nascere | LET'S PLAY {open post}

Really?

[ That particular comment is really something on the heels of his flushed cheeks and that lovely, adorable little jerk. Ignis has meetings and so does Noctis and what he so fiercely wants to do right now is make the hell out with him. But he can't, and so he grudgingly puts some pants on, finely tailored black slacks and a belt, getting dressed when the only thing he wants to do is undress his new fiance. The ring is snug on his finger, and he looks down at it before glancing up at him.

They've never actually talked about this one before -- Noctis never saw the point, and Ignis has never had the inclination to reminisce. ]

Years when you realized I was it?

[ Oh, well.

He'd meant it as a sort of idle honesty and hadn't much considered the weight of such a statement until it was actually made. Now, he's a little sheepish, despite the fact that they've already established they very much want to marry each other and spend their lives together. It's still-- well. No sense in trying to take it back when it's the truth, but Ignis is still faintly embarrassed, working on the buttons to his shirt. ]

Even if it wasn't in a romantic sense at first, my devotion to you has never wavered nor have I ever questioned it.

I meant the romantic love thing. Since when?

[ Noctis doesn't want to be loved out of a sense of duty, responsibility or obligation, and astrals know he's spent a lot of time trying to figure it out with Ignis, to parse the many, many complicated emotions coming into play when they got together, chief of which is the inherent power imbalance -- after all, Noctis is his charge and his prince, and that can't be easy at all.

He's coming to him to help him button up his shirt, a small smile tugging at the side of his mouth. It's not often he manages to see him embarrassed, and he thinks back on how Noctis had had nursed a crush on him since he had been little, and it hadn't gone away, worsening as he grew. ]

[ Why did he ever have to open his mouth? Ignis rolls his eyes to the ceiling and lets Noctis help because being embarrassed is nothing when it isn't as if it will change anything about their relationship. He's not even sure what answer to give really; he'd been in love with Noctis as soon as he understood what the word meant, but hadn't let himself consider the viability of it for a long time. ]

Do you remember when you were trying to learn how to warp and the training was difficult for you? [ A kind way of stating that Noctis was sulky, in a particularly poor mood. ] You'd snapped at Gladio, but he'd been antagonizing you because he was similarly irritated over something at the time.

[ Ignis cups his cheek with one hand while he's being fussed over and then kisses his cheek on the way to get his suspenders after the shirt is buttoned. ]

Later, we were taking a walk outside when there was a stray cat down an alley. It was like nothing that happened that day mattered; you had your own issues that you were coping with, of course. You didn't hesitate, though, because right then they didn't matter. The moment anyone else was in trouble, especially if it was a trouble you could easily remedy, you did it. Without a moment's pause, without thought about what you would get out of it.

[ Oh, no, he's terribly soft now, looking at Noctis with this sort of awed smile, like he can't believe he's this lucky, sliding on his suspenders. ]

We got it some food despite it taking ages and I had to make our excuses as to why we were late to dinner, but you never hesitated. One of the many things I love about you.

Iggy, that's not -- anyone would've done that.

[ Now it's Noctis' turn to be flustered, cheeks heating up. Yeah, he remembers that day and how it had been particularly shitty -- even moreso because of Noctis' injuries when he'd been a child. Warp had been harder on Noctis than it had been on Regis, but he's never let that stop him from pushing forward as best as he can, even if Gladio obviously hadn't helped. It was just a day when tempers ran high and Ignis had to step in to run interference before the mutual antagonising got too intense or spilled over into something that neither of them can take back. Ignis is always good that way.

He's helping to adjust Ignis' suspenders, smoothing out imaginary creases -- more like looking for something to do, really -- because he remembers just why he'd been so cranky that day; he'd heard that Ignis and a girl had gone on a date the day before, and was so rattled and frazzled that he hadn't been able to focus.

And then Noctis looks up at him, sees the open fondness and love written all over his face, and feels his mouth go dry. Gods, he's so damn beautiful. ]

I uh -- never told you why I was so bothered, did I?

No, they wouldn't have. Not all princes would have. You were always kinder than the world deserved.

[ Softer and kinder than this world deserved, because somehow, despite everything, Noctis was still good and warm and everything that Ignis had seen in him as a child, but now refined into a man that was sometimes too good to be true.

His suspenders barely matter right then, too caught up in just admiring Noctis, amused by the fact that now he's the one flustered; what a nice change. ]

No, I assumed it was one of the difficult days. I know how many tasks you were balancing at one time during those years.

[ Yeah, the tasks weren't the problem -- Noctis had gotten the hang of them eventually, managing his schoolwork and the crown's demands, and he can't help but be warmed as he steps closer, clad only in his pants but in no real hurry to pull his shirt on. No, because Ignis is telling him something that makes him feel like a fucking bashful teenager again instead of a monarch of a recovering country and he cannot help but stay so helplessly in his orbit. ]

I heard you went on a date with a girl the day before. Katie, I think her name was. [ Yes, he remembers her name. Dark-haired, gorgeous, a perfect match for Ignis the way Noctis thought he never could be. ]

[ He's going to need to put his suit jacket on eventually, but a glance at the clock reveals he's doing adequately on time, which means he lets himself linger for a moment. He reaches for Noctis's shirt to start helping him into it, smoothing his fingers him when the material is pulled over arms and chest, and then over the buttons once they're fastened. ]

She was the daughter of one of the Crownsguard, I think. My uncle suggested that I meet with her to placate the Crownsguard's husband who thought they was spending too much time studying and not enough time being social. It was half political, I think, which I can admire the skill of now.

