AN: Get ready to have your hearts broken, y'all. I'm not kidding. Writing this chapter made me fucking cry. At the same time, there's a lot of fluff, so don't be too scared :). Here's to the attempt at writing in Ignis' voice. Explicit sexual content ahead.
Ignis bartered almost absentmindedly with the clerk in the general store in the small outpost they'd stopped at, mouth on autopilot as he navigated the best deal for the valuables they had harvested for their hunts that day. The evening was lengthening after a long day of foraging and Ignis should be focusing on the task at hand as it would determine the next few days should he perform poorly. But he found himself...preoccupied.
And it was no wonder. The past month had been tumultuous, to put it mildly. Finding out his beloved prince was getting married, leaving Insomnia and all of the events since, supernatural or otherwise, would have anyone's mind in a deadlock. Least of which was learning of the horrible possibilities of their future, should they fail.
But it wasn't necessarily those things that had him feeling numb, even if he found himself staring at things just a little too long, marveling at the details of the world like he never had before.
Ignis had no illusions that he was quicker than the average person. He had been selected for it at a young age, molded into a worthy advisor for the future king. Perhaps even bred for it, but he preferred to believe that it was a choice, that he'd gained his position by his efforts and his genuine desire to become what Noctis needed most. That line of thinking had made it easier, over the years, to accept the sacrifices he had made in his life to achieve what he truly believed to be his Calling.
And the sacrifices had been many.
He stared out into the sunset, marveling at the nuances in the colors, the reflections off the nebulous clouds drifting above an indistinct silhouette of trees. Even through the dingy window of the shop it seemed perfect to Ignis, idyllic even, and the monotonous drone of the salesclerk faded into the background in his renewed wonder. It made his chest ache, how beautiful it was, with an intensity that surprised him. Normally, something so commonplace as a sunset wouldn't have affected Ignis so, ever the pragmatic thinker, but one of the revelations of late that had bothered him most was that his days in the light may very well be numbered. So he absorbed it now while he could, because he knew in his heart and mind that if worse came to worst, he would make that sacrifice. Without hesitation.
To protect and to guide Noctis was his Calling. Nothing else mattered.
Even if it made his heart quicken in fear, chest aching with a fierce denial that permeated his entire being, survival instincts rearing up to choke him so that at times it made it nearly impossible to breathe.
"...but I could make a concession if you decided to throw in the bluette shells–"
"That won't be possible," Ignis said, eyes focusing sharply back on the task at hand. The salesperson jumped a little at his abrupt return of attention, gulping as he realized that Ignis hadn't been as easy a mark as he'd assumed. "The bluette shells are worth twice what you're offering, and their rarity in this region would, if anything, increases their value thirty percent. My previous offer stands. Refuse and I walk." Ignis waited confidently as the clerk seemed to waver, knowing he would concede. Ignis' demands were fair and, as he'd stated, the materials he offered were something a man such as this–balding, ruddy faced, and soft, in no shape for fighting–would be hard pressed to find without going to the trouble of hiring a few hunters. Going by the rather sad state of his storefront, it was obvious he couldn't afford it. Ignis resisted staring out the window again.
"You drive a hard bargain, sir. You have yourself a deal."
This sacrifice is nothing, Ignis thought as the trade was finalized, nothing compared to what Noctis would sacrifice for them all. It was absurd that he should fixate on his own potential misfortune in the face of the things that truly mattered. Noctis was relying on him to solve this, before anyone got hurt. And it might not even come to pass. He had time to figure this out. He just needed to think.
Just needed to think…
He left the store, walking across the street slowly, approaching the small food truck where he'd left his companions. He watched with wondering eyes as they relaxed at a worn wooden table, talking to each other companionably. Noctis and Prompto were resting back to back, the youngest of their group facing Jason as he talked animatedly and Noctis snoozing against his shoulder, face serene and relaxed as it so rarely was these dark days. Gladio stood with his hip rested against the table, watching their surroundings with an ear cocked to the conversation, smiling every once in a while to something Prompto or Jason said.
Ignis truly didn't have anything to complain about. In fact, these past weeks were the happiest he can say he's been in the years since Noctis unequivocally rejected him, despite all of the hardships. Because with Ignis and Noctis' reconciliation, Ignis felt more whole than he'd remembered experiencing in a very long time, a quiet glow in his chest ever present.
He had Noctis' love again, despite his heinous mistake in their youth, despite how irrevocably he'd hurt him. Ignis had broken Noctis' trust in seeking to educate himself as a courtesan–no matter how he'd thought he'd needed the instruction at the time to please Noctis, he'd ended up doing the exact opposite–and the pain in his prince's face when he'd found out was such that Ignis believed he would never be forgiven, even if back then he didn't know why.
Noctis shifted a little as Ignis watched, leaning more firmly into Prompto's back, a small smile playing at the edges of his lips. Ignis waited reflexively for the cold ache he'd been carrying for years to emerge, but the warmth in his chest was not dimmed: in fact, grew until his limbs were suffused with it, like a blanket of the softest silk surrounded him in a pleasurable caress. He marveled at the absence of pain, lips lifting to an expression to mirror that of Noctis' before he could suppress it.
When Noctis had turned away from Ignis, claiming that he loved some lowborn commoner, of all people, it may have been the cruelest thing Noctis could have done. Ignis had believed it to be a punishment for his sins, a way for Noctis to give Ignis the same pain that he, himself, had felt. But in his heart, Ignis didn't truly believe that Noctis had discarded him so easily.
To find out that Noctis hadn't lied in the slightest in his proclamation of love for another, that he had deliberately closed all avenues of redemption for Ignis…it had driven Ignis into the worst depression he had ever endured.
Dark days followed the prince's choice, and Ignis found himself shutting down little by little as Noctis laid poetic of his new love and began to spend more and more time with Prompto. In that time, Ignis became little more than a reminder of his burdens of responsibilities, a nag that dimmed Noctis' smile and bowed his shoulders every time Ignis opened his mouth.
To be reduced to such, when they had shared so much since the moment they met and Noctis had held his hand in his, had smiled at him with so much trust...it had nearly broken Ignis to fail so utterly. If it hadn't been for Gladio's intervention, Ignis could only imagine he'd have become little more than a shell of a man, a cold machine of intellect that could only fulfill his administrative duties, could only be half of what he was meant to be.
