Ignis thought he was being pretty smooth about the whole… incidents. He had pretty much perfected his poker face since long ago, so he knew he seemed to be handling it well. Even if Noctis didn't want to look him in the eye, Ignis could still hold a civil conversation with him. After all, Ignis couldn't cease all interactions with the prince, that would be like breaking his only promise to the king- that being to stay by his side through it all. Though Ignis had to admit, he never thought a chocobo would be the one to test that promise.

And then Prompto had come up to him as soon as they settled for camp; it was the same day of the- uh- third. Incident. And he'd stammered apologies and said some variation of, "I mean I don't even know if you guys are like that, I didn't ruin anything did I?"

Ignis turned from the makeshift kitchen to stare openly, then remembered himself and turned back. He cleared his throat before speaking. A quick, "What?"

Prompto fretted even more, quickly checking the area before coming closer so he may whisper-yell, "Oh geez, I mean, that- I know it's probably supposed to be a secret and that kinda hurts y'know I'm your friend I wouldn't judge you and-"

Ignis had put his hand out to silence him. He was rambling and Ignis didn't know where he was going with this. "What are you talking about? And with more punctuation, please."

Prompto only kicked the ground, looking quickly from the foot of the table, to Ignis and back to the ground. He scratched the back of his head and Ignis thought he could see him turning red, but that could've easily been the light from the campfire glowing upon his features.

"Haaa… Yeah I might've heard you guys once…"

Ignis really couldn't do much more than stare, it seemed like his poker face was truly being tested.

"Ah! But like, I walked away as soon as I heard anything, I swear! And I haven't told anyone, not even Gladio, because I didn't know if it was like secret and I was gonna ask you guys soon but then we were off to the desert and I couldn't find a good time-"

"Punctuation, Prompto," Ignis had to remind him. Prompto was spouting words a mile a minute and Ignis still didn't know what was happening. "Okay. What did you hear, exactly?"

At this, the blonde most definitely flushed. The poor boy looked like he was about to explode. "A-ah! O-oh. Um. Well I just heard Noct say your name and then… some… other stuff… And I left right after!"

What.

Noctis saying his name? Why would that make Prompto turn into a literal beet?

"I'm afraid you're going to have to be clearer."

"Geez! Why do you need to know?!" Prompto sought refuge by raising his hands to his face, mostly muffling the rest of his speech. " 's was jus like… moans… guess…"

…

"And when was this?"

"Couple years back, back at the palace… Six, Ignis, if anything you sure taught me to respect people's privacy. I just wanted to play some videogames at his fancy room. I'm forever traumatized."

Ignis was a bright guy, it didn't take more explanation.

Still. Ignis was still confused. Certainly, he was just misunderstanding. Prompto didn't enunciate things quite right and mixed words together. Clearly, Ignis wasn't as well-versed in slang as much as he thought himself to be. He had just… misheard things.

Two sets of footsteps approached, along with Gladio's assumed teasing and Noctis' angry response. Prompto looked up, feeling glad he had an excuse to leave now. "Well! I'll leave the cooking to you, Iggy!" And with that, he practically sprinted over to the others.

So Ignis was left with his own thoughts- dangerous thoughts- and proceeded to go through a couple of different stages. First was denial: I just heard Prompto wrong, or maybe Noctis was having a nightmare, or maybe he had fallen off the bed and unconsciously called for me, I wouldn't be surprised…

Then there was some good old self-deprecation: I've never even let Noctis hug me much, we wouldn't… do such a thing. It'd be preposterous! As if Noctis would even think of me in that way, what I have here is just one-sided feelings that will forever remain just that; one-sided. I think too highly of myself.

At the end, there was begrudging acceptance: Prompto said a few years back, right? Noctis was a growing boy, he was just… experiencing new feelings for the first time. It would make sense. I've spent the most time with him. He'd probably latch onto me while everything was new and scary.

"What's cooking, good-looking?"

At this point Ignis' mask had fallen and shattered, leaving him to choke on air and turn red-faced to a smirking Noctis. This wasn't in his job description.

Noctis' smirk fell quick, noticing how tense and stiff Ignis looked. "Oh, uh, was that not cool? Gladio said it was cool, I don't know, I just-"

Ignis barely registered the aforementioned's laughter in the background.

"No, uh Noctis, you're fine. I must take a walk, it's a bit warm outside. Maybe I'll go back to that pond." With that, Ignis stopped mid-way through his cooking and started walking away. He thought he heard Noctis swear and call out to him, but kept walking.

He couldn't help but think he was shirking away his duties, but by the Light, he couldn't do this right now.

This most certainly wasn't in the job description.

Actually, this was probably Ignis' fault. He'd pushed Noctis away, pushed him away when he was finally trying to engage normally with him, and he'd pushed him to spend his time with the other Iggy. That damned chocobo that wasn't even the right shade, why did Noctis name him that, did he even stop to think how confusing it would be? He was, oh my, he was being outdone and replaced by a bird!

Noctis had been spending more gil than was necessary on the chocobos, insisting on them resting at camp with the crew and buying more and more greens for them. While Ignis didn't want to ruin the fun (mostly), he had to confront him about the spendings. Gas wasn't free (Yes, that's the only reason he wanted to put a stop to this, the gil, think of the wasted gil).

