Disclaimer: Not mine

Glad you're all giving this a chance

Considering putting Prom and Noct together as well. Feels a natural progression of things after how last story ended and then flowed into this. Either way, one of them will be thinking about the possibility in this chapter, though it's not definite I will go that way.

I've seen Techno-Mage and Technomage and can't figure out which is correct?

Chapter 2

"Goodbye, Refa," Londo smiled at him as they paused outside of the security checkpoint. "You will give my regards to the others?"

"Of course. For a long time, they've been looking for a sign that it's time for our people to step forward again into history. I will try very hard to convince them that you are it. See you again soon, Mollari," Refa gave his goodbyes and headed for his ship home.

Londo turned away but then turned back, watching a man walk through customs. "Great Maker."

"What?" Vir asked, looking around nervously.

"A techno-mage." He shifted to get a better look. "Looks like a human."

"What's a techno-mage?" Vir glanced from Londo to the human in black.

"We used to have them back home, long ago. They use science to achieve the effect of magic. I haven't seen one in years. They almost never travel; they don't like to leave their places of power. To see even one of them is a rare thing. To see more than one at a time is considered a very bad omen," he explained, excited to see one after so long…until he saw the two other black clad forms he was meeting up with. "Three. This is definitely not good."

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He stared at the stars, hand tight on his staff, heart pounding as he waited. Finally, after all these years… he was nervous, it had been so long since they had been together in Harry's realm. And…he didn't know how they would react when they saw because he couldn't hide this from them.

The view was magnificent and he focused on his breathing to try and remain calm. He could feel him coming closer, feel the magic sign between them. He had slipped away from the others as soon as they arrived, Micah had just nodded when he did. His old mentor knew he went his own way, had known he would leave them soon, that he was being called. He had chosen the observation dome because it could give privacy and he didn't want to run all over the station looking for him. His vague sense of Prom had steadied in this direction over a month ago so he would know his way around the place, he would find him.

He pushed his hood back and wondered what Prompto would think, was he very different looking? He didn't think so but maybe they would. He could feel Prompto hesitating outside of the door, was he as nervous as Noctis was?

Finally, he heard the door open, the quite steps of someone approaching and he gripped his staff tightly, eyes closed.

"Noct?" a voice whispered shakily, the accent was unfamiliar, but the pitch…the way he said his name…

Noctis took a deep breath and then turned to see him. his hair was different to the fun style he had chosen once it was long enough, it was…neat, not as short as when the first met, but shorter than he had taken to wearing it, it was still bright blond but a different shade of blond, it had been like bright gold before but now it was more of a silvery blond with some darker blond streaks. He looked healthy though, taller even, and that was a relief, he still remembered watching him deteriorate slowly over years, unable to do anything in the end but dull the pain.

"Prom," he called, smiling softly, extending his hand. Prompto lifted his hand in return, reaching out to take his. Their fingers slid between each other and he held on tightly, realising Prompto was wearing gloves. Not the thin, fingerless ones he had worn to protect his hands when shooting or even those he wore when he'd been in the manual wheelchair at first, these were thick and went part way up his wrist, about where his barcode had been. He took in Prompto's clothing, pressed black trousers, a shirt in a deep red, loose black jacket and…a pin on the chest. He looked up but Prompto avoided his gaze, body tensing.

He let go of his staff and used their joined hands to pull Prompto closer, wrapping his now free arm around him, pulling him flush to his own body, hugging him tight. "I've missed you so much," he whispered, relieved when Prompto's hand came up to cling to his coat.

"Noct…" he all but whimpered.

"It's okay, I'm here, I've got you," he promised.

"Sorry," Prompto mumbled and Noctis pulled back a little to look down at him, unable to stop smiling at him.

"Why are you sorry?" he asked and Prompto's gloved fingers came up to brush the badge he wore. "Because you were born a telepath here? Why would that change anything?"

"I'm Psi Corps, I don't want to be but there's no other choice for a human teep," he answered, using the slang term for telepath.

