#ignisfluffweek

Ignis Scientia Amicitia still preferred to rise before the sun.

Perhaps he could no longer drink in the majestic sight of the star cresting the horizon, the way the sky lightened into a pastel blend of oranges and pinks before fading into the clearest blue. But he could feel the warmth on his face, and that was enough to have him starting the day content.

He had so much to be thankful for, after all, that most days it was easy to avoid dwelling on his loss of vision.

Nearly fifteen years had passed since the Dawn had emerged from the never-ending night. Not a day of those years went by without thoughts of the true King, his dear friend and heart-brother, a truly noble man who had given his very life for his kingdom in fulfillment of prophecy. Most days, it was easy to focus on the good memories. Young Noctis playing in the Citadel’s gardens. Teenage Noct staying up too late playing video games, thick as thieves with young Prompto. And Noctis as he was at end: fully grown, regal, powerful.

And, most of all… loved.

While it had been hard for all of them to move on, the days turned into months, the seasons continued their cycle, and years began to pass. Slowly, they all began to build new lives in this Crystal-less world.

As strange as it had seemed at first to be back in Insomnia, to dwell within a Citadel that held no Lucis Caelums, now Ignis couldn’t image even considering living anywhere else.

He and Gladio may no longer have the same roles they were defined by in their youth - no King meant no Shield, no Royal Advisor - but they did what they could to help the others pick up the pieces of the Lucian government, to keep the people safe and protected. To be fair, it was a much easier task with the Empire eradicated, the daemons gone, but not all people were inherently good, and there were definite issues to sort out.

However, much of their time was given to their loved ones. Given to each other.

If nothing else, their fateful road trip all those years ago had taught the hard lesson that all things were, ultimately, fleeting - and you never knew when your number would be up.

Ignis was drawn out of his early morning musings when he felt the strong arms of his husband wrap around his waist. “Morning, Iggy.”

“Gladio,” he replied softly, tipping his head to brush lips softly against the other man’s jawline.

They stood that way, lovingly entwined, until the sun finished climbing over the hills to shed its radiant light over Insomnia.

Gladio checked his watch. “They should be here in an hour.” Ignis could hear the grin in his partner’s voice. “Though with how Prompto drives, maybe sooner.”

Ignis chuckled. “Cindy keeps him in check, most the time. But, we should complete our preparations now, just in case.”

The two worked in tandem, Gladio tidying away a bit of clutter while Ignis put the finishing touches on the brunch he had largely pre-made for their group.

The first Saturday of each month, barring unavoidable conflict (which arose more often than any of them would like), their chosen family congregated for brunch, conversation, and just… togetherness.

Their group was a bit smaller, as a natural result of the years. Cid was no longer with them, and Cor the Immortal had failed to live up to his moniker two years ago. Aranea had sent word that she’d be absent this month, and Talcott would also be detained. In fact, many of their dear friends were unavailable on this bright, spring day.

But Prompto, Cindy, and their young daughter would be coming. And Iris would be there.

That was enough.

Ignis smiled as he worked, thinking of the young Argentum lass, a girl with hair as sunny as both her parents, he was told, with Prompto’s brilliant violet-blue eyes, and Cindy’s ready smile. Luciana was her name, and it was a name heavy with significance - the poor girl had so many namesakes, Ignis was relieved to know that with parents like hers, she’d never feel pressure to live up to the legends.

Noctis Lucis Caelum.

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret.

Gentiana.

Muttering to himself in irritation at growing maudlin, Ignis swiped away the moisture that had gathered at his scarred eyes. Almost immediately he felt Gladio’s large hand lay gently on his shoulder.

“You okay?” Gladio asked gruffly. Ignis wasn’t the only one who got emotional on their monthly gathering days.

“Quite,” he replied, slanting a smile towards his love, before returning his attention to his preparations.

Rapid knocking at their door that one might think was from young Luciana - if one didn’t realize Prompto’s boundless energy hadn’t dampened much over the years - announced the arrival of their guests.

