#it runs in the family i guess *coughs* daemon

[alicentes]

The minute V*serys told Otto that he knew Alicent only came to spend time with him after Aemma died was because Otto sent her there for his own interests and yet he continued with their private visits knowing the 15 year old girl was only spending time with him because of her father i was like 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

[stryhnklinge0-blog]

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[thedarklordmegatron]

Amicitia Week - Day 7

Prompt: Returning to Amicitia Manor after the Dawn @amicitias-week

Characters: Gladiolus Amicitia, Iris Amicitia, Talcott Hester, Others mentioned

Rating: Everyone

The return of the Dawn had been a time for both celebration and mourning. Of collecting the remains of their fallen families and friends, and attempting to rebuild everything that had been lost. With everything going on, Noctis’ funeral, the formation of a new government and Ignis’ subsequent election as President, they simply hadn’t found the right moment to return home. Their small apartments in Lestallum had never truly felt like home, not with the all-encompassing darkness and knowledge that Noctis would one day return to them.

Returning to the Amicitia Manor should have been a ‘homecoming’ of sorts, a relief to finally be returning to the once place they belong. But with so many members of their little family missing, it was far from that. Jared, their father even Noctis and Regis. It was strange really. To stand by the gates and stare at the empty shell of the home that had been so full of love and warmth, knowing that half of their number would never be coming home.

Despite the numerous offers from their friends and family, Iris and Gladiolus had decided to go alone, bringing Talcott along with them. He had after all, been raised in the Manor and it was as much his home as theirs.

The trio walked down the damaged and overgrown path in silence. In spite of the significant damage done to the majority of Insomnia, both in the initial attack and the years of darkness and occupation by Daemons, the outlying residential areas had largely escaped unscathed. Only time and nature herself had done any true damage. Nonetheless, it was heartbreaking to see the garden their father had so carefully cultivated an overgrown mess. Gladiolus swore that the grounds would be one of the first things he would tackle when making the Manor hospitable once again.

Talcott was the first to reach the large mahogany doors, pausing only to look at the siblings for permission. The groaning of the doors had them on edge, regardless of the fact there was no real danger left in Insomnia. Years of living day to day and constantly watching one's back would do that to a person. Iris sucked in a breath as they stepped inside for the first time in ten years. Other than the disgustingly thick layer of dust, the Manor looked untouched. It was surreal to say the least.

“I was expecting...Something? I don’t know” Talcott muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Same” Iris hummed in agreement “Didn’t think it was gonna look the same as when we left.” Crossing the foyer she paused at the bottom of the stairs. There on the very last step was her Moogle hoodie. During their panicked escape, she’d dropped it and not realised it wasn’t with her until they were already halfway towards the car, by which point she had no intention of going back. Certainly not when there were Imperial ships were flying overhead. Picking up the filthy piece of clothing she shook the dust off, instantly regretting it. Coughing into her shoulder she ignored Gladio’s quiet snicker, choosing instead to stick her finger up at him.

Talcott cleared his throat and started wandering up the hall “I’m gonna go...you know.” He motioned towards the door that led to his and his grandfather’s apartments.

Gladio nodded “Yell if you need anything.” He rolled his shoulders and walked over to stand beside Iris at the bottom of the stairs. “You coming up?” He asked softly, putting his hand on her shoulder. She took a deep breath, eyes focused on the top of the staircase.

“Yeah,” She breathed “Yeah I am.” Together the siblings made their way upstairs. By some miracle, the framed drawings they had made for their father still hung on the walls. Iris stopped to look at one. A frankly horrific finger painting of themselves, their father, Regis, Noctis, Ignis and Jared. “I remember making this,” She chuckled, running her fingers over the mahogany frame. “You helped me hide the mess.”

Gladiolus chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders “Yeah, had to hide your sheets and make Jared promise not to tell dad that we had to bin them.”

“I really liked those sheets to.”

“You just liked the fact you got Noct to sign them.”

“Well duh, the other girls in school were super jealous.” Her smile faded as she leant into Gladio’s side. “I really miss them Glads.” She sniffed.

He sighed heavily, “So do I but you know what?” She shook her head, “I think they’d be really proud of who we’ve become and of everything we’ve done.”

Iris made a soft noise as she pulled away from her and made her way up the remaining stairs. “I guess.” Following his sister Gladio looked around the landing, running his hand over the bannisters. He reached out to pat Iris’ shoulder as she disappeared into her bedroom, before strolling down towards his own. There really was no place like home. Even if said home was going to need weeks of work before they could move back in.

Walking into his room he paused just inside the door. Everything was just as he left it. The pile of dirty clothing in the far corner, something both his father and Jared had detested but never managed to convince him to stop doing. His bed still perfectly made with the Behemoth plushie he’d had since his childhood, a gift from Cor after his first growth spurt - he’d have to remember to take that back to the Citadel with him before they left. And there on his bedside table, masterfully hidden under a carefully placed sock was a little black box he’d lamented the loss of for years.

