sunset_horizons | With Fang and Claw (Private to iwillshieldhim)

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With Fang and Claw (Private to iwillshieldhim)

Who: Noctis Lucis Caelum, Gladiolus Amicitia
Where: The Royal Gardens, the Citadel, Insomnia
What: Lycanthropy AU! The crown prince meets his Shield in the most adorable(?) way.
Warnings: None yet!

Noctis had a little problem that most of his line did: sneaking out and away when everyone else thought they were asleep. Usually it wasn't very far, still inside the Citadel. Hey, even Iggy would join half the time and they'd climb up the tower steps and just gaze up at the stars! Tonight though was one of those nights when Iggy couldn't 'cuz he'd already fallen asleep, and Noct had already gotten him in trouble so he felt bad about even thinking of waking his friend.

Climbing up the tower just wasn't nearly as fun without the other's quiet amusement. So instead, he decided to head for the gardens. Heck, maybe Mr. Cat would be there! It always liked sneaking in at night before.

He made his way quietly, once in a while checking around a corner to make sure there were no guards or attendants to notice him make his way through the citadel's hallways. He'd gotten lucky by missing their patrols so far. So by the time he made it, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Phew. Made it," the little prince muttered under his breath, rubbing his eyes with a tiny fist. No, now wasn't the time to be sleepy! He wanted to see if his furry friend was here! Though he'd forgotten one tiny little thing.

Mr. Cat never visited the royal gardens on any night with a full moon.......

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There was a very specific reason that no one was allowed into the garden at night on the full moon. It was where the Amiticia roamed on those nights, normally. For a time, it had been empty simply because like a story out of a book, the King had calmed the savage beast. He had managed to befriend the werewolf that was his Shield and now, that massive creature slept at the foot of his bed, still guarding even in moment of unknowing.

Now... now a pup roamed the garden during that full moon, believed to be safe and very much along. All shag and puff, he was currently growling and tearing his teeth into a bobbing branch, trying to show who was dominant and somewhat failing because when he let go, it snapped up and scraped his nose in the process.

He whimpered, rubbing at his nose.

He remembered far too late he wasn't supposed to be here, but by the time he spoke, it was likely already too late. He'd glanced up at the night sky peering out from the glass above, noting the full moon and wincing a little. Dad is so gonna kill him, but... he heard that whimper, and he couldn't just leave. Especially when he noticed it was a pup who'd hurt himself with the branch.

"Are... you okay?" The young prince asked, keeping his voice calm to show that he wasn't a threat. He remembered what his dad told him about Clarus on nights like these, if he ever had a nightmare or needed him for any reason.

Immediately both ears come up and the pup - it's not a small beast by any means, almost as big as Noctis, but it's ill defined in a way that shows it most certainly is a puppy still. The wolf stares at Noctis, the pain already forgotten in the light of this curious new thing. There's a bit of an uncertain growl, not sure if this is a threat or not, his body crouching down as he prepares to defend himself if he has to.

Grrrr... it's still a bit of a pathetic growl, but Gladio was of a size that could do real damage if he needed to.

Noctis immediately drops eye contact with the wolf pup. He's huge, and could hurt him if he messes up. So, he backs away. Slowly. Not turning around as he does, but still cautious.

"Shh... Easy..." He tries his best to keep calm, but he's also like... six. And terrified. Luckily the doorway is right behind him, but he doesn't wanna endanger others for his messing up, too.

...The figure backed away from him. Oh! Yes, he was frightening! But when he sniffed at the air, the scent was somehow.. familiar. How, he couldn't comprehend, but the familiarity put him at ease. His ears perked up again and the pup stopped seeming so threatening, instead more curious. His head tilted, sniffing at the distance between them.

Then he sat down, tail wagging.

Super duper frightening! His attendants will probably be terrified for him, especially on a night like tonight, but he can't help it. Even if he liked cats more, animals of all kinds were a big weakness of his. Even if this one was more monstrous. They just reminded him of Clarus!

