Chapter 4 (Prompto)
Three days later, Prompto found himself working his first shift at the chocobo post. While cleaning out the stalls,he hummed happily to himself. He loves chocobos, and would gladly work to keep their stalls clean, despite how bad it smelled.
Walking out of the stall he was cleaning, He accidentally ran into someone. Turning suddenly to apologize, his eyes were met with the most oddly dressed person he had ever seen in Lucis. The man was wearing a giant coat, and a weird hat. His hair was also an unusual color.
Not wanting to seem like he was staring, Prompto bowed, saying "Sorry! I didn't mean to run into you!"
"There there, it's alright. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Uh…Prompto." He said, unsure if he should really be telling a stranger his name.
"Ah, what a unique name."
"I guess? What's your name?"
"Oh me, I am just a man of no consequence."
"Oh, ok. Well, I need to get back to work, so, uh, yeah…" Prompto said unsurely, turning to go into the next stall.
For the next week, the stranger came to the chocobo post everyday, always during Prompto's shift. It was almost as if he knew the blonde wolf's schedule. By the third week of this happening, Prompto decided it was time to mention something to his friends.
He and Noctis were studying together at a local coffee shop when he decided to bring up his discomfort at work. Surely his best friend would have a good solution to the problem.
"So, you know how I have my job at the chocobo post?" He asks, tentatively.
" Yeah? How's that going? Having fun playing with all the chocobo chicks all day?" Noctis looks at him around the paper he was proofreading, only to notice his friend did not have his usual happy expression. "What's wrong?"
"Well, I love my job, and I'm having so much fun, but…"
"I can't help you if you don't tell me what's bugging you."
"There's… this sorta creepy guy who comes around almost everyday. He doesn't ride the chocobos ever. He doesn't even look at them. He just sits there and stares at me all day, watching me muk out the stalls." He says, looking down into his coffee, and shrinking in on himself.
"What? Have you told Wiz about this guy?" Noctis says, suddenly enraged. How dare some random guy creep on his best friend.
"Ah, I mentioned it, but unless the guy actually attempts to do something to me, Wiz says his hands are tied. I guess I'll either have to endure it, or quit my job." He said sadly.
"No, you love that job. You're not going to quit. When do you work next? I'll come and hang out and see this guy for myself. I swear if he does anything to hurt you, I'll punch him into another dimension." Noctis said, almost growling.
Prompto didn't know how to react to that. He had never seen his friend act this way. It made him feel somewhat good though, knowing that his friend had cared for him enough to punch a stranger to protect him.
(Noctis)
While Prompto worked, he, ignis and Gladio sat at a table and relaxed. Well, Ignis and Gladio relaxed. Noctis couldn't relax knowing that at any moment that strange guy could show up and do something to his best friend. He sat on edge, with his hair slowly starting to stand on end. He had no idea why he was being so possessive over his alpha friend.
He looked up when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Geez Noct, relax will ya?"
Noctis chose to not say anything, and instead just got up and walked away. He was angry for some reason, and he didn't want to lash out at his friend. That would just make things more complicated.
Only a few minutes passed, but he was slowly starting to calm down. While he was walking, he happened to come across the area that Prompto was currently working. He stopped, and just watched his best friend as he filled the chocobo feeders, stopping to pet each chocobo before moving on to the next one. Prompto seemed to feel his friends gaze on him, because he turned and gave his friend a large grin.
"Hey Noct, want to come and feed one of them?"
"Uh…" Noctis said, a little uncomfortable at being caught watching his friend.
"Come on Noct, it's not that bad! Here, I'll show you!"
Prompto walked over, and grabbed his arm, pulling him over to the chocobo pens. Without saying anything, he handed him a bundle of gysahl greens, and grabbing a few himself, showed Noct how to feed the chocobos. The giant yellow bird walked up to him and instantly started to nip at his shirt, as if to say "hurry up and feed me."
"Haha, I think she likes you!"
"I think its only cuz I have her lunch in my hand." He said, with a laugh. Putting his hand out, the chocobo grabbed the gysahl greens from his hand, and ate them happily.
Their happiness was ruined rather quickly though, when he caught the strong scent of an alpha approaching. He didn't know who this was, but he sure didn't like the way they smelled. Turning around, he pulled Prompto behind him to protect him, and let out a growl to warn the individual that was approaching.
