Archive of Our Own ^beta

Knotting his tie, Noct steps in front of the full-length mirror, eyeing himself with a critical eye. He looks good, he thinks—he's clean, with his hair all spiked up, and his suit neatly pressed in all the right places. He looks sharp, and presentable, and—

And like he's going to some fucking formal royal function, instead of a low-key first date with Ignis.

Ugh. Yanking at his tie, he pulls it back off, letting it drop to his bedroom floor, and then peels himself carefully back out of the suit before hanging it in his closet again—he wants to tear it off him and leave it in a crumpled heap on the floor, but then he'd get an earful from Ignis later.

This is stupid. He's been trying on clothes all morning, and he feels like—like some girl who can't make up her mind what to wear because she needs the best outfit. He thought as a guy he'd have it easier. Just throw on something that looks good enough to stand out, make his hair look nice, and go off on his date.

Only when he'd slid open his closet door this morning, he'd had the sudden realisation that Ignis has seen him in all his clothes a million times already, and there's nothing in there to make him take notice and appreciate Noct. He'd tried, anyway, pulling on shirt after shirt, but most of them are t-shirts, and the nicer ones are all long sleeves, which will suffocate him in the hot summer sun.

When none of that worked, his eyes had fallen on the suit hanging towards the back, the one Ignis always has pressed and ready for him "just in case," though he's never been clear on what "just in case" could actually entail. It's not like his dad's gonna wake up one morning and decide the palace needs to throw a fancy party in two hours. So he'd decided it was safe enough to pull on the suit, but it was clear he'd be way too overdressed for a date where they're supposed to run around in an open-air market and try all the food samples vendors will have today, and maybe buy some if Ignis decides they're worthy.

So now he's stuck, and he can feel panic and dread rising, bubbling up his throat like burning acid, because it's their first date and he can't fuck this up. He's wanted this for ages. Several months of crushing hard and believing Ignis would never like him back only to accidentally blurt it out and end up with Ignis asking him out.

But he's never been on a date before, he's only just tentatively decided that he's demi after a lot of internet research and come to the conclusion that all the girls at school are never going to interest him, he doesn't know what to do on a date. He's scared he's going to ruin everything and then Ignis will realise what a terrible boyfriend he'd make and never ask him out again. He already doesn't understand what Ignis sees him, when he spends so much time cleaning up after and taking care of Noct. The chances of him messing up and making Ignis change his mind seem high.

He just hadn't expected to fuck it all up before the date's even started. But if he can't find something to wear soon, he'll have to cancel and then Ignis will never forgive him.

Prompto. Prompto's been on several dates this year—his social standing has gone up since befriending Noct, and Noct tries not to begrudge him that, because he knows that wasn't Prompto's intention and he'd done nothing to encourage it, but it irritates him the way people, girls especially, fawn all over his best friend hoping it'll get them somewhere with Noct. He wants to tell Prompto they're just using him, but he worries it would crush him.

Still, it means he has experience in dating now, and where Noct's fine with throwing on whatever he happens to like, Prompto is surprisingly big on fashion. Maybe losing the weight had made him more confident in looking good? Either way, he's got a closet full of clothes to rival Gladio's little sister—Noct had seen it one time, his eyes widening in horror at how stuffed it was, wondering why an eleven year old needed so many skirts—and that means he can tell Noct what to wear on his date.

He goes to pat at his pockets before remembering he's in his underwear and has none, so he looks frantically about his room for his phone, finally spying it on his bed, half-hidden under his sheets. He dives for it, plopping down on the bed as he inputs his passcode, bringing up his messages and quickly typing one out. He's too impatient to wait for Prompto to type a reply, though, and calls only seconds later, resisting the urge to pick at his nails while he waits for his best friend to answer. There's still nearly three hours until Ignis is supposed to arrive to pick him up, but he doesn't want to leave this to the last minute like he usually does.

