Chapter Text
“Ignis! Hey, Ignis, wait up!”
Ignis turned to see Nyx Ulric chasing him down the hall. He swore under his breath but held in his annoyance enough to stop and wait. The council meeting that morning had run late, so Ignis was behind schedule and anxious to make up the time. Nyx Ulric was the last distraction he needed.
When Nyx caught up, he offered Ignis a handsome smile. “I’m glad I caught you. I tried to text Gladio but he hasn’t texted back and I haven’t seen him all morning. Do you know where he is?”
“Why are you looking for Gladiolus?” Ignis asked pointedly, not even trying to sound friendly about it.
Since that horrible night of ill-conceived drinking Ignis had been forced into by His Majesty, Nyx knew very well that he and Gladio were exclusive and yet the shameless tomcat continued his flirtation with both of them at every opportunity. Ignis took it in stride when the innuendo was directed at him. It wasn’t as if Nyx was unappealing. But when the blue-eyed Glaive turned his wiles towards Gladio, something unreasonable inside Ignis snapped. He was simply unable to tolerate it and he’d stopped trying.
“I was looking for both of you actually, but you're harder to pin down and I don’t have your number.”
And you’re not getting it, Ignis thought to himself.
“I’m in a bit of a hurry, Nyx. I’m actually on my way to pick up Gladio and the Prince right now. What is it that you need?”
“The Glaives are having a Carnival party tonight. Everyone is dressing up. Costumes, masks, the whole thing. Not formal, just fun. Wanted to invite you both. His Highness too, if he’s game. And his buddy from the other night. Libertus and I tried to tell the rest of the crew how much fucking fun you guys were but no one believed us. Anyway, it’s gonna be up in the Glaive training hall, sunset ‘til dawn. Just bring a bottle of something to share. Preferably nothing we drank at that club though.” Nyx made a sour face and shivered.
Ignis considered the offer for a moment. Noctis wasn’t one for large gatherings normally, but Prompto had been begging him for weeks to go to a Carnival party together. Ignis wasn’t all that enamoured by the thought of spending his evening with rowdy revelers either but Gladio had also asked if he wanted to do anything ‘festive’, which was about as much as he dared ask Ignis after the night at the club. Ignis knew Gladio would want to go. And even though drunken nonsense was not something Ignis desired to experience again, the sex afterward was worth suffering through some time at an innocent Carnival party.
“Thank you, Nyx.” Ignis said sincerely after he’d made up his mind. “To be honest, Prompto and Gladio have been prodding Noctis and I to celebrate this evening. I appreciate your invitation and I accept for all of us.”
“Really? Fantastic!” Nyx smiled broadly, but it quickly turned into a suggestive smirk. “I hope you decide to dress up in something that shows a little more skin than these suits you always wear.” He fingered at the lapel of Ignis’ jacket, then turned away and waved. “See ya tonight.”
Request for ‘skin’ aside, Ignis did mull over what he would wear on his way to pick up Noct and Gladio. He wasn’t particularly creative when it came to such things. Where other people would feel free to indulge in silly fantasy for an evening, he could never quite get himself to enjoy it. None of it was real, all of it seemed quite foolish and Ignis was not one to suffer fools.
He still had no ideas to speak of when he pulled up to the tattoo parlor to find Gladio and Noctis waiting outside. Gladio was speaking with his artist, a positively ancient gentleman, that everyone simply referred to as The Master. The man had served as a somewhat official tattoo artist to the Crownsguard for decades. Gladiolus was the new generation of his many canvases.
Ignis knew that Gladio’s father had their family crest done on his arm as part of some extensive sleeve work to rival that taking shape on his son's arms. The Marshall had a beautifully intricate and very traditional body suit tattoo that was said to have taken years to finish. It was also rumored the King himself had one of The Master’s works on his skin but the location and design were the subject of myth and legend.
