#Final Fantasty 15 FanFiction

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Shave

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Ignis Scientia

Rating: PG/K+

Original Idea: I think this is an imagine so I’m counting it.

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) I saw the linked-above post and this just kinda wrote itself XD Enjoy!

^^^^^

“Ignis!” I cried as soon as he appeared from the shadows, illuminated by the lights of Lestallum. I ran out into the wild beyond the city limits and threw my arms around him. He was expecting it, since he could hear my footsteps approaching, so he barely even stumbled. I felt scratchy hair brush my temple. “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine,” he replied.

“Your lip is bleeding,” I said.

“A minor flesh wound, is all.”

“You haven’t shaved.”

He shrugged. “I was out hunting. Didn’t have time.”

I brushed my hands brusquely over his whiskery cheeks. “C’mon. Let’s get inside,” I said, pulling him along behind me.

We went back to our apartment—where I started to make something to eat. I heard Ignis get in the shower. Normally he would have done the cooking but I decided he was probably exhausted and needed some rest. He was a much better cook than I was but I made several passable dishes that he liked.

He never took long showers—unlike me but my hair took a while to wash—so I hadn’t even finished cooking when the water turned off.

There was a stretch of silence.

“Darling,” Ignis said from the door to the kitchen, making me jump. I yelped. How was he so quiet? He was blind! “Did you move my razor?”

I glanced over. He had on his jeans and there was a canister of shaving cream in his hand, but not over his facial hair yet. He had a towel draped over his bare shoulders, catching the dripping of his floppy bangs.

“Oh shoot. I must have on accident. Sorry,” I said. I went over to him. He listened to my footsteps and got out of the way. I rushed over to the bathroom and dug through the drawers. A familiar handle found my fingers. “There it is! I thought I heard something drop when I was looking for my makeup bag.”

“Did you make a public appearance while I was gone?” Ignis asked. He knew me: I never wore makeup unless I had to be seen by the public.

“Yeah. Had to send out a search party for a group of teenagers who dared each other to see how far out into the darkness they were brave enough to face. All of ‘em ‘cept two went missing. The two that didn’t came to me. We got the others back alright but heck they were traumatized. Got attacked by daemons. Barely survived. Had to make an appearance to ask for volunteers. I pray this eternal night ends soon and Noctis comes back.”

“As do I, princess.”

I pressed his razor into his hand. “Here it is. Fell into the drawer underneath it when I must have whacked it with my makeup bag.”

“My thanks.”

“I’ll go finish breakfast.” I smiled and ducked out of the bathroom.

Ignis caught my wrist—with startling ease and accuracy. “Princess… I missed you.”

“Missed you too. Now get shaved. We both know how much you hate facial hair.”

“I believe you mean how much you dislike facial hair.”

“Oh please. You preferred being clean-shaven before we got together.”

“A fair point, to be certain.”

I giggled and went back to the kitchen. Our apartment was a tiny two-bedroom thing. The other bedroom usually housed Prompto or Gladio—whenever one or the other was back from a hunt. It was very rare that they were both back at the same time. At the moment, though, both were out slaying daemons.

While I finished breakfast, Ignis entered the kitchen, sitting on the counter the same way I usually did when he cooked—the sitting spot was in a corner and mostly out-of-the-way.

“You’re not going to ask how it went?” Ignis asked.

“Not sure I want to know, if I'm honest,” I answered. “I die of worry every time you go out hunting on your own but you still won’t let me come with you.”

“I want you to be safe.”

“Right,” I said. “But obviously you want to tell me about it or else you wouldn’t have brought it up. So go ahead. Give me a heart attack.” I snorted and glanced over at him—before remembering he wouldn’t be able to see me smiling at him. I tried to be audible as much as I could but even after five years I forgot he couldn’t see me sometimes. Usually because he was so incredibly efficient on his own even without his vision.

He snickered. “It was actually relatively uneventful. It’s difficult not being able to see my watch so I never know when I should get some rest, but other than that… well. The daemons are hardly masters of stealth. I can hear them coming the moment they spawn from the ground.”

“Did you count how many you got?”

“Difficult to tell if I was felling new enemies or if they were fallen ones getting up for another round over the cacophony of the fighting, but I believe over the course of the week I slayed… fifty-two?”

“Wow,” I said. I passed him a plate. “Waffle. Syrup. Couple chocolate chips.” I clicked with my left cheek—the way I used to when he could see and I would wink flirtatiously at him.

That was before we were together, but he knew to associate the noise with a flirty wink.

“Delicious,” he said.

“Coffee?” I asked.

“You know me so well,” he remarked.

I chuckled. “Well it’s not like you’ve changed much in the… seventeen years I’ve known you,” I said. Ignis scoffed. “Well, with one notable exception,” I added. He hummed in agreement. “That exception being you’re no longer single.”

That made him laugh. He knew I meant the loss of his vision, but he also knew if there was an opportunity for a joke, by the Six I was going to make a joke—if the situation permitted.

He reached out for me, knowing my general direction from where my voice was coming from. I took his hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “I do miss you when I'm not here,” he said. “I miss your jokes and your laugh. I miss the feel of your hair and your soft hands.”

“My hands wouldn’t be so freaking soft if you let me come with you.”

“You’re safer here.”

“Yeah but it’s not like I didn’t slay my fair share of daemons when Noctis was… not in the Crystal.” I rubbed my fingers against my thumbs and palms. Ignis was right. My old fighting calluses were gone. If I tried to fight now, my dagger hilts would slide off my skin.

“You did,” Ignis agreed. “But I feel better knowing you’re going to be here when I come home. And that I won’t have to hold you in my arms and watch—er, listen to—you die out there. I understand that you’re anxious that I may not return every time I leave, but my record of returning so far is impeccable.”

I sighed and cut a piece off my waffle, popping it into my mouth and not replying till I swallowed. “Doesn’t stop me from worrying. Don’t you think I’ve already lost enough?”

“You have indeed. Your father, your adopted father, your brother. Everyone in Insomnia who perished that night. I understand your worry. But I can’t just stay here and I know it’s wrong of me to ask you to remain behind, but I am grateful you do.”

“I know,” I muttered.

“Darling,” Ignis said, sliding off the counter and approaching me. He took my arms with that unnerving accuracy of his and pressed his forehead to mine. “I love you more than anything in the world and I cannot bear the thought of losing you. I know you despise this, but it means everything to me to know I get to come home to you. That you’re safe. It keeps me fighting to return when all I want to do is give up.”

“Iggy…!” He’d never told me that there were times he wanted to give up before. Probably because he knew it would worry me even more than I already worried anyway. Ugh, Ignis was so easy to read sometimes but that smooth professional demeanor of his could hide all manner of secrets and lies.

Wasn’t fair.

I reached a hand up and cupped his face—and suddenly felt myself suppressing giggles.

“What is the matter?” Ignis asked.

“You missed a patch,” I said. I ran my finger over the stubble that hadn’t quite got cut all the way. “It’s okay. I do it all the time with my legs.”

Ignis reached up and captured my hand, pressing it flat to his cheek. “Have I, now? Unfortunate,” he said. “But… that is one of the many reasons I enjoy being around you. Because you always notice and tell me.”

I chuckled. “Glad that’s one of the many and not the only one,” I joked.

“Never. Now, let’s finish these wonderful waffles and then see what we can get up to.” He brushed a kiss on my forehead. I corrected him with a peck on his lips.

“Sounds like a plan. You’re such a good strategist.”

“I try.”

[singlebecauseofthechocobros]

Merry late Christmas tto@lucianhuntress Sorry this is so late but I hope you enjoy it! Thank you so much for being so wonderful! You bring so much positivity to the group and it is incredibly refreshing! You have a 10/10 sense of humor and your writing is A++++! I hope you enjoy this and I love you <3

#24 ravus x selene- “I hope you break your ass on that ice.”

Selene was faring much better on the ice than she anticipated. She was moving her feet slowly, balancing on her skates but still propelling herself forward while her hands were stretched out to her sides for stability. She might have looked comical to some but she had yet to fall on her ass and a small grin of triumph adorned her face.

This moment was shortly lived however when her husband glided past her at an impressive speed. His snowy white hair billowed behind him along with the ends of his scarf which were tightly wrapped around his neck. At his swift passing Selene felt a breeze left in his wake. She was not surprised he was so good on the ice because frankly what wasn’t Ravus good at? He was smart, strong, and ethereal and while it drove Selene to madness it also caused her heart to race. But it was also what he had grown up with.

This being her first winter in Tenebrae she was shocked to find they were as frigid as her husband’s first impressions. The sylleblossom fields were gone, now coated in a fresh coat of snow while rivers and lakes streaming among the land were frozen in place. The sky was grey most days and yet it never dimmed the beauty of the country. The trees were barren with leaves but now coated in icicles that dripped throughout the day when the sun was out but left to refreeze overnight. Selene had to admit, Tenebrae was a real winter wonderland.

“Do you need assistance dear,” Ravus called out to her. She could practically hear the sneer in his voice.  

“I'm doing fine thank you,” she answered matter of fact. Heading to the edge of the frozen pond, Selene collapsed on the snow, heaving heavy breaths as she splayed out on the ground starting up at the sky. Even without looking she could hear the sound of his skates approaching and soon felt the snow around her crunch with the impact of the Commander taking a break as well.

Propping herself up on her elbows she watched Ravus begin to unravel the scarf he was sporting. His hair fell down, unkempt around his face but there was softness in his expression, as though any sort of guard he normally had in place was currently absent and it was just him. His blue eyes glanced out onto the ice with deep concentration, like he was watching something play out. Perhaps a memory.

His shoulders moved up and down with every rapid breath he took in and let out. 

“Sure are breathing heavy,” Selene teased, “Out of shape?”

 Rolling his eyes he replied, “No. Unlike you I was actually moving out there. I’m tired.”

“Hey I was moving,” she rebutted, “Maybe not as fast as you but I was.”

“Hardly,” he chuckled.

“Hardly,” Selene mimicked in a childish tone, receiving a scowl from her husband. “Glare all you want Ravus. Those looks don’t faze me anymore.”

Raising a brow he glanced at her, “Is that so?”

“I don’t believe I stuttered,” she retorted. And then before she could even blink, he was on her; pinning her down in the snow with his hands on her wrists and his face inches from her. Selene went to gasp but stopped herself, that’s what he wanted. He wanted her to react, wanted her to do something. But she wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

“Can I help you,” she breathed out coolly. But Ravus said nothing, rather he just stared at her, locking his eyes on hers and not breaking away. “I know what you’re doing Ravus,” Selene whispered, “But you can stop this now because it won’t work.”

He didn’t though. If anything his gaze intensified and Selene wondered how it was he could appear to be looking directly into her mind while also appearing to undress her at the same time. She hoped he couldn’t see past her own walls and into her deepest fears and secrets for the way his eyes burrowed into hers she was almost certain he might be gazing directly into her soul.

In turn however, Selene could see Ravus too: fearlessness coated in blankets of self-doubt shone behind his irises as well as admiration and affection. It was not much of course but Selene caught herself eyeing back in wonder.

“You’re a tough one to crack,” he mumbled, his eyes not leaving hers.

 “I like a good challenge,” she replied, “Probably why I agreed to marry you.”

The smirk that formed on Ravus’s face brought a small grin to her own. Freeing one of her wrists, he used his free hand to remove strands of hair from the princess’s face. At his touch Selene’s breath caught in her throat and sent shivers down her spine. Moving his face closer, she closed her eyes waiting but nothing happened. Pulling back, Ravus let go of Selene’s other hand and fell unto the snow beside her, beginning to look up to the sky as well. The two of them laid like this for a while, simply listening to the breaths of the other while letting the chilled air cool their faces.

“Why did you stop,” Selene asked, turning her head to him.  

“You said you like a good challenge,” he replied, “I’m curious to see how long you last till you’re practically dragging me to bed.”

Selene nearly chocked on her words as she sat up glancing at her husband, “E-excuse you?”

“It’s all in good fun,” he answered standing up and getting back on the ice, “Maybe this is for more of my benefit than yours.”

Selene could only imagine how red her face must appear in comparison to the white snow that was all around her but she couldn’t hide that or the stupid grin that appeared on her face at his suggestion. While she wanted to reply with something equally clever the only words she could muster were: “I hope you break your ass on that ice.”

The Crew: @creative-frequency @sherniwrites @bleucommelhiver @owldearest @promptoastandbutter 

[dktakes12-blog]

Alone

There's a lot of emotion to Noct that really isn't explored until after chapter eight. It bothers me a hell of a lot. In the start of the game, right before the first tomb with Cor, you waltz past a radio playing a report about Luna's supposed death. Noct just lost this father, his city, his crown, and now his bride to be. But it's never really touched on.

Sylleblossoms had never crossed his mind before. Noct knew they were her favourite, that they reminded her of her home in Tenebrae, but he could never really muster the care for them. It was just  a flower after all and it only seemed to grace the halls of the Citadel on her birthday. But now, everywhere he turned, there were flowers.

The sweet scent clogged his nose and thickly layered his throat. He would dream about the dark blue petals at night. He was drowning in them. Asleep, awake, it didn't matter. He was surrounded by the deep ocean blue and sunlight never reached those depths.

A hand clasped his shoulder. "Noctis?"

"Yeah?" Noct blinked, dragged himself out of the whirlwind of petals on a dark green stem. Specs stood beside him and the hand slipped from his shoulder like silk. A memorial played on the radio, again. It was all that ever played anymore.

"Are you ready to retire? We've rented a camper." Iggy's voice remained low, as if the harsh sounds of his accent would only trouble Noct further. The Advisor couldn't be any farther from the truth. It was the only thing keeping him afloat.

"...think I'll stay here for a bit longer." His nails dug into his palms. Noct couldn't tear his eyes away from the iridescent blue. At night, it was worse. The stars and the moon shone bright enough to sting, the scent of sylleblossoms in window sills filled every inch of his lungs, and he kept thinking he would see the tail of her dress or a flash of delicate blonde slipping behind something. At night, it was almost possible that she was here instead of dead.

Ignis nodded, a stiff sigh held in his chest. "They have yet to find her." He grasped a delicate petal between two fingers, twisted until it popped free.

It was a stab in the chest. Noct wanted to scream. How could Ignis do that to a memorial? He was supposed to be the mature one and he he was...destroying something for the woman he loved.

"If they haven't found her," Ignis took Noct's hand and unfolded the reluctant fingers, "there is still a chance she has not perished. Do not base your life on assumptions, my Prince." He folded Noct's fingers around the petal and left with a short bow.

Tears stung the corners of his eyes and he refused to let them fall. No, he wasn't going to break because of one little thing. He had been good...barely sleeping and stuck in his own head, but good. His hand clenched tighter.

What if she isn't? But what if she was? What was he supposed to do then?

The radio crackled. A soft, cheery tune filtered out of the shoddy speakers. A wedding ballad, the same one they always played after the memorial announcement. Tenebrae was in woe...The entirety of Eos was mourning. Noct shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut.

A dog barked in the parking lot. Dave had probably followed them, looking for Hunters to dig up some tags. Never a moment free of mourning. Noct placed the petal next to the rest of the flower and inhaled the scent he could never forget. In another world, perhaps she would have been at his side instead.

 - K

[thedogsled]

Don’t you think Dean was a little creepy in this episode? With wooing Daphne, I mean when Dean grabbed the ghost from his thigh he was going towards Daphne technically!

Bear with me here, because I’m going to ‘In Defense of Dean Winchester’ this a little bit. Honestly, people have been back and forth over the subject for weeks, but I’ve not really discussed it much except to write the post where I pointed out just how curvy SPN’s Daphne was. That didn’t change at all in the final cut, and if anything I was even more surprised, and if anything I was sitting there going ‘right, cause it’s the 70s, of course she’s not wearing a bra.’

This was not the Daphne of our childhoods. This was Male Fantasy ‘I can get two shotguns!’ Daphne. If we take the meta reading that Scooby was a projection of Dean’s psyche, it’s very little surprise that this is what you get as a result. Dean preserves the spirit of the Scooby Gang ultimately, but he almost watches his childhood destroyed by hunting real ghosts in the process. It is a powerful meta episode on performing Dean, a powerful episode regarding childhood trauma (even Sam’s flies out of the box and tries to nail him), and a powerful episode episode about toxic masculinity–ultimately all Dean’s skeevy - and I will agree they’re skeevy - efforts get him is groping a ghost. 

But that’s where the performance takes him. The moment he drops it, he stops trying to pursue Daphne too. He uses what he knows about Scooby Doo (Fred’s plans always backfire), and comes up with a plan B (Dean taking the role of Fred himself). And at the end Sam gets the kiss, and Dean strikes out with everyone, including Cas.

I could probably stop there, but I’ve not answered the question quite the way I want to, so I’m going to move onto the part that I think is somewhat harder to answer (without pissing some people off). It’s about the fact that fandom finds Dean’s age and treatment of women creepy in general, and just. Okay. Have you ever met a teenage boy? So Dean watches this cartoon when he’s a kid, and he finds Daphne hot (I mean, she’s designed to be hot, bi woman can confirm). This was the eighties. While Sam was outright pinning posters of real older women over his bed (you can imagine whatever you want about that), Dean was quietly lusting over a cartoon character. You carry those teen crushes with you. I’m sure if I happened to fall into Gundam Wing universe the Misha Collins version of Duo Maxwell would sweep me off my feet, because it’s my imagination and I can do whatever the fuck I like.

