bakerstreet | #justdatingthings

[Info, kink list, and general permissions. Crosscanon and AUs and OCs welcome.]

[Would love a Zer0 or a Vaughn for this! Otherwise, just check the prefs before jumping in~]

Ienzo, as it turns out, is a bit prim and fastidious about his snacking tastes.

Whenever he does appear with food on hand, it's the darnest, most deceptively simple put-together things... like an elegant handful of breakfast radishes with their stems trimmed appropriately for finger-food, dipped in soft sweetcream butter and flecked liberally with sea salt. He brings these alongside the first of spring's fiddlehead ferns, quick-pickled and tangy, coiled in tight little green spirals and laid out in a shallow wooden bowl with some small, crispy pressed biscuits, made of oat flour and a multitude of seeds.

Nothing scary, like some of his other slimy fermented bean pastes and more pungent food 'projects'.

It's as if he's out to prove, particularly with someone he's hard at work to impress, that he's quite matured beyond sea salt ice cream sticks. Trouble is, it's never quite enough to be satisfying- a teasing pleaser, a sampling of just a few daily curiousities he's rooted around for in the vegetable beds....as if he hadn't fussed around for longer than intended for his entire work-break before even coming to find her, making everything just so.

But today he also shows up at her favorite doodling spot with another little surprise, which he's probably-overpaid some moogles to aquire from offworld- a baking tin. Twelve shallow shell-shaped depressions.

"For Madeleines." He explains, setting it down with the snack bowl beside Namine's set of pastels. "You know, uh... like in Proust?" Ienzo beams, as if that's sufficent enough of a logic map for anyone to follow, before clarifying- "(For memories.)" A wink. The apprentice clasps his hands behind his back, seeming to preen just a little bit for the keeness of his gift-

"Or if you're a wary of tackling sponge cakes, er..." Don't buy any of that humble-bashful shrugging for a moment, Namine, that's the biggest illusion of them all. "I figured you could always use them to mix paints?"

During Namine's time with Ienzo in Radiant Garden, she had come to learn so many different things. Food had been one of the many things she enjoyed talking about with him. Every so often, he made sure to show up with a snack that seemed fairly simple, yet somehow elaborate all at the same time. Sophisticated. It often made Namine wonder if Ienzo didn't have an artist's eye, as the food was prepared in such a way that it reminded her of works of art. The bright colors of spring vegetables arranged thoughtfully in bowls or plates, almost too lovely to eat often found their way to her and every time, she marveled at the skill he possessed.

Not only that, but Ienzo went out of his way to bring them to her, as was the case today. While he could have brought her anything and she would have been pleased that he simply thought of her, the fact that he took time and put thought into the little gestures was touching. It's no wonder that she had taken to him so quickly after her arrival. His kindness was heart-warming, though it was something that even he overlooked at times. Namine is able to see it, though.

Today's offerings were just as impressive, a pleasant surprise after having spent a while doodling whatever happened to pop in her mind. "Ienzo, thank you!" She says to him, a warm smile spreading over her lips. Her eyes look over the contents of the snack bowl with obvious delight, though her attention is quickly grabbed by the baking tin he produces. She tilts her head curiously, looking it over for a moment. Namine doesn't need to say a word. Ienzo explains what exactly the tin is for, Madeleines, as described in works by Proust. She looks pleased by it, reaching out to lift the tin up and admire it for a moment before directing her gaze back to him, a light pink dusting of color falling over her cheeks.

"Thank you. This is wonderful!" She says, though it's followed by a shake of her head at the mention of using it to mix paints. "I wouldn't do that! You went out of your way to give this to me..." She thoughtfully looks at the tin and then back to him, a small, bashful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Maybe...we could make some together?"

Madeleines...and memories.

"Yes, I'll admit, I was rather hoping we might do that." He answers smoothly, nodding, a certain slip of shrewdness in his eyes. Spending time on 'frivolous' things that might help Namine stay cheerful was one of the best excuses he had to clear a little recreational time for himself. More and more lately, he's been trying to learn how to keep the right balance, no longer bound by the structures of missions and handed-down objectives.

In fact, Ansem had been taking something of a hands-off backseat in the kingdom's daily operations since his return, wanting his apprentices to step up in overseeing most of the infrastructural projects. Because Even still defaulted to the labwork side of things, and Aeleus and Dilan oversaw most of the security and structural work, that left Ienzo with most of the networking and correspondance, keeping in touch with the keybearers, exchanging diplomatic relations with those rulers of worlds who knew a little something of the greater beyonds. Slowly reframing Radiant Garden's story as a rebirth and seeking small helps and advice about resource management. Maintaining his library. Planning little festivals with the restoration committee and envisioning what future generations might find foundational.

When he throws himself at work, sometimes he forgets to come up for air... but luckily Namine seems to sense the right times to intervene, or when they can simply pass their busy time together, side by side.

Making tea cakes, however, is a different kind of project. A strictly-for-fun one, zesting lemons and measuring sugar, sifting flour.

"But I know your artwork's important to you too!" Ienzo counters, brightening as he opens up his hands to her, inviting her choice in the matter. "So if baking's not so much to your liking, it's of course yours to do as you please with. I won't be offended!"

Oh, so he had been hoping for that? Namine's smile grows a little more before she begins laughing softly, lifting her free hand to half cover her lips with her hand. Such a round about way of asking her to do something with him...It is cute. Of course, she would never tell him that she thought something he did was 'cute'. She absolutely does't want to embarrass him and make him stop doing the little things for her. The reasoning is partly selfish, she realizes, because she enjoys seeing him every day. The other part? Because it was good for him to want to do kind things.

Namine takes a moment to close her sketchbook, setting it off to the side for the moment now that her attention is on Ienzo. She simply shakes her head, soft blonde hair brushing against her cheeks from the gesture. She looks back up to him again with a warm smile, speaking up once again. "I'm sure that if you're there with me, I'll love baking." After all, it is something they could do together and the thought of having him try something she makes specifically for him makes her heart swell a little in her chest. "I wouldn't ruin it by putting paint in it."

She pushes herself up to a stand and moves a little closer to him, holding the baking tin in her hands still. Without much warning, she leans up onto her toes and presses a soft kiss to his cheek, her own turning a deeper shade of pink after she lowers her feet back into a flat position. "Thank you, Ienzo. I love it." Namine says with a small smile, glancing away from him after a moment shyly. He had already done so much for her. Given her a place to call home. Befriended her. Took time out of his schedule to spend with her. Namine silently wondered how she might be able to repay him.

Maybe Aeleus would know? Then again, it was just as likely that someone else might overhear and the very last thing she wanted was someone teasing Ienzo. Maybe it would be better to think it over for a while on her own...

Edited 2019-04-02 04:01 (UTC)

He sneaks a fast glimpse at whatever she'd been working on before she closes up her drawings, always a little nosy about the subject, what little cues that might give him about other things she might enjoy doing.

Namine's really lovely-looking when she smiles, when a little warm heat creeps up and colors her face, if he's permitted one small superficial reason to enjoy doing these kind of things for her. A sadness has been pervasive through all her life before, but little by little he can sense her heart warming and opening, shyly unfurling her own light that's surely always been seeded there. But it smells particularly soft and sweet, the natural aura light that wreathes her, even if he doesn't point that out for fear that his awareness of it is a little weird to wax poetic about.

But it doesn't stop him from beaming and his breath swelling up into his lungs as she leans in to kiss him, rising up on his own toes in turn to cautiously returning a gentle peck to her hairline, lower lips just brushing the very top of her forehead. It's a chaste gesture- he's very careful, he doesn't want to make her uneasy, overstepping too many personal boundaries. Common sense suggests treating her no differently from any other princess of heart, since the girl she came from was one.

"Ah, you're very welcome, of course!" He steps back, nearly folding his shoulders forward in an impulsive bow. "It's just a little something I thought you could have fun with, while we're working our way through the tea. I thought about macarons too, you know, like the kind the Bistro sells by the box, all kinds of soft colors that would suit you? But I hear meringue is kind of tricky, and they're very sweet and crumbly, so we'll start with mastering these first."

If Ienzo really wants to look at what she has in her sketchbook, he need only ask. Most of the time, Namine takes to drawing scenery or buildings, finding the designs of the architecture enjoyable. It's impressive how much though actually goes into designing buildings, but most people rarely give it a thought. Namine has always thought of herself as odd, though. It's a good word to describe her entire existence. Either way, there are several drawings of people in her sketchbook as well, the most detail and care given to the pictures she draws of Ienzo. Namine can't help but be attracted to the focused look he gets when he works on something important, or when he's reading a book in the quiet of the study. These are the drawings she puts the most heart into...

Maybe him seeing her sketchbook would be a little embarrassing, after all.

The soft kiss to her hairline doesn't go unnoticed, the heated sensation feeling as though it travels from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. It's a very sweet gesture, even if a bit reserved. It's an odd thing for her to think about, considering she's the one who approached him first with the kiss to his cheek. But still, a gesture like that from Ienzo is enough to make her heart leap within her chest. Ienzo knows so much about her, has made a special place within her heart, that it's doubtful that he could overstep any of her personal boundaries. She isn't a princess. She's simply Nobody. Well, that's not exactly true anymore. She's simply a girl.

As Ienzo steps back, Namine crosses her arms behind her back, holding onto the tin with one hand as she looks up at him, a warm look of adoration in her bright eyes. "I'm looking forward to us making them together." She admits with a small smile. "Macarons? Well, maybe instead of making them, we can just go eat some until we work our way up to making them." Soft colors that would suit her, hm? He really does put quite a bit of thought into the things he does for her, touching her all the more.

"What are you doing tonight?" Namine asks, curiously, tilting her head just a little as she looks at him.

"Don't really know yet." Ienzo considers, mouth pursing as if he were mulling over the possibilties, lingering close beside her even after he draws back. A hand settles on her arm nearer to her shoulder than the crook of her elbow, the side of his thumb making a friendly pass against her skin, other fingers never really grabbing for her in a way that might read as possessive, only warm with affection.

"Restoration committee's meeting over dinner, like usual, but Dilan's the one sitting it for us this time, since it's mostly about engineering a few new things for the town, and he really likes getting into the nuts and bolts of that stuff with Cid. I might go over the minutes with him later, just to stay on top of things, but I don't anticipate anything pressing. And I've got to check pH levels on the aquaponics before sundown, but-"

He gives a noncommittal glance back over his shoulder. "That shouldn't take long either, if you had something else in mind? If the sky stays this clear, after dark we could go up and have a look through Ansem's old telescope, in the north tower?"

Namine listens to him speak as he touches her arm, the affectionate gesture making her heart ache pleasantly within her chest. She shifts herself just a bit closer to him, finally uncrossing her arms from behind her back to rest at her sides. Ienzo's busy schedule isn't anything unfamiliar to Namine by now. He's an important person in the restoration of Radiant Garden, as well as maintaining everything that they have built up. Perhaps it's a little selfish of her, thinking of taking up his precious free time that could undoubtedly be spent relaxing or resting.

"I...was going to ask if you wanted to go watch the stars." She admits, shaking her head softly. "But you have so much to do during the day and evening. You should spend it resting. I'm sorry." There it is. Even though she's come far since arriving at Radiant Garden, the old habits of apologizing for wanting anything is deeply ingrained into her. It slips out every now and then, despite Ienzo gently reminding her that she doesn't have anything to be sorry for.

She glances up at him and offers a small, sheepish smile. Namine realizes just how awkward and clumsy she is, but he stays with her, anyway. Never once has he made her feel badly about it. About anything, honestly. Perhaps that's the reason why, of all people, she doesn't want to bother him or be the cause of him being stretched too thin. "Maybe we could bake tomorrow?" She asks carefully, unsure of if that would be better than meeting him at night?

Months later, and being a person is still terribly difficult for her.

"Namine," He sighs, full of a warm and reproachful fondness as he pulls out a chair beside her, sits down as if to commit himself fully to staying by her side a little longer in the moment, instead of hovering about her briefly between tasks. It's also so she won't have to keep look up at him, or cast her eyes towards her sandals when she's feeling guilty about wanting something that isn't necessity. Ienzo gently takes up both her hands in his, her slim and colorfully smudged fingers, holding them for a moment as if admiring their shape and signs of artists's wear.

"What are you always apologizing for?" He smiles, tipping his head just far enough for a glimpse of both his eyes. "Don't you know I'm allowed a few personal priorities of my own? And if one of them so happens to be you..." he gives her hands a squeeze, then pulls them briefly to his bowing mouth, pressing his lips to a row of her knuckles, inhaling slowly, massaging the insides of her palms with his thumbs. Ienzo would probably balk if anyone accused him of being a romantic, but with Namine he tries on all the kinds of softer things he never would have imagined himself doing. She deserves them. If he can help her believe one single thing, then it should be that she's treasured, and worth talking the time on.

"...who needs an early bedtime, anyway?" He scoffs mildly, leaning back, still intenting to keep hold of her hands until he can feel her pulling them back. Sleeping only means more time for fruitless racing thoughts in bed, followed up by terrible dreams. Ienzo's really not a fan of proper rest until his midnight oil's run dry. "We're young yet, we're not like Master Ansem. We can bake tomorrow, and we can see the stars tonight. And you are never to feel badly, about asking me. I asked you to stay here so that we could be together often- so I could see you every day."

"Don't worry, about what else I should be doing. You're important to me."

The worries are pushed aside for the moment as he calls her name, her attention shifting to him as he takes a seat beside her, bringing himself down a bit so that they are more level. She glances down to his hands as he takes her own into them, holding them gently as if they were something to be cherished, something precious. The notion isn't as foreign to her as it once was. Ienzo always treated her as though she were important to him, which had seemed strange to her at first. Not so much anymore. Instead, it makes her heart ache, his warmth filling every corner of her heart.

Ah, there it is. Her own deep blue eyes meet his, admiring the way the light catches them for just a moment. They're stunning, even if one is mostly hidden for the majority of the time. "I'm--" Namine stops herself before she finishes it, embarrassment causing heat to burn her cheeks. There she goes again, after he just asks why she is always apologizing. Apologizing for apologizing, Namine? She lets the question go for the moment instead, watching as he squeezes her hands and brings them to his lips. There's no disguising the affection that spreads over her features, warmth blooming on her skin where he touches.

"Ienzo..." Namine says his name quietly as she watches him. The fact that she is one of his priorities means more to her than anything. It pleases her in ways she's never really felt before, that he would see her as special and give his precious free time to her. It isn't a surprise. He's made it clear how he feels and he kindly reminds her of it every so often, when her bad habits of feeling undeserving of anything show back up. "Thank you. Really." She says, leaning in a little bit closer to him. "I just...sometimes feel like I should be more considerate. Because the last thing I would ever want is to make you feel trapped or spread too thin."

She knows too well what that feels like. For too long, she was trapped in Castle Oblivion, and even after, she was trapped in a world that had no real use for her. The mention of early bed time draws her back out of her thoughts, a little laugh leaving her lips. His hands feel good holding her own. It just feels right. So she doesn't pull her hands away. Instead, she shifts them a little so she can close her fingers around his, as well, her smaller, more delicate hand fitting together with his well. "Alright." She concedes, smiling warmly at him. "I'll try not to feel bad about it, then. Though, I thought you just asked me to stay here with you because you felt sorry for me." She's joking, of course, judging from the tiny little grin tugging at her lips that is reminiscent of her Somebody.

"I just...like being with you. I feel more complete when you're with me." She says, seeming a little shy about admitting such a thing. "Does...that make sense?" Namine feels a little unsure of if her words are making any sense at all. Matters of the heart are the most confusing and difficult to understand.

"Well, you started out as sort of an anomaly?" He winces awkwardly, not taking well to the idea that she'd feel incomplete without him. That's not necessarily the sort of responsibilty he feels ready to shoulder, when it comes to anyone's happiness, but for Namine he'd at least be willing to try. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but it's...er, unusual for someone to just suddenly exist, with so many blanks to be filled in. You're bound to grow and change and discover all kinds of new ways to feel and be."

Ienzo sounds so hopeful as they hold hands, so eager to help guide her into herself, making the most of this new time she'd been given on luck and a prayer.

"I'm just glad that I can be any significant part of that." He admits, humbled with the lingering fear that she may yet outgrow interest in him, once she realizes that there are even nicer people in this world, people who are less troubled.

"...and I'll have you know, I find you so much more than a pitiable misfit!" Ienzo replies to her teasing with sobered earnesty, because he knows exactly how miserable it feels to be someone's charity case, or part and parcel of their personal penance work, and he doesn't want Namine to ever feel that way about him. "(Though even if you were, I certainly could't call myself anything greater?)"

Namine can't help but laugh softly at the comment. "Not...exactly like that. I'm not good at this." She says, giving him a warm smile. It's not as thought she is actually incomplete without him. She is a full person on her own, with a whole heart, even if it is in a replica body. "I guess it's more that I feel like this is something that should have been all along." Ienzo. Radiant Garden. It all has come to feel like home to her more than any place she's ever been. And without that, looking back on the past, it seems like much darker times. Namine doesn't want to go back to that. Ever.

"You're definitely that." She assures him, giving his hands a gentle squeeze. "And you're right. I guess it's only natural that I discover these kinds of things." She's already had so many new experiences. Having friends. Trying new and interesting food. And more importantly, caring for someone, differently than she would a friend. There's bound to be more to find and it brings her a little bit of comfort knowing that he'll be there. She's not alone anymore.

The playful comment calling her a pitiable misfit earns him another little laugh from her lips. It's become a more common to hear the sound now, as opposed to when she was first brought back. It's a light, gentle noise, surprisingly free of the darkness she once carried with her. "A pitiable misfit, huh? I think you've said it best." She says, offering him a playful little grin. "Though, you're far from that, I'd say. Still, are you really a misfit if you fit well with someone else?" She asks.

It's endearing to hear her laughter, which has become less and less rare these days perhaps, but still a sound he looks forward to being surprised by, each and every time it emerges. Ienzo basks in it for a moment, in spite of anything unflattering he calls himself.

"I suppose if we're lucky and stay the course, we all get the chance to redefine ourselves." He concedes mildly, leaning back in his seat to cross one leg comfortably over the other, still keeping one of their hands joined while loosening his hold on the other. "Every time I turn around, there you are, surprising me with something I never expected."

His gaze drifts back toward her sketchbook, posture finally relaxing a little, setting the mental weight of his own tasks down for a spell. It's a pleasure to have good reason to, at last. "Working on anything you're really proud of, lately? I'd like to be the first to see it."

Namine isn't so sure about redefining ones self. After all, Ienzo seems fine just the way he is, though she knows that has come after a long and difficult road for him. But maybe it isn't such a bad thing, ultimately. Nothing has to happen overnight, so she decides not to think too hard right now about how she should define herself. Just taking life day to day is enough, for now. Namine can't help but smile a little, glancing off to the side briefly. "Well, it goes both ways, Ienzo. After all..." She says, looking back to him. "You are the one who showed up with a gift for me."

Though, she follows his gaze over toward her sketchbook that she had left to the side as soon as Ienzo had walked up. She gently removes the hand that he had loosened his grip on and leans a little to reach out for it, keeping her other hand connected to his. Picking it up, she turns back to face him and holds it out to him. "There's nothing really impressive in there, but...you can look, if you'd like." Namine glances to the book that she's offering out to him. "You'll be the first person to look through it."

While Namine has made things that she's shown to other people, her sketchbook is something she's kept private. However, it's something she feels comfortable sharing with him. It's a piece of herself, in essence. Inside are various sketches of familiar buildings he might recognize from other worlds. The clock tower in Twilight Town. The whole of Castle Oblivion itself, set with a dark background, seeming particularly ominous. Several shops from Radiant Garden that Namine found interesting visually. Then there are sketches of people on some of the pages, most rough sketches, some done with oil pastels, some colored pencis. Though, when it comes to sketches of Ienzo, it's obvious she takes more time and care, lovingly capturing the focused expression as he sits at his desk, focused on papers, likely when he didn't even realize she was watching.

On the last page, what she was working on as he walked up, is a picture of trees in fall. A peaceful looking thicket with amber and gold leaves contrasting beautifully against the dark wood of the trees, leaves falling to the ground as if pulled loose by a gentle breeze. She gives him time to look through the book before commenting with a bashful smile. "What...do you think?"

She has a fair point, though his mouth hangs open as if to debate it for a few moments, before closing up in acceptance, dipping his chin in a quiet nod, a half-there smile. A soft shrug. Guilty as charged- he has had a madeleine tin in mind for her for quite some time now, it was only a matter of tracking one down.

"Thank you." He says, on instinct- and wonders if he's being too intrusive to ask for a peek, if they're pictures she's shy about showing. "...as long as you're okay with letting me look?"

He pulls the sketchbook close and settles in to page through, his eyes meandering through the pages with a feeling of fondness, even for the captured places which seem a little more melancholy. There are a few roughs of his colleagues that capture the feeling of their usual expressions well, and he chews on his grin of approval while perusing them- Even's wild exhasperation and manic fits when he's close to breakthrough, Dilan and Aeleus planted like gruff and stoic statues at the gates.

But then there are the pictures where he's the subject- an abundance of them in the latter half of her sketchbook, enough to feel slightly sheepish for how frequently they come up, how different the detailwork of these seem, how often she must have been making close study of him while they've been around each other.

It fills him with a very strange feeling- this realization of how exposed he's become to her, how her pencil captures all the surface truths of him- the way his frown pushes like a puckered pout on some occasions, and how the apples of his cheekbones look exceptionally boyish, when he smiles. When his focus is nigh unbreakable, or when his drifting attention is scattered. How he's let himself be known from all angles, how she's taken the time to get the unruly shock of his bangs just so, the fold of fabric right in his knotted tie. It's strange, seeing so many images of himself mirrored back at him.

"When you work in your softer colors, it's clear you're most comfortable with that, but you've, um... You've really been practicing different techniques lately, huh?" his voice sounds a little strangely pitched and so he clears his throat, lifting his eyes to her. There's the smallest hint of timid apprehension there- You see me. All of me, everyday. You pay closer mind than I think anyone else ever has. And I think you still like what you see, somehow. Am I showing you enough? Do you see things that I can't see, in myself?

"I like that you keep experimenting. I think it's impressive? That you work at it so often."

"Yes, it's fine." She assures him that she's alright with him looking through her sketchbook, but quickly goes silent as he begins turning the pages. Her eyes lower to the pages as he looks through them, each sketch holding a reminder of how she felt when she had drawn them. A memory, of sorts. She isn't sure if it is related to her special abilities as a Nobody, or if it's simply the sort of thing that artists experience in general. Still, the sketchbook remains as a sort of glimpse into her heart and how she sees the world around her.

Namine can't help but watch his expression as he makes his way through the pages, pleased at the little grin that forms on his lips when he views his colleagues on the pages. Dilan and Aeleus had been kind when she had asked them if they would mind her sketching them. Even also had agreed, on the condition that she stayed out of the way and didn't touch anything, as he was working on something particularly important. It had been a rare opportunity, so of course she agreed.

But the more frequent sketches of Ienzo are her favorites. They are the ones she's taken great care with to perfectly capture what she saw. There had been many late nights where burning the late night oil was a necessity, so she had stayed at his side, content to simply be near him, whether he noticed or not. Those nights gave her plenty of opportunity to capture his likeness, committing the sight to paper. Namine can't help but wonder if he would find it strange or be put off with the drawings of him, turning her eyes away from him to the table in front of her until he speaks up once again.

"Yes. I like scenery, but...I think drawing people is much more interesting." She says, turning her gaze to meet his, noting the odd sound of his voice. Ienzo is offered a sheepish smile, her cheeks dusting with pink once again from embarrassment. Surely she's made him uncomfortable, seeing as he's the subject of many of her drawings. "Thank you. I enjoy it, anyway, even if I do have room to improve." She says, lifting her hand to tuck her hair back nervously.

"I think they're all interesting?" Ienzo counters as if coming to the defense of her work- art is certainly something he's a bit too much of a perfectionist to ever be happy with, if he were the one to pick up a pencil and draw there'd be so many erased lines. So many crumpled do-overs. "Everyone has room to work with a little more confidence, I think? Don't be too hard on yourself."

He flips back through the sketchbook, back to several different sketches that show him hunched over a desk with dark circles under his eyes and short-gnawed fingernails.

"Tell me honestly-" He seems a little bit embarrassed, apologetic for even bothering to ask."Do I.... often look so grim and tired," Ienzo frowns, nose crinkling a bit, flipping between a few roughs sketches on the same occasion. "...or is that just how the shadows fall?"

