Chapter Text
Ignis braced himself the entire train ride into downtown Insomnia, waiting for the moment when everything crashed around him once more. He sat on the edge of his seat gripping his briefcase, looking out the window for any sign of trouble - maybe the train would catch on fire, maybe the track would be destroyed up ahead, maybe there would be robbers.
Were there still train robberies?
It wasn’t like him, to be so anxious. The whole ordeal had gotten to him, truly. He didn’t feel like he had a handle on anything, from the party to his emotions.
All his texts with Gladio had made it seem like everything was under control, but also Gladio was probably hiding the truth. With Ignis unable to do anything to help, of course he wouldn’t want him to worry from so far away. But his brain happily supplied all the different ways things could, and probably had, gone wrong since he had started this journey from Niflheim.
The caterer cancelled. Noctis’s suit had been tailored wrong. Luna’s designer dress didn’t look anything like what the sketch had shown. The venue burned down.
Normal things to be concerned over.
Within the hour the train pulled into the downtown Insomnia station. He blinked, unsure how time had passed so quickly when he had just been worrying the whole time. But he got out of his seat and stepped off the train as if nothing was wrong at all. Making his way through the busy station, and then up the stairs, crossing the busy center until he took the last set of stairs to the outside -
He could almost cry at the sight of the Insomnia skyline.
In truth, he may have teared up a little.
He was also very tired.
He let out a long sigh and pulled out his phone, making a call to Gladio as he started to walk in the direction of his home. He wasn’t far from the station, so soon he would be relieved of days worn clothes and could focus on the party properly.
Gladio picked up after the fifth ring which didn’t help Ignis’s anxiety at all. “Hello?”
“Hello Gladio,” Ignis crossed the street and for a second debating stopping into his local haunt for a coffee. But no time. “I’ve made it.”
“Oh thank fuck.”
Ignis smiled despite the fear that response garnered. “I just need to stop by my apartment and change, then I’ll be at the venue.”
“Great, see you soon.”
“See you.” As he hung up, he could swear he started to hear in the background Noctis shouting something with his name.
But where before that would have made him smile, this time it made him frown.
Prompto…
He looked around, as if maybe there was a chance Prompto might be around. But the truth was he didn’t even know where Prompto lived - he could have gotten off the train at any station, or maybe had even still been on it, and Ignis would have had no idea. He really didn’t know him at all.
Ignis decided to get a coffee.
The baristas inside all stared at him as he entered - and he realized too late he looked very much not himself as he walked up to the counter. His suit was filthy at this point, his shoes scuffed, and he hadn’t done his hair that morning so his bangs hung across his face. He offered his best smile though, and the pleasant girl who was always there when he came for his afternoon break grabbed the largest size cup they had.
“Usual?”
“Yes very much so, thank you Amelia.”
She smiled and rung him up, “Rough day?”
“Rough week,” he paid and stood to the side, though no one else was in line.
“Well, the party of the century is tomorrow night right? At least until the wedding.” Amelia went to making pouring his afternoon drink of choice - Ebony had come out with a cold brew not long ago and it was like liquid heaven in his veins.
“Quite,” he found he could smile a little easier somehow, “I look forward to seeing the happy couple.”
“Right?” She handed him the drink with a dreamy look in her eyes. “They way Noctis smiles at Luna, gosh I want that so much.”
Ignis cleared his throat and this time the smile felt more forced. “Thank you for the drink.”
She shouted a “See you!” as he turned and left.
He sipped his coffee as he walked the rest of the way to his apartment, making a mental list of everything he needed to do before he headed to meet Gladio. The engagement party was taking place at the top of the tallest building in Insomnia, in their rotating restaurant. It was just a quick drive over, so he had enough time to shower and wash his hair, style himself to look like he hadn’t been through hell and back the last few days.
His apartment seemed like paradise after what he had been through. He stripped as he nearly ran to the bathroom, and got the water on as hot as it would go. He took off his glasses and rubbed his face with his hands - when he looked at his reflection he was knocked back to the night before.
The tracks from Prompto’s fingernails were gone, but what he had missed before was a small mark right under his ear, clearly left by Prompto’s ministrations on his neck.
Ignis leaned forward and inspected the mark. His body shivered, recalling the feeling of Prompto sitting in his lap, the way he had kissed him with so much anticipation.
Ignis pulled away from the mirror as if shocked. Shower. He needed to shower.
He scrubbed himself down, washed his hair, and stood letting the water loosen the tense muscles of his back. He distracted himself with his to-do list; Clothes on. Hair done. Folder of contracts, itemized lists of what should be at the venue, contacts.
He went through the motions on auto-pilot to not give himself even a moment’s breath to think of anything other than the party.
Dressed in a clean suit for the first time in days, hair done and glasses unsmudged, he headed down to his car. His favorite meditation music lulled him as he drove, helping him take deep breaths.
Just two more days. Then he could really sleep. Maybe take a day off. Or ten.
