myicebox | KITTEN AU

KITTEN AU

Eorzea is a dangerous place. Less dangerous than Eos is now with demons overrunning it, but still dangerous. Ignis has grown used to walking and fighting on both, although it's taken several years since Noctis was pulled into the crystal. One of his primary tasks is recruiting people to help his world, being able to help people travel between it from his powers gained from being a Traveler.

None of that is important at this moment, not when he's shopping the market. The specific city doesn't even matter. All that matters is that there is good spices and ingredients to be had, and he will have them. He's to cook for himself and Felih tonight, and Ignis will only settle with the best--so long as it's not outrageously expensive beyond reason.

The sound of a child whimpering brings him out of his focus between deciding on two different spices. He doesn't look towards the noise at first, simply keeping his ears open. It's followed by the sound of a purr, maybe some attempt at self-soothing. Then the whimper happens simultaneous to the purring, and from the pitch of both, he knows that there are two children.

Two Miqo'te children, one trying to comfort the other in a way only Miqo'te can.

He looks up from his task then over towards the sound. It's hard to spot them at first, through the crowd with both sitting on the ground, hunched over and clinging to each other. He can't tell their sexes from that far away, but he can clearly enough see the state of their clothes and how dirty they are--and that somehow, miraculously, they're obviously not starving. The way that they cling to each other tells him even more--that they seek solace in each other beyond what is normal for that age.

Orphans. They're orphans. In a Miqo'te tribe, they would be well taken care of if they were without a mother. But this is a Hyur settlement, and they're Seekers of the Sun. There's no tribe to take care of them here. No one at all, by the looks of them. He seems to be the only one that's noticed them at all. Both anger and disappointment well up in him, even if he understands that many people are just struggling to survive themselves and just how powerful the bystander effect truly is.

Ignis is not a bystander, and in that moment, he understands perfectly how his priorities have changed.

"I know what you're thinkin'," the shop proprieter's voice cuts into Ignis's thoughts, making him turn to look at him directly again. "But no one's been able to convince 'em to come with."

Knowing that someone's tried is small comfort, Ignis turning his concerned gaze fully onto the man. "They just run away?"

"If you get too close, yeah," the man shrugs. "They'll accept food and water, but if you try to grab them, they bolt."

"Has everyone that has approached them been Hyur?" Ignis asks, and when the man nods, he continues. "Then it's likely they've had a bad experience to ward them away. Miqo'te tribes share in the care of their children, and I can't see them becoming so distrustful without reason. Something must have interrupted their natural inclination to trust adults, even if everyone is Hyur."

Again, the man shrugs. "We know. But they ain't for convincin' to let any of us take 'em in until we can give them back to a tribe. Someone even tried netting them once, but they were too fast. They've been extra skittish ever since"

"They're far too fast for that," Ignis snorts, glancing at the children again. "But they allow you to feed them?"

"Yeah, they do."

"Will they be here in a few hours? Is that where they usually spend the day? What have they been eating?" Ignis knows already what his plan is; he just needs the details to fall into place.

"Yeah, they'll be here then--and tomorrow, too, and the next day after that," the man looks at Ignis in curiosity, then starts to list off what he knows.

Ignis's eyes light up by the time he's finished, "It's as I expected." He points to pre-packaged bags of three different spices. "I'll need one of each."

"Those are featured in Seeker of the Sun recipes, aren't they?" the keep asks.

"Yes, they are," Ignis smiles slyly. "Each tribe has their own individual recipes, but the basic components are the same."

"And we've been only feedin' them Hyur food." Ignis smiles wider when the man catches on quickly.

"Exactly. I have a dear friend who has taught me his tribe's recipes."

"Then it's on the house," the keep adds, amused by Ignis's surprise; he grabs the spices hands them over. "Anything to get those kids off the streets."

"If this doesn't work, then I'll simply bring a Seeker of the Sun with me," Ignis chuckles. "I know one, and he's due to return from his quest later this afternoon. It'll be me or him. They'll be off the streets by tonight."

"Thank the Twelve," the man runs a hand over his face. "We've been worried sick about 'em. They've been climbin' onto someone roof to sleep so that they stay safe at night, but--"

Ignis looks directly into his eyes. "--You needn't worry any longer, just as long as you can keep them here for a few hours until I've cooked the necessary food to convince them. A few hours beyond that if I'm not successful."

The man nods. "I can do that."