They had just finished a fight with some hundlegs and Noctis was looking particularly tired. He hadn't thought to pull out the chocobo whistling just yet. Ignis approached him.

"Noct, maybe we should let the chocobos have some peace, yes? They've been galloping with us for days."

The prince only gave him a blank stare. "It's fine. Right Prompto?"

"I don't know Noct, like I thought I had an unhealthy obsession with 'em but you're something else…"

"You too?!" Noctis looked appalled. He then schooled his face back into his usual frown. "I mean it doesn't really matter, I guess." Noctis started off, noticing the blue ethereal glow of a campsite nearby against the setting sun. "Should probably rest soon anyways."

Ignis grimaced. He didn't think he would give up this easily. Off to his side he heard Prompto exclaim "Camp again?!" and the some arguing between him and Gladio. Under different circumstances, Ignis would've joked that Noctis had given it all to the birds, but Noctis looked more irritable than normal and Ignis would rather not put himself at risk like that.

At camp, Prompto had tried poking fun at Noctis, presumably to cheer him up. Needless to say, it hadn't worked. As soon as he had finished his meal, he headed straight into the tent. Prompto and Gladio had stared after him, then turned their gazes upon Ignis at the same time. Ignis was only a little freaked out.

"Is there something on my face?" He wiped at his mouth.

"You should probably go talk to him," Prompto said at the same time Gladio said,

"Go in there and beat some sense into him."

Ignis couldn't reiterate it enough. This was not in his job description.

"Why me? Prompto, you know how to cheer people up more than… just about anyone really," Ignis stared at his half-full plate and added, "I'm not even done eating," He protested.

Gladio reached over to grab the two remaining skewers of meat and passed one to Prompto.

"Now you are."

"Rude," Ignis huffed. "…Fine."

Ignis walked over and unzipped the tent door, peering in and barely making out Noctis' prone form. "Noctis?" He whispered, hoping against hope he was already asleep. The seconds ticked on and Ignis was about to back out and call it quits before Noctis made a small, questioning grunt.

"Did I interrupt your sleep?"

"Mn. Kinda. It's fine," The prince replied with a tone indicating he had been wide awake.

"Do you have a minute?" Ignis had stepped in and re-zipped the tent door, blocking out the campfire and plunging them into darkness. He tried not to step on any stray limbs as he sat down.

"What's up?" Noctis said more than questioned from somewhere to his left.

Ignis had to pause. How to say this eloquently, without sounding accusing or…?

"Just spit it out, Specs. It's fine. I can hear you thinking from all the way over here."

"Hmm, yes. Okay. Well. The others and I have been… worried about you, Noct. You're quiet, more so than usual. While I pride myself on being able to know exactly what's bothering you, I just can't seem to figure it out this time." Ignis sighed, taking his glasses off, seeing as he had no need for them in the dark tent. Couldn't see much of anything anyway. "Is it all the ah- improper things you've managed to say-"

"It wasn't my fault!"

"I- okay. I'm not accusing you Noct, I just. I know you mean well. I just don't want this to cause a rift in our friendship. You are important to me, and I don't like seeing you like this. After all, we've got a long journey ahead of us," Ignis grimaced in the dark. "We are the ones responsible for delivering you to Altissia. Can't have you grumpy on your reunion with Lady Lunafreya."

Ignis knew he was treading a thin line here, teasing him only worked sometimes. He just wanted Noctis to come out of his shell. Perhaps it was just anxiety that Noctis was experiencing.

Noctis just grunted.

Perhaps this wasn't the best approach.

Ignis moved closer, making sure to rustle the sleeping bags on the ground so Noctis would hear him. He reached out, realized Noctis had sat up, and grabbed a firm hold on the prince's (he should really start saying and thinking king by now) knee.

"We just want the best for you. Trust us. Confide in us, Noctis."

Ignis thought he could hear the other gulp, but he wasn't sure.

"I'm… I'm weird, Ignis."

Ignis huffed, but refused to laugh. "Yes, but that isn't necessarily bad."

"No, ugh, you don't understand."

The advisor waited for him to continue, but it didn't look like that was going to happen. "Okay. Even though it may seem like I am a mind reader at times, I am not, Noct." At this, Noctis snorted amusedly. Good. Progress. "Maybe try telling me what's going on? I'll try to help to the best of my ability. It's my duty, naturally."

Then Noctis went deadly silent.

Ah. He'd messed that up, hadn't he?

Before he could begin to repair the damage, Noctis began in a poorly concealed irritated tone, "Is that the only reason why? Because my dad asked you to?"

Ignis retracted his hand on Noctis' knee. He'd upset him further. Why did the others deem him worthy to do this? "No, Noct, you know that's not what I meant-"

The other shifted, mumbled " 'm gonna sleep." And left the tent in silence.

Ignis moved to the other side of the tent, wanting to give him privacy, but just then the others came in and livened up the tent once more. Even if it was just them arguing about the best kinds of food or something inane like that.

At least Ignis didn't have to suffer in silence.