Let’s see where this goes. Makes no sense, but I tried? Oops it turned into a drabblish type thing.  takes place a few days after the chocobo fest with them finally to lestallum after going on a few hunts with them to help earn some extra gil. Ignis wouldn’t want them nearby when leviathan is called.

It’d been a long trip back to Lestallum. They’re bone tired, and everything just seemed like it was too much and too fast. The other’s were lucky, they thought, and had all fallen asleep leaning on each other in the back seat. And while Ignis had told them to go ahead and sleep as well, but they weren’t going to leave him to face the night alone. So they stayed awake, and were currently whispering back and forth in hushed tones to keep one another awake. 

Ignis, his exhaustion getting to him, spoke quietly. “It’ll be four years tomorrow when we first started dating.”

They looked at him and smiled, their face softened from their own sleepiness. It wasn’t often Ignis said such sentimental things out loud. They took it as a sign that he was truly tired, but they also relished the chance to talk about their anniversary as well. 

”And we’ve known each other for fourteen yesterday.” They pointed out. 

He laughed quietly, and brought their hand up to his mouth to press a kiss to the back of their knuckles. “Truly? I can’t believe I didn’t realize.”

“Not many people would Ig.” They huffed in amusement and squeezed his hand very briefly, their own form of a kiss since they couldn’t lean over and distract him while he drove. Then their dry sense of humor kicked in and they cheekily added, “Also, you turned twenty-three six days ago.” 

They grinned at him when he snickered. “I didn’t know that one,” he teased, “Maybe I need to keep you around to act as a planner for me since it appears I forget important dates all too easily.”

“Oh yes. Finally, I’m useful to the great Ignis.” They hummed in amusement. But then they returned to being semi-serious. “You remembered my favorite day out of everything though. That counts for something.” 

“I enjoy my birthday too much to forget it love.” He teases and smirked at them, glancing at them briefly before returning his eyes to the road.

They ended up laughing at the quip into the night air as he drove and he sighed contently. Both then lapsed into a comfortable silence for the rest of the drive. Neither noticed the blonde haired gunner’s eyes barely open in the backseat, with the smallest smile on his face. 

When they pulled into Lestallum, they roused the others, and booked a few rooms for the night with minimal effort. Ordinarily, they would have all just shared a room. But Prompto managed to convince the others that they all wanted their own beds for once, and demanded more than one room. They didn’t question it and readily agreed. They then took their leave to find their own way into bed after the others were taken care of.

Normally, Ignis wouldn’t have caved, and they certainly wouldn’t have let him cave. But they both had lost their will to fight for the night and needed a good night’s sleep to replace it. When they finally arrived at their room, they both just collapsed into their bed next to each other, and completely checked out of waking life. 

~

It comes as a shock to them both when they open their eyes, and it’s one in the afternoon. They struggle to shake the grips of sleep from themselves, but suddenly both snap fully awake when they realize that it’s ONE IN THE AFTERNOON.

Ignis sit’s up and starts texting the others, trying to figure out where they are. Meanwhile, his intended got out of bed and started going through their bags to find clothes for them both. Honestly, they had all the money, and hoped the boys hadn’t managed to starve while they slept. And the six knew that they’d never hear the end of them BOTH managing to over sleep. 

While they sorted their clothes out, Ignis was furiously texting the other three, demanding to know why they hadn’t woken them up. When he suddenly falls backwards onto the bed in frustration, his paramour tilts their head in concern.

“Something wrong?” They ask, leaving the bags for later. 

He sighed wearily and ran a hand through his hair. “They’ve gone off on their own I’m afraid. Much like 5 days ago.”

“What a bunch of meddlers.” They said fondly, returning back to their task. “Well. Honestly, the last time didn’t turn out too horrible. Unless you’re having second thoughts…?”

The grinned to themself when they heard Ignis sit up in a hurry. They knew he was tired, but couldn’t resist teasing him. 

“N-no! Not at all. Far from it!” He managed to get out, blinking at them when they chuckled and looked over their shoulder at him. Then it sunk in that they were only joking and he sighed heavily once more. “That’s not fair you know. You wake up quicker than me.”

“Yes darling, I do.” They kept grinning fondly and continued, “And I relish every moment I can hear you stutter.” 

