Chapter Text
It wasn't meant to be like this.
"Noctis, get down right now!" Ardyn yelled at the child currently on a rather thin branch, curled up and against the trunk of a tall tree. Noctis, still in his spotted Coeurl pyjamas, looked down at Ardyn from high above and grinned. He did not listen to the demand of his guardian, opting to stay where he was. The tree Noctis sat upon was the largest in the garden, one of the boy's favourite to nap under with his 'brother'.
"Why on Eos did you think that was a good idea?" Ardyn sighed in frustration.
"It seemed fun," Noctis said cheerfully.
"Oh really? And how do you think you're going to get down?" Ardyn asked. Climbing down was going to be a lot harder than climbing up. One mistake and the child would hurt himself. He was smart, he should know that. Did the boy expect Ardyn to come up and get him?
Noctis just looked at him, without giving him and answer.
Oh, so he did. Wonderful. Ardyn debated leaving him up there as punishment.
There was a laugh from somewhere nearby and Ardyn whipped around to find the source. His eyes scanned the flora and fauna around them, attempting to glimpse the other child under his guardianship.
"Somnus, you little Daemon," Ardyn growled when he could not glimpse the other boy. Hiding, no doubt. "I can hear you. Get over here this instant before I come over there to find you. And trust me, the consequences of that will be rather unpleasant."
The former Accursed's threat did little. Both children giggled at him from wherever they were, knowing he would never raise a hand against them in violence. He never had before, and they believed he never would.
"Boys. To your rooms. Now," Ardyn ordered, hoping they would just listen. They usually did. But alas, his demands this time were met with more amusement.
Somnus continued to stay hidden, no doubt dirtying his own clothes and he scampered about on hands and knees to stay undetected. And Noctis stayed where he was in that infernal tree. Ardyn growled in frustration and began to tap his foot in his impatience.
The former Accursed needed to get going or he was going to be late. As much as he disliked them, he had several meetings to attend to today. All of which involved the matter of his guardianship of the boys. They were rather important and not to be missed. It was probably best to arrive punctual and not covered in filth with clothing unkempt from chasing the boys around. Noctis and Somnus knew this too, so there must be a good reason for this morning escapade.
"What do you want then?" Ardyn finally asked, defeated. Even if he caught the children by warping they would just keep running off until they got what they wanted. Most of the time, they were rather well behaved. The former Accursed hadn't had many issues with either child as they had grown.
Yes, their infant and toddler years had been rather hectic, especially with two of them. But even so, Somnus and Noctis seemed to grow out of their childish habits rather quickly when compared to other children.
Ardyn could admit he got off easy. But it still did not mean he liked it when the miscreants decided to be ill behaved. He had found that there was usually a reason for it, however. Most often it happened because they felt Ardyn was not paying enough attention to them or was gone too often. But he did have work to do.
"A promise," Somnus popped his head up from behind several bushes. His hair had several leaves and twigs in it and his clothes were filthy. Ardyn could barely make out the cartoon Zu on his pyjamas with all the filth covering it. The former Accursed scowled at the sight. Those clothes were definitely going in the wash first chance he got.
"And what promise did you want me to make?"
"Not to me. To Noctis," Somnus chirped and looked over to his 'brother'. Ardyn looked over as well, one brow raised. Waiting.
"You can't leave," Noctis said, softly, "During my party. You have to stay."
Oh… So that was the problem. Normally, during Noctis's birthday parties, Ardyn would depart after the guests began to arrive. He felt it was better that way.
"... As you wish," Ardyn hesitated before responding, "but don't be surprised if a fight or two breaks between myself and some of your guests."
"That would be so cool!" Somnus gasped in delight at the thought.
"Yeah!" Noctis agreed, equally as excited. "Could we join in?"
"When you are older," Ardyn laughed, feeling light. "I promise we can all join in several brawls, if you so desire."
Ardyn managed to get Noctis down without dirtying or damaging his own clothes, to which he was thankful. After that both boys returned to the house with him, where Somnus was ordered to go bathe and change.
A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. The caretaker had arrived. Ardyn allowed her inside the home and then said his goodbyes to the boys. He would be back before dark, and then they would all begin preparations for the party tomorrow.
The caretaker, a young woman Ardyn had employed several years ago, was very good with both children. She did not know anything about the past lives of either child. All she believed was that Ardyn was a single father of twin boys. Noctis and Somnus looked so similar that it was very easy to believe. And he supposed they were, in a way. Both 'born' at the same time in this life.
The official legal birthdays of both boys was not their original ones, it was instead the date Ardyn had been sent back to Eos with two little infants. Despite that, Noctis still celebrated his own birthday on August 30th and Somnus on May 9th. The original birthdays of their former lives.
People who did not know about them found it strange but Ardyn did not care. And because Somnus liked his own birthday to be a quiet affair with only Noctis and Ardyn present, August 30th became a sort of unofficial birthday for him as well.
The next day, Noctis's three companions, as well as many other people the former Prince once was acquainted with, were all gathered in Ardyn's home.
Prompto Argentum was now a renowned photographer. He traveled the world, capturing the life that was returning to the world. His photos were loved by many as they gave the people hope that the world was beginning to mend.
