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starless_skyIt had been a rough few weeks. Noctis and Prompto were doing their best to get back to normal life after the attack. The student body's response had been polarized. Some called Noctis a hero and championed him for putting down criminals. Others called him a future tyrant and threatened to leave Lucis as soon as they turned eighteen.
The glaives were on patrol at the school every day even when Noctis and Prompto didn't attend class. They were responding to a 'clear opportunity to improve student safety' as one of them put it. The school hadn't been upholding their security obligations to Noctis and as such was in breechof a contract. When that came up, it was asked 'if it isn't good enough for the prince, why is it good enough for other kids?' and so the school was overhauling its security plans with the kingsglaive's supervision. Arctus was expelled, he'd be marked as a sex offender for life. Regis left it to Prompto if he wanted to press charges for his own case.
The parents of these kids were livid, but they couldn't say much. There was a lot of fuss in the meetings about it, Noctis heard. A lot of talk trying to slander Noctis as a thug and even implying Prompto was a slut who seduced the kids. Anything to try to express the helplessness and rage they felt. Regis had let them simply air their anger in closed session meetings. It changed nothing, their children were dead and the photo evidence made it hard to refute these kids were rapists. Not to mention the sudden influx of other victims coming forward. A lot of whom had started to form a pseudo therapy group where they talked about it. The school, under pressure from the citadel, hired several counselors to lead this group and even some classes for the general student population. The leader of said group, Celerita, had reached out to Prompto online. He offered this group to him too. He was a senior, the head of the boy's track team, and he had been trying to recruit Prompto since he started high school.
The news had printed nothing, the radio was silent on it, even online traffic was being censored. Noctis was waiting for it to become old news but things were different in high school now. Probably forever. It made it nice to just stay at home and forget all that mess. But today, and just for now... Noctis had to leave Prompto's side. He had a couple packages that needed signing for downstairs and also he wanted to pick up the mail. And maybe call Uber Eats. He was in dire need of pizza.
In the apartment all was quiet, the world was normal. Except for a weird high pitched noise coming from outside.
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Date: 2019-07-09 02:42 am (UTC)Noct wasn't at all knowledgeable on breeds and types the way the vet was... but he was a bit of a geek about animals. He may or may not have volunteered at the animal shelter attached to this vet.
The doctor suggested a few tests as well as some medicines. After an examination of the kitten and doing some quick bloodwork he returned. The kitten wasn't terribly ill but it was looking more and more like she'd been on the street rather than in someone's home.
The kitten curled up under Prompto's chin and purred. She closed her eyes and Noct knew she was happy at last. He put that image to memory. His mate and the kitten and he knew he couldn't part ways with her. Posters be damned. maybe he could talk Prompto out of putting them up at all. They could just keep her.
Already he was tossing names around in his mind. He'd thought about adopting cats before but Ignis had indeed talked him out of it. He was too messy, his place wasn't safe for an animal and once he could give one a safe clean home to live in then he could adopt. Now that he had Prompto and the apartment was livable... well that was different. And Prompto clearly adored her. She loved him too. They had to take her home.
"Maybe she's a stray. Maybe she found us somehow." he scooted over to Prompto and looked at the little girl under his chin. "You can't spoil a cat, she's fine. We need to get her a lot though. A tower and bed and some bowls... toys... litter box..." he is so excited to get started on that list too.
The vet finishes her check-up and inserts a chip into her. Small as a grain of rice. He hands over forms to register the kitten to them or to any owner they find. Noctis takes care of the vet bill and they are free to leave.
"You think you can manage a stop at the pet supply store? Or do you want to go straight to get curry? She can eat out of some of the bowls at home, I just need to get her a litter box but you can stay in the car with her. We can order her stuff online once we get home." he didn't want to overextend Prompto's stamina to be in public, even with the comfort animal.
"What should we call her? You're good at names, any ideas?"
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Date: 2019-07-10 04:23 pm (UTC)"Maybe, yeah," Prompto affirmed, though it was hard to let go of the idea that she might belong to someone else. "We should get her some proper food too. As good as Iggy's leftovers are, I don't think table scraps are very good for her. She's so little."