Close by, another simple sketch to the page shows him sprawled, his eyes closed and face blissfully relaxed, hair draped and pushed off his peaceable face. "Ah, and I remember that afternoon too!" He finally smiles warmly, remembering how he'd dozed off with his head practically in her lap, and how she hadn't moved from that spot for hours till he was waking?

Ienzo's defense of her work warms her heart, a small, please smile tugging at her lips. She has a tendency to be too harsh on her own work, at times. Then again, weren't most artists? There's always something to improve, always something that could be better. Yet, even with that, she likes her art more now than she ever has. It isn't used for the sake of harming others or altering memories. This is just for the sake of it, for her love of drawing. "Thank you. I'll try not to be." She says, watching him flip through her sketchbook again.

The question he asks takes her a bit by surprise. He seems fairly concerned about it and perhaps the various states of Ienzo aren't so accurately represented in her drawings. Namine hums softly, her free hand reaching out to touch his cheek gently. Her delicate fingers are cool to the touch as they brush the skin, her expression focused as she looks over the features of his face. Her fingers trace along his cheekbones, trailing down along his chin softly as her eyes follow their path, finally lifting to meet his gaze again. "No, you don't always look like that." She says with a little smile. "Just on the nights when you've worked too long into the night. I like the way your expression looks when you're really focused on your work. You can almost see how much care you put into doing your tasks thoroughly."

She pauses for a moment to shift her hand up to brush the wild shock of hair away from his eyes. "Then, other times, you look young and energetic, all signs of worry erased from your face. The light will catch your eyes just right sometimes and they look like jewels." After a moment, her hand lets his bangs fall back into place and lower back to her lap, a sheepish expression coming to her face. That might be more than he had asked for, but as it so happens, Ienzo is a subject she feels strongly about. "I'm sorry. I'm rambling." She says, chuckling softly.

Namine looks down to the page and can't help but smile. "I remember it, too. You looked so peaceful that I just couldn't wake you." A little laugh follows, a bit brighter than the previous. It had been a peaceful day spent with one another, eventually leading to the two of them sitting beneath the shade of a large tree. She had offered her lap and he had taken the offer. "You...look really cute when you sleep." She admits, her cheeks flaring in color once again.

It's remarkable, what even the most gentle contact does when there's a heart to anchor the sensation in. His thoughts, prone to careening off into twelve directions at madcap pace, become suddenly focused and pinned into place, grounded in the present, startlingly real and awake to the slim, rounded form of her fingertips.

Ienzo can only recall so many times when Zexion was touched, and it was usually an offending thing- Xigbar's long arm slung about him like some creepy old uncle, Axel leering dangerously close, Larxene delivering shock to the tip of his nose and the darting out of range, or that memorable time Demyx tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention and reflex had him whirling with his Lexicon thick and outstreached in his hand, swatting the poor unsuspecting slacker full-force across the face.

She is different, this is different in every wonderful way, stilling his restlessness, gifting him an attentive sense of peace. He tilts his chin just so until her fingers play across his mouth, the shape of his lips, and he nudges just the barest pressure of a dry, deliberate kiss against them, powdery pastels and the sweet cedar scent of pencil shavings right under his nose.

"I'm glad you notice." He murmurs, lips just barely moving against her fingers, then bowing his head into her hand as she fusses with his bangs, pulling back the curtain from his eyes. Ienzo blinks languidly, heavy-lidded, drowsy and serene in her presence, all worry lines in his brow easily smoothing out as he gazes back at her a little dreamy-eyed and smiles

"It's okay, Namine. I do more than my fair share of rambling." With a short chuckle, his smile goes a bit toothy as he rolls his eyes. "I know it probably sounds silly, but it's... easier to get some rest when you're beside me, for some reason."

Ansem's young successor smirks and leans in close, noses nearly touching, so he can secret with a hint of mischief- "And you look really cute all the time, so... I guess I'll have to nap a little more often, so we can be a cute couple."

Namine takes her time with touching the different features of his face, her fingers finally crossing the soft skin of his lips when he shifts his chin. Her gaze drops to look at them, an undeniable warmth there as she traces their shape, stilling momentarily when he pushes them out to kiss her fingertips. They're wonderfully warm to the touch, even moreso when he murmurs against them, saying that he's actually glad that she notices. It brings her a bit of relief, knowing that he isn't put off by how closely she has watched him, even if it was done lovingly.

Finally, she lifts her gaze to his, taking a moment to admire the peaceful look she finds there, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I like hearing your ramblings." She says to him. He's taught her so much more than she could have ever learned on her own, whether he's intended to or not. Everything he says is interesting, and if it's something he rambles about, it only means that he's passionate about that subject. How could she ever fault him for that?

The mention of being able to rest easier when she's beside him makes her glance away briefly, embarrassed that she would have such an effect on him when she's done so little. But Namine's gaze is only averted briefly before she looks back to him. "Then...I guess I will have to stay nearby more often, so you can rest." She says, knowing what it implies and meaning it, anyway. Her bright eyes fall half lidded as he leans in close to her, close enough to feel his warmth a little. "Thank you. You're too kind." She says quietly. "But you don't need to nap. You're more than handsome while you're awake. But...I won't argue if you want to use my lap for more naps." Namine looks at him thoughtfully, a small smile on her lips. Then, after just a moment of hesitation, she leans in to close the distance between them, pressing her lips gently against him. She lets her lips linger there for a few moments before pulling back, just in case it might have been something he doesn't want.

Well. Now her ears are burning again.

Ienzo's still earnestly trying to figure the whole damn thing out, right here in the middle of it, heart in his throat and heat in his cheeks, eyes squinty with deep pleasure, like a cat sunbathing on a cozy patch of carpet.

So are they just doing each other lip service, now? Is that the true essence of love, pouring out effusive 'I like all of this and that about you' compliments, until someone finally crumples under all the heady, twitterpated weightlessness of being adored and barely believing it until they're clutching at one another, looking in each other's arms for proof?

Dilan calls this kind of stuff patently ridiculous. Sometimes he wonders, vaguely fears, where and how the crusty guard got it all so wrong... because he doesn't want feeling this way with Namine to ever end, especially in bitter darkness.

Right now she's all stunning, gleaming light melting softly against his mouth, and her breath tastes vaguely like cinnamon apples, which isn't really so surprising if he had to take a guess where she's at in their steady progress of tea sampling, or considered the color palette of her current artwork. He's awestruck and contemplative, must not have reacted quickly enough to her kissing him, because she's starting to recede before he's had much time to register, and so he chases after her lips with his own parting to plea, grasping at hers just once-

Okay, maybe twice. For the find time in his life, he feels remotely princely.

Ienzo reaches for a stray curl of her hair, tucks it behind the shell of her ear, mostly for the excuse of reaching out and touching her while the kiss, resisting the urge to cradle her jaw fully- he's timid to force things as much as she is. There's a slightly wet squeak when they part, a little clumsily, their knees touching between chairs scooted close.

"Watching you wake up, I think, that first time..." he tells her, all too serious, "was the very best thing I've ever done."

Edited 2019-04-06 06:22 (UTC)

Ienzo isn't alone in that, at least. Being with someone, caring for them, having them care for her...All of it is completely foreign, something she's only read about in books, only seen in memories. But now that she's experiencing it herself, it feels like something more precious than anything in all of the worlds. They're both clumsy, figuring things out together as they go along, but she's grateful that it's Ienzo at her side.

She almost pulls away, but feels his lips push against her own, parting softly to afford her the taste of him on hers. Her eyes fall closed for a moment, ignoring the way her heart beats quickly against her chest, and savors his warmth against her. The touch of his hand to her hair is more than welcome, silently wishing for more but not daring to propose such a thing. Not yet, anyway. And it feels like far too soon when their lips part from one another, her eyes opening to peer up at him with an almost awed expression on her face.

Just when Namine thinks that he can't possibly make her heart feel any more full, he says those words that leave her momentarily at a loss for words. The best thing he's ever done? He really feels that way? The weight of the words aren't lost on her. It means more to her than she could tell him, even if she tries. "Ienzo..." She says his name softly, almost reverently, her eyes warm with deep affection. "I'm glad...You were the first one I saw when I opened my eyes." Sometimes, it feels a little too much like a fairytale of some sort. Being given a new life all of her own, only to wake up and first lay eyes on the young man she comes to care about so deeply. It's so perfect that she feels she doesn't quite deserve it.

...But Namine wants this. Maybe she can be allowed just this one thing.

He seems ever-so-slyly and tenderly satisfied, to find themselves on the same page. It's quite the incredible turn of fortune, and Ienzo knows he's utterly undeserving, so the very least he can do is to be grateful for it. Try his very utmost, not to screw this one beloved corner of his life up. Leave this one special person so much better than he'd found her, shaped from data, tugged from the brink of nonexistence.

Rising from his seat just a little, he leans forward and presses his lips to her hairline this time, only a little higher than her forehead, then tilts to peck another impulsively at her temple, sucking in tremulous breath. There are days it's so hard to believe that all of this is real and not some feverish wish. There's an ache to his insides, whenever he gazes long at Namine.

"C'mon," he reaches for the crook of her arm, encouraging her to her feet, his lips still trying to memorize the feel of meeting hers. "Do you want to attempt a batch right now? We can, I'll pull down the recipe book for sponge?"

And if they end up chuckling over a bowl of slightly botched batter and licking the excess off each other's fingers, he'll call it a far finer treasure of an afternoon than most.

The kiss to her head has her dipping her head just a little toward him, as if to accept his lips all the easier. Namine's eyes close for just a moment, savoring the feeling of the softness of his lips against her, soon after receiving the soft kiss to her temple. Everything about it, including the little tremor in his breath as he inhales, leaves her chest and heart feeling full. It's days like these that Namine wishes would go on forever, so incredibly grateful for being given this chance to live a real life at Ienzo's side.

The sound of his voice has her looking up toward him, pushing herself up to a stand as he takes hold of her arm, her brows raising in curiosity. Her heart leaps at his suggestion, though her mind is quick to try and find flaws in that simple plan. "Are you sure? I don't want to keep you from something important." The implication that making cakes with her wasn't exactly important, of course. She glances toward the tin on the table, a thoughtful expression coming to her face for a moment. Despite the words she had just said to him, she reaches out with her free hand to scoop up the tin and hold it to her side.

"But..." She says, looking back to him with a little smile. "If you're sure, then I'd like that." Even if it turns out horrible, it will be another precious memory that belongs to the two of them. And ultimately? That's what Namine desperately wants.

"I'm sure, yes, of course!" Ienzo smiles, content that he's at least earned a little right to prioritize pleasure over business-as-usual, once in awhile? Dilan can give him the rundown on committee meetings later, the same work that was stuck in a rut and set aside earlier, before his found his way to her side, can probably stand a little more procrastination. "Unless there's something else you'd like to do... or if you want to finish up your picture?"

It's probably a little rude to pull her away from what she was just in the middle of, when he'd dropped in to check up on her, but its too late to take back the invitation now!

"...Water analysis hardly takes long, anyway?" He reasons with a shrug, surprisingly nonchalant, as if their brief kiss has swept away all impetus to do anything other than spend more time with her. "If anyone really needs me for something else important, let them come track me down."

With that, his mind seems very made up. He proffers an open hand- either for hers, or to help carry her drawing supplies along with them, just in case she gets inspired to sketch out the ropes of garlic and dried herbs hanging from the castle's old kitchen rafters.

"No, I want to do this with you." She says immediately, shutting down any thoughts that she might rather do something different. After all, to Namine, there's nothing better than spending time with Ienzo, and she was looking forward to using the tin with him, even if the product of their baking experiment isn't exactly good. Namine offers him a warm smile, turning away for a moment to gather up her sketchbook and pencils, holding them, along with the tin, in one arm. The other hand seeks out his, placing her smaller hand into his and lacing their fingers together, giving his hand a gentle, affectionate squeeze.

Since he seems so sure, it's hard to argue with him. That aside, Namine is sure that none of his colleagues would give him a hard time about taking some time for himself. Ienzo is a hard worker and always has been, judging from the stories she's heard from the others when they would talk to her about him. Throwing himself headlong into his work with a single-minded drive to accomplish his goals, even if he was only a child at that time, as they were so quick to point out. Child or not, Namine couldn't help but admire that kind of dedication to one's work. But as for taking time for himself to spend with her, she's sure that they would encourage it, if not be a little surprised. Then again, since her time in Radiant Garden, she's become something of his shadow, often than not following him here and there, if only to sit silently at times in the same room.

"Alright then." Namine moves away from the table and a little closer to him, keeping her supplies tucked closely under her arm. "Lead the way. I'm all yours." She says, the corners of her lips turning upwards in a bashful little smile.

Edited 2019-04-09 17:47 (UTC)

He very nearly protests the way she gathers up her supplies, willing to offer up his own hands for help- but instead she takes one very snugly in her own, a quickly hint of familiar affection between their fingers to assure him that's not necessary. He eventually relents, letting her carry her own things if she doesn't mind doing it herself

Hmm. Next time I should see about getting her a tote or something then, to help her with full hands. Something that suits her, if a portfolio would be too formal. Something cute and not too showy.

He likes the sound of that, if he's entirely honest with himself? All mine. It makes the shadows in him stir a little, possessive, Ienzo waits for them to quiet before he so much as entertains touching her again. Luckily, she's the first one to reach out, to assure him she's willing to submit to his hands.

Its... funny talk, to be called that.

Inside the kitchens there's a smell of an woodburning stove, of Arabian spice, of little splashes on fruit-vinegar and dressings along with other meat, plenty of snacks and sides put out to share. He pulls down a dog-eared volume far more fit for daily abuses of splatter and water stains than he's entirely comfortable with.

"The recipe seems simple enough. No ingredients too complicated. You care to fold and measure and stir for a bit., and I'll finish most of the cleanup for you?

Namine doesn't mind carrying her own things in the slightest. Not only that, but keeping one of her own hands free is important to her, in order to be able to hold Ienzo's hand while they walk. Does she have to? No. But she wants to. Namine enjoys the little gesture of affection, letting her feel just a little closer to him than she would normally be. It might be a silly thing to feel, she realizes. But it doesn't mean it's any less true. The words she says to him, about her being all his, also apply in any way he wants them to, regardless of whatever shadows might stir within him. She'll accept all of it.

The walk to the kitchen is pleasant, lighthearted. Namine makes sure to put her belongings off to the side and out of the way, taking a moment to carefully wash her hands and remove the traces of pastels that were once there. She glances over at Ienzo as he retrieves the cookbook. After drying her hands, she retrieves a nearby apron and slips it on over her dress, tying it nearly behind her, a pretty bow at her waist. "OKay. I think I can manage that." She says to him with a little smile. Namine steps a little closer to him to take a peek at the ingredients that they'll need before setting out to find those exact items.

Flour, sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, lemons, salt. Namine rummages around through the cabinets and sets the things out on the counter that they would need for this recipe. It takes a bit of effort, of course, considering she's never really been in the kitchen too much for cooking purposes. Maybe once in a while to hunt down tea to make for Ienzo every so often. Once she's sure that everything is sitting out, she turns to look over at Ienzo again. "Alright. Just tell me what I should do first."

Ienzo's skimming over the recipie with the book cradled open in one hand, wandering over toward the stove to adjust the heat, and when he glances up she's busy tying on an apron... and the surge of sudden affection he feels nearly throws him off balance. So often is she wearing that same, very plain but so easily soiled sort of dress, day in and out, that the sight of her putting a new layer on over it to keep things neat makes him beam fondly, making a small, warm noise of approval in his throat.

Imagine if it were a cute ruffled thing, girlishly patterned and intentionally sweet, instead of the pragmatic, blue-striped sort with useful pockets. Maybe if she likes baking well enough, he could take up the excuse to acquire one for her, another indulgent little present.

"So... looks like we're going to get some butter melted and browned first, adding zested lemon and vanilla- I'll get the dry ingredients sifted and ready for you in the meantime, and then we'll beat some eggs. Ooh... I didn't realize the batter needed to chill for at least an hour, too." He laughs, glancing up from the cookbook a bit sheepishly. "Looks like we'll be killing some time, or... taking a break to test the fish pools after all."

There are so very few things that Namine owns, having only been brought back for a relatively short amount of time. She goes out of her way to take care of all of her belongings, seeing as there was a time when the only things she had were her dress, shoes, and sketchbook. It's a habit that has carried over through her time there, collecting all of Ienzo's presents with care and consideration in her room. So while her dress might be plain, she does her best to take care of it. When she glances up at him, after finishing with tying the apron, she can't help but flush a little at the expression she finds on his face.

Namine likes seeing him approve.

"Alright. I'll get started on that, then." She says with a smile, reaching to pull one of the pots closer to herself to start adding in ingredients. The mention of letting the batter chill makes her brows raise, then a smile form on her lips. "Well, I think I'll be fine with that. Whichever you'd rather do is good with me." After all, it's time she gets to spend with Ienzo, even if it's doing something as routine as testing the fish pools. Namine turns on the heat to low and adds in the butter, turning her eyes to it as it begins to melt. She'd best pay attention, if she hopes to make something good for Ienzo to try.

"Don't worry, it's nothing," Ienzo assures her with a deepening smile as he raises his hand in mild defense, when he's caught staring and she's blushing back at him, which only makes the heat rise warmer in his own cheeks.

"You're just..." He scratches the side of his neck, gaze wandering from sandals to tied off waistline, then back up to meet her eyes. "A whole lot prettier in that old apron than I'm used to seeing it on anybody else, down here."

A foolish compliment, maybe, but he shrugs at little and glances back down at the recipie, reading silently to himself for a moment between paraphasing loosely, out loud. "So it sounds quite simple, actually- The eggs and sugar get beaten together till they're a bit fluffed and peaky, (I guess that keeps it light and airy) then everything else gets folded in, the warm butter last."

Namine watches his eyes scan along her body, then meets his gaze when he looks back to her. She can't help the pleased smile that tugs at her lips at the compliment. She sets what she's doing to the side for a brief moment to turn toward him, stepping in close as he reads from the cookbook. Without much warning, she leans up onto her toes and presses her lips to his cheek, giving him an affectionate little kiss. "Thank you, Ienzo. You're sweet."

With that said, and to distract herself from the kiss she just gave him, she hurries back to what she was working on before. Once the butter is melted, she sets that aside and goes to the next step that he reads off. "Eggs and sugar." Picking up the eggs, she carefully cracks them and puts them into another bowl. "I think I've got it. Is a whisk enough?" She glances back over her shoulder to him. "Or should I use the mixer?"

"Only for you." He grins, color mottling his cheeks where she's planted her lips, unsure he'd use 'sweet' to describe his manner toward anyone else. He might be warmer-natured now than Zexion ever was, but his disposition is still mostly reserved, and very rarely sacchrine. This isn't a side of him most people get to see, the making of teacakes, the blushing when he's kissed.

"I guess that depends how much frustration you've got to expend on the effort!" Ienzo shrugs brightly, open-palmed and cheerful, a bit of errant flour powdering his sleeves. "Aeleus seems to think that using electric for baking anything is somehow cheating the process.... (but he has unfair advantages.)"

Edited 2019-04-16 18:36 (UTC)

Namine has no doubt that what Ienzo says is the truth. She's seen him interacting with his fellow colleagues, when he would adopt a far more professional and reserved attitude. Still, it makes her feel warm inside to know that she's the only one who gets to see this side of him, that she's special. And if there's anything she doesn't mind keeping to herself, it's Ienzo's affections.

The mention of Aeleus makes her look thoughtfully at the bowl for a moment. She lifts her arm, looking at the distinct lack of large muscles while no doubt imagining the large man's arms. Well, if it's good enough for Aeleus. "I'll do it that way, I think." She says, smiling at Ienzo as she grabs up the whisk from the counter. She then begins mixing together ingredients according the the recipe he had read before, gradually seeing the batter coming together as she stirs desperately.

...Maybe she should have given more thought to doing it by hand.

Namine manages, getting everything added together and mixed into something that looks like the right consistency. She looks at it thoughtfully for a moment, then gathers a bit of the sweet mixture onto the tip of her finger, turning to face Ienzo once again. Blushing lightly, she offers her hand out to him. "Would you like a taste?" She asks, tilting her head a little, blonde hair brushing against her cheek lightly.

He hoists himself up onto the edge of one of the sturdy long tables, thumbing through some of the other recipies while she stirs, sitting with his legs dangling freely, feet swinging gently, seeming rather boyish. These unconscious little moments of reclaimed youthfulness turn up more and more, the longer he spends causal time with Namine, letting down his self-consciousness, that guarded instinct to keep a reserved and dignified face.

"Batter getting the best of you?" Ienzo glances up from the page at the first faint huff of her struggling with the stirring, beaming sympathetically at her. At first he considers motioning for the bowl, to take over- but he'd rather not whisk the sense of accomplishment entirely out of her hands, since he believes her perfectly capable, instead offering a little encouragement. "Keep at it just a little more- See? (Lift the whisk up-) How it's starting to look lighter and perky?"

"Gentle now, so that the sponge stays nicely airy. That's the key..." So much verbal direction might seem a little bossy, but Ienzo can't help but want to guide her well, so that they turn out right the first time. To give her step-by-step confidence.

By the time she's holding out her finger, presenting a sampling to him, Ienzo laps at his lips and leans forward tenatively, shy about lapping it right off her finger- He shrugs. "Looks perfect to me?"

At first he stretches his chin forward and tries a shy just-tongue lap off her fingertip, but her offering was generous and the batter is at risk of dripping on the floor, so he parts his mouth and winds up suckling at the tip of her finger with his eyes closed in appreciation before he's even fully conscious of any sensuality in the motion.

"It tastes..." He muses with a contemplative sigh, eyelids fluttering. "Mmh, perhaps too sweet?"

Ienzo squints, teasing- "Or maybe that's just you."

Slipping smoothly off the edge of the table to close distance between them, he bends his mouth closer to her ear and whispers, eyes bright with mild mischief.

"We might've forgotten the lemon. But don't worry, I'm sure it'll be delicious."

Namine steals a moment to watch Ienzo take a seat up on the table, swinging his legs back and forth. Seeing him so carefree, even if for just a little while, is something that warms her heart, glad that she can be a contributing factor to that at all. It's certainly a stark difference compared to the rare few moments she was able to get a glimpse of Zexion stalking the hallways, his lips turned down into a slight frown as he contemplated something or another. Seeing Ienzo happy was a nice change and, if she could help it, would be a frequent occurrence.

Namine can't help but laugh a little at his commentary. "No, it isn't getting the better of me. I can do it." She said, giving him a bright smile before turning her attention back to the batter. Honestly, Ienzo's input is more than welcome, feeling a little more confident in what she's doing with him giving gentle directions and encouragement. She lifts the whisk to look at the consistency of the batter, humming softly. The changes are fairly clear to see. "Alright. Gently..." Namine reminds herself, moving the whisk more carefully to try and produce the right amount of airiness in the batter.

After offering the batter to him off of her finger, her cheeks heat a little more with color. She's just about to pull her finger back, feeling a little bashful about having done it in the first place, when he leans forward to flick his tongue over the tip. Blue eyes are keenly focused on him, watching as he takes the whole tip into his mouth to suck the batter off, his mouth incredibly warm and soft. It's more intimate than she is expecting, but Namine finds she likes it. Too sweet? Oh. Ohhh. She sees where that line went. As she struggles not to look away, the corners of her lips tugging upward into a smile, she can't help but think of how charming he is.

"Are you trying to make me fall for you?" Namine teases gently in response to his praise. Her voice grows silent, however, when he leans in to whisper against her ear, inhaling a quiet breath. Something within her suddenly feels heated, a distinct pleasure echoing through her at the sound of his voice so near to her. But what he actually whispers actually takes a few moments to register to her, a slight sense of panic yanking her back into the present. Namine turns her eyes to him then, brows furrowed gently in worry. "Is it too late to add it in?" She asks, a distinct sound of hope within her voice. "I don't want to ruin them..."

Whoops. She should have paid closer attention. That's her fault.

"Well, is it working?" He asks rhetorically, only a little bit smug as he crosses his arms, flattered with the thought that anyone like her should find attractive qualities in him at all. It's certainly far more than his heart deserves, and the best of the living he's got, right now. This and her. Afternoon respite with Namine is a restorative unlike any moogle tonic he's ever taken to keep his attention vigorous... even if it sometimes wanders idly from his work back to her.

Maybe he's the one who's falling, but least it's no longer a tumble taken into darkness. Being with her is the most saturated in light he's ever gladly been.

As for their baking errors...

"Oh, don't worry, it won't be ruined!" Ienzo reassures her, not wanting to see her upset over such a little mistake, especially one so easily remedied. "I see no reason why we can't correct it now? A little bit of zest folded in right now, and by the time it's all ready to be piped into the tins, I think the flavor should be intermingled right?"