He's taking the fact that the giant wolf pup is now sitting down and wagging his tail is a good sign. "...May I?" Approach, that is? He heard that whine and was concerned about that nose.

Clarus, when he was shifted, was massive on a scale that most people in Insomnia, in fact most people in all of Lucis, would never see. Standing as high as a full grown man at the shoulder, when he stood up he was easily nine feet tall and solid as steel, covered in dark fur that was going grey now. This pup was no more tall than Noctis was when he was on all fours, all dark brown fluff and amber eyes peering with interest.

His head tilted at the question, then his tail sped up. The familiar scent had put him at ease and now he wanted to see this small-man, which urged him to come over and investigate. With his tail swaying behind him he came closer, sniffing towards Noctis and well within touching distance.

Noctis practically beamed a little, holding out his hand for the tall wolf pup to sniff it first before he moves to gently pet his head with tiny fingers. Midnight blue eyes practically sparkling in glee at how quickly he seemed to go from untrusting to curious.

He's probably lucky that it's so late and he's a little sleepy, otherwise he'd laugh like any child would. Instead of just grinning ear to ear.

The hand was very well sniffed indeed, taking in the man-child's scent. So very familiar, but the werewolf wasn't capable of putting it together with what the man under the pelt knew. So instead he accepted the scent and his ears twitch at the touch near his head. He raised a paw and lightly tried to bat the man-child in play, tail picking up.

Unfortunately, he didn't quite know his own strength and it was very likely to just knock Noctis over.

He may not have, but... if what his dad said was true, then, there was only one real option who this boy was. Which is why he just smiles as the werewolf tickles his hand with his nose. At the attempt to bat at him, though-

"Oof-" came the small noise as his butt meets with the ground beneath him, but he doesn't really seem all that hurt. If anything, after blinking, he laughs a little. Obviously not bothered.

Gladio's ears perk right up at the laugh and he leaps back, play bowing at the laugh. Yes! Come play with him! When he gets older, a lot of this fun-play attitude will be gone in the wolf but right now he's still young enough to have it and definitely excited to have a playmate.

Human Gladio might very well be embarrassed about this, though. He tries so hard to seem adult as he needs to be.

There's a huff of sound, not quite a bark, but he isn't a dog. The werewolf is quieter, even if massively large. Noctis might never have seen Clarus when he shifts, or how big the man is on two legs instead of four, but it's clear Gladio will be almost unreal in size someday.

Noctis doesn't need to be 'invited' twice, grinning at this particular side of the one who's destined to become his Shield. Come on, Gladio. Can you really be that embarrassed when you get this big a smile out of your future young charge? Can you?

He gets back up on his feet, dusting himself off. He's excited and it shows.

Though he remembers to stay away from the teeth. Getting bitten is a big no no. He also playfully bows back, before picking up a stick that lay on the ground. Just a little bit of something for him to push back with if needed, but he doesn't hold it threateningly. If anything, it'll be something more of an escape if teeth get too close.

For now, though, he playfully tackles, free arm wrapping around the back of the pup's neck. While he hasn't seen Clarus transform, it's clear how big this guy'll get. ~~He feels so tiny in comparison~~.

The man-child tackles him, something that's like play-fighting with his father. So Gladio 'whines' in return, giving a light growl and he snorts and noses at Noctis' shoulder but no teeth as he falls back, tail wagging hard. It's fun, though he doesn't understand the point of the stick other than sometimes wrestling over it when he's feeling playful. Thankfully there's no blood on his nose and he's already forgotten about it in that way only pups and children can.

Instead, he's far more interested in his new playmate as his back paws kick, bucking Noctis' lower half.

The stick is there mainly to wrestle over, because the longer this goes on, the more he thinks this puppy wouldn't hurt him on purpose. That, and it's a great way to help keep his balance, at least until the pup bucks. With a small grunting noise, he uses that stick to keep from falling over completely, though it doesn't stop his butt from touching the ground again.

