1 of 2 added chapters as a commission from destinidestati! Thank you so much for your support~! Another chapter will be added either later this week or early next!
When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
◇─◇──◇────◇────◇────◇────◇────◇─────◇──◇─◇
Arcadia | The Wheelhouse
I opened the doors leading to the control room in haste. The front of the airship was seemingly only accompanied by Ignis and a few others who pledged themselves to us and our cause. Hearing them open, my husband turned to greet me. Even without sight, there were times he always surprised me with how acute his other senses were.
“Where is Noctis?” I asked, breathless from my swift and exhausted run through the airship.
“Fociaugh Hollow, my Bride,” Ignis answered, his tone harboring concern for my own. “He was looking into a small lead in regards to a powerful daemon he hoped to quell.” He met me halfway, opening his hand for me to take. “Is something the matter? You sound.. distressed.”
It was a dream. That’s what I had to tell myself, but there was some truth buried within that ‘dream’ that had me rattled to my core. My fingers caressed his open palm, trying to find comfort in his presence alone. “I had a vision of sorts.”
Ignis’ lips thinned as if already dreading what I were to say. Seems without me even speaking that horrid man’s name, he knew Ardyn was possibly involved.
“I was… I was warned that something could be happening to Gladio in Altissia at this moment.”
“Who warned you of this?”
I shook my head at his desire to pry. “It matters not! What concerns me is that they could be right. We have more enemies there than friends, and I was told only that he ventured with Aranea there for—for something.”
Ignis hummed in thought, glancing away to collect his thoughts on the matter. “He never spoke with me about this. I was even unaware he was heading there to begin with.” There was a bit of pain laboring his tone as he spoke.
I understood why, as those two seemed to share a lot with one another. Just as Ignis and I had our fair share of secrets, I wouldn't doubt those two had the same.
I know I said I was gonna post something from the poly!au I have set up but I've run into a block trying for a part of the first piece. 😫😭
In the meantime, have this!
~~~~
Gladio paused as he stepped into his room, one foot across the threshold and his hand still holding the doorknob, when he caught sight of you curled up in his bed. He realized you were asleep and wondered how long you had been there, how you even got in in the first place. Not an overly loud person in the safety of his room, he put even more effort into making sure he didn't wake you as he shut the door and went about changing. His amber eyes softened when he stood at the side of his bed, just looking down at you as you slept on, unaware of your audience.
Gladio watched your brows furrow slightly, face scrunching, as he gently caressed your cheek before your expression was smoothing out. You nuzzled into his palm with a sleepy sound, brows furrowing once more as you squinted up at him while still mostly asleep. As you moved, the light coming in from the window hit your face just right for your confidant to finally see the barely there tear tracks going down your cheeks and he felt his heart clench.
"Mm?" You tried again, bringing your hand up to touch his wrist.
"Sorry," Gladio finally spoke up, climbing into bed with you when you scooted back to make room. "I didn't mean to wake you. I just didn't expect to see you this late."
This late?
That had your eyes opening fully and you were reaching out to him this time, cupping his face in between your palms and rubbing one of your thumbs lightly across his cheek. You watched as his eyes fell shut, the tension draining from his body as he lay there, letting you do what you wanted, trusting you. You could tell that, even without him saying anything else, it had been an exhausting day for him, just as it had been for you.
Gladio leaned towards you as you gently pulled his head closer and practically melted into the mattress when you placed a soft kiss to his forehead, your lips lingering. He cracked an eye open to look at you when you rolled onto your back, letting go of his face in the process. The warm smile you offered him was the only invitation he needed to move closer, curling into you, laying his head on your chest as you wrapped your arms around him and one of his went across your waist.
For now, you'd push aside the argument that had sent you running, crying, to find the comfort you knew he'd be able to provide once he was back. Making sure Gladio knew you were there was far more important. You hoped you gave him even a fraction of the safety and comfort you experienced in his presence, pressing one final goodnight kiss to the top of his head.
Everything else? It could wait for morning to dawn and tomorrow to come.
A respected doctor in Insomnia. You love your job, but it seems like it sabotages everything else. Gladio’s return to your life comes unexpectedly and helping Prince Ravus with his new prosthetic arm is quite a task, but finding balance seems the most difficult of your challenges. Especially with love in times of war
* Oh this dude. He is highly flirtatious--to the point where it will bring out both an eye roll and a swoon. Be ready for that
* On the side though, he’s highly insecure. It’s a conflicting mix. He knows he’s attractive, but he’s also very aware of his status as an outsider, which often leaves room for second guessing. He will occasionally need reassurance. A few scattered kisses across his shoulders, and long hugs will set him right
* He’s playful and spontaneous, often indulging in spur of the moment dates. Think crappy restaurants at 2 a.m., still blinking away sleep but enjoying each other’s presence
* Loves hugs from behind, and will sneak up on you to surprise you. He will then proceed to lift you up and spin you around, all with the most pleasant giggles and shrieks of laughter playing in the background
* Fond of pet names: sweetheart, darlin’, babe/baby, princess, etc. Darlin’ is his favorite. And he would love it if you returned his pet names with equal fervor, and equal cringe
* Craves affection and will indulge in some amounts of PDA. Handholding, cheek kisses, and hugging mostly. If he’s jealous it gets amped up tenfold and he will not hesitate to grab your face and kiss you on the lips in the most passionate display he can manage
* He likes to trace your face and figure with his fingertips, so don’t be surprised to wake up with his hands over your cheekbones, nose, lips, or hips
* Late at night when both of you are snuggled up, he is chatty, and will spew whatever comes to mind until you fall asleep on him. He doesn’t mind, he just pulls you closer and decides that he should probably get some sleep
* Most likely has some form of PTSD, that much is true from the movie, and often times you are the one to comfort him after his episodes, especially nightmares. Afterward he will cling to you. Stroke his hair, offer gentle kisses and soft whispers to help him come back to himself. He just needs someone there to help ground him
* He’s fond of learning all he can about you--all the minuscule things like favorite food, color, animal, music, etc. In return he also shares what he can about himself. If you ask about Galahd he gets a dopey smile on his face and is 10x more affectionate for the rest of the day
* Loves your laugh and smile, and will say whatever he can to see both. It’s like a game, how many times can he get you to smile for him?
