my apologies for the late update. good new, though! I will just go ahead and catch you all the way up to my AO3 account. Sorry for the flurry of updates to those of you who follow. I appreciate you all! This is still in progress and should be updated again soon!

It was nearing one o'clock when Ignis returned to the Citadel. He'd spent an agonizing two hours at the boys' school, gathering make-up assignments and study sheets from less than sympathetic teachers.

Though some of the administration and teachers were aware of the abduction if nothing else, to the rest he told the lie the Crown had decided upon: the prince had brought back a foreign flu which had laid the boys up all this time. He did his best to dodge questions and to those he couldn't, he gave the least amount of information possible.

No, they were no longer contagious.

Yes, they should both be back in time for final exams.

He could see that most of the faculty he spoke to didn't believe him, but it did not matter what they thought. They provided Ignis with the required materials and sent him on his way.

When Ignis was finally back within the soothing walls of the Citadel, he was more than a little frazzled. He did not do well with the feeling.

This was probably why though he had originally planned on stowing the packets of school materials in Noctis' room straight away, he realized too late that he'd been heading to the training grounds, instead.

He found Gladiolus in the gym area, counting in little huffs as he bench-pressed his and Ignis' combined weight.

The adviser stood by as his long-time friend finished his set and racked his weights. The larger teen said nothing as he wiped down his equipment before sauntering over to where Ignis stood.

"Something I can do for you, Iggy?"

Now confronted, Ignis wasn't quite sure as to why he came. He glanced down to the books in his hands. "I just returned from collecting the boys' work. They need to catch up on it before they return to school."

Gladiolus' warm chuckle set him a little more at ease. "Well, did you need me for something? Maybe I can hold down Noct while he does his trig assignments?"

That, at least, got a real smile out of the adviser. However, it dissipated quickly. He straightened the books in his arms and cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I have a few errands to run. Would you be so kind as to accompany me?"

"Ah, sure, just gimme a minute to clean up—"

An almost disappointed hiss stopped the warrior from stepping away and he turned back to fix Ignis with a questioning gaze.

The adviser cast his eyes about uncomfortably for a moment. "It's just that I'm in a bit of a hurry. We'll be near my rooms as well, and I need to collect a few things, so you can clean up there."

Gladiolus lifted an eyebrow, but answered only by gesturing for Ignis to lead the way.

They walked silently through the halls of the Citadel, exchanging nods with people they passed. Their first stop was the prince's room, which with exception to recent events had remained largely unoccupied this last year. Gladiolus didn't care for being in Noctis' room when the prince wasn't there, and while Ignis straightened up the desk in preparation of homework, he occupied himself with glancing over the knick-knacks and other trinkets lying about.

He remembered the room being more drab; other than his comic collection and video games, Noctis wasn't interested in much in the way of collections. However, among the blues and blacks and golds, little pockets of yellow had cropped up.

Chocobo plushies and small toys were littered about the room. Several framed photographs of the prince and his sunny companion haphazardly dotted the disused surfaces.

He picked up one which displayed Prompto taking a selfie of himself and the prince; the blond's face was split in a joyful rictus, while a more sober Noctis stood slightly behind and to the side of him, eyes on Prompto's face. The raven haired boy wore a soft smile, and the sight of it made something within Gladiolus' chest tighten.

"Man, we really should have known, you know?" His voice was gruff in the near silence. Ignis turned to face him, pushing his glasses up his nose nervously.

"Known what?"

Gladiolus turned and handed the picture over to the adviser, who regarded it sadly for a few short seconds before returning it to its proper place.

Ignis fixed him with a wry smile, though it quickly faded from his face. "I had my suspicions. Noctis—well, he became a different boy almost overnight when he and Prompto began their friendship. In a good way, mind you."

"Yeah, I remember. Even seemed to start taking his training more seriously when he started bringing the runt around. Back then I just thought he was showboating for a friend, but now, I don't know. Maybe he's had the hots all along." Gladiolus waggled his eyebrows suggestively, but Ignis only frowned.

"Yes, well, I had my thoughts and assumptions, and maybe I should have talked to you about them, but I shared them with Adam instead, who in turn used them to hurt Noct by horrifically torturing the boy he loves —"

Gladiolus lifted his hands placatingly. "Woah! Hey, calm down, Iggy!"

The adviser frowned up at his friend, quirking an eyebrow. "I am quite calm, thank you."

The big warrior frowned. "You were just yelling pretty loud, Igs. Look at yourself." He turned the adviser towards the mirror over Noctis' dresser.

He was red faced and more than a little wild-eyed. His breath hitched and huffed as he stared himself down, bottom lip a little swollen where he'd been worrying it unconsciously for the last few days. He was a mess.

No wonder the teachers at the school had been giving him odd looks and a wide berth.

He pursed his lips and met Gladiolus' eyes in the reflective surface. "Let's head to my rooms."

