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"Noctis will make a wonderful king."
Ignis has known that for years. Proudly told his colleagues, the Council, the late King Regis; almost everyone knows where he stands on the matter. Many disagree with him, namely the elder councilmen who believed Insomnia a disgrace the moment King Mors took reign. Some cannot see past the present, if the number of earth shattering arguments with Gladiolus revealed anything. Very few agreed with him without need for evidence; King Regis had been among them. It was always those that saw Noctis for his character and growth into maturity from tragedy, and never those that only looked to the tabloids.
So, while he is not surprised to hear Lady Lunafreya affirm his beliefs, he still aches at hearing her words.
When they had originally arrived in Altissia, they were to complete the Rite of Leviathan before reuniting with Lunafreya, as Noctis and the First Secretary agreed upon. Regardless of that outcome, Niflheim would attack; the sooner they were repelled, the better chance they had of long-term support. The rite was set to begin, everyone in their positions, when Noctis had burst up to Ignis in a shimmer of sparkling glass, eyes colored an otherworldly pink, and told him to call off the rite. There was no solid reason; only that Noctis knew, somehow, that Lunafreya would perish. Nothing Ignis said convinced him otherwise.
And even then, Noctis had already set his plan in motion: Lunafreya was safe at Maagho; the First Secretary had troops mobilized on not only the docks, but within the walls of water to strike airships out of the sky. And, miraculously, Noctis had convinced General Nox Fleuret to stand down, leaving Niflheim without a major general and his elite troops. He had approached Ignis, perhaps on instinct, to ask for his support when he predicted others would disagree.
Ignis would support him without hesitation, even should Noctis have selfishly decided to run away and live his life as a hunter-fisher in the Lucian backwaters. This was the promise he made back when they were children, holding hands in front of gods and men alike at the throne, as his sworn protector in the name of Lucis. But his pride and admiration for him peaked in that moment, seeing him bear a kingly demeanor Ignis always knew was there. One he would never give up on.
(It was always more than the promise. Noctis always came above the crown.)
In the absence of a rite, and subsequent lack of a Niflheim invasion, Altissia has turned its attention toward hosting a royal coordination. While Noctis expressed his initial reluctance, he suggested the idea as a means of not only raising morale but deeming him worthy to the remaining Astrals. Lunafreya sided with him when others raised objections, and their power together made it reality.
(In a quieter moment, just him and Ignis, Noctis admits that he did not want to take chances on innocent lives because of his weakness. As if knowing the rite of Leviathan would have ended in tragedy.)
Not once has anyone mentioned the contents of the treaty, but there was no need. Even should there never have been a ceremony to start with, it would always end the same. Noctis and Lunafreya are destined for each other, bound in heart and fate. A powerful duo against the impending darkness.
(Ignis wants to object to their relationship, but none of his reasons are good for anyone but himself. And so, he resolves to suffer in silence, supporting his king from two steps behind.)
Ignis' role in these preparations is to tend to both Noctis and Lunafreya's ceremonial needs. For Noctis, these are his normal duties as chamberlain: dress him for the ceremony, listen to his speech in the late hours of the night, tending to his needs so that his chronic pain did not agonize him in front of his people. He figures Lunafreya would be much the same, save for the dressing aspect. However, when he first appears in her chambers, carrying books and scripts deciphered from Old Lucian depicting her role in this event, she immediately sits him down for afternoon tea. An hour has passed in strange yet comfortable silence. The windows are open, and the room is filled with sounds of shopkeepers selling their goods, children laughing on the cobbles, and decorations rustling in the sea breeze.
And then she speaks those words, and Ignis musters a reply that hides his pain.
"Indeed. I'm grateful for this chance to see him ascend. I've no doubt he will guide his people the same his late Majesty had, if not better."
"His road to this moment has been fraught with hardship." Lunafreya takes a sip of her tea - a simple earl grey - before setting the cup down on its plate. "I always worried for him, you see, knowing the shadow that hung over his shoulders following his time in Tenebrae. He was so withdrawn when he first woke… I feared it would prevent him from connecting with others. It gladdens me to see you and your friends with him." She smiles, warm and kind. "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for standing by him."
"I should be thanking you, milady, for providing him encouragement from afar and standing by him in your own way." Noctis treasures few things more than the small red notebook he and Lunafreya pass between each other; it is enough that not even Ignis knows what contents are inside. "And for standing by him in the near future, both as his comrade and partner."
Lunafreya blinks once, twice, and then, to Ignis' surprise, bursts into laughter. One of her hands covers her mouth to stifle her volume, but he is sure all of Altissia hears it. He feels heat rush to his cheeks, his gaze dropping to the teacup trembling minutely in his hands. After a few moments, Lunafreya calms. "My apologies for losing my composure like that. It was not my intent to make you feel awkward. I figured you already knew that Noct and I are not together that way. Nor will we ever be."