* Slap his bubble butt whenever you can. The first couple times he’s surprised. The next few times he just grins. Except when you do it in public. Then he’s embarrassed. Do it anyway 🙌🏼
* At the end of the day, Nyx just needs someone he can call home, and as long as you can be that for him, he’ll be a happy lil glaive boy who wears his heart on his sleeve for you
a/n: hey! apologies that it’s taken me so long to sit down and write something. ideas for headcanons about cuddling prom and just generally being mushy and sweet with him have been festering for a while, but it's taken a bit to finally buckle down and write the darned thing. it’s a bit disjointed and also hella self indulgent, but nonetheless i hope you enjoy!
edit: not sure what happened to the formatting on mobile, but will fix ASAP!
being as energetic as he is, he can get a bit wound up before bed
although he never really makes himself tea, he will drink it happily if you make him some before bed to relax
but drop in an ice cube or something to cool it some before he can get his hands on it
otherwise he WILL burn his little tongue
repeatedly
for some things, this boy has no patience
tries his best to go to bed at the same time as you, because he likes talking to you for a bit before you both drift off
he’s one of those people that starts brushing their teeth and then gets bored so goes and starts doing something else and then forgets that they’re brushing their teeth
all of a sudden 20 minutes have passed and his toothbrush is still in his mouth
plays some chill music or instrumental tracks in the background while you guys get ready for bed, it helps him relax (and sometimes he can persuade you to slow dance with him a little while the sun is setting)
usually wears old t-shirts with pyjama pants to bed and is totally cool if you guys just share all your pyjamas
(but sometimes in the summers, when it’s really hot, he wears boxer briefs to bed and OOOH THOSE LEGS (and some other things) LOOK FAB 👌)
anywAY THAT’S NOT WHAT WE’RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT
if he gets into bed after you or has to get up for something and you’re sleeping, he tries to be as quiet and gentle as possible
you’ll feel the mattress dip and turn over to see him lowering himself onto the bed in what he thinks is a subtle maneuver
“oh, hey, you’re awake.” and then the tips of his ears turn a ‘lil red and he gives you one of those soft, crooked grins
likes to sleep facing you so that you two can talk and he can see you and hold you
(and kiss you)
(his mouth is always really warm and it’s nice)
always talks softly when he's cuddling with you in bed, even if it's the middle of the day and nobody else is around; he’s so gentle
likes sliding his hands underneath your shirt when he holds you (if you’re cool with it)
likes it when you do the same to him
always keeps at least one light on in the house at night “just in case one of us has to get up...”
tells you random and seemingly obscure details from his day while in bed, and although he won't be offended if you drift off during his stories, he gets all floaty inside when you respond with intrigue at details that he thinks would be considered stupid or pointless by most people
his hair will get kinda flat and/or mussed up from the pillow
the way he tries to subtly fix it without you noticing is super endearing
doesn’t snore when he sleeps, but he does give a few content sighs
moves around a fair amount during his sleep, but doesn’t usually kick you or anything wild
wakes up everyday, without fail, between 3AM and 4AM
usually just takes this time to tuck the blanket around you before falling asleep again
look out for the other bros’ versions of this soon!
COME ONE COME ALL TO SOME RAVUS FLANGST BROUGHT TO YOU BY A LAMEASS (me) AS REQUESTED BY @aeciru !!!!!!
From the prompt list:
#8: “I don’t need you anymore.”
#20: “Please don’t hurt me like this.”
#59: “You own my heart.”
I did all aforementioned prompts despite having the option to choose just one because there just isn’t enough love for Ravus ok!!!!! I took the liberty to adjust the prompts accordingly to fit with the dialogue though.
ALSO. BOY OH BOY WAS WRITING THIS A CHALLENGE. Ravus and Luna speak in a really eloquent and flowery manner, so I did my best apply such a style and drop contractions here and there whenever I saw fit. I went back and forth with several sections here just to beef up the story and make the relationship and history with Rea more developed and fluid. (((((idk why but i felt pressured to do our boye real good)))))) (i hope i delivered)
(keeping just ravus in character is hard okkkkk)
Speaking of!!!! I read that smol Ravus was actually really nice and kind, so I wrote him as such in the beginning. He becomes the Giant Angst Bean™ that we all know and love later on.
Title was inspired by @birdsandivory who often tags posts relating to their s/o as “dearest heart.” I thought it was the most DARLING thing ever, so I hope you don’t mind that I took that as inspiration!!
Tagging @thatoneawkwardfanthing and @lokewight who asked to be tagged!
i hope you all enjoy this ; w ;
word count: 5.3k+ words, fluff and angst, soft Ravus and hard Ravus (not sexual ok), spoilers for Kingsglaive
Growing up within the walls of House Nox Fleuret was a privilege that not many were privy to. Luckily for you, your family maintained close ties to the royal family of Tenebrae, thus granting you access to the more personal side of the Nox Fleuret family.
Though you were shy, your parents insisted that you befriend the Nox Fleuret siblings as a show of goodwill. Something about “maintaining peace,” or whatever it was the adults often talked about.
When you were first brought to Tenebrae to meet the nation’s royal family, you were in awe of the region’s majestic architecture — was that an actual castle? — and its signature blue flora, the sylleblossom. Fenestala Manor blew you away in particular, so you were all the more enlivened when your parents explained that this would be your new living quarters.
It was a long time coming, your move to the Manor. After all, you were being groomed to become the Royal Advisor to rising generation of Nox Fleurets.
Upon your arrival at the Manor, Queen Sylva had greeted you personally with the warmest of receptions. She even offered you a brief hug after you clumsily bowed before her. The queen’s friendliness took you aback, but it made you feel all fuzzy on the inside. She was nice.
With Queen Sylva were her two children, a boy and a girl. The female of the two siblings gravitated towards you naturally. She called herself Lunafreya, and she had the sweetest eyes and kindest smile. You regarded her with awe of her beauty.
“This is my brother, Ravus,” Lunafreya introduced as she gestured for you to step closer towards her sibling.
“Welcome to Tenebrae,” Ravus greeted with a friendly smile. “I do hope you enjoy your stay here.”
The different hues in Ravus’ eyes helped you maintain eye contact with him. “H-Hello,” you mumbled timidly. “I’m (Name).”
“What a lovely name!” Lunafreya clapped her hands excitedly as she looked to Ravus. “Wouldn’t you agree, Brother?”
Ravus nodded. “Indeed it is.”
You immediately blushed under their compliments. “Thank you,” you managed to let out, feeling the last of your discomfort crawl away from your skin. These two were good people, you could tell. Even though they were royalty, they welcomed you into their home — into their lives — with open arms.
That was the start of your allegiance to the royal family of Tenebrae.
*
“Princess,” you called. “It’s time for your lessons.”
“Oh (Name),” Lunafreya hummed from her bedroom. “Can’t we skip for once? Please?”
It had been several years since your life had first become interwoven with that of House Nox Fleuret’s. Since your initial meeting, you had only grown closer to both Lunafreya and Ravus at varying degrees.
Lunafreya was almost always attached to your hip. If she wasn’t busy with her duties, she was accompanied by Gentiana. Otherwise, she was often around you. You had come to love her like a sister and would do anything to keep that divine smile on her face.
On the other hand, you had also forged a very formidable friendship with the elder Nox Fleuret. You were closer to Ravus in age, so naturally, the two of you found a lot of things in common. In the years you had spent getting to know him, you had come to realize that Ravus was very much like his mother.
Unbelievably kind.
Incredibly accommodating.
So, so warm.
You were honored that Ravus felt safe enough around you to let his guard down and not just be himself, but also show his softer side to you.
You wanted to think that you were at least somewhat special to him in that regard.
These days, you weren’t sure what to make of the butterflies that went wild in your tummy whenever you were around Ravus, but spending time with him always made you giddy and caused your heart to race. It was hard not to smile in his presence.
“Your mother would have my head if I allowed another absence, Princess.”
“She would not!” the young blonde retorted as she fixed her fringe in place. “Mother is much too nice for such barbaric extremes.”