"Now now, Prince, that's no way to greet a guest." The stranger walked towards them slowly, looking at how Noctis was protecting the smaller blonde wolf.
"Wait, I know you. You're from Nifleheim."
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ardyn, chancellor from Nifelheim. I am here to conduct negotiations between our countries in hopes that we will be able to stay at peace with each other."
"Shouldn't you be at the citadel then, instead of here?"
"Ah yes, I had just come from a rather long meeting, and wished to have some fresh air. Strange creatures, these chocobos. We do not have many of them in Nifleheim, so I've been coming here to watch them."
The longer this interaction lasted, the more nervous Prompto felt around this guy. He did not seem like he really wanted the peace to continue between their countries. Noctis could sense Prompto's increasing stress, and felt his smaller friend bury his face into his back, something he had never seen him do before. Prompto was definitely acting strange, but he didn't blame him. This guy was very strange. As a way to reassure Prompto, Noctis grabbed one of his hands in his, and gave him a slight squeeze, silently telling him that he will protect him at all costs.
"Oh my, so very protective of our friends, aren't we?"
Before he could respond to that, Ignis and Gladiolus suddenly showed up, and placed themselves between Noctis and the chancellor.
"Chancellor, so nice that you are getting to see the sights of Lucis, but I do believe it is time for you to return to the citadel. The last peace meeting is this afternoon, I believe." Ignis said, pushing his glasses up his nose in a matter of fact manner.
"Ah, yes, you are quite right. Till next time, then." The creepy chancellor said, waving nonchalantly over his shoulder as he walked away.
Noctis continued to stand that way until he was sure that Ardyn had left. Then he turned around and looked down at Prompto, who was still a little shaken up from the encounter.
"Prom?"
The blonde wolf perked his ears up, and looked up at his friend with wide eyes. It was at that moment that Noctis noticed that his scent had once again changed to a slightly sweeter, more delicate smell. Noct was so focused on the change in his best friends smell, he didn't notice that his advisor had been talking to him.
"Noctis? Are you listening to me?"
"Forget it Iggy, he's lost in the eyes of sunshine there."
At hearing Gladio refer to him, Prompto shook himself out of his shaken state, and turned to look at the two of them, a slight blush on his cheeks. He was glad that Noctis and Gladiolus were both somewhat dense, otherwise, they would have easily figured out what was going on with him. Ignis gave him a stern look that said they were sure to have a talk later.
"Gladio, why don't you take the prince to calm down and work off some of his energy? I'll stay here and make sure Prompto is fine."
"Sure. Come on, Noct." Gladio but a hand on his shoulder and guided him away from the situation. Noctis relunctantly followed Gladiolus, casting a longing glance behind him towards Prompto.
(Prompto POV)
"Are you ok Prompto?
"Yeah, I'm fine. I don't know what came over me back there." Prompto said, looking down with embarassment.
"It seems your omega instincts are starting to really come through, especially when Noctis is around. You haven't told him yet, have you?"
"Uh…. no?" He lowered his head, knowing he was going to get an earful.
"You're lucky the prince, as well as Gladiolus are rather dense, although I suspect that Gladio is catching on, especially after what just happened. You're going to be at the point of no return soon. I can guarantee you Noctis would rather you told him, instead of waiting until he figured it out on his own."
"Yeah I know. I thought my pills were still working though, and that I just had a bad batch that one time. I'll tell him soon, I promise."
"Very well then. Now, I believe you have fallen behind schedule on feeding. I'll help you get caught up, so you do not get into trouble with Wiz."
"Thanks for everything, Ignis."
The two worked for the next 20 minutes to finish feeding the chocobos. Just as they finished feeding the last of the large birds, a grinning Gladio and a very worn out looking Noctis re-appeared from the plains.
"You guys should have seen it! Noctis is really beginning to do well with his training!"
" I take it you two had a successful hunt then?" Ignis asked.
"You could say that. We actually took on three hunts and completed them all! All we need to do is go and turn them in to Wiz."
"While you do that, I'll go and pull the car around. Noctis, why don't you join me?" Noctis only nods in agreement and follows Ignis toward where he parked the car, getting into his usual spot in the backseat.
When Prompto and Gladiolus return after talking to Wiz, they all head back towards the city, all lost in their own thoughts.