[ A lifetime ago, and Noctis had been both worried and warmed and exhausted. His Ignis, who had been so mad on his behalf, and yet still so young. He sobers up, stroking his face, leaning down to kiss his cheek, his lips softly. ]
You were too young, Iggy. They shouldn't have put it all on you when you were so young.
[ Such a heavy responsibility on those little shoulders, when he had been a child himself, too, so very young and innocent and unable to process what was happening. ]
[One time you won't, he almost says aloud, until he catches himself and thinks better of it. This isn't the time for thoughts like that, not when Noctis has only just returned from a retreat into the woods to escape such things.
If he tries hard, he can pretend that he doesn't know better. He can pretend that what Noct is saying is true, and that he has no reason to doubt it. Noctis will always come back to him, even when he sits the throne of his ancestors and dies to return light to the world. Noctis will always come back to him, even if in the interim he orders him to stay behind.
But maybe —
Maybe, he thinks, it doesn't end with the return of the dawn. Maybe...impossible as it is, maybe Noctis will find a way to make that promise come true, after all.
It's a silly, whimsy, childhood fallacy. People don't come back from the dead, and Ignis knows it.
...
Except that Lunafreya did. Even in death, the Oracle's work is not done, Ravus had said, and —
If the Oracle, then why not the King of Light?]
Promise me.
[His lips feel dry, his eyes soft, his fingers cold. But Noctis is safe in his arms, and for this one moment, he's willing to believe.]
Promise me you'll always come back to me. And if you do I promise to believe you.
[ People don't come back from the dead, and the look in Ignis' eyes gives it all away. People don't come back from the dead, and there will be one day where Noctis will break his promise to him. He doesn't want to -- he really doesn't want to die. He wants to go home to Ignis, Gladio and Prompto, he wants to run his kingdom and build it back up for his people.
There are so many things he wants, and he can't help a pang of bittersweetness at Ignis' question, so open and heartwrenching that he can't help but close his eyes briefly, trying so hard not to think about it. So much has changed between them, and Noctis, oh, how he loves him with all his heart, how it will hurt to leave Ignis behind, on his own.
He feels his heart tighten, and he grasps his chin, makes Ignis look up at him. ] I will. I'll always come back to you no matter what, I promise.
[ And he means every word of it. He kisses his lips softly once, then again, swallowing hard. ]
[He lets one of his hands slip free, reaching up to take the one Noct is using to grasp his chin, and eases it away from his face in favor of lacing their fingers together, one by one. He goes slowly, letting Noctis feel each smooth slide of their fingers weaving together in turn, until their hands are fully clasped like a bond, like a promise.]
I'll expect you, every time.
[He smiles, softly, and gives Noct's hand a squeeze.]
[ The back of his eyes sting with unshed tears, and not for the first time he thinks of what Ignis would feel like, lonely and left behind if Noctis goes, and it breaks his heart anew.
But it has to be done, right?
Their hands clasp and curl together, and Noctis feels a lump in his throat he has to choke down, making a soft noise as something in him gives way, and he buries his face in his neck, a light tremble in his frame. He has to be strong, he must be -- but this is his Ignis, who loves him no matter what. I'll wait for you, every time. ]
I love you.
[ He croaks, soft and thin, as if these little words would keep the darkness at bay and return his life to him, cancel out the need for a sacrifice. ] I love you so much. I don't want to leave you.
[He doesn't let go of Noctis's hand. The hand that had remained on his back comes up to wrap around him, shifting from affectionate to outright protective as he gathers Noct close and holds him tight, finding the leverage to roll them both over so that it's Noct on his back against the mattress, and Ignis looking down over him with soft, steady eyes.]
To take you now, they would have to tear you from my arms.
[You're safe, he tries to express in every way he can, words and tone and body language. You're safe, you're safe, you're safe.]
I'm right here. And so are you.
[And then he breathes in, and summons his courage, and whispers a phrase that rattles him to his very core.]
Please just cry, if you need to. Trust me to keep you safe while you do.
[ He's right here with Noctis, and he cannot ask for more -- Ignis has always been right by his side, for better or worse, loyal and unwavering, and Noctis curls tighter against him, his own desire taking a backseat in the wake of all the emotions that their joining has inspired. It makes him ache, this echoing pain, this knowledge that he's going to die young and likely never get the chance to do what others can do all their lives.
