A/B/O Promptis bc omg yaaaaas

[starless_sky]

 
It has been a miserable month so far. He thought he had everything, he thought he had the third astral in the bag, he'd finally make contact with Luna and convince her to join them. He'd finish this war against the empire and get the crystal back and everyone would go home. He could be with Prompto then, because he KNEW Luna would understand. Hell, she probably had someone else. He never felt like they were in love even through their notebook messages. They were friends forever but that was all it was, friendship. He was on the cusp of it, on the cusp of getting Luna away from the empire, the move that would turn the tides in this uphill battle but then everything changed and things went downhill and kept rolling down and down just getting worse. Luna died and Ignis was blind, darkness was falling, the daemons were getting worse, he was unhinged, he couldn't fucking focus, he was snapping at his friends, Gladio was at the end of his patience with it and they were getting further into imperial territory which just meant everything was going to be tougher. More security checks, tighter security checks. More guards... more events like how he and Prompto had to get off the train to fend off mechs. 

And gods, Prompto. Noct had... he didn't want to think about it and at the same time he couldn't get it out of his mind. Prompto's panicked face as he fell from the train. Standing there on the top watching as his body quickly shrank in the distance and was gone... the sinking feeling like he wanted to fall to his knees and maybe drop of after him. The horror of realising he was duped. That chase through the train was Prompto... he had thought in the back of his mind that the way Ardyn had been talking was weird, it wasn't his normal speech pattern but he hadn't... been thinking then. He was just so angry, he needed to avenge Luna, he needed to avenge his father. The crytsal. Insomnia.... what he'd said to him, he'd blamed Prompto for everything then threw him off the train. What must he think now? He'd told him he loved him, that he wanted to mark him, that he wanted to be his alpha back in high school and in Altissia he made it clear to Prompto his feelings hadn't changed but then Luna died and poor Prompto had kept a sensitive distance while Noctis withdrew from the world... it looked like he changed his mind didn't it? 

Prompto was alone and vulnerable to Ardyn... Ardyn. How could he let this happen? He would fix this, if he had to tear down every window and door in Gralea. But that may not be necessary. He was sure the asshole chancellor would place him in the keep. If it wasn't so damn hard to stop getting his hopes up every time there was an illusion. Every time it was an MT running ahead, dipping around a corner, or slumped in a chair Noctis' breath hitched and then his heart sank when it wasn't him. He started to wonder if it would only be illusions and maybe Prompto wasn't here after all. But then they headed into a chamber, one that didn't seem like the main path but just for completion he and Ignis and Gladio stepped inside. Down a musty hallway of cells.... and there he was. Or at least an image of him. He couldn't get the doors open fast enough. What was he in? Gods... Ardyn is going to pay for this. He didn't miss the circular saws on the table. He didn't want to think about it. He had to get him down, had to get Prompto out of that thing. 

Comments

yep!

[wideaperture]

Prompto whined at the burn, and part of that might have been that he was disappointed over the idea of hiding Noct's mark. He knew why it had to be done so he didn't try to stop it, but there was still a part of him that wanted to show it off to the world.

They could worry about that when they weren't in a rusty old facility filled with broken down MTs and demons.

For now, Prompto focused on cleaning himself the best that they could and then eventually dressing. He did need that potion to stand properly, and after all of that he finally felt like himself again.

Enough to fight, anyway. Usually after a heat he'd want to sleep for a while but they couldn't afford wasting any more time. He wanted to get out of this place. He felt driven to fulfill Noct's destiny. And they needed that drive. There were plenty of demons between this room and the crystal.

did we just stay up all night omg I need to sleep, the fucking sun is about to rise.

[starless_sky]

The whine earned Prompto another kiss to his shoulder and an apologetic whisper from Noct. The bandage was enough for now, the guys would know what it meant, Ardyn would know what it meant. And by the time they got home he could take the bandage off and show it to the whole damn world.

He had several more potions ready to use on him if he still struggled with walking or standing even when they were down the hallway. He squeezed his hand. "Alright... let's do this." he smiled at him. "I wonder though... it's redundant now but... we the king I think I'm supposed to get married..." he looked to Prompto. "Just... think about it. Okay? We don't have to." because for all intents and purposes they already were but people expected a big ceremony when royalty was involved.

"Let's kick ass." he unlocked the door and found Gladio and Ignis waiting outside. Gladio looked them both over and took stock of that bandage on Prompto's neck. He knew what was up.

"Glad you two got it out." he sighed "Come on, crystal ain' gonna save itself." he started on down the hallway. Ignis knew it was over, he couldn't smell anything on Prompto. He almost congratulated them but it would be inappropriate so he just said "Glad you are well, Prompto."

niiight!

