Chapter summary: Ignis and Nyx grow closer over conversations, coffee, and pastries (and maybe something more); Day 2 for @ignyxweek ; Prompt used: cultural differences
Nyx met up with Ignis at his apartment the following week. He lived in a swanky area close to the Citadel where he worked. Nyx wasn’t sure why he found it so surprising, especially after learning what he did for a living. It was a far cry from the moderate, single bedroom apartment he had where he could hear his neighbor’s baby crying at night through the paper thin walls.
Ignis welcomed him inside as he brushed his bangs from his forehead, dressed much differently this time around. Nyx let his gaze linger on those lean, slender arms that were swallowed by the pushed up sleeves of his too large sweatshirt. Splatters of paint decorated the jeans that hugged his hips and the bottom cuffs were rolled up, exposing his bare feet. Nyx barely even registered the rest of his apartment, noting only the grey sofa as they walked by. Ignis pointed out the bathroom to him in case he needed it and then opened the last door on the left of the hall.
A large drop cloth covered a section of the floor where Ignis had his easel set up with a blank canvas. There was an entire shelf just for his supplies - inks, paints, brushes, charcoal, pastels, chalk, pencils, and various other markers and pens. He was a bit in awe. Art work decorated the walls, unsurprisingly, and varied between still life to landscapes to portraits. He turned to Ignis and gestured to them. “Did you do all of these?”
I'm on mobile, so for the ease of reading and posting you can read it at my AO3
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Written for Day 5 for @ignyxweek
Prompt used: Showing off - I decided to take this in a less literal sense, allowing Ignis to glimpse Nyx's life instead.
Chapter word count: 2162
Any warnings: None
Summary: Nyx gives Ignis a surprise invitation, opening up and showing off a bit of his (albeit special) day to day
Once tumblr gets its act together I will include a link, but if you’re following me on AO3, know that you can find the update there as well!
Ignis was pretty proud of his work for class so far. Nyx had been a wonderful and understanding partner who tried half a dozen poses over the last few meetings before Ignis believed he'd found the right image he'd wanted to convey. He promised then, to take him out properly as thanks once they were done.
It was closing time on Friday, and while Ignis usually didn't mind hanging around to finish some last minute work, he was eager to head home. He had one week until the showcase with the day before being his turn in date. There was a lot to do, but Nyx had agreed to come over to Ignis' apartment bright and early tomorrow so he could begin. He was looking forward to truly getting started, and to see Nyx of course.
There was a message from Nyx that Ignis checked as he headed down to the garage. It was only two words - two words that made his stomach flip flop - and he was unsure how he should interpret them: call me. He put his belongings in the back and worried the side of his thumb as he debated on if he should call right away. He hadn't specified that it was an emergency… wouldn't it look desperate if he called immediately after getting off work? With a deep sigh, Ignis pressed call and got into the car. In the end it seemed silly to worry over such a thing when Nyx was expecting his call regardless. He switched over to speaker phone as he backed out the parking spot and then headed towards the garage exit.
“Hey! There you are!” Nyx exclaimed in greeting.
Ignis couldn't contain his smile. “You sound like you’re in a lovely mood.”
“Oh, because I am. Ask me why.”
He laughed lightly as he merged out into traffic. “Why are you in such a good mood?”
“Because this really cool, good looking guy I know is going to come by the bar now that he's off work and join me for some food - that I'm cooking - and a drink that I'm pretty sure is well deserved.”
“Are you… inviting me over?” Ignis asked, a bit surprised.
“Yes, and I'm making it a requirement. Dinner is almost ready so you can't say no. Just bring yourself and your appetite, I'll text you the address.”
Before Ignis could reply, Nyx chirped out a see you soon and hung up. His phone chimed a few moments later, and once at a red light Ignis pulled the message up. An address was highlighted with a message telling him work attire wasn't permitted and to change first.
Ignis shook his head and set the phone down, eager for a green light. It was the first time Nyx had taken the initiative to ask him to do something besides their trip to Little Galahd a week ago to visit the shops he'd promised to take Ignis to. Going to his bar wouldn't be so bad. Inviting Nyx to model for him had opened up Ignis’ life to him, he was more than ready to reciprocate, to learn about him and see him in his element.
