Chapter 4

Happiness Is You

It was strange how different the world looked after a certain age.

For example, how different a single man could look one year apart.

Ignis had never imagined it was possible to have someone change so much without ever actually changing at all. Cor hadn't changed—merely the way Ignis saw him had.

Ignis had spent his entire childhood watching that man in fascination, because Cor the Immortal was legendary amongst them. Like watching a real life ancient warrior strolling down the halls, a story come to life, and Ignis had never been more intrigued by anyone. Cor the Immortal—in Ignis' eyes, he wasn't an immortal as much as a god.

Having Cor pass him in the hall was like being sidestepped by one of the Six.

Cor was something visible but untouchable. Mist, sort of, clearly there for all to see and yet unable to be grasped and felt.

Had anyone asked Ignis if he thought Cor were actually immortal, Ignis would have instantly affirmed that he did, indeed.

Until that day, anyway.

Adolescence was difficult, he would admit. One of the more daunting trials he had faced, for sure, coming into maturity a little before Noctis. Felt strange and disconcerting and alarming, to shoot up so tall overnight and your best friend still be the same size. Gladio of course had long since matured, but Ignis felt so much more in tune with Noctis, and it was hard to leave him behind like that, if only for a short time.

The worst part of adolescence, surely, were the rush of hormones.

The first time he had seen Cor since everything had changed had been the day he had so foolishly slammed right into him on the stairwell.

As if lightning had struck him.

Sounded so stupid, so ridiculous, but Ignis could truly say it had been love at first sight, in a way. Certainly not the first time seeing Cor, no, but in a way it was the first time seeing him, if only through a new set of eyes. Saw the world differently then, and saw Cor differently. Cor had gone from a walking legend, immortal and untouchable, to the most remarkably handsome and entrancing thing Ignis had ever laid eyes upon. Had been held in place by Cor's magnificent eyes, and was painfully aware of the heat emanating from Cor's palms as they had held his arms to hold him in place. One second, one glance, and Ignis had never wanted Cor to let him go. Utterly hypnotized.

Could someone really fall in love with just one glance?

Ignis seemed to be on a mission to prove that one actually could.

He watched Cor helplessly after that, and sometimes, when Cor came very close to him, he could catch the subtle, deep scent of Cor's cologne.

A god didn't need cologne, no, and Cor was suddenly very mortal.

Mortal, yes, but not yet in reach. Not quite normal.

Thank the stars above for the Captain, without whom Ignis may have truly believed that Cor was entirely unobtainable. But the Captain, for whatever reason, seemed determined to make certain that Ignis knew that Cor was just like any other man around, and Ignis began to consider the possibility that there may have been a chance.

Ignis was enamored, and tried to get Cor's eyes upon him in whatever manner possible.

Knew it was highly inappropriate, knew it on paper, but it never exactly felt that way to him, never really seemed important, never mattered much. Just mattered that Cor was gorgeous, reliable, strong, loyal and brave and fearless. Cor was perfection, in every sense. A beautiful soul. Had never met a man like Cor, had never met someone that held themselves to such stringent standards, who put themselves very last.

Ignis tried hard, and it seemed to be working. Cor, after all, always seemed to be staring at him every time Ignis looked up in class, but that could very well have been for an entirely different reason.

He wasn't blind to the fact that Cor tread very gently with him, didn't treat him like he treated the other students, and Ignis may have only been aware of it because it was the same way Gladio treated him. Like a damsel in distress. He should have been offended, perhaps, that yet another stronger man took him so lightly, but in a way it was flattering. Hopeful, even, thinking that maybe Cor saw him as something to defend and shield rather than turn into a warrior.

Ignis didn't want to be a warrior—just wanted to be able to protect Noctis if need be.

So he took no offense, and obeyed Cor's gentle commands and gentler hands. Didn't matter that Cor didn't take him seriously as a fighter, not at all, just mattered that Cor saw him and noticed him. Just mattered that Cor looked at him.

And look he did, it seemed.

Ignis knew it was stupid, all in his head, but he was getting his hopes up all the same, because he swore that every time he glanced up his eyes seemed to meet Cor's. And, just as quickly, Cor would look away, as if startled that he had been caught staring. In a way, Ignis felt that he may as well have put himself out there a bit, because he had nothing to lose. Not a thing. Had zero expectations, and so he couldn't really fall on his face. The ever so helpful Captain had given Ignis the perfect excuse, and Ignis leapt upon it.

How could he have ever expected that Cor would actually sit there and talk to him, let alone offer his hand?

Ignis was ever more confident, and clung to hope that Cor had made no bolder moves because Ignis was not yet seventeen, and of course Cor had a reputation to maintain.

Ignis counted down the days, and held his breath.

And then suddenly it was his seventeenth birthday, and Ignis sat up in bed, staring off at the wall. Ridiculous—he felt absolutely no different, but the law stated that he was now a man. A man, now, like Cor, and Ignis was hoping training today would be quite interesting.

Cor let him stay after class, Cor talked to him, Cor extended his hand, Cor stared, and the Captain continued to push Ignis towards Cor; it seemed ridiculous, yes, but also quite obvious. Surely this entire ordeal wasn't just in Ignis' head. Cor seemed to reciprocate, and Ignis was fully expecting today to be eventful.

And it actually started out that way.

As Ignis was making coffee, there was a knock on his door.

