Archive of Our Own ^beta

Noctis never really felt much different from others. He remembered a brief time as a child where, to the great consternation of his minders, he had been thoroughly unable to tell or care about the differences between girls and boys and the things that belonged to them. But that had been strictly ingrained into him a mere month after the issue began. 

To this day Noctis still didn't understand why things had to be split between two genders. He just knew that they were and everyone else cared a great deal about it, so he followed the unstated rules and stayed within the lines he was supposed to. Being upset about it was too much of a hassle. 

It wasn't like it was difficult to stay in the proper place. Noctis didn't entirely care. It just wasn't a huge deal to him. It was annoying, but he could put up with it when he had bigger battles to fight. 

Sometimes he wished he had more options in his clothing, because men’s fashion could be so limited, but he could experiment with styles until he found something that felt cool enough. If he went with the right look he could even do things that would normally get a guy nasty side eyes. Like guyliner and nail polish. Those opened up a whole world of fun for Noctis. 

Sure, it still got him looks. And sure, he had way too many arguments with Ignis and his father about whether or not he was allowed to get piercings. But it was worth it just to have a little more availability when getting dressed. 

(He was thrilled when he was finally allowed to get his ears pierced at fourteen. And again when they finally let him get a second piercing right behind the first when he turned sixteen. 

The fight for a barbell or gauges on his eighteenth birthday had been lost. Gladio and Prompto helping him sneak away to get matching tongue piercings that night made up for it. Even if he got a hell of a lecture and grounding for it and wasn't allowed to heal it the easy way as punishment. Because he'd gone through all the fucking hassle of getting it and he wasn't going to take it out now. Noctis suffered through his extra duties, sore tongue, plain food, and medical mouthwash with glee. 

Totally worth it.) 

All that to say that despite not really having a real understanding of why people had such strong gender roles and even honestly disliking them, Noctis wasn't bothered by them. They were annoying. But not anything Noctis ever gave much thought beyond passing confusion and something solid in his chest.

Being out on the road was fucking awesome. Noctis hated the reason, but he loved the actual act of being out from underneath the Citadel's looking presence. Everything about it just felt so… freeing. 

Nobody watching him. Nobody expecting him to do certain things or look a certain way. Except for Ignis, but Ignis did it out of concern for Noctis’s image, not because he wanted Noctis to be someone he wasn't. Noctis could put up with his badgering far easier out here than back home.

For the first time since he was a little kid, Noctis looked in the mirror and noticed his hair was getting long and he… 

…didn't think anything of it. 

Didn't even really fully click in his mind. He just noticed his hair was at the point that someone usually trimmed it for him; then it slid his mind and he didn’t give it anymore attention.

But then later he did. And Noctis felt… nice. He liked the way his hair was brushing down his neck. He liked how the messiness of it weighed itself down under more length. He liked the way his bangs could tuck behind his ears, even if they fell back over his face a moment later. 

Ignis noticed eventually, because of course he did. Iggy was responsible for most things about Noctis’s appearance being as ‘respectable’ as possible. The tongue piercing was one of the few times he'd been genuinely mad at Noctis for ‘risking his public image’. 

“Hmm, why don't I pull out the scissors for a proper haircut next we spend the night somewhere with decent lighting?” Ignis didn't manhandle him, but he did tilt Noctis’s chin back and forth a fair bit. 

Used to his fussing, Noctis just laughed. “No thanks.” 

Ignis blinked in that small way that said he was a bit surprised but wasn't going to actually show it. Learning Ignis’s expressionless expressions was an effort of years worth of practice. “Oh?” 

“I dunno. Kinda like it longer.” Noctis ran a hand through his hair, untangling windswept knots in a few passes. The length helped keep it from getting too unruly. It looked purposefully ruffled rather than just that he'd been riding in a car with the top down. 

“You've always preferred the same short hairstyle.” Ignis noted, passively curious. No judgment. They'd never argued over Noctis’s hair. He'd only protested when Noctis wanted to try bleaching a spot for a blue streak and honestly, they shouldn't have done it in Prompto’s bathroom and it did look ridiculous. The resulting awkward haircut and growing out had been punishment enough. 

“If there's any time for a change.” He shrugged. 

