Sunshine from a Stranger
So maybe this is what I wrote in the little spaces of time I had when working at not-my-desk on specific days at work and maybe I had my boss email it to me without telling her anything about the file she just sent externally. WHoops. Omegaverse part 1.
Alpha.
The word brands itself against the wall of Promptoâs skull as an unfamiliar scent sweeps over him. He cringes, ducking out of sight as the otherâs shadows pass. Voices pick up, quiet as a breeze, but Promptoâs a good listener.
âI will not be held accountable for this rash adventure!â
âIggy, if youâre not gonna pull the stick outta your ass to kick so-â
âShut up.â
The last speaker, despite the command, sounds gentle and Prompto has an irrational moment of hoping itâs true because he knows, if he can smell themâŚitâs only a matter of time.
Curfew is more than a suggestion in Gralea and Prompto knows that, really he does but, his suppressant is gone and there were too many alphas between him and home during daylight hours. He peeks out, careful, but thereâs no sign of the otherâs. He can still smell them though, heavy and strange in the air. He doesnât dare come out while they may be near.
A spark of blue catches his gaze overhead and he looks up, tensed to run, only for a hand to cover his mouth from behind, pulling him further into the recess between buildings. He lashes out, elbow moving to smash into his would be captorâs diaphragm-or itâs supposed to. Another large hand catches him and he struggles harder, the alpha scent cloying and overwhelming.
âHey, quiet or theyâll catch us.â
Prompto goes still, breathing hard through his nose at the sound of the same gentle voice as before. He can hear, now that heâs listening, the heavy footfalls of the night patrol. His heartbeat evens out by the time theyâve faded into the distance and the hand over his mouth drops in time for him to spin, hands up to fight since he knows he canât run.
The alpha who held him is, Prompto hates himself for the thought, beautiful. His black hair sweeps forward to cradle his cheeks and grey eyes look out from under serious brows. The alpha raises his hands unthreateningly and Prompto notes the other two, one large and very alpha, the other lean, poised and patient, copy the motion.
âSorryâŚI know we scared you but, I need your help. How do we reach Zegnatus?â
Prompto is torn, ready to fight as his panic is shoved down in favor of grit and he sees the way the other two alphaâs gaze flickers over him, evaluating his threat level. He looks them over in return, noting the control theyâre displaying despite the narrow opening theyâre all sharing, despite how quickly his unsuppressed hormones are responding to the nearness of them. Itâs nothing intense but most alphaâs heâs met in Gralea would already be drooling. These ones show nothing except the slight dilation of the youngestâs pupils, and Prompto canât even be sure thatâs him.
âI-â Prompto starts, then stops, thinking. The alphas are certainly foreign and they need his help. If he plays his cards right and they are what they seem, a foolâs gamble, he might be able to leave this place.
âI can show you the keep, I can even get you inside butâŚyou have to take me with you, wherever you go when you leave.â
Thereâs a moment of silence, the graceful looking one trying to pull the younger into confidence. Promptoâs nerves make his hands tremble, and then-
âItâs a deal. Help us and weâll protect you and get you to Insomnia.â
Prompto nods, tries not to let his surprise and relief show. The Crown City of Lucis is a fairytale to Graleanâs, a place where the alphas donât die of rut-poison and omegaâs arenât traded like a cattle. Itâs a beacon of hope thatâs just too far to be real.
Prompto checks the coast is clear and leads them out, cautious and efficient. It takes practically no time to reach to heart of the city and the outer defenses of Zegnatus Keep. It rises above them but Prompto doesnât spare it a glance, hurrying through a concealed passage into a small area for deliveries. The door for receiving is small, a revolving thing made to prevent subterfuge.
Thereâs a displeased growl behind him as the others see it and he feels his pulse spike at the sound.
âItâs the only way in thatâs not the front gate.â
The largest of them glares at him, âConvenient Iggy and I donât fit, ainât it?â
Prompto doesnât have a chance to respond before the youngest, built slight for an alpha, makes a low sound in his throat. It sends chills over Promptoâs skin and a low curl of heat in his belly. The other two stand straight and collected, ready.
