[He breathes in again when Ignis's palm rests against his back, then exhales. It's warm. It helps. After these long, colorless days, his heart aches with how deeply he feels for everyone. How grateful he still is, even if disaster was the thanks they got.]
Well... I dunno. Maybe not.
[He unknots a little, pulling absently at the bracelet on his left wrist.]
But yeah. I mean... if I were her, I'd be scared of you guys. [He looks up, eyebrows raised in mock innocence, despite the anxiety he still feels.] No offense.
None taken. With the way you looked when you first came home after all that business...
[He pauses a moment, like he's considering his feelings one by one and fitting them together into the words that he uses, as finnicky as a chef choosing seasonings.]
It was sensible of her, to assess us as possible dangers to her. Or to assess me that way, at least.
[Prompto's eyes widen and soften both as he looks up at Ignis, taking that in. Also imagining those consequences, a little. Ignis is right, it's not pleasant.
After the beat of weighty consideration that warrants, Prompto reaches up and clasps Ignis's arm, moved and adoring and firm.]
The spirit of your wishes, even, as opposed to strictly the word. I won't take advantage of the multiple loopholes your request could've left open for me, either.
[He lets go and claps Ignis's arm instead, then closes his laptop with a click and rises from his seat. A glimmering of Noct's magic later, he pulls his beanie on past his ears and the gloves that actually cover his fingers.
He frowns, then goes to the bed, strips the heaviest blanket off, and flaps it fully out so he can start folding it.]
Sorry, I'll bring this back once I find her. She doesn't even have her own full-length pants. And, Iggy?
...I'm certain I've seen her wearing pants before. Black ones, with pockets?
[That's a smooth way of covering up his mild embarrassment and richer pleasure at the fact that Prompto's moment of sentiment correctly included the word too.]
Here. Let me help with the other side of that — it'll fold more easily.
Of course, I'll tuck myself into bed and bellow down the hallway for Noctis to come warm me up. Certainly that won't be misconstrued in any way whatsoever by anyone else who may be in earshot.
[Like a well-oiled machine, he mirrors Prompto's movements to a tee, increasing the efficiency of this process tenfold.
Fold. Get it?]
She's a red, isn't she? Pity you'll not get any town-bestowed reward for sharing this blanket with her, if that's your intention. It takes a blue, I think. Noct earned himself a delightfully hideous blanket.
[As soon as he suggests it, Prompto's flinging the blanket back open and draping himself in it, lifting his arms like a kid playing ghost with a bedsheet.]
[And it's almost startling how utterly laden with open affection that statement comes — affection and relief — as he steps in and half-drags Prompto against him and wraps the blanket around them both until they're snug.]
You can't even begin to imagine what a relief it is.
[Prompto's eager to take advantage of the unexpected show of fondness and grab on, rubbing his nose deep into Ignis's shirt, filling his lungs big and then breathing out again.]
I've got an idea, maybe.
[Because it's got to be kin to the relief, to the pride Prompto felt when Ignis, smelling of swamp and sweat and flame, finally stood up to Gladio. When the three of them came to save him, just like he knew they would. When they were all right again. A unit.
He might be overplaying--he still feels half-sick with worry and guilt--but the strength with which Prompto clings to Ignis is as real as anything in the world.]
But you're right. Probably I can't even dream of it. You guys always blow away my wildest expectations, even after all these years.
[It's somewhere in the little things about the way they cling together — the way Prompto leans in to inhale him the way a starving man leans into a bowl of hot stew, and the brush of the tip of his nose against his shirt, and the way he just sort of fits up against him — that something sturdy in Ignis seems to shake loose, a fastening or two rattling free and coming undone, rendering his control imperfect and his collectedness fractured. It's not gone completely; no, the pieces are still there, still forming a reasonably admirable guard, but there are holes in it now, little breaches with jagged edges, and before he quite realizes it he's ducking his chin to press his face against the top of Prompto's head, burying a single, shaky breath in his hair.]
I was so worried about you.
[Prompto thinks he's different. Prompto doesn't think he's as important. Prompto thinks he's expendable, the extra piece, the odd man out.
Ignis doesn't live for Prompto's smile the way that he does for Noct's. He's just acutely, painfully aware of how much darker the world is without it.]
A brief moment of sentimentality. You won't tell, will you...?
[Oh no. His eyes sting suddenly with emotion he can't put a name to, something that goes straight from his ears to his center without registering at the desk. I was so worried, and it's not even that Ignis is saying it to him. It's that Ignis is saying it at all. It's that Ignis, unbowable Ignis, sounds a little shaken up there above his head. Prompto pictures a tree straightening itself out after an unexpected, cold-season storm and finding a couple leaves gone--nothing serious, but it could've been. It's like he needs this hug, too.
Prompto gulps the lump in his throat halfway down and manages--and he hopes Ignis reads the little shiver in his voice as laughter, aren't they all such disasters when it comes to this stuff?--to croak out:]
Yeah. You know it. Your secret's safe with me. ...I'll be back home before you know it.
[And, no different than when it was Noctis, he's got to let him go and see to it. It's a bit funny, really; just because he unfailingly objects to the "Mama Ignis" jokes doesn't mean they aren't well-founded in actual reality.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-11-19 01:57 pm (UTC)[He's setting his laptop aside, coming over to rest a supportive hand on Prompto's back as he leans against the table near him.]
But I don't know that the rest of us will be much help in your quest to seek an errant witch. You seem to know her better than anyone.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-19 02:19 pm (UTC)Well... I dunno. Maybe not.
[He unknots a little, pulling absently at the bracelet on his left wrist.]