Ignis parked the car and walked up to them. Gladio was shirtless with a new section of his back dressed and taped up. Ignis found himself excited to see what was beneath. He was beginning to look forward to these sessions as much as Gladio. It always led to their own session where Ignis could undo the dressing, let his eyes roam over skin and ink and let his hands slide across bare muscle to rub ointment into the fresh wounds. The art was stunning against Gladio’s stunning form and it gave Ignis a reason to worship that form fully and at his leisure without feeling self-conscious about it.
Gladio thanked The Master and then goaded Ignis as he always did when the topic came up. “Some day, Master, I’m gonna get Iggy here to sit for you.”
The Master nodded his head sedately and then he narrowed his eyes. He looked Ignis up and down with a critical eye as if appraising his worth to bear his art.
Ignis bowed his head. “I would be honored.” He said. “I hope to be a worthy enough canvas some day.”
The Master seemed satisfied with his answer and grunted in approval.
Gladio and Noctis bid the older gentleman farewell and started walking to the car. Ignis was about to follow but then he had an idea.
A terrible idea. A horrible, horrible, beautiful idea.
“Master?” He asked politely. “Do you happen to have any young apprentices I might speak with? I have a request, but it does not require your great skill, nor would it be permanent.”
The Master nodded and waved his hand towards his shop door. Ignis gestured to Gladio and the Prince that he would be just a moment and then he ducked inside, so pleased with himself he almost wanted to laugh.
When he was finished with his business, he dropped Gladio off at the Citadel and then brought Noctis back to his apartment. He’d told them both about the party that evening in the car. Gladio grinned from ear to ear but only said ‘sure sounds like fun’ pretending indifference. Noctis just shrugged, but Ignis caught him smiling as well and he immediately texted Prompto.
When he and Noctis were alone in his apartment, the Prince went to search his closet. Ignis followed and sat on the bed to watch him rifle through clothes. It was endearing how much Noct really did want to make Prompto happy.
“So, what should I wear?” The Prince mused, tossing out a few random items onto the floor, including a ludicrously wide-brimmed sombrero, and a garish yellow hat Ignis had never seen before with a moogle pom bouncing from the top of it. Noctis suddenly stopped and turned around.
“Wait. Wait.” He raised an eyebrow at Ignis. “The more important question here is what are you going to wear? I can’t even believe you agreed to this, Specs. You never go to these things. Did my dad give you another order or something?” The Prince shaped his face into a visage of regal authority and spoke with a shockingly accurate rendition of his father’s voice. “Ignis, I command you to enjoy life. Now go forth and get drunk again.” Noct waved his hand imperiously to emphasize the mock edict.
“His Majesty is very amusing.” Ignis said dryly. “It so happens, I already have an idea for my costume. In fact, I’ve set an appointment up that I must be at shortly if I’m to make it work.”
“Oh?” Noctis asked with curiosity. “Do I have to order you to tell me what you’re gonna be?”
“No orders necessary, Highness.” Ignis was feeling far too self-satisfied about this. “I will be going as your Shield.”
“My what?”
“Your Shield. I’m dressing up as Gladiolus.”
Noct stared for a moment, dumbfounded. And then he burst out laughing. The peel of giddiness took some time to subside, but when the Prince finally coughed it all out and wiped away his tears, Ignis continued.
“It shouldn’t be complicated, as it only requires normal clothes, and not that many of them, to be perfectly honest. Back at the shop, I arranged for one of the Master’s apprentices to copy a likeness of his tattoos for me with body paint, and it saves me from having to wear something truly ridiculous. I find it to be a sensible compromise.”
Ignis did not add that it would give Nyx exactly what he’d asked for which, Ignis hoped, would lead to some shameless flirting. Ignis himself could care less about the flirting, he had all he needed in Gladio, but when he recalled how blatantly jealous the Shield had been when Nyx’s eyes roamed indiscriminately to him, Ignis started to burn with fire inside. Few things in life had been sexier than Gladio acting possessive. He would die a thousand deaths before he admitted it to the man, but still.