"Come on," he mutters, as the line keeps ringing, and then sighs in frustration as Prompto's voicemail message starts playing. "Dammit Prompto. Some best friend you are." He hangs up halfway through it, giving in and letting himself tear at his thumbnail while he tries to decide what to do now.

He can wait, and maybe Prompto will call him back, but it's rare for his best friend to not immediately answer a call or text. When that happens, he's usually asleep or busy enough to turn his phone on silent. He could call Gladio, maybe... but he already knows how that would go. Gladio would laugh and say, "It's about time!" and then come over and shake his head at Noct's lack of experience and shove a bunch of condoms in his pocket even though Noct's nowhere near the point of thinking about sex with anyone, Ignis included. He would help, eventually, but all the teasing that would come along with it would destroy Noct's already tattered nerves.

And Ignis... Well, obviously he can't ask Specs for advice about their own date. He doesn't need Ignis to take care of him in this, too, and it probably won't be a very fun date for him if he has to do all the work of getting Noct ready. And Noct knows he'd never live it down if word got out to Gladio or Prompto that he asked Ignis what to wear to his date with Ignis.

But if his friends are out, there isn't really anyone left in his life that he can trust to ask for help with this. Except... Well, there's always his dad. Maybe. The idea seems a little scary, though. He's not out to his dad yet, about liking both girls and guys, and only if there's a close emotional connection first. He doesn't know how his dad will take it—he's supposed to have an heir someday, and Ignis can't provide him that, so maybe he won't like the being demi thing. And even if his dad doesn't mind, there's still the fact that Specs is his advisor. He doesn't need anyone to tell him how easily this can all end in disaster.

And worse than all that, he doesn't want his dad to tease him either.

Sighing, he lowers his phone, glancing to his closet again, at the shirts still hanging. They're all long-sleeve, and he already feels hot just looking at them. He considers the pile of t-shirts on his floor next, but those won't work either. They're too casual. He wears them everyday. He might not have dating experience, but he doesn't need it to know wearing his usual t-shirts will tell Ignis that Noct feels he's not worth looking nice for, even if that isn't true.

"Knew I should have bought something," he mutters to himself. It's too late to go out now, though. Just taking the subway to and from the midtown district where the best clothes shops are will take up half his time left. He'd never manage to pick out something and then come back home and get ready in time.

He's got no choice then. He just hopes that his dad is still free. They'd originally had plans for today, before Ignis had asked him out, and it wasn't until after he'd told Ignis yes that he'd remembered his dad. He'd taken it gracefully—probably 'cause all the times he'd cancelled on Noct—but Noct had still felt bad. Maybe this will make up for it some.

If his dad doesn't flip out that he's dating, and who.

He sends a text, even though he's still impatient. He doesn't want his dad to pick up on just how nervous he is about this. He really is afraid his dad will be like Gladio and tease him about it; beyond the obvious embarrassing talks when he was younger, he hasn't ever really talked to his dad about girls or dating or romance. He doesn't know how he'll react.

Unlike Prompto, his dad sends a response right away. What do you need help with? it says, and he stares at it, his stomach flipping unpleasantly. His own had simply read, I need your help with something. Can you come to my apartment? and he'd hoped that would be enough to make his dad either agree or turn him down, but seems he's gonna have to explain.

Making a face, he reluctantly starts typing out a reply. I'm going somewhere later. With someone else. I'm not sure what to wear. There. It's the truth, even if it's not the whole truth.

Is this a date? comes the next response a moment later, and Noct groans.

Dad! Can you help or not?

I'll be right there :)

Ugh. Noct makes another face at the smiley. It's weird to see his dad use emoji, and especially the text kind. It seems like just the kind of thing old people would do. Try to be cool by using what "all the kids" are using these days, except they don't quite get it right. It makes him cringe.

He really hopes he doesn't regret this.

The fifteen minutes waiting for his dad are spent pacing, going from his bed to his desk to the mirror on the back of his door and then to the bed again. When he hears the sound of the keycard beeping in the front door he stops where he stands, staring at the doorway and drumming his hands against his leg until his dad appears.

