dutyroulette | Noctis + Ignis; self indulge crap #69

Noctis + Ignis; self indulge crap #69

If Bahamut thought for a moment his stone-cold delivery was enough to put Noctis at peace with the decision he was being given, he was dead wrong. Something the Astral more than likely felt from the young man as he curled in on himself in the aetherial wastes within the crystal itself. A conversation unspoken took place, a plea heeded without the prince ever opening his mouth, nor sparing the towering deity a glance of equal measure.

Before he knew it, the world materialized around him, and he felt sheets he hadn't in such a long time. The comfort was not merely because of the high grade the mattress had, but because of its unmistakable familiarity.

Just as quickly as he appeared, he rose--eyes wide with surprise as he stared at his bedroom within the castle. It couldn't be, could it? Was he truly here? In the past--or did Bahamut truly listen to his need to see the future his sacrifice will make?

After spending a moderate amount of time inspecting his room, seeing all the details just as memory would lead him to believe, he braved leaving. Walking down the long corridors was hauntingly familiar, and he idly wonders what this place looked like after the take over--but shook the thoughts from his mind, especially when that stings to think about.

He continued, aimlessly, till he came across someone--but not just anyone. He recognized this man, for how couldn't he? He had known him for the better part of his life. His attendant, his body guard, his driver, his cook, his friend. His chest tightened painfully seeing him--seeing those scars, not to mention he could see the age in his face, even if whatever span of time this was didn't mute his handsome features. He couldn't help himself but run forward.

"Specs!"

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Ignis had been going about his business, coffee cup held elegantly by the handle. It had been meeting after meeting. Building a governing body from the ground up was quite a lot of work. He was up to the task, but also so very tired. He loved his second home city of Insomnia, but the name was a bit too on the nose these days. He seemed to be jarred out of deep thought as heard his never-used old nickname. He spun with great accuracy towards the voice, alert. He almost immediately dropped his shoulders.

"Wonderful, I'm going mad." He sighed into his coffee cup, taking a sip of the already cold liquid. He pulled out his phone to take a memo.

"Going mad? I think you were already there, dude." Noctis light-heartedly jested, trying to more comfort himself of this odd situation than not. Noctis finished his approach at least, glancing to the phone.

"But really, you're not going mad, I'm actually here--which sounds crazy, and I guess it kind of is but..."

How do you explain that the god chilling in the crystal sent you forward into the future however many years to try to cement you to your sacrificial path?

"How clever, the apparition tell me that it isn't one! I suppose this was inevitable, yet is a crueler fantasy than I had imagined it would be," he stepped towards Noctis' voice. He slid his cane directly into Noctis's foot, his stomach sinking. His madness was either very complete in its details, or Noctis was actually here. His voice was younger than he remembered when he heard it last. Though he thought of the days where he would hear it day in and day out.

"Noctis, but how?"

He dropped his cane to reach forward and take Noctis' shoulder.

He looked to the cane that hit his foot, before returning his gaze to his bewildered friend. Swallowing thickly, he tried to find the least confusing way to explain, but then Ignis was reaching for his shoulder. He stayed still, letting the other man grasp him, so he could 'see' for himself he was truly here.

"When I got absorbed into the crystal, I was informed of what I have to do--to defeat Ardyn and purge our star of the scourge he's bringing..." He paused a moment, thinking over his words carefully.

"Within it was Bahamut, and he sent me forward in time to see what the future I would bring with my sacrifice--I guess to convince me to do what must be done."

Which sounded ridiculous, and perhaps a little tellingly weak that he needed such a stout reassurance to do his noble role. Had he told Gladio, he was certain he would scold him, yell and shout at him for not being the king he should be.

Ignis, however, was a willing ear, and while he nagged, he was also understanding and patient. He always had been, and he figured now wouldn't be any different.

He listened intently, his grip tightening as he heard Ardyn's name. It had been a while, certainly.

"A wise choice, to see your opponent's hand before betting the house."

"Then come to the roof with me and you shall see it. I am told that nearly everything has been rebuilt." There was a look of hesitation. "We should wait until nightfall. It will be simpler to sneak you up there. It should go without saying that you should remain unseen- No one has seen you, right?"

This was overwhelming. This was complicated. He would manage it.

"Only you--" an embarrassed pause, before correcting, "Or, you know what I mean..."