"It might be." Namine gives a playful little answer, despite knowing that it was meant to be rhetorical. She can't help teasing him a little every once in a while, just to catch glimpses of the pleased look that brightens his eyes when she says those sorts of things. Though, admitting that the truth of that statement to Ienzo might take more a little more courage and a bit more time. She isn't looking to rush things with him, even if her heart feels more full around him, caring for him so deeply.

Relief washes over her features as he assures her that it isn't ruined. Namine had wanted them to turn out perfectly, to share them with Ienzo and eat together. "Oh, good." She says, the reserved little smile returning to her lips. "I was hoping it would be alright. It's important for the taste." She turns from him and gathers up what she needs from the counter, afterwards moving to carefully add in enough zest. The remnants of the lemon are set aside as the task of folding it in becomes her focus now. Her brows furrow a little as she takes hold of the spoon, gently folding it into the batter until all of the zest is evenly distributed.

"Okay." Namine says, setting the spoon aside and moving her hands to rest on her hips for a moment. "I think we chill it now, right?" She says, glancing back over her shoulder at Ienzo. That means putting the batter into the refrigerator for an hour, if she remembers correctly. Namine picks up the bowl and turns to face him more directly, a little smile tugging at the corners of her lips again. "Want another taste before it goes in?"

There are days where Ienzo really can't fathom all the undeserving joy that's come his way lately- hearing her make quick, pleased retorts right back at him, finding himself rather tonguetied with happiness.

So he shakes his head in soft amazement while she finishes up with the batter and starts tidying up a little after her, replacing canisters and rinsing measuring cups, mopping up a small dusting of flour, and banishing the rest of that abandoned lemon to the fridge so someone can later lay slices over trout for supper, maybe.

"Oh, I'm sure it'll be just fine-" he can't quite remember where the beeswax wraps have gotten off to, for the bowl, so he's pulling open drawers like a madman while she's plying him with another taste, and finally surrenders to he temptations, turning his head toward her with a hand holding the bulk of his bangs away from his face, so that she has full access to his open mouth-

And shuts his eyes, trusting.

Namine watches him help with the clean up, a small smile forming on her lips. Working with him, beside him, is more pleasing than she had ever imagine baking might be. There's no doubt in her mind that future baking ventures would be incredibly fun. Then again, they aren't quite done with this one yet, are they? No, just a break to give the batter a chance to chill.

She watches him search for the wraps for the bowl, though takes a moment to indulge her, even if it was Namine herself who had asked the question. She watches as he pushes his bangs to the side, away from his face. And with his eyes closed like that, he looks a bit more boyish. She can't help but steal a moment to admire his face before scooping up a bit more batter onto her index finger, then moving it to his open mouth. The finger lightly the warmth of his tongue, delivering the sweet mixture as she waits for him to lick it off.

"Next time, I'll taste test for you. Does that sound fair?" Namine says with a happy smile, looking up at him.

The gentlest tap of her fingertip to his tongue- and his mouth shapes reflexively into a smile, lips closing ever so gently around her finger to kiss it clean, swirling the bit of batter around his mouth experimentally, humming in approval. There's sweetness with a zippy hint of lemon that was missing before.

He opens his eyes to look fondly at her, and nods in agreement.

"Fair and right as rain. And I do believe it's perfect, now, we can cover it to loiter in the fridge for awhile, and scoop it into the pastry bag when we get back."

A few more moments of tidying, and then he presents his hand to her, ever-so-princely and familiar. Riku's shown him a thing or two about how to be charming. "Off we go then?"

Namine watches him as he cleans her finger of batter, the sound of approval making happiness swell within her chest. He sounds like he approves, and that's all she needs, really. If Ienzo thinks the batter tastes good, then she's happy. "Alright. Let me just put it away." She says, turning away from him to cover the bowl, then cross the kitchen to slip it into the refrigerator. They'll be back for it soon to finish, but for now, her attention turns back to Ienzo.

Her eyes shift to the hand he offers to her, a smile growing on her lips with delight. He looks absolutely princely, and the fact that the one he's offering that hand to is her makes Namine feel lucky beyond belief. There's no hesitation as she reaches out to place her hand into his, stepping in a little closer to him. Namine's delicate hand gives his an affectionate squeeze, afterward intertwining their fingers once again.

"I'm all yours." She says with a smile, looking up at him. "Where are we headed?"

Seems like she's keeping the apron on for their interlude walk, which is just as well, though it amuses him a little- any people they run into may wonder what delightfully domestic affairs they're busy getting up to on this bright afternoon. Whether or not their madeleines are up for sharing with anyone else is really her call, as far as Ienzo's concerned, but if someone like Yuffie finds out they've got baking projects underway, half the batch is likely to get snatched off the cooling racks right under their noses.

"APGs2, 3 and 4..." Ienzo rattles off easily, content to steer her out of the kitchens and up a winding staircase that puts them on level with Ansem's study and the main computer room. "(The aquaponic gardens, on the east quarter.)" he adds, just in case she's unfamiliar with the acronyms scientists like to obsess over. "We'll just swing by the labs to get the pH testing kit.... it's a good thing you're coming 'round with me for this, I'm kind of color blind in one eye, and the litmus gradient can be subtle, so sometimes it's tricky for me to decide if our balance is off."

It's the first time he's ever mentioned this tiny, easy to miss detail about himself, so casually that it's commonplace, as if keeping one eye shaded half the time couldn't possibly have any long-term impact on his vision, or be hiding any minor defect.

The fact that she's still wearing the cooking apron seems to have gone unnoticed by Namine herself, seeming perfectly content to walk hand in hand with Ienzo. Once the madeleines are finished, she won't mind giving others a taste. However, the first tastes go to Ienzo himself, seeing as he helped her with them. It's somehow pleasing to think about him enjoying something she had a hand in making, which comes as a bit of a surprise. Then again, Namine finds herself more and more considering things that might make him happy, that might have the chance of putting that attractive smile back onto his face.

Namine follows him up the stairs, listening to him rattling off numbers of the gardens, giving a little nod of acknowledgement. She's heard him name them off, during some of the times when she would sit with him while he worked, yet still not familiar enough with them to do much of anything. Though something he says has her brows raising upward, a look of surprise on her face. "Ienzo, I didn't know you were color blind in one eye." She says, tilting her head a little. "I guess you learn something new every day." While she isn't exactly pleased that he's color blind, Namine is pleased to be learning something new about him, even if it is a small detail.

She gives his hand a gentle, affectionate squeeze. "I'm glad I'll be able to help, then."

There's a certain lightness in Ienzo's step these days- the healthy dose of affection's very good for his spirits, and his colleagues have all noted the marked change in how he carries himself, as if reclaiming some of the youth he'd been so swift to shun and run from, years ago.

He's even occasionally caught humming fragmentary snatches of a popular melody under his breath, or whistling in the halls when he thinks he's alone- an old song that was virtually an anthem around this castle, once upon a time, back its brighter heyday.

"Most people don't. Generally I don't like to say so," He secrets with a furtive, crooked grin up one side of his mouth, leaning his head in closer to hers as they're walking along. "...because then people tend to start thinking they can dictate how I should wear my hair, as if it's somehow preventable, and not at all disorienting."

He collects his kit swiftly, and soon they're promenading out in the sunlight, headed past the gates and along the outer rim of walkways reconstructed around the town's walls. There are all kinds of experimental gardens and pools in progress here, recently planted, teeming with mouthy freshwater fish.

Edited 2019-05-04 03:39 (UTC)

Ienzo isn't the only one who seems a little different these days. The changes that have taken place with Namine are subtle, but still present. Since spending time with Ienzo, she seems to have blossomed, opening up her heart just a bit to become more confident in who she is. Not only that, but it's undeniable that he puts a smile on her face easier than anyone else. It's easier to smile when he's with her, easier to feel light hearted enough to laugh. And for that, she will be forever grateful.

Namine's head lifts a little to allow her to look up at him, catching sight of that little grin as he leans his head in closer to her. She understands his reasoning to keep his color blindness secret. "Well, your secret is safe with me." She says, offering him a warm smile. "I like your hair, so I wouldn't want them to bother you about it." She likes seeing all of his face, too, but that is easily done in moments when they are alone, when he allows her to braid his hair or brush it aside so she can look up into his eyes. Namine idly wonders if it's a bad thing that she likes having something that only she knows about.

But before long, her attention is pulled away and they are heading along the walkways, familiar to her from following Ienzo around. It's really a wonder that he hadn't minded her presence, content to sit quietly when not being spoken to in those first days. It's then, as they're walking along, that Namine happens to glance down at herself...and see the kitchen apron. "Ienzo!" She says, color heating up and staining her pale cheeks. "Were you just going to let me walk around like this and not tell me?" She huffs out a breath and gives his hand a little squeeze.

It's a wonder that she hasn't been given more strange looks.

"Of course... I trust you." He smiles simply, his eyes set directly ahead of them in a peaceable calm, a distantly pleased and pacified squint, catlike. Arms linked at their sides, Namine's hand recieves a small, tender squeeze. "I'm awfully stubborn over foolish things, aren't I?"

There are so many more secrets that he's kept to himself, things he hasn't told her, more for Namine's sake than his own. Private things, darker things, stories far more shameful than having an eye unable to distinguish colors.

Her squeak of indignation when she at last notices her apron catches him a little off guard, blinking at her mildly, his expression totally innoculous.

"Well what's wrong with it?" It's not as if they're attending a ceremonial parade in a house apron, or venturing out in pajamas? She looks charming in it, the shape of her waist a little more defined, the curve of her hip perhaps the slightest bit more prominent. There aren't any silly patterns. "I go about in my labcoat all the time? You've nothing to be ashamed of- We're just going on a quick errand. Here, would you rather I hold it for you?"

The comment about his stubbornness tugs are her heart, lifting their connected hands so that she can bring them to her lips, pressing a soft kiss along Ienzo's knuckles. It's warm, despite the briefness of the kiss, and Namine lowers their hands back between them once again. "I don't think so." She says gently. "Everyone has things like that. And it's definitely not foolish." If it's important to Ienzo, then she could never bring herself to agree that something like that was foolish.

After all, that's what it meant to care about someone. Accepting their quirks and habits, without trying to change them. At least, that's what she thinks.

"I just feel silly, I guess." Namine admits, offering him a sheepish smile. It's followed with a shake of her head, blonde hair swaying back and forth as she does. It would only mean more trouble for him to carry around an apron. Besides, if Ienzo doesn't think that it's a big deal, then perhaps it's not as silly as she thinks. "No, it's fine. I just hadn't remembered that I was wearing it. Don't let me forget to leave it in the kitchen when we're done, though." She chuckles softly. The irony isn't lost on her, considering she is a witch who deals specifically with memories.

[So what ridiculous/adorable thing should they be doing?]

[ so many possibilities. maybe tree's moved to new york and they're doing touristy things, or painting her place. or something corny like mini-golf? ]

Steve hadn’t really been all that surprised when Tree had decided to move to New York. He didn’t really even think that it had much to do with him living there most of the time. She had seemed to fallen in love with the city when they had visited so it was no surprise when she’d found a place. Sure it wasn’t in the heart of the city, that was too expensive, but it was still New York.

And the place definitely needed a bit of work as well but Steve liked to do things like that so he was happy to help her out with as much as he could. Painting was one of the last steps before she completely moved in so there was a sense of excitement to what they were doing. At least as exciting as painting could be.

“You never realize how hard it is to make a big, flat surface all one color until you have to do it,” he said, running the roller up and down the bedroom wall. Despite his comment he was having a good time. Not really all that surprising though, he always had a good time with Tree.

Tree had decided she was going to move to New York before she had even graduated. As soon as she had come here the first time with Steve she had fallen in love with the city. It was part of the reason she had moved here, the other had been him. She had never thought she'd be the type of girl who would move somewhere for a guy and here she was with said guy painting her new apartment. And it was totally worth it.

"I'm starting to think the stained walls gave this place some character," she grinned at him. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and she had flecks of paint all over her clothes and face. They were official now and there was something that felt so natural about being here with him like this. It was such a mundane thing but at the same time it was fun. Probably because Steve was here with her.

Maybe she could tell him about the time loops. Just not now, not while they were painting. "Thanks for helping me with this, I'm sure you had more exciting things you could be doing."

"Maybe more exciting but I can't beat the company or the view here," he said, leaning over to press a kiss to the back of her neck. She looked beautiful like this, paint spackled and smiling that beaming Tree smile that made him melt a bit. That was what attracted him most to her, that she seemed so excited by life and to be alive exploring everything. It was what made him want to spend as much time with her as possible. Not that she was always sunshine and rainbows but there was no faking or hiding that part of her.

And he still felt a bit guilty that she didn't know who he was, or at least all of who he was. She probably knew who he was better than anyone else but somehow she still hadn't made the Captain America connection just yet. Now that she was in New York it was probably going to be impossible to hide. Oddly enough he didn't think it would change much, he didn't think Tree would see him any differently. At this point it was almost just amusing.

"Flattery will get you everywhere," Tree smiled as she leaned into him. "I'll order take out in a bit." It was the least she could do and since she didn't have a functioning kitchen (and she was a horrible cook).

She does want to tell him about the loops, but she isn't really sure how to do that without sounding crazy. Would it be too much? There were already so many crazy things in the world - would he believe her? The loops had become such a big part of who she had become. It was why she was occasionally still jumpy and still had nightmares. It would be easy enough to pass it as what everyone else knew. But she trusted Steve, she loved him. She wanted him to know.

"Good, because I like flattering you," Steve admitted. He liked the smile she made when he complimented her. Sometimes it was a bit bashful, sometimes just pure happiness, and sometimes there was even a bit of well-deserved smugness that looked good on her.

And Steve knew about the nightmares although he'd never asked her about them. He'd just been there to hold her in the night when she had them and he was around. Whatever they were from or about he figured she would tell him in her own time.

There have been many times where Tree has asked herself how she got so lucky to end up with Steve as a boyfriend. Maybe the universe was returning that cosmic karma after all those deaths. It's corny, it's ridiculous but she's okay with that.

"I have a few job interviews next week." She knew she probably should have had a job lined up before deciding to move to New York but there was no going back on it now. The jobs were nothing spectacular but they'd be a start. She could work, maybe do something volunteering. Do something somewhere that would be good and help people.

She definitely sleeps better whenever Steve is there. The nightmares still come, they're not as bad as they used to be. But Tree can't help but wonder if they'll always be a part of her life. Maybe she should find a therapist but how could she even begin to explain it to them? They'd think she was crazy.

Steve didn't know how he got so lucky to end up with Tree. Maybe this was why he'd been frozen for 70 years, just to meet this woman. If anything could make up for losing everything that was familiar to him it was her.

"You're going to do great. Any place you interview at would be lucky to have you," Steve said. That he could attest to because personally he was lucky to have her. There was no doubt in his mind that whatever she set out to do she'd do a good job of it. Even if she was still finding out exactly what she wanted to do she'd at least have a start.

"I don't know," Tree shrugged. "I don't really know if any of these jobs are even what I want to do - but it's a start. My dad is coming to visit in the next week or so too." She stopped painting mid-roll and looked at Steve, she was suddenly a bit more serious. Actually, more than anything she was nervous. "He wants to meet you. We've talked... a lot, about things - you. All good things I promise." She paused again. "I... I've never introduced him to a boyfriend before."

She turned back to the wall and started painting again. "You can say no, that's totally okay. No pressure or anything, I mean... meeting my dad is kind a big deal." Tree really hopes Steve says yes, and more than anything she hopes they get along. Steve and her dad were the most important people in her life. They meant the world too her.

"I just, I love you both more than anything and if you got along that would be...." her voice trailed off. She realized she just said the word love. It's not one she said before, and maybe it was too fast but Tree can't help it. Steve was so ridiculously easy to fall for and she had fallen for him - fast and hard.

Steve paused and listened to her talk about her dad, how much the man meant to her and how much it obviously meant to her for Steve to meet him. And he was perfectly fine with that, he wanted to meet her dad as well, but he was fairly sure that when he did the man would realize who Steve was. Again, he was perfectly fine with that but he felt like Tree should know first.

And she’d said she loved him. The moment she said it he knew that he loved her too. It wasn’t like those feelings magically appeared but she had but a name to them when Steve hadn’t exactly been sure that’s what it was. He hadn’t realized being in love could feel different each time if it happened to you more than once. Things with Tree had almost seemed too easy he was afraid that it couldn’t be love. But it was.

“Tree,” he said, reaching out to put a hand on hers, stilling her painting so that she would have to look back at him. “I love you too. And I want to meet your dad. Before we do just... promise me you’ll google Captain Steve Rogers? Will you do that for me?”

He hoped that she didn’t think this was a cop out or anything on his part, it wasn’t. He just felt like it might be easier for her to believe if she could see it online, that he wasn’t making things up.

Tree stopped and looked up at him. She almost loses focus on everything else he says when he said 'I love you too.' She hadn't been sure what she was getting into when they started dating him. But he was good and all she knew was that she wanted him in her life in any way possible.

"I... probably should have found a more romantic way of telling you that then," she gestured to the paint roller. She stooped to put it back in the paint tray before she looked at him again. Should she say it again? Because she wanted too. She wanted to say it over and over again, especially since he had said it back. She felt giddy, like a school girl. Like how she had felt spending time with her mom in the alternate universe, only this was so much deeper. This was what her mom would want for her.

Except she hesitated and her brow furrowed. "You want me to google you?"

"I know it's a weird request," he said, reaching up to scrub his hands over his face. Maybe that wasn't the right way to have her find out who he was but he felt like it should be in her hands to find out who he was when she wanted to and when she was ready to hear it.

"But I guess you could say I'm well known in some circles. I don't think it will change how you feel about me but your father is definitely going to have heard about me," Steve said. He was almost sure that Tree wouldn't care much that he was Captain America. She might think it was neat but honestly if she didn't recognize him then he doubted she would actually care. "I can tell you if you want but to be honest... you'll probably want to read up on me."

So, it was in her court now. If she asked he'd tell her now but he didn't know if she wanted that. He paused for a moment before adding, "I kind of messed up our 'I love you' moment there, didn't I?"

It was weird and honestly made her a little bit nervous. Was it something horrible? Normally people would say not to google them, but this was different. And he was well known? What did that mean? Tree knew she didn't know much about what was going on the world, had she missed something?

But he had said he loved her. They loved each other. That beat everything else. She could read up on him later, right now she could really only think of one thing.

A smile spread across her face as she threw her arms around his neck, stood up on tip toes and then kissed him. "We could try again? I love you Steve Rogers."

Steve grinned and kissed her back, glad that what he'd done hadn't completely ruined the moment. At least it hadn't ruined it so bad that they couldn't correct course and try again. He was so lucky to have someone as amazing as Tree, who was understanding and willing to give him another chance when he screwed things up.

"I love you too, Tree Gelbman. I love you like crazy," he said, lifting her up and spinning her around before he set her down and kissed her again.

As far as Tree was concerned the request was weird but it definitely hadn't ruined things. She didn't even really care, she could google him later. Right now all that mattered was she was here with her boyfriend who she was head over heels for and he loved her back. She laughed as he spun her around and kissed him back eagerly.

"I think that's enough painting," she pulled back slightly. There was still a lot to be done, but right now all Tree could think about was curling up on the couch with him and getting takeout and googling him - but mostly curling up on the couch.

"Mmmmm, what should we do instead? Install that new shower head? Assemble the bookshelf?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. He was fairly sure that she was thinking the same thing he was, of just spending time together being close and ridiculous like young couples in love tended to be. Well... maybe not so young on his part but Tree made him feel that way. She anchored him in the here and now that most things never did. He felt less out of time with her.

"I may have a jar or two that needs opening," she teased. She actually did have a long list of things she needed to do but those could wait until later.

She pulled back slightly. "I kind of want to google you now though. Sorry, but... you can't just lead with that." She took her phone out of her pocket and gave him a guilty smile. "If it's just embarrassing smutty pictures, there's totally nothing wrong with that. You should see some of the ones of me on Danielle's instagram - actually, no. Please don't. That was the old Tree and I don't really like her."

Tree looked down at her phone and went to google. She was nervous, why wouldn't he just tell her whatever it was? Unless it turned out he was a creep she didn't think anything could change how she felt about him.

And then the search results came up.

"Ohmigod. You're Captain America?"

How did she not recognize him? How did she not realize? He had even told her he was with the Avengers when they went out for coffee the first time, but she had just passed it off as a line. She should have realized by now that Steve wasn't the type of person to do that.

"Guilty as charged," Steve said, having the good sense to look a little bashful about it, like it was an accident or something and he hadn't meant to be Captain America. At least she wasn't horrified or anything and didn't seem all that upset. Also a lot of what he said or did probably made sense now.

"I hope that's not a disappointment or going to be a problem? I wanted to tell you it just never seemed to come up?" he said, like that was any sort of excuse. Honestly he thought for sure that at some point she would have noticed or someone would have said something. But it never had and so he jut... didn't say anything either.

Tree was far from horrified if anything she felt like a massive idiot. She shook her head and continued to scroll through the search results.

"What, no!" She looked up from her phone and shook her head. "Steve, it's not a disappointment or a problem. I just can't believe I didn't realize. You even told me on our first date and I thought it was just a line." Tree slipped her phone back into her pocket and looked up at him.

"You being Captain America doesn't change any of what I feel about you." It didn't. Even if it was hard to wrap her head around the fact he was Captain America, that wasn't who she saw in front of her. She saw Steve Rogers. The amazing guy who she had fallen hard and fast for. Maybe then she wouldn't feel so alone in this anymore.

He had been honest with her, maybe it was time she was honest with him. It had been hard enough to convince Carter and Ryan about the loops when she had been stuck in them. And it wasn't like she could tell anyone else. Not really, they would think she was crazy even if there was a lot of crazy in the world. But Steve had seen crazy, he had fought crazy. Maybe he'd believe her.

"There's... probably something I should tell you too. But uh... maybe we should sit."

Well, Steve didn't know what he was expecting from her but it wasn't that she had a secret of her own. Maybe this was some sort of karma for going so long without telling her his secret. He didn't expect whatever Tree said to change how he felt about her though, he loved her and was crazy about her and there was no way she could hide anything that would make him change how he felt about her.

"Alright," he said, checking himself to make sure he didn't have any paint on his pants before he sat down on the couch. He kept his hand in hers though, wanting her to know that he supported her whatever it was she was going to tell them. They were in this together, no matter what "this" was. "What is it you want to tell me?"

She was grateful for him holding her hands and she forced herself to smile as she sat down next to him. Her heart was pounding in her chest, once she had ended the loops she hadn't told anyone about them. Her friends from college knew, but that was different she had only gotten out of those loops because of their help. Tree still isn't sure if telling Steve is the right thing, but it's been hard dealing with this mostly on her own and the dreams haven't gone away.

"This... is going to sound crazy, but I kind of getting the feeling that out of everyone you'll get crazy now."

Tree sighed and bit her lip before continuing. "When I told you that my roommate tried to kill me, that was half a lie. She did kill me. Multiple times. Someone on my campus, built this machine and somehow it caused me to get stuck in a time loop. And it was my birthday. And every time Lori killed me I would wake up and the day would start over again."

She swallowed. It was hard to think about the huge impact that this had still had on her. That even though Lori was gone what she did still cast a huge shadow. "I died over and over again trying to figure out who was killing me. Lori was smart, it took me a while to realize it was her. But all those deaths... medically I should probably still be dead right now. I don't know if I've fully recovered."

"And then I thought I got out of it, I thought that I was free of that stupid loop after dying sixteen times, after I beat Lori," Tree can feel tears then and even though she had been nervous about telling Steve now it was like she couldn't stop talking. "Only I got thrown into the loop again, only this time I was in a different dimension. But in this one my mom was alive, and I almost stayed. I killed myself over and over again just to relive that day again, because I thought I was going to die anyways might as well go out on my own terms. And then I thought I'd try not dying, I could live a life even without all these memories I was supposed to have but that would be okay because I'd have my mom. But then the version of my friends in that dimension died and I realize I couldn't let anyone else die because of me. And I realized that what I had with my mom here..."

The tears began to fall then and Tree closed her eyes for a moment. "So all those nightmares, I'm dreaming I'm stuck in the loop again. That I'm reliving my deaths or that I'm seeing people I care about die over and over again."

"Tree..." Steve reached out and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close the instant he saw the tears start to fall. He absolutely believed her, had no reason to doubt her no matter how crazy the story sounded. If she said this happened to her then he believed that it had.