Noctis gently cradled his face in his hands and then kissed his forehead. "You think I care about that? That Hermione will? You're still you, still Prompto. None of us are the same here," he stepped back and indicated his own clothing.

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Prompto clung to Noctis, sagging against him, Noct had seen, he knew, but he had still hugged him.

"I've missed you so much," Noct whispered, and he used his free hand came up to cling to his coat. It was thick, heavy, even thicker than a Kingsglaive coat.

"Noct…" he all but whimpered, hating how young and weak he sounded after he had spent so many years becoming strong and confident, able to stand at their side.

"It's okay, I'm here, I've got you," Noctis murmured.

Prompto was really hating the thick coat and the distance it put between them. They should get out of public, go to his quarters or wherever Noct was staying, if they were seen…"Sorry," he mumbled and he felt Noctis pull back, tightening his grip on his coat, but then Noct was smiling down at him.

"Why are you sorry?" he asked and Prompto's gloved fingers came up to brush the badge he wore, hating it more than ever. "Because you were born a telepath here? Why would that change anything?" Noctis sounded genuinely confused.

"I'm Psi Corps, I don't want to be but there's no other choice for a human teep," he answered, using the slang term for telepath, wanting to be sure Noct understood.

Noctis gently cradled his face in his hands and then surprised him by kissing his forehead. "You think I care about that? That Hermione will? You're still you, still Prompto. None of us are the same here, I'm not a Prince, she's not Empress…" he stepped back and indicated his own clothing.

Prompto's eyes followed Noctis' hand. He was dressed all in black, seemed he couldn't get away from the colour, then again Prompto still favoured black, white and red himself. The clothing was heavy, concealing, but no uniform he knew of…and then he blinked. The staff Noct had been holding was still standing upright, despite no longer being held. How? That was not Lucian magic? He looked from the staff back to Noctis, seeing the uncertainty in his eyes. "Noct?"

"I uh…I'm a Techno-Mage."

Techno-Mage… "I…I don't know that term," he admitted and Noctis nodded. He frowned, looking towards the hall, feeling minds brush against his. "We should go, there's people around."

"There…oh, right. You can sense them?" Noctis asked and Prompto nodded. "Your quarters?"

"Yeah," he smiled slightly. "I've got a place in Red 5." They slipped out of the observation dome, Noctis grabbing his staff and pulling up his hood, seeming to fade from sight and he couldn't help it, reaching out with his mind and for the magic between them.

"I'm here," he felt Noctis lean in close, whispering in his ear. "Better I'm not seen."

Right, okay. He remembered some of the Glaive could pull off a type of invisibility, Libertus had favoured it, but this seemed a bit different to that. He took a deep, calming breath, feeling invisible fingers brush his arm under his sleeve. It felt like it took an eternity to finally reach his quarters but the went inside and he locked the door, bringing the lights up. Noctis reappeared in front of him and pressed a finger to his lips. His lips moved soundlessly and he traced his fingers over the wall, something shimmering.

"We're safe from electronic surveillance," he told him, leaning his staff against the wall, undoing his coat and taking it off to place over the back of a chair, revealing at least two more heavy layers of black cloth. He then stepped closer again and Prompto took a step but then paused, looking down at his gloved hands.

He took a dep breath and then yanked them off, before grabbing the Corps badge and removing it, slipping out of his jacket too. He felt…exposed. How long had it been since anyone had seen him without the things that marked him as a member of Psi Corps? That he had touched someone with his bare hands? He lifted a shaking hand and Noctis took it, holding it firmly, tugging him into another hug. He shivered at the feeling of skin against his own, feeling his shields waver but he slammed them firmly into place, he would not scan Noctis.

"It's okay Prom, you can't scan me if I don't let you," Noctis promised, wrapping both arms around him and Prompto burrowed into him. It was like when he'd first been assigned to Hermione, no one had ever touched him in kindness before then and even unkind touches had been rare. The Corps used the gloves to keep them isolated, even from each other.

"You're not a teep," he murmured, closing his eyes.

"No," a hand began moving through his hair and he relaxed even further, Noct easily taking his weight. "Try to scan me, you'll see."