"I certainly hope you aren't planning on wearing that to your date," his dad says, raising an eyebrow. He crosses the room, gingerly lowering himself to the bed, mindful of the leg brace he'd started wearing the last few months.

Noct frowns, looking down at himself, realising he's still only in his underwear. He crosses his arms over his chest, feeling his face heat up a little. "Of course not," he mutters, not bothering to try denying the date status. His dad's not stupid. He goes to the pile of clothes in front of his closet, grabbing a t-shirt and tossing it on. Really, it's only the scar on his back from the daemon attack that he cares anything about. He doesn't like anyone seeing it, not even his dad. Not even Specs.

That's probably one of the big reasons why he's not ready for sex. Not that he's going to think about that with his dad here. The still present panic that's lurking just beneath the surface has his mind all over the place.

"Alright, so tell me about this date, then," his dad says, dragging him from his thoughts, and he jerks his head up, biting at his lip as he tries to decide how to answer.

"It's... some food tasting event," he eventually settles on. "In Midtown. At the open-air market in the Square. Seemed like a better idea than dinner and a movie. The tabloids wouldn't leave me alone if we did that."

"Sounds like something Ignis would enjoy," his dad remarks, and in his head Noct tells himself don't react don't react don't react, but he can feel himself going red again, and he bites at his lip a second time before he can stop it. "Ah," his dad says after a moment. "I should have known."

Then his dad smiles, and it loosens something in Noct's chest, easing his fears a little, even as he blurts out, "Should have known?"

"I've seen the way you are around Ignis these days, child. Others don't know you well enough to pick up on it, but a father knows when his son's caught feelings."

Coming over to the bed, Noct climbs up in it, sitting cross-legged beside his dad, clasping his hands in his lap and staring down at them. "You're not mad?"

"Mad?" His dad sounds confused, and that further reassures him.

"That it's... a guy," he mumbles, tearing at the skin of his lower lip with his teeth. "When I'm supposed to marry a girl, an' have an heir..."

"Don't do that," his dad says. "You'll tear your lip up. You want to look your best for Ignis, don't you?"

He does, but he feels too tense suddenly to stop. His dad hasn't answered the question, and there's a sick knot forming in the pit of his stomach. Maybe he's not really okay with it, and just doesn't wanna say so.

"Noctis. Son. Look at me," his dad says, his voice going all gentle as he shifts on the bed towards him, still careful to keep his bad leg stretched out over the edge, and after a long, uncertain moment, Noct drags his eyes up to meet his dad's. "The only thing that matters to me right now is that you are happy. There's time to figure the rest out later. You're still young. You've got several years before you need to worry about heirs. Do you want this, with Ignis?"

Noct nods, the knot in his stomach loosening a little. "Yeah," he says, the word a whisper.

"Then I'm not mad. And truthfully, child, I've suspected for awhile that you may be gay. Your lack of interest in girls has long been noticed."

"I'm not gay." He expects his dad to raise his eyebrows, maybe make a snarky comment, but instead he simply waits, looking at Noct without disbelief, or judgement. He really hadn't planned on fully coming out to his dad today, but now that he's started, he might as well finish. The idea is, well, terrifying, but his dad's reaction so far has been good, which makes him feel not so sick about it. He doesn't think his dad will get it, but. Probably he won't hate him. Maybe. Hopefully. "I'm... demisexual," he says slowly, not sure if his dad knows what that means.

"I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with the term," his dad says, sounding apologetic.

"Um. Well for me, it means gender doesn't matter too much. I like—both," he says as he looks back at his lap again, not wanting to get in to the complication of gender identities with his dad. He just hopes his dad doesn't ask how he knows. His feelings for Luna last year had confused him about his sexuality for way too long. Before that, he'd thought he was ace. "But uh, I don't really feel attraction for people unless there's a really close connection. Um. Like an emotional one. And, for me, it's been more. More romantic than. Yeah."