[wideaperture]

Prompto honestly felt dizzy for a moment but it had nothing to do with the heat wearing down on him. It was the fact that Noctis had literally just proposed to him. He wanted to say 'hell yeah!' to that but he didn't get the chance.

Instead, he focused on joining the others. He reached out to put a hand on Ignis's arm. He knew Ignis couldn't see his smile any more, so offering physical connection was the best way to show he was there are really all right.

"I'm doing great, all things considered. Let's get going so that we can leave this place and start a better future for everyone."

Ok fine you talked me into it. One more tag.

[starless_sky]

Noctis would not be offended if Prompto just looked at him in the hallway and said 'yes' out of context. He'd know what it meant and he'd be so happy. He wanted to have Prompto all to himself in every way possible. Fuck the people still mourning. He knew Luna wouldn't want people crying over her, she'd want people living life and enjoying the light he was going to bring... he knew she'd want them to be happy. So for her sake he would be. He hoped she was watching him as he went with his friends to the end of this long road.

And eventually he had to put down her brother Ravus in a half demonic form... and then he had to split off from his friends. That killed him. What if he lost Prompto? What if Ignis couldn't fight well enough on his own and fell? What if Gladio couldn't compensate for the two of them and died in battle? He couldn't think about it. He had to keep moving, like Ignis said, a king pushes forward never looking back. Though he may think about what was behind him very much.

Then it was all over, he was in the crystal. It should be easy now... or at least that's what Gladio expected. He knew the crystal was a tough rock to serve and Noct was going to be different. He was the chosen king, not just a link in the chain. Ignis knew more about it than him but they agreed this might take a very long time and they had better help fight the daemons in the meantime while they wait for Noctis to do his part.

So that's what they did after fighting with Ardyn. They had nothing they could do, Noctis was beyond them inside the crystal now, right where he needed to be. The best they could do in his absence was to keep the daemon population down.

So they went away from there, though it took forever and they ended up meeting Aranea again. She helped roll the Regalia on her ship and get the three of them out. Ignis protested at first but fell silent. He couldn't think about what Noctis was in, he was in danger. Immediate danger that made him uncomfortable.

Gladio approached Prompto in the ship.

"Hey.... you okay? I know you just bonded suddenly but I know you two were.... close for a long time. I... you know if you aren't okay you can just tell me and Iggy, okay?"

<3

[wideaperture]

Prompto felt at a loss. There hadn't even been a proper good bye because they had forced Noctis to go on to the crystal right in the heat of battle. He hadn't even been able to get a proper good bye kiss and now all of those unspoken plans of their future seemed far beyond reach.

Ardyn had taunted them too. They had shot and stabbed him and he had just gotten up, put on his hat, and left as if nothing at happened. Before he had gone, though, Prompto could swear that Ardyn had let his eyes linger on Prompto's stomach. It had just been a moment, but to Prompto it spoke volumes.

He bent over and put his arms around his lower stomach and tried to pretend he wasn't completely freaking out. He wasn't every good at that and small whimpers and hitched sighs kept escaping him. He felt like he was just barely keeping a panic attack at bay.

"I don't know what I am," he admitted after a long moment. "I feel like I'm going to be sick."

[starless_sky]

Ardyn had cameras all over the whole dreadnaught. He saw it all, he knew the chances of Prompto conceiving so he ought to give a glance to the newest in the Line of Lucis... before he extinguishes their life too.

Gladio and Ignis both knew Prompto would be a mess.

"Hey, have a seat." Gladio guided him to sit with Ignis. "I'll see if I can find something to settle you." and he does come back with crackers and water. "It ain't much... but take this." he sits across from them.

"So what happens now? We go home and just... fight daemons until Noct gets back?"

[wideaperture]

Prompto didn't want to talk about the future. He didn't want to think about spending any time away from Noct. Who knew what he was experiencing locked away in that crystal all alone? Instead, he silently ate crackers and occasionally reached up to touch the bandage on his neck, as if testing that the bite was still there.

"If things continue as they have, the days are likely to get shorter and shorter until there's no sunlight left. Our top priority should be protecting the citizens," Ignis replied. Which is to say, fighting demons until Noct gets back.

The third time that he felt Prompto move his arm to press against the bite, he reached out and gently tried to take Prompto's hand. He missed his hand at first, gripping onto his wrist lightly and then sliding his fingers down to take Prompto's hand. "You'll only irritate the wound the more you prod at it. I can already smell the bond on you, you have little reason to fret over it." And many other things to fret over, he didn't add.