Efficient. Empty.
It was only through months of compartmentalizing, of building himself up from scratch with Gladiolus' firm touch that Ignis could begin to let go of his pain and come out in the open again. It had taken accepting what had happened, realizing that his withdrawal had been entirely selfish and that he couldn't continue to neglect his Calling just for something as trivial as a broken heart. He needed to become what Noctis needed, and to do that...he'd had to let him go.
So he'd rid himself of his anger as well, and Prompto became someone Ignis cared for deeply, his blinding innocence and easy laughter worming their way into Ignis' heart with almost frightening ease, soothing his hurt until it was little more than a cold ague in his chest. It was actually an easy thing to do, to come to love Prompto. How could he not, when Prompto's light was a pure antithesis to the pain in his heart? How could he not when Prompto made Noctis so happy?
To see how Prompto completed Noctis, how he made him smile when Noctis had little reason to in his isolated life, when Prompto became what Ignis had failed to be...that was enough for Ignis to accept things as they were, and even be happy for his prince without the bitterness that had poisoned him from the inside out.
It was ironic then, that the man who Ignis had almost come to despise, who he'd burned with jealousy for to the point where he might have harmed him given the chance in his darkest moments, was the very one who'd been the catalyst for Noctis' forgiveness. Prompto, bright eyed and faultlessly kind in everything he did, had immediately recognized the fatal misunderstanding between Noctis and himself and had corrected it with an astounding effortlessness that Ignis would never have achieved in his wildest dreams. That such an integral piece of Noctis' happiness had been willing to step aside for someone as unworthy as Ignis had shaken him to his core, even as Noctis' forgiveness had finally mended the remaining pieces of Ignis' shattered heart till only the scars remained. Now, unbelievably, Ignis had both the man who was Ignis' purpose in life and the man who had restored it accepting him into their bond, allowing Ignis to share in their love where he'd previously believed he'd had no place.
No, Ignis had nothing to complain about. Even if he loses his sight, his limbs, his very life, the happiness he felt now would make it all worth it.
When Ignis arrived to the table, quietly emerging from the shadows of the street, the streetlamps just turning on in the darkness of the night, he arrived unnoticed to all accept Gladio. When Gladiolus caught sight of the expression on Ignis' face that he could not hide no matter how his reserved nature begged him to suppress it, Gladio smiled. Without jealousy and without regret, Ignis' confident, his lover, his best friend shared in his happiness, even as he moved aside to allow Ignis by to meet his new and restored love.
Ignis walked past him, placing a gentle hand on the larger man's shoulder, the understanding between them enough that no words were needed. Silently, Ignis thanked Gladio for shielding the remains of his heart so that, when the time came, Ignis had something left to Give.
-o0o-
It was getting late. Ignis glanced at the sun as he loaded the final bag of groceries into the trunk of the Regalia. They would need to leave now in order to make it to the haven in time. Ignis had insisted that they still use the havens, even though they had enough money to rent a room at the small motel at the edge of town. He was loathe to set them back even slightly in their savings for Jason's armor, something Ignis believed they would be needing sooner than any of them suspected. Still, though the sun began to slip behind the horizon, he waited, having sensed a while ago that Jason had something he wanted to ask him in private. The man had been shifting in place, slipping glances at Ignis every time he believed himself unobserved, a tick that Ignis was certain went unnoticed by the rest of their party.
Sure enough, a light cough behind Ignis caught his attention, and considering the others wouldn't hesitate to reach out and touch his shoulder, it could only be one person, the only one in their group who seemed to shy from physical touch not initiated by someone other than himself. Closing the trunk lid with a quick snick of the latch, Ignis turned around and regarded the man. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the rest of their group a small distance away, chatting about something just out of earshot.
Jason shifted a bit nervously in place, hands shoved into his pockets and looking terribly uncomfortable. It was the same look he gave Ignis every time he asked for something that might cost money, as if Jason didn't believe that he had just as much right to use the groups funds as any of them. Ignis guessed that that probably stemmed from the short amount of time Jason was considered a prisoner, a decision that Ignis regretted, for his part. Now that he had traveled with them for a while, Jason's genuine desire to do them no harm had become apparent, making the whole exercise a pointless ordeal, one that may take a while for Jason to heal from. Ignis surmised it wasn't entirely that, however. Jason probably had some sort of aversion to asking others for help from the very start.
"Ignis, um." Jason spoke quietly, as if concerned about being overheard. It was a side of him, this nervousness, that had been unfortunately prevalent in the short amount of time Ignis had known him. Ignis wondered idly if it was a true facet of his personality or a result of all of the recent trauma he'd been made to endure. He wondered what Jason was like unconstrained by the stress that had clearly been weighing him.
Ignis had only seen brief flashes of a man with a sharp wit and friendly eyes, one for whom jokes came easily and smiles easier. He seemed a little better, at least, after his time with Prompto during the day, hair pulled back and eyes reflecting tiny flashes of sunlight from within the dark brown. As Ignis suspected, Prompto had gotten him to open up just a little bit more, had provided for Jason a little bit of what he needed, things that Jason might have completely rejected had it come from anyone else.
It made it a little more worth the tiny flash of hurt he'd detected from the easily discouraged blond, one that he would correct later. Thoroughly. If Ignis guessed what Jason was about to ask correctly, then he might just get that chance.
"What can I do for you?" Ignis prompted when Jason remained quiet for a few moments.
"I was wondering if I might stay in town tonight," Jason said in a rush, wincing as if expecting to be immediately rebuffed. The way he asked, as if Ignis were his guardian, or more disturbingly, his jailor, saddened him a litte. Jason clearly believed that he had lost his autonomy, even after they had released him from his temporary imprisonment.
"You don't need to ask my permission to do anything you wish to do, Jason," Ignis said gently. Jason only looked more unsure after he'd said that, and Ignis sighed internally, knowing that he was only reaping what they had sown. Deciding that the only way Jason would truly begin to believe his words was through action, Ignis pulled out the wallet containing all of the groups funds not stored in the armiger and handed it over. "This should be enough for a room in the motel, dinner, and any necessities you might need to buy," he spoke over Jason's immediate protests, finishing with, "Please only buy things within reason, as we need to conserve most of our funds to buy you some more suitable protection."
