Beta read by: SinikkavonWolperting
Request for: Shiary, Kestrealbird, LadyRhin
Summary: Ignis and Prompto have a moment to get to know each other, a bit of bonding when the adviser suspects the other to be another 'friend' that's only using Noctis for status.
This is the one I kinda combined the three requests, so I hope I managed to hit the things the three of you wanted, if not, feel free to let me know and I'll do separate ones.
He crouched down, just far enough to be able to peer into the glass of the oven, eyes observing the rising baked goods which resided within warily. This time, he was sure that this would be the time that they would be perfect; it had to be the time. Every previous attempt had ended up with less than ideal results, of course, they weren't by any means terrible in any way, but they weren't exactly what he was trying for. Ignis mumbled under his breath, cursing the prince's lack of a memory for what felt like the millionth time this month. Honestly, how the hell was he supposed to recreate something he didn't even remember himself. But, he would continue to try nonetheless. Sighing, he placed one hand on the counter and pulled himself back up, for there was no use in watching; staring at them while the baked wasn't going to magically make them flawless.
The adviser ran an elegant hand along the granite, grabbing hold of his rag as he did so and pulled it off before quickly wiping the remainder of the flour and dough residue from his hands. Once their cleanliness was satisfactory, he swiped the cloth over his brow, the sweltering heat from the kitchen finally catching up to him. One carefully placed step in front of the other, he slowly made his way towards the sofa, and fell into it almost instantly. Soaking in its comfort, and allowing himself to sink into it, his eyes gradually began to slide shut; the only sound penetrating his ears was the fading and drawling words seeping out from the radio, static accentuated a word here and there. Soon, the sounds were nothing more than a nuisance in the back of his mind; he nearly jolted back upright at the crisp 'knock' the quickly cut through the rest, rudely yanking him straight out of his moment of relaxation. There was a suspended second of confusion as he glanced at the time. Almost noon, still far too early for Noctis to be back, not that he would have had the need to knock anyway, he quickly reminded himself.
With a small and incoherent mumble, he got to his feet, stretching out his stiff and protesting back as he did so. "One moment," he called out, strolling over at a leisurely pace; it wouldn't hurt them to stand there for a few seconds after all. Ignis eased the door open, peeking through the crack before opening it the rest of the way, and for a minute, stared at the golden tuft on the other side, "Argentum," he greeted, granting entry by stepping back and pulling the door with him.
The blond peered through, tossing a quick few glances around before pursing his lips and facing the brunette, face full of questions. "Um, where's Noct?" he asked, awkwardly avoiding eye contact. To be honest, he couldn't help but to feel a tad intimidated from the other's unnaturally polished posture and piercing gaze.
Ignis cleared his throat, swiftly glancing down at Prompto's shoes, specs of fresh dirt sprinkled around them. "Oh!" he jumped back in order to properly wipe his feet and re-entered sheepishly, still keeping his eyes downward.
"He's at school at the moment, you know, the place you should probably be as well." His voice was laced with unasked questions, a tone hinting at the fact that this was far from the place to be.
He fell silent, letting that statement simmer before it dawned on him, "Ohhh...OH!" He pulled out his phone and frantically checked the date, "You have to be kidding me, it's Friday? I-I thought it was Saturday." He went to stuff it back in his pocket, but in his state of alarm he faltered, dropping the device to the floor and winced as it skidded across farther inside. As if moving to quickly would startle the other, he kept himself low, one hand extended towards his phone as he moved, "I'm so sorry, I'll just grab this and be on my wa-" He froze part way, the adviser cutting off his view as he stepped between him and the electronic, easily scooping it up in the process. "Thanks," the younger mumbled as it object was placed in his hovering grasp, "I should uh, I should get going then."
"Hold on a moment," his voice halted Prompto, instantly dragging him back in, "No point in going now, by the time you get there, it'll be time to go again," he sighed, but not in an overly annoyed way this time. "Besides, I want to ask you a few questions, opinions and ideas I have not yet had the opportunity to discuss with a 'friend' of his Highness."
Prompto licked his suddenly dry lips and swallowed thickly, his nerves now running a muck under his skin, "Uh, you wanna t-talk?" he stuttered, staring dumbfoundedly at the older, standing in the same spot as his feet refused to move for the time being. "What about exactly? If you don't mind me asking, of course," he chewed the inside of his cheek and cast his eyes to the side, finally mustering up the courage to take a few steps inside the apartment.
"Don't fret too much," Ignis tried to reassure, seeing the slight tremble that adorned his shoulders and the slight falter in his step from his hesitant steps. "As I said, I just wish to ask a few questions, get to know this...associate of Noct's." The small and insignificant flinch didn't go unnoticed at the mention of that word. He waved a hand, gesturing for the blond to enter, "You may take a seat on the sofa over there. I'll be over shortly, but I have to take care of something real quick."