“Hey, y’all,” Cindy’s voice rang out cheerfully. “Lucy, honey, don’t run!”

“Uncle Gladio! Uncle Iggy!” The child’s voice was sprightly and brought a smile to both of her honorary uncles’ faces.

Ignis could hear the sounds of Gladio picking up the girl and swinging her around, the child’s giggles filling the air.

“Hey, big guy!” Ignis marked Prompto’s progress into their home by the sound of his voice, his footsteps. Such had become second-nature to him over the past decades. “Ooh, what’s cookin’, Igs?” Ignis felt his friend punch his shoulder playfully, as he presumably leaned in to check out the spread Ignis had prepared.

“Help me take it all to the table,” Ignis requested. While he and Prompto carried out the food, Gladio oversaw Luciana’s efforts to set the table, and Cindy enjoyed getting off her feet for a change. Iris arrived just as they were finishing, and after she and Gladio exchanged body-crushing hugs in a playful test of strength, she’d greeted her brother-in-law and the rest with more reasonable gestures of affection.

Soon they were all gathered around the large table Ignis had insisted upon, the immense piece of furniture filling their dining room, leaving just enough room for the numerous chairs lining all sides.

Ignis felt his heart fill with love for these people.

Prompto, the gunslinger turned mechanic, after he had finally won over Cindy after a years-long effort to court the woman. While he still mourned his best friend’s death, as did they all, Prompto had found a new joy in his family, and did everything he could to ensure their happiness.

Cindy herself had become a close friend over the years, her never-ending cheer and optimism a saving grace at times when it seemed to hard for him to go on after his King’s sacrifice. They had all mourned with her at Cid’s passing.

Luciana, the child he spoiled in lieu of having any of his own. The girl gave them all hope for the future, just by fact of her existence.

Iris, his sister-in-law with whom he had long since dropped the “in-law”. She was distinguishing herself as Commander of the Crownsguard, and was quick to defend her unit to any foolish enough to wonder in her presence what use was there for a Crownsguard without a crown to guard. An Amicitia to the core, she was the embodiment of honor. She was also quite the prankster, engaged in a years-long contest of hilarity with her brother.

Gladio. Six, what could he say about Gladio? He was, unquestionably, the love of Ignis’s life. His rock, his strength, his joy, his light.

They were two halves of one whole, Gladiolus and himself. They had known each other for so long, had their lives tied together in so many irrevocable ways long before binding themselves in matrimony, that the wedding almost seemed an afterthought.

If Ignis had one goal for what was left of his life, it was to start every day waking up next to Gladio. And end each night in his arms.

May the Astrals grant them many long, peaceful years.

No one could deny they had earned it.

When the meal was finished and the dishes cleared away, the group adjourned to the gardens. Gladio had turned out to have a surprisingly green thumb, and the one-time Shield had planted and maintained this particular section himself over the years, describing it in such vivid detail Ignis had a clear picture of it’s beauty in his mind’s eye.

Prompto and Lucy ran around, darting between the trees in a chasing game, the father shrieking in delight almost as often as his daughter. Ignis sat beside Gladio, their clasped hands resting on the soft grass as they spoke with Iris and Cindy.

For many, this might seem incredibly pedestrian. Boring, even.

For Ignis, a day like this was perfection.

After several enjoyable hours, it was time for the Argentums to head back to Hammerhead. As Cindy was fond of saying, the cars at the garage weren’t gonna fix themselves. With fond farewells, they took their leave of the Scientia-Amicitia household. Iris didn’t linger long after their departure. Since she also dwelt in the Citadel, they saw each other on a nearly daily basis, and with her rank came a plethora of responsibility.

When it was just the two of them lingering in the afterglow of warm companionship, Ignis turned sightless eyes in the direction of his husband. “Let’s go home,” he suggested, thumb straying from their handclasp to caress Gladio’s wrist suggestively.

“You got it,” Gladio agreed, hauling Ignis to his feet as an unintentional byproduct of rising to his own.