With a bright smile he strode over to his bed, gingerly sitting down on the edge -wrinkling his nose at the cloud of dust. He plucked the box off of the table and popped it open. The ring was still as beautiful as the day he’d collected. A simple, yet intricate band of silver with the inscription ‘Forever yours.’ etched on the inside. His father had been so proud of him when he’d told him of his plan to ask Ignis to marry him. According to Clarus, he’d already waited too long as it was.

Smiling to himself he ran a finger over the ring and looked around his room. It had been a long and painful road filled with loss, but Insomnia was theirs once again. Eos was finally free of the Scourge and the Immortal responsible for its existence. The world was not perfect and never would be but maybe, just maybe, he could make something of it. And perhaps he’d be lucky enough to spend it with his family by his side.

[supernatural-firstwatch]

Season 6 Episode 10: Caged Heat

I’m sick. Have been for the last couple of days but now I’m pretty sure my cold has turned into bronchitis and I’m coughing up from deep within my chest and it’s just uncomfortable. So what is one to do when one has taken the day off? Clearly watch SPN. 

Also. Here’s a thought. If SPN were set in His Dark Material universe, everyone would have caught on REAL FAST that Sam didn’t have a soul. Because his daemon wouldn’t be there. Would have saved everyone a lot of trouble in trying to figure out what was wrong with him. 

- Wow! Crowley is beating up on Crowley. “Sorry, but your exceptional good looks aren’t going to buy you any mercy.” LOL! Oooh, does Crowley have the shapeshifter Alpha on his hands? And he found something that can hurt it! Ooops! It just spit blood all over Crowley. Well then. Crowley’s threats did not loosen his lips so now Alpha shifter has been decapitated. Hehehehehe. “Guess I kind of lost my head.”

- Ok, so! Meg and her croonies are running from Crowley cause he’s got a hit on all the Lucifer loyalists, and she wants to kill Crowley before he kills her... So that she can become Queen of Hell? I mean, if she were Queen she would have the power to let Lucifer out of his cage, maybe? Sam is the man with a plan. “You wanna work with a demon again?” “We’re working with demons now. I’m doing this cause I wanna stop.” “She killed Ellen and Jo.” “I know. But we can’t look at this emotionally. We need her.” “The hell we do. That little bitch is gonna screw us over so fast--” “Of course. Which is why we’ll screw her first. Meg and her little posse are dead the second we’re done with them.” “Yeah, if they don’t kill us.” “Oh, they won’t. Cause we’re bringing insurance.”

- Is Sam seriously trying to lure Cass by telling him the plot of Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark? It’ll likely work. I doubt Cass knows anything about pop culture. LOL! He showed up. “I can’t believe you fell for that. That was the plot for Raiders, idiot.”

- I would’t believe Crowley for a second that he’ll bring Mary back. He’s a demon. He’s now THE demon. He’s a lying liar who’s really good at lying. Dean’s right. “I’m saying stop trying. It’s going to go nowhere good. Samuel, I know we’ve had our differences, but I’m your grandson. And I’m telling you that this is wrong for so many reasons.” “You hypocrite.” “I’m asking you to learn from our mistakes. Doing this, this is how the bad guy gets us every time. It’s our Achilles heel. Apparently, it runs in the family.”

- WHAT IS CASS WATCHING?? “It’s very complex. If the pizza man truly loves this babysitter... why does he keep slapping her rear?” IS HE WATCHING PORN?? “You watching porn? Why?” “It was there.” HAHAHAHA!!!!!! “Oh, now he’s got a boner.” Cass looks SO CONFUSED over the fact he has a boner! “This is what you boys do all day? Watching pornos with angels?” “We’re not supposed to talk about it.” OMG!!! I LOVE THIS SHOW!

- RoboSam is just badass. Got Meg to give him their demon killing knife and then killed one of the demons cause he “looked more interested in killing us than the job” and then was all “You took it from us. I’m taking it back. We leave in one hour.” It’s like, you don’t mess with RoboSam because he will fuck you up. 

- Whaaaaaat?? Cass doesn’t think getting Sam’s soul is wise. Pray, tell us why. Aha! Cass is bringing up the point I have been making since the start of season 6. Sam’s soul has been trapped in the cage with Lucifer and Michael for over a year and they have nothing else to do but take their frustrations out on him. And they would because he’s the sole reason they’re both in there to begin with. “If we try to force that mutilated thing down Sam’s gullet... we have no idea what will happen. It could be catastrophic.” “You mean he dies.” “I mean he doesn’t. Paralysis, insanity, psychic pain so profound that he’s locked inside himself for the rest of his life.” “But you’re saying you don’t know anything for sure? I mean, he could be fine?” “He could be, yes.” “Okay, then.” “But I sincerely doubt it.” “Well, if he’s not fine, then you fix him.” (like it’s that easy; it’s one thing fixing physical ills, I don’t think anyone can fix a broken soul). And Sam was listening to all of that. He doesn’t look very happy about it. Man, RoboSam can sneak! 