Ignis' gaze snaps up so quickly, he is afraid his tea will spill. The warm smile she graced him with moments earlier is gone, replaced with serious countenance veiled by something knowing in her expression. "Forgive me, milady, but I do not understand."
Lunafreya exhales, a long-held sigh with it. "We do love each other, that much is true. We would do anything for each other, and our bond is unbreakable. Should Noctis have wished for it, I would have happily stood by his side for the rest of our days."
(Ignis hopes she does not hear how his heart splinters into thousands of pieces, how his world rapidly dissolves into white noise--)
"But what the world sees and what we feel are different. He has his preferences, and I mine. We are free from the burden of duty, of others' expectations. The only thing we have ever wanted for the other was their happiness; to be free to love who we choose." Her smile returns as she picks up her cup of tea again. "I apologize this is unsolicited; I must admit this advice relies solely on my observations. But if you ask him for his honest feelings, he will respond with the truth."
Noctis had once said that Lunafreya had an uncanny ability to see into one's heart. Now Ignis understands what he meant, for how else could she reach deep inside him and lay bare the one feeble hope he never lets see the light of day?
Because Ignis knows what he is, and what his duties are, ever since he stood behind his uncle's leg while ascending the stairs of the throne room. He is the King's advisor; he is to provide counsel in troublesome scenarios, to support him as both friend and brother, and to never assume he could be something more. He must also protect Noctis' life and lay down his own if he must. In those moments, he can stand at his prince's side, daggers and swords dancing in harmony as they devastated his foes. But he must always return to his rightful place, two steps behind his charge.
Hard as he tries to self-enforce these fundamentals, it is always triumphed by the love he feels for Noctis. He loves him unconditionally, has loved him for so long it resides like a second heartbeat in his chest. In his weakest moments, behind closed doors in the quiet of night, he entertains the fantasy of having Noctis' love, standing at his side as Insomnia returns to its glory days. But it always ends in shame; Ignis' desires will never outweigh his prideful sense of duty. Giving that up for a future never meant to be is incomprehensible. It is an endless trap, as Noctis pointed out one heated night years ago, that made him the same as the councilmen that berated him for his prince's weakness. But his objectivity in crucial moments has let him keep Noctis alive, and that was more than enough for Ignis.
(The line between duty and desire has always been a blur with Noctis. It is hard to know which was what anymore, or if they have always been one entity.)
A noise startles him out of his thoughts, and he blinks, the world sharper again at the edges. Lunafreya has stood abruptly, crossing the space between them in two short strides to put a hand on his shoulder. "I understand, Ignis. More than perhaps you know. In our lives, the truth has always hurt more than the falsehoods we are fed. Yet none of us have had this chance to be honest without being restricted by fate. We are free , Ignis. No one knows where the future will lead, but in the truth will we find our paths to the futures we wish to see." She hums, glancing at the door to her chambers. "I'm afraid my next engagement begins soon; Ravus will arrive to escort me. Consider what I have said, Ignis. I await good tidings."
Ignis watches her go, opening the door and chatting politely with the guards stationed there. Ignis had once thought, given the way her life has gone thus far, that Lunafreya knew too little of the world to understand others; that duty and nobility clouded her judgment. Yet he sees how she squares her shoulders, bears a smile, walks in stride… Yes, he can see how Noctis' temperance today was shaped by her influence. Into someone Ignis is proud to call his king and friend.
(If truly given this chance, his beloved.)
He stands, setting down his now empty teacup. The leaves remaining at the bottom remind him of an angel, watching from on high. Though his hesitations remain, a small relief does follow that his hope is not reprimanded in a world sorely in need of a symbol.
He only hopes he can let himself be honest, after all these years of a duty lined with deception.
"Hold still, Noct."
"A little hard to, considering what today is."
"I would prefer you with overwhelming anxiety and in full regalia than with your capelet in tatters from these pins."
"Gee, real encouraging, Specs. Thanks for the advice."
"I live to serve."
Outside the guest chamber doors, waves of people clamor in front of the First Secretary's estate, eagerly awaiting their new king. Their cheers ebb and flow in volume, occasionally, their joyous cries reach their closed windows. While it heartens Ignis, it seems to do the opposite for Noct. With Gladiolus and Prompto guarding the gates and Lunafreya in her own chambers finishing her preparations, it leaves Ignis to tend to his prince's anxieties. Normally a feat easily accomplished with soft words and actions, but in the face of irrevocable change, none of that will suffice. At the very least, Noct is open to humor in these moments, and Ignis is glad for that. He is not sure how else he can distract from his own nerves in this moment.
