Merry Christmas to the wonderful @owldearest! I love you so much girl and only wish the best for this holiday season! Thank you for being so genuine and kind but for also not taking any bull! You are such a bright person and are going to accomplish so much! I love you girl and hope you enjoy this!
Norie x Ignis #15 “If you throw a snowball at my face so help me.”
As far as Honoria Curatix was concerned, it was too damn cold outside. Even with her hat, gloves, boots, pants with leggings underneath and her three layers of tops including a coat, the cold ripped right though her, more than any monster had ever done. With the snow covering the ground and a harsh breeze blowing against her face, the huntress was miserable. The only reason she had not booked it back to her cozy, warm apartment was that the royal advisor himself requested she accompany him out this weekend morning. Why he had asked her of all people, she was not sure, but although she wouldn’t ever admit it to him, she was glad he did, despite the current circumstance she was in at the moment.
“Listen Scientia,” she spoke between her chattering teeth, “As fun as this might be for you, I’m freezing my ass off. Could we wrap this up and head somewhere warm?”
“I promise after this we can go and grab a hot meal, my treat,” he spoke, turning his head to her and giving her a wide grin, one that made Norie’s heart flutter, “But humor me just a bit longer. We’re almost there.”
The advisor was a few steps ahead of the huntress, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his dark blue trench coat. He was dressed rather casually today; jeans, lace up boots, and even a wool cap and scarf. Casual Ignis was a sight Honoria never got to witness but had no problem taking in the view as of right then. Not even she was able to understand how he only seemed to appear more handsome now dressed casual; than he did day to day in his suit and tie. The only thing she was one hundred percent sure of was that if it hadn’t been for the cold, she may have quite possibly tried to jump his bones right then and there.
“Where is there,” the woman huffed, stuffing her hands under her arms.
“So impatient Miss. Curatrix,” he chuckled.
“I’m about to freeze to death.”
“If it’s the cold that winds up taking you down then I’d be surprised.”
“Whatever,” she grumbled, taking in her surroundings.
When she had met up with Ignis earlier that morning, it was at the front of the citadel, where he awaited for her out font with the Regalia. Being a well prepared gentleman, he of course opened the door for her and when she entered the vehicle was thrilled to see a hot cup of coffee waiting for her. The ride to their destination had not taken incredibly long, maybe a half hour or more at most. They chatted about how they have been, Honoria finding it quite easy to speak to the royal advisor. She was also discovering how easy it was for her to become entranced by his intoxicating aroma, which filled the car. She was thankful when the car stopped, to be able to exit and clear her mind.
Once they had arrived, Ignis began leading her towards their mysterious destination. The park was one of the only places in Insomnia, besides maybe the Citadel Garden, where there were trees and grass and foliage everywhere. However all the trees were no longer green, for all the leaves had fallen and the grass was not visible due to the multiple inches of snow covering the ground. The snow everywhere created what quite well could be described as a winter wonderland.
In spite of the beautiful scenery, Honoria still begrudgingly trudged through the park and up the hill in front of her, following diligently behind Ignis. Not noticing him stop, she ran right into the back of him, mumbling a “sorry” for the lack of attention.
“Alright here we are,” he spoke, looking over to her as she glanced past him. In front of them was an open area, surrounded by trees covered in icicles and shrubs shrouded in snow. There was a line drawn in the snow down the middle of the field and two baskets, one sitting on one side and the other on the opposing side. Each carrier was filled to the top with what appeared to be perfectly sculpted snow balls.
“What is this,” she questioned, taking a few step forward, standing ahead of him.
“This is why I dragged you out here today,” Ignis answered, walking past her and down the hill while unbuttoning his jacket.
“What are you doing,” Norrie shivered, “It’s freezing.”
“Honoria,” Ignis called to her, dropping his jacket unto the ground and revealing a green sweater underneath. Seeing that damn sweater again brought red to Norrie’s cheeks, remembering the last time she had seen it and practically begged Ignis to let her wear it. Not one of her finest moments. “You have boasted many times that you can best me in any form of combat so today I wanted to test that hypothesis.”
Honoria peered her eyes unto the advisor and then unto the baskets and repeated that a couple times before shaking her head, “This is ridiculous. Scientia you must have lost your damn mind if you think I’m going to participate in this. It’s cold; I can’t feel my feet and my nose may actually fall off. I’m heading back to the car.” Just as she turned her back to him she was stopped dead in her tracks by the impact of what she could only assume to be a snowball hitting her backside.
Slowly turning back around she locked in on her target, who happened to be glancing around, “Wonder where that came from,” he spoke, pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his nose.
“You’re dead Scientia,” Honoria growled, unzipping her jacket, throwing it to the ground despite the cold and stomping over to her basket.
“There she is,” Ignis exclaimed, rolling up his sleeves, “Rules are you can’t cross that line. Otherwise first person to get hit loses.”
“Perfect,” Honoria nodded, grabbing a snowball, the cold seeping through her gloves, “If you throw a snowball at my face so help me, I will cross this line and end you.”