It didn't take long to reach his apartment and Ignis happily headed up to his loft. He quickly showered, just to get loosened up after hours at the office, and then he stood before his closet, trying to decide on what to wear. When all else failed, he supposed he couldn't go wrong with black. He slipped into the pair of dark jeans and grinned as a shirt caught his attention. He layered the button-up, the color reminiscent of Nyx's eyes, over the black tank. He pulled on his jacket and then hurried to fix his hair, opting to leave it down. Once satisfied, he snatched up his keys and sent Nyx a message to let him know he was on the way.
It was a pleasant drive to the bar,cutting across Insomnia toward Little Galahd. He parked and looked up at the quaint building, Selena's lit up above the entrance. He walked up to the door and tried it, only to find it locked. “Odd,” he murmured to himself before pulling out his phone.
He sent him a quick message that he was there. The sound of the locks turning came a few minutes later and Ignis smiled, yet it wasn't Nyx that answered. His eyes widened at the petite frame, the dark eyes that lit up in warm surprise. “Ignis!”
“Hello, Crowe,” he greeted with a smile.
“So you are the special guest Nyx mentioned,” she teased as she let him in.
“Special guest?”
“For his birthday dinner,” she replied with an amused smile as she took in the surprised expression that flitted over his face. “He didn't tell you.”
“No, I'm afraid he left that out.”
She jerked her head as she turned. “Come on, follow me. We just got everything ready.”
Ignis couldn't believe that Nyx hadn't mentioned it was his birthday. They had talked plenty but it never came up once. A spice rich aroma hung in the air just beyond the entrance hall and warmed him as he breathed it in. It smelled heavenly. Cheap tinsel hung in the corners of the ‘Happy Birthday’ banner above the bar, and Ignis paused, smiling wide as he spotted Nyx with a bottle of beer in hand and a birthday hat on his head.
From there he could only let his eyes rake over him and the gentle way his T-shirt clung to his chest, the apron tied around his waist. He returned Nyx's smile as he followed Crowe towards the table. “Don't you look festive.”
Nyx set his beer down and picked up an extra hat. “And you don't so-” He stepped closer with a chuckle and put the hat on Ignis’ head, being careful not to snap the elastic string as he’d done with Crowe - who smacked him and now refused to wear one.
Ignis could only hold his gaze,a smile threatening to take over at any moment. “You didn't tell me this was for your birthday.”
“I knew you'd still come.”
“I would've planned better, gotten you a gift or something.” So caught in Nyx's eyes, the warmth of his proximity, that he missed the look Crowe sent to the other man in the room he’d yet to meet and mouthed something as she wiggled her eyebrows.
“You being here leaves me wanting nothing else.” He pulled away and poked at the hat, finding the slight blush to Ignis’ cheeks a present in itself. “Come on, grab a drink and have a seat!”
Ignis accepted a plain amber bottle capped with a swing topper before sitting in the vacant chair Nyx patted next to Crowe. She smiled and pointed across the table. “This is Libertus.”
The man smiled in greeting, his cheeks pink as if he'd already had a few drinks. “It's good to finally meet you after hearing Nyx talk about you all the time. I was starting to think you weren't real.”
Nyx pulled a face and nudged him before chuckling a bit nervously. It was cute. “I don't talk about you all the time .”
“Sure you don't... I mean I know I make for a wonderful conversation piece,” he teased.
Nyx untied his apron and tossed it onto the counter before sitting next to him with a grin. “You guys heard that right? That sounded like permission to keep talking about him.”
Crowe laughed. “Please, no, you talk enough.”
Ignis held up his hands. “Alright, I rescind my previous statement, no more talking about me. I want your friends to like me,” he scoffed, “not be tired of me before meeting me.”
Libertus lifted his beer. “Hey, I like you already.”
Ignis looked back to the chilled bottle in front of him. “What is this anyway?”
