that he give it to the current Oracle.

"You seem worried," Regis offered and Noctis nodded.

"What if Lunafreya doesn't accept Prompto?"

"While she can do nothing to make you set him aside it could make life difficult. Though I very much doubt she will have any complaints, there are very few who do not like him," Regis assured his son, pulling him into a brief hug. "I am proud of you Noctis. Now go see about Prompto's ring."

Noctis nodded and left, Regis staring after him long after he had turned the corner. Would the second ring ever be given to the one who was to wear it? He had sent a Glaive to retrieve her but there had been no word yet and he was worried. Should he send the boys to Altissia or keep them close? No…any danger should be in the city; he would send them to whatever safety they could find and perhaps it would prove to have been an unnecessary step.

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Prompto glanced down at the ring on his finger as they flew through the air to their next hunt. Once they had the fund to repair the Regalia they would be back on the ground and on the way to Galdin Quay but for now he could enjoy the freedom of the sky with those he loved. Up this high, no one would be able to tell his wings were different, once back on the ground he would have to put up with people assuming he was the weak link in the group as the only one unable to fly. He didn't mind, it made him something of a secret weapon. He didn't really care much about his wings anymore, except for what trouble they might cause for Noctis. He was accepted by those who mattered, proven by the black he wore, the bracelets gifted by his friends that covered his barcode and the gorgeous ring he now wore on his left hand. He just hoped Lady Luna liked him and he liked her since they would be living in the same rooms. She seemed nice on tv and she had even written him a line or two over the years when she sent a note to Noctis.

With the treaty in place they could live in peace for a time, maybe have a baby to secure the succession and then they could go out and kick Niflheim out of Lucis once and for all. Leave whatever kid Noct and Luna had a secure and safe kingdom to inherit. It was a great plan.

It was a dream that lasted until Ignis walked into their hotel room at Galdin Quay, pale and clutching a newspaper.

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Prompto had a bad feeling about the man of no consequence from the start, so learning he was the Chancellor wasn't a big shock. So when Noctis went to meet Lunafreya at the altar, Prompto took to the sky, watching, out of sight, from above. He saw the Chancellor approach, saw the blade appear and dove, pulling her up and away, to safety. Then he turned back and went to Noctis' side, shooting at the Chancellor while Noctis faced Leviathan and beat her.

"Well, aren't you a surprise," the man drawled and Prompto knew his wings had been seen. "Is that any way to greet a parent?"

That question made him feel sick. He was one of the donors? He shook it off and kept shooting, going to knives when the man got close. Ignis had trained with him on the blades to ensure he could use them well since there were times when a gun was neither practical or safe. Cor had helped with that training and with the basics of sword work, but he was definitely better with daggers than swords.

In the end the man left, and he dragged himself and the barely conscious Noctis to safety.

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"Did you know?" Prompto whispered and Noctis shook his head, looking just as pale and shocked as he probably did.

"Dad never wanted to talk about the whole Chosen King thing," he admitted.

"Guess you know why now," Prompto choked out. Finding out your son had to die to save the world…it had to have been the worst thing ever for Regis.

"If…if you want to leave…" Noct stuttered out and Prompto moved to kneel in front of him, taking shaking hands in his own.

"Never! I don't care what anyone says, I will always be at your side. We'll find another way," he promised because he couldn't imagine a world without Noctis in it. "We're a step ahead now, they wanted Luna dead but she's alive if weak. We'll get her help and then Iggy can outthink everyone."

"What about what Ardyn said to you, I heard him."

"I don't care if he is one of my donors. He's a creep and a very bad man. Unless…you care?"

"No! you could be the Emperors son and I wouldn't care," Noctis promised and Prompto smiled.

"Then we've got a prophecy to beat."

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"So technically, I'm your many, many times cousin," Prompto commented and Luna stared at him with wide eyes even as Noctis snorted in amusement.

"Pardon?" she asked in confusion, looking at them.

"I uh…I was 'born' in Niflheim, in a lab," Prompto admitted softly, not looking at her. "Ardyn admitted to being one of my genetic donors when I faced him at Altissia. If he's the Founder King's brother then that explains why I carry that gene."

"Yeah, but even if one of us was a girl and kids were possible, it wouldn't matter cause there's over a hundred generations between us."

"But…what does that mean for me if he's the Accursed?" Prompto swallowed, suddenly terrified.

"Your blood tests were clean, no sign of the Scourge," Ignis reminded him. "Though I would have thought you would be more attuned to magic than you are. However, his DNA was not the main one used, so it is more the amount one would find from a grandparent or even great-grandparent," he assured the blonde.