"What's up Iggy? Sending Jason on a shopping trip?" Gladio walked up, Prompto and Noctis on his heels, right on cue to cut off Jason's words. Jason jumped, clearly not having noticed their approach, and then made an aborted attempt to almost hide the wallet before sense caught up with him, a guilty look flashing across his face.
"Uh. Nevermind Ignis, I can just–"
"Jason has decided to stay in town this evening." Ignis ignored Jason's words, turning to Gladio.
"Wait, hold on," Prompto said, not seeming to notice Jason's tension. "Is this about what we talked about earlier, Jase? You don't have to do that!"
At Prompto's words, Jason seemed to come to a decision, a soft smile overtaking his features. Ignis noted it with interest, as it was an expression only Prompto seemed to invoke in the dark haired man. "Don't worry about it, Prom! While I'm out of the way, you guys can do your thing and I get a comfy bed for the first time in weeks. It's a win, win!"
Ah. So Jason was attempting to give the four of them space to talk. Jason had apparently noticed the change in all of their behavior since the other night when Noctis, Prompto and Ignis returned from the hotel. Either that or Prompto had simply told him, the more likely scenario judging by Prompto's words. Ignis wondered how much Prompto had revealed…
Prompto looked a bit unsure, but his smile soon matched Jason's. "Thanks, buddy." Noctis narrowed his eyes a little, but held his peace, no doubt having no problem with Jason going on his own for a while. A determined expression settled over Noctis' features then, a small glance out of the corner of his eye at Gladio speaking volumes. Ignis knew what he was thinking, and it concerned him that Noctis seemed determined to rush into something none of them were ready for. It wasn't to be tonight, in any case, as Gladio caught Ignis' eyes, a tight frown pulling at his features.
Understanding the look Gladio was sending him loud and clear, he spoke up. "I'm a little concerned about you leaving you on your own, Jason."
Ignis didn't miss the flash of suspicion, almost resignation on Jason's face at that admission, as if he'd suspected he wouldn't be truly allowed to go on his own. It was a downside Ignis was willing to accept, however, because he would not risk Jason's safety, even if a little trust Ignis was trying to gain ended up sacrificed.
"I'll stay with him," Gladio announced predictably, mouth a firm line.
"What? Why?" Jason and Noctis said almost at the same time, a look of conflict warring on Prompto's features. Jason looked more cautious than angry, but Noctis looked seconds from outright rebellion.
"We don't know if Ardyn knows our whereabouts, and he may try something if we're separated." Ignis said reasonably.
"Yeah," Gladio added, "And besides, you guys hardly need a fourth wheel."
"What? You aren't–" Noctis started strongly, but Gladio shook his head.
"No, Noct. Trust me on this, it's better if I stay out of y'alls way tonight."
"That's not…" Prompto said, clearly distressed, but Ignis would back Gladio up on this.
"Gladio is right," he said gently but firmly, particularly to Noctis. "The three of us have much to discuss before we proceed any further." Noctis' brows were drawn together, but Ignis' eyes were unyielding in this. Slowly, Noctis closed his mouth, looking away. He nodded. Prompto, taking Noctis' cue, dropped it as well.
"I guess we'll see you guys in the morning?" Prompto asked.
Jason, who'd been silently watching the exchange with a vaguely uncomfortable frown, snapped out of if and smiled. "Yeah, guess me and Gladio will hang out here. You guys do what you need to do."
"C'mon," Gladio said, nudging Jason's shoulder with an easy smile. "I spotted some food trucks a little that way. If we're going to splurge anyway, might as well indulge."
As they walked away, a bit of an uncomfortable silence fell over the three remaining. "That was...cool of him, I guess," Noctis said, staring after the two as they disappeared around the corner. "What did you tell him, Prom?"
"Oh, pretty much everything that happened the other night. I didn't tell him anything personal about you and Ignis though, I swear!" Prompto added hastily at Noctis' frown. "Come on, dude, he would have found out eventually. I mean, it's totally obvious we're together now!" He hesitated, looking at Ignis earnestly through blond lashes. "We...are together now, right?" Ignis frowned slightly. They had more to discuss than he'd thought.
"Of course we are," Noctis sighed, answering the question and not noticing it hadn't been directed at him. He glared after the two of them again, even though they weren't in sight anymore. "I don't like this…"
"Come on," Ignis said, " We can discuss this at camp. We need to hurry if we want to get there before daemons start to appear."
The drive to the campsite was quiet, each of the three men absorbed in their own thoughts. Prompto had taken the seat beside Noctis, probably unconsciously, even though Jason wasn't there to occupy the seat he used to take. It left Ignis to his own devices, and he tried, during the short trip to the site, to align in his mind exactly how he was going to handle this.
Prompto's insecurities were obvious. Both Noctis and Ignis had noticed the slight way he hesitated to initiate affection with either of them since their–perhaps a bit ill-advised–sexual encounter. Ignis could only assume it was because they hadn't yet had the chance to discuss just what they meant to each other. That was more or less easily rectified. Noctis and Ignis just had to tell him their intentions.
Noctis and his situation though, that was a little more complicated. Both of them had the incident that had separated them in the first place to overcome, and they couldn't just start where they'd left off. They'd been changed for the experience, and not necessarily for the better. It wasn't only that, however. The fact that Noctis had been through so much lately seemed to be skewing his judgement and making him believe that he needed to rush into a relationship that he simply wasn't ready for. Thinking, perhaps, that if he didn't have Gladio join them that he would never get the chance.
And while he may be correct, none of them were ready a fourth. They hadn't even established themselves as a tria yet, and Ignis knew at this point what Gladio's answer would be if asked.
Noctis' inexperience with relationships in general was another matter to consider. As a prince, he'd never had the opportunity to have one, save for the very short relationship with Ignis that had ended in disaster, though not entirely through fault of his own. In the end, their greatest downfall had been lack of communication. With clear eyes, Ignis could see now the obvious. Ignis had gone behind Noctis' back to educate himself in areas that clearly made Noctis uncomfortable, and Noctis, in turn, shut him out without ever telling him why. The very fact that Noctis seemed determined to ask Gladiolus to join them without even discussing it with Ignis and Prompto only highlighted his inexperience with a true relationship and the fact that he didn't recognize the mistakes of his past. Ignis knew doing so now would most likely shatter anything they could have together before it could begin.
