Locked to Real_life_rpg

[starless_sky]

Things had been going well in Noct's life ever since he got a boyfriend. It wasn't what most people thought of when that word was used. He was still a virgin and while that was a bitter pill, it was better than being a virgin with no prospects. He had Prompto and they had a promise. Now they waited his father out. Eventually his dad would hand over the throne to him and retire, or worse, pass away. He didn't want to think about that but... it was how his family had worked since the beginning of the nation. Regis was a stubborn old alpha to boot.

 

Noct had been working more in the citadel, attending more meetings, talking to more people, doing his own Working Royal stuff which he had previously shrugged off with the excuse that he was in school. It got Ignis' attention as well as his father's which hopefully would work in his favor in the future. 

 

He had to get the public, the advisors, and the counsel on his side, or at the very least he had to get to where they couldn't oppose him when he took the throne. That meant he was building alliances now so years in the future, whenever he took the throne, he will have built a place for Prompto by his side. A nest of sorts. If that isn't the most omega way to think about it... a nest. 

 

It's what brought him to work most days. Today he was at a public garden maintained by the royal family. He was meeting with some of his citizens, many of them social workers and outreach professionals for the poor and underprivileged. A perfectly banal sort of day. 

 

It wouldn't stay that way. He was trusted enough to handle this on his own so he was attending with his civilians with minimal security. He was within a stone's throw of the citadel after all. It's what the Nifs were counting on. 

 

Some time later there was a great boom and then a siren sounded in the training yard. A voice pinged each glaive and crownsgaurd with earpieces, delivering several codes, each referring to a scenario. This event had several codes; Active shooters, fire, multiple casualties, and a note that Rosebud was not secure. Rosebud was among hostiles. 

 

Rosebud was Noctis' security code the crownsguard and glaives used. Not that he knew that. 

 

Things went to shit real quick and to help it along, there had been a small camera crew playing Noct's talk with the social workers he was with. One channel was broadcasting it from the nearby jumbotron and the chaos unfolded. Noct was talking, suddenly there was an explosion, screaming, fire, gunfire could be heard. Nif soldiers appeared on screen. In seconds it was happening. Other screens around Insomnia began showing the footage. 

 

One could hear the explosions and guns in real time, not from the screen but from the park itself a block over. 

 

Comments

[real_life_rpg]

It felt so good to have Noctis safely in his arms. Prompto continued to put out his scent, smothering Noct in it. He pressed tiny kisses to his hair, just letting himself have this moment. His omega was alive and on his way back to Insomnia where he belonged. "We're going home, baby. We're leaving that floating hellhole and going home."

He continued to embrace Noct even as he spoke on the comm device. He couldn't help but laugh softly at Noct's questions. "Mm. I'm Quicksilver. I guess it's okay if you know. Just don't go around telling everyone or I'll have to kill you." Probably not the best joke he could've made given the circumstances, but it came out of his mouth before his brain could engage. "And yeah, you're Rosebud. Come on. It's cute. Just like you are. Besides, roses are tough - they have thorns that can protect them - just like you protected yourself from those assholes."

Prompto flinched a little at the sound of Cor's voice. Mad was an understatement. He gave their ETA. "Requesting immediate medical attention. Over."

He was dead. So dead. Cor was going to murder him. "Make sure I have black chocobos at my funeral, baby."

[starless_sky]

Prompto's scent was like a clean shower washing away all the horrors of Gralea. He felt purified by it. Like it was all just a bad dream. He smiled softly at the kisses in his hair. Everything was as it should be.

"Stay at my place for a while." and just snuggle him like a big teddy. It was Noct's chosen therapy. He'd even watch Prompto play games if he could curl up with his head on Prom's lap or butted against his hip.

"I won't tell, I promise." his voice was relaxed, almost sleepy with comfort. "Mn. Does everyone say it's cute or just you?" but he supposed he liked Prompto's description.

On to the funeral. "If you have the nerve to die on me you don't deserve chocobos." but Cor will assemble a medical response team by the time they land. Preceded by none other than Gladio and Ignis.

The drop ship door opened and Noctis groaned, slowly pulling himself out of Prom's arms with a grumble. He liked having their alone time. There were quick footsteps toward them.

"Thank heavens you're both safe." Iggy looked harried, like he hadn't slept. Maybe he hadn't. Noct felt guilty even though it wasn't his fault. He watched Iggy's expression change from concerned to steely when he looked over both of them and took it all in. Noct rubbed the back of his neck.

"Is it that bad? I haven't looked in a mirror." he fought the urge to be sarcastic but knew that this wasn't a time to play with Ignis. Gladio appeared behind them, looking at Prom and Noct both and tightening his jaw. Ignis continued.

"There's a team waiting outside. Let's get you up."

Noct groaned in pain when he tried to stand. His back got stiff on the ride over and he tried to get up too fast. He hissed. Ignis flinched.

"Don't rush, Noct, take your time."

"Sorry. Just... Gimme a second."

A second was not given. Instead, Gladio reached in and lifted Noctis up.

"I've got you, relax."

"Wait what about Prompto-- hold on, I can't do this." Gladio was about to carry him outside. Ignis would stay with Prompto until medical could look at him. Noct reached out for Prompto's hand but he was already out of reach.

"Gladio, stop. I can't go like this! No!!" his voice ought to be stronger but in his attempt to be stern, Noct's voice was breathy, dry, and weak. It stung Ignis in the heart to hear it. Gladio kept his mask on but he felt even more guilty for failing the kid.