So Daph is curvy. Daph is the personification of that fantasty crystalized, permanent in Dean’s psyche, from when he was a teenager with a budding libido. She’s his Jessica Rabbit, and when she takes form, she is everything he imagined she’d be–as well as untouchable. Hilariously, and maybe somewhat sadly, Dean becomes the creepy dude trying for a kiss who never gets one. It’s like he feels old. And let’s face it, there’s probably some residual protectivism going on there, because Daphne is sweet and pure, even if she is still a sex object in his mind, and so ultimately Dean doesn’t get with her. And yes, I used the phrase ‘sex object’, because there’s no doubt there’s objectification involved (even if it’s just the animators living their own fantasy through the late night TV slot). The scene with Daphne and Velma settling down to bed together was not in the original episode, Daphne in her tiny nightgown stretching out over the bed–Dean’s objectification? The cartoonists? Ours?

So look, I will agree Dean is creepy, but he’s a 40 year old man living out his 15 year old fantasy, I think it’s fair to give him a break. And at the end of the day he is self aware creepy, he cockblocks himself. I know it is difficult, especially as a woman, not to conflate his toxic behavior alongside real life actual creepers (because god knows this is the society we live in and we need to keep changing that) but cartoon Dean just isn’t the problem here. It would be very different if we were talking about Dean and a rl woman, unless he got his ass handed to him for the behavior. I would be right there outraged with you. It’s not. This is Dean, his teenage fantasy, and his cartoonish self well and truly striking out. 

I suggest if this topic really does worry you that you bury yourself in the meta about what this episode was really saying about Dean, because it is going to take some of the edge off. And try not to think of her as 17 because, among other things, Daphne is an immortal vampire and just doesn’t know it yet. 

nb: Incidentally, I’ve noticed the exact age people are proposing the Scooby Gang are in these anonymous asks seems to constantly creep downward, so like. Guys. Daphne was played by Sarah Michelle Gellar in the films, okay, and she was over 30 at the time, and Lisa Simpson has been 10 for like. 8 million years, but that doesn’t stop people drawing sexy fanart of her. And Dean was a kid and she the older woman when they first “met” if you want to get real serious about it. The GA just aren’t going to have a problem with making Daph a bit sexy, because they were Dean too, lusting after unattainable curvy redheads who hung out with talking dogs, or making up stories about Daph and Velma sharing one bed. This is Dean’s self insert fanfiction, and I am a little bit sad for what it says about him tbh. Wishing he could be cool and hang out with the Scoobs and drag race the Mystery Machine, and he can’t even win there. So…give the guy a break.

[sassycassie-s-writing]

A Total Boss

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Prompto Argentum

Rating: PG-11/T- (for minor peril + spider)

Original Idea: @welovegroot asked: Could I request a bodyguard fic? With Prompto?---coupled with This set of headcanons

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) Heck yes you can! First Prompto one-shot! Isn’t he an adorable sunshine boy? XD Enjoy this Bodyguard!AU

^^^^^

The moment Prompto saw you, his brain stopped working. He wasn’t aware that he was going to be assigned to protect someone so pretty! He had a hard-enough time talking to girls as it was but talking to you? Being around you all day and keeping you safe? He was going to make a complete idiot of himself. Biting his lower lip, he awkwardly approached you.

“Uh… hi. Pleasure to meet you. I'm—” He gulped and stuck his hand out. “—I'm Prompto Argentum.”

You beamed at him and shook his hand, giving him your name in return. He barely heard it over the blood roaring in his ears. “The pleasure is mine, Prompto Argentum,” you said. “I'm grateful for your service.”

OMGOMGOMG, he thought frantically. You were smiling and your smile was breathtaking.

He let go of your hand quickly when he realized his hand was sweating. He was wearing fingerless leather gloves as usual but he didn’t want to take any chances.

“Uh—yeah! Uh, no sweat,” he replied.

Nailed it. Smooth as a cactus. If he’d been alone, he would have smacked himself in the forehead.

Trying to hide the pink rising on his cheeks, he turned to your father. “I, uh, believe there’s still some business to take care of?” he asked.

Your father nodded. “There is. Right this way,” he said. The two step into your father’s study to complete the boring paperwork.

^^^^^

The moment the door shuts, your friend snorts and dissolves into a fit of giggles. She’s been sitting on the couch twiddling with her hair since before your new bodyguard came over. You’re used to her antics by now, but you turn a look at her. “What’s so funny?” you ask.

“He’s so adorable!” she replies. “Who would guess that he’d be a qualified bodyguard?”

You shrug. “My father, apparently,” you say.

“The five-foot-eight blond dork whose bulletproof vest looks like it was made for a man bigger than he is.” She snickers again. “Hey, at least he’s cute.”

“Oh come on, Estelle,” you protest. “That hardly matters—”

“Sure but at least the guy you’re now stuck with all day every day is nice to look at.” She kicks her feet up on the coffee table and twirls a bit of her hair around her fingers casually, her dark eyes glittering with humor. “I, for one, cannot wait to see how this turns out. Two-hundred gil says you two will be dating before he leaves service as your bodyguard.”

“I’ll take that bet,” you say impulsively. “And when it’s over, I’ll be two-hundred gil richer!”

Estelle just grins. “We’ll see.”

^^^^^

Prompto may have seemed flustered and embarrassed when the two of you met, but as time goes on he loosens up. Within the first week of him guarding you, you get a measure of his true personality.

He’s bright and cheerful. A bit talkative, but at least he fills the awkward silences. He gets friendlier the more time he spends with you.

He starts feeling less like a bodyguard and more like a somewhat-overly-attentive friend.

“Look! Puppies!” he exclaims as the two of you walk down the street. He scuttles away excitedly and kneels in front of the couple out walking two very small yellow dogs covered in soft hair. You laugh and jog to catch up. The smaller of the two has a cowlick on the top of its head that reminds you of Prompto’s hair.

“Aw!” the woman says. “You have a very sweet boyfriend, miss.” She smiles at you.

Prompto starts coughing. “Oh, no, no, ma’am, you’re mistaken,” he says politely, pushing himself to his feet. “We’re not… together.”

“He’s a friend,” you put in, smiling back at the woman. “We’re just friends.” It’s too complicated and personal to explain why you have a bodyguard to every stranger on the street—though how they don’t notice his bulletproof vest is beyond you since he doesn’t even wear it under his clothes—so you decide “friends” is the best way to put it.

“Oh. Sorry,” the woman says. “You two have a nice day now!” She and her companion stroll off.

Prompto’s ears and nose turn red. “OMG. I should not have done that. I am so sorry, miss. I’m not supposed to leave your side and—”

“Prompto!” you protest, grabbing his wrist to catch his attention. “It’s okay. No harm done.”

^^^^^

“Boyfriend, huh?” Estelle teases after you tell her what happened in town. Prompto turns a light shade of pink on the armchair in the living room. Estelle gives you a playful raised eyebrow. “I can see why people might think that initially.”

“Estelle,” you begin. “There’s really no reason to—”

“Spider!” Prompto shrieks, waving his hand and arm madly. “Spiderspiderspiderspiderspider!”

Your friend covers her mouth with both hands to hide her laughter as the spider lands on the carpet and gets crushed under Prompto’s boot. When you look up at his face, his eyes are red and tearing up and his lip is quivering. You give him a sympathetic look, get off the sofa, and throw professionalism out the window because goshdangit he looks like he needs a hug. Ignoring Estelle’s barely-muffled snickers, you wrap your arms around him.

Prompto squeaks in surprise. “Uh… miss? What are you doing?”

“This is a hug, Prompto. I'm hugging you.”

“I know what a hug is. Why are you hugging me?”

“Because you look like that spider scared you to death.”

“Well,” Prompto says, slowly prying himself from your hug, “no one likes finding out a spider crawled on their arm.”

“True that,” Estelle remarks with a snap of her fingers pointing at Prompto. She glances at her watch and gets to her feet. “Well, I gotta be off. Boyfriend and I are going out to dinner and if I don’t go put on a nicer shirt my mother will never let me hear the end of it!” She winks at you and ducks out your front door. “Oh, and bye Prompto!” she calls over her shoulder.

“Uh, bye!” Prompto replies.

You roll your eyes at your friend—and immediately rub at your eye as discomfort shoots through it. “Shoot,” you mutter.

“What’s wrong?” Prompto demands, looking around in sudden vigilance you’re not particularly used to.

“Eyelash in my eye,” you say.

“Here. Let me get it out,” he says.

Am I going to trust him with this? Your mind races as you lower your hand and open your eyes wide, looking up so he can get the eyelash out. His face is ridiculously close to yours. You can see every detail in his light blue eyes—and practically count the star-field of freckles across his nose and cheekbones.

You do trust him to remove the eyelash. He does it gently but quickly. Sure it feels wrong to have someone touching your eyeball, but one quick poke and the discomfort goes away. You rub your eye again. “Thanks,” you say.

“Anything for you, miss,” he says professionally—with just a hint of his trademark playful friendliness in his voice.

You laugh and sit back down on the sofa, flipping open the book you’d been looking at before Estelle stopped by. “Hey Prompto?” you ask.

“Yes?” he replies with a bright smile.

“Do me a favor and grab me a pen, would you?”

“You got it, gurl!” He gives you finger guns and does a front-flip over the loveseat toward the kitchen. You can’t help but giggle. He’s a funny guy. Really you couldn’t have asked for a better bodyguard right now. Sure, you were in danger, but with Prompto around life felt almost normal. Like having a friend.

A really overprotective friend who carried a gun.

^^^^^

“LOOK OUT!” Prompto shouted, grabbing your hand and yanking you out of the way of a car that blew through the red light right where you were about to cross. The force of his pull sends you right into his chest. His other arm closes around your back, holding you close.

After a moment of both of you panting with adrenaline and fear, he lets you go. “Oh man. So sorry. I shouldn’t have—oh wow.” He steps back and pushes his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have touched your bare skin like that. So unprofessional—I'm so sorry—”

“Prompto! It’s okay. You’re just doing your job. And without you I would have been run over, okay?” you press.

He nods. “Okay. But… still. I'm sorry.”

“Don’t be. I'm safe.” You smile at him. “Now come on. Let’s cross.”

He twitches a bit as you cross the road, making sure you’re not going to be run over again. It’s a nice evening, turning into a warm summer night. The heat of the sun has baked the pavement and the stone that the buildings are made from, and as the sun’s power fades toward darkness, the pavement and stone radiate the heat they’ve captured. It’s fantastic weather.

Perfect for seeing a film.

One good thing about having a bodyguard twenty-four-seven is that going to the movies is easier. You don’t have to try and coordinate schedules with a friend so you don’t go alone. Prompto has a difficult time sitting still in a movie, but sometimes he does manage to relax.

“Come on,” you say, nodding toward a gap between two buildings. “This is a shortcut. Estelle and I always cut through here.”

Prompto looks wary but follows you in. You notice his hand rest on his gun. The buildings cut off the sunlight, plunging you both into near-nighttime. Prompto steps closer to you. You can almost feel him vibrating from anticipation.

“Prompto, it’s okay,” you say. “Nothing ever happ—AAAHHH!”

The scream is torn from your throat before you can stop it. It was just a reaction as Prompto grabbed your hand and yanked backward. He shoves you behind him protectively, one hand gently brushing your upper arm to make sure you’re still there and within reach should something happen.

A man almost twice Prompto’s size emerges from the shadows—how you hadn’t noticed him is beyond you. You see yellow, dirty teeth leering at the both of you and the glint in a pair of eyes too far away to really see.

And the barrel of a gun—gleaming in the half-light.

You yelp, fear catching you up.

Prompto reacts fast—and you’re reminded that he’s there to keep you safe. He’s not just a friendly dork who hangs around all the time.

He kicks the gun out of the man’s hand, using the momentum to flip backward. Sticking the landing, his hand shoots into the air and catches the gun, which he then cocks and points at the man. “Don’t try that again,” he snaps at the huge dark figure.

The man looks as surprised as you are. He puts his hands up and backs off.

Prompto reaches back and finds your wrist. “C’mon. We’re going,” he says. You don’t protest as he keeps you behind him, circles the man, and then runs through the rest of the alley. He puts the safety on the unfamiliar gun into place and shoves it into a spare holster you’d noticed but never thought much of. The two of you are standing near the side-door of the movie theater.

“That… was awesome,” you say. “Terrifying, but awesome. How did you do that?”

“Years of training,” he replies, panting. This time he takes your hand gentler and pulls you toward the front door of the theater.

You’re almost there when he starts to cry.

“Prompto… what’s wrong?” you ask quietly.

“I… I failed you, miss,” he says, voice shaking. “I couldn’t stop the threat before it happened. I'm such an idiot. Completely disposable.”

“Prompto,” you say, reaching up to brush some of his messy hair out of his face. “You are not disposable. I couldn’t ask for a better bodyguard. And look at me—I'm safe! You did not fail, okay? You’re a great bodyguard! A total boss!”

He sniffs and wipes his face on his bare arms—you’re fairly certain he hasn’t worn anything with sleeves since the day he began—giving you a melancholy smile. “You think so?”

Impulsively, you tilt up onto your toes and peck his cheek. “Absolutely. Thank you, Prompto.”

“M-my pleasure, miss,” he says. Still holding your hand, he pulls you around the corner to the front of the theater and opens the door for you, as he always does. “Your evening of entertainment awaits.” There’s his playfulness. You grin, making him smile.

“I’ve had plenty of entertainment already,” you say.

“Too much,” he says. “Hopefully you won’t have to have any more of that kind.”

“Well, with you here, at least I know I’ll be safe,” you say.

I think I might owe Estelle two-hundred gil when all this is over, you think as you give your tickets to the usher and head into the right theater to catch the film.

Surprisingly, you’re pretty sure you’re okay losing that bet.

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Rescue

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Ignis Scientia

Rating: PG-11 (mild peril)

Original Idea: I saw a starter post on Pinterest with the first line on it.

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) Fun fact this was the second FFXV one-shot I wrote after The Original Story. There will be a part 2!

^^^^^

“Get away from her before I break every bone in your body,” Ignis snarled.

I gasped as the magitek soldier holding my arm behind my back tightened its grip—and Ardyn just chuckled.

“That would be a feat,” Ardyn said, ignoring the ice sublimating off Ignis’ blades. He sounded amused. He’d never been scared of us. Not even Noctis. “The strategist of the royal family, against an immortal. A noble young man, attempting to rescue Miss Constellatio here.”

“Her name is Princess Lucis Caelum!” Ignis snapped. I grunted as the grip on my arm forced my shoulder back again.

“Iggy, stop!” I pleaded as tears slid from the corners of my eyes. One slid over the bridge of my nose and fell onto the pavement.

“Is that her name?” Ardyn taunted. I struggled to loosen the magitek’s hold on me. “Surely she’s not actually of royal blood.”

“King Regis took her in and adopted her. She is a Lucis Caelum. He bestowed the name on her.” Ignis’ grip on his blades tightened, knuckles turning white. “Now. Get—away—from her!” His jaw clenched and his knees bent. I squirmed and squeaked in pain as my arm was yanked back again. Ignis heard me. His sharp eyes glanced at me.

“Ignis, stop! Leave me here!” I pleaded again. “Go! You have to keep our brother safe!” Noctis was a brother to both of us. I hoped he’d be enough to get Ignis to see sense.

“Unhand her!” Ignis shouted.

“Iggy, go!”

“I'm not leaving you here to him!” Ignis snapped at me.

Ardyn chuckled again. “How noble,” he mused. “The two of you arguing over who it would be better to save.” He tsked. “If only you had the time…” He grinned maliciously. I heard the shink of a blade being drawn. It was a short, swift noise—a dagger probably.

The magitek soldier’s hand disappeared from my arm. Someone’s hand—Ardyn’s probably—clutched a fistful of my hair and pulled up. I shrieked. A cold blade pressed to my throat. I whimpered, scared but determined. “I-Iggy?” I stammered.

“It’s alright, princess,” he said.

“No. I-Iggy… you need to leave me here. Go to Noctis. Please.”

“Princess, I swore an oath to the king I would protect his children. That includes you, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“You were like ten!” I tried to arch my back and get my neck away from Ardyn’s dagger. To no avail.

“Oh. Enough of this,” Ardyn complained smoothly. “Let’s just be done with all this Lucis royalty business once and for all. Even the adopted ones.”

The dagger dug in a little deeper to my skin, but didn’t break it. I yelped.

“No!” Ignis shouted.

I heard a whoosh—and pain lanced through my neck. Ardyn tumbled away from me, one of Ignis’ ice blades sticking out of his chest. I fell onto my elbows, coughing and clutching at my neck. The clapping of hard-heeled shoes echoed on the pavement. Dark trousers knelt next to me, familiar gloves taking my hand and forearm to help me stand.

“Are you alright?” Ignis demanded. “Let me see.” He pinched my chin and tilted my head up, baring my throat. I hissed as the edges of the cut strained. Ignis sighed. “Just a flesh wound. You’ll be alright. Nothing major. Come. We’ll get you something to heal it when we’re safe. For now, here.” He withdrew something from the pocket of his jacket and pressed it into my hand. I couldn’t help but chuckle as he yanked his blade from Ardyn’s chest and grabbed my other hand.

“Of course you have bandages in your pocket,” I remarked playfully.

“Only a fool wouldn’t on a journey like this, princess,” he said.

“Would you stop calling me that?” I asked, stumbling after him as he dragged me along. “I'm not really Lucis’ princess. I'm just an orphan King Regis took pity on.”

“To be fair, nothing is known about your mother. You may not be an orphan,” Ignis said. “That being said: literally you are the only person who insists you’re not the Lucian princess. Even Noct would say that you are his sister. And that is that.” He let go of my hand long enough for me to manage to wrap the bandages around my bleeding neck—trapping my hair in it because I didn’t have time to get it out of the way and it fell to my hips so I didn’t have a choice—before grabbing it again.

