For all that Noctis has started to find and accept the romantic in himself, this - especially coming from Ignis - is far beyond what he was prepared for. His eyes flutter half-closed as those lips continue their deliberate work, but blink fully open again a moment later.
"...far out of your reach? Why would you think that?"
Noctis isn't sure exactly how to feel about Ignis' words. On the one hand, he's never liked feeling like people were putting him on some pedestal or acting like his attention was something inherently desirable to such a degree. On the other...
...on the other, this is Ignis, who never does anything by half-measures or for appearances alone. Who never panders or acts out of shallow motivations. When Ignis says this, he truly means it, and that's...well, it's a warm, fulfilling feeling, but it's also scary, in a way. Noctis wants them to be equals in this, he doesn't want to unwittingly take advantage of Iggy's unwavering dedication and high opinion of him. Then again, he knows Ignis does enjoy it and doesn't shy away from saying so if he thinks Noctis can do better at something, so maybe it will be okay. Maybe Noctis can learn to enjoy this, too.
So he tries to focus on the sensations instead, the way their fingers interlace, the joy bubbling up in his heart at the thought that Ignis really does feel the same way. Tries to put his worries out of his mind for once and just exist in the moment.
And when he does, he finds himself mesmerized by what Ignis is doing. Soft, slow, careful attention of a kind Noctis has never experienced before. The feeling of it is making his heart beat faster.
His free hand comes up to cup Ignis' cheek as he holds his gaze steady. "Then I've got to thank you, too. You don't know how...how much this means to me."
no subject
"...far out of your reach? Why would you think that?"
Noctis isn't sure exactly how to feel about Ignis' words. On the one hand, he's never liked feeling like people were putting him on some pedestal or acting like his attention was something inherently desirable to such a degree. On the other...
...on the other, this is Ignis, who never does anything by half-measures or for appearances alone. Who never panders or acts out of shallow motivations. When Ignis says this, he truly means it, and that's...well, it's a warm, fulfilling feeling, but it's also scary, in a way. Noctis wants them to be equals in this, he doesn't want to unwittingly take advantage of Iggy's unwavering dedication and high opinion of him. Then again, he knows Ignis does enjoy it and doesn't shy away from saying so if he thinks Noctis can do better at something, so maybe it will be okay. Maybe Noctis can learn to enjoy this, too.
So he tries to focus on the sensations instead, the way their fingers interlace, the joy bubbling up in his heart at the thought that Ignis really does feel the same way. Tries to put his worries out of his mind for once and just exist in the moment.
And when he does, he finds himself mesmerized by what Ignis is doing. Soft, slow, careful attention of a kind Noctis has never experienced before. The feeling of it is making his heart beat faster.
His free hand comes up to cup Ignis' cheek as he holds his gaze steady. "Then I've got to thank you, too. You don't know how...how much this means to me."