No, I don't play poker, why do you ask? Also, I've read in the FFXV Ultimania that potions are just energy drinks and Noct's magic gives them their restorative properties, but... I feel like that idea has soooo many holes in it. So I've disregarded it for my not much better idea :D

Also, spoilers in the end notes. At the very end.

Uncomplicated and Good
Part Three

It was another four days before they finally left camp. Noct was hardly in any sort of great shape, but he'd insisted on them packing up and going to Old Lestallum, declaring that having soft beds to sleep on would be worth the pain he'd endure to get there. At that point, they'd put up with his constant whining about being stuck on his stomach, about being stuck in the tent, about having to be carried by Gladio when he needed to pee, about being bored... Ignis was sure they were all ready to smother Noct with a pillow, just to get him to stop complaining. And he'd thought Prompto had been bad before.

The one thing Noctis didn't complain about was the pain, though it was obvious he was still in a great deal of it, and the painkillers they had barely blunted the edges. Luckily, none of his wounds had become infected, and the one Ignis had been worried about was fine the next morning, leaving him to conclude Noct had simply irritated it with his movements. After that, he'd forced Noct to stay stretched out on his stomach as much as possible—hence all the whining.

Nothing more had happened between them since that one kiss, not that Ignis had really expected it to. Regardless of what Noct might have meant it to be—and Ignis really had no clue, whether Noctis had felt sorry for him, or had been trying to reassure him, or possibly genuinely liked him in that way—he wasn't in a state to be making out with his advisor, and they'd hardly had a moment alone, anyway.

Gladio had given him curious glances a few times, his eyes asking the question his mouth couldn't, but Ignis always had to slightly shake his head, a hint of a shrug in his shoulders, as if to say, There hasn't been time, what can I do? Then Gladio would frown, but tip his head, conceding the point. The whole exchange was starting to wear thin on Ignis, and he was glad to be leaving camp and finally getting into a town where he could occasionally get some time to himself.

They left later than any of them would have liked, but they'd set up more at camp than usual, and it took longer to pack back up. Not to mention there was Noct to deal with as well—having to deal with his wounds, and then trying to figure out where to put him while they dismantled the tent (they'd finally settled him in a camping chair, and Noct had winced at the uncomfortable position, but didn't remark on the pain), and at last working out the best way for him to ride in the Regalia (they still had to stretch him out in the back, but they made him a nest of bedrolls, and let Prompto's lap be his pillow, as Gladio's large legs seemed unsuitable).

Ignis was careful with his driving, avoiding any large bumps or potholes until they got out onto the main road, and then he maintained a steady speed, keeping a sharp eye out for any reasons to stop, gently tapping the brakes well ahead of time so that he wouldn't hurt Noctis with any sudden stops or sharp decelerations.

Barely forty minutes into the trip, Noct fell asleep, which was just as well. They reached Old Lestallum around 3:30, and Gladio and Prompto stayed with Noct in the car while Ignis checked them into the motel in the center of the small town. Since they would probably be there for awhile, he splurged and got them one of the nicer rooms, with a small kitchenette so they wouldn't have to eat out all the time. Somehow Prompto managed to wake Noct, and Gladio carried him to their room, Noct grumbling all the while.

"First dibs on the shower!" Prompto shouted as soon as they got in, setting his and Noct's bags down by the door and darting towards the small bathroom.

Gladio looked like he wanted to disagree, perhaps even race him to the room, but he was still holding onto Noct, and running with their injured king in his arms probably wasn't the best idea, so he settled for being second. When Ignis came out after his turn, he didn't miss the wistful look Noct cast towards the bathroom. While camping, the others had at least been able to somewhat wash up in the river, but with his injuries Noct had no such luxury.

He stepped closer to Noct, keeping his voice soft. "Perhaps I could give you some assistance in setting up a bath," he offered, careful to keep his voice steady, though all of his old fantasies of Noct were shouting in remembered glee.

Noctis looked up at him, face brightening, though a faint blush darkened his cheeks. "Yeah, okay," he said.