Gladio was right to distance himself as he did. Even if Ignis more than suspected those weren't his only reasons.
They arrived at the camp just as the final sun's rays disappeared from the sky. Ignis exited the Regalia, Noctis and Prompto following suit silently. Prompto looked as if he wanted to say something, but the atmosphere was somewhat tense, discouraging him. His nervousness mounted visibly and Noctis, in contrast, withdrew into himself, neither of them certain how to approach the subject. With a sigh, Ignis realized that he may have to be the one to lead in this. For some reason, it had been so much easier the other night for them to communicate. Well. Perhaps easy wasn't the word. Prompto did have to use subterfuge to trick Noctis into finally revealing what had really happened between them, and then the three of them jumped right into sex, where desires become more obvious. But that couldn't happen again, not until they'd had a real discussion.
It occured to Ignis then that Prompto may be just as inexperienced as Noctis when it came to relationships. Something to think about.
Step one. Put his two nervous lovers at ease.
Striding up the hill onto the haven, behaving as normally as possible, Ignis gestured to the campsite. "Noct, if you would? I'd like to get dinner started."
"Er, right," Noctis said, clearly surprised by the complete avoidance of the subject at hand. With a gesture their gear was summoned, the majority falling into a neat pile on the edge of the haven, tied together as it always was when they stored it in the armiger. Ignis immediately set to work untying the bundle and pulling his table and stove out. He looked over his shoulder, raising a brow at their loitering forms.
"Well? Are you two going to help, or would you rather sleep on the ground tonight?"
As if coming out of a daze, Prompto grinned, reassured by Ignis' relaxed form. "R-right! Sorry, Ignis!" As Ignis turned his back to set up his work station, Noctis and Prompto began to set up the tent. After a moment without Ignis' attention on them, they quickly fell back into their usual banter.
"Ugh, how does Gladio always set this up so fast?"
"Heh, Noct, buddy, I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be turned the other way."
"Prom, not there–!"
"Woah!" A rustling of cloth and a snap, and then Noctis and Prompto were laughing. Carefully, Ignis arranged his ingredients in order one by one. Something simple tonight should suffice, something all three of them enjoyed. No vegetables then, unfortunately...Some skewers caught his eye, and Ignis plucked them from the pile, selecting the correct ingredients and putting the rest away.
"Uh, Iggy, I think we broke–"
"No! No, we've got this, Specs, don't worry about it."
With a small smirk, Ignis ignored them, sliding the skewers into slices of meat before setting them aside to begin the dry rub. He allowed himself to relax, letting the normalcy of the situation wash over him. He felt a small pang of longing for the days when Noctis' apartment was the refuge from the burdens of their lives, but dismissed it easily. Tonight was for determining the future, not reminiscing on the past.
It appeared that Noctis and Prompto weren't the only ones nervous.
A warm form sidled up to Ignis' side, Prompto's blonde hair coming into vision to peer around his shoulder at the sizzling meat. He was careful not to touch Ignis directly, just standing near him. A muttered cursing could be heard from the other side of the camp, Noctis clearly still struggling with the tent. Ignis withheld a sigh, amused, despite himself.
"Mm, Iggy, this looks great! What is it?"
"Just some simple skewers," Ignis replied absently, finding himself a little distracted by Prompto's proximity. "They're nearly finished. Why don't you set up the fire and I'll bring them over." Prompto nodded slowly, seeming a bit preoccupied, before looking up at Ignis through blond lashes. He stood close enough for Ignis to count every individual freckle that peppered his cheekbones, and there was something coquettish about his gaze, even if it was tinged with nervousness.
"Iggy, I…" he drew one of his thin lips between his teeth, and Ignis had a feeling about what he was trying to say. To assuage his fears, Ignis turned off the stove and faced him, sliding a hand against one of Prompto's flushing cheeks, thumb drawing a wandering path through the freckles that mesmerized him so.
"I know, love. Let's get comfortable, and then we can talk." Something bright sparked in Prompto's baby blues at the endearment, something wondering and unsure tugging at the corner of his mouth. Prompto leaned into Ignis' touch, skin warm even through the leather of his gloves.
Though he was loathe to do it, Ignis withdrew his hand, returning to his preparations. The second he turned his gaze from Prompto, however, the man lunged into his personal space, a fluttering kiss placed on Ignis' cheek before he was gone.
"Noct, that doesn't even look like a tent, man! What did you do to it?"
"Urgh, shut up and help me, dammit!"
As the conversation faded into the background, Ignis stood stock still for several seconds. He could feel the heat rising in his body, stemming from somewhere deep in his chest, and were he a man who blushed easily, it would have painted his cheekbones red. As it was, he needed a moment to compose himself before he could will his hands to move again. It was astonishing how such an innocent gesture could get a rise out of him, when he had been through so much sexually, especially after what the three of them had already shared. And yet. Even during that encounter, Prompto and Ignis had not touched directly. No, Ignis' principles and his loyalty to Gladio had prevented him from allowing himself to truly join, only watching as two of the men pleasured each other. That brief kiss that Prompto just gifted him was the first true romantic gesture they had shared. With a tiny smile, Ignis filed the memory away for later.
It wasn't long after that that the three of them sat around the campfire, enjoying a meal together in quiet company. Noctis had eventually managed to get the tent to function, much to Ignis' surprise. It stood to the side, flaps firmly closed to prevent any flying insects inside, though one of it's poles looked a tad bent out of shape. Ignis supposed he should be grateful the prince hadn't set it on fire.
But the night was still young.
"Soooo," Prompto finally said, breaking the silence that none of them had been quite willing to breach. He sounded much more assured than he had been before, and Ignis felt glad that one small act could put him at ease. He resolved to make these gestures more often in the future. "Are we going to talk about what happened the other night? You know, before Jase told us about the end of the world."
"Wow, Prom, way to ruin the mood. I had almost forgotten." Noctis said dryly. He bit into the skewer in his hand with a hum, no doubt pleased at the lack of vegetables impinging on his protein.
"Well, then, let me give you something you can think about instead," Prompto said, a bit mischievously, "Like the way you went nuts over that thing I did with my hands–"
Noctis choked on his food, glowering at Prompto even as a blush painted his pale skin. Ignis cleared his throat, drawing their attention before they could be diverted from the subject.