Gods, he feels so awkward. He knows his dad can read between the lines of what he's actually saying—that he's not sexually attracted to strangers, that he doesn't want to have sex or romantic relationships with people at all until there's a deep bond. And he knows it'll be a problem in the future given who he is, even if he and Ignis don't stay together. He's scared his dad's gonna change his mind and think he's weird after all.

"Sorry, I know it's weird," he can't help but mumble, when the silence stretches a beat too long.

"It isn't weird," his dad says immediately. "I apologise, I was simply trying to gather my thoughts. I don't wish to say or do the wrong thing to upset you. Noctis, I support you in this, one hundred percent. No matter what, you are my son and I love you. Who you are or aren't attracted to won't change that."

"Dad..." He can feel his eyes growing wet and it's mortifying, but in all his imaginings on how this conversation might go, at best he's only ever expected a "well you do you for now but one day you're going to have to date women," and at worst he's prepared himself to be ordered to stop thinking about guys at all, that it can't ever happen. He's never thought before today that his dad would support him, or care enough to want to say the right things.

"And son, I apologise in advance, because this demisexuality is new to me, and I don't know anything other than what you've told me just now, so I may not always know exactly what to say, or how I can help you, but I accept it as part of you wholeheartedly," his dad continues. "As I said, all that matters to me is that you are happy. And that you are comfortable with your identity, and feel safe."

Noct swipes at his eyes with the back of his hand, but it doesn't help. They quickly grow wet again. It's just. His dad's voice is so gentle, and soft, and understanding, and he hadn't even realised just how scared he was of telling him until the relief washed over him in waves. This is way more than he expected to get, and he's grateful. Part of him wants to hug his dad and thank him and tell him he loves him, except thinking about doing that makes him feel awkward and embarrassed, so he stays sitting where he is.

"And if you need further reassurance, the first thing I intend to do today when I get back to the palace is go look this up and learn all that I can, so that I can best know how to support you."

He wipes his eyes once more, chancing a glance up at his dad. His dad smiles at him when he sees him looking, a warm one that tells Noct he means what he's saying. "I can give you links, if you want," he offers, cautious and hopeful. He'd saved some he'd found once, meant for family and friends. Just in case he ever decided to come out.

"I'd like that." His dad's quiet for a moment, and Noct takes the time to calm himself down, wrestling his emotions back down to a more acceptable base level. As much as he can, anyway. There's still the looming panic over his date, but that isn't going to go away until the date's over. And then hopefully there will be a second date, and he'll get to panic over that... He's going to be panicking the rest of his life. Or at least for as long as they stay in a relationship, which he hopes is the rest of his life. Somehow.

"Does Ignis know?"

"About... the date?" He blinks, confused.

Chuckling a little, his dad shakes his head. "I certainly hope he knows about that. I'm not sure you springing a surprise date on him last minute would go over so well. I meant, does he know about you being demisexual?"

"Right. Yeah." He knows he's going red again. This is still better than the teasing he would have got from Gladio, though. "He knows. Um. About the date, I mean. Not about... being demi. I haven't told him. Why?" he asks, trying to deflect attention away from his burning face.

"Because I'm your father, and I worry for you, no matter what."

Frowning, he tries to figure out what his dad would have to be worried about. It's just a date, and his dad knows Ignis. Specs would rather die before ever doing anything to hurt him. And... he doesn't think Ignis would get weird about his being demi. Not right now, at least. When the relationship is new. It's later he's worried about, when Ignis might want to start doing things, and Noct maybe won't still feel ready for that yet. He thinks he'll want it, someday, but it feels like the least important thing.

