Chaos, this was nothing short of chaos a war, insular as it was, between two warring nations with their hopes of peace resting on the rebellious, young shoulders of two Princes. The Princes, spitting nasty words and callous glares at each other had been separated by their lone caretaker. It had only been a week and Ignis was already settling into a well-controlled schedule, one he kept in line with a firm hand. On such a day as this, his patience was on full display. With one hand he lifted his steaming mug of black Ebony brand coffee, and the other he caught a sneaker as it flew overhead, aimed for the head of Prompto Argentum, Crown Prince of Nifleheim. The blond glared at the Prince of Lucis and readied his own shoe when Ignis sat his mug down, folded the paper and plucked his jacket off the back on his chair. The arm dropped, Prompto pulling his shoe on quickly.
"Are you both ready?" Ignis did not give them the time to answer, passing Noctis simultaneously shoving the shoe at the prince. "You both have school this morning, let's go," Noctis grumbled, brow gathering to go with his rumpled frown of displeasure. As he turned, he purposely cut Prompto off, a childish attempt to stake his claim of being first. Ignis said nothing, keeping his admonitions to himself as he held to door open for them to pass him and wait in the hall as he locked the door. He understood neither wanted this situation, it may not have been so bad if one was female. Prompto, Noctis would have insisted as if his eager demand would magically morph the Emperors chosen heir into the fairest sex. Yet, nature has a way of damming people and doing whatever it pleases. With the peace treaty signed after Regis's birth, Mors, and the former Emperor Romulus Aldercap had dammed their grandchildren to a fate they could not control.
"Move over!" Ignis's eyes drifted to the rearview where Noctis and Prompto fought valiantly over who got to put their backpack in the center seat.
"My car ham hock." The growing tension between the two snapped, Prompto's hand connecting with the angular jaw of Noctis. Ignis turn his eyes from the road as the vehicle slowed to a stop in the morning traffic, wide with shock. Partly because Noctis would be so rude and secondly because no one had ever had the nerve to hit the young man. Behind them, a car honked pulling Ignis back to the scene in front of him whilst Noctis shrank into himself, hand cradling his inflamed cheek. In the back Prompto huffed, arms crossed on his backpack that rested in his lap watching the city pass by, the center seat bare. When they exited the car students mulling past the two Princes with eyes only for Noctis, Ignis gave the young man a tight smile that blossomed as Noctis stormed passed trying his hardest to gain distance between him and his betrothed, despite sharing the first period with the visiting Prince.
"Why does he hate me so much?"
As he pushed the door closed, Ignis tossed a glance over his shoulder. "You are both in a demanding situation. If I was Noct, I would not accept it quietly either." Prompto looked down, eyes following the slight curve of his protruding stomach. "I would suggest, and this is just an idea, to become as much acquainted with your new home as possible. Endear yourself to your future populace."
"And the fighting? I know that gets on your nerves. It does Ravus'."
Brows rose and Ignis chuckled, "I have gotten used to it. Now go, or you'll be late." Standing beside the car, Ignis watched the blond slink into school, teens brushing past the last bell ringing as the door shut with a click the entrance void of students.
As he slid into the driver's seat, Ignis glanced into the back. In the center seat rested a small black pouch that had Ignis twisting in between the front seats to grab. As he turned back, a pouch in hand he turned it over. A small silver camera fell out. Surprised to see a candid shot of himself reading the daily newspaper with his mug aloft, from that morning no less as he scrolled through. The next picture was of Noctis, bent over as he sat on the couch tying his shoes. Both pictures, taken with just a regular digital camera were amazing given the limited technology. Thoughtfully humming, Ignis tucked the camera back into the pouch set it beside his case and pulled away.
He felt bad for the young prince, both, as they were forced into something neither agreed too. Having had the talk of duties and responsibilities with Noctis, it had not gone over well with the future King. It only made him irritated, mad, and more rebellious. It had just gotten worse when the dignitaries from Nifleheim arrived and instead of a Princess in their midst, it was a speckled Prince with hair the color of sun touched chrysanthemum, glasses the size of the Disc of Cauthess with what Gladio whispered to be the gravitational force of the heavens. That earned the hulking brute a hard jab, courtesy of Ignis, to his stomach. Not that it hurt, but Gladio played it up as a wound to his 'fragile pride'. Noctis had not lost his cool then, he joked, smiling at his father till the scowl the man had wiped that grin away. This was not a joke, this was real. The sullenness that washed over Noctis should have raised red flags right away, but those red flags came later.
Prompto had never seen it coming, nor had Ravus, the Prince's Guardian, nor Ignis. When Noctis got his chance, he struck like a viper. Fast, quick and with a can of shaving cream to Prompto's shoes. That is how this childish war started between them. Prompto retaliated nicely. With Brownies laced with laxatives, Ignis inadvertently had a hand in that one by supplying Prompto with the knowledge of Noctis's love for desserts. To counter his weekend in the bathroom, Noctis had managed to hold the boy down during one of their unsupervised visits together and rubbed a large amount of gum into his hair. Twelve large jars of peanut butter, twelve hours and an apartment that reeked of peanuts for a week, Ravus had had it. The pranks ended, Prompto took the last hit with the gum and silently retreated to taking pictures, great pictures while Noctis fumed, the action reminding Ignis of a toddler with his toys taken for being too hard on them.