He pulled back; eyes wide. "What?"

"It's okay Prom, I'm giving you permission," he gripped his hands. "Scan me."

Prompto licked his lips nervously. No one had ever just asked him to scan them but…Noct seemed so sure it wouldn't work. Because of whatever had kept him safe when he was growing up? Finally, he nodded, freeing a hand to reach up and cup Noct's cheek, staring into his eyes and he almost laughed, if anyone saw them it'd look, well. There'd been times when he thought maybe…they loved Hermione and they loved each other. They called each other brother but there were times he wanted something else.

He carefully dropped the outer layers of his shields, reaching out to Noct. He knew how to scan, even deep scan, but he hated doing it, it was part of why he had fought to become a commercial telepath. He ignored the magic between them, focusing solely on his telepathic abilities. Noctis didn't flinch as Prompto touched his mind as gently as he could, shivering as he slipped into surface thoughts and feelings, almost swamped by Noctis' utter relief and happiness to be reunited with him, it was so different to any other scan he had ever performed, no one had ever welcomed his mental touch.

"Okay?" he whispered and Noct nodded, leaning into his hand. "I'm going to go deeper then. You know deep scans are never comfortable, right?"

"So I've heard," he smiled.

Prompto nodded and reached deeper into his mind, he saw flashes…of Gralea…their lives together and then he felt something strange…he blinked and staggered, Noctis steadying him as he shook his head. "Wha….what was that?" he asked, letting Noctis gently push him down on the couch. Noctis moved away but then he was back, pressing a glass of water to his lips and Prompto sipped it.

"It's something we're all taught, to protect our minds. I let you read me but I can keep any telepath out. I can choose to only keep specific people out, from now on, you're not one of them. Anything I know, you can know. The others wouldn't like that but I don't like why we've come here and I won't be leaving with them."

"I don't understand," he felt tired, more than he had before.

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Noctis sat beside Prompto on the couch. He'd been told that their ability to shield their minds was disorientating to telepaths but he had never seen it. He felt horrible for causing Prom discomfort, but he needed to know that he didn't have to worry about accidentally scanning him, or anyone else scanning him either. He'd meant it though, Prom had permanent entry to his mind. He knew, despite whatever indoctrination the Corps gave its children, Prompto's memories of their old lives had protected him from buying the company line, plus Harry had probably protected them somehow.

He ran his fingers through blond hair, coaxing him to rest his head on his shoulder. Techno-mages were not the most physical of people but he had the feeling he'd had more contact than Prom over the last two decades. Hopefully Prompto wouldn't mind putting him up, not like they hadn't shared a bed before, though…he'd have to show him and he doubted Prompto would react well, not after what he had gone through in the Empire.

"You're exhausted and I've been stuck on a ship for the last week in cramped quarters," he spoke softly. "I'll explain tomorrow," he promised.

"Stay?" he asked, tipping his head back to look up at him and Noctis nodded.

He stood up, scooping Prompto up and carrying him to where he could see the bed behind a partition. He felt Prompto hold on tight, surprised. "No back injury here," he told him, setting hm down on the bed. He tugged his shoes off for him and pulled the covers down. "Sleepwear?" he asked and Prompto lethargically patted at the other pillow. Noctis lifted it and pulled out a pair of loose, lightweight pants and top. "Okay, let's get you changed."

He gently unbuttoned his shirt, slipping it off him, unable to help looking at the revealed skin, he wasn't as pale as he had been, likely due to having different genetics. His eyes were still bright blue though lacking the hint of purple he'd once had. Seeing him, fully human, was such a relief. Watching him waste away as his body buckled under the strain of the implants and alterations had hurt so much. He got him into his sleepwear and then under the blankets.

"I'll be on the couch," he offered but Prom shook his head, struggling to keep his eyes open even as he indicated the dressed.

"Can borrow," he yawned, blinking. "Stay…in here…" his eyes slid shut and Noctis took a deep breath.