The elevator ride up to the restaurant was when his stomach began to unsettle. He would be seeing Noctis, after all of this, after admitting out loud to someone who knew him about his feelings.
After being in bed with Noctis’s best friend.
Gods.
He didn’t have a moment to reconsider everything before the elevator opened to the restaurant lobby.
“Iggy! Thank the fucking astrals!” Gladio’s voiced boomed as he looked up at the sound of the elevator. He stormed over and grabbed Ignis in a full body hug, which Ignis honestly was more than happy to return given the circumstances.
“It’s good to be home.”
“I’ll say.”
“So, what’s the damage report?” He followed Gladio into the restaurant and -
Froze.
“Gladio…” He studied the room in complete amazement. It was…
“Pretty good huh?” Gladio gave him a smirk and crossed his arms. “Didn’t think I could do it, did you?”
He knew his mouth hung open but really he didn’t care. “You made it sound like everything was in dire straits.”
“I didn’t want you to think we didn’t need you and take your sweet time. I still need you here tomorrow to run this dog and chocobo show.”
Ignis shook his head as he turned in place slowly to look over everything. It was everything he had imagined with the planners. They had selected this place because it was in such a tall building, but also because it was floor to ceiling windows all around in a circle, with a giant aquarium in the center. That made it seem perfect enough.
But all their careful planning with their team had paid off as well. The cocktail tables scattered throughout held beautiful bouquets of sylleblossoms and baby’s breath in elaborate glass vases, tied with black ribbons. Small stones had been placed sporadically on the leaves of the flowers which made them glint thanks to the lights of the large chandeliers.
It seemed something out of a fairy tale. It was perfect.
“You did amazing.” Ignis breathed out and pushed up his glasses, “though how dare you lead me to believe everything was terrible considering my situation.”
Gladio only laughed and shrugged.
“Specs?” a voice rang out behind him, and Ignis froze.
He put on his best smile as he turned around to the source. Noctis stood there, hands in his pockets, a lazy half smile on his face.
“I told you I would get here today.”
“Like I doubted it, you’re so stubborn.” He charged forward and grabbed his arm, not quite coming in for a hug. Ignis clasped his forearm in return.
“Very true. Gladio I’m sure will tell me what I still need to do though.”
Noctis laughed, then looked around behind Ignis. “Hey, where’s Prompto? I figured you two would just come by together.”
Ignis didn’t catch himself in time before his fingers tightened on Noctis, who raised an eyebrow. He released Noct and dropped his arm, adjusting his sleeves.
“Prompto returned home. We both needed to have our own showers and a change of clothes quite badly. And I’m sure he has things to tend to.”
“Pssh. Prom? He would have jumped at the chance to come here.” he pulled out his phone and started texting. Ignis looked back to Gladio, who was already deep in conversation with one of the planners. Ignis felt weirdly...out of place. It was an unusual feeling for him.
“I’m sure he was tired.” Ignis repeated while distracting himself with looking around the restaurant.
“Ya, but he always hates to be alone after he goes back to Niflheim. That's usually when he’s over at my place for at least three days straight. Is he okay?”
At that, Ignis turned and looked back to Noctis. “What do you mean?”
Noctis gave him another studied look. “It's just, it’s hard for him to go home, he doesn’t like to go home to an empty house. “
Ignis licked his lips. “I don’t follow.”
“Oh my god what did you guys even talk about for three days?”
Gladio snorted, having returned back to the conversation. He leaned on Ignis's shoulder which only made him feel more anxious in that moment. .
“We passed the time, but he didn’t mention much about what he was doing in Niflheim, not really.”
Gladio and Noctis shared a look.
“What?” His pulse quickened because he was realizing he had somehow messed up even worse than what he had originally anticipated.
“Geez Iggy.” Gladio rolled his head and sighed. “Sometimes you’re a mess.”
Noctis gripped the table and leaned forward, to nearly touch his forehead to it. “Prompto goes back there once a year to visit his family.”
“Yes he mentioned that but what-”
“At their family mausoleum.”
Ignis froze. “Pardon?”
Noct grabbed his phone off the table and shoved it in his pocket with a sigh. “His family, they were in an accident when he was just a toddler. Prompto came here after he was adopted by a foster family because he had no other family they knew of.”
Ignis leaned against the table not so unlike Noct just before. So much of their time together came swirling back.
“He didn’t mention that part did he?” Noct sighed. “He wouldn’t want to make you feel sorry for him, he’s about as stubborn as you are.”
Ignis’s fingers pulled at the tabletop but he refused to look up. “It seems so.”
Prompto couldn’t remember the last time his bed felt so fucking good. He curled up under the covers to avoid the rays of morning sun coming through his blinds. The night before he had just fallen right into bed, and not gotten up since. He really didn’t have the energy to do much else; the whole few days really caught up to him.
He hadn't even had time to think about his time in Niflheim, really since leaving, which was actually the one good thing he could say about their trip from hell at this point.
But now he had thought about it, and the dark thoughts started to claw at the corners of his mind.