“Perhaps not,” you replied, a teasing smile sneaking its way onto your face, “but if Her Highness won’t have my head, then it will be your brother who may scold me if I continue to be soft on you.”
“That won’t happen,” Lunafreya assured you, a knowing smirk on her otherwise delicate face. “Ravus adores you.”
You immediately flushed at her statement. “H-He…! He does not!”
“Oh, but he does. In fact, Ravus-”
“Are you speaking ill of me again, dearest sister?” Ravus’ voice interrupted from the doorway.
You spun around to face him, feeling embarrassed that he had nearly caught onto what his sister had been insinuating. “My Prince!” You bowed before him, trying to keep the warmth in your cheeks at bay.
“At ease,” he said, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder to set you upright again. “How many times must I insist that ‘Ravus’ is enough?”
“My apologies.”
“And how many times must I defend my honor in front of you, brother dearest?” Lunafreya challenged teasingly, staring indignantly at her older sibling with her hands on her hips. “When have I ever spoken ill of you?”
“If we count all the instances,” he said, “then you will most surely miss your lessons, and we cannot allow that, now can we?”
Ravus glanced at you then, his dual-colored eyes holding a playful glint. You took this as a sign to usher your charge out the door and off to her obligations.
“I-Indeed, we cannot!”
Lunafreya threw her hands up in the air, exasperated. “Ah, I can only take so much when the two of you bully me together! Off I go, then.”
“We-! We weren’t bullying you, Lady Luna-” Your impending apology was cut short with the realization that Lunafreya had already left. Flustered, you turned to Ravus and asked, “She’s not… She’s not angry with me, is she?”
Ravus chuckled, waving his hand to dismiss your fears. “Fret not, dear (Name). My sister merely jests.”
You let out a sigh of relief. “Lady Lunafreya will be the death of me one of these days.”
“As she will be for me, as well.”
His reply caused a few giggles to escape your lips. Once your small bout of laughter tapered, you found Ravus to be looking at you with what appeared to be fondness in his eyes. His gaze made you blush, so you opted to break the silence by bringing the attention back to him.
“So how may I be of service of you today, my Prince?” you asked, returning to your well-mannered front.
Ravus sighed at your ignorance of his name yet again. “Yes, I’ve come to you in need of a favor, actually.”
“Oh? A favor?” You looked at him questioningly, your curiosity piqued. “I will do my best to be of assistance to you, my-”
“Ravus,” he repeated sternly, though his eyes remained tender. “When we are in private, kindly refer to me by my name.”
‘I take it back,’ you thought, feeling your cheeks burn all the more thanks to Ravus’ sweet plea. ‘It is the prince who will be the death of me, not the princess.’
“R-Ravus,” you tested, feeling lighter at the sight of elation on the prince’s face upon the utterance of his name from your mouth.
“Much better.”
You had to keep it together to stop yourself from swooning at his dazzling smile. At the age of 15, Ravus had grown well into his body, and by the looks of it, he would only continue to grow as the years go by. His face had matured some from the time when you first met as children, and while his features sharpened, his kindness had not wavered.
Especially not around you.
“U-Um… Ravus. Ahem. What is this favor you speak of?”
“You have heard of the upcoming ball, have you not?”
“Ah, yes.” You nodded, thinking back on the invitations you had glossed over just a few days prior. “The one celebrating our nation, correct?”
“That is the one. May I ask if you will be preoccupied then?”
You did a mental scan of your duties and responsibilities leading up to the ball. “I may need to assist Lady Lunafreya,” you answered, “but otherwise, I will be present at the sidelines in the event that my aid is needed for the remainder of the night.”
“I don’t suppose you would like to attend as a guest of the family?” Ravus quietly proposed.
Your brows furrowed. What need of Ravus required you to attend as a guest of House Nox Fleuret? You would already be present at the ball anyhow, so the invitation seemed odd as it was rather unnecessary.
Regardless, attending as a guest of House Nox Fleuret meant that the festivities would at least be a little more entertaining, what with the company of Lunafreya and Ravus making everything a little more enjoyable.
It also meant that you would by their side for most of the night, and that alone seemed more appealing than having to lurk in the shadows by yourself.
“That is a very generous offer, my- Ravus.” You winced at how your correction made it sound like you had referred to the prince as ‘yours,’ but you trudged on, hoping he hadn’t taken notice of your slip up. “I would be honored to-”
You were stopped by Ravus clearing his throat. “I’m afraid I failed to clarify.” Dusting off imaginary dirt from his sleeve, he added, “Would you be willing to attend the ball as my guest?”
You blinked up at him, caught off guard at the offer. “A-As…? As your…?”
He huffed a little uncharacteristically. “As my date.”
“Ah.”
An awkward silence enveloped the room. On your part, you were unsure as to how to respond to Ravus’ request. While there was no denying that you would be more than happy to accompany him to the ball — as his date, no less — when it came right down to it, you were torn between your personal sentiments towards the prince and what was expected of you as his Royal Advisor.
Perhaps it was because you were in your teenage years — being just a year younger than Ravus — but it was quite evident to you that you had begun to develop some feelings for your charge. It was a bit of a pickle for you, because it became a challenge having to keep your feelings at bay without crossing the line of what was considered proper.
Though your relationship with the Nox Fleuret family was definitely friendly and familiar, it was still encased in decorum and your respective obligations not just to each other, but to the nation of Tenebrae as well.
Thus, Ravus’ proposal practically blindsided you. You weren’t so naive as to presume he harbored some sort of romantic feelings for you as well, but you could hope, couldn’t you? He wasn’t required to bring a date to the ball; you knew, because you helped piece the occasion together. So what was he doing here, asking you of all people to come with him?
Your nerves and apprehension over how to approach Ravus’ offer must have shown on your face, as he immediately backtracked, saying, “You are not obligated to accept, of course.” Was he worried that you would only say yes because you thought you had to? “I am well aware that such gatherings are not to your taste. Thus, my request may be more of a nuisance than anything, so-”
“Yes.”
Ravus’ rambling came to a halt. “I… beg your pardon?”
“Yes, Ravus.” You gave him a bright smile, hoping it would convey enough of your feelings for him to understand. “I would be delighted to accompany you to the ball, if it won’t be too much trouble for you.”
His shoulders practically sagged in utmost relief. “No, never,” he said as a small smile began to bloom on his face. “You are not an inconvenience in the slightest.”
“So…” You looked away, feeling bashful over the how things had unfolded. “I shall see you then, my Prince?”
“You do me the greatest honor.” Ravus reached out to you and delicately grasped your hand in order to lay a soft kiss on it. “I shall see you then, my (Name).”
“Ex-Excuse me?” you blubbered, feeling your cheeks grow even warmer. “Your (Name)?”
“It’s only fair, is it not?” he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice. “I am your Ravus, and so in return, you are my (Name).”
“Th-That’s-!”
“I shall see you at the ball, dearest heart. Good day.”
And with that, Ravus not only left you a flustered mess, he took with him the rest of your heart as well.
You didn’t really mind, though.
*
You often look back on that time with much fondness and love. The ball was boring as expected, but being by Ravus’ side for the entirety of the night made it much, much more tolerable. Lunafreya sending the two of you some smug smiles also made for some amusement that night.