And when he looks up into Ignis' eyes, when his hand comes up to curve over his face, he swallows hard. Is it worth it? He doesn't know. It has to be, right? And now he's asking him to just cry, and Noctis bites his lip, holding back before he cracks a weak joke. ]
What, you want me to cry when I'm making out with you?
You can tell everyone it's because I'm a bad kisser.
[A weak joke with equally weak humor in response, but he leans into Noct's hand and continues watching him seriously, tracking the way that Noct's defenses are slowly breaking down and knowing that with just a little more push, just a little more coaxing, they might reach the point where he can break his walls open after all.]
Please, Noct. For me? Just...let them out.
[That torrent of emotions he knows is inside, that he can see hidden in Noct's wobbling expression.]
[ Noctis protests, soft and quiet. He's frowning, because he's too proud for that, because this is asking too much too quickly, when Noctis has always wanted to put on a strong front for him. Ignis worries, and the last thing he wants to do is add more burdens onto him.
Maybe he'll try again, maybe the next time around will be much better. He's still clinging to what's left of his walls, even if they're cracking, even as he grips Ignis tight and feels the hot stinging of tears he so desperately pushes back. ]
[He holds him, carefully, making the tiniest of adjustments to the way that they're positioned to more securely pin Noctis to the mattress — ever seeking to help him feel safe, shielded from the world between a soft place and the familiar strength of Ignis's body.
He knows better than to push, though; if his coaxing wasn't enough to bring Noct's walls down, then he's not going to keep assailing them. Noctis knows what he needs, and the pace at which he needs to take this. It would be antithetical to seeking to comfort him, to try to push him out of his comfort zone in a moment like this.]
It's been a hard time for you, lately. Come here, and let me kiss you.
[It's a gently offered out, a means of escape. Kissing is easy, and doesn't have to involve heartbreak.]
[ Noctis knows what he needs, and what he needs is Ignis, in every way that he can. He doesn't miss that protectiveness, how he eases up on a pain that is still too real despite his retreat into the woods.
He's looking up at him now, admiring the fine features of his face, the concern in his words. Ignis loves him enough to let it go for the time being, and he's reaching out to cup his cheek, leaning up to kiss his mouth. It's slow and soft and Noctis knows that there is no easy solution to what they are made to burden, but maybe this, for now, this is enough. ]
Kiss me always.
[ Noctis murmurs. They are heartfelt words, genuine and honest, because he can think of no greater comfort than to be with the one he loves with all his heart. He's kissing him again, stealing another, his hand sliding down to curve over his ass lightly just because he can. ] I only want you right now.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
You were too young, Iggy. They shouldn't have put it all on you when you were so young.
[ Such a heavy responsibility on those little shoulders, when he had been a child himself, too, so very young and innocent and unable to process what was happening. ]
But you know I always come back, right? To you.
no subject
If he tries hard, he can pretend that he doesn't know better. He can pretend that what Noct is saying is true, and that he has no reason to doubt it. Noctis will always come back to him, even when he sits the throne of his ancestors and dies to return light to the world. Noctis will always come back to him, even if in the interim he orders him to stay behind.
But maybe —
Maybe, he thinks, it doesn't end with the return of the dawn. Maybe...impossible as it is, maybe Noctis will find a way to make that promise come true, after all.
It's a silly, whimsy, childhood fallacy. People don't come back from the dead, and Ignis knows it.
...
Except that Lunafreya did. Even in death, the Oracle's work is not done, Ravus had said, and —
If the Oracle, then why not the King of Light?]
Promise me.
[His lips feel dry, his eyes soft, his fingers cold. But Noctis is safe in his arms, and for this one moment, he's willing to believe.]
Promise me you'll always come back to me. And if you do I promise to believe you.
no subject
There are so many things he wants, and he can't help a pang of bittersweetness at Ignis' question, so open and heartwrenching that he can't help but close his eyes briefly, trying so hard not to think about it. So much has changed between them, and Noctis, oh, how he loves him with all his heart, how it will hurt to leave Ignis behind, on his own.