Odd. He never had visitors. Not even Noctis.

Ignis opened the door curiously, without bothering to ask who was there, and was quite startled to see a man standing there with a huge bouquet of flowers. Immediately knew the man was lost, and Ignis was quick to ask, helpfully, "Who are you looking for?"

Wrong apartment.

The man just lifted his brow, and said, "You. I think. You are Ignis Scientia, right?"

A jolt of his heart.

"Yes," he began, warily, as he eyed the flowers very cautiously.

"Bingo! These are for you. Here you go. Enjoy."

With that, the flowers were shoved into his hands, and the delivery man wandered off, leaving Ignis to stand there in utter silence like a fool and stare down at the flowers in his hands.

A lovely smell.

He set the flowers down on the counter and admired them briefly.

Yes, yes, quite lovely indeed. Roses and lilies, and a few sylleblossoms thrown in for good measure as a nod to his heritage. Wonderful. Thoughtful. Ignis was smiling then, beaming almost, and began to search for a note. He found it buried deep within, and when he pulled it out to read it, it was immediately obvious to him that the flowers were from neither Noct nor Gladio. Nor Regis, for that matter.

A style of writing he was utterly unfamiliar with, and there was no name.

He read the note, spaced out, shook his head, read it again, and his heart started that race right back up.

Short and simple, and yet exceptionally profound in his eyes.

'Happy birthday. The Crown City shines twice as brightly now that you're in it, but still cannot compete with your brilliance.'

He felt his mouth fall open, as he read the note for the sixth time, and the elation rising up was quite sharp.

Oh!

Knew it was ridiculous, knew it couldn't be, knew it was impossible, a foolish dream, but couldn't help it all the same. Just wanted these to be from Cor, more than he had ever wanted anything.

Please, please, please—

Please just be from Cor.

Must have been the grandest of fantasies, surely, to think that stoic, humorless, dry, merciless Cor the Immortal would have the romantic sense to send flowers, but it was there all the same. Cor continued to surprise day after day, continued to say things Ignis had never thought he would say, and perhaps this was just one more facet of Cor's very buried personality.

The Captain insisted that Cor was a normal man, and Ignis was determined to believe it.

Ignis took extra care that morning to be neat and clean, ironed his shirt twice and polished his shoes and glasses. Shined his necklace a bit. A spritz of cologne and a huge dose of terror later, Ignis was ready to head off.

He glanced at the flowers on his way out, and tried to cling to resolve.

Just a man.

That was quite the nervous drive, indeed, and Ignis inhaled for courage in front of the door before he pushed it open.

As always, he was the first one there.

Cor glanced up, their eyes met, and Ignis was so, so sure that Cor was studying him. Observing him, as if looking for something different, and Ignis hoped that it was because Cor had sent those flowers and he was waiting to see if Ignis knew it. Cor suddenly opened his mouth, and was promptly cut off when the door behind them opened. Ignis glanced over his shoulder in disappointment, to see Gladio strutting in. Cor immediately clamped up, stood up straight, and moved to the other side of the room.

The second Gladio walked through the door, he came right up to Ignis, slung an arm over his shoulder, and said, lowly, "Happy birthday, Iggy."

"Thank you."

Ignis smiled as Gladio jostled him, but his eyes always fell back to Cor, in the end. This time, Cor didn't look away, and held his gaze.

Hope.

That day, throughout the entire class, Ignis just stared at Cor, helplessly, barely paying attention to the lesson and head in the clouds, because Cor just stared right back at him. Cor didn't look away, not once, and Ignis was tripping over his own feet.

Gladio teased him, by uttering, "Hey—birthday jitters? Focus."

Ignis scoffed and tried, but there was no hope, not with Cor staring at him like that.

Jitters, alright, but not because he was now an adult.

In a daze, Ignis tried to keep up with Gladio, and woke up only when time was up and class was dismissed. Once more, Gladio came right up to him, grabbed him around the shoulders, and said, cheerfully, "Let's go out tonight! I can finally buy you a drink! Friday birthdays are the best! Got two days to get rid of the hangover."

Ah, yes. About time.

Immediately, Ignis affirmed, "Text me later on, then. Perhaps I can be swayed."

Gladio smiled, shook him, and then headed out. Ignis lingered there, pretending to tidy up and set his things aside, biding time for all of the students to file out. Adrenaline was rushing, flowing, but so was hope, confidence, and so Ignis pattered here and there until he was the only student left in the room, as was often the case these days.

Footsteps.

He glanced up, as he put his wooden daggers back upon the wall, to see Cor striding slowly and purposefully towards him.

Swore his heart was in his throat. Couldn't breathe at all.

At a short distance, Cor looked him up and down, pryingly, and then finally said, very softly, "Happy birthday."

A burst of elation, shown by the wide smile that broke over his face. He bowed, respectfully, replying, "Thank you, Marshal. I'm flattered you knew at all."

Cor was silent, merely lifting a brow as he continued to stare Ignis down.

Cor's eyes were the most intense in the city, of that Ignis was certain, and no one could have ever hoped to match that cold, hard stare. Ignis could never match it, no, but met it evenly, and tried to gather up the nerve he needed to tiptoe out and see what was really on Cor's mind.

Cor turned a bit then, so that they were standing side by side and facing the wall of weapons, and Cor eventually uttered, "It's odd to think that you're just now a legal adult. In a way, I've felt like you were never able to be a child at all. I regret that for you."

