To have and to hold, in case you get cold-

[fieryknowledge]

Insomnia was white under the newly fallen snow. The soft blanket of white covered the still ruined parts of the city, lending it a peaceful air, but around the Citadel, life was teeming once again. The Citadel proper had been repaired and the buildings around it were well on their way as well. Once the people had heard the the Chosen King had won and returned to them, they started to flock back to the city, bringing life and joy with them, as well as calloused hands and the willingness to help rebuild.

For Ignis, it'd been difficult. For the first month, he'd hold his breath each night, watching until the sun rose again as if he expected it to just vanish. It wasn't that he didn't have faith in his beloved King. It was simply too many years spent in the dark. Too many memories better left in that same dark. Too much pain.

Now that there was life in the city again and he knew it was good and permanent and safe, he settled into a routine as was his nature. Up before dawn and while he'd claim it was still to do things for his liege, anyone that really knew him knew that he would be looking for the dawn, even a year later. Now was no different. He'd risen before the sun and once it was up, he'd gone about his day. Meetings with the council that he now headed in Noct's absence, or working on helping the rebuilding efforts with Cor and the like. Each night, he returned to his new rooms in the Citadel, looking to curl up in Gladio's arms and sleep, praying there would be no nightmares to plague them in their sleep.

Tonight, while the snow fell silent around the city, Ignis found himself getting back home earlier than expected. Everyone was in fine spirits thanks to the weather and once he realized that there would be no real work for any of them, he called off the late council meeting and made his way back home, sure that Gladio wouldn't be there for a while since he knew his love liked to train in the evening. That left him plenty of time to cook something nice for both of them instead of the quick meals he'd grown used to whipping up for the last few months.

Comments

[sworn_shield]

His husband-to-be finally settles, and since he seeks Gladio out he does come in closer, his body warm as ever and able to keep him from catching a chill. He rumbles soothingly behind him, a strong anchor to the here and now as he just lets Ignis be, to exist in this moment and enjoy the afterglow, of his subspace that offers him so much relief from his duties and stresses.

"I know baby." Gladio sighs out, and instead of holding firm he lets his hand relax, fingers gently petting down his neck to over his shoulder. Down his arm and a hand resting on the small of his back, making sure Ignis doesn't get too tense from the pain. "You did so good and make me feel amazing too. 'M gonna keep You to myself for the rest of the night."

[fieryknowledge]

There's a bit of tension there already, but Ignis is still too deep into the afterglow to really feel any pain. Soon enough, that'll change as the brain gets itself going again and nerves start to wake up and realize that the pleasure part of things was at an end. For now, he just let himself bask in it, the feel of warmth and security surrounding him as surely as the scent of his lover, rich earth and spice and something so uniquely Gladio that no one else could replicate it.

The praise made Ignis smile, though a small one at that. Even now, body worn out and strung to the edge of aching thanks to their earlier play, hearing such things from Gladio rarely didn't get some kind of reaction from Ignis.

"All yours."