Regis smiled and handed the puppy he was holding to Ignis as well. “It appears as though Noctis is excellent at making friends of the four legged variety.”
Ignis took the puppy and looked at it. “Indeed it seems. Just bring them into the bathroom. I would be needing lots of towels and i may need some flee stuff” Ignis said heading into Noctis’ bathroom.
Noct tests its weight. Gives it a few curious swings. Taps it lightly against the nearest surface. And finally decides, “This seems really impractical.”
HC that Noct brings home stray cats and it drives Ignis insane but he secretly loves it
I hc Ignis hardcore as a dog person so this would be kinda funny in that he’d act all put out but still be proper and feed them and scold Noct not to find anymore, but then when Noctis peeps around a corner he catches Iggy snuggling one (owo)
Title: ‘Christmas Wishes’
Fandom: FFXV
Pairing: IgNoct (Ignis Scientia x Noctis Lucis Caelum)
Rating: Mature (mild NSFW, tooth-rotting fluff & smut)
Word Count: ~6445
Summary: The Royal family hosts a party every year on Christmas Eve. This year, Noctis decides to tell Ignis how he feels about him, but a trip down memory lane puts that to rest, and instead brings a whole new set of possibilities to him.
A/N: Merry Christmas @obsessivetrashblog! I am your @ignoctsecretsanta! :D I hope that you will enjoy what I came up with for your requests!
Every year, for as long as Noctis can remember, it has been tradition to host a party on the night before Christmas. His father would spare no expense - hiring carolers to sing traditional carols to all the guests, hiring a man to play Santa Claus, giving gift bags for all in attendance with special treats made just for the holiday. Tonight is that night, and Noctis is trying to find the proper outfit to wear, because the last Christmas party he’d been scolded by his father for not dressing up enough. He stares at his closet, and all he can see is a sea of black, with a few of his former preparatory button up shirts tucked away towards the back.
He hears the front door of his apartment open, and the sound causes a fit of butterflies to appear in his stomach out of nowhere. “Noct? Are you ready to head out?” He hears the voice of his Adviser, and close friend, call out to him. “We need to be on our way soon if we’re to get there at the time your father wants you there.”
“Almost!” He hears Ignis beginning to walk towards his room, and looks down at the towel around his waist, feeling severely undressed at the moment. “Don’t come back here!”
“Why on earth not?” Ignis listens to his command, his footsteps halting.
“Because! I’m not ready yet!” An internal groan reverberates in his head, feeling like a complete moron at the lame excuse. He knows it won’t stop Ignis from coming in, it will probably make him hasten his footsteps so he can help him get ready. “I’ll be out in a few. There’s Ebony in the fridge.”
“Very well. I will wait for you.” He hears his retreating footsteps, his breathing becoming a little bit more even as he starts to relax.
Grabbing a black suit from his closet, he grabs a button up black shirt, and finds a red satin tie with a green paisley pattern covering the fabric tucked behind a few different ties that he owns with just a hint of color. He wonders if the man that’s waiting for him is responsible for putting such an atrocious item in his wardrobe, but since it’s festive enough he’ll let it pass for now. He’s quick to get dressed, his tie a lot brighter against the black of his shirt, which will either please his father, or make him roll his eyes. He can already hear him in his head. “Too much black, my son.”
He grabs his ankle boots, and slips them on over black socks, and heads out of his bedroom, fixing the cufflinks now hidden beneath his suit jacket. “Alright, I think I’m ready to go.” He walks into the living room, and sees Ignis sitting on the couch, dressed in his normal attire of a vest and slacks, but instead of his traditional black tie, he’s got a tie covered in little small Santas riding in a sleigh. “Wow, Ignis. You dressed up.”
“Oh, ha ha.” Ignis stands up from the couch, a can of Ebony in his hand. “I could have worn an ugly Christmas sweater, but your father gave me so much crap for it the last time I wore one, that I swore I’d never wear one again.”
Laughing, he picks up a bag full of wrapped presents, and looks over at Ignis. “I mean, he had every right to make fun of you. It was a pretty awful sweater.”