Ignis continued to stare over at Cor as he replied, "You have a point. I was never a child. I suppose I can't really mourn the loss of something I never knew. It feels so strange to only now be considered a true member of society."

Cor was silent, and Ignis wished that Cor would be a little more open, a little more vocal, a little more forward. If there were feelings on both ends, then surely Cor should have known that he would be the one who had to move first, with his position.

This uncertainty was killing him.

He had been in love with this man for three years and had never once been able to express it, had never told anyone, had bottled it up, and it was weighing him down. Just wanted to know if maybe, somehow, someway, Cor had felt that same jolt that day.

Wanted Cor to say it.

Ignis shifted his weight then, gaze falling back and forth between Cor and the weapons, shuffling his feet and trying to gather up his thoughts.

Cor was not blind to his motions, for he asked, in that deep, smooth voice Ignis loved, "Something on your mind, Ignis?"

Many things. Some more appropriate than others.

In the end, all Ignis managed was a low, "I suppose so."

"I imagine the future Hand of the King would have much on his mind. Or so I should hope."

Ignis snorted at that, and found the courage to murmur, "Indeed, but what concerns me now is...more of a personal matter."

Cor stared away at him, relentlessly, and pried, "I didn't think you had time for a personal life."

"I don't," Ignis confirmed, "and yet I find myself pondering it all the same. Sometimes...I wish I did have a little more time. Just a bit."

Tried to lure Cor out a little in an effort to judge him without risking humiliation. A suspicion, after all, was not a fact.

Cor, for now at least, was cooperating quite nicely, and offered, as planned, "Oh? Thinking of things other than Noctis now, are we? Never thought I'd see the day. Must be something grand, to snag your attention. Did you meet someone? Titus has informed me that one of his Glaives is quite enamored with you."

Oh, dear.

Could feel the embarrassing burn of his cheeks as Cor stared ever away at him.

A Glaive, eh? Not good for Ignis' resolve, because putting that out there now made him doubt himself, doubt his own suspicions, because if he really did have an admirer...

Maybe it hadn't been Cor, after all.

That thought rather hurt.

After a hesitation, Ignis murmured, in a much lower voice, "Is that so? I had no idea. That must be— Well. Someone sent me flowers, this morning, with a rather charming note. I suppose... Well. It doesn't matter, really. As if I would ever have time for a relationship. Noct demands constant attention."

Cor snorted, shook his head, and muttered in turn, "Not every bit of your life need be given to the Prince. You're an advisor, not a slave. It feels as if we have discussed this issue several times before. ...hm. Flowers, huh? Interesting. You...didn't find that foolish?"

The tone of Cor's voice was odd. A bit tense and tight, and Ignis glanced up to see that Cor had finally looked away.

On second thought, maybe he really was on the right track.

Bolstered a bit, Ignis said, quickly, "Foolish? Of course not. I thought it was spectacular. I was flattered beyond all words. But I'm disheartened as well. Would that I knew who sent them, that I could thank them. I suppose it never crossed my mind that it could have been a Glaive. I was thinking perhaps it came from within the Crownsguard."

The bait was set.

Just waiting now to see if Cor took it.

Cor glanced over, met his gaze, and said, deeply, "Thinking? Or hoping? Have your eye on someone?"

A rush of adrenaline, a thrill, and Ignis couldn't help but murmur, breathily, "The Marshal is so fascinated by my love life?"

"Lack thereof," Cor retorted, gently, and Ignis snorted.

"True."

A long silence, before Cor said, rather loftily, "I don't mean to pry. Shut me down whenever you so choose. It's just interesting to see you acting like a normal person. You're always so studious and strict. Sometimes I wondered if you were one of the messengers of the Six, for you're so unwaveringly loyal and single-minded. Seeing you think of other things is intriguing."

Not so single-minded nowadays, it seemed.

Wondered if Cor would be disappointed by that, if Cor expected Ignis to live up to his ridiculous standards, and it was that awful jolt of anxiety and panic that made Ignis lower his eyes, bow his head, and murmur, "I apologize. You're right— I cannot lose focus. I should keep my mind always on my duty."

Cor thought only of duty, and no doubt expected others to do the same.

Ignis had been breaking his neck in training to impress Cor by appearing utterly unfazed and impervious. Calm. Collected. His job was to keep cool, to be in control, to think clearly, to have no distractions. If Cor hadn't sent those flowers, then all Ignis was accomplishing now was replanting that doubt that Cor had always had about Ignis.

Cor had never really seemed to think that Ignis belonged in the Crownsguard.

Suddenly Cor said, a bit stiffly and sternly, "That is not what I said."

Ignis crinkled his brow, and felt annoyed all of a sudden, because Cor often said, 'I didn't say that', 'that's not what I said', but never did clarify what he actually did say.

Ignis glanced briefly up and over at stern Cor, and wanted to snip, 'Then what did you say?'

He didn't.

A short impasse, as they stared at each other, each taking a mental step back as they always seemed to before either of them went too far.

Cor gave a sigh then, shook his head, and chided, "Ignis, while I admire your dedication to the line of Lucis, I am a bit concerned by how much of your time you continue to dedicate to the Prince. There should be a line. If Regis isn't going to request that you scale back, then allow me to say it in his stead. I think it's high time, now that you are legally an adult, that you begin to steadily decrease your mothering of the Prince. Step back, and let him figure it out."

