Warning: Noctis/Prompto.

Chapter Three

It was morning and Prompto heard birds chirping outside his window once again.

His grandfather was still sound asleep. He was preparing breakfast for his grandfather, the tea laced with the medicine the pharmacist from the village recommended. He hoped his grandfather wouldn't notice, especially since he had promised not to travel on his own. The forest wasn't safe, considering omegas like him were being murdered. The murderer wasn't even human, though many suspect the murderer was an alpha who succumbed to the wolf in him.

He would've been another victim if not for Prince Noctis. His Highness came to his rescue, even fought the monstrous alpha with rivaled strength. The young prince was injured, not experienced enough in battles as well. There were many alphas in the village for his choosing, but he had to fall in love with the prince. There weren't many alphas who were like the prince in his defense, so one couldn't blame him for falling for His Highness.

He could never be with Prince Noctis. He wasn't a noble, let alone even a Lucis citizen. He was an orphan from Niflheim, just some omega his grandfather adopted out of pity. He was grateful for Cor, that the elderly alpha gave him a home. He took care of Cor in return, like cooking and cleaning for his elderly guardian. He was taught those things at the orphanage, where older children were forced to look after the younger ones since most orphanages were negligent.

"I brought you breakfast," Prompto smiled, helping his grandfather sit up in bed, then set the tray of food on his lap. "I made you pancakes. I hope you like them."

"Of course, I always do," Cor grumbled, his eyebrows furrowing together, noticing a cup of tea rather than coffee on the tray. "Where is my coffee, Prompto?"

"I heard tea helps you get better faster. So I made you tea instead of coffee."

"That's just a rumor. There's no difference between tea and coffee."

"It's been proven-"

"I don't have the time for this conversation. If I drink your tea, will you make me my coffee?"

"I certainly can. Well, I'll be downstairs if you need me."

"I know I told you this before, but stay away from the forest. The attacks on omegas like yourself are increasing. That thing is getting bolder and the forest won't be able to contain it much longer."

"… I understand, grandpa. And I promise I'll stay away from the forest."

"I don't want to scare you, but you need to know just what we're dealing with. An omega from the village was dragged into the forest last night by that thing. It's getting bolder and daring victim after victim. You must make sure to finish your chores before nightfall, Prompto."

"… I will, grandpa."

"Run along, now."

XOXO

He tended to the garden as his red cape billowed in the wind.

He was planting primarily sunflowers. It was his favorite flower, even his nickname at the orphanage. The Niflheim Orphanage was quite quaint, just offering orphans the basic necessities. The Empire of Niflheim wasn't too concerned about orphans anyway, not when their prince was missing. The Niflheim prince was never found, so Emperor Aldercapt waged war with the Kingdom of Lucis.

The elderly emperor was suspicious of Lucis. The Empire of Niflheim hadn't proof, but still accused Lucis of murdering or holding hostage their prince. The Kingdom of Lucis claimed innocence, that the Niflheim prince never even stepped a foot on their soil. It wasn't good enough for Emperor Aldercapt, who was eager to continue the onslaught of attacks. It was only when the trade started being affected with Tenebrae and Altissia did Emperor Aldercapt relent, the Empire becoming strangely silent and secretive ever since the truce.

His homeland never treated Lucis the same. The Kingdom of Lucis tried to attain peace, though the Empire still strongly suspected Lucis of being involved with their prince's disappearance. The Empire of Niflheim stopped trade and immigration with Lucis, then seized immigration with the rest of Eos. The Empire wouldn't open their doors ever again, if their prince wasn't returned to them.

"Oh, no!" Prompto stuttered, his eyes widening in horror, sighting a familiar black wolf running towards him. "T-That must be His Highness. If not, then the monster prowling the forest for more omegas."

"Gotchu!" Noctis snickered, tackling Prompto, the wolf form disappearing, to reveal a young man with onyx locks, blue eyes, and fair skin dressed in the finest of clothes. "It's me, but I heard that you know nothing about politics or political figures like me. What a strange, sheltered life you live."

He lay trapped underneath Prince Noctis. The young alpha was pinning him down. This position felt uncomfortable and wrong to him.

He was worried his grandfather might see them. The last thing he wanted was Cor to think badly of him.

"L-Let me go, please."

"I will if you answer my question."

"Alright …"

"Why did you run away yesterday?"

"I'm sorry. I was just scared …"

"You shouldn't have. The forest isn't safe. I thought you'd know that by now."