Nyx turned a beaming smile at him. “This is our baby. It's a brew that me and Lib came up with. It's really close to a beer we had in Galahd. It's our own little taste of home, perfect to drink with our dinner tonight.”
Ignis looked over the impressive spread on the table: shredded meat, richly colored sauces, rice, and a variety of both pickled and roasted vegetables. “That looks and smells amazing.”
“It's about as authentic as I can get. Anak isn't the usual meat of choice, but slow cooking it is similar enough. Dig in guys.”
“You're the birthday boy, you dig in,” Crowe countered.
Ignis sampled the beer as they playfully bickered. He preferred liquor to beer, but he could appreciate the drink, the culmination of flavors and time spent lovingly perfecting it - especially since Nyx made it.
He watched as Nyx sighed and began to assemble his plate, gathering meat and spooning sauce over it before selecting his toppings. He took some flatbread from the warmer and broke a piece off, using it to scoop from his plate.
As soon as he took the first bite, Crowe and Libertus began making up their own dishes. Nyx handed a plate to Ignis and pointed out to him what was spicy, or acidic, or salty. He built his plate enjoying the warmth of sharing a communal dinner. It felt like belonging, a sense of togetherness that was lacking in the formal dinners he ate often with his socialite family.
Ignis hummed in delight as he shoveled the first bite into his mouth with his fingers. Crowe nudged him and smiled. “Good right?”
He nodded as he licked some errant sauce from his thumb. “It's wonderful.”
“Nyx may not look it, but he could give any chef a run for his money.”
The man in question only shook his head as he set his beer down. “She's exaggerating.”
Lib snorted. “No, she's not. You cook better than my mom ever did.”
Ignis grinned, looking at Nyx in a new light. “I'm inclined to agree, you're quite talented.”
Nyx laughed a little, growing interested in his beer bottle as his face warmed. “Thanks.. now will you guys just eat?”
“Aaw, we’re embarrassing him,” Crowe teased as she reached over Ignis to poke at Nyx's cheek. He snapped his teeth at her head in retaliation, earning more laughter.
They fell into flowing conversation and drink as they ate. Libertus happily regaled Ignis with stories from Galahd - the training they did as teens in preparation to join the military (which Ignis learned there was a two year mandatory service requirement for all able bodied men before a certain age), their summers spent roughing it and lazing away at watering holes.
Soon Ignis’ jacket was hanging on the back of his chair, the dishes were mostly empty as were the bottles of beer. Libertus was leaning heavily on the table, propped up on an elbow. Crowe was leant in close to him, slurring that he was being a drunken dumb-ass. In his inebriation, his feel good stories had turned into a bitter walk down memory lane.
While she scolded him, Ignis insisted on helping Nyx clean up. He piled dishes into the tub and followed him to the kitchen in the back. Ignis fell in love in nearly an instant. “Oh, the dishes I could create in this kitchen. I'm jealous.”
“You have more gadgets,” Nyx countered as he started the water.
“You have more space,” Ignis argued, “and commercial grade gadgets. Move…it's your birthday and you are not going to cook your own dinner andwash the dishes.”
“I was just going to give them a rinse and put them through the dishwasher.”
“If it's that simple, then allow me to do it. Shoo.”
Nyx laughed as he stepped away from the sink. “Did you just shoo me?”
He gave a firm nod. “I did.”
“Alright,” the birthday boy conceded. “I'm gonna check on those two. Hey Ignis?”
He paused in rolling up his sleeves and turned to look at him, lifting a brow in question. Nyx leaned toward him, softly brushing his fingers through the hair hanging over Ignis’ forehead. “I'm really glad you came.”
Ignis returned the small smile, feeling warmth bloom from Nyx's touch. “As am I … and I'm not going anywhere. It's your birthday so whatever you'd like to do, let's do it.”
“Alright,” he agreed before placing a soft kiss to his lips. “You can't back out, I'm gonna hold you to that.”
The memory of last time Nyx had said that - and the resulting loss of an hour as they made out on his studio floor like a couple of teenagers - flooded his mind and Ignis couldn't refrain from blushing. “I certainly hope you do,” he replied.
