aterat | One Fall And One Less Bear

He loved seeing Nida smile, especially at a critical time like this. But then Ignis wasn't sure what the rest meant. Wasn't that what dating was? Or did he have it all wrong somehow? Being each other's, was there another word for it?

Not sure what to say, Ignis looked down and his eyes went over to the table for a moment. And that was when he saw the paper. Thinking it was some sort of note, he reached over with his free hand and read it, realizing it explained the pendant's meaning.

And then he reread it twice to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks. Then he read it a third time, even slower. The advisor's jaw clenched and tears pricked at his eyes. "If you don't mean us to court..do you care to explain this?" The paper was held out to Nida and he didn't try to hide his face.

Dating didn't always mean full on intentions on trying to win someone to some day marrying them. That's definitely way too deep for Nida to not get super nervous at the implication.

He sees Ignis go for the paper and stares at him, confused, especially as tears started to form. What? When the paper is handed over Nida reads it. And starts to blush. Wow, that's...

"Woah, uh... I chose jade because back home it has meaning. Wisdom, and nurturing, and guidance. And it would go with your eyes. Raimon showed me a few things in different styles to help me figure something out, and asked me why I wanted it, who for. And..."

And he told the guy. Who had jumped ahead a lot. But...

"But the meaning fits, doesn't it? We're two people, two cultures, and there are feelings here, at least on my side. So maybe it's a bit hopeful and reaching but I would still like you to accept it. Wear it or don't next to your other necklace, I... Just needed to give you something for all you give me."

Patiently Ignis listened to the explanation behind the necklace. "I have to wonder what it was that you said to make him choose something like this." His eyes went to the necklace and silently agreed it would match his eyes.

But his attention was taken again when Nida started asking his question. And he'd already determined that he wasn't exactly sure what that made them or where they stood with each other. All Ignis could pinpoint was that it was 'something beyond friends'. His lover hadn't outright denied anything that had been written on the paper, but..well it was just confusing and he had to stop overthinking it. He knew that much, because Nida had been through an awful lot.

So the advisor just smiled, tucking his confused thoughts away. "I think it has a beautiful meaning. You've put a lot of effort into acquiring such a prize and I accept it." He looked back down at it briefly, realizing this was why the other had been so shaken then brought his eyes back to Nida's. "Will you help me put it on?"

Perhaps Ignis really didn't understand it, because he worries that the man doesn't get it. That this was meant to be the true start of something more than just a friends with benefits. He moves forward and takes the necklace, unclasping the chain.

"You don't mind then? That I did this? That I want to be with you in places more than just ending up in and around our beds?"

When the necklace left his hand, Ignis suddenly felt like he'd lost his anchor. But then Nida was unclasping it, prepared to put it around his neck, just as he'd requested.

It was hard to figure out how to answer the other because Ignis had zero experience. He could only go with what little he'd read. Relationships never really entered his mind because he didn't 'have' time for them due to his whole life being wrapped up in Noctis per King Regis' request to 'look after my son'. And Noct had been ordered to marry Lady LunaFreya to ensure peace for the kingdom though Ignis had no doubt there were some feelings there due to them keeping up with their book correspondence for years through Umbra.

So it had all been one sided on his part and for some reason that slammed into him right now along with how much Nida must've suffered and been so lonely.

Still, he smiled against the pain and it was hard. "No, I don't mind at all. It was rather thoughtful and kind of you to think of me." He was really touched because everyone just takes his presence for granted though he doesn't mind. That was what he'd signed up for after all.

It crossed his mind to add 'and the battlefield' to his lover's list but he passed on the thought. Instead green eyes looked at the man and there was a small bit of confusion. "Darling, you're always welcome wherever I am."

And Ignis was so sure he was way overthinking this.

It takes a bit to keep his hands from shaking as he puts the necklace around Ignis's neck and clasps it. Once that is done he wraps his arms around Ignis's waist and hides his face in Ignis's shoulder. Don't look at him. He's not ready to show how much his heart was racing. But perhaps Ignis could feel it.

