If you learn self-control, you can master anything-

At fourteen, Ignis discovered just how much he'd grown to care about his closest friend. That was disastrous.

At sixteen, Ignis discovered his closest friend felt much the same way. That was terrifying.

At eighteen, they tried to make it work. That was difficult but so very worth it.

At twenty, Ignis decided he would pop the question once their beloved prince was safe and sound on his throne.

That part took a lot longer of a road than any of them expected-

They'd endured, though. The fall of their home and the long road they traveled. The death of the Oracle and Ignis' disappearance to Zegnautus Keep in the company of a monster. The power of the Lucii burning through his veins and skin. Ten long years in the dark, always waiting. Always hoping.

The New Dawn. The end of the Long Night.

Really, it all sounded so dreadfully romantic at times even if it'd been a nightmare to live it. It sounded like the stuff of the grandest of tales and if Ignis was a younger man, it might be a story he'd be chomping at the bits to read. Instead, he'd lived it and come out a bit marred and jaded. Even more so now, as he sat among his fellow Councilors ironing out details about the revitalization of what was once Insomnia.

Once he'd had a taste of the road and the desperate freedom running for you life could bring, he'd learned to hate meetings. They were trite and boring and the arguing was pointless. A quick glance up at their King and he could tell that Noctis felt the same way. After all, he'd been reading his little expressions for decades now.

Another heated argument broke out, a debate over the size of streets and Ignis felt his ire rising. Slim lips shifted, inching down into a faint frown, but to anyone that knew him, it was a clear sign that he was close to stepping into the vocal fray and pity the fools that went against him when he did. A quick glance to Gladio, standing watch over Noctis, ever a presence at his right hand.

It was as much warning as it was plea.

End this or else I will. Please.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

sworn_shield

Rebuilding Insomnia had been... well, after so many years of running and surviving, the pettiness of it all is exhausting to all of them. Gladio watches on with a neutral face, eyes catching the sight of Ignis looking up at him and he softens briefly, looking at his husband with fond eyes.

But, he knows what that look means, what terror the advisor will wrought on the fools here with just his words. Of course, that will not bode well for their weekend if Ignis is all tangled up in knots. Gladio will do his best to rescue him however, leaning in to Noctis to murmmer something in his ear. A reminder that Ignis sets all his meetings and if allowed the time, will book him up with the most boring of weeks if he doesn't ajorn their meeting.

Noctis huffs, a grin hidden behind royal decorum and eager to leave himself, says something about having another one of the council members write up a report about road load differences to present next time and dismisses them all. When most of them are gone, Gladio will come down from the throne to see his husband.

From:

fieryknowledge

The pinched tension lining Ignis' face eased up a bit when Noctis dismissed the other councilors, a look of quiet gratitude taking it's place. Still, there was the telltale pinch at the scarred ridge of his nose that spoke of just how close he'd been to unleashing hell on his fellow councilors.

It'd been a very close call.

Ignis had always been a private person, save around a small number of people. Once the few remaining people left, that still lingering tension was turned into a faintly tense smile for Noctis, a quick nod of thanks before that same smile was turned toward his husband. If they were in private, the big man would get a kiss for his efforts but for now, it was nothing more than a quick brush of his hand. Still now, after all these years, he just couldn't bring himself for big, grand demonstrations of his affection even if their relationship had long since stopped being a secret.

"And here I thought I would have to cut someone's tongue out to get them to stop talking."

Another sign of his still sharp temper.

From:

sworn_shield

"Now now, love; We need you too much here to let you become a wild fugiative."

He teases gently, eyes fond at the man before he turns to Noctis, who had come down with him.

"Now since you put us through this, your majesty, I'm gonna take my husband home for the weekend." He says, and Noctis and him huff and play around a bit before they move to part ways. Since everything has been mostly rebuilt, Gladio had insisted on closing out business at a decent time on days without any emergencies. His husband will work himself far too hard otherwise when plenty of other people people were around now to do the job.

From:

fieryknowledge

There was a hint of protest in Ignis' eyes, but he knew that Gladio wouldn't be dissuaded, especially with the King's approval. There was still that little hint of pursed lip that showed he'd intended other things, but when his husband put his mind to something, it was hard for Ignis to disagree.

A quick chiding click of his tongue at his family's antics before he pushed himself away from the table, sparing a quick shake of his head as he watched Gladio and Noctis.

"There was one more thing I'd like to take care of before I head home. Just filing something. Gladio, I could meet you there in a little while?"

Consider this a compromise, Gladio.

From:

sworn_shield

With everyone else gone, the relaxed smiles and atmosphere of just the three of them has returned. Noctis commented that they should all get together soon, Prompto included, and Gladio agrees before he focuses on Ignis trying to object his way out of a weekend.

"Mm, don't take too long alright? I'll go ahead and start dinner then." No better way to tempt Ignis back then knowing Gladio was messing around in his kitchen after all. The Shield has learned a lot from his husband on how to cook since they had gotten married, and can manage pretty decently on his own but would much rather share with him.

