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[blindsider]

[ He's done his research. There are the gondolas that are simply a means of transportation, shuttling people around as they go about their daily lives, and then there are... the other ones. They're ornately decorated, often bedecked with flowers, and the gondoliers will sing traditional Altissian folk songs as they row cash-flush tourists and lovestruck couples around. Tourist traps, twee and ridiculous.

Ignis wants nothing more than to ride one.

He could probably explain it away as an interest in the music (he had, in fact, developed something of a taste for it), but the truth of the matter is simple, and not something he's ashamed of. For as long as they've been together he and Noctis have never had the opportunity to feel like a normal couple. He wouldn't trade their time for anything in the world, and he's not sure things would have been much different had they not wooed in relative secrecy – given the freedom to do as he liked, Noctis would still probably prefer to stay at home – but there's something thrilling about this opportunity. The chance to walk hand-in-hand, to do the things that couples do without concern for propriety or reputation. Noct's relative obscurity here combined with the almost infamously relaxed attitude of the general public make so many things a possibility -

but first, the gondolas.

He seeks one out based on reputation, rowed by a man reported to have a leisurely pace, a wonderful voice, and an almost negligent regard for who is in his gondola or what they do so long as he gets paid. It's a short walk to the dock, and he extends a hand to Noctis without further explanation. ]

Indulge me.

Comments

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[ as always, no matter how much he might want this to last forever, there's no helping it in the end. every thrust up into him is perfect, until every last nerve ending feels almost raw with pleasure. and still he tries to fight it, tries to make it last just one second --

but ignis thrusts up into him hard, says noct in that voice, and it's the end of him. and he comes with a sharp little cry that's doubtless enough to be heard from beyond the walls of their hotel room, every muscle in him clenching tightly as his body wrings his release out of him.

and even during this, he remembers. ] Yeah, Ignis, c'mon, come for me, I want to feel you --

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[ As his king orders.

It's hopeless, really - he knows, now, the way Noct's breathing changes, opens his eyes. The way Noctis looks, the sound he makes, and then the way Noctis clenches around him and the hot spatter over Ignis' tensed stomach all mean he'd have been lost even without permission. When he comes it with a shudder that wracks his body and golden light bursting behind his eyes, Noct's name on his lips like a chant of prayer. ]

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[ he only just manages to brace himself with a hand on ignis' chest before he collapses forward onto him, swaying as all that tension turns into a warm and fuzzy sort of exhaustion. they're both sweaty and sticky and gross -- but all of that does absolutely nothing to make ignis look any less gorgeous underneath him.

and the sight is enough to inspire a little sass, even though he sounds breathless and utterly spent. ] Is this the part where I call you a good boy?

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Ah, [ says Ignis, and damn the Astrals but he blushes. His only hope is that it's not obvious given the fact that he's already flushed. It's... not something that would appeal to him normally, but there's something about this situation, here and now, that makes the words curl warmly into his ear and has him burying his face in Noct's hair. ]

I should think you can call me anything you like, after a performance like that.

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[ by now, he's managed to catch his breath enough to laugh, easing down against ignis as the other man tucks into him. he feels warm and drowsy and utterly content -- and the knowledge that they have enough time to themselves to wake up and do this all over again is a wonderful thought. ]

Anything? <.small>[ turning his head to nuzzle into him, grin pressed against ignis' skin. ] Better get extra creative, then.

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Perhaps not too creative, if you're hoping for a repeat performance.

[ There's absolutely no conviction in that; he's too bonelessly, happily sated to offer any genuine chastisement over it. His fingers find their way up into Noct's hair to stroke there, a compulsion he seems to have that he can only assume is a direct result of how like a cat Noctis seems sometimes. They both need a good scrub down in the shower, preferably before the fall asleep like this and wake stuck unpleasantly together, but for now it's lovely just o be close; to feel the pressure of Noct's body draped over his own, the thump of his heart as its beating slows back to normal. ]

That business with my wrists was inspirational, if you don't mind my saying so.

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[ he snorts another tired little laugh against ignis' skin, tucking himself a little closer to the other man's body heat. ] Did I ever tell you about the girl in my class who used to give her boyfriend all the dumb nicknames? Prompto and I always used to crack up whenever she came up with a new one.

So... sugarbuns? [ punctuated with a playful little kiss. ] Honeylump? Snugglebunny? Pookiebear?

[ and, okay, that's as far as he can get before he dissolves into a fit of laughing, ducking his head a little to muffle it. it'll take him a second to go back to being smug about his sexual prowess, hang on -- ]

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Much more of that and they'll be calling me a kingslayer.

[ And he pats a pillow as threateningly as he can manage whilst pinned beneath the love of his life and still cradling him adoringly with one arm. The rapid-fire list of names does make him smile however; it's almost as if Noctis has chose one for each of them. Sugarbuns for the baker of the group, as much as he's loath to admit it. Prompto, with all his brimming affection and excitability is the bunny of the group and Gladio clearly the bear - and Noctis, sweet and lovely and so terribly disinclined to rise in the mornings is an obvious honeylump.

Ignis makes the tactical decision not to share this thought, and instead presses a kiss to Noct's temple. ]

I'm rather fond of Specs. You're the only person who calls me that, you know.

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[ oh, he obviously fears for his life. it's evident in his answering grin and the way he tips his head up to press a drowsy kiss against ignis' mouth. ]

And I came up with Specsacles when I was -- what, three? Must've been some kind of prodigy.

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Clearly. And I was doomed from the beginning.