“It was not.” The front door to his apartment is opened by the man, allowing him to exit out into the hallway first. “My car is parked in the garage.”
“Where else would you park it?” Feeling in a festive mood, he begins to hum a Christmas tune under his breath as they wait for the elevator. “Do you not want to go to the party? You don’t seem like you’re in the best of moods.”
His Adviser huffs, and he can hear the sound of glasses being pushed up without having to see the actual act occur. “No, I’m in a decent mood. My apologies, Your Highness.” They walk off the elevator, and head to Ignis’ car. “I’ll put those in the trunk.” He reaches for the bag, which Noctis unwillingly gives to him.
“No peeking!” Getting into the car, he buckles in and waits for Ignis to return. When he slides into the driver’s seat, he looks over at him, turning his knees towards the center console. “I appreciate you picking me up, Ignis.”
“If I hadn’t, you may not have wound up at the party.” The car starts, Ignis pulling the car out of the spot. “And, you’re welcome. You know that I don’t mind being chauffeur to you.”
“Is there anything that you do mind having to do for me?” Noctis turns his body back forward, those butterflies beginning to return to his stomach. “You know, I’ll be getting my license soon. Three more months until I graduate high school, and then my father has said I can get my license then.”
He thinks it’s a way for his father to keep him chained to his current way of life, but really, if he had his own license and car, he’d probably still do what he does now - wait for Ignis to take him someplace. Prompto doesn’t have a license, and the two of them like walking the streets of Insomnia - it adds “character”, or so his father claims. He doesn’t really care either way, but if there’s one thing that Ignis probably doesn’t like, it’s having to drive him around.
Ignis doesn’t answer, which makes the butterflies turn to lead as he looks out the window, feeling like a complete moron. “Not that I can think of.” Ignis states without any preamble five stoplights later. “I would do them, regardless if you needed me to or not.”
“Took you long enough.” The lead is slow to disappear, the butterflies staying dormant for the time being. They pull up to the Citadel, Ignis utilizing the free valet service that his father insists on taking care of free of charge for this particular soiree.
They get out of the car together, and head up the stairs, going to the dedicated elevator that will take them directly up to the top of the building. Others join them in the elevator, as they head up to the party. Noctis looks over at Ignis, and sees him keeping his head forward, not looking down at the floor like most of the others they’re in the elevator with are doing. It doesn’t take long for the elevator to arrive at the top floor, the people moving out of the way to allow him and Ignis to exit first, the two of them walking in step together, even though Ignis is considerably taller than him.
Just as with years’ past, the corridor is decorated to the nines with Christmas decorations. There are multiple trees lining the hallway, all decorated in different colors - the smell of pine filling the entire corridor. He can hear the carolers singing, even if he can’t see them yet. He looks over at Ignis, who is holding his bag in his hand, with that same expression semi-sour expression on his face. Deciding that now would not be the best time to ask him if something was wrong, he heads down the hallway with him to go and find his father.
“Noctis!” He turns his head, and sees his best friend approaching him. “Nice tie!” Prompto laughs, touching his tie. “Iggy!! Your tie looks so good!”
“Thank you, Prompto.” Ignis replies, the sour expression gone, replaced with a pleased smile on his face. “You look festive yourself.”
“Aww, thanks!” Prompto’s wearing an ugly Christmas sweater that’s decorated with a bunch of different colored chocobos, and the saying ‘HO HO WARK’ in a large font covering his chest. “His Majesty said it was very clever.” Prompto laughs, looking over at Noctis. “I’ll see you guys later? I’m gonna go and mingle.”
“See you.” Noctis nods his head, then looks up at Ignis. “I can take the bag. How about you go and get us some eggnog?”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
He sets the presents in a room that he knows has limited access, and tries to find where his father is. A fifteen piece big band ensemble are playing Christmas tunes that travel over the din of the guests all drinking and snacking on passed appetizers. He sees his father talking to someone he knows he should know, but can’t remember who they are. So, to save himself from embarrassment, he goes the other direction, thinking that he’ll see his father later on in the evening. He sees Ignis walking up to him, holding a glass mug that looks perfectly chilled, a mate in his other hand.
