#mtunit05953234

Noctis could only agree. Finding a collar and pretending to already have an alpha was the best solution. No one will question them and they could just do what they wanted. Well Prompto would be able to.

“ Just don’t want some rando alpha claiming me is all. I’d like it to be someone I care about but... “ He wasn’t holding his breath. He’d been lucky so far, that he hadn’t been foisted off because his father got pressured into keeping the line strong. Noctis had already proven that Omega didn’t mean weak. He could keep up with Gladio after all.

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My eyes trailed across the tiled marble floor as I crossed my arms firmly against my chest and frowned. The mall was a ruckus of unwanted input, people bickering and gossiping, others full staring. I fucking hated the atmosphere, it reminded me of boarding school, the drama, the anxiety…The people. Heaven forbid I make any sort of promises to my sister. She was a social butterfly and I was the complete opposite. I hated people…but I had promised to spend the day with her--and take her to do some shopping at her favorite mall--OH boy--how that had been a mistake. She’d brought her absolute tool of a boyfriend Matt along… the guy was completely full of himself. I absolutely despised the fact that Amery was foolish enough to think he was good. There wasn’t any reasoning with her though, she was young and she was always right. I couldn't blame her though… I was the same at her age. In any case, It was almost like I was here alone on the trip. I was the third wheel--Not that I really minded- at least I didn't have to talk--much.

Id decided to wait out as much of the time as I could in the food court, let Amery have her fun. Low key though I just wanted a break-- hearing Matt talk about how much he could bench press and his diet for another hour was not on my to do list. I couldn’t listen to it for another second.

I jolted from my spot at the sudden crash near the entrance to the mall. My heart sinking in my chest as I shot my gaze towards the glass doorway. Outside the door a small black crow lay in a feathered mess on the ground, glass surrounding the poor creature. Other people were staring as well but they all seemed to lose interest pretty fast. I on the other hand kept my eyes firmly on the scene. I felt a cold chill come over me, and a aching in my chest. Something wasn't right. I knew that much. I quickly stood and made my way for Forever Young, feeling as my anxiety began to simmer. Something about that crow, twisted… and broken… laying on the ground--it was unnerving. I was superstitious, in fact everyone in my family was, our family having been direct descendants of salem. We had every reason to believe in the supernatural, both my mothers thought they were witches. I don’t know if I could go as far as saying that I believed that too… but I knew an omen when I saw one. Nature had its own way of warning us when bad things were coming. I could only describe the feeling as emptiness, a dead feeling in my gut… like an insatiable hunger. I just wanted to get the fuck out.

“Braeden! Wouldn’t these look great on me?” the sound of Amery’s voice broke through my thoughts as she ran up to me. She held up to her figure a form fitting pair of jeans and I rose an eyebrow, tossing her a half smile, though it quickly disappeared at the sight of Matt walking over with his hands cooly in his pockets.

“They look fine,” I responded impatiently, glaring in the direction of Matt. I brought a hand to my forehead, brushing it through my dark locks. “-you guys wanna take off?” I asked, mainly eyeing Amery, as I really didn’t give a shit what Matt wanted, this was her day.

“I mean we just got here bro.” Matt piped in. I clenched my jaw and fists. There was nothing I hated more than being called ‘bro’. I was not Matt’s bro… in fact I was absolutely nothing to him. The dude was a joke of a human being and I knew as much that I would never accept him as any form of extended family. I was about to let him know that when I felt Amery’s hand tighten in mine and I turned to see her eyes pleading back to me, as if to tell me ‘please not here’, she knew I hated him and she knew I wasn’t having any of his shit.

“Can we just stay for a little while longer?” Amery interjected, seemingly trying to find a even ground. I sighed tilting my head slightly to the side.

| — .¸ ♕ ¸. — |     No matter how often he had partaken in sly acts of this nature, Ardyn could never completely shake the feeling of being exposed when taking form of these eccentric young sorts that clad themselves in so little. The Shield was no exception to this, but at least he opted for the black unbuttoned shirt, on occasion. Even if it was only an illusion, it was peculiar to glance downward and witness so much exposed skin.  

He knew the young man had ventured off to the nearest town some hours prior, likely not to return for a time, based on the information that the Chancellor had unraveled. A perfect opportunity to entertain himself and slip closer to those he so frequently tailed behind in silence. 

Stepping into the campsite, he peered around, gaze first falling on the familiar blonde- ah, yes...Prompto... How could he ever forget that one? 

“What’s shakin’, bacon? Did I miss anything good?”  Oh good gods, that sounded utterly ridiculous... These youths and their obnoxious dialects...  To punctuate his entry, he stepped over and reached up to muss the flaxen locks of the younger male. 

@mtunit05953234

The decision had not been easy. If it had been, Ignis supposed, then they truly had were not meant to be together. What he felt when the ultimatum had been given to him was pure heartbreak. A sharp pain in his chest that nearly made him vomit. The only way to actually do it was to convince himself it was to keep Prompto safe. After all, it was. He could not ensure that he could do it himself, so this was the only way. 