"Since that first weekend, I have found I cannot stop thinking of you. I want to be at your side. I want to be yours. I am fragile and broken, and when I'm around you I don't feel like that. I want to be with you. I feel more alive than I have in so long with you. And even when all we're doing is cleaning my apartment or sitting and having books and coffee."

Ignis immediately lifted a hand to touch the necklace to his chest when he heard the clasp click into place. It made him smile to feel the cool green stone on bare skin but suddenly Nida was holding onto him. He drew a slightly hitched breath and wrapped his arms around the man, knowing something had changed or at least deepened between them.

And before he had a chance to ask what was what wrong, the man in his arms started talking and the advisor listened very closely to every last word. There was a smile that Nida couldn't see and Ignis held on a little tighter. "Then be by my side and stay there for as long as you wish. And if you are mine, than I am yours in return."

Well, that makes Nida happy to hear. He grins against Ignis's chest and then lets his arms slide down to more around Ignis's waist. Because then he can pick up, which he does, and, and he spins the other man around just a bit in all of his joy at that declaration.

The arms go down to his waist and the next thing Ignis realized was that he was being lifted. It felt a little odd that he was being picked up but that of course was due to no one doing that back home. The advisor found himself laughing but that was because of the merry expression on the other's face.

When he was put down, the advisor placed his hands on either side of the man's face. "Your happiness shows in your beautiful expressive eyes darling." A smile appeared and he briefly kissed his mate, whispering against his lips. "And you're not the only one here with feelings. I thought you might wish to be aware of that."

Beautiful, expressive eyes. Oh Ignis, if you keep saying things like that, his heart will truly belong to you. If it didn't already. But the declaration is what really gets him. So much. Wow. He releases Ignis so he can instead get his fingers into Ignis's hair and pulls him into a fuller kiss. And when his lungs ache because he needs to breathe, he lets the other man go, unable to help the tears in his eyes.

His heart hasn't felt so good in so long. Like all the aches were filled up all over again.

"Thank you. I... I wouldn't want to pressure you, but a one way thing would have broken me again."

He wasn't expecting Nida's swift reaction but it was wonderful to experience. The ferocity of the other's kiss really took Ignis by surprise but it was just so delightful. A muffled moan came out in short order with the fingers now in his hair and he just melted into their kiss. Whatever this was, the advisor simply wanted more of it.

All too soon it seemed Nida was pulling back and he was slightly alarmed at the tears that he saw, until he heard what was being said. That made Ignis smile. "It's not all one sided darling, it never was."

And that was the truth.

"You just keeping calling me that, my flame," he says, smiling so fondly at the other man. This was good. Yeah, this was good.

"If I don't shut up, I'm going to say such silly things, and I worry I'll make you feel awkward," Nida admits after a moment, but he can't wipe the fond gaze away.

Ignis blushed. "It seems as if you've come up with a nickname for me as well." He liked it, it fit. But the part he really liked was the whole word 'my' in front of it. Of course he wouldn't say such a thing because he wasn't sure how well it would go over. But Nida seemed to be radiating such joy which was quite the difference from a few of their conversations that he could recall.

There was a small smile and a shake of the head. "I do believe I would rather like to hear them, regardless." Someone expressing any feelings for him was pretty damn unheard of. So he was willing to venture into some untested waters just to hear what Nida had to say. It might even give him some more clarity and insight.

"But it's up to you." Because Ignis wasn't going to try and make the man do anything he wasn't comfortable with.

"It's not a nickname, it's an affection," Nida counters. And he likes it. It will likely stick around since the man doesn't seem to dislike it.

How does he even say this? How does he risk it? Nida takes a deep breath and takes a step away. Just one.

"I've been broken a long time, I lost hope in a lot of things. You're changing that."

For a moment Ignis just smiled, and while he probably looked like a dork but he didn't care. This was important, to have a sense of belonging, which was something he hadn't realized he needed until this moment.