[ Not the very beginning. He remembers it clearly; Noctis saying specsacles as if it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard and dissolving into that oddly gruff laughter unique to small children, and Ignis feeling all shot through with cold at the thought that the young prince was making fun of him, that it was a sign Noctis disliked him. But then he'd turned his eyes to Ignis as if he was simply waiting for him get the joke too, and it had bloomed into something warm and special. The first time he'd made Noctis laugh on purpose remains one of his dearest memories - "oh dear," he'd said gravely, "I seem to have smudged my specsacles", and Noct's answering fit of mirth had included such a hysterical shriek that it rather alarmed their minders.

How lucky he is, that the person dearest to him has been in his life for almost the entirety of it. ]

I wouldn't have it any other way.

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[ he props himself up enough to be able to smile warmly down at ignis, reaching out to brush a wayward strand of the other man's bangs back from his forehead. it's always felt right -- the two of them together like this -- and it's nice just to be able to bask in being close. ]

Me neither. As much as all of this sucks, I'm... really lucky to have you. Way luckier than I deserve.

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Hush. If you know me at all, you know I'm vain enough not to give my heart to anyone who didn't deserve it.

[ It's said lightly, because he understands. Sometimes it seems so remarkable that they can be together the way they are, that it can feel like the world is falling down around them but they still have this, have each other. It's boggling, but wonderfully so. ]

I love you, Noct.

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I love you too, Specs.

[ and he leans down enough to press another kiss against the other man's mouth, lingering and swee. but it isn't the end of his thought, and that's enough to make him pull away to finish it. ] ... and when we get back home, I'm done hiding it.

I'm proud of you, and I'm proud that you want to be with me. I'm not going to act like I'm ashamed of it.

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[ Oh. Oh.

He should say no, of course. Or at least ask Noctis if he's sure, ask him to wait until things are done - because what can seem like a very good plan in the middle of so much wrongness can look very different when things return to normal. Times are not as they were, and there may not be as much resistance to a king openly having a male lover as there might once have been, but there's the matter of the family line to consider, of heirs -

but it's been so perfect here in Altissia, to walk hand-in-hand and kiss as any couple might, that he lets the hope overtake him and cups Noct's face in his hand, watching him with eyes full of love. ]

That sounds wonderful.

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[ he was expecting an argument, for ignis to point out all of the practical reasons why it would never work, and so... the acceptance he gets makes him melt with a little sigh of relief, expression warming with a genuine smile. he's not naive; he knows it'll be tough, that there are probably plenty of details that they'll need to work out, but...

it's worth it, without a doubt. he isn't going to be the kind of person to ask people he loves to live out a lie, and... well, if there was ever a time to make changes for the better, to cast out old traditions, why not after everything they've been through? ]

It's a deal, then. I'll get to tell everyone that you're my Kissypoo.

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[ His --

Ignis closes his eyes. He draws a slow breath in through his nose, holds it a moment, lets it out through his mouth -

and dissolves into quiet laughter. ]

Is that to be my official title? Chamberlain and Kissypoo to the King?

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[ okay, hearing the nickname out of ignis' mouth is just too much, and noctis ends up collapsing into another little fit of... well, giggles, honestly. (not that he'd ever admit to it.) ]

You gotta admit, it has a... unique ring to it.

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Yeees... in much the same way that Prompto's experiment with cheese and ramen salad was a unique flavour experience.

[ Where Prompto got marijuana on their journeys is a mystery, but Ignis can only assume it must have been involved. The thought that it might have been pure inspiration is too much to bear. but depite the nickname and the jokes, he's too full of warmth at the thought of it to let it go, and he fondly tucks some of Noct's hair back. ]

It will be complicated. The reactions may be... difficult, at first. But we'll make it work.

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... I can't believe you just compared a gesture of my love to that.

[ making a face!!

but any offense is easily forgiven when all of him is warm and content with the knowledge that he's loved absolutely by someone he absolutely loves, so. ] Not like it's the first time we've had to deal with something tough. We'll figure it out.

Or... [ a little sheepishly. ] You'll probably figure it out, and I'll take orders.

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Will you just.

[ Again, with quiet laughter, because it's reassuring to know Noctis understand the difficulties and wishes to go ahead with it anyway, and that allows him just to bask in it. And, regretfully, to poke Noctis gently in the side. ]

You certainly weren't taking orders earlier.

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Yeah, well.

[ with a little purr, butting his head up gently under ignis' chin. ]

Sometimes role reversal is supposed to be sexy, right?

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[ He hums happily, ducks his face to press a kiss into Noct's hair. ]

I don't think I was prepared for just how sexy. A happy discovery.

[ And with his head tucked down as it is Noct can't see the smirk on Ignis' face, but he can probably hear it in his voice. ]

I'll have to send that gondolier a token of my gratitude.

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Speaking of him...

[ and now the grin on his face turns impish, eyes sparkling with a laugh. ]

Didn't you promise to sing to me once we were back in the room?

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[ Oh, bloody hell. He did say something like that, didn't he? ]

I'd had sudden rush of blood away from my head. I'm sure I can't be held accountable for the things i may have said in he heat of the moment.

[ But he's fairly sure that's not going to fly, and he pats Noct's bottom in urging. ]

You'll have to sit up. I can't sing with you squashing my lungs.

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[ except sitting up is hard, so.

he compromises by rolling off ignis instead, sprawling on his back with his arms folded behind his head and looking up at him expectantly. ] C'mon, Specs, no excuses. Your king takes promises very seriously.