"It'll be alright Noct, he's not going anywhere. Hey hold still!" Noct was squirming trying to get out of Gladio's carry to no avail. As expected. He only managed to awaken some of his wounds and he winced.

"That's the problem, he needs to come with me! I can't do this alone! Stop trying to take him away from me! Put me down!!" tears filled his eyes, looking at Prompto. He didn't care if he looked pathetic. He was terrified without his alpha. He was so strong until they were separated.

"Stop. Noct, quit. Hold still." Gladio walked back over to Prompto just so Noct would quit thrashing. Noct reached for any part of Prompto he could grab. Ignis pet Noct's hair.

"Noct... Prompto needs to see his own doctor. For a short time you will be separated." Noct shook his head, looking every bit like a petulant child other than his eyes. They were wild, wide with fear. He was breathing short quick pants, close to a panic attack if they tested him.

[real_life_rpg]

Stay at Noct's place? That was the dream, wasn't it? Even before they had admitted their feelings for each other staying at Noct's always made Prom happy. It only got better once they realised they were in love with each other. The lack of sex was frustrating at times, being so close but not able to make that move. But being able to snuggle up and smooch whenever more than made up for it.

He wanted that so much. To go to Noct's place, cuddle up and forget all of this ever happened. It was an impossible dream though. Noct was going to need weeks, if not months, of medical care and Prom doubted that the Citadel medics or the King would let Noct go back to his apartment until he recovered. Prom just hoped that they wouldn't be completely separated during that time. He didn't think his heart could take it.

Prompto pushed himself to his feet once the door to the drop ship opened. Now that the alpha rage and the adrenaline were wearing off the pain was creeping in. He winced as he stretched out his aching muscles, feeling skin split and reopen the barely healed wounds.

"Never been more glad to see you guys!" He said, putting that blinding mask of a smile on.

But then Noct was panicking - really panicking. It was triggering every one of Prom's protective alpha senses. He had to remind himself that Gladio wasn't the enemy here, lest he end up like Loqi and Caligo. Gladio was just doing his job. Gladio wasn't the enemy. Prom's scent spiked and he forced himself to focus on his omega and not the one holding him.

He reached out to cradle Noct's face in his hands getting his omega to look at him. "Noct... It's okay. It's okay, I promise. As soon as I can I'll find you and be beside you. I'll always come for you. Always. Listen to me, okay? You're strong. A rose, remember? Thorns. You are stronger than you know and I couldn't be prouder of you."

He tried to comfort his mate with his scent, aware that Gladio would be able to smell any changes in his scent. He wanted to kiss his omega, hold him and make it all better but he didn't want Gladio to crush his skull.

"Noct... It's okay. It's okay. Trust Gladio. He won't let anything bad happen to you. I trust him. And you can trust Iggy to take care of me. Just for a little while. Right, Iggy?"

Ignis wasn't a fool. He had known about Noct and Prom's relationship for awhile. Honestly, he had been a little shocked to learn that they hadn't gotten together earlier. It break his heart to see Noct struggling. Still he gave a nod, keeping that stoic mask in place. "Indeed. Noct. Your father is waiting for you."

[starless_sky]

Those were the days! Staying up playing games, watching anime, eating junk food, making out. Once they could have sex too Noct's life could be complete. Who could blame him for wanting to return to a happy time?

Prompto wasn't wrong. Noctis would be under a doctor's care for a long time, it would change their routine quite a bit but they had support around them. Ignis knew about them and once he got Noct to explain he was still a virgin Ignis respected Prompto even more. He supported his friends being happy even if he'd rather their king knew about it.

Gladio too, he wasn't an idiot. He knew Noct smelled different after his heats. It didn't take a brain surgeon to figure that one out. He'd sat Noct down same as Iggy had and talked about it. Noctis hated being found out but it was a necessary step. Prompto had his support which was important if they were going to stay together.

It's why Gladio wasn't compelling Noctis right then and there. He could easily overwhelm him with authority and his own scent, not to mate him but just to force him to calm down. It would work too, but Noctis would resent it later. Gladio would do it if he didn't know about Prompto but not now. Not when he knew Noctis had someone. Not when he knew Prompto had gone to the ends of the earth for Noct.

It was clear to anyone with eyes that Prompto was desperately in love with Noct. It wasn't a crush, it wasn't even lust, this was it for him. The kind of love that made an alpha change his entire life. The kind of love that made him dangerous. Gladio knew then that Prompto was holding back. He had to be hurting as much as Noct.

Maybe... He wasn't as worthy as Prompto to be Noct's shield...

So he held their prince and let Prompto do his thing. Noct wasn't having it. He gripped Prompto's hands tight.

"I was strong with you! It's not okay, it's not okay! I know I'm being a baby but I just can't. I can't. I don't want to be strong, I want you there." He was borderline inconsolable. Gladio breathed slowly. This was getting nowhere. Then it hit him.

"Noct... Give Prompto something with your scent on it."

Noct almost ignored him. Gladio wasn't his alpha and thus his words had no meaning. He blinked then thought about it. He didn't have anything on him. Ignis offered him a handkerchief and Noct scented that, offering it to his alpha. His event was sour with fear and grief but it was enough to get Noct to stop crying.

"Sorry for being a baby... We'll be together soon, right?" only then could Gladio take him away. Only then should Prompto's own medics come. Along with Cor.

[real_life_rpg]

Prompto accepted the handkerchief, giving Noct the softest of smiles. He untied the bandana he wore around his bicep and scented it, before handing it to Noctis. He brushed away a stray tear from Noct's cheek with his thumb being careful not to press on his bruises, looking at him with nothing but love. "You're not a baby. You're scared and you're hurting and that is okay. You've been through hell. But you're safe and you are strong."