He'd started training with toy swords, but that wasn't nearly enough to help keep the small child from being able to stand his ground against this wolf pup. Even with play. Despite it, though, he's having a lot more fun than he expected he would, completely forgetting about it as he uses the stick to help himself up. Ready for round two in only a way a small but determined child could be.

Oh! Playing with the stick! Gladio bends down and sinks his teeth into the stick, giving another play-growl as he tugs on it. The man-child doesn't seem very strong, so he just gives a ... gentle tug. Or well, an attempting-to-be-gentle tug. This is a pup that doesn't know his own strength.

The fact that the Amiticia are all werewolves is a well-kept secret, used only in the last line of defense in protecting the King, though nothing stops their full-moon time. So the fact that someone other than the two young ones is currently trying to slip through the gardens... speaks of an outsider.

Instead of getting pulled along with it, his tiny little hands lose grip of the stick almost immediately. Though that does stop him from simply paying attention to the pup before him, as he hears the rustling of some leafs and branches on the other side of the garden. Instinctively, he holds up a finger to his lips, crouching. No one else should be here tonight. Not even he's supposed to be. So, who->

Curiosity gets the better of him. "Who's there?" He asks, defensively.

The finger to the lips means nothing to Gladio who just wants to play but with his playmate going still and looking off into a specific direction, the pup turns and looks that way, ears cocking as they listened carefully to what might be out there.

There's silence, at first, then a near-silent shift of foliage. Gladio's one ear lays back before he crouches down, very slowly moving back into a shadow and nearly disappearing into it with the coloration of his fur. Now he knows someone, something, is in the nearby bushes and it doesn't feel right. Noctis had smelled familiar and he hadn't tried to sneak up, managing to spare himself being mauled by the person who will one day protect him full time, but whatever is out there--

Something leaps from the greenery and in a heartbeat, has Noctis. One arm around the middle, one hand going over his mouth to prevent screaming.

At the shift in the foliage, Noctis moved to grab the stick once more. A rock, anything. Something was wrong and he needed to get out of-

But whomever it was moved too fast, grabbing him and effectively preventing him from escaping by his usual means. He squirmed, trying to create some space in that hold as he slowly recalls what Cor had taught him in case he ever found himself alone and needing to defend himself.

His mouth may be covered, but that doesn't stop the muffled and loud noise from escaping him. And whoever it was made the mistake of not immobilizing his jaw--something he makes known as he bites down on one or two of their fingers, putting all he possibly can in his tiny body into stomping on the offender's foot.

That was leather that Noctis bit down onto, not that it didn't hurt but it didn't have the effect he was hoping for. The stomp, however, brought out a curse from the person who held him and his grip loosened enough to partially let go of the child in his arms-- It's all the opening the werewolf needed. Gladio pounced on the stranger from the shadows with a snarl that, even from a pup was still terrifying. Noctis would go down in part from the leap as the attacker landed flat on his back and Noctis part on top of him, but the werewolf already had his jaws locked around the man's shoulder. Now there was screaming, shrill and painfilled, as Gladio shook his head. Noctis had a chance to slip out, but not without some blood spraying on him.

Noctis jumped on the opportunity the moment he could, ducking down and pushing his arms out to get free-

That's when he heard his new friend's snarl, ducked down just a little more and covered his head with his newly free arms as he fell as well; briefly sandwiched between his attacker and his now-protector. The screams bring back the memories of that night, a horrid nightmare he was still recovering from as he lay there frozen until he felt a splash of hot blood on his arm. He crawled out from the position that he was in. Shaking as he scooted farther and farther away. Trying to cover his ears to block out the sound.

The sound would have alerted the guards closest to the gardens, and knowing the moon cycles, they'd likely fetch his father or Cor in particular. Both of which being the only two (aside from him, now) who know how to calm an Amicitia. Now he wasn't sure if he was trying not to cry due to the horrid flashbacks, how close he'd likely been to being abducted from his own home, or just how terrifying the wolf could be. Maybe even a mixture of the three.