Noct's regalia that Ignis fusses over matches King Regis' style: elegance and radiance spun in black silk and golden finery. His late Majesty always exuded an air of leadership whilst in it, and Noct is no different. He always looked dashing in his pinstripe suits he was forced to wear for various galas but seeing him dressed in Lucis' finest fashion increases this tenfold. The button-up and pants accentuate his figure nicely, while the chains and cauldron bring out the blue depths of his eyes. It is hard not to stare, but Ignis restrains himself in favor of finishing his task, lest he poke Noct with one of these ridiculous dress pins. It has taken far longer than it should to make sure everything is as it should be.
"You've your notecards for your speech?"
"In my inner pocket."
"And you remember the route you will take once you descend from the dais?"
"Exit stage left, toward Gladio and one of Camelia's men. If the press tries to butt heads with me, I just smile and wave, with the clear intention of dismissing their questions until later. Those two will lead me to a gondola that we'll use to make our rounds across the city to greet the people, ending at the Leville.”
“And you’re confident you can pronounce all of the Old Lucian correctly? Do you want me to pull out the scripts again for review?”
“I think we practiced those so many times it would be hard to learn the improper way to say them.”
"And you had Prompto drop off your evening outfit at Maagho--"
"Slow down, Specs. Honestly, I think you're more worried about this than I am."
"Perhaps a touch." Noctis lets out a small snort, his shoulders shifting with it, one more subdued than the other. Ignis sighs, adjusting the chains draped across the right one so its weight did not press on any old, mangled nerves. "I don't want this to be an experience you will remember badly."
"It won't be. Honestly, it's already better than I expected. Luna's here, Prompto's here, Gladio's here. You're here, Ignis. What more can I ask for?"
This close, Ignis hopes Noct does not hear the way his heart flutters rapidly at those words, even if they are simply platitudes. "Large crowds have always unnerved you. I fear they'll overwhelm you with raucous noise or unsavory questions."
"Should they ask, I'll answer honestly. I've nothing to hide from my people; that is what they'll see. Besides, I have you at my back. None would dare do something so drastic with you there."
"Even if they ask about you and Lady Lunafreya?"
Noct inhales sharply, not immediately replying. Duty and destiny have always been sore subjects between them. Ignis wants to apologize, to derail and distract him from an impending panicked spiral, when he replies softly, "They will get the truth: Luna and I don’t love each other that way. We will stand together strong, regardless of who we love, but above all else, we want each other’s happiness. And standing firm on this will help us both be the best we can for Eos."
"…And that is the honest truth?"
Noct shifts, and Ignis takes a step back to let him turn around, so they are facing each other. At this angle, half-lit by the morning sun beaming through the window, sparkling against his skin and the jewelry, he glows. His gaze is set directly at him, no longer the childish avoidance that plagued their youth. "It's been that way for a long time. She’s had someone that will make her happy in all the ways I can't since way before we started our journey. And, well, I do too." His lips quirk up in a small smile. "Well, there is one thing I guess holding me back from saying that in earnest."
Something about those words strike Ignis differently; as if Noct is trying to convince Ignis that…
Lunafreya's words echoed in his mind, a constant hum against the blood rushing through his ears. "And that is?"
"Well…" Noct steps closer, and Ignis' breath falters. "I’ve thought I’ve made it clear that I'm not quite sure the other person trusts me when I say it's okay that we can have this. I think he would, though. He's never doubted me before, always had my back, gone above and beyond when I've never been able to do the same… Really, there's no one I'd rather be with than him, and if I asked, I think he'd say yes." Another step closer, now chest to chest. "But I want to hear it from him. I don't want him to feel forced or pressured; that it's his duty to be with me. I just want him to be honest."
Noct leans forward, enough that Ignis can feel his breath on his lips. Cool, from the mints he has been downing as a nervous habit, but oh so sweet. "Do you?"
Moments of their life flash in Ignis' mind. Of fifteen years earlier, Noctis holding his hand in both of his, smiling shyly and dragging him along to play. Of twelve years earlier, Noct determined to walk on his own two feet to him, refusing everyone's words or help save his own. Of seven years prior, when he remarked that Ignis' pastries were almost there, but there was a key component missing that he hoped Ignis would find. Of three years prior, and a reconciliation in a dark apartment with instant noodles and tear-soaked button ups.
Of one week ago, of wild eyes meeting his on the cusp of tragedy, knowing the answer to his own questions yet wanting Ignis to make that choice for himself.
"Always. Nothing will change that."
The crowd's cheers pick up outside, reaching and reminding them of all that remains to be done. But in this moment, Ignis does nothing more than hold Noct closer, sharing their first kiss together, and endless more after that. The air smells of sylleblossoms, the sea breeze, and Noctis.
(They are five minutes late to the coronation's start. Gladiolus and Prompto give them curious glances, and Lunafreya simply smiles from her place on the dais. Someone shouts from the crowd that the king and Oracle should pronounce their love, and they are met with hushes from other onlookers. Noctis fumbles over one word in his speech, and everyone gets a good laugh out of it. Ignis may ruin his makeup from tears he will never admit to.
But they face it as they always have: together.)