âIâve promised you freedom, I trust you to want it enough not to betray me. You and me can go, if you know how that thing works.â
Prompto swallows and nods, âY-yeah. You get in and someone presses the button, the door will turn, then you have to get out, press the button on the other side to send it back.â
The alpha nods, then gestures and Prompto steels himself, crouching into the small conical door. Thereâs a âsnickâ sound and he feels himself turning. An empty room greets him and he slides out, looking around quickly and pressing the button to return. The chamber moves so slowly and his heart is in his throat because it would be so, so easy for the alphaâs to abandon him. When the chamber comes back he feels his chest loosen a bit. The scent precedes him but the alpha steps out and Prompto relaxes more.
âWhere are we?â he asks softly, stepping closer to Prompto, probably in effort to stay hidden. Prompto looks up at him, eyes adjusting to the different light and giving him a moment to gather himself as heâs buffered by the way that the alpha smells.
Itâs amazing, the first touch of snow, currant, a touch of something metallic and most of all the way Prompto always imagined home. He realizes, as the other waits that heâs not answered yet.
âI-Iâm notâŚuh, somewhere in lower area, the labs and stuff are a couple floors above us.â
The alpha nods, taking a step back and Prompto breaths properly.
âWhen I was here last time the elevators worked without a card for a few floors but weâll have to get a passcode to go any further. The labs are clearance level two at least and the scientists areâŚwell...I hope
you have weapons.â
Prompto says it all while looking around the gray room, evaluating which of the doors is best. Heâs not looking at the alpha so it catches him by surprise when a body pins him to a wall.
âWhen you were here?â
The alphaâs voice is low, darker and Prompto feels his fear spike, souring the air, though he doesnât back down. It makes sense, the concern that heâs admitted to spending time in the seat of enemy power.
âYes, when I was here, being experimented on as a kid. It happens to a lot of omegas here.â
He expects the alpha to back up, to be suspicious and distrusting, a grudging partner. He doesnât expect the anger. Itâs stranger because it doesnât seem to be directed at him as the alphaâs eyes glow a bit violet.
âThose bastardsâŚâ The words are low and he almost misses them but it gives a little hope, both for what the place they come from is like, and for himself in this moment. The way to alpha is acting itâs clear, heâs here because heâs not pleased with the empire.
Prompto shrugs, he can feel the way heâs starting to shake a little, being boxed in makes him uncomfortable and he canât shake the way that the alpha is looking at him. It pops in his head, in the way that panic sometimes makes thoughts race through, that he should really learn the guys name.
âWhatâs your name?â
Oh. Or the alpha will beat him to it as he looks at him, eyes more intense than Prompto can really tolerate and yetâŚheâs not like the others Prompto has met, thereâs no demand, just something fierce and instinctual.
âPrompto. Yours?â
He watches the shift of the alphaâs eyebrows, the way his lips tilt up a little and then heâs turning away, shrugging a little.
âJust call me Noct.â
Prompto snorts a little, itâs a weird way to say it and he slaps âNoctâsâ back lightly, âWell,â he starts, false bravado firmly in place, âyou ready to do something dumb?â
Noct laughs a little, but the tension doesnât leave him and he nods, âDumb is my middle name.â
Prompto canât help the twitch of his lips or the response that bubbles up, âDude, lame.â
They grin at each other and thereâs something so strange about it all. Promptoâs life is tense and dangerous, heâs on his guard around alphas and other Omegaâs shy away from him, something about his scent. Here, in the heart of the Empire, he should be terrified silent but he finds himself almost enjoying the moment, with the new alpha who seems to like him for more reasons than what is between his legs.
Noct tips his head toward the barely visible opening in the wall, the greys of the room making it blend in. Prompto doesnât need to be asked, he just nods in response, the gravitas of the situation settling back
in. They are in the midst of the enemy, in more ways than one, and if heâs not careful heâll end up backâŚ.well, if it comes to it heâll take death over capture.
As they climb the stairs, quietly as possible in the narrow corridor, the thought chills Prompto and he taps Noctâs arm lightly.
âIf,â He says, in a fast whisper, âIf weâre caught, donât let them take me alive.â
The words take a beat to register and then Prompto is privy to a whole range of horrified emotions crossing the alphaâs face.
âI-â Noct seems to struggle, âI promise.â
Prompto feels a rush of gratitude, for the lack of questions or cajole, for the way that Noct just gives his word, trusts that Prompto knows himself.