"Iggy—"

But Ignis just pulled away, and Gladiolus was left to follow.

This was another place that the big warrior did not often go.

Ignis' quarters weren't far from the prince's, and had a similar set-up; a seating area, large bedroom, personal bathroom, and several large closets. The main difference was that where Noctis had a game-room, Ignis had a kitchenette.

Ignis gestured for Gladiolus to sit on his leather couch while he busied himself making tea.

"I thought you said you were in a hurry for something." The warrior teased as he bypassed the couch and headed for the bookcase, running his fingers over the spines of the pristine collection. Sadly, it seemed that Ignis preferred science fiction, which did not mesh well with his romantic preferences.

Ignis huffed from where he was rummaging through his cabinets. "Well, apparently I'm upset, so I thought some tea may help."

Gladiolus grunted his agreement and crouched down to search the titles on the lower shelves. "So, did you want to talk about it? I'm here if you need me, you know. I can only imagine how you feel, but—"

"Even I don't know what I feel right now, Gladio. I thank you, but I'm not so sure how much talking to you would help."

Unperturbed, the big warrior picked up a well worn book from one of the lower shelves. He straightened up and sauntered over to the couch, sat down, and began idly flipping through the pages.

Ignis brought two steaming cups of tea into the sitting area and set one on the small coffee table in front of Gladiolus. He said nothing as he sipped, letting the warmth of the drink calm his nerves.

The warrior sighed and closed the book. He leaned forward to pick up his cup, holding back a little laugh. It was dainty in his large hands and he treated it delicately. "How about Cor? He's killed before, maybe talking to him would help."

Across from him, Ignis stiffened and grit his teeth. "Must you speak of it so casually?"

"Look, I offered to go instead. He needed to be taken care of; it's not like any of us who know actually blame you. I'm just starting to worry that siding with you when you insisted to be the one may have been the wrong choice. I don't think you're handling it well."

Calmly, Ignis set his cup upon the table and slowly rose to his feet and began to pace the room from door to kitchenette and back again. "It's not like I regret doing the deed. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It's a combination of things, I suppose. I didn't just kill him; I tortured him. I heard him beg-stood by while he writhed on the floor at the end. I watched his eyes light in pain and fear and then I watched them darken forever. None of that I regret. He deserved days of torment, and I was sorry I could not deliver.

"What I'm upset about is that it was my fault to begin with. If I'd not let down my guard, not told him things I should have kept to myself, hell, if I'd just not practically stalked the man in the first place, none of this would have happened. I have caused irreparable harm to both Noctis and Prompto, and there's nothing I can do to take it away."

Gladiolus rose to his feet and crossed the distance to his friend in two short strides. He wordlessly pulled the slightly smaller man into his chest, holding him firmly. "This wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known what would happen. You're allowed to be human, Iggy. You can't predict everything that will happen."

Ignis pffff'd against his chest. "Some strategist I am. Can't even see when someone is using me to get to Noctis."

Gladiolus began to gently rub his hand in in a soothing pattern on Ignis' back and pressed his lips into the adviser's soft brown hair. "Shut up, Iggy."

The adviser pulled back a little, shooting Gladiolus a watery glare, but the big warrior just rolled his eyes.

"We both know what you asked me here for, and it wasn't to listen to you berate yourself."

When Ignis pulled back this time, Gladiolus let him go. The younger man swiped at the remaining tears on his face and shrugged.

"Am I that transparent?" He asked, frowning down at the floor.

Gladiolus chuckled. "It's not like this is the first time you've come to me all flustered and frustrated."

"I suppose you're right." He stepped away and began to unbutton his shirt while Gladiolus pulled off his own. When the warrior started to head towards the bedroom proper, Ignis shook his head.

Gladiolus lifted one eyebrow, an almost amused smile gracing his features. "In the kitchen?"

Ignis just rolled his eyes and stripped out of his pants, collecting his tea on the way to the small dinner table that was pressed up against the blue tiled wall. He leaned against it and sipped his drink as he watched Gladiolus strip the rest of the way, admiring the cock that was already on the rise.

"I'm guessing you want it hard and fast?" Gladiolus approached, gently taking the cup from Ignis' hand and placing it on the counter behind them. He leaned down to nuzzle into the younger man's neck, running the tip of his tongue from jawbone to shoulder.

"Isn't that how we always do it?" Ignis rasped as his own cock responded. When Gladiolus bit into the crook of his neck, Ignis dug his fingers into the warrior's back, eliciting a soft moan.

The shield lingered a moment longer, lavishing the crook of Ignis' neck with gentle kisses as he reached between them and grasped the other man's dick, pumping it as he bit down again in that sensitive spot that he knew made the adviser's toes curl. "One day," he murmured, kissing a little higher now, "you'll let me do it nice and slow." He nibbled the earlobe when he reached it, finally releasing his hold. "And then you'll never want to be rid of me."

Ignis slipped his hands down hard muscles to rest against supple hips. "Perhaps in another life, when we are not both in service to the Crown."

