i'd like to show you a million things

[blindsider]

[Ignis is nesting.

He wouldn't admit it aloud, of course. The little house out at Caem was good enough for occasional stops, but now that Noct's... condition is progressed enough to slow her down it's become more of a fixture, and one that sorely needed a few homey touches.

Taking funds from their coffers to finance his own pet project was unthinkable, of course, and he'd attempted a few hunts on his own to bankroll it. It hadn't taken the others very long to cotton to that, however, and after a fairly sound telling-off he'd found that either Gladio or Prompto were always willing to accompany him and that it made the process much smoother. There's a better bed for Noct's back, and decent linens to make it more comfortable. The kitchen has expanded far beyond its original adequate setup, and he takes pleasure in having a more robust place to prepare meals for Noctis, his friends, and whoever happens to be passing through at the time - and a lot of people pass through, to offer congratulations and check in on Noctis. Cor's visit had been alarming ( I ought to find a dungeon to throw you in, he'd said, before clapping Ignis soundly on the shoulder and smiling a smile that didn't move his mouth at all but danced in his eyes regardless ), but Gentiana's absolutely took the cake. They'd been sitting around the table after dinner when she appeared from nowhere, announced that the Queen of the Stone had spat in the eye of fate, and produced a large plush chocobo that made Prompto squeak.

She'd even stayed for dessert.

This room, though, is a secret. From Noctis, at least. Dustin had offered it up, and of course Ignis had refused until Dustin insisted he'd much rather be staying with his partner, and that this gave him a good enough excuse to present to the marshall. There are curtains, sky blue and printed with clouds but heavy enough to block out the light when sleep is needed. He's painted the walls yellow, which wouldn't have been an option he'd consider until he saw this particularly warm, pale hue that makes him think of the sunrise on a clear day. Some of Prompto's photographs have been blown up for the walls - cute and calming things, chocobo chicks and views of a calm ocean. There are bookshelves, the collection they may someday hold started with Iris' joyful donation of some of her own childhood favourites, and Gladio had helped him smuggle in soft, plush rugs and a comfortable chair. He can't take any credit for the crowning glory, however - that's all Cid's doing. The old man had pulled him aside one day, cussing and grousing about doing things the right way and damn kids keeping secrets from their elders, and shown him a crib of beatifully carved pale wood. One look at Ignis' face had him snorting that raising a kid would knock the softness right out of him, but he'd seemed pleased.

The door has stayed securely locked until today. When he peeks his head around the doorframe to their room Noctis is thankfully not asleep but fiddling with her phone, and just looking at her fills him with such a profound swell of love for her that he feels it aching in his chest and has to clear his throat before he speaks. ]

Dinner's ready. I'd like to show you something first.

Comments

[blindsider]

[ And he's laughing again, his shoulders trembling with it. Honestly, it's ridiculous. Just when he thought they were out of surprises, twins. ]

Really, it's statistically very unlikely. There's no history of twins on my side of the family, and I'm reasonably sure we'd know about it if there was on yours.

I blame Gladio. He's some kind of - human fertility idol.

[linkstrike]

[ she makes a face at that one, scrunching up her nose in a silent ew. ]

That kind of makes it sound like I got infected just from standing too close to him. Like... sexy radiation? Gross.

[blindsider]

[ Sexy radiation. As disgusted as she looks, it does absolutely nothing to stifle his quiet laughter. ]

Make him take responsibility. He can take care of nighttime feeding.

[linkstrike]

So, we're co-parenting, now?

[ as if there was ever any doubt about that, honestly. ]

Our kids are gonna start calling Gladio 'Mom', and then you'll be sorry.

[blindsider]

[ They've had plenty of time to adjust, but he still gets a little thrill from hearing her say our kid. And now it's kids, and by all rights he should be terrified but he's too happy to worry. Yet. ]

I suspect it'll be worth the look on his face.

[linkstrike]

[ she snorts a little laugh, leaning back in the rocking chair and letting herself settle. and then, after a few moments: ]

... Ignis? [ her voice is a little smaller, uncertain. ] We can do this, right?

[blindsider]

[ Oh. The tone of her voice is enough to make him shift, lifting his head off her knee to kneel in front of her and take her hands in his own, thumbs stroking little circles against her skin in an attempt to soothe. ]

We can. I won't pretend it won't be difficult at times, but it's going to be worth it. And we won't be alone. We're blessed to be surrounded by good people, who want to see these children safe and happy almost as much as we do.

[linkstrike]

I know, but...

[ she gives his hands a little squeeze, like she's trying to ground herself. ]

... there's just so much scary stuff out there, y'know? And they'll be so little.

[blindsider]

[ It's not that he disagrees. The middle of a war is nobody's idea of the ideal place to raise a child, even without their mother being at the heart of it. And they're likely to be especially small given the combination of Noct's genetics and the fact that they're twins, but... ]

I know you, Noct. You'd burn this world to the ground to keep them safe. It's my job to make sure you don't have to.

[ He lifts a hand to his mouth, brushes a kiss over her knuckles. ]

I won't say not to worry. I suspect that's an unavoidable part of being a parent. I will say that that if I had to place a bet on who could make it work, I'd pick you every time.

[linkstrike]

[ he's so sweet, and she loves him so much.

... and if it wasn't for her stupid swollen stomach, she'd gladly throw her arms around him. ]

... and you'll be with us through all of it, right? Promise?

[blindsider]

Always.

[ And he stands and leans forward, craning over the swell of her stomach - of their children - to gently cup the back of her head and kiss her. ]

I can't wait to see you teach them to fish. Or have you tease me when I fret over sending them off for their first day of school. Or all the fun we'll have making their dates think we're going to put them in the dungeons.

[linkstrike]

[ good, because now she can tug him down enough to wrap her arms around him, tucking her face into the crook of his neck. ]

Five gil says you cry when we drop them off for their first day of kindergarten.

[blindsider]

[ That puts her in perfect hair-kissing range. Who is he to resist? ]

No bet. I'll probably cry when we sign the enrollment forms.

[linkstrike]

And I'll have to remind you that you're way too busy to homeschool, even if you double your Ebony intake.

[blindsider]

Homeschooling! If we all pitched in... Gladio does know rather a lot about history, for instance...

[ He's joking, he's joking!

He is 63% joking. ]

[linkstrike]

Ignis.

[ pulling away a little, just for the sake of giving him a very Stern look. ]

[blindsider]

Tutors?

[ And he gives her his most hopeful look, with only the ghost of a laugh hovering at the edges. He knows how much being able to go to a normal school meant to Noct, and assumes she'll want the same fro their children... but the fun of having her be the voice of reason is too much to pass up. ]

[linkstrike]

No way. Our kids aren't gonna grow up to be weird shut-ins.

[ but she can't resist pulling him down for a kiss, grinning against his mouth. ]

They'll already have enough of your nerdy genes.

[blindsider]

[ That's about what he expected, an he feels his mouth curve into a smile in answer to her lips. ]

I suppose I can accept that. If you promise to hold my hand and be very gentle with me after they skip off without a backwards glance and break my heart.

[linkstrike]

Promise.

[ and then her smile tips up into something impish, pulling back enough to meet his eyes again. ]

And then I'll take you home and remind you how much fun free time can be.

[blindsider]

My love. You always know just what to say.

[ He's laughing, but he's also perfectly sincere. ]

[linkstrike]

And that's why you adore me, right?

[ smug as a cat with the cream. ]