"Yes, I agree with Prompto. We do need to discuss what happened between us, and whether we want what is happening to stop or continue."
Noctis shifted. "Isn't it obvious? We slept together!"
Prompto shook his head. "It's not obvious to me," he said quietly. Noctis gave him a surprised glance, brows furrowing a little.
"I don't think it is obvious. Quite the contrary." Ignis gave him a bit of a stern look. He knew this next part would be difficult for Noctis, as he'd always had a bit of trouble expressing his feelings. "While we did reconcile, we never discussed what happened between us in the past, and that isn't something we can just set aside."
"What's there to talk about?" Noctis flicked his eyes away nervously, a surelyness seeping into his voice, most likely involuntarily. "I thought you were sleeping with me only because you had to, and I overreacted." He pinched his lips shut, avoiding Ignis' eyes, clearly wishing to drop the subject.
Ignis sighed. "Noct, the fact that you have oversimplified and wish to avoid this subject is the very thing that could poison any interactions between us in the future."
"Fine!" Noctis threw his hands in the air, attempting to hide his trepidations with anger. "So talk. But it doesn't even matter anymore."
Ignis pursed his lips, willing himself not to be hurt by Noctis' careless words, but knew it would only exacerbate the situation if he allowed himself to be provoked. The last thing he wanted was a fight, but Noctis had to learn, or they may never reach a state of trust that is so vital. Prompto was beginning to look uncomfortable, so Ignis gave him a small reassuring smile. "Apologies, Prompto. Please bear with us." He composed himself, setting aside his food and carding his hands together. "I think I need to explain a bit of my reasoning behind my actions back then. You see, I had been under the impression at the time that it would benefit us both if I educated myself in the area of sex."
"You already told me that," Noctis dismissed, flippant.
"Let me finish," Ignis said sharply, allowing a flash of anger to escape through his calm fasade. "This will not work if you allow your discomfort to prevent you from talking about what is truly important, or better yet, listening to others you profess to love. You will not dismiss Prompto, and you will not dismiss me. Are we clear."
Noctis had snapped to attention the second he heard the command in Ignis' voice, a tone he rarely used with him, shock and hurt flashing in his eyes. Prompto jumped as well, and Ignis regretted he had to use such a tone, but this was not one of the times Ignis would tolerate Noctis' tendency to avoid things that discomfited him with rudeness. Too much was at stake, and more than just Ignis' heart was on the line. Once again, he wondered if Noctis was still too immature for such a relationship, but recognized that the only way he would learn was through experience. Besides that, Ignis was more than impatient, and truly wondered if he could go back to the friendship they had before.
But even that friendship had been damaged by the events of the past. No, this needed to be resolved before anyone else got hurt. More gently, he said, "This is the true reason our relationship failed. Neither one of us were willing to express our feelings, and so we fell apart."
Noctis nodded, silent. But when he sat forward in his chair, his eyes were intent, focused. He would not interrupt again. Good. "As I said, I believed it would be a benefit, but that is not the entire truth. Back then, I felt that after your experiences with professionals you would have little use for me, someone who hadn't had any experience in sex at all. I believed for that reason you would discard me." Ignis took a deep breath, finding it hard for him to face Noctis with these admissions. He stared at his hands instead. "That fear pushed me to go to lengths I never would have considered otherwise, but in the end, it was all for naught." He stared directly into Noctis' eyes then. They looked wide, stricken. "I need you to understand, Noctis, that when you withdrew from me without telling me why, I thought that was exactly what happened."
Noctis inhaled sharply, fingers going white as he clenched them harshly between his knees. "Ignis. I–I'm sorry, I had no idea–" He cut himself off, voice breaking and looking as though he didn't know how to continue that statement, but knew instinctively that he had to say something. Ignis hated the pain he was causing, its expression so clear across his beloved prince's face. Still, it was necessary, and he couldn't deny the tiny, tiny part of himself that was vindicated by that pain. He immediately let it go, hating himself for that, too.
Ignis' gaze softened. "I'm not telling you this because I want you to feel guilty, Noct. What happened was just as much my fault as it was yours. I went behind your back and did something that made you believe that I didn't want you, and in so doing, hurt you terribly. By not telling you my fears, we failed. I need you to recognize our mistakes, and I need you–" I need you, Ignis thought, faltering. He restarted, more slowly, deliberately. "We need to learn from this, and make sure nothing like it ever happens again." Because Ignis wasn't sure he could go through that a second time. He wasn't sure there would be anything of him left.
Abruptly, Noctis stood and crossed the space between them, falling to his knees between Ignis' and taking his face in his hands. Ignis inhaled sharply, shocked Noctis' sudden proximity, the intensity of his eyes. Noctis held his gaze, expression more fierce than Ignis could ever remember seeing it.
"Ignis. You're right. You're right and I'm so, so sorry. I won't ever shut you out again, not ever." Ignis' heart picked up in his chest as the raven leaned in close, touching their foreheads together gently. It was like floodgates opened on Noctis' emotions, so evident were they on his face and his voice, to the point where he trembled with them even as he exuded strength in his touch. "I promise I won't shut you out, a-and I promise to listen. Specs, you mean so much–"
Ignis wanted to hear more. He really did. But suddenly he found his lips reaching out to devour the words he hadn't known he'd so craved, smothering Noctis' voice until it was nothing more than a relieved moan. Noctis gripped his face spasmodically as he pulled Ignis closer, their mouths bumping together almost harshly until Ignis could take those hands in his, gentling his lips until he could feel Noctis calm, willingly giving Ignis the lead. He guided his prince into a more sensuous slide, sinking into it until they were moving as one, tongues tentatively seeking until they were entwined, neither man fighting for dominance nor giving in. Not yet. And it was so devastatingly familiar, the taste, smell, electricity of Noctis that for a split second it was as if nothing had ever happened, as if they were back in the palace three years ago, before it had all fallen apart.
But they weren't, and though Ignis craved nothing more than to pull Noctis into his embrace and never let him go, Noctis was no longer his alone, and this conversation was not over. Reluctantly, feeling almost as though he were severing a part of himself, Ignis slowly pulled back. Noctis tried to follow, a low sound of desperation in the back of his throat, but Ignis held firm, cradling his face gently and withdrawing until he could look Noctis in the eye.