But like, what else is Dean supposed to do? He wants his little brother back. He wants to save his little brother. At this point, even though Sam is physically there, he’s still trapped in Hell. And it’s been over a year. Dean won’t stand for that. He won’t let Sam just... be tortured in Hell by Michael and Lucifer forever. He can’t. Like, he physically and mentally can’t let that go on.

- I bet Crowley is letting them enter because they’re bringing Meg and her posse with them and he’s going to kill them all (Meg and her posse). It’s Mrs. O’Leary!!! Hmmm... Cass and Meg are making out. Why? Sam and Dean looks very confused about it, too. “I learned that from the pizza man.” LOOOOOOOL!!!!

- “Sam!” “Yeah?” “I’m standing in pee!” “Consider yourself lucky.” “Yikes. That sucks.” LOL!

- What is RoboSam doing to his arm? What did he stash inside of him? Fuck, he is so badass. He feels pain but it’s sort of like whatever. HOLY FUCK! HE USED HIS BLOOD TO DRAW A DEVIL’S TRAP??? How did he reach the ceiling? He’s tall, but not that tall. I guess maybe there was a chair in there? 

- I can’t believe they pulled the fire alarm. That’s so grade school, LOL! 

- WOAH! Cass just showed up with the bones and torched them after Crowley, again, said he can’t bring Sam’s soul back. Though, I did enjoy the discussion of why would Sam want it back when it’s been tortured for over a year by Satan since that’s his only source of entertainment. 

- Sam’s right. “When angels and demons agree on something, call me nuts. I pay attention.”

Sam walked out! Now what??? Dum dum dum!!!!!

[sephirotha]

Eclipsed Star XX

Ardyn hummed to himself as he carried Stella into the throne room. He had just redressed her with dry clothes, leaving the damp ones to be taken care of by the mindflayer maids. She had his coat around her to keep her warm.

The necromancers had left Lyra sprawled on a chair.  There was a second chair in front of her where Ardyn carefully sat Stella.  After meticulously adjusting a couple of cushions, he beckoned a goblin, who scrambled across the throne room with chains.

After securing Stella in place, he placed his hat on her head haphazardly before grabbing the next lot of chains to truss Lyra.  The hunter stirred once he stepped back to admire his handywork, dusting his hands whilst he did so.

“Who…?” she mumbled under her breath as she lifted her head.

Ardyn smirked slightly as she saw his face and sneered at him.

“You…!”

She struggled, looking down to see the chains before looking back up to glare at him.

“What do you want?!”

“I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced,” Ardyn said as he bowed to her.  “Ardyn Izunia.  At your humble service.”

He smirked wider as he stood straight, looming over her.

“Welcome to Insomnia.  A once prosperous kingdom built with bloodstained hands, but not that any details should be wasted on you.”

He turned to walk towards Stella, standing next to her as Lyra kept thrashing.

“Stella!”

Ardyn lay a hand on the slumbering princess’s shoulder, watching her facial features with a soft gaze.

“Miss Lyra, was it?  Tell me, what were you planning to do if you had succeeded whisking my beloved away from my arms?”

“What does it matter to you, you psycho?!”

Ah, naivety is amusing.  This poor woman has no clue just who he is, much like Noctis and Stella’s reactions during Altissia.

Ardyn crouched to one knee and removed his hat from Stella’s head. He squeezed her hand.

“Stells,” he cooed and Stella stirred.  “Darling…”

He lifted his hat to shield his gentle kiss from Lyra.  He sighed softly as Stella’s lips moved underneath his and he pulled away, seeing her eyes flutter open.  He smiled when she saw him and lurched back, her chains clinking to restrict her movements.

“Did you rest well, dearest?” he asked as her feet stomped on the ground and her right hand swung to try and hit him.  “Ssh, ssh, you’ll be snug in your own bed soon.”

He lowered his hat and Stella saw Lyra across the room.  Her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly. Ardyn earnestly watched the fear flickering across her face before she looked down at him with a pleading look.

Let her go.

Ardyn was memorised by how her lips formed those silent words. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

“Ah, ah, but she tried to take you away from me,” he said as he pulled away, placing his hat on his head.  “I couldn’t possibly let her just walk free after that.”

Please!

Ardyn turned away from Stella so he couldn’t see anymore of her pleas. Perhaps she was bargaining with him, promising him things he would desire as long as the hunter was released. It was tempting to see what she would offer, just so he could swoop in and take advantage of her promises, whether or not they would be empty.

“I couldn’t help but see just how close the two of you grew during such a short amount of time,” he said as he stood behind Lyra and placed his hands on her shoulders, gripping them tight as she struggled.  “It had me wondering.”

“Get your hands off me…!”

