SHED SOME LIGHT ON THINGS

CHAPTER 6

Prompto arrived at Ignis' office shortly after lunch. He really wasn't sure he should be here during work hours. The topic he needed to discuss with Ignis was definitely not work related. Ignis' office assistant looked up at him through her gold framed glasses as he approached the desk. If she weren't a strawberry blonde Prompto would have pegged her as Ignis' twin sister. "Good afternoon," she said, "how can I assist you?"

"I'm here to see Ignis."

She looked down at the book on her desk. It was completely packed with penciled in slots. "Do you have an appointment with Mr. Scientia?"

"Umm… no."

"You can let him in, Quistis," said Ignis from the other side of the thick office door.

"Go ahead," she said. Prompto gave her a little nod and walked around to the office behind her. The door closed behind him quietly when he entered the space. As expected the room was immaculate. A place for everything and everything in its place.

"Be with you in just a second. Have a seat," he said as he typed away at his keyboard. Prompto raised an eyebrow as he sat down in the leather seat. How was Ignis typing? Prompto always assumed he used voice commands when he sent emails. When Ignis finished he turned toward the blonde. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"How are you typing?" Prompto asked.

Ignis shrugged. "Muscle memory. I rarely needed to look down at the keyboard before I lost my sight, so this isn't too different. Quistis looks over all the emails before they're sent out just to make sure there aren't any typos. She's very thorough."

"I bet. She looks like you in a wig and skirt."

Ignis made a face. "Does she now? That's an interesting visual."

Prompto laughed.

"So, what brings you to my office in the middle of the day?" Ignis asked.

Prompto swallowed. "I'll be in Cleigne all evening or I would have come after work. There's something I need a little advice with. You were so… umm… helpful the other night I thought you might be able to give me some advice."

"Of course."

Prompto scratched the back of his head. This was so awkward. "It's kind of embarrassing."

"I think we've established that I take embarrassing things quite well," said Ignis.

"Good point," said Prompto. He took a deep breath. "Ihavenoideawhatimdoing whenitcomestosexwithaguy."

Ignis looked confused. "Could you please say that again at a normal pace?"

Prompto sighed. "Noct and I…we…umm… We wanted to take things a bit further physically. We tried last night and… it…" he faltered.

"Hurt?"

Prompto nodded.

"I can't see you. Was that a nod?"

"Yes." Prompto was glad at least for the fact that Ignis couldn't see his blush.

Ignis leaned over and hit a button on his office phone, "Quistis."

"Yes, Sir?"

"Could you please push back my 1:30 appointment if possible?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Thank you." He released the button and leaned back in his chair. "That is a sensitive topic. No pun intended."

Prompto gave a nervous chuckle.

"I would assume you've utilized the internet for information already?"

"Yeah, but the video's make it look so easy."

"They do take certain 'artistic'," Ignis used air quotes, "liberties with those. Many of us find out the way you two did that not everything is how it is depicted online. Gladio certainly took some getting used to."

An image of Gladio bending Ignis over that pristine desk of his flashed in front of Prompto's mind's eye. He felt his face get hot and he subconsciously ran a hand over the spot in his neck where Gladio had traced his teeth. He imagined what faces Ignis would make when he neared climax. What he looked like under that sharply pressed suit. What Ignis would look like if Prompto was the one on top of him.

Gods damn, his imagination was more vivid than usual these last few weeks.

"Are you alright, Prompto? Your heart is pounding."

Oh shit. Prompto cleared his throat. "That hearing of yours is crazy."

A sly smile crossed Ignis' features. "Since I'm going to be giving you some sensitive advice, would you mind if I asked a rather forward question myself?"

Prompto swallowed. "That seems fair."

"You mentioned at the campsite that you'd been attracted to all of us, but didn't know how to express it for fear of judgement," said Ignis. "Did you really mean that?"

"Yes," said Prompto.

"And, the relationship you have with our King… are you exclusive?"

Wow, that was a forward question. "Not technically, no." A pause. "At least I don't think so. Noct is the King after all. I wouldn't expect him to hold back if something… someone else came along. He's my friend, but he's also the King. He can do what he wants."

"And what about you?"

Prompto's eyes went wide. "Well… I never thought… I mean, I guess so."

Ignis interlaced his fingers and lay them in his lap. If he was thinking something then he certainly wasn't showing it on his face. "Interesting," he said. There was a long silence. If Prompto didn't know better he would say that Ignis turned the slightest bit red too.