He barely relented to let the veterinarian place the chip, feeling anxious when she was out of his grasp. Had he really gotten attached so quickly? When Noct suggested they go straight to curry, he shook his head.
"We gotta get her that stuff, it's... I'll be okay," he nodded, holding the kitten close. It wouldn't be fair to keep her from the essentials, whether or not she was only visiting. His fingers gently combed her soft fur, even as she began to fall asleep in his arms.
"Oh uh..." he trailed off. His names for Pryna hadn't been particularly inspired, but he'd tried to do better since then.
"Midnight? Shadow? Dusk?" Most folks in Lucis had latin-based names. Would it be better to go that route?
"Caligo? Umbra is like... shadow, right? Nox? Somnus? Nah, that'd be weird huh! One of your ancestors' names. 'Somnus, stop scratching the couch!' or 'Somnus, don't pee in the corner!' I think we'd get cursed or something," he started laughing, genuine and honest, a smile breaking across his features like dawn after a long night.
So I did some google research and found this name
Date: 2019-07-11 04:36 am (UTC)Noctis could see the bond already growing between the kitten and Prompto. How could he possibly try to separate them now? Even in the unlikely case that this kitten belonged to a human, Noctis was of the mind that maybe they didn't deserve her back? That was a cruel and self-serving idea to have but it was easily dismissed. He didn't believe it was true that the cat lived with humans before now and he could simply enjoy watching his mate bond with their little animal. Maybe this would help heal Prompto somewhat. He had something to protect now.
The vet made some recommendations as to food to feed her, treats, and gave them some medicine to give her regularly to prevent worms, fleas, ticks, and the like. She mewed when she was injected with the chip. Her claws dug into Prompto's shirt until she was forced off then she had the most pitiful look on her face as she was stuck and Noctis knew he couldn't just let her leave them. He couldn't guarantee her level of care anywhere else but with him and Prompto. She had to be theirs.
Once they were on their way to the car Noctis nodded to Prompto's agreement to go shopping. "Alright, pet store first, curry after." Prompto was being brave but he didn't want to call that out and make it awkward. Should he commend that? Just let it be normal? He wasn't sure. He hesitated a bit before starting the car in silence and driving to the nearest pet supply store.
In there, they had an overwhelming amount of choices of bed, litter, litter boxes, toys, food, water purifiers, collars. Noct took a deep breath. Where do they even start? There was a tag-making machine too that caught his eye.
"Luna's dog is named Umbra. Yeah, it means shadow... wait. Somnus?" at first he frowned a bit because yeah that's his distant ancestor but also the namesake for their hometown. And a man's name. But still, Noctis smiled. Normally he'd feel awkward and push this sort of joke off pretending he didn't like it or was too cool for it but he started laughing. Prompto was finally having a real laugh and it was pretty silly. His ancestor would be turning in his grave perhaps. Maybe they needed to name the cat that just for the sake of it. Just to make Prompto laugh like that.
"Hey. How about Cali?" he paused. "It's ah... it's stupid, I looked it up once..." he thought it was so great until he had to now explain how he knew the name for 'Cup Noodles' in latin. Go on, ask him how he arrived at that name.
Cute!
Date: 2019-07-12 04:38 am (UTC)He was glad Noct had all the notes for shopping and what she needed for food and how soon she'd have to come in for follow up checks. Just handling the kitten was enough to keep him completely occupied. He was relieved when Noct didn't fuss over him for wanting to join in the shopping too, and it almost seemed normal, even if they'd been out for longer than Prompto could recall in weeks. It was alright if it was for the kitten, they couldn't really leave it for later, after all, he reasoned.
Prompto stuck close to Noct as they made their way around the store, knowing better than to show any overt PDA while they were out, and instead focused on their kitten, and if he held her a little tighter or lost himself stroking her fur, at least he was keeping it together. It felt even better when Noct started laughing too, and he felt his tensed shoulders relax a bit, eyes flicking over the many, many options for every single item they were supposed to pick up.
"Cali?" Prompto mused. He figured it was short for Caligo, darkness, not a reference to Gladio's favorite instant meal. "I like that okay. It's shorter and cuter that way."
