F R A G I L E // B R A V E

             Maybe it’s the alcohol he’d shared with his friend prior to this conversation or maybe it’s the slight fuzzy feeling in his head from his slowly approaching heat. Whatever it is, however, its made Prompto feel uncannily brave. The blonde has bit his tongue for so long; been a good kingsglaive and kept his feelings secret to all but himself. He can’t do it anymore though, not when Noctis looks so good like this, slightly flushed and slouched on his bed with ruffled hair and nothing but a shirt and boxers. He hoods his lashes, tilting his head to give the other a soft grin as he carefully reaches out and teases his fingers over the fellow omega’s. 

                 “Why not--?” He purrs out, voice sounding so much more confident than he’s ever felt. “Sure it’ll never be quite as satisfying as it would be with an Alpha but I can’t think of anyone I would rather be with for my whole life, or that I trust more.” He’s leaning in now, blue eyes dropping to look at the others lips as he leans in, his scent beginning to become more potent with his interest. It’s subtle but he can just barely catch the Prince’s scent and it makes him sigh happily at how soothing it is. 

It would be so much easier if they hadn’t been born this way, if Prompto hadn’t been the conduit for the suffering she should’ve shouldered alone. It wasn’t solely because of responsibility, but because of the reality of of what her calling demanded. She’d been trained rigorously by Sylva since their birth, had been mentally and physically prepared to deal with pain despite the anomaly this presented. And his feelings for Noctis… In good conscience, Lunafreya couldn’t marry him. Not when she’d spent a lifetime in a reeking envy for the freedom his life bore, hiding it behind polite smiles and a demure mien that had been instilled in her before birth. It had begun when they’d met, hadn’t it ? That even before the devastation their grandfather had brought upon them, it had been a pin prickle she’d resolved to ignore until it was too big and gray to do so anymore. “I don’t despise it, dearest Prompto–I never could. Not when you have given yourself for this cause. That we might see the world brought from the brink, and–” 

She wished this didn’t have to be so. That they could inverse everything that was so wrong in the world that Prompto wouldn’t have to be subjected to this, that neither of them would have to walk the maligned path of the prophecy despite how imperative it was to do so. But, how could she protest his resolve? Goad him into a relationship with Noctis when all their lives would be forfeit soon? And…gods, did he even know the endgame? How Noctis wasn’t aware, that the fault of his ignorance lay almost exclusively with her in the wake of King Regis’ demise? She’d sworn to herself to tell him when he’d turned sixteen, just as she’d been told at that age. Or perhaps she should’ve told him earlier. Because neither of them would’ve known when the prophecy was going to pass, but regardless, it almost seemed like it was too late for them all. The embrasure on her brother loosened some, and she rested their foreheads together. “You’re like sunlight, Prom. Truly, you are. I wish Noctis could see what I do, that you two could live in happiness. That this prophecy might be different–” She couldn’t say it. Gods, she was a coward!

Her throat felt thick with sobs that couldn’t be uttered, so Luna rose from her crouch and strode towards one of the enormous bay windows and opened it just a crack, the sheer drop into Zoldara Henge’s river valley breezing gustily, and she ignored the void call to simply leap from the height and fly with the wind when she was human, and women who were trapped did not fly. No more than men who were trapped by the goodness of their hearts. Her gaze returned to her twin brother, and she recalled the pseudo-scientific belief that twins shared an almost telepathic connection. It became watery, damn it! And she couldn’t stop the tears. “Terrible as it may be to say it, I wish you were selfish, Prompto. Completely and totally. That you would steal aboard some ship like a stowaway and spirit yourself away to Lucis and inform the prince to damn it all. That you and prince Noctis would elope, like in the fairytales I idealized as a girl. I wish you could do what I everything I cannot. Because your happiness means the world to me.”

Was it terrible to confess? That she would wish Prompto to abandon it all. Luna couldn’t. She had no paramours, and didn’t want any. Not now. Not when the truth hung its scythe to her throat and bared her to budge an inch from it. Trapped by her life, by its machinations, but Prompto wasn’t. Stella would inherit the crown in the case of her passing, and become queen of Tenebrae. Ravus would likely inherit the title as head of House Aldercapt for lack of fitting heirs, as Safay had been Iedolas and Camilla’s only child together. Luna sighed shakily as she let the tears come, this self-made misery, this prison she could escape but realistically couldn’t. No, her limbs were metal and ball-joints made her body, and things made of plastic and metal couldn’t be happy. 