"Good," Ignis nods back, taking the ingredients and putting them into his bag. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

And with that, he takes his leave.

Several hours later, Ignis returns with a simple basket. He notes with relief the children are still there, but avoids going up to them immediately, talking to a couple of nearby vendors to see what they've noticed. Now that he knows about the children, he can see many of the adults keeping an eye on them. He's glad he didn't rush to accuse them of not caring; they've done all they could.

Letting the children see him for a few minutes, he eventually turns to make a gentle path towards them, cutting his path short about ten feet in front of them. Ignis senses both sets of eyes on him, suspicious and scared, but he doesn't their gaze. Instead, he keeps his gaze to what he is doing. First, a small picnic blanket that he unfolds slowly instead of flicking it into the air. Then, three sets of wooden plates, two facing the children and one facing himself. Cloth napkins. Wooden cups with handles.

He hears one of the children sniffing the air, then both, and tries not to smile as he picks up a water skin and pours date juice into each of the cups. On the plates go sticks that skewer meat and vegetables--each of the plates opposite having a different meat, as each child had a different favorite from what the merchant told him. And then, also on the plate, a small cookie flavored with pawpaw.

"Miq'abobs!" the younger child, a boy, says to the girl holding him protectively.

She shushes him and Ignis can't help but smile a little. With the plates set, Ignis starts to eat his own food, paying the kittens no obvious mind. They need to come to him, and not the other way around.

A few minutes later, he's rewarded by seeing a small hand dart out to take a kebab just out of the corner of his eye. It isn't long before he sees the other set of skewers and the wooden cups be reached for by two little different sets of hands. He eats his own food quietly, and when he sees that they've nearly finished, he pulls out the earthware bowl holding more skewers out of the basket. It's barely after he's placed it down that two sets of hands are already pulling food out. Their cups are empty, and he refills them. He's pleased that they barely shy away from his movements.

"He smells like Miqo'te," the little boy speaks again, and Ignis sips his date juice pleasurably. "He cooks Miqo'te, too!"

The girl hisses to shush him this time, and Ignis knows she's the one he must convince, as he speaks gently. "His name is Felih. Mine is Ignis."

"I'm Khet!" The girl hisses as the boy just gives up his name, just like that, and Ignis has to stifle a laugh.

Mostly because he feels the girl's eyes boring into him. "He doesn't keep things close to the vest, does he?"

"No," she groans and falls into silence for a while before adding: "I'm Lahni."

Step one, complete. He has names. Their tribal names are absent, but he can ask the girl later, and then Felih can help him find their tribe.

"Are you sister and brother?" Ignis finally turns his eyes upward then, seeing that both children have sat cross-legged across from him.

Lahni nods, and he only meets her eyes for a moment, keeping his gaze politely from locking. Her tail shows she's still untrusting of him, although her brother's posture is already relaxed.

"Felih and I have a spare bed," Ignis offers quietly. "You're free to stay until we can reunite you with your tribe, but I'll leave the choice to you."

He's speaking to the girl, not the boy, who's happily eating his cookie now. Ignis can feel her eyes boring into him, and her tail lashes in annoyance. Not wanting to push it, Ignis goes back to eating his kebab.

By the time he's nearly finished, he notes that the earthware pot is entirely empty, and he pulls off the last piece of meat and offers it to the boy, who takes it with almost no hesitation at all.

"Okay."

Outwardly, Ignis keeps his face neutral when his heart begs for him to dance. Both Miqo'te can hear it, and he doesn't care. It'll only be further proof that he means well.

"We're staying in a house a few short blocks away," Ignis goes on gently, letting himself smile freely now as he points in the direction of the house. "Do you have anything you need me to carry?"

"No," the girl's replies are monosyllabic, and Ignis knows she's on the verge of bolting, but he won't force her and make it come true; she likely does have things she'd like to bring, but doesn't want to expose their hiding spots.

"All right, then; I'll just clean this up first, and we can set out," Ignis starts cleaning up the plates, cups, and napkins, folding the blanket and putting it on top of them.

The boy is simply sitting and watching him, already trusting.

"You've done well to keep your brother safe," Ignis commends the girl, and her tail pauses in its movements, but he doesn't elaborate any further.

He keeps himself surprisingly calm as he stands and the two children start to follow, Lahni holding onto Khet's hand tightly. Ignis smiles to the merchant who told him about the two originally, and the man nods back, looking horribly relieved.