From:

fieryknowledge

Once upon a time, Gladio saying he'd start dinner would've been taken as a threat or a dire warning. Now, it still spurred Ignis on to be a bit quicker than he would've been but there was no true dismay. After all. Gladio managed just fine on his own and had come a long way as a cook since they'd finalized their union. His only concern was Gladio making a 'mess' and that was rectified easily enough.

He managed a quick murmur of assent to Noctis' idea (and had been thinking the same thing, honestly) before he turned to offer his husband a quick kiss once the room was clear.

"Shouldn't take too long at all. There's the anak in the fridge if you wanted to go ahead and start slicing some vegetables to go along with it. I assume I can trust you with a blade, yes?"

Even now, that wry sense of humor could be seen by those he loved most.

From:

sworn_shield

At that kiss, Gladio's arms come around his husband, brief but pulling him in as he shifts closer to Ignis. They had truly been each other's foundation and light in the rough times they had faced, and even as a man made to be a Shield of the King, Gladio welcomes their domestic life with enthusiasm.

"Come home quick, I miss your sass already." He purrs out to him before letting the man go do what he must. His own route home and daily routine after work will be as normal and boring as ever.

From:

fieryknowledge

After so many years fighting and running and scraping by, the simple act of planning dinner with his spouse was bliss. It was something he'd long ago accepted that would never happen but in the end, they'd made it. They'd all made it. He had no idea if that boon was divine intervention or their own hard work and blood and sweat and tears, but he wouldn't question it.

Snorting under his breath in open amusement, he turned to grab the items he was planning on returning to their rightful place before heading to the door.

"That best not be all you'll miss while I'm gone. I won't be long. Do try to manage without me."

His back might be turned, but there was no hiding the affection in his tone.

From:

sworn_shield

Gladio laughs, but doesn't comment further, not wanting anyone to overhear them if they were lurking around by the door to talk to Ignis and hear something lewd.

Ah well, they had plenty of time to spend their weekend lost in each other. Gladio can very much give him the time he needs to finish up work. Heading home doesn't take Gladio too long and he bustles about putting his robes up before starting in the kitchen, knowing that the more he did, the faster time would seem to pass until his husband came home.

From:

fieryknowledge

Well, it wouldn't have been the first time some random councilor had been scandalized by something they'd overheard between the two of them but in the end, it was better for everyone involved if it didn't happen. Now that Ignis led the Council in Noct's stead, he had to maintain some sense of decorum. That could be difficult around his husband at times so it was just safer if they behaved while they were being 'official'.

An hour later and Ignis finally showed up, looking glad to finally be home. Their new apartment was grand and rather large compared to the one they shared before Insomnia fell but it was finally starting to look like people actually lived in it and not like some showpiece. As far as Ignis was concerned, wherever Gladio was was his home, but the nice decor... well. He certainly didn't mind that.

He called out a quick greeting to his husband as he made his way to the bedroom, intent on getting out of his own robes and getting them put away as quickly as he could manage. It was no secret that Ignis hated the trappings of his official 'uniform' and longed for the days when his own Crownguard uniform had been his usual thing.

From:

sworn_shield

Gladio, busy with making dinner, calls back to his husband as Ignis enters, knowing it will not be long until the man finds his way to his side. His long hair hangs loose and was still damp from his quick shower, unstyled and soft and not worried about being seen that way. Iggy had seen him in much less, after all.

"That didn't take you too long, nobody tried to stop you or did you scare em' off?" He asks with a laugh when the other makes it in, stopping to loom at him for a moment.

From:

fieryknowledge

Ignis' own shower will come after dinner. After all, he's hungry and the sooner he can get busy in the kitchen helping his husband, the quicker he can fix that little problem. He might not be as much of a workaholic (thanks in large part to Gladio and Noct's scheming) but there were still days when he didn't eat much while working. It wasn't that he didn't want to, it just slipped his mind when he was occupied with everything else he was responsible for.

It took just a few minutes to settle his robes and get changed into something far more casual. Once he was done, he made a beeline for Gladio in their kitchen, pausing to lean up and give his husband a quick kiss hello.

"It was relatively quiet when I left. Just one interruption that I had to handle. Nothing major."

From:

sworn_shield

Gladio purrs from deep in his chest at that kiss, content, happy, and enjoying the privacy of just being with his husband, doing as they liked and not having to worry about anything more. The ten years they spent in the darkness were fulk of worry and threat, but Ignis had been his constant all throughout. Home was wherever his husband was, not which four walls were around them, Gladio had come to realize.

"Mm. Not a huge bother after I did all that work to cut the meeting short. I hope."

Gladio says, not wanting his work on Ignis' good mood to be all undone. Finished with the chopping, he steps over to the sink to let the man take over and inspect, dinner really just needing to be put in the pan and cooked for the most pary.