He shook his head and reached out his hand to feel around for his phone somewhere on the bed. Upon finding it he pulled it with him under the covers, not wanting to have any light hit him to bring him out of his half asleep state. But he did see a bunch of notifications from Noct, which could be a helpful distraction.
But also it dawned on him Noct would know something was up. He was always at Noct's after a trip.
He couldn’t bring himself to look at the messages yet and risk worrying Noct more. He turned his phone off and shoved it back out and away from him. That night he would be at the engagement party, and he would have to face now not only his high school crush he never had a chance with, but also the super smart handsome guy he totally blew it with.
It was going to be a wild night.
And so he determined he would stay in bed until the very last moment.
He started to somehow doze off when he smelled something. Like...burning? Wait no...cooking? He sat up quickly and got dizzy, but he tried to focus - was there a fire in his apartment? Were the neighbors cooking? He sat still, listening.
He caught the sounds of someone moving around in his kitchen. He narrowed his eyes and climbed out of bed slowly. He grabbed one of his twenty pound dumbbells and quietly walked out into the hallway. He took a breath to try to control his pulse and creeped around the corner until he could look around to see what was going on.
He was one part relieved he wasn't getting robbed but also one part terrified still because it was Ignis, standing there in the kitchen. His kitchen. Cooking.
“Um, hello?”
He set down the dumbbell but didn't move from his spot in the hallway. Ignis stood frozen and looking clearly caught.
“Ah, Prompto. You're awake.”
“What...the fuck are you doing?” He crossed his arms, suddenly very aware that he was there in nothing but his boxers.
“I wanted to make amends, for my behavior.”
Prompto huffed up a little. “So you broke into my house.”
Ignis set a pan off the stove and turned to look at him. Prompto straightened up and lifted his chin, but still kept his arms protectively in front of himself.
“I didn't break in. Noctis gave me his key.”
Prompto immediately deflated. “Course he did. You guys have zero sense of personal space.”
Ignis adjusted his glasses and looked around the kitchen. “I can leave, if this is too…”
“It's a lot of things,” Prompto sighed and scratched at his head. “Look. Just. One second okay?” He moved quickly to his room and dove under the covers with his phone.
Prompto: Dude what the FUCK is ignis doing here
Noct : He asked for the key! He said he needed to take you something that you left with him.
Prompto: He's cooking. In my kitchen,. Is that all he told you?
Prompto changed into his sweatpants and shirt while waiting for a response. Then looked down at himself, and changed again into his jeans and a tank top. Looking himself over in the mirror, he fluffed his hair a bit. Then grabbed his phone after it pinged.
Noct: What else would he have told me, prom?
Prompto: Nothing nevermind bye see you tonight thanks for letting someone into my HOUSE
He turned his phone on silent and shoved it in his back pocket. He put his glasses on - contacts later would be almost a relief after days of his glasses.
He stepped out into the kitchen and--
Ignis was gone.
He looked around. There was one plate set with food on his small table he hardly ever used, with a small vase with a few simple flowers.
And a note.
Prompto sat and felt...fuck he felt sad. What had he really expected? Ignis to stay? To kiss and make up? That twinge of darkness threatened him again because okay ya, maybe he did need to not be alone with his thoughts right now. He touched the note carefully and opened it with a touch of reverence.
Please do forgive me for being what surely accounts for the most terrible person in Eos during our time together. You only tried to make the best of a terrible situation, and I was terribly stubborn the whole time. I hope this makes up for it, at least a little.
He dropped the note. The food was...Prompto realized it was exactly what he had ordered in the diner - french toast, orange marmalade….
Fuck no why was he crying. He rested his elbows on the table and pushed the heels of his palms up under his glasses. No, he wasn't gonna fucking cry over a guy he fooled around with a little --
“Prompto?”
He flew out of his seat and sent the vase careening off the table as his knees hit the underside. There were shouts as he fumbled to keep it from hitting the ground, and in the end he laid on the floor on his back, vase on this chest held up, with Ignis standing over him.
“I thought...you left.”
Ignis cleared his throat. “I just used your bathroom.”
Prompto closed his eyes, because Ignis had probably seen him crying. Fuck.
“Thanks, for the breakfast.”
Ignis offered up his hand. Prompto looked at it, then him, and then took it and let himself get pulled up. He set the vase down on the table with care.
“What about you,” he gestured. “You only made enough for one?”
Ignis was the one to look awkward this time. “I didn't want to assume. I’ve already eaten today. I just wanted to make sure you had a good meal.”
He stared. Then he decided.. “Well, can't let it get cold I guess.” So he sat and started to eat, while Ignis moved back to the kitchen and started to clean up. He tried to push down the part of him excited that Ignis was still there.
“Okay wow, this is really fucking good Iggy,” the name slipped out, and he looked up at Ignis with wide eyes. But Ignis was just smiling at the sink.
“Good.”
Prompto felt himself smile, and went back to eating. He finished the meal in silence, and when done walked the plate to the kitchen to wash it, but Ignis was there immediately ready to take it from him.