Ignis simply nodded in return, not letting on that his heart was now nearly pounding out of his chest with anticipation, and his pants were perhaps a bit tighter than they had been a moment ago. Once they got Noct into the bathroom, however, the reality of the situation was quickly sobering. He couldn't get undressed and into the tub without help, or at least great pain, but clearly felt awkward about being completely naked in front of Ignis—Ignis had never before seen him without at least some underwear on.

"I won't look," Ignis promised him as Noct leaned against him in his boxers, hesitant.

Noct sighed. "It's not as if I have anything you've never seen," he finally said, though he still looked reluctant.

"It's okay, Noct," Ignis said. "I get it."

"Just... let's get it over with," he grumbled.

Eventually they had him into the tub, though not before he was white-faced and trembling, his hand squeezing Ignis' arm tightly where he'd grabbed as he'd started to fall.

"I have you, you're okay," Ignis had murmured, and after a long moment Noct had nodded, before they continued easing him down into the water.

He let Noct do as much as he could by himself, helping only when Noct asked him. He knew the situation was already frustrating enough for Noct, testing his dignity and leaving him feeling helpless, and he didn't want to make him feel worse.

"I wish I had an elixir," Noct panted as he leaned against Ignis, dripping wet, after they'd gotten him out of the tub. He was still nude, but the fact didn't seem to bother him as much now. Ignis liked to think it meant Noct was more comfortable in his presence, but really it was probably just the pain making him not care.

"Even if we did, it wouldn't do you any good. The properties of the curatives are made—"

"I know, I know, it won't work on wounds more than a few hours old, I got it Professor Ignis."

Ignis grabbed the towel he'd set out earlier, and carefully wrapped Noctis in it. "So you do listen to me after all."

Noct grinned up at him, eyes sparkling despite the pain, and Ignis felt a small flutter in his chest at the sight. "Only sometimes. When it's not totally boring."

"I'm glad I can provide you educational entertainment," Ignis said in a dry tone.

He got a soft laugh for that, and then Noct looked at the clean clothes Prompto had picked out for him with dread. "Okay," he sighed. "I'm ready."

x x x

They spent the rest of the evening just relaxing around the motel. Shortly after his bath, Noctis had fallen asleep, worn out from the day. The rest of them didn't mind, it meant they were spared his complaining, and it gave his back a chance to heal some more.

The next morning, Gladio got up early and slipped off to the Crow's Nest diner across the street, bringing back breakfast for everyone.

"Noct. Hey, Noct," Prompto said, poking at his cheek. Noct turned his head away. "Nooooct! Come on, wake up, the big guy brought us breakfast!"

"Nngh," was the incomprehensible mumble.

"Just let him sleep. He'll get up when he's hungry enough," Gladio said.

"But then his food will be cold," Prompto pouted.

Gladio rolled his eyes. "I'm sure he's used to it by now."

"Well... I suppose we could eat his breakfast now and buy him more when he wakes, so he can still have hot food."

Gladio snorted. "Not even royalty deserves that much special treatment," he said.

"But he's hurt, don't you feel sorry for him?"

"No."

"No? Not even a little?"

"Nope."

"Come on, just the slightest bit? I mean, look at him," Prompto said, poking at his cheek again. "Doesn't he look all sad and pitiful, stuck on his stomach with all these bandages wrapped around him? He's like a sad little puppy, like that one we found on the side of the road a couple weeks ago. Doesn't he remind you of that?"

Gladio snorted, looking over at Noct, and then quickly bit into his egg and bacon sandwich and didn't answer.

"Ha!" Prompto crowed. "You do feel sorry for him!"

Gladio swallowed his mouthful of food, and then looked back at Noct once more, contemplating. "Iggy can cook him breakfast later," he finally decided.

"Shouldn't I have a say in that?" Ignis complained as he filled up his mug with the last dregs from the small coffee pot the motel had provided. He took a sip and then made a face. The motel had also provided a 'complimentary bag of grounds.' It was no Ebony, for sure, but even the stuff he made at camp tasted better than this. He didn't know why he had just drank the whole pot.