Google translate will tell you one thing but I found a post from a historian/linguist
Date: 2019-07-15 03:37 am (UTC)Poor baby was not having it being away from mama. Noct knew she couldn't be asked to get used to another set of parents. They had to keep her, she was their baby already. Their little daughter! So off to the store they went! And he wouldn't make a big deal about Prompto staying out. Hopefully, this would become his normal soon enough and he could enjoy his time anywhere he wanted. Inside or out.
Noctis wasn't super into PDA because he was private and he wanted to protect Prompto from the paparazzi. But at the same time... his mate had the right to his body so if he felt the need to kiss or hug then he wouldn't stop him. A very simple double standard for Prompto to navigate of course.
Noctis headed into the cat section and started at litter boxes. He got them a cart first and then got a litter box and some litter. Then a little rug to go under it. "Hey maybe they should get one of those automatic litter boxes. You think? Wait nevermind, they had one at the animal shelter and it died in three months." Noctis was thinking out loud as he gathered items, put them away and replaced them with new ones, then replaced the new ones and put the old ones back in the cart.
"Oh. Uh... no... it's... it's dumb..." Noctis looked a bit sheepish, afraid Prompto might laugh but then again they'd just had a good laugh so maybe this would help him. "Calicem Lagani.... it means... cup noodles." he looks at the girl. "I wonder if she'd eat noodles. Anyway, I looked it up one time with Gladio. I was gonna name my practice sword that and he called me a whimp." and then beat him in the practice room, fair and square. It was humiliating.
"Hey, you think she needs a cute collar?" he stepped over to Prompto and reached a finger in to pet the kitten. She purred loudly. "Aww listen to that motor. You want a cute collar? You want to look pretty? Of course you do. Can I hold some up to you?"
hahaha wow. XD
Date: 2019-07-16 05:55 am (UTC)"If you're not sure what kind to get, we could just Moogle it? I'm sure a quick search would show what people suggest," Prompto offered. He'd have grabbed his phone and done it himself if his hands weren't preoccupied. He felt like he should probably know a lot of this already, for all the times he'd begged his parents for a pet and researched it in great detail, hoping that it would make him responsible enough to get one.
Prompto narrowed his eyes and raised a brow at the explanation. "You wanna name our cat, Cup Noodles?"
Okay, so Cali was a really cute name and he thought it was 100% hilarious, but he couldn't help but tease his boyfriend for the beat or two he could hold in his laughter. It didn't take long for it to bubble over, and he was laughing enough to jostle poor Cali.
"Oh, oh, sorry lil girl," he told her, catching his breath.
"Okay, Cali, but make sure Gladio knows he's not allowed to eat her up, cute as she might be," Prompto added.
He made room for Noct to come pet the kitten too, and nodded, "Maybe something to match those big pretty eyes?"
It is a Very Sophisticated Name, lol .Also MOOGLE is so clever!
Date: 2019-07-25 01:40 am (UTC)She wasn't about to go anywhere but she was curious about her surroundings. So many smells and sights. So much smelled like food which reminded her she was hungry again. She wanted something and maybe to nap with her mama.
"Good point." he got his phone out and in a few seconds, he had an answer. He loaded up the cart with a box and litter and the necessary tools. Now they could focus on the fun things like toys and collars.
Except Prompto repeated his name back to him and Noctis couldn't stop the shiver. It was a cringe. It sounded so dumb. Right?
"Uh... well when you put it like that..." but then Prompto was laughing again and he couldn't help himself. He laughed too, that was a really stupid name. Cup Noodles. She deserved better than that but the way Prompto giggled was like before... all this mess. Maybe it would make him happy if they kept this at least as an inside joke.
"Gladio isn't gonna eat her, I'll kick his ass." he stepped over and stroked the kitten with two fingers. She purred softly and Noct smiled. "Hey, pretty girl." she was too cute, he was weak. He may or may not be taking time off from school in order to bond with her. Paternity leave. It was legit. Ignis would understand.
The collars came in all types, sizes, and prints. He picked out several he liked but he had a hard time deciding. He had a light purple one with a fabric flower sticking out with a jewel at its center. And another one with fish skeletons on it. He grinned at both.
"I can't decide. What do you think, mom?"