Ardyn pressed his hand over Lyra’s lips, his fingers digging in mercilessly into her face.  Stella mouthed for him to stop but he just gripped the hunter’s face tighter.

“Are you lonely here, my star?” he asked.  “Am I not enough?  Do you truly need a companion?”

Stella shook her head quickly and Ardyn sighed.

“Don’t lie to me, my queen.  I’ve seen you avoid the daemons who only want to serve you.  And of course, you do anything to stay away from me. But what if we kept your new friend here?  Would you be happier?”

Stella shook her head again as Lyra struggled more.  Ardyn tilted his head to the side.

“Of course, I’d need to…run a little test.  You see, my star, I find you to be too naïve to leave you in others’ company by yourself.  I’ve seen how others look at you and I must say, it makes me worried.  They all have darkness in their hearts, seeking you out because of your radiant light.”

Ardyn smirked as he gripped Lyra tighter, his nails digging painfully into her skin.

“Let’s see what kind of darkness this one’s heart can hold!”

He leaned down to Lyra’s ear.

“Goodnight.”

The scourge wasted no time to sink its claws into its new victim. Stella began coughing as she tried to begin using her voice to plead for him to stop.  Ardyn could just hear her voice in his own head, begging so sweetly and promising him all his wishes.

Ah, if only she knew just what dark desires he himself kept locked away.

Lyra’s form began changing under his hands and he pulled away, moving to the side so he could watch her mutate into another mindless slave.

The horror in Stella’s eyes was simply stunning.  Tears ran down her cheeks as she watched a salpinx emerge from the shadows.  The chains dropped to the floor as the daemon leapt from the seat, looking itself over and making confused noises.

Ardyn couldn’t help but laugh.

“Oh my!  I was hoping for a more impressive creature!  Such a disappointment!”

He strolled to Stella’s side, crouching next to her and taking her hand to kiss the back of it.

“Oh, my dearest, you have poor taste in companions.  She really was such a dull soul.  No real loss.”

Lyra’s memories circulated his mind but he dismissed them. What is a young girl’s life compared to all the memories he had accumulated over the past three decades?

Stella couldn’t tear her gaze from the salpinx that pranced about, exploring its surroundings curiously.  Ardyn felt a chill in her hand and undid the chains that bound her to the chair.

“Now, my darling, you ought to have some proper rest,” he said as he pulled her up to her feet.  “You’re shivering!  Perhaps a nice hot bath will get rid of this chill.”

He took Stella’s chin and directed her gaze towards him.

“Maybe now you fully understand just what I could do to anyone else who tries to take you from here.  I will not tolerate this any longer, Stells.”

Stella glared through her tears at him and struck him across his face. Ardyn turned his head with the strike. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the princess cover her face and break into more tears.

I hate you!  I hate you, you bastard!

He couldn’t see her lips well but he could only guess that was what she was saying to him.  He raised a hand suddenly and she flinched, bracing for him to strike her back.  

Instead, he snapped his fingers.

The salpinx scurried towards them and Ardyn steadily lowered his hand.

“She’s tired.  See to it she’s put to bed.”

Stella lowered her hands to glower at him before the salpinx grabbed her hand and led her away from him.  His coat dropped from her shoulders as she followed the salpinx out of the throne room.

Don’t treat me like a child!

Then stop acting like one!

I hate it!  I hate everything!

Ardyn’s head throbbed as he propped himself against the chair, holding his face.  He looked down at his coat and dropped to his knees, scooping it up in his arms.  He buried his nose into it.

Uncle and Auntie wouldn’t do this!

Well they’re not here now, are they?!

Just let me go!  Is this how you’re going to treat Aera?!  Is this how you’ll keep treating me?!  Then I don’t want to be part of this family anymore!

And where will you go?

Away!  Away from you, away from the Astrals, away from everything!

“You…can’t just run all the time…”

[cupnoodle-queen]

CHASING SUNS: Chapter 2 Reset

1,478 words Tagging @blindbae and @nifwrites <3

Luck was empathetic that evening. 

Cam reached the blockade just outside of Lestallum, easing off the gas to brake for the approaching guard, a semi-automatic rifle cradled in his arms. She expected to be denied entry, that they were booked to capacity, but he asked her why she was here and it’d taken the last reserves of her composure to grit through clenched teeth that her fiance was just killed. That she had nowhere else to go. That she had no one else.

And so after several seconds of uncomfortable silence his shrewd eyes narrowed at her, a toothpick rolling between his teeth as he turned to another guard holding a checklist, made a quick scrawl and nodded for them to open the gate.

Cam parked the truck in the lot above the overlook, pressed her head to the steering wheel and broke into a million pieces. She cried harder than she had over the past couple of years, loud screams and sobs of anger and heartbreak clamping her ribcage against her lungs. Nolan was dead. She was homeless. Three hundred gil to her name crumpled up in her pocket, an old truck running on fumes, her cellphone and the clothes on her back.

