Surprises (Working title)

Chapter 2

Following the events of the night of the dance, Noctis and Prompto have been hard at work. To Ignis' dismay, their efforts aren't homework orientated, rather they're conspiring to make Gladio or Ignis confess their feelings for the other. By any means necessary. Though that also means dodging Ignis' curious gaze or cleverly phrased questions, thankfully despite the bespeckled boys sharpness, he hadn't figured out their plans yet. It isn't as though the boys had been overly secret about their secret, everytime Ignis would speak one of them would be far too guilty or far from inconspicuous.

"Prompto..."

"Tell him nothing! He's working his nerd powers on your weak mind- Ow!" Noctis abruptly stopped shouting when Gladio elbowed him in the gut 'by accident'.

Prompto then resorted to repeatedly chanting 'la la la' very loudly with his fingers in his ears, in the middle of the library, to which both Gladio and Ignis sighed in defeat. The latter apologising to the librarian for the racket and his companions behaviour. Ushering the boys out as quickly as possible to avoid further trouble.

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The entire car journey was tense. Noctis and Prompto huddled together in the back seats, keeping their voices low and out of earshot, that didn't stop Gladio threatening to beat the secret out of them and Ignis shooting them all his stern parental glare. Even the imposing figure that is Gladio was scared of the bespeckled boy at times, Ignis was one of those people that remained calm and cold when angry, leaving their true wrath to speculation and imagination. Although despite his calm exterior, the Advisors sharp words always hit home in the worst way when he meant it.

For the most part of that journey Ignis kept his eyes fixed on the road, however there were times his gaze shifted to Gladio who sat beside him. The Shield was sat with his brow furrowed, elbow rested on the door and his chin rested on his palm or the back of his hand to his cheek, needless to say he was in deep thought about something.

"Hey Iggy, can we grab pizza for dinner? I'm starved..." Noctis even gave Ignis his best puppy eyes, the latter catching his eye in the rearview mirror. Prompto joined in on the effort, pleading and whining about something or other.

Ignis was doing well in his attempts to ignore the boys but even Gladio betrayed him. Flashing his own puppy eyes to which even the stoic Advisor couldn't resist.

"Igs. Iggy. Ma man. Pizza sounds like a gods send right now. I love cup noodles and your cooking but..." To Gladio's poor excuse of an argument, Ignis feigned offense, even pouting for effect.

That had Gladio grinning and forcing himself to look away, a faint blush rising on his cheeks but lost under his tanned skin and the shadows in the car. It may have been out of Ignis' view but Noctis and Prompto noticed and were snickering in the backseat, even after Gladio shot them a death stare or two and a silent threat of a beating.

"Now, now, children behave. If you're all so averse to my cooking, where do you want go? I for one will not drive around for aimlessly while you decide, so-" That second Ignis pulled into a parking spot outside an apartment complex, turning around in his seat to face the others.

Prompto hummed as he thought of the best place to go, Noctis frowned and Gladio stared at his lap. This was getting them nowhere and achieving nothing but testing Ignis' patience, which was wearing thin after a long day and the library incident.

"Oh-! What about that place near the art museum? That sounds nice and it's pretty cheap," Prompto looked at his friends expectantly, a hesitant smile plastered on his face to break the tension.

"Any objections?" Ignis looked at each of them in turn, taking their silence as a no. "Well then. I shall take you there but I will not be joining you, Noct, will you be alright staying with Prompto this evening?"