And it broke his heart a little that she had to face something like that. Not just all of the deaths but also losing her mother all over again. Steve couldn't imagine if he lost Bucky when he'd gotten him back after thinking he was dead all those years.

"That you for telling me," he said, murmuring the words to the top of her head as he held her close. "For trusting me that I would believe you. And I do believe you. But you don't have to face this alone."

Tree managed a small smile. Telling him had felt good, it felt better than talking about it with Carter and Ryan. When he pulled her close she curled up against him and rested her cheek on his chest. She felt safe there, wrapped in his arms.

"I've wanted to tell you for a long time, but I was scared you might think I was crazy because it sounds crazy. Trying to convince Carter and Ryan to help me was hard enough."

She closed her eyes for a moment wanting to take in that feeling of safety. "I can remember all of them," she said slowly. "Everytime I died. Sometimes they blur together, like a bad dream and other times... I don't know. Even the ones I did to myself when I thought it didn't matter."

"Getting stuck in that loop though, it made me realize that I wasn't a good person. I was horrible, dying over and over changed that. I know I should consider myself lucky but... sometimes, I don't know."

"I appreciate you trusting me enough to tell me. But I don't think you're crazy," Steve reassured her. No wonder she had nightmares, that would be enough to drive just about anyone crazy. To be able to go through something like that and come out a better person? Steve wasn't sure how many people could do something like that.

"And it's horrible that it happened but to come out a better person? That takes a lot of strength and I don't know many people who could say they didn't just go crazy. You don't have to deal with it alone anymore. I'm here for you, okay?"

Tree tilted her head to look up at him and smiled. She wiped some of the tears away before sighing. "You wouldn't have liked the old me, I was horrible. I guess... after my mom died I just stopped caring. She was the best person I've ever known. She was so good and kind and then she died. So I thought what's the point?"

Honestly, Tree had been horrified to realize just how awful she had been. Not just to her friends but to strangers - to everyone. It had been the worst and the best wake up call, but at least she could make up for it now.

"So uh... if the Avengers need time travel. I know a guy. It's not exactly precise and it's more like a loop than actual time travel but...I memorized all the equations when we were trying to figure it out the second time," she smiled. "I'm even more glad I stayed now or we might not have met."

"Well I'm glad I got this you then. And you probably would have liked 90 pound asthmatic me because you are a good person now but I'm glad you got this version," Steve said. Because he really did think that Tree was the sort of person that could look past the fact that she would be physically stronger than him but he wasn't stupid, there were benefits to being like this.

And Steve could actually see what she meant about not seeing the point of being kind if you died all the same in the end. Of course that wasn't the point of being kind but she was just lashing in her hurt.

"And I'm not sure why we would need time travel for anything but I promise to keep it in mind. And I'm glad too. And if you ever need to talk to more people about this... I've got a group of friends that won't think you're crazy."

"I would love any version of you," Tree said and leaned up to nuzzle his neck before relaxing in his arms. The new version of her anyways, the old Tree was too hurt and too angry at the world to have loved anyone. She definitely would have been attracted to this version of Steve but she probably wouldn't have been willingly to let it go beyond that. And she probably would have scared him away with how awful she was.

For a moment Tree can't help but wonder what it would be like to meet the rest of the Avengers. Danielle would freak out over the prospect of her meeting Thor (actually she'd freak out after she realized who Tree was dating, so would Carter and Ryan) and Tree can vaguly remembering having to study the Hulk in one of the science electives she had taken.

"You... you've seen things, gone through things," she paused. He had been through a war - an actual war, she can't even imagine what that must have been like. And then there was everything else that he would have experienced being with the Avengers. "Does it get easier?"

She knew she wasn't likely to forget any of the loops, she probably would still remember every single death until the day she died for good. Most of the time she was okay, she could have a normal day like none of it had happened to her. But every once and a while she'd be jumpy. Something would happen out of the corner of her eye and she'd expect to be murdered. And the dreams - nothing she did could make them stop.

Steve hummed happily as she nuzzled his neck and curled up into him. There was something about the way she felt against him, the way that both of them just dropped their barriers around each other. Even before these revelations Steve always felt a sense of safety and security with Tree, like he could be himself and that was okay. She never seemed to care that he didn't get a lot of references or things like that.

"It does get easier," he reassured her. Steve would never tell her that if it wasn't true either, he wasn't one to give someone false hope. Of course just because it got easier didn't mean it never hurt again or everything was fine. "Sometimes it's as hard as it ever was but those times get farther and farther away and you learn how to deal with them better."

There were times where he still ached for the life he had lost even as he enjoyed the life he had now. And honestly meeting Tree helped with that, finding someone that seemed to complete a part of himself that he hadn't known was missing was a tremendous help. Steve just hoped that he could be the same thing for Tree.

Tree closed her eyes. She had never really felt like this with anyone before, and the fact that Steve was Captain America didn't change anything. Maybe in the morning, it would be harder to wrap her head around but if anything that would be more that she hadn't realized it before. He had told her and there had been clues she should have picked up on. The Quinjet, the fact that more than once people would stop and stare while they were out on a date (though honestly, Tree had assumed they were just checking Steve out - because who wouldn't?).

"What about you?" Tree asked. "I mean... you were in World War II. And then everything after that? Are you ...okay?"

Okay didn't feel like the right word but she also can't think of any other word but she didn't know how else to ask. But she needed to know, she needed to be sure. And she needed to know if there was anything she could do to help or make things better.

"As okay as I think I can be," Steve admitted. He wasn't perfect and he couldn't deny that the things he'd seen from the war had stayed with him. Not to mention being a man out of his own time was something he wasn't sure he would ever fully get used to. But there were things and people that made it feel as much like home as possible. Chief among those people was Tree, very much a product of her time but always making Steve feel so comfortable and accepted.

"Having you helps. Which sounds selfish but... it's true. I feel less lost and adrift with you here," Steve admitted, kissing the top of her head.

Tree blushed, she couldn't help it. He had been her rock since they had first met and knowing she was helping him as well meant so much. She shifted slightly in order to pull something out of her pocket - a key, which she holds up to show him.

"That reminds me, this is for you," she tilted her head to look at him better. "It's a key to my apartment so you can come and go whenever you like." She had thought about saving the key but with the accidental love confession and then the way this conversation was going it just seemed right. Steve was such a huge part of her life, she wanted to be with him as much as possible.

Steve understood what a big deal it was to have a key to her place. In his time that would have meant something completely different but he understood what it had meant to Tree that she trusted him with this. This was her first place that was only hers and the fact that she wanted to share it so openly with him? Well it made him love her even more.

"Are you sure? Because I think I'm going to want to come a lot," he said, pausing for a moment as he turned that phrase over in his mind before blushing a bit as he realized just how it could sound. "I mean... to visit with you or stay with you."

"I'm sure we can arrange a way for you to do all three," Tree grinned. Though right now she was content to just be like this, snuggled against him feeling safe. She had always felt like that with him but now that they had both shared their secrets with one another she felt even more so. She didn't need to pretend about her nightmares anymore or why sometimes when they went out on dates she was extra jumpy.

She closed her eyes for a moment as she shifted to rest her head on his chest. "Can you stay tonight?" They could forget painting for the rest of the night, and just be like this. Maybe try cooking (which Tree was horrible at) or order in.

“I’d like that.” Steve said. Both the idea of making it so he could visit often but also staying the night. He wanted to be here to experience this with Tree and celebrate how exciting it was that she was able to do this. That and he’d always rather be with Tree than not.

“There’s no place I’d rather be. We can order in and just lay here close to each other,” Steve said. It was amazing how with Tree he was content to do just that, to just have her close.

Tree shifted so he could kiss him. Right now she wished the world really was just the two of them, that they could just stay in this apartment for as long as they could. At least they could have tonight and the morning and from there I guess they'd have sto see. Though if Steve was to get a call that the world needed saving Tree would let him go. It was crazy to think her boyfriend had saved the world - more than once.

She pulled away from the kiss to take out her phone and open the delivery app. "What are you in the mood for? Chinese? Indian? Pizza?"

“Pizza sounds good,” he said, arms settling around her as she got out her phone to order. He was too content to move much, feeling her weight against him was to reassuring. While he felt a responsibility to do what he could to protect the world Tree was the most important thing to him in the world so there was a comfort of being here with her.

“Whatever you want as a topping. Tomorrow morning I’ll make you waffles,” he reassured her, kissing the top of her head. “And Tree? I love you.”

Tree didn't want to move either, so she almost hoped that the pizza would take its time in arriving. She searched the Skip the Dishes app until coming up with a pizza place and putting in an order. She shifted to get more comfortable against Steve. This was nice, it was normal. She had a feeling that they both needed that. Once the order was placed she put down her phone and snuggled against him. Honestly, she could stay like this forever.

"I love you too," she smiled. "I also love waffles."

"I can keep you supplied with lots of both," Steve said, kissing the top of her head again. This was normal, the sort of thing that he imagined couples all around the world were doing, just enjoying the presence of the other person, listening to the rhythm of their breathing and breathing in that particular smell that was "them".

"I'm lucky to have you."

She smiled as she snuggled into him. "Also for the record if you ever have to cancel a date to go save the world or something, I am totally cool with that." She meant it, she understood now that some things were more important and saving the world was definitely one of them.

"You can make it up to me later," she teased. Except he wouldn't need too, he would never need to so long as he came back every time.

[ So Chaldea, for the most part, is perfectly calibrated to support human life comfortably. The only times that the biting cold of the Antarctic weather outside invades the interior is when someone has to physically leave the base, for whatever reason.

But sometimes -- once in a while, maybe only twice in the whole time Ritsuka's been part of the staff -- there's a power surge of some sort. It usually only takes a minute for the backup generators to kick in when that happens, but today, there appears to be some technically difficulties. The most vital systems have kicked back on, at least, so no one's going to freeze to death... but it's definitely going to be colder than usual for a while.

And so Ritsuka is headed back to her own room, rubbing at her arms to try and get some extra warmth into them, grumbling a little under her breath. ]

I can understand why the control room is important, but why the popcorn maker, jeeze...

[Along the way, a certain Master may come along a certain dragon, breathing into her hands to warm them up.

Her breath is also fire.]

Why is... everything metal... metal is cold...

Kiyohi--

[ Fire!

And while normally that is in fact something Ritsuka worries about a lot when it comes to Kiyohime, right now, the fire seems awfully appealing. So for a rare once, she makes a beeline straight for her, instead of trying to play it casual and ignore.

Well, no, she's still trying to play casual, but also she's coming closer. ]

H-hey! How are you doing?

Mas...ter? O-Oh, I'm... cold.

[Kiyohime got a bit distracted for a moment there. Usually her Master doesn't approach her. Also why does it seem like said Master has a certain... look in her eye? And is she trying to not make a mad dash towards her?

Maybe it's the cold. Eesh, that would be a horrible thing to have in common. Kiyohime wants to have a closer relation with her Husband, but... she can skip feeling bad in cold. She would rather not be cold each time she wants to spend time with Master.]

Now, you might be wondering why a Servant is suffering like this. Shouldn't we normally be not affected by something like this?

... The answer is it's just me. I'm the unlucky one who can't stand the cold.

You and me both.

[ She can handle the cold fine if she's prepared for it! But when she's in the comfort of her own home, it just feels like an insult added to injury. ]

They said they'd fix the heat by the end of the day, but that feels a really long time from now...

That's way too long... hrm, I'm tempted to just take all the blankets from all the rooms and dive in.

.......... I should probably leave yours alone.

[She had to think about that one.]

We could make a combined nest.

[ And in that way, she could share her blankets without losing them, herself. ]

If you don't mind me being there.

[... Is Master suggesting the two make a literal love nest?

Maybe the cold really has gotten to her, that is very forward.]

That's a dumb question, of course I wouldn't mind.

Also with your help, it'll take half the time!

... Unless you start slacking.

Trust me, I'm not going to. They say that working helps keep you warm, right?

[ Physical exertion! Exercise! But she's not interested in doing any training. A blanket nest sounds a lot better. ]

I promise I'll do my part.

[Dangerous words for something so simple.]

It also makes you get exhausted, sweaty and short on breath.

Anyway, we shall meet back up in your room?

[ That's how she is, rushing headlong into things.

For now, she salutes with a cheeky little smile. ]

That works! I'll meet you there.

[LETS DO THE TIME SKIP AGAIN!

Kiyohime is a Servant, and Servants are strong.

Kiyohime is also not all that tall and no amount of power will change how much she can carry physically. So after a few back and forth trips, she finally delivers the last of the blankets.

Or what she hopes is.]

That... took longer than I thought.

[ Meanwhile, Ritsuka is only human and therefore going to be slower and weaker than even the lowest-level Servant.

But that doesn't mean she isn't doing her best! She's trying! She's managed to move her bed to make room for the frankly ridiculous amount of blankets, laying out a perimeter first and then going in with layers. This is going to be the best of nests! ]

That's fine. It'll definitely be enough.

[This is not what she had in mind... but is Master some kind of bird? Does she wants Kiyohi to lay an egg here!?]

Now we just need to... to...

I admit I didn't think this far ahead.

We just need to start layering! That's part of what a nest is, right?

[ She's talking like she has any actual idea of what she's doing, but really, it's just more of the usual wing it and see what happens that's served her well outside of Chaldea as well. ]

I guess the other option is to make it like a tent, but I don't have anything to make a support for those...

The only nests I'm familiar with are birds. So we should make a bowl...?

[That's how bird nests look like, right?]

As for a tent... I could wedge you bed in the middle. But it would also get in the way.

It's probably best not to move the bed. I'll need it there later.

[ Time to roll blankets into long lopsided tubes, to try and curl them into a somewhat bowl-like shape. ]

[Kiyohi hums and haws at this. She isn't sure if this is the way to go...]

I know what I just said... but would a rolled up blanket still be nice to lay on? What if we just made a giant pile instead and... swam through it, for lack of a better word.

Swimming through blankets is sort of a pain... when you've got this many, you just kind of want to curl up, right?

[ Or, at least, that's how she's always felt. ]

So... in that case, we just lay them on top of one another, and slip in the middle somewhere!

Then we can curl up like some kind of cat!

[Kiyohime will never dress like Tamamocat. She has too much modesty for that.]

That sounds good to me. It'll be cozy, and that's the point, right?

[ Ritsuka's feelings on clothes like that are mixed, certainly, but while she'd probably be entertained by dressing up as a Servant, she's not interested in making one dress up like another.

Though with enough blankets, no one can see anything. ]

Exactly. Now then...

[Kiyohime will start to layer blankets, on on top of the other.

...... Before she grabs Ritsuka herself during the middle of it all.]

A blanket is something I want to drape over myself, right?

[ She doesn't protest that. Honestly, she's pretty used to getting bodily hauled around by Servants; even Mash does it on a semi-regular basis. ]

Yyyyes? That's the idea of them. And a blanket nest just has more.

... Could you please take the hint that I want to throw you onto the blanket pile, because I'm calling you a blanket?

[Having to explain makes it lose charm, dammit!]

You--

[ Oh. ]

--ohhhhhhhhhhhh. Really?!

Yes...

[She sighs. A large one.] This is what I get for trying to be subtle.

No, I think I was just too excited about a nest... sorry.

You can make it up to me by covering me, blanket.

Yes ma'am.

[ But what she does first is step back and bow, gesturing grandly to the... well, it's more of a pile than a proper nest, but you know, the effort was there. ]

You first, and then I'll cover you.

[Being called "ma'am" sure makes her let out this small noise of glee.

Sure, she can do this. But first she'll be proper and take off her geta... before quickly leaping onto the pile.

There was the sound of "wheeee" coming from her if you listened closely.]

[ Cute... sometimes, when she's not being a terrifying yandere, Kiyohime is in fact very cute.

Ritsuka waits until she's settled, then climbs onto the pile herself, grabbing one edge and then tugging it with her. All the better to get wrapped up with, right? ]

[Look she just has trust issues because of a CERTAIN SOMEONE...

Kiyohime lights up at what is happening, but how could she not? Finally, something is going her way for once!]

Certainly far from a nest... but I think this works nicely.

[ Everyone deserves nice things once in a while! And as long as she's not tipping into the whole yandere girlfriend end, Ritsuka is happy to indulge.

Once she's settled, Ritsuka scoots closer and leans up against Kiyohime's side, letting her head drop to rest on her shoulder. ]

It's good enough. It tried, that counts.

[Kiyohime thinks she should be the one resting her head on a shoulder, but she can take this for now!

... Gonna make fun of her though.]

And no gold stars to hand out that say "you tried".

... Ah, but I should probably put my horns away if I'm going to be huddled up like this.

[What?

She has Shapeshift.]

Edited 2019-04-18 02:55 (UTC)

[ She makes a little agreeable noise at the teasing. Whatever, it's another day in her life; she can take it. She's more curious about the comment. ]

You can do that?

[ Listen, Ritsuka doesn't think about these things terribly often. Shapeshift, like Clairvoyance, is one of those skills that's so out of her normal range of expectations that it doesn't naturally occur to her. But-- ]

I wanna see.

[Kiyohime has to shuffle a little, to be face to face for this. She doesn't have to do this, but she wants to.]

Then watch and be amazed.

[It doesn't take long. Her horns almost dematerialize into light, like when an ascension happens... but in reverse.]

I do hope you'll still like to look at me though. My horns are a special part about me...

[Charm points!]

You really can make them go away...

[ Without thinking, really, Ritsuka reaches up to touch the spot where the left horn would have been, petting her fingers through Kiyohime's hair. It only takes a second beyond that to transition to just petting her. ]

They're cute, but it's easier to touch you this way.

[oh god oh man oh god oh man

Kiyohime can't properly respond, she's too busy having her heart flutter about.]

Ah, you, uh, more...

[That confusing mess of words had a message in it. A message delivered as she tried to snuggle in closer.]

[ Oh no, she's cute. It might have been an impulsive gesture to start with, but Ritsuka's not blind to the response. A teasing little smile curls her lips. ]

More? So this is okay?

[ She lets her fingers slide a little further through Kiyohime's hair, giving it a very gentle playful tug. ]

[The two are close enough that Ritsuka can likely hear the noise coming from Kiyohime, that almost sounds like a purr. Something about having her hair stroked, ESPECIALLY by her dear Husband, is making her lose all of her dangerous edge and turn into a soft mess.]

Yes... [She resists making a bigger deal about the tug, afraid that such a comment would stop this.]

[ Dragons can purr! Who knew? She's learned something new today.

But since she gets the go-ahead, Ritsuka keeps up with the petting, smiling as she does. ]

You're cute like this.

[Just Kiyohime, probably.

Kiyohime lights up, the flow of compliments and good reception is really getting to her.]

I... am? Do you like cute? Do you want more of it?

[She doesn't know what to do...]

I like a lot of things, Kiyohime.

[ Really, one of Ritsuka's great strengths is being easygoing and having no major sense of preferences in the types of people she likes. ]

It's nice when you're calm, but you should be yourself. Don't worry about me.

[ You can summon the woman out of the Berserker class, but you can't take the Berserker out of the woman. ]

[How is that a strength when the girl in hugging range wants to be preferred?]

... Well.

If you insist.

[You know what else she is close enough for?

Kissing.

Enjoy that.]

[ Well.

She's not expecting it (she never does; even with Kiyohime there's that little recordscratch moment where she doesn't understand what's happening), but she's not actually protesting it. ]

--?!

[Oh hey, no resistance. Kiyohime will be taking advantage of that, by making it long lasting, wrapping her arms around her ~~prey~~ ~~target~~ Master and moving on to even deeper kissing. You are now free to enjoy her tongue.

NOW it's a love nest!]

--?!?

[ Same verse, more startled than the first, but still... not actually complaining. More than anything, Ritsuka just seems surprised, finally lifting her hands to settle them on Kiyohime's shoulders.

She's not pushing her off, just sort of resting them there. Is this what you do?? This is, right?! ]

[Wow, this is easy. Is this all she had to do this entire time? If it wasn't for the fact her face was connected to another, she would be beaming right now.

Seeing how well this is going, Kiyohime is going to use these hands of her to wander across Ritsuka's back... and wander... and wander.....

Kiyohime paused in all activity and slowly realizes that she would have to move her hands up front if she wanted to make any attempts to undress her Master. That's where everything is located.

... It's kind of hard to move her arms BACK though...]

[ Listen, Ritsuka is ~~easy~~ ~~easygoing~~ okay with a lot of things. But there is a point where she has to push back a little. Even if she's pretty sure she knows what Kiyohime's answer is going to be, she has to ask-- ]

Uh -- hey, are you sure you want to be doing this...?

[ For one thing, even in a pile of blankets, this is not really a bed. ]

[Well, if there ever was a time to do that, it would be when she paused.]

The fact you have to ask makes me want to know if you've paid attention...

[Please kill all the bugs and reach the high things for this smol boy.]

Mew? Are you interested in this guy again?

[Sure! Did you wanna continue with CR from the last one or make a totally new scenario?]

Continue the cr pretty please! I love that thread! Maybe this is when Noct can take Prompto out to fancy places and wine and dine him. I have this thought about Noct having a few high end restaurants he really likes and only like the elite can afford to go there but Noct thinks nothing of it. I also have this other idea about Noct being in a suit and inspiring indecent thoughts in his mate bc he has no idea he looks sexy in a suit.

Edited 2019-04-02 17:20 (UTC)

Cool yeah! That sounds fun! Prompto will gladly be wined and dined and use his boyfriend as a heater and maybe steal some of his clothes and also yes that boy does look amazing in fancy suits.
Want to start us off while I work on a post in the other thread? XD

Sure thing! I love all that, Noct the space heater and closet. Lol these two living together is gonna be funny. Imagine them trying to cook.

It was Friday. End of the week. Noct was glad to be home. He could shed his clothes and nap but alas, they had plans. He'd made plans. He really felt like a good steak and some wine. He wasn't a huge drinker but he'd grown up with wine at dinner. He had a small taste for it.

He would love to curl up in the big bed that dominated most of the bedroom. He'd gotten the thing soon after Prompto's heat was over. It had a million pillows and Chocobilly on it and damn if that stuffed animal wasn't the best pillow in the collection.

He promised he'd take Prompto out. He'd made the reservations, he just had to get dressed. Off with the school uniform. On with whatever suit he had here. Ignis had pressed one and brought it by. It didn't really matter. All Noct's suits were black. Every part of them. Even the Armani he stepped into was black, the shirt was black, the belt and tie were black. Hell, even the cuff links were ebony and black spinel!

He'd told Ignis he could take the night off. He was taking Prompto out they didn't need a driver. Besides, his car was a two seater.

In the bathroom he touched up his hair. Made sure it was just so. Maybe he'd let it grow out... It seemed so... Youthful. So... Like his father picked it out. He wasn't a little kid anymore.

Briefly he looked at the small tray of cologne he had in his bathroom drawer. Just a few bottles, he didn't use them often but he liked the scent of a few of them. It struck him that he didn't know how Prompto felt about scents other than his own. Should he try? Which one? He waffled for a moment before spritzing some on himself and heading into the living area.

"Hey. You ready to go?" he'd love to sit on the couch and play video games but he knew better than to be late to this place and traffic wasn't about to be forgiving, even if he used the royal express lanes.

Noct fiddled with his tie. It wasn't even. The back end was too long. If he didn't unbutton his jacket it would be fine but he knew he'd get hot... He sighed as he took it off and tried to start over.

"Once I fix this we should go."

Prompto was still getting used to the whole... living-with-royalty thing and even more to the whole... being-seen-in-public-with-royalty thing that went with it. What were once simple runs to the arcade under Iggy or Gladio's watchful eye, were now chances for the paparazzi to snap the most unflattering photos they could. Combined with the scrutiny of every single thing either of them wore. It was lucky they had uniforms in high school, or they'd be sure to have something to say about those too.

But the other side of it, getting to spend time with Noct, like, a lot of time with Noct, getting to live together and be together and love eachother? Okay, that was definitely worth it.

Even so, he scrutinized himself in the mirror for probably the twentieth time. He didn't have a lot in the way of formal clothing, but he knew if he brought it up, Noct would probably end up spoiling him with another shopping trip. He wore a white button-up, but he couldn't resist rolling the sleeves up to the elbows. A pair of fitted black slacks showed off his trim figure, and he complemented it with a dark grey tweed vest and a red-and-black plaid tie. He'd been careful to wear clothing with collars more often, still somewhat shy to show off the marks Noct left behind.

He felt... more like a waiter than the Prince's date, but he'd gotten his hair to fluff up nicely, and pinned it back on one side with a couple of colorful bobby pins.

There was a bit of time to waste as Noct got in later than he had, so he fiddled with the television remote, not really watching much as he skimmed stations and Noct got himself dressed.

