#goe

Noctis knew it was cluttered, trashy, and unbecoming of a young heir. The infrequent times Regis attempted to venture to the dwelling, he met Noctis with a sour grimace. The king never had to raise his voice to signal disapproval. It could be felt, down to the core of one's bones, and he wielded it like a knight would cherish his sword. Decades later, Noctis—now king—could still feel those pierces. He somewhat envied his father for never teaching him how to hold such power. Nonetheless, Ignis helped pass that weight in his own way.

Noctis remembered coming home to a clean apartment with dinner ready at the table one night. Most young adults living on their own would've thanked the gods, but not he.

"The hell is all of this?"

Ignis looked up from the kitchen counter as he scrubbed away the mess he'd made while cooking. "Glad to see you. It's been a while."

Noctis scoffed. "Seriously?"

"What?"

"We've known each other our whole lives—skip the damn formality," Noctis said bitterly, tossing his backpack toward the table, then hopping onto the couch, ignoring the frown Ignis made.

Ignis adjusted his glasses, quietly observing Noctis for a time. "I take it you had a rough day?"

"Pfft," Noctis shook his head. "Ever since dad sent you to be my maid, my days have felt numbered."

"You know," Ignis said with a breath, "I'd appreciate it if we didn't beat around the bush with each other. I can tell you're upset with me. You have been upset with me for a long time now. I want to know why."

"You're the smart one of my retainers. Figure it out yourself."

"Noct, as you said, we've known each other our whole lives, and you know me well enough to understand I don't enjoy playing games like this."

"Look," Noctis rose from the couch, walking into Ignis's personal space, angrily looking him in the eye as he finally felt resentments boil over. "You're just an extension of my dad, coming into my place, messing it up, and playing my babysitter! Don't pretend you don't judge me—your face says everything, every time I come home and find you here!"

Ignis frowned, shaking his head. "I don't judge, Noct. I worry about you, that's true, but your messes don't make me think any less of you."

"Bullshit!" Noctis spat. "Then why don't you leave everything as is?"

"I assumed you'd like to feel less stressed and overwhelmed." Ignis crossed his arms and sighed.

"Well, this," Noctis gestured widely with his arms toward the cleaned spots, "it's stressing me out!"

Ignis raised his voice. "Why would a clean environment have such an ill effect on you?"

"Because this is all mine!" Noctis shouted. "It's my trash, my business! Don't you get it? I got this place, away from the palace, so that I could figure shit out on my own! To figure myself out! Maybe I am a lazy bum who likes trash everywhere, maybe I'm a clean freak like you—but I won't know that until I get my own hands dirty! I felt so suffocated at home, being perfect all the damn time. So—didn't you ever stop to think I don't want you or anyone touching my crap?"

There were words that Ignis thought of, but they wouldn't leave his mouth as the pieces clicked and he looked at Noctis with revelation and astonishment. He watched as Noctis waved him off, venturing back to the couch to sit with his head in his hands, taking in deep breaths, using the very breathing technique Ignis had taught him years back when Noctis would get anxious. Ignis's smile was brief before he calmly walked over, taking a seat beside Noctis, letting the silence settle between them for a time while he contemplated.

"There are so many ways I could answer, and knowing you, a long-winded essay isn't needed," Ignis started after a time. He let out a breath that had been held for too long, his gaze on the windows looking out to the city lights of Insomnia, seeing his and Noctis's reflections in the glass.

"Noct, I come here to check on you on the king's behalf, but let me make something clear: I don't clean your apartment because of orders from your father. I do it because I want to show my appreciation for you. My love for you."

"I know, I know…" Noctis muttered. "Guess I’m dense for missing it, even after all this time."

"Maybe a bit naive, but I wouldn't say stupid," Ignis remarked and let out a sigh. "You made me realize that I've been projecting my values. I know I have a bad habit of doing that—the same goes for not treating our professional relationship any differently from our intimate one. I realize now you need a version of me that I often bury, for the sake of appearances."

"Is this a fancy way of saying you get where I'm coming from now?" Noctis asked sarcastically.

"More or less," Ignis shrugged. "I've always been solid in my identity, but perhaps I need to let go of my role a little if we're going to continue our relationship."

"I'd argue being an uptight ass comes with the territory," Noctis scoffed with a laugh, furrowing his brows as the last of his anger died out along with whatever quip he had ready to fire. "Ig, do you forgive me?"

Noctis felt the warmth of Ignis's right hand tug at his left arm, getting him to lift his head and glance at him.

"Always, Noct."

The softness of Ignis's smile was too genuine. Noctis knew he didn't deserve it, especially as he felt his hand entwine tightly around Ignis's. He smirked and shook his head, looking down at their tangled fingers.

"Is this some kind of joke, y'know, being sappy like an old couple?"

"Figured you'd ruin a perfectly respectable moment," Ignis chuckled.

"We're opposites. Always have been, always will be."

Noctis felt Ignis press a kiss to his cheek, his smile growing bigger as he looked into his beautiful eyes, those peridot greens staring at him with all the tenderness a man could express for someone he loved.

"That's what makes us a dynamic pair," Ignis whispered.

Noctis opened his eyes as he felt the last of the sun's warmth pepper his face on Galdin Quay, glancing at Ignis yet again, who turned a page, not paying the landscape any heed. Years ago, it would've bothered Noctis, but now, he knew it didn't matter. It didn't matter if he loved quiet sunsets, and Ignis liked to keep his mind busy on the things he was passionate about. It didn't matter that he was and would always be a clean freak, while Noctis would remain somewhat of a slob. It didn't matter that he was a king, and Ignis was his personal adviser.

What mattered was that they loved each other all the same.

Noctis looked down at his left hand, feeling Ignis tenderly squeeze, and briefly met his eyes as he looked up from his book.

"The sunset is quite beautiful this afternoon, wouldn't you agree?" "Yeah," Noctis chuckled, squeezing back as his thumb ran over Ignis's knuckles. "It's as beautiful as whatever ideas you're getting from that book."

Ignis smirked. "Perfect, then?"