But yeah. I mean... if I were her, I'd be scared of you guys. [He looks up, eyebrows raised in mock innocence, despite the anxiety he still feels.] No offense.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-19 02:52 pm (UTC)[He pauses a moment, like he's considering his feelings one by one and fitting them together into the words that he uses, as finnicky as a chef choosing seasonings.]
It was sensible of her, to assess us as possible dangers to her. Or to assess me that way, at least.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-19 02:56 pm (UTC)[Prompto leans back more loosely in his seat and smiles wanly.]
Have you ever seen Noct when he's mad? Like, seriously, coming-at-you-sword-ways murder-death mad?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-19 03:00 pm (UTC)[He shrugs slightly.]
I can, however, speak for what I would've done, and it wouldn't have been pleasant. Not when it's about you getting hurt.
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Date: 2018-11-19 03:07 pm (UTC)After the beat of weighty consideration that warrants, Prompto reaches up and clasps Ignis's arm, moved and adoring and firm.]
Don't be mean to my girlfriend.
[He says it softly.]
I like her un-burnt to a crisp. Okay?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-19 11:33 pm (UTC)Understood. I'll follow your wishes.
[A beat.]
The spirit of your wishes, even, as opposed to strictly the word. I won't take advantage of the multiple loopholes your request could've left open for me, either.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 01:58 am (UTC)[He lets go and claps Ignis's arm instead, then closes his laptop with a click and rises from his seat. A glimmering of Noct's magic later, he pulls his beanie on past his ears and the gloves that actually cover his fingers.
He frowns, then goes to the bed, strips the heaviest blanket off, and flaps it fully out so he can start folding it.]
Sorry, I'll bring this back once I find her. She doesn't even have her own full-length pants. And, Iggy?
[Prompto looks up from the blanket.]
I love you, too.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 02:34 am (UTC)[That's a smooth way of covering up his mild embarrassment and richer pleasure at the fact that Prompto's moment of sentiment correctly included the word too.]
Here. Let me help with the other side of that — it'll fold more easily.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 03:01 am (UTC)[He hands two corners over to Ignis and backs up to spread the blanket evenly out.]
If you get cold before I get back, cuddle up with Noct, okay? Don't want you getting sick again.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 03:07 am (UTC)[Like a well-oiled machine, he mirrors Prompto's movements to a tee, increasing the efficiency of this process tenfold.
Fold. Get it?]
She's a red, isn't she? Pity you'll not get any town-bestowed reward for sharing this blanket with her, if that's your intention. It takes a blue, I think. Noct earned himself a delightfully hideous blanket.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 03:10 am (UTC)[SHOW HIM THE BLANKIE FORBIDDEN]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 03:13 am (UTC)[Ignis that sounds like bribery oh wait IT IS]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 03:19 am (UTC)Is it bad like holiday sweater bad or like neon coeurl print bad?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 03:24 am (UTC)[He grasps both sets of corners when Prompto hands them to him, giving the blanket a little shake to get any wrinkles out before the next fold comes.]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 03:27 am (UTC)[Nothing garish about rainbows.]
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Date: 2018-11-20 03:30 am (UTC)[You do the math.]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 03:35 am (UTC)No fair! Noct gets one and I don't? Ignis!
[Tug tug.]
What if I have to make camp out there in the cold? You mean I'm gonna have to do it without a chocoblanket?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 03:36 am (UTC)[LOOK AT THE WHEELS STARTING TO TURN.]
I suppose we could see about getting you your own. As we do presently have here you, a blue, and a blanket.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 04:14 pm (UTC)Snug me, Iggy!
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 04:27 pm (UTC)[And it's almost startling how utterly laden with open affection that statement comes — affection and relief — as he steps in and half-drags Prompto against him and wraps the blanket around them both until they're snug.]
You can't even begin to imagine what a relief it is.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 05:30 pm (UTC)I've got an idea, maybe.
[Because it's got to be kin to the relief, to the pride Prompto felt when Ignis, smelling of swamp and sweat and flame, finally stood up to Gladio. When the three of them came to save him, just like he knew they would. When they were all right again. A unit.
He might be overplaying--he still feels half-sick with worry and guilt--but the strength with which Prompto clings to Ignis is as real as anything in the world.]
But you're right. Probably I can't even dream of it. You guys always blow away my wildest expectations, even after all these years.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 08:40 pm (UTC)I was so worried about you.
[Prompto thinks he's different. Prompto doesn't think he's as important. Prompto thinks he's expendable, the extra piece, the odd man out.
Ignis doesn't live for Prompto's smile the way that he does for Noct's. He's just acutely, painfully aware of how much darker the world is without it.]
A brief moment of sentimentality. You won't tell, will you...?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-20 10:53 pm (UTC)[Oh no. His eyes sting suddenly with emotion he can't put a name to, something that goes straight from his ears to his center without registering at the desk. I was so worried, and it's not even that Ignis is saying it to him. It's that Ignis is saying it at all. It's that Ignis, unbowable Ignis, sounds a little shaken up there above his head. Prompto pictures a tree straightening itself out after an unexpected, cold-season storm and finding a couple leaves gone--nothing serious, but it could've been. It's like he needs this hug, too.
Prompto gulps the lump in his throat halfway down and manages--and he hopes Ignis reads the little shiver in his voice as laughter, aren't they all such disasters when it comes to this stuff?--to croak out:]
Yeah. You know it. Your secret's safe with me. ...I'll be back home before you know it.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-21 10:17 pm (UTC)[And, no different than when it was Noctis, he's got to let him go and see to it. It's a bit funny, really; just because he unfailingly objects to the "Mama Ignis" jokes doesn't mean they aren't well-founded in actual reality.]
Try to be home before dark, will you?
[...Case in point.]
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