aterat | One Fall And One Less Bear

"Of course." Ignis replied with a shy smile and a shake of the head. He loved when Nida called him that, again especially with the emphasis on the 'my' in front of it. But he didn't know how or even if he should admit to something like that, so the advisor turned and handed Nida his bag back and took his own.

"Shall we?"

Though he really wanted to just head home.

Give him credit, Ignis. Nida was good enough to see the delight in his partner over the little name. It wasn't going away any time soon.

"Of course we shall. Otherwise dear Julia might disown me."

"She'll be very happy to see you return home with food just for her." Ignis replied, trying to keep his mind on something mundane like feeding cats so he didn't try and hurry them home. He damn well knew this whole being out together thing was very important and an important step for them so he would be patient of course.

It was a thrill to be hand in hand with someone and that someone wanting to be there with him like that. So to keep himself from talking about it, he squeezed Nida's hand and smiled.

"Perhaps she will. I'll be happy to return home with you, though."

And really, what more could he want. Going home with his partner at his side."

For some reason Nida just had this effect on him where he knew all the right words to say at the right times. But still his face turned slightly red and he chuckled. "I can stay for as long as you're comfortable."

Ignis definitely didn't want to overstay his welcome, but he was more than happy to stay with Nida for as long as it was alright. And he could go back to his own apartment whenever it was needed.

Did he? Nida would be shocked to hear that. But he didn't mind saying the words anyway. It was just how he felt.

"You know I'm comfortable with you there. Why would I be anything else?"

Ignis sighed lightly, trying to figure out how to answer that one. "Just let me know if it changes." He was used to the lads being around him all the time but he wasn't one to want to smother someone for all of their time or attention.

"How much more shopping have we left to do?" He'd stay out as long as they needed to, but also thought to stock up on things too since they were already here, like he'd done with the salmon.

"Yes, I will. But I fear that won't be the change you see," Nida assures him.

"No more than ten minutes if you want to run things back. But we can get more, if you want to be out and about."

He smiled at Nida and squeezed the hand in his. "That makes me wonder what changes you do wish to see." But when the other gave his estimation, Ignis shrugged. "I simply wish to make sure we obtain everything we set out to get."

Normally he made himself a list but this trip had been rather impromptu. He'd actually planned on cleaning the house but then he was given the necklace and saw the description of what it meant and..here he was.

"I don't know. I want to see where this takes us."

And he doesn't know where it's taking them. He just wants to find it out.

"It's all rather thrown together, I guess. Normally my brother sent me with more of a list."

A shy smile appeared when Nida gave his answer and once again squeezed the hand in his. "As do I darling." Ignis then leaned over and very briefly kissed the side of the dark head. He'd never even been this far before so it wasn't like he knew where they even were at this point.

"Next time we'll have a list ready."

"Next time I won't broadside you by asking for a relationship beyond our... private time."

Not that he didn't like their private time a lot. But... The quiet intimacy of shopping together was amazing.

Ignis smiled and swore his face was going to hurt by the end of the day with all the smiling he was doing. "And speaking of a relationship, how shall I refer to you should we run into someone we know?" The advisor figured clarification would be a good idea so he didn't accidentally say the wrong thing and upset the proverbial apple cart here.

"I suppose that depends on what you want to say. But I'm going to refer to you as my boyfriend," Nida suggests, his expression a touch fond. "If you've got other terms you prefer, I'm okay with that."

"Ah, boyfriend works." It was generic enough not to insinuate a lot, and yet explain so much at the same time. He wondered what it would be like to be introduced to someone they knew by Nida as 'boyfriend'. It would be different and a small part of him could only silently admit that he was kind of excited about it.

But he sighed. "Beau is the only other term I've come up with."

"Beau," Nida parrots, testing the word out. It's not one he's heard before, and he is left thinking about it.

"Beau. I like it."

"Splendid, then either term works." There was yet another smile on his face. "So where are we headed to now?" Somehow he couldn't wait to get home though of course he would wait and be seen out with his..boyfriend. Funny he'd obviously never been one before but he found that he liked it.

It was like the games Noct and Prompto mainly played though he did too at times. He'd 'leveled up' as they would say.

At least the Beau level was one with good perks, right?

"I think after this I just need to swing by Raimon's to see if he can help me find a collar, but that can wait."

It took Ignis a moment because the word collar brought up a few different mental images. And none of them had to do with a cat. But when he finally realized what it would be for, he turned his head slightly to cover a cough and a slightly red face.

"Indeed. And while we're at it, should we investigate why he chose this pendant for you to give to me?" Focus on something, anything else. That was the ticket.

Oh no, he sees the red cheeks, and he leans in to whisper to the man.

"I could get two if you want."

They really had been getting into stuff already. It's not going to weird him out after what they've already done.

"I may have spoken about you."

His face turned even more red and Ignis struggled to try to act normal. "I..they're not for us. I'm sorry I misunderstood." He really was trying to get back to normal here and was having a hard time recovering.

But he did listen when Nida said he'd spoken to the merchant about him. "Well I suppose I'll find out in a bit what it was that you said and what he understood from your words."

"They could be," Nida teases, but he lets it go since Ignis is moving on.

"Well now I'm not sure I want to take you to him with me. I worry you might learn more about this than even I have figured out."

Ignis can't help but cough, knowing Nida has him on the run so to speak. But it did give him ideas that he quietly kept for himself for now.

But then he stopped and waited for the other to turn around to look at him before speaking. "If you'd like I can take the bags and go home. I'll wait for you there, or I can have dinner well underway by the time you come back."

He really needed to stop keeping the ideas to himself. Really, so greedy.

"That, my flame, sounds like a plan. Do you need my keys?"

"Yes I do need them." Ignis acknowledged with a nod. He really hadn't expected Nida to dismiss his company but the offer had been there and it had been genuine.

Once he had the keys, the advisor took the other bag and gave Nida a swift kiss on the cheek before departing to go home. And while he moved, he already missed his beau's warmth and presence.

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