Despite the fact that you came as Ravus’ date, neither of you initiated the step to further your friendship into a romance. Both of you merely skirted around your feelings, too shy to do anything beyond the confines of your personal and professional lives together.
Lunafreya often urged you to take the initiative and allow the love between you and her brother to prosper, but you always evaded her prodding. In spite of Lunafreya’s unabashed approval and support, you believed that you were in no position to present your feelings to Ravus and expect some sort of reciprocation in the form of a romantic relationship.
No, you wanted it to come from him. You were merely his advisor and a childhood friend at best. There was no way you were going to burden him with your feelings, not when you were unsure if this was what he really wanted with you. If he was not going to take the step forward, then you would adjust to his pace, as you have done all these years.
You were content with remaining by his side. Whether it be as his advisor, his friend, or his lover… so long as you were with him, then that was more than enough for you.
Things changed just a year later with the death of Queen Sylva and the imperial control of Niflheim over Tenebrae.
*
Now, years later, you still remain by Ravus’ side. Many things have since changed, such as Lunafreya’s appointment as the new Oracle, as well as Ravus’ new occupation under Niflheim’s invasion.
No longer was he the prince of Tenebrae. Now, he was known as Ravus Nox Fleuret, the High Commander of the Imperial Army.
You still referred to him as your prince, though. Ravus would merely ignore the title as if you had never said it in the first place.
After the death of Queen Sylva, Lunafreya had pleaded with you to place your focus on her brother rather than on herself. You had objected, arguing that both she and Ravus were your responsibility. However, the young girl proved to you just how mature she was beyond her years when she countered that Ravus needed you more than she did.
“There is only so much that I can do for him,” she had admitted to you tearfully. “But you… you are his heart. Please, (Name), I beg of you. Please do not leave my brother’s side.”
“Lady Lunafreya…” You had held onto her as she fell apart in your arms. Right then and there, you swore that you would remain steadfast in your devotion to Ravus regardless of what life would throw at you.
“I promise.”
If only it were so easy.
At present, the young boy you came to know and love was nonexistent in the Ravus that stood before you today. Gone were the warm smiles and gentle eyes, now replaced by hardened glares and permanent scowls.
The death of his mother had clearly changed Ravus. Though you held him close to your heart, you struggled to reach him beyond the icy walls he had put up around his own heart. Still, you stood by him and remained at his side amidst all the changes he went through.
“My Prince,” you murmured timidly, stepping into Ravus’ office. “Your sister requests your presence for supper.”
“Tell her to proceed with her meal,” replied Ravus from a pile of papers he had not looked up from.
“My Prince, if I may.” Shutting the door behind you, you made your way across the room and settled in front of his desk. “It’s been several days since you last shared a meal with Lady Lunafreya. She merely misses your company, and-”
“How many times must I tell you?” Ravus abruptly stood up and sent you a cold glare. Though you had become used to such painful gazes, you had to admit that they still pierced at your heart rather agonizingly. “I am no longer a prince, and you must address me accordingly by my new title instead.”
It was hard to keep your face neutral when the sadness in your heart overflowed for Ravus.
“My apologies, High Commander,” you muttered softly, offering a bow. “Old habits die hard, I suppose.”
“If only some would die easier than others,” you heard him grumble under his breath.
His harsh tone made you wince, but you did nothing to address his statement. Sending him an affirmative nod, you said, “I bid you a good evening, then, High Commander.”
Noticing your wounded look, Ravus softened his voice and called out to you almost apologetically. “Have you forgotten?” He combed a hand through his hair, which had grown much longer over the years. “I am Ravus to you in private.”
So there was still a bit of the old Ravus somewhere in there. The thought made you smile, albeit a bit sadly.
“Please don’t forget to eat something, Ravus.” Your eyes softened as they met his. “Feel free to summon me if my help is required.”
At that, you made yourself scarce, unaware of the look of longing in Ravus’ eyes as he stared after you.
*
Just a few hours later, Ravus had called for you once more, requesting for dinner. You delivered his meal to his office without a word, only to be stopped by him as he requested that you join him and have a bite as well.
“I’ve already eaten, Ravus.”
“Would you do me the honor of gracing me with your company, then?” He pulled out a chair for you, the hard strain in his eyes growing tender for a few moments.
Only you still got to see this side of Ravus. Only you could do this to him.
“It would be my pleasure.”
The two of you sat there in his office, basking in the quiet. Though no words were shared, the company you offered each other made for a fairly pleasant night.
*
When word of Lunafreya’s imminent union with Prince Noctis of Insomnia came to light, you grew worried. Not just for Lunafreya, but for Ravus as well. Ever since the death of his mother, he had come to loathe the Caelum line and, in effect, Noctis himself.
His bitterness and rage towards the Lucian royal family had consumed him over the years. You had seen firsthand how such dark thoughts and feelings had changed Ravus, so with the announcement of his sister’s engagement to the Crown Prince, you became distraught over how your own prince would handle the news.
One day, you noticed the younger Nox Fleuret carrying a suitcase as she made her way across Fenestala Manor. She appeared to be dressed for travel, prompting you to wonder what her intentions were. As far as you knew, Lunafreya had no meetings scheduled for today. She made no mention of going out, either.
With your brows furrowed, you caught up to her and asked, “Princess, where are you off to?”
“(Name)!” she squeaked in surprise. “I am in need of your help, kind (Name). Please, allow me to leave as I must speak to King Regis immediately!”
“King Regis…?” you repeated, trying to process the growing urgency on her face. “Is this about your engagement to Prince Noctis?”
“It is more than that.” Lunafreya nodded, taking ahold of your hand. “Please, (Name), I must make my way to Insomnia as soon as possible. Will you assist me?”
Your mind scrambled to sort out your thoughts. “I… I cannot, my Princess,” you informed her regretfully, feeling a pang at the frown that took residence on her face. “But it is only because I swore that I would remain by your brother’s side. You remember, do you not?”
“Of course I do. I am eternally grateful for your honor and devotion to Ravus.”
You bit your lip, sending a prayer to the gods above that all would work well. “Still, I cannot simply abandon you in your time of need.” You pulled her to the side and stealthily made your way to the lower floors of the manor. “I may not be able to escort you to Lucis, but I can at least ensure that you find your way out of Tenebrae.”
Lunafreya’s expression brightened at your words. “Thank you, (Name). I owe you.”
“You owe me nothing. Now come, we must make haste.”
Both you and Lunafreya had evaded the imperial guards that monitored the hallways of the manor. Just as you were nearly at the door, the two of you were stopped by none other than Ravus himself.
Snatching Lunafreya from your grasp, he dragged her towards a nearby room, but not before sending you a scathing look.
“And you,” he snarled, “I will have a word with you once I have settled things with my sister.”
The dread that churned at the pit of your stomach almost hurt as more as the pain in your heart due to Ravus’ anger directed towards you.
*
“What were you thinking?!” he barked, slamming the door of his office.
You opted to create a small distance between you and Ravus, growing cautious of his boiling rage. Drawing closer to his desk, you answered, “I merely offered my assistance where it was needed, Ravus. It is as I have done for you and your family all these years.”