And that was that. Ignis insisted on a trim to deal with flyaways and split ends, but he didn't press for more. 

Noctis felt a strange anxiety in his stomach; sitting on the toilet seat in the cramped motel bathroom and feeling those scissors around his head. Until he looked in the mirror and saw it really wasn't any shorter. Maybe half an inch or so. Just neatened up. He smiled and thanked Ignis a bit more heartfelt than he meant to. 

Ignis’s forehead pinched in confusion just a bit, but he welcomed him as evenly as ever.

Noctis and Iris had a weird relationship. He got tired of dodging her weird… whatever… but she was weirdly persistent. Noctis found it easier to just let her go about her business and brush off any flirting with a joke. 

Still. She wasn't bad company when she wasn't being weird. In fact Noctis didn't mind hanging out with her as they went around Lestallum. She was like his little cousin and he did enjoy goofing off together. 

He stopped by a stand selling jewelry and accessories. They couldn't really afford to spend too much right now, but he could look. Prompto wore his thick bracelets with such a fervent strictness that Noctis didn't push. His current pair were looking a bit beat up and filthy from their adventures. Maybe he'd like something new? If Noctis could find something that might pass with Prompto’s style, that is. It wasn't very likely amongst all the touristy junk. 

When he immediately went over to the more reserved and masculine items, there were slim pickings as always. Men's jewelry was so… plain. Noctis found himself trailing behind Iris as she picked up and cooed over some of the prettier beads and glass baubles. 

His eye was drawn to a rack of little metal plates hung on studs. Most were pressed into the shape of flowers, butterflies, or religious imagery for whichever of the Six were most followed in Lestallum. Delicately painted designs covered some of the dangling earrings. But his attention graduated to a row of stars. Painted bright and shiny in every color. Far… prettier than any jewelry he dared to touch usually. Single colored studs were often as far as he went. 

He looked at them and felt a faint longing. He knew he couldn't get them, he was a man, but they were nice to look at. 

“Oh those are cute.” Iris said, plucking one off the grate to look at the star. “A bit dangly though.” She didn't like dangly earrings. Iris had complained about that fact plenty of times during her early highschool fashion crises. 

“Yeah, it's… pretty.” Noctis looked at the star in her fingers and felt like a rock had settled in his stomach. Heavy and immovable. He couldn't have it. Obviously. He didn't know why he was upset about it. He glanced up after a moment to see Iris watching him, an odd look on her face. “...what?” 

“...you're right, they're really pretty. What color do you think I should get?” Iris immediately turned to look at the array of stars blowing in the wind in their hooks. 

“Wh- I thought you didn't like-” Noctis sighed and rolled his eyes, turning away from the stall. “Whatever.” She could pick whatever color she wanted. It's not like he knew much about matching jewelry and clothes. 

Later that day, Iris hugged him close and he noticed it felt different than when she was being giggly and awkward around him. Less like she was being delicate and careful. Her arms were thick with corded muscle, just like the rest of her family, and they held him firmly in place with a warmth he didn’t really mind even in the hot sun. 

This was much better than her weird flirty hugs. He hugged her back as best he could when he was pinned. 

“Here. I tried them on, but turns out I didn't like them on me anyways.” Iris pulled back and pressed something tiny into his chest. Noctis fumbled with the items before catching them. 

Two dangling golden yellow stars stared back at him. 

“Iris, I can't-” Noctis kept his voice even but he felt that rock settle deep in his gut. 

“You're the only person I know right now who wears earrings, so just take them.” She shrugged as if it were no big deal. 

“You can probably just return them-” 

“Noctis.” Iris leveled him with a severe look that struck him to the core, for all it wasn't cruel or angry. “Just take the damn stars.” 

“...kay.” 

He didn't put them in that day, or the next. But when they were in motels or trailers he liked to pull them out and look at them in the mornings getting ready. Liked to hold them up and see what they might look like with his outfit. Liked the way they hung and shined because they were undeniably something pretty next to all his dark and ‘cool’ clothes. 

The contrast of bright color next to all that black was nice to look at. Even if he just tucked them back into the armiger and left his plain colored studs in.

Gladiolus liked to jokingly call him Princess. It was meant to tease him, yeah, but Noctis never really cared. 