All he knew was that, after a few moments, there was another hand on his shoulder. One that knew not to try to sneak into the gardens under the light of a full moon. The moonlight reflecting off the black ring on his finger.

"Shhh, Noct. I'm here. I've got you." the King said, leaving Clarus to handle his pup. Noctis doesn't even hesitate to cling onto his dad's robes.

"H-he..." He tried to choke out, careful not to bite his own lip in fear of the blood staining his arms and sleepwear. "The man tried to grab me... H-he saved me."

"I know, Noct." Regis rubbed his back gently, just barely grazing the cloth on the still-tender skin. "You can come back and play with him tomorrow night. For now, let us get you cleaned up and changed into some clean clothes."

Noctis meekly nodded, allowing his father to pick him up but still turned his head to find his friend. To see if he was okay despite knowing how strong he was.

The moment between father and son, for the wolves, was not nearly so tender.

While Gladio, even at this age, was a massive wolf, it showed his age when standing beside his father who easily would have stood at nine feet if he was on his hind feet. Instead, the larger wolf with hints of grey in his fur was growling at his son, yet it wasn't a deep, bass growl like the terrifying one Gladio had produced before. The younger wolf was staring up at his father, teeth still latched into the figure that he held, almost shaking with the intensity of the moment. Another low sound, slightly darker, almost as if threatening, a faint dip of the head, like the two were communicating in a language unlike anything that Noctis knew.

When the younger growled back, challenging, Clarus moved all at once. Within a few seconds of snapping teeth and snarls, the bigger wolf had the younger pinned. There was some flexing from the younger, trying to push his father off, but the far bigger wolf just held his son down and growled low until, slowly, Gladio finally calmed down, panting there in the grass. Body was still where it lay beside the two werewolves, unconscious, in shock, dead, it was difficult to tell, but it mattered little to the two wolves now.

Once Gladio gave a quiet whimper, a completely different sound to that darkness of moments before, Clarus' head came down and rubbed the end of his muzzle against his son's ears.

Regis turned to an attendant that had followed the two fathers, green eyes alight in anger. Once Noctis has calmed down will he receive his own scolding, but for now there would be inquiries as to who had attacked his son. "Check him. If he yet lives, give him an elixir and wolfsbane draught before tossing him into the dungeons."

"R-right away, Your Majesty." The attendant bowed deeply, before moving to do as ordered. Yet Regis did not wait to see what became of the man. Turning on his heel, he left the gardens. Clarus and Gladiolus were free to follow, yet his sole intent was to ensure his son and only heir was taken care of and not infected by their blessing and curse as well. Pulling out a vial, he held it out to his son to drink. "It will taste horrible, but it will keep you from getting sick, my son." He said as he loosened his grip enough to allow him to drink the draught. "Hold your nose. It helps."

Noctis did not hesitate to do so, holding his nose closed as his dad helped him to drink it. He still gagged a little, but it did indeed go down. With a slight sigh of relief, the doting father mask waned. "What were you thinking, Noct? You could have been-"

"I-I'm sorry." Noctis buried his face in his dad's shoulder, his own shaking. "It was my fault. I forgot the moon phases and wanted some fresh air..."

Regis paused, looking over his shoulder to see if father and son wolves were following or not. He would need to have a word with Clarus in the morning, but for now, he gently patted his son's messy and blood-soaked hair.

"Shh, I am not mad at you, my dearest son."

"'M your only son."

Regis chuckled. "That you are, Noct." Though that did not stop him from giving the boy in his arms a cross look. "But you need to understand that the rules regarding the gardens are in place for the protection of all in the palace grounds. Even you are not exempt from them."

"Mm-hm..." Noctis buried his face into his father's neck, "But I remembered what you taught me. We were playing when I heard-"

"You can tell me in the morning. Bath, and then sleep so that draught can do it's job."

"Yes, daddy..."