And he can look at Ignis and feel attraction, but right now it feels more romantic than anything. Because, yeah, he does think Ignis is hot—he thinks, anyway, sexual attraction is still a new enough feeling to him that he's not a hundred percent sure—but mostly he just wants to go out on dates, and hold hands, and sit all curled up next to him on the couch while sharing a blanket. Sex feels like a distant future. That's the only thing that scares him about telling Ignis he's demi. That Ignis will want to leave eventually, because Noct won't be ready for sex. "Worry?" he asks blankly, because surely his dad isn't worried about the same thing. "I think he'd support me..."

"That isn't what I mean," his dad says, shaking his head again. He shifts, flexing his knee carefully, and Noct pushes away the aching twinge he gets in his chest at the sight. "Rather, I want to make sure you know that you are allowed to set boundaries in the relationship, and that if he doesn't respect them, you are within every right to tell him no and leave."

"Dad." His face is flaming now, his entire body hot all over. "Specs isn't gonna—he's not—he won't force me." He can't believe they're having this conversation. The birds and the bees when he'd been little had been bad enough. This is—this is too much. Noct swears, if his dad ends up shoving condoms in his pocket, he's absolutely going to throw himself out the window next to his bed.

"I... did not quite mean that. Rather, I don't want you to feel pressured into agreeing with anything you don't want to do. It doesn't even have to mean sex. Anything in a relationship you are not comfortable with, sex or kissing or even just holding hands, you have the right to say no to and have that be respected. If Ignis ever tries to pressure you into something you don't want—"

"Specs wouldn't pressure me," Noct protests, feeling guilty that they're talking about it even as a hypothetical. He's confused why his dad would even say stuff like that. He knows Ignis better than that.

His dad sighs. "I know you believe that, and certainly Ignis has never given me reason to believe otherwise, but hormones can be overwhelming at your age, and sometimes that pressure can start small. He may not even realise he's doing it. It could start as simply as 'just this once,' perhaps because it's a special day, and then turn into 'you did it last time, why not again?' and before you know it, you've agreed too many times and feel like you can't say no.

"Of course, he may also never do so, which is what I would like to think. But it's good to be aware of the possibility, and truthfully it's something that can apply to any relationship."

Noct swallows at his dad's example. He'd been thinking of it as something black and white, like his dad was saying Ignis would be outright begging him for sex or making out, which feels impossible to imagine. But put like that... he can see his dad's point. He can see how Ignis might not think of it as a big deal to ask for just this once, and how he might feel guilty enough to agree even when he doesn't want to, because it's only once.

It still seems unlikely, Ignis is always so big on making sure Noct's okay with things—he'd asked three times if Noct was sure he wanted to go on the date, until Noct had snapped at him—but it doesn't seem as impossible to imagine, like that. "I—I won't—I can tell him no," he says, gnawing at his lip yet again. He still feels bad giving consideration to Specs being less than a good boyfriend to him. "If he ever tries anything. Like. Like that. Um. You think telling him I'm demi would help?"

"It may give him a better understanding of where you're coming from in this relationship," his dad says. "But understand, I am certainly not trying to pressure you either. Whether you tell Ignis that you're demi is entirely your choice, and even if you do decide to, you are allowed to go at your own pace about it. Boundaries still apply even if he doesn't know."

"Yeah," Noct agrees. "Just... wanna see if there will be a second date first before I worry about it, you know?"

His dad lets out a soft laugh. "Understandable. Also... while I think you are as likely as incapable as Ignis of this, the same goes for you about boundaries. Just as you deserve someone who will treat you with the love and respect you deserve, so does he. And anyone else you may date in the future."

"Dad, I wouldn't," he complains. He's almost insulted his dad thinks there's even the tiniest chance.

"I know," his dad says with a smile. "I feel certain I've raised you better than that. But as a father, I feel obligated to say it. It's your first date, after all, and I'm supposed to say all the fatherly things. Can't believe my little boy is growing up so fast."

"Dad," he says, groaning. "Please don't get all... weird."

Laughing again, his dad gets to his feet, making his careful way over to his closet. "No promises, but I'll stop for the moment. Now, what do you say we find you an outfit for this date?"

