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Alpha totters past the stone pillars carved out of the rocks at Rhalgr's Reach with a smile hiding in his beak. He’s not usually allowed outside of the new workshop, the one far from Omega's infinitesimal sea, nor he is allowed outside of the new workshop without supervision— and he most certainly is not allowed outside without supervision at night.
The workshop is tucked away in one of the stalls near the armoury market, set up for Ironworks staff (and Nero, some would note only afterwards) to keep an eye on the purple sea brewing beneath the Fringes. Usually, it is Wedge who leads little Alpha out from behind the stall counter, and they enjoy their lunch in the sun, where Alpha picks up insects and sand to experimentally chew on. When he waddles away out of these special luncheons, he always promises to himself he'll return before the sun sets— but what a wonderful mystery a setting sun provides!
When he is free (well, free of Wedge's natural curiosity to allow the little chocobo a little mischief, as a treat) to roam, Alpha will march on past the ladies who work the shop next to Ironworks, who carry satchels of mysteriously shaped tomestones while they share a cigarette (which Biggs has informed Alpha is not for chocobos, and he should never pick one up if he finds them on the floor) and prepare for their walk home. He will then walk towards the river where the purple chocobos water themselves, and even though they are much taller than him, they understand his pitchy warks and offer him gyashl as if he were a part of their flock. Before their handlers return, Alpha wanders off again, eager to find the best spot to angle his little head up and admire the stars against the pretty black sky.
Usually, when he hears humans chatting, even from around a corner, Alpha knows he can wander on by without much attention— the quiet ones usually take notice, because there is less keeping their attention. When he peeks around the corner, he sees a table of loud human men, all of them eating warm food and talking with their mouths(?) full. Alpha is full on chocobo feed, but he finds himself yearning for a warm treat. Maybe he'll ask Wedge for something warm from his lunch tomorrow.
If he wanders a little farther, Alpha can begin his walk up the hill of Rhalgr's, past the tent where important people gather, and begin his march to a safe clearing for the sky. He totters past the table of men, listening to their words and trying to put meaning to each one. Wise he may be, it takes him some time to understand human words— he hears mentions of being from far away, or perhaps having to move far away, despite living elsewhere. It’s very confusing. Alpha peeks over his shoulder as he waddles, and when he does, he meets very familiar eyes— or, very familiar sunglasses.
Nero's loud exclamation of "Hey!" makes Alpha jump, almost as high as Nero is tall, pushing himself up from the bench.
Alpha breaks into a run, feeling the energy of a hundred race chocobos rush into his little legs. He feels his little heart beat in his chest as he tries to make for the hill, but little Alpha is very small, and Nero tol Scaeva is very tall. He is swiftly picked up off the ground, sand following his talons as he is brought up, reaching the sky with a very alarmed "kweh!!"
"Where do you think you’re wandering off to?" Nero scolds, holding Alpha with two very large human hands. "Heavens forbid you go missing, and I find myself at the accusing end of Garlond's square little pointer finger. Who let you out?"
Alpha wiggles in Nero's grasp, yet his wings are pinned to his sides. Nero is not holding him very tight at all, and Alpha would admit it is quite a gentle hold, but he feels quick foolish, being caught with his beak in the theoretical cookie jar. (If the cookie jar was a small township in an arid land, but Alpha doesn't deal with specifics. That's Omega's job.)
"Answer me, little bird. I was enjoying my dinner, you know."
"Kweh!"
"Oh, don’t give me that. I’m quite good at identifying this shade of blue you’re wearing. I have to be on lookout at all times, lest one of my darling coworkers are on their way to chew me out."
Alpha wiggles enough that Nero is forced to lead him to the ground, lest he drop the poor chocobo. Nero follows Alpha down, dropping to a knee as Alpha hops back to the sand, ruffling his feathers. He turns around with a leap, and narrows his blue eyes in a stern look, which Alpha hopes does not require much translation, for he is most certainly saying, you were squishing me, mister!
Nero shrugs his narrow shoulders, leaning one arm on the knee brought up. "I'm sure I can bargain your forgiveness. I could sneak you one of the berry tarts your little Lalafellin caretaker brings in the morning."
"Kweh."
"It's not theft, it is redistribution in the name of amnesty. Where are you trying to wander off to? This is where the residents of this little cave town live. There's not much here for you."
Alpha points a wing towards the Resistance tent, and wiggles it towards the right, indicating the path past its canopy. Nero follows his guidance and makes a face that looks quite unpleasant.
"I wouldn't go there. Not much adventuring to be had listening to Ala Mhigans discuss their patrol routes." Nero looks back to Alpha. "Were I to chaperone you, it would become quite unpleasant. I am not sure that our hosts would tolerate my presence after waking hours."
Alpha quirks his head, tipping his curiosity. Who doesn’t like Nero?
"Why, those men you distracted me from, they too are former soldiers of Garlemald, defected even before our dear Warrior of Light felled the crown prince. Many were discussing my decision to leave our shared leader much earlier than them, yet it is difficult to explain it is not as simple as they speculate."
Nero rises to his full height, bending his long, skinny human legs in such a way as to stretch his muscle, and Alpha finds himself having to keep a steady jog when they begin walking.
"Native to Ala Mhigo they may be, they seem to treat the whole legatus thing as more of a military oversight. I suppose I should consider myself fortunate that they do not raise much alarum being around me—something tells me they've been eroded enough by war they can laugh at a former legatus and every one of his little jokes. Could always be worse." He looks down to Alpha. "I doubt you understand the meaning of animosity, let alone war. You weren't taught any of that, now were you?"
Alpha chirps.
"Good boy. War is a terrible thing. Best not go looking for more trouble than you're used to."
Nero nudges Alpha with his boot, but it feels more like the ruffle on his feathers Cid offers when Alpha provides the solution for a new breakthrough. He beams up at Nero, and though he doesn't really understand why those men could have an issue with Nero, Alpha figures it really is concepts beyond him. Learning is a good thing, says both Cid and Nero, but they allow Alpha very different limits on what he's allowed to discover.
It's not so bad. Cid lets him learn the workings of Ironworks tools, as if his own little wings could hold a tool, and for that, Alpha appreciates it. Nero allows him to learn about these different ideas and concepts through his words, which is likely for the best, as war does sound like a nasty business. It is entirely possible Nero enjoys teaching Alpha these things because Alpha is a chocobo, and ultimately cannot talk back. But Alpha doesn't mind— Cid's not the one who would let him get away with wandering around Rhalgr's Reach on his own when there's work to be done.
It seems Nero has carefully led Alpha back to the workshop exterior, which he only realizes when Alpha finally looks away from the tall human and realizes the end of the day means the shops are less lively— and less noticeable. He trills and ruffles his feathers, disappointed he had been tricked so easily. And here he was hoping Nero was taking him to a secret sky gazing spot.
"Don't look so glum." Nero holds open the gate that leads past the workshop's stall counter, welcoming Alpha through. "If you wait here, and don't make a peep, I'll let you run off once or twice on our next excursion to that digital sea, and I won't even scold you. Deal?"
Alpha perks up, blue eyes gleaming. Oh! Yes! That sounds like plenty of fun!
Nero closes the gate, and Alpha waves to him, standing up on one talon to say goodbye. Nero doesn't look back as he leaves, but Alpha wants to imagine he could be smiling, too. However uncertain he is about that, he believes it won't be much difficult to put Nero in a good mood tomorrow.