"We'll be together soon, Noct. I promise." He wasn't sure it was a promise he could keep. He didn't have Noctis' faith that Cor or the King weren't going to murder and/or exile him on the spot. But he would do everything in his power to get back to Noct as soon as possible.

"I just need you to be brave a little while longer." Prompto leaned in to whisper against Noct's ear. "My omega. My soulmate. My love."

It hurt to see Noctis leave but he knew Noct needed urgent medical attention. He needed far more than Prom and a first aid kit could provide. Not to mention he was probably going to be put under secure lockdown to ensure the Empire didn't try again. He put on a brave face until Noct was out of sight before his shoulders sagged and he let out a heavy sigh.

He didn't have much time to feel sorry for himself before the medics and Cor showed up. "Marshal," he greeted. As though he hadn't broken rank, disobeyed a direct order and travelled halfway across the world to retrieve the Prince single-handedly.

The medics, however, were looking at him with horror. "Shiva's tits! That is a lot of blood!"

"Most of it isn't mine," Prom assured them. He had already took his jacket off, so he went ahead and pulled his shirt off to reveal the various gashes, bruises and bullet wounds. "Looks worse than it is..." That was a lie. The gashes and bullet wounds were already well on their way to becoming infected, he more than likely had bruised, if not broken, ribs. The bruises were already various shades of dark blue and purple. His kidneys hurt like a bitch. Add on that a touch of dehydration and possible mild hypothermia and Prom wasn't in the best of states.

Noct had it a lot worse than him though. "So, what's the verdict? Pop a couple of painkillers and sleep it off?"

The medics were still looking horrified. "How... how are you still standing right now?"

[starless_sky]

Noct held the bandana to his nose immediately. He leaned into his touch. He wanted to somehow bottle Prompto and bring him along.

"I'll hold you to that. I'll be brave..." his eyes grew mistier at the words of love. Noct reached for him as Gladio carried him off. Mouthing 'I love you'. Those words would give him strength in the hospital. Prompto wasn't wrong. Noctis was about to be under lock and key for a long time.

Ignis touched Prompto's shoulder when he sighed. He may be a beta but he understood the emotional upheaval of being omega or alpha. He understood it was exhausting. Kind of why he was grateful to have been spared all that.

The medical team came in and his gaze was sharp as one of them cursed. Though Prompto, ever ready to minimize and devalue himself, said it wasn't critical.

As he disrobed to show it was anything but. A trained eye knew immediately they had a narrow window of time to act before Prompto would be fighting for his life with infection.

"Adrenaline is a hell of a drug. Hurry, he's crashing." Cor was professional but he sounded annoyed under it all. He wasn't angry at least not for the reasons Prompto assumed.

"More like surgery, kid." Cor stood by him, looking him over. The med techs got a stretcher ready. "How many Nifs were on your tail?" he needed to know before Prompto was gone. "Next time you want to play hero--" he shook his head. "Nevermind. We'll debrief later. But... Good work bringing the prince home, Prompto."

[real_life_rpg]

Ignis was the beta glue that held their pack together. He was a voice of reason in a haze of brain fog. Hell, in the almost six years that Prompto had known him, he had been a better carer and parent to Prom than his parents had ever been. They'd be lost without him. All of them. Noct, Gladio, Prompto. They all relied on and loved Ignis in their own way.

Prompto continued to downplay his injuries. He was fine. He just needed a bath, a potion and a hot drink, preferably in that order. He wasn't crashing. He was absolutely, 100% fine. The fact the drop ship looked like it was spinning or the fact that there were two Cors stood in front of him was irrelevant.

"I, uh... encrypted files. Sent them. Your phone. Evidence." Prompto barely realised his speech was starting to slur. It was about all the warning he gave before dropping like a dead weight. Luckily Ignis and Cor were able to catch him before he hit the ground, so the medics could move in and take over.

Prompto had no memory of anything that happened next until he blinked awake in a bed that wasn't his, in a room that most definitely wasn't his. The crisp white bandages and bedding were a stark contrast to the bloodied reds and browns he had been covered in earlier.

The steady beeping of machinery told him he was most likely in hospital, possibly the medical wing of the Citadel. He felt exhausted. Like he could close his eyes and sleep for twenty years. The was no pain though - that was thanks to the very strong painkillers currently being pumped into his body.

"Iggy?" He called out, voice hoarse from lack of use and thirst. "Marshal? Noct?" He rubbed at his eye with his hand and that was when he noticed his wristband was missing. His barcode was on show for the world to see. Fuck! Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He didn't know what it meant. Just that it had something to do with him being from Niflheim and his parents drilling it into him over and over that he could never let anyone see it. And he'd been so careful. His whole life. He kept it covered. Until now. His heart rate spiked in panic, causing the machine to beep more.

[starless_sky]

Ignis had never met the Argentums but he knew he disliked their characters simply by observing the gaps in Prompto's upbringing. The boy was too self-sufficient in some areas and sorely lacking in love. It was a crying shame they were so easy to supplant but he did it with impunity. Though... he liked to think he was more of a big brother than a mom, despite what Noct and Prompto teased.

Cor sighed as the kid fell. He'd seen it too many times in the field. Prompto had gotten more hurt than he knew but his adrenal rush had kept him going. Once his omega was safe it all hit him at once. Cor had seen people survive for hours and drop dead after getting their loved one to safety.

He had a lot of time to kill and a lot of data to process so while the boys were in hospital, he worked on the encrypted files. Him, Monica, Dustin, Clarus, and they disseminated it to the whole team.