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Date: 2019-07-25 02:12 am (UTC)"I think our little Cali is starting to get the rumbly tumblies," Prompto distracted her with pets and scritches and started using his fingers as a play-toy, circling it just at the edge of her reach before booping a nose or a tummy. Her claws weren't quite fast enough to do more than graze the skin, and she really seemed to like playing.
"Hey Daddy, wanna find us some treats?" Prompto let slip, before realizing what he'd said out loud and in public, a blush coloring his cheeks and the tips of his ears.
He was glad for the distraction when Noct pulled out the collars, even if it was hard not to imagine getting one for himself, and the sort of play they might get up to.
"Uh-" his voice was a squeak before he got it under control, juggling Cali and looking at the collar options.
"Skeletons for sure, our girl is a straight up baller. She's hardcore, aren'tcha Cali?" he lifted her up, rubbing his nose against hers and bumping their foreheads together lightly.
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Date: 2019-07-25 03:27 am (UTC)She was a growing girl and needed her nutrition clearly. They'd have to get quite a few treats too. Just to make sure baby girl had plenty to keep her happy at home. Cali mewed when she couldn't get away from her mama to sniff what Noctis was putting in the cart. Hey! That smells like something she wants! Come back with that!
She is quickly distracted with the game Prompto plays with her but she's not coordinated enough to outsmart him yet. She gets booped! She loses! But this is fun, she will be up for this again. Like right now. Again!
Noctis looked over at the term 'Daddy'. At first he thought Prompto was saying it in response to him using 'mom' but the word had a slant to it. It kinda... wait was Prompto using it in a sexy way? Because that's how his brain took it. He smiled as he listened and as he headed to the treat aisle he wondered if maybe they'd have sex tonight. Maybe? Maybe Prompto was in a good enough mood? Noct never pressured him to but he hoped for Prompto's own sake he could reclaim his sexual desire.
"I got lots of choices over here, can't decide which one's gonna taste the best." he looked at Prompto a bit longer than normal, not sure how to flirt while shopping for cat supplies. Wait. Prompto was blushing. Oh. Well great, this was the cutest thing in the world. His blush was such a lovely shade and the way it reached his ears? Noct was grinning, they may as well have been alone in the store or the whole world in that moment.
"Look at you... don't be shy about it. I think I like it when you call me that," he whispered to Prompto, moving closer to speak into his ear. A braver version of him might grab his ass for a split second but Noctis wasn't there yet. Not that daring of a lover at this age.
"Love the fish bones. I'm getting her a bell too. You like the bells right, Cali?" but she was not paying attention to her new garment. She was booping the snoot with her mama and Noct just sighed and watched as they bonded. He snuck his phone out and took a photo. Hello, new lock screen.
He just piled five or six bags of treats in the cart. They could experiment with what she liked and buy more of her favorites. All that seemed to be left was a bed and a tag. Maybe a tower or scratching post too.
"Do you want to pick out a tag for her?"
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Date: 2019-07-25 07:34 am (UTC)"Gonna be a little hunter, aren't you Cali?" he smiled. "I'm sure she won't complain about having more options for treats. It'll probably take a while before she knows what she likes. Don't want her to be picky like her... like her Daddy."
Noct's reaction to his slip of the tongue was unexpected. He'd had Prompto call him that a couple times in the bedroom, but it'd been hard to tell if he'd liked it or was just trying it out. But telling him not to be shy about it, Prompto tried, but damn, he'd only ever used it when they were mostly naked, sweating and pressed hard against one another. It was impossible to keep the blush from spreading, especially when Noct had leaned in to whisper so intimately in his ear. He'd have to try to find more occasion to use it.
"Bell for sure. If she's clever enough to go balcony hopping, we wanna make sure we know where she is," Prompto reasoned, glad for a change in topic he could hop to that would alleviate his blush a little. It wasn't gone in time to avoid getting caught on Noct's camera, and he hoped the picture didn't look an awful mess. Noct rarely took them himself.
Once the treats were in the cart, Prompto didn't waste time waiting til they got to the register for the hungry kitten. Besides, it would cost the same if the bag were missing a couple pieces or not. He tore open a corner and grabbed a couple treats, some kinda seafood flavor, soft nuggety things, and held them out to Cali with an open palm. She didn't waste even a second chewing on the toy, and immediately made for the food, going at it with gusto.