The lack of a reaction to that first jab, years ago and long buried in their childhood, had initially left Gladio a bit wrongfooted. 

He taunted Noctis all the time for all kinds of things. Noctis enjoyed getting in little play fights and arguments with him over it. It was just their thing. 

When Noctis didn't rise to the bait it was usually because he was in a Mood. So Gladio used to get a little huffy and particular when Noctis didn't care about Princess. For some reason then he just kept using it to see if it ever worked and Noctis never felt compelled to let it. 

So Gladiolus just… called him Princess, sometimes. An inside joke of theirs that neither of them ever talked about. He doubted Gladio ever thought twice about it these days. 

Hell, Noctis didn't think twice about it usually. He never had. But things were different now. With what felt like the whole world waiting but nobody watching. Expectations and rules thrown out the window because the world didn't make sense anymore anyways. 

It was just a single moment that started to tip things. 

At a campground one night, Noctis turned in early because his back was killing him and his head was aching. 

“Are you feeling quite alright? You look a bit pale.” Ignis checked his forehead with the back of his hand. Noctis didn't protest, just huffed at a wisp of hair dangling in his face. 

“I'm sure Princess just needs her beauty sleep.” Gladiolus chuckled, legs spread where he was lounged in a folding chair. 

Princess needs her beauty sleep. 

The words kind of clicked in his head. The phrasing. The casual way Gladio said it. Not even truly trying to get a rise out of him, just a gentle tease. 

But something about that just felt right. Made a new stone settle in his chest that felt warm and fluttery. 

“Noctis?” 

“Huh?” Noctis had stared at Gladio a bit too long. Ignis was checking his temperature more seriously now, a hint of concern on his face. “No, I'm- fine really.” He didn't know how to explain the funny feeling in his ribs to a more and more concerned Ignis who didn't like his distracted tone. Noctis didn't care about the fussing, he just needed Ignis to stop looking at him like he could dissect his chest apart and pluck that little rock out. He didn't want to explain it. Didn't want to share this warmth just yet and risk losing it. “Just a bit of a backache. Nothing too bad.” 

Those were the magic words. Ignis promptly bustled him into the tent and checked that his sleeping roll was supportive enough. Orthotic sleeping bags weren't cheap or easy to find but he was grateful Iggy had insisted on one several months before. Noctis was fussed into lying down and taking some painkillers and he couldn't even find it in himself to complain or put up any front of annoyance like he usually did. 

That seemed to worry Ignis and Prompto, though nobody said anything about it. They just kept it quiet outside the tent once Noctis laid down. 

He slept in a bit later than normal. Gladio was stretched out on his sleeping bag reading when he blinked his tired eyes open. 

“Feeling alright, Noct?” He asked casually. 

Noctis had fallen asleep to the happy warmth of that pebble in his chest. It felt a little heavier now, a little sharper. Why? Just because Gladio called him by his name? 

“Yeah.” Noctis grouched, rolling over carefully. His back was still sore. 

Eagle eyes caught the way he was a bit tender to get moving. “Bullshit.” 

Noctis complained about the babying. A bit of the tension around Gladio's eyes lessened as he bitched right back about Noctis telling them when his back was acting up.

Prompto knew just about everything about Noctis. He told his best friend things he didn't tell Gladio or Ignis, just because he knew Prompto would never judge him. 

Prompto was the one who just shrugged when Noctis asked if he liked guys in highschool, when Noctis admitted he wasn't sure if he liked guys. Prompto was the one to suggest they try testing it out with each other. Prompto was the one to be the first to make their kiss a little less awkward face pressing and a little more actual movement. Prompto was the one who said yeah, he definitely liked girls and guys. Then gave Noctis a thumbs up when he breathlessly said “Same” like a total idiot. 

They talked about everything. Prompto and Noctis were two names that followed each other just like the people they belonged to did. Noctis trusted Prompto with things he never told anybody else. 

So of course the first thing he did when he started hearing Princess needs her beauty sleep echoing in his head was pull Prompto aside one night to a separate motel room. Ignis gave them a small Look but allowed it. Gladio teased them without any real heat like usual. 