He'd seen professional pictures of Noct before, of course. In fashion magazines they were eager to show him off in brand-name stuff when they got the chance. But seeing it in person was... daaaaamn.

Prompto felt immediately underdressed, but he didn't really have a good suit-jacket outside of his uniform. He didn't hesitate to drink in the details, and hurried over to help with the tie, sensing some of Noct's frustration.

"You look really good," he smiled, pressing his fingers over Noct's as he helped slip the tie loose to fix it. "Here, let me."

Prompto was well-versed in tying his own for school. Unlike Noct, he'd grown up without anyone to really help out with that. The internet was a valuable resource for the little things, he'd found. Self-taught.

The tip of his tongue slipped out in concentration as he adjusted the tie, working a quick double-windsor knot before sliding it up to meet the collar. An eyebrow quirked as he caught the scent of cologne. Wow, Noct had really gone all-out for this.

"Better?"

Noct was used to ignoring the paparazzi, he was mostly ignored in the city thanks to his father's watchful glaives but that didn't stop much lately. People had phones, there was twitter and instagram. People were going to talk, it was inevitable. For the most part it wasn't anything special. He'd been seen going with Prompto before but the frequency of Prompto's 'visits' would have the tabloid press talking in no time. Was the prince dating? Was he bonded? Did the king know about this? He's clearly an omega, look how small he is! Is the prince looking to marry? Will they conceive and have a shotgun wedding???? Check out our latest issue! Noctis was so used to ignoring them he forgot he had to educate Prompto on how to both spot and avoid cameras and paparazzi.

He quite liked their arrangement too. Strangely he didn't feel smothered or too crowded. Prompto was welcome company all the time. He'd expected to need more breaks or alone time but so far he actually craved his time with Prompto. He found himself disliking school more because he had to be separated from him and he eagerly wanted to get home so they could be together again. Every day was so fun, just them and video games, movies, anime, sitting around reading manga together. Laughing... Noct had someone to talk to and he talked more than he thought he would.

Prompto wasn't wrong about Noct buying him stuff. He didn't think of it as spoiling but just providing what he needs. He is bonded to the prince now, they are going to go to upscale places. He needs a suit... he does need an actual suit... that went on Noct's mental list of things to bring up with Ignis. Prompto looked nice though. Noct liked his hair, and the pants were fitted just right. That was some eye candy.

He felt a bit foolish that Prompto had to help him. He'd worn plenty of ties before but honestly Ignis usually tied them and his blue uniform tie... he just loosened it to take it off every day, he never untied it. As Prompto must know after living with him.

"Thanks... you too." he let his fingers fall to his sides as Prompto tied the tie so easily. Standing so close to him... and his goofy little expression, tongue out in focus. When it was finished and the knot was at his throat he leaned in for a quick kiss.

"Better."

Prompto had ridden in his car before... hadn't he? They didn't need to drive it often, the subway took them where they needed to and the arcade was within walking distance from the train and... actually had he even put Prompto in his car?

Down in the garage, Ignis had left the Star of Lucis for him to drive. Noct climbed in and started it up, the rumble was so quiet but this thing could move like a bullet if he wanted it to. He checked the time and decided they may as well use the royal express lanes. He didn't like doing so but... it was rush hour. Or more 'rush' hour than normal. Insomnia never really stopped, thus the name. But they'd get there in time and if they had extra time... they could just make out in the parking garage until it was time to go in.

Oh wait, this place had a valet. He forgot. No making out then.

"Did you get my text earlier?" he had sent the menu for this place to Prompto so he could look over it and wouldn't be surprised by the items when they were there. It had multiple courses one could pick from and no prices were listed. For anything.

Prompto felt a little better about how he was dressed when Noct affirmed it looked okay. There was no way Noct would let him leave for the restaurant if he was underdressed, he was sure. Just like Prompto wasn't going to let Noct leave without a tie that was on properly.

The kiss, well, Prompto smiled into it, fingers sliding down the length of the tie. If he let himself indulge it much longer, they wouldn't make it out of the apartment. Noct looked good in everything, but when he cleaned up so nice like this? It was such a turn-on. He took one last breath, drinking in the scent as they parted.

As they walked down to the parking garage, Prompto linked his arm in Noct's, leaning into his steps. He was used to walking, or public transportation. His legs took him where he needed to go, for the most part. But when they walked up to the car, Prompto glanced up at Noct.

"They let you drive it?" he asked, still in slight disbelief. It was such a nice car. Shiny, black, silver detailed hubcaps even. He could only imagine how it felt to drive, let alone ride in such a nice vehicle. He hopped in, taking the passenger seat and running his hands over the leather interior, drinking in the details. Noct really had lived an entirely different life from his and moments like these it struck him how lucky he'd been to even meet, let alone date the prince of Lucis. The odds had to be infinitesimal.

The purr of the engine was so silent, it hardly seemed to be on, but Noct pulled out of the spot on and into traffic smooth as silk.

At Noct's question, he nodded, pulling out his phone to flip back through it. The menu was kind of odd that way, he hadn't seen one that served more than appetizers, entrees, and desserts, but apparently the fancy ones did.

"I saw the menu, yeah. Had to look up half the words on it," he made a face. Amuse-bouche and Mignardise and like three types of entree? Desserts sounded nice though.

"I'm not a picky eater," he assured Noct with a laugh, "I'll try anything once, but if you get something weird, just don't tell me what it is."

To be fair, nobody was going to say anything about the prince's date. Prompto could arrive in a potato sack and nobody at that restaurant would dare comment. The employees at least.

They'd spent many a school night indulging just like so. Noct knew better than to linger too long. They'd end up in the bed if they made it that far. But the look in Prompto's eyes when he pulled away indicated his wardrobe was a good choice. Maybe he liked the cologne.

In the garage Noct didn't expect to suddenly have Prompto leaning into him. It was nice... Honestly he wouldn't care for the pda on the sidewalk but in here it was cute. He'd put an arm around Prompto if his was free but... It was short-lived. The car became the focus and Noct just shrugged.

"Yeah, it's mine. My dad gave it to me." designed by the Insomnian College of Art no less. Not that he liked to mention that bourgie detail. His father was a gearhead and liked nice cars. It was a gift for getting his license and turning 16; the age at which he could officially represent Lucis in events and talks. Thank the gods he'd only been asked to a few times.

Noct got in and... If he knew what Prompto was thinking he'd agree but for different reasons. He was lucky to find someone who saw past his title and loved who he really was. He hadn't really tried dating but he knew that would be a hardship for him. He could barely make friends because of that issue, he couldn't imagine trying to date. It was no small comfort that he already had that particular issue settled.

"Yeah it's different. I'll help you." he chuckled. "Are you telling me if you do like it that you want me to tell you? It's behemoth tongue and coeurl liver. You'll love it."

Once at the restaurant they were met with valets in posh uniforms. They opened the door for Prompto. The man blinked at him and then stood back to allow him out. Noct handed the keys over to another and headed around to fetch his date. The restaurant was at the top of a skyscraper. Noct led Prompto to the elevator that just like his car didn't feel like it was going as fast as it was.

The maitre d was waiting for them in the lobby. He was an older gentleman and had a receding gray hairline but he had a kind face. He led them to a private hallway with a line of closed windowless doors. He opened one to a dining room with a single table and a wall of floor to ceiling windows. This place was already for the upper crust but these rooms were for those who desired privacy on top of that. Celebrities, movie stars, princes... Insomnia was starting to light up. The sun was below the horizon, the sky a beautiful pink with purple creeping up behind the buildings.

Noct put in an order with the maitre d and the man disappeared. "They'll bring wine with the food but I'll ask for water if you want."

Edited (Added fancy restaurant stuff :p) 2019-04-03 15:10 (UTC)

The car ride over was nice. He didn't get to ride often. Cars were still a luxury item, and though his foster parents used one for work, it was rare for him not to just walk most everywhere. Even living at Noct's apartment now, he had to adjust his running schedule to make up for how much less he had to walk or those stops at Kenny Crow's were gonna start showing up on his tummy and thighs. Still, he didn't mind having to compensate for it. Change was nice, and driving together felt like a treat.

"Oh, right, yeah, that makes sense," he nodded. There was no sense in comparing. His parents could never afford to get him a vehicle as a gift, unless it was a pedal-bike maybe, but his parents also weren't royalty, so he could hardly fault them for that. They tried their best.

He let his back stretch out on the passenger seat, amazed at how much leg room there was, and it still smelled like new. Noct and his dad took really good care of their cars, huh?

"Tongue and livers?" Prompto hoped Noct was teasing him. He was going to assume it was a joke, yep. He was definitely not going to ask or think about the fancy stuff they were being served. Best to just eat it and not ask what it was, he decided, resisting the urge to reach up and poke his own tongue. He wasn't sure how that was going to taste... "How about... tell me after we eat it if it's something super weird."

He put it out of mind as they arrived, eyes searching for the door handle, but before he could grab it, someone pulled it for him, and he startled nervously before thanking them and stepping out of the car. Right. Fancy place, not someone trying to jack their car.

Prompto followed him into the restaurant, just a half-step behind and to Noct's right, curiously looking over his shoulder at the surroundings. It was kind of surreal, not just to be in this fancy restaurant, but to see Noct in a new element, strong and decisive and acting like the leader he would someday be. That, combined with the professional attire? All a definite turn-on.

The room they were escorted to was private, which wasn't at all like any of the restaurants Prompto had visited before. He didn't go out much, but even in the nicer places he'd gone, they still served everyone in the same open common area. This really was different. The sunset was gorgeous, and in full splendor across the city's skyline. Prompto really wished he'd brought his camera, the view was stunning.

He found his seat a moment later, somewhat intimidated by the number and type of silverware when he was accustomed to mostly finger-food. Even Iggy's meals only had 2 or 3 utensils. This seemed pretty over-the-top. And wine? Prompto definitely wanted to try it, but would they serve it to a couple of high school kids?

"A-are we allowed to have it?"

Noct never thought about the car trips affecting his fitness. But he worked out with Gladio and came home tired and sweaty. He could use the break in the car, to be honest. He ought to get up and run with Prompto more but... sleep.

It was lost on him that Prompto was so moved to even be in a car. While many crown citizens got through their entire lives without them, Noctis grew up with cars and thought little of them. He did take good care of his but it was mostly due to lack of use that it still smelled new. Ignis drove him around in it now and then but Noct was like Prompto since he moved out. He mostly walked places.

Noct chuckled again, of course, he was kidding. Prompto knew he was a picky eater, there'd be no way he'd eat tongue or liver. Or anything else that was strange. "Oh, I'll tell you, no worries." that it was eyeballs and brains. Just to see Prompto's face. He would have to know it was just steak and maybe some stuffed bird and fish. It wasn't going to be some experimental place. Noct stayed away from that kind of restaurant. Too many vegetable purees and weird meats he wasn't comfortable with.

The restaurant was normal enough to him. He didn't feel like he was a leader at all. He just knew what he wanted and who to tell. They were there to take orders... okay that was sort of the role of a king too. But Noct was far from ready to invite that comparison. He was more excited to try the hors d'oeuvres and the amuse-bouche. He wondered what the chef would pick this time, the amuse-bouche was always the chef's choice after all.

He sat across from Prompto and watched him react to the utensils. "It's pretty easy, you just start on the outside and work your way in. I'll show you." in fact he might need to take Prompto out to places like this more often... he might get better lessons watching him eat before they have to appear at a state dinner together.

"Technically they can, some places have variances." his grandfather signed that particular law into place and his father had yet to veto it. He didn't care one way or the other about it. Select alcoholic beverages could be sold to minors in select establishments and at select volumes. "It's not a lot, just enough to sip each course, they won't give us a lot. You can have most of mine, I have to drive home."

Soon their hors d'oeuvres came out. Goat cheese crostini with fig olive tapenade. Noct picked up a piece of bread and crunched into it. He could eat a whole plate of these to be quite honest.

After that was amuse-bouche and to Noct's chagrin it was two shot glasses of... pea soup. He swallowed and as soon as their waiter was out of the room he looked to Prompto and took one of the glasses.

"Well... bottoms up."

Prompto raised a suspicious eyebrow, pouting a little at Noct's teasing. He knew well enough that Noct was picky, but he also couldn't be 100% certain he didn't like this fancy stuff so much that he refused his regular food for it. Maybe. Unless there were veggies in it, but unlike Noct, Prompto had zero fear of those.

He focused instead on the silverware, which seemed to surround his plate on almost every side. Work from the outside in. Okay, but that was still a multiple choice question. There were forks on the left, like 4 knives on the right, and like 4 more utensils that were set above his plate. Prompto was immensely relieved that they were dining alone and not in a large common room because he'd be feeling pretty overwhelmed if anyone but Noct's eyes were on him. Yikes.

"Yeah, uh. I can unfold the napkin though, right?" He was going to have to watch Noct closely and follow along.

Of course Noct would be able to bypass some rules. Prompto should have assumed as much. His foster parents hadn't left alcohol in the house, they'd barely remembered to grocery shop honestly, so Prompto hadn't tried it before, though he was very curious to give it a shot.

"Oh yeah? Huh. I mean. Yeah that sounds fun, right?" he smiled a little wider. They were really treated like for real adults here, weren't they? He didn't feel at all like he was ready for that, but it was kinda fun to play pretend.

The first dish came out and Prompto waited to see how Noct handled it before following along. All that silverware and they were eating finger-food? Prompto bit into it, tasting the creamy cheese and salty olive over crunchy bread. Okay, maybe it was hard to do without crumbs everywhere, but Prompto managed, chewing thoughtfully.

"It's good!" he grinned, finishing the piece in a couple bites. He'd been worried it would be like some crazy founder's day feast, but if each course was tiny like this, he'd probably be okay. The plates were changed and a shot glass was set in front of him. It looked kinda like the veggie shots they served at some of the smoothie shops and health food places, full of greens.

These shots were... definitely veggie in nature. Was Noct really gonna drink it? Prompto lifted his in cheers and knocked it back. Creamy and warm and way more a soup than a cold veggie shot he'd been expecting. It was kinda sad there wasn't more of it, but the taste was enough to get his appetite excited for more.

"Soup shooters, huh? It's good, it's just... not what I expected," Prompto laughed, watching for Noct's reaction to the greens.

Noct wasn't secretly exciting. Not at all. In fact, he was the worst eater among the high class. He was notoriously picky in the citadel but that was Ignis' problem.

The silverware didn't bother Noct at all but he watched Prompto look over it all. He seemed... Swamped. "Every course you change utensils and you go one set in. They will take away the old utensils." their first two courses didn't require utensils but their soup course was next.

"Yeah, you can. Leave it in your lap. If you need to get up let me know." both so he could teach Prompto how to fold his napkin and tell him where the bathroom was.

Noct could get around a lot of rules if he wanted. That was what money could do for a lot of people but Noct had power. He didn't have to bribe people, things just happened for him and frankly he didn't know what life was like for someone like Prompto. He'd never gone hungry or been completely unremembered by guardians. That wouldn't be a problem for Prompto in the future.

"I guess. It depends on what they give you. Some wines are good some aren't." they were playing at adulthood. Playing house too. They were living like married people though they were also loving each other like children. Full of emotion and carefree. Noct never wanted it to end. Responsibilities could suck his dick.

Fine dining wasn't exempt from finger food. Noct would have to tell Prompto what was OK to eat with his hands. There were a lot of rules surrounding that but none of them came to mind. He'd just have to address things as they came. That wouldn't cause problems at a big public dinner at all.

"Yeah I like this one a lot." Noct smiled. It was the balance of flavors and the fruit kick that really did it for him. The second course... Ugh. Well it was what it was.

"The chef always picks this out. You don't decide what it is. He makes this one with goat cheese, sweet potato chips, and caviar that I love." he'd hoped that would make an appearance but it was too similar to the hors d'ouevre they had. He should have realized they wouldn't have picked it to follow up with.

The pea soup here was good...supposedly. Noct grimaced as he swallowed his. At least it was just a shot glass.

He couldn't help but smile at Prompto's enthusiasm. "Good thing you like it at least." blegh. Not for him. Noct reached over and pointed to the things on Prompto's table setting.

"That's your water glass." he tapped the next glass to the right. "Red wine." and then the right most glass. "White wine. If you don't want any wine you either let them pour it and don't drink or you put your hand over your glass. Don't say anything to the server."

Two writers returned with the next course, soup and a white wine, a small pour of it. And a melon basil soup that was a nice happy pink color. Noct waited for the waiter to be gone and then picked up the right most spoon. This soup was cold but it was refreshing. Kind of sweet, kind of herby.

"You eat to the left, you drink to the right. Your glasses are too the right of you but the bread and butter dish to your left are yours."

He picked up his soup spoon, the biggest spoon and he dipped it in the soup, scooping away from himself then tilting the spoon at his lips and silently sipping it. He did this... Kind of fast. Muscle memory kicked in. He had to stop and think about it.

"You never want to slurp. And you never pick the bowl up, if you can't get any more in your spoon you just leave it."

Prompto did his best to take mental notes as Noctis explained. He might not look it, but he was bright, got good grades, and had a head for facts, math, and science, even if he preferred the fine arts. The rich even had a special way to fold their napkins when they left the table? Go figure. It was like a whole secret society.

"Ok, I'm still gonna watch you though," Prompto nodded.

And wine? Good or not, Prompto wanted to try. Just the idea made him feel mature and a little more grown up.

"I can't imagine anything here not being good. Weird maybe, but probably still good," he shrugged.

At least Noct seemed to like the crunchy bread and cheese stuff. And somehow it was no surprise that Noct would like caviar. He loved seafood, and it was like, the fanciest seafood you could get, right?

He his his grin behind his hand, giggling when Noct made a face at the pea soup. Noct must really be trying hard to impress if he'd go so far as to ingest veggies willingly. It was... kind of adorable.

Prompto followed along as Noct went over all the glasses. So basically don't mess with them and just drink what they put in it, right? He could do that. It was kind of weird to totally ignore the server, like, completely like that. He'd always been taught to smile and thank them and act friendly on the few occasions he'd eaten out with his family.

"Not anything?" he asked, "it's not, like, rude, right?"

When the waiters returned, he sat stiffly in his chair, though he watched, fascinated at the way they efficiently changed courses, leaving them with something new. He hadn't thought there was a right and wrong way to eat soup, and he watched Noct with a worried expression. Did Prompto usually slurp when he ate it? He never paid attention, not til now. Yikes.

Maybe it was better to start with his drink. There couldn't be a wrong way to drink, besides that, he was eager to try it. The amount in the wine glass was small, and after the pea soup, he figured it stood to reason to just drink it in a single pull, there wasn't much anyway. It was definitely not what he expected. Kind of like sour grape-juice, and at first he could taste some of the fruity overtones, but the alcohol burned a few moments later as it slid down his throat. It wasn't bad, but it was very different.

Soup. Okay. He was determined to get it right, and was surprised again that this soup was served cold, not hot like the pea soup had been. It was sweet like melon, but the salty basil helped tone it down, making a really interesting flavor. He wasn't sure he liked it, but he didn't dislike it either.

"How do you keep all that memorized?" Prompto said between sips. Though it was obvious almost as soon as he'd said it. If he'd grown up with every meal like this, of course he'd know it like second-nature. It just made sense.

Prompto was smart, Noct knew that even if some people took him for a simpleton. He was the quiet artistic kid and Noct was the quiet geek. They got along well. In fact, putting it like that it was no wonder they'd gotten together.

And yes, it is a secret society. The elite have always lived that way. They try very hard to be inaccessible to the poor.

"Eh, it's like anywhere else. You like what you like." Mr picky eater wasn't into the whole menu at any restaurant except maybe a ramen or sushi bar. Caviar... Well it was no surprise indeed. He'd have to introduce Prompto to caviar. He could eat the stuff like dip on chips.

And he was trying. He's flashing back to when he was a kid and his dad was beseeching him to eat his pea soup. He'd made him laugh then but he was so... It had been unpalatable to him even then. He smiled at the memory of his dad sticking his tongue out.

"Nah... It's like...you only speak to them if they've made a mistake. If you talk they may think you're calling them out. It's... Weird." silent servants. He'd grown up with them, people who just stand silently on guard as if they aren't really there. His father and he having meals with a room full of people as if they were alone. It was easy to him but odd if he had to explain it. "Besides, it's just us here. Most of time they're serving a lot of people."

Noct sipped his wine, just vaguely tasting it before sipping more of his soup. Prompto was more fun to watch as he discovered wine. The transformation on his face was priceless and said more than words ever could.

"What do you say Prompto? You like it?" he smiled as he sipped his wine again. Not bad.

Then he shrugged. "I dunno. I just do it. You'll get it." his bowl was empty and soon the next course came. Appetizer. Mushrooms stuffed with Pecorino, garlic, and bread crumbs. Noct used a knife and fork with these. The next set... The now outermost set.

"Once you use a utensil it never touches the table again. It leaves with the plate from that course. They'll bring more silverware if they have to, don't try to reuse yours."

Edited 2019-04-04 18:34 (UTC)

To someone like Prompto who had grown up on fast food or easily-made microwave meals, it was pretty incredible. Even if one of the menu items wasn't groundbreaking, it still tasted great. And no tongues or eyeballs so far.

"Well, I like everything so far," he assured.

The stuff with the waiters was kind of surprising. Weird was right. Prompto was used to eating at home in silence, but when people were around, it made sense to talk or be friendly. He could still smile at them though, right? Maybe he should smile...

"Huh. That's kinda... interesting. I though being polite was all about the 'please' and 'thankyou' stuff. But I guess I can see how it might get distracting if you're at a dinner with a lot of people, yeah?"

The wine was... Prompto still wasn't sure how he felt about it. It had burned on the way down, but he didn't feel that different. More like the burning had turned into a soft warmth in his stomach, just vaguely pleasant. Maybe it took a while to do anything?

"It's kinda sour, but not bad," Prompto nodded. The flavor did seem to go nicely with the cold soup.

The next course though, looked really good. Just the smell was fantastic. The garlic was strong and mouth-watering and as soon as he watched which utensils Noct used, he picked his up and dug in.

"Okay, but this? I think is the best yet," Prompto smiled as he took another bite, making sure to cut the piece up pretty small before taking a bite. Mushrooms were alright, but he'd never had one that tasted this good before. "Oh man, I could eat like five more of these."

He was careful not to set the little knife and fork back down where he'd picked them up, at Noct's advice. That would make things much easier if the table got cleared as they went. Phew.

Seeing Prompto's response to Noct's life was both eye-opening and joyful. It was like his birthday sometimes seeing the joy on his face and other times he wondered about his relative privilege. He wasn't fond of it since he was a kid, he didn't like being so othered and unable to connect with others. He didn't like being a zoo animal to them.

"I'm glad... the salad's next." Noct grimaced. He'd ordered one he thought Prompto would like. He hated all of them equally. He might just dump his salad on Prompto's plate... "Please and thanks are for... more everyday stuff. In this setting it's..." he knew what it was. It was a rank thing and he didn't like it but the times he tried to speak to waiters as a kid he was shunned and the waiters seemed annoyed so he stopped.

"There are sweet wines too. We're having a port with dessert." he much preferred those but he wasn't ever allowed to have much. Just a very small pour at the citadel and this restaurant.

"I know, right? I love these." Noct grinned as he dug in. "They change their menu a lot and they don't always have stuff, so when I saw them I had to get them." he dug into his and it was gone in seconds. He moaned softly at one bite. "Ignis can't get these the way this place makes them." he won't tell his Steward that, though, for fear of incurring a flurry of attempts to improve the dish. He and Prompto both would be served various updated recipes for the rest of forever until he got it just so. Which wasn't a bad thing now that he thought about it... but Ignis' poor ego... he might not like it if Noct just undermined his cooking of any recipe he wanted to eat.

"When you're finished, you put your knife and fork like this." he laid his down over his clean plate with the knife. The tines of the fork were down, the blade of the knife was facing left. Both utensils were parallel and pointing at the 5 of a clock face.

"If you were still eating you'd move the fork like this." and he made an inverted V shape with the fork, its tines touching the knife point. "If you put them like this." he put his utensils back to the first position. "It signals the waiter that you're done." and it's easier to lift the dishes and not lose the cutlery.

The next course.... salad... it was a nice one. Supposedly. It had olives, red onions, and feta cheese. But it had... green things... Noct picked at it and ate the olives and cheese then just looked at Prompto. "Do you want mine?"

"I do like salad," Prompto nodded. It'd taken a bit of work to get himself to like them, at least initially, but the more he tried, the more addicted he became. He was almost certain Iggy was hoping it would rub off on Noct too, but no such luck.