“Only you would think of a Carnival party in terms of what’s ‘sensible’.” With a roll of his eyes, Noctis went back to scouring his closet. “Maybe I should dress up as Prompto…” He mumbled to himself. Then he stopped and tilted his head as if bringing an idea to shape. He turned around with a look so serious, Ignis was almost concerned.
“Specs, take me with you. We gotta stop at a costume shop. I know exactly what to wear.” At the sound of that last sentence, Ignis was concerned. Mostly for Prompto.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gladio met Prompto at the Citadel steps.
“Dude, thank you SO much for this.” Prompto chased after him as they walked inside, trying to keep up with his long strides.
Prompto texted him almost as soon as Noct told his friend about the party, asking if Gladio had a key to Noct’s room in the palace and if he’d be willing to let him in.
“What do you need in there anyway?” Gladio asked him, this time in person, because all he’d gotten by text was ‘pls don’t tell Noct or Spects i’ll explain when i c u’
“It’s for the party. I wanna dress up as Noct! Isn’t that a great idea?! People dress up like the King or the Oracle or the Astrals for these things all the time. It’ll be the best costume! I just need some of his clothes and I bought some temporary hair dye.”
Gladio chuckled. Those two really were fucking adorable sometimes. “Well, you’re scrawny enough to be him, I’ll give you that.”
“Heeeeey...do you really mean that?” Prompto pleaded. When Gladio didn't answer, he persisted. "Do you? Mean it?”
Gladio ignored the question. “You’re not gonna have any fun at the party if you really wanna pretend you’re Noct. Ignis’ll be up your ass the whole time. But then the only thing you’d really have to do is fall asleep in a corner somewhere so I guess it won't be hard at least.”
Gladio let Prompto into Noct’s room. “You can hang out here ‘til the party if you want. No one’s gonna bother you. Everyone knows Noct is at his apartment, otherwise there’d be all kinds of people swarming around. That’s mostly why he’s never here. I can pick you up later though otherwise you’ll get lost.”
Prompto walked in and started rummaging around. “So, uh, what are you gonna wear?”
Gladio shrugged. “Dunno yet.” He pointed to the fresh tattoo on his back, still taped up. “Probably gonna keep this covered. Anyway, I don’t dress up for these things. Can’t ever find a costume that fits. I just wanna see what Iggy comes up with. He wouldn’t tell me.”
“Hahaha you could just put on some glasses and be Ignis.”
Prompto was clearly joking.
But it was the best fucking idea Gladio had ever heard in his fucking life.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
“Are you sure this is what you wish to wear, Noct?” Ignis looked down dubiously at the Prince’s ‘costume’.
Gladio and Prompto were already inside the party. Ignis and Noctis were late, but were about to enter the training hall.
“Oh, I’m sure.” Noct said confidently.
Ignis took a deep breath. He wasn’t entirely sure he was so confident about his own choice of attire now that the hour was nigh. Noctis noticed his discomfort.
“You look really good, by the way.” He said casually, ever supportive, but never wanting to seem like he cared as much as he did. “Gladio’s gonna freak. I’d stay away from Nyx though. You know how the big guy gets.”
Ignis fought back a smile and forced the heat out of his cheeks. “Indeed.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gladiolus wore a black jacket, a shirt with a collar and cuffs, and tailored pants. Coincidentally, Ignis had had the outfit made for him by the same tailor he used for his own clothes, he just never had a reason to wear it before tonight. The thing was all pristine creases and expensive fabric and it made him itch, but he could admit that he looked pretty fucking good in it. He went without a tie but, Iris loaned him a skull pendant similar to the one Iggy wore. Iris also found him a pair of glasses. A pair of Ignis’ own glasses in fact. One of his five thousand extra pairs.
Ignis spent enough time at the house cooking with Iris or just hanging out with him and the rest of Gladio’s family, that the location had earned its own spare pair stashed away in the kitchen almost as soon as they’d started dating. Iris was able to pop out the lenses and she promised she could put them back in again so Iggy wouldn’t bitch. He never got pissed at Iris anyway, so she was safe even if she couldn’t fix them.