Reaching for the beverage, he lifts it up and catches Ignis’ eye with a small smile on his lips. “To another year, and another horribly boring Christmas party.”
“To Christmas.”
Noctis brings the glass up to his lips and takes a large swallow, and almost starts to choke as he feels the drink burn going down his throat. He looks up at Ignis, as he tries to recover from the giant gulp of alcohol he’s just taken, and sees a pleased smirk on his Adviser’s face. “W-What the hell, Ignis?” He asks, his voice raw due to the liquor. “Next time warn me that you got me the ‘adult’ kind to drink.”
“You’re old enough now to drink. Why wouldn’t I get it for you?” The smirk stays planted on Ignis’ face, his adviser looking completely chuffed that he could get him to do something as stupid as he’d just done. “You don’t need me telling you what’s in your drink. That isn’t part of my duties to you.”
“Gosh, what the hell is your problem tonight?” He mutters, taking a more reasonable sip, the frothy beverage coating his throat but not removing that nice burn of the brandy. “I thought you loved these parties. You used to, at least.”
“Sometimes, one has to grow up and recognize that these parties aren’t really meant for anything other than feeling good about one's’ self.” Ignis takes another drink of his own eggnog. “I would prefer not to be here so late, as I was already here for most of the day.”
Shaking his head, Noctis thinks twice before keeping his drink down in front of him. “Come on, don’t you remember what we used to do when we were younger?”
“I believe I’ve repressed those memories.”
“What? No way.” He looks up at him, and sees a playful smirk on his face. “You big jerk.” He pushes his shoulder, feeling slightly warm. “But seriously, don’t you remember when I was ten, and we snuck behind the band to listen to them better?”
“Gods, that was the year that you almost threw up everywhere from eating too many rum balls.”
His head begins to throb at the mention of those delicious treats that had been so good, but he’d avoided them since that party. He laughs, the two of them heading towards an open standing table away from where other parties are congregating as more and more people arrive to the event. “Those rum balls were so good, though.”
“Yes, but if you had gotten sick, I was going to have to explain to your father that you got drunk off of a dessert treat.” Ignis chuckles, the attitude that had been there before seeming to dissolve the more they drink their eggnog. “Do you remember when you were seven, and stole Santa’s beard?”
He starts to laugh, laughing so hard that tears begin to spring into his eyes. “Oh, Gods - I’d forgotten about that.”
“It was a rather entertaining evening.”
“I’ll say.”
***
The Citadel is covered in Christmas decorations, every hallway adorned with snowflakes and tinsel. Noctis looks up at his friend, who is holding onto his hand, as the two of them wander the hallways, in search of finding some good Christmas snacks. He tugs on Ignis’ hand, who looks down at him, a friendly smile on his face.
“What is it, Noct?” Ignis asks, his voice sounding more like an adult than his friend. For being nine years old, Ignis sure acts like he’s much older than he really is, whereas he has no pressure to be any other age than the age of seven. “We should find some treats soon. His Majesty said that the party is going to be starting at six.” Ignis pushes his glasses up on his nose with his hand, the hand that Noctis is holding staying firm in his grasp. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“What if he’s fake?” Noctis sighs, feeling slightly silly as the two of them head into the annual Christmas Eve party that his family hosts every year. “There’s no way my father could get the actual Santa Claus here. He’s got toys to give to kids! To me!”
His friend laughs, Noctis’ hand gripping onto Ignis’ hand tighter. “Well, that’s why we’re going to see, right? Isn’t that what we were just talking about?”
“I know, but what if it’s all a lie, Iggy?” He asks, the two of them becoming lost in a sea of adults. There were a few kids wandering around, allowing the two of them to go unnoticed. “I gave him my wishlist last year!”
“And he brought you everything you wanted, didn’t he?” Ignis reminds him, the two of them going over to area where a large red and gold throne sits, a rotund man with a long white beard sits with a child on his lap. “So, doesn’t it seem like if he is able to do that, then that must mean he’s the real Santa, right?”