I don’t know how long we ran—only that I was exhausted, panting, and still in pain by the time Ignis deemed us far enough from Ardyn that he could put a potion on my neck to heal the slice safely without Chancellor Izunia finding us. My neck was throbbing as Ignis tilted my head back again and unwound the bandages. The bottom few wraps were soaked through with red. Ick.

“What happened, Estelle?” he asked quietly, brushing my hair away from my wound. A few strands had been caught in the blood and peeled unpleasantly since it had dried a bit.

“You know Ardyn,” I grumbled. “Just turned up outta nowhere—with a fleet of MTs and attacked me.”

“Did you hold your own for a while, though?” Ignis asked, spreading the potion on my wound. “There. Should not even scar…”

“‘S long as I could,” I said. “Overwhelmed, outnumbered, outgunned. Scared. Caught off guard. Didn’t last more than two minutes before I got pinned.”

“That’s still significant,” Ignis said. “Two minutes in any fight is impressive.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re under the impression that I somehow outrank you—which I don’t, by the way. You’re a Crownsguard. I'm the daughter of a Crownsguard. We’re of the same rank.”

Ignis rolled his eyes and took my hand, wadding up the used bandages and shoving them in his pocket to burn later with the clean portions keeping the blood from staining his pocket. “Oh, princess,” he sighed. “You’ll be the death of me.” And off we were running again. I wasn’t expecting the sudden yank and stumbled a bit after him.

“Iggy, bear in mind you’re a lot taller than me and my legs are shorter!” I cried out, trying to keep pace. He slowed a bit so we were alongside each other, rather than him ahead of me.

Another long stretch of running. I was good at running in short bursts—a quick, agile sprinter—but I had no idea where we were and we just… kept… going.

“Ignis! Estelle!” a familiar voice cried out. Ignis stumbled to a stop, pulling me to a halt as well.

We turned in sync with each other. Too many years of being around each other, I guess.

Noctis, Prompto, and Gladiolus were running toward us. Ignis let go of my hand and pushed his glasses up. “Noct!” he exclaimed. Noctis smiled at him but ran right to me, grabbing my shoulders and peering at my face.

“Are you alright?” Noctis demanded.

“Fine,” I said.

“You’re bleed—no wait. You were bleeding,” he said.

“Thank Iggy for always having a potion or two on hand,” I remarked.

Noctis’ hand rested on Ignis’ shoulder. “Thank you for looking after her,” he said.

Ignis ducked his head. “Of course, Your Highness,” he said. “Keeping an eye on your sister is an honor.” He glanced at me. “Even if she sees it differently.” There was a hard edge to his tone, like he was exasperated with me. Ignis was always exasperated with me, though, so I couldn’t claim to be surprised. Or unused to that tone. He was usually exasperated at me for different reasons than he was with Noct when we were growing up.

“C’mon, guys. Let’s get out of here!” Prompto said. “This place is freaking me out.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Noctis muttered. His eyes flicked between me, Ignis, and Gladio. “‘S go.” He jerked his head and started to jog off. Gladio followed, Prompto close behind.

“Ugh. More running?” I complained.

Ignis’ fingers slid between mine again. “Come along,” he said. “It won’t be so bad this time. The Regalia is close by.”

“Oh good,” I muttered. We started to run. “That’s not the last we’ve seen of Ardyn.”

“I agree.”

The run was, in fact, shorter than the other two bouts Ignis and I had completed. Before I knew it Gladio was ignoring the doors to the backseat of the Regalia and picking me up by my waist to drop me unceremoniously onto the middle seat before jumping over the door himself and landing beside me. The other three opened the doors like normal people and we were off.

I rested my head on Noctis’ shoulder. “I'm gonna take a nap,” I said.

Noctis chuckled. “Go for it. I probably will too,” he said.

“Ig, wake me when it’s my turn to drive,” I added.

“We’ll see, princess,” Ignis said. I scoffed. “If you’re still feeling poorly, I might actually hand the wheel to Prompto if I grow fatigued.”

I snorted. “No you won’t,” I said, snuggling against my brother’s shoulder.

“We’ll see,” Ignis repeated.

Noctis snickered.

And that was the last I remembered.

^^^^^

“She’s out,” Noctis observed, feeling the weight of his sister’s head on his shoulder increase. “So what happened, Iggy?”

Ignis clenched his hands on the wheel. The leather creaked with the force and his knuckles turned white through the holes in his gloves. His jaw tightened. With a sigh, he explained what happened—also relaying what Estelle had told him about Ardyn’s arrival before he got there.

“Wow,” Prompto said. “You really threatened to break every bone in his body?”

Ignis shrugged. “He had Estelle,” he said as though that explained everything.

Which, since the others knew him so well, it actually did. Ignis and Estelle had a remarkably close bond and Ignis was loyal—he would go to the ends of the world for the people he cared about. Estelle was no exception, even if she constantly refused her rank as the princess to Ignis’ frustration.

“That took guts, dude,” Prompto remarked.

Ignis blinked. “Thank you,” he said.

“She gonna be okay?” Noctis asked.

“I assure you, she will be quite alright,” Ignis replied.

Noctis went quiet for a long time. Gladio had picked up his book and was reading in silence, ignoring everything else. At first, Ignis and Prompto thought Noctis had drifted off to sleep too. Then he looked up, meeting Ignis’ gaze in the rearview mirror.

“How… how scared were you when you saw her on the ground?” he asked softly. There was a gentle quiver in his voice.

“Terrified,” Ignis answered honestly. “And, to be frank, it drove everything else from my mind. She begged me to come find you and to leave her to her fate, but I could not. I sought only to protect her from harm.” Gladiolus grunted in what sounded like approval. Ignis didn’t acknowledge it. “I saw red and, in that moment, I believe I could have broken every bone in Chancellor Izunia’s body.”

Prompto gave Noctis a knowing smirk. Noctis bounced his eyebrows in understanding, a small grin tugging on his mouth.

“Thank you, Ignis, for keeping her safe,” Noctis said.

“Of course, Your Highness,” Ignis repeated from before. “I always will.”

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Come Back to Bed

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasty XV/Ignis Scientia

Rating: PG/K+

Original Idea: Just lying in bed trying to sleep.

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) IDK this is just that FWP stuff! Fluff Without Plot

^^^^^

I jolted awake after a messy dream. Our bedroom was dark, but the streetlights of Lestallum could be seen through the window blinds. The lights were dimmer at “night” to try and conserve some power and maintain everyone’s circadian rhythm with the absence of daylight.

I reached one hand out, searching for Ignis’ hand under the covers.

His side of the bed was cold and empty.

I sat up in bed and peered around. “Iggy?” I asked quietly. “Ignis?”

“Mm.”

Ignis was sitting on the chair next to the window, glasses off and bangs floppy on his forehead. He had on his pajama trousers but not his shirt. He was angled as though he was looking out the window but his eyes were as clouded and sightless as they’d been since the Hydrean attack. His cane was gathering dust behind the chair. He hadn’t used it in a long time.

“What are you doin’ up?” I asked, pulling the covers up over my bare shoulders to keep them warm against the chill of our room.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he replied.

I held one hand out, being as noisy as I could, and fluttered my fingers together. “Come back to bed,” I mumbled. “It’s cold.”

“In a moment.”

Sighing, I got out of bed in just my sleeping bra and underwear. I leaned against his side and wrapped my arm around his shoulders, taking his other hand. “C’mon, Iggy. What’s bothering you?”

He sighed as well and turned his head toward me, free hand reaching up and holding my hand on his shoulder. “Four years,” he said. “Four years of darkness for everyone—not just me. Four years without Noct. And three of those years have been exquisitely happy for me. Being with you.” He was right. Four years. I was the age now that he’d been when this whole thing started.

“And you feel like you shouldn’t be happy while all this suffering continues,” I said.

“That… is one way to put it, my dear.”

I shuddered in the cold, feeling gooseflesh sprout on my arms and legs. “I know how you feel, Ignis,” I said, trying to keep the shivering out of my voice. “I feel it every day too. But life has to go on. It’s not wrong that you and I are together. There’s nothing bad about our love. I think right now it’s a good thing to have as much love as we can in this world while everything else is surrounded by darkness. What little light left should be used as much as possible.”

Ignis sighed and stood up, wrapping his arms around me. “You’re right,” he said quietly. “As usual.”

I snickered. “Well, I had a good teacher. He was very wise,” I said.

Ignis chuckled. He’d always taught me more than anyone else and he knew it. My schoolteachers had taught me school stuff, but Ignis had taught me people stuff. “Yes I suppose you did,” he agreed.

I rested my chin on his bare chest and looked up at him. “Come back to bed, Iggy,” I said quietly.

“Hm. I suppose I should. Your skin is growing cold,” he said. We went back over to our bed. Ignis tucked me in and then got in on his side, scooting over to wrap me up in his arms. “Better now?”

“Much. Thank you.”

He smiled. “Of course.”

There was a long silence, during which I guessed he must have fallen asleep.

But he hadn’t. “The time since Noctis entered the Crystal wasn’t the only reason I couldn’t sleep,” he admitted.

“Oh?” I asked tiredly, brushing his bangs away from his eyes.

“Yes. I hate to say it aloud, but part of me is still surprised that after all this you still… want me.”

“What are you talking about, Ignis?”

“I knew you had feelings for me when we were younger. You weren’t very subtle at hiding it.” He smiled slightly, brushing a few strands of hair off my face despite not even seeing they were there. “I knew you had feelings then, and I'm grateful they never faded even after… this.” He gestured to his sightless eyes.

“Ignis,” I protested. “You really think I'm that shallow? That I wouldn’t love you anymore because you sacrificed your eyesight to protect Noctis? Ignis…” I felt my heart break as I reached out and ran my fingers through his bangs.

“No. The thing is, I know you’re not that shallow. I know you better than that. And I never thought I was insecure but the thought kept me awake. I can’t tell you how beautiful you are every day in whatever you’ve chosen to wear or how you’ve chosen to style your hair. I can’t tell you how charming your smile is or how you look like a paragon of royal leadership before you step up to the podium to reassure everyone that everything will be alright.”

“Ignis, I don’t need you to tell me that. I have plenty of people who reassure me that I look fine. Everything you give me is far more valuable than surface-level compliments. Genuine love and heart… it’s better than any compliment. Don’t ever think I wouldn’t love you for something as simple as you going blind.”

“Thank you, darling,” he said quietly.

I ran my fingers through his hair. “Get some sleep. The lights will brighten in a couple hours. Might as well sleep while we can.”

“Indeed.”

“I love you, Ignis.”

“I love you as well, princess.”

“Hm…” I sighed. “Get some sleep, Ignis.”

“You too.”

I snuggled closer to his chest and closed my eyes. “Everything’s going to be alright eventually.”

“I agree.” His hand stroked my hair. I smiled. He was warm and smelled like the spices he enjoyed cooking with.

With his soothing touch lulling me to sleep, I was out within minutes.

^^^^^

Ignis felt and listened to her sleep with a gentle smile on his face. He couldn’t see how peaceful her face looked or know that she was grinning in her sleep without feeling it with his hand. He could still picture her as she was the last time he saw her in his mind—and that was enough. She’d been eighteen—beautiful and sweet and sharp as a tack. Her hair was long and thick and shiny—lighter brown than Gladio’s but darker than Ignis’—with gold highlights. The very last time he saw her she was bruised and bloody from the Hydrean attack, but during the road trip around Eos, her natural beauty shone like a beacon to him.

She probably looked just about the same now—except with a few new scars and more wisdom in her eyes.

Her heartbeat pounded steadily against his chest, helping him relax enough that his mind could slow down and finally get some sleep.

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Amortentia

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Ignis Scientia feat. the Chocobros

Rating: PG/K+

Original Idea: This thing!

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) Hogwarts AU y’all!

^^^^^

Slytherins usually had potions with the Gryffindors. It was obnoxious. I swear there was never a noisier house than Gryffindor. Like, Hufflepuffs could be chatty but come on—the Gryffindors didn’t know when to shut their traps.

Which was why sixth year NEWT advanced potions with the Ravenclaws excited me. Maybe they’d be a bit easier to work around than the Gryffindors.

Also it meant Ignis and I would be in the same potions class so I could finally see if he was as good as everyone boasted he was.

When I reached the dungeons, the Ravenclaws were already there, in their seats, browsing idly through their textbooks. Except Ignis. His was sitting closed on his desk and he was reading something entirely unrelated to the class at hand. He was sitting alone at a desk. I immediately went and sat next to him. “Morning,” I greeted.

“Good morning,” he replied distractedly, pushing his glasses up his nose.

The other Slytherins and I were running a tad late because of Professor McGonagall’s lecture on advanced Transfiguration, so Professor Slughorn began the moment the last Slytherin was in their seat.

“Good morning, class,” he said. “Welcome to your first day of NEWT-level advanced potions. You’re all in here because you got O’s and E’s on your OWL exams. Congratulations! This morning I have an assortment of potions up here on my table that we will be brewing throughout the term. Would anyone venture a guess as to which ones they are?” He gestured to a row of bubbling cauldrons.

Ignis and I raised our hands at the same time. Ignis’ went up faster, so Slughorn called on him.

He got up and approached the teacher’s workbench, peering at them. “The little one in the middle is Felix Felicis. Otherwise known as Liquid Luck.”

“Well done. We won’t be brewing it this term because it’s devilishly tricky and takes six months. Do carry on.”

“The one on the far left is the Draught of Living Death—an incredibly powerful sleep potion.” He rattled off two more before he caught everyone else’s attention again. “This one is Amortentia—the most powerful love potion in the world. Although—” He put on his Know-It-All expression. “—it cannot create actual love. That’s impossible. It mimics powerful infatuation and obsession. It’s one of the most dangerous potions on the table due to that. Supposedly it smells different to each person—based on what attracts them.”

“Well, what do you smell?” Slughorn encouraged.

Ignis took a deep breath through his nose, leaning over the cauldron. His glasses fogged up for a moment. “I smell… perfectly brewed Ebony… freshly fallen rain… and…” His ears turned red. “And yeah,” he finished. Quickly he returned to his seat next to me.

I smiled at him. “Show off,” I whispered. “Identifying them by sight.”

“And smell,” he added. “I could smell the rain and the Ebony from down the corridor.”

“Normally, I begin the term with having you brew the Draught of Living Death—but I think this time I'm going to do a pretest on how well you make Amortentia. You’ll find the recipe in your books—can’t quite remember the page. It’s in the table of contents. You’ll find it. You’re all bright students.” Slughorn smiled at us. “Work in pairs. Ingredients are in the cupboard. Chop-chop!”

Everyone got up to gather their ingredients. Ignis and I got ours first. Out of habit I gravitated to the Slytherin tables. It wasn’t that we couldn’t mingle with the other houses. We just didn’t. Probably because we were most comfortable with our own houses.

As I got everything set up, Slughorn slunk around the room like an oversized caterpillar, muttering numbers under his breath.

“Well,” he said. “It seems we’ve an odd number of both Slytherins and Ravenclaws in this class this year. Miss Constellatio?”

I turned, eyebrows raised. “Sir?”

“Would you mind pairing up with Mr. Scientia?” He gestured to Ignis.

I scooped up my supplies. Good thing I hadn’t started the fire yet. “Of course not, sir,” I said. I joined Ignis at the desk in the front of the room.

Slughorn came over and leaned against the opposite side of the desk—the old wood creaking under his weight. “I'm doing this for selfish reasons, you know,” he said. “The two of you have always been some of my best and brightest. I’d rather not pit you against one another. I expect you two will do very well together.” He winked at us and left.

Ignis pushed his book at me, already open to the recipe. “After you,” he said.

As we set to work, I glanced at the potion description above the recipe. “Says here that most people smell three scents in the vapor,” I remarked. No one else seemed to hear me. I looked over at Ignis. He was cleaning more steam off his glasses on the blue lining inside the sleeve of his robe. “Well?” I nudged him playfully with my elbow. He looked up, squinting slightly to see me in the dim light without his glasses.

“Well what?” he asked.

“What was your third scent?” I prompted.

“New books,” he said. His ears turned red again.

“Liar,” I said. But I didn’t press it. Clearly the third scent was something he was embarrassed about. I could tease him about it later.

The class period dragged on. Ignis and I kept working doggedly. I had Ignis to thank for that. He was pretty determined to finish it.

As we worked, I finally figured out what I kept smelling—Ignis’ cologne. It was spicy but not overpowering. The rest of the room beyond our table was a mix of the individual ingredients’ scents and… was that the cookies Ignis baked for me over the summer? And rain on pavement?

“Are we doing this right?” Ignis asked, peering at the potion and then at his book. “It looks more burgundy than plum.”

“Clean your glasses,” I suggested sarcastically.

“Ha-ha,” he deadpanned. “But seriously, are we? It should start smelling different about now.”

“Well I wouldn’t know,” I retorted. “I can’t smell anything around this table because someone put on too much cologne this morning.” I snorted and nudged him with my shoulder. He scrunched his eyebrows.

“Well it’d certainly be easier for me to tell if you had backed off on the jasmine body wash,” he said sharply.

I opened my mouth to argue—but stopped.

Someone was giggling behind us.

I used jasmine body wash usually, yes, but I’d run out over the summer and hadn’t had time to get more so I’d brought my back-up bottle of strawberry-coconut to school to use till my mum could send me more. I didn’t smell like jasmine at the moment.

As I passed behind Ignis, I took a deep breath through my nose. I couldn’t smell his usual spicy cologne clinging to his robes. Something clean but calmer hit my nostrils in its place. Maybe vanilla?