[starless_sky]

"Yep, we'll have plenty to keep us busy." Gladio sighed. "Enjoy the little light we have left, hopefully Noct will be back before it gets really bad." oh how he would laugh at those words later.

"Iggy's right. I can smell it on you too. Don't mess with it, just let it heal and scar over. You'll be happier with it that way." he knew what Iggy was trying to say too. They had a lot of shit to worry about. Getting home, staying safe, keeping everyone else safe, hiding from Ardyn...

He idly wondered if Ardyn would try to make an attack on them or the cities. He had to be prepared for anything.

"We gotta call Cor when we get back and bring the car to Cindy. It's a wreck. Iggy... you think we should use it if we can or just store it?"

[wideaperture]

"As much as I loathe to store her, I do worry the Regalia brings too much attention." If he had still had his sight, he probably would have glanced at Prompto then, but as he didn't his head stayed pointed towards the side.

Prompto seemed to get the implication there without the glance. He swallowed the crackers around a dry throat. "So, um, guys? Is the bond the only thing you can smell on me?" he asked. A logical part of his mind knew it was far too soon to figure out if he was carrying a child or not, but the way that Ardyn had seemed to imply he was left him feeling chilled to the bones.

He wanted to be happy over the idea, to reveal in the thought of carrying a child that belonged to the alpha he loved, but all he could think about was what a shitty world to bring an innocent being into.

lookit all my pretty icons

[starless_sky]

"I think so too... wouldn't want to get her in any more trouble. Besides who knows what she'll cost to fix up. And it'll be nice to surprise Noct with her all shiny and new when he gets back." Gladio smiled. Then he looked at Prompto and sat in silence for a while. He took a few long breaths.

"I don't smell Ardyn on you anymore. It's all Noct." because that's what Prompto was asking right? Pregnancy was too silly a question and even Prompto wasn't that dumb, right? Right.

"Hang in there, guys. We're gonna go back and get things in order. I say we go to Lestallum first, I want to check on Iris. We can call Cindy about towing the car when we get there and she can assess the damage. Maybe she'll know a place to store her long term.

And indeed the journey to Lucis was long but uneventful. They got the car to Lestallum and met with Iris and Talcott. The little boy was jubilant to see them all but blinked at the lack of Noctis.

"Where's prince Noctis? Is he with you?"

"No, kid. He went into the crystal, he's doing his thing." Gladio grunted and Talcott just glowed with pride.

"Of course! He's saving the world." the boy idolized his king and had unwavering faith that the light would come soon. He KNEW Noctis wouldn't fail them.



Iris greeted them with hugs and gasped at Ignis. "Oh my god, what happened?? Come inside, here... oh Ignis... and Prompto too! What happened to your neck!?" she was oblivious. Gladio sighed.

"Nevermind that. Iggy got hit in Altissia when things got bad. We don't know if it'll get better. He's dealing as best he can. We gotta get settled here for the long term. Noct is in the crystal, we gotta be ready for when he comes back."

And that began a long conversation and planning on just where they should make base. They had Ardyn to contend with, the darkness, the daemons, the empire was all but collapsed. Noct was gone... and Prompto's condition was up in the air.



It was at this time that Cor showed himself and assumed the role of a leader. He made it clear; they had to fight and they had to fight better than they were now. He'd train them all now while the light was still purging the daemons for a few hours each day and get them ready to handle a real war of attrition.

niiice. i'm fast forwarding again if that's cool? can always rewrite if not?

[wideaperture]

When they got to the hotel all Prompto wanted to do was take a long shower. A part of his mind wanted to keep any remnant of Noctis on his skin, but he knew that was disgusting. He ended up disappearing into the bathroom as soon as he could rather than lingering and answering questions.

He trusted Ignis and Gladiolus to handle any pressing issues. When he came out the bandage from his neck was gone, making it much easier to tell what happened to them, but he still avoided questions about Noct whenever they came up, often finding excuses to leave the room whenever the subject appeared.

It was easy to lose himself in Cor's training. He had always wanted to be stronger and having the Immortal be the one to teach him was better than Prompto could have ever hoped. He completely threw himself into learning as the days got shorter and shorter. He also became more and more like himself - happy and encouraging everyone around him. He took pictures of everything too, wanting to have a collection to share with Noct once he returned.

That's why it was unusual when about six weeks after Noctis had gone into the crystal rather than being preppy and ready to head into the fray, he was locked in the bathroom. His body was hunched over the toilet and he heaved and emptied the breakfast Ignis has made into it.

Fast forward away my sweet

[starless_sky]

Noct would agree that a shower beat holding onto his awful stench. He was sweaty and dirty at that time, it wasn't worth holding onto. Plus Prompto had his bite so he had something to show forever.