He nods, even though his dad's not looking at him. "Yeah." That had been the whole point of him coming over, after all. Shoving his dad's earlier words to the back of his head for the moment, he looks over at the pile of shirts on his floor, stifling a sigh as the panic starts to surge again. He still has nothing to wear, and now with that unexpected conversation there's definitely no time to buy anything. "All I have is t-shirts and long sleeves... And a suit, which is dumb."

"Tried it already, huh?"

"Ugh. Yeah."

"Well, if I know Ignis, you probably have more in here than you think."

"I've pulled everything short-sleeved off the hangers though."

"Have you looked through the drawers?"

"Drawers?" Noct looks at his closet blankly. He doesn't have drawers in his closet. He's been here a year now, and there's never been... Huh. Except there are. He watches as his dad slides the door back further, revealing a column of five drawers going down the left side. Well. That's kinda embarrassing.

"There's certainly some nice shirts in here," his dad says as he pulls one open and peers into it. Noct slides off the bed, kicking through the pile of t-shirts on the floor as he goes over to stand next to his dad, checking out the drawer himself. There are shirts in there, a small stack of neatly folded polos. Now he understands why Ignis is always asking him why he never wears his nicer shirts. He'd thought he'd meant the dress shirts. Gods, he's an idiot.

"I don't really like polos," he says, making a face at them. He still can't believe he's had these in here for a year and didn't know it. Perhaps it's time for him to start buying his own clothes...

"There's some button-ups," his dad says, pulling open the drawer beneath. "These would be good for your date. They're casual, but still dressy. And they're short-sleeved, so they would be appropriate for the weather."

He looks at them. They're lighter and looser and more casual than the polos are, so they won't drive him crazy or make him feel preppy and stuck up. And they're solid colours, mostly neutral blacks and greys, not loud patterns that will make him stand out to everyone. "Yeah," he says, reaching in for the stack. "They could work."

Tossing them on his bed, he starts digging through them, looking at the colours. There's several in the stack, with some that are shades of dark green or blue, and he's not sure what would be best. He still hasn't settled on what pants to wear either. His dad stays at the drawers, checking out the other three.

"This one," his dad says a few minutes later, and Noct turns to him, finding him holding up a sky blue button-up. He blinks at it, not sure he likes the lighter colour. "It matches your eyes," his dad tells him, before he can protest. "Wear a white undershirt, and a dark pair of jeans."

"I don't know..."

"Trust me, child. You wanted my advice, did you not? This is the way to go." His dad throws the shirt at him, and he catches it in his hands reluctantly, looking down at it. He wears white sometimes, and that's fine, but colours... They're not usually his thing. His t-shirts might have some colour on them, but they're still mostly black. He feels weird in colours.

But he did ask for help, and if he wants to stand out to Ignis by wearing something different than usual, something like this would definitely be it. He sighs, knowing his dad is right. He goes back over to his closet, grabbing the jeans and undershirt his dad suggested, and then shuffles out of the room, going to the bathroom to change. It's easier than making his dad have to leave and come back, with his knee all messed up.

He sheds his t-shirt and then pulls on the outfit quickly, wondering if he's meant to tuck the button-up in. It feels restricting though, and probably makes him look nerdy in a not-good way, so he leaves it out to hang loose. Glancing in the mirror over the sink, he frowns at himself. He feels so weird in a blue shirt...

"I look stupid," he announces to his dad as he walks back into his bedroom.

His dad looks up from where he's settled himself back onto Noct's bed. "I think you look rather dashing," he says.

"Oh gods." Noct groans, resisting the urge to unbutton the shirt and yank it back off. "Please don't say dashing, Dad. Nobody says that."

"Hey, I say it. But fine. Would you rather I say handsome?"

"Now you sound like an old grandma. Gladio's grandma always used to say that when we were little."

"Well, I assumed you would prefer I don't say you look so hot Ignis won't be able to keep his eyes off you, so I feel rather limited in my choices here. Help me out, son."

