#notes: without prompto yes ignis would be the bestie shaddup

[aij-writes]

Clunk

Ignis looked up from the brief shut-eye he was allowing himself behind his hand.  His eyes traveled first to his watch and then up to Noctis.  Noctis’s beaming face.  He picked up the watch, eyeing it, before pushing it back in question.  Noctis slid in across the booth, offering him some of his fries.  Ignis picked one up, dragging it through the ketchup and ate it silently in neat, precise bites.

The two of them burst into laughter.  Noctis’s a goofy giggle and Ignis a rich chuckle.

“I had explored the idea of taking up some hunts, but you beat me to it.”

“Not really beat...but yeah, Cid put me up to it.”

“Cid?  Cid Sophiar?  Where is he?” Ignis asked, surprised.

“Around,” Noctis offered unhelpfully.  He reached over despite his greasy hands and went to hook Ignis’s watch back on his wrist.  “Oh sorry,” he said, trying to use the cuff of his shirt to wipe it clean.  Given he was dusty and a bit wrecked from the creatures, it didn’t do much but Ignis smiled at the effort all the same.  Noctis ran his fingers over the band.  “I think you need to hang onto that a little better.  How else you going to be my taskmaster?”

Ignis dunked his gaze a bit, but let his gloved fingers meet Noctis’s.  “I will stay by your side, Noct.  I remain faithful.”

Noctis sighed, only to lean closer.  “Iggy...you’re my best friend.  My brother.  Okay, maybe sometimes more my mom, but nothing changes.  Everyone calls me moody and unreachable and they call you a robot with coiffed hair.”

“Do they really?” Ignis asked, patting at his hair in a put-upon show of self-conscious vanity.

“Why they’d build an automaton that needs glasses, I’ll never know.”  Noctis smirked at Ignis teasing innocence.  “Yeah, and...it can’t be so bad out here.  No one knows to treat me with unearned respect.  That Luche guy kept calling me a sissy.  Cid says I have to earn my keep.  Better than a government-paid apartment and part-time job to teach me how the world works.  Maybe when all’s said and done, this will be a cool story to tell my kids.”

“Very well could be.”  Ignis took a few more fries.  “I hope you got more than spuds or out-dated tech for your trouble, though.”

“Met a guy name Dave.  He wants us to check out a bigger threat.  I thought you might want to show those Glaives you’re not so delicate.”

Ignis indulged a smile, reaching over to steal a sip of Noctis’s soda.  “You were always going on about your father’s own trip.  I suppose it might be the same.”

“Think Gladio was more the one to talk about it,” Noctis said carelessly.

“Must have been,” Ignis said quickly.  “Well now...we have things to discuss, decide, and divulge.  We can’t rely on the kindness of strangers--”

“I don’t know about that,” Nyx said, going to nudge Noctis over.  He helped himself to a fry.  “Me and the boys were talking it over and we thought maybe we could stick together for a little bit.  Just until we all decide what’s next.  I was talking to Takka,” he said, gesturing to the restaurateur. “and he told me about some Havens.  The magic is Oracle-based and should keep the daemons at bay.  I picked up some meat from the kills and we could eat.”

“That would be amenable,” Ignis agreed quietly.

“I know we’re Galahdians, but we’re all Lucians, right?” Nyx asked.

“Lady Lunafreya and I might not be, but we’re still looking to survive the same,” Ignis offered.

“I don’t really care where you’re born,” Noctis said seriously.  “You both served the crown.  That makes you crown citizens.”  He felt awkward making such statements.  Still, he tucked his chin down, sucking on his teeth thoughtfully.  “And so we’ll be in your debt.”

Nyx smiled around his pointed look.  “Galahdians don’t deal with debt, Your Highness.  We deal with what’s fair.  So you join us for a campfire and meal, that’s it.  We’ll expect the same sometime.”

“O-of course!” Noctis said, annoyed with the sudden use of his epithet but too shy to correct him.

Still, Ignis was notoriously good with reading Noctis.  “I think, given the nature of things, it’d be best if you called him Noctis.  None of us can really do by our titles at the moment.”

“Sure thing,” Nyx said easily.  “Where I’m from?” he said, offering Ignis a handshake.  “I’m just a son of an ancient line of hunters.  Meant a little more there, but we didn’t have need for ruling class.  But as this is your first trip outside the Wall, I want to welcome you to my stomping grounds.  You two are going to be fine.”

“I should hope,” Ignis said with a sigh.  He started to gather up the papers and tuck them neatly into a notebook.  “Honestly, we should look into scrounging up some proper clothes.  I’m afraid we stand out.”

“It’s hard to hide good looks,” Nyx said with a wink and a laugh.  “Noct, go ask Takka there about the camp.  I’m going to go figure out what Libertus wants to do, alright?”  He spread his arms out.  “It’s out under the stars, boys.  Yet in this heat?  I’ll be calling for rain.”