The two werewolves were walking behind the other father and son, and only then would Noctis see that the younger of the two was limping slightly as he did. Yes, there would be a great deal to discuss in the morning, but at least Noctis hadn't been hurt in the process. Clarus' eyes seemed to glow ever so faintly in the low light, a hulking figure walking in Regis' shadow, but as they moved into more lit parts of the Citadel, it turned from creature of nightmare more into very large handsome wolf with a smaller version of himself at his side.

Clarus' eyes were shifting between his son and his King, not that he so much knew Regis as 'his King' as 'brother-pack' right now, but there was concern there, the sense of being protected. Gladio's eyes, however, were on his playmate alone. There was something he could sense there about the other, even if he had no name or even understanding for it. A connection, perhaps.

Gladio planned to follow Noctis right to his bedroom and stay there.

Noctis lifted his head from its resting place to look behind them as his father carried him to his chambers in the royal quarters. Spying the two werewolves as his father had. The sight of Clarus' glowing eyes made his own midnight blue widen in terror before they step more into the light, revealing who the shape really was.

The small boy heaves a sigh of relief, smiling faintly at the younger wolf. Though when he sees that limp, he tugs on his dad's shirt. "Dad... he's hurt."

Regis paused slightly, looking to his lifelong friend's son and too noticing the limp. Humming to himself as he thought, he nodded. "Then your first task in the morning will be to tend to him once he has transformed. After,, you are grounded for a week."

He opened the door to his son's chambers one-handed with practiced ease, but instead of placing him on his bed, he turned to give Clarus a single look. One they had practiced for years both in human and in wolf form. They would return to this room shortly, once Noctis was cleaned.

And yet, he did not close the door to the attached bathroom. It was late, and no attendant would want to chance the risk of turning. Yet Regis did not hold that fear. He was, after all, a pack-brother to them. So in a display that would have otherwise have earned a note of protestation from any of his advisers, he took care of making sure his son was thoroughly clean himself.

"Daaaad, I can do it myself..!" Noctis protested, only to earn a chuckle from the king. The boy huffed, even though he did a good job on his own, he couldn't quite reach his back, where much of the blood had been splattered.

"I know, Noct. Allow me to at least assure your back is cleaned?"

Noctis blew a raspberry. His father took that as a "yes." So, in little time at all, Noctis was cleaned and redressed The moment his feet touched the ground again, though? He was sleepily walking over toward the son, wrapping his tiny arms around his neck and being careful not to get more blood on himself. "Thanks, Gladdy."

His father had told him that it was, in fact, his future Shield. Someone he was now expected to forge a dual-bond with; the same bond their fathers had.

Noctis barely registers his father placing a potion bottle on his nightstand, before catching him resting a hand on Clarus' large shoulders. He smiled faintly at their dads and nodded.

While Noctis is getting a bath, Gladio is getting one of his own. The younger wolf is pinned down by his father and despite his protests and wriggles, isn't being let up as a tongue swipes again and again across his fur. He's too old for this! Stop! ~~I am the night!~~

By the time Noctis is fully cleaned and out of the tub, a sullen, but mostly clean Gladio is waiting beside his father. He watches as Noctis toddles over to him, head coming up along with both ears, though he freezes under the unfamiliar gesture of being hugged. When nothing bad comes of it, he ends up sniffing all along the young Caelum, confused by the scent of soap.

Clarus stands sturdy beneath the King's hand, watching with his own sort of intelligence over their sons. It gives both of the fathers a chance to see as Gladio licks Noctis' che-- well, his whole face given the size of his tongue, then looks very much prepared to remain there as he looks up at his father.

A moment of silent communication.

Then Clarus huffs and stands up, shoulders easily coming up to Regis' waist, and gestures towards the door with his nose as he looks up towards his alpha.

With Fang and Claw (Private to iwillshieldhim)

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sorry a bit on the slow side >.<

it's okay! <3

<3

Thought I replied to this. Whoops.

No prob!

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too.... cute.... developing... cavities...

Welcome to dealing with Lucis Caelums when not involving shitposting....

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