The warrior was going to say something further, but Ignis pulled away to rummage in a drawer, retrieving a bottle of lube and handing it over to the other man.

Gladiolus placed the bottle on the table and took Ignis by his upper arms, pressing his lips into the adviser's dry ones, catching him off-guard at the deep but gentle kiss. Before a word could be stuttered, however, the warrior turned him roughly around and pushed his shoulders forward so that he had to plant his hands against the tabletop for balance.

Ignis shuddered in anticipation as another shove put him down on his elbows and his feet were kicked apart as Gladiolus' warm hands trailed up his back. The warrior leaned over his back, and Ignis nearly whimpered as the warrior's leaking cockhead grazed his thighs.

"You're sure about this?" Gladiolus asked.

He always asked.

Ignis huffed out an impatient breath. "Yes, Gladiolus. I need this. I need to feel something...something other than what I feel, now."

But he could sense the warrior's hesitation. His throat worked a little, swallowing down lump that was attempting to form. "Don't make me beg, Gladio."

And that was all that was needed to prompt the larger man into action. He snatched up the bottle of lube, wetting his fingers before working one at a time into Ignis, opening him up. He slid his cock in just a little before he knew that the adviser would be ready; which was just how the younger man liked it.

Despite his appearance, Gladiolus was not a rough man by nature. But when he and Ignis got together-rare occasions though they were-he acted with wild abandon. Something about the brunette simply brought out his primal side and allowed him to follow his more base urges.

So, it was with this thought (or lack thereof) that he ravaged the man beneath him.

At first his thrusts were short and hard and slow as he relished the needy moans that Ignis let out, but he quickly built up in speed.

The brunette arched into the thrusts, fucking Gladiolus just as much as the warrior was fucking him. His own erection went untended, occasionally bumping against the table. He began a litany of 'yeses' and 'fuck me's' and 'oh six, Gladio, oh godsdamn six ' that continued until a large hand wrapped around his throat and applied gentle but firm pressure.

The pace slowed a bit, then, and Gladiolus began to use his other hand to hold Ignis in place. The warrior nearly growled as he slammed into the adviser only to pull back slowly and do it again. When he spoke of his impending release, his voice was lust laden and heavy with desire.

Ignis' throat bobbed beneath the warrior's fingers as he swallowed hard. He nodded his assent, and Gladiolus slipped his hand down to press between his shoulder blades, gently pushing the adviser's chest against the table. He then placed both hands on the other man's hips and lifted them a little, positioning him at a different angle.

Gladiolus gazed down at the portion of Ignis' face he could see beneath him. The adviser stared at the wall to the left, his eyelids fluttering as he neared his own orgasm, mouth hung slightly open as he let out the most beautiful moans...

Gladiolus kept his eyes trained there as he slammed directly into Ignis' prostate again and again. He did his best to hold back, but before long his cock pulsed inside the other man, signaling his release. He rode it out, reveling in the aftershocks that ran through his body, wanting nothing more than to gather Ignis up and kiss him gently and murmur to the younger man how he felt.

But that was not allowed.

So instead Gladiolus slid his cock out and helped Ignis to stand up again, turning him so he could gaze upon into his forest green eyes, so dark and lovely with lust. For a moment, it seemed like Ignis would speak, but before he could, Gladiolus dropped to his knees.

When he took Ignis' hard cock in his mouth, the adviser let out a gasp, his hips involuntarily bucking forward into the warmth. Gladiolus expertly handled it though, pulling the entire length into his mouth as he caressed Ignis' balls with fingers he wet from the spunk that trickled down the advisers taut thighs.

Ignis moaned and tangled both hands in the warrior's thick hair, throwing caution to the wind as he began to thrust in earnest. He was so thankful to Gladiolus in this moment; the pleasant buzz growing in his ear finally drowning out his self-loathing, if only for a moment. He tried to pull away when he was going to come, but the warrior stopped him, amber eyes flashing wantonly at him from below. Unable to stop himself at this point anyway, Ignis threw his head back, high pitched exhales of satisfaction filling the room as Gladiolus milked him dry.

As the adviser leaned back against the table, his knees suddenly weak, the warrior placed a gentle kiss upon his thigh, heedless of the now flaccid cock that rested against his face as he did so.

He muttered something that Ignis chose not to hear, the words forcing the younger man to separate from him and begin to collect his clothes.

Unabashed in his nakedness and mess, Gladiolus lumbered to his feet and strode over to the sink, taking a handful of water from the tap and rinsing his mouth out. He didn't look at the adviser when he spoke, afraid his face might betray the small hurt he harbored at the usual rejection.

"Feel better now?"

Ignis picked up his tea once more, taking a sip and grimacing at the now-cold liquid. "Not really."

Gladiolus merely grunted and collected his clothes. He dressed quickly and shut the door gently behind him, leaving the adviser to stew in his own misery.