And with that Honoria was the first to fire the first shot, hurdling the snowball with everything she had at Ignis. He gracefully angling himself out of the way and sent a throw over at her. She ducked and then rolled immediately out of the way as he suddenly sent over another shot. Scooping snow into her hands, she molded a ball of her own and chucked it over at him, to which of course he dodged. Surging back over to her basket and jumping over and under all his throws, Norie grabbed for all of her premade ammunition. Then right after another she sent throw after throw, several snowballs flying right past Iggy’s face.
“Not too shabby Curatrix,” he teased, somehow managing to dodge every shot she took.
“I’d say the same to you but I’m not even breaking a sweat,” she laughed, unbeknownst to her something that sounded sort of like music to the advisor.
“Is that so,” he questioned, “Then perhaps we should make this more interesting.” With those words he turned into what could be described as a snowball firing machine, throwing one after the other causing Honoria to abandon her basket and run all over, dodging every throw through cartwheels, rolls, and hurdles. She then began to notice her footing becoming more unsteadied. Glancing down she noticed ice spreading across the field and glanced over to Ignis to see a dagger thrown in the ground causing the source of the ice.
“Dammit Scientia, that’s cheating,” Honoria yelled, trying to balance herself.
“Only rule was that you couldn’t cross the line,” he bantered back, “Weapons are full game.”
“Love that you didn’t make sure to mention I should bring any today,” she huffed, crouching on the ground and watching him, casually grab for another snow ball. Taking a small knife off of her side she stuck it into the ice and held herself steady. Waiting for him to fire again she made sure the knife was unmovable before placing her foot upon it and shoving herself back towards the basket. She sprung across the ice, and casually scooped up her basket, eyeballing her source of victory.
She took snowball after snowball out of the basket and hurdled them at Ignis who continued to doge every throw but also begin to back up as Norie approached the line. The closer she got the further back he moved. When she had him right where she wanted him she made sure to fired everything she had left before throwing her basket at the tree covered in piles of snow positioned directly above Ignis. Before he could even realize what she was doing she reached into her boot and pulled out a collapsible polearm and threw it through the basket sending it with force into the tree and disrupting the snow. Norie held her breath as she watched the heavy snow fall from the branches and completely pile the royal advisor.
“Oh gods, I went overboard,” she gasped, running over to the mound of snow, “Ignis! Ignis are you alright?”
She began digging through the white powder before a hand burst through the pile and pulled her down. Before she even knew what was happening she was on her back on the snow. Ignis was hovering over her, his hat gone and his hair falling into his eyes, snow decorating his ashen locks. His eyes were shining with a youthfulness Norie had never witnessed before while his cheeks and nose were decorated with a soft blush from the cold.
“It appears I’ve won,” he breathed, leaning on his elbow and a hand positioned on the other side of Honoria’s waist to support himself.
“The hell you did,” she replied, “I covered your ass in snow.”
“True, however the only rules were that you couldn’t cross the line and you had to hit your opponent with a snowball. You did not hit me with a snowball and here you are on my side, indicating you crossed the line. You lost and I won.”
“Oh that’s bull,” Norie shouted, propping herself up on her elbows, her face moving closer to his.
“Maybe so but those were the rules.”
“Okay fine,” she said, finally noticing how he hovered over her, “Then what do you win, bragging rights or were you hoping for something a little more,” she teased.
Noticing how he was positioned, he moved back, “M-my apologies Miss. Curatrix.” As he went to move she stopped him, grabbing his hand and making him halt.
“Don’t be,” she whispered, moving quickly and giving him a quick peck on the cheek, “Congrats Scientia.”
Despite his better judgement he returned the gesture, by placing his hand upon her cheek and kissing her back but upon her lips and not her cheek. She reciprocated by placing her hand over his and grabbing onto the collar of his shirt and pulling him closer. It was strange for Ignis to know better but to not care at that moment in time. She had looked so beautiful when he picked her up and then watching her on the ice made his heart skip beats.
Her lips were soft on his and she tasted of cinnamon and vanilla, an absolutely intoxicating flavor. His free hand ran up and down her sides feeling out every curve, despite the many layers of clothing. Before he even knew what was happening, she managed to roll him over and straddle him, her lips never leaving his. Her hands ran up and down the front of his chest, over the familiar fabric she once worn.
“Nice sweater,” she spoke in between kisses.
“I thought you might like it,” he chuckled, as she pulled away, her face flushed. She was so stunning. But he knew better.
“We should probably get going,” he breathed, propping himself up.
“I hate to admit that you’re right,” she sighed, placing kisses along his jaw and neck, “But I am freezing my ass off.”
“Well how about we go get some food? I did promise to buy,” Ignis asked, moving a strand of hair from Norie’s eyes.
“We could do that,” she agreed, “Or we could go back to my place. Drink some cocoa, watch movies, and cuddle by the fire. Oh, and finish what we have started here. Definitely finish what we started.”
For the first time in his life Ignis didn’t care about what papers awaited him at the Citadel. Didn’t care what meetings he would miss. He didn’t even care that it was incredibly unprofessional of him. In that moment he simply wanted to be with her. He wanted to be warmed by her and spend his spare time with her.
Pulling out the keys from his pocket, he dangled them in front of her, “Should I drive or you?”
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