Judging from the expression that crossed Nyx’s face, he was having similar thoughts. Ignis turned back to the dishes as Nyx smirked at him before turning to head out. He laughed as he heard Nyx groan. “You always gotta make me carry you!”
Written for day 4 of @ignyxweek
Prompt used: Charcoal
Chapter 3/6
Chapter word count: 2494
Additional warnings: none; more kissing (ooh-la-la)
Chapter summary: As Ignis nails down his sketch for his final design, he and Nyx find it harder to keep their hands to themselves.
In the days following, Nyx wondered if that kiss would have an effect on their working relationship, but at any rate he had been looking forward to his next session with Ignis... especially after a kiss like that. After a kiss like that their text messages came more frequently, and flirty, most often late at night when Nyx was taking a break and Ignis was getting ready for bed. It was nice, seeing that message from him to have a good shift.
Nyx didn’t really know why he thought a kiss would change anything much between them, because it didn’t Upon his next arrival Ignis greeted him the same as before,well maybe his cheeks were a little more flushed and his smile was a little more playful. He couldn’t help but admire Ignis’ body as he led the way to the bedroom turned studio. His clothes, while still equally as paint stained, were a little more form fitting. Surely, a guy like Ignis knew exactly what he was doing wearing something like that. Not that Nyx was complaining.
There was a chair by the window this time and a variety of pencils were set out next to a variety of black sticks. Nyx picked one up and looked at it; posing with Crowe for the class was the most experience he had with art. A smudge of black was left upon his fingers as Ignis took it from him with a smile. “Charcoal. It’s a rather forgiving medium and I’d like to nail down some poses, perhaps even decide on what I’d like to accomplish with the final composition. So if you don’t mind-”
Nyx struck him off guard as he leaned in and kissed him; Ignis was so surprised all he could do was stare at the close up face as tender lips pressed honestly to his own. With a soft sigh, he closed his eyes and kissed him back in return, but it was with that small response that Nyx pulled away, lips curling into a smile. “I don’t mind at all.”
Ignis resisted the urge to lick his lips, to taste more of him, and instead pressed his lips together in a thin line as he fought back a smile. With a huff he tried again. “If you don’t mind, please remove your clothes down to your undergarments and have a seat.”
Nyx hummed. “Feels kinda kinky… like I should be saying Yes sir or something,” he teased as he began to peel his T-shirt over head, dropping it onto the floor beside the chair.
Ignis turned away from him and sighed - one person should not have the ability to make him feel this hot with so few words. He could feel the tingling warmth in his cheeks and took a moment to gather himself and do a double check of his materials. He could do this; hell, he’d already seen the man naked so this should be a piece of cake. That’s what he should do after the session - make a cake and definitely not think about the sculpted muscle of Nyx’s torso and how he wanted to map it out with his lips. ‘Get a fucking hold of yourself and focus,’ Ignis berated himself. He made sure he was put together when he turned to face him again and then walked over to pick up Nyx’s clothes and set them out of the way.
Oh, it was no good. One lingering stare as he scooped up the garments in his hands and Ignis could feel the blush crawling over the bridge of his nose. Nyx sat comfortably all right: legs parted, leant back, arm perched on the window sill as if he owned the room. Ignis was in pretty good shape but he supposed if he had a body like that he’d be pretty comfortable in his skin, too. When he lifted his eyes to meet those pretty blues it was as if he could feel the heat of his own stare reflected back at him.
He sat near Nyx’s feet, gazing up at the muscled planes of his body as pulled his sketchpad into his lap. He lightly cleared his throat, picking up the nearby remote, and a moment later, soft ambient music filled the room. “Just relax and sit however you’d like, just be comfortable,” he instructed as he picked up a charcoal stick.
Nyx cast him a little smirk as he adjusted himself, leaning back towards the window and propping his arm instead on the back of the chair. At first Nyx had chosen this position to give him a clear and proper view of his body, hoping to see more of his face get overtaken by that adorable blush. For a moment it was there, deepening across Ignis’ cheeks, but then he set the charcoal to paper and started to draw, and it was like a switch had been flipped. The ghost of the tender smile he had worn lingered as everything else soft about him sharpened into focused concentration.