When Prompto awoke a steady voice began to calm him. He ought to be familiar.

"Easy, easy Prompto. It's okay." Cor's calloused hand appeared, covering Prompto's barcode. "breath.... in...1...2...3...4....hold it.... out..1...2...3...4... hold.... inhale..." and he'd continue with him until the kid's heart rate dropped.

"Don't panic, I've already seen it. You've had it since you were a baby." he sat up in his chair. He wasn't always great at this comforting thing but Cor had a soft spot for Prom. It was just them in the room. A citadel hospital room. Stark and clean but quiet and safe. It was dark outside the window, only the lights from the city and the glow of the wall could be seen.

"How are you feeling? Any pain?" Cor set a water cup with a straw and a plate with a dome on the rolling table. He pressed the button to sit Prompto's bed up so he could drink. Under the dome were vegetables, fruit, and a simple soup.

"You were in surgery for almost twelve hours. Don't force yourself to eat all of it." he waited until Prompto either asked for pain meds or began eating before he continued.

"You're in the citadel hospital. Prince Noctis is upstairs. He hasn't woken up yet. He's going to be fine but he'll be here a long while." a pause. "You proud of yourself?" he let his irritation hang in the air. "You should be. You saved his life. Any longer and he may not have made it. They had to burn his heat off." meaning they had to administer the toxic controlled substance that could stop a heat or a rut in its tracks. It worked but it burned the veins and was only ever used as a last resort under a doctor's supervision.

"If you hadn't gotten to him when you did, gods only know what would have happened. You saved him." he smiled.

Then went back to stern.

"That being said... what the hell, Prompto."

[real_life_rpg]

Cor's voice cut through the panic. Prompto found himself following Cor's instructions and felt himself begin to relax. Panic attacks weren't anything new. Prom had had plenty growing up. It had been a while since he'd had one this bad though. Eventually his breathing evened out and his heart rate dropped back to a healthy level.

His brows furrowed as he looked at Cor. How did Cor know that? Was it in his personnel files? Probably. Surely the King and the Marshal of the Crownsguard would look over his adoption papers before allowing him to join the Crownsguard. But Cor said he'd seen it. When? How? Was there a photo of it? Prom looked around the room before back at Cor. "You've seen it? Has anyone else?"

Prompto took a small sip of the water. It felt like heaven on his throat. He shook his head. "No pain. Just tired." The drugs were good. He didn't ask about his own surgery. It didn't matter. All that mattered was Noctis. His heart broke at hearing that Noct had had to have his heat burned off. Prom had never had his rut burned off, but he'd heard horror stories about how awful it was. He wouldn't wish it on any omega, especially his omega.

"I'm sorry I disobeyed your order, Marshal. I just... I couldn't sit by and do nothing. I... I just needed to get to Noct. I needed to get to my om-- to Noct. I'm prepared to accept whatever punishment you deem fit, Sir." He poked at his soup with his spoon. "I have nothing but respect for you, Sir, and I'm sorry if I disappointed you."

It was hard not to feel small when being stared down by the Immortal.

"Is Noct... Will he be okay? Will there be any long-term damage? Will his heats return to normal? Can I see him? Am I allowed?"

[starless_sky]

Typical. Prompto only cared about Noct. Typical alpha shit. It wasn't like he didn't get it, being an alpha himself. Not that he'd ever found The One like that. He was married to his work, he didn't need the distraction.

"One thing at a time, kid." He nudged the water cup, wanting Prompto to drink more. Prompto was on IV fluids, pain meds, and heavy antibiotics and antivirals but still, water would help his throat. The poor kid was all over the place. Worried sick about his omega, and don't think he didn't catch that slip of the tongue. Not like neglecting to say it was the same as hiding it from the marshal. He knew.

Strange enough though, the hospital staff had done extensive tests on Noctis while he was put under. They checked him for sexual assault, they could tell he'd never been bonded, he was still a virgin. His cervix had never relaxed open and broken its seal, as all omegas did when they had penetrative sex during heat. It had to be with an alpha, no toy would trigger that reaction. Regis was relieved his son wasn't assaulted but Cor knew what had to be happening with Prompto and the prince. He knew Prompto was holding himself back but the kid had more self restraint than anyone he'd ever seen. The marshal himself couldn't say he could do the same.

"He will be okay. Don't think he will have any long term damage, he should have normal heats again after this but if he stays in the hospital for another one, they might have to burn that one too. He's not awake right now but you can see him when he is if you are cleared to leave this bed. I haven't been upstairs to get an update in a few hours. Been looking over the files you sent me."

Which brings him to the next order of business.

"Disappointed me? Hah. Don't insult me with that lie. You'd do it again in a heartbeat." he had some venom in his voice but mostly for himself. "What you did was brave, heroic... and stupid. What if you'd been killed? What if you alerted them to move Noctis somewhere we couldn't find him? That could have easily gone wrong, Prompto."

He sighed. "You did a hell of a thing, kid. You need to know we went to Zegnautus. I saw what you left behind, what you did. I watched the tapes, all of us have. We listened to what you sent... the glaives and the guard are going to greet you as a hero and I'm not saying you don't deserve it... but you and I both know you can do better. If you want to be the alpha to Prince Noctis you have to do better than that. You can't go losing your mind and become one-man-army every time someone threatens him."

Many would say it was ridiculous for Cor to chastise Prompto after his performance in Niflheim but Cor knew better. Prompto wasn't a master of his craft yet, he did this impulsively, which meant he could do better with more knowledge and training. Cor would be doing him a disservice setting the bar anywhere at this point.