But then Nida stepped away and the smile stopped and Ignis fought himself not to reach out. It bothered not him to do so, but he didn't. So he kept his hands at his side and listened as the other spoke. And it felt like his heart was breaking all over again to hear what the man said at first. He could only imagine everything the other had been through and it just hurt.

At the end though, there was hope, and Ignis seized it. He closed the distance and kissed Nida, trying his best just to tenderly hold onto him.

Ignis moves and Nida doesn't back away. Instead he embraces the man and meets the kiss with a softness that cannot be denied. This? This deserves softness.

And when this one passes he starts another. And another, quicker. Until he can pull back just enough to rest his forehead against Ignis's.

"You delight me."

Ignis felt really happy, something he didn't get a chance to indulge in much back home as there was always another task to complete or something else to get done afterwards. But now of course he found that he wasn't in a rush or hurry and he could enjoy this.

The necklace still hung on his neck of course and he could feel it move as Nida kissed him repeatedly. But then it seemed the advisor lost all sense of anything as his forehead met Nida's. And he found that there was something quite intimate about it.

Smiling at the other's words his green eyes closed, so very grateful and thankful for this moment. He knew what he wanted to say in return but it would probably be too much, so he settled for other heartfelt words. "I will do my very best to keep that tradition going."

"Please," he agrees, "do. I want that tradition. It makes me feel so... safe."

And safe is a good thing. He grins and moves forward to kiss him again, briefly. "I should get dinner supplies."

'And safe is precisely where I intend keep you.' Ignis thought mentally. But he just smiled and stayed still. His eyes opened and he felt the brief kiss which was too brief, but he wasn't going to argue it.

However, he reiterated his earlier question. "Did you want me to accompany you?" The advisor wasn't trying to invite himself along, but if Nida got a lot of things or needed help, he could at least offer. And maybe too it went unheard because of the box arriving and all that it had meant.

Well wouldn't that be quite the romantic thing to say? And a fair comment as well, given Nida had a history of not being at all okay. But Ignis would change that.

"Only if you promise to hold my hand."

Ignis smiled and nervously and unnecessarily adjusted his glasses. "I can certainly accommodate you there for as long as you'd like." Fortunately since he'd been here with Nida there was no need to wear his gloves. So he easily took the other's hand in his, refraining from placing a kiss to it.

He could feel his nerves starting but that was just because this was so new. But he was really looking forward to at least being able to show and be shown even such a simple gesture as hand holding. And half of him wondered what the lads might say if they could see him but he knew they'd be happy for him at the very least.

Too bad there wasn't a kiss placed to it. That would move Nida quite deeply. AS it was, he smiled and gripped that hand in his firmly.

HE'd never really held hands with Elijah. Every time he'd held hands with the starry other man... Yes, his heart had fluttered just like this.

"And now I can keep you at my side."

"I've been there ever since our first night together. Though I suppose now this simply makes it more official." This was said as he lifted his new necklace with one hand and squeezed the hand in his with his other. Ignis was definitely happy and Nida's eyes still reflected that.

And as they walked on, Ignis realized that hunting might have to be sidelined with gaining a more steady income. Spoiling was what he did and while he still didn't really have a term for 'this', he wanted to be a more steady provider of funds, both for food and for pleasure.

If he recalled correctly, the hunting lodge where he worked out of as a hunter still needed a chef. And while he would learn their skills and techniques, he would utilize the experience to be able to create more recipehs.

Well, Nida can't help the fact that he has quite a bit of coin to cover himself from his work, and favors he can call in with Raimon at the curio shop.

"I suppose it does. But there is delight in it anyway, In others seeing it. Seeing us."

"Yes," Ignis agreed softly. "there certainly is." And it was true, he really was looking very forward to having others see how happy Nida was. And he was personally going to try his best to keep the man this way. Joy really looked good on the man, and seemed to almost give him a glow that Ignis had never seen before.

Silently he wondered if they'd see Yuna or any of Nida's other friends while they were out and about. Or if they'd perchance run into any of the others that had taken down the bear with them.

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