“I can wash my own dishes.”
“That's not the point,” Ignis scolded and pulled at the plate. His other hand touched prompto’s elbow, causing him to jump.
“Apologies,” Ignis muttered.
“It's cool,” Prompto pulled back, leaning against the counter. He studied Ignis as he dried the plate and put it away.
“What are you doing here, really.” Prompto swallowed, trying to stand tall and calm though his heart beat in his throat.
At first he wasn't sure Ignis would answer, then suddenly ignis was facing him, and close, hand on the counter sliding towards Prompto. He did his best not to move, not to back away.
“After we parted ways, I...reflected. On a lot of things I had said. And did. I wanted to make amends, as I stated.” Ignis moved like water, fluid and calm, until he was so close Prompto could slide his hand towards his own if he wanted. But he held strong.
“Like I said,” Prompto pushed off the counter, “its cool. I'm sure you have better things to do today than babysit me.”
A hand on his upper arm made him freeze. He turned to Ignis, who looked down at him with soft eyes.
“Prompto, please.” A small tug of this arm.
Prompto stepped towards Ignis, but really wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. He looked up at those pleading green eyes.
“What?”
Ignis's’ hand moved then, up his arm, to his shoulder, and his other reached up to cup his jaw. Prompto seized up.
“Ignis-”
“I didn't know,” Ignis whispered and he was so close to Prompto's face and there was so much of him that wanted to just. Yes. he wanted this, but also -
“Didn’t know what?” That Prompto was a hot mess? That much was super obvious.
“Why you were in Niflheim. I treated you so terribly and-”
“Wait, what?” Prompto snapped out of the fog that had started to fall around him and pulled away out of Ignis’s grasp. He didn’t talk about his family aside from that he was visiting them, purposefully said in that way, there was no way Ignis should know except...
“Noct, he said something didn’t he.”
Ignis sighed. “He did, he thought you would have told me.”
“Well I didn’t so it’s none of your business. I don’t need your pity,” Prompto snapped. He didn’t mean to be so upset, but also this all made more sense, and he didn’t want Ignis to just give him affection because he felt sorry for him. That’s why he never told anyone about his family to begin with. He hated the look people would give him, the one that Ignis was giving him there in his kitchen.
“Prompto, it’s not pity,” Ignis straightened up, “you can lean on people.”
“I don’t to,” Prompto said with clenched teeth. “Please leave.”
Without waiting for a response he stormed away to his room and slammed the door. He shed his clothes and hid under the covers once more. If it wasn’t the day of Noct’s party, he would have totally called to chew him out.
He waited until he heard the sound of his front door closing and then tried to calm his breathing enough to fall back to sleep.
He didn’t need ignis. He didn’t need anyone. He had been just fine on his own...
Prompto was startled awake by his phone ringing, his mind muddied coming out of a dream.
“Nkmhello?
“Prompto!” Gladio’s voice shouted into his ear. “Where the hell are you, the party starts soon.”
“What?” he looked at his phone - it was 5pm, “Shit!”
“I’m sending a ride your way”
“Wait!”
But Gladio hung up. Prompto cursed but he had no time - he couldn’t believe he slept the whole fucking day. He rolled out of bed and ran into this closet, where his suit hung waiting for him. Noct had made sure he had one for this event, despite Prompto’s firm request he not. He got dressed quickly and did his hair, put on a nice pair of studfs in his ears, and got his contacts in. He threw on his bracelets and rings just to have some of his own flair. He grabbed his camera bag also before he could forget, because he was supposed to be the photographer for the night.
Fuck.
He ran to the door and slipped his shoes on - his phone chimed at that moment, a text from an unknown number that someone was downstairs.
He ran down to see the sleek black car, and let out only a small sigh it wasn’t Ignis.
The whole way over he tried not to think too much about the look Ignis had given Prompto. About how Ignis had made him the same food he had enjoyed at the diner. He tried not to think about Noct, his best friend, starting his own life and how Prompto fit in it. How he fit anywhere…
Before he knew it he had arrived at the venue, and Prompto felt immediately overwhelmed looking up the tall building. He had been to some of these fancy company parties before with Noct, but this was clearly something on another level. The party of the century, people were calling it, and that was before the wedding.
Wedding.
It was just a bit before people would be allowed inside, but Prompto was escorted past the line of people at the base of the building. Once at the top where the restaurant was, he stepped out of the elevator and let out a long whistle at the look of the place.
“Man Noct, they really went all out.” he shouted as he strode across the floor -
And stopped.
There was Ignis, standing beside Noctis and Luna, going over some paperwork. He fidgeted with his camera as they all looked up at him.
“Prom!” Noct smiled and ran over to him, wrapping arms around him in a big hug.
“Hey buddy,” Noct returned the hug with one arm, his other holding the camera out to the side.,
“Prompto!” Luna came over and gave him a kiss on the cheek and a hug.