Again, he swallowed hard, the lump in his throat seemingly doubling in size as his eyes found his destination and his feet cautiously carried him towards it, each step sunk comfortably yet menacingly into the carpet. "Um, alright," he quietly squeezed out and lowered himself onto the right side, as close to the arm of it as possible. As he sat there, slowly being consumed by the piece of furniture, he heard a shrill 'ding' sound off in the other room followed closely by an almost inaudible squeal of something being pulled open. The aroma that trailed after was nothing short of mouthwatering; Prompto didn't think he'd ever smelled anything that was that tempting.
"So, I am aware that the prince is, might I say, fond of you," Ignis began, placing a tray of some sort of fluffy desserts upon the counter, steam mesmerizingly streaming from them, "And I cannot help but wonder why that is." The younger leaned farther into the cushion, unconsciously making himself smaller in the other's presence. "I don't want you getting the wrong idea, I am by no means insinuating anything, but you must be aware of how many try to weasel their way in; so many see Noctis as nothing more than a ticket into luxury. So, I'm sure you understand my wariness with new people entering his life."
He could feel his heart rate pick up its pace as his hands became slick with anxious jitters; he felt like a date being interrogated by a protective parent, something he had no experience with, but he could definitely feel it. "Wh-what do you mean?" he asked, words trembling subtly.
"What I mean is, what are your intentions with Noctis?" Ignis leaned his elbows on the counter and bore those penetrating green eyes into the blue ones, searching desperately for any signs of dishonesty, "And I want the truth, no beating around the bush."
For an extended minute, they only held eye contact, Prompto's response getting lost somewhere between his head and his tongue; he wondered what it was exactly the man expected to hear, or rather what he wanted to hear. Taking a deep breath, he started, "I, uh, don't really know," he shrugged bashfully, tearing the contact away and a hand scratched idly at the back of his neck, "I guess he just seemed...right?" He blushed at the wording, it was downright awkward and felt far too casual for a man that held himself to such formal standards. "I mean, Noct-er, Noctis just seemed to be natural, I guess. If that makes sense, sir."
The older could practically see his shoulders tense with each word that passed through his lips, every syllable dragged him closer to the arm of the couch until he was pressed firmly against it. "I see," he stated calmly, keeping a watchful gaze on the blond for a moment longer, "And what are your thoughts on his majesty?"
Prompto bit his lower lip almost painfully, and he wanted more than anything to just leave, just to run out of this uncomfortable situation. But, he knew that there would be no excuse he could give that wouldn't be obvious. "Well, I guess I would consider him a friend, or as much of one as I can. I don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to that, but from what...from what I can tell I think this is a pretty good one."
He could feel himself shrinking under the brunette's scrutiny as he weighed his reply internally, a hand drifted to his chin as he lost himself in thought and considered the words spoken silently. "Very well, I suppose that will suffice as enough of an answer for the time being." A heavy sigh was heaved out on the other end of the conversation, relief washing over him while he allowed himself to relax by a small degree. "But," his single word perked the blond back up in an instant, "this doesn't mean I've completely decided how I feel about you yet, so do try to behave yourself."
"O-of course," he stammered, straightening his back and attempting to slow his pulse down to a reasonable pace. It wasn't until then that he remembered the earlier revelation, "So, if you don't mind me asking, what did you mean by 'others trying to weasel in'?"
Now it was Ignis' turn to look away, the memories of previous 'friends' resurfacing, none of which left a pleasant taste in his mouth; nothing but bitterness and discontent. "As I mentioned earlier, there are those that only wish to use Noctis' status as a means to boost their own, which most would expect to be the case. They have no real interest in the prince himself, but merely his standing, and that's it, which is why I must be overly cautious with those he chooses to allow to get close to him. It's nothing personal, but it's something that must be done." In one fluid motion, he pushed himself away from the counter and scooped up the now relatively cool tray as he strode into the other room with grace one would expect from the prince's adviser.
As he walked by, he slid the tray onto the coffee table and casually took the seat next to Prompto; crossing one leg over the other, he glanced at the other, "I've been trying to recreate something Noctis was keen on when he was younger. Haven't yet been able to revive the nostalgia for him, but I believe I'm getting close after years of attempting it." He turned back to face the younger in time to see the split second there was a faint shine behind those sky-infused orbs, "You're welcomed to try one if you want, I made far too many anyway."
He spun his head around to face Ignis, "Oh, I um, they look great and all, but I probably shouldn't." His hands fiddled in his lap as his head once again dropped, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but well, I'm kinda...trying to watch what I eat." He mumbled the last words, embarrassment washing over him at the simple mention of his dieting and whatnot. "They smell great though, if that counts for anything."
That was enough for him to read the underlying message, "No need to apologize, I understand," he held up a hand in a gesture of forgiveness, "Though, I do appreciate the compliment."
Prompto noticed the slight drop in the other's features, it wasn't overly noticeable, and if he hadn't been searching for it then he would have missed it, but it was definitely there and he felt a small ping of guilt in his chest. He hummed to himself, "I guess trying one wouldn't hurt, right?" He offered a sideways smile, genuinely feeling like he made the right choice by changing his mind just by the change in the other's features.