He opened the drawer to find another set of sleepwear so he grabbed it and slipped into the bathroom to shower and change clothing. He looked at himself in the small mirror before dressing. The fabric was thin, it would not keep Prompto from feeling the differences in his body, but he couldn't sleep in his clothes. He slipped into bed beside Prompto, laying on his side to watch Prompto as he slept. Eventually, he fell asleep too, comforted by the presence of one of his after so long.

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Waking up was hard, he wanted to sleep…to keep the dream. There was an arm around his waist, a warm body pressed against his back, something he hadn't had since…since he died. It had been different with Harry; they hadn't needed sleep or anything there. His shields were mostly down, he could feel the sleeping mind so close to his own…he wasn't dreaming? He slowly opened his eyes, blinking in the dark of his quarters and bit back a sob of relief, Noct was really there.

All that was missing was Hermione, wherever she was. She would be drawn to the station too, right? With both of them onboard now, she'd know where to come, to find them. He missed her so much. He'd hated the one time the Corps had paired him with a woman to try and produce a more powerful telepath. She'd been a P11, pretty enough he supposed, but…being with her had made his skin crawl. In the end the medics had taken samples from him because his body simply wouldn't cooperate. Another way to disappoint dear old Dad.

He shifted in Noct's hold, pressing back against him for warmth, feeling his arm tighten around his waist, his face pressing to his shoulder. He shifted and then frowned slightly, feeling something press against him…not flesh. He slowly moved his hand, reaching back, had he gone to bed fully dressed? No...he knew that fabric, his spare sleepwear. He pressed a hand and then his heart leapt into his throat, rolling over to yank at the shirt, pulling it up even as groggy blue eyes opened.

"Prom?" he blinked and then he looked down, seeing his shirt had been shoved up, revealing his chest.

"Lights, low," he ordered and the dim lights brightened the room to where he could see. Prompto ran his hands over Noctis' chest, feeling the embedded metal, tears filling his eyes. "No…no…no."

"Hey, Prom, it's okay. Shh, I'm fine." It took a while for the words to get through to him even as he tried to get the shirt off. He stared at Noctis in disbelief and he sighed, sitting up and pulling the shirt off, letting him see it all before Noct twisted, revealing his back as well.

"Who did this to you? Why? I'll kill them," he snarled, the thought of Noctis going through what he had….of dying in pain….

A warm hand wrapped around his wrists and then another was tipping his head up so that they had eye contact. "Breath with me Prompto, I need you to calm down," Noctis urged, keeping his own breathing deep and even and Prompto struggled to do as he asked. "That's it, I'm here," he murmured.

"Noct…."

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"I'm okay," he whispered. "It's nothing bad. I'm not dying and they won't hurt me like the MT surgeries hurt you. It's part of being a Techno-Mage. The implants are a mix of biomechanical and more traditional technology, threaded through my whole body, joined to my nervous system," he explained softly.

"Why?"

"My parents were Techno-Mages, they were killed when I was about four or five. Micah found me, barely alive. I already had my first implants but to save my life they had to accelerate the process. Micah took me in, became my mentor in the order. Taught me everything I know about techno-magic." He shifted to lean against the wall at the head of the bed. He held his arm out and Prompto crawled up to curl against him, trembling fingers tracing some of the implants. "He just…accepted when odd things happened around me, my own magic reacting as I got older, then I started remembering our old lives when I was about eight. It was pretty confusing for a while."

Confusing…he'd been terrified at first, seeing images of war, of strangers fighting in ways he could never have imagined…it didn't help that his memories of life here before Micah found him were pretty much gone, due to his injuries and the trauma of witnessing what he had. The dreams of himself with Hermione had hit right in time for puberty which had made things interesting for a while. Now, he knew who he was and he had full control of all his abilities. He may not have the Royal Arms or the ability to summon the Astrals, but he hadn't had those even on Eos but he was still a Lucis Caelum.

"Techno-Mages use advanced technology to simulate the effects of magic so I think Harry's enjoying this one, if he arranged it. We have come to Babylon 5 because The Circle, in their infinite wisdom, have decided that we should leave, hide somewhere safe, and leave the rest of the galaxy to fight the coming war. an ancient enemy has begun to stir, one that scares them."