She wept for an immeasurable amount of time, exhausting herself to the point her whimpers came out in cracks, her throat raw and sore. People outside had stared as they passed by, but fuck them. When the windows fogged, it was welcome seclusion.

At some point she fell asleep, leaning against the window and letting the tears flow freely against the glass as she drifted off. The nightmares showed no sympathy, barraging her mind with images of her family home buckling under the blow of the daemon’s weapon, the lights going out one after the other, and Nolan, trapped behind the rubble…

A tapping on the glass pulled her from the torment. She’d slept all night, or at least a full night’s sleep worth; it was hard to tell the days apart, for obvious reasons. Cam blinked and wiped the condensation from the window.

A familiar face peered in and she cranked the window down. “Greyson,” she croaked, voice sandpaper against her throat. “What are you doing here?”

The husky man noticed her golden eyes were rimmed-red, puffy and raw. “Could ask you the same thing.” Worry accented his words. “When did you get here? Where’s Nolan?”

Nolan…The wounds barely clotted and hearing his name ripped them open again. Without hesitation Cam’s eyes gathered tears. She couldn’t speak, so she shook her head, the corners of her lips quivering.

“Cam, what…” But then realization, as his face softened. “No, no fucking way…”

Greyson paced away with his head down, pinching the bridge of his nose. He circled back to the driver’s side window. “I’m so so sorry, Cam. When did-”

“Last night,” She replied through her teeth, anything to keep from breaking down again. “House’s gone. Iron giant.”

“Goddammit.” Greyson scratched his patchy beard and seemed to consider something. “What’re you gonna do?”

Cam stared out the windshield. “Stay here, I guess. They always need people at the power plant-”

“Come with me to HQ,” He suggested, cutting her off by accident. “We always need people, too.”

“To replace the ones that were killed, sure.”

Greyson seemed offended. “Not necessarily. We can use the help with vendors, or provisions or-”

“I’m staying here, Greyson.” It was Cam’s turn to cut him off. “I don’t have any desire to become a hunter. I know what life comes with that…profession,” she avoided Nolan’s face in her thoughts, “and it’s not for me. Thank you, but no.”

“Alright, alright,” He held his hands up, “whatever you say. Offer will stand should you take it. I just want to see you in good hands.”

They chatted for a little while longer before Greyson took off, a haul of supplies in the back of his pickup.

Cam spent the rest of her gil on a hotel room at the Leville and acquired a job at the power plant without needing an interview, as they were so desperate for people. Two days into it however, and she literally couldn’t take the heat. Even with the protective suits her skin boiled, the relief of a cold shower her reward at the end of the day. It paid by the day which was helpful, but it wouldn’t be enough for her to find a place to stay, afford rations and pay her phone bill. She’d have to do with out the latter eventually; not like she had anyone to keep in touch with.

After two weeks Cam’s income couldn’t keep up with the cost of renting a hotel room. She sold the truck, the profit just enough for one more night’s stay, and after an awkward conversation with a coworker she moved into their basement for the time being.

Jobs apart from the power plant were hard to come by, as any openings were filled the same day they were posted due to the massive population of the city. Crowds were not Cam’s thing and they were everywhere; restaurants packed to capacity and people forced to sit on the curb and eat their meals, lines at shops going around the block and barely any personal space when walking to and from work. It was overwhelming. Unnerving.

Suffocating.

There was a darkness of her own akin to that which plagued the land, seeping into her mind and spreading to further reaches as the days, then weeks, passed by. Color drained from her world, faces became flesh blobs in her field of vision, monotone voices with a distant pan no matter their proximity. It was a struggle each evening to keep Nolan from her thoughts, or at least think of better memories with him other than his final moments.

Cam leaned against the wall of the shower as she’d done every night after work, letting the ice water drench her and extinguish the fire her skin had endured in the heat suit. She wanted more than anything to stroll through the market square hand in hand with him, his blonde shag whipping around his face in the breeze and the innocence of youth in his silver eyes. But they’d converted the space into makeshift housing to try and deal with the influx of refugees so that was out of the question.

For some reason she reminisced back to a particular day at market, where she’d met four young men dressed in black clothing, including the one with the sun on his hip. Cam didn’t mention it to Nolan for obvious reasons; after all, how would one react to their significant other pointing out a stranger and announcing they were their soulmate?

That didn’t prevent her from thinking about him, though. Despite the years passing, the features of his face kept in crisp detail and whenever she thought of him pins and needles flared from the marking on her hip. Nolan’s face was already blurry…

No. It wasn’t fair to his memory to be thinking about a stranger like this, soulmate or not. She had to focus on restarting her life, getting her shit together. And after deliberating back and forth with herself, she concluded Lestallum was not the place for her.

She had to do as Nolan did. She needed to make a difference, and poaching herself in a heat suit on the daily was not the way to do it.