"You need to be careful, you should live a long life for your omega's sake."

He waited a moment. "There, that's your punishment..." he shook his head. "You're too damn much like me. You weren't supposed to pick up the reckless brash fool characteristic." He smirked a bit.

"Now that's out of the way... I want to talk to you about your barcode. If you aren't irate from the lecture... yes I've seen it. Regis has seen it. You were still a baby then. I..." he licked his lips, looking away. This was a first for him in many years, to feel like he was without words.

"I've got a lot to say about it... if you're up to listen. About you. About your mark, where you were born... if you want to hear it from me."

[real_life_rpg]

Prompto took another sip of water and tried to shift a little to sit up more. He winced in pain. Okay, so maybe not even the good drugs were enough if he was going to start squirming about. He found a somewhat comfortable position and stilled. He made himself take another sip of water, before eating a mouthful of soup. Not as good as Iggy makes. But warm and nutritious and everything his body needed to help repair itself.

Prompto had never really had a high opinion of himself. His self-confidence was ridiculously low - especially for an alpha. And honestly, he didn't see the fact that he was holding back with Noct as a big deal. It didn't even cross his mind that he was doing practically the impossible. Alphas were naturally programmed to respond to the call of an omega, to want to bond, to mate, to breed. And Prompto wanted those things more than anything. But most alphas wouldn't or couldn't hold themselves back from the temptation - especially when an omega is deep in their heat, slick and sweet. And Noctis wasn't an ordinary omega - he was a royal omega with magic seeping through his veins. His allure was stronger and sweeter than a regular omega.

The fact Prompto had been able to hold back for one heat, let alone multiple heats was nothing short of a miracle. Yet Prom saw it as no big deal. No more of a big deal than two betas waiting until after high school or until one turns a certain age. It was just what it was. It was tough, but they were waiting until they could officially be together.

He couldn't help but wither under Cor's chastising. A far cry from the alpha who had single-handedly ripped apart the Empire in the name of love. The former lone wolf now looked more like a tiny puppy dog. And really, that was Prompto all over. A ball of rainbows and sunshine until someone threatened those he loved.

"In my defence..." Prompto started weakly. "They didn't just threaten him. They hurt him..." He poked at the soup some more. "You... saw? Everything? Oh... Guess the cleaner hadn't been," he attempted to joke but it fell flat.

"Forrealz though... I'll do better. I'll try harder. I need to be the best alpha I can be." At least Cor hadn't fired, killed or exiled him. That was something, right?

Wait... was Cor the Immortal lost for words? Holy shit. He was a man of few words but he always had the right words! Cor not knowing what to say was like Ignis not knowing how to prepare an ingredient or Gladio refusing to read a sappy romance novel. It just never happened.

"I..." Did Prompto want to know? Would he regret it? Knowledge was a funny thing like that, once it had been obtained it couldn't be easily lost. He had always wondered about his life before he came to Lucis. What his birth parents had been like. Why he came to Insomnia. All he knew was that he was born in Niflheim and he had a weird barcode tattoo. Was that enough? Did he want to know the truth?

After a long pause he nodded. "... Lay it on me."

[starless_sky]

Even Ignis would prepare bland food for recovery. Better for healing and all that but he'd make something for Prompto once he was out of hospital.

The fact Prompto considered it nothing was a sign of his prowess. Cor didn't want him to suddenly have an ego but maybe he ought to impress on him how great he was. The marshal was certain Prom was the greatest alpha he'd met. Strong yet controlled. Devastating yet gentle. He remained in control even around the prince which said it all. Even Regis had to know what that said about Prompto. He was no ordinary man.

The public would learn eventually. They'd tell Prompto how rare that was.

This was gentle chastising too. Cor had reduced bigger men to tears before. Prompto took it pretty well considering all he'd been through. It wouldn't have surprised the marshal if he'd argued or wept. But he was cool. Excellent. Cor approved.

"I understand that. My point still stands. Noctis needs you and you need your allies. Lean on your friends. Going in alone makes for a good story, maybe even a nickname but it's not a way of life if you want to live long." trust him.

"The cleaner was in two pieces last I looked." He smirked "If you're making jokes you're doing better. You did good kid... Great even... Just don't turn out like me."

Now it was time for the talk he needed to have decades ago. The fact he'd failed this kid in the end.

"There is a man in Niflheim. Verstael Besithia. He heads up the Magitek infantry research. Been focusing on him for years. He..." Cor wanted to cut through it but he had to just deliver the blow. Quick and easy.

"He has been creating daemons out of living people. Using the demon as the core of the MT armor. He made them light proof so they can deploy at any time of day. At first he was using volunteers, prisoners, then soldiers, and then he discovered how to clone himself. He grew his own clones, his children, in his lab with the sole purpose of becoming a Magitek soldier."

He offered Prompto a file. It was old, as old as him. In it were reports and photos. A young Besithia. Photos of the lab, the clones, the robot assembly line. Several photos of baby Prompto, bar code tattoo still red and inflamed. A photo of a young Cor holding him looking awkward and Regis chuckling. There's a hand written note on the bottom: 'new dads!'

"Wait, did that... That's where that photo went?" he narrowed his eyes.

"Clarus."

[real_life_rpg]

Prompto fell silent for a long while. It was a lot to process. He'd always known he was Nif born and that was bad enough but the truth? Oh man, the truth was so much worse. His heart rate started to spike again, the machine beeped in warning. But he forced himself to breathe through it. In for four. Hold. Out for four. His eyes misted with tears.