Lunafreya just listened in shock. This was not at all what she had expected, then again she had thought she would die in Altissia.

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"Prompto!" Noctis cried in relief at the sight of his technically unofficial Consort even as Ignis worked to unlock the door. They spilled into the room, the two royals moving to check over the unmoving blonde. He was strapped to an upright contraptions, limbs stretched out and wings cruelly pinned behind him. Why hadn't he retracted them? "Prom?" he carefully touched a cool cheek, terrified they were too late but…no, there was a pulse. "We need to get hm down."

"Carefully," Ignis warned as he went to work on getting the shackles to release.

They laid Prompto on the floor, relieved to see his chest moving up and down, even if his eyes remained closed, face bloody and bruised. Luna knelt beside him, her hands glowing gold as she placed them on his chest before leaning in to touch foreheads. The golden glow moved to flow over Prompto's body and Noctis wished he had an Elixir or ten, but his magic was blocked somehow, though hers wasn't. She pulled back and he supported her, everyone watching as Prompto shifted slightly. "It is alright Prompto," Luna assured him, taking his hand in hers.

Noctis was scared, would Prompto hate him? Be scared of him? He didn't understand how he could have fallen for Ardyn's trick, how he'd missed the signs that something was very wrong. Did Prompto think he hated him? "Prom? Please wake up," he reached out a shaking hand to run through lank blonde hair.

Slowly, eyelids fluttered and then his eyes were open, unfocused for a few seconds before he slowly blinked, finally seeing them.

"Prom?"

He was shocked when Prompto whimpered. "No…no more…please…"

"Hush Prompto," Luna soothed, gently stroking his forehead. "We are here and real my dear friend." She moved away from Noctis' support and called up her magic again, letting him see and feel it. "Whatever horrors he has made you see, they are over."

"It's us Prom," Noctis leant in and gently brushed his lips to Prompto's. "Sorry it took a while, but we had some issues with the train and some daemons. Then they started shooting at us. They couldn't stop us though," he promised.

Prompto looked between them and then over at where Ignis and Gladio were standing guard. "You're really here?"

"Of course," Noctis promised immediately.

"The train...you…"

"It was a trick. Ardyn… I would swear it was him I chased and pushed off. It only ended when you were falling and suddenly it was you and I couldn't reach you."

"The Chancellor is skilled with illusions," Luna agreed. "You need rest, food and water before we continue."

"Definitely," Noctis agreed. "I'm going to help you up now. Can you retract your wings?" Prompto shook his head, a flash of fear and Noctis didn't want to know what had been done to make him feel that. "Okay, we'll manage," he promised, getting an arm around Prompto, feeling his ribs through his torn clothing, and then heaving up. "Let's get out of here."

"There's an empty dormitory nearby we can secure," Gladio offered and Noctis nodded. Usually the Shield would take Prompto but with no weapons, his size made him the stronger fighter at the moment.

There was no way to tell time in the Keep but they all figured they spent a few days in the dormitory as Prompto began to recover from his ordeal. He slept in a nest of bedding on the floor between Noctis and Luna, eating cold cup noodles and ration bars and it helped him to accept that it was real, that they had come for him. Before they left to go after the Crystal, Luna kissed his cheek and he blushed but smiled shyly, happy that she accepted him so well.

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The five of them fought the flood of daemons and managed to make it to the elevator together, despite Ardyn's taunting. When they reached the Crystal, Luna pulled Noctis back and they waited, knowing eventually Ardyn would come to gloat. Noctis pulled Prompto into a kiss, wrapping his wings around him and Prompto returned the gesture, heart in his throat because they both knew it was unlikely to have a happy ending. Noctis released him and then went to Luna who smiled and threw herself into his arms, kissing him tenderly as his wings hid her from the world. No Oracle had ever had wings, though Ravus had. He had never seen her move so fast as when her brothers daemonising body had stumbled into the hanger with them, she had freed him swiftly from that fate.

When Ardyn appeared he faced the five of them, all pissed off and wanting him gone. Noctis wielded the magic of the Kings, Luna the Oracle and shocking everyone…Prompto ripped Ardyn's Armiger from him in his rage at the prophecy and the torture he had suffered as a baby and then over the last weeks. Everyone actually froze in shock for several seconds when it happened, the weapons going from red to purple…the same colour Prompto's eyes had been as a baby. Used to wielding some of Noct's magic, and seeing him use the Royal Arms, it took Prompto a few seconds before a swarm of blades was skewering Ardyn, Noct's following after and then Luna was adding the Oracle's Trident to the mess, glowing gold with her healing powers.

Ardyn collapsed, overwhelmed by their power, dying. "Foolish children," he whispered. "This will not defeat me."