After tying her chestnut locks in a damp ponytail, she opened the contact page of her phone and dialed the only listing. After two rings, Greyson picked up. “Hey Cam, how’s Lestallum treating you?”

She sighed. “Not well. I was hoping that offer of yours was still on the table.”

“You mean you want to come work at HQ?”

A pause as she mulled over her decision a final time. The hunter lifestyle went against her grain; it required strength, cunning, fast reflexes and physical fitness, all things she lacked in varying degrees. To train and groom herself into a hunter would require a level of dedication she’d only previously applied to the family business, but the drive was there. Hidden beneath layers of encroaching depression and dysphoria, but it was there.

“Uhh Cam, you there?”

Greyson’s voice brought her back to the present. “Yeah,” she replied, “yeah, I want to go to HQ. Could you um, come pick me up anytime soon? I sold the truck.”

“Oh.” Greyson coughed. “Actually I can pick you up tonight. Is seven thirty okay?”

“Sure, I’ll pack my things.” Said things consisted of only a few changes of clothes, wallet and toothbrush. She’d be done in seconds. “I’ll meet you in the parkade.”

“Sounds good, later.”

As she ended the call, the sun marking on her hip tingled from beneath her skin, stronger than ever before.

[iamthechocobabe]

We All Have Battle Scars

THE SECRET HAS BEEN DISCOVERED. WHAT SHALL BE DONE. 

AU Based On: We Intertwined

We All Have Battle Scars

~Chapter 6~

SFW

Word Count: 2,605

The four all stood around awkwardly as Alaea had gone behind a rock to lose all of the contents in her stomach. She was apparently inexperienced enough to not know that you shouldn't eat a huge meal before a large battle because she'd been back there for a good five minutes. Prompto tried to go help her by holding back her hair, (a habit he had gotten used to whenever Gladio got drunk) but she refused to let anyone see her throw up more than once.

Finally, there was a silence and Alaea started to come out from behind the rock, her eyes bleary and red; she didn't make it two steps before she got a look in her eye and ran back behind the boulder to continue to throw up. 

How much did this girl have to eat?

Finally, she left the boulder, a few tears running down her eyes from crying a little, but Prompto figured it was due to the vomiting and not actual sadness. Gladio handed her a bottle of water and she took it, swigging the water in her mouth before going behind the boulder and spitting the water out. 

"Have a huge breakfast, you said," Alaea grumbled. "It'll be fine, you said, you need a good meal, you said. Fucking waffles..." 

"Mmm..." Prompto was pretty hungry since he didn't have a chance to eat breakfast. "Waffles..." 

"Oh, Gods, shut up," Alaea held her hand over her mouth like she was gonna throw up again but seemed to hold it down. "We should head back, my dad's probably worried sick about me," 

"Yeah, whose fault is that, I wonder..." Noctis mumbled. 

"Hey, I saved your asses!"

"And we saved yours," Ignis said. "So I suppose we're even," 

Alaea paused for a second before nodding. "Fair enough, I guess," 

They began heading back to the Outpost, with Noctis and Ignis taking the lead, Gladio and Prompto in the middle and Alaea tagging along behind them. Noticing she was behind, Prompto glanced at her and waited for her to catch up before walking on. 

The action made Alaea glance at Prompto like she was surprised, like someone had never done that for her before and Prompto couldn't help but wonder how many people in her life have actually been nice to her. Were people so shallow that they refused to look past something so simple as a burn scar? 

"Hey..." Alaea spoke loudly to show she was talking to all of them, though she looked like she wanted to hide behind her hair like she had the previous night. 

When Alaea got everyone's attention, she fiddled with her ponytail, but Prompto was able to hear her mumbling softly. "I just wanted to say...thanks. For helping me, I mean," 

Prompto couldn't help but smile and the words were out of his mouth before he realized he sounded like a cocky little prick. "Speak a little louder, I don't think the caterpillars heard you," 

Prompto was worried that Alaea would take offense to his ridiculously stupid comment, but it seems Prompto had nothing to worry about. 

Because she just smiled. 

This time, at him.

It wasn't that long of a trek back to the Outpost, mostly filled with Prompto doing his best to make Alaea smile. Stupid jokes filled awkward silence  while the other three walked in front thinking 'what the hell is with these two?' Alaea decided to let Prompto in on all of the blonde jokes she knew and pretty soon, they were both wheezing with laughter. 

"I think I know every blonde joke there is," Alaea was informing Prompto as the Outpost came into view. 

Prompto grumbled and fiddled with his bright blonde locks. "Why do people always make fun of blondes?" 

"Because they're easy to hate," 

Prompto glanced at Alaea with a feigned look of hurt look on his face. "Do you hate me?" 

Alaea wasn't fazed by Prompto's hurt look and simply responded in kind, somehow knowing he was just kidding. "Not as much as other blondes," 

"Ow, my pride..." 