Oh. My. Word.

A blush spread over my entire face and down my neck. My ears grew warm.

I almost dropped the knife in my hand. I was smelling Ignis’ cologne from the Amortentia.

It took a massive amount of concentration to finish the potion without thinking about what I just realized. I peeked at Ignis every chance I got. Had he… realized the same thing? I didn’t smell like jasmine today.

If he had noticed, he didn’t say anything. Or react.

Great.

^^^^^

“Gladio!” I called, running to catch up to our friend. He was a seventh year Gryffindor and taller than pretty much everyone in the castle—including the teachers. Ignis was pretty tall for sixteen, but Gladiolus looked like he might have had some giant blood in him. He was probably just tall.

“Hey! What’s up?” he asked brightly, giving me a side-arm hug.

“We, uh, we brewed Amortentia in potions today,” I said.

Classes were over and since it was September second, it was still fairly warm outside. I’d caught Gladio heading outside to hang out on the hill and fell into step beside him, intending to join. Wouldn’t get much more time outside once it got cold.

He chuckled. “That so?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“What’d you smell?”

“Freshly-baked cookies. Rain on pavement. And…” I trailed off and looked at the ground.

“And?” Gladio prompted good-naturedly.

I cleared my throat. “Ignis’ cologne.”

Gladio burst out into laughter. “Ohhh, that just made my day,” he said, throwing his arm around my shoulders again and giving me a tight squeeze. “I have been waiting for this day for so long!”

I scrunched my eyebrows. “What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

“Oh come on!” Gladio protested, flopping down onto the hill and yanking me by the sleeve of my robe to sit next to him. “You and Iggy have been crushing on each other since you were, like, first years, Constellatio.”

I squeaked. “Have not!”

“Have too!”

“What are we arguing about?” Ignis asked, dropping his bag down onto the grass and taking a seat on my other side.

Gladio waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing,” he said.

“Hey guys!” a new voice shouted. Two figures slipped a bit down the hill and scrambled to get back up to us. Noctis and Prompto. Both of them with their yellow-lined robes dropped over their arms so they only wore their dress shirts, ties, and slacks since it was pretty warm outside. “Guess what?” Prompto was the one that had spoken. His eyes were bright and his hair seemed messier than usual.

“What?” Ignis, Gladio, and I all asked at the same time with varying degrees of curiosity and enthusiasm. Noctis and Prompto were two years younger than me and Ignis and three years younger than Gladio but still managed to surprise us with their shenanigans.

“I asked out Cindy Aurum—and she said yes!” Prompto exclaimed.

I started laughing. Gladio did too. Ignis was smiling.

“That’s awesome, Prompt,” I said. “I'm excited to hear how it goes.”

“As am I,” Ignis agreed thoughtfully.

Noctis plopped down on the grass below us. “Speaking of,” he said. “When are you two going to go on a date?” He pointed between Ignis and me.

“What?!” Ignis and I asked at the same time.

“C’mon. It’s clear you two are crushing on each other. Just have a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks next Hogsmeade weekend and get it over with. I'm sick of watching the two of you pine after each other. I swear every longing glance is shaving a year off my life,” Noctis complained.

Nothing like the honesty of an angsty fourteen-year-old.

Ignis’ ears turned red. He looked away from Noctis and I—and sharply paused. “Wait,” he said, whirling back to look at me. “Why do you smell like strawberries and coconut?”

“I ran out of jasmine body wash over the summer,” I admitted.

“So what was I… in potions… oh my goodness,” he muttered. “The Amortentia.”

I cleared my throat. “Yup. Same on this end,” I said.

Gladio jerked his head at Prompto and Noctis. The three of them got to their feet and moved away from us to another part of the hill.

“When you say, ‘Same on this end,’ what exactly do you mean?” Ignis asked, staring at the Black Lake and the giant squid’s tentacles lazily flapping around at the third years pestering it instead of meeting my eyes.

“Your cologne. The cookies you baked for me over the summer when I visited your place,” I said.

“Perhaps… perhaps Noct has a good idea. Would you… care to accompany me to Hogsmeade this coming weekend trip?”

I curled my knees up to my chest. “Yeah,” I said, watching the lake too. “Yeah I’d like that.”

“Splendid. It’s settled then.”

I leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. “Yeah,” I said.

He looked surprised. “You missed,” he said.

“What? I don’t miss,” I retorted.

Ignis had a pianist’s hands—long elegant fingers. He set one on the side of my face so I had to look him in the eyes. “You missed,” he insisted, leaning closer.

I closed the distance. “Fine,” I breathed. Ignis smirked and pressed his lips to mine.

“SEE?! I TOLD YOU GUYS!” Noctis shouted from somewhere behind me. I snickered and tilted my head to the side for a better angle. Ignis copied me.

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Rescue - Part 2

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Ignis Scientia

Rating: PG (for some bare skin, lol)

Original Idea: Part 1

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) Part 2 got way too long. I’m sorry, but also not sorry at the same time XD Let me know if you want a part 3 to end it all off... better...

^^^^^

I woke up in a hotel room, wearing nothing but my bra and underwear. The covers were pulled up to my chin. I wasn’t sure if I’d been placed on my side or if I’d rolled onto my side while I slept.

I sat up sharply and looked around.

There was a small tent of folded paper on the bedside stand. With my name written on it in familiar handwriting.

Gone to get ingredients with Prompto. Noctis and Gladio next-door. Will probably return before you wake but just in case. Sleep well.

-Ignis

I read the note as I pulled on my clothes and jammed it into my pocket once my trousers were on. Of course it was Ignis who tucked me into bed. Man, the guy was more of a mother than I was. Which was saying something since Prompto’s only nickname for me, besides Stell (but everyone called me that), was Mom.

I brushed my hair back into a ponytail and knocked on the door of the room next to mine.

After a moment, the door popped open. “Well, well. Look who finally decided to wake up,” Gladio observed with a tiny smile pulling at the corners of his lips.

“Ha-ha,” I said flatly.

He chuckled and opened the door wider. “Here to see your brother?”

“Came to see if Ignis and Prompto got back, actually,” I replied. “Iggy left me a note that said you two were in this room, but nothing about which room he and Prompto are in. I was gonna have Iggy check my neck to make sure it’s okay.”

Gladio jerked his head to the side. “They’re in the next room over. Dunno if they’re back though,” he said.

I gave him a two-fingered salute. “Thanks Gladio. Tell Noc I said hi when he wakes up.”

“What makes you think Noct’s asleep?”

“He’s always asleep.”

Gladio laughed. “Fair enough. I will.”

I waved and headed for the next door down. “Bye Gladdy.”

“Bye Stell.” He shut the door.

I knocked on the next door when I reached it.

It took a moment before the door flew open. “Estelle!” Prompto greeted brightly.

“Hey. Glad you’re back. Iggy here?”

“Yeah he just got out of the shower.”

“Oh. Well I can come back in a few minutes. Just wanted him to check my neck.”

“Oh nah. It’s good. Sit with me and wait for a minute and he’ll be right out.” Prompto beckoned me in. I crossed the threshold and plopped down on the bed where he gestured for me to sit as he shut the door. He flopped down next to me.

“How are you doing?” I asked him quietly. He shrugged, unconsciously covering his right wrist where there was a barcode branded into his skin. I’d only seen it once, but it was there. He just kept it covered up. He always hid it, but went to more unconscious effort to do so when he was nervous. I wasn’t even sure he knew why he had it.

“I'm okay,” he said. “It’s just… crazy. We came out here to have a road trip to Noct’s wedding and now we’re running around trying to save the world.”

“Mm. Yeah,” I agreed.

Creak!

“Estelle! What are you doing in here?” Ignis asked, sounding surprised but curious. The bathroom door had opened.

Ignis stood in the doorway with his bangs down, hanging in his face. There was a towel around his shoulders but no shirt. I could see his necklace resting close to his neck. His dark jeans were slung lower on his hips than usual, done up but with his belt unbuckled.

He wasn’t wearing his glasses—they were on the bedside table between his bed and Prompto’s—so I really hoped he wouldn’t notice the blush creeping up my neck.

“Came to see if you’d take another look at my neck. Just make sure it’s okay. But clearly I should come back later—” I stood up and moved to leave, wishing I hadn’t pulled my hair back so I could hide how red my ears were probably turning—if the heat spreading over them were anything to go by.

“Nonsense,” Ignis said, catching my wrist gently. “I always have time to make sure you’re alright.” He tugged me back over to his bed and pulled me down next to him. Reaching back with his free hand, he grabbed his glasses and pushed them onto his face. A smile broke out on his mouth. “Ah. There you are.”

I turned brighter red and looked away while Prompto chuckled and got his phone out, playing a game by the looks of it.

Ignis cupped my chin gently and turned it to face him. Still smiling softly, he tilted my head backward. “Now… let me see…” he muttered. His other thumb gently ran over the skin on my neck where it had been cut. “No. I think you’re alright. The potion did its job.”

“Who cleaned the blood off?” I asked.

“I did,” he replied.

“Figured. Thought I’d ask.” I was grateful that my head was tilted back so I didn’t have to try and politely avert my eyes from the fact that Ignis wasn’t wearing a shirt. In all the years I’d known him, I was pretty sure I’d only seen him without a shirt once. During training. When we were teenagers. Ignis wasn’t built as obviously-muscled as Gladiolus, but he was still wiry and strong.

Ignis chuckled. “Your neck’s a bit red, though, princess,” he said. “Are you alright?” He felt my forehead with the back of his hand.

“I'm fine,” I said. “Probably just leftover heat from being in bed.” What a blatant lie. Ignis would see right through it. Ugh. Normally I was such a good liar—I’d skipped out on lessons and snuck in and out of the citadel with no problems—but it was so hard to lie to Ignis.

“Ah yes, possibly,” Ignis said. His tone was genuinely contemplative.

I heard Prompto stand up. “I'm gonna go see if Noct wants to run down to the arcade,” he said.

“Don’t be gone too long,” Ignis said. “We’re leaving at first light—which means we’re to wake before dawn.”

“Yeah, yeah. Got it,” Prompto said. “We’ll be back before dinner.” The door opened and shut.

Ignis sighed.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, not trusting myself to try and look down even though my neck was aching.

He shook his head—I could see his bangs even with my head tilted up. “Nothing, Estelle,” he said.

“Ig,” I said. “I know you better than that. You can’t just sigh like that and then say nothing is wrong.”

Ignis was quiet for a moment. Then he pinched my chin and gently lowered my head. My neck muscles screamed in relief. His eyes were sharp blue and peered right into my soul with the calculating intelligence he always had. He just looked at me for several seconds, like he was trying to figure out what to say.

“Estelle,” he began thoughtfully, “I can’t put into words how afraid and… and angry I was when I saw you pinned to the ground today.” He bowed his head and brushed his bangs back, trying to get them off his face. They fell back over his forehead so he gave up.

“They look good that way, y’know,” I said. “Your bangs.” Ignis grunted but didn’t look up to meet my eyes. “Ignis.” I reached up and set my hand on his bare shoulder, trying not to feel awkward or uncomfortable. “I… I'm grateful you didn’t leave me behind even though I wanted you to.”

I felt more than saw the melancholy smile on his face. “I would never leave you behind, princess. Especially not with him.” He snarled the last word. Normally Ignis was serious and composed so seeing his anger was frightening more often than not.

“Thank you, Ignis.”

He set his hand on my knee. “Of course, princess.”

I rolled my eyes at his continued respectful use of a title I’d never belonged with, but didn’t shoot it down. A rare occasion I was sure Ignis would bring up later.

I sucked in a deep breath and sighed. “Well, uh… thanks for taking a look at my neck. And for cleaning the blood off. And tucking me into bed.” I left the part about my clothes being removed out. “And… just… always taking care of me and Noc.” I stood up and brushed his bangs down his forehead again. “They look good down. Your bangs,” I repeated before moving to leave.

“Estelle, wait,” Ignis said when I reached the door.

I stopped with one hand on the knob and turned. “What is it, Ignis?”

He got up from the bed and approached me, throwing the towel around his shoulders off to the side and slinging one of his button-down shirts on, but not bothering with the buttons.

He stopped less than a foot from me, standing closer than we should have. For all his propriety, he seemed to have forgotten about it.

“I believe you deserve to know why I was so angry and frightened, seeing you defeated.”

“Because you’re an incredibly loyal friend to Noctis and me?” I suggested.

“It’s more than that,” Ignis said. “My loyalty and care for you go deeper than they do for Noctis.”

“Iggy…” I moved to take a step back, but my heel bumped into the door and there was nowhere behind me for me to go. “Think very carefully about what you’re going to say next. Once words are in the air, you can’t take them back.”

“I have no intention of recanting, princess. Nor am I blind. It would take a fool not to notice the both of us attempting to hide our feelings for each other from one another,” he said.

Whoop there it is, I thought. He was right, of course—Ignis was usually right—but that didn’t mean I necessarily wanted to hear it. Saying it out loud made it real. And when it was real, there were consequences—good and bad. And with Insomnia fallen, it might be dangerous to admit such things right now.

Swallowing, I sucked in a deep breath. “I know,” I managed to say. I wasn’t sure if I trusted myself to say any sentence longer than that. “I know…”

Carefully, Ignis reached out with both hands. I could feel calluses as they slid from my forearms to my hands. “Estelle,” he began quietly. “I understand that we are in a dangerous situation with a power difference between us, but that does not stop me from feeling very deeply for you. Should you wish me to never speak of it again, all you have to do is say so and I will be silent on the matter—”

“Shut up and kiss me, Ignis Scientia,” I breathed, pulling him closer to me where our hands were locked together.

He let go of my hand and slid his fingers into my hair. “Gladly…” He tilted his head to the side while I shifted up onto my tiptoes. Our mouths pressed together gently, but firmly. Ignis’ torso pushed me back till my shoulder blades collided with the door.

I could taste his favorite spices to cook with—cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg—and smell his aftershave. His damp bangs tickled my forehead.

Something in my head clicked. I pulled away fast.

“Noctis is going to kill me,” I muttered. “I shouldn’t have—I should go—” I turned sharply and fumbled for the doorknob.

Ignis didn’t stop me, but I heard him sigh.

I ran back to my room and shoved the door open.

Noctis and Prompto were sitting at the table, playing a game on their phones. Noctis looked up smugly when I entered. “So,” he said with a smirk I’d learned not to trust from a young age. “You and Specs, huh?”

“Noc!” I protested. “I thought you two were going to the arcade!”

“Gurl,” Prompto exclaimed, “I could cut the tension between you and Ignis in that room with a rusty spoon. I stepped out and grabbed Noct and we came here to await the outcome. And given how flushed you are…” Prompto smirked at me too. “I'm guessing my leaving was successful in getting the two of you to finally admit you like each other?”

I flicked my wrist and my shortsword appeared in my hand. “Get out of my room! Both of you!”

Prompto was up and out like a bullet. Noctis followed after with a laugh. “I approve, by the way!” he called as I slammed the door shut behind them.

I leaned my forehead against the door. “You’ve gotta be kidding me…”

^^^^^

Knock-knock-knock!

I looked up from my notebook and quietly tiptoed over to the door. Manifesting my sword in my right hand, I opened the door with my left.

“Princess,” Ignis greeted. I let my sword disappear with a dim flicker of light.

“H-hi,” I replied.

“We’re heading out to get something to eat,” he informed me.

“Rrright. Let me pull on my shoes.” I turned to look for my boots.

“Noct told me he approves, by the way,” Ignis said. I closed my eyes and sighed.

“Iggy…”

“I understand, princess.”

I wished I didn’t know him so well. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to hear the heartbreak in his voice—the strain of keeping himself composed and professional because of my hesitation. Ignis was responsible, intelligent, and strategic. But most of all, he was caring. And it hurt to hear that pain in his tone.

I looked up at him as I got my shoe on. His bangs were gelled up into their usual spikes but he wouldn’t meet my eyes, instead focusing his gaze on my boots too. The chain of his necklace poked out where the top button of his collar was undone.

Fumbling a bit, I used touch to find my other boot and guide it to my foot. “Iggy… it’s not that I don’t want to,” I said. “I do. I have for… years. But it just… it feels…”

“Wrong?” he suggested. I ignored the way my heart cracked at how dejected he sounded.

“No. Ill-timed,” I said. I yanked my other boot on and went right to him, standing too close the same way he had earlier. “Ignis, look at me. Please.”

He lifted his eyes from the floor to meet mine—rather reluctantly.

“Give it time, Iggy. Please. Once we’re sure we’re safe to be together, we will be,” I said. “I haven’t felt this right about something since the time I beat you at trivia night.” I pressed my tongue to the back of my teeth and grinned playfully. Ignis snorted out his nose quietly. I tilted up onto my tiptoes and pulled his head down gently, brushing my lips over his. “And I feel right about being with you. It’ll all work out, I'm sure of it.”

He sighed and brushed a few strands of my hair out of my face. “You’re right, Estelle,” he said.

I smiled. “C’mon. Best not keep the others waiting,” I said. I laced my fingers with his and tugged him down the hall.

“Of course,” he agreed. “Let us be off.”

[sassycassie-s-writing]

10 Years Ago

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Ignis Scientia

Rating: PG (minor mentions of blood)

Original Idea: IDK I just saw a prompt about falling and scraping knees and this begged to be written. Childhood crushes y’all!

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) This one’s kinda contemplative...

^^^^^

10 Years Ago…

Whimpering in pain, Estelle did her utmost not to cry, but wasn’t succeeding. She wasn’t sobbing, but tears were sliding down her face. She was holding her leg just above the knee with both hands.

Ignis knelt in front of her. “You alright, princess?” he asked gently. His glasses caught the light and flashed.