Plus after six weeks Prompto would have something *else* to remember Noctis by. It had been a tough six weeks in training but they were all better for it. Iris took up the mantle and she was training so hard, even Gladio couldn't stop her. She was clearly the most improved. Even Aranea, Biggs, and Wedge joined in. Everyone learned something from Cor. Volunteers from the city started to join ranks and soon they had a band of hunters all photographed and having fun together while training. It was hard, but they had a common mission more true than any other.

Even Ignis was working on getting his faculties back, Gladio couldn't stop him either. It seemed the only person Gladio could protect was Prompto which was why the blond would hear heavy knocking on the door to the bathroom.

"Prompto... you've been in there forever. Unlock the door, I have some ginger ale. It might help." pre-natal vitamins might help too.

He knocked again. "Prompto we have to talk. I can smell it from out here." and he didn't mean the vomit. Surely Prompto was under no illusions what he was sick with right?

[wideaperture]

Honestly, Prompto felt like crying but having Gladio around was soothing for many reasons. He knew the older man would protect him, for one, and there was that lingering sense that Gladdy was a 'safe' alpha and could help him even without being the alpha that Prompto's entire being cried out for.

He scooted closer to the door and unlocked it but stayed on the floor. He flushed the toilet and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as Glaudio opened the door.

He looked miserable, and not just because he had just been tossing his cookies.

[starless_sky]

He opened it as soon as it unlocked and sighed at Prompto's pathetic state. He looked horrible, as anyone would after so much vomiting.

"Come on. Wash your mouth, I got you something to drink." he knelt down to lift Prompto up and help him to the sink. "When you're finished with that, maybe drink some of this soda and definitely all the water you can keep down." he spoke softly, he knew Prompto was in a vulnerable state.

"When you're done, we gotta talk."

[wideaperture]

Following the orders of an alpha, even if it wasn't his alpha, was easy enough, so Prompto stood on shaky legs and washed out his mouth before turning to sip at the drink.

He already knew what Gladio was going to want to talk about and the thought of putting any of this to words made him think about running. He wasn't actually going to run away, of course, but he could remember how it felt to run until his lungs burst. His body almost begged to experience that again rather than face what was going to happen to it in the upcoming months.

[starless_sky]

Gladio could see that and he thought he ought to be gentle. Which... wasn't really his strongest virtue but he could try. So he lead Prompto over to have a seat. He sat across from him.

"Prompto... do you understand what's happening to you?" he doesn't mean to be condescending, he just wants to make sure they're on the same page. His form of gentleness translated to being a big brother/father. He didn't know any other way. Before he can say any more there is a knock at the apartment door. He pauses.

"Stay here." he shouldn't say that to Prompto in his own abode but he was on high alert in watching him since they got to Lestallum. He was so sure Prompto would be pregnant and he hadn't been wrong. The kid needed a support network, the baby did too. There was a few minutes where Gladio didn't return and when he did, Cor followed him. They both sat near Prompto.

"How are you feeling, Prompto?" Cor asked smoothly. Not gentle, not angry, not even disappointed.

[wideaperture]

By the time they returned, Prompto was shaking a bit and had his face in his hands. He didn't look up, not even when Cor walked in. He usually was so careful to do his part to seem professional around Cor. He was so desperate for the Immortal to approve of him and his abilities that he put extra effort when when he was around.

Right now, though, he couldn't muster the energy to do that. "Like I'm literally carrying around the future of the Lucian royal family?" he offered, at least confirming that yes, yes he did know what was happening and understood the importance and the weight of it.

"Noct better show up soon, or else I'm naming this kid after my favorite character in Kings Knight and there's nothing he can do to stop me," he added, needing there to be some kind of humor in the situation. It was also the first time he had said Noctis's name in weeks. He usually avoided the subject at all costs.

He turned his head a bit to peek out at Gladio. "Or I'm naming him after you. Ha. Missing alpha comes back to find his offspring named after a totally different alpha. That will show him."

He doesn't know why he sounds so bitter - at least for him, to a casual observer it might have seem like a light joke but these two knew him and knew if he was criticizing Noct this way it came from a place close to anger. He knows why Noct is missing and how important it is, but right in that moment he just needed him back so badly and he was still no where to be found.

[starless_sky]

It wasn't unheard of for mood swings and anger to show up during pregnancy in the best situations. Cor wasn't phased by Prompto's comments even though Gladio looked at the marshall for his reaction. Normally Gladio would play along and shoot back something equally ridiculous but right now he said nothing. Cor sat across from Prompto.

