Noctis stared at his boyfriend silently, letting Prompto's excited praise of Gladio's form and technique and *stamina* ("He never gets tired! I can run, you know, but I thought I was going to die, I bet he does marathons for fun!") when finally his head caught up with the curious feeling in his stomach.

He grinned. "You have a thing for Gladio!"

Prompto stopped. Blinked. Went pink up to the tips of his ears and started shaking his head so violently Noctis was a little concerned about whiplash. "W-what? Noct that's…I don't- you know I'm only interested in you, why would you-"

Noctis waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah yeah, you're in love with me and think my ass is amazing, I know that. " Prompto sputtered indignantly. "But you like Gladio too. You're always going on and on about him. And you almost came in your pants when he asked you to that art show-"

"I did not!"

"And you basically feel up all those bruises he gives you." Noctis added, letting the past few months spin out in his mind through a new lense. "That. Is so cute."

"Noctis it's not like…wait. what?"

"You should ask him out. Small and twinky is totally his thing. And artistic; he dated this painter-"

"What?"

"I know you say tour pictures aren't an art thing and that you aren't good but you're an idiot. But not really, which is good since Gladio likes to talk about books and war history and other boring shit, but you like a lot of boring stuff too. You both like to run and hike, because you're insane-"

"Are you breaking up with me?"

Noctis paused, blinking in confusion. Prompto had rolled off the bed at some point and looked about two seconds away from tearing out his hair or screaming at him. He tilted to his head to the side, eyebrows jumping up.

"No."

"No."

"No. It would make having sex later weird if I did." Prompto let out a slightly alarming gurgling sound. Noctis blinked again. "What's wrong with you?"

Ignis set down the knife, wiped off his hands, and took off his apron with an exaggerated slowness that Prompto couldn't help but think was meant to give them an opportunity to run away and forget this conversation had ever been attempted. But of course, Noctis didn't pick up on any of that. Probably too busy imagining Ignis' fingers in his mouth and, damnit, Noct's stupid dirty thoughts were all he could think about now. Ugh.

"I think I misheard you, Highness." Prompto sucked in a startled breath. Highness was, in Ignis speak, on par with a teacher busting out their full names. "You want me to what?"

"Go out with us." Noctis repeated, unfazed as only he could be. Ignis' left eye twitched.

"Noctis that is highly-"

"Or just me, technically, but with us, and Gladio, to the waterpark and movies next weekend. Probably dinner too."

Ignis' mouth flattened into a straight line but Prompto was sure he saw relief flicker I'm his eyes. "I'm afraid I don't understand. You needn't ask Gladio and I to accompany you to the waterpark, that's our-"

"Not to guard me." Noctis frowned. "For fun. A day off."

"I'm not sure I know what that is." Ignis' voice was so dry only cacti could have grown in his presence. "It's been so long…fifteen years I believe. You are eighteen now, aren't you?"

"And we all know you've never known what fun is."

They stared at each other, near identical blank expressions on their face. Prompto sank lower in his seat, suddenly sure it was less Noctis' age and more the way they treated each other that had kept his boyfriend from getting anywhere with his advisor. Then, impossibly, Ignis snorted lightly and rolled his eyes; Noctis grinned. Prompto's mouth dropped open.

What the fuck?

"I think I can clear my weekend for this fabled 'fun'." Ignis reached for the knife. "Is there anything else?"

"Help me help Prompto get into Gladio's pants."

The knife hit the counter top with a dull clang. Prompto's head met it with a thump but not before he saw Ignis' expression twist into one of disbelief.

"Excuse me?"

Noctis touched the back of Prompto's hand, pads of his thumb brushing over his skin lightly. "Well not into his pants, not right away. Prompto isn't that kind of guy; it took me months to get a hand-"

"Noct!"

"Noctis!"

Prompto peaked up at Ignis in the silence following their shouts. They exchanged sympathetic looks before turning their attention to a frowning Noctis.

"Don't do that. Its weird."

Ignis sighed deeply. "I thought you and Prompto were involved."

"We are." Noctis said breezily. "And he liked Gladio and I think Gladio likes him. Why else would he give up his weekends to hang out with him?"

Ignis took his glasses off and began to wipe at them with the corner of his towel. "I'm certain I don't know what goes on in Gladio's head-"

"You're basically his best friend."

"Don't be insulting." Came the very tart reply. "Nonetheless I doubt he would do anything to come between you and Prompto, regardless of how he may or may not feel."

"But if it wasn't going to come between us?" Noct prompted, leaning closer to Ignis. "Lets say Prompto and I talked like grown ups-"

"Hah."