"Dad! Oh my gods why did I even call you?" He actually buries his face in his hands, willing it to cool down. He does want to look good for Ignis, but he hasn't really thought about what that will actually mean for Ignis. Now he can't get it out of his head—and that his dad put the realisation there doesn't help.

His dad laughs loudly. "Alright, alright. You do look nice though, that colour really does bring out your eyes. I believe Ignis will appreciate it. He'll probably be happy to see you finally wearing something other than a t-shirt."

"Ugh. Yeah. I guess," he mumbles, finally uncovering his face. He sits beside his dad again, his stomach giving a nervous flip. There's only a little over an hour now until Ignis is supposed to be here, and he's starting to feel sick all over again. He's got an outfit, but he's still worried he's going to mess everything up somehow, and make Ignis not want to be with him.

He doesn't know how to make this feel like a date. They've hung out as friends tons of times, and he wants this to be different. But they can't do all the 'getting to know you' things the internet suggested—they already know each other. And he can't be openly flirty in public, not that he even knows how, because then the whole world will know the prince is dating. So he doesn't know what to do, but he doesn't want to leave it all up to Ignis either, and he's afraid the whole thing will die before it even gets started.

"What's going on in that head of yours? You're quiet."

"I'm always quiet," he points out, but then sighs. "I don't wanna mess things up. I don't know what I'm supposed to do, or say."

"Ah, nerves. That's normal. I know it's easier said than done, but the best thing you can do is to not think about it. Don't worry about whether you're doing the right thing. Just go and do the same things you always do when hanging with Ignis, and have fun. The rest of it will come naturally."

"How? I don't know how to make this feel like a date," he complains. "I can't flirt, or hold his hand. We see each other every day, and I know everything about him. What do we talk about?"

"I believe you're thinking about this too hard," his dad tells him, smiling a little. "There isn't anything you need to consciously do to make it feel like a date. The feelings are already there for both of you. That will already make things feel different. You'll know it's a date. And I bet you'll be surprised to find how much you don't know about him still. Childhood experiences you weren't there for, or interests he's never seen the need to share. And if you blank on topics, discussing the food is always a good starter."

It sounds reasonable, but he's still doubtful. He always seems to mess things up somehow. "Maybe..."

"Noctis, I'm going to give you a good piece of advice for dating that my dad once gave me. Be present in the moment, and be attentive to your partner. If you come across as distracted, or uninterested, or not caring, they're going to lose interest. But if you make an effort to listen to them, and be engaged in the date, they're far more likely to dismiss any small mistakes you make.

"And Ignis knows you, child. He knows how you are, what your faults are—and he's still interested in you. He's not expecting you to be perfect."

Noct picks up his phone, quickly checking the time. There's about an hour now. "I—Yeah. Probably." He knows his dad is right. If those things bothered Ignis, he never would have asked Noct out. But it's still hard to quiet the fears in his head.

His dad reaches out, placing a hand on his shoulder briefly. "Try not to worry too much. Go on your date. Have a good time. Be in the moment; don't think about the future, or where the relationship is going. There's time to worry about that later. Your sexuality, what you or Ignis may want in that regard—let that happen when you're both ready. Focus on building an emotional connection for now. And Noctis."

"Yeah?" he asks, when his dad doesn't go on.

"Just know that if Ignis ever breaks your heart, I'll break his nose."

Noct snorts, looking up at his dad. His face is so dead serious that he can't help it—he laughs. And then he laughs some more, loudly, the mental image of his dad suddenly walking up to Ignis and punching him in the nose too funny—only because he knows his dad would never actually do such a thing. Even if he tried, Ignis would probably duck first and then topple him, king or not. "Sure," he says once he's calmed himself, though he's still grinning.

"Alright, you're right, I wouldn't," his dad concedes, also grinning now. "But I'd buy you ice cream and watch cheesy movies with you and let you cry into my shoulder."