"Right... that may be true but you are on to what we need to talk about. We cannot reveal who this child's father is until he returns. It is too much of a risk to them and to you. Ardyn will be looking for them. If he comes we will face him but I'd like to avoid any risk if we can help it. The people of Lestallum need not know who this child is... even this child... need not know. Do you agree, Prompto?" he won't force this on Prompto, he'd just advise against naming the kid Lucis Caelum. At least for the time being.

"It is alright to be angry... it is natural but remember Noctis is fighting and when he returns he will need our help."

[wideaperture]

Prompto does look up fully once Cor starts speaking. He looks stricken and for a moment, he thinks that he might puke again.

"Ardyn already knows," he said, and he felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart. "Right before he left after Noct disappeared, he smirked and looked at my stomach. He knew what happened between us while we were... Gods, the sick bastard probably had cameras in the room and watched the whole thing go down..."

Yep, he's definitely going to throw up again. He makes a beeline to do just that, leaving Cor and Gladiolus standing around for a moment as he tries to empty a stomach that has nothing left in it.

[starless_sky]

Gladio follows him and enters the bathroom so he could crouch at Prompto's side. He rubs his back in soothing circles.

"We're gonna work through this together, we'll face him together if he comes. It's all gonna work out." he is not touching if Ardyn had cameras. He did, Gladio doesn't want to think about him using them in that room. He didn't put it past the chancellor. That wasn't helpful to think about anyway.

"There is no way Ardyn can know for a fact. Even if he suspects... we can go ahead and confirm it for him." he has a wicked idea and Cor strolls over to listen. Gladio looks at him, still rubbing Prompto.

"What if we fake a miscarriage or a stillbirth?"





Cor thought about it. "If Ardyn suspects pregnancy, it seems to be our only option. We're not equipped to fight him head on, not if we're going to dedicate ourselves to the daemons."

Either they deal with the legion of darkness and its refugees... or they deal with the source of all their problems, himself. They couldn't do both and even one of those things was going to take more than they had to give.

Cor spoke softly. "Prompto, what are your thoughts?"

[wideaperture]

Prompto finishes heaving and then stands carefully to move to the sink. "If we fake a still birth and people still see me around with a baby..." He paused then, thinking that over.

"Could we fake my death?" he asked, the thought coming across all at once. "We could play up the whole 'poor omega dies of a broken heart' thing. Give him the idea that when Noct comes back, he'll do so without his bonded mate."

[starless_sky]

They both looked at him stunned, then at each other. Cor smiled.

"Good idea, Prompto. That would work well. We just need to find suitable housing to hide you. The child too... perhaps we can settle in the housing at the north end of the city, near the power plant. Or we can move to Meldacio... it's safe and you'd encounter fewer people."

"Yeah but that's fewer guards."

"The hunter HQ has only warriors, Gladio. It would be a suitable hiding place. Better than Caem or Lestallum which is swarming with regugees." he looked to Prompto.

"But... as you are the bonded mate of the king... in his absence, the decision falls to you, Prompto."

[wideaperture]

Prompto made a face at that. He didn't like thinking of himself as in a position of power. He hadn't been thinking about that when he had told Noct he wanted the bite. He had just wanted to feel more connected with the man he loved.

"Could we stay at Hammerhead or is there too much traffic through there?" Honestly, he thought that spending time with familiar and friendly faces would be nice. He still had some warm feelings about Cindy even if everything in his body and soul belonged to Noct.

"Otherwise, Meldacio isn't too bad. They have a medic don't they? Since hunters need to be patched up. Could they provide pre-natal care too?"

[starless_sky]

Cor didn't think Prompto would want the power but it still falls to him. He will lead as much as possible but he has a new ward, a new king and a new royal family and damn if he's going to make the same mistake in losing this one.

"hammerhead is fine for a visit, I don't expect there is much protection there but... we need to service the Regalia so for a time I suppose a visit can't hurt. But I would advise Meldacio or Lestallum as a permanent residence."

Gladio hummed "Babies are born in Meldacio, right? And their medics are top notch, they have major injuries on hand and they don't lost people... I'm just concerned with it being just a road."

"They have plenty of defense. If we explain who we are... explain who Prompto is Ezma will usher him into her protection."

[wideaperture]

Prompto pressed his lips together, hating the idea of having to make a choice. But then, this was his child too, wasn't it? They were talking about the baby in terms of how they related to the throne, but Prompto was just as much a father as Noct was - probably more so, if Noct took his sweet time showing up.

Prompto forced that dark thought from his head, choosing to trust his alpha. He also wanted to trust his friends.

"You're this kid's Shield, aren't you big guy? I trust your judgement then," he told Gladiolus.