“Did he bring you want you wanted?” Noctis asks, stopping to look up at his friend. “Or did he mess up, and not bring you what you asked for.”
Ignis gives a tiny shrug of his shoulders, as he adjusts his glasses again. “I don’t remember. I think he did? Maybe he didn’t.”
“Iggy!! It’s important that you remember!” Noctis whines, shaking their held hands back and forth. “If he didn’t get you what you wanted, then we already know he’s a fake! How could he get what I wanted right, but not what you wanted right?”
He sees Ignis close his eyes in concentration. “I guess….? He did? I really don’t remember, Noct. I didn’t ask for very many things for Christmas, so what I got I was more than happy to receive.”
“Ignis!” He draws his friend’s name out, groaning. “Well, look. Let’s go stand in line, and you tell him what you want first, and then I’ll tell him what I want afterwards, and then we’ll just see what happens tomorrow?”
“But, how will we know if he’s a fake? Or do you want to wait to do it next year?” The two of them carefully make their way over to where the kids are standing in line to talk to Santa. “Because that’s the only way we’ll really know, right?”
“I guess?” He really wishes that his friend could remember, because it would be that much easier. He tries not to get too annoyed, as they wait in line. “I think I’m going to find another way to see if this is really Santa or not.”
“But Noctis - if he is the real Santa Claus, won’t that mean you’ll be put on the naughty list?”
He stops, and realizes that his friend is right. If this man is the real Santa, if he tries to figure out if he’s real or not and turns out he is, then Ignis is right - he’ll be put on the naughty list for sure. “I guess it’s a sacrifice that I will just have to make.” He doesn’t even know what that word means, but he’s heard his father say it many times, so it’s got to mean something important.
“You don’t have to go that far!” The closer they get to the guy in a Santa, the more nervous he feels. Noctis doesn’t want Ignis to be put on the naughty list. If anyone is going to make that happen, it will be him. He sees Ignis put a serious expression on his face as he’s about to go up and sit on the man’s lap. “Wait!” He reaches up to put his hand on Ignis’ shoulder, and pulls him down. “Just…. Just ask for your Christmas wish, okay? I will take the fall.”
“But, Your Highness!”
“Don’t make me order you, Ignis!” He never uses his Prince powers, but he knows that he can if he has to. He bites his lip, and looks up at his friend, trying not to be such a scaredy cat. “I will!”
His friend meets his eyes, and nods his head. “Very well, Your Highness. I will just tell him my wish.” Noctis drops his hand, and watches his friend go and sit up on Santa’s lap. He sees Ignis lean forward, telling Santa his request in private.
He feels like he’s going to be sick, as he starts to make his way up towards Santa, now that Ignis is no longer on the man’s lap. Taking a deep breath, he stands in front of the man, and allows him to pick him up and set him on his lap.
“Hello, Prince Noctis! Have you been a good boy this year?” A jovial laugh, one that he knows that only the real Santa Claus can make causes him to shift on the jolly man’s lap. “I’ve heard that you’ve been very good.”
“I think I have, Santa.” He nods his head, and begins to take a closer look at the man’s face, noticing little things he’s never seen before. Like the fact that there seems to be some black facial hair next to the white, which makes his eyes grow wide. “Are you the real Santa?” He asks, tilting his head to the side.
“Well, I think you should know by now that I am the real Santa Claus.” The man he’d thought had been the true Santa says, but the more he looks at him, the more he begins to suspect he’s lying. “Didn’t I bring you everything you asked for last year?”
“Yes, but did you bring everything to Ignis?”
“Of course I did.” The white beard seems to shift a little, which Noctis knows can’t physically happen to someone with facial hair. His father’s beard doesn’t move like that - not at all. “And I will bring to him tonight what he just asked for.”
“What did he ask for?” He knows he’s taking more time than the other children, but no one is forcing him to stop his turn. “If you tell me, then I’ll believe you’re the real Santa.”
“Now, you know that I can’t do that.” ‘Santa says, shaking his head, his beard moving more. “That isn’t fair to Ignis. He told me in confidence what he wants.”
“You’re not the real Santa!” Noctis glares up at him. “You’re not!”
