In some ways, at least a decent portion of what Gladio is saying should be satisfactory. Ignis knows this. He'd undertaken strict training to think on things in a clear manner like this, regardless of his own emotions, because his own emotions could potentially put Noct in danger. He doesn't think he's perfect, yet, but he'd thought he could do enough that he could stay calm and let the truth of a matter settle him or, if not that, then at least be calm long enough to recuse himself from any other eye until there was enough of him to shove his thoughts out of the way.
He has the truth of the matter, what he must at least assume is the truth of the matter, right here.
Gladio said that Noctis approached him. That's good. Gladio made his choice based on what Noctis wanted, what would be one of the few things to make him happy. That's good. Apparently this is all something some version of him long ago spoke with Gladio about, so it's not as though Gladio was doing anything without considering him, just not him, which he can't blame him for ass this is nothing anyone could expect. That's good.
Noctis has changed so much. Even in the small amount of time he's spent with him here in this place, Ignis can tell. It's incredible. It was literally only the other week where they were struggling against one another, neither knowing how to make the other understand, with Noct only having just made even an attempt at cooking. Ignis showed him the other day how to clean a pan instead of just tossing it in the trash from a cooking mistake. This Noct is willing to look him in the eye, and thank him, and hug him for the first time in what's been literal years instead of both of them walking on eggshells constantly, tension itching underneath his skin with no clear solution in sight. Ignis doesn't doubt that he's approached the idea of this relationship with care, and thought.
That's good.
So why doesn't he feel satisfied?
Why does this somehow feel worse than when he'd woken up, and felt sure that an enemy of the state had kidnapped him to ruin things for Noct?
Ignis looks away - smooth, average speed, not jerked away at all. "I never questioned your devotion," he says, voice still quiet. "Clearly you've done your due diligence, so there's nothing for me to question at all."
...But he won't say a word more until they've reached Noctis's loft.
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He has the truth of the matter, what he must at least assume is the truth of the matter, right here.
Gladio said that Noctis approached him. That's good. Gladio made his choice based on what Noctis wanted, what would be one of the few things to make him happy. That's good. Apparently this is all something some version of him long ago spoke with Gladio about, so it's not as though Gladio was doing anything without considering him, just not him, which he can't blame him for ass this is nothing anyone could expect. That's good.
Noctis has changed so much. Even in the small amount of time he's spent with him here in this place, Ignis can tell. It's incredible. It was literally only the other week where they were struggling against one another, neither knowing how to make the other understand, with Noct only having just made even an attempt at cooking. Ignis showed him the other day how to clean a pan instead of just tossing it in the trash from a cooking mistake. This Noct is willing to look him in the eye, and thank him, and hug him for the first time in what's been literal years instead of both of them walking on eggshells constantly, tension itching underneath his skin with no clear solution in sight. Ignis doesn't doubt that he's approached the idea of this relationship with care, and thought.
That's good.
So why doesn't he feel satisfied?
Why does this somehow feel worse than when he'd woken up, and felt sure that an enemy of the state had kidnapped him to ruin things for Noct?
Ignis looks away - smooth, average speed, not jerked away at all. "I never questioned your devotion," he says, voice still quiet. "Clearly you've done your due diligence, so there's nothing for me to question at all."
...But he won't say a word more until they've reached Noctis's loft.