"Hmm. Nope." Gladio grinned, and Ignis just gave a put-upon sigh.

x x x

Noct never woke up in a reasonable time to have breakfast. In fact, he slept through lunch as well, not waking until sometime around two in the afternoon. When he realised the time, he was surprised that nobody had scolded him, or tried to wake him up.

"Well, I did try to wake you up for breakfast, dude, but you weren't having it."

"You're still recovering. Your body could use the rest," Ignis said by way of explanation, and Noctis mentally shrugged. If the others were going to let him sleep as late as he wanted for once, who was he to complain?

He sat up slowly, careful not to twist his back around too much, and was pleased to note the scorching inferno on it had dulled down some, perhaps into a small raging bonfire instead.

"Need some assistance?" Gladio asked as he laid down four eights and a jack, staring across the small table at Prompto in a clear challenge.

Even though his instinct was to snap out a quick no, Noctis took a moment to consider it. Did he? He didn't like the help, found it embarrassing that he should be seen as so helpless and weak, but according to Ignis, he'd almost died, so a little help wasn't that remiss. That didn't make it any easier to accept though, and did he really need it for something as simple as going to the bathroom? Getting into the Regalia, or taking a bath, yeah, it made sense, but he was just going to stand up and walk...

"If you pull any of the stitches or do anything that could risk an infection, you'll be immobile even longer," Ignis said mildly, and Noctis sighed.

"Fine," he said, and even he winced at how sulky his voice came out. "I just need to get over to the bathroom," he said, trying to sound a little less bratty.

"Ha! Straight Flush!" Prompto gloated, laying the hand down in a flourish before reaching his arms across the table to drag a handful of coins toward him. "This pot is mine, baby!"

Noct shook his head at his friends, though he knew if he were feeling better, he'd be right there with them, Prompto kicking both his and Gladio's asses. It was amazing, the way Prompto could not only maintain the perfect poker face, but pick up on the slightest tells from his friends as well. Any other time, he always seemed so transparent with his emotions, and so easily flustered by minor details. Noctis couldn't understand where he'd learned the skill, and why he couldn't apply it to other parts of his life.

Ignis helped him to the bathroom, the two of them shuffling slowly along as Noctis leaned heavily against his advisor's side. He really couldn't wait to be better enough to walk on his own. Thankfully, Ignis didn't try to come into the bathroom with him, giving him his privacy. Once he was done, he decided he wanted to sit up for awhile, tired of lying down, so Ignis helped him get into a semi-comfortable position on the bed. He turned down the offer of food, not feeling hungry. Pain tended to have that affect on his appetite.

He watched Gladio and Prompto for a few minutes, and then sighed, already bored. "What is there to do?" he asked. He wasn't used to them having this much downtime, there was always a hunt to be had, or some precious gemstone to be found, or a royal tomb to loot. They were almost always on the go, and when they did stop for the night, they only spent maybe an hour or two at most talking and playing games. The rest of their time was taken up with food, packing, and sleeping. He'd been lying around for days now, and while it sounded great in theory, in reality it sucked.

"You could play with us," Prompto offered, flashing him an almost predatory grin. "I'll go easy on you."

Noct considered it. He had just been thinking about it, but Prompto's smile was rather scary, and he didn't know if could handle getting chewed up and spit back out today. "I can't sit over there," he finally said, leaving the decision up to his friend.

"No problem! We'll move to you!" Prompto said brightly, already jumping up eagerly, and Noctis shivered, thinking he'd probably just made a terrible mistake.

Forty minutes and twenty-four hundred gil later, Noctis bowed out as gracefully as he could manage. "You suck, Prompto," he complained, tossing his cards down and sticking his tongue out as his best friend. Prompto just laughed.

Turning on the television after getting Ignis to hand him the remote, Noct flipped through the channels idly, not really wanting to watch anything, but liking the noise the tv provided. He settled on something at random, and pretended to watch it. After some time, his eyes slid over to Ignis in what he thought was probably a discreet manner, studying him.