Ignis scoffed, despite his best effort not to.

Cor was certainly overstepping his bounds, perhaps, being very bossy and presumptuous, because of course it was not Cor's place to dictate how and where Ignis spent his time once outside of these walls.

All that said, in his heart Ignis knew that Cor was right.

Noctis needed to learn to be an adult, too, and Ignis was only stunting him.

Ignis hesitated, and only said, "I don't know what else I would do with my time."

"That's my concern," Cor replied, rather blandly, and there was a very long stare between them as Ignis fidgeted. "You had no childhood to give Noctis a smoother one. Will you give up the last of your youth as well? I have served this line since I was twelve, so perhaps I am not one to talk. I merely hate to see you tread that same path. It's just— I had a choice. Every decision I made was my own. You have had no say in your duty, no voice. It was put upon you, rather than sought out, so I feel in some way as if it is unfair to you, to give so much."

Cor's eyes were beautiful, but very intense, and Ignis looked away.

It had always been the highest honor, to be swept into Noctis' life as he had been. Ignis had always considered it a grand gift, far more than he had ever deserved, and yet in spite of it all there were times when Ignis did find himself wishing...

Sometimes, like right now, with Cor's eyes on him, Ignis wished that he did have a bit more freedom.

When Ignis made no comment, Cor turned to face him, and out of the blue asked, "Ignis, tell me—if you woke up tomorrow and had absolutely no duties, what would you do?"

Ignis stared away at Cor, a bit in alarm, because such a question was utterly absurd.

Couldn't imagine life without duties.

He must have looked flabbergasted, for Cor sighed, quick to mutter, "You don't even know, do you? Have you no desires beyond serving Noctis?"

A long, awful silence.

It was pitiful, really, but true; without Noctis, Ignis had absolutely no motivations. Wouldn't even know where to begin. His entire life had hung only on Noctis' every move, his only thought had ever been directed towards Noctis, because he felt it was required of him. Regis had sworn Ignis to Noctis, and by that right alone it seemed that Ignis was beholden to Noctis. Sometimes, Ignis even went so far as to think that Noctis owned him.

If he didn't wait on Noctis hand and foot, then what more was there? He excelled at nothing else.

Ignis stood there for a long while in silence, deep in thought, and after a minute of that ludicrous silence Cor's brow had crinkled and he had turned aside once more. Cor looked disappointed, annoyed, irritated. Ignis felt remarkably idiotic. He was being handed Cor's attention, for once, and was fumbling it hopelessly.

What did Cor really want him to say?

'I do have one other desire besides Noctis; you.'

He could never, and surely Cor knew that.

And then, Cor abruptly turned his back on Ignis.

No, wait—

A rush of fear, desperation, the terror of losing Cor's interest before he really even had it, and out of nowhere something struck him. Came from the depths, that thought, and Ignis heard himself whisper, softly, "I think...I would go to the park."

Cor glanced over his shoulder, and after a long hesitation he slowly turned around once more to face Ignis.

Oh, thank the gods.

Cor lifted his chin, and pressed, "The park?"

As if surprised.

Ignis nodded, silly as it may have sounded to Cor. Ignis never stopped working, thinking, planning. Never had time for anything outside of the Citadel. He hadn't been to the park since he had been a child, hadn't once rested since then, and could scarcely recall what it even looked like.

Blue sky. Flowering trees. The sound of the creek.

"I can't recall the last time I went. If I had a free day, I would go to the park, and walk along the water, where the flowers are. I can barely remember the smell of the outdoors. Birds and trees. I think that is what I would do."

Cor stared away at him, and then Cor suddenly smirked a bit, and replied, softly, "Not a bad desire, I suppose."

Ignis held his breath, as Cor once more looked Ignis up and down, and then Cor very suddenly said, "Good evening, Ignis."

A searing, painful rush of hurt.

He had blown it, entirely, and Ignis bowed his head respectfully and retreated.

Pitiful.

Ignis rushed to his car, alone, and that was worse because Cor had been escorting him to his car every day for months now. He clamped his jaw and tried not to fall into complete despair, and when Ignis trudged into his apartment, he couldn't even bring himself to look over at those flowers.

When Gladio texted him, Ignis came up with an excuse not to go out, because if Gladio got Ignis intoxicated then Ignis was fairly certain he would have started crying into his beer right there at the bar and might have blabbed his soul out to Gladio, and that would have been a disaster.

Best to stay home and wallow in misery.

Ignis berated himself all night, and didn't sleep.

Come dawn, he looked a mess, circles dark and low under his eyes.

Saturday morning and nothing to show for all of his grand plans the day prior. For a moment, he didn't even want to drag himself out of bed, but lying there pining would be worse. Ignis swung his legs over the edge of the bed, trudged into the kitchen, started making coffee, and rested his palms on the counter as he leaned back and glowered at the flowers.

Bloody things.

Had only made his crash and burn hurt that much more.

As his messy bangs hung into his eyes, still in his sleepwear and entirely unmotivated, Ignis poured a coffee and then had very nearly stomped over to throw the flowers in the bin. Didn't make it—there was suddenly a knock on his door.

For the second time in two days.

Cranky and in a mood, Ignis stomped over to the door, and swore to the Six that if it was another bouquet, Ignis was going to shove it right back in the delivery man's face and tell him to dump them on the side of the road on his way out. Ignis wrenched the door open, nearly splashing his coffee all over the place in his exuberance, and all of that fire immediately extinguished.