“You look amazing, Luna,” Prompto said with a smile. And he meant it, she truly did. She was gorgeous in her champagne colored lace dress, small diamonds popping in the lighting of the venue. Despite his feelings and all the conflict he held in his head, Luna was an amazing person and he was grateful Noct had her in his life. She had become a great friend to him as well.
“Hey, what about me!” Noct elbowed him playfully before making a show of himself to show off his suit.
“You clean up alright,” Prompto said with a wink. He noted that the usual butterflies he might feel had subsided a little, and it was strange almost to not be so flustered around Noct asking how he looked. Because the answer of course was he looked handsome. But that had been almost a second thought to Prompto.
Interesting.
They all continued to talk together, and Prompto took a few selfies on his own phone with them before Ignis and Gladio came over.
“Doors are about to open.” Ignis very obviously didn't make eye contact with Prompto. That was fine. It was better that way. Despite the lump in his throat telling him otherwise.
“Well,” Noct said, looking at all them all huddled together, “let's have a party!”
Ignis had to focus on making sure everything went smoothly that night, not on whatever it was that he had completely botched with Prompto. His attempt to gain forgiveness that morning had not been well thought out, which had left Ignis worried for himself. He normally considered himself a reasonable person who didn't make rash decisions, but it seemed Prompto had some sort of effect over his thought process. After leaving Prompto's, he had put himself fully into the party. It was easier to make that his point of truth.
But then he had seen Prompto, all cleaned up in a suit and his voice had nearly caught in his throat with the way Ignis had wanted to just rush over and speak to him. The only thing he could think to do to avoid serious embarrassment was to not speak to Prompto. .
It wasn’t polite, nor mature, or anything that Ignis had just days before considered himself. But he couldn’t let himself be lost to the emotions and confusion that had been plaguing him since the day before.
But as the party went on and everything went smoothly, he found himself lacking for much to do. He ended up in a corner near the window overlooking the city of Insomnia - a beautiful sight, truly. He sipped from his champagne glass and took in a sigh.
“So you finally stopped moving around for five minutes,” Gladio’s voice came from the side, a heavy hand resting on the table. Ignis found he couldn’t look him in the eye.
“Just for five.” He said with a smile and took another sip of the drink to let the bubbles rest on his tongue. “Listen, I know I’ve said it a hundred times, but --”
“Please stop thanking me, it’s getting old.” A warm hand rested on his shoulder. Ignis found he could no longer avoid looking at his friend, so he set down his drink and turned.
Gladio was there, yes, but Prompto stood just behind him, looking down at his hands. Ignis flinched and glared at Gladio.
Gladio gave Ignis a look, never one to be scared off by Ignis of course, and squeezed his shoulder. Gods, what had he sorted out? Gladio slid away and whispered something to Prompto that made him straighten up. When Ignis watched him walk away, he went towards Noctis and Luna on the other side.
But they were all watching, out f the corner of their eyes.
Ignis cleared his throat and tried to smile as Prompto stepped up to the table as if he were about to be yelled at.
But Prompto only laid his hands flat on the table, then rested his forehead there.
Ignis stilled and watched, the seconds passing. “Prompto?”
He noted how Prompto’s shoulders tensed at his name.
“Let me guess,” Ignis slid his glass out of the way, “you had a few drinks. You said something. They have sent you over here so that we can talk.”
He looked up and caught how indeed the others in a not so subtle way at all turned to look out the window as if suddenly enthralled with the cityscape.
“It was just one drink,” Prompto muttered against the table, “and I told Noct before that anyways.”
Ignis let out a hum. He looked out to the city scape, then back to Prompto, who still hadn’t moved.
“Why?”
Prompto lifted his head, met Ignis’s eyes, then rose up and fixed his coat. “I realized I don’t...know you. Not really. I figured Noct would be able to tell me something. And I guess when you were just not speaking to me at first I thought it was fine but then I got more upset, so I thought Noct would know if this was I don't know… Normal."
“Ah,”
“Then he called Gladio.”
Ignis let himself lean on the table, their elbows close. “Hmm.”
Prompto snapped up to him. “Ignis, look, the past few days were a disaster on so many levels.”
Ignis flattened his palms on the table and studied his fingers instead of looking at the intense eyes studying him.
He watched as Prompto’s fingers slid closer, their pinky fingers touching. The touch was simple and yet made Ignis tense.
“Perhaps,” Ignis said when Prompto seemed to be stuck, “we should try...again, under better circumstances.”
He lifted his fingers to slide across Prompto’s slowly. Prompto didn’t move, but when Ignis looked up at him his eyes were wide. As if he thought things wouldn’t go this way.
“Prompto, you don’t give yourself enough credit. We got back home in time because of you. Who knows how long we would have been stuck in Niflheim. That storm is still causing ridiculous delays. Who knows who we would have been stuck with dealing with such a terrible time. At the end of it all, I am glad I got to know you, through all of this.”
Prompto visibly swallowed and sucked in a breath.