[ Ignis gives him a little smile, thumbing over his chest lightly. ]

We got on well but there was no urge to date; instead, we ended up collaborating on a linguistics project which drove her father insane. An added benefit. But, you didn't know that. You were jealous?

[ Oh. That's -- painfully cute and makes him ache a little at the same time. ]

Very.

[ He can admit that now, mollified by the explanation that comes years after the fact -- he hadn't known about any of that, and even though it's been a lifetime ago, he still remembers like it's only yesterday. Noctis was jealous, fiercely so, and dealing with the fact that somehow his crush had become something worse. He had been so young, months away from fifteen, and it wouldn't be until much later that he'd acted on it. ]

Kinda realised I was really in love with you, then. It wasn't fun.

[ Because he was a prince -- and princes don't fall in love with people; they just get married to whoever would be a sensible partner in that union. It was sheer luck that Regis had loved Aulea with all his heart. He's obediently letting himself be dressed, his heart fluttering -- which is weird, really -- and his hand comes to rest over where Ignis is thumbing over his chest. ] Kept wondering if you'd kissed her, you know?

[ Ignis' teen years had been positively bursting with things that he had to take care of that he'd barely had time for the inane political arrangements that came with any royal family duties. It wasn't the first, nor would it be the last time that someone tried to use him, or their children to gain an ear to the next king. It was political maneuvering about as subtle as a brick to the head, but still, it counted. The ridiculousness of it was too much for Ignis, sometimes. ]

I didn't, for the record. We spoke to appease her parent, and maintained friendship because of shared interests, but no interest in each other. I hadn't realized that you would--

[ Be jealous, over that. Ignis is strangely pleased by it and is sort of ashamed that he's so pleased, not quite sure if he should be smiling or frowning at himself. ]

I rarely had time to date - most of the ones I went on were due to political machinations, not real interest. There were a few, maybe, but it was like night and day. [ Ignis leans in, well aware this is a rather ridiculous line. He doesn't care. ] You were always the sun. Nothing else compared.

You're pleased.

[ Noctis notices, looking up at him because he knows that look. He knows it -- one learns to read Ignis after a few years, the subtle cues and the smallest change in expression, and he's ultimately convinced that this is definitely one where he's happy about it, and Noctis can't even blame him. He's inwardly chuffed about Ignis' feelings for him, too, like a dumb teenager this romance has devolved him to and he huffs a soft laugh.

Ignis must have been inundated with so much annoying little requests from hangers-on, and Noctis himself is so fiercely pleased that not much of the others have since caught his eye. He's meeting him halfway, pressing his forehead to his gently. They still have a little time, and he kisses him softly, slowly. ]

If I'm the sun, then I guess you're the sky. [ Ugh, gross. ]

It's-- I don't know, I'm pleased that you were jealous, though I know that's not quite the correct response.

[ He's not happy that Noctis was upset, but it's sort of wonderful to know that they were on the same page even then. Even before it could have been a proper consideration, they'd thought about it. Ignis leans in and kisses him back, warm down to his toes, fingers stroking over his chest and shoulders, hugging him close. ]

Well, you're going to have to go shine yourself on a meeting very soon, so-- [ Don't mind him leaning in for another kiss, murmuring the rest against Noctis' lip between gentle kisses, ] I love you very much.

[ But he has to go. Ignis visibly resists pulling away but then does, kissing his forehead apologetically. ]

I'd let you make me be late for everything if I could, but unfortunately punctuality remains important.

[ Ah, who cares about correct responses? Noctis is grabbing a hold of his sleeve, impossibly, overwhelmingly fond despite himself and the fact that they have to be out there soon. That leaves his vest, suit jacket, and raiment. He can already hear the buzzing of texts on his phone and a gentle rap on the door.

His aides are waiting to apprise him of the events of the morning, Cor Leonis and the heads of the various ministries already waiting for an audience, but Ignis and Noctis are heading their separate ways until they see each other again, and suddenly he cannot bear to leave him. He sighs, low and quiet as he steals another kiss with a soft little whine. ]

Love you, too. [ Gods, how is he supposed to leave when Ignis says that so softly, so sweetly that Noctis just fucking melts like an idiot in love? ] And no, you won't. Now c'mon, just one more for the road.

One more.

[ Ignis pockets his phone with a glance at the screen and then decides why not and drags him close. It's a kiss like they've got all the time in the world to follow through with how dirty it is, when in actuality as soon as he breaks the kiss, his phone buzzes obnoxiously. He's the one wearing the plug, though, and he's the one who's going to have a hell of a day, so leaving Noctis with a kiss that good feels appropriate despite the terribly soft, sweet conversation they were just having.

Teasingly, with a tilt of his chin, he heads for the door and gives Noctis a lazy little wave, awfully certain of himself. ]

Have a good day, I'll see you tonight for my congratulations on winning and for you to rip this shirt off of me.

LET'S PLAY {open post}

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