"I don't suppose so. I take it you would like to give them a try then?" Ignis waited for the signaling nod of approval before reaching over and plucking one of the pastries from their pan and placed it gently in the blond's waiting hand, "And again, I want your honest opinion on it."
The gunner nodded shortly and took a few seconds to take in the appealing puffiness of the delicacy, squeezing it carefully between his thumb and forefinger in a way to test its sponginess. He almost didn't want to bite it, the thought of ruining its perfection sounding almost like a crime in his mind. But, the urge to find out for himself if it tasted as amazing as it looked was far too strong to resist, and cautiously, he pinched a generous chunk off the side; he nearly dropped it when creamy filling oozed out from the small opening. Quickly, and without thinking, he used his tongue to swiftly lick it away before it had the chance to drip onto the pristine carpet or sofa. The flavors molded over his taste buds, enveloping them in blissful paradise. Ignis obviously noticed the way his expression lit up because leaned back in his seat with a satisfied smirk on his face.
Prompto hummed at it once he had a moment to truly appreciate its gracious sweetness, "Wow," he stated in sheer astonishment, "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't the most amazing thing I've ever tried." And he wasn't even trying the pastry part yet; that was nothing more than just the filling. Remembering the chunk that was still between his fingers, he plopped it in his mouth and began to chew slowly, relishing every second of it. "Whoa, dude...uh, Ignis," he corrected himself instantly, glancing away for only a moment, "This is freaking awesome." Flicking his tongue to the corner of his mouth, he scooped up a bit of residue, blushing slightly from embarrassment.
"Even so, I fear they still may not be up to standards when compared to Noctis' memory of them," the older sighed, leaning forward once again to grab one for himself. "Every attempt seems to be a step in the right direction, every one getting closer and closer to the original, but I still have yet to make a breakthrough with them," he turned the dessert over in his hand and lifted the other to grab the other side; in one graceful and quick motion, he tore the treat in half, somehow not spilling a drop in the process.
"Progress is at least something though, right?" the blond asked, finally meeting the brunette's gaze for the first time, "I mean, nothing happens over night. Trust me." He took another bite, "And believe me when I say, he should be happy enough with these, they would be hard to beat I imagine."
Ignis stared for a few seconds, for once at a loss of words, it felt strange in a way, to receive such compliments from someone he barely even spoke to, "While I do appreciate those kind words, I still desire to recreate them perfectly."
"You have more patience than I do," the blond pushed the remained past his lips, "I can't even properly work an oven," he said between chews. He was about to speak again, but the sound of the other clearing his throat told him that was a bad idea. 'Right,' he thought, 'no talking with food in your mouth, you idiot.' Once he got it down, he decided now was a more appropriate time for conversation, "All I'm saying is, I think these are good enough."
The adviser felt a small rush of warmth with those words, "Thank you," he said simply, unsure of what else to say at that point. "Well, I believe Noctis will be home within the next hour, so, you're welcome to wait here until he gets back. I'm sure you wouldn't want to go all the way back home only to have to turn back."
He looked down to the floor then back to the older, "Does this mean that," again, he rubbed the back of his neck, "Does this mean that I'm approved. I passed the test to remain his friend then?"
"Indeed, I approve. I don't see any ill intentions, so I see no harm in the matter. So long as you don't give me reason to, that is." he gave a sideways smile that looked almost...playful, which seemed so out of place on the man's face, not that Prompto was complaining.
He felt like a tremendous weight had been lifted and he could finally breathe easier, and his thought were flowing quicker and clearer; he actually felt rather comfortable there now without the need to put up a facade of ease anymore while in Ignis' presence. "I promise not to let you down," he blurted out, jolting up to his feet, "And I'd love to take you up on that offer to stay, but I um, kinda need to go by the school now and pick up the work I missed," his tone faltered, dipping down into that of distaste. "But, uh, I hate to ask this, but do you think I could maybe have another for the road?" He had one finger pointed towards the tray, the other stuffed behind his back.
"As I said, I made far to many, help yourself." He waved a dismissive hand as he too got to his feet, "I have a few more errands I must attend to, so I'll trust you to see yourself out as well when you're ready." He turned away to make his way back to the kitchen and lifted a hand in a small wave, "I suppose I'll be seeing you around, so feel free to come by once in a while." He missed the light smile that adorned the other's features, a short second of real gratitude as he gently picked another treat from the pan, already taking a bit out of it as he strode over to the door.
If anyone has requests as well, feel free to leave a comment or PM me with what you want, or message on Tumblr (I go by the same name on there). I just ask that it's nothing x rated, but romance is still alright, and just know that I'm best with hurt/comfort, but it doesn't have to be that, can be just about anything. Also keep in mind that these are things I'll be doing in between chapters/stories of my own works, so they may take time, but I'll try my best to get to them eventually.
Queue as of now:
istoleyourcheesecake
Tabbys_desire
aoyuna
TheGizzYall
TheBigbyWolf
mutini
Silverheartlugia2000
itsscrow
cinqluna
'Anonymous'
'Anonymous2'
Prompto_Cam
'Anonymous3'
Mirai Lianna
Touched