Noctis' eyes were dazed, lips glistening and breaths coming short, and Ignis was fill with such an intense flood of memories at the sight that he nearly gave in to his desires and smothered Noctis till their breaths became one, but a small sound of distress, nearly imperceptible over the rushing in Ignis' ears, had him jerking back. He turned, eyes unerringly locking onto Prompto, heart sinking in horror at what he found. Noctis, after a second of disorientation, looked around as well, freezing rigidly in his kneeled position.
Prompto sat, knees drawn to his chest and arms wrapped around them almost defensively, with tears streaming down his devastated face. And it was if he had been holding back the entire time he had passed unnoticed, because when their eyes finally locked onto him, he let out a choked sob.
"Prompto? What–" Noctis scrambled to his feet in an instant, while Ignis cursed himself for being so inattentive. He should not have got as caught up in Noctis as he did, and now it seemed that Prompto was coming to the entirely wrong conclusions.
Prompto seemed to go limp then, one foot dropping to the ground and the other leg falling to the side to rest on the chair's armrest, hands falling lifelessly into his lap. He dropped his gaze, and Ignis was alarmed to see a smile of resignation overtake his features. "I-I'm sorry. I don't know what's come over me. This is great! Y-you guys made up, a-and–But I–," he whispered, and his smile fell as he let out another choked sob, and Ignis and Noctis exchanged a panicked look. Prompto covered his face with his trembling hands. "Seeing you together like th-this, I–"
"He believes he has no place with us," Ignis said faintly. Dammit. This was precisely the kind of misunderstanding he had been trying to avoid.
"What!" Noctis scrambled across the camp and crouched in front of Prompto, trying vainly to pry Prompto's hands from his face. "Prompto, Prom, no, listen. It's not like that at all! You're my alii."
Prompto just shook his head, shoulders quaking. "But. You two are so in love, I-I can't…Ignis can't possibly love m-me like that, and you love him more s-so–"
Noctis made a wounded noise, prompting Ignis to cross the camp as well, crouching beside Noctis and touching Prompto's shoulder gently. "Prompto, listen very carefully. Noctis loves you, and he has since he met you in high school. There was not a day that went by that he did not say your name, or stare at his phone waiting for your texts, or wonder whether he should buy you every single thing in the kingdom he suspected you might like." Noctis gave Ignis a startled look, but Ignis ignored him. Of course he had noticed.
Slowly, Prompto's hands lowered till a single tear-filled eye could peek. "R-really?"
"Yes," Noctis said emphatically, though he shot accusing glances Ignis' way for revealing just how pathetic he'd been back then. Too bad. A point had to be made.
"Yes," Ignis agreed as well. "It was that very same devotion that convinced me to give up on him."
"But," Prompto's hands fell down the rest of the way, and the distraught blond allowed Noctis to cradle them in his. "Shouldn't you hate me then?"
Ignis bit the inside of his lip, considering. No. He had to tell the truth. There would be no secrets between them if they wanted this to work. "For a time, I did."
"But I love you," Prompto blurted unexpectedly, taking Ignis aback. Noctis looked equally surprised. "I have since the moment you helped me up that time after training two years ago and treated my dislocated shoulder without judging me 'cause I'm weak and being so nice to me all the time and I think you're beautiful and–but I thought it was impossible, because it's always impossible, no one ever wants me–"
Noctis' hand over Prompto's mouth cut off his words abruptly, and ignis might have reprimanded him–he'd told him not to interrupt either of them–but for the grateful expression on Prompto's face. Hm. It seemed that Noctis had done this before. "I think Ignis still had some stuff to say. Specs?"
Ignis nodded, gathering himself. "As I said, I did hate you for a time. But that was before I saw how happy you made Noctis, and before I actually met you. I realized fairly quickly that I couldn't possibly hate you, because… well, because I'd come to like you." There was such a hopeful look in Prompto's eyes then, that it almost hurt to look at him. Ignis soldiered on, however, because it needed to be said. "We may not have as strong a bond as Noctis and I possess, but that's only because we haven't known each other long enough, and an even shorter time than that considered each other romantically. I have no doubt in my mind that, in time, our bond will become just as strong." Ignis smiled then, suddenly. "We've already proven ourselves to be compatible physically."
Prompto laughed then, brokenly at first, but then gaining strength, until he almost sounded back to his normal self. It was a bit hysterical, sure, and Ignis' joke hadn't been all that funny, but emotions had been so high the past hour that Ignis had no doubt it was a response to the almost crushing relief Ignis felt within himself. It hadn't been easy, but everything was out in the open now, and they could move forward, confident in where they stood with each other.
"I have to admit, Specs. You were right." Noctis said, voice having returned to his usual timbre with a note of relief. "This would have blown up in our faces, wouldn't it?"
"To put it mildly."
Ignis stood, feeling his knees pop with an internal wince from crouching down for so long. Still, he felt light, and even the mild discomfort was nothing compared to the relief. Prompto, giggles finally subsiding, stood as well, wrapping his arms around Ignis' neck, eyes bright and intense in a similar way that Noctis' had been minutes before. "Iggy. I love you." Ignis hesitated, but before he could even conceive a response, Prompto's lips were covering his own, the blond's hand lacing through his hair to pull him down and lifting up slightly on his toes to meet Ignis in the middle. Ignis shivered, melting as he closed his eyes and wrapped his own hands around Prompto's waist.
Kissing Prompto was nothing like kissing Noctis. Where Noctis craved others to take the lead, to pull him along in their wake and let go of his burdens of command if only for a little while, Prompto demonstrated a forwardness, almost forcefull in his touch. He pushed forward, as close as he could into Ignis' space as they breathed the same air, kiss turning from chaste relief to a demand for everything Ignis had to give, swallowing his surprised gasp and slipping his tongue to slide enticingly against Ignis' own. It was the same drive he had shown them the night at the hotel, and it had surprised Ignis then as it did now. This assertiveness was such a sharp contrast to Prompto's usually easygoing, almost submissive personality that it made Ignis dizzy, unbalanced, and he found himself giving into it immediately. All too soon, Prompto pulled back a little, and Ignis blinked. There was no hesitation or doubt in Prompto's eyes anymore, and a grin pulled at his features. If it weren't for the dried tear tracks still staining his face, Ignis wouldn't have even guessed that he'd been in distress not moments before.