It'd be a lie if he said he wasn't eager to see Insomnia. He hadn't seen it in so long, he hadn't even truly seen the distruction it faced--it was too dangerous to risk. Waiting till nightfall seems like an eternity, but he did figure it would be better than him causing a giant stir within the capitol.

"Yeah, I can't see too much good coming from the general populace knowing I'm back. Especially when my presence isn't exactly permanent."

Which admitting as much made his chest hurt. He wished he could stay, or just not sacrifice himself at all. He didn't want to die, he wasn't ready for it... but that's what this was for, wasn't it?

Even having come to terms with Noctis' passing, he couldn't have prepared for this. Hearing the distress in Noctis' voice helped him recenter himself.

"Come along now, Noctis."

He picked his cane back up, quickly ascertaining where he was. The excitement had made him lose his place. He walked back over to Noctis' room. Honestly, from here, he didn't need the cane at all. He had been in the room many times since then. He opened the door for his former charge, ushering him inside. He closed the door sharply and locked it.

He placed his cane against the wall and walked over to Noctis' bed. He sat on it, refusing to display the wear in his shoulders. If showing Noctis that it was ok was enough to send him back into the crystal, he wanted to prolong it.

"Why do you think you were sent this time in lieu of any others? I admit, I've been suspicious. Not of you, but there must be more to it."

Edited 2016-12-19 20:39 (UTC)

He followed silently, going inside once gestured to do so. There he stayed out of the way of Ignis who took a seat on his bed, leaving Noctis to stand awkwardly a few feet away. He continued to look around his room, the little details were more or less how he remembered it. He couldn't imagine his room was left unscathed, and idly he wondered if this was Ignis' doing.

Then he chided himself, because of course it was.

"I don't know. It does seem a little too good to be true, and kind of greatly generous--gods aren't particularly known for that." He fell quiet for a moment, before letting out a humorless chuckle, "Maybe the crystal had that little faith in me."

"It seems more like a fattening before a slaughter," he said softly. "Yet there is no reason not to take advantage and eat our fill."

He pulled off his gloves, then patted the seat next to himself. "Talk to me, Noctis. We must fulfill our duties. What would reassure you?" This was still horribly surreal. He wasn't sure that his body wasn't collapsed on the meeting floor and the rest of this was some sort of dream.

Boy, that would be embarrassing.

"That's a comforting thought..." Of course said sarcastically, though perhaps without the usual sass that accompanied it.

Sure enough, he took the invitation and sat besides him. Again an awkward silence befell him, Noctis was never a man of many words anyway, but to express what it'd take to make him feel reassured... he didn't know. He didn't know what thing would truly set off his feelings of relief and reassurance.

"I suppose when I see the city--when I see everything will be alright." With Ignis here, he already was feeling a bit more comfortable with the future he was so certain was anything but.

However, he supposed it was going to take a bit to convince himself that his death was truly necessary for the future to be saved. Call him selfish, but he was terrified to die.

"How long... how long has it been for you?"

Edited 2016-12-19 21:41 (UTC)

"Since you disappeared into the crystal?" Or when you died? The second question went unspoken, yet hung in the air between them. He disliked it very much.

"Fifteen years, just about."

Ignis' shoulders pinched. Had it truly been that long? It took a lot, really, for him to keep his feelings in check right now. Especially as he felt his King sit beside him. He pulled his glasses from his face to clean them with a cloth. Whether or not he could see them, the smudges bothered him. What could be sloppier or more stereotypical, he thought.

"Look at me, Noct. While you were away I've become an old man."

"Fifteen years..." He repeated softly. More a murmur than anything meant to be heard by his company. His eyes fell to his feet as he mulled the thought over. It explained Ignis' aging, and the restoration of the castle. It took a moment, but his eyes did find themselves on Ignis' face as per his request, blue eyes taking in those features, the differences from what his memory held.

"You're not that old." He said humorlessly. Certainly older than he remembers, but to think of Ignis as an old man was... painful, in a way. He wondered, idly, how long it would have been for him since he died—since his sacrifice. He wouldn't ask, he couldn't. He didn't want to make his friend think about that any more than he himself had to.

"What about the others? Gladio—Prompto... are they in the castle too, or?"

Ignis' face cracks into a small smile. "I appreciate that, Noct." He placed a hand on Noctis' shoulder. He was tempted to put his hand in Noctis' hair and ruffle it.

"Gladio has struck out on his own. He comes back, of course, but I think he finds peace in the wilderness," Ignis pushed his glasses back up on his face.