Estelle nodded. “I'm okay. Just fell.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes with her shoulder.

“Come along. Let’s get you cleaned up,” Ignis said. He leaned forward and scooped her up, ignoring her yelp of surprise. For being twelve and her being eight, she was still tiny and light and easy to carry. Ignis trotted from the garden to the infirmary, giving nods to other palace workers and pretending he wasn’t holding a bleeding, crying princess in his arms.

He set her down on the small stool that the palace physician usually sat on to give examinations and pulled a cloth out of the drawer. “It’s alright, princess,” he said, wetting the cloth in the sink and putting some soap on it. “Although… this may sting a little.” Gently he began to dab at her bleeding knee. The soap ran down her leg, cutting tracks into the gunk that smeared over her leg when she fell. She hissed and whimpered again.

Once he cleaned the scrapes, he rung out a new cloth over it to rinse the soap out. As it began to air dry, he spread some antibacterial ointment over the injury and started searching the drawers for some bandages.

The door burst open. King Regis stood there, Clarus Amicitia and Cor the Immortal behind him. “There you are, Estelle! I’ve been looking all over for—what happened?!” Regis demanded.

“W-well, I… I, uh…” Estelle stammered, lip quivering from pain and fear. Technically she wasn’t supposed to be out in the gardens this late in the evening without an adult.

Ignis looked up from the drawers. “It’s my fault, sire,” he lied.

“Ignis?” King Regis asked, looking confused and curious, but not angry.

“It was my idea. Estelle and I were out in the garden, taking a break from her studies. I thought the flowers and fresh air would clear her mind. I heard a noise in the bush and pushed her behind me to keep her safe. Turned out to only be a stray cat that had managed to sneak in but when I pushed Estelle back she fell and scraped her knee. I'm sorry, sire. I take full responsibility.”

King Regis waved a hand half-heartedly. “It’s alright, Ignis. It was an accident,” he said. “I'm just relieved you both are safe.”

Ignis bowed and scooped a roll of bandages from the drawer after finally finding them. He approached Estelle and wrapped her scraped knee as best he could. She watched him with big doe eyes, deep brown and full of curiosity—and tears. She was still clutching her thigh just above her knee with both hands.

Once he tied off the bandaging, he smoothed down her messy hair. “See, princess? Everthing’s okay,” he said, running one hand comfortingly down her leg.

Estelle giggled and kicked softly with both tiny feet. “Iggy! That tickles!” she protested.

Regis smiled and glanced back at Clarus and Cor. Both of them had small grins on their faces. Regis nodded to them. The two left. The king turned to look at the children again. “Ignis?” he asked. The boy jumped to attention and whirled around, using one finger to push his glasses up his nose. Regis chuckled. “At ease, my boy. I was just going to thank you for looking out for my children.”

Ignis bowed. “Of course, Your Majesty,” he said.

Regis ruffled Ignis’ hair. “You’re a good kid, Ignis.”

“Thank you, sire.” Ignis bowed again.

^^^^^

Present Day…

Ignis glanced at Estelle in the rearview mirror, crammed between Gladiolus and Noctis. She didn’t seem to mind. Even after ten years she was still small. She’d grown, of course, but the boys had grown more to the point where she looked even smaller now than she’d been before—proportionately in comparison to the boys. Ignis was 6’2” and she was a foot shorter. She was reading Gladio’s book over his shoulder, appearing not to be bothered by the cramped space.

He remembered that day when they were children fondly and often. He thought of it every time she got injured and he had to patch her up. Every time, she still watched him with big brown doe eyes—sometimes curious, other times bravely trying to seem strong.

“Specs watch the road!” Noctis shouted as the car drifted a bit. Ignis corrected the course of the car.

“My apologies. Just checking the rearview and thought I saw something in the reflection,” he said. Only partially lying.

“Gee. Iggy’s usually the best driver of the four of us!” Prompto remarked with a laugh.

“Ig? Want me to drive for a while?” Estelle asked.

“No, no. I'm alright,” Ignis said. “I thought I saw an imperial airship behind us.”

“Sure?”

“Of course.”

The drive into Lestallum didn’t take long from there. Estelle kept reading Gladio’s book and Noctis took a nap while Prompto took pictures of the landscape.

By the time they arrived, the sun was setting. Everyone piled out. Estelle was tired but all smiles. Some things never changed. Barring injury, she was a happy, cheerful person. Even more so than Prompto.

“How ‘bout I do more of the driving tomorrow, Ig?” Estelle asked quietly as Noctis and Prompto led the group to their usual hotel—the Leville. “So you can rest your eyes a little bit. I'm a better driver than you and Noc doesn’t even know it yet.” She giggled. Ignis let a small grin of amusement tug on his mouth.

“Perhaps,” he said. “In the morning we’ll see how tired my eyes are after a good night’s sleep.”

Noct’s adopted sister smiled at him. “Sounds like a plan.” She skipped ahead to ask Gladio if she could borrow his book for the night because she’d started reading it over his shoulder without the context of the beginning. Ignis watched her go, following her progress with his eyes.

Prompto fell back, falling into step with Ignis. “So,” he said. “Still crushing on Noct’s sister?”

“What?” Ignis asked quietly.

“C’mon, Iggy. It’s obvious!”

“Princess Estelle is a good friend and an admirable young woman. Nothing more.”

“Rrrrriiight,” Prompto said, obviously unconvinced.

“Prompto, it would be entirely improper—even if I did harbor feelings for the princess—for me to express those feelings. Estelle is the princess of Lucis. I am a servant of the Crownsguard.”

Prompto looked confused and Ignis had to remind himself that Prompto wasn’t as well-versed in royal protocol as he and Gladio were. “But…” Prompto began, “wasn’t her real dad a servant of the Crownsguard too?”

Ignis pursed his lips. “‘Real dad’ is a matter of opinion,” he said. “That being said, yes: her birth father was a servant of the Crownsguard as well. She and I were born the same rank. However, when she was six-years-old and her father died saving King Regis and Prince Noctis from the empire’s attack on Tenebrae leaving her without any parent to raise her, King Regis adopted her. He bestowed upon her the name Lucis Caelum, thus making her legally and properly the princess of Lucis. We may have been born the same rank, but for the majority of our lives we have not been the same rank.”

“So… that means…?”

“That means it would be improper for me to express any feelings of romantic affection toward her.”

Prompto made a face. “Ugh. So many rules,” he complained.

Ignis turned his eyes briefly toward the ceiling, in lieu of rolling them. “That’s just the way things are, Prompto,” he said.

Up ahead, Gladio and Noctis were handling the check-in. Gladio was too distracted to notice Estelle sliding his book out of his hand with a large grin on her face, biting the tip of her tongue to keep herself from giggling. She opened it up to the first page and started reading it. Her long hair was messy from sitting in the backseat of the Regalia all day where the wind was stronger.

Ignis stared for a moment, almost forgetting to keep pace with Prompto. He quickened his step till he was once again side-by-side with Prompto and lapsed into thoughtful silence.

Perhaps, when all this was over, there’d be time yet for feelings to be made known.

But not yet.

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Campfire Cooking

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Ignis Scientia

Rating: PG

Original Idea: I watched Brotherhood and honestly, Ignis put up with a lot of crap with teen Noctis, especially in episode 4.

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) This could be considered part of the last two one-shots, but honestly now that I know the character there are going to be lots of different versions of the story that share similar plot points but change a few things around. Anyone who’s been following me for a while knows the drill.

^^^^^

I glanced over at Ignis where he was cooking at his little stand. Prompto and Noctis were playing games on their phones and Gladio was reading by the firelight. I pushed out of my camp chair and approached Ignis. “Hey,” I said quietly.

“Hello, princess,” he said.

“Ah quit it with the ‘princess’ business,” I complained. “We both know people call me that out of courtesy to the king after he took me in. Never liked titles anyway.”

“It’s my job to serve the royal family, princess,” Ignis said. There was a note of humor in his insistence on respectful use of a title that didn’t really belong to me. “And that includes you.”

“Hmph,” I grunted.

Ignis smirked with smug satisfaction.

I rolled my eyes. “Can I help you with anything?”

“Only staying out of my way and keeping me company,” he said. “I don’t believe the others are particularly interested in conversation at the moment.” He glanced over his shoulder at Noctis, Prompto, and Gladiolus.

I chuckled and circled behind the folding table to be out of the way. “No, I don’t believe so either,” I said.

Ignis grunted and took a pinch of nutmeg from its pouch, sprinkling it over whatever he was making. I didn’t know much about cooking so I didn’t usually recognize what he made till it was done. He stirred the nutmeg in and dipped a clean spoon into it. He lifted it up to me. “Taste,” he requested—in the smooth tone that made what he said not sound like orders. I took the spoon and put it in my mouth, getting everything off and holding it in my mouth for a moment.

“Mm!” I exclaimed. I swallowed. “That’s good.”

“Enough nutmeg? Does it need more?” he wondered.

“No. I think it’s perfect,” I said.

He nodded in satisfaction. “Wonderful.” He started chopping up something green and leafy—herb of some sort if I had a guess.

“Iggy?” I asked, watching his knife’s movements.

“Yes?”

“How did you manage to be so patient and good to Noctis when we were younger? I mean—” I peered over Ignis’ shoulder at where Noctis was playing his game too intensely to be paying us any attention. “—he was a bit of a brat when we were teenagers, wasn’t he?”

Ignis snorted. “You would think so,” he said. “But you’re his sister. You have a different perspective.”

“Adopted sister.”

“Family is family, princess.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure.”

“On the other hand, I swore an oath to King Regis to take care of Noctis and keep him safe. I like to think I did an alright job. He had his struggles but underneath it all he was learning to try his best.” He swept the herb into the pot and started chopping a mixed bag of vegetables.

“Hmm. I was always surprised that you never gave up.”

Ignis glanced at me. “Is that right?”

“Yeah. Noctis’ attitude drove me crazy—even when he wasn’t living in the palace. I always thought he was irresponsible and rude and annoying.”

That made him chuckle. “Ohhh princess,” he sighed, shaking his head in amusement. “You never fail to surprise me.”

“What can I say? Gotta keep it fresh and exciting. If not, everyone would be bored on this trip,” I said. Ignis glanced up at me, knife’s rhythm not even breaking, with a small grin ghosting his face.

“I'm not going to lie to you—there were moments where I was close to spitefully not doing my job to teach him a lesson and show him how much I was doing. I never gave in to those thoughts though. I do actually enjoy my work, believe it or not. And this part… this isn’t work. Being out here with Noct and Prompto, Gladio, and you. It can be stressful and dangerous, but we have had some fun along the way.”

I grinned. “Yeah we have.”

Ignis mixed in the vegetables and took the sampler spoon from where I’d loosely held it. He scooped some of the soup out and handed it back to me. “Taste,” he repeated.

I did. “It’s good. Of course it’s good. I don’t know how you come up with recipes on the fly, but they’re always delicious.”

He nodded at me. “You give me too much credit,” he said. “Some of it is simple mathematics—”

“Oh shut up,” I retorted. “Cooking is soulful. You gotta feel when something’s right.”

“No I don’t,” Ignis countered. There was a sharp gleam in his eyes. “That’s what I have you for. You feel when I’ve done something right.”

“Shut up,” I repeated.

“Are you two flirting or cooking over there?” Gladio called, looking up from his book.

“Gladio, so help me—” I began, moving to summon my sword.

“We’re discussing the recipe,” Ignis said calmly, not rising to the bait.

I dropped my hand. My sword didn’t even appear before Ignis shot Gladio’s teasing down. Gladio chuckled and went back to his book. I watched Ignis’ glasses catch the firelight briefly as he bustled around his station, finishing up the soup. “So. Cooking is math, huh? Baking is math, I know that, but cooking?” I asked. Ignis shot me a look but didn’t stop his work.

“It is, in fact. Quantities and how they mix together. Simple, really. That’s why it’s not too difficult for me to figure out new recipes while we’re out here in the wild,” he replied.

“Uh-huh,” I said, not completely convinced.

“If you’d like proof, I could teach you.”

“Oh no. If my track record with non-combat sharp knives is to be trusted, I should not be allowed to hold your tools.”

“Princess, that was one time when you were thirteen with no experience. We’d go slower this time,” Ignis remarked.

“I’d rather not learn to cook while out in the middle of nowhere.”

“To the contrary, if something caught fire out here, you wouldn’t burn down the citadel.”

“Oh my word,” I protested. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“No. But now your motor controls are more refined and your concentration is better. I believe if you put some effort into learning we could make a cook out of you yet,” Ignis said. There was an encouraging tone in his voice.

“Hmm.”

“Taste.” He took my spoon and handed it back to me.

“Still tastes good,” I said. “Dunno why you keep asking.”

“Because you’re an even pickier eater than Noct in some respects and I don’t want to overdo anything. Too much spice or herbs can ruin a whole dish.”

“Always the perfectionist.”

“Precision is important, princess.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever you say, Iggy.”

He stirred the pot and then went to sit and let the soup cook on its own for a few minutes. I circled the table and knelt next to the fire, tending to it. That was one of my jobs around camp. Tend the fire. I didn’t mind. I liked fire.

Finally, after a few minutes, we got to eat. It tasted fantastic, of course, and many compliments to the chef were given.

Then it was time to turn in. I had a tiny one-person tent and the boys shared the big one. It was Ignis’ idea—something about propriety. I would have been fine sharing a tent with them because it wasn’t like sharing a sleeping bag but Ignis would not have it. So I had my own little tent. I imagined it was colder than sharing with four guys—which was unfortunate. I spent a lot of nights camping pretty chilly the moment I got out of my sleeping bag.

I unzipped the window cover and peered out at the night sky. It was a beautiful clear night. Tomorrow was a new day. We had a hunt to finish and, frankly, I was excited. I liked hunts. They were enthralling adventures.

Smiling, I zipped the window cover up again and curled up on my side to sleep. Ignis would wake me up in the morning and we’d be off.

[sassycassie-s-writing]

The Original Story

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Ignis Scientia feat. Noctis Lucis Caelum + Gang

Rating: PG-11 

Original Idea: Listen y’all, the FFXV universe gave me a lot of feels (and the ending broke my fragile heart) so things happen.

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) This is the original version of Princess Estelle’s story, where I came up with her character. Bear in mind it has a lot of time jumps but I think y’all will be alright. It’s a mess because it was a bunch of disjointed ideas that helped me get to know Estelle. It also has some timeline issues with the backstory because Estelle’s only about year or two younger than Noctis.

^^^^^

“C’mon, Iggy, you’re a Crownsguard. I’m the daughter of a Crownsguard. You know as well as I do that we’re of the same rank.”

“We are not, princess. Whether you like it or not, King Regis legally adopted you. You are the princess of Lucis and you are Noctis’ sister.”

“Not by blood,” I pointed out. “If something happened to Noc, no one would let me lead Lucis—because I’m not of the line of Lucis.”

“Stop this, Estelle. That’s not true and you know it.”

“It is true!” I exclaimed, flinging an arm out. “I’m not real royalty! I don’t have a drop of royal blood in me!”

Ignis stared at me in silence for a moment. “Have a seat, Estelle,” he said. “I’d like to tell you a tale.”

“Ooooh,” I said as I sat down. “An Iggy story.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “This story began many years ago in the halls of Tenebrae. There, a young prince of Lucis was recovering from an injury with the help of the Oracle at the time—the queen of Tenebrae.

“Not long after, while the boy was still there, a member of the Crownsguard of Lucis brought a small baby to the palace of Tenebrae. The baby was ill and the poor father didn’t know what to do. He begged the Oracle to help him. She did what she could, but nothing seemed to work.

“So, the Oracle communed with the gods, and the Glacian gave her counsel: a single drop of blood from the line of Lucis would revitalize the child and let the baby live.

“The Oracle immediately sent word to the king of Lucis, pleading with him for assistance. The baby was, after all, the daughter of one of his trusted Guard.

“But, the king refused. He said the blood of the line of Lucis was only meant to mingle when an heir had to be born.

“Fortunately, the prince of Lucis was listening outside in the corridor. Once he heard what was happening, he snuck to the princess of Tenebrae—who had become a close, dear friend of his—and told her what he heard. Neither of them hesitated. The princess of Tenebrae found a hairpin and the prince of Lucis found where the baby and her father would be staying the night.

“Once all in the palace had fallen asleep, the children snuck into the room where the baby’s cradle was next to her father’s bed. The princess pricked the prince’s finger and he let a single drop of blood fall into the baby’s open mouth. The infant began to cry and the children fled the room as quick and quiet as they could. But the father knew that his child would live. The Oracle proclaimed it as a miracle from the Six, but she knew what her daughter and the prince of Lucis had done. She took the secret to her grave.

“But, once the prince and princess were out of the baby and her father’s room, they stopped and listened. They only heard him say one thing before fleeing to their chambers,” Ignis said.

“What was that?” I asked.

“‘My precious star,’” he said.

I set one hand on my necklace over my heart. “Star—Estelle,” I said.

Ignis nodded. “Yes. That baby was you. Noctis saved your life without hesitating. You have the blood of the line of Lucis in you.”

“A single drop of blood in my mouth when I was an infant? No I don’t.”

“The cells in that drop of blood worked their way out of your system a long time ago, yes. However, the power of the line of Lucis rests weakly within you, Princess Estelle. Not to the extent that it resides in Noct, but there are vestiges of that power in your veins. The magic of the line of Lucis doesn’t care that your blood and Noctis’ aren’t from the same parents. You are his family. In theory, you could wear the ring without sacrificing something.”

I curled my knees up to my chest and stared at Ignis. “Really?”

