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Partellum Market was packed.
Prompto craned his neck, jumping to see over the throng crowding the narrow aisles between the cramped, wooden stalls. Since turning his back to organize their latest grocery haul on a bench near the back alley, many had sought refuge in the secluded market from the abysmal midday sun baking the streets of Lestallum – enough that Prompto had lost sight of Ignis.
Prompto spun. Jumped again.
"Ignis?"
He was just here.
"Huh."
Hesitantly but successfully magicking away the supplies, Prompto passed the spicy skewer grill to get a better look down the main thoroughfare. He looked for black amongst vivid colors, a tall blonde amongst the smoke, but had no luck. Following the rhythmic salsa music toward the other end of the humid market, Prompto spotted Gladio with his arms folded over his hulking chest, standing off to the side of a trading post.
"Hey, Gladio, you seen Ignis?"
"Yeah, I see him."
"Where?"
Gladio tossed his chin toward an unfamiliar stall draped in yellow pinstripe canvas in the back row. Like many other food purveyors, large bowls of seeds, spices, and vegetables lined both tables. Yellow Coronam chiles hung from the center post, crates of Zu eggs were stacked against the bordering brick building, and sacks of grain were rolled open, trowels upright and ready to serve.
At the end of the stall, Ignis stood over a display of faceted glass vials as he spoke to the vendor, her flaxen braid bright on her dark green apron.
"What's he doing over there?" Prompto asked. "We just got ten of everything from Furloch."
"He said he needed some sugarclove," Gladio said.
"Sugarclove?" Prompto made a face. "Never heard of it. And Furloch has everything."
"Furloch doesn't have her."
Prompto's brow furrowed at the wry amusement tinting Gladio's tone. Then, he sprang to his tiptoes, eyes darting between Ignis and the vendor in search of merit for Gladio's suspicions. Ignis already had a bag stamped with the shop's name at his feet, but he and the woman remained mutually engaged in easy conversation.
"How long has he been over there?" Prompto asked.
"Eleven minutes."
Prompto pointed at the bag. "Since he paid for the stuff?"
Gladio smirked. "Ten minutes and thirty seconds."
"Okay, that's— that's a little weird. I guess." Ignis spent three minutes tops at any given stall.
Except this one.
Prompto huffed out a laugh as he began to entertain the insinuation.
"You think… Specs —?"
Gladio raised an eyebrow.
Prompto's face fell. "No way," he said. "If Ignis is shooting his shot right now, I'm a Niff."
Oh, but when he looked again –
They weren't just talking. They were talking talking, like, about something they liked. Probably food, if Prompto had to guess; Ignis wasn't prone to superfluous gesticulations when he talked, but his hands now danced with all the precision and flair of an impassioned cook recreating a complex dish on the fly.
And the girl—that wasn't a "have a good day" smile or a "thank you for your business" smile; that girl had a genuine smile on her face that outshone the sun – that could end wars – and it blew Prompto's eyes wide open.
A giddy, dreamy hope swirled in his chest. The bizarreness of it all made Prompto smile.
The grocer and the chef.
"Oh, gods, they're adorable."
A low laugh rumbled out of Gladio. He backed Prompto out of the way of a courier making his way through with a delivery for Prissock's booth, but Prompto hardly noticed, too enraptured by the mystifying development unfolding before their eyes.
"I think 'adorable' might be pushing it," Gladio said.
"What do you mean! She's blushing! That's adorable!" A gasp. "Ignis is blushing!" Prompto's voice jumped an octave as he latched onto Gladio's massive forearm, practically bouncing. "He likes her! Look at him!"
Gladio shrugged Prompto off his arm. "I'm sure it's just the heat."
Another laugh burst from Prompto as he paced in place; this was too much.
"I-I-I—My whole life has changed, dude."
"Your whole life, huh?"
Prompto scoffed, incredulously gesturing to their friend and his pursuit. "Exhibit A! When was the last time you saw Ignis flirt with someone? They have to be, like, soulmates or something."
Gladio rolled his eyes. He might be a romantic, but he wasn't a "soulmate" romantic.
"I guess if he's gonna have kids before Noct, he could do worse than a soulmate."
Prompto choked on his spit. He held his wrist to his mouth to stifle the noise but still drew startled glares from the scattering passersby. When Prompto glanced at Ignis and the young woman again, both beautifully oblivious to the world turning without them, the butterflies in his stomach fluttered in reverse.
This conversation had gone off the rails.
"Why does Ignis need to have kids before Noct?"