While Ignis hardly needed the other man’s guidance to find their quarters, he wasn’t unamenable to the help. One thing years of living without sight had taught him was that it was refreshing, at times, to let down his guard, relax his hyper-vigilance, and let someone trusted ensure he made it where he was going without incident.

Sometimes it was nice for the caretaker to be taken care of.

Gladio had barely gotten the door closed before Ignis pounced. Using the hand still held in his own, he spun his lover around and pinned him to the door, pressing his body against him urgently, his lips claiming Gladio’s in an impatient, needy kiss.

“Not that I’m complaining,” Gladio managed to say when Ignis turned his attention to nibbling down one side of the larger man’s neck. “But what brought this on?”

Ignis faltered slightly in his rhythm, and eased off just enough to breath a nearly inaudible response. “I’m just… happy.”

It was the truth. Days like this left him almost overwhelmingly joyous.

There had been great loss. Great sacrifice. Debts that could never be repaid.

But, by the Six, he was alive, Gladio was alive, and he knew their lost friends would rejoice in their living.

So he’d live, damn it.

He’d seize every day like it was his last, make the most of every moment, live life to it’s fullest with no regrets.

And right here, right now, there was nothing he wanted more than to make love to his husband until sleep claimed them both.

Ignis’s hands went to Gladio’s belt, undoing the clasp with practiced ease, reaching one slender hand within the other man’s pants to find him already half-hard. As Ignis stroked the smooth heat of Gladio’s cock, he felt it grow beneath his fingers, and a familiar smirk curled his lips where they worked over Gladio’s collarbone.

“Iggy,” Gladio moaned, one hand bracing against the wall for support, the other reaching to pull Ignis up for a rough kiss, more teeth and tongues than lips, as their mouths fought for dominance.

“Gladiolus,” Ignis’s impeccably accented voice purred his husband’s name as he continued to pump his hand over the other man’s length.

“Gods, Ignis…” Gladio’s head fell back to thud against the hardwood of the door. He moved one hand to tangle in Ignis’s hair, lushly soft beneath his calloused fingers, free from styling products today.

Right here. Right now.

Ignis released his hold on Gladio long enough to remove his pants, a pleased sound escaping from between his lips when he heard the rustling sounds of Gladio doing the same with his own.

“Prepare yourself for me, love,” Ignis instructed.

Gladio was quick to comply, Ignis inferred from his husband’s moans. He had intimate familiarity with the sounds Gladiolus made when fingering his own ass.

They were almost as delicious as those he made when Ignis did the job for him.

Ignis stroked a hand over his own shaft, though he hardly needed the touch - he was achingly hard, and he could tell he wouldn’t last long. But, Ignis couldn’t resist teasing himself just a bit, listening enraptured to the heaviness of Gladio’s breath, the way he’d gasp when he added another finger, the lewd moan that escaped Gladio after long moments, the throaty sound letting Ignis know his lover was ready for him.

“Turn around,” Ignis said, and he reached out a hand to stroke the smooth planes of Gladio’s back. Taking his cock in hand, Ignis brushed the head teasingly along Gladio’s asscrack, leaning forward to lick and kiss the side of his neck, making his way from shoulder to ear. “Are you ready, my love?”

“Oh, gods, yes…” Gladio said. “Now, Iggy. Now.”

Ignis penetrated him in one smooth motion, and they simultaneously called out each other’s names. After giving Gladio a moment to adjust to the sensation of being so completely filled, Ignis began to move. Slim hips rocked at a bruising pace as he continued to press kisses against the other man’s neck, occasionally punctuating the loving touches with sharp bites.

“Mine,” Ignis growled, though he feared his voice was breathier than anticipated. He was already so painfully close.

“Yeah,” Gladio agreed, reaching to fist his hand in Ignis’s now sweat-damp hair. “Mine.”

“Oh, fuck…” The pleasurable pain of fingers tight against his scalp pushed Ignis over the edge, and he came hard, his husband’s name on his lips. “Gladio!”