"You don't have to answer now. When you say it, I want it to be the truth, you know?"
A small stab of guilt hit Ignis hard in the chest then, because Prompto was right. Ignis did love him, as a dear friend he'd loved him for a while. But he'd only just considered the possibility that they could be more, and telling Prompto that he loved him now may ring false because he'd simply not had time to process this change in their status. He had told the truth before. Ignis really did believe that their bond would be strong, but a bond like that couldn't be forced. With a small nod, he leaned down and reclaimed Prompto's mouth, reveling in the tiny groan he got in response.
Noctis chose that moment to press against Prompto's back, snaking his hands over Ignis' to rest on Prompto's hips. The blond startled, jerking in surprise with a gasp but with nowhere to go, pinned firmly between them. At the sound and the deliberate progress of Noctis' hands inching along Prompto's waistband, Ignis felt a forceful flush permeate his entire being, eyes dilating and heart beginning to pound almost painfully in his chest. Already, he could feel himself responding, pants becoming uncomfortably tight as heat pooled at his hips.
"I-I want–" Prompto gasped, throwing his head back against Noctis' shoulder and clinging to Ignis, hips twitching involuntarily as Noctis slipped a finger beneath the edge of his pants. Noctis and Ignis locked eyes, the moment hanging between them for a bare second before they both withdrew, the three of them scrambling to make it to the tent, Ignis zipping it closed behind them.
By the time he'd turned around, Prompto had already discarded his shirt, pinning Noctis beneath him and grinding his hips down into the prince's willing body. Ignis froze, mesmerized as Noctis moaned beautifully, shuddering and taking everything Prompto had to give, their hips moving together as Prompto settled over him. Prompto's back and shoulders were flushing pink, almost as much as his cheekbones, every freckle standing out in stark relief on his body, and suddenly Ignis was remembering the last time he had seen Prompto like this, but with a forceful spike of lust, he realized one very important thing.
This time he was allowed to touch.
Prompto, as if reading Ignis' mind, took a short break from nipping possessive marks along Noctis' jaw to pin Ignis with a sultry stare, both demanding and begging all at once. "Ignis. F-fuck me."
Ignis shuddered, cock coming to full attention and smirk overtaking his features. Prompto turned away from him then, shoving Noctis' shirt up beneath his armpits and making his way down the raven's flushed chest. Noctis writhed, actions frantic as he struggled out of his shirt before digging his fingers in Prompto's hair, the blond picking at the button of his pants teasingly with his teeth. Ignis tore his eyes away from the intoxicating sight of the two of them together to dig through a grocery bag sitting innocuous in the corner of the tent. He hadn't known for a fact that the three of them would end up this way anytime soon, but it never hurt to be prepared. Just as his hand closed around a cool bottle, Noctis let out a loud keen, sending every hair on Ignis' body standing on end. He turned around to a welcome sight.
Noctis' entire body shook, spine bowed against the tent floor, eyes clenched tightly shut in surprised pleasure. His pants were down, exposing oceans of creamy skin to the thickening air. One leg was pulled loose, resting over Prompto's shoulder while his pants hung off the other leg, both men too distracted to care. Prompto's head bobbed, eyes shut in concentration as he pulled Noctis' flushed cock into himself inch by inch, till his nose rested in a bed of wiry black hair. Cracking open a single lid, Prompto gave Ignis a hazed look, smiling even around the girth in his mouth, and swallowed.
Noctis jumped, but Prompto's hands held him firm to the ground, allowing no movement at all. "A-ah! Prom, w-wait!" But Prompto did not relent, throat convulsing around Noctis' cock and pushing, pushing, pushing even though he could go down no further. With a startled cry, Noctis' body went rigid, eyes blowing wide and fingers scrabbling for purchase against the featureless ground. Prompto held him there for several more seconds until Noctis collapsed into a shuddering heap, then he pulled off with several long gulps of air and a quiet cough. He wiped the side of his mouth, chest heaving, and sat up, Noctis laid out insensate before him.
Ignis gaped, body throbbing in time with their gasps, and then Prompto was looking at him, a playful challenge in his crystal gaze. Ignis was moving before he could consciously acknowledge the decision, and then Prompto was beneath him, chest pinned to the floor by Ignis' firm hand on his spine, Ignis' other deftly unhooking Prompto's pants and sliding them off of Prompto's thin hips. Prompto groaned as he was released from the confines of his jeans, kicking them off the rest of the way when they reached his ankles, leaving him completely exposed to Ignis' wandering gaze.
"Noctis," Ignis said, voice calm in striking contrast to his wildly beating heart. Noctis stirred at the command in Ignis' tone, turning to look. His eyes dilated obviously as he took in the two of them, and a pink lip disappeared between his white teeth. "Hold him down."
Noctis obeyed, sitting up and kneeling at their sides, replacing Ignis' hand on Prompto's back with his own. Not that it was the least bit necessary. Prompto showed no inclination to move at all as Ignis parted the blond's legs, other than to lift his hips in anticipation, balls and erection hanging hot and heavy beneath him.
Ignis would have loved to draw this out, to tease mercilessly until the only word Prompto remembered how to say was 'please', pride irked by the man's challenge, but his own body screamed at him for relief and he knew he could not delay much longer. Hardly waiting for the lubricant in his hand to warm, he circled Prompto's twitching entrance with firm strokes before slipping a finger inside. Prompto let out a whine, hips twitching at the same time as Noctis groaned, eyes locked onto where Ignis' fingers disappeared into the tight heat. Ignis cursed internally as his finger was encased in a slick velvet, Prompto clenching around him. Prompto was much too tight, too worked up and Ignis didn't know if he could wait, his cock throbbing insistently to the beat of his heart. He wanted to speed things up, but he refused to hurt Prompto. He decided to distract him instead. "Noct. Suck him."
Noctis' cock, which had slowly revived to show interest in the proceedings, jumped against his hip, filling further. Noctis removed his hand from Prompto's back and instead used it to help Prompto onto his hands and knees, wiggling beneath him until he lay on his back, Prompto's length hanging in his face. Without hesitation, he slipped his hands round Prompto's waist and pulled him down, simultaneously sinking the blond's cock into his throat and spreading their lover's cheeks for Ignis to work him open.
