There were other places to sit besides on top of the kitchen island. Appropriate places. Boring places with boring views. This spot gave Noctis a great view of the whole kitchen and everything Ignis had done in the last half hour. He kept one knee propped and one leg dangling, a socked foot tapping against the island drawers. It was entirely possible he was an annoying distraction, with every little noise and shift he made.
He’d never been very good at sitting perfectly still. Not unless he was asleep. He felt very awake right now.
“So how did your tests go so far? With the cooking,” Noct leaned sideways to grab a square of chocolate from the leftovers in a bowl and popped it into his mouth. He was practically laying across the island. “Do we need to start hunting down weird ingredients in the forest or whatever?”
Ignis was at least used to working around Noct. Prompto had mirrored his movements a number of times in the past, as well, so it was occasionally a two-for-one deal. He was well practiced in his movements, sussing out exactly where Noct’s knee was so he didn’t bump into it, holding a hand out when a certain tool was needed, and swatting a hand when it went for too much of the chocolate - one never quite knew if they’d need the leftovers.
That there was no change now in this, when there had been so much change otherwise, was a relief he felt deep in his chest.
“Very good, so far. I’ve had positive responses and a few things to tweak and change.” He rolled the dough out on the silicone mat in front of him, the rectangle shape used for his guideline. “Have you studied any of the local ingredients yet? What are the chances of pulling out something weird and poisonous?”
“Uhhhh...good. Really good. There’s some really freaky looking mushrooms out there.” Noct watched Ignis roll out dough with a fixed intensity that really should’ve been spent on other things. Was it messed up that he was abusing Ignis’s blindness to ogle him in peace? Yes. Did his ingrained sense of honor and loyalty kick in to make him stop? Not yet. He did glance away, frowning, but it was as much about the mushrooms as his stupid brain.
“They could be amazing or they could be magic in a you’ll end up in the psych ward for a forty eight hour hold kind of way,” he shrugged. His boot clunked idly against the island as he adjusted his sprawl to a more contained lounge. “Also somebody told me there are talking fish but so far that’s just a rumor.”
Ignis made a little contemplative noise, a hum the stayed close to his chest. “We’ll certainly have to identify any mushrooms from the forest before any cooking with them. I have my work cut out for me so no one ends up in a psych ward.” That wasn’t a strike against this place, as Ignis tended to go his own brand of insane when he was kept idle. They were all still young and full of adventure, he just liked to be smart about said adventure.
He turned his head slightly as if he was giving Noctis a sideways glance. There was nothing there for him to see, of course, but the show of it was habit. He paused and reached for his knife, hand very carefully going for where he’d put the handle, gently caressing so he wouldn’t jump right in and risk a cut. “I heard you can become a mermaid and visit Atantis, as well. You haven’t had a chance to experience that yet?”
“I’ll put Gladio on mushroom duty right away,” Noctis joked. The way Ignis moved without sight was still fairly new to him. It wasn’t like he’d had time to watch Ignis get comfortable with it. It was a relief in a way, being reminded that his best friend wasn’t constantly struggling with everyday tasks. It didn’t make it better. It didn’t change the fact that Ignis had been hurt while Noct had been incapcitated and unable to do a damn thing about it. He still didn’t know all of what had even happened and the question lingered constantly with no careful way to ask it. But seeing Ignis work did ease the sting of regret back into the corner of his mind.
It let him hop down off the island and stand next to Iggy - too close really, but he wasn’t thinking about it. He just wanted to see better. And okay, maybe stick close. He still had months of missed time to recover from. “I haven’t done the mermaid thing, no. Things go from being eerie and quiet and crazy so quick around here, I just forgot it was even a thing. Do you want to try it?”
The only thing that gave away that Ignis was keenly aware of Noct being in his space now was the fact that his hand faltered just slightly as he sliced a line in the dough. The cut was still perfectly straight - knives had never really been an issue - but his back was just a little straighter now to go with it. Now triangles, and then he began gently rolling the pieces of chocolate into the pastry.
“I’m not entirely sure what I would get out of it.” Ignis was honest, even if not the most forthcoming with words, he tried to at least stay true. “I would go if it was something you both wanted to do, however.” He would follow them to the ends of the world, including underwater, but he could push for a brightside with the best of them. “I wonder what sort of food they eat. If they’re willing to share any secrets of their cuisine-- could you hand me the sheet pan on top of the oven, please?”
“It sounds like you just figured out exactly what you could get out of it,” Noctis countered, nudging Ignis in the ribs with an elbow. If he hadn’t been watching him so closely, he’d have missed the slight tension in Iggy’s posture. He tried not to read into it, but he couldn’t help himself. Was it a blind thing? Was it a him thing? He frowned and did as he was asked without complaint, leaving the sheet pan requested on the counter next to where Ignis was working. It made enough noise, he figured he didn’t need to clarify where it was.