"Looks like they come in bone shape, star, heart, paw-print, or a boring circle," he looked at the little engraving machine, weighing the options. Somehow her dark-as-night colors and bright eyes reminded him plenty of Noct, as well as Insomnia's sky at night. So a star seemed pretty perfect.
He tapped the selection screen, decided on the star shape, and a few minutes later, had a tag with her new name, address, and contact info just in case the chip wasn't enough. Safe and sound.
"You're gonna be stylin' in this Cali."
no subject
Date: 2019-07-26 03:27 am (UTC)She will never get tired of playing with mama. But she will learn to make her own toys like chasing around bottle caps. And also the little plushes like the cactuar. she loves it already and grips it with her tiny razor claws.
"She'll get plenty, there are lots of flavors and-- wait, picky like-- hey I am not that bad." he is that bad and then some. He knows this. "You saying I'm a bad influence?"
Well, he was sort of trying it out and he had mixed feelings on it. On the one hand, it was cheesy but on the other hand, he did like it? But only if Prompto liked it too. If Prompto laughed at it he'd swear it off forever. But if he was into it then he'd want to hear it fairly frequently. It reminded him of times they were naked and tangled in the sheets, both of them incoherent with lust.
"Right, she's clever but I don't want her house shopping. I dunno about her having balcony privileges either." not to be controlling but she might fall or worse. And the photo was cute. He turned his phone around to show Prompto. He was adorable in the pic, blushing, grinning at the cat, the cat stretching her legs out, meowing at him. Noct would keep it even if Prompto said it looked awful. Today was the beginning of a new chapter and this was a milestone photo. He decided that.
Cali inhaled the treats and meowed at Prompto for more. The whole bag, please. Do not make a princess wait. "She's got to be starving. She can have food once we check out." that or she's a bit of a pig which may also be true.
Noctis smiled at the star charm. It looked nice on Cali's collar and it combined with the bell and tapped it to make it ring when she moved. "There's no losing her anymore. Good. You look pretty, don't you think?" he took a photo of her with the collar, bell, and tag on. She was looking more and more like a domestic pet.
"Just need a couple scratching posts and we're finished. We can pile it in the car and go get curry. You still up for all that?" he looked to Prompto, he was pretty sure he'd be in a good mood. The cat looked so proud of herself.
Noctis paid for the items and they could leave in the car, now loaded up with cat items. "Ready to go eat?" he asked softly once they were all in the vehicle. "I can go in and pick it up so you don't have to get out with her."
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Date: 2019-07-26 05:36 am (UTC)"Not picky hmm? I'll have to let Iggy know," Prompto's smile became more mischievous and he gave Noct a gentle elbow. "I'm sure he'll be overjoyed to hear that."
Bad influence? Well, not bad, but he had a feeling that with how much Noct already liked spoiling the cat and how bad Prompto was at being the responsible one... yeah she was definitely going to be running the place before the month was out.
"Definitely balcony-banned," Prompto agreed. It was worrying enough that they'd found her out there, it was way too dangerous for a full-sized animal, let alone one who barely knew how cruel gravity could be.
Prompto's blush didn't diminish at all when Noct showed him the picture, if anything it only intensified. He looked like such a nerd! It was sappy and... utterly adorable that Noct liked it so much. It honestly made him happy, even if it was hard to admit.
Well, clearly those treats were acceptable, he was sure Cali would probably like any and every treat put in front of her, but she was a growing girl, and Prompto was happy to oblige. He did it in little bits though, tapping out just a few treats at a time.
"Slow down, it's alright little one," he assured, petting her a few times before offering a few more of the bite-size pieces. "No more going hungry! We'll feed you again when we're home, okay? Real food, so don't fill up on snacks."
The collar was nice though, and the more he looked, the more he approved. "A regular fashionista."
He couldn't believe how fast things had gone since finding her. While they'd had to run so many errands, it felt like hardly any time had passed. He'd been so nervous going out lately, but with both Cali and Noct, he'd felt at ease.
"Mmm, you know I won't say no to curry. We'll wait in the car, but you better hurry, you don't wanna miss out on prime kitty-snuggling time," Prompto teased.