"Noct's kid'll need a retainer," Gladio said, thumbing his nose. "Like Ignis is to him."
"The king has all kinds of advisors."
"Yeah, but the Scientias have been at the right hand of the king for generations," Gladio said. "And Iggy's always known what's been expected of him. Producing an heir's just one of his duties."
Prompto blinked in Ignis's direction, dumbstruck.
"And Ignis doesn't have, like, siblings or a cousin…?" Prompto asked.
"Not that I know of."
"I thought he had an uncle in the Citadel."
Gladio shook his head, glancing away. "He didn't make it out."
Prompto's throat bobbed.
"So, Iggy's it?"
"Think so."
"Man."
Prompto had always fantasized about life in the royal realm, idolizing the lifestyle and wishing to be a fly on the wall, but at no point did he envy Ignis. Poor dude had to do everything expected of a prince just so he could guide said prince. Someday, when Noct sat troubled on his throne, Ignis would influence decisions that impacted all of Eos. Prompto couldn't imagine the weight of such responsibility.
"You really think Noct would enforce that?" Prompto asked. "If Ignis didn't want to?"
"No," Gladio acquiesced, "but do you really think Ignis would abide the dishonor of breaking his line if he could help it?"
Prompto scowled. "It's not a dishonor –"
"It would be to him."
"Eh…" True.
A cloud passed over the sun. The marketplace dimmed, but it only made the gentle aura around Ignis and the young woman glow, rekindling Prompto's diminished smile. Seeing Ignis indulge in a moment so mortal was no longer a spectacle but a privilege. If anyone deserved to let their hair down and find a little happiness, it was Ignis.
Something clenched in Prompto's chest.
"Ignis isn't, like, promised to anyone, is he? Like, officially?"
Gladio snorted. "No." Politics typically didn't hinge on the unions of royal advisors. "He agreed to be subject to an arranged marriage if he putzes around too long," Gladio clarified, "but I don't think that comes into play for another few years."
Prompto nodded vacantly as he watched the young woman pick up two vials from her display, comparing them for Ignis's consideration. Ignis tilted his head and pointed to the clear vial, but the vendor held up the purple bottle, which he readily accepted. The way she stole a glance at Ignis as he put the vial in his pocket made Prompto's heart soar.
He wanted everything for them.
"So, before this… deadline," Prompto said, "he could have anyone he wants, right?"
Gladio stared at Prompto, suppressing a grin.
"Why? Have you planned their honeymoon already?"
"I have named their dog and their children and the restaurant they're going to open –"
"What are you guys talking about?"
Prompto jumped. He and Gladio looked over their shoulders to find Noct there, eyebrow bent at the conversation he'd happened upon. Gladio folded his arms over his chest again and stood aside, his smile smug.
"See for yourself."
Noct's brow deepened. He followed their line of sight across the marketplace to the missing member of their party, wondering what the big deal was when he all but witnessed the electricity arcing between Ignis and the vendor. Prompto grinned as Noct's eyes brightened in bewilderment, then enlightenment.
"Is he –?"
"Yeah!" Prompto squeaked.
"For real?" Noct laughed.
Prompto was bouncing again. "Tell me they aren't the cutest thing you've ever seen in your life!"
Noct winced. It was weird enough seeing Ignis like this without applying a rosy lavender filter.
"I don't know if I'd go with 'cute…'"
Prompto sent an exasperated groan into the dove-gray sky.
"He's blushing! She's blushing! It's cute!"
They just didn't get it —!
A blue wisp of magic flashed out of the corner of Prompto's eye – Ignis conjuring what appeared to be a vibrant red bloom out of thin air. A soft curl of shimmering smoke kissed the underside of the yellow pinstripe canvas, and Ignis "All Business" Scientia, wielding his irresistibly understated panache as effortlessly as his spelldaggers, presented the flower to the vendor. Her delight fostered undeniable warmth in his smile.
Prompto's mouth fell open.
"Dude..."
Gladio chuckled under his breath as he allowed a stunned Noctis in front of him for a better view; he would have to talk with Ignis about these egregious PDAs lest he risk regicide in the future.
"Where the hell did he get a Galbana Lily?" Noct asked.
Prompto shrugged weakly. "Galbana?"
Several moments of speechlessness ensued until they saw Ignis incline his head, exchange a few parting words with the vendor, and pick up the bag at his feet. Gladio nudged Noct and Prompto from their stupor.
"Here he comes."
Prompto's smile surged in anticipation.
