Ignis look down at his watch. He should be on his way to pick the prince up from school.
He wish he could do something for Noctis to help his mood. Almost everyday it feels like he's losing Noct as if a piece of the prince gets chipped off everyday. Soon enough Noct won't talk at all. Ignis hopes that day never comes. He has a feeling it will. Doesn't know when but he knows it will and he doesn't want to know when.
The young advisor is close to the front, able to see the doors in front of him when a voice calls to him. "Scientia." he turns to the voice, finding someone he is least expecting. Cor the Immortal standing there with a stack of papers in his arms. Seeing he's got the princes advisor attention the man walks to him. "Picking up Noctis?" he asks. Ignis nods. "He goes to Insomnia high correct?" Cor asks. Ignis nods again. He's not sure he's ever talked to the Immortal before, nothing besides work. The man has no reason to know more than necessary about the prince. Unless it's important. "Can you do me a favor and wait for a student named Prompto Argentum and bring them here with the prince?" Cor wonders, fumbling with the papers as some start to slip.
"Marshal," Ignis starts, pushing his classes up his face, "what is this about?" he asks not feeling safe with having a random person being seated with the prince. "For the princes safety." Ignis adds which makes the marshals stone cold expression go more cold. If that's possible. Cor grumbles but let's out a breath after thinking about it. If he wants this done telling the young advisor the truth is the only way.
"Prompto is my daughter. Today is our weekly mandatory dinner date but I'm going to be working late so I thought she come here and we can go home together instead." Cor answers, frown deep on his face. Ignis stare wide eyed at the older man. He didn't know the marshal has a child. Let alone a daughter. As far as Ignis knows Cor is single. And he doesn't remember the man ever being married. So Cor is a single father. Do others know?
If Ignis were to guess he'd say no. The man doesn't look like one to talk about private affairs. Ignis doesn't either, though he doesn't have much going on in the private department with his looking after Noctis 24/7. "I don't mind. Can you give me her phone number and class so I can let her know." Ignis wonders as he takes his phone out.
"I'll let her know so don't worry. She'll know who you are. Thanks." Cor bows, then walks away joining some other crownsguard. Ignis watch as he walks away. Now that he knows he's very curious about what Cor's daughter looks like and acts. He imagines something close to Iris, but with brown short hair, maybe taller and a little built to wield katanas like her father. Maybe an eternal scowl will be on her face. And eyes that can look deep into your soul just like the marshal.
Ignis turns back, walking towards the doors. He walks down the steps to the Regalia waiting there for a driver to bring it around. He enters it, switching places with the worker. Driving off towards the school. Ignis mind wander back to Cor and his daughter. If the immortal were to have a kid Ignis always figured it would be a son. But to think his daughter goes to the same school as Noct. Wonder if they are in the same class? Maybe not. If they were Noct would have mentioned it. He may not have been as distant as he has been. Ignis knows Noct doesn't have any friends even though he really hope he would. He can't figure out why.
Ignis parks in front of the gate. While most students walk home Noct gets picked up. Could that be a reason? But everyone should know it's for safety reasons. As prince he can't just walk out in the open without protection. Ignis gets out the driver seat, walking around to the side walk. Standing in front of the car. He makes it just as the school bell rings. He was distracted by the marshal. On another day Ignis would arrive ten minutes before the bell rang. It takes five minutes for students to start walking out. All students now use to seeing him. For a month or two he would be stared at. Students would be whispering to each other while looking at him. That no longer happens.
Ten minutes after the bell rings does Noctis walk out. Like clockwork. Ignis watch as the prince walk towards him with his head down. Eyes on the ground. That scene always hurt to see. He wish he knew how to help but all he can do is try to bake the Tenebrae dessert Noct wish he had. He thought he was close because of their trip but he couldn't find them.
When Noct gets closer Ignis reaches over to open the back seat door. Silently Noct goes in. After a beat of Ignis keeping the door open Noct pokes his head out looking at the bespectacled man standing there, hand still on the door handle as he observe the area.
"What are you doing specs?" Noct wonders. Ignis looks at him. Wanting to smile at the nickname, feeling it's been a long time since he's heard it or the prince talk in general.
"You are going to be riding with a guest today." Ignis answers. Noct looks at Ignis surprised. This is new. Noct sticks his head back in, getting his phone out. He wonder who the guest is. Hoping it's no one from his class. Not only would it be awkward (it would be awkward either way, let's be honest, it's Noctis) but he doesn't want to have to be social during school let alone out of it. He also wouldn't want them to get a big head. They might start bragging they knew Noctis. He's sure his classmates get he's antisocial and he wants it to stay like that. They leave him alone. He likes that. It only took him three months of just staring for them to realize Noctis isn't interested.
Noct has been playing long enough that the crowd of students have thinned out. "How long are we going to wait?" Noctis asks looking at his phone, focusing on the screen. On a King's Knight quest. Ignis turns to look at the prince, it being proper manners.
"I'm not sure. Though she should know. Hopefully nothing happened." Ignis answers. The advisor not able to see the way prince face scrunch up at the word she. Hopefully she's not a fangirl. That's the last thing he wants. Ignis turns back to look out for said guest, coming to face a blonde girl instead. She stares at up him. Ignis jumps, jerking back, letting out a shocked gasp. Noctis turns to see what made that noise, seeing Ignis smooth his unwrinkled shirt, then pull on his sleeves in the way Noctis knows that means he's try to save face. He must have been really shocked by the blonde. "Prompto I presume?" Ignis asks standing straight. Noct can see he's embarrassed.
The blonde smiles, she raises her arms waving her hands around. Ignis blinks, then looks over to Noctis who look as confused as he is. He turns back to see her expression almost sad, hurt. The blonde looks down disappointed they don't know sign language. She thought he would. She reaches into her skirt pocket, pulling her phone out. She pulls up the app again: text to speech. She scrolls through the predetermined text and clicks on it. "I'm Prompto Argentum, nice to meet you." the robotic voice says as Prompto bows in greeting.