Gladio had to admit that Prompto pulled off a pretty good Noctis. He wore one of Noct’s old suits that Ignis always used to make him wear to official functions. Gladio had managed to put at least a little muscle on Noct enough to have made the suit a touch small now. It was perfect for Prompto though. His blond hair disappeared easily under some wash-out black dye and the kid spent more than enough time with the Prince to have mastered his vaguely aristocratic facial expression that Gladio knew had nothing to do with his Royal blood and everything to do with his lack of interest in mostly everything. Everything but Prompto at least.
Gladio looked around the hall for the third time in as many minutes trying to find Ignis. He was supposed to be arriving with Noct any second but no luck yet. Nyx found him and distracted him from sweeping the room a fourth time.
“Gladio! You look great! You clean up nicer than I thought you would. I like the shave.”
Gladio rubbed at his clean shaven chin. Iggy never grew out his beard. Gladio wasn’t about to cut his hair though so he just tied off the back as best he could and gelled up the front a bit.
Nyx was dressed like Ifrit, complete with body paint, horns and fire at his fingertips. Gladio had to admit, it was sexy. He let his mind wander to thoughts of Iggy dressed up like that when he saw Nyx’s gaze shift away to the door. ‘Ifrit’s’ mouth slowly dropped open and stayed slack-jawed even as he spoke.
“Oh my fucking gods…” Nyx breathed out. An obviously delighted smile spread across his face and Gladio turned to see what it was all about.
It was Ignis. But it wasn’t. It was ignis dressed as him.
“Sh..shiiiiiiiiit…” It was all he could manage to say.
Ignis entered the room without his glasses. And without his shirt. And apparently without his sense of decency. He wore skin tight leather pants. Skin. Tight. Gladio’s pants got tighter just looking at them. He wondered how Ignis had even gotten them on in the first place and then he frantically thought about how he might get them off later as quickly as possible.
Iggy’s light brown hair was too short to tie up so he’d slicked it back, approximating the style Gladio often wore. Another approximation of Gladio was painted across Ignis’ chest, back and arms. A bird almost identical to Gladio’s tattoo swooped across Ignis’ body like it was meant to be there. The painted-on black lines brought out every subtle contour of sleek muscle the man had. Contours Gladio knew by heart, having traced them out curve by curve with his fingertips, his lips, his tongue. Contours that now every fucking person in the room was eyeing like candy.
He was about to say something to Nyx, or cover his eyes, or punch him in the face, something, anything, but Nyx spoke first.
“Don’t even think about telling me not to look, Amicitia, you selfish bastard. I’m looking. Fuck you. I’m looking and I’m filing this away for later. And fucking Astrals, how the fuck did you ever manage to get him to fall for you?”
Gladio shoved Nyx, probably harder than a friendly gesture should have been, and he swore he saw drool drip off the other man’s lips with the movement.
“It wasn’t easy, believe me.” Gladio mumbled, recalling sleepless nights filled with longing, too many romance novels to count, a lot of advice from Iris and a fairy tale he eventually made come true.
Gladio was so distracted by the walking sex that was Ignis he didn’t even notice the chocobo following him to where he and Nyx were standing. Gladio peeled his eyes away from Ignis long enough to address the person in the chocobo suit.
“Uhhh…Noct? Is that you?” Gladio asked hesitantly. A chocobo suit wasn’t exactly the costume he would have guessed Noct would wear.
The chocobo nodded in the affirmative and then snapped a picture with a camera that hung around his neck.
Gladio blinked, momentarily blinded by the flash. Then he got it. He looked down at his own clothes, he looked at Ignis’ lack of clothes and looked at Prompto across the room in Noct’s clothes. He turned back to the chocobo.
“Wait a minute...you’re not trying to be a chocobo are you?”
The Prince answered with another camera flash. “Nope. I’m Prompto.”