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Day 28: Renewal
“Noct, buddy!”
“Hey, Princess.”
“Darling.”
Noctis shifts, coming out of a deep slumber, like wading through a thick swamp. His brain sputters to consciousness, and he manages to crack open an eye. There’s a heavy weight on his chest, and through sleep-crusted vision he can see Prompto straddling his waist, leaning down on strong forearms so that his face is inches from Noct’s own. He grunts. “Time is it,” he asks. Noctis cranes his head up to see Gladiolus and Ignis standing by his bedside. They look like they’re wearing...suits?
“It’s a quarter past ten in the morning,” Ignis says, reaching out to brush Noct’s bangs from his forehead.
“Whatchu all dressed for,” he yawns.
“Uh, Eos to King Noctis, come in King Noctis...our vowel renewal ceremony is today?”
Noct’s eyes fly open and he bolts upright, making Prompto scoot back. “Oh shit. That’s today?” He blinks sleepily at Prompto, taking his broad shoulders and thick chest, which are wrapped in a crisp white shirt, a black vest, and a golden bowtie. “You look so hot.” He lazily reaches to scratch at Prompto’s goatee, beaming.
Prompto still blushes like he did at sixteen when they shared their first kiss. “And you look like a zombie.”
Noctis laughs. “That’s fair.” He turns to his other two husbands, and physically clutches at his chest. “Gods, not the both of you, too. I can’t handle this.”
“Can’t cancel the ceremony, so if I have to throw your ass in the shower myself, I will,” Gladiolus purrs, trailing fingers down Noct’s bare neck.
“I’ll go if you join me,” he offers.
“Nice try, your Majesty. I’m already wrapped in this stuffy clown suit, so you better hurry up.” As if to make his dramatic point, Gladio tugs at the collar and at his red bowtie.
“You’re so dramatic,” Ignis sighs.
Prompto scrambles to the floor and Ignis reaches for Noct’s hand, dragging the king to his feet. Noctis tumbles into Ignis’ crisp purple button-up; he inhales Ignis’ musky floral cologne, and breathes deep.
“What time is the ceremony?” he mumbles, nuzzling between Ignis’ pecs.
“Half past twelve, darling.” Ignis kisses Noct’s hair. “Don’t forget to shave.”
“It’s not public, is it?”
“It’s very private, love. Just us, Iris, a few of our Kingsglaive, and our public relations staff, for pictures and write-ups for the papers.”
“Hnnnn, good.” Noctis steps back from Ignis, stretching. “It’s Saturday, isn’t it?”
“You bet!” Prompto says brightly, clasping a hand on Noct’s shoulder.
Noctis grins. “That means I can go fishing afterwards.”
“Oh good grief— go,” Gladiolus laughs. “We don’t want to keep the clergy waitin’.”
Noctis wobbles to their big shared bathroom, still trying to wake up. He eyes the big garment bag that’s already been left on a hook on the back of the door, and smiles.
How has it been ten years already?
_____
“Welcome, friends and loved ones, to our ceremony today,” the old priest begins. “We are gathered here to renew the vows of matrimony between these four men. With the Astrals’ blessings, I hereby call this ceremony to order.” He clears his throat, which turns into a deep, pleghmy cough.
Prompto leans into Noctis, and whispers; “If we’re not careful, we could be having a wedding and a funeral.”
Noctis tucks his lips in, puffing out his cheeks like a chipmunk in a valiant attempt to suppress his laughter. Spittle sputters out anyway, and Ignis gives him a pointed look.
Noctis nudges Prompto hard in the ribs, and the blond just shrugs and looks at the ceiling, wearing the mask of total innocence that doesn’t fool Ignis at all.
“And now,” the priest continues, opening a large tome. “We will hear the exchange of vows from the grooms. Your Majesty, please repeat after me.”
Noctis exhales, still trying to quell the giggles. “S-sure,” he stumbles.
“I, Noctis Lucis Amicitia Scientia Argentum Caelum, do reignite my vows of matrimony...”
Noctis swallows. “I, Noctis Lucis Amicitia Scientia Argentum Caelum, do reignite my vows of matrimony...”
“...to these partners whom I have chosen to dedicate my life...”
“...to these partners whom I have chosen to dedicate my life...”
“...to have and to hold, in sickness or in health...”
“...to have and to hold, in sickness or in health...” He turns to Prompto, who’s at his right side; then across to Gladiolus and Ignis, smiling, blushing as he repeats the words.
“...and I do declare to dedicate my love before these witnesses and the Astrals...”
“...and I do declare to dedicate my love before these witnesses and the Astrals...”
“...for the rest of my natural life on our beloved Eos.”
“...for the rest of my natural life on our beloved Eos.” Noctis presses his fingers to his eyes to stymie the tears.
The priest clears his throat and nods, satisfied; and then he calls out Gladio’s name, beginning the vows all over. Gladiolus Argentum Scientia Caelum Amicitia; and then, Prompto Amicitia Scientia Caelum Argentum , and then Ignis Caelum Amicitia Argentum Scientia --
Until they’re all finished, and they take turns pecking each other on the lips, until they’ve all been kissed by the other. They turn to the tiny crowd; Iris Amicitia whoops and cheers, arm linked with her wife; the glaives whistle, and the royal PR team takes several photos, commemorating the occasion.
Noctis leads his husbands down the steps of the chapel, waving in greeting to everyone who shuffles out of the pews and bows. “Well, that was fun.”
“Oh man,” Prompto says, dabbing his eyes with an embroidered handkerchief. “I love you guys so much! That was beautiful.”
Gladio leans down to plant a fat wet kiss on Prompto’s cheek, threading his arm about his shoulders. “And we love you, Blondie.”
Noctis grins as he gazes up at Ignis. “So...fishing?”
Ignis smiles. “If that is what you would like to do. We’ll go home, I’ll pack sandwiches, and we can go to the lake across town?”
“Why not a weekend camping trip?” Gladio asks. “Just across the bridge, and we can go visit Hammerhead, for old time’s sake.”
“Yes,” Noctis and Prompto say in unison.
Ignis cracks his knuckles and flexes his fingers. “I’ll get my driving gloves.”