He didn't push about how to behave around the wait staff, simply taking note for now, and settled for following Noct's example.

"Sweet wine too?" Okay maybe that sounded a little better. The sour wasn't bad, but he did like sweet best. "Is that what Port is?"

It was nice to see Noct had a pretty hearty appetite for the mushrooms though, and he was surprised to hear Noct compliment anyone above Iggy, even if it was only one dish. No wonder Noct liked this place, that was no small praise. Prompto finished his mushroom in a few more bites, then watched how Noct laid out his silverware on the dish, then copied it on his own. Okay, that definitely made sense. If they couldn't talk to the staff, this was like it's own sort of dinner-language. Interesting.

The salad looked amazing. Fresh and green with onions and cheese and olives. It wasn't overly large; the bowl was small and clearly meant more as a precursor to the main course. Prompto was nearly done with his by the time Noct finished picking at his own.

"Oh- uh, yeah sure!"

The idea of wasting food was foreign to him as well, so Prompto just nodded and offered his hand to take the bowl, handing it back to Noct once he'd emptied it of greens. Trying to get Noct to like veggies seemed like a lost cause, and unlike Iggy, Prompto was more an enabler and eager to please, even if it meant reinforcing the bad behavior. Ah well. He did like salad.

HAH. Ignis thought what now? That was adorable. Go on, Iggy, dream your little dream.

"Yeah, it's a dessert wine. It's red. Ignis told me how they're made once... it was boring." he was busy on his phone at the time and hadn't noticed Ignis was even talking until he was nearly finished.

Mushrooms should be on his shit list but he liked them made well, they could be rather meaty and if he didn't think about it too much they were delicious. Especially when they were stuffed. And Ignis was his trusted chef which was saying more than he was favorite. Noct actually had anxiety about upscale meals since they so often had ingredients he didn't care for. He vetted restaurants quite strictly, people thought the prince was discerning but he was just picky.

The salad was an icky normal salad, it was nice he figured but he couldn't say. They were all equally detestable. Prompto won points by taking his. Noctis didn't like to waste food either thus he'd fob off his undesirables to other people.

Noct was going to be a tough nut to crack with the veggie thing. He really was just going to need time. He wasn't ready to change and no amount of Ignis' cooking would help him get out of that.

Then the salads were switched out for the fish course. Noct's eyes gleamed. Grilled salmon in a soy sauce marinade. He looked like it was his birthday and he moaned softly eating this one. His plate was clean this time. "This is the best." he sighed.

"You seem like you're liking it here." he said with an upbeat tone. "You getting full? We're about halfway through."

Dessert wine. Weird. But he was still pretty excited to try it. The wine from earlier was starting to circulate his system, making him just a bit warm, but quick with a smile and easily content, though he wasn't familiar enough with the drink to associate the feelings, just that it was subtle and pleasant.

He finished most of the salad, leaving just a bit when the staff came to pick it up and replace it with the fish. While seafood wasn't his favorite, he'd still try it. Seeing how excited Noct was, maybe he ought to let him help with this course since he'd helped with the last.

The fish was better than most he'd tried, really salty with the soy sauce, but not bad. He laughed a little.

"Here, why don't you help me with mine, you seem like you really like this one, and then I won't run out of room," Prompto offered. He wasn't stuffed, but he didn't mind saving room, especially if they were only halfway through.

"It's nice," Prompto agreed. "Different. Like. I dunno. I like getting dressed up and going out together. It feels really... grown up, y'know?"

There was all sorts of stuff. He just drank it if he liked it. Noct wasn't feeling his wine but he'd only tasted it. He would only taste any of them since he was driving home. The food would absorb most of it before he had to get behind the wheel anyway.

"Really? You don't like it?" Most looked a bit concerned but then he took the filet and made a quick switch. He was excited, his eyes lit up at his full plate. That dish didn't last long and Noct sighed in pleasure at the last bite.

"Yeah... It's different. I thought you might like it. Well. I hoped. It's good practice anyway. We'll have to do this when it's more than just us." feeling grown up... Well they were dressed the part.

"It's not like ramen shops or the Crow's Nest. But maybe we can come back another time."

The next course was the first main course. Roasted duck with an orange bourbon glaze. Melt in your mouth. Noct made a small noise when he ate it. Delicious. The portions were all small so one might be forgiven for not getting full until later in the meal but he hoped Prompto didn't do up too soon.

"Fish isn't my favorite, but it is yours," Prompto insisted. It wasn't that the fish was bad, far from it, but if it would please Noct? He absolutely would do it. It was well worth it for the look of excitement as Noct dug in and finished it.

Different was probably an understatement, but Prompto would try his best to get used to it. It might be the first, but it probably would be far from the last time. Just the thought of doing this in front of other diners was intimidating, but in front of the king? Or press? Or important visiting dignitaries? Yikes.

"Yeah?" he asked, a little anxious at the thought and already making a mental note to study up for the next one so he was less of a fumbling mess. "Practice is good. I dunno if I'm ready for the big leagues yet."

Not that there was anything wrong with the Crow's Nest, but this place was night and day different from a burger joint. Highlighted even more by the next dish. Wow. Prompto was glad he hadn't filled up on fish, the bird (duck maybe? hopefully not chocobo because it was amazing) had him closing his eyes in culinary ecstasy. It was sweet and rich and had just a little citrus bite to it.

"Oh man, I changed my mind, this is the best one yet, for sure."

"Your sacrifice will not go unnoticed." Noct chuckled. "And don't think you can bribe me with fish when you want stuff." that's a lie. Noct can be bought easily and the price is ramen, fish, sushi, a fishing trip, or a nap. And the most recent addition to that list is sex.

"You don't have to worry about it. People don't really pay attention to anyone but my father. They all vie for his attention, it's a rat race." it disgusted him honestly, the way they all tried to cajole Regis or show off how loyal they were. It didn't work on his father but he never stopped them at meals. Noct didn't want to take up that mantle.

"I don't go to many things. You don't even have to attend anything until I announce you and I'm not going to do that until we're out of school." he didn't want to make a public announcement of his mate at all but he knew it was inevitable. If the citadel made the announcement they had control. Facts, details, who could be present in the press room, how the information was given... It would all be picked apart by their PR staff. But that was better than letting the vultures of Tabloid Journalism publish sensationalized click bait articles that were sure to go viral.

But enough of that. Prompto was happy. His joy brought a smile to Noct's face. He hoped he could always make Prompto happy and not just with new experiences. He was about to get brave enough to try to say that when Prompto moaned and that inspired some dirtier thoughts.

Watching Prompto close his eyes in ecstacy and then the moaning... Noct had to focus on his plate.

"Yeah. Yeah it's really good. I'll let them know you like it, they might make it special for you later."

The palate cleanser came, a mint sorbet. Noct ate his with no complaints. Then after that the second main course. This is what he was craving. Grilled flatiron steak with rosemary potatoes. Perfection.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Prompto rolled his eyes a little, shaking his head. As if Noct ever gave him a reason to need bribing. If anything, since they'd bonded, he felt like he was constantly spoiled, getting things before he'd even asked for them. This dinner, for instance, was beyond anything he'd expected, and he hadn't even thought to ask how much it was costing. Probably an entire mortgage payment at his old place.

"I guess that's a good point," Prompto hedged. Noct had to know that one day that attention would turn from his father to him, right? It would probably be good to watch though, to know who they should be careful of and who to listen to. Prompto couldn't imagine how difficult that would be.

Prompto finished the dish way faster than he'd thought, and it was probably good the portion was small or he'd want an entire plate of it. Would they really make it special for him?

Next was an oddity, sorbet?

"Dessert?" he asked, puzzled. Noct had said they were only close to halfway through, and dessert was always at the end. It was really light though, refreshing in a way, after two meat dishes in a row.

Of course, they came in with even more meat next and it set Prompto's mouth watering. Steak? It was so soft and juicy and absolutely to die for and his knees bounced excitedly as he chewed it.

"Okay, maybe it's a tie because this one is so good too," he sighed in contentment.

Noct could be pretty negligent. Prompto ought to know that by now. How often would he zone out when Prompto was talking or focus more on his games than Prompto when they were in the arcade? He didn't mean to be a selfish jerk but he was one. Plain and simple.

And their dinners with the tips cost more than some peoples' mortgages. Noct didn't pay it much mind. It was fair enough to him.

"We should take the time we have out of the spotlight. Once we're public it'll be different." in what ways he could only imagine. His mother was dead so he didn't grow up watching a royal couple in the limelight but he saw his father and that was already more work than he wanted to take on. He knew it would be him next and he knew he ought to bring Prompto with him to help him determine who was good and who was bad. Prompto's empathy with other people was sharper than his own... another reason they made an excellent match. Clearly, a matchmaker could have done no better.

The restaurant made special things for all their rich clients but the royal family? And Prompto was technically part of the royal family now... they didn't have to ask.

"Palate cleanser. Helps break up the meat when it's back to back." but gods was it delicious.

"Right? I love this stuff. I could eat it all the time." but it was not always worth the wait or his patience. He couldn't help it, he liked to have convenient food like ramen or snacks. The steak was served with a nice rich red wine with beautiful stewed fruit notes and nice spices from decades of barrel aging. It was a really nice red, Noct wishes he could do more than taste it but it went perfectly with the steak. Lucky it was being continued into the cheese course.
"You should put your utensils facing to the right, cut the plate in half. That's a sign you really liked the food."

After that was the cheese course. Cheeses, breads and crackers, and some jams and other spreads. Chutneys, mustards, caramelized onions... Prompto can have all those.

"OK..." the cheese was all on a tray between them but it wasn't for eating off of. There wasn't enough room between all the soft and hard cheeses and the breads and spreads to set anything down.

"You always cut a piece, soft or hard, and put it on your plate first. The soft you have to put on a cracker and eat it with your hands. The hard you can put on a cracker or you eat it with your fork. Only pick up bread or a cracker, don't eat anything else with your bare hands."

"Yeah? Yeah, I guess you're right..."

He didn't like to think that far ahead, if he was honest. He wanted to enjoy what he and Noct had now, even if it was only temporary. Change was all well and good, but he didn't want what they had to change. He wanted to become someone Noct could rely on though, in public or out. And if that's what it took, then he'd do his best.

Palate cleanser... well, he supposed that made sense. Having three meats back to back was bound to overwhelm just about anyone. It was a nice break, and Prompto would never say no to something sweet.

He followed Noct's example when it came to how to arrange his silverware. He'd have done it on the last dish too, if he knew what it meant. But the steak? Absolutely fantastic. It was easily some of the best food he could remember eating.

The cheese course was next and Prompto could feel himself getting full, but he picked up some crackers, following the instructions and nodding along as Noct explained. They even had rules for cheese, it seemed so ridiculous to him, but at the same time, it gave him a better understanding of how Noct had grown up and how learning it could help him be a better support to Noct in the future. That alone was worth it.

"Right. Okay, I think I can remember that. Geez, this must have been hard to learn when you were younger, huh?"

Noct was right there with him. He didn't like change either. Certainly not changes that demanded he appear in public more. He didn't think what they had would change so much as... There might not be as much time for it... And that was bad enough.

The steak was gone. Delicious. Noct could eat it again. Skip dessert and just have that again. But alas... He liked sweets too. And he wanted Prompto to have the full experience.

"Yeah... Sometimes my meals took a long time. I had a nanny that wouldn't let me continue unless I got it right." because while Noctis was smart he was stubborn and Regis had rather seen his son eat than master etiquette in their short time together.

Noct got quiet at the mention of her though. That was his favorite nanny. She'd been like his mother. And she'd been with him when the daemon attacked their car.

It felt like the steak disappeared almost as fast as it arrived. Prompto hadn't been able to stop himself from wolfing down each tender bite, his stomach growing warm and content. He drank deeply, wincing a bit at the gentle warming burn of the red wine, savoring how it tasted with the red meat. Gods, it was good.

He was munching idly at the cheese as Noct explained, seeing he'd touched a nerve or a painful memory. He could feel the mood change as Noct was lost in thought, and Prompto nudged his foot under the table gently, hoping to bring back a little cheer.

"I'm glad you're not as tough on me. We'd probably starve waiting," he fell back on self-deprecating humor, his usual. If Noct wanted to talk about it, he'd listen, and if he didn't, he'd keep trying to bring more light and sunshine into his mood.

"We're almost out of silverware, must be getting close though, right?"

""

Red wine was a winner huh? When they were older Noct might stock some at their place. Wherever that was, maybe by the time they were legal they'd be living in the citadel. He'd keep red wine in their wine fridge and Prompto could have a drink when he wanted. Maybe they'd have a tradition of it at night. It was good for your heart supposedly.

Noctis was a bit caught up, even with Prompto nudged his foot. He smiled a bit but he was still lost in thought about her.

"You're faster than I was... she'd have loved you." Most of his slowness in learning was stubbornness and not a lack of understanding. He was a bit inattentive when he was young which made it more difficult but his nanny was patient and she repeated things as many times as she needed to until finally he gave in and just did it correctly so she'd stop. Then she rewarded him by going out to play and he learned to love her.

The course changed to dessert. A rich flourless chocolate cake and a glass of nice port wine. Noctis reached for the fork at the top of his plate. After a bite he spoke again. "She was like my mother. I saw her more than my dad when I was little. She was with me when the daemon attacked our car. She got me out."

Prompto wanted to reach across the table, to squeeze Noct's hand and tell him it would be okay. He might not understand how awful it could be to love someone and lose them, but he understood having that empty aching hole, a lonely sadness that begged for comfort. He offered Noct a soft smile, trying to keep the worry for his mate from his features.

"I'm sure she'd be proud of you," Prompto assured, for once not distracted by dessert. The cake looked amazing, but it was hard to enjoy when he was worried for Noct.

"You've grown into such an amazing person," he added. And he hadn't lost perspective. Noct had been through some truly awful things, but he hadn't let it get him down or control him. He was both strong and compassionate, tempered by his past.

Noctis hadn't meant to steer their date in this direction. He'd try to get them out of this weird place but it was hard. He hadn't thought of her so concretely in years. Hadn't even spoken about her since she died. But Prompto was being so kind to him, and he may be right. Maybe she'd be proud of him. But likely she'd know he could try harder than he was.

"Her name was Julia. I've never talked about her... Not to anyone." and it felt like a cruelty, as though he'd kept her imprisoned. It was like she just went away. He was comatose when they held her funeral. But the time he was awake they were leaving for Tenebrae and then after the chaos that surrounded their return home... Julia just wasn't on the forefront of peoples' minds.

Prompto's worry need not be on his face, Noct could feel it. "You too. You've dealt with more than I have." growing up alone, unsupervised, after being freed from the empire.

"Thank you... You should try that cake. It's really good."

Prompto watched quietly as he spoke, nodding. Clearly it was still bothering him, even after so long. He and Noct had that in common, keeping far too much under the surface, letting it eat away at their insides. Surely there were deeper hurts, ones they hadn't yet touched on, but he was grateful to Noct for confiding in him, and hoped he could be of comfort in return.

"It's not fair to compare. We've both had...struggles growing up," Prompto glanced down at the uneaten cake. He'd been too small to remember his time in Niflheim, his original parents, whatever family he might have had, this was his life now, and that's what mattered.

"But thank you."

He picked up the first dessert fork, toying with it in his fingers for a moment before picking up his first bite and raising it in a sort of toast.

"To brighter futures then," he smiled faintly before taking a bite.

They had each other now to help alleviate the hurts and to heal each other. Noctis hadn't exposed himself to other people, Prompto was the first but he trusted him. Besides... Who could he tell if not his mate?

"Yeah..." he was right. They had different lives and different upsets. But that made them who they were today.

Prompto seemed ready to move on. He was better at lightening the mood than he was. He raised a piece of cake on his fork too.
"To brighter futures." and then he ate it and damn that was the best chocolate cake ever. So rich. He needed the port to help cut it but that was sweet too. It was delicious. Just leave him there forever.

Prompto was more than willing to listen if Noct wanted to talk, but he also wanted to help keep the mood light. Noct was probably spending a ton on this evening and it was so nice. Serious talk wouldn't ruin it, of course, but he wanted them both to come away with good memories.

"So good," Prompto's feet kicked happily back and forth under the table as he tried the cake. It was dense and rich and so very tasty. He went in for a couple more bites, closing his eyes and savoring the taste. This was way too good. Imagine having meals like this all the time, Prompto's diet would be in shambles!

"I'm in heaven."

The same went for Prompto. Noctis works always listen to him. Or always try at least. He sometimes was... Lazy. Or distracted. Either way. He was making good memories tonight. Seeing Prompto happy was worth any price.

"Right? It's the best. What do you think of that dessert wine?" he bit into his cake little by little. Small bites made it last longer and didn't overwhelm the palate.

As soon as they're finished with that one. It's the end. Mignardise. It's a plate of miniature macarons. A tiny splash of coffee that tied them together. Except Noctis drank his with a certain... Swiftness. He had to get it out of his mouth. He liked to like coffee he just... Hated it.

Prompto had completely forgotten the wine glass and polished off his last two bites of cake before taking a long pull from the cup. It was much sweeter than the other two, but still helped with the richness of the cake. It was gone in two swallows and after the other two glasses, it did make him feel just a little warm and dizzy.

"It's so sweet," Prompto commented, "I didn't think it would match with the cake, but it's nice."

Prompto took his coffee with plenty of cream and sugar when he rarely had some, but with the plate of tiny cookies, and having just finished his cake, it almost felt like too much.

He popped one of the mini macarons into his mouth, loving the soft, chewy texture and the sweet buttercream filling. It was like a mix between cookie and a brownie put together into a frosting sandwich. He'd looked at them longingly in sweet-shop windows, but never actually tried them. They were every bit as delicious as he hoped.

"I'm stuffed," he sighed happily.

Prompto looked like he was getting tipsy. Noctis wondered if he needed to go home after this. Maybe so. He'd contemplated taking him somewhere else after this but with the alcohol they drank maybe it was best to just go home, hang out, have sex, and sleep. They could sleep in. Noct could just take Prompto out again tomorrow and make a day of it.

"It's pretty good. Better than some of the others." he liked his sweets though. Dessert wine was always going to be his favorite.

While his mate sighed over his cookies, Noctis handled the bill. He barely glanced at the total. He brought cash to tip the wait staff and valet too.

He popped his macarons in his mouth and hummed. They were subtle but delicious. He'd have to have Ignis make more.

"Same. Did you like it? I'll bring you back if you want." Prompto seemed to enjoy himself here and Noct wondered what his response would be to other dishes here. Plus he liked having a special date place that was unique to them being together. They could always go to the Crow's Nest or his beloved sushi bar but they'd been there before they were a couple. This was special to him.

Prompto almost regretted the tightly fitted slacks. The portions were small, but there were so many. He didn't even want to think about how many calories he'd just eaten, even less how much it must have cost. He popped one last macaron into his mouth, wondering if it was considered rude to ask to take the rest home. Was there a fancy term for doggy bag?

"Don't tell Iggy, but I don't think I've ever eaten anything so good, like... like ever," Prompto insisted. It was way too tempting to think of coming again. Maybe just for special occasions. He blushed a little, though it was made all the brighter with the wine.

"Thanks Noct. Like, really, I loved it."

"Your secret is safe with me." Noct smiled. "I'm glad. I like this place a lot." he wanted to make it a regular stop for them, even if just for special events. That's all he came here for too, special milestones, celebrations, nights out from the citadel when he was a kid. It was somewhere to bring Prompto to introduce him to royal life in private. The dining at least.

As they headed out Noct tipped their waiter and then the valet as they got in his car. "Okay... how do you feel? Do you want to go home or do you want to stay out?" he had a stop in mind but it would be open tomorrow no matter how Prompto decided.

Prompto was surprised how lightheaded he felt when he stood, leaning on his chair for support for a moment while he got his feet under him. Was that how wine made you feel? It was warm and kind of dizzying, but not in a bad way. He followed Noct as they left, wanting to hold hands, but not entirely sure it was allowed in public just yet. He didn't even notice as Noct took care of the bill or the valet. There were so many helpful staff it was hard to keep track.

He stepped into the passenger seat, feeling full and content. Go home or stay out? That was a tough one. The heavy dinner made the idea of a food coma sound incredibly tempting. But he was in high spirits and the idea of going other places sounded exciting.

"I feeeeeel... pretty good," he all but bounced on his seat. "Where do you wanna go Noct?"

That was how Noct preferred it. If Prompto didn't notice the money then he was doing it right. He didn't necessarily want PDA but... he would be open to holding hands in the elevator. In fact he accidentally brushed his hand against Prompto's once the doors closed and he just took his hand. That was bold for him but it was nice. Someday when he was king he would do that without any worry what anyone would say. That... was the first time he ever looked forward to being king.

Once in the car he sighed. He was alone at last, no more people to perform in front of. Unless Prompto said yes to staying out.

"I found a photography exhibition opening this weekend and we can go tonight if you want. Or tomorrow if you want to go home." or both if Prompto wanted to split the time. Ignis had found the thing and presented it to Noctis as something to do for his mate. He had not said anything in response to it but clearly it was a good idea. Right? Wasn't it right up Prompto's alley?

Even tipsy, Prompto could see the difference in Noct when he was performing in public and when they were back in the privacy of his car. Just the idea that Noct had thought about taking him out to a photography exhibit kind of floored him. He paid way more attention than Prompto had given him credit for. It was thoughtful and sweet and Prompto was just inebriated enough to be more physical and open in his appreciation.

"Oh! Yeah I heard about that!" he chewed his lip, weighing the two options. Noct probably didn't wanna be out too much longer, and he'd said they could go tomorrow. He definitely wanted to take his time and enjoy the exhibition to the fullest. Tonight? Might be good to just stay in and play games or...

"Let's go tomorrow," he smiled, leaning in toward Noct and letting his fingers trace the shoulder seams of that flawlessly tailored suit. "You look too good to share tonight."

Noct wants to make Prompto happy and he knows he's been neglected so why not take advantage of his affluence and go to all the places he's missed out on? Besides he liked introducing Prompto to fun things. It made him feel like he was doing something worthwhile and like he was a good provider. He did notice what Prompto liked but he wasn't the best at going out of his way to find things like this exhibition. Ignis deserved Prompto's thanks.

Admittedly, Noctis was relieved to go home. He wasn't tipsy, he hadn't had much wine but he still had aspirations of getting laid tonight. Not that they weren't active but...

"We'll make a day of it." maybe he'd find something else to do with Prompto and they'd eat out and... Woah was Prompto coming on to him? Noct's eyes narrowed and he moved in closer to nibble Prompto's ear. He loved that talk, wanted that so much. He wanted to go home and tackle his mate into bed and fuck until the wee hours. Sleep in, then go out for breakfast and stay out all day then come home and do it again.

He hoped he was sexy when he spoke. Prompto seemed to do it so easily. "I could say the same to you... But I better get you behind a closed door."

Edited 2019-04-11 21:53 (UTC)

"That sounds amazing," Prompto smiled, voice still pitched a little lower than usual, speech the tiniest bit slurred from the drink. When Noct leaned in to nip at his ear, he shied away slightly, fingers brushing over his ear, blush only increasing.

Prompto licked his lips, a little disappointed at the need for discretion, adopting a childish pout. "Car doors don't count?"

It disappeared a moment later as he reached over to slip Noct's tie loose of his jacket. "I guess I'll have to wait. I'd hate to leave a mess in your pretty car."

When Prompto shied away Noctis was a bit disappointed but he leaned in closer to grab that ear between his teeth. Not hard but... That's his.

"It can if you want... I'd rather have more room." then Prompto was pulling his tie out. Oh it was on. He licked his lips.

"You don't have to worry about that... But I mean... If you really want to." he reached over to pull Prompto's tie out too. He still had to drive home but he was distracted. "Whatever you want."

Prompto couldn't help the whimper that escaped as Noct bit his ear. He'd never realized how sensitive they were until Noct. He shivered, but didn't pull away.

"The seats are nice too. Do they go back all the way?" Prompto sucked his lower lip mischievously. The car might be kind of cramped, but it was one of those things that was too tempting not to want to at least try.

"Maybe just a warm-up," he suggested. No reason they couldn't park at home for a little fun and then move things up to their bed. He wasn't sure what it was about the wine that had him feeling so amorous; they were thoughts that often crossed his mind, he just rarely voiced them.

He let Noct pull his tie out, then slipped the knot loose himself, so the tie hung on either side of his collar. The first two buttons followed, exposing just a little more skin.

"We better hurry back, hmm?"

And Noct was going to make a habit of nibbling them. He enjoyed how Prompto sighed and shivered. It was like pushing a button.