“That’s right,” Gladio said, voice low. “Don’t stop. Take me there with you, Iggy.” Gladio let go of Ignis’s hair and gripped his own cock, pumping in rhythm with Ignis’s thrusts. He pushed his hips back against Ignis, fucking himself on his lover’s cock as Ignis was lost in the aftermath of his orgasm. “Oh, fuck yeah…Ignis!” Gladio flattened the hand not wrapped around himself against the door for balance as he reached his peak, groaning loudly as he watched his orgasm splatter against the floor.

Ignis focused on his breathing, coming back to himself slowly, heart still pounding. He leaned against Gladio, and could feel how soaked their shirts were with sweat. After pulling out, he bonelessly slid to sit on the floor, smiling lazily when he felt Gladio sit beside him. When a though occurred to him, he laughed, the sound sharp and bright in the silence of the room.

Without Gladio even needing to ask, he explained, “Did we even think to lock that door?”

Gladio’s voice joined his in laughter then, and Ignis felt it was the perfect end to a wonderful day, sitting pressed to his husband’s side, both of them covered in the sweaty aftermath of amazingly passionate sex, lost in joyful laughter.

Noctis frowned as his phone was connected to voicemail. Again. He’d been trying to reach his advisor for an hour, and each time it was the same - ringing and ringing, until the voicemail greeting played. Typically when he called Specs, the other man picked up practically before the first ring finished sounding. This was highly unusual, and while it wasn’t an emergency or anything, Noct was starting to feel a bit concerned.

“He’s still not picking up,” he said to his friend Prompto, who was sitting on the floor in front of the tv, their video game paused.

“Weird!” Prompto exclaimed. “Maybe… he forgot to charge it?”

Noctis snorted. “This is Specs we’re talking about,” he argued. “He doesn’t forget anything.”

“Maybe he got pulled into an extra session with the Council?” Prompto wondered. “Check the shared calendar!”

“Right… good idea,” Noct said, doing just that. A few swipes and taps later, he was looking at today’s schedule in a shared screen that let him see Ignis’s and Gladio’s appointments, as well as his own. “Huh… there’s nothing listed.”

Prompto shrugged. “I dunno, buddy. Maybe he’s sleeping? It is kinda late.”

Noctis paced a bit. Hearing his friend’s suggestion, he shook his head. “I’m calling Gladio.”

When his Shield answered the phone it was hard to hear him. It sounded to Noct like Gladio was out at a bar or club or something from the loud cacophony coming through the phone speaker.

“What?” was Gladio’s terse greeting.

“I can’t get a hold of Ignis.” Noctis wasted no words on small talk.

He heard Gladio chuckle. “Iggy’s fine. He’s with me.”

“But he always answers his phone,” Noct said insistently, still a touch worried despite knowing Ignis was safe.

“Give him the night off, Prince Charmless,” Gladio said. “He’s off tomorrow… er, today,” he corrected himself, noting the time. Relenting a bit, Gladio asked, “Did you actually need something urgent? I can put him on the phone.”

Noctis was embarrassed to realize he’d gotten so caught up in trying to figure out why Ignis wasn’t answering his phone, that he had forgotten why was trying to reach his chamberlain in the first place. “Nah, that’s okay. Thanks, Gladio.”

“Yep.” With that, Gladio hung up.

“He’s out with Gladio,” Noctis explained to Prompto as he walked over to sit by his friend, picking up his controller to resume their game. “Probably couldn’t hear his phone.”

“The Igster, not hear his phone? Come on, Noct,” Prompto laughed. “He keeps it cranked up so loud, I’m surprised we couldn’t hear it ring.” His face turned devious. “Something’s up.”

“Huh?” Noctis blinked at his friend’s mischievous expression.

“Where do you think they are? Let’s find ‘em and see what’s up!” Prompto suggested. “We can finish this game tomorrow.”