He kept his distance this time, even if he itched to be closer.
“How long until this is ready? I’m starving." He wasn’t. They’d only just eaten dinner an hour ago. “I’m wasting away. I’m going to fall asleep right here without a sugar fix.” Noct let his head fall to his shoulder and he let out a fake snore.
Ignis sighed, a deep and heavy bodied one that mirrored his coffee on trying days. He still wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to go underwater when he couldn’t see, but Noct did have a point. The draw of cuisine was something always on his mind.
“Twenty minutes,” Ignis stated, and moved around the kitchen with sure hands. He slid the pan into the heated oven, and then closed the door behind it with a satisfied hum. “Alexa, set a timer for fifteen minutes.” A handy invention he’d discovered since his arrival, and there was a happy chime in return letting him know the computer did just that. “If you’d like, I could make you some roasted brussel sprouts in the meantime?” He knew what that answer would be, and didn’t bother hiding the smug little smirk behind the question.
Noctis made the grimace that Ignis likely pictured in his head. “Wow, I didn’t realize we were in a fight,” he pouted. There was a shred of seriousness in the words - he couldn’t pretend he wasn’t worried about where they stood - but he mostly sounded like a spoiled prince who was way too used to his best friend catering food to his tastes.
“I, uh...I actually have something for you. While we’re waiting anyway.” Noct rubbed at the back of his neck and darted out of the kitchen with a mumbled be right back. He moved fast, knowing exactly where he’d stored the box. It was long and flat, and inside were dark blue driving gloves, buttery soft and frankly more than he really should’ve been spending on a friend who hadn’t even been in Vallo at the time. But Noct couldn’t remember a birthday they hadn’t celebrated for each other so he’d hidden them away for himself if nothing else.
“I shouldn’t give you a gift right after the brussel sprouts thing,” he said, slinking back into the kitchen. “It’s probably sending the wrong message. But I’m going to risk it.” He reached out and took Ignis hand, placing the box against his palm.
“Ah-” Ignis barely had time to register a joke in return before Noct was gone and he was left alone with his thoughts. He went to work immediately, tidying up around the kitchen and where he had prepared food, waiting almost impatiently for Noctis to return. He didn’t have to wait long, at least, just enough time to wipe down the counter and fold up his sleeves before he started putting things in the sink.
“I was half tempted to start them while you were gone,” Ignis admitted, but he was surprised there was a gift involved. Then Noctis had a hand on him, and he had to remind himself to keep moving. It had always been like this, the touch that made Ignis ignore the shiver up his spine. It was always easier when he had propriety on his side, and a focus. Noctis was off-limits.
But apparently not for Gladio. Not here, not when they were so far from home.
He had to clear his throat when his fingers wrapped around the box. “What’s this for?” He still opened it immediately so he could let his fingers run across the leather, savoring the luxurious feel under his touch as he learned the gloves.
Noctis snorted and watched Ignis touch the gloves. When he’d gone shopping, he’d set out a half-dozen gloves and closed his eyes in the store. He wanted to know how they’d feel, without the input of sight. Now he watched Ignis’s response with a careful eye, his arms crossed over his chest.
“We were here, uh...on your birthday. I couldn’t…” Stop thinking about you. “...Not get you something? It felt weird. And I mean, apparently I’ve missed two of your birthdays, so.” He shuffled in place, frowning at the thought he’d clumsily shoved out into the open. Helplessness twisted in his stomach. There was nothing he could do about home and it ate at him daily, but Ignis didn’t need to deal with any useless guilt. Noct rubbed at his face. “Anyway, I know you don’t drive anymore but you still like the style, right? They feel okay?”
“Oh.” He shouldn’t have sounded so surprised, though he’d known that he “missed” his birthday, it really hadn’t been that much of a bother. Mostly due in fact that his last two birthdays had been nothing. It wasn’t a slight against Gladio and Prompto - they’d all tried to be there for each other for the little things like that, and had mostly succeeded.
But Noctis was that missing piece of their puzzle, and it hit differently.
The gloves felt incredible, they were soft and felt as if they’d already been worn in the best of ways, no pesky stiff leather or stitching that felt rough. Ignis hummed, pleased, before he nodded. “They feel incredible, Noct. Thank you. Ah--” He felt weird asking, but smoothed a finger over the gloves again, forming an image in his mind. “Color?”
Noctis didn’t realize it, but he lit up briefly at the sound Ignis made and the words that came after. It was only brief at all because the question made him notice something a bit ridiculous and all the joy at pleasing Iggy was temporarily shaded by embarrassment.
“Oh, ah...dark blue? Like...” He felt stupid saying it out loud; it hadn’t been intentional, but if he had to pick something Ignis had seen that matched the color, there was immediately one obvious choice. “Kind of like my eyes, I guess,” he finished dumbly, hand at the back of his neck. His face heated and he turned towards the oven even though he didn’t really need to hide it. “Hopefully that works with something in that precious wardrobe of yours,” he teased.