Replaced instantly with horror.

It wasn't a delivery man standing there; it was Cor, one hand tucked in his pocket and stance quite casual.

Ignis' mouth fell open in nothing less than shock, as Cor lidded his eyes and looked Ignis over rather drolly. Ignis knew he looked a complete mess, felt the blaze of red on his face, and swallowed.

And then suddenly it struck Ignis that Cor was standing at his door, and there was a lurch of adrenaline, as Ignis found his voice and asked, urgently, "Is everything alright? Noct—"

Cor interrupted, swiftly, "Is not your concern today. Today, you have been relieved of all duties. Noctis can fend for himself."

The shock wore off and was replaced with more of those helpless jitters.

Ignis stared up at Cor, reaching up in anxiety to attempt to smooth his messy bangs, and asked, carefully, "The Marshal came all the way over so early to inform me that I'm...being given the day off?"

Cor stood ever so casually, not at attention at all, and replied, very seriously, "I did. I also came to escort you posthaste to the park. For a walk along the water. Although I cannot guarantee flowers, for it is still winter, even in the city."

Awe.

Ignis could have easily keeled over and died right then, and although Ignis was indescribably elated, he still felt it was his duty to say, weakly, "Surely the Marshal has better things to do."

"It is also my day off," Cor offered, coolly. "I was hoping you would accompany me. I think it would do you good."

Knew for certain that his face was blazing red then, no hiding it, and all Ignis could do was take a step back inside, duck his head to save face, hold the door open, and utter, in a voice that cracked, "It would be my honor, Marshal, truly. Won't you come in for a coffee while I change?"

Couldn't look at Cor then, for embarrassment, but heard the noise of contentment from his throat.

"Sure. Thanks."

Having Cor step foot in his apartment was exhilarating and terrifying, and Ignis was so jittery and nervous that he nearly broke a mug when he scrambled to get Cor a cup of coffee. Cor just followed Ignis with his eyes, never letting him loose from that gaze, and Ignis felt the pressure. The only time that Cor looked away from Ignis at all, in fact, was when he turned his pale eyes to the flowers sitting on the counter.

Ignis was very certain that Cor seemed pleased.

When Ignis handed Cor his mug, their fingers brushed, and Ignis must have been so red that he matched several of the roses in the bouquet. Cor smirked, but humored him, as he often did, and was quiet with mug in hand as he waited.

Oh no—what to wear?

Was this a date? A casual outing? A business proposition? Didn't know, and so didn't know what to wear, how to look, how to dress.

Fretting.

Didn't want to overdo it and look silly, but didn't want to be too homely and have Cor think that Ignis was utterly disinterested. Was about to explode, his mind was whirring away so frantically. Ignis poked his head out of the bedroom momentarily to peek at Cor for a hint. Cor was dressed practically as he always was, so little help there. Black coat, black jeans, black boots, black shirt. Cor was always effortlessly formal, even when dressed casually, and so gauging mood from Cor's clothing was impossible.

In full panic mode, Ignis jerkily perused his closet, and then there was a helpful call from the kitchen :

"Don't over-think it, Ignis. You always look fine."

The furious blush spread down Ignis' neck and all the way to his collar.

Right.

Ignis did as instructed, and just grabbed the first clothes closest to his hands; a white button-down and black slacks. He pulled on socks, nearly falling on his face in the process for his nervousness, thought about wearing a tie but decided against it, and he didn't even bother styling his hair at all, merely combing it neatly down and then skidding back into the kitchen. Didn't want to keep Cor waiting.

Cor eyed him up and down, as Ignis reclaimed his mug and put back the lukewarm coffee in one long chug, and he thought Cor might have snorted.

When the mug was empty, Cor stood up, finished his own off, and asked, "Ready?"

Ignis nodded, as Cor glanced once more at the flowers.

Had anyone told Ignis that one day Cor the Immortal would be standing in his apartment kitchen drinking coffee, Ignis would have called them daft.

Yet here they were.

Ignis lost several lives when Cor walked to the front door, grabbed Ignis' coat from the hook, and helpfully held it out. If Ignis blushed any harder by then he likely would have spontaneously combusted, and if Cor was amused by Ignis' shade then he didn't give a sign.

Thankfully.

Cor was quite the gentleman. Surprising, somehow, as much as every other bit of personality Cor had steadily been letting shine through.

Ignis pulled on his winter boots, although there wasn't any snow outside and he likely could have gotten away without them. He didn't want Cor to think he was trying too hard by using his dress shoes, and when Ignis pulled on his gloves, Cor said, "The park isn't too far from here. Shall we walk?"

Walk to the park? Forty-five minutes, perhaps, and Ignis clumsily nodded.

The more time with Cor, the better.

Cor quirked a brow, and did add, "It's cold out. Are you sure?"

Ignis nodded again, and tried, "I haven't had time to be outside in years. I'd enjoy a walk, cold or no."

He meant that, and Cor just smirked, uttering, "As I expected."

Cor opened the door, extended his arm to usher Ignis out, and before Ignis could pinch himself to make certain he wasn't dreaming, they were suddenly walking down the stairwell and into the street.

Ignis stared over at Cor as if he had dropped from the sky, as Cor walked very surely and very confidently, hands in his pockets and chin high.