“Yeah… okay,” Noct agreed. He wasn’t really big on crowds, or loud music, but he couldn’t deny the truth in his friend’s words. Even when Ignis did take a rare day - or night - off, he had his ringer at max and phone on vibrate. On the off chance he didn’t hear it, he’d certainly feel it buzzing in his pocket. “They’re probably at that new club, The Coeurl’s Meow. I heard Gladio mentioning they were getting in a lot of new bands.”

“Alright, let’s go!”

A short walk brought the two young men to the club in question. After paying the cover charge and getting the bright red hand stamp showing they were underage and not to be served alcohol, they walked in and began looking around.

Astrals, it was loud. Noctis winced as the pound of the drums and the scream of the electric guitar assailed his senses. And that was nothing compared to the underlying din of so many people crammed together in one venue. Ugh. How could Ignis and Gladio actually enjoy this? How could anyone enjoy this?

“Hey, this band’s not bad!” Prompto said, a bounce in his step, in time with the beat.

“Yeah,” Noct agreed absently, cerulean eyes scanning the horde, figuring he’d see Iggy’s gelled up hair standing out above the crowd. If not, Gladio was huge, and shouldn’t be too hard to find.

He saw his behemoth-sized bodyguard first, and walked over to the large man, Prompto on his heels. “Gladio!” Noct shouted so he’d be heard.

The Shield turned his head, regarding the Prince and his friend with surprise. “Uh… Noct. Prompto.” A slight frown wrinkled his sun-bronzed forehead. “What’re you two doing here? Not really your scene.”

“We wanted to see what’s up with Iggy!” Prompto announced gleefully.

“Nothing. Go home,” Gladio growled.

While Prompto argued with Gladio, spouting forth crazier and crazier theories about Ignis and his phone, Noctis resumed scanning the crowd. They’d found Gladio, surely Ignis wasn’t far…

Oh.

Six.

Noctis found Ignis on the dance floor, a small space cleared around him by other revelers. It was immediately apparent why - Ignis was dancing with the same acrobatic passion he brought to his sparring. There was a ring of people around him cheering and clapping at his especially flashy moves. And some of those moves…

“Gods,” Noct muttered, cheeks darkening with a blush when Ignis rolled his hips in an exaggerated movement with the pulse of the song. The Prince grabbed Prompto’s arm. “Let’s go home. Need brain bleach. Why’d I let you talk me in to this?”

“Wha…?” Prompto turned to see what had his friend in a tizzy. He saw Ignis tearing up the dance floor and started laughing. “Oh, man! Didn’t know he had it in him!” The blonde grinned broadly. “It’s always the quiet ones, huh?”

“Can we go home? Please?” Noctis practically begged.

Gladio scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Don’t act so scandalized, Princess. Yeah, so Iggy likes to dance. So what?”

“At least it explains why he didn’t answer his phone!” Prompto said cheerfully, eyes glued to the cavorting tactician.

As the song ended, Noctis realized he’d lost his chance to slip out, since Ignis was walking right towards them, and even he knew how rude that would be. “H-hey, Specs,” he said a bit weakly, offering a wave.

“Noctis!” Ignis said, voice blurred with the alcohol he’d obviously been imbibing. “And Prompto!” The advisor grinned, green eyes bright, face flushed with exertion and shining with sweat. “Wonderful band tonight! Good of you to make it!” His handsome face settled into confusion for a moment, and he turned to his companion. “Gladio, were we expecting them to join us?”

“Uh, no. Surprise?” Gladio said with a chuckle, reaching out to steady Ignis. For a man who could dance so gracefully while in his cups, standing upright while still seemed to be a challenge.

Ignis stepped closer and leaned against Gladio, ostensibly for balance, though Noctis and Prompto both noticed the Shield’s arm wrapping around the other man’s waist in a familiar manner.

Was this… a date?

“Sorry for interrupting,” Noctis said, looking at his shoes, at the posters on the wall, anywhere but at the strangely intimate sight of his two oldest friends practically cuddling in the middle of the club.

“It’s no problem,” Gladio said.

