#like bro. i should not feel the floorboards shaking under my feet every time you slam the fucking door

[katierosefun]

people who slam doors what is wrong with you

[leonmckennedy]

Here’s a second part to My Kingdom for a Prince!

Basically the gross angst now has a not-so-gross second part written purely on a whim. It didn’t go the way I planned but when do things ever?? Just take the Noctis + Ignis fluff

Canon Divergence: Noctis and the bros were present for Insomnia’s fall, Ardyn does some fuck shit, and now Noct needs to recuperate.

Not much for warnings this time around!! I only mention a lil from the first part. It’s 1/6th the length so (1k ish words) 

[First part] [AO3 mirror]

Everything is unbearably silent. Noctis is used to silence; from long days studying with strict tutors, to long nights waiting in the Citadel's empty corridors, waiting for the chance to meet with his father after the end of a long work day.

Now, it's suffocating. Right now, when everyone else has gone to bed in preparation for another long day ahead, Noctis stares at a wall, still very much awake. The white noise around him tugs at his ears and every few minutes he thinks he can hear the jangle of metal, a clunky machine's uneven gait approaching from the distance, coming ever so closer. He's given up on sleeping hours ago, have migrated from the room he shares with Prompto to the outside living area, parking his butt on the worn leather couch.

The place he was taken to is a small, inconspicuous home on the outskirts of Leide. With that in mind it really shouldn't have seemed as quiet as it did. Not with Leide's rolling sandstorms rattling at the edges of the roof, or the sounds of desert animals migrating under the cover of nightfall. There's plenty of life to be found, given he focuses. When he does, he hears a laughing man, tone so disgustingly pleased. He hears thick boots, the creak of a heavy door, metal joints stressed as they extend, arms reaching to grab handfuls of hair, to cover his face with a cold, gloved hand--

Noctis lurches forward in his seat, covers his mouth. His throat feels slippery, and he coughs to cover his gag, attempts to shake the urge off. He's only partially successful.

"...Noct?"

Try as he might to stop it, Noctis still flinches. He turns to see Ignis standing a few feet away, hair looking a bit disheveled. There's a surge of guilt, suddenly, that maybe he woke the man up somehow. He moves to start apologizing but finds that he doesn't trust himself to open his mouth, and instead looks away.

"Are you alright?" A nod. "....I must say, I'm not quite used to you waking before me."

Noctis finds it odd that Ignis would be waking up at this hour, but stops when he realizes he doesn't actually know what time it is.

Ignis stands there a moment longer, like he's debating his next move. Then he approaches Noctis fully, moving slowly. His steps are quiet and light. Noctis doesn't flinch.

"Would you like an early breakfast?"

His stomach isn't quite lurching at him, but there's a weird lump settled in the pit of his gut. Noctis shakes his head, relaxing back into the couch and swallowing thickly. He watches the gears turn in Ignis' head and wishes he could read Ignis as well as the man could read him. Ignis nods at length, turns to leave the living area.

"Perhaps I'll make something simple. Do not feel obligated to eat anything; Gladio will gladly eat whatever we don't touch."

Ignis disappears into the kitchen at that, and Noctis considers his position for a few minutes before dragging himself from the couch to follow. Unlike Ignis' steps --a near silent stride-- when Noctis walks the floorboards of the old house groans under his weight. Noctis winces at the sound, hoping it doesn't wake up anyone else still sleeping. In the kitchen Ignis seems very unconcerned about the noise; instead he deftly pulls ingredients and utensils from the cupboards and begins to cook.

They don't have too much in the way of resources, currently. The fancy foods Noctis had been so used to eating, made by the royal cooks or by Ignis' hand himself, are not an option without the necessary ingredients. But lack of ingredients have never stopped Ignis before, and before long Ignis places two plates with identical looking sandwiches on the kitchen table.

There are no veggies on either one. This fact doesn't stop Noctis from hesitating when approaching his plate, lifting the top off the sandwich to peer inside.

It's just meat, pan-fried to perfection, with cheese melting on top of it. It is simple, like Ignis said. And though he hesitates once again before taking in a deep breath, the smell of it is a bit intoxicating. It's food. It's real food. He checks under the meat patty and pokes around the buns, hyper aware that Ignis is watching him but not willing to see what kind of expression his friend is pulling.

He picks up the sandwich, places it at his lips. Takes a breath. Then takes a bite.

Somehow, Noctis expected something bad. Even though he knows Ignis, loves him and doesn't believe for a second the man wants to hurt, his body still tenses and he's prepared to lurch forward at a moment's notice. When the food touches his tongue he almost spits it out due to reflex, but forces himself not to when it doesn't taste like disgusting slop. It's not bugs or rotting meat or spoiled dairy. It's fresh garula meat, immaculately seasoned, tender and savory. It's gooey cheese, that strings away from his lips when he pulls the sandwich away.

It's real food.

"Noct?"

Noctis doesn't notice the tears budding in his eyes until he blinks a few of them out. He suddenly can't see but even that does not matter when he starts to chew the small mouthful and shakes, holding the rest of the sandwich tightly in his fingers. He takes a shuddering breath and swallows, closing his eyes to just enjoy the moment. All he hears is the shift of clothes as Ignis sits beside him.

"Was it not to your liking?"

Noctis shakes his head wildly, putting the food down and sniffling. Immediately Ignis places a napkin in his hand, and Noct wipes his fingers clean before running the back of his hand over his eyes. "No it's.... it's good. It's so good, specs."

Ignis blinks back the compliment. "Were you so hungry it brought you to tears?"

Noctis bites back a laugh. Such a comment would usually be more sarcastic coming from his advisor, but looking over at the man know he can see open concern on his face. And who could blame him? Cor brought him here over a day ago and he's had the appetite for nothing more than a few crackers. The thought that he should stop worrying the man comes to Noctis, and he finds it in him to smile. It's tiny and probably all broken but it's real.

"You could say that." Ignis stares. He clears his throat and continues, "I'll finish it. I promise."

Appeased by that, Ignis sits back, watching Noctis eat with worry still clinging to his features. It takes quite a while, as Noctis still hesitates upon taking bigger bites, feels that he'll be hurt despite knowing that's not the case. But he does finish the whole sandwich. And Ignis sits at his side, starting up a rather one sided conversation that Noctis is content to simply listen to.

It's silent throughout the rest of the house. Noctis doesn't mind.