SHED SOME LIGHT ON THINGS

CHAPTER 8

This time Noctis woke up in his own bedroom with Prompto at his side. He just looked at him for a long moment, not moving, enjoying the weight of his arm over his hip and the breath against his chest. After their first successful event they'd made every effort to get some alone time every couple of days if possible.

They'd also alternated who topped, with varying degrees of victory.

Gladio's advice about Prompto was correct. The blonde did like being told what to do, but apparently it worked the other way around just as much. The gunslinger had quite the aggressive mouth on him if given the proper motivation, and a glass or two of bourbon.

Noctis was still a bit sore after last night, but it was worth it.

Sliding out of bed quietly he made his way to his bathroom for a quick shower. When he was properly rinsed off he dried off and looked at himself in the mirror. Tilting his head he inspected his neck. Prompto had been a little too enthusiastic and left a hickey on him. Noctis smirked. He hadn't had a hickey since he was in high school.

When he returned to his oversized bedroom he found Prompto awake, playing King's Knight on his phone. "Left a little love mark on me," said the King, rubbing his neck.

Prompto feigned a pout. "Beg'n pardon, Royal Highness." He responded in a drawl. "Us commoners don't know nothin' bout no fancy love makin'. Didn't mean ta' mar yer purdy features."

Noctis threw a pillow at his face. "Oh, shut up."

Prompto laughed. "Sorry, though. I guess I got a bit carried away."

Noctis flopped down and laid his hand on Prompto's lap. The blonde ran his fingers through damp raven hair as he continued playing his game with one hand. "How'd you get so good at this?" Prompto asked. "We went from fumbling teens to borderline porn stars almost overnight."

Noct opened one eye and looked up at Prompto. "I think we're a bit full of ourselves. Aren't we?"

"Is that the royal we or the literal we? I can never tell."

"Both, I suppose."

Prompto hummed, "I got some good advice from someone who knew what they were doing."

Noct thought for a second, "Ignis?"

Prompto hummed a confirmation.

Noctis paused a long moment before he spoke, "I… kind of got some unsolicited advice too. From Gladio." Noctis felt a twitch of Prompto under the blanket from the mention of the shields name. Oh well now this was interesting. He looked up at the blonde, who had completely forgotten his game. "Does someone have a crush?"

Prompto blushed. "And you don't?"

"You're deflecting," he said with a smirk. "I found that photo you mentioned from the magazine, by the way."

"Nice, isn't it?"

Noctis nodded. "I can see why Iggy goes for him. Specks is rather handsome in his own respect as too. More gymnast hot versus weight lifter hot." Noct surprised himself by admitting as much out loud.

"Ignis asked me an interesting question before he gave me advice," said Prompto, hesitantly.

"Yeah? What about?"

"He asked me if you were exclusive to me, and if I was exclusive to you."

Noctis let the question set in. He really hadn't thought about it. Especially after Noctis' last training session with the shield. "I suppose that's fair to ask considering he and Gladio's arrangement and all. What did you tell him?"

Prompto swallowed, his fingers stopped moving through Noctis' hair. "I said I didn't think so. I said that you were the King and you could have anyone you wanted," he said, his happy tone depleted.

Noctis sat up and looked at Prompto, who suddenly became very interested in his phone screen again. "And yet, here I am with you." The gunslinger looked up at him, a little bit of pride danced in those gorgeous blue eyes. "Still… I think we should both address the question with a yes or no answer. Given all that implies. Don't you?"

"Yeah… probably."

"You never cease to amaze me," said Gladio as he took another bite of the cardamom cheesecake Ignis had experimentally whipped up for a staff members retirement next week. "The blueberries were definitely a nice touch." Gladio didn't have to report to duty until this afternoon, so he was still lounging about in his workout gear of tank top, sweat pants, and sneakers.

"It is what I do best," said Ignis as he organized his spices on the stainless steel surface of the kitchen counter. The Citadel breakfast rush had passed, so the space was blessedly free of kitchen staff. Ignis loved the kitchen, but found it disorienting when everyone was shouting orders to one another and running around. Blindly fighting monsters in the open was one thing, a five star kitchen was much more stressful.

"Oh I wouldn't say it's the best thing you do." Gladio wiggled his eyebrows as if Ignis could see them. "But it's a very close second."

"Don't be crass," said Ignis, still smirking at the compliment. The strategist tilted his head, as if he'd heard something. "Although I think next time I make it I could add another layer of flavor. Could you get me some coconut milk out of the larder, please? The sous chef keeps reorganizing it and can't tell one can from another."

"Sure," said Gladio and walked into the expansive closet. The walls were lined floor to ceiling with spices, pickles, sauces, and various other dried ingredients. He was perusing the shelf for the coconut milk when he heard the door to the kitchen open.