             Grief and regret pools in his chest like heavy lead, tearing at his heart and his insides that already bleed with the sorrow of their line. “I’m sorry...” he whispers, tilting his head against the pillows to look at the wall, his vision swimming slightly. He can feel a fever creeping up on him and knows that he won’t be good company for much longer, or at the very least intelligent company. The youngest wishes he could be selfish for his twins sake; that he could protest his fate and give up on everything but it’s just not in him to do so. He almost feels cruel in his giving nature. Yet he can’t deny the people who need his sister to be strong and for her powers to be readily available. Yet if they can do this; if they can free the world of this grief than perhaps happiness can find all people once more. 

              “I don’t mean to make you unhappy my dear sister...I hold you close to my heart for we once shared that. If I could find it in myself to be so selfish for your sake I would do it...to make you smile I would.” Long lashes flutter against reddening cheeks as his body grows warmer than it should. His eyes are glossing over slightly and he can feel himself slouching further into the bed as her figure blurs slightly. “Yet I cannot. Please forgive me, I just can’t bear the thought of making anyone else suffer as we must.” The words are coming in pants now and he can’t see, forcing his eyes closed. 

                 “I...” but the worlds trail off and he can’t find it in himself to focus on more than a soft whimper. Everything is simply too hot and he finds himself struggling to get the blankets off of him. “Lun...” he manages, thrashing weakly in the bed until it becomes too much and he’s forced to lay down, slumped uselessly against the bed. “Help...” It’s like being a child again and this is the part he despises the most. Normally he just feels tired and weak with the occasional cough, but clearly this is not one of those times. No, this time he feels as if he might actually perish where he lays, though he would welcome such relief at this moment. 

     There’s cheerful chime leaving him, it’s laughter, feeling relaxed for the fact that they’ve finally reached this place in their friendship. That Prompto came clean, being honest with the Prince. Sure, a small part of Noctis felt a little hurt that the blond had to keep such a secret. It’s true, what they faced in regards towards the same situation. His had been out there in the open, everyone knew, everyone saw, everyone had an opinion, and voiced them out. Some had been less favorable than others. While Prompto, he could only assume it was more private. 

     Not sure if he should even ask, he probably would avoid the question, given he didn’t want to be about about it in the first place. Perhaps a different day. He offers a smile, “I wouldn’t care, you know I don’t care much for things like that,” shrugs his shoulders. It’s true, Noctis tended to be rather accepting of people, save for those who actually did something bad to him. Eyes linger on the brief glance on Prompto’s body, “I get it, I do have shit to worry about, you are still may friend– you can rely on me.” All of them could. Sure, he’s not the best, and he’s a little wobbly. But– he wanted to support them too.

      “I never noticed how many freckles you’ve got,” was the comment with a smile, “ I bet I could like make constellations by connecting them.” The Prince winced at a wave a pain, cringing and going quiet for a few moments. Takes a deep breath, “I’d love to be run over by a car right now.”

         A light flush dusted across the males cheeks as blue eyes met the others but he elected to ignore the comment and his embarrassment by focusing on the others pain. “That bad huh?” Shifting he peeks over the edge of the bed and digs through his bag. He doesn’t have many left but he pulls out a bottle of pain killers and hands a couple to the brunette along with a glass of water that was sitting on the night stand. “Here, this should help some.” Once the objects are in the others hands he flops back on the bed, resting a hand lightly on his stomach and staring at the ceiling. 

          “You know...” his voice is soft and thoughtful, staring more into his own head then that bland white of the hotel ceiling. “I don’t think it’s that people feel they can’t rely on you or trust you but rather that they shouldn’t. It’s stupid, I won’t deny that, but you are the crown Prince of Insomnia and i think that makes people feel like it’s wrong to rely on you in such a personal fashion. I know I feel a bit weird about it sometimes even if we’re friends. I mean I’m one of your kingsglaive...I’m supposed to protect you so that you can protect the people.”