Nyx dropped his gaze to watch his hands, the speed that Ignis worked over the paper, building upon his lines and smudging with the edge of his thumb, was a bit unreal. He’d never known an artist before, so seeing all of his supplies, the skill he possessed was a little awe inspiring. Nyx wasn’t sure how long Ignis spent on it, but he moved the paper aside and then began on a new almost immediately as he shifted to the other side of him. After a few more moments there was another soft scrape of paper and then Ignis moved again.
Modeling for Ignis was pretty simple, enough so that Nyx got lost in the gentle flow of piano and strings coming through the speakers, could spend time looking over the drawings that were scattered on the floor - quick sketches of his broad chest and the slope of his neck, an arm from his shoulder down, muscled legs sloping away from his hips. Ignis was really talented and he couldn’t help but be in a bit of awe, that he could put such detailed - in his opinion anyway - images down so quickly.
Nyx was startled out of his thoughts when Ignis gently curled a hand around his calf. Those green eyes of his held amusement as he smiled. “Apologies, you must have been daydreaming about something because you didn’t answer when I called for you.”
This time Nyx felt his ears burn hot. “Uh… yeah… sorry.”
“It’s quite alright. I’d like you to extend your foot, point your toes for me. It may not be very comfortable for long so I’ll be quick.”
He nodded and let Ignis manipulate his limb into the preferred pose and then pointed his toes forward as requested. He nearly pouted when Ignis pulled his touch away; his hands were deceptively soft and he enjoyed the way they felt on his skin, perhaps too much. Nyx quietly laughed when he saw the obvious disappointment pull at Ignis’ features a few moments later.
He cast the paper he was working on aside and patted his leg. “I didn’t like that after all. How about you stand instead.”
“Sure. Is there any way you want me?”
Ignis averted his gaze with a faint smile; there were certainly quite a few ways he’d like to see him, but that was beside the point. “Just give me something natural,” he said as he turned to pick up his pad.
Nyx stood and stretched his arms overhead, a shoulder popping as he dropped them back down. He curled his hand behind his neck as he rolled it from one side to the other, his fingers lingering on the juncture of his neck as he summoned the best set of bedroom eyes to turn on Ignis. It was a success, just not in the way he’d planned for.
“Can you hold that?” he requested as he stepped back to move his easel closer.
“Sure,” Nyx couldn’t stop his lips from twitching into a smile; it seemed Ignis was pretty disciplined when it came to his artwork, and he could respect that. Besides, he didn’t have anything planned for the rest of the day so they could take their time - not like he was being hopeful that anything would happen, but he certainly wouldn’t decline should anything potentially arise.
Ignis selected some charcoal pieces and then set to work, laying down a light sketch with a stick of charcoal. He was pretty sure that his sexual attraction to Nyx was what was making this process more fun than usual. He’d drawn other men before, but he’d never drank in anyone’s physique like Nyx’s. He followed every cut of muscle as he sketched, wetting his lips as he laid the lines in for the delicious dip of his hips. In that moment, Ignis still couldn't quite believe that Nyx had kissed him, and that he had kissed him back.
Trading a stick for a pencil, he began to lay in values, loving his faithful window now more than ever as he let his gaze linger on the play of sun over his skin. Ignis decided then that with their next kiss he was definitely going to let his hands explore, they were missing out and there was territory to discover.
Ignis got lost in his flow, blending and lifting and adding more detail as his eyes traveled back and forth from Nyx to the paper. Over half an hour had passed when Ignis caught the time again.”I’m sure you must be feeling a bit stiff. You can move if you’d like.”
Nyx moaned softly as he stretched, twisting his body in the opposite direction. Stepping out from behind the easel, Ignis poked Nyx on the nose. “Thank you for being my model and for being so professional. I know that you’re aware of how important this is to me. So I appreciate you being so cooperative…” he smiled a little then. “And I appreciate other things about you as well.”