He sees the man pretending to be Santa look over at one of the helpers, who starts to walk over to him. “Now, Prince Noctis - you be a good boy, and go grab some milk and cookies from the table over there.”
“You’re not real!” He yells, his hand reaching out to yank on the man’s snowy white beard. He grabs onto it, and gives it a hard yank, mouth dropping open as he sees the beard is now in his hands, gone from this impostor’s face. “NO!” He shouts, and jumps off of his lap. “YOU’RE FAKE!” He shouts, still holding onto the beard, and looks over at where Ignis is standing, who has the same look of horror on his face. “IGNIS! HE’S FAKE!” He runs towards his friend, but gets stopped by one of the attendants. “No, let me go!”
“Give that back, Prince!” The woman tries to get the beard that he’s still clutching in his hands. He can hear the kids behind him wailing when he realizes that this is his fault. He darts between the woman’s legs, grabs onto Ignis’ hand, and they head away from the party, the sound of adults trying to chase them down making his little legs move faster.
They get to the end of the hallway, and he looks up at his friend, who has a look of shock on his face. “We’re going to be in so much trouble.” Ignis shakes his head, and grabs the fake beard from his hand. “We have to give this back!”
“He’s a fake!” He starts to cry, shaking his head. “I thought he was real, Ignis!”
“Santa is real, Noctis.” Ignis nods his head. “This is just...a messenger.” He holds up the beard, the attendants racing over to them.
Crying, he balls up his hands into fists, and rubs his eyes. “It’s not fair! I always thought he was real!”
“Prince Noctis!” He hears an attendant scold him, cowering behind Ignis, who stands in front of him, keeping him shielded from the woman shouting his name. “You did a very bad thing back there!”
“It was my fault.” Ignis holds the beard out in front of him, Noctis’ mouth dropping open as he listens to his friend lie. “I told him to do it. Please, don’t be mad at the Prince. He didn’t mean anything bad by it. Please tell the other kids that we’re so sorry.”
“Very well. But next time, do not even think of pulling a stunt like that again! We can’t upset all the kids in the kingdom for a silly little dare!”
“I understand, and humbly apologize. We apologize.” His friend bows his head, Noctis still in a state of shock, watching his friend talk to the attendant.
“Noctis!” He hears his father’s booming voice, making him cower more behind his friend. “Ignis, what is the meaning of this? Did my son really take Santa’s beard off?”
Tucking his head down, he presses himself against Ignis’ back, his ear resting in a spot that can hear his words slightly muffled. “As I explained to the woman, it was my fault. I told him to do it.”
“What were you thinking?”
“We wanted to see if it was the real Santa!” Noctis steps back, and stares up at his father. “How could you lie to me??”
He sees his father sigh, staying hidden behind Ignis’ back as he lowers himself down to be closer to their height. “Listen to me, son. That is not the real Santa Claus. It is one of his helpers, as you know Santa has an important job to do tonight. Now we’ve got to go tell all those boys and girls that you two decided to frighten that presents will still be under their tree in the morning.” His father pats him on the head, a sad smile on his face. “I never thought you would do something like this, Noctis.”
“I’m….I’m sorry.” His lip quivers, hating that he’s disappointed his father. “I’m sorry, father. I didn’t mean to.”
Ignis stands taller in front of him. “He didn’t. It was entirely my fault, sir. If you’re to be upset, please be upset with me. Don’t punish Noctis.”
Ignis’ hand touches his, and he grabs onto it instinctively, squeezing it tight as he awaits his father’s punishment. “Next year, boys - please stay away from Santa. For now, why don’t you come back to the party, and enjoy some cake? Noctis, it’s almost time for you to go to bed, but I’ll let you stay up a little bit longer because it’s almost Christmas.”
“Thank you, father.” He holds onto Ignis’ hand tight. “We’ll be good from now on. We won’t disrupt the party anymore.”
“See that you don’t. Because if you do, that means no presents tomorrow.” He looks up as his father stands up, a serious look on his face. “Ignis? Please do not give any more ideas to my son this evening. I can only handle so many messes in one night.”