The children follow him all the way back to the house, although he has to slow down and wait for Khet several times, even trying to keep his pace slow. Lahni watches him the entire time, looking for any reason to run. He keeps the house's outside door open and walks beyond it before they cross over the threshhold. If she wants to run, she can--and because he's giving her the option, he knows she won't. Not that she could easily do so with Khet, but she likely plans to claw and bite him into oblivion if he tries anything.

"I can heat up some water for a bath," Ignis offers as he puts the picnic basket on a table. "I can tell--"

"I wanna bath!" Khet exclaims excitedly. "A bath!"

Ignis chuckles warmly, then looks to Lahni, who nods after a small hesitation. "Then a bath you shall have."

He's not all that surprised that Lahni trusts him enough to heat the water for the bath and poor it in, but that she doesn't trust him enough to let him bathe the two of them. Lahni tells him to stay outside and promptly locks him out of the room. Ignis actually laughs a little at it, but he can't really complain.

They have a roof over their heads, finally. That's a start. The rest will simply have to come with time.

He hears the outside door open again--he's been allowed to shut it by now--and he turns around to see Felih, smiling widely in amusement as he stands outside their bedroom door, "You're back early, love."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Felih already knows something's wrong when he steps in, and finds two new scents in his home that aren't familiar to him. It makes him look at Ignis quizzically as he approaches him, going up to greet him with a bunt to his chest, then tip-toeing to be able to tug him down into a kiss.

"I managed to finish our squadron's mission earlier," he murmurs as explanation, before looking around. It didn't smell like any of his retainers, or his lovers, friends, or teammates. It smelled like... children?

Kittens.

"Ignis? What's going on?" he asks, ears perking towards the direction of the bath, where he can hear movement and splashing, the chattering of huntspeak.

Not necessarily that something's wrong, but different. What with Ignis standing outside the door of their bedroom, obviously waiting for something. That's pretty unusual on top of the noises. He bends down when pulled and returns the kiss, smiling into Felih's lips; he expected Felih to sniff out the change rather quickly, and he's not disappointed.

"Their names are Lahni and Khet," he replies with a fond smile. "She's five or six, I believe, and Khet's barely more than a toddler. Siblings." His expression falls a bit. "Orphans, as far as I can tell."

Felih's ears shoot up the moment Ignis begins talking, only for them to pin back the moment Ignis says orphans.

"Oh," he murmurs quietly, heart settling in a strange place in his chest. "I... I see. So you- ah. Alright," he murmurs, trying to calm his mind, and the way it's going a million malms an hour now. Children- children. They're looking after orphaned children- are they going to adopt them? Are they going to be parents? They might still have family somewhere searching for them...

"Tell me everything you know," Felih manages to say, concern on his face.

Ignis puts his arms around Felih reassuringly when he sees it's bothering him, as it really should. Felih reacts more normally to scenarios like this compared to Ignis. Years ago, Ignis noticed his emotions become muted in situations like this, and he knows it's the case now--he's focused on the children and the immediate future rather than feeling it. That doesn't stop him from reaching out when others need it.

The racing thoughts that have gone through Felih's mind have scarcely been touched by Ignis's.

He sighs and shakes his head, his expression growing sad. "Not much. They appeared over a month ago according to the merchants I spoke with. People tried to take them in, but they'd run away, so they had to settle with only feeding them. Someone said they had been sleeping on the roof. I managed to convince them with the recipes you taught me and using the proper body language."

Ignis smiles faintly. "And I told them about you after they smelled you on me."

Edited (SMELL IS IMPORTANT) 2018-12-16 05:39 (UTC)

Felih smiles weakly then. "I see. So they came... after they smelled me. They're Seekers, then? They must have a tribe looking for them. I can help them find it..." he murmurs. "Though, I doubt they know how to use Aetherytes at their age- they're too young, their aether not developed. We'll have to take them on a trip by normal means to get them home..."

He cuddles a little closer, burying his face into his chest. "So they're bathing, I'm guessing. That ought to help. We do like to keep clean," he murmurs, before leaning on him more.

"I'll... what to do...? I should prepare clean clothes..."

The weight of Felih's words and body make this situation more emotionally real. Ignis wraps an arm a bit tighter around him, had on his hip. His other hand starts stroking Felih's hair as he quietly listens and considers.

"They're Seekers," Ignis knows that much for certain. "That's all I know. And that the girl's trust in adults has been destroyed; she was ready to attack me if I made any dangerous moves. She may know of her tribe, but she keeps her lips sealed...."