Ravus sneered at your response. “Were you foolish enough to allow Lunafreya into the clutches of our mother’s murderer?”
The neutral mask you wore began to crumble with the beginnings of a frown. “Ravus, I understand that you blame King Regis for the death of our queen, but-”
“Understand? You think you understand?”
This was the first time you had ever truly been on the receiving end of Ravus’ fury. It wounded you deeply, causing you to wither away at his spiteful voice. His build, which had grown sturdier even more, now felt menacing as he towered over you.
Still, you reminded yourself of your promise to Lunafreya, no matter how much Ravus was now hurting you.
“You think you understand what my sister and I have been through?” he continued with a scoff. “Are you so stupid to believe that you are so special simply due to our history together?”
Your eyes began to water by then, but you remained rooted in your spot. “I-I…”
“If that is what you believe,” he snapped, “then you are much more idiotic than I thought you to be.”
This time, you flinched. You kept your head bowed in order to hide the steady stream of tears that rolled down your face. “R-Ravus, please…” you hiccuped, “I know you are hurting, but please…”
“YOU KNOW NOTHING!”
A sob threatened to escape your throat, but you slapped a hand over your mouth to keep it in. “Please,” you whimpered pathetically, “do not hurt me like this, Ravus.”
Your plea seemed to have fallen on deaf ears, for Ravus broke you down even further with one simple but cruel statement.
“I do not need you any longer.”
“Wh-What?”
“You are hereby dismissed of your duties,” he continued, voice devoid of emotion. “Until a more suitable role for you can be found, you will remain at the manor for the time being.”
You were openly weeping by now. “Ravus, you cannot mean this.”
“I do,” he retaliated coldly. “Now get out.”
You lifted your pain-stricken gaze, only to pull away the moment your eyes met Ravus’ seething glare. Where was the Ravus you loved? This wasn’t him. The Ravus you loved wouldn’t hurt you so brutally without any heed to your sensitive emotions. The Ravus you loved wouldn’t strip you of the one thing that gave your life meaning throughout the years.
What were you to do now, if you could not remain by his side?
Sniffling, you shuffled your way towards the doorway where Ravus stood. You lowered your head once more as you bumped against him. But, before taking your leave, you offered some parting words to Ravus that would haunt him forevermore.
“You… You will always be my heart, dear Ravus. I pray that you find peace and happiness.”
*
In the days leading to Lunafreya’s escort to Lucis, you steered clear of both her and Ravus. Ultimately, you were no longer bound to them, at least by Ravus’ words.
‘I have failed you, my Princess,’ you thought glumly, looking up at the night sky. ‘How can I remain by your brother’s side if he no longer wants me there?’
Soon, Fenestala Manor grew quiet with the departure of the remaining Nox Fleurets as they traversed to Insomnia. It didn’t take long before news of the nation’s fall reached your region, causing you to plunge into a pit of despair as the tragedy sent a blow to your very core.
King Regis, dead. Even the sweet Prince Noctis was said to have passed on. But what truly broke you was the news that your dearest Lunafreya was gone as well.
Maria, who had remained in your company the past few days, could do little to console you as you drowned in your hysteria. This couldn’t be true. You refused to believe it. No, Lunafreya was still alive. She had to be.
And what of Ravus? Where was he now? Had he fallen amidst Niflheim’s betrayal as well?
You didn’t know what to do with yourself.
‘Please,’ you begged to the heavens above, ‘please, keep them safe. They’re all I have.’
*
Some of your worries had been eased at the return of Ravus. Though he retained his cold demeanor, he brought with him a new prosthetic — one that you couldn’t help but marvel at as you stood before him in his office yet again.
Though news of his arrival had reached you, you had forced yourself to remain at your quarters and not seek him out. With the memory of your last conversation still painfully fresh, you chose not to look for Ravus, providing him the space and privacy he had forcefully set between the two of you.
Your efforts were put to rest when Ravus himself summoned you. Here you now were, avoiding his gaze as you fidgeted nervously in front of him.
The silence was incredibly overbearing, but you feared that if you spoke, he would only lash out at you again. Thus, you kept mum, giving Ravus the floor to voice his thoughts, whatever they may be.
At first, he sighed. Then, with a few careful steps, he approached you. Raising a hand — from his flesh limb, notably — he caressed the side of your cheek in a motion so affectionate, you had to question if this was really the same Ravus you had last perceived before the blatant dismissal of your obligations to him.
“You appear well,” he commented softly, his hand leaving your face.
You couldn’t help but long for his touch. Still, all you could do was nod, feeling as if your voice and words would merely betray you if you tried to speak.
“I…” You could hear his fists clench. “Will you look at me? Please?”
At this, you lifted your gaze to meet his eyes. Based on the memory of your last meeting, you had expected to see bitter rage in his stare. You were proven wrong, however, as you found nothing but throbbing emotion looking back at you.
There it was. The same fondness he used to look at you with. The same tenderness and affection his dual-colored eyes had always revered you in.
There was also one other thing you found in his soft gaze, but you dared not voice your thoughts in fear that you were simply dreaming.
In his eyes, you found love.
“I am sorry.” His voice broke. The last time you were a witness to Ravus’ tears was shortly after the death of his mother. Now, such waterworks were making a return, though you found it hard to fathom that these tears were due to his own grieving for you.
“I was wrong,” Ravus went on, reaching out to you but stopping short, as if he was afraid you would reject him. You eased his fears by meeting him halfway, reaching up on your heels to hold his face in your hands. “I do need you, (Name). I will always need you.”
His hands enveloped yours as you both cried for each other. “Ravus…”
“I meant none of it. Not a single word I had uttered that day held any truth. Please, believe me.”
“I know, Ravus,” you sobbed. “I know.”
You don’t know what it was that had happened to him in Insomnia to cause this sudden turnaround in Ravus, but you weren’t going to question it. All that mattered was that he was here now, with you.
“I realize now that it was I who was the foolish one. It was always me. Never, ever you.” This large man, whose mere presence held a threatening aura towards his foes, was now a snivelling mess in your hands. “I beg for your forgiveness.”
“There is nothing to forgive,” you assured him tenderly, wiping away the tears that had leaked during your exchange of words. “I am relieved that you, too, are well.”
“I will never forgive myself for hurting you that day,” he admitted, pulling you closer. You felt your lip quiver as you recalled the relentless words he had directed to you back then.
You shook your head, trying to rid yourself of such memories. “None of that,” you told both Ravus and yourself. “What matters is that you are here now.”
“There is so much that has been lost, but I will not allow you to be lost to me as well. Not anymore.” He paused for a bit, moving his grasp from your hands to your face, albeit hesitantly. “What you said then, did you mean it?”
“Mean what?”
“You… You own my heart, (Name),” he confessed at last, leaning his forehead on yours. “I would like to know if your sentiments remain the same, though I know I am undeserving of them.”
A sweet smile began to surface amidst your tears. Carefully bringing your face closer to his, you whispered against his lips, “You are my dearest heart, Ravus, as you have been and always will be. Nothing will change that.”