"It wasn't nightfall …"

"That doesn't matter. The beast isn't the only thing prowling the forest. What if you were kidnapped or worse? What would you have done if I wasn't there?"

He let out a sigh. This argument was about something else altogether. This was about … claiming, establishing dominance.

"I can't do this. My grandfather is very protective of me …"

"Your grandfather answers to me, Prompto."

"…Y-You said you'd let me go if I answered your question. Let me go, then."

"Well, I changed my mind."

"…I don't like you."

That was such a lie. The prince is so handsome, envy among alphas and fantasy for omegas.

"Liar."

XOXO

He was felt overwhelmed.

He hadn't a clue how to handle this situation anymore. His heartbeat fluttered frantically, just erratically enough so the prince could feel each precious pulse while clutching his wrists. This wasn't just another alpha on the street, but the young alpha prince of Lucis who was claiming him as his. There were many arrogant alphas in the village Cor threatened to beat for harassing him, not a tactic Cor can use on the crown prince of Lucis.

He thought that the prince was different from other alphas. The prince was indeed different than the typical alpha, except the prince didn't need to use physical aggression to get whatever or whoever he wanted. The prince was aware of it, that his birthright didn't require him to resort to such primal behavior. This was a game of powerplay, with the prince having an advantage over him.

He heard the front door swinging open. His grandfather loomed over the prince and him, though Cor didn't seem surprised at what or who he was seeing. The prince let out a chuckle, like he hadn't been caught in the act. They hadn't done anything anyway, so the prince wasn't guilty of misbehavior. Their comprising position still affected him, as he had never been in such a position before.

"So Regis' spoiled brat grew," Cor grunted, crossing his arms, eyebrows knitting together, and eyes narrowed in on the prince. "Will you get off my ward?"

"As you wish," Noctis grinned, pecking Prompto on the lips, then standing up as Prompto hid behind Cor. "It's been a while, Cor."

"How's your old man?"

"His Majesty is doing just fine. You could visit now and then, though."

"Maybe."

He didn't know Cor was acquainted with the royal family. His grandfather never talked about work with him.

He always thought that Cor was a farmer. It seemed like Cor was involved in another business before farming.

"We look forward to the day you grace us with your presence."

"It's getting late. You should run along now."

The prince looked at him. There was mischief in those blue eyes.

"See you around, then."

A beautiful, black wolf emerged in the prince's place. The young alpha took off running toward the Citadel's direction.

"These young alphas …"

His grandfather frowned as the prince's silhouette grew distant.

XOXO

He looked at his grandfather.

The elderly alpha walked back inside their house. He shut the front door, just before leaning against them. He knew Cor was upset, but his grandfather wasn't voicing why. He chose to remain quiet, not sure if his grandfather even wanted to talk at the moment. He had many questions for Cor, so he hoped his grandfather was in a mood to at least talk to him.

He suddenly remembered the kiss. It happened so quickly, that he hadn't the time to even process it. It seemed like the prince wouldn't let him go anytime soon, just set on claiming him as his omega. The prince probably wouldn't want him, if he only knew Niflheim was where his omega came from.

He let out a sigh. He did like the prince, except they were worlds apart. The prince was most likely indoctrinated to dislike Niflheim, especially after the Empire attacked his kingdom without any evidence. The only one in his village tolerant of outsiders was Cor, his adopted grandfather who for whatever reason chose to take him in as his own.

"I should've known that this would happen," Cor grumbled, resting in his armchair, the fireplace crackling softly. "If it weren't those village idiots, it would be the prince who catches wind of you."

"Why did you adopt me?" Prompto asked, recalling long-forgotten memories, his childhood at the orphanage. "I just don't understand why me, when you could've taken in one of your own."

"Well, I felt responsible for you."

"How so?"

"I was a spy sent to the Empire. I came across you in a … facility, but you had a room of your own. You were just a baby and I couldn't leave you there, so I took you and left you at an orphanage."

"…It just doesn't make any sense."

"What Niflheim does will never make any sense-"

"…That's not what I meant."

"What did you mean, then?"

"…You came back for me."

"I knew I could give you a better home than an orphanage can."

"…You have and I'm thankful."

He was aware of Niflheim's experiments. And Niflheim does take their experiments too far. What if the Empire was right, though? What if Lucis did kidnap the Niflheim prince, then?

"You seem lost in thought, Prompto."

"I'm just thinking about how life would've been like growing up in Niflheim."

A/N: What do you think? Leave me your thoughts.