“Silver lining, and all that,” Ignis smiled softly and curled his fingers finally around Prompto’s hand. And just when he thought maybe he had misread everything, and why he was there beside him, Prompto flipped his hand over so they were palm to palm. They interlocked fingers --
“Woo!”
They both winced and turned to see Noct holding up his drink, with Luna and Gladio trying to shush him.
“I guess you were right, huh.” Prompto whispered with a laugh as they returned to each other and looked out the window together.
“About what?”
Prompto opened his mouth, then pressed his lips shut. When he turned to look at Ignis, the city reflected in his eyes and the blush across his cheeks was beautiful.
Instead of answering, Prompto just asked. “When can you get out of here?”
Okay, so Prompto had maybe thought he’d messed up by telling Noctis and then Gladio and then Luna about what had happened during their trip. But he was losing his mind - the man had been in his house! What was he supposed to do with those mixed messages and now -
Now he wasn’t sure what was happening except that they were in Ignis’s home. He was in Iggy’s house, and Ignis was talking and probably explaining something about where his shoes should go or about how he shouldn't touch anything or something else he was destined to fuck up as he stepped forward.
But Prompto’s heart beat so hard all he heard was the sound of his pulse and Iggy's words were lost to him as he stood in the entrance of the apartment.
Ignis had gotten into the living room and turned and looked at him, as he unbuttoned his suit jacket.
Something in the look he gave made Prompto press himself back against the door with a hope he could dissolve into it, because he wasn’t sure what he was doing there. Ignis was out of his league, clearly. Just looking at him was proof enough and he had been foolish to even think he had a chance and why had he listened to Noct -
“Prompto?”
Fuck, he was saying his name again. It always sounded so good rolling off his tongue.
“mFine. Just.. .”
They were sober. OK, so last time he would hardly call themselves drunk but; when Ignis had suggested they try again he had imagined something like, coffee. Dinner. Something public. But instead he had gone and opened his mouth and they wound up here. Okay maybe Gladio had pushed them both out the door together a little.
It was just a lot. Again.
And he really didn't know what he was supposed to do. Were they going to just have coffee there? It was almost midnight, that didn't make any sense.
Ignis by this point had put his suit coat away in a closet and was rolling his sleeves as he walked into the kitchen.
“I can make some tea? Or coffee? Though it is late.”
“I-.” Prompto still hadn’t moved from the door.
Ignis studied him, and he deflated a little. “You don't need to feel obligated to stay. If this is too much."
Shit. He was fucking this up again wasn’t he. Prompto pushed off the door and slipped his shoes off, keeping eye contact with Ignis.
“I'm good. I’m good.”
Ignis clearly didn’t believe him, but he started to go about making tea. Prompto stepped in and also removed his suit jacket - it was stuffy as fuck anyway. Iggy's house was as he would have expected; neat and tidy and classy, full of books, minimalist. So different than his place. Which he had seen that morning.
Fuck.
He stepped into the kitchen and wasn't sure what to do with his hands, or himself, really. Ignis’s back was to him, standing still and obviously watching hot water boil.
Okay. Prompto really had to stop fucking this up.
He took two steps forward and stopped right behind Ignis. He lowered his head so it rested against his back. Ignis tensed at the contact.
“Look. I’m a mess. You saw that. You saw the real me. Like...that wasn't just because shit was a mess temporarily.”
Ignis put his hands on the counter. “Prompto,”
“No I mean it. That was it. You want to talk, you want to uh...try a-again. That was just your teaser for what being around me is like.”
Ignis stepped forward as much as he could. He then turned and Prompto had a face full of Iggy's chest. He tried to step away, but hands grabbed his forearms and held him in place, and he fought every urge to cower and instead looked up at intense green eyes, stern jaw, and tight lips.
“You need to stop doing that.”
“I-”
Whatever argument he had was lost.
Ignis leaned down and they were kissing, Ignis was kissing him. His brain caught up, and he reached out to grab Ignis’s shirt. He tugged and pulled himself up on his toes, and Ignis slid his hands around Prompto to grip at his back.
Last time they kissed it was a desperate moment where he wasn't sure what he wanted, but he had needed something.
This time Prompto might know a little more about what he wanted, as Ignis pulled into a deeper kiss and the taste of Ignis invaded his senses.
Prompto leaned back to breath, or he might black out, it was so dizzying. Ignis followed his movement, but pressed their foreheads together instead of going in for another kiss.
Prompto couldn't help a laugh.
“What?” Ignis sounded a little hoarse, his voice low, and it was hot and they were supposed to be taking things slow or something, right?
Wait was that what they had said? Prompto wasn't sure anymore of anything.
“Just. This. Is that- I mean...”
Ignis kissed Prompto’s forehead in a way that was much too soft but also he wanted more. Then his temple, then his jaw, until he was trailing kisses down his throat. Prompto pulled back more to give him some space to think, to not just -
Ignis was nuzzling his neck. Prompto did his best to really step away, and Ignis trailed his hands after him.