Before long, the sound of Chocobos filled the air as the Chocobos were now back out in full force, enjoying their first time out in the sun in over a month. Prompto wanted to run and coo at the Chocobos, but fought the temptation when he saw Wiz heading right for Alaea and he did not look happy. 

Wiz stopped in front of Alaea and looked like he didn't know what to say, so he looked at the four people who had gone to help her. "She went after the daemon?" 

When all four nodded, Wiz looked at Alaea, his face dark and angry but also filled with worry. "Alaea, I have never, in my life as your father, been more tempted to backhand you across the face-you thank the Gods that I'm not that kind of parent," 

Alaea paused and nodded-she knew her dad was right. It had been stupid of her to go out there on her own and if the four hadn't intervened when they did, she probably would have gotten herself killed. 

"I'm sorry, dad...I know it was stupid and I can justify it by saying I had the Outpost's interests at heart, but I think you and I both know I was just being stubborn and stupid," Alaea looked at her dad with a small smile. "I think I have officially figured out though that I am not cut out for bounty hunting so you don't have to worry about me wanting to be a bounty hunter anymore..." 

"Well, thank the Gods, there's hope for you yet," Wiz said and took off his cap to scratch his head. His eyes filled with tears and he pulled Alaea into a huge bear hug, squeezing her so hard that Alaea heard some bones pop. "Don't you ever fucking scare me like that again, got it?" 

"Deal," 

Wiz let go of his daughter and looked at Prompto, Noctis, Gladiolus and Ignis with a huge smile of gratitude. "You've done this family a huge service-dinner's on me and you get free passes to Chocobo racing," 

"OH, BABY!" Prompto jumped with his fist in the air, brimming with excitement. "Noctis, I'll race you-let's go let's go let's go!" 

"I think I'm gonna take a nap," was Noctis' reply and he headed for the caravan without another word. 

"Oh, come on, Noct!" Prompto pleaded at Noctis' back before glancing at his other two companions. "So..." 

It was as if Ignis and Gladiolus couldn't get away fast enough. 

"You guys are a bunch of jerks!" Prompto folded his arms, pouting so intensely that it made Alaea laugh. 

Wiz glanced at the two and got a huge twinkle in his eye, a look that Alaea recognized, like when her dad would try to make his Chocobos try a new trick. "Why don't you race Alaea? I'm sure she'll be more than happy to race you," 

"Dad, I'd cream him," Alaea couldn't help but boast at her prowess for Chocobo racing, as everyone in a 25 mile radius knew Alaea was the best Chocobo racer so far. She'd started when she was six and could count the losses she'd had in her years of Chocobo racing on one hand. 

Prompto gave Alaea a cocky grin. "Is that a challenge I hear?" 

Alaea cocked her eyebrow at Prompto; the boy clearly had no idea what he was in for. "Prompto, I was born and raised around Chocobos-you won't stand a chance," 

Prompto didn't back down. His cocky grin simply grew to a cocky smile as he faced Alaea head on. Alaea hadn't noticed until then that she and Prompto were the same height, his eyes the same level with her own eyes and he stood so close that Alaea could count the freckles on his face. 

"Challenge accepted," 

Prompto started heading for the race track across the road while Alaea hung back with her dad, laughing a little at Prompto's goofiness. It was refreshing to have someone so lively at the Outpost, someone who Alaea could only describe as sunshine. Everytime Prompto smiled or joked with her, Alaea felt like the sun was warming her face and it was nice to see someone so...happy.

Alaea wished she had that same sunshine in her own soul. 

"He's not a bad looking fella," Wiz acknowledged as Alaea began to head after Prompto. 

The comment made Alaea look back at her dad with her trademark raised eyebrow. "Dad, he's blonde," 

"Chocobo's are blonde," Wiz pointed out. 

"Chocobo's don't comment on my face," Alaea mumbled and went over to Prompto who was jumping up and down and waving his arms like crazy out of anticipation.

"Challenge failed," 

Alaea was framed by the sunset, her ponytail now falling out of the ponytail holder as she stood next to her bright purple Chocobo, triumphant in her victory. Five races and Alaea still managed to leave Prompto in her dust, though Prompto wasn't really surprised. The girl had grown up around Chocobos after all, it only made sense that she could be this excellent at Chocobo racing. 

Though, if Prompto was being honest with himself, he would admit that the reason he challenged Alaea to a  race was because he just wanted to see her smile. For some reason, he loved seeing her smile...she had a really cute smile. Her cheeks would swell and she apparently had a dimple on her left cheek that was partially hidden by the scar. He felt like he could live off of her smiles...

Prompto would never admit that, though. 

Partially because it sounded bat-shit insane. 

"Again," Prompto challenged. He was laying down in the middle of the track after being thrown by his Chocobo right before he crossed the finish line. His Chocobo was named Bongo and was the one with bright yellow feathers with a few white feathers dusting around the bird. Bongo was a pretty good Chocobo, but he loved to throw Prompto after a race. 