After that neither of them speaks and Prompto helps lead Noct through the confusion that is Gralea. Stealing a passcode is a bit tricky but Noct moves in a blur of blue light, and returns with MT blood and a passcard between his fingers.
Theyâre well into the labs, the only area that Promptoâs familiar with and fortunately the place Noct was headed for when they speak again.
âWhat are you here for?â
The words are barely a breath, theyâve been lucky so far, magitek are blissfully oblivious as they sneak past, but Prompto knows there are others here, somewhere.
âInformation. Proof. Computers.â
The answer is succinct and Prompto nods, checking the path to the nearest control room, and leads Noct forward. The alpha gives him a slight nod in thanks and wastes no time in what heâs doing, pulling a small clear card from his pocket and sliding it into the computer. A black box appears but Prompto doesnât bother reading it, keeping a lookout instead, and Noct keys in a few commands.
Itâs only a minute, maybe two, but standing still in Zegnatus feels like an eternity. Noct withdraws the card and theyâre off again, moving faster now they know the path. The last set of stairs are in sight and Prompto watches his companion make a mistake.
Noct doesnât look around the last corner, just turns it and thereâs a sound that Prompto knows all too well, the high pitched sound of an MT alert.
Itâs not loud and there arenât units nearby, but he knows itâll get louder if they donât do something. He turns the corner a split second later, in time to watch the alpha take the unit down.
ItâsâŚshocking. Thereâs the blue light again, a wickedly sharp sword and the way the alpha moves is graceful and deadly. Promptoâs heard of the magic users, of course, knows that somewhere linked in the near-myth that is Insomnia there are those who can wield the type of power Noct seems to have, he just didnât think it would be soâŚso..
âThat was awesome!â
Noct smiles at him quickly and they push forward, more careful again as they make their way back to the tube.
âYou should go first.â
Prompto frowns at the words, confused.
âTheyâll think I abandoned you or killed you in here.â
Noct shrugs, âIâll be right behind you, and if I go first theyâll try to drag me away, theyâre not happy Iâve promised to bring you with us.â
Prompto shifts, uncomfortable and worried now, âIt doesnât have to be all the way, just past the Gralea border really.â
Noct evaluates him for a long moment, but doesnât relent, motioning for him to go. He slides back into the capsule and finds himself looking into Noctâs eyes for reassurance, and more surprising, he finds it in the warmth of the blue.
Thereâs a snick and Noct is disappearing from sight, the other two alphaâs coming into view. Heâs dragged by his arm out of the pod and too his feet by the big one and finds himself unable to muster words at the fear that permeates him, this is it, the darkness he was waiting for.
He closes his eyes and waits for the hands to pull and the other alpha to join, instead he hears, âWhat the fuck?â and thereâs a shuffling until heâs on his own feet, curling in on himself and sinking to the ground.
âPlease.â His voice is small and he tries again, âPlease press the button for Noct.â
Thereâs another noise of surprise and he focuses on keeping himself together, Noct, he thinks, might keep them away. The graceful one is leaning forward, doing as he asked and he hears the capsule turn again.
âTook you long en-â Noctâs voice, disgruntled as it is, cuts off.
âWhat did you do?â
He sounds angry and Prompto curls in on himself further, âSorry. Iâm sorry.â
Noct kneels beside him, âStop apologizing Prompto, I wasnât asking you. What happened?â
He just shakes his head, but the big one is answering.
âI grabbed him when he came around. Damnit, you shouldâve come first! Heâs an enemy, he couldâve trapped you!â
âIf I had come, you would have left him.â
Thereâs a silence after the icy words and then the other alpha speaks, âYou gave him your promise of safety Noct, we may not like it, but we respect it. Either way, we need to move, now.â
Prompto can feel the agreement from Noct and he forces himself to calm, standing up again, âFollow me, the fastest way to the border wall is patrolled, weâll have to go another way.â
The big one glares at him but Prompto wonât let him scare him again, and Noct nods, âLead the way bud.â
The four of them make their way through alleys and carefully cross a square that the largest alpha nearly strangles Prompto for taking, but the MT no longer patrol the area, no Graleanâs are stupid enough to cross the open path.