Prompto held on to the counter with one hand to keep from falling over, or back into Ignis's arms. “I thought we had to start over?”
Ignis cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses before giving Prompto a serious look. “If you would like, we can start slow, from the beginning.”
Prompto leaned against the counter, bracing his hands against the cool surface. What did he want? What did he really want with Ignis, here in his fancy apartment, staring at Ignis with his shirt that had somehow become unbuttoned down to his sternum, with a few strands of hair hanging down over his forehead, which his lips…
“We could start slow…” Prompto repeated, but he watched how Ignis shifted, putting himself upright a little more and making as if to do just that, to reset everything properly.
Prompto recalled two nights before. The warmth of Ignis pressed up to him, how he looked as he slid down his body. It sent a shock through his body.
Prompto didn’t want to wait to experience anything like that again. Not if he could help it.
“Or,” Prompto fought against every unsure nerve of his body and pushed off the counter to stand in the center of the kitchen, “we can skip to the part where I finally get to return the favor.” He managed to speak despite the nerves coursing through him, because he wasn’t entirely sure he knew what he was doing.
At that, Ignis’s eyes flashed something reminiscent of the night they had together and Prompto knew he had said the right thing, the thing they both wanted but were somehow unable to say. And something in that made his body move toward Ignis again because this man, who was posh and perfect and put together, had that reaction to the idea of Prompto touching him. Prompto.
He wasn’t sure he had ever felt so powerful and terrified all at once like this before.
He surged forward and reunited with Ignis. His hands immediately ran up under the silk shirt and pulled it the rest of the way out of his pants. Prompto let his fingers slide up, appreciating the toned muscles, appreciating the way they flexed under his touch. He tried to control his breathing but -
“Perhaps we should ah,” Ignis shifted and gripped Prompto's waist, “move to the bedroom? Or the couch, or somewhere anywhere I can have you properly.”
Prompto groaned. Okay, his new life goal was to hear Ignis talk dirty. Maybe next time.
Next time.
Next time next time next time.
He nearly leapt up to meet Ignis's’ lips and put everything he could into the kiss as he pulled him by the belt loops. Through careful navigation they managed to collapse on the couch with only minor bumps along the way. Prompto immediately placed himself on the floor between Ignis’s knees, their kisses long and deep and searching and Prompto hadn’t been so turned on in his entire life.
And Ignis didn’t seem to be faring any better, as Prompto cupped his erection and felt how hard he was through his pants.
“Gods,” Ignis whispered against his lips. It made Prompto pull back to see, to see his face, to see how wrecked he looked and oh fuck he was so hot? How did he manage this.
Ignis’s shirt had been untucked and his erection pressed against his pants, the patch of skin above his zipper looked like the best thing in the world. Prompto fidgeted and tucked his fingers against the skin under his pants and looked up to Ignis.
“Is this?”
“Prompto, please.”
Another embarrassing moan escaped his lips as he unzipped Ignis’s pants. He reveled at how hard he was confined in his underwear, and his mouth watered at the sight.
He wanted so much more than just to taste it. He wanted to feel it. Oh gods.
“Oh?” Ignis chuckled.
Prompto snapped his head up with surprise.
“You said that out loud.” Ignis replied with a small smirk.
And Prompto felt himself go about ten shades of red. “I’m sorry, it’s just. I’m - “
“You’re fine, I promise.”
Prompto took in a breath. He traced his eyes down the length of Ignis. He slid his hands up strong thighs, let his thumbs slide up on either side of Ignis’s cock and drag back down. The sounds he made already had Prompto’s head spinning.
“Ok no you’re right I’m not sorry.”
Ignis - did he just growl - he did, he fucking growled and then had Prompto up and somehow lifted him. Prompto yelped and wrapped his legs around his waist for purchase.
“Change of plans, I must take you to my bedroom immediately.”
“Oh six fuck yes ok.”
Prompto didn’t get to see much of the apartment as they moved because he focused on a delicious spot on Iggy’s throat that required his attention. Ignis only hummed and muttered hold on several times before he all but kicked a door open that signaled they had gotten to the bedroom and Prompto was dropped onto his back on a lush soft bed.
Before Prompto could even look around, Ignis devoured his mouth once again as his deft hands worked at Prompto’s clothes. Before, they hadn’t the honor of undressing each other, already in just those robes but here, feeling Ignis’s fingers sliding across his skin was like fire as he removed each article of clothing and his tongue trailed after his touches. It left Prompto without any air in his lungs and no voice left and it was amazing, the best, he had made the best decision ever.
“One moment,” Ignis’s voice was hoarse when he finally came up for air after sucking on Prompto’s hip bone.
Prompto bucked his hips up. Ignis kept one hand on him as he leaned back, and then away. He was gone only moments but it felt like an eternity, the sound of rummaging in a drawer, and he lay there naked and waiting.
The doubts crept in, just a little, until Ignis was back and his shirt off as he stretched over him. Prompto tugged at his pants and soon those were gone, and then they were both naked, their erections bumping each other.