"Prompto goes traveling often, but he is not duty bound by the castle in these recent months. I could call them back here if you wish. Though I am sure they would think that I've finally lost my mind."

"Sounds like them." He added quietly. Ignis was far more the tyope to take to duties of political persuasion, those two? Not so much. The hand on his shoulder, however, was comforting, and he felt himself leaning into the grip.

"Nah, I mean, I want to see them. But maybe right now it's too much--for them and me." Maybe if he saw them, it would give him the peace he needed, and it'd send him back to fulfill his duty, and he wasn't ready for that.

"Then stay awhile. They will come back eventually, and you can spend some time at home adjusting," he tried to hold his expression together, but this was a lot. He made an expression like his nose itched as he dabbed the meager tears from his eyes.

"Damn it all."

He pulled Noctis into a proper hug, tucking Noctis' head beneath his own. "Please, just stay here a while, if you can."

Noctis felt his heart catch in his throat as Ignis continued to talk. Staying awhile and adjusting back into his home sounded ideal. He missed it more than he could possibly admit, but it stung to think this stay would be impermanent.

However, seeing that expression, and soon after being tugged into a hug, he felt a sting to his eyes, and he buried his face into Ignis' neck. Little did he think he thirsted for such affection, let alone from Ignis, but god did his heart ache for it.

It took a while for him to respond, instead, his arms had snaked their way around Ignis, holding to him as tightly as the other held him. His eyes shut firmly as he just enjoyed the warmth of his long time friend. It hadn't even been that long since he had seen him from his perspective, but little did that dampen the emotions he was feeling.

"I want to. I want to stay as long as I can."

"I've too many regrets to let you go so easily, Noct," his hand went to the back of his spiky haircut, bracing his head in against him.

His previous bout of exhaustion was starting to take him again. He thought about falling asleep right here, but what if Noct was gone when he woke up? That might be the worst thing he could think of right now. Either way, his strength was sapped. He had little choice in the matter as his body began forcing his exhaustion. His weight began to shift from self support to entirely onto Noct.

"Forgive me, I'm entirely spent," his words came out softly as he tried to straighten back out.

Ignis' admission left Noctis silent for a few moments, but the thoughts did not linger for long before suddenly more weight than expected was placed upon him. The weight shift was startling, and he worried for a moment that something worse than merely being exhausted might have befallen Ignis. Holding onto Ignis, he was surprised at how much he was enjoying the proximity and the hand cradling the back of his head. A thought he didn't allow himself to ponder overlong, because there were other thoughts crowding his mind.

Idly, he wondered if there was some sort of loophole, where he could remain here indefinitely... If he could never be made to come to terms with his fate, and remain stuck here with his friends till his natural death. Such thoughts didn't last, however, when Ignis spoke once more.

"Nothing to forgive. C'mon, we should get you to your bed, if you're feeling so exhausted."

He could have commented on what Ignis said moments before, about his regrets, and not letting him go so easily, but perhaps another time. Though his time might be limited here, he felt there was a better time to discuss such things. Limited though his time would be, he would prolong his departure as much as he was able. If he as anything, he was a stubborn boy after all.

Edited 2017-01-22 22:57 (UTC)

"Must I? The moment I step out there, an aide or a secretary is sure to find me," he laid back on the bed, kicking his shoes off before pulling his legs up.

"I'm still not sure if this is a dream, you know," he rubbed his face with his hands, even his eyes. While he couldn't see out of them, they still felt tired. He shimmied up the bed, laying his head on the pillow.

"Besides, I don't think I'd make it ten feet down the hall. I've been awake for nearly fifty-five hours." He unbuttoned his top three buttons as well as his cuffs. With his face pressed into the pillow, that's the last thing he said before falling deeply asleep.

"Fifty-five hours?! Specs, dude, you should really take better care of yourself..."

Noctis wasn't exactly sure if this was full on reality. For all he knew, this could be some hallucination from the crystal, trying to ease him into being alright with a possible future so that he'll go and do his duty. If that were the case, the crystal was doing a damn good job of making this feel pretty damn real, though.

The lack of response for Ignis tells him all he needs to know: that he's fast asleep. Sleep didn't sound like a bad idea, honestly. When was the last time he got good rest—hell, even passable rest? For a few moments, he watched Ignis sleep, the small ride and fall of his chest, the differences in his features that age and scarring had brought. His chest hurt as he viewed his oldest friend; worn from age and duty...