"Na-ah!" Prompto shouted, accidentally thrusting his hips down into Noct's waiting mouth. Noctis took him easily though, and the next thrust was encouraged, until he was rocking in between Noctis' mouth and Ignis' fingers, the second of which entered into him without any resistance. "Ah! Ah! Iggy, please, I–" Ignis worked in a third finger, thrusting it in and out without touching Prompto's prostate, the blonde obviously holding on by a hair's breadth. The second the thought he could proceed without injuring Prompto he stood, hastily removing his clothes slipping behind him.
"Don't let him come, Noct," Ignis growled, losing his composure a little, and Prompto's choked off gasp was confirmation of Noctis' hand locking tightly around the base of Prompto's cock, preventing him from moving an inch in either direction. Prompto trembled, head shaking from side to side as his every move was thwarted. Ignis pressed the head of his member to the fluttering entrance spread so beautifully before him.
With a satisfied sigh, Ignis sank into Prompto's heat in one slow, sinuous push, barely conscious of the continuous stream of curses and begging spilling from Prompto's lips as his velvet walls grasped Ignis spasmodically. Ignis knew that the second he started moving, neither of them would be able to last, so he tried to hold still, tried to spread this moment as far as it would go. It wasn't to be, however, because their third lover, one hand furiously working over his own cock, reached up and ran his hot fingers over where Ignis and Prompto were joined. Noctis fondled Prompto's sack and ran his hand up and down Ignis' sensitive thighs, even as his throat worked around Prompto's cock. Ignis' control snapped.
An almost animalistic instinct taking over, Ignis lost all sense and pulled out before slamming back home. Prompto cried out before grinding back and so Ignis did it again, and again, and again, lust rising in him to a fever pitch until every part of him burned with it. Gasps, groans, curses and keens filled the tent, none of them knowing from whom they came but not caring in the least.
Prompto broke first, body convulsing around Ignis and spilling his seed into Noctis' mouth, then all over Noct's face when the prince pulled off with a gasp, his own orgasm spilling over his pumping hand and painting his stomach with white. Ignis only lasted a few more thrusts before he was coming himself, Prompto's inner muscles working him until he had nothing more to give.
Slowly, Prompto's arms gave out and he sank down, Ignis still inside him. Ignis came back to reality in a rush and scrambled to catch him before he could crush Noctis, who looked about ready to fall asleep where he lay. Pulling out carefully with a shudder that Prompto echoed, Ignis lowered Prompto to the ground beside Noctis, the man becoming limp and malleable as if his earlier aggression had never happened and allowing himself to be manipulated into a comfortable position. Wrinkling his nose, Ignis realized how humid it had become in the tent, his sweat and various liquids making his skin sticky. Limbs slowed with exhaustion after all the emotional and physical excitement, Ignis shuffled back and dug through the same grocery bag, pulling out several moist toilets.
When he returned, Prompto had come back to himself as well, peeking up through one cracked eye and making grabby motions for the cloths, small smile on his face. Handing one over, they cleaned themselves, then Noctis, who still refused to move, grumbling and swatting at their hands. Prompto laughed a little.
"Come on, buddy, you're laying in a puddle," he said, voice slightly rasped, and Noctis finally opened his eyes, lips curling into a salacious grin, stretching like an overly pleased cat. "Heh! No, nope, come on, Noct, you're killing me! I don't think I can handle another round tonight!"
A little while later when the three of them had settled down for the night, bottom halves clothed and tangled together lightly, Ignis was just about asleep, body and mind perfectly at ease when Prompto's voice drifted over him, pulling him reluctantly back back to wakefulness. "Hey, Iggy?" His hair tickled the bottom of Ignis' chin, and he wrinkled his nose. Ignis didn't want to be awake anymore, much to content with the night's conclusion to hang on for much longer.
"What is it?" he mumbled sleepily.
"What are we going to do about Gladio?"
Noctis, who was laying on Prompto's other side, shifted, propping his chin on Prompto's chest, curious about Ignis' answer as well.
Ignis sighed. He knew the question was coming, but he honestly didn't have the energy right now to give the matter his full attention. "Gladiolus and I have...an understanding."
"What's that mean?" Noctis asked.
"It's not for me to say. You will have to wait until he tells you himself, I'm afraid. Until then, pursuing him would not be...wise." Ignis was not sure if either of them spoke again, because, the last of his energy depleted, he was already fast asleep.
-o0o-
Jason's shoulders went rigid, heart pounding and adrenaline surging in his body and sending it into overdrive. Eyes blown wide, he couldn't let out so much as a gasp as chapped, masculine lips pressed firmly against his. His stomach fluttered, arms shaking with tension, though he couldn't tell whether he wanted to use them to lay Gladio out on his ass or pull him closer, damning the consequences.
Gladio's eyes were closed, the taller man cradling Jason's face gently in his calloused hands, lips pulling back and descending lightly once, twice, three times. Jason shuddered hard, not daring to breathe.
Gladio pulled back again, but not very far, leaving just an inch of space between them so that Jason could still feel the ghost of his breath on his lips. Gladio's eyes slowly opened, expression intense but unreadable to the shocked man, golds glinting almost unnaturally bright in the dim streetlight.
"Just for a little while, let's forget. Let go." And when Gladio kissed him again, Jason melted into his embrace, and did.
-o0o-
AN: Okay. I give up and no longer care how weird and unrealistic this is. This wasn't even close to what I intended when I came up with this concept, but this crazy romance thing has taken it over and is holding it hostage. It doesn't mean that the actual plot has changed at all, it will just make the story longer and a hell of a lot smuttier than I initially planned. Because apparently I have zero self control. Meh. Might as well indulge. And to think, this fic was supposed to be a break for me lol.
Do you guys think Noctis learned his lesson and will communicate better? Does anyone else want to SMOTHER IGNIS WITH CUDDLES after reading this?
Next Chapter: we get to find out a bit of Gladio's past, and Jason opens up some more. Heh.
Heads up to my followers. I may stop posting here soon because of the general suckiness of this site. But no worries, you can always find me on ao3 under the same username.