Gladiolus Amicitia was now a leader of the Hunters. Many dangerous beasts that weren't Daemons survived the ten years of darkness. They roamed freely around the world and needed to be taken care of. He had a wife and a child, but Ardyn had never met either of them.
Ignis Scientia, an Advisor still. One most leaders of this new world came to for guidance. He was in demand as his keen mind was still useful, even if his eyes were not.
There were other people as well. Iris Amicitia, Cor Leonis, Aranea Highwind, and many more that Ardyn did not care to remember the names of.
Most guests kept their distance from the former Accursed, the Chosen's three companions most of all. Ardyn did not mind. He did not wish to feel their glares up close. Even the blind one was able to give a nasty one in Ardyn's direction. He was quite impressed.
Noctis loved his friends, all of which he referred to as 'Uncles' or 'Aunties'. Somnus had been wary of them but warmed up to them after Noctis had been so generous with his affection. Both boys were fawned over by the guests and many presents were given, to the both of them.
Normally, Ardyn left Noctis's birthday parties, feeling his presence would ruin the atmosphere and enjoyment. But it seemed all that had done was make Noctis feel terrible. As promised, he would stay this time.
As the party progressed, he was surprised to find that things didn't end up as badly as he thought they might. People mostly stayed out of his way and a few even tried to converse with him. It had been strange to have the Advisor sit down beside him and hold a somewhat civil conversation with him in regards to the boys' upbringing.
Time passed and then it was time for cake. Both of Ardyn's charges grabbed his hands and dragged him over. They made him stand opposite to them, right at the front of the crowd.
Somnus and Noctis grinned as the guests began to sing 'Happy Birthday'. They loved the attention. When it was done, both boys hugged one another. Unbeknownst to Noctis, his 'brother' grabbed and handful of cake during their embrace. The former Prince shrieked in indignation when his face was smeared with a big helping of the sweet confection as Somnus pulled away. Many people in the crowd laughed and Prompto took several pictures.
"Happy birthday, brother," Somnus smirked as he spoke. Noctis glared at his 'brother' but it seemed half-hearted. The small twitch in the corner of his mouth showed that he was trying not to laugh.
"Happy Birthday, Noctis." Ardyn wished as well, smiling fondly at the cake covered boy. Noctis turned to look at him and smiled back, widely... Only to have a second helping of cake smeared onto his face in his distraction. This time, Noctis grabbed his own fistful of cake and tried to retaliate. Somnus stuck out his tongue and dashed away before his 'brother' could get him.
Ardyn laughed and decided not to intervene, allowing the both of them to have their fun.
After the party died down and the presents were all opened, Ardyn thought he glimpsed something. Someone. Clad in black, her eyes closed and in the form of her Messenger. Shiva had arrived.
The Divine being opened her eyes then looked around briefly, no one but Ardyn noticing her. She smiled and disappeared, leaving behind two small packages. The former Accursed hurried over to pick them up. They were quite pretty, wrapped in glittery blue paper and delicate white ribbon. Every year gifts like this popped up from one Astral or another on the boys' birthdays.
"Noctis, Somnus. I think you forgot some," Ardyn said as he brought over the gifts. They looked up at him from the floor, their other gifts and a pile of discarded paper and boxes surrounding them. He passed the newest gifts and they were unceremoniously ripped open with no care for the beautiful wrapping. The man couldn't help but wince.
"Pretty," Noctis said in awe at the beautiful flowers contained within his own gift. Sylleblossoms, a rich blue in colour. There was also a small crown, elegant and fit for a child's head. And finally, a small plushie. One remarkably similar to a certain Messenger.
Somnus was equally amazed with his own gift. Another bundle of flowers, Sylleblossoms the colour of blood. Another plushie, this one of a dragon. And a long, engraved dagger. One that had Ardyn jerk back in shock. It looked like… It looked like the one he had given to Somnus on one of his birthdays, so many years ago. That had been lost, broken in a battle against a Daemon many years later.
It wasn't much later that the guests began to leave. By then, both Somnus and Noctis were yawning in exhaustion. Even Ardyn felt rather tired as he tidied up. Finally deciding that the remaining mess could wait a day, just this once, he ushered the boys upstairs when the house was finally quiet.
The former Accursed made sure the children brushed their teeth, changed and were settled into bed before doing the same himself. As he lay in his own bed, he thought about how things came to be this way.
It had been a mistake really. An accident. And no one had been happy with it, Ardyn least of all. But he had not been able to abandon the two little bundles he had then been tasked with raising. And as he had the Astrals… Favour in this endeavor, none were allowed to harm him or the boys. Even the former companions had grudgingly agreed to leave things this way, with some conditions.
Some of those being the meetings he had to attend. And of course, having to have himself and the boys checked up upon several times a month. Just to make sure his charges were being well taken care of. And they had been, none could deny that after so many years.
And over those years, the former Accursed had grown fond of this life. All three of them no longer had to worry about the Starscourge, Kingship or Prophecies. They were just supposed to live.
Ardyn couldn't see Noctis or Somnus as his children, and they in turn never called them their father. But things worked for them. They were happy. And so was he, as much as he could be with his past always in the back of his mind.
Drifting off into slumber, Ardyn wished every birthday could be filled with as much happiness for himself and the boys as this one was.