Now that the moments of crisis are over and with Felih in his arms, Ignis is starting to feel the weight of the fates of two small children on their shoulders, "And as you guessed—they are bathing. I knew it would help them. Their current clothes are filthy and will need mending if they're salvageable. So clean clothes and then a nest to sleep are what they need most now that they've had food and a bath. They haven't slept well in quite some time."

"Where are their clothes? I can wash them- mend them. Mayhaps I'll recognize the style," Felih murmurs, before biting his lip. "I can try to make some new clothes for them, but I'll need time. I can- I'll call my retainers. They'll help me gather supplies from my stores, and I can get a few different sets made so they won't go wanting for clothing. For now, though, I can at least tend to their current attire and prepare them simple nightgowns to sleep in."

Luckily, sewing up child-sized nightgowns would not be a difficult task, not with Felih's level of expertise.

"And I must prepare them a nest..."

"Their clothe are in the room, which Lahni has locked," Ignis smiles weakly again, only speaking after Felih is finished. "Trust only goes so far."

"I can help with the clothes, but yes, nightgowns for now," Ignis kisses Felih's hair. "What do you need to make a nest? I can start gathering things in the house, but you'll have to send your retainers for anything else. The children will be expecting me to still be here when they're done."

The emotions of what happened still haven't hit, planning keeping them away.

Felih hums. "I see... well. I'll work on new clothes for now, then. I can make them rather quickly, and- ah... I'll call Vehr'to. He'll know what to fetch, and... we'll need cushions, pillows, blankets- all in the linens closet. And a quilt too, to be safe. There will be much to prepare for them..."

He's cuddling up to his mate, nuzzling into his chest. "I can handle it, love. You wait here for them, and I'll get to work. I don't want them feeling abandoned, alright?" he says it firmly, giving his lover a pleading look.

Ignis almost argues against it, but that look makes him understand. Even being in a different part of the house would be too much. That could lead to them fearing abandonment for even a moment, and that's simply a moment too long.

"Yes, you're entirely right," Ignis acquiesces. "We will make sure they never have to feel that way ever again."

Felih smiles softly when Ignis agrees, and he pulls him down into another kiss, gentle and sweet.

"Thank you, darling," he murmurs. "I'll get to work right away- make sure they have everything they need, alright? I'm going to work as quick as I can." With that, he darts off to their linens closet, gathering as much material as he can at once and carrying it into a spare bedroom to begin nesting and preparing, sewing and working.

He's going to make sure these kits are well cared for until their home is found.

There's a look of love and affection in Ignis's eyes when they part from the kiss. Felih is brilliant in ways he isn't. He alwasy sees things that Ignis cannot, especially when it comes to love.

"And thank you," Ignis replies back. "I will meet their every need."

Then Felih rushes off and loads up his arms with fabrics, and Ignis has to chuckle. Felih looks ridiculous. But it comes with the territory of providing for children, he supposes.

Ignis turns his focus in towards the locked room once more, listening at the sounds of the children talking excitedly. More the boy than the girl, who is still wary. But there's no sounds of splashing now, and the boy is chattering about how fluffy his towel is. Ah, they're drying off.

He knocks on the door, "Look in the dresser on the right for some shirts of mine in the middle drawer. You can wear those for the time being until we've had a chance to wash and patch your clothes. You should find something in the left's upper drawer that will... have to do for smallclothes for now."

Despite otherwise 'adapting' to the world--Ignis didn't even wear his hair up, saying that the hair gel would pollute the world without there bein proper sanitation--he refused to wear anything but his normal boxer briefs. They were supportive! So it would be Felih's smallclothes they would have to wear. Which would take a bit of inventfulness, but it'd be better than nothing.

"New clothes, new clothes!" Khet exclaims, and Ignis can actually hear him run to the dresser. "Come on, La!"

Oh, a pet name.

"I'm coming...." Lahni follows silently, and Ignis assumes that she's the one opening the drawer.

He stands to the side of the door and listens to them chatter about the clothes they choose. They've found the long sleeved shirts, Lahni choosing one that was light brown, and Khet choosing one that was light blue. Both silk. Ignis knows all this because Khet will literally not stop talking about literally everything they're doing.

They emerge a few minutes later, looking ridiculous in the shirts, but clean. Ignis smells the unmistakeable aroma of wet Miqo'te on them. Wet and clean.