The meeting in the diner seemed like the best option. Neither would be compelled to freak out, scream, or start a fight. Ignis, however, had no idea that he would be the one nearly sobbing in the booth of the diner. When the waitress came to refill his coffee, she even patted his shoulder and left him a few more napkins with some soft words: ‘Stay as long as you need, dear. It’ll be okay.’

But it would not. The only options boiled down to: stay engaged to the light of his life. The silly young man with a sillier hairstyle that was sunshine in human form and leave him in danger of losing his life from an old client. Or - let him go and ensure Prompto’s safety. 

He hated both options. 

Once his vision had mostly cleared, the adviser looked around, almost praying that Prompto had stuck around. As his gaze traveled from one side of the diner to the other, he quickly lost hope. The rest of the night was a blur. He moved from coffee to liquor and when his head was positively swimming, he stumbled out into the night, needing to find someone to help him. 

Help came in the form of a very familiar mass of muscles that sobered him up real fast. A few ‘fuckin’ idiot’s were thrown around, each one making Ignis shrink further into himself. As Gladio finished the barrage of insults, Ignis could only nod and ask where Prompto was. 

The motel was nearby, thankfully. 

Sitting outside the entrance, Ignis played with the ring that had once adorned a very special man’s finger. He had to try something, anything to at least explain himself. Prompto deserved that much. 

He called twice - hanging up the first and leaving a voicemail the second time. Of course Prompto would not want to talk to him. Hell, Ignis barely wanted to talk to himself after what he pulled. 

“Prompto, it’s me,” he began, sighing and pulling in a shaky breath. “I owe you more than what I gave. May we talk? Please? I cannot leave things as they are. I am outside the motel, if you get this tonight and wish to speak. If not, I suppose I will see you at breakfast in the morning. Even if you do not wish to speak, ah, please do not take this out on Noct.” 

His voice faltered a bit and it took a few moments to regain any strength. 

The fight had been long, and far too many close calls for his liking. Thankfully, they came out alright, even though they were dangerous creatures, Noct found himself fond of them. Odd, but whatever. He liked cats. Seems like that emotion covered all types of felines. Surely his friends would tease him about it, or not be that surprised considering it’s him. 

It should have remained an normal hunt, maybe something valuable found, and nothing else. The last thing either of them expected was the bundle which Prompto handed to him after he summoned the blanket. Prompto’s tone had put him on edge, tension in his body, even Ignis stayed close. 

Noctis nearly dropped the bundle out of shock. Eyes wide with a gasp escaping him, there’s hardly any weight in his hands, but he knows exactly what’s in them. A baby. Small. Far too small, fragile doesn’t even begin to describe how they seemed. His arms felt too big, like he might crush the little being in his arms, quickly holding the protectively without giving much of a thought to the action. Ignis and Gladio were just as shocked, the strategist briefly looking the infant over as best he could. Not exactly his area of experiences ( or any of their’s at all ). But they seemed to be breathing, and were asleep.

“They’re... so ... so small,” of course babies are tiny compared to adults, and toddlers. Noctis has seen them, and never cared to be around any. At all.  But this-- a baby, a baby in the middle of a dangerous area, dirty and obviously underweight! When Gladio stepped closer to look, Noctis instinctively help the child closer to him. Silly. Because the older wouldn’t do anything to harm them. Yet. Gods, look at the small thing. 

Brought out of his musings by Prompto’s question, a finger lightly touching the child’s cheek, holding them with one arm. Fuck. So small. Lethargic. Barely any movement, but at least seemed alert. “I-I don’t know, I mean they’re kind of aware, I think,”  shakes his head.

Of course they’re not just going to ignore this. Shit, where was all that talk about him not liking kids? But really, Noctis could not turn away from, he’s awkward, not heartless. “The Regalia’s gotta be faster than a Chocobo, and we’re taking it--” he started firmly.

“Noct--”

   As much as she dislikes his propensity for snooping around and taking unguarded photos of students, Fujin knows that Argentum does good work. With his eye for shots and details, there have been plenty of times where she, on the behalf of the disciplinary committee, have used some of his innocuously taken photographs as evidence for a student’s misdoings. In that sense, the silverette appreciates his work, knows that Argentum has one of the few useful hobbies. ( It was right up there, with Raijin’s fishing skills. )

   These knowing thoughts do not help with her annoyance at being captured on film. Every time she hears the shutters or his distinct voice in the hallways, the sound of a photograph being taken soon after, she tenses. Let it never be said that Fujin had a photogenic personality.

   The next time she sees him pointing his photograph near her, there is immediately a glare on her face, pointed at the blonde SeeD candidate. 

   “...Argentum.”

“I’m gonna need that picture. For science.”

A sly smile was formed on her lips. She remembered well what happened back then and the bruise on Noct’s thigh. He was mad at Prompto but whining like a baby because of the pain.

“That’s an argument, I get it. But why me? I’m just curious.” she simply stated, a slight shift in her stance when she flipped her gunblade in her hand but her eyes stayed focused on him.