"Not that far." Was Prompto planning to ride him in this seat? They went back a little but but not much, the cab of his car was small and inflexible. It was a convertible but that didn't help their situation.

"Warm up? You keep this up I'm gonna have to pull over." Prompto was so reactive thought it was getting Noct worked up. He watched as Prompto's buttons came undone. His first bite becoming visible. Noct had to drive but he wanted to lick that collarbone.

He was aware he had better not start anything in the car. Tinted windows or not, they were vulnerable to being photographed through the windshield. So as he drove he just kept his hand on Prompto's leg. His fingers crept from his knee to his inner thigh feeling for the scarred bite through fabric.

At the next red light he leaned over to kiss him.

Edited 2019-04-12 14:55 (UTC)

The drive to the restaurant had gone by so quickly, but the drive home felt like it was taking ages. Of course, it didn't help that all Prompto wanted to do was put his hands all over Noct as soon as possible. Pity the seats didn't recline much.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Prompto got one more button undone, shirt open to right about where his vest began. He spoke with much more confidence than he usually had, such thoughts typically over-ridden with anxiety and worry. He didn't think about how public it would still be, how recognizable the prince's vehicle had to be.

The hand on his knee was welcome though, even moreso as it began to move up his leg, drifting to his inner thigh and the sensitive area Noct had marked him before. He let out an appreciative moan, back arching slightly in his seat. He almost missed it when Noct leaned over to kiss him, but turned to meet his lips just in time, a smile on his own, still tasting of all the sweets they'd had as they left.

It was slower, traffic was heavier and Noctis was only halfway paying attention to the road.

"What, you want me to pull over?" he watched as another button came undone. He found his lip between his teeth and he kept having to focus on the road. His fingers tightened around Prompto's leg. He'd never seen him like this but it was doing everything for him.

He moaned softly into the kiss and then pulled back suddenly. The light turned green. He pumped the gas and hurried them home. Once they were in the parking garage he was free to grab for his mate. His voice husky.

"Come here."

The logical side of his brain knew that distracting the driver was dangerous, but it was taking a backseat now with the warm buzz of alcohol in his system. He was small and slight and a little went a long way, a fact which he'd only found out tonight.

His breath caught as Noct's fingers closed around his thigh, and he could feel just how tight his pants felt as his body started to get excited about the teasing touches.

Luckily, it didn't take long before they got back to the apartment, hidden in the low lighting of the parking garage. Prompto was only too happy to obey, carefully climbing over the arm-rest and the gear-shift, wedging himself between the steering wheel and Noct's lap. Once there, he was only too happy to start helping Noct with his formal attire, loosening his tie and starting on the buttons of his dark shirt.

"You look so good tonight," he breathed, leaning in close, breath in his ear. "So strong and sexy..."

Prompto came over so eagerly. Noct reached out to lift him over his gear shift and into his arms. The way Prompto was whispering to him made chills run down his spine. He needed to get in his clothes, needed to get Prompto laid out before him. He kissed him hard, moaning into his mouth, and licking his lips to before pushing inside.

He lowered his seat back, just a few inches before it tapped the rear window. "At least you won't be sitting on the steering wheel." speaking of which... "these pants are hot as hell on you, wear them more." his ass looked amazing, just like Noct wanted to bite into him. Or just cancel dinner and fuck instead.

He started to unbutton Prompto's vest and move his hands into his shirt to touch him. "You're gorgeous, Prom, always have been."

Prompto was only too happy to kiss him back, the sweet taste of dessert still on his tongue. Noct hadn't taken much convincing, and Prompto was determined to make things fun.

Even the few spare inches helped, giving Prompto room to shift, at least a little. Enough to have fun, at least, and he rolled his hips forward against Noct's.

"Yeah?" he took a breath between kisses, moaning softly as Noct's hands slipped under his shirt. "Sure you don't prefer me without 'em?"

His laugh was playful, but even so, the compliment threw him. It was one thing to flirt, but Noct's praise was so straightforward, so hard to ignore and even harder to accept without blushing furiously.

"W-well. Lucky you and lucky me then. I have such a handsome guy who thinks I'm gorgeous," Prompto managed, finishing with Noct's buttons, fingers playing over Noct's belt for a moment before sliding it slowly out of its buckle.

He tasted like macarons and chocolate cake. And wine. Not a bad combination, they'd have to go back for it another night.

And the few inches helped. As Prompto shifted around Noct inhaled. This was really happening here, wasn't it?

"Hell yeah, I like you without 'em. I like you in 'em too. Makes me wanna take 'em off." he wasn't the best at flirting. He just... told the truth and that seemed to work so far? Prompto seemed better at this than him and he hoped he could just catch up.

"You're cute when you blush like that." he listened to the clink of his belt and it went right to his dick. He felt himself stiffen in his pants. Quickly, he reached for Prompto's belt too. How was he gonna get his pants off in the car... how could he... maybe he could just get them down far enough to get inside...

"Mmmm, I think I can help you with that," Prompto purred in his ear, hands moving from Noct's belt to help with his own, only to realize that yeah, with his legs straddling his mate like this, sliding his trousers down is going to be harder than he thought. Maybe if he can just get one leg free...

Prompto slips one shoe off, leaning his back carefully against the steering column, unzipping his slacks. Thanks the astrals for those few extra inches. He pushes them down over his hips with a blush and it takes a bit of fumbling and unintentional grinding up against his partner, but he pulls his knee in close enough to slip one leg free. He's exposed and definitely fully aroused as he leans back in.

"I'll have to... work on my flexibility," he said with a breathy laugh.

He shivered again, Prompto in his ear made him want to close his eyes and rut into him. His hands moved to Prom's hips and he moaned as they ground together in the attempt to get semi-naked.

Prompto's cock popped out, happy to see him. Noct couldn't resist taking it in hand and slowly stroking him as his Omega made himself accessible.

"Good~ I like it when you strip for me, you can practice anytime you want. I'll judge." he licked his lips and reached between Prompto's legs. "Are you already wet for me?"

If Noct's moan wasn't enough to spur him on, his hand around Prompto's cock definitely had him gasping and rocking his hips forward. He gave a breathless moan, leaning back on the steering wheel, giving Noct a full view of his long, lean body, fingers undoing the last couple buttons to expose his chest and stomach. Noct liked a show? Prompto was happy to give him one now that he was feeling a bit bolder.

"Mmmmm, Noct, your hands always feel so good," he moaned, letting his own hand overlap Noct's for a moment.

"See for yourself," he slid his own fingers lower and in first, coming back slick and wet as he guided Noct's hand to join his. He leaned forward and let his other hand return to Noct's waistband, unzipping the slacks now that the belt was already loosened.

"Got me all worked up, looking like that."

Noct drank that in. His hands moved up Prompto's belly and over his abs, across his chest and around to his neck. He sat up and pressed his mouth to his skin, licking him, wrapping his tongue and lips around a nipple.

"Just my hands?" he teased. He would consider going down on Prompto... upstairs. They were doing enough gymnastics here as it was.

"I am seeing." Noct licked his lips as Prompto showed off his slick. He wanted out of his pants and into his mate. Prompto's hands couldn't work fast enough. He tried to help him but it was too many hands in the small area. There was little else he could add to help him.

"You say that like it was my intention..."

Once he was free, he lifted off the seat just enough to slide his pants down pver his ass to give himself more breathing room. His shaft stood tall and he slid his hands up Prompto's legs. One clothed, one not. "Been dying to get in you all night, looking like that, you were asking for it."

Once he'd helped Noct out of his pants, he tried to keep his hands out of the way, letting his mate touch and lick wherever he pleased. Prompto let out a whimper as Noct's mouth closed around one nipple, only furthering his excitement, his cock twitching with need.

"Mmmm, your lips... your tongue... even better," he breathed.

He saw Noct in his uniform almost every day, but that just didn't hold a candle to this. The suit was made for him, perfectly highlighted his proportions, drew attention in all the right places. It smelled fresh and clean and the fabric was luxurious, it was night and day difference.

"Well... if it wasn't... now you know what it does to me," he smiled again.

He could feel Noct's cock, hard and hot between his thighs and he pushed them a little wider, bumping Noct against his entrance before flexing his thighs, pressing down against him.

"Mmmm I sure was. I'm glad you noticed."

He groaned and licked the other nipple, closing his lips around it too once the first one was already puffy and pink.

"I want to leave marks on you that you can't hide." hickeys he couldn't cover up in this weather. Just a sign that he was his and no one else's.

The uniform was more comfortable because it wasn't as fitted as his suit. This was more restrictive and was tailored to make him into eye candy. He knew he looked good in all his suits but the way Prompto responded meant he'd probably have more of them brought to the apartment.

"Oh, it was intentional, glad to see it works." so he knows how to get laid easier. Just a little dressing up. Did Prompto... like the scent? His cologne? He didn't know how to ask. It didn't seem to be hurting his chances here.

His dick slid between slick thighs and he grunted as it found the wet entrance. He wanted to just push inside but had to wait. Had to let Prompto do that himself.

"That is the right way to ask me but if you ever just want to strip for me, that would work too." He sighed, wanting Prompto to lower himself over him, to feel that tight fit again.

Prompto moaned as Noct moved his attention to the other nipple. It felt so damn good, he hardly cared that he was half-naked in the prince's car. The parking garage was private enough that it was probably fine, right?

"Mmm, yes, I'm yours Noct... yours..." he whispered.

Prompto let his already-slick fingers find Noct's shaft, shifting his position as he lowered his hips. It was snug for a moment before the tip pressed through that tight ring of muscle and his moan grew louder as he rolled his hips, panting in effort when he finally fit all of Noct's length inside him.

"Yeah?" Prompto's voice was a lusty whisper; he felt so good, so hot and nearly came just from that first motion, but he wouldn't, couldn't dirty that lovely suit.

He brought his arms around Noct's neck, holding him close as he began to pull back out, then lower himself again, starting up a steady rhythm.

"I'll have to remember that. Next time."

Noct wondered if it wasn't so fine but the lighting was fairly dim and he'd parked in a far corner of the lot so... they were probably fine? There weren't cameras in the parking garage strangely enough so they had that going for them. Plus, if they fogged the windows up they would be golden.

"I want everyone to know it." not really. He liked being private but in these moments he could shout his love from the rooftops. Especially when Prompto did shit like just sitting on his whole cock in one stroke. He groaned as it happened, gods, his mate was amazing. The best really. Obviously.

"Course it was. You think I like getting in those things?" he'd rather live in sweatpants and t-shirts forever. He could reign in those things, he didn't need the suite but the suits got him laid... so finally, they had a purpose.

He held Prompto's ass cheeks as he bounced on him. It was so much, he couldn't help but pant as they got into a rhythm.

"Can't wait to see it... this... this was a good idea... doing this out here."

"Mmmm, I want to feel your marks Noct, please..." he begged, turning his head so his neck and collarbone were easily accessible. A hickey, a bite, he didn't care what, he loved seeing his mate's marks on his body, reminders of how much he cared, that he had a place he belonged, that he would always have a place at Noct's side.

Gods, he wanted to come so badly, wanted to let that release flood over him, but he'd wait, he whimpered again, each roll of his hips rubbing his cock between them, and he couldn't stop the pre-cum from leaking from his tip. His breathing was rough and he sped up, slowly at first, sliding along Noct's length, then pressing back down against him, hitting so deep, so good.

"Gods, yes... yes... Noct you feel so good... Noct..."

"They're all yours." and Noctis did what he did during their heat. Almost. No teeth this time. Just lips and tongue and bruising. Soon Prompto would have a cluster of hickeys on his neck and shoulders, some on his chest. One on his bicep just because.

Prompto ought to come soon. Noctis liked to come together and it was close for him. He took his mate in hand and jacked him in rhythm with their fucking.

"You amaze me, you can do anything so well. You feel so incredible inside... He a good boy and come for me."

Prompto tried to keep a steady pace as Noct left marks up and down his neck, his chest, even his arm. There'd be no hiding them, and he flushed a bright red.

"I love it."

He was sure he'd be able to hold on, right up until Noct touched him, coaxing him, his voice more suggestion than order, but more than enough to do the job. Prompto tried to fight it, but shuddered as he came between them, hips jerking out of their rhythm, twitching as he finished.

"N-Noct, please, I can't... I..." was all he managed.

It was a bit difficult to leave marks when Prompto was bouncing on him but Noctis considered it an accomplishment that he made just as many hickeys as he did.

He would have had a slick reply for Prompto but things changed so fast. As soon as he touched him he was coming in his hand. The way Prompto cried out, the way he twitched and shuddered. It was too much. He finished inside him with a low growl and then laid back in his seat catching his breath. He relaxed his body and key his pheromones out. This car had to be filled with them after all that so why bother holding them in?

"You better know I'm not even close to done with you."

Prompto was panting with the effort, leaning back against the wheel as his chest rose and fell. He was already dizzy with the wine, but Noct's pheromones were so strong, combined with the scent of his cologne, it was heavy and strong.

He felt bad about the mess, he'd tried to hold back, but...

"Sorry... I... your suit..." he looked guiltily down, but Noct was already talking about going again.

"You want to keep going?" he breathed, a smile returning to his lips.

This was the way he liked his mate, he decided. Panting, freshly fucked, nude. Or almost nude. He needed to get Prompto home and get the rest of these clothes off. It seemed like his pheromones were doing their job so he had a limited time to get them upstairs.

"Huh? What about... Oh... Whatever. It'll wash." and it's not his problem. He didn't care really. It would come back fresh and ready for action.

"... How fast can you get dressed?" he grinned.

Noct didn't seem bothered, so Prompto decided not to dwell on it. The alcohol made it a lot easier to push the anxiety aside, to worry less about the consequences. The question though, Prompto nodded, pushing himself up and off his lover's cock with a soft moan.

"Mmmm... fast enough."

It seemed silly to dress, only to rid themselves of the clothing as soon as they got up to the apartment, but the vaguely-aware logic side of his mind knew that streaking through the parking garage was unacceptable behavior.

It was sort of a messy business, but Prompto managed to climb back onto the passenger seat, slacks still bunched around one leg. From that position, it was a lot easier to pull on the other leg and shimmy up into them. He didn't bother with his belt, but did up a few of his shirt buttons. It was... messy, and obvious what they'd been up to. His lower half was sticky and clung to the fabric.

"I'm not sure uh... where my shoe ended up."

His suits weren't particularly valuable to him. He had a ton and he'd have a ton more. Hell, designers gave them to him in hopes he'd wear them out. By tradition he was supposed to part ways with this suit. Can't wear things twice. Not that he followed that rule.

He moaned too when Prompto pulled off him. He felt so wet and sticky but quickly he hoisted his pants up and buckled his belt.

Prompto was a mess. Pants on one leg, then clearly looking like he was about to embark on a walk of shame. Rumpled half buttoned shirt, too-tight pants, no tie... His vest wasn't buttoned at all. It was hot as hell.

"I think I see it." deep in the well by the gas pedal. Noctis retrieved it and handed it over.

"Put that on and let's go upstairs. Quick. I gotta get out of this suit. It's hot."

"Thanks!"

Prompto slipped his shoe on, feeling a mess, but there was little he could do for it. At least he had clothing on. He agreed with making haste, and slipped out the car door, hoping they hadn't left too much of a mess behind. Did Noct have people to clean up? Ignis seemed to do most of his housekeeping, but Prompto really hoped Iggy didn't have to clean those sort of messes too.

He hurried across the parking garage, trying to straighten his shirt, running a hand through his hair. The bobby pins had helped keep part of it in place, but it probably wouldn't last. Waiting for the elevator seemed like it took forever and he could hardly wait to get back to the privacy of their apartment and help Noct out of his suit.

They both were messes. Noct's suit needed cleaning, both of them needed a shower. And they'd best head back upstairs before anyone noticed them. Ignis... may be the one handling the cleaning but... well actually that probably wasn't him. The car was professionally cleaned on a regular basis, fueled up and inspected. It wasn't likely Ignis' job but the suit was. Maybe Noct should take it to a dry cleaner himself. But it wasn't like it would be a one-time thing...

Noct got to the elevator first and pressed the button, waiting calmly for it. He was feeling antsy, hoping they didn't have anyone see them but as the doors opened he recognized his next door neighbor. For a moment his blood ran cold but her head was down. She was face down in her phone, she stepped out not even noticing as Noctis stepped out of her path. He looked to Prompto wide-eyed and hurried into the elevator. Just a quick trip to their floor and they were home free. Hopefully. He had his key in hand. He really need to get Prompto a key made... or wait, did Ignis say he was going to?

"That was close."

Prompto almost jumped out of his skin when the elevator opened and Noct's neighbor walked out. He hurried along behind Noct and rushed into the elevator, covering his mouth with his hand to stifle a laugh until the doors were firmly closed. Once the box began to rise he erupted into giggles.

It was close, it was really close, and they were lucky not to get into trouble, but taking in the state of them both, it was hard not to find the whole thing terribly amusing.

He got it under control in a few minutes though, shaking his head. "I can't believe she didn't notice!"

As soon as the doors closed Noct looked at Prompto in the reflection of the elevator doors. He couldn't help it watching him try not to laugh. He cracked a smile and then a chuckle. Then a stifled laugh.

"She was this close to you too! She ought to watch where she's going." he relaxed, let himself grin both in humor and relief that they'd gotten away with it. "Imagine if she'd walked into you." or him.

He grinned the whole way out of the elevator, a bit of a bounce in his step. He was so sure they were in the clear. They had one encounter and passed by it. So they had to just get down the hallway, ease the key in the lock, and they were in. And then the filthy lovemaking could begin anew.

"So... any ideas what you want to do once we're alone? Any position you want me to put you in?" Noct asked a bit too casually.

Prompto was feeling great, excited and breathless with laughter, still riding the high of their earlier escapades. He followed Noct out of the elevator, scanning the halls for any sets of eyes and hopping along behind. They were nearly to the door when Noct taunted him with the idea of what to do next. He'd already discovered that Noct liked the idea of Prompto stripping for him, but positions...?

"Hmmm, how's your back today?" he asked. At least one of the ideas he had in mind might take some lifting. Up against the wall maybe? Though there were probably some easier ones that would be just as fun. Bent over a desk or table. If they were feeling adventurous, maybe using Noct's tie to... make sure Prompto stayed exactly where Noct wanted him? Following his Alpha's orders as he pleased him with his mouth...

Just the ideas had him getting excited again and he dropped his voice a bit lower, "I... might have a few in mind."

Once Noct unlocked the door he tugged Prompto inside and locked it swiftly. Exhale. They made it. He pulled Prompto in for a long kiss. "Feels great today, did you want to put me to work?" he could handle it. Especially now that he felt so good. Besides, if he wore himself out it was the weekend. He could lay in bed and play games while Prompto doted on him.

Fucking against the wall would be hot. And over a table too. And... yes, tying him up. Or being tied up while Prompto rode him. He liked both ideas. Maybe they could make a weekend out of it. He might have to stock some red wine...

"Tell me your favorite one... and come on. I gotta get this off." he needed to be rid of his clothes, he felt... icky. And maybe Prompto might want to take his time getting his own clothes off. Like make a show of it? He probably felt grosser than Noct did but it was worth a hope, right?

Noct didn't waste a moment. Prompto returned the kiss, leaning into it, fingers running down the silk of his shirt, already eager to start unbuttoning. He broke away after a moment, heading toward the bedroom.

"Mmm, hard work... if you're up for it."

He was also eager to be free of the sticky clothing. He kicked off his shoes near the door, fumbling with his socks as he finally reached the bed. His favorite one? That was such a hard choice. It was hard not to enjoy himself, Noct always saw to that, but if he was feeling adventurous, Prompto wasn't going to say no.

Prompto closed the door behind them, twisting the lock on the off-chance Ignis was around, or would show up anytime soon.

"I'll be happy to help you out of it," Prompto licked his lips slowly, eyes running over Noct one more time before he thought about removing the well-fitted suit. He leaned back against the door, arching his back in an amateur attempt to look alluring as he fixed Noct with a half-lidded, sultry gaze.

"I thought we could try it... right here."

No time to waste. He was counting the seconds until he was naked again. The suit was too hot.

"You're the only hard work I like."

And Prompto need to be free of his clothes. His pants had to be a mess...that thought shouldn't arouse him as much as it did.

"Your generosity is overwhelming." he caught that look. Prompto was thirsty. So... Maybe this was his new favorite suit. He pulled his blazer off and tossed it aside. Then his shirt. Stepping forward, foot between Prompto's legs he crowded his mate against the door.

"I'd like to see you like that." his hands slid down Prompto's curved back to grab his ass and give it a squeeze before he fumbled with taking them off.

"Noct..."

Prompto couldn't help but stare as Noct undressed, eyes flicking over the jacket and shirt as they hit the floor, only to have his complete attention stolen by Noct as he stepped over to him, pinning him against the door. For a moment, Prompto forgot to breathe, eyes fluttering as Noct ran a hand down his back and over the curve of his ass before trying to help him with his pants.

"Happy to give... anything you want."

He closed his eyes for a moment, hands coming to rest over Noct's as he helped with the slacks, unzipping the front before sliding them slowly over his hips, a quiet whimpering noise escaping as the sticky fabric left him. It took a moment to be free of them, but he felt much better with his hips and thighs bare, his dress shirt still covering him loosely.

"Like this?" he asked, breathing shaky with lust more than any sort of apprehension or fear. Prompto looked up, eyes large and doe-like as he continued to undress. He let the vest, already unbuttoned, slip from his shoulders before unhooking the dress-shirt's buttons one by one, eyes flicking down occasionally.

He liked being the center of Prompto's attention. He commanded it in fact, knew that he did and he felt powerful in moments like these. He stared into Prompto's eyes, the way he batted guys eyelashes was endearing.

"I want the same thing I ever want from you. Everything."

And back to undressing. He took his hands off Prompto to let the pants fall so he grabbed his belt and whipped it off, then stepped out of his own pants and boxers. Free at last.

"Let me." he reached in with patient hands and unbuttoned Prompto's shirt. Once it was loose he pulled it back behind them, towards the door. Slowly he kissed his mate as the shirt pulled off his shoulders and down his arms. Noct's hands slid down Prompto's arms and along to his hips. The shirt fell to the floor. Noct sank his fingers into Prompto's hips then lifted him up, hands on his ass, his back to the door.

"Like this baby?"

Prompto was already breathless, the scent of his Alpha was strong in that tailored suit, but the raw scent, the bare skin, it was heady and reminded him of the wine from earlier, hot and dizzying. He wanted the same, wanted to give Noct everything he wanted, every fantasy he might entertain.

As Noct undressed, Prompto's eyes followed the motion, looking longingly at his naked body before Noct began to help him with the buttons. Prompto went still at the command, but his chest continued to heave, expression needy, but waiting. He stayed, eyes locked on Noct's face as his shirt slipped off his shoulders, snagging for just a moment as it bunched around his arms, then fell to the floor.

Prompto shivered, feeling Noct's fingers brush his bare skin. He still got shy at times, but he forced his hands to his sides, to stay and let Noct look and touch as much as he liked. He gasped when Noct's grip tightened, felt his feet leave the floor, his legs clung to Noct's sides, back pressed into the hard wood door. The show of strength already had him hard, pressed between them and he whimpered, arms wrapping around Noct's neck.

"Yes... Mmmm..." he sighed, "I want to feel you inside me. Want you so much..."

Noct would say the same thing. It's Omega smelled incredible, the scent both calmed him and went right to his cock. He felt to imaginative with Prompto. He wanted to try everything. To do everything with him, go everywhere, experience each other in every single way. It was selfish but he wanted his mate to be someone he knew in every iteration. He didn't want to be left out of anything.

He paused a moment to key Prompto stare at him. He'd seen it all by now but there was something about appreciating and being appreciated. He was hard too which helped the image he was sure.

As he unbuttoned the shirt he nuzzled against Prompto's forehead. Then it was off and now. At last they were ready. He remembered almost doing this in Prompto's heat but thinking better of it at the time. It seemed better to do it later when he wasn't so angry with lust.

He felt powerful holding his mate this way. He liked being so close to him. He leaned in for a kiss, crashing their mouths together. "Say no more." or he tried to say that. It sort of got lost in Prompto's mouth.

But his length curled up Prompto's ass, the tip just at his entrance, all wet already. He slowly let Prompto down so he'd sink over him. Slowly in case his aim was off he could abort. But tight warmth fell around him and he sighed in satisfaction. Then he pressed Prompto against the door. He pulled out slowly, pushed back in just as slow, he'd speed up but he wanted to give him a chance to get used to this or call it off if he didn't enjoy this after all.