Khet is smiling and even Lahni seems more relaxed, her hands on her brother's shoulders to steer him. "Thank you."

Her first thank you towards him. Ignis tries not to smile too much, not wanting to let his ecstatic feeling come through. They're starting to trust him.

"You're welcome," Ignis glances over towards the spare bedroom. "Felih's returned, although your nose likely nose that already."

Lahni just stares at him, not ready to laugh at such a stupid pun, "I want to see him."

"I wanna see him!" Khet excitedly repeats.

Ignis opens his mouth to argue that Felih is busy, but Lahni silences him with a look, walks around her brother, takes her brothers hand, and goes towards the spare bedroom. Ignis sighs and shakes his head. Well, they'll need measured anyway.

She doesn't even bother to knock on the door, simply turning the handle and pushing it open. Her eyes widen, her hand roots to the door handle. In that moment, Ignis understands she finally believes everything he's said as true.

Excitedly, Khet breaks free from her weak grasp and runs over to see what Felih is doing, "Hi, hi!"

But he stops just short and looks back in confusion at Lahni starts crying without fanfare, arms falling motionless to her sides as she wails.

At that moment, Ignis's heart both breaks and swells. Finally, at long last. She no longer has to be brave on her own.

Felih, master weaver, was not without materials and speed. With both arcanima at his fingertips and years of skill in hand, he was at least able to sew a few nightgowns, sets of house clothes, and undergarments from the various rolls of different cloth he'd woven over the years. With all the garments now folded nearly on one of the tables, he was just finishing up polishing the nest.

His ears perk up when the kittens finally arrive, and he smiles at them, a small purr kicking up in his chest as he starts to chitter, click, and chirp in the Miqo'te tongue. He takes Khet in his arms when the kit approaches, smiling at the little toddler that hardly is getting his words together, his steps.

Though Khet is young, the Miqo'te tongue comes much more easily than Eorzean common, and the kitten chirps and mews and chitters back at him, much more meek and shy now that he's actually up close and being held. Khet purrs nonetheless, a tiny sound, and he rests his head on Felih's shoulder.

But Lahni begins to cry not long after, and Felih's ears droop as he holds out his other arm.

"Oh, kitten," he murmurs. "Here, darling. You're going to be alright, I promise."

Lahni is stubborn and stays put as she wails, the little girl so very young, so small, hardly five summers, but after a few more chirps and clicks from Felih, she hiccups and sobs as she rubs at her eyes and slowly pads over to him, letting her face thump into his chest as she cried.

Felih hugs the two kittens close, and Khet seems baffled by his sister crying, but nonetheless distressed- and so, he starts to well up and sniffle, but Felih gently nuzzles and hushes him with little murmurs and trills, more cuddling.

Felih is a Seeker. A Miqo'te. The scent is clear and his tongue is understandable. His fluffy tail has coiled around them, and is keeping them warm and safe, like their mama's used to.

"I'm Felih of the Vulture," he murmurs gently. "What are your names?"

"He's Khet, a-and, I'm Lahni," Lahni manages to hiccup. "O-Of the, the Drake."

"U'khet, and U'lahni, then. You're safe here, darlings. We'll get you home soon, I promise," he murmurs. "I've prepared you clean clothes, and a nest, and I'll make sure you're never hungry. You'll always have a hot bath ready, and you won't have to hide from scary strangers or beasts any longer. Alright?"

The kits nod and cuddle, Lahni still hiccuping and whimpering, and Felih gently nuzzles them each behind an ear, before looking to Ignis.

"Darling, come here," he calls softly, before looking to the kittens once more. "I see Ignis brought you. He's my mate- and he's very nice, I promise. He's a very good cook, and he's very strong. He'll protect you, too, so don't be scared."

Hearing Felih chirp and chitter and click at the children and hearing Khet respond in turn while his sister eventually joins them brings Ignis relief, even if he can understand almost not a word of what is being said. When he's certain that Felih has them both, he finally moves to look into the room, standing in the door frame.

He feels the emotion of the moment as Felih brings them into his embrace--and it hurts how comforted the children are by his arms and tail. Not because they didn't seek comfort from Ignis, but because they need comfort to that extent at all. For so long, they've been afraid.

It takes no moment at all to get Lahni to divulge their names and tribe, and Ignis smirks slightly. He had been right to mention Felih. Instantly, simply by being a Miqo'te, he's won them over.

