Journal Revelations

It was close to sundown when the door to Ignis' apartment opened and the royal strategist stepped in, followed closely by the prince and his body guard. "It's good to be home," said Ignis, wincing hard when Gladio dropped their heavy bag on the tile floor of the foyer. "I swear by the Six, if you broke the bottle of liquor I brought back from Altissia, Gladio, I will make you swim back and get more."

Unzipping their bag, the shield pulled out the expensive looking bottle of amber liquid, still in one piece. "Safe and sound," he said, placing it gingerly on the dining table amongst the stacks of files and paperwork.

"Thankfully."

Noctis kicked off his boots, made a b-line for the couch in the living room, and sprawled across it face down. He groaned, "If I never have to wear a suit and fake pleasantries to a bunch of old politicians, it'll be too soon."

Ignis rolled his eyes, but Gladio only chuckled. "Sorry Princess," the shield said. "You literally just described a good portion of your duties as King." Noctis groaned further and sunk his face into the pillow. Gladio sat down on the available portion of the couch and ran his fingers under the hem of Noct's shirt and up his back. The two of them gave each other shit all the time, but the affection they had for one another went further than just respect. Much further.

Noctis moaned lightly as Gladio lifted his shirt slightly and began placing kisses along his spine, working his hands along the prince's ribs as he did. The smaller man hummed in approval. "Mmmmmm. What's on your mind, Big Guy?"

The larger man nipped the flesh of his sides, causing Noct wo wince. "I'm thinking about you playing with me under the table with the Secretary of Treasury two feet down the table from us." He nipped again. "You knew we had meetings for hours after that and that I wouldn't be able to do anything about it."

Noct scoffed. "And here I thought you might be stealthy enough to visit me in my suite that evening." Chuckling mockingly, he added. "But you never came. Guess you had to settle for your own hand. Shame."

The shield spun him around so he was facing up on the couch and continued the hot nips and kisses along his abs and up toward his ribs. "One," he said between breaths, "Regis was in the room right next to yours. If you think I was going to risk the king or my father, who was right outside his door, hear us you're nuts. And two… I just took out my frustrations on Ignis instead."

Noct glanced over the armrest at his advisor, who was tidying up his files on the table. "Ignis, you didn't."

Ignis blushed lightly and pushed his glasses further up his nose. "You made the bed, Highness, I just slept in it."

Holding his hand over his chest in a mockingly hurt gesture, Noct pouted. "Such betrayal."

Putting his files back in his briefcase for tomorrow, he smiled. "Well, it seems you're reaping the benefits now." He heard the jingle of Noct's belt buckle as Gladio chuckled. Moving the green file containing Prompto's Crownsguard application Ignis discovered the journal he'd left under it, a yellow square of paper sticking out from the corner. He'd left no such note in it when they'd departed. He swallowed and picked it up, reading the quickly scrawled words before saying, "Gentlemen…"

Gladio poked his head up from behind the cushions as Noctis glanced his way from the armrest. Both of their eyes shot wide when they read Prompto's handwriting, saying the words 'We should talk…~P.'

"Specks…" Noctis said. "Did you leave your journal out for Prompto to find?"

Ignis cleared his voice. "I might have."

Gladio rested his chin on the leather back of the couch. "So… what happens now?"

Closing his journal again and pulling out his phone, Ignis took a deep calming breath before tapping Prompto's number on his phone and holding it to his ear. "The note is asking to talk, I think it would be wise to do so."