It was a color he knew. Vividly. It helped him picture that to a point where a small smile popped up on his face with the image. He’d seen those eyes countless times before losing his own vision, even as they often hid behind maddening hair that Ignis had wanted to push off of Noct’s face. He still knew them as well as he knew his own.
“Perfect, thank you.” It wasn’t strange to him, for the comparison. It made him feel a little warm, and soft, and like he wanted to say something else, but wasn’t quite sure what. Noct helped with a joke, that made Ignis raise an eyebrow. “I’m sure I’ll find something-” The timer in the kitchen went off, and he cleared his throat before tucking the gloves away again most preciously, with careful hands. “Still hungry?”
Watching Ignis out of the side of his eye, Noct mirrored the soft smile and effectively ignored his own heated face. It was fine, obviously. It was good. Ignis looked more relaxed now than he had all night. Noct just hoped he could preserve that.
“Uh, yeah. Starved, remember. Also this smells....ridiculously good.” He made a show of sniffing the air before reaching into a cabinet to pull down some plates and then leaning a hip against the counter. Part of him wanted to offer to help. But he knew Ignis was as capable as a person could be. If he needed help, he’d ask. Probably. “Make sure I don’t eat them all, okay? Save one for Gladio.”
Ignis followed with a heavy sigh. “You can have one.” He sounded firm, but the gods only knew that he was weak when it came to Noctis, and would likely just sigh and give in at the slightest of whines. Especially when it pandered to his ego at times, given that Noctis tended to be one of the more honest people when it came to his food.
It was possibly a little pathetic at how much Ignis liked being told something was good, but he could push that to the side when necessary. He used a potholder to pull the sheet out of the oven, carefully, and made it to the top to gently place it. But where that was a win, it was a reckless move next, when he reached forward to attempt a light touch at the pastry and slipped a finger on the hot metal of the plan instead.
Ignis hissed, but it certainly wasn’t the first (nor would it be the last) time he had given himself some kind of light burn in the name of cooking. He could ignore it, and did just that as he managed his target for the next poke. A flaky crust, hot and firm. Didn’t feel underdone, and certainly didn’t smell burnt. “They need a minute, otherwise you’ll regret how hot that chocolate is.” Much the same as he regretted the burn on his finger.
Noct looked like an eager puppy waiting on a treat, the way he bounced a little on his toes behind Ignis, trying to get a better view of the pastries. It got him a view alright, but of Ignis burning himself instead. He dropped back to his heels and froze in indecision for a moment. He can take care of himself, he can take care of himself, he can take care of himself rolled like a mantra through his head, but he couldn’t just stand there. He grabbed Ignis by the elbow and pulled him towards the sink.
“Looks like you could maybe use a minute too,” he mumbled, flipping on the faucet and adjusting the water temperature to cool. “Here, let me…” He cupped his hand under Ignis’s injured one, guiding it up under the gentle stream of water. “I, uh, don’t know if we have any aloe vera but I’ll check. There might be some bandaids in the bathroom but I’m pretty sure they have dogs on them.”
“Noct,” The name was stressed and drawn out, somehow sounded longer than his full name when it left Ignis like that. He’d heard it that way dozens of times over the years, no doubt, and it was a familiar, slightly exasperated, tone. What he could appreciate of being taken care of, he also knew it wasn’t a bad burn.
He’d had far worse over the years. It didn’t change that burning he felt with Noct’s hands on him, that had nothing to do with the hot pan and everything to do with Noctis. That was where he panicked, just a little, but Ignis didn’t like showing panic, so he forced himself to be calm and collected.
But he gave in, weak as he was, and sighed. “It’s not as if I can see them. There’s a first aid kit in the camping container, and some ointment or cactuar gel in there. Go see if you can find it, and I’ll keep the water running?”
Hearing his name like that was both a blessing and a curse as far as Noct was concerned. It felt nostalgic, like being carted back in time to every dumb choice Noct had made over the years or just the times he’d moved his vegetables over to Ignis plate. But it also set off all Noct’s embarrassment alarms. He knew the burn wasn’t bad enough to warrant his reaction; he just hadn’t been able to stop himself anyway.
“No, right, I know! Just...ugh, okay, stay here.” Noct let go of Ignis and ran a flustered hand through his hair. It was really tempting to pick up the rolling pin nearby and use it to warp across the kitchen. Or maybe just hit himself over the head. He unconsciously rubbed at his palm as he fled the room. “Don’t start eating them without me! I’ll be right back.”
Ignis smiled after him, and waited until he was just out of sight before turning his attention to the sound of the running water. He was quiet, solemn and hopefully low enough that Noctis wouldn’t hear him when he spoke directly to the faucet. “I’ll try to control myself.”