So focused on watching this first interaction, Ignis isn't even aware of the clothing, doesn't even think of how Felih's hands weren't full. All he notices is the relief and the fact his vision's gone a little blurry.

He blinks back the tears when Felih calls out to him, and he walks over to them and automatically goes to one knee to make himself more Lahni's height, who looks up at him, sniffling.

"Thank you for trusting me," Ignis states softly. "... My apologies for calling him friend instead of mate. I didn't think you would believe me otherwise."

Lahni sniffs. "I knew. You smelled like mama when she got Khet put in her belly"

"... O-Oh," Ignis feels his cheeks heat, looking thoroughly shocked, realizing that young Miqo'te probably have an even better sense of smell than adults. "I... uh...."

Khet rests his head back down on Felih's shoulder; it seems like things are okay.

Felih grins and beams at his mate when Ignis blushes a bright red, upon Lahni's comment about her mother.

"Keen nose, darling. You'll make a fine huntress," Felih praises gently, and Lahni puffs up a little, cheering up just a little. Though she's still sniffling and a little weepy, she seems to feel better knowing that they're in the care of another Seeker. Khet is looking exhausted, the small toddler already nodding off on Felih's shoulder, and Felih smiles before gently setting him down in the nest he made.

"Here. This will be your nest, and I've made you clean nightgowns. If you change into them, I can clean the clothes you're wearing now. Okay?" he offers, and helps Khet undress and change, the tiny kit sleepily lifting his arms to be changed.

Lahni is a little more independent, if clumsy, but changes with less fuss now that she feels a bit better. She's still sniffling, but as soon as she's in clean, fresh clothes, she flops into the nest beside her brother and hugs a cushion, before burrowing under some blankets.

The sight makes Felih smile, seeing the kittens nestling and taking well to their new dwelling, and he looks at Ignis and kisses him softly. "Thank you, darling. For bringing them. They'll be safe here, and we can help them get home. I'll write letters to the Drake."

Khet is already unconscious, but Lahni is still fighting her exhaustion.

"Are you gonna stay?" she asks.

"Don't worry. We'll be right in the next room, or in the house. We won't leave without telling you, alright?" he reassures, gently petting her ears.

"Mmkay..." came the sleepy mumble.

"And in the morning, I'll have breakfast ready. It'll be alright. Just rest for now, kitten."

He gently pet and soothed her with soft chirps in her own tongue, and eventually, Lahni too fell asleep. Once he was certain they were properly resting, he cuddled up to his mate once more, purring softly himself.

"Thank the Twelve you got them to come."

In the end, all Ignis can do is sigh at the smile, trying to control his embarrassment. The worst part about Miqo'te is that literally every Miqo'te can tell that he's Felih's mate after a certain age. It's caused a lot of teasing, and he still goes red every time.

Ignis sees the clothes when Felih mentions getting them undressed from Ignis's shirts (really, they were just temporary to prevent the kids from putting on those dirty clothes again). He takes a moment to marvel at how quickly Felih works, but only a moment, getting one bigger and one smaller nightshirt. He gives them over to Felih and just sits, looking away from the children as they change.

He's never helped children change before, and the idea of seeing them naked makes him feel so awkward. Finding out that Lahni could bathe them both had been such an incredible belief. He's not their father. They're not family. But Felih is used to helping with kits, and Ignis is happy for that.

When they're obviously done, Ignis glances back and watches the kittens get situated with a soft smile. Their lives are already far better than they had been only a few hours previous. He turns when he feels Felih closer, and blinks in surprise at the kiss.

But he returns it all the same and smiles after, even as part of him notes that letters take a long time to arrive anywhere distant. "They brought themselves. I only convinced them to come."

Then he goes silent again as Felih reassures Lahni to sleep, tucking Khet into the blankets. Not even a squirm. How tired the little boy is.

Finally, they're both asleep, and Ignis has to sit back on the edge of the nest and watch them. The sleep is already becoming deep, he can tell. A sleep of exhaustion, of finally being safe.

Ignis wraps an arm around Felih's waist, kissing at Felih's hair, amazed at the peace washing over him. "Don't thank them. Thank yourself. If you hadn't taught me those recipes and more about your culture, I never could have convinced them."

He sighs in relief, looking back at the small, sleeping forms. "I'll be able to tell the merchants they're safe at last, and they needn't worry about the children any longer."