“Heyya.” Prompto said, flopping down on the bed with a sly grin.  

“Hey.” Noctis huffed under his breath. 

Prompto just got it right away and dropped the little smirk. This wasn't a ‘sneak away to have sex’ night. Gods, Noctis loved this observant goofball. 

“You feeling okay?” His eyes roamed over Noctis searchingly. Not looking at the view, but checking for anything wrong. “You've been quiet ever since the other night. Ignis is starting to think you really pulled something and just won't admit it.” 

“I thought Gladio was going easy on me.” Noctis hadn't appreciated being handled with kid gloves, but he had appreciated a break from Gladiolus pounding him into the dirt during spars. “No, it's not that.” Well. It was a little that. But his back always hurt. 

Prompto chuckled. He patted the bed and Noctis shucked his shoes, pants, and jacket off before crawling onto the mattress next to him. He rested his cheek on Prompto’s chest, feeling his head rise with every inhale. 

“What's up, buttercup?” Prompto ran a hand through his hair. They both appreciated his growing length. Prompto had admitted enjoying having more to grab. Noctis still wasn't too sure why exactly he liked it, but that was definitely a perk. 

“Just something Gladio said that I just. I dunno, can't get it out of my mind.” Noctis stared down Prompto’s shirt towards his shoes that should really not be on the bed. Ignis would give them a Look if he knew. 

Prompto kept petting his hair, untangling it with his fingers bit by bit. He gave a curious hum and let Noctis find his words. 

“‘Princess needs her beauty sleep’. I dunno. Just can't stop thinking about it.” He said quietly, not really unsure of what Prompto would think so much as just unsure of how he felt about it. 

“You never cared when he called you Princess before though?” Prompto said, confused. 

“Yeah. It's never bothered me. And it's still not bothering me, I just-” Noctis sighed roughly. “I don't know! I hear it in my head and it- it-” Noctis’s breath hitched. “...it felt good.” 

“Is this a kink thing?” Prompto considered, sounding very thoughtful. “Because we both already think Gladio is like, sinfully hot. So. Him calling you something and discovering a new kink, maybe, could be a thing.” 

Noctis snorted. “No. It's not like when you call me things during sex.” He felt a little flushed thinking about Prompto calling him your Highness in that tone of voice that was definitely not in a way anyone else used it. “It feels more… right. Like it fits. He called me Noct later and it felt a little disappointing.” 

“...are you sure it's not just you crushing on Gladio again-? Ow! Okay!” Noctis poked his long fingers into Prompto’s ribs. “Gladiolus aside, I would totally be down for calling you Princess in bed.” 

The thought was strangely pleasing. Very pleasing. “I would not be opposed to trying that.” 

Prompto grinned. Noctis could feel it in the way he nuzzled into his hair. 

Struck by the sudden need to see Prompto’s blush he got when even vaguely thinking about sex, Noctis shifted and repositioned himself until he could look up at Prompto. 

“You're so handsome when you blush.” Noctis said quietly, knowing he was likely red too. 

Prompto’s blush promptly spread a lot further across his face, freckles popping out. “You- and you're so- ugh.” Prompto flopped his head back on the pillow and laughed to hide his embarrassment. 

“Am I-” His mouth paused on the word ‘handsome’. He'd never liked being called handsome but that was just… what guys were called. 

Some dominoes fell and fell one little thought to another and Noctis frowned faintly. 

“Are you what?” Prompto lifted his head. “Handsome? Because you totally are-” 

“What if I don't-” Noctis’s words interrupted Prompto and his jaw clicked shut. Prompto blinked at him. He cradled Noct's head in his hand. 

“Yeah?” Prompto asked, free of judgment and open to anything. It helped the words crawl their way out of his mouth. 

“What if I…” Noctis tried the words out as if they were some new concoction Ignis made to try and get him to eat his greens. “...don't… want to be…” He didn't know how to describe it. “...handsome?” Noctis felt helpless as he finished awkwardly. He didn't think he was saying this right. Putting words to the mess of rocks in his chest that had never truly mattered before was hard. 

Prompto’s face twisted in thought, but stayed curious and calm and it felt like a cool breeze on a hot day. “Well what do you want to be?” 

“I want to be pretty.” The