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[Her skin certainly is flushed and he likes what that implies. It goes nicely with her low, breathy voice and her soft lips that he enjoys tasting.]

As I told her, I cannot say that I won't do anything to hurt you. That's impossible and disingenuous. What I can offer is that I will try my utmost to take your feelings into account when I do things.

[She knows that he has a duty and he loves that she's respected that until now, but if push comes to shove.... He's not sure who he would be more pressed to protect.]

You know your friend better than I, so I will let you deal with her how you will. [Another soft kiss to soothe the last of her ruffled feathers.] However, you needn't worry that she has scared me away. If anything, I was worried about how you would react.

Prompto is sure that I can take her.

[ It's quite clear that she would be very interested in more of the kissing situation if it wasn't important for the two of them to actually talk - but perhaps, once they're done talking... ]

Neither of us can promise that. Friendships are difficult enough without... Other things being involved as well. I know how hard it is to keep everyone happy in your life. It's just not possible.

[ One day, she is going to go back to the Drabwurld, or back to her home world, and either way she is going to be losing a lot of people she cares about. She knows that she couldn't pick Ignis over her own duty, no more than she imagines he would pick her over his. ]

I'll speak to her. I'm not - it's not a bad thing, and I know that. It's just not good, either. [ She's independent enough that she will absolutely stick up for herself - even if Ignis inspires her softness. ] Why would you worry about how I would react? You have nothing to worry about, Ignis.

[It certainly is becoming a favorite past time, kissing. Perhaps, one day, it might even be more, but for now it's enough.]

It is not my job to keep everyone happy. Only safe. I see it as an honor, however, that I've been gifted the opportunity to see that your happiness can be determined by my actions nonetheless.

[And even if they do go back, he knows that they have their time together to concentrate on. Noctis' overall happiness is reliant on Lunafreya.]

Because I don't want to worry you, Hermione. Your friend obviously cares for you a great deal and you care for her as well, or you wouldn't have gone to talk to her in the first place. [He reaches out to touch her cheek, to reassure her a little bit.] I can't help but like someone who would go to such extremes to make sure that you're happy.

[ It's more than enough for Hermione, with her limited experience. It's nice, kissing someone she knows cares for her genuinely, without some kind of pretence about it. ]

You don't have to worry - my entire happiness isn't on your shoulders, Ignis. You contribute, but you're not the sole provider. That's not a healthy situation for anyone to be in, really.

[ The problem is she can't exactly say that she hasn't been in that situation. Her messy relationships with Gilgamesh and Dorian had been twisted and tangled like that; Dorian had been mad and lost in his own failings and twisted views and she had faith in him. She had been there to give him a good kind of happiness and while she had never thought of it as a burden... Well.

It's probably for the best she doesn't mention Gilgamesh. ]

She does care about me, and she's doing her best. I appreciate that, I really do. [ She leans into the touch, closing her eyes and breathing out. ] I'm glad I have people in my life that want me to be happy.

It might not be entirely my responsibility, Hermione, but it is something that I take serious. Your well-being and happiness seems to be a contributing factor to my own for all intents and purposes. So there is that to consider as well.

[Hermione deserves to be happy and to be spoiled and petted and cossetted and fed wonderful things. And Ignis wants to provide that to her, but he doesn't want to smother her either, because he understands just how independent she can be.]

Don't be too hard on her, is all that I'm saying. I can understand her point of view all too well.

I want to make you happy too, Ignis. It’s importsnt to me - it’s important that I do my best to make sure the people I care about are okay, as much as I can. I think I’ve made it quite clear that you’re absolutely one of those people.

[ She’s not entirely sure what she does and doesn’t deserve anymore, but she’s doing her best to feel like she’s allowed to find her happiness again. It’s been a long journey to get to where she is now and she recognised that. ]

I’ll be nice to her, I swear. [ Smiling, she squeezes Ignis’ hand. ] Is that what was really on your mind?

Hm, you might have made that point a time or two.

[How can he not help lighten her mood? This is an important topic, certain, but it doesn't need to be completely morose either.]

It's not all that's been on my mind, not entirely. I wished to spend time with you, of course, but even though you were happy to see me down on the planet, I could tell that you've been anxious about things as they stand.

What can I do to relieve that for you?

I try to make it clear.

[ They're trying to figure things out. It doesn't necessarily have to be easy; it just has to be done. It's part of trying to figure out what is happening between them. It would be nice, she thinks, to have some sort of boundary, some kind of understanding. ]

I... Well. [ She sighs, bowing her head. ] I'd just like to know where we stand. How we stand, with each other.

I would like to know where we stand as well, but I cannot answer for you. And you cannot answer for me.

[He closes his eyes, sighing heavily as he attempts to gather his thoughts. Something tells him that if he didn't care for her as much as he did that this sort of conversation might be easier. But then it would also be unnecessary.]