They hadn't talked about the kiss between them.

Really, he wasn't sure they were going to. That day had been... emotional. Ignis had cried. He scrunched his nose up slightly. He supposed he didn't mind if Ignis cried, but it was just weird. He'd been young when Ignis had first arrived at the palace after losing his parents, and didn't remember too much of it himself, but the attendants had talked for years afterwards about how odd they found it that Ignis never cried or visibly grieved over them, speculating on what horrible reasons might have caused that. Noct didn't think there was any horrible reason other than 'his parents just died,' but he did vaguely remember that it had taken Ignis over a year to start talking to anyone other than himself. And Ignis had never cried when Noct had gotten hurt, or had to leave for Tenebrae, or when he'd helped Noct bury their cat, or any other occasions Noct could think of that might have warranted tears.

But then, maybe he only ever cried when he was alone. It was clear that Ignis had been ashamed to be crying in front of Noct. He didn't want him to feel that way, though. It was... It made him feel all warm and glowing inside, to think that Ignis had cried for him—to know that Ignis cared that much about him, that the thought of losing Noct would move him to tears. Most of the people in Noct's life had only cared about him because they had to. Because he was Prince Noctis, because he would someday become King Noctis, and keep them all safe. For awhile, when they'd been teenagers, when things had gotten weird between them, he'd wondered if Ignis had been the same.

He'd long since been convinced otherwise, but to really see for sure, to know, was still comforting.

"Is there something on my face, Noct?"

"Huh?" He jerked, startled, and then grit his teeth at the fresh pain, even as his eyes flew back up to meet Ignis'. Ignis was looking at him with a mixture of concern and curiosity, his eyebrows arched delicately above his glasses. "Uh, no," he muttered, looking back to the television. "Just thinking."

He could feel his face turning red, and hoped none of them were looking at them. The last thing he wanted was for Gladio and Prompto to find out he'd kissed Ignis. They'd tease him forever, he was sure. He didn't even know why he'd done it. Or... he sort of did, but his timing could have been better. Maybe. He'd never before imagined that Ignis could like him the way he liked Ignis, never seen any hint of it—though he'd certainly looked—and he'd never wanted to admit his feelings and mess up what friendship they had, or worse, have Ignis feel like he had to be in a relationship with Noct just because he was the prince. But in the tent, with Ignis' words, and Ignis' tears... it had suddenly felt different. As if maybe there was something there after all. He didn't know why, but he'd been overcome with this need for Ignis to know how he felt.

He'd always been better with actions than words.

And really, if it came down to it, he could always claim he'd just meant it in friendship and got carried away. Or blame it on the pain. Even if Ignis didn't buy it, he'd probably let it go and leave it at that.

The thought left an ache, though—it surprised him to find how much he didn't want it to come down to that.

x x x

Ignis had noticed Noct's staring around three. Having an idea of why, and uncomfortable about it, he'd called attention to it, hoping to get Noct focused on something else. Though they probably did need to talk, they couldn't very well do it with Prompto and Gladio around. But fifteen minutes later, Noct's gaze was back—the king was never as subtle as he liked to think. This time, Gladio caught it as well, and while Prompto was busy cackling over his piles of gil, he raised an eyebrow at Ignis, the usual question in his eyes.

Ignis scowled, and cut his eyes back and forth between Prompto and Gladio, before giving his customary slight head shake. Gladio tipped his head, looking thoughtful.

At three thirty, Noct's eyes had drilled permanent holes into him, and Ignis was feeling thoroughly unnerved. He got up from the bed, pretending he needed to stretch, and then settled back down into one of the chairs with his phone; however, Noct's eyes simply followed him. Gladio glanced at Ignis, then at Noctis, and frowned. Ignis hastily yanked a magazine up from the coffee table and glued his eyes to it, acting as if nothing was amiss.