He'd changed his mind. He didn't want to know. The truth... the truth sucked.

"I'm an MT?" He asked, voice barely above a whisper. A far cry from his usual loud self, even less like the raging alpha who had torn apart the Empire. "I'm... one of those?" How many had he gunned down? He thought they were robots. Mindless killing machines. But they were people too? That easily doubled, if not tripled the body count he'd left behind in Gralea.

"MTs were created by the Empire to destroy Lucis. I... I'm the enemy? I don't deserve to even be near Noct then. I... what if I have some sort of killswitch just waiting to activate?! What if I hurt him? I can't... I can't be near him. You should lock me up. This has got to be some kind of treason."

He gripped the file tight in his hand, staring at the picture of him in Cor's arms. Cor looked so young. Regis looked full of life, not worn down before his time from the toll of the Wall. And Prom... he looked like any other baby, aside from the barcode. Rosy cheeks, blond hair, wide eyes taking in the world around him. His parents had never really had baby photos of him on show. It was strange to see himself.

As if speaking his name caused the very man to appear, Clarus laughed from the doorway. "You were little more than a child yourself back then. Just as reckless as you are now though. His Majesty wished to speak with you, but I can see you're occupied. I'll tell him you'll see him later?"

"Good work in Gralea by the way, Argentum."

Bedbound and bandaged as he was, and halfway through an existential crisis, Prom still crossed his arm across his chest and bowed his head to the King's Shield. "Sir! Thank you, Sir."

[starless_sky]

Niflheim was a nation full of people the same as Prompto and Noctis. Their leadership was rotten, that was all. It didn't help Prompto in his case, however...

"At ease. May I?" he looked to Cor who nodded to his superior. Clarus strode into the room.

"To what do we owe the pleasure?" Cor asked, mostly as a formality.

"You asked to speak with the boy yourself, but he is still one of my men, as the head of the Crownsguard I have a duty to see him."

"You got bored upstairs."

"Ohh... never." Clarus absolutely got bored upstairs. Cor smirked to himself. "I thought you might have trouble."

Clarus looked to Prompto. "Were it treason, you wouldn't be in your current position, you know this." There was a certain look in his eyes, a certain pride. He liked Prompto already but after watching the security footage from Zegnautus, after seeing their enemies laid low, he had to admit the kid outdid himself. His own expectations had been demolished.

Unlike Cor's need to instill a fatherly lecture out of fear of losing his kid, Clarus was able to simply be an impressed commander. Let that be Prompto's sign that the whole of the citadel was impressed with him.

"While this is disturbing to you, rest assured, you are human. You were saved from a cursed life."

Cor chimed in "All the MT babies are normal babies. Bestithia does something to them in adulthood to transform them into daemons. He destroys their bodies but keeps their essence in the machines. I watched him do it, it..." he shook his head. Those were dark memories.

Clarus looked at him. "You were sent to Niflheim to observe and report, nothing more. Yet you returned with a child." Cor looked a bit vulnerable then, a single crack in his stoic mask.

"I would never just leave him there." Cor crossed his arms.

"Argentum, he called his majesty and I frantic, we were certain he'd been injured. He wanted to know how to size diapers. Imagine our confusion."

Cor groaned softly. A baby brother being roasted by the eldest.

"We had no idea what to think of it, he went silent for days then he returned with you, looking every bit the new father; terrified." he shook his head. "It crippled him to give you up to the Argentums. He threw himself into his work. We thought he would never recover."

Cor stiffened, again, his eyes looked vulnerable, at the right angle there might even be misty eyes. "Clarus." his voice was tense, Clarus was touching a nerve.

"You still have yet to." Clarus looked at Cor. He was never here as the head of the Crownsguard, or as the King's Shield. He was here for Cor, he came as his brother. "Someone needed to kickstart you. I will see myself out." He looked to Prompto.

"When you are well enough, his majesty would like to speak with you upstairs... as would I." and then he was gone.

[real_life_rpg]

What on Eos was going on right now? The Shield of the King and the Swordarm of the King were practically roasting each other. The kind of teasing and banter that Prompto, Noct, Ignis and Gladio were likely to partake in when they hung out together. Sure, Prom knew that Clarus and Cor were human with human emotions. He also knew there was a lot of shared history and brotherhood between them. But to actually witness both of them allow their masks to slip enough to be human was kind of surreal. He felt like he was intruding on a very private moment.

Also, his head was swimming with information. He was the clone of some mad scientist who should have been turned into a soulless killing machine but was spared his fate because Cor freaking Leonis kidnapped him from a lab? That meant... if Prom was understanding things correctly, that if circumstances had been different Cor Leonis. The Immortal. Marshal of the Crownsguard could have been his dad...

Woah. That was crazy to even think about. He could have grown up in and around the Citadel. Had playdates with a baby Noctis. Grown up loved and wanted. Never have to pick between paying the rent, the utilities or buying food. He could have had a home.

He tried to make sense of it all in his head, focus still very much on the photo. They looked good. Sure, Cor had been young, and Prom looked nothing like him, but they looked like a family.

Looking up when Clarus spoke, he gave a nod and saluted him once more. "Yes Sir." The thought of speaking to the King and his Shield was a terrifying one.

His focus was immediately back on the photo. Eventually, he lifted his head to look at Cor, those violet-blue eyes were slightly red and misted, and he couldn't help but sniffle a little. "You're the one who brought me to Insomnia?" His childhood may not have been the happiest, but it sure beat being turned into a daemonic robot thing. "I always wondered who my real parents were. Mad Scientist Besithia, huh? Not quite the John and Jane Doe I made up in my head..."