Regis, for the distance he kept from the feuding teens, was not happy about the turn of events, but he was bound by the desires of his ancestors for peace. It did not help that communication had been nonexistent between the two royal houses for the last century and a half, but some form of warning would have been welcomed.
A sharp rap on the roof drew Ignis from his thoughts and as he glanced out the drivers' window he came face to face with Gladiolus, a deep scowl marring his own features. With all the pomp and decorum of a back-alley cat, Gladio opened the door, not giving Ignis any time to unbuckle when he started in.
"I swear to the Six Iggy, if Loqi does not back off, I'm going to slam that pretty boy face of his into the ground." With the Prince or Shield, there where issues abound. Only with Gladio and Loqi, the issue was different from Noctis and Prompto. Loqi, the Third State Prince of Nifleheim, had fewer restrictions on his actions than his first cousin Prompto. The son of Ideolas' sister, Hela, Arch Duchess and second in line for the Imperial throne, and her husband Ragnar Tummelt, a highly decorated Commander of Nifleheim naval fleet during the Great War, Loqi was a military brat more than a Prince. He followed his father's footsteps, unlike Prompto, Loqi stuck with the military and rose quickly through the ranks. So, it should not have been a surprise that the young general was itching for a fight. It was easily noticeable, the way he prodded Cor, who flat out refused even a game of thumb wars with the young man, to the way he followed Gladio around like some dog who found its favorite bone. Which he was, the two being Shield's but specializing in different weapons. Loqi favors Machina, like many Nifs while Gladiolus could swing a sword that Ignis had once heard a ballad about the young man. "I couldn't even finish breakfast cause he's banging on my door trying to tear it down."
"Why don't you humor him?"
Gladio snorted, "and start a war with Nifleheim because I wiped the floor with the puny upstart and he ran home crying to his momma? Naw."
Pushing his glasses upwards, Ignis stepped out, case in hand. "Then I suggest a diplomatic approach-spar. A bit of training as he is Prompto's Shield. Building a familiarity with your counterpart will be a challenge. It would do you both some good." With that, Ignis marched away to deal with his own issues which included the daily meeting with the King.
As night fell and the city quieted, Noctis stepped into his apartment. While rarely a happy camper, especially with his new roommate it was only made worse when he stepped into his home catching sight of not just Prompto's shoes or even Prompto and Ignis' shoes, but two extra pairs of tennis shoes. Frowning, Noctis made his way silently towards the doorway, his backpack slung over one arm while his apron was bunched in the other.
"Gold Fish!" Came the obnoxiously gleeful cheer of Loqi Tummelt his hand slapping the table as he laid his last two cards down, his competitive nature gets the best of him. Prompto squinted at his cousin, rolling his eyes as Gladio placed his last four cards on the table.
"It's just a game, Loqi."
Prompto folded his own hand down as Ignis slid a plate in front of him. Turning he placed the other in front of Gladio. "It's Go Fish kid, not Gold."
"Kid?" Loqi narrowed his eyes, ready to launch himself at Gladio when Ignis' arm laden down with a steaming plate, a bowl of mother and child soup at its center appeared before him. The sauce, sweet, tangy, and mouth-watering, caressed his nose. "Ignis, while I am thankful for your hospitality, I am here to escort Prompto to his new residence. I understand the need for the Princes to get along, but this is obviously a tough time for both." Loqi stood, Prompto following his lead.
Ignis held a hand out hoping to stop the headstrong Nifleheim Nobel, it did not. Loqi brushed his hand aside, "Ignis, we both know, and so does Gladio that this was not what the forefathers wanted. We can't force this on them."
"At least stay for dinner, Noctis will be home soon." The gentle hand returned, placed on Loqi's shoulder had him sliding back into his seat.
"Only because this smell amazing."
"Do I not get a say in this?" As heads turned and eyes looked over Noctis, he ignored the retainers, eyeing the blond who refused to meet his gaze as he ate. "I think they should leave." Noctis' backpack thudded on the couch, his apron dropping on the floor beside it. "Now." Ignis frowned, schooling features quickly as Loqi stood, Prompto following with his head bowed.
"As His Majesty dictates." Loqi sneered through clenched teeth. Noctis returned the look with a charming smile and a slight wave as Ignis escorted them to the door.
"Please update your residence with the Citadel."
Loqi nodded, shoving Prompto past him. "We will." The Tummelt heir turned to Gladio, the sneer disappearing into a look of slight concern. "I hope this doesn't ruin our training tomorrow. Six am, sharp?" Gladiolus hums following up with a stiff neck nod. The concern dissipates, Loqi bids them good night. Before the door is completely shut, Ignis is turning to Noctis, exasperated at the Prince. A lecture will not help, Ignis knows this. It would only make the behavior worse. So, he says nothing.