The hand on his returns the pressure. “I won’t, sir. Please accept my apology.”
“Yes, I forgive you. Boys, behave.” His father gives them both a look, then walks back towards the party.
Sniffling, Noctis looks up at Ignis once they’re alone. “You didn’t have to lie like that.”
“It’s my job to stay by your side, and take care of you. If it means I have to take the fall for you, then I will.” The smile on his friend’s face makes some of the sadness he’s feeling start to disappear. “You can always count on me, Noctis.”
“I’m glad I can, Iggy.” He smiles, feeling better by the second. “Want to go and eat some of that cake my father said we could eat?”
“Yes. But, let’s go the long way - away from where Santa is sitting. The fake Santa.”
He laughs, and nods his head. “Okay, Iggy!”
***
“My father was so mad at me.” Noctis laughs, taking another sip of his egg nog. “He pretty much told me that I could never sit on Santa’s lap again after that.”
“Well, you did find out that the actual Santa Claus wasn’t real the following year, so it didn’t really matter.” Ignis reminds him, a smile on his face. “So, maybe it all worked out for the best.”
He finishes his eggnog, and sets his glass mug down. “You never did tell me what you wished for Christmas that year.” He reminds him, his hand going up to the knot of his tie, loosening it a little, as the room seems to have grown a bit warmer.
“It was nothing of importance.” His Adviser turns away, but not before Noctis notices a slight blush on his cheeks. “Come on, we should go and find Prompto and Gladio, and give them their gifts, shouldn’t we?”
As if their two friends had the power to read minds, they showed up at their table unexpectedly. “Look who I found!” Prompto smiles, standing next to Gladio - who dressed in a formal suit with a very loud and obnoxious holiday vest. “Doesn’t he look great??”
“You both went all out.” He looks over at Ignis, who nods his head and leaves the table. “Listen, I’ve got some stuff for you.”
“We’ve got gifts too.” Gladio drops a few boxes on the table. “Might as well do it now, right?”
“I didn’t get anyone anything.” Prompto laments, shaking his head. “I can get stuff in the new year!”
“Prompto, no one said you had to buy anything.” Noctis smiles at his best friend, who looks genuinely relieved by his statement. “It’s nothing major, but just some stuff I thought you’d like.” He sees Ignis walk back over to them, holding the bag in his hand.
He hands out the gifts to both Prompto and Gladio, but doesn’t give Ignis his gift. He sees him raise an eyebrow up, and gives a small shake of his head, hoping that his friend understands. Ignis doesn’t pressure him, and instead pulls out two gifts from another bag, setting them down in front of both Prompto and Gladio. “Merry Christmas to you both.”
“Merry Christmas to you too, Iggy!” Prompto’s bright smile brings one to his own face. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you anything. Can we open these now?”
“You may, and it’s alright.”
Noctis and Ignis open their gifts from Gladio, while the other two open the gifts they’d exchanged with them. After a successful batch of gifts, they all go to the buffet station, and load up on food before heading to a table to sit down and enjoy their feast together. When it gets close to midnight, Prompto excuses himself, and then Gladio goes to find his father and sister, who are also at the party.
Looking over at his friend, he picks up the bag next to him. “Want to go somewhere a little bit more private, Specs?”
“Shall I escort you back home now? You have your tree up there. We can exchange gifts there, if you would like?”
The butterflies return to his stomach, as he nods his head. It shouldn’t surprise him that Ignis got a gift for him, but it does, and it makes him feel important. “Yes, please. I’m going to go say goodbye to my father.”
“I will be waiting downstairs for you, Your Highness.”
It doesn’t take him long to find his father, who seems to be enjoying himself, the rosiness on his cheeks more prominent than normal, quite a few empty glasses surrounding the area where he is. He wishes him a Merry Christmas, and informs him what time he’ll be by in the morning to share breakfast together. His father embraces him in a tight hug, slurring his words, but he’s able to understand them well enough. He heads back downstairs, and sees Ignis waiting for him in his car at the foot of the stairs.