Prompto kissed him desperately, arms tangled about his neck as much to be close to him as to keep himself upright. He could feel Noct teasing at his entrance, and he moaned into the kiss as he felt Noct lower him onto his hard cock. He broke the kiss in a gasp, rocking his hips as gravity and Noct did most of the work for him.

Prompto pressed up against him, kisses growing sloppier, more frantic and he moaned again as Noct pushed back inside. It'd only been a couple of thrusts and he was already hard and throbbing and so close to coming again.

"So good... Noct... you're... mmm... you're amazing."

Noct pressed him against the door to help balance him and so he wasn't holding him up all on his own. The kisses grew sloppier, his pace grew faster, he started to groan.

"You're incredible. I always crave this... Can't get enough... Fuck... I'm not gonna last."

Prompto was panting, had to break away from the kiss or he'd end up clicking their teeth together with the steady thrusts. He leaned hard on the door, head lolling back as he moaned, trying to hold on.

"Noct!" he moaned, unable to wait a moment longer. He came, shuddering in Noct's arms, hips rocking against him.

"Yes," he gasped, urging Noct on so he could finish too, "harder... mmm.... gods, you feel incredible... you're so good, Noct..."

Noct hadn't even had a chance to wrap his hand around Prompto to get him off. It was easy, they were both still hot from downstairs. It figured. Maybe the wine helped too. Noct didn't need any more convincing and he came with a groan and Prompto's name. He dug his fingers into his ass cheeks and buried his nose in his shoulder. For a moment he didn't move, just caught his breath.

Then he stood up and without pulling out, without letting Prompto down, he carried him around to the bed and laid him down. Only then did he let his shaft flop out of him. He sprawled out on the bed with a sigh and then curled up next to his mate. His hand went out to explore his skin.

"That was a good one. Gotta do that again..." he often got sleepy right after an orgasm. He may or may not have fallen asleep after coming only to wake up later and want to fuck again.

"Mmm... what next..." he traced his fingers around Prompto's bites idly as he closed his eyes and hummed to himself.

Prompto's muscles tensed as Noct came, hissing quietly as fingers sank into his soft skin, and he clung tightly to his mate as he came down from the rush of his climax.

He expected Noct to set him down, but Noct clearly had other plans. The walk to the bed wasn't far, but the jostle of walking over, still inside him was enough to pull a few more whimpers and moans from his lips before he was set gently down. Noct pulled out and Prompto shivered, writhing subtly with a softly pleased moan.

Noct's hands were already curiously exploring him, in a slow, almost lazy way. Prompto knew Noct enjoyed a good nap after sex, the heady afterglow made it easy to relax and drift off. But the feel of Noct's hands on him, his fingers tracing his sensitive bites, it left Prompto feeling awake and energetic, nerves alive with sensation.

Prompto curled in close to Noct's chest, tongue giving a couple of slow licks over his skin in return. Noct had been hard at work for him, it might be nice to give him a break next round.

"Tell me what I can do for you," Prompto whispered suggestively. He was more than happy to take orders if Noct wanted to lay back and let him do the work.

He couldn't ask Prompto to walk after that. Even just a few steps. It would take him right back to his first heat. He still felt a bit bad about fucking him bow-legged. A little.

Noct knew he couldn't sleep. Prompto was riled up. He was making him excited just by touch and he knew he had at least a couple more rounds in him.

"Hmm... I think..." he sighed as Prompto licked him. He didn't know what to do next. Several ideas were floating in his mind.

"I want to taste you...but I want to lay down too." lazy head. But he liked the idea of Prompto pushing his cock in his mouth. That had been the subject of more than one masturbation session lately.

Edited 2019-04-17 18:11 (UTC)

Prompto continued his attention, tongue moving slowly over Noct's collarbone as he waited for an answer. When he got it, he looked up, giving a quiet and breathy laugh before biting the corner of his lip in a vaguely flirtatious way.

Of course Noct wanted to lay down, Prompto shouldn't have been surprised, but it was amusing and he was only too happy to comply, scooting closer so he could look at Noct's beautiful blue eyes, breathe the same air, just inches from closing in.

"Mmmm, why don't you get comfortable... and I'll come to you?"

Noct would pout but Prompto wasn't really laughing at him. He couldn't help it. He was slightly self-conscious about giving head. He liked it, not just because it gave Prompto pleasure but he genuinely liked doing it. That wasn't a very Alpha thing to enjoy... but wanted to know his mate in all ways.

And he was lazy. This isn't new to Prompto or anyone else. He wanted to rest his back though. If they were going to go at it all night he ought to be nice to it at least one round or so. They'd just gone against the door. Not that it had been very long...

"I love watching you come to me for it. I'm comfy right now." he just had to roll on his back. One thing that had changed about him, he was perfectly comfortable and even proud of being naked now. In front of Prompto only.

It was an easy request, and one Prompto was eager to fulfill. As much as he liked feeling his Alpha inside him, it felt so good when Noct used his mouth, and he'd only gotten better at reading Prompto's tells and what he enjoyed.

He was close enough that a small tilt of his chin was all it took to press a kiss to the corner of Noct's mouth before he pulled away, sitting back on his knees for a moment to let Noct roll to his back. He approached cautiously, getting a leg over Noct's chest so he could straddle him, giving him an easy view of the length of Prompto's nude form.

"L-like this?" he asked, some of the headiness of the wine fading, but still feeling adventurous enough to try.

And Noctis was so grateful that Prompto was willing to do this with him. He wasn't embarrassed that his Alpha liked sucking a dick. He was teetering on feeling embarrassed about it himself some days, thinking it made him less manly. Which was stupid when you thought about it, he enjoyed man-parts. How much manlier could you get?

He placed a hand over Prompto's hip as he straddled him. He liked this part. Being on his knees or being on his back, or being on top, didn't matter. He liked this part a lot.

"Liiiitle closer." he smiled. Prompto was stuttering just a bit. Was he sobering up already? He'd have to get some wine in the house, keep it hidden from Ignis somehow. Anything to get Prompto daring like this again. He was sexy as hell when he was adventurous, and he seemed to have more fun.

Once Prompto was close enough he leaned up to lick the head of his shaft before closing his mouth around it and sucking on that. Then inch by inch he swallowed him down, up to the hilt. He flicked his eyes up to his mate's face, watching for his response.

Prompto shifted closer, letting the hand on his hip guide him to the right spot. Some positions were still new to him, but Noct was always patient and made sure his mate was more than satisfied. He hadn't been in Noct's mouth for more than a few moments before he was fully hard and moaning his enjoyment.

Noct was able to completely take him in and it felt so good, so hot and wet and the motion of his tongue had him salivating, his hips twitching back and forth in tentative, uncertain motions.

"Six, Noct, you feel so good. I... I can't get enough of your mouth. You know just what I want..."

He knew he was doing well when Prompto got hard so quickly. And the way he moaned. It was always a treat. Prompto was so expressive during sex, it helped to know what he liked and it certainly stroked Noct's ego. He knew when this was over he'd be hard as a rock and hoping Prompto would just hop on him and ride him dry.

He hummed around Prompto in his mouth, his tongue sliding along the vein. He was careful not to let his teeth touch him, he never wanted Prompto to feel nervous in his mouth. He sighed and moaned softly as he sucked him, bobbing with Prompto's thrusts. He reached around and held his ass in both hands.

Noct hummed, sending subtle vibrations over him, and Prompto moaned his name, hips moving rhythmically as Noct began to bob his head. It was impossible to describe the pleasant feeling of Noct's mouth tight around him, the way his tongue moved over his cock. His body was sensitive, tuned to every moan and hum. Did it feel this good for Noct when he was inside of Prompto?

"You're... you're amazing Noct. It feels so good. I'm... I'm so close..." he panted, "You're so... so fuckin' hot, I can hardly stand it..."

He moaned again, already on the edge, so close. Noct's hands on his ass, pulling him closer, letting him go deeper, it was so good. He reached to run a hand through Noct's hair, gently massaging his scalp in urgent encouragement.

Prompto moved his hips, really fucking his mouth even if ever so gently. He moaned more, licking him harder as he sucked him down. He had no idea if it felt this good when he was inside him but... it felt pretty damn amazing when he was in his mate. At the very least he had this for Prompto, he could make him feel good and satisfy himself in the meantime.

He hummed as his head was rubbed. If he could just... pull his hair... that would do it. He looked up at Prompto wanting to see his face as he came. He was fucking hot huh? Was he just hot or was he hot when he had his mouth on Prompto? Or was his mouth hot?

"Noct, I... I'm gonna..." was all the warning he got out. He hadn't thought the feeling could intensify, but Noct was all over him, licking and sucking and he rocked his hips faster. Noct hummed again and he couldn't take it anymore, his fingers tangled in Noct's hair and pulled tightly in nerveless fingers as he came in his Alpha's mouth. His eyes fluttered, rolling back for a moment as he was lost to the sensation.

"Six..."

It was warning enough. Noctis was ready for it. Eager in fact. As prompto pulled his hair he moaned louder and his fingers dug into Prompto's ass. As Prompto filled his mouth he took careful sips of air through his nose and swallowed it bit by bit.

He picked him slowly from root to tip to clean him off then pulled off with a wet pop. His tongue made a lap around his top and bottom lips as he gazed up at his love.

"You with me?" he put his hand on Prompto's belly. "You think you got one more in you?" because he was hard as a rock.

There was something so sexy about watching Noct swallow and lick him clean after finishing and Prompto let his eyes fall half-lidded as Noct's tongue moved over him. He shifted back as Noct released him, moaning softly at the lingering flicks of his tongue.

Prompto was still panting, but nodded at the request. He leaned down, pressing a few adoring kisses to Noct's lips and jaw, his body arching low as he teased Noct's hair with both hands.

"Mmmm," he sighed, "Anything you want Noct."

There was something sexy about doing it himself. There was a power in making Prompto feel this good. He kissed his mate's thigh before he moved away. But then he was getting kissed. Was Prompto sure he wanted to kiss him after he... Well. Alright. He sighed iggy the affectionate gesture. His hips bucked as his hair was teased.

"Mmmm... I want you...to ride me."

Prompto was hardly bothered by the kiss, Noct's mouth had been hard at work, pleasing his mate and he'd show his appreciation any way he could. He smiled, ruffling Noct's hair once more before giving it a slow pull as he re-situated himself, inching back until he could feel Noct, hard against his ass.

Their first time, he'd been shy, hesitant, hoping he could please Noct on his own, but in the car, Noct had seemed to really enjoy letting Prompto ride him, and that he'd ask now? It was reassuring.

He let his fingers trail over Noct's chest as he sat up, the last of the wine and his Alpha's heady scent a pleasant combination. Prompto chewed the corner of his lip, grinding his hips slowly back, just enough to tease.

"Yeah?" he smiled, "let's see what we can do with a little more room to play."

Pleasing his mate was his job and his right... and his favorite hobby if he had to be honest. Fishing, napping, and video games were very close seconds but he loved getting Prompto off the most.

He'd had Prompto ride him in the bathtub during their first heat too. He liked it enough then but having him do it in the car was what made it a new favorite. Besides, what wasn't to like? It was sexy, he got to watch his mate, he got to be lazy and lay there... so it was a win-win. Right?

"Have I ever told you you're the most beautiful person in the world?" he purred softly. "I can barely stand it when I look at you, you're so amazing to look at." those words were such cheap imitations of how he really felt but he didn't know how to say it. Prompto was living breahting art, he was a gift from the gods, beautiful at every angle. Captivating.

"I'm lucky I have you."

As a matter of fact, it seemed like Noct had made a point of telling him often that he was loved, that he was appreciated, and even beautiful since they first bonded. It was hard to hear, especially the first time, not because he didn't want it, but because he did so desperately that he could hardly believe it was real, or that it wasn't just some colossal joke on his part.

"You might have mentioned it once for twice," Prompto smiled, broad and genuine. The more he heard it, the more it reassured him, built his confidence slowly, and made it easier to put himself on display for his mate, even if it was just like this, in private.

He pushed up with his knees, sitting up and stretching his body, fingers running briefly through his hair, down his neck, over his chest and stomach. He brushed over the marks Noct had left on him, reminders of who he lived for, who he found a family with, who mattered most. His half-lidded eyes never left Noct's, smile shy and soft despite how he was trying to put on a show for his mate.

"It makes me feel so... so good to hear you say it. I think I'm the lucky one."

Prompto's hips hovered over Noct's hard and waiting shaft before lowering himself onto it in one slow, smooth motion. He moaned, voice rising in volume and breathy pitch, back arched, breath panting out a few times as he adjusted to feeling of Noct inside him, all the way to the hilt.

He did make a point of it. He knew he was ungrateful with the people he cared about and he didn't want to give Prompto any reason to reconsider him as a partner. And Prompto clearly needed help accepting such compliments so he had to press even harder and make sure his mate knew he was serious. He was breathtaking, how could Prompto not know it?

"I might mention it once or twice again." he was mesmerized. His eyes focused on Prompto's face, his sparkling smile, his eyes, Noct was lost to him. If there any cure for this he didn't want it.

"Nah, I know I am. I'd have ended up with someone eventually if I didn't get you. I'd have had a shallow loveless marriage with someone who may have wanted me for who I was but they wouldn't have your soul or your wit... they'd never be you. No matter who they were they'd never be right." even the highborn elite kids who were groomed to be prospective dates for him, people who expected some chance at being the queen or prince of Lucis, could never come close to Prompto. His heart won Noctis more than anyone else's slick wit or impressive education. All that high faluting crap bored him to tears.

"Fuck Prom... that's... that's hot." the way his mate touched himself, hands over his marks and gods he wanted to mark him more. "Easy now... you like that baby? That feel good? I love watching you on me, it never gets old." especially as Prompto was braver now and more willing to put on a show.

Noct's words were almost as effective as body, and a blush colored Prompto's face and shoulders, drinking in his words as he pressed against his mate.

"I'm always happy to hear it."

He swallowed hard, throat getting tight with emotion as Noctis went on. Prompto didn't want to think about how his life might be without Noct in it. He wished Noct realized how much that just being his friend had changed his life forever, nevermind how their relationship had progressed and evolved since then. Noct had saved him, in so many more ways than he realized.

"Noct," he sighed, trying to find words that could convey as much raw emotion, yet always falling so sadly short.

"I can't imagine living in a world without you," he returned. It might not be as poetic or as thoughtful as Noct, but he meant it. He'd be nothing, still sad, still lonely, still without purpose.

As he adjusted to the feeling of Noct's hard cock inside him, he let out a shuddering breath, skin flushed warm. Noct rarely called him pet names, but there was something sweetly intimate about it that made Prompto weak with pleasure.

"You feel so good Noct," he breathed, rising slowly before rocking his hips forward again. "I love how you fit inside me, like... like I was made for you. I... Mmmmm..."

He let his eyes close, rolling his hips in a rhythmic motion, bouncing up and down as he set the pace. Prompto let one hand brush his hair back, skin glistening with exertion and the quick rise and fall of his chest.

Forget poetic or thoughtful. Prompto managed to hit Noctis with raw emotion every time he said something like this. It was better than anything Noct had put together, he spoke from his heart and Noct remembered those words. He'd play them for himself again later in his mind.

"You don't have to. I'm here. We've always got each other." he'd still be alone without Prompto. Still lonely, still isolated, still adrift without any real friends he'd made on his own. That was an odd thing to think about while his mate was doing such a magnificent job of riding him.

"Maybe I was made for you?" he smirked as he watched Prompto work himself over his cock. The feeling was intense enough to make his toes curl. He had to breathe slowly. Don't come too fast.

"You're doing better every time, I'm not gonna last... fuck." he clenched the sheets in his fists.

They would always have eachother, yes, Prompto closed his eyes, feeling a sort of euphoric bliss, pleasure coursing through both body and soul. Noct was perfect, he loved how they fit together, not just in this moment, but he completed all the broken parts, made up for all the things he lacked.

"Should I... slow down?" he was panting with effort and arousal, and let his hips roll forward once more, slow and deliberate, his muscles squeezing tightly around Noct. When he'd fully taken his mate's cock inside, he leaned closer, tracing his fingers down Noct's chest.

"Would you... like that?"

Watching Prompto have such a good time was bliss in and of itself. But it's like he felt the euphoria too. Like it was his own. Noct suddenly felt the need to hold Prompto in his arms. It was perfect timing since his mate was leaning closer. Noct rose up on his elbows and circled his arms around Prompto. As he laid back in the pillows with him, his hands combed through his hair, his lips fell against his face.

He felt it, the love that came in waves, the euphoria of having everything he ever wanted and knowing it would last indefinitely. "Yeah... And no... I just want you. We can go again after this. We can go all night if you want but I want you here." meaning in his grasp. Skin to skin preferably.

"Do you want to finish sooner or...later?"

Prompto tried to catch his breath, so wound up from riding his mate without climax, but so pleased to have his arms around him, feel his lips on his skin. His kissed dazedly back. Again, yes, they had all the time they needed. He wanted to make sure Noct was enjoying himself, that he felt good, felt as good as he'd made Prompto feel.

"Fast... or slow, I want... to help you come," Prompto gasped, pressing kisses to Noct's jaw and neck as he gave another slow roll of his hips.

"Want you to... call my name," he whispered. He couldn't get quite as much friction, as deep a penetration from this angle, but he kept a slow and steady pace, a shudder passing through him.

They had the whole weekend if they wanted to stay in bed tangled up together. Noct wouldn't mind that in the least, even if they only got out to look at cameras and then came right back to bed.

"You always get me off..." he sighed and turned his head so Prompto has plenty of space to kiss him more.

"I can do that." he tried to imagine himself crying out in ecstasy. It was always Prompto who was the loud one but he could try it. He could let himself go if it was his mate's wish. "You gonna ride me hard or do you want to go slow..." he started to move his hips up against Prompto, slow and steady just as he was going.

Prompto was only too happy to lean in and press a series of worshipful kisses along Noct's neck, taking in a deep breath of his scent that was completely intoxicating in own way. He let out a soft moan, breath warm and fluttery against Noct's ear before he sat up, adjusting his hips.

They've been at it slow, and while Noct isn't begging for release, Prompto is feeling bold enough to see what rough riding feels like.

"Let's... try it hard," he breathes, timing the motion of his body just half a beat faster than Noct's, urging them to speed up, rocking his hips forward, a bit harder than before.

It was that attention that got Noctis. More than the sex itself, it was how Prompto paid such rapt attention to him, the way he was so reverent in his touch. Surely, he didn't deserve such a mate. He shivered as Prompto moaned in his ear.

"Rough huh?" not that he was an expert on what that could be but he could certainly fuck Prompto faster. As his mate moved Noctis gripped his hips and dug his heels into the mattress. He raised his hips up into Prompto, hard and fast as he could. His back wouldn't appreciate this but he'd sleep it off later. For now the sound of slapping skin and Prompto's warmth was more than enough to make Noct moan.

"Prompto.... so good, Prompto."

Noct wasn't just keeping pace, he was actively grinding up against him, meeting each roll of his hips with a thrust of his own, penetrating deeply. Prompto gave a long moan, breath shaky as he tried to keep up. His words urged Prompto on, more than enough to let him know that Prompto wasn't the only one enjoying the ride.

"Do... do you like that, Noct?"

He could feel his own arousal growing hard, his fingers sinking into Noct's skin, as much to keep his balance as to hold on as pleasure coiled low within him.

Noct always enjoys fucking Prompto. Even when he reticent about. He took a mental note: be more vocal during sex. Prompto seemed to visibly change when he just said his name. Cute thing...

"Love it. Love you, Prompto." he hissed softly as Prompto's fingers bit into him. He liked this, being at his mate's mercy. Being totally vulnerable to him.

"You're really hot on top like that. Could watch you for hours." even if he wasn't getting his dick ridden. He slid his palms up Prompto's thighs and took him in hand, having jacking him in time with their thrusts. "I'm... Fuck I'm not gonna last..."

Prompto would never have had the confidence to try putting himself on display like this without the help of a little drink beforehand. For once the little anxious voice in his head was blessedly silent, not reminding him of how he looked or what he said wrong. And hearing Noct confess he feelings once again only made him hotter, skin flushed pink, a light sheen of sweat peppering his freckled shoulders.

"Mmm... Aah... N-Noct, you- mmm... you too..." was all he could manage in reply as he ground against his lover's hips, his head hazy with pleasure. Noct loved him, thought he was hot, was enjoying the sight as much as the feel. It was high praise and hard not to deflect or deny.

All rational thought went out the window as Noct touched him though, and his voice became a whimper, his hips shuddering as he gasped. His Alpha's hand worked over him, timed with his thrusts and astrals above it felt so good. He lost himself for a moment, eyes beginning to roll back.

"N-noct, I- mmmm... Noct-"

He could certainly provide some liquid confidence. If it got him this he'd offer it to Prompto every day. He'd tell him he loved him every day. He... ought to actually do that starting now...

"Mmm... you're ama....ama.....zing.... fuck it's too much. Prompto.. Prompto baby it's so good. You're so good." he did love Prompto, he thought he was hot. No. He knew he was hot. Prompto was walking art, he was descended from the heavens. He was the most beautiful creature on the planet. Did he... say that out loud just now? He... oops. Maybe? He was mumbling it. Prompto was walking art, he was descended from the heavens, he was the most beautiful creature on their star.

Then he rolled his eyes into his head. Prompto was so into this and the sight of that alone, much less the ego trip, made Noctis want to come then and there. He groaned and let himself go. It was over. He had to let it flow out of him. "Prompto... Prompto I can't... I...need ... I...." and that was it. He sighed as he finished and even though he still moved and jacked Prompto off he was catching his breath.

Noct praising him while he drove his hips deeper with each thrust, hand sliding over his dick, it was... it was too much. Toward the end he could only make out every other word before Noct was coming and Prompto could hardly hold back another second before he followed, twitching in Noct's hand and coming messily between them.

He could barely hold himself up as he leaned forward, collapsing roughly against Noct's chest, panting as his body fought to get his breath under control. A few more waves of pleasure rolled through him and he shivered, sighing Noct's name over and over.

"Gods Noct, you... you feel so good. When you touch me like that it's... mmm... I love it when you say my name," he whispered between breaths.

"You make me so happy Noct... I... love you so much..."

He could write a book about his praises. He really ought to say them more often. Prompto needed to hear them and he seemed to enjoy them so much. So much that he got off to them? Maybe? Or that could just be his hand.

As soon as they lay together Noctis held Prompto tight and kissed him long and slow.

"I know." he spoke in between Prompto's words, kissed between him catching his breath. "I can't keep my hands to myself... I'll do it again if you ask nicely... I love you too."

He could go either way. Sleep now or fuck the night away. Tomorrow was Saturday, they could sleep in and go out and spend money on something shiny. He kept his arms around Prompto and slowly caught his breath too. He kissed his hair, his face, and slowly he was getting still. He pet his hair back and let the silence creep in. Just laying in the quiet stillness after sex were some of the best moments he'd had with Prompto.

"When it's calm like this... sometimes I imagine we're the only people in the world."

Prompto was sure he could come to the sound of Noct's voice as he praised him alone, but each touch and embrace that was added only sweetened the experience. He took his time kissing back, breaking to sneak in a breath here and there, his body alight with each touch.

"Mmm. Yes, Noct... touch me anywhere you like... please..." he whimpered between hot kisses. Just the thought of his lover's hands on his body was enough to excite him. Noct was always so considerate of his wants, so attuned to his reactions and needs.

Prompto tried to catch his breath, panting near Noct's ear as he kissed him, pet him, feeling so safe and cherished in his arms.

"The only ones in the world..." he repeated, reveling in the idea, in the calm that followed. "Yes... you're all I need Noct. Love you so much..."

He ought to try that. As it stood, in the quiet of their room Noctis did as Prompto asked. Slowly, carefree, his hands explored his love's body. He had no hunger in his touch, just a gentle reverence. He sighed as Prom touched him too. They were like... well no, they were lovesick teenagers who couldn't help themselves. And they had all the time in the world. He grinned into his next kiss.

His hands moved down Prompto's sides, his fingers smoothing over each bite mark on his chest and then on his hips. He swirled his fingertips around each one slowly before moving to the next one.

"Love you more. I'm glad I met you so soon... I have the whole rest of my life with you."

( sdr2 version also available. )

#justdatingthings

Mark Temple | Red vs. Blue | M/M, M/NB

Rhys the Company Man | Borderlands

Rey || Star Wars || F/M

merida • brave • ota, no nsfw

Namine | Kingdom Hearts | OTA

...sorry, but looking like a total nerd is unavoidable.

It is perfect and very Ienzo and I love it. <3

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tree gelbman | happy death day

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