“The more the merrier!” Ignis said grandly, sweeping an arm in what would have been a regally permissive gesture if not for the fact that the motion caused him to fall the rest of the way into Gladio’s lap. Rather than immediately extricating himself, Ignis looked up at Gladio with an expression Noctis could have really done without ever seeing on his advisor’s face.

Prompto cackled at the sight, taking it all in stride.

Noctis just sighed. “That is hardly appropriate.”

“Today’s my day off,” Ignis explained in the earnest voice of the extremely inebriated, before standing up and pressing a brief kiss to Gladio’s cheek. “This is a good song,” he explained before going back out to the dance floor, quickly losing himself in the music.

Gladio looked at the two younger men and smirked, arching an eyebrow, amber eyes filled with amusement. “Unless you want to watch me go dance very, very close to Iggy… might wanna leave.” The Shield stood and stretched, then headed away from the younger men.

Noctis didn’t waste time with words. He grabbed Prompto’s hand and practically dragged his laughing friend out of the club.

Snow fell steadily throughout the day, blanketing Insomnia in shimmering white. As day faded into evening, and evening darkened into night, the precipitation showed no sign of abating. Something about the heavy layer of snow covering all the trees and cars lent a quiet to the bustling city, even as people hustled and bustled about. It was New Year’s Eve, and the general populace was celebrating another prosperous year under the reign of the Lucis Caelum dynasty.

Ignis Scientia was finally leaving the Citadel - much later then he had planned, but nothing to help that, now. He was hoping traffic wouldn’t be too thick as he made his way to Noctis’s apartment. The Prince had requested all his friends’ presence for what promised to be a low key - Ignis hoped - New Year’s celebration.

The young tactician was pleased with his foresight. He had batch cooked during the week, preparing various finger foods and desserts for the evening ahead. Since it was a holiday, he hadn’t even tried to sneak in any vegetables - Noct would eat well tonight.

Navigating the Insomnian streets with practiced ease, Ignis let his mind wander. It had been an eventful year, but that was nothing new. Talks with Nifelheim were proceeding at such a glacial pace, one could hardly say progress had been made at all, but at least war wasn’t on the horizon for the immediate future. Noctis had managed to pass all his classes for the fall semester, and even made a new friend - the bubbly Prompto Argentum. While Ignis had his doubts about the youth at first, he had to admit that Prompto had been a positive influence on Noctis - and his company certainly made the Prince happy.

Ignis, too, was pleased with his own progress over the last year. He had continued his combat training, and was becoming quite adept with both lances and daggers. More impressively, he had begun to master the basics of drawing on the Lucian Kings’ magic, a power granted only to their most trusted retainers.

Ignis was determined to never fail that trust.

On a more personal note, he was pleased to note his relationship with Noctis had firmly settled into a sort of brotherly camaraderie. Certainly there were times when Ignis had to firmly insist that His Highness pay more attention to his royal duties, but all-in-all, Ignis felt he had achieved a good balance between friend and chamberlain.

He had begun to build a friendship with young Prompto, as well. Once he discovered the boy’s penchant for art, he insisted the man join him for gallery showings and the like. As an added benefit, Noctis was thrilled to not have Prompto dragging him to all the art shows.

And then, there was Gladiolus.

Ignis had known Gladio for as long as he could remember. The Amicitias had been in Insominia for generations, after all. When Ignis had been chosen to be groomed as the young Prince’s advisor, Gladio had already been training in his role as future Shield. As the first born child of the current King’s Shield, he was born to the position, much as Noctis was born unto his.

The advisor admired Gladio greatly. He was disciplined in his training, dedicated to his duty, yet still managed to settle into an easy friendship with Noctis, having no problem including Prompto in his sometimes gruff, yet well-meaning care.

And, Six… Gladiolus Amicitia was the most handsome man Ignis had ever met.

Not that he’d ever say anything, of course. Ignis was no fool. Gladio was a nobleman, and he, a commoner. Furthermore, as retainers to the future King, neither of them had any place pursuing deep personal connections. No. Romance was simply out of the question.

