Work Text:
Ignis Scientia is a young man of many talents. While finishing high school through private studies, he juggles his training as future Advisor of the King while currently acting as a retainer to his future King. In addition to the Crownsguard weapons training, he has body conditioning work outs and extracurricular battle strategy courses. Not to mention finding time to pursue his own interests, which are few in number. Ignis ends up feeling as old as 118 instead of 18 at the end of most days. Today marks the completion of his Basic Academics, as today is the day he elected on taking his final tests to “graduate”. Sure, there were things he was missing out on with the “normal” high school experience such as classmates, school events, activity clubs, etc. (he’d heard his fill from Noctis and Prompto) but in all honesty he felt he was past such "juvenile activities". He sighs to himself as the voices of Noctis and Prompto jeer in his head calling him an “old man” again. He holds no longing for a change in his upbringing, no sadness that he might have “missed out” on anything. If anything he’s glad he avoided all the unnecessary drama that comes from cramming a bunch of teenagers in a singular building for 6 or 8 hours a day. Gods, he really is sounding like an old man again...
“If you keep frowning like that your face will stay that way.”
Ignis smooths his expression and looks up to Gladio as he saunters his way down the corridor towards him.
“I’m afraid it’s already too late for you.” He counters in a cool tone.
Gladiolus barks out a short laugh and shoves Ignis’ shoulder before leaning against the wall next to him.
“Exam day huh, then you’re free from this government ordained academics bullshit. You relieved?”
“I’ll be relieved once the exams are over, let us not count our chocobos before they hatch.”
Gladio rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, sure, whatever Iggy. Wish you the best... I know it’ll be a walk in the park for you.”
Gladiolus passed the exam last year, being a year older than Ignis, and had given him some advice on the exam. (As if he felt Ignis needed it, it was more of a gesture of comaradite if anything.)
“Thank you for the vote of confidence Gladiolus.” Ignis responds sincerely with a wry smile before glancing at his watch.
“I’ll leave you to your test prep, be seeing you at Noct’s later, yeah?”
Ignis sighs, “As always.. staying for dinner I presume?”
“You know it.”
“Later then.”
Throwing up a half tattooed arm up in farewell, Gladioulus walks towards the training rooms, leaving Ignis to gather his thoughts before his exams.
******************************************************
It wasn’t until late in the evening that Ignis found himself rushing to Noctis’ apartment from the Citadel. He was late, and out of the things that perturbed him the most, tardiness was near the top of his list. But Noctis had insisted he needed a VERY specific document from his father’s library. Then Gladio had asked him to bring a copy a schedule of the new Crownsguard training schedule that he SIMPLY didn’t have time to get himself for some reason... and THEN Prompto texted him asking if he could pick up some new Polaroids on his way to Noct’s apartment.
To say he felt harrassed, especially after taking a 6 hour exam he KNEW they knew about, was a bit of an understatement.
Pulling into Noct’s complex, Ignis presses the garage key code with a bit more force then necessary. He sits in the car for a spell, taking a moment to breathe and collect his thoughts. He will apologize for being late, get dinner going, and then leave as soon as possible to get that well-earned sleep he fells he deserves. He's even tempted to leave the dirty dishes to complete the next day if that means eaving to his bed sooner.
Sending a brief text to Noct to notify him of his arrival, Ignis gathers his things and the cursed errand items. Feet dragging slightly, he walks to Noct’s apartment, pressing his cardkey to the door which swings open with a gentle nudge of his arm. The door swings shut behind him as he pauses in the surprisingly dark entryway. The apartment is oddly quiet… and smells vaguely of burnt food. Apprehension rises within him and he opens his mouth to call Noctis’ name in concern when the lights suddenly flicker on and he is assaulted by noise.
“CONGRATS ON GRADUATING IGGY!!”
Ignis' mouth drops open in shock. In front of him stands his friends, Prompto jumping excitedly while swinging noisemakers, Gladio whooping and hollering with a smug smirk on his face, and Noctis holding the ugliest cake Ignis has ever laid his eyes on with a shy smile lighting his normally broody features. Prompto rushes towards him, taking his bags from his hands as he stands utterly stunned at the chaos before him.
“…what-“
“Hey Iggy, sorry for sending you on that wild goose chase for errands, although I do actually need these Polaroids.” Prompto says sheepishly as he digs the box of film out of the shopping bag.
Gladio snorts with an amused look on his face. “Yeah, we had to buy some extra time because /someone/ decided to try and burn down his kitchen.”
“It isn't MY fault someone pushed me to try a new recipe that involved more than boiling water…” Noctis mumbles under his breath, looking flustered as he shifts from side to side still holding the cake.
Ignis, overcoming his shock, chuckles at his friends banter as he removes his shoes. He walks towards Noctis, eyeing the baked disaster in his hands.
“Noct, might I enquire as to what type of confectionary… delight you’ve managed to concoct?”
Gladio tries his best to muffle his laughter as Noct and Proms face’s flush.
“It’s uh… a fun-fetti? Cake?” Noct stutters, unsure if he should elaborate.
“Yeah! Uh... with cream cheese frosting!! “Prompto adds exuberantly.
Ignis cracks a slight smile as he stands before Noctis who looks 5 seconds away from warping away WITH the cake, which would be disastrous for the apartment floor’s integrity. Reaching forward, he grabs the fork that is haphazardly stuck in the cake and takes a bite. His eyebrows raise in surprise at the taste. Store bought cake mix and icing for sure, but it tastes correctly baked and well blended.
He looks at the nervous faces studying his own, awaiting “Judgement Day” knowing how the two younger boys tend to over-dramatize things.
His smile grows.
“It tastes
delicious. Thank you Noct, Prompto.”
The relief in their faces are blatantly apparent, as Noctis offers a more confident smile, and Prompto lets out a hearty ‘YEAH BABY!’
“Dinner is all set to go Iggy, just gotta plate everything and sit our asses down.”
Ignis turns to Gladio, and nods his head. “Let’s get to it then, I imagine you all are hungry.”
“Wait! Uh.... Could I take a picture? We want to get pictures before we eat everything? Yeah?”
“Of course Prompto.” Ignis replies as he takes another forkful of cake and poses alongside Noct for a photo.
As each flash of a picture marks the passing of evening to night, the weariness that Ignis carried throughout the day melts away. He smiles, looking about Noct’s kitchen at his… friends. Yes. They are his friends no matter where their titles take them in the future. Completing high school will be the first of their many trials together, this he knows for certain. In this moment, Ignis is content in knowing with all his heart that his friends have his back. With anotger bling flah of a Polaroid, the teen swears to himself in that moment that he will do everything in his power to keep them all safe.