His face flushed at that and they shook their head with an amused huff. They were proud that around them, and only them, he relaxed enough to act his age. They both were relatively young, but had been forced to act so much older. It was a cherished secret that around each other they could comfortably allow themselves to be their age. And they loved this side of him as much as the master statistician he had to be around the others. 

“Well, we best get a move on today. I doubt they thought to extend the rooms for another night, and we still have to replenish our stores of supplies, and there are a few-” Ignis kept muttering behind them, making a mental list of what needed to be done before nightfall. So they interrupted him

“Take a shower first before you start planning how the world will work today. Your hair is sticking up everywhere, and honestly, at the moment you look so put out by everything the boys will go running when they see you.” 

He frowned at them, got up, and rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. “Yes mother.” 

They chuckled quietly to themself as they got to their feet, clothes picked out and in their arms, and walked over to press a kiss to Ignis’ cheek before he went to the bathroom. 

“Happy anniversary.” They whispered next to his ear. He flushed a very pleasant shade of red in response. 

“To you as well.” He murmured.

But then they both stepped apart and continued with their own tasks, getting ready on their own and in a comfortable silence. It wouldn’t be until sundown they’d be ready to leave the room really. 

Then, when leaving the room, they found a note on the door. Ignis got to it first and skimmed it. They raised a questioning eyebrow at Ignis when he sighed heavily and shook his head. 

“They really are meddlers.” He said, handing the note to them so they could read it too.

Their eyes scanned the page, and a laugh bubbled out of them. It was a sweet note from all three, letting them have some space for the night. Which, they apparently weren’t letting Ignis back out of by taking the Regalia on a hunt while leaving the two behind.

“Well, we can’t disappoint them.” They said while taking his arm in theirs and tugging him toward the entrance of the hotel. “You know they’re not really on a hunt. They’re probably lurking around.”

Ignis followed them willingly, and chuckled. “You’re probably right. Want to check?”

They grinned at him and nodded.

~

This was becoming something of a habit. 

Ignis and them stood by the fountain, and it looked like they were having a good time. They were both smiling and laughing. And then…

Ignis’ hand shot out and pushed them backwards lightly. Their knees hit the back of the stone’s edge and they tipped back, and almost into the fountains waters.

“Oh not again!!” They both could hear Prompto’s voice ring out from a nearby alley.

But this time, Ignis’ arm also shot out at the same time their’s did, and caught their hand mid-fall. They stopped just short of the water, and he pulled them back upright and snickered.

“There they are.” He stated and they threw back their head and laughed. 

They could hear scuffling from where the voice originated from, but dared not look so they wouldn’t give away that they knew they were being followed again. Truthfully, they didn’t mind. Ignis was the other three’s dear friend. And even if he and themself had been friends since childhood, of course they would worry about him being happy with them. And would want to make sure things went well between the two. 

“They won’t be too much of a bother I think.” They replied as they began to lead him toward the nightlife that was just starting up, “Truthfully, it’s kind of sweet of them.”

“How so?” He asked, eyeing the people and stands they passed.

“You do realize they want to see you happy right?” They smiled at him before pressing a kiss to his jaw. “That’s all. Now lets just ignore them for now and have fun. It’s not every year we have a 4th anniversary.”

“Quite right.” He said before returning their kiss with a quick peck. 

Public affection from Ignis was rare, so they lit up with a large smile and tugged him into the crowd. They had nothing in particular planned. It was more just a stroll around Lestallum together. Which was perfect. Time with Ignis was all they wanted before he had to leave again. 

~

“Oh look Ig.” They pointed at a lone musician, playing a guitar softly and sweetly. More than one couple were dancing to the music they played. And the woman playing softly smiled as they did so. 

Ignis smiled himself, took their hand in his, pressed a kiss to their knuckles, and then said, “Would you dance with me?”

Pink dusted their cheeks and they shrugged, offering an apologetic smile, “We haven’t in a long time. I’m afraid I’d probably step on your feet.”

“Humor me? I think for our anniversary I’d like to have one dance with you.” He replied easily, tugging them along toward the rest of the dancers.

“Just do it!” They heard a muttered whisper behind them and ended up snickering. That sounded suspiciously like Noctis….

“Oh alright.” They step forward willingly along with him after that, the whisper giving them the courage they needed. “I suppose it couldn’t hurt.”