“It’s never been tested before, but I don’t see why not.”

^^^^^

“So, are Ignis and Estelle the only ones who drive?” Iris asked.

“I can drive,” Prompto said.

“And so can I,” Noctis added.

“Yeah, they both can, but Iggy and Estelle are the only ones we trust,” Gladio put in.

“And with his little sister in the car, the big guy wasn’t taking any chances,” Prompto said with a small grin. I smirked and glanced at the backseat in the rearview mirror.

“Which is why I’m driving,” I remarked playfully. “Because no matter what the other three might tell you, I am actually a better driver than Ignis and he’d be the first to admit it. He’s a fantastic driver but I’m more cautious. Prince Noctis is messy and Prompto is too reckless.”

“Hey!” Prompto protested. I laughed and guided the car around a rather sharp turn in the road.

“I’m not messy, Estelle,” Noctis said.

“Mmhmm,” I grunted sarcastically. “Hey Iggy, let’s swap out at the next rest stop before we reach Caem so I can sit in the back so the boys won’t be so squished back there and Noc can drive my car.” Iris and I were similar in size, but I was a little smaller. Iris was okay in the backseat crammed between Noctis and Gladiolus, but the boys both looked a bit irritated.

“Sounds like a plan,” Ignis said through the earpiece I had in my ear. He was driving my car right behind us. We’d thought about splitting up with three in each car for more room, but had ultimately determined it was better to stay as close together as we could. Just in case something happened. “However I’m surprised you’re willing to trust your brother with this beautiful machine. It nearly rivals the Regalia.”

“Yeah, well, that thing is tough as an airship. Noctis could smash it headfirst into a mountain and barely dent the front bumper,” I said.

Ignis chuckled in my earpiece.

^^^^^

Ten Years Later...

^^^^^

“Oh, Estelle’s really stepped up while you’ve been gone,” Talcott added to Noctis. “Become a real leader.”

“Has she?” Noctis asked, interested.

“Yeah. The mayor of Lestallum still keeps the city running smoothly and supports the infrastructure; but when people are scared or seeking comfort, they go right to Estelle. She gives comfort and organizes daemon-slaying hunts—sometimes even rescue missions. A lot of people say she’s the closest thing we have to… well. To you, Your Majesty. But others just say she’s the closest thing we have to a queen.”

“Huh,” Noctis said. “They’re not wrong.”

“Yeah… By the way—she and Ignis finally admitted their feelings for each other about a year after you disappeared. With seven people in the room—including myself. We were having a discussion about a search party for a mother and child who’d somehow gotten out of Lestallum and gone missing and Ignis was being a bit protective, saying Estelle should stay behind even though she wanted to go because she was the closest thing we had to you and a monarch. And Estelle… she got mad at him. She made some insensitive comment that maybe he should stay behind instead because he couldn’t see. They kept arguing and he finally shouted that he loved her. She just stood there in stunned silence.”

Noctis chuckled. “I’m surprised Iggy would raise his voice,” he said.

“Well, no one can push your buttons like the one you love, right?” Talcott asked with a smile. “They’ve been semi-together ever since.”

“Semi?”

“Well… they don’t want to be really together because they’ve both said it’d be weird to be happy without you around. But every so often giggles sweep the city because the princess and Ignis were caught kissing behind a staircase somewhere.”

Noctis smiled. “I’m glad,” he said.

“Yeah… I think she’s going with him to Hammerhead. So you’ll get to see her.”

“Good. I need to ask her a favor.”

When they arrived at Hammerhead, four familiar figures were outside waiting.

Prompto. Gladiolus. Ignis. Estelle. They all looked older, more scarred, and just slightly different. Ignis had reflective glasses on to hide his blind eyes and the scar over his left one. He had Estelle’s hand in his. Her hair was longer and bound up in a ponytail. Her eyes were tired but determined. Gladiolus’ hair was bound back as well. Prompto had a goatee.

The moment Noctis was free of the truck with the door shut behind him, Estelle’s face broke out into a smile. “Noc!” she cried, running forward. She slammed into him, hard, and threw her arms around him. “Oh we missed you!”

“I missed you too.”

^^^^^

“Estelle, a word, please?” Noctis asked me. I glanced at Ignis, squeezed his hand reassuringly, and stepped away from the group.

“What’s up?”

“I need you to do something for me. The biggest favor I’ve ever asked of you.”

“Name it, Noc,” I said.

My adoptive brother put his hands on either side of my face to make sure I was listening. “Be queen, Estelle.”

I took a step back. “What?” I breathed.

Noctis tugged me even farther away from our friends. “Listen, the only way to stop this endless night is for me to… to sacrifice myself. To die. When that happens, Insomnia and Lucis will still need someone to sit on the throne. I don’t have an heir so the only person who can possibly take up the throne is you. And I would trust no one else with this.”

“But, Noc, I—”

“Estelle, trust in me. You have much more wisdom and experience leading our people than I do. Just do what you’ve been doing these past ten years.”

“On a much bigger scale,” I said.

“Well… yes. But you can handle it. No one would do better than you.”

“I’m not royal by blood, Noc.”

“I know. But after I’m gone, royal blood won’t matter. The star scourge will be over with and the Ring and Crystal’s purpose will be fulfilled. Besides, Dad adopted you legally. You have a right to the throne. Please, Estelle.”

I sighed and wrapped my arms around my brother. “Okay, Noc. I’ll do it.”

He sighed and kissed the top of my head, his own arms wrapping around me. “Thank you. I know Lucis will be in good hands.”

“I hope so,” I muttered.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Noctis added. He did so in a tone that I knew something teasing was coming.

“What?” I asked.

I felt him grinning. “Please marry Ignis.”

I giggled. “Noc…!”

He chuckled. “I’m serious. You two seem happy together.”

I sighed, forehead resting on his chest. “We are.”

“Don’t be afraid to be happy, Estelle. Even when I’m gone.”

I sniffed. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I know. But I’ve made my peace with it.”

“It won’t be the same without you, Noc.”

“I’m sorry, Stell. But this is something I have to do.”

I sighed and wiped the tears from my eyes. “I know. And our hearts go with you.”

“Thank you.”

I kissed his cheek and we went back to Ignis, Prompto, and Gladio. I took Ignis’ hand. “Get everything sorted out?” he asked.

“More or less,” I said.

“I’m glad,” Ignis said. “Come. We should get the camp set up.”

“Right,” I agreed.

^^^^^

“The four of us around a campfire. How long’s it been?” Noctis asked.

“An eternity,” Ignis said.

“Yeah…” Noctis agreed.

I looked around at them, remembering when they first left on their journey.

*****

“Estelle? Dear?” King Regis asked as Noctis and his friends climbed in the Regalia.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” I replied, turning to the king with my eyebrows raised expectantly. I peeked at Noctis and the others as they drove off, not wanting to miss them leaving.

King Regis smiled at me. “Go after them,” he said. “Give them fifteen minutes, then make your way to Hammerhead.”

I grinned and giggled. “Yes, sire,” I said.

He chuckled. “Take care of them, Estelle.”

“Always, sire.” I bowed to him.

“You’re excused.”

“Thank you, King Regis.” I turned and ran off to pack some stuff up and grab my car.

Once I had some clothes and food thrown in a bag and that bag thrown in my car, I drove out of the city, following signs towards Hammerhead. I’d never liked driving in the city—too much traffic. But out on the open road, I found myself having a good time. Listening to music with no buildings and almost no cars. It was so nice outside.

I was getting pretty far outside the city when I saw a car being pushed down the road by a few people. It was a convertible. A rather familiar one too. The people pushing it were familiar as well.

The Reglia. As well as Noctis, Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis.

I chuckled and pulled up next to them. “Hey boys. Need a lift?” I called out the open passenger-side window.

“Estelle?! What are you doing here?!” Noctis demanded.

I laughed. “King Regis sent me to make sure you got to Hammerhead alright,” I said.

Noctis sighed. “Of course he did,” he muttered.

“C’mon. Hop in guys. There’s plenty of room for all four of you. I’ll take you to Hammerhead and then you can get a tow truck there to come get the Regalia.”

“With respect, princess, I’m gonna stay here,” Gladio said.

“Not a princess, Gladio,” I said.

“For all intents and purposes, you’re Noct’s sister. I’m calling you princess,” Gladio retorted. I rolled my eyes. “And there’s no way we’re all gonna fit in your car.”

“There’s plenty of leg room behind me,” I said. “I have to pull my seat pretty far up to reach the pedals since I’m so short.”

“It’s not just that, Estelle. Someone’s gotta keep an eye on this gorgeous piece of machinery.”

I shrugged. “Fine, Gladio. Be that way,” I said. “What do you think, Noc? Hop in?”

“Sure. Prompto? Ignis?”

“I believe I’ll stay with Gladio,” Ignis said. “None of us should be alone.”

“Okay,” Noctis and I said at the same time.

Prompto didn’t hesitate to get in my car. Nor did Noctis. We headed for Hammerhead.

“You know Iggy’s not coming with because he can’t be around Estelle without blushing, right Noct?” Prompto teased.

I scoffed.

“Right,” Noctis agreed with a smile.

“Noc!” I protested.

“Oh come ON, Estelle!” Prompto complained playfully. “It’s obvious. Iggy likes being composed and dignified—but he just… can’t around you.”

“Ha-ha,” I said, voice flat and humorless.

I drove them to Hammerhead and met Cindy—or was her name Cidney?—and then followed behind while they took a tow truck back to the Regalia so I could drive everyone except Gladio back to Hammerhead. Gladio elected to ride with Cindy/Cidney, whatever her name was, to keep an eye on the Regalia. Noctis even gave up shotgun in my car to Ignis.

“What a good start,” I muttered once we got back to Hammerhead and they got the car in the garage.

*****

Ten years. It didn’t feel that long ago. Was I really eighteen when all this started? Wow.

And now it was coming to an end.

I looked across the fire at Noc. His friends were right—for all intents and purposes, he was my brother. He’d been my brother since I was six-years-old and my blood father died. My birth mother had never wanted to be a mother so she’d left me with my father. Once he died in service to King Regis, the king took me in. Apparently he’d promised my father he would. A year into warding me, he adopted me. I’d quickly grown a crush on Ignis and a fast friendship with both Gladio and Iris. Prompto came a little later, but he became my friend too.

Noctis had always been brotherly to me. I was going to miss him. And given the way Ignis was acting, I suspected he knew what was coming—that Noc would have to sacrifice himself to bring back daylight.

I knew Ignis better than I knew anybody else—except maybe Noc. I could tell by how reserved he was being that he knew. He either heard Noc and I talking or he’d known longer than I had. Honestly, I favored the latter. Ignis was smarter than me.

^^^^^

“What does he look like? The Ignian?” Ignis whispered.

“He’s sitting on a throne in his underwear and has lots of tangly horns instead of hair,” I replied, clinging to his hand.

“Estelle?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Ignis.”

I let go of his hand to manifest my shortsword. Ignis’ ice blades appeared in his hands. He nodded in my general direction, but not exactly at me. Normally he was pretty good at looking right at me, but I’d moved slightly to get away from his ice blades.

I would have nodded back at him, but what good would it have done?

“Princess, assuming we survive this,” Ignis began as we bent our knees and prepared for battle, “I’ve been intending to ask for your hand in marriage.”

“Iggy can you wait to propose till after we’ve defeated a giant fire god?” Prompto said.

I laughed. “Well, assuming we survive this, I’ll be happy to accept. If a bit sad I don’t have a father figure for you to ask permission from. Because tradition.”

“You could ask me,” Noctis remarked. “As her brother and the king.”

“What would be the point of that?” I teased.

“We all know what your answer would be,” Ignis added, more serious than teasing.

“Hey just because you already know I’d say yes doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask,” Noctis joked.

“I’ll take that into consideration,” Ignis remarked.

The Ignian looked frustrated that we were chatting. He let off a huge blast of fire that threw all of us back. We all gathered behind a raised stone block that probably once served as some sort of bench. Another blast surged across the front of the palace, flickering over the top of the bench. Gladio held us all down.

After a moment, the fire died down. We all peered over the top of the bench.

“Now,” Ignis said.

Noctis didn’t waste time hurling a warp-strike at him.

I glanced at Ignis. Something about that warp-strike felt like the beginning of the end.

Before he could throw himself into the fight, I planted a kiss on his mouth. “For luck---and just in case.”

“It ends tonight,” he promised.

[singlebecauseofthechocobros]

Merry late Christmas to @sherniwrites! I am so sorry this took so long. I hope you enjoy it and you crush this New Year! Also I apologize for tweaking the prompt. I thought it was for NYE the whole time and when I reread the prompt I had written about 3/4ths of this lol. Anyway i love you girl and thank you so much for being a great friend. 

Original Prompt: : # 37 “You didn’t think I’d let you spend Christmas alone, did you?”

Edited due to my error: “You didn’t think I’d let you spend New Years alone did you?”

From the inside of his apartment Nyx only had one wish: that his damn television volume could be turned up louder. Even though the sound from the monitor echoed throughout his living space at max volume, the noise was still not loud enough to block out the hollering and cheers from the city above. The sounds of fire crackers and chants filled his home, driving him a bit towards madness with every passing minute.

Normally, he would be out with his comrades, celebrating the ringing in of the New Year, but tonight he just didn’t feel up to it. A night in didn’t sound half bad.

Sipping on his beer and attempting to focus on the news displaying on the television, Nyx was lulled out of his trance when he heard a knock on his door. He sighed to himself, expecting it to be Libertus and Crowe, there to drag his ass out for a night of gallivanting and drinks. What he had not expected was fellow glaive member Rai Alsayf posted in his doorway with a bottle of champagne in one hand with two glasses in the other and a small bad slung over her shoulders.

“Rai,” he questioned, looking her up and down. She was out of her normal glaive attire and dressed in a long gold sequin gown that reached a little past her calves. The strappy heels added a few extra inches bringing herself almost equal in height to Nyx. Her long glossy black hair was straightened and hung down her back and the dress itself was a bit more open in the front than she probably realized. Or perhaps she knew exactly what she was doing.

“It’s rude to stare Ulric,” she laughed, inviting herself inside and trying to hide the red warming her cheeks. She could remember in great detail the last time she visited the glaives apartment. The memories alone caused her face to redden deeper. As she past her colleague, he closed his eyes taking in the intoxicatingly sweet perfume she had dabbed on her neck and wrists earlier in the evening. “What are you doing home? It’s nearly midnight.”

Her words snapping him out of his trance, he shook his head and shut the door, “I just didn’t feel in the mood for festivities tonight. Thought a night in sounded better.”

The woman turned to face him and gave him a look that expressed that she was not buying that explanation for one second. “I know you better than that. What is really going on?”

The glaive sighed and took a seat in one of the chairs he had at the dining table, “It’s not a big deal. Just after everything this year I really wonder if the next will be any better ya know? I mean we do our jobs; we fight the wars, and all for what? When does it end? People are up there cheering that this upcoming year is going to be different. But will it really? Aren’t they all the same?” He didn’t realize how he must sound once he spoke it all aloud but Rai did not judge him for it.

Instead she took a seat across from Nyx, placing her hand delicately over his, “It may not end,” she spoke truthfully, “But that doesn’t mean you don’t make an impact. Children get to grow up, people are able to fall in love, and the elderly can live out their lives peacefully. Now those may only be a couple examples but you make a difference. The whole glaive makes a difference. Just because it’s a new year does not mean things are just going to change. But the hope that they do and the hope that this New Year will be better keeps people going.” He met her eyes and she gave him a soft smile, “At least that’s what I have to tell myself.”

“Thanks” he replied, giving her hand a squeeze.

“Always Nyx,” she whispered, “Now,” she spoke enthusiastically and jumping out of her seat, “I have in my purse two party hats, a few pairs of beaded necklaces and some balloons we need to blow up but otherwise I have brought the party to you Nyx Ulric and we have about five minutes till the new year’s starts so we need to set up.”

Chuckling to himself he replied with a “yes ma’am” and put on every article she brought for him. Once the two had blown up a few balloons and adorned themselves with decorations, they stood in front of the television which was now displaying a live countdown.

60 seconds

“Hey Rai,” Nyx spoke, turning to her, “How did you know I was here anyway?”

The woman smiled a coy smile and looked at him, “Well I originally met up with the team; Crowe, Lib, Pelna, and of course Tredd and Luche were there too. When I noticed you were absent I stole a bottle of champagne and headed here knowing you were most likely sulking at home.”

45 seconds

“Well then why come all the way down here? I’m sure the party you were attending would have been a way better time than spending your new year’s here in my mess of an apartment.”

“You didn’t think I’d let you spend New Year’s alone, did you,” she asked raising a brow, “No one should be alone for any holiday and I figured ringing in the new year with you was the better alternative to having Tredd try and shove his tongue down my throat.”

30 seconds

“So you would rather me shove my tongue down your throat? Is that what I’m understanding?”

The woman rolled her eyes and shoved his shoulder, “You know what I mean. Although after everything we’ve been through this year…”

“Yeah,” he urged her on, moving towards her.

20 seconds

“W-well I just don’t know if ringing in the New Year with you as my first kiss would be such a bad way to start it off.”

Nyx was directly in front of her now, remembering all the days and nights they had spent together but never acted upon. How she drove him absolutely mad but made him the happiest he could be. How soft her skin felt on his and how melodic her laugh was when it filled the room. How she looked past all his flaws and cared for him for who he was.

10 seconds

“That’s crazy,” he started, making the woman’s eyes dart up to his in panic for a brief moment, “I was actually just thinking maybe you could be my new year’s resolution. We ring in the New Year and take it on together.”