"They aren't hurting you?" Prompto asked and Noctis shook his head.

"It's a technique that has been perfected over hundreds, even thousands, of years. We actually tend to live longer than the average for our respective species," he ran his fingers through sleep messed blond hair. "I'm not leaving with the others, I am going to stay, because it's the right thing to do, because I won't let anyone separate us again, because this has to have something to do with why we're here."

"Wish Harry could've told us more," Prompto muttered.

"Even he has to follow certain rules," Noctis reminded him. "What about you?"

"Me? What did you want to know?"

"Anything you want to tell me," he offered, fighting back a shiver as Prompto kept exploring his implants curiously, outside of those who had placed them and healers when he was injured or sick, no one ever touched them. He did wonder, would Hermione still be attracted to him now? It was rare for a Mage to marry outside of the Order, to keep their secrets and because others would not understand them.

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Prompto hesitated but he'd find out sooner or later. "My parents weren't a love match, they didn't even like each other but when the Corps tells you you're an excellent genetic match…you obey." He told them of his Mum, how he had been a disappointment to the Corps and his Dad who still didn't want anything to do with him. How he'd run away once, shortly after she had died but he'd been found a week later. He hadn't been punished due to his age and the fact the one who had found him had been able to tell he'd rust run out of grief and confusion. He spoke of being placed with other children, being trained, even his brief 'marriage'.

"When the chance came to leave Earth, to have some distance from the Corps, I took it. I felt…drawn here. Didn't realise it'd cause trouble with the Command Staff."

"What do you mean?" Noctis asked, concern obvious.

"My name is Prompto Bester. Alfred Bester is my Father, he's a Psi Cop, P-12. He…is not a nice man, fanatically loyal to the Corps. Turns out last year he came here and caused problems. The Lieutenant Commander has issues with the Corps beyond that. The Captain's the only one who doesn't have problems with my being here."

"P-12's the strongest, isn't it?"

"All Psi Cops are P-12's. They assumed I would be a P-12 but...I'm listed as a P-9."

"Listed?"

"The person in charge of my testing had been a friend of my Mother's. I….I just slipped over the line into P-10, but that's too high to work Commercial. They train as instructors, work for the Psi Cops, do things I could never agree to. So she fudged my results."

Noctis hugged him tight at his admission. "I don't care if you're a P-1 or a P-100 or what your name is. You'll always be the same socially awkward guy I met in Dad's office."

That got a smile and then the lights came on full and they blinked even as his wake up call was given and Prompto groaned. "I've got a job today, contract negotiations."

"I need to check in with the others, get my things. I suppose I'll need to organise a meeting with the Captain and let him know I'll be remaining as well."

"I can organise that," Prompto told him, better not to advertise Noctis' presence if the other Techno-Mages were going into hiding. He forced himself out of bed to get ready. Noctis watched him before eventually getting up to re-dress as well. "You'll still be here, right?" he hated how unsure he sounded but Noctis just hugged him.

"I'm not going anywhere," he swore. They left together, Noctis once again invisible and Prompto dressed as a member of Psi Corps should be.

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Noctis slipped into the section of the station where the others were gathering, lowering his hood as he looked around for Micah, spotting him and walking towards him.

"So, this is where our paths diverge," the aging man said before he could speak. "I have always known you would walk a different path." Micah turned to face him with a sad smile. "I will miss you Little Light," he grasped Noctis' shoulders and he returned the gesture.

"I'll miss you too, you could stay."

"I will keep the others distracted so that you are not discovered missing until it is too late."

"Thank you. You've done so much for me…" Noctis swallowed.

"Be careful and beware the Shadows."

Noctis nodded and took his bag before slipping away.

Micah watched him go sadly. He doubted very much he would ever see the boy again. Noctis was touched by powers even he did not understand and he only hoped the boy would survive what was to come.

TBC…

Based on the tv shows, not a lot of info is given on the Technical's-Mages, i found some stuff online. Add in Noct having his magic still, and he'll probably be an AU version of them