A pause. "... Thank you."

[starless_sky]

Clarus smiled and saluted back, though it was informal. He disappeared as Cor shook his head. The fact they allowed that display to have a witness was one thing, the fact the witness was not of their social circle, their age group, and was Prompto Argentum was another.

Prompto would learn in time how big a gesture that was.

"Yeah... sorry you had to find that out. I don't think there is a good way to give that kind of information." Cor's eyes lingered on Prompto. On his red eyes. The kid had to be going through it, his whole world was turned upside down when the prince was kidnapped and then again when he learned this.

"I wish I had a better answer for you but you shouldn't thank me... I was the one who gave you up. I thoght it would be better for you. I thought I would make a poor father and you'd be neglected. I thought..." he rubbed the back of his head, unable to meet Prompto's eyes for a moment.

"... I thought wrong. For that I'm sorry." he smiled faintly. "But you came back..."

[real_life_rpg]

Prompto was going to need a bigger metaphorical rug to store all his crap under after this, that was for sure. No therapist in Insomnia was paid enough to deal with all this madness. Prom would do what he always did - shove down the bad feelings and hide behind a kilowatt smile. It had gotten him this far in life - why change the habit of a lifetime?

"You saved me. Without you, I would've become one of those things. I wouldn't be me. I'd be a killing machine. I wouldn't love chocobos or photography. I wouldn't play music too loud and annoy the neighbours. I wouldn't pet all the stray kitties and doggies I see. I wouldn't love Noct. I'd just... I'd be a monster. You gave me a life. And for that... 'thank you' doesn't seem like nearly enough."

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, before giving in and using the handkerchief Noct had scented for him. He dried his eyes before inhaling the lingering scent of his mate.

"And you believed in me when no one else did when I wanted to join the Crownsguard. Everyone thought I was too small, and too weak. But not you. Even when I fell flat on my face or my butt more times than I can count, you never gave up on me."

[starless_sky]

That was fair, Cor had his bad coping skills too. He'd still try to help the kid get through this and learn to adjust. It was okay to not be okay with things. Trying to push it all down forever was hard on the soul, it could break Prompto and if it did, Cor wouldn't live with that.

"I wanted you to have a life. I'm glad you have one, I'm glad you're you..." he watched the kid get emotional, watched him take comfort in what he could only assume was a scented handkerchief. Cor never took a mate, never found someone he couldn't live without. It didn't help he was married to his work and his heart was hard to reach. Only a few people had ever managed to win his affection. Prompto was one. Ever since he was a baby, he just couldn't let him go.

"You're a survivor. You were even as a baby. Smiling through the pain isn't new, you did that when we were traveling through Niflheim. It was so cold, I only had my jacket to put you in, you had ice crystals on your eyelashes. I felt so bad when I saw them I stopped and made a fire. I guess you could tell I was upset, you started smiling at me." he has a wistful smile as he remembers.

"I knew you'd be alright, that you were the type who would get through anything."

That being said "You should be angry, I let you go to the wrong people. I regret it but it doesn't change what happened to you."

[real_life_rpg]

Prompto was suddenly seeing a whole new side of Cor - a side he could guarantee most people never got to see. It was humbling and warmed Prom's heart. He looked at the photo of him and Cor again, before reaching for his phone. He took a snapshot of it and saved it, making sure to password-protect it, just like he did all his photos on all his devices. Being the best friend and unofficial boyfriend of the Prince meant you could never be too careful.

"Hard to imagine a young, rash Cor Leonis looking after a baby. Kinda suits you though. Any kid would be lucky to have you as a dad." It wasn't too late. Cor could still find love, find his one, have a whole pack of babies.

He smiled sadly. "My folks tried their best." He had practically raised himself, but even now, he found it hard to say anything bad about the Argentums. "They were always just busy, working. But I was happy and loved." He was lonely and barely given the love a child needed to thrive. The fact Prom had grown into such a loving, kind person was some kind of miracle. "Mom would always try to make it special when she was home." His dad... not so much.

"Hey... lean in..." Ignoring the protests from his healing wounds, Prom surged forward, phone in hand so he could snap a selfie of the both of them.

[starless_sky]

Cor would approve of Prompto's security habits on his photos. Noct did too, he didn't want any of their 'personal' photos getting out.

"That's what Clarus and his majesty said too." he wasn't looking for love, he didn't exactly miss it. Didn't feel a great void in his life, in fact he would rather just continue as-is and try to get closer to Prompto. If it wasn't too late.

Prompto's eyes gave it all away. Cor learned years before that if he wanted the real story he needed to look beyond what Prompto told him. The kid was determined to be positive even in the face of great peril which was a hell of a skill but it made it hard sometimes to know just how bad it was in his life. His insecurities and his need to be close to his friends told the marshal he had a lack of love growing up. His self-sufficiency validated that yet his inability in some areas also validated it. He was clearly self-taught.

So while Prompto said his parents were good, Cor knew that everything Prompto said on the subject, he could take the opposite to be the truth. His parents barely tried, he was miserable and alone, his parents didn't make him feel valued. His regret felt heavier in his heart, like it might tear through him.

Prompto cut through his thoughts before he could get lost in them and he didn't see the obvious trap. He ended up looking at the camera with one eyebrow raised in defiant curiosity.

"Hmph, shoulda seen that coming." he wasn't one for photos other than those required for press releases.