He feels his heart tighten, and he grasps his chin, makes Ignis look up at him. ] I will. I'll always come back to you no matter what, I promise.
[ And he means every word of it. He kisses his lips softly once, then again, swallowing hard. ]
I belong to you after all, right?
no subject
[He lets one of his hands slip free, reaching up to take the one Noct is using to grasp his chin, and eases it away from his face in favor of lacing their fingers together, one by one. He goes slowly, letting Noctis feel each smooth slide of their fingers weaving together in turn, until their hands are fully clasped like a bond, like a promise.]
I'll expect you, every time.
[He smiles, softly, and gives Noct's hand a squeeze.]
And I'll wait for you, every time.
no subject
But it has to be done, right?
Their hands clasp and curl together, and Noctis feels a lump in his throat he has to choke down, making a soft noise as something in him gives way, and he buries his face in his neck, a light tremble in his frame. He has to be strong, he must be -- but this is his Ignis, who loves him no matter what. I'll wait for you, every time. ]
I love you.
[ He croaks, soft and thin, as if these little words would keep the darkness at bay and return his life to him, cancel out the need for a sacrifice. ] I love you so much. I don't want to leave you.
no subject
[He doesn't let go of Noctis's hand. The hand that had remained on his back comes up to wrap around him, shifting from affectionate to outright protective as he gathers Noct close and holds him tight, finding the leverage to roll them both over so that it's Noct on his back against the mattress, and Ignis looking down over him with soft, steady eyes.]
To take you now, they would have to tear you from my arms.
[You're safe, he tries to express in every way he can, words and tone and body language. You're safe, you're safe, you're safe.]
I'm right here. And so are you.
[And then he breathes in, and summons his courage, and whispers a phrase that rattles him to his very core.]
Please just cry, if you need to. Trust me to keep you safe while you do.
no subject
And when he looks up into Ignis' eyes, when his hand comes up to curve over his face, he swallows hard. Is it worth it? He doesn't know. It has to be, right? And now he's asking him to just cry, and Noctis bites his lip, holding back before he cracks a weak joke. ]
What, you want me to cry when I'm making out with you?
no subject
[A weak joke with equally weak humor in response, but he leans into Noct's hand and continues watching him seriously, tracking the way that Noct's defenses are slowly breaking down and knowing that with just a little more push, just a little more coaxing, they might reach the point where he can break his walls open after all.]
Please, Noct. For me? Just...let them out.
[That torrent of emotions he knows is inside, that he can see hidden in Noct's wobbling expression.]
no subject
[ Noctis protests, soft and quiet. He's frowning, because he's too proud for that, because this is asking too much too quickly, when Noctis has always wanted to put on a strong front for him. Ignis worries, and the last thing he wants to do is add more burdens onto him.
Maybe he'll try again, maybe the next time around will be much better. He's still clinging to what's left of his walls, even if they're cracking, even as he grips Ignis tight and feels the hot stinging of tears he so desperately pushes back. ]
Lemme just... I'm so tired.
no subject
[He holds him, carefully, making the tiniest of adjustments to the way that they're positioned to more securely pin Noctis to the mattress — ever seeking to help him feel safe, shielded from the world between a soft place and the familiar strength of Ignis's body.
He knows better than to push, though; if his coaxing wasn't enough to bring Noct's walls down, then he's not going to keep assailing them. Noctis knows what he needs, and the pace at which he needs to take this. It would be antithetical to seeking to comfort him, to try to push him out of his comfort zone in a moment like this.]
It's been a hard time for you, lately. Come here, and let me kiss you.
[It's a gently offered out, a means of escape. Kissing is easy, and doesn't have to involve heartbreak.]
no subject
He's looking up at him now, admiring the fine features of his face, the concern in his words. Ignis loves him enough to let it go for the time being, and he's reaching out to cup his cheek, leaning up to kiss his mouth. It's slow and soft and Noctis knows that there is no easy solution to what they are made to burden, but maybe this, for now, this is enough. ]
Kiss me always.
[ Noctis murmurs. They are heartfelt words, genuine and honest, because he can think of no greater comfort than to be with the one he loves with all his heart. He's kissing him again, stealing another, his hand sliding down to curve over his ass lightly just because he can. ] I only want you right now.