The pale morning sun was bright in the sky, the cold air stinging his lungs, and yet Ignis felt that it was more like summer every time Cor glanced over at him and made small talk. With every step Ignis relaxed a bit more, when it was clear that Cor was very real and very there, and also that Cor seemed to want to be there.

And then, suddenly, trees on the horizon. The smell of the creek, and cold grass. Little birds, flittering about in the bare branches and chirping.

Simple, and wondrous.

Ignis perked up, quickened his pace in excitement, head held high and brow aloft, smiling breathlessly, and Cor just stared over at him intensely. The best day he could recall so far, and Ignis could say that it wasn't the park itself so much as being in the park with Cor. Something he had missed for a long time, and something he had wanted for a long time, together.

Cor just snorted, and said, "You really do work too much."

"Says the Marshal," Ignis playfully retorted, and Cor conceded.

They walked through the frosted grass down to the dirt path that went along the creek. Ice here and there on the water, clean air, and Ignis glanced often over at Cor as Cor murmured to him about nothing at all.

At some point, Cor observed the bare creek bank, and said, "We'll come back in spring, so you can see the flowers."

A lurch of Ignis' heart, a rising of hope, elation, that this wasn't just a one off, that Cor hadn't just been taking pity on him and trying to force Ignis to let Noctis grow up.

They walked for several hours in the park, and the entire while Cor interrogated him as much as Ignis had interrogated Cor in the training room. Asked him a hundred questions. What coffee shops he liked, what sort of music he enjoyed, what sort of hobbies he would like to take up had he had more free time, what he would one day like to see outside of Insomnia, what museums he wished to see, what his favorite food was, etc.

Anything and everything. Felt quite like he was on trial, at times, intense as Cor was.

At some point, absurd though it may have been, Cor actually asked Ignis what his favorite color was.

No one had ever asked him that before.

Ignis had hesitated, because he had never thought about it, and then offered, "I— Purple?"

Cor shook his head, and teased, "Is that such an odd question?"

Ignis stared away, helplessly, and he could have sworn that Cor actually cracked a smile for a moment.

Breathtaking.

"Do you and Noctis not have conversations, Ignis?"

"Occasionally. These days they seem to be more combative than friendly, I fear."

Noctis was moodier every day, and had certainly never asked Ignis what his favorite color was.

Cor examined Ignis, and Ignis was very distracted by Cor's pink cheeks and nose, because every time Ignis saw something that reminded him that Cor wasn't actually immortal was fascinating. Just a man out in the cold, and that was why Ignis smiled in turn and asked, "And what is the Marshal's favorite color?"

Cor's smirk.

"Green."

Cor slowly led him out of the park then, when it was close to noon and the frost on the grass had melted. Ignis was sad to see it go, but clung to Cor's word that he would bring Ignis back, though Ignis very likely could find the time now to come on his own, if Cor forced Ignis steadily out of Noctis' life.

Cor glanced up at the sun, and asked, offhandedly, "Wanna go for a coffee?"

"Yes," Ignis replied, far too quickly and eagerly, and Cor gave yet another snort at that.

Ignis was well beyond caring if he appeared desperate.

Cor took the lead, as he always did, and walked Ignis back towards his apartment, diverting a bit before then to wander down a pedestrian street. They found a shop shortly after, and Cor led him inside. The warm shop was quite welcome after hours in the cold, and when they found a little table in the corner and made their way over, Cor stopped to take Ignis' coat once more.

Ignis' pink face then was no longer from the freezing cold.

Cor pulled his chair out for him, Ignis nearly broke his neck trying to sit as quickly and correctly as possible, and Cor was actually smiling when he sat in front of Ignis. A real smile, small though it may have been, that this time lingered. Ignis was mesmerized by the sight of it.

When their coffees were in hand, Cor once more resumed his casual interrogation of Ignis, and Ignis was shocked that there was anything left to ask at all.

Couldn't even believe he was here right now, having brunch with Cor the Immortal.

It was a simple act, and there were likely many people out there that could say that they had sat down and had a coffee with Cor at some point in their lives, but to Ignis it was one of the more profound moments he had experienced.

Ignis leaned forward slightly across the table every time Cor spoke, to let Cor know that he had Ignis' full attention.

Cor held Ignis ever in his sharp gaze, and caught Ignis off guard suddenly by asking, "Ignis. Are you ever homesick? I know you were very young when you came to Insomnia. You likely don't remember anything else, but I wonder if you miss it somehow. Home always seems to call to men."

A pang.

Ignis lowered his eyes down to his coffee, pushed his lips out thoughtfully, and contemplated.

"At some level, perhaps. I don't think it's homesickness, for wherever Noctis is, is home to me, but rather a sort of... I don't know. Curiosity. Regret. I do regret that I can no longer go and see the place of my birth. I would like to see the tombs of my ancestors. The home that I might have grown up in, in different circumstances. I suppose I do consider it a loss, if not a minor one. So, in that end, I suppose one could say that I do harbor some sort of homesickness."

Cor stared him down as was his custom, and then suddenly his blue eyes flitted up and above Ignis' head.

A lift of Cor's brow, an expression of incredulousness, and Ignis turned to look over his shoulder.

A rush of embarrassment.

There at the register, hands clasped and rested atop the counter, stood the Captain, staring over at them as he softly ordered a coffee.