"Dad, stop," he whines, though secretly he likes the sound of that—not that he wants to ever break up with Ignis. But if it does happen, he's glad to know his dad will be there for him. "Ignis is gonna be here soon."

"Is that a hint? Alright. Stand up and fix your hair and let me look at you one last time. Got to commit to memory the sight of my little boy all grown up and about to go on his first date."

"Oh no," he says as he stands, letting out a groan. "You're not about to get all weepy on me, are you? I'm not grown yet."

His dad straightens up, trying to look like a regal and dignified adult. "I'm not," he says, but Noct can tell his eyes aren't quite dry.

Rolling his eyes, he goes over to the mirror, checking his hair, fixing a few stray strands and then turns back to his dad. "Okay?"

"Perfect. You really are looking quite grown up. I'm proud of you."

"Dad... you're embarrassing me."

"My apologies. But I still tend to think of you as the toddler that would run around the palace screaming with laughter as he shed all his clothes," his dad says, smiling a little at the memory. "Or the eight year old lying in bed, unable to walk, looking up at me with pain-filled eyes, wanting me to protect him. Or the nine year old reassuring me he was ready to go back to school, despite the fear of being made fun of I could see written all across his face." His dad smiles at him again, but there's a sadness to it this time.

"Dad..."

Shaking it off, his dad goes on. "It's just, somehow you grew up when I wasn't looking. And no, you're not fully grown yet, but today has shown me what a fine young man you're becoming. The way you asked me for help when you needed it, and then approached coming out to me, and were able to express your fears... I know you worry about disappointing me, or not living up to my image, but Noctis... You have nothing to worry about. You're going to be a great man someday, and I love you just the way you are."

"You're crying, Dad," Noct says, torn between dying of embarrassment or hugging his dad. Candid feelings make him feel awkward, but. They had been nice to hear. And he hopes his dad is right. That he's gonna grow up to be as good as his dad. That he'll keep making him proud.

His dad waves it off. "It's fine. Clarus will buy me ice cream later and let me cry into his shoulder while we watch cheesy movies. I just can't believe my little boy isn't my little boy anymore."

"I'm still your son," he says, going back to the bed to look at his phone again. There's now about forty-five minutes left, and it's really less, because Ignis can't not be early to something. "Dad, Ignis is—"

"Going to be here soon, I know. Alright, alright." His dad wipes at his face, and then gets to his feet slowly, reaching for his cane that he'd leaned against the mattress when he first came in. Noct watches as he crosses the room to the doorway, trying not to be upset at how long it takes him, because he can't handle breaking down about his dad's worsening health on top of everything else today.

"Hey, Dad?" he says once his dad's made it past the door and out into the hall.

"Yes?" His dad stops, but doesn't turn around.

Walking over to him, Noct carefully puts his arms around from behind, burying his face in his dad's back. "Thanks," he mumbles. "For helping today. And... for not being mad."

His dad reaches with his free hand, closing it around Noct's arm. "Child, your happiness matters to me more than this entire kingdom. I don't care what a bunch of stuffy old men on the Council think. You deserve to be with whoever makes you happy, no matter who it is. Needing an heir someday doesn't mean sacrificing love, or who you are. Don't let their childish fits ever make you think otherwise."

Noct lets out a shuddering breath into his dad's shirt, his own eyes growing wet. He squeezes them shut, blinking away the tears, just breathing for a moment. "Love you," he says quietly, and then pulls away.

"I love you, too," his dad says, and resumes making his way to the front door. Noct follows him, both of them stopping once they get there, his dad briefly resting a hand on his shoulder again. "Have fun on your date, child. Let me know how it goes."

"Yeah," he agrees. He reaches up, putting his own hand on top of his dad's, letting it sit there for a moment, basking in the rare contact that he usually shies from. At last though he drops his hand, moving away. His dad pulls the door open, stepping through, and then holds up his hand in goodbye. Noct returns it before shutting the door behind him, and then goes back to his room to wait for Ignis.