I would like to... be with you. Dating is a possibility, but I'm not sure that I would be any good at any informal association. I'm what Noctis would like to say as picky. I prefer precise, but it ends up being the same thing at the end of the day.

Which is why we're talking about what we want now, isn't it?

[ Shifting, Hermione leans over, taking his hands and holding them between her own. They rest there for a moment before she breathes out. ]

I want to be with you as well. I don't want anything... I mean, I don't think being informal would work for me. [ She holds onto his hands, bowing her head. ] If... If you want me, Ignis, I'm here. We can be formal about it.

Honestly, not talking about things before now is why we're both so unsure right now, I think.

[He keeps his hands in hers, unsure what more he can do. He is really not that great at this, but he wants her. And she's worth it.]

I am here because I want to be with you, because I want you. Spending time with you is a great source of joy for me.

[It's all so difficult to word this without sounding idiotic. He can face down Ardyn Izunia, fight Astrals, take down MTs, old god-like creatures. And yet.... he cannot ask a woman to date him.]

Six take me. I am as bad as Prompto, without the awkwardness that makes him endearing. Hermione, I would like to take you out on a date. Are you interested in joining me?

It's not entirely our own fault. We were separated by a cannibalistic planet, after all.

[ But she holds on to him, letting her fingers brush, gently, before she breathes out. ]

Ignis... [ Moving, she pushes herself up to her feet, leaning down to press a soft kiss against his mouth. He's incredibly charming and he has so little idea of it - of how much he captivates her, how much she wants to tell him how good and wonderful he is, how her heart warms just being beside him.

It's an old, nostalgic feeling, and she embraces it. ]

I am very interested in joining you, Ignis. I'd love to go on a date. [ Carefully, Hermione kisses him again. ] I want to be with you as well.

And how often did we speak while separated?

[Often enough. He'd insisted on it, of course.

But anything else he'd be inclined to say is cut off by the kiss she gives him, and he reaches up to sort of pull her down beside him. When she is seated again, he rests his forehead against her, taking comfort in the feel of her skin.]

I know a relatively decent establishment. If you're free this evening.

[And that, that right there, is saying a lot.]

There are some things you can't talk about on the phone, Ignis.

[ She lets herself be moved down beside him, though, lifting her hand to brush her fingers over the side of his neck and around so she can leave them there. It's an anchor, to hold her in place as she tilts her head towards him gently. ]

I'm free for you. [ She smiles, shifting closer, just a little. She wants to get as close as she possibly can. ] Just tell me where and when.

Yes, that is true.

[He remembers one conversation he had to have not that long ago that had to be done in person. One he did not enjoy.

But, this one, he enjoys very much.]

This evening, I would like to take you out. I know that it is late, but I would like to do something for your birthday. Quite a few things have happened since then, but I have not forgotten that we were on Lyuku at the time.

I'm glad we had this conversation in person.

[ Gently, she leans forward, tilting her head up so that she can leave a kiss on his forehead.

She can't stop touching him, and it leaves her stomach erupting in butterflies. It's been a long time since she felt anything like this, and Ignis is inspiring a lot inside of her. ]

It doesn't have to be for my birthday, but... [ She smiles, her cheeks red. ] I'd like that.

As am I. This is definitely the sort of conversation that we should be having face-to-face.

[He's never been this intimate with anyone in his life and yet, every time she touches him, he is so happy. No matter what sort of touch it is, he can't help but smile. He's not sure how he'd describe it to anyone else, but he's also never felt this way about anyone before.

But he also wants to touch her, so he does. A caress to her face, holding her hand, soft almost-kisses to tease them both.]

I wanted to do more that day. It was a rather sad showing.

[Despite it being one of the last times he got to see her face.]

Was it worth the wait, then?

[ It's a soft question, one that she hopes has a positive answer. Each touch feels lovely, remarkable, even, and she lets herself indulge in the touching, lets her fingers brush over his skin, drinking him in. Each touch he gives her feels all the more powerful with the knowledge that he uses touch to see, now, and it has her cheeks flushing.

The almost-kisses are wonderful, and she knows that her face will end up being sore from the smiling she's been doing. ]

You came and gave me something to eat. That was more than enough, Ignis.

Definitely. But any time spend with you is worth it.

[As if he's going to say that she isn't worth the time. He loves every moment with her. The only regret he has is how long it took him to come to terms with his own emotions. And any hurt he might have caused her during that time.

However, it seems as if she doesn't hold that against him. And he can feel her smile on her face.]

Perhaps for you, but I wish to do more than that.

Ignis.

[ It's flattering, that's what it is, and Hermione can feel it prickling under her skin as she gets redder and redder. He doesn't need to keep telling her how appreciated and wanted she is, not really, but she welcomes it all the same; it's been some time since she felt anything like it.

Carefully, she wraps her arms around him, relaxing. ]

Alright. I won't complain, then.

ic contact.

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