Oh, dear.

Ignis whipped his head back around, blazing red, and yet Cor seemed very unbothered, eyes lidded and staring at Titus without blinking. Footsteps behind him, and then Ignis glanced to the side to see Titus standing beside the table, looking them over in turn with coffee in hand.

"Fancy meeting you here," Titus began, in that pretty voice Ignis enjoyed listening to.

Cor looked up at Titus, seemed to be trying not to smile, and griped, "It's funny how I see your mug everywhere I go. It's as if I was cursed long ago."

Titus lifted his to-go cup in show, and retorted, "There, there. I'm heading out. Not my fault we have the same taste." Titus' pale eyes turned to Ignis then, and Ignis was very certain that Titus was leering. "Ignis. Nice to see you having a day off, for once. Kind of you to get my old friend out and about. I hope he's being good company. Don't let him scare you off. He's all bark. Oh. Happy belated birthday, by the way. What is it, seventeen now?"

Ignis, brain short-circuiting, nodded his head and uttered, "Indeed it is. Thank you, Captain."

Titus and Cor shared a long look, obviously communicating without words, and Titus bowed his head to them and said, "I'll leave you to it, then. I didn't mean to interrupt a...personal moment. Have a good day. Ignis."

Ignis bowed in turn, lips pursed and ready to die, and Titus turned around and was gone.

Cor was very unbothered, for it all, and when Titus was gone he turned right back to Ignis as if nothing had ever happened. Ignis settled down, began to wonder now what Titus' real reason for humanizing Cor to him had been, and Cor very suddenly smiled at him again.

"Perhaps when this war is over, we can visit Tenebrae. With all luck, it will end in our lifetime."

Ignis' lips parted, his breath left him, and he stared at Cor in nothing less than awe.

We.

Liked the sound of 'we' very much, indeed, and so Ignis could only say, very honestly, "I would look most forward to it."

Cor's pretty smile.

The time passed far too quickly, and when the sun was lower in the horizon, the short winter daytime abandoning them, Cor deemed it time to escort Ignis home.

Ignis had rather hoped the day would never end, but end it did, and before long they were standing before Ignis' door once more. Cor looked Ignis up and down, and smiled yet again in full, for the third time that day.

Beautiful.

Ignis was so entranced, so enchanted, so in love with this man that it was painful. A physical ache in his chest. An actual pang. Had never felt anything like it.

Cor asked then, rather slyly, "So, Ignis. If you woke up tomorrow and had no duties, what would you do?"

Déjà vu.

Playing along very eagerly, Ignis lowered his eyes in thought, lifted his fingers to his chin, and managed to come up with a very low, "I think... I should enjoy a trip to the royal theatre. I've heard such wonderful things."

Cor lifted his brows just a bit in interest, and said, as if to himself, "Not a bad daydream. Well, then. Goodnight, Ignis. Until next we meet."

With that Cor turned and walked off rather abruptly, leaving Ignis behind with a hammering heart, and it was the adrenaline that gave Ignis the courage to call, "Marshal!"

Cor paused, glanced back, and Ignis smiled quite brightly at him. Thought he saw Cor fidget, just a bit.

After a moment of staring, Ignis said, "Thank you. Today was one of the best in my memory."

A silence, a shift of Cor's weight, and then he inclined his head respectfully and carried on with his walk. He was gone, far too soon, and Ignis went inside and shut the door. The flowers sat there ever on the counter, and Ignis smiled giddily at them, and ran his hands over his face.

Still in shock.

He didn't sleep well that night, either, and not from misery.

Couldn't stop thinking about Cor.

Ignis glanced at his phone first thing the next morning, and saw there absolutely nothing. No text at all from Noct, not a one, and that might have hurt him a bit otherwise had Cor not been so on his mind. Noctis hadn't even remembered Ignis' birthday—should have known that he wouldn't even notice Ignis' absence from his apartment the day prior.

No matter; someone else was noticing Ignis.

When Ignis rolled out of bed to make coffee, there was a buzz on his phone.

A text at last. But not from Noctis.

From Cor, and the message was simple and to the point, as Cor was.

'Make yourself available at 15:00. Be home.'

A rush of adrenaline, and Ignis very quickly fired back a text of affirmation.

This time, with a warning and time to prepare, Ignis was far more confident, and went about setting his clothes aside. Cor would no doubt take him to the royal theatre, and Ignis would dress accordingly.

Time dragged and yet passed far too quickly, and Ignis was as flashy as he was comfortable being by the time Cor came around. Today was a suit sort of day, and Ignis shined his formal shoes thoroughly.

At exactly 15:00, there was a knock on his door.

He opened it to see Cor, who this time had dressed a bit more neatly. No boots today; dress shoes, and Cor's black jeans had been replaced with slacks. A button down with tie beneath his jacket, and Ignis found Cor remarkably handsome in that moment although he didn't look much different. Just seeing a warrior like Cor giving a slight effort to gloss himself up. Endearing.

Cor's cologne was subtle but entrancing, and Ignis gaped at him a bit before Cor twitched his head to the stairwell, asking, "Ready?"

As ready as ever!

They set off, and Cor observed Ignis' clothing as they walked, uttering lowly, "I think perhaps I underdressed."

Ignis straightened his own tie, and replied, "Nonsense, Marshal. You always look positively dashing."

A puff of Cor's chest.