They reach the border wall in good time and Prompto swallows hard, the electric shield is already up. The alphas donât pause though, one of them throws an orb and it bursts against the energy, creating a hole. Prompto slips through it with Noct and they scale the deceptively low wall.
On the narrow ledge before the cliff face that the wall backs up to thereâs a car, itâs beautiful and Prompto sighs appreciatively before claiming a spot in the front, next to Noct.
âDonât kill us.â The alpha with glasses says drily and Noct just laughs at him before he pulls away.
Prompto is too giddy to be afraid, the nightmare of his life as a Gralean omega is fading in the distance after all, but even he is aware that Noctâs driving is, well, terrifying. They survive it though, despite the moments when it seems a bit shaky.
The sun is starting to rise when they finally stop, miles and miles from anywhere that Promptoâs even heard of. Thereâs a single strip of buildings and a hotel that Noct makes a beeline for the second he turns the ignition off, leaving Prompto to scramble after him. He doesnât want to be alone with the other two if he can help it and heâs grateful when they stay behind, the big one, Gladio heâs heard Noct call him, shouts after but doesnât follow.
He catches Noct easily and the alpha smiles at him a bit, âYou ready to slum it?â
Prompto frowns, he knows the word but isnât sure what Noct means. A slum is where the poorest of the poor live, the omegaâs who sold their bodies and the dying mostly. This place is nice, itâs bright and the sky is open and blue, the bleak cold doesnât seep into his bones and he canât see anyone laying in a heap of blankets.
âuh-I guess, I meanâŚshit.â Noct seems to have realized the error because he starts trying to explain, faltering.
âSorry, youâre just so normal, I guess. I donât meet many Niffs where I live.â
Prompto just shrugs and smiles, âNo big deal, itâs not like youâre stuck with me much longer anyways.â
Noct doesnât laugh, he just looks at him blankly for a long moment, âI wouldnât mind if we were.â
He doesnât give Prompto the time to answer, dinging the bell on the front desk and greeting the man who steps out of the back. The arrangements for rooms are lost on him as he thinks, Noct seems to like having him around, wants to spend time near him.
He wants it to feel comforting, itâs a nice thought at the very least, but the long-standing wariness seeps in. Does Noct expect him to repay him for helping him get out? He thought that showing them the way into Gralea was payment but maybeâŚNoct is an alpha and there are many things that he might want.
Prompto hates it, the way that the thoughts rush forward and taint his view of Noct. The alpha in question turns to him and smiles and Prompto offers a slight one in return.
âI got us two rooms.â Itâs said casually as Noct walks back to the door, leaning out to call the other two over, but Prompto freezes. Two rooms. Two rooms and four of them, so heâs sharing a room and no doubt itâs with Noct. Noct, who doesnât want him to go yet, who he owes. Noct whoâs staring at him in concern.
âWhatâs the matter? Did you not want your own room? I thought, I mean, you donât seem comfortable around us yetâŚâ
The relief that floods Prompto is so pure he gasps a little, âNo! I-thatâs perfect. Thank you.â
Noct just gives him another odd look and hands him his key, âIggyâs going to buy you some clothes, Gladio said heâd guard the door if you wanted, but I think heâs itching to get some sunshine. I can stick around if you want?â
Prompto answers slowly, his first instinct is to let the alpha decide, but he recognizes that the alpha is giving him choices, that heâs asking him without strings.
âI thinkâŚI would like to look around here a bit, if youâd come with me?â
Noctâs face lights up and he smiles, âYeah! Sure.â
Prompto isnât sure what they should do, since heâs never been to this part of the world and really, heâs not sure if there is anything to see really. Noct follows him back out into the sunlight anyways and Prompto pauses to enjoy the rays against his cheeks, his heavy coat and thick pants are alright for the moment, but if the heat lasts here heâs going to need something else.
Noct seems to realize this as well, looking the omega over and then gesturing, âCâmon, letâs get you something to wear so you donât die.â
Prompto bites his lip, looking back at the blue of the sky. Heâs always known the danger of cold but he supposes that heat might be a threat in itself. Noct shakes him from his thoughts with a light nudge to his shoulder and Prompto smiles, a little startled at the touch.
The alpha nods toward a building near the end of the row and Prompto takes the lead, comfortable for once with another at his back.