What lay ahead seemed bleak, what with Niflheim’s rise and the still unknown whereabouts of Lunafreya. But, as you remained glued to Ravus, your mouth locked with his in a passionate exchange, all you could do was melt into him and allow your feelings of love to come undone once and for all.
Come what may, you would remain by his side until the very end. What made it easier this time around was the knowledge that he would do the same for you.
At the end of the day, it was just as Lunafreya had told you all those years ago. You were his heart, just as he was yours.
I finally did it! I wrote one whole reader-insert fanfiction! First one ever!
This is incredibly self-indulgent. Fight me
Why? Just why? Why today of all days did you have to be overcome by this feeling of tiredness. You had plans for today, damn it! It was a rare day off for you, and days off were something that you cherished since your job at the Citadel took up most hours of the day and nearly all days of the week. Sometimes your work even followed you home in the form of paperwork that still needed to be done and notes that needed to be reviewed by the next day. You were so excited the day prior for this, making a list of the things you planned to accomplish with your free time. It’s the previous excitement and planning that made your sudden situation seem so unfair.
Here you were, awake since your partner Ignis left for work in the early hours of the morning and feeling entirely unmotivated to do anything except lie in bed. It’s been hours since Ignis gave you a sleepy kiss good morning and an Ebony flavored kiss goodbye, and yet still you lie in bed, drifting between sleep and blearily looking at your phone for any updates from your Iggy or checking your social media feeds. Anything to keep your mind off the fact that you were being lazy and entirely frustrated that you couldn’t find the mental means to change that.
A deep sigh escapes you. How could this happen? You had so many things you wanted to do today! You were going to clean up around your living space, take a trip down to the small local bookstore to browse their selection and to say hi to the cats that watch over the shelves, take a walk in the park nearby since you’d seen that the weather was supposed to be beautiful today, visit one of your friends that works at a cafe a few blocks from your apartment building. Most importantly, you were going to go grocery shopping in preparation for dinner tonight. You had wanted to semi-surprise Ignis when he got home with a meal already prepared since you knew that he had been working overtime for the past few weeks or so. You weren’t a stranger in the kitchen, and you’ve made meals for the two of you before, but it doesn’t happen very often with Ignis being the true master of the kitchen. Still, you wanted to do something to make his day easier, so you thought a nice, simple dinner would help ease the burden of his day when he got back.
Tears of frustration began to fill your eyes, but all you felt you could do was hold the pillow that Ignis slept on close to your body in an attempt to calm yourself down. Ignis’s lingering scent did help ease some of the bubbling emotions inside of you, but nothing could compare to having the man there himself to ease you through your frustrated state. You grab your phone and text Ignis, relaying your frustrations to him for what seemed like the third time that day.
I just don’t understand! It’s like there’s a heaviness all around me and I can’t do anything about it! It should be so easy to just get out of bed and do things, but I just can’t!
The tears were starting to fall from your eyes now, and you quickly rub at them with your hands to clear your vision. Texting Ignis about your predicament helped a little bit, even if just to get some of your emotions off of your chest. Of course, you had already relayed these feelings to Ignis earlier in the day when you realized just what was happening, but you just needed some sort of outlet to vent those returning feelings. The two of you had a pretty good system going, with the both of you sharing any negative feelings before they were bottled up and became too much to handle. There was an incident early on in your relationship where that happened, and the two of you promised each other to never let that kind of negative build up happen again.
*ping*
Ignis was quick to send a reply and you let out a small breath of a laugh. Despite how much he worked and how dedicated he was to the Crown, he was never too far away from his phone when the two of you were conversing. It brought some warmth into your heart, knowing that he would take whatever time out of his day just to send you a response.
There are just some days where we simply can’t.
I know you’ve been working hard and have exhausted yourself these past few days.
Please, don’t feel bad about your current state, just relax. And do make sure you eat something as well, my dear.
Another sigh escapes you after reading his words. You and Ignis were, unfortunately, familiar with these kinds of days. Days when a heavy exhaustion would hit you like a truck and render you immobile in the bed, but those days were few and far between, and when they did happen Ignis was usually around to at least motivate you to move from the bedroom to the living room so that you could eat some food and the two of you would sit together on the couch and watch empty shows on television. You two never really paid attention to what was on the television, rather you were both too absorbed by being in each others presence on such a sluggish day, merely enjoying each others company. Or if it was a work day Ignis would give you some tough love and get you out the door so that neither of you would be late.
But Ignis wasn’t here right now, and while texting back and forth with him throughout your time in bed made it a little more bearable, all you really wanted was for your partner to be here with you physically. You miss the soothing sound of his voice, how he would gently encourage you to at least sit up in the bed, how he would hush your voice and sooth your thoughts when they turned too self-deprecating about your position, how he would hold you in his arms and give you whispered reminders of how much he loves and cherishes you.
You look to your phone once again to send another message. Your body is feeling heavier and it’s getting harder to keep your eyes open, but still, you want to send this text to the unbelievably kind man that you were somehow lucky enough to call your love. At first, the message seemed almost childish to send, but it held the truth for how you felt, and would eventually lead to a very welcomed surprise.
Ignis was, to put it bluntly, having one hell of a day. Granted, the day started out pleasantly enough, waking up next to his beloved in the early hours of the morning, listening to their sleepy grunts and groans as he kissed them good morning and went about getting prepared for the day. Today was your day off, and Ignis was relieved that you had one given how much stress you’d been under the past few days. That relief quickly gave way to worry, however, when he received a text from you around 11 that morning.
It was going to be one of those days for you again. The days where it seemed the weight of the world was on your shoulders and you were loathed to do anything about it. The days where you would grow angry at yourself for not being able to pull yourself out of bed without his intervention. He knew it was killing you inside not being able to do the things you had plan on today. You had excitedly told him yesterday all that you wanted to accomplish with your free time today, even not so subtly hinting at preparing dinner for the two of you so that he could relax once he got home. He gave a brief smile at the thought because while you simply couldn’t match his own skills in the kitchen, he found your cooking to be delicious and it was nice having a meal prepared for him every once in a while.
Ignis tried to shake himself out of his thoughts. He was currently with Noctis in an empty room in the Citadel, trying to go over the notes for the upcoming political meeting. It was an important one, talks of new taxes, royal gatherings, and the war with Niflheim all on the docket to be discussed. Ignis knew of the importance of this meeting but was having a difficult time trying to get Noctis in the same headspace. “Why do I even have to be there? It’s gonna be my dad who makes the final decision anyways,” the young Prince complained, his voice nearly coming out as a whine. “You need to be there because you’re the Prince, Noct. Which means that you’ll one day be King and then you’ll be the one making these decisions. So, it’s important for you to get experience now so that you’ll be better prepared for the future.” Ignis received a soft glare from Noctis. “I hate it when you’re right.”