They fell into position easily, both having been taught as children. Though, the only one who’d actually used their lessons in real life would be Ignis. He’d danced a lot more often than they had. For a moment they stood with his hand on their waist and their hand on his shoulder. And then they began to move with the rest of the couples.

But it was surprisingly fluid how they remembered to move. Ignis led them of course, pulling them into a gentle and slow step. And every time he felt them hesitate in a step, a small reassuring whisper of encouragement would leave him. And soon enough, it all came back to them and both were freely moving. 

Eventually they both ended up losing themselves in each other. The world dropped away, and it was just the two of them with the music. It was lovely, they thought, just to be here with him and sharing a memory. Soon enough they slowed to a stop along with the music, and leaned their foreheads against one another’s, their eyes closed and hands held together.

“I really and truly do love you.”  He whispered to them, his eyes still closed. But at his words they opened their eyes and leaned forward, catching his mouth with theirs before closing them again.

“And I you.” They replied. 

He pulled away and continued holding their hand as they walked back into the crowd. They made their way to the fountain and sat next to each other. They leaned against him, while his hand traced the lines on their palm. They sighed in contentment. 

“If we could just stay like this forever, I wouldn’t mind.” They voiced out loud, closing their hand around his so he’d stop his tracing.

He was silent for a moment before replying, “I find…I wouldn’t mind that either.”

Both left it unsaid that it wasn’t possible. And they wouldn’t ask that of him even if it was. This was their life. And all they could ask for was stolen and gifted moments such as this.

“I know I asked you to marry me a few days ago.” Ignis suddenly began.

“Five to be exact.”

“Right.” He cleared his throat, “But we were missing one crucial part of our agreement.” 

They blinked, sitting up. Nervousness had begun to creep into his voice, so they looked at him in concern. 

“Ignis?”

“I’ve a gift for you. I know you’ve already said yes, but…” He reached into his pocket. “An anniversary gift and engagement gift.”

In the space above their laps, he opened a small box, revealing a plain black engagement ring, with golden embellishments on it. 

“You don’t have to wear it of course…Its just…” He couldn’t look directly at them, his face beginning to burn. If they were reading his face right, there was a mixture of fear and hope running wild in his mind. 

“You don’t have to finish Ignis.” They whispered softly. “Of course I’m going to wear it.” 

They reached forward and turned his face toward themself. “I’m going to wear it, and think of you all the time until we actually get married.” 

He met their eyes and smiled. They held out their hand and he, being the gentleman he is, slipped the ring onto their finger.

“Consider this a promise then. Of a future together someday.” 

“We’ve the rest of our lives dear. And I’m willing to wait.”

They smiled and scooted closer to him, wrapping one of their arms around his waist and leaning their head against him. He in turn rested his head on top of theirs, and put and arm around their shoulder.

And there they sat, content in silence, and not daring to think about the future. Because despite his promise, they both knew it was very likely that they may not get to see it fulfilled. But this moment was enough. They’d grown up stealing moments of each other’s time from their duties and responsibilities. Destiny had never placed love in their cards. So they had placed it there themselves. And moments like this were always enough. 

They had forgotten about the nearby trio, who were currently jumping around and celebrating their friend’s good fortune of finding someone who loved him.

“We’ve been dating for four years today.” They said and he hummed in agreement.

“We’ve known each other for fourteen years as of two days ago.”

“Yes?”

“Your birthday was seven days ago.” 

“I am aware.” 

He nudged the top of their head with his, as if trying to get them to the point faster.

They then smiled and said, “My birthday is at the end of the month.”

He finally began to catch on and grinned. “We were engaged five days ago.” 

“You do realize we have to have a wedding in this same month right?”

“In order to keep with the trend…” He laughed, “I suppose you’re right.” 

They laughed with him, and then they both went silent, enjoying the night air in peace. 

~

Bonus:

“The boys are going to hate us.” Ignis said after 30 minutes of silence.

“Yes. But they’ll still love us all the same too.” They replied, their eyes still closed, knowing what he was thinking. 

“Brace yourself.” They could hear the laugh in his voice when he suddenly pulled them backwards with him into the fountain’s waters, ruining the seriousness of the moment. 

“OH COME ON!”