But… the was no harm in looking.

Ignis parked his car and gathered up the containers of food he had prepared. Heading into the building, he nodded politely to the doorman. Ignis was here often enough that his presence was unremarkable, and after he got off the elevator on Noct’s floor, he let himself into the Prince’s apartment.

Entering the spacious foyer, Ignis smiled. It seemed the party was already well underway. He could hear the shrill noise of the boys’ current favorite video game, both Noctis and Prompto alternately trash talking each other, and cheering their progress.

Ignis walked into the kitchen and began to set out the food. Most of it could be served as is, but there were a couple dishes he wished to heat up. No stranger to Noctis’s kitchen, he made himself at home, quickly lost in the rhythm of preparation, Noct and Prompto’s chatter a cheerful backdrop to his work.

“Hey, Iggy,” Gladio said as he walked to stand nearby, but out of Ignis’s way. “Need any help?”

“No, thank you, Gladiolus,” Ignis said, offering the larger man a brief, friendly smile as he finished his preparations in short order. “Not much to be done but enjoy ourselves, it seems.”

Gladio grinned. “You mean you’re gonna relax?”

Ignis smirked. “As much as I ever do,” he responded cheekily.

The Shield made a noise half groan and half laugh. “Dude, it’s New Year’s Eve. The food looks great, the kids are happy with their game.” He gave Ignis a cajoling smile. “Take a load off for once, yeah?”

After laying out one last platter, fussing with the placement perhaps longer than strictly necessary, Ignis turned to Gladio, holding up his hands in surrender. “You’re right. There’s nothing left for me to do.” He quirked an inquisitive brow. “Care for a drink?”

“Hell yes!” Gladio agreed enthusiastically.

Ignis poured himself a scotch, and grabbed a beer for Gladio, before seating himself at the table. While he loved the Prince, and enjoyed Prompto, he had little desire to get closer to the noise generated by their game. “How was your year, Gladiolus? Everything you hoped for?”

“Almost,” the bodyguard replied a bit enigmatically. “Can’t really complain though.” He took a generous swig of his beer. “Yours?”

“Quite satisfactory,” Ignis said with a nod. Truly, he lived a blessed life, if a busy one.

Gladio leaned forward in his seat, amber eyes alight with curiosity. “Any goals for the coming year?” He snickered. “Are you a ‘resolutioner’, Iggy?”

The chamberlain scoffed. “Certainly not,” he demurred. “While I do, of course, have goals in mind, they have little to do with the turning of the year.”

“Yeah,” Gladio said, absently tearing at the label on his beer bottle. “Me, too.”

They sat in quiet companionship for a while, the peace only disturbed by the sounds of the video game, and Noctis and Prompto’s never-ending banter.

“Hey, Iggy?” Gladio asked, his voice surprisingly hesitant.

“Yes?”

The Shield leaned forward, his tall frame allowing him to close the distance between them with no difficulty, and pressed a soft, tender kiss against Ignis’s lips. He drew back slowly, a flush darkening his suntanned cheeks, and smiled almost self-consciously.

“Happy New Year, Ignis.”

Ignis lifted a hand to ghost fingertips over his tingling lips, emerald eyes wide in surprise. Gladio had… but they… and he… surely, not…

“Astrals,” Ignis muttered bemusedly, then leaned forward and claimed Gladio’s lips with his own. “Happy New Year, Gladiolus.”

While the video game sounds continued, Noctis and Prompto had fallen completely silent. Well, it was a bit much to hope they hadn’t noticed the… interactions… between the Shield and the Advisor, Ignis mused. After a moment, Ignis could hear Noctis mutter something indecipherable to Prompto that elicited a giggle from the blonde.

He couldn’t find it in himself to regret his actions. And he delighted in Gladio’s.

“Iggy,” Gladio growled the diminutive loudly enough to be heard in the kitchen. He hoped. When no response was forthcoming, the Shield sighed, and tried to make himself as comfortable as he could, given the circumstances.