“Gods,” Prompto lifted his arms over his head and pulled at the sheets.
“I agree,” Ignis lifted Prompto’s leg, as he sat there between his knees and kissed under the knee.
Prompto signed and whined.
“Is this heaven? Did I die on the way home and this is the way the gods are making up for such a terrible time? If I’m dead I’m okay - aaaah-” he was interrupted by Ignis’s fingers stretching him. He arched his back and closed his eyes and tried to relax, to let out a long breath and embrace the feeling. He could feel eyes on him, and when he looked the dark of green eyes bored into him. Ignis looked like he wanted to eat Prompto alive.
“Holy shit holy shit.”
Ignis hummed, and Prompto closed his eyes as Ignis's other hand wrapped around him. It was perfect, it distracted him from the stretch, it made him want to scream out even more, it made him want just more.
He heard the sound of a condom and his body got about ten times hotter in the exact second he realized this is happening. Ignis was about to --
“Prompto?”
He lifted his arms up from the sheets and dragged his fingers through Ignis’s hair, making direct eye contact as hard as it was for him to do so, and nodded.
As Ignis entered him, they held eye contact for as long as he could before he had to lay back and squeeze his eyes tight from the sensation. He could feel Ignis clinging to his thighs for dear life and he might be bruised tomorrow. He hoped he would be bruised tomorrow, holy fuck.
Ignis moved slowly until he was completely enveloped. He let go of Prompto’s legs and fell forward, hands on either side of Prompto’s shoulders, and he adjusted himself a little to accommodate the position, legs wrapped around Ignis’s waist.
He opened his eyes to see Ignis very close to his face. He couldn’t help a blush.
“You feel. Stunning. Just.” Ignis breathed out and tentatively moved his hips. They both whined in their throats and Prompto brought his arms around to dig his fingers back once more in Ignis’s hair and bring him closer.
That was all they needed apparently, because then they were kissing deep and slow and their hips moved, meeting each other in a rhythm that had Ignis breathing against his mouth within minutes.
Then he felt Ignis reach between them and grip Prompto, and it was so much in that moment. They were both speaking gibberish, mantras of please and each others names, and then Prompto’s body went tight as the orgasm hit him by surprise. He arched and clung tight, crying out into Ignis’s shoulder.
With just a few more thrusts, Ignis moaned into Prompto’s ear and holy astrals Prompto wanted that to be his ringtone for life.
Ignis all but collapsed on top of him, and their arms wrapped around each other They lay like that a few moments, breathing deeply.
“Shower?” Ignis muttered.
“Mm.” Prompto cleared his throat and tried to ignore the way doubt tried to claw its way up. Would Ignis except him to leave after?
“It’s got plenty of room,” Ignis somehow managed to say with such a way that was beyond sexy, and then he gave Prompto a small kiss before moving away. Prompto grunted at the sensation, but then pulled himself up. He smiled at Ignis, who took his hand and helped him carefully towards the bathroom.
Prompto had never gone two rounds back to back in his life before, but he found out it was in fact possible, especially in a roomy shower.
Sunday morning had a routine. Wake up early, make coffee, shower, read the news. Go over the agenda for Monday and make any necessary preparations. Check in on Noctis to make sure he woke up. Check in on him again mid-afternoon. If needed go over to clean and make food.
Today was Sunday.
It was noon. And Ignis was still in bed.
He let out a yawn, and the warm body beside him curled up to him more, legs and arms wrapped around him.
“Prompto, love,.” Ignis kissed his temple and ran his fingers through soft blond hair. It was a crime, how comfortable he was, how comfortable they were.
He’d never thought anyone could actually disrupt his schedule, but here he was, more than content to spend one morning a week doing absolutely nothing.
And he loved it.
It had been one month since Noct’s engagement party. He and Prompto had no sort of routine really on when they saw each other, except this. Sunday mornings were always theirs.
The best day of the week, certainly.
Prompto opened his eyes and caught Ignis staring. He smiled, bashfully, and buried his face into Ignis’s neck in response.
“Don’t do thaaat.”
“Mmm what, stare at your beautiful face?” Ignis smiled. His fingers trailed from Prompto’s hair down his neck, his spine, causing him to shudder.
“Stooooop.”
Ignis pulled gently at Prompto so he was made to lay on top of him. He cocooned him quickly and kissed him, tenderly. Prompto melted, as if they could become one person in that moment.
He opened his eyes as they broke the kiss, noses touching. Prompto’s face was red, and Ignis openly stared because he had still not yet counted all the freckles on his face.
He didn’t say anything, but Prompto did that smile again, that one that showed he could read Ignis’s face. He got cozy there, head nestled up under Ignis’s chin, while he drew small circles on Prompto's back, and they both started to doze once more.
Ignis considered himself a lot of things.
Some were things that made him capable of doing his job very well.
But, more importantly, were the things that made him able to be the best he could be his love, who deserved all the world and more.
~END~