"I can't say I would have done any better if you stayed with me. I was busy all the time but I would have made sure you knew I wanted you." he did the unthinkable and pet Prompto's hair. "You're still just like you were when you were a baby. You haven't changed a bit." he smirked. "I expect you to lay still and don't pull moves like that again. Rest and heal. Understand?"

[real_life_rpg]

A smile and a joke could get a guy through almost anything. Daemon attack? Joke. Parental abandonment issues? Smile. Getting his ass kicked daily for being a Nif and/or being a weak alpha? Joke all day long, baby. It was an unhealthy coping mechanism, but it worked for Prom. At least he wasn't turning to drugs or alcohol. He just put up a giant wall of fakery around himself instead. Very few people saw beyond that wall. It took Prompto a lot to be able to trust people enough to let them in.

Prompto looked down at the photo on his phone. A stark contrast to the picture of a baby Prompto and a young Cor. Both older, Prom currently bruised and scuffed up. Both carrying a world of pain in their hearts and their eyes. But there was a likeness to both photos. A sense that they just fit. Prom held the photo next to his phone, looking at the pictures side by side.

If circumstances had been different - just how many pictures of the two of them would they have? It almost hurt to think about.

Prom couldn't help but lean into that petting. He might be some kind of raging alpha who tore apart the Empire singlehandedly but he was also a touch-starved young adult. "Pft. I'm way cuter than I was as a baby," he joked, falling right back into using humour to deflect. Still, he clicked around on his phone a little and sent Cor a copy of their new selfie.

"I can't rest for too long. I gotta go see the King and Lord Amicitia - I know he said when I feel better, but I feel like I probably shouldn't be keeping the King and his Shield waiting, y'know? And maybe they'll let me look in on Noct too..."

[starless_sky]

Cor won't pretend he doesn't know exactly what that was like. He didn't smile or joke but he had his ways of getting through the pain without coping. Still, he hated to see it in Prompto. He wanted better for the kid, the kid deserved better, he should have done better for him. Hopefully... someday Prompto would let him in and tell him the truth.

The two photos together were kind of what he wanted all along, other than there should have been a litany of other photos of Prom and himself. Or at least just Prompto being a kid.

"Keep it, it doesn't need to be in the file."

He pet the kid's hair, he didn't seem to mind it so Cor just... kept it up, don't mind him and don't mention it. Really. Don't say a word.

"Dunno about that, you were preeetty cute." he smiled, the light in his eyes warmed. He didn't respond to the text chime in his pocket and in fact he wouldn't but Prompto may see it later as his wallpaper.

"They can wait on you, trust the king is busy with other matters, he expects you to rest. They both do." and if they have an an iota of a problem with Prompto sleeping longer Cor would deal with it personally.

"...You can at least nap once more, can't you?"

[real_life_rpg]

How many other people could say they had gotten their hair petted by Cor the Immortal? Prom imagined the number was low - like, able to count on one hand low. Noct, maybe? The King, possibly? It was most likely a very elite group that Prompto was privileged to be a part of.

How many other people could say that Cor the Immortal was practically their dad? That was an even more elite group of people. In fact, Prompto was probably the only member of that group.

"I guess I probably created a world of paperwork and diplomatic issues for you all, huh? The Empire probably didn't take kindly to me killing their own. That Loqi jerk totally deserved it! And don't even get me started on Caligo. He deserved so much worse." Prom killed him too quickly. He should have made him suffer more. The way Caligo made Noct suffer.

He wanted to argue that it was bad form to keep the King of all people waiting, but the hair petting, the drugs, and the emotional rollercoaster of the day were all taking their toll. Prompto shuffled down the bed a little. The rest of his soup and the files forgotten as he leaned into that petting more.

"Do you need to leave or are you staying?" Please stay? Was the unspoken plea.

[starless_sky]

Zero. Zero other people could say that. Prompto could technically say he got his hair pet by the Immortal again. He did it when Prompto was a baby to keep him quiet while traveling home. Also for emotional support.

Cor chuckled at the paperwork upstairs. "Oh more paperwork than you want to think about. Good paperwork. You cleaned a lot of the king's problems up in Niflheim. A lot of them." like, basically all of them. "He'll wait..."

Ah, Caligo. "While I understand your heart, Prompto, you did well with them. Torture isn't a one-way interaction, it hurts you too, it corrupts the person who does it. You needed to dispatch them quickly and you did, that's what matters."

He continued the petting, remembering how this put Prompto to sleep without fail. "If you promise to nap, I'll be here." as if he had anything else to do. He'd cleared his schedule to be here, this was his post until Prompto was discharged. When Prompto woke, Cor would be in his same seat, arms crossed, half dozing.

[real_life_rpg]

"I promise," Prom half-whispered as he drifted off to sleep. His sleep was relatively peaceful, save for a few mumbles and twitches. It was likely that when he didn't have Cor's magic hair petting or the good pain relief to rely on that the nightmares of what he did in Gralea would haunt him.

Eventually he stirred. Those blue-violet eyes blinked open slowly. He was a little surprised to see that Cor had actually stayed. He shouldn't be. The man was a man of his word, after all. Again, he found himself wondering how many people got to see Cor Leonis like this. Part of him wondered if he was living in some bizarro alternate universe where Cor was a lot more human. Made sense to Prom's drug-fogged mind.

He couldn't help but smile. "You stayed," he said, quietly. Not wanting to disturb Cor, but also not wanting the guy to be uncomfortable and suffer for it later - gotta take care of those old man bones!

Prom needn't have worried about disturbing him, because an overly loud knock at the door followed that would no doubt do the trick. Titus Drautos stepped in. "Leonis! Orders from the King - go get some rest. I'll watch the kid."