He coughed from a gust of dirt that Bongo had kicked into the air and glanced up at Alaea's smirky grin. Alaea was apparently a little  competetive and always accepted Prompto's invitation for a rematch. This time, though, she shook her head. 

"Just admit defeat, loser deloser," 

"You kids still at it?" Wiz and a few of the other workers had come to lead the Chocobos at the race track into the pens for the night. "I'm gonna have to start charging you now, Prompto," 

"Oh, come on," Prompto whined-clearly the Thorin's were against him for some reason. 

Wiz chuckled and helped Prompto to his feet. "Dinner's ready, as promised. I even gave your friend in the specs a discount on the caravan tonight, dinner obviously included-Chocoburgers with Chocofries and Choco-baby carrots," 

"We sell a lot of Chocobo related food," Alaea said. "In case you didn't notice," 

Prompto dusted the dirt from his clothes and hair while following Alaea and Wiz over to the Outpost. "Never would have guessed-what's a Chocoburger?" 

"A hamburger made with Chocobo meat instead of beef," Alaea explained. 

"That sounds-wait, what???" Prompto stopped with his mouth gaping at Alaea. The thought of such cute and innocent birds being made into hamburgers made him want to cry at the thought. 

Alaea smiled. "I'm kidding-it's a hamburger cut in the shape of a Chocobo. The fries are shaped like Chocobo's too and the baby carrots are shaped like baby Chocobos," 

"That sounds adorable," 

"You should see our Choco-ice cream," 

Noctis, Gladio and Ignis were eating underneath the canapy under the caravan while playing Kings Knight and Prompto was itching to join and attempt to redeam himself at the game. The smell of hamburgers and fries wafted over to them and even from the driveway, it smelled delicious. 

Alaea glanced at Prompto for a second but averted her eyes when he looked back at her. "I heard you're leaving for Lastallum tomorrow," 

Prompto paused before nodding. "We have to meet Gladio's little sister, Iris..." Alaea was avoiding his gaze so he couldn't see how she was taking the news. Still, he felt some weird need to cheer her up. "But we're probably gonna come back before heading to Altissia...Noctis loves him some Chocobos, you know?" 

Alaea laughed a little. "He doesn't strike me as the the type," 

Prompto smiled but felt embarassed when he saw Wiz watching the two of them like a hawk...chaperone hawk. "I assume you're joining us for dinner?" 

"I thought you'd never ask," Wiz said with a smirk. 

Alaea smiled again and Prompto felt that same joy again at seeing her smile-he wasn't sure what it was about this girl that made him feel so strange and bizaare but at this point, he didn't care. Or he didn't mind, take your pick. Seeing her smile was making Prompto's stay at the Outpost all the more enjoyable and all he could think of was how much it would suck when they would have to leave tomorrow. 

Alaea walked in front of Prompto to say hi to the others and was fixing her ponytail in the process. Prompto almost didn't notice it at first, just thought it was an interesting birthmark until he noticed the tiny stem that curved to the left of the ulwaat berry shaped mark. 

Prompto didn't realize he was reaching forward until he felt Alaea's shoulders underneath his gloved hands, making her hold still. The fabric crinkled under his fingers from dried mud, but he didn't care at the moment. 

"What are you doing?" Alaea asked slowly. 

"Hold still," Was Prompto's answer, because he wanted a closer look. He had to be sure. 

He was. 

In the center of her neck, just below her hairline. A mark the size of the tip of a thumb in the shape of an ulwaat berry with it's stem curving to the left. A mirror image. Prompto's mirror image. 

"Daddy says that when I'm big, I'll meet someone with the same mark as me. Then, if I want to, we can fall in love and get married and my soulmate will kill all the bugs in the world for me," 

How could he have not seen it? It all made sense now, why he felt like he'd seen her before, how he felt like he was emotionally connected to her when he barely even knew her. He'd met her, somehow they had met and she had showed him her soulmate mark. He only remembered the mark and what she said, but he knew it was her. 

Alaea shook Prompto's hands off her shoulders and faced him with a slight smile on her face, unsure of what he was doing. "What's wrong with you? Have you never seen a soulmate mark before?" 

Prompto looked at Alaea and he was smiling. After years of dreaming, of wondering, of hoping, he had found her...and in his eyes, she was perfect. Everything he had dreamed of. 

A beautiful smile. 

"Prompt?" Noctis, who was watching the spectacle from the table at the caravan, called out the two. "Don't freak her out with your stalkerish tendencies," 

Prompto opened his mouth to answer him, but no words came out. He just stood there, stupefied, while the others at the Outpost stared uncomfortably at him, waiting to see his reaction. Finally, he found words. 

"I have seen a soulmate mark before," he said, his voice barely above a whisper and was so soft that Alaea almost didn't hear it. 

So to make sure she understood, Prompto turned around and lifted his hair so she could see his soulmate mark as well.