***

It's three days before he makes it over to Noctis's apartment again. He's pleased to find that the place doesn't have any of the usual mess. Noctis really has been doing better, for a good while now. He's becoming a man, slowly but surely, a man who Ignis expects will some day make an excellent king.

Ignis has dinner in the oven and is sitting at the table going over his reports when Noctis arrives. They haven't really spoken since their last encounter, only exchanged a few brief texts about Noctis's schedule. This morning Noctis had texted to ask if Ignis would be coming by, and sent a smiley face emoji when he'd confirmed it. A small gesture, perhaps, but one that set Ignis at ease that things haven't changed between them.

"Smells good," Noctis says, smiling as he sets down his bag. He tosses his tie haphazardly at the coat rack and starts pulling out his homework.

"Lasagna. It should be done in about fifteen minutes."

"What are you working on?" Noctis asks as he sets his books and papers on the table.

"A report from Drautos on the latest engagement with Niflheim. The Western section of the wall took quite a beating, I understand, but the Kingsglaive were able to fend off the attackers."

"War hero Nyx Ulric again?"

"Yes, his name is mentioned both in a commendation and in disciplinary action."

There's quiet for a while, Noctis working on homework and Ignis flipping through reports, until the timer for the lasagna goes off. They make small talk over dinner, then Ignis says, "Gladio came to see me the other day."

"Mm?" Noctis raises his eyebrows, mouth full of food.

"He was concerned that you and Prompto might be . . . intimately involved."

Noctis chokes, then grabs his water and takes a long drink. "Specs, you know we're not."

"I know," Ignis says, looking down at his plate as he cuts another bite. "But the fact that he's asking means that there's something that made him wonder."

"I haven't said anything. About Prompto, or about-- this." Noctis gestures vaguely with his fork.

"I'm sure you haven't. Just . . . be careful, please. I'm your advisor, Noctis. I'm supposed to teach you what you need to know. Still, these past weeks, I've--" He hesitates, not sure how to continue, trying to express the complicated mess of thoughts in his head. "I've been trying very hard not to cross the line of impropriety, but I'm afraid I haven't succeeded."

"Is that why you won't--" Ignis glances up at him sharply, and Noctis stops mid-sentence. "I'll be careful."

"Thank you." They finish their meal, and Ignis cleans up and packages the leftovers in the fridge while Noctis finishes his homework. When he's done, he looks up from his work to find Noctis looking at him thoughtfully. "Yes?" he asks, when it's obvious that Noctis has something to say.

"Whatever Gladio said," he begins slowly, "are you going to stop teaching me because of it?"

It's a good question, one Ignis has considered himself. He'd hesitated when planning the evening -- considered cancelling entirely and telling Noctis they were done with his expanded sex education -- but he'd ended up doing exactly what his better instincts told him not to. "No," he replies, "but we've almost finished covering everything. And when we have, you know of course that this will stop."

"Yeah, I know," Noctis says, but he's frowning. "Did you have something in particular planned for tonight?"

Ignis comes around to the living room and brings over one of the bags he brought with him. Noctis follows him to the couch expectantly, and Ignis pulls out of his bag a box of condoms and a bunch of bananas.

"Seriously?" Noctis asks, shooting Ignis a skeptical look.

"I know you're going to be expected to produce an heir," Ignis says, "but unless you're planning to keep your wife pregnant constantly, you ought to learn to use a condom." He breaks a banana off of the bunch and hands it to Noctis, along with a foil-wrapped condom, then gets another banana and condom for himself. He opens the packet and pulls out the condom, holding it up to demonstrate. "First you'll need to figure out which side is the top. It will only roll down one direction."

Noctis pulls out his own condom, and Ignis finds his body heating up just at the sight of the condom in Noctis's hand. He tamps it down, and proceeds with his demonstration. "Pinch the tip. You need to leave room for--"

"Yeah, they told us this in school," Noctis says, blushing a little.

"Alright then." Ignis turns the banana bottom up, and places the condom on it, rolling it down smoothly. "You'll want to be sure to roll it down all the way to the base." He watches as Noctis repeats the motions.

"It's not like this is that hard," Noctis says, tracing his fingers over the bottom edge of the condom. "It pretty thick though, doesn't it . . . make you feel less?"

"Well, yes, sex does feel different with a condom versus without, but that can be a good thing. Aside from the obvious benefit of preventing pregnancy and transmission of infections, some people prefer the feeling of latex, and some people find that it helps them avoid premature ejaculation."

"Is that something I should be worried about?" Noctis asks, avoiding Ignis's gaze.

"Perhaps," he replies, considering. "When having sex for the first time, some men can't hold themselves back. Others find that their nerves make it impossible to reach orgasm."

"Well, we kind of-- I mean, it wouldn't really be the first time, would it." Noctis looks at him a little shyly as he pulls the condom off the banana and opens another to repeat the procedure. "Did I . . . did I come too soon? Last time?"

Ignis is struck by the desire to push Noctis into the couch and ravish him. Knowing that he's been the one to introduce Noctis to these firsts, to touch him, to pleasure him -- it makes him feel warm all over. "You were fine," he says reassuringly. "I can't predict how you'll react to penetration, though, and I assume that's where your wedding night will end up."

Noctis sighs. "I don't know what my wedding night will be like. What do I even do? Do we talk when we're in the bedroom? What do I say?"

"Would you like--" Ignis begins, then cuts himself off before taking a step too far.

"Yeah?" Noctis asks eagerly.

It's another line he shouldn't cross. It's another line he leaps over with both feet. "Would you like to roleplay your wedding night?"

"Y-- Yeah, that might-- that might be good." Noctis puts down the banana, but takes one of the condoms and slides it into his pocket. Ignis tries not to think about what Noctis is expecting. He tries not to think about whether he's expecting the same thing. What else could he possibly have meant with that offer, though? Ignis has always been a man who thinks through his words carefully before saying them, who considers all the ramifications and only speaks when he's prepared to act accordingly. But somehow all of that goes out the window when he's confronted with the prospect of having Noctis's supple body under his hands, of watching Noctis come apart with pleasure.

Noctis stands up. "Come to bed?" he asks, holding out his hand. Ignis swallows, then takes it and lets Noctis lead him to the bedroom.