He gets into the car, and gets settled in, Christmas music playing on the radio. He looks over at Ignis, and sees that blush is still on his cheeks, making him wonder if maybe they should have had someone drive them back to his apartment. But no, he knows Ignis would never put him into harm’s way. The amount of times he’d taken the fall for him when they were kids being a constant reminder of how Ignis always has his best interests in mind. Neither of them talk as they head back to his apartment, but he doesn’t feel it’ necessary. The Christmas music is pleasing to listen to, helping him to get into the holiday spirit a little bit more.
They enter his apartment, both taking off their shoes in the foyer. He goes over to his tree, and plugs the lights in, the room filled with soft multicolored lights, a few scattered ornaments hung haphazardly on the branches of the tree. “Would you like some Ebony?”
“Yes, please. Thank you, Your Highness.”
“It’s no problem. Want to put some Christmas music on the stereo?”
“I’m already on it.”
“Great.”
He grabs a can of Ebony for Ignis, the butterflies fluttering faster than they have all evening inside of his stomach. More Christmas music begins to fill his apartment, the sound of traditional carols coming through his surround sound speakers. He walks over to Ignis, and stops short when he sees his Adviser holding something in his hand.
“Ignis…?”
“Do you know what this is?” Ignis asks, holding the bag in his hand. Noctis sees his fingers are trembling a little, making his own body shake in return.
In the small bag, there are three branches with little white berries sprouting from the branches. “Why...why do you have that?”
“You asked me before what I had wished for that Christmas when you were seven. I wished for the same thing that I wished for every year since I met you.” Ignis steps a little closer to him, Noctis’ heart beating faster with every small step that he takes. “Do you still wish to know what my Christmas wish is, Noctis?”
Trying to swallow with no spit in his mouth proves to be a futile affair. He stares up at his Adviser, licking his lips subconsciously. “What’s your Christmas wish?”
“You. You’re my Christmas wish.” Ignis begins to lower his head down towards him, holding the mistletoe above their heads. “I know that my place is by your side, as it always has been, but I’ve always wished for you to see me in a light that isn’t one of Adviser or friend, but as someone you turn to first before anyone else. Someone that you love above all others.”
His eyelids slip closed, afraid that he’s going to be back at the Citadel, having passed out from drinking too much eggnog too fast. “You mean, for me to love you, and only you, Ignis?”
“Yes.”
He can feel his breath on his lips, the sweet smell of chocolate cake coming from his mouth, with a hint of the brandy they’d had earlier in their eggnog. “Is that why you would always lie for me? Because of your love for me?”
“Yes, Noctis.”
Placing one hand on the top of Ignis’ vest, he closes his eyes completely and feels like the world is spinning too fast “Ignis - I’ve always loved you. You’re the first person I think about when I wake up, and the last person I think about before I go to sleep.” He pulls his hand away, and takes Ignis’ other hand, and places it over his own heart. “You’ve always owned this, Ignis. I thought you knew that.”
“I had hoped…”
“Stop talking, and just kiss me already.” He parts his lips, and feels the space between them growing smaller and smaller.
The mistletoe stays above them for just the first few seconds of their kiss, then gets dropped to the floor as he feels Ignis put his arms around his lower back. Their tongues come together with gentle, hesitant touches, soon growing into more assertive strokes, soft moans passing between both of their mouths as they learn together what the other likes. His arms wrap around Ignis’ neck as their kiss continues, every rub of Ignis’ tongue against his own making his stomach dip in pleasure.
He pulls away first, Ignis kissing him on the lips before resting his forehead against his. “I love you, Noctis. With all of my heart and soul. I always have, and I always will.”
“This was never something I thought you would ask for from Santa Claus.” He chuckles, lifting his head to kiss him again on the lips. “I love you too, Ignis. Stay here with me tonight?”
“Do you want me to? I don’t want you to think that that’s what I’m looking for.”
Laughter bubbles up out of him, as he looks up into his Adviser’s eyes. “Specs, if I thought you were after me for sex, I would have thought you would proposition me a long time ago.” He teases, and kisses him again. “Stay tonight. That’s my Christmas wish this year.”
“Then, it shall come true, Your Highness.”