“That doesn’t sound half bad Ulric,” Rai smiled, as both turned towards the television and listened for the roars of the city above praising the New Year and beginnings.

“Happy New Year Ulric,” Rai murmured, her lips inches from his.

“Happy New Year Alsayf,” he answered back before pulling her to him and ringing in the New Year right.

The Crew: @creative-frequency @lucianhuntress @owldearest @promptoastandbutter @bleucommelhiver

[singlebecauseofthechocobros]

Merry late Christmas to the wonderful @bleucommelhiver I love you so much girl! Your writing is phenomenal and as a person you are amazing! Thank you for being such a great friend and such a character in chat. You crack me up lmao. I hope 2019 treats you well and I apologize if this isn’t what you expected but I hope you enjoy it! Love you girl! [tweaked the prompt a bit for sentence flow but its there i promise lol]

Chrisu: #20 noct x ria- “So, I didn’t actually get you anything.”

“I honestly have no idea why he asked to speak to me,” Aeria confessed, while patrolling the halls with Selene on her right, “He’s your twin. Don’t you have some sort of telepathic communication between the two of you? Maybe you know what Noctis wants.”

Selene glided across the marble floor, her eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration, “Noctis’s thoughts are as foreign to me as my own husbands,” she admitted, “When are you supposed to meet with him?”

Aeria fiddled with the buttons on her glaive jacket, shrugging her shoulders,  “All the text said was, ‘Meet me in the gardens tonight at 7’ and even saying it out loud makes it sound even more forbidding than when I read the text hours ago.”

“Well I’m sure it’s nothing,” Selene waived it off; “Have you tried texting him back and asking what he wants?”

“Of course. That’s the first thing I did and he hasn’t replied.”

“Well then,” Selene sighed, turning to her friend, “Guess you’re just in for a surprise then.”

**

Not knowing what to expect from Noctis, Aeria dressed casually for the occasion; jeans, boots, a grey long sleeved turtleneck and of course her black leather jacket. Her hair was pinned back up into a sleek ponytail and she walked through the green house, following the trail to the main space. When she rounded the corner of the path she was surprised to see Noctis sitting at a table, right on time with twinkling lights dangling from the ceiling.

“Hey Noct,” she spoke casually, a hit of suspicion in her tone.

The prince looked up and grinned at her, “Hey Ria.” He stood up, helped her as she shrugged her jacket off and then pulled out her seat from the table. The entire time, Aeria’s mind was running a thousand miles a minute. What was he doing?

Taking his own seat across from her, she noticed the two covered dishes placed before both of them. Each of them had a glass next to their plates, filled with some sort of red wine and a basket of bread was in the middle of the tabletop. Obviously he had invited her to some sort of dinner, but why and what for.

“You look confused,” the prince laughed.

“You could say that,” she nodded, giving him a half assed laugh, “I just don’t know what is going on.”

“So Selene didn’t tell you,” he questioned, “I really thought she wouldn’t be able to keep a secret.”

“Of course she knew,” Aeria muttered, leaning back in her seat, “Well guess the only one clueless is me. Care to explain what this is?”

“Yeah,” Noctis coughed clearing his throat, “This would be your Christmas gift.”

Aeria cocked her head to the side and gave the prince a sidelong glace. In all the years she had known him, he had never been one to ever just say what he meant or get straight to the point. Most days it irked her, since most days he did it on purpose. But today she was intrigued and picked up on how his knee bounced up and down under the table and how he kept rubbing the back of his neck, indicating nerves.

“A surprise dinner is my gift,” she questioned, with a smirk.

“Not just any dinner,” the prince said a bit more confidently, “A traditional Galahdian cuisine.”

Leaning forward out of his chair he lifted the lids covering their dishes and Aeria felt a wave of emotion rush through her at the sight of the dinner before her. The plate was pile high in a green stew with meat kabobs placed atop. The smell of the spices and meat took her back to her home, took her back to a time when she sat around a dinner table with her family. A time she thought she long forgot about.

“I know it doesn’t look super appetizing,” Noctis began, “But I got the recipe from, what’s his name? Yamachang? He’s from Galahd too so it should be authentic.”

Noctis kept talking while Aeria just beheld the plate and let his voice fade out from her mind. Slowly grabbing for her fork and robotically prying off a piece of meat from the skewer, she brought it to her mouth. The flavor sent her taste buds soaring and her heart shattering into pieces. Dropping the utensil she brought her hand up to cover her mouth.

“Oh my gods are you going to be sick,” Noctis blurted out, “Did I mess up that bad? I’m so sorry Ria I-” His words suddenly halted when he noticed the teardrops falling from the glive’s eyes. “Ria,” he whispered, concern coating his call.

Shaking her head she removed her hand to reveal a sad smile, as she wiped away the tears, “This is delicious Noctis. You didn’t do anything wrong this is perfect.”

“Are you sure,” he asked again, “I can call Ignis and have him bring us some burgers instead or-“

“This is great Noctis,” she interrupted, reaching across the table and putting her hand over his, “Thank you so much.”

He nodded and the two began to eat in silence. However, it was not an uncomfortable type of quiet, rather Ria was glad to have the company while she delighted in her memories and the delicious dish. She couldn’t remember the last time she had tasted something so similar to home. It pained her a bit to realize there was a lot about home she was slowly forgetting but in that moment she felt a little whole again.

She also felt a deep gratitude course through her. She couldn’t believe that Noctis, of all people would do this for her. They didn’t hate each other by any means but it was all so unexpected coming from someone she squabbled with on a daily basis. Someone she badgered and poked fun at while he dished everything right back in return on the daily.

“What is this for Noctis,” she finally spoke up, her glossy eyes meeting his.

“I told you,” he began, “It’s your Christmas gift.”

She raised an eyebrow, knowing he wasn’t telling her everything and he could read it on her face.

“It’s also in part an apology for always arguing, bickering, and teasing you,” he quickly noted, “I just began thinking about how often we fight and I wanted you to know I don’t mean half the things I say.”

“Only half,” she laughed.

“You know what I mean,” he chuckled, “It’s all in good fun. At least I hope it is.”

“I think it is,” Ria confirmed, “But this was too much Noctis you didn’t have to. Heck I didn’t even know you were doing gifts so I didn’t get you anything and now I feel bad.”

“You shouldn’t,” he replied shaking his head, “I wanted to do this for you. Let’s just say in the spirit of the season I wanted to surprise you. Nothing is expected out of this expect the hope that you enjoyed it.”

“More than you probably know,” she whispered.

“Then that is enough,” he smiled softly, “Now if you want, although it isn’t Galahdian, I have a dessert prepared too but it’s still in the kitchen if you want to head that way.”

“That sounds great,” Ria nodded with a grin. Standing up from the table she linked her arm through Noct’s, not getting any push back from him, as they left the garden. Just as they were about to leave the room the mage halted and turned to Noctis, looking him directly in the eyes, “Not to ruin the moment, but if you tell anyone I was crying, I’ll end you.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

The Crew: @creative-frequency​ @promptoastandbutter @sherniwrites​ @owldearest​ @lucianhuntress​

[sassycassie-s-writing]

Stereotypical Bodyguard

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Gladiolus Amicitia

Rating: PG-11/T- (for minor peril)

Original Idea: @welovegroot asked: “A Gladiolus bodyguard one-shot??? Please????? :) :) :)”---coupled with This set of headcanons again

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) First Gladio one-shot that I’ve finished! Yay! 3,280 words is a LOT longer than I intended... oh well! Side thought: I’m American so I meant “degrees” in Fahrenheit! Also, context? What context? Why the need for a bodyguard? Who knows, who cares!

^^^^^

“Ohhh! So this is the little lady, huh?” a deep, amused voice asks as you enter the living room in search of your phone. You look up from where you’d been concentrating on the coffee table and sofa cushions—

To see the tallest man you have ever seen in your entire life. He’s nearly seven feet tall—shy by maybe four inches—with the most muscular physique you’ve ever seen on a human. His eyes have a glint of humor in them. His hair is long, though shaved at the sides, and he has a scar down the left side of his face. He has on a black tank top and dark jeans, with his arms folded over his chest. He has tattoos down his arms that appear to be feathers.

Hot dang, is the first thought that rises, unbidden, to your mind.

Shut up, the reasonable part of your mind snaps back.

“Yes!” your father exclaims, clapping his hands. “Gladiolus Amicitia, I’d like you to meet my daughter.”

“What’s this about, Dad?” you ask as Gladiolus sticks his hand out to you. It’s so big you’re pretty sure he could palm your head like a basketball. You shake his hand and give him your name. “Nice to meet you, Gladiolus.”

“Please, miss, call me Gladio. Everyone does,” he replies with a smile. His hand is warm and callused and drowns yours. He shakes your hand with a fraction of the strength he must have and you still feel your fingers protest from being squeezed too hard.

Your dad steps in and Gladiolus drops his hand. Your fingers sigh in relief. “Sweetheart, Gladiolus here is going to be your bodyguard until the whole threat thing dies down,” he says.

Yeah he looks like a stereotypical bodyguard, you think sarcastically.

Good thing you’ve always had decent self-control so you don’t say that out loud.

Instead, you try something a little more professional. “Um… it’ll be nice working with you?” you try.

He smiles. It’s a rather charming smile. “I'm sure it will be,” he says. The smile drops. “Now. To business. May I see your phone?”

“Sure if you can find it,” you say. “That’s what I came in here looking for.”

His eyes sweep the living room and he scoops something off the shelf next to the television. “This yours?” he asks.

Sure enough, there’s your phone, in the one part of the room you couldn’t see because it was blocked by his built-like-a-fridge body. You nod. “Yeah that’s mine,” you say.

He holds it out to you. “Unlock please?” he requests.

You don’t put your passcode in. You’re not just going to let him have free reign over your phone whenever he wants. So you set your thumb on the Touch-ID button and let the phone open that way. As you hand it back to him, you notice him giving you a knowing smirk.

He taps on your screen a few times, though it’s a bit awkward and clunky—like he’s not really used to using a phone. Or at least not one as small as yours. Heck you can barely see the thing while he holds it. He bites the inside of his cheek as he pokes at your screen. He sighs at something—probably a typo—and clenches his jaw before relaxing and handing your phone back to you.

“Here, see?” he says. He’s put his name in your contact list, pretty high up on the list. Amicitia, Gladiolus ICE.

“What’s ICE for?” you ask.

“‘In case of emergency,’” he replies. “That way, if for some reason I'm ever not with you and the police find you unconscious, they call me.”

“… Right,” you say.

Before you can say anything else, your dad nods at Gladiolus and he performs an extremely thorough check of your house—and bedroom. Thankfully your mom had you clean it yesterday so nothing embarrassing is sitting out.

“Okay. Let’s set some ground rules,” Gladiolus says. “One: never go anywhere without telling me if for some reason I'm not here. Two: no trying to sneak away from me. It won’t work.” You’re fairly certain he’s right—and you have a brief mental image of him catching you by the collar of your shirt while glowering. “Three: no sneaking out at night to hang with your friends—without me.”

“Pretty sure that defeats the purpose of sneaking out,” you say.

He chuckles—a deep rumble in his chest. “Not really,” he remarks. “It’s my job to keep you safe—not tell your parents about everything you do.” He folds his arms over his chest. “You’re still allowed to live your life. I'm just here to make sure you live it safely. I’ll just be your shadow.”

“You look nothing like my shadow,” you say, voice completely deadpan.

That earns you a laugh—a real laugh. Big and hearty and loud. “Fair enough,” Gladiolus says. “Alright. Rule Number Four…”

^^^^^

Gladiolus—Gladio—grows on you. Two weeks into his constant presence and he’s loosened up considerably. He teases you and shows you pictures of his little sister, Iris. That doesn’t mean his security measures aren’t a tad overkill—because they are—but they’re not as irritating anymore.

You’ve been out running errands with your friends all day, as well as doing a little shopping for a fancy party coming up. You’re not terribly into it, but it turns out Gladio has a decent eye for fashion. He finds a dress that fits you perfectly and looks good with your complexion.

Your friends aren’t going to stop teasing you about it for years.

Once you have the dress sent to your house—no way are you carrying it on the walk home—you leave the store and your friends bid you goodbye. You part ways and head home.

“You’re dragging your feet,” Gladio remarks. “Do you not want to go home?”

“I don’t care. I'm tired,” you reply.

He contemplates you for a moment before turning his back and bending his knees. “Hop on. Let’s go,” he says.

You’re too tired to even question it. So you climb on his back and let him give you a piggyback ride home.

While he walks—the gentle sway of his gait nearly putting you to sleep—he talks to you. About the books he’s read, about his best friends, about his little sister, about the city around you. His voice is deep and vibrates in his entire upper body. You feel it against your chest where you’re pressed against his back.

Honestly you don’t even notice if anyone is giving you strange looks. You’re not looking at other pedestrians.

Back home, he sets you gently on the sofa. “Get some good rest tonight,” he says. “I'm going to teach you some self-defense in the morning.”

“Mm-hmm,” you mumble.

He chuckles, ruffles your hair, and moves to leave.

“Wait, what?” you ask.

“Self-defense. In the morning. Just in case I'm ever not with you. Hopefully it will never come to that, but I'm trying to keep you safe.”

You try not to squeak. You can’t imagine a self-defense training session with Gladio going well. You can feel bruises before you’ve even got them.

^^^^^

“Welcome, m’lady, to training session one,” Gladio says when you arrive at a gym. He takes you past all the equipment to a big empty room labelled Sparring Room. You feel anticipation building in your throat.

In the sparring room is a girl. She’s got short dark brown hair and the same whiskey brown eyes as Gladio. She’s pretty small, especially compared to him, but her skinny arms are still pretty muscled. There’s a smile on her face. You recognize her from pictures Gladio has shown you on his phone.

Iris Amicitia. His little sister.

“Hi! I'm Iris!” she greets brightly. “I'm Gladdy’s sister!”

“Hi,” you reply, giving her your name too.

“If for any reason I can’t be with you, Iris will keep you safe,” Gladio says. In the corner of your eye, while you shake Iris’ hand, you see him take off his tank top. His tattoos continue from his arms to his chest—with an eagle’s head on his left side. Which, you think, explains the feather design down his arms.

You can’t help it—you definitely stare. How is he that chiseled? Like, how is that even possible for a human?

You look away before he can catch you staring, but he does catch the movement. You hear him chuckle. “Like what you see?” he jokes.

The answer is yes but you’re definitely not saying that out loud. A blush rises over your face and your ears burn. “Shut up,” you mutter half-heartedly.

Iris giggles but changes the subject. “You ready?” she asks.

“As I’ll ever be,” you reply.

With Iris there it goes better than you anticipated. She’s gentler but tough. She gives you demonstrations slowly before asking you to replicate and practice. She walks you through it your first couple times before speeding it up.

Once, she gets carried away sparring with her brother and somehow manages to put him in a chokehold while you stare in surprise. She’s more petite than you—how did she do that? He’s a mountain of a man and, in comparison, she’s a small baby animal. Yet she has him on the floor with her arm around his neck, laughing her head off.

You find yourself laughing too. Their sibling interactions are so familial and pure. You can’t help it.

The rest of the session went a bit better with Iris coaching you through more than Gladio did. Before you knew it, you had showered at the gym—a strange feeling—and were out in the city at the street market looking for fruit from other parts of the country. Gladio follows behind you, standing at your left shoulder with his arms folded and a bored expression on his face—except when someone seems threatening. Then he glares at them.

Not that you take too much notice. You are more interested in the fruit for the moment. You can stare at Gladio any time but the fruit is more of a one-time thing.

^^^^^

Laughing, you and Gladio are on your way home from a day out a few weeks later when you get stopped on a narrow street.

Honestly, you’re not sure why anyone would even consider threatening you when you have a 6’8” titan at your side at all times.

“What’s cookin’ good lookin’?” one of the three men asks flirtatiously. You scoff. His words are slightly slurred—he’s not sober. You’re unsure if he’s drunk or high or what, but he’s definitely inebriated in some way.

“You, apparently,” you say as Gladio tenses up behind you. You can feel it. A month of being around him has helped you attune to his mannerisms.

“Aw, don’t be like that, darlin’,” another of the three says. He’s bigger than the first one who spoke—and seems a little soberer. He takes a step forward and you see a glass bottle in his hand. You take a step backward. Gladio’s hand lands on your shoulder and gently pulls you back until your shoulder blades brush his torso. “Just bein’ friendly.”

“Decidedly not,” Gladio growls. “Be on your way, gentlemen, or let us go ours.”

“Heeeeey, big guy!” the last of the three—and clearly the most inebriated—slurs, staggering forward. In one swift movement Gladio pushes you behind him as the third man’s hand lands on his chest. “Just havin’ a little fun! Know what I mean?” You can smell alcohol on the man.

Gladio shoves the man off him with a disgusted scoff. “Alright. If you want to do this the hard way, we can do this the hard way,” he says. The third man stumbles back, hits a wall, and slides down it, all while laughing his head off. Gladio glances back at you to make sure you’re alright, one hand behind him in case he has to grab you.

The other two men, who are slightly more lucid, blink in surprise and back away. Apparently they realize at the same time that Gladio is not one to mess with—his height and muscles are not just for show.

Still, the first man who spoke tries to take a swing at Gladio—maybe to defend his friend’s honor?

Gladio grabs the first man’s fist and twists his arm behind him before shoving him forward and delivering a swift kick in the pants. The first man falls face-first into the pavement with a loud, “Oof!”

The second man backs off completely, raising his hands in surrender and dropping the glass bottle. It shatters on the ground.

Noticing the glass shards, Gladio scoops you up like you’re a plush toy and proceeds down the street, only setting you down when you’re far enough away that there’s no way for you to step on any glass.