Ignis took a brief moment to bask in victory until the vibrating hum of his phone interrupted the quietness that had filled the room after the Prince’s final comment. Momentarily distracted, Ignis took out his phone to see yet another update about your situation, and it wasn’t good. His heart dropped when he read your words, your language showcasing just how lowly you felt, laying in bed at home with nothing compelling you to leave the false haven of the bedroom. Ignis typed out a hasty reply, trying to convey through text that you had nothing to be ashamed of and that he loves you no matter what. He put his phone away with a sigh and wished for nothing more than to be home with you, either helping you throughout the rest of the day, or even more tempting, to join you in bed and simply cuddle and sleep the day away. It wasn’t often that Ignis felt the need to simply lie down and do nothing, he was often too busy to even consider the idea, but with the mounting pressure of this upcoming meeting and you being at home in bed Ignis could feel a small part of his no-nonsense resolve crumble.
Noctis took note of Ignis’s sudden change in demeanor and the gears in his head began to turn. He didn’t know about your situation at home, but he could guess something was happening based on how Ignis looked when he responded to the text. He looked tired and worried, like he’d rather be anywhere else besides sitting here going over relentlessly boring notes and procedures for this meeting. Noctis knew that Ignis was nearly running himself ragged in preparation for the upcoming meeting, something that he was grateful for since he himself didn’t put much effort beforehand to prepare. A feeling of guilt slowly began to take over the Prince. He loved Ignis like a brother and hated that he sometimes felt that he was taking advantage of his Advisor. Well, there’s no use in feeling bad about a situation when you know that you can do something to make it right, and Noctis was prepared to do just that, even if it meant being responsible for himself for the rest of the day.
“Hey Ignis? Why don’t you take the rest of the day off.” Noctis could see the way Ignis flinched when he spoke, like he was startled out of some deep thought. “I’m terribly sorry, Noct. I didn’t mean to appear out of sorts. However, we do really need to continue going over these notes so that you’ll be better prepared for-” “And I think I can handle that on my own for now. Seriously Igs, you’ve been fretting over your phone for a while now. Obviously whatever it is, it’s important. Astrals know that the sky could fall and you’d still be here working.” That last line was said with a tone of amusement, but it also held an underlying truth. Noctis stood up and walked over to where Ignis sat, took the meticulously prepared notes from his person and stared Ignis down. “You always do so much for me, Specs. Even when I don’t deserve it. Let me do this for you, please?”
Ignis was at a personal stalemate. On the one hand, he was devoted to the Crown and the service of the Prince, it’s what he’s been raised to do. The majority of his life has been spent taking care of Noctis and trying to prepare him to one day be King, and it wasn’t a job he took lightly. He and Noctis grew up alongside each other like brothers, and the friendship they forged only served to further encourage Ignis to be the Advisor that Noctis needed. He would do anything for the young Prince, as was his duty and his wish. On the other hand, you were at home and very clearly not in a good mental place. Ignis wanted nothing more than to rush home and see to it that you were taken care of, wanted to see your eyes light up when you saw him home, wanted to see your smile when he would greet you with a hurried retelling of his day before completely devoting his time to you. Ignis was a caregiver through and through, and the fact that he wasn’t in your physical presence to help ease your mind was eating away at him.
The hesitation was clear on Ignis’s face, but his phone buzzed once again and as Ignis read the message on the screen it morphed into resolve. “Just to be clear, you are to go over these notes almost ad nauseam. Now is not the time to fall back to your *ahem* study habits of school, Noct.” Ignis stood from his seat and began to gather his belongings, now sans notes, and fixed Noctis with a pointed stare. “Be forewarned, Noct. I might just have a pop-quiz ready for you tomorrow morning” Ignis gave a small smirk.“Just get out of here, Specs!” Noctis laughed as Ignis made his way out of the room. As he walked down the halls of the Citadel towards the parking deck his pace increased gradually, your last text message running through his mind, making him determined to get back home to you as soon as possible. He soon reached the car and as he got in he hastily sent you a text, hoping that you would be awake to read it.
Ignis was uncharacteristically careless while driving home, needing to be with you as soon as possible. He didn’t break any severe laws, he wasn’t that crazed, but he did drive over the speed limit just a tad and had taken a few turns just a bit too hard, earning the ire of the other drivers and some pedestrians. Every little delay caused him some level of irritation, the only thought in his mind being you waiting for him at home while he was stopped an yet another traffic light. “Of all the days to hit every red light in the city.” His fingers tapped on the steering wheel in aggravation. He was so close to being home, so close to being with you that he was almost vibrating with energy in his seat. The light finally turned and Ignis stepped on the gas hard, and in the back of his mind he knew that he was overreacting to his need to be home with you, but he also didn’t give a damn at the moment. He soon arrived at the apartment building’s parking deck, and as he pulled into a space Ignis thought to maybe neglect any mention of his reckless driving when he saw you, though he knew that you knew him well enough to tell when he was hiding a mischievous secret. Oh well, you’ll probably get a laugh out of it.
Ignis quickly grabbed his work belonging from the car and hastily made his way into the apartment building, rushing through the halls to reach his goal, not even stopping to give brief greetings to those he passed. Once he finally made it, he quickly but quietly opens the door to your shared home. Ignis, after not receiving a text from you in response to his message earlier, made a guess that you had fallen back asleep sometime earlier and didn’t want to risk disturbing you, so he entered the apartment quietly. He toed off his shoes at the entrance and made his way to the bedroom, putting down his work items on the couch in the living room. He carefully opens the door, not wanting to disturb you if he was correct in guessing that you were asleep. The curtains were drawn and all the lights were off, but once his eyes adjusted to the dim room and spied your disheveled sleeping form in the bed, it was like the air in his lungs had been stolen from him.
You were somehow simultaneously sprawled out on the bed and curled in on yourself at the same time, your legs splayed out while your arms clutched at Ignis’s pillow with your face buried into it, like you were trying to become one with it. Your form was half wrapped in the covers and half exposed to the air of the room. Ignis was caught in the moment, staring at the sight before him with tired eyes that held a deep affection. He inhaled deeply, the exhaustion he’s been refusing to acknowledge finally settling in his bones, and let out a long sigh. His work routine was punishing these past few weeks, sometimes keeping him away from home for days at a time with the intense preparations for the upcoming political meeting that he couldn’t even recall what it was about in this moment. Ignis was tired, and right now he could think of nothing better to do than to join you in bed and sleep the day away.
As quietly as he could, Ignis stripped down to nothing but his briefs, not feeling like putting forth the extra effort to put on his pajamas. He doesn’t even take the time to properly put away his clothes, he just leaves them on the floor, joining your discarded garments from the night before. As he sized up your form in the bed he tried to make a plan of attack. You had situated yourself in the middle of the bed in your attempt to find a comfortable sleeping position when you had given up the fight to stay awake earlier. You were facing towards Ignis’s preferred side of the bed while holding his pillow, so Ignis decided to try and climb in behind you, mindful of your legs that stretch out across the bed. He pulled back the covers slowly, trying not to disturb you as he began to settle in the bed, removing his glasses and placing them on the nightstand along with his phone before laying down on his side facing your back.
As gently as he could, Ignis began to cuddle up against your form. His legs intertwining with yours the best he could manage, wrapping his arms around your torso and nestling his nose against the back of your neck, breathing in your scent. It felt so good to be back with you, even if you weren’t awake for this moment. Ignis relished in the closeness of your body, your warmth and your solid form grounding him from the floating feeling of exhaustion from earlier. He took in a deep breath and let out another long sigh, finally feeling fully relaxed from the stress of his life at the Citadel. Ignis’s eyes were closing, ready to slip into the comfortable embrace of sleep when he felt you begin to stir against him.