Nyx’s replying smile was warm and knowing as he reached forward to curl his fingers at the bottom hem of Ignis’ shirt. “Oh yeah? Like what?”
Ignis could feel his face warm as he drew him close, and he let his hands rest on Nyx’s tight pectorals, a poor barrier between them. His fingers fluttered over smooth skin before settling, shyly holding his gaze. “Your eyes for starters. I find myself helplessly attracted to them, they’re beautiful,” he admitted.
Nyx lifted a hand to slowly drag his knuckles over Ignis’ cheek. “I could say the same about yours.”
Ignis offered a small smile; warmth radiated between them, through them, and he took a deep breath, moving his hand down the planes of Nyx’s chest. “And… obviously there’s this as well,” he remarked, pressing his touch more firmly to his body.
Nyx wet his lips as they stretched into a smile. “I thought I saw you looking.”
“You make it difficult not to...” he gasped then as he realized he left a trail of black over his skin. “Apologies, I got a bit of charcoal on you.”
“It’s alright, I don't mind. I was sorta hoping for a bit more than that.”
Ignis huffed as he turned his face away. “All you had to do was say so,” he quipped before tapping his nose, leaving another smudge behind that he couldn’t see. He chuckled at the dark sooty spot on the top of his nose, but was caught off guard as Nyx drew him into his arms, finding himself wrapped up in them securely. It was a good feeling.
“You’re really cute, you know.”
Ignis’s smile grew. “Oh, I do, but please tell me any way.”
Nyx laughed quietly as he leaned in. “I’d rather show you.”
“Then show me.” Ignis was momentarily stunned by his own boldness, but he didn’t regret it as it garnered him with the response he had been searching for.
Verdant eyes darted over his face as the distance between them closed and he was better prepared this time for the meeting of their lips. He was still surprised by the jolt of pleasure that lanced down his body and curled in the pit of his stomach. The same flip-flop feeling rose back up and clenched in his chest as fingers sank into his hair and lips slanted more fully over his. Ignis smoothed his hands over Nyx’s torso, reveling in the dip of firm muscle under his fingers. Yes, his hands had been missing out and he was never going to let that crime occur again.
Arms tightened around him and Ignis softly sighed against the softness of Nyx’s lips. He reacted with a more insistent press of lips, a tease of tongue, and Ignis quickly granted him access, eager to taste and feel him. The kiss was short lived as Nyx broke free, immediately setting his lips to Ignis’ neck, trailing hot open-mouthed kisses across his fair skin before nipping at the tendon there. Nyx hummed against him as he felt his hands tighten around his hips in reaction and he parted his mouth to suck at the sensitive skin.
Ignis let a moan fall from his lips, falling victim to the hot pull, the tingle of pain as the ridges of teeth pressed into his skin and bloomed into pleasure as he felt Nyx’s breath roll over him, his hand slip just under his shirt to hold firmly to his lower back. He panted softly as he lifted his hands to Nyx’s face, urging him away and back to his lips.
The next kiss was more hungry, no longer soft and exploratory. The curl of fingers in his hair, the gentle scrape of nails against his scalp, made Ignis feel temporarily light headed under the assault of Nyx’s tongue. Ignis quickly fell into the needy rhythm, kissing him back in earnest, retaliating with his own desire until they had to pull away from each other - hands holding the other safely away as they regained proper breath.
Ignis lightly laughed. “Oh, you’re awful, distracting me from my work.”
“Is that a complaint? Cause it kinda sounds like a complaint,” Nyx teased.
Ignis shook his head as he cracked his eyes open. “Far from it actually. If only I could get credit for kissing you all day.”
A soft hum left Nyx’s pretty, kiss bruised lips. “If only…”
Ignis pulled out of his arms and grinned before his eyes widened a bit. “Wow,” he breathed in awe. “Hold… hold that for me… and we can negotiate kissing into your payment contract,” he suggested with a smile.
Nyx laughed but otherwise remained still, taking a breath to try to switch gears from pleasure to work. “Alright, but I’m gonna hold you to that.”
“I certainly hope you will,” Ignis murmured as he stepped back, smiling as he returned to his easel.