By four, Gladio and Prompto had finally abandoned their poker game. Prompto, who was oblivious to all the silent drama going on in the room, decided he needed another shower because he still felt "way too gross after days of camping out, I feel like I fell in a swamp!"

Ignis wrinkled his nose at the thought but nonetheless cursed himself in his head for not thinking of the excuse first.

At four fifteen Prompto was back, and Noct was engaged in a fierce King's Knight battle with Gladio, his eyes focused firmly on the screen held in his hands. "Ooh! Me too, me too!" Prompto cried, yanking out his phone and running over to join them. Ignis made a mental note to buy Gladio a nice gift later.

At four thirty, Ignis finally felt relaxed for the first time in an hour and a half. He stopped pretending he was interested in Insomnian Scandal! Pampered Prince's Modern Mistress—Male! The old picture of Prompto and Noctis wasn't even a good one. Perhaps a cup of coffee wouldn't be remiss. He'd limit himself to one this time.

By five, the coffee pot was empty and he was a nervous wreck again. He revised his mental note to getting all the ingredients for Gladio's least favourite meal instead.

Even though it was late afternoon by that point, Gladio had talked Prompto into going to the shops with him for some more food. "We can get the ingredients Iggy needs to make one of Noct's favourites for dinner," he'd said, and Prompto had perked up immediately, bouncing to the door of their hotel room with a grin on his face.

Before they'd left, Gladio had looked at Ignis, then briefly over to Noct, before turning his gaze back to Ignis again. His meaning had been clear: talk to him. Ignis had nodded slightly, though he would have rather Gladio not have created this opportunity for them, and now he and Noct were alone in the motel room. Noct was sprawled out on one of the beds again, on his stomach of course, his arms beneath the pillow he had his head buried in. Ignis sort of wished he were asleep, so he could avoid this talk, but he could tell by Noct's breathing that he wasn't. Failing that, he hoped that maybe Noct would start the talk, but despite all his earlier staring Noct showed no signs of wanting to talk about it. It was going to have to be up to him.

"Noct?"

"Mmm?" Noct murmured, not raising his head from the pillow.

"Can we talk?" Ignis asked hesitantly, pretending to himself that he wasn't nervous. "About the other day?"

There was silence for a long moment, and then Noct did raise his head, using his arms for support, twisting his upper body slightly to face Ignis, who was seated on the edge of the other bed to his left. "What about it?"

"I..." He should have thought this through, before he started a talk. He had no idea what to say, or where to start. Did he ease slowly in to it, or did he need to be blunt? He'd known they were going to talk, why hadn't he come up with a plan? Like everything else about his feelings for Noct, it was really unlike him. Eventually he decided diving right in was the way to go. "I suppose I'm wondering what that kiss meant."

Noct blushed, though to his credit he didn't hide his head back in the pillow. "It meant... I like you," he muttered. "And... I don't wanna leave you alone, ever."

Fragile hope fluttered in his chest, his heart beginning to pound slightly harder with anticipation, beginning to override the nervousness. He ignored all the sensations, Noct's words not yet clear enough for him. "Was it meant to be sympathy?" he asked. "Or simple comfort?"

Noct sat up swiftly on instinct, letting out a small grunt as the action aggravated his stitches, but he didn't lay back down. "No!" he said forcefully, looking at Ignis with one of the most serious looks on his face that Ignis had ever seen. "It wasn't like that. I—I like you, Ignis. In ways that make my heart jump every time you come near me, or smile softly at me, or..." he trailed off, waving his hand around in vague indication, blushing in embarrassment. "I feel differently about you than I do Gladio or Prompto. I want more than friendship with you. I have for months now. Maybe even a year."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ignis asked him, stunned, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Noct had liked him for months, possibly a year. He'd never once hinted... but then, neither had Ignis himself.

"I didn't think you liked me back," Noct admitted, rubbing at the back of his neck nervously. "And I didn't want you to feel... I don't know, obligated or anything, if I told you."

Ignis laughed softly. "My duties as your advisor are numerous and varied, Noct, but that would never be one of them."