Ignis and a girl. Ignis, married! Gods, she was going to look amazing with the sunset pooling in her wedding dress atop the Citadel. And then they were going to smile at each other and sneak down to Galdin Quay on the weekends to slow dance in the surf while they smiled at each other… And Ignis would have a bible of her favorite foods, hold his hand under the spoon as she tasted the sauce for Tuesday night's Tenebraen tortellini —
Noct elbowed Prompto's ribs. Hard.
"Cool it, Prompto."
"Right, right. Cool," Prompto said, immediately pretending to browse the adjacent stall as he blew out a shaky breath. "Cool, cool, cool, cool…"
AHHHHH –!
"Sorry to have kept you waiting," Ignis said by way of greeting. He squeezed into their tight circle, out of the main aisle. "Did you collect our bounties?" he asked Noct.
"Yep. Got enough gil for the Leville," Noct said, glancing skyward at the taste of imminent rain on the breeze. "Just in time, too."
"Splendid." As Noct so eloquently put it, camping sucked when it rained.
Gladio tossed his chin toward the white paperbag on Ignis's arm.
"What'd you get, Iggy?"
"Black cumin and Volinan Fennel," Ignis announced as Prompto peeked inside. "I've suddenly the most inspired idea for a cassoulet."
Noct led them into the flow of traffic. "I thought all the fennel on the Islands of Volina died when Ravatogh erupted."
"Precious little was salvaged and is hard to come by these days," Ignis said, magicking away the spices. "Mr. Furloch suggested the new proprietor's uncommon stock would be of particular interest to the discerning palate, and I must say, the selection did not disappoint."
Prompto snickered, falling into step with Gladio behind Noct and Ignis.
"No, it did not."
Ignis turned his ear back toward Prompto. "Come again?"
Prompto couldn't contain himself anymore. Another second, and he'd burst. He grabbed Ignis's arm and pushed between him and Noct, brimming to the teeth with excitement.
"What's her name?"
"Who?" Ignis asked.
"The girl," Prompto whined as they turned into the alley. He threw his hand back at the market. "The girl you were just talking to!"
"Oh." Ignis shook his head. "I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?!"
Ignis recoiled at Prompto's shout. "Should I?" Then, noticing the mischievous twinkle in Noct's and Gladio's eyes, quickly realized where this was going. Ignis sighed through his nose, demanding great patience of himself as Prompto prattled on.
"She's kind of your soulmate, so, yeah, I think you should know her name."
Ignis chuckled inwardly. "My soulmate?"
"Yeah," Prompto said.
Ignis feigned an astonished gasp. "Really?"
"Yes!"
"Ah. Well," — Ignis stepped around Prompto and set a brisk pace toward the Leville — "had I known that, I might have thought to ask."
Prompto sputtered as thunder rumbled in the distance. He gaped at Gladio and Noct, borderline outraged; this prissy peacock of a tactician really thought they were going to just drop it!
Prompto ran right back up front, walking backward in front of Ignis.
"How could you not know her name?" he bemoaned. "You gave her a flower!"
"I traded one rare commodity for another," Ignis corrected.
"So, you got her phone number?" Noct quipped.
Ignis's lips thinned. He stopped at the Leville's lavish fountain, retrieved the purple vial from his pocket, and held it up between his thumb and forefinger. Inside, a smidgeon of deep violet powder so small it barely counted as a pinch.
"Sugarclove," Ignis told them over another roll of thunder, "is an incredibly volatile and inconceivably unique organic that is said to enhance the potency of fire spells beyond all reckoning. As we're setting out for Greyshire Grotto in the morning, I foresee an excellent opportunity to test it on the icy adversaries guarding the Wanderer's tomb."
"Sounds dangerous," Noct said.
"That's the idea."
Prompto poked the ornate bottle.
"…Can you eat it?"
"Sprinkled over hot chocolate, it's to die for," Ignis said, "but I'd rather experiment with its more practical application."
"Can I see it?" Gladio asked.
"Certainly."
"Thanks."
Gladio gently rolled the vial twice in his big hand, took a deep breath, and whipped it into the fountain. The vial shattered on the face of one of the polished square stones, purple glass and powder trickling into the rustling water to rest amongst the gil at the bottom.
While Prompto and Noct gawked at Gladio, Ignis stared at the purple smudge at the point of impact, lips parted in shock as rain pricked his cheeks.
"Now," Gladio said, "when you go back to buy more," – he plucked a burgundy calla lily from the fountain's landscaping and planted it in Ignis's chest – "find out what her name is, you idiot."