"And are fine with us dating other people, as long as we're. You know. Honest and upfront and whatever."

"And whatever." Ignis mimicked with far more snark then Prompto had thought possible if him. "You can't be serious." Noctis arched an eyebrow. Ignis' brow furrowed. "You're serious."

Noctis watched Prompto vanish through the front door of Gladio's apartment building then sat back in his seat, content in the knowledge that operation 'Help Prom tap Gladio's ass' was off to a great start. The weather was great. Prompto looked good, Noctis had actually had some serious thoughts about calling the whole thing off and spending the day in his bedroom. Ignis was lending his 'advanced Gladio knowledge', albeit reluctantly and while insisting he had no such knowledge. And Noctis had carefully planned a dozen reasons for him and Ignis to ditch the other two or get them to partner up in rides.

Yes, everything was perfect. He was some kind of dating mastermind. Under his watchful eye Prompto would finally see that Gladio had a thing for him. …and maybe he'd get somewhere with Ignis too. Not that his focus was on that, today was all about Prompto. Yep. All about-

"Are you sure you've considered the full implications of an open relationship?" Ignis asked, twisting around in his seat to look at him fully.

"You made me read a book called 'Polyamory for Dummies.' I think I've got this." Noctis quirked an eyebrow at the older man. "I love Prom. He likes Gladio. If dating Gladio would make him happy then I'm on board."

He didn't get why Ignis and Prompto kept trying to make this more complicated than it had to be. He wasn't dumb or anything, he got that it would take work and effort, that he'd have to share Prompto's time, that someone else would get to touch and be with his boyfriend. Maybe in some other situation, if it was someone else, it would piss him off but…it was Gladio. Gladio was one of the best people he knew and probably the only person who was good enough for Prompto.

Aside from Noctis.

"But what about you?"

"What about me? …do you think I should try to date Gladio too?" Noctis squinted thoughtfully. "I don't know. He is hot-"

"No! That is-" Ignis sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I honestly don't understand what goes on in your head half of the time."

Noctis let his eyes sweep over Ignis' face, lingering on full lips, a sculpted nose, and bright green eyes. "I know."

Ignis shot him a confused look then shook his head. "I want to ensure that you will also be happy Noctis. That is always my first priority."

Noctis smiled, familiar warmth and fluttering filling his stomach. How could someone so smart be so stupid? "It's fine. This is good. …and maybe I'll find a second boyfriend too. Maybe I've got my eye on someone."

Ignis' face dud something complicated, eyes lowering, brows furrowing, mouth twisting, and then he licked his lips and shook his head. "Noctis, if this-huh."

His eyes jumped to look at something past Noct. He turned to see what it was, cursing his luck mentally, then tilted his head to the side. Prompto had emerged from the building, a bag slung over his arm, a shell-shocked expression on his face.

"This was a terrible idea and I regret everything." Were the words out of his mouth as soon as he was close enough for them to hear him. He wrenched open the door and slid into the backseat them immediately slid low in the seat. "I hate you."

"That seems dramatic." Ignis said mildly. "Not that I've never thought similar."

"Rude."

"Truthful. You can be…oh my." Ignis blinked then let out a choked snort. "I see. Gladiolus?"

"Ignis." Gladio greeted as he, rather unceremoniously, leaned into the car via Noct's window. Noctis didn't yelp or jump in surprise but he did draw back, mouth opening in surprise. "Princess. Why aren't you in back with your *date*?"

"Where is your shirt?" Ignis asked, saving Noctis and his temporarily fried brain cells.

"It's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. The real question is how the hell are you wearing pants?" Gladio said simply, as if walking around in nothing but sunglasses and swim shorts with his skin gleaming like he's rubbed an entire bottle of oil on himself wasn't at all noteworthy.

Noctis has seen Gladio shirtless before while they were sparring but somehow this Gladio, casual and grinning as he looked down at Noctis over his sunglasses, hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, was a completely different beast. As hot as it was outside Noctis was sure the car had become a good five degrees hotter the moment Gladio leaned in.

"My sense of shame keeps me cool." Ignis said tonelessly.

"Pop the trunk so I can toss this stuff in." With that Gladio pulled back and ambled around to the back of the car.

Prompto moaned helplessly, sliding down further in his seat. Ignis nodded sympathetically. "Indeed."

~X~X~

This was the beginning of something so awesome I don't think I could have ignored it if I wanted to. HOLY HELL OT4 fertile ground! I'll be writing from here on out unless Achrya wants to pick it back up again.