Ignis turns the music off, but they leave the lights on the tree plugged in, Noctis keeping his bedroom door open, so that the soft light can be seen from his doorway. He gets undressed, deciding if they’re going to do this, they might as well just go all the way, and stands completely naked in front of his Adviser. That blush returns to Ignis’ cheeks, bringing one to his own, as he watches him become as naked as he is. They get under the covers together, lips and tongues touching with soft, languid kisses, as their hands touch parts of their bodies that have always been covered by clothes, limiting their access to one another.
He moans into Ignis’ mouth as they find a comfortable position with each other, hands coming to rest on each of their arousals. He can feel heat flooding his entire body, breaking off their kiss with a gasp as he pushes his arousal against Ignis’ hand. “Ignis…” He moans, dropping his head to be on his shoulder.
“Yes, Noct…” Ignis’ voice is soft, lips touching the shell of his ear.
It gets to be too much for him. His body seizes after only a few more strokes, the rush of his orgasm traveling from his head to his toes, as he moans Ignis’ name again, falling from the heavens as he surrenders himself completely to the one person who has remained a constant throughout his entire life. He strokes Ignis with the same eagerness, and soon feels the warmth of his release spreading over his fist, the sound of his name on Ignis’ tongue sweeter than any other sound he’s heard before.
The two lay panting erratically, Noctis’ cheek pressed against Ignis’ shoulder as they slowly come down from their shared high. He tilts his head up, their mouths coming together with a soft kiss, the messiness on their hands soon transferring to the sheets of his bed, but he doesn’t care. He just wants to keep kissing Ignis, wants to stay in his arms for the entire night. He groans when Ignis pulls away from him, and watches as he walks to his bathroom, moving to lay on his back to wait for his return.
A towel touches his body, then his hand, his Adviser cleaning him up with a gentle touch. He looks up at him and smiles, his mind feeling like this is all a dream. “You’re real, right? This really happened?”
“It did.” Ignis smiles, and lays beside him, taking off his glasses. “I’m here with you right now, Noctis. And I don’t plan on leaving your side.”
“You promise?”
“I promise. Forever and a day.”
He moves to lay in his arms, happy to feel how perfect it feels to be against Ignis’ body like this. “I love you, Ignis. Merry Christmas. I’m happy that our Christmas wishes came true.”
“Yours as well?” The surprise in his Adviser’s voice brings a smile to his face.
Tilting his head back, he looks up at him and nods. “Mine as well. I could go get my Christmas gift to you, but now it just seems silly.”
“What did you get for me?”
“It’s a small figurine for your desk, so you could always look at it and think of me when we’re apart.”
“Dare I ask what it is?”
“It’s a chef.” He buries his face against his neck. “I know, it’s so lame. I’m sorry. I should have gotten you an Ebony can, or something else.”
The sound of Ignis laughing fills his ears, bringing another wave of warmth spreading throughout his body. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Noctis.” Lips touch his temple with a soft kiss. “I love you too. Merry Christmas.”
Ignis’ gift of love is the best gift he’s ever received, and one he plans on cherishing for as long as time will allow him to. Ignis has always been the person who has his heart, and to know that he feels the same way towards him? It’s almost a true Christmas miracle. They fall asleep holding each other, years of longing for one another finally at peace.
He’s not quite sure what the logistics of photography in a dream are, but he’s holding a handful of photos and he’s not going to question them. He crouches down so the small astral can see them as he shuffles through them.
Each one is a photo that Carbuncle photobombed.
With a wry, crooked smile, Noct leans his elbows on his knees, the photos dangling loosely from one hand. “So, you can show up long enough to gaslight Prompto, but you can’t just say hi now and then? You’re gonna hurt my feelings.”
Laughing, Noct tips over backwards, hands raised as if to fend the tiny astral off. “Alright, alright, I get it, I missed you, too!” he sputters, finally scooping Carbuncle up to cradle close to his chest with one arm. There is an enormous ear tickling his nose, though, so he sits up on one elbow so he doesn’t wind up sneezing in Carbuncle’s face. That would be rude.