Felih's already making plans to take the dirty clothes they'd been wearing and wash them thoroughly, mend them, make them ready and fit to wear again. It will help the kits to still have something of their own to wear, something from their tribe. And he must pen a letter- the Moogles will deliver it soon enough.

Felih's purring as he watches over the kittens. It's that parental instinct kicking in hard, and seeing them peacefully sleeping in the nest he'd prepared makes his heart feel warm and soothed. It helps that he has his mate to snuggle up to, his Elezen lover that he's bonded so much with. He tilts his head into the kiss to his hair, cuddling against his beloved, before nuzzling along his jaw.

"I'm glad that they were coaxed by familiar food... kittens are picky eaters, but they know food from home without a doubt. And they'll be safe," he murmurs, kissing Ignis on the collarbone. "Thank the Twelve we're already staying here in Ul'dah. The trip won't be so long, this way... I can't imagine how rough their journey would've been if we'd found them at home proper in Limsa."

Ignis will help with it. He's not as skilled at making new clothes, but he's certainly skilled at mending torn ones. Being around Noctis helped with that.

Felih's purr soothes Ignis, and that surprises him a little--he didn't realize he was so tense and worried. He closes his eyes at the nuzzling. It feels... peaceful for the moment. Much quieter.

"I remembered what the kittens liked in your tribe and made that," Ignis wraps his arm a bit tighter around Felih's waist. "It's good indeed that we are. I've always had a hard time understanding children, and I tend to bore them."

The admission makes Felih's heart melt, and he leans more into him, kissing his cheek once more. "That meal must have meant the world to them. Thank you, darling," he murmurs. "And you were kind, and welcoming, and honest with them. "Twas all they needed to trust you- plus my scent on you likely helped," he teases playfully.

"But until my missive makes it to the Drake, we'll take good care of them, love. And it's thanks to your diligence that they're safe now."

Ignis blushes a bit at the praise; it feels really, really good that he was able to do that. Well, there's a second reason he's a bit embarrassed, too.

"You're welcome--and you made it possible. And I can assure you I'll do whatever is necessary to keep them happy and safe until they can be reunited with their tribe," Ignis strokes his hand down Felih's back. "... also, the girl Did make a comment on your scent. She could tell we...." He cuts himself off with a feigned cough.

Felih laughs then, shaking his head. "Oh, calm down, darling. You always get so flustered when you remember how others can smell us," he chirps, teasing him and kissing his cheek.

"The fact we're mated isn't a secret. It's like how the scents of my other lovers lingers on me as well, if I spend enough time with them. I'm pretty sure Rhok's scent is permanently on my skin," he chirps with more heat rising to his cheeks. "Among the Miqo'te, such things are everyday. Even children know what mateship is- even if they don't know the sexual bits, of course, but they know that two people who love each other often smell like each other."

He keeps his voice soft and low all the while, not wanting to wake the cuddling kits in the nest before them.

"I can't help it... People can smell when we have sex." Ignis is not embarrassed about being together--not at all, in fact--but it still seems so indecent to go around parading the fact they're having quite a lot of sex. "But since it convinced them I was safe, I can never complain again."

He kisses Felih gently again, then glances to the kits, keeping his voice low. "Perhaps we should move to another room...."

Felih laughs a little more, quietly so as not to wake the kits, but then shakes his head and kisses his mate's cheek.

"Yes, let's. We need a bit of privacy... to bed, then," he purrs, stretching and slowly standing, tugging his mate to his feet and slowly leading him out of the kittens' room, letting the poor darlings rest.

"You're so shy about us being mates, darling. Is it so surprising? It's not as if it's a scandal to other Miqo'te that mates are... well, mating."

Ah, the kiss soothes his wounded pride at being laughed at--although truthfully it wasn't wounded at all. Ignis follows obediently when he's pulled, letting Felih lead him.

"It's not that... I am happy to tell the world we're mates," Ignis pushes up his glasses in a nervous habit--except he doesn't have those anymore, so he just covers it up by rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Sex is just so... private. We're a reserved people. To think we're broadcasting what we do in private so openly--it's just awkward."

"Hah. If it bothers you so much, then mayhaps you should bathe every time we finish mating," Felih purrs playfully, tail swishing behind him as he tugs his lover out of the kits' room and into their own, where they can cuddle and kiss as they please.

"That'll wash off the sex scent, at least."

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SORRY FOR THE DELAY AIUHSAIFUA

IT HAPPENS OPSUDIFOIODY

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/quietly AUs glasses to no longer be on his face

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