Something was pulling you back into the realm of consciousness, and at the moment you couldn’t pinpoint just what it was. A sleepy groan escapes your mouth as your eyes flutter open. You shift your body in an attempt to get comfy again so that you can get back to sleep, but you stop suddenly when you finally gain enough awareness to feel the other set of legs against your own and the arms wrapped around your torso. You startle a bit, and in jerking motions begin to turn yourself around, your body still heavy from sleep and caged within another’s limbs. When your sleepy eyes adjust to being open and in dim lighting, you can just barely make out the form who had taken residence in the space next to you. “Ignis?” A soft chuckle greets you from the darkness as Ignis readjusts himself to pull you back closer to him. “You are correct, my dear. How was your sleep?” Your mind was slow in catching up to the situation. Ignis was at work today. You were at home, spending the day in bed and being an absolute lump. You had fallen asleep. You were awake, and Ignis was home. You fell asleep, woke up, and Ignis……
“Shit! How long was I asleep?” You lurch into an upright position in the bed, your lungs tightening with panic and your heart feels like it’s dropped right out of your body. How? It was just past 2:30pm when you sent that last text to Ignis. Did you really sleep for the entire day? Ignis had been coming back home late with his workload keeping him at the Citadel for extended hours, so the fact that he was here with you now in bed seemed to confirm your suspicions. You were mortified. “Shhhh shhhhhh, it’s alright. It’s only a little past three in the afternoon, love. You’re fine. I’m here.” Ignis had sat up with you and was attempting to soothe you from your sudden upset. Ignis’s whispered reassurances were calming you down, but only a little. Reaching out for your phone to check the time to confirm what Ignis was telling you. When you did this you saw his last text pop up on the main screen.
You had missed the text while you were sleeping, but reading it now made you misty-eyed, but also confused. You turn back to Ignis, confusion evident on your face. “Ignis? What are you doing home so early? Not that I’m not happy to see you, but you never come home early.” Ignis brought his hands up to cradle your face, bringing you in for a brief kiss before resting his forehead against yours and staring into your eyes. Gods, you could lose yourself in those beautiful green eyes for hours. “It seems that our dear Prince decided to take pity on me today. I thought that I was being careful, but Noct took notice of my frequent phone checks today and decided that it would be best that I take an early leave.” You breathe out a laugh and begin to pepper Ignis’s face with kisses. “How very kind of the Prince. I’ll have to write him a nice letter thanking him for sending you home on this rotten day.” You start to pull away in an effort to get out of bed, your consciousness nagging at you to do something now that your Iggy was home, but Ignis was having none of it. Wrapping his arms around you once more he pulls the two of you back down onto the bed.
“Ignis! What are you doing?” He only pulled you closer, feeling the need to be completely in your space, to have you as close to him as possible. Normally he would help you go about your day, even if it was just to get dressed and move to relax on the couch instead of in the bed. Right now, however, the only thing he wanted to do was remain in bed with you in his arms. “I’ve decided that today will just have to be a lazy day for the both of us, darling. These kinds of days are best when shared with someone you love, wouldn’t you agree?” You gave a small nod in agreement. You were incredibly thankful that Ignis was here with you and began to settle down in his arms, your head resting on his chest when you remembered. “....But what about dinner?” Dinner that you were supposed to make for the two of you so that Ignis didn’t have to work more after he got home. Your frustration was building itself back up quickly, but Ignis’s next words stamped them down completely. “Guess we’ll just have to order takeout, then.” You move your head to look Ignis in the eyes, almost not believing what you were hearing. Takeout was a rare treat for the two of you. Nothing could compare to the home cooking that you and Ignis created on a day to day basis, but there was just something special about having food delivered to you, no extra work needed. All you could do was laugh when Ignis gave a confirming smile and snuggled back into his arms, unbelievably happy that this was the man that loved you.
Ignis reached back and grabbed his phone to set an alarm so that he could wake up in time to order the food so that it would be delivered in time for dinner. After the alarm was set he turned his attention fully to you, who was already falling back to sleep. Your head would jerk up every now and then in your effort to stay awake, but he knew you were fighting a losing battle. Ignis kissed the top of your head and shifted you so that you could fit your head under his chin, effectively tucking you into his embrace. “Go back to sleep, love. I’m right here.” His own eyes were beginning to feel heavy and he didn’t fight back the sleep, simply closing his eyes with a contented sigh and shifting against you. “I love you, more than anything.” His whispered confession reached your tired ears, and with a mumbled reply of love back, the two of you fell asleep embraced in each other's arms.
1. Reader snuck a baby chocobo into the apartment (or prompto did, I’m down for whichever) now somebody is in trouble.
2. Reader is a Kingsglaive; and for the love of all that is good, they’re just trying to do their job. Stop flirting with them.
3. Somebody was just diagnosed with a serious illness.
4. Mafia au
5. Chocobro (Or Cor, or Ravus, or whoever) is infected with the starscourge, you have to kill them.
6. The first and only time Luna ever tried alcohol.
7. Failed hiking trip (and the person that rescued you).
8. Activist reader hates Lucian royalty (seriously the poverty outside of Insomnia is insane) but oh boy does Noct love them.
9. Reader broke Iggy’s glasses during a training exercise, cue miniature heart attack
10. Obligatory royal ball fic.
11. Prompto trying (and failing) to play matchmaker, you tell me how you want it to end.
12. You secretly brought home a great dane but now he’s drooling all over Ignis and the secret is out (I might not do this one if prompt 1 has been done).
13. Witch hunter/demon slayer au (yeah I know ffxv has demons but imagine a witcher type scenario)
14. What finally pushed Aranea into leaving the empire (not a reader insert)
15. Rescuing the boys from an imperial base (you totally went John Wick on them and now even Gladio is a little scared. Regalia is trashed.)
16. Teaching Noctis to ride a motorcycle but then Ignis shows up and everything goes to hell because you are not allowed to put the only heir to the throne of Lucis on a two-wheeled deathtrap, thank you.
17. Unplanned pregnancy reactions (Can be full of fluff or angst depending on your request).
18. Ignis was too focused on getting Noct to sit right in the seat and he crashed the fucking Regalia (to this day Prompto will not let him live it down), sure hope someone knows where to find a hospital outside of Insomnia.
19. Gladio convinced (kidnapped) you to go with him on one of his morning drills (I’m so sorry).
20. You bought a camera to follow Prompto around with in order to try to teach him a lesson about asking permission to take someone’s photo, but now he’s acting like a god damn supermodel and your plan has backfired.
21. Ardyn never meant for you to become infected with the starscourge, but here you are and this is gonna hurt.
22. Ignis didn’t sign up for a spouse that doesn’t eat vegetables, he’s got Noct for that.
23. Ignis helps a newly blinded reader adapt to their new lifestyle
24. Everyone in the crownsguard is trying to prank the marshal but you might have gone a little too far and now you're being hunted down by the immortal, God rest ye poor souls
25. Feel free to request any or request something else!