This day was off to an interesting start, to say the least. Gladio had, miraculously, woken up before his partner. He opted for an early morning run, wanting to let Ignis catch as much sleep as the overworked man could manage. When Gladio returned home, he tried to be quiet, Astrals take him, he did…but when he slid back into bed to cuddle up to his lover, still held firmly in sleep’s warm embrace, he couldn’t help the soft moan that slipped out when he felt the intoxicating press of Ignis’s body against his.

Ignis was not a morning person. It was perhaps surprising, given how early the Royal Advisor started his days. Just because he arose so early to tend his duties didn’t mean he liked it.

He positively detested it before his morning Ebony.

In particular, Ignis held a particular distaste for talking before having his first cuppa. Gladio was well aware of this fact. It wasn’t normally an issue, since typically Ignis woke up first. However, there was the rare day like today when their roles were reversed and Gladio was the early riser. He had long since learned not to attempt to make the coffee for Ignis - the man was quite particular when it came to his Ebony.

Gladio could feel the exact moment his boyfriend started to wake up. Ignis’s body tensed against his, and a long moment later, green eyes blurred with the afterimage of whatever dreams he’d been chasing opened to regard Gladio, warming as his lips curved in a tired smile.

“Mornin’,” Gladio said quietly, pressing a kiss to Ignis’s forehead. “Sleep well?”

Ignis held up a hand - the gesture half command, half supplication.

He was clearly not ready to talk quite yet. But Gladio just couldn’t help it. He’d been up for hours and he wanted to tell Ignis all about them. One of his favorite parts about living with his lover was being able to share all the minutiae of their days. Gladio began to ramble about his morning run, watching the sunrise, people watching… whatever came to mind.

He failed to notice how incredibly still and silent Ignis had become.

Or the way his partner’s green eyes had started to twitch.

“Gladiolus,” Ignis finally spoke. “Please.” He squirmed free of the larger man’s arms. “Coffee.”

“Yeah!” Gladio agreed. “I’ll help you!”

“You’ll do no such thing!” Ignis snapped as he pushed his glasses into place, adjusting them until they rested perfectly on the bridge of his nose.

“But…” Gladio would fight anyone who said he pouted. But… there wasn’t really a better word for his facial expression.

“Gladio…” Ignis’s smooth voice purred the word almost warningly, though the tone was a hint playful.

The two men locked eyes for several long moments, until finally a smirk curled Ignis’s lips, eyes dark with a mixture of amusement and his intense need for caffeine.

“Since you seem determined to make a nuisance of yourself,” the tactictian drawled lazily, “Perhaps I should ensure you are unable to do so.”

Gladio couldn’t help it. He moaned.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “That’s a good idea.”

He went along agreeably as Ignis led him into the living room, keeping his body pliant as his lover arranged him to his satisfaction, quite comfortably seating him in an overstuffed armchair large enough for the two of them to squeeze in for lazy reading nights.

Gladio’s breath hitched in his throat quite audibly when Ignis began to weave intricate ropework around both Gladio’s body and the chair. In short order, the Shield was going nowhere.

Ignis sighed. “Coffee,” he said simply, and walked into the kitchen.

Gladio watched until he couldn’t see the other man any more. He heard the familiar sounds of the beans being ground, the water being set to boil. After a while, the apartment was flooded with the delectable aroma of freshly brewed Ebony.

Expectantly, Gladio kept his amber visage trained on the direction leading to the kitchen, but as the minutes continued to tick away without any sign of his boyfriend, he began to get a bit impatient. Tugging at the ropes, he cursed under his breath. He wasn’t getting free anytime soon.

The realization was simultaneously frustrating, and arousing.

After the sun had risen far enough to shine brightly in the large bay windows, Ignis finally walked into the living room, his face alight in a happy smile, hands wrapped protectively around a large, steaming mug.

“And that… is how you make the perfect cup of Ebony,” he said a bit dramatically. “In silence, the way the first cup of coffee is meant to be enjoyed.”