"Figured as much," Noctis admitted, eyes changing colour as he reached out and summoned Gentiana who smiled at them and nodded. She had helped make the plan on the train, though Prompto had still shocked them with stripping away Ardyn's Armiger, so much for his not being able to use magic of his own, he'd just needed something to force it. He took the ring off and handed it to her and then her form shifted to that of Shiva and she carried Ardyn to the crystal, taking him and the ring into it. "Think it'll work?" he whispered, and he felt Luna take his hand seconds before Prompto took the other.

"It has to," Prompto answered, though he wasn't sure exactly what was going on. They hadn't had time to tell him everything, but he knew this was their one way of avoiding the prophecy. They waited in silence, Ignis and Gladio with their backs to them to ensure nothing snuck up on them. Everyone had their wings out, ready to fly up and away if necessary, Noctis shifting an arm around Luna's waist in case he had to carry her. It felt like an eternity before anything happened, the metal beneath their feet shaking as the Crystal began to glow brighter and brighter…they heard a shattering noise and took to the air, Prompto moving to Luna's other side in case Noct needed to pass her off. They landed several feet higher, watching as the Crystal shattered into millions of tiny shards which seemed to fade away. "Is it over?" Prompto asked, trying not to hope and then Shiva appeared before them.

"The Accursed now knows peace," her voice sounded in the threes heads, shocking Prompto. "No taint lies within the Accursed's child though he now wields his power. Rule well oh Chosen King." With that she vanished.

Noctis laughed. "It's over."

"Now we just have to rebuild and bring the people together as one. No more borders," Luna smiled at Prompto who grinned, tears of joy wetting his face.

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Cor watched as Prompto flew up to the ledge and went to work helping to reinforce it. No one looked sideways at his wings and he was happy for Prompto. His heritage was now known to the people, his way of helping to bring everyone together. Without the Ring and Crystal, the Wall would never be raised again, but magic still lived in the Line of Lucis, as proved by both Noctis and Prompto. Now he wondered if Prompto's early troubles with magic had been more of a mental block than anything real. Rebuilding Insomnia could take years, decades even but other places were recovering more quickly. While the nights had become very long at the end, there had still been some daylight and he hated to think how much harder recovery would have been if they had suffered a decade of darkness. If Shiva had not come to love Luna….who knew how it may have ended. Without her willingness to go against Bahamut's prophecy and get the other Astrals to agree with her… then again if he had never rescued Prompto giving them a way to rip away a chunk of Ardyn's power… t was amazing how a few small things could build up into a large difference.

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Noctis stood before the Throne in Kingly raiment, trying not to fidget. His Father's crown rested in his hair now and at either side of the Throne was another chair, one for Prompto and one for Luna. He looked up as the music started and swallowed at the sight of Luna in a stunning gown of white walking towards him on Prompto's arm. Prompto was dressed in a suite of black, far fancier than any he had worn before, befitting his position, his healed wings held against his back rather than being retracted. Everyone with wings had them out for such an important ceremony. They ascended the stairs towards him, and he was sure he was going to fall over. Ignis nudged him slightly and Noctis managed a small smile for his Adviser. Only they heard Gladio's chuckle from where he stood protectively nearby. The chairs where the Council once sat were empty, none of his Father's had survived and Noctis had yet to name their replacements, if he was going to. Noctis barely heard a word of the ceremony as Luna finally became his wife and Prompto his official Consort. When it was done, they kissed and then took their seats to thunderous applause.

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Prompto sat on a bench in the garden gently settling the feathers of little Ravus' pitch black wings, the little Prince fidgeting. Anyone would think Ravus was his son, not Noct's since the four year old hated naps and was always on the go, but the wings were a good proof of paternity. Besides, he'd asked the doctor, privately, and it had been confirmed, his DNA was too messed up and he was sterile. The only way for him to have a kid would be the same way he had come to be, and he would never do that. He was happy helping to raise Ravus…and he suspected Ravus' little sibling. The last time he had seen Luna eat Green curry had been when she was pregnant with Ravus, if she didn't suspect soon he would have to leave a pregnancy test out for her to find. It would be good to have another child, it would make the people happy to know the throne was very secure, not that there was a war anymore. The world was united under the Throne of Lucis.

Wings fixed, he sent Ravus scurrying off to find Ignis for his lessons and hoped this time the poor kid wouldn't see something no child should. Then again, you'd think Iggy would remember to lock the door when he was with Gladio. They were talking about children soon as well, wanting to ensure Ravus had a Shield. He would have to let them know they'd need more than one kid, unless Iris planned to settle down soon.

One thing was for sure, life was not going to be boring any time soon.

The End.