"Yeah, well... I didn't want to ruin anything between us, either. But in the tent, when you were... upset, I just had this sense, like maybe..." Noct shrugged, wincing anew.

"You weren't wrong," Ignis admitted softly. "I have harboured... feelings... for you, for some time now."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"It would have been an abuse of my position, then. You were still in high school. And I've always known that someday you would have to take a queen, and produce an heir to the Lucis Caelum line. Even now there is your wedding to Lady Lunafreya to consider."

"That was because of the treaty," Noctis said immediately. "And obviously the Empire never intended for that to happen. I love Luna, but she's... she's more like a sister to me. I was willing to marry her, but it was because I wanted to protect Insomnia, not because I had any romantic feelings for her. Now that Insomnia's already fallen, there's no need of a marriage."

"And what of an heir?"

"Gotta have a kingdom first," Noct said, a touch self-deprecating. "And there are ways to have an heir that don't involve marriage."

"I suppose so," Ignis said slowly. The hope was growing with Noctis' every word, getting harder to ignore, but as much as he wanted this, he still felt unsure. There were so many other things to consider.

"Look, Iggy... Can't we just have this now, without having to figure every little detail out? Maybe when all this—" he waved a hand around the room, encompassing the 'this' that was their uncertain journey "—is over, maybe then we'll have time to figure it out. But right now I just wanna be with you, to have just one thing in my life that's uncomplicated and good."

Ignis stared at him for a moment, the last words making his heart ache for Noct. Noct, who'd grown up pampered and adored and had been given any material thing he'd asked for, and had tons of people that would fall all over themselves to do anything for him... and had always yearned to be seen simply as 'Noctis,' not 'Noctis Lucis Caelum, the Prince.' Noct, who'd had to grow up under the weight of knowing that becoming king would mean his father was dead, and that protecting the city of Insomnia would come at the cost of shortening his own life.

He'd had a million reasons for why they shouldn't, why it wouldn't be a good idea despite how much both of them apparently wanted it, but how could Ignis deny him? He couldn't, not after that.

He got up and moved to the other bed, facing in front of Noct. He leaned in, ghosting his lips gently across Noct's. "Okay," he breathed against Noct's mouth, making Noct shiver at the tickling sensation. "For now, we can have this." He pressed harder, deepening the kiss, and Noct moaned, reaching his hands up to tangle his fingers in Ignis' hair. Ignis nipped softly at Noct's lower lip, tugging down, and Noct obediently opened his mouth, letting Ignis slide his tongue in, his own tongue moving forward to meet it, causing Ignis to let out a moan of his own.

He still didn't know for sure what this would be, where it would go, but for once in his life he was content to let it be, to let go his need to have every possible outcome planned out for and every detail spelled out crystal clear. They could have this now, the one thing in both their lives that was uncomplicated and good. They had the rest of their lives to figure out the rest later. Noct had promised, after all. He wouldn't leave him alone. Ignis had faith in that.

So, you know how sometimes when you're fighting monsters/daemons/whatever, and they'll grab you and you have to press O until you're free, unless one of the others rescues you? Yeah, this fic was born from that... It was supposed to be like this short little thing, maybe around a thousand words or so, where Noct gets caught and has a moment of panic thinking he might die before Prompto rescues him, and then he and Ignis both get all shaky afterwards before getting all sappy and fluffy with each other, but then it just turned into this... this thing, this monster of a fic that just would not end. But, I actually am pretty happy with this fic.

Aaaaand, there is still more to this. I think of this as the main fic, and the next two parts will be like a "coda" of sorts, because they're not quite a sequel but I don't think of them as part of the "main" fic either. I have plans for most of the weekend, but I'll try to see about getting the first part of the coda up in a couple of days.

Oh, and my end-game this-makes-no-sense-whatsoever-headcanon is that Noct harnessed the power of the crystal to destroy the daemons inside Ardyn, but it didn't take ten years and Noct and his friends didn't die and Ignis isn't blind and they all rebuilt Insomnia and lived happily ever after together because fuck the game's ending ╥﹏╥