Prompto was trying to read the implications of the last few sentences when Ignis cleared his throat and leaned forward on his desk. "So, regarding the issue you came to me for. The first thing I can advise is that you invest in some lubricant…"

At the same time, elsewhere in the Citadel…

The sweat poured off Noctis' brow as he dodged another punch from Gladio. Few people in the world ever had the opportunity to be able to physically harm the Chosen King without reprisal, but his sworn shield was an exception. Ironically.

Noctis frequently saw Gladio in passing due to his duties in the Kingsglaive, but twice a week they met to spar. Today's lesson was hand to hand combat. No warping, no weapons, no mercy.

They'd been at it for about an hour when Noct managed to land a punch on Gladio's jaw. Gladio was as surprised about it at Noct was. The larger man had more reach, strength, and skill than the King if you factored out the magic and warping. Noct, however, had speed on his side.

Gladio held up a hand, indicating that they take a break. "You want a potion?" asked Noctis. Noticing a small trickle of blood on Gladio's lip.

The shield raised an eyebrow. "For this love tap? Nah. Let it be a reminder for me to be a bit lighter on my feet in the future. You've improved."

"Thanks. I have a good teacher." Noct smirked and said, "You should meet him some time. You'd probably learn a thing or two."

Gladio knew the King was joking, but took the bait anyway. "Yeah? What's he like?"

Noct made a face. "I mean he's a good fighter, but oh man he's frightfully ugly. He's got a big head and this horrendous tattoo all over his back. He reads these trashy romance novels all the time when he thinks nobody's paying attention and…" Noct looked around even though he knew nobody else was in that section of the gym, "…I hear he's nailing the Master of Ceremony. *Gasp* such scandal."

Gladio let out a hearty laugh and debated how he would return the favor. "Well, let me tell you about this punk kid I've been working with."

"Do tell," said Noctis. Playing along.

"Well, for starters he's got this facial hair he keeps trying to grow out, but always just ends up looking like pubes on his face for like three weeks until it forms an actual beard."

"Hey!"

"He's tragically short too. Poor guy, I really feel bad for him for that, but he can't help it. His boyfriend on the other hand," Gladio whistled, "I wouldn't mind a piece of that. I'm sure I could teach him a thing or two to bring home. "

Noctis picked up his towel and threw it at Gladio's face. They both laughed aloud for a long time before awkward silence began to creep in. Noctis scratched the back of his head. "About that…" he started.

"About what?" said Gladio.

"Things have been really good between Prompto and I, but… in all seriousness I could really use some tips. Other than my own equipment I really don't know what I'm doing. You've been experienced in this for a few years. Any thoughts?"

Gladio ran his fingers along his jaw in contemplation. "Hmm, that's a tough one. Honestly everyone is really different in their expectations and desires. It's like trying to peg someone's favorite book genre."

"I know yours," said Noctis.

"Yeah? And what is that?"

"I've seen a few well-loved hardcovers of Nicholas Sparks novels in your travel bag alongside the cheap, smutty, romance novels. You're a hopeless romantic. Aren't you?"

Gladio looked surprised. "Okay, Sherlock. How about I dissect what you and your boy-toy are into."

Noctis shrugged. "Okay, shoot."

Gladio was silent for a moment. "Are you sure you want to hear it? I'm very, very good at this."

Noctis hesitated for a moment, but then nodded.

In an instant, Gladio had the King pinned against the padded walls of the gym, his hands restrained to his sides. "Gladio! What are-"

"Aggression is what Prompto is into." He breathed hot against Noct's pulse. "Whether he's aware of it or not, he feels like he needs to be punished for something. I like him as much as you do, but he still harbors a lot of daemons. He reeks of guilt for things he's never done…things he thought he was made for. Being an MT is something he hates himself for. He wants to be punished." Gladio pressed his chest to Noct's, pressing him into the matting of the wall. "Ignis, you, and I know who he is. That he's a great guy, but he still harbors guilt. Domination almost gives him comfort."

Noctis was shocked. He'd never been restrained like this. The breath on his pulse and the strong hands on his wrist made blood pool south. He should be scared, and part of him was, but still…

Gladio continued. "You, on the other hand, have grown accustomed to power in the past few years. You would much prefer to be invisible sometimes. To be a fly on the wall... You like a little voyeurism in your life." He pressed his thigh in between Noct's. "Then again…Maybe the king likes to be dominated on occasion too."

Noctis pushed away from the larger man. He wasn't accustomed to anyone being this frank with him. On top of that he'd just got a raging hard on from his shield. Something that had never happened before. "I need to go," he said before finding the door to the gym and letting himself out.

A slight rumble growled its way through Gladio at the confirmation that he was right.

X~X~X

Oh boy, getting into some deep waters here.

Let me know what you think!