Family (Final Fantasy XV Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

"Ardyn, must you do that?" Somnus grumbled from where he lay. He kept his eyes closed, hoping to return to the slumber he had been rudely awoken from. Someone had been prodding his side and already knew who the culprit was.

"I believe I do when you've taken over the entirety of our nephew's sofa," Ardyn sounded amused. "Poor Noctis has to sit on the floor of his own room."

"He's fine with it," Somnus answered, shoving his face deeper into the cushions.

"Not really. You said you wanted to a quick nap. It's been three hours," Noctis didn't sound angry, just a little exasperated. "You could have just used my bed instead. Or you know, your own bed in your own room."

"My apologies but I enjoy napping in here," Somnus yawned as he said this. "I can usually avoid anyone searching for me and I've found this piece of furniture here is the most comfortable of its kind in the Citadel."

There was a pause before the the Founder added, "and yes, at this point I feel I've likely slept on all of them so I would know best."

Despite that argument, Somnus finally opened his eyes. He forced himself up despite the urge to go back to sleep, freeing up the rest of the couch. Almost immediately, his nephew leapt onto the furniture to make himself comfortable before Somnus changed his mind. Ardyn too moved from beside his brother to sit down by Noctis.

"Finally! My butt was getting sore," Noctis sighed in relief. He focused back on the screen before him, lifting his controller.

"What kind of game is that anyway?" Somnus asked as he watched his nephew play for a few moments.

"Play it with me and see, Uncle," Noctis seemed rather excited about it.

"As I wish to continue to avoid my duties, yes, I will happily join you," Somnus admitted easily. He turned to his brother when his nephew handed him a second controller. "Ardyn, would you like to play as well?"

"You two go ahead and enjoy yourselves," Ardyn shook his head. "I will be entertained enough from watching the both of you have fun."

"As you wish," the younger brother shrugged.

"The old man can't even use his phone properly yet. This might be too much for him," Noctis whispered loudly enough that Ardyn could hear.

"Don't be rude, dear nephew. You realize I can easily store all of your beloved electronics in the Armiger again."

That shut him up. The Prince grumbled something under his breath and returned his attention to the game. He then began to show Somnus how to play.

**********

Some time later, Regis finally found the rest of his family in his son's room.

"I see this is where you all have been hiding out while ignoring my texts," The King of Insomnia sighed, but looked amused. "As I currently have some free time, may I join you for a time?"

"Please," Ardyn responded with a nod, "take my seat. I suppose I can commandeer Noct's study chair to seat myself upon."

"Noctis, you could have done that hours ago," Somnus said as he realized that his nephew could have done that instead of seating himself on the floor.

"Too far," the Prince responded with a shrug. Ardyn laughed softly as he moved while Somnus just rolled his eyes.

**********

"Haha, take that! Not even Prompto can beat me in this game!" Noctis shouted. Instantly, he stilled and seemed confused. He looked around the room, as if looking for someone. Ardyn narrowed his eyes, knowing what would happen already.

"... Where is Prompto?" The Prince asked himself out loud, his voice slowly becoming more panicked. "I haven't seen him in... in... Why can't I remember?"

"Who?" Somnus turned to his nephew to ask, unfamiliar with the name.

"Noctis," Ardyn voice commanded the boy's attention. He looked over at his Uncle as the older man continued. "You saw him just a few days prior. Don't you recall? You two took some photos in the park. You showed them to Somnus and your father later that same day. He was nervous around them as you did. But he was so very ecstatic when they praised him. Did you really forget that?"

Black tendrils began to darken the Prince's skin. The same began to happen to Regis and Somnus. All three shivered as a wave of magic hit them.

"Oh, of course. The blonde one," Somnus then said sheepishly. "Those photos were quite nice, I do remember."

"They were. He has quite a talent for the art," Regis added.

"How did I even forget that?" Noctis groaned. "I've been so scatterbrained lately."

"It is alright," the Prince's father placated. "I've found I've been quite the same. I somehow believed the Crystal was missing. It baffles me how I could even think such a thing. It's still there, safe and sound as it always has been. I must just be a little on edge thanks to Niflheim. They've been too quiet."

"Even I have had similar incidents," Somnus spoke up. "I almost hurt Ardyn the day prior. I still cannot fathom how I believed he was an enemy in my mind."

"Hmm, and you three are supposed to be the ones leading this fine land?" Ardyn chuckled, breaking the seriousness in the room. "Oh, how I do fear for us all with those heads of yours."

The violet-haired man just laughed out loud at the three offended looks he received.

**********

Ardyn wandered the halls of the Citadel as the rest of his family slept in their beds. Several goblin Daemons crossed his path and he quickly ended their existences, feeling a wave of satisfaction in the act. The little beasts were to stay outside these walls but most often were too simpleminded to remember his orders.

The ancient man stopped suddenly and cocked his head when he felt a disturbance. Not from his family but from somewhere outside the Citadel. He frowned and then closed his eyes to focus. After a few moments, he knew what was wrong.

So... It was them again. Trying once more to destroy what Ardyn had built. Trying to 'save' his family when they did not need any help. They were already safe. And they would remain that way as long as they stayed right here.

The man felt his good mood from earlier disappear and what took its place was a wave of searing hatred. He clenched his teeth in his anger and his eyes began to glow because of the depths of his emotion.

Those fools had eluded Ardyn's grasp last time thanks to those wretched Astrals. Not again, the man thought. He would end anyone trying to ruin the happy life he had made for the four of them.

The Accursed's anger erupted in a cloud of miasma that surrounded him. He turned sharply and began to warp his way towards the threats. He could sense them. He knew exactly where they were.

The Prince's three friends, the Oracle and her brother. Ardyn would not allow them to escape his wrath this time.