You’re not entirely sure what to say to him, so you settle on good manners. “Thanks,” you say.

He smiles and tugs on the ends of your hair gently. “That’s what I'm here for, m’lady,” he replies. “Buncha drunk creeps lookin’ for trouble, making passes at anyone they s—LOOK OUT!” He grabs your arm and yanks you forward, dodging around you and deflecting a punch from the second man. The other two are right behind him.

They don’t look drunk anymore. You can still smell alcohol, but the men seem stone-cold sober.

A fake-out? you wonder. You’re not sure.

It takes Gladio less than a minute to knock them all out cold. One of the men gets thrown into a wall. Gladio takes a few licks, but it seems not to faze him.

You only take a single punch from one of the men who managed to get past Gladio for all of seven seconds. You’re not sure which man it is, given it’s getting dark and you’re frightened, but his collar gets grabbed by Gladio and hauled back. He’s the next man to go down.

Once all three men are unconscious on the ground, Gladio takes your hand and the two of you run the rest of the way home. His legs are much longer than yours so you struggle to keep up. You feel as though your lungs are being torn from your body slowly. Your throat is dry and you can’t breathe.

The front door of your house slams shut behind you. You collapse on the sofa, panting with your eyes closed. “That was no chance meeting,” you manage to say between pants.

“No. It wasn’t,” Gladio agrees. He’s barely winded. Which is totally not fair.

You get up to get a glass of water—and pause. There’s a cut on his face. Right on his cheekbone. It’s bleeding. “Oh my—you’re hurt!” you say.

He shrugs. “It’s nothin’. Probably won’t even scar,” he replies.

You go to the kitchen. In the living room you hear him on the phone with someone—either your dad or the police, you can’t tell. After downing an entire glass of water, all you hear is silence from the other room. You wet a dish towel and return to the living room. “Sit,” you instruct.

“What’re you—”

“Now.”

Surprised at your tone, Gladio sits on the sofa. You kneel on the cushion next to him and clean out the cut. He winces a little as it stings, and you give him a tiny little smirk. “Don’t you dare,” he mutters.

You bite your lip but don’t tease. The adrenaline and fear still haven’t gone away so your mind is struggling to come up with the perfect quip anyway.

Once the cut is cleaned out and the blood has been sponged off, you kiss it. “There,” you say. “That’ll make it all better.”

He chuckles. “Is that right?” he asks.

“Yes. It is,” you reply with a playful but sharp tone.

“If you insist, m’lady,” he says with a grin.

Judging by the lack of interaction from your family and how dark the house is, you guess that no one is home. Gladio sweeps the house to confirm it before returning to the living room and dropping onto the sofa next to you.

He brushes his thumb over your cheek.

“You took a hit too,” he says. “You’re bruising.”

You feel your cheekbone throbbing from the punch you’d taken. You turn the injury away from him. “It’s nothing.”

He pinches your chin and draws your head back to face him. “Hey,” he says softly. “It’s not nothing.”

“No, really,” you say. “You’re far worse off than me.”

“Well that’s my job,” he says. “Not yours. It’s my responsibility to keep you safe.”

You clear your throat. “Thanks,” you say.

He smiles softly, the backs of his fingers gently pushing some of your hair away from your face and behind your ear. “My pleasure,” he says. His hand lands on the curve where your neck meets your shoulder.

The room seems to warm up by twenty degrees. Though… maybe it’s just you. Or Gladio. You’ve spent enough time standing near enough to him to know that he radiates heat like a furnace.

And you are sitting extremely close to him. Too close, probably.

This near, you can smell his spicy cologne. You can see the gold in his whiskey-colored eyes. The scar down the left side of his face takes on new definition. As does the fresh cut.

For several long, tense moments, the two of you just stare at each other. There are words hanging in the air, but neither of you catch them to speak them aloud. Is it just you or is the atmosphere a little thicker? Breathe… breathe…

Gladio’s other hand, the one not currently between your neck and shoulder, ghosts softly up your forearm, coming to a halt at your deltoid. His hands are warm and callused.

Their touch is comforting.

When did your faces get this close? Why are you leaning closer?

Before questioning anything else, you tilt your head to the side slightly and meet his lips at the same moment he leans forward to close the distance.

Relief and excitement flood through you in equal parts. Relief because you’re alive and he’s kept you safe, and excitement because… well, he’s all yours. He’s right here. He’s present and warm and strong and all yours. Your hands find his upper arms and stay there. You can feel his muscles tense and shift under your fingertips.

With a gasp, you pull away. “Should we even… be doing this?” you breathe. Both of you are panting again. For entirely different reasons this time.

His gaze drops, eyes somewhere around your chin. “You’re right,” he says. “It’s unprofessional—”

That doesn’t stop you from ducking closer to him again. He eagerly meets you.

“I promise,” he whispers against your lips. “I promise to always protect you.”

“I trust you,” you reply.

The lock to the front door clicks open. The two of you spring apart just in time for your dad to come in to see both of you sweating and panting—a bruise on your face and a cut on Gladio’s cheek. “What happened?” your father demands.

Gladio explains, leaving the seconds before your father walked through the door out. He gets up and prepares to leave for the night. Not before taking your hand to pull you aside and whisper one more promise. Clinging to his hand as long as you can, you watch him disappear into the darkness.

What have I gotten myself into? you wonder.

The darkness says nothing.

[singlebecauseofthechocobros]

Reunion Chapter 8

<< Chapter 7

Long chapter but I don’t know when I’ll get to the next one so enjoy for the time being! And thank you so much for reading! 

Word Count: 2,493

Lianna stood outside the gate of the Lestallum strong hold and glanced up the road towards the bridge. It was early morning, around four thirty to be exact and she was patiently waiting for her ride.

The sky was dark but the stars that twinkled above were mesmerizing. She wondered if Selene saw the same ones she did. Or perhaps wherever he was, her brother was watching them too. At the thought of him, Lianna felt her heart clench. She had not spoken about Noctis since finding out his whereabouts from Gladio. According to him, there was no saying how long would be gone for and this placed a heavy stone upon the princess’s heart. She should of made herself known, should have protected him. Of course she knew it would have been impossible but if only.

Snapping out of her thoughts she looked down the way to see a truck parked upon the bridge, unable to get through the barred wall. Jogging over, she made her way to the gate, climbing over it once she was near enough.

“Morning princess,” Eve spoke, leaning out the driver’s side window.

“Morning,” Lianna cheerfully replied.  

“Don’t sound so chipper,” replied the red headed huntress from the back seat, “It’s too damn early to sound so ecstatic.”

Opening the front passenger door, Lianna hopped into the vehicle, “Morning to you too Honoria.”

Norie scoffed in the backseat and covered her face with her hood, leaning against the door and presumably nodding off.  Lianna could only hope Gladio too was still sound asleep and had not awoken due to her absence. She left a note mentioning she was headed out on an early hunt and wouldn’t be back for most of the day but she knew it was only a matter of time till he put everything together. The quicker they got to the base and back the better.

“Morning Li,” spoke another voice from the back.

“Hello Ria,” the princess spoke twisting in her seat to flash her sister a smile, “Are you doing alright this morning?”

The girl shrugged her shoulders, “As good as anyone who lives in a daemon infested world would be.”

Lianna gave the glaive a soft smile. She wondered how her adoptive sister was truly doing. Although it hurt to know she lost everything, it hurt Lianna more to know so many others lost loved ones as well. Aeria, although not by blood, was as much Selene’s sister as Lianna was. The girls, both close in age, were best friends and partners in crime and Lianna wondered how Selene being so far away affected Aeria. She was so close and yet so distant, a feeling Lianna knew all too well.

And then there was the other matter altogether. While Lianna was lucky enough to have gotten Gladio back, the princess couldn’t say the same for Ria. Although it was discreet, Lianna was not naïve enough to miss the budding romantic interactions between her sibling and a certain glaive. The doting expressions, the long lost glances to one another; it was all too obvious. And it was also obvious how much his absence hurt the young princess; his and her fellow comrade Raihana, who also had been missing since the fall.

The people each lost weighed heavy on all of the friends within the vehicle. Lianna assumed that being able to physically see someone so important to each would help boost morale tenfold.  Although this could have been considered a selfish mission, the princess knew deep down she was not the only one craving for something good to happen; such as being reunited with a loved one thought to never be seen from again.

Reaching behind her seat Lianna grabbed her sister’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Ria smiled softly and reciprocated the action but thought nothing of it and simply considered this something of the norm from her older sibing.  

“Everyone ready,” Eve asked, placing her hand on the gearshift, ready to go.

“Yes,” Lianna replied, shifting in her seat and facing forward.

“Yep,” replied a quiet Ria while Norie simply grunted her answer.

Once she received affirmation from her comrades, Eve backed up the truck leaving Lestallum behind and heading forth into the darkness.

*****

“Are we there yet,” Honoria repeated for the umpteenth time. She could tell she was prying through Eve’s calm composure slowly but surely, for Norie could see Eve’s knuckles turning white as she firmly grasped the steering wheel.

“As I have already said,” Eve gritted through her teeth, “No. And as I’ve also said, you’ll know when we get there.”

The red head smirked, proud of her ability to make the composed glaive begin to crack.

“Well I just feel like we’ve been driving for hours,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“That’s because we have been,” Ria replied, looking distantly out her window, silently wishing the ride would end as well.

“I’m sure were close you guys, just a little further,” Lianna optimistically spoke. Norie simply rolled her eyes.

“Yeah well if we don’t stop soon I’m gonna piss myself so if you could just speed up-,” Norie continued until she was interrupted by Eve’s voice.

“Look,” she stated, pointing up ahead.

Sure enough, coming into view was the base the women were in pursuance of. Although it seemed small from a distance, as the vehicle approached the walls grew taller, wider, and thicker in appearance. Watchtowers were lit, making Lianna wonder if the grounds had its own electric system or if she and the others should be prepared to encounter some rival soldiers.  

Pending the stronghold, the princess was also a bit surprised to not have seen any monsters closer to the fort. As they grew closer to the building they could see monsters all in a line, facing and snarling at the building. Hearing the approaching vehicle, some turned their attention on them. At their threats, Eve slammed on the gas and plowed through the hoard, causing everyone to jostle around.

“You all okay,” she asked, still facing ahead.

“Yeah but stop the car for a second,” Lianna asked.

“What are you craz-,” she tried to finish but Lianna was already opening her door, forcing the guard to slam on the breaks, “Lianna what the hell?”

The princess ignored her friend as she turned to look behind where they had just come from. There were still daemons present but it was as though they were on the other side of a glass. There was no real, pysical barrier of course, but not one creature ventured forward across the invisible line.

“Li get back in the car,” Eve commanded, jumping out and stomping over to her.

“Eve,” the princess pointed, “They won’t attack us.”

Her once bodyguard looked to the wall of monsters, her face contorting into a look of utter confusion.

“That makes no sense,” she contemplated.

“Maybe it’s a barrier,” Ria’s voice interjected, Lianna not having noticed her exiting the vehicle.

“But we passed through it,” Eve answered.

“Maybe they just understand personal space,” Norie joked exiting the automobile. However her foot slipped on the step underneath the door and she tumbled to the ground, but that was not what caught everyone’s attention. It was the screams of pain and flailing of her body once she made contact with the earth.

“Honoria,” Lianna yelled, racing over to her. Bending down the princess grabbed for her friend but at the touch of her skin with the huntresses, Lianna experienced a painful electric sensation rush through her arm, causing her to jump back.

“What the hell,” she cried out, shaking her hand and the pain away.

“What is it,” Ria exclaimed, watching Norie twitch all over the ground, her sounds of discomfort only getting louder.

“She shocked me,” Lianna shouted back.

The three shared a look of absolute bewilderment, none of them understanding what was going on.

“We need to get her on her feet,” Eve declared, “Each of you help me maybe it won’t be so bad.”

Although she was not looking forward to another shock, the three girls surrounded their friends and swooped down to pick her up. There was a brief moment of shock that shot through each of their bodies, but once Norie ceased contact with the ground there was no more pain.

Honoria hung limp in her friend’s arms, Eve holding her torso while Lianna and Aeria each took a leg.

“Son-,” Norie mumbled, her eyes closed, “-of a fucking bitch.”

The girls went to the truck, opening the back door and laid Honoria inside. The huntress was breathing heavily but otherwise she appeared to be alright.

“The ground is electric,” Ria questioned, “But only to Norie?”

“Rubber absorbs electric currents,” Eve replied, looking down, “Our soles have been absorbing all the shocks in the ground. Same with the tires on our truck. Norie would have been fine but at the contact with her skin, she was basically shit out of luck.”

“That would explain why the daemons won’t progress forward,” Lianna muttered.

“Also answers the most important question,” Ria adds, “That fort is obviously not empty.”

*****

Sitting in the vehicle, the girls deliberated on how to enter the fortress, giving Honoria the chance to recuperate. Although she didn’t appear to be moving much she had plenty to say:

“I swear when I get inside and find the motherfucker who decided to electrify the ground, I’ll kill him,” she angrily declared.

“Fair enough,” Eve replied, nodding her head in agreement.

“That is if we can get in,” Ria spoke, “We can walk but what if the walls are also electrified? Can’t climb them then and I doubt Norie would be willing to test it out again.”

“Fuck you,” she spat, causing her friends to smirk a bit.

“We could warp over,” Eve suggested.

“They would see us if we do that,” Lianna countered.

“Surprised they didn’t hear us already. Norie was pretty loud,” Ria joked again.

“I’m sorry,” the red head narrowed her eyes on her pal, “I’ll make sure to quiet it down the next time I’m being fucking electrocuted.”

“That’s all I ask,” Ria thanked.

“I’ll kill you.”

“Norie stop,” Eve interjected, “We have other things to focus on.”

“Why don’t we go to the front gate.” Lianna asked, getting questionable looks from her friends.

“Yes, certain death,” Honoria nodded “I love that. Not.”

“Lianna that isn’t the best idea,” her sister replied gently.

“It isn’t the best but it’s a better alternative,” Lianna rebuttled, “Besides we know there are people inside. We could always attempt to talk to them. They may be happy to see other people.”

Although each wanted to disagree, it was the safest option in terms of everything else they had thought off. If they warped in uninvited it could lead to combat which could result in injuries or worse. And climbing the wall was too risky considering they didn’t know if the walls were full of voltage as the ground was.

“What other choice do we have,” Lianna asked, looking to her comrades.

“None,” Eve answered, turning the key to the ignition, “Everyone ready their weapons but be discreet.”

Hitting the gas, Eve barreled across the earth heading for the front entrance. Monsters ran alongside the barrier wall with the vehicle, but never crossed the line. Lianna wondered if everyone else’s hearts were beating with as much anticipation as hers.

The gate was in view now, slowly becoming larger and larger and soon enough the only obstacle between them and the inside of the building.

“So what now we sit here and wai-,” Norie began, but was yet again given her answer.

Sliding apart slowly a gap opened between the large doors and a figure stepped out. Lianna couldn’t tell what they looked like, for the light shining behind them only displayed their silhouette; however she believed the person to be a man due to his tall and broad figure.

Raising his hand he threw something towards the vehicle and within a moment was gone. But as fast as he had disappeared, he reformed directly in front of the truck with the lights shining on him putting him on full display and leaving all the friends in the car holding their breaths.  His blue eyes were as vibrant as ever, while his hair appeared longer than before. Braids still adorned his head as did some new scars that were plastered across his face. He was dressed in a flannel, dark pants and boots, disrobed of his normal glaive attire. The man who all thought to be dead living and breathing in the flesh.

“No way,” Eve whispered to herself, her hands falling from the steering wheel and her eyes squinting on him to see if he was in fact real. 

“This fort is already claimed,” he bellowed, “So I suggest turning back now.”

Still in disbelief the only one able to manage any movement was the one who possibly had missed him the most. Opening her car door she slowly slid out of the back seat, planting her feet firmly on the ground and holding unto the door for support.

“Rei,” Lianna whispered, watching as her sister kept her gaze on him, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.

Raising his blade he pointed it at the door, a stern expression painting his face, awaiting his opponents. Managing to pull herself upright the princess stepped from behind the door, exposing herself to him.

What was a look of aggression turned in to a mixture of skepticism, joy, and excitement. Dropping his weapon he slowly approached her.

“Aeria,” he whispered, disbelief coating his words.

“Nyx,” she choked out, finally gathering the strength to run to him.

Jumping into him she wrapped her legs around him and hugged his neck tight. Sobs escaped from her as Nyx buried his head into the crook of her neck, holding her fiercer than he ever had. Placing her down she looked up to him as he wiped away her tears.

“How,” she managed to asked, cupping his face in her hands and running her thumbs over his skin.

“A hell lot of luck,” he chuckled.

“Well if it isn’t the indestructible Nyx fucking Ulric,” Honoria yelled, butting in on their moment. Opening the door she jumped down, this time her feet landing solidly on the ground. Lianna and Eve both followed suit and exited as well.

“Oh my gods,” he laughed, walking over to each of them and giving them a solid embrace, “I can’t believe you all made it!”

“We could say the same,” Lianna grinned.

“It’s a long story,” he

“Well we drove here in hopes of an aircraft, but I think we have a bit of extra time for a tale or two,” Eve admitted.

“Yeah, let’s head inside,” Nyx motioned back to the doors, “There’s someone else I know who for a fact will love to see you all.”

Mentioned OC’s

Eve Leonis by @glaive-eve

Selene Lucis Caelum by @lucianhuntress

Honoria Curatrix by @owlwrites

Aeria Lucis Caelum by @bleucommelhiver

Raihana by @sherniwrites