"Good morning, Prompto," said Ignis.

There was a pause. "It always freaks me out a little when you know it's me."

"You drag your feet," said Ignis. "What can I do for you?"

Gladio peeked out from behind the door of the pantry. Prompto's back was to him. The shield took a moment to admire Prompto in the bright light of the kitchen. Damn he'd filled out in the past few years.

"I actually just really wanted to thank you. For…ya know… the advice you gave me the other day."

"Oh," said Ignis. "You are most welcome. I'm glad I could help."

"Oooooh, you did… a couple of times." Prompto cleared his throat. "Actually I wanted to bring you something for your time. Hold your hands out."

Gladio watched as Ignis held out a hand as Prompto gave him a small, leather bound book with a much older version on top of it. Ignis felt the more worn of the two. "My old recipe book." Ignis put it aside and opened up the newer book, running his fingers along the brail pages. They were both quiet for a long moment as Ignis flipped through the pages, feeling each one. "They're all here…" his resolve almost cracked. "Prompto…"

"I know you record your new recipes digitally now, but… I thought you'd want your old ones too. From our road trip."

"Prompto that's very considerate of you."

"There's something else…" Gladio watched as the blonde turned his head and chewed on his lower lip. "I talked with Noctis about the question you asked me… about being exclusive."

Gladio raised an eyebrow. He didn't know Ignis had asked that. The strategist was normally all about reading the facts and processing the evidence. It was rare he was ever so direct.

Prompto swallowed again. "Before I answer, I'd like to know… why you are so interested."

Ignis laid the two books on the table next to his spices before he slowly reached out and his fingers traced the line in Prompto's jaw. The blonde leaned back and put both hands on the table for support as Ignis creeped closer. Gladio watched as Ignis closed the distance between the two of them and stopped when his lips were a breath's distance from Prompto's. He whispered, but in the acoustics of the kitchen Gladio could still hear him, "You tell me."

Prompto's breath fluttered for an instant before he closed his eyes and leaned into the kiss. His arms wrapped around Ignis' well-tailored waist and pulled him in close. The sound of the table scraping back along the concrete floor echoed loudly in the room as they banged into it. Gladio sad down on a nearby stool and leaned back for the show. They broke the kiss after a long moment as Prompto looked up at the taller man, his freckled face flushed. "No," he said after his composure seemed to find him again. "Noctis said we are not exclusive."

"Interesting," said Ignis, still composed and as together as he always was except for the light flush creeping up his neck. "What do you think about that, Gladio?"

"What?" Prompto asked, confused.

A devilish smile crossed Gladio's lips. The shield tossed the can of coconut milk from one hand to the other until Prompto heard him and looked his way. The blonde nearly slid off the table when their eyes locked. "I think 'interesting' is the correct word," said Gladio.

Ignis reached out and touched Prompto's chest, sliding both hands up and fixing the blondes rumpled collar. He slid a finger along his jaw and lingered just under the newly acquired facial hair at his chin. "The kitchen staff will be flooding in here for the mid-day meal preparations shortly and I have duties to attend to. Please extend my regards to our King and let him know he's been working too hard. I think he deserves a vacation for a few days. Somewhere away from the city. Somewhere far enough that he might need the escorts of his Crown Guard." Ignis let his hands drop to his side, as if it was the most casual of requests in the world. "You'll tell him that, won't you?"

Gladio didn't think it was possible for more blood to flood Prompto's face, but he was wrong.

"Y-yeah. I'll let him know," said the gunslinger.

"Very good." Ignis smiled. "And thank you for the book. It was very thoughtful of you. Oh, and here…" he handed Prompto a small plate with two of the cheesecakes on them. "A new experiment of mine. Enjoy."

Taking that as his cue to leave, the blonde squeaked out a goodbye and left the kitchen, glancing over his shoulder at Gladio as he departed.

Gladio stood up and walked over to the strategist, placing the can down and wrapping his arms around him from behind. He rested his chin on the taller man's shoulder and chuckled. "You didn't need any coconut milk, did you?"

"No," replied Ignis.

"You heard him coming?"

"He really does drag his feet… in more ways than one." Ignis ran his hands along Gladio's forearms, idly tracing the raised outlines of his tattoo. "Enjoy the show?"

"Who wouldn't?" Gladio chuckled. "You think he'll tell Noct?"

"I sincerely hope so. I believe we could all use a nice, relaxing vacation," said Ignis. "Perhaps somewhere warm."

Gladio kissed the spot where Ignis' neck met his shoulder. "I don't think we'll be doing much relaxing."

He felt a smile creep to Ignis' lips. "I suspect not."

X~X~X

Short and sweet! Reviews are always welcome. Next chapter to come very soon.

Any thoughts as to where these four should go on vacation?