The car was waiting below, and Cor opened up the door for Ignis in show, and it was one of Ignis' happier moments, being in the front seat as Cor drove. He'd always been in the back with Noct whenever in a vehicle with Cor. He couldn't stop glancing over, enjoying both Cor's scent and how Cor reached up over and over again to fidget with the tie he was unaccustomed to wearing.

Titus' words from yesterday; 'he's all bark'.

Hardly, but it was hard to look at Cor then and see someone dangerous, as Cor kept scrutinizing his tie in the mirror and seemed a bit anxious. The royal theatre, after all, was far from Cor's scene. A walk in the park had been just that, but going to see a show must have been entirely foreign to Cor.

When they reached the theatre and parked, Cor stepped out and very quickly darted over in an effort to open Ignis' door before he opened it himself. Ignis humored him and waited, but when he stepped out, he let himself be a bit bold. He reached out, took Cor's tie in his hands, and began to fix the knot.

Swore that Cor had stopped breathing for just a moment.

"There!" Ignis tutted, as he smoothed down Cor's shirt. "That's better."

Cor stared at him, unblinking, still and cooperative under Ignis' palms.

When Ignis withdrew his hands, Cor stood there yet, unmoving and seemingly stuck in the mud, and it was Ignis who inclined his head to the theatre and tried, "Shall we?"

Cor inhaled, came to life, and began leading the way.

Ignis just smirked a bit behind him, and felt a deep sense of adoration.

Not once did Ignis even bother asking what they were going to be seeing, because it didn't matter in the slightest. The show didn't matter, as long as Cor was sitting there beside of him. A surreal experience, all the same, to be inside the theatre. Ignis had always wanted to go, but time was hard to find and Noct and Gladio were never interested. How bizarre that it was the Marshal, in the end, who became Ignis' theatre companion.

Cor let Ignis sit first, settled down, and then passed Ignis a pamphlet. Cor opened his own and pretended to study it, glancing frequently at Ignis from the corner of his eye, but Ignis didn't even bother looking at his own, because he was already looking at the only thing in which he was interested.

Cor might have swallowed.

The lights suddenly went down, and Ignis wished, above all else, that he had the courage to lean over and press his shoulder against Cor's.

In the end, really, he didn't need to, because it was Cor who leaned over when it was dark, close enough to move Ignis' hair with his breath when he whispered, as quietly as possible, "You'll forgive me if this show doesn't interest you. I know nothing of these matters; I merely grabbed the first tickets I saw."

Elated and thrilled at the close contact, Ignis merely leaned in farther, pushing the side of his head into Cor's jaw and murmuring, "No need to fret. I've never seen any of them, so we can learn together."

Cor snorted, and yet he lingered there for just a moment, and Ignis would have given the world then for Cor to reach out and place his hand over Ignis'.

Didn't happen, but he was content with what he was given.

The show was nice, really, a ballet, but Ignis hardly paid attention when Cor kept shifting restlessly, leaning in and then leaning back out, and Ignis was very certain that Cor was attempting to gauge how agreeable Ignis was to physical contact.

Very, but in the end Cor never lifted his arm.

No matter; Ignis tilted to the side, pressing his elbow into Cor's, and before long his left foot had pressed into Cor's right.

When the lights came up hours later, Cor was staring at him as usual, and he asked, deeply, "Did you get any of that?"

Ignis responded, "Not a bit."

Cor seemed relieved.

There were many subtleties to ballet, and it wasn't everyone's cup of tea. Ignis, for his part, enjoyed it verily, had always had a fondness for the arts, but he meant it that time when he said the ballet went over his head, because he had scarcely watched it.

His eyes had been elsewhere.

Cor stood, and extended his hand to Ignis, as he had so often these past months.

One day, Ignis hoped that Cor wouldn't release it once Ignis was on his feet. Today, alas, was not that day, and Cor tucked his hands back in his pockets as they wound their way through the crowd.

The car ride that time was more vocal, as Cor no longer had to worry about a crooked tie, and he smiled quite frequently. Every day, it seemed, Cor loosened up, relaxed, let down his guard, and Ignis could see the man and the personality behind the iron defenses.

He was beautiful.

Once more, they stood before Ignis' door.

Once more, when Cor took a step back to leave, he eyed Ignis, smiled, and began, "So, Ignis. If you woke up next Saturday, for example, and had no duties..."

Cor trailed off, knowing he didn't need to finish, and Cor was clever but so was Ignis, and after two full days of thinking Ignis was sure he had a way to end this little cat and mouse game once and for all. Cor was bold, but pulled back at the last second. Needed a push, and Ignis was willing to offer it.

"I can think now of only one more thing I could ever want."

Cor waited, patiently, and seemed eager.

Ignis had the high hand that time, and played it.

"I would like to meet the person who sent me those flowers, and hope that they would be willing to take me on a proper date."

Silence.

Cor looked quite like he had been had, Ignis was smiling away, and after a long moment of staring Cor snorted, backed away, and said in turn, "Indeed. Not a bad wish. Goodnight, Ignis."

Cor turned his back and walked towards the stairs, and Ignis called, quietly, "Goodnight, Cor."

The first time he had called Cor by his name, and Cor hesitated for just a moment there on the stairs, before carrying on. Ignis stood there in the hall long after Cor had gone.

The scent of Cor lingered there yet, and Ignis lingered, too.

Love.