Kicking off his own boots, and discarding his jacket on the floor like the slob he always proved to be, he found no reason to hesitate curling up with Ignis. It wasn't like they never shared a bed before, and that tent was always so cramped. More often than not he'd be stuck between two of the guys, spooning, so this wasn't much different.

Though, it was admittedly more comforting than any other time they had slept next to each other. Ignis' scent and warmth was so familiar, so soothing, and soon he found himself drifting to sleep himself. By morning, Ignis will find the prince curled against him, a fist loosely holding onto his shirt, his face buried against him chest. He certainly didn't disappear.

Ignis woke, honestly surprised that Noctis was still there. Besides feeling him, he knew his smell kind of unlike anyone else. He still smelled faintly like the blood and sweat from that struggle from way back when, as if those things had seeped into his clothes in a way that even the Crystal couldn't purify.

He pulled his phone from his pocket. He had slept through his alarm and had new messages and texts. He never felt bad about disturbing the prince's sleep, but today was absolutely an exception. He held his phone close to his ear as he listened in, holding in the groans.

He texted his aide back, telling them to find others to take his duties. They accepted this with no pushback- they had been begging Ignis to take a proper break for weeks now.

He dropped his phone back onto the bed, petting Noctis' hair. Even with the product in it, it was pretty soft. Noct was on his arm a bit, and even though it was slightly painfully asleep, he was happy to have him right there. He wrapped his arm around the middle of Noct's back, fighting the tears. He pressed a kiss to the top of his head, sure that he would still be asleep.

His heart seemed to tremble and ache with nostalgia for the days where he could cook breakfast for him. He knew he had to. He would have to take him back to his home, but that would be easily enough accomplished. They had snuck into the Empire's military bases countless times; this would be cake.

With a heavy heart, he decided to gently shake Noct's shoulder. "Noct. Wake up," his tone was a bit too soft and fond to pass for his attempts back in the day.

Noctis didn't stir even remotely as Ignis took care of his messages, ever a hard sleeper, it proved true even now. If not for his breathing, and slight grumbles of incomprehensible nonsense, one might think him dead for how out he was. Even the kiss to his head didn't do a damn thing, it was a wonder that when Ignis actually attempted to wake him, that Noct stirred at all.

Of course, he didn't move or react at first, a slight scrunch of his face soon followed, and then his eyes barely opened enough to glance at Ignis... before promptly hiding his face. Just like old times, honestly. After a moment, there was a muffled reply, but it was impossible to make out.

If Ignis was not convinced this was the real Noctis, surely this display should aptly remove all doubt.

Edited 2017-01-23 00:04 (UTC)

Ignis smiled wider than he had in months and shook him with a little more enthusiasm.

"Now, now. We've slept nearly ten hours, we would do well to get up. You, especially, need a wash and a shave. We'll go to my apartment and I'll make breakfast," he rubbed his back before slipping out from under him. He knew that his shirt would be a wretched, wrinkled mess, but he didn't really have a change of clothes and would have to deal with it. He smoothed it out where he could. He went to feel his hair and sighed. He was a real mess.

"Your things were delivered here from the capital, so you should be able to find a change of clothes. They might be out of fashion, but you'll have to ask someone else."

He found his coffee cup on the nightstand nearby and unthinkingly took a sip.

Ugh, why. He was really off his game already.

Edited 2017-01-23 00:15 (UTC)

It took Noctis a moment to really let it sink in that he was truly still here. This was Ignis still besides him, shaking him, and talking to him. He hadn't gone back. Blearily, he rose, rubbing at his eyes as he tried wake up—a feat he was never good at. The promise of breakfast, however, was a good motivator at least.

"Mmm. Okay." At least he could speak!

Had he noticed Ignis took a drink of his room temperature coffee, he might have teased him about it, but waking up was always an arduous journey for the prince. Noctis ran a hand through his hair, realizing how much of a mess it probably was. Sleeping with product in it... wasn't exactly the best of ideas.

Oh well.

"I'm guessing we're gonna have to be sneaky getting to your place, huh."

Finding the ability to be articulate, Noctis finally got off the bed, walking over to his closet in search of where his clothes might be. Out of style or not, Noctis didn't care too much, he just had to conceal himself. Couldn't go making a scene, after all. It sort of made him feel nostalgic, a bittersweet sort of feeling as he silently reminisced about the early parts of their trip, where he was thought to be dead, and so he and the others attempted to blend in as nothing more than hunters.

"I gather attention in public, unfortunately. Though... I still own a car, though obviously I can't drive it. But as long as we get to the parking lot in the basement without any trouble we should be fine," Ignis crossed his arms in thought.

"Try to dress in something a little nice. It isn't as if we have surly teenagers walking around here anymore. The more you can look like an intern, the better."

Ignis made sure he had everything together- including his pair of glasses off the table before he turned back to Noctis. "I don't mind giving you some privacy, but I assure you that I'm still very much blind. "

"Are you harping on my clothes, Ignis?" He couldn't help but tease him a little. Unfortunately, most of his clothes fit exactly that: a surly teenager. But he did have some clothes that were a bit more formal, he couldn't always get away dressing like some sort of rebel teen still trying to find himself, or whatever.

"It's not like you haven't seen any of this before." Maybe not him completely naked. They had to bathe in the wilderness before, but even then chances were no one was STARING (right?), and Ignis helped him get dressed when he was younger. Ignis probably had seen more of him than anyone else, so even if he wasn't blind, slipping out of his raggedy clothes did little to inspire any sort of modesty in him.

It didn't take long before he slipped into an old suit of his, nothing too fancy, but nice enough that he'd fit in with any sort of interns that might be around the citadel. He finger combed his hair a bit, trying to make it less messy, and maybe a little more professional looking to not draw so much attention to him, before looking to Ignis, "Alright. Let's get going, Specs."

Edited 2017-02-06 07:03 (UTC)

"One moment," he said with the staying tone of a primary school teacher. He pulled a comb from his pocket, standing and facing him. His hand went immediately to his shoulder to ground where things were. From there he moved his hand to Noctis' hair and clicked his tongue. He drew his finger along his scalp, then the comb followed, parting it uncharacteristically and neatly to the side. He stepped away for a moment, the sound of the faucet running briefly emanating from the other room. He came back, comb wet, to retrain that gelled hair.

"Now is not the time for half-hearted disguises... I won't lie and say that I don't miss my sight, but right now I'd trade damn near anything to see you looking hirable."

"Hm?"

It was about all he got out before Ignis began doting on him like an overbearing mother. He didn't complain, it was the same song and dance that filled their almost life-long friendship, and Noctis stayed put besides a scrunch of distaste that afflicted his features. An expression unseen, of course.

He merely sighed as Ignis went to wet the comb, an attempt to control his unruly gelled hair, one that did not end in failure! He was certain he looked ridiculous. Hireable as Ignis put it, lame was how Noctis would name it.

"C'mon, I think there's way better things than seeing me look like some stiff to want your vision back over."

Ignis chuckled as he finished combing, making double sure there weren't any sticking-up pieces.

"Does his majesty have a suggestion?"

He flicked his comb shut, satisfied, and pocketed it. He ran his hands down along Noctis' lapels and then up to ensure that his tie was properly tightened. He clapped him once on the shoulders before retrieving his things to head out the door.

Edited 2017-02-06 21:04 (UTC)

"Well... anything, really. I just don't think me in a suit, with my hair combed to the side, is much to gawk at."

He sucked in a sharp breath as Ignis ran his hands down his lapels, feeling his tie and what not. Noctis couldn't help but stare at his friend's face, taking in the scarring. One eye sealed shut, the other cloudy with blindness. It left his chest aching, and finally he was able to tear his staring away when Ignis moved away from him. Only for a moment, however.

He couldn't help the twinge of guilt, even if he never asked for this, any of this. Least of all the sacrifice Ignis had to make in serving him. There was an obvious lag in Noctis' following, no sound of his foot steps behind the older man, he was lost to his thoughts as he looked at Ignis, eyes scanning over him as if he had something to say--yet nothing could come to mind.

Edited 2017-02-06 21:17 (UTC)

He paused as he was turning the door handle, realizing something was on the prince's mind or gathering his attention. It would be very many things, he thought. Best to venture into them later and resume focus. He took a breath, hoping it wasn't him. He chided himself for being vain, though. Just being in this room must have been strange for Noctis after all they had been through.

"I think you'd be surprised at what I would happily gawk at," he said, opening the door. He handed his paperwork to Noctis to complete their little lie.

"We'll go to the eastern wing, it should be deserted this time of day."

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Noctis + Ignis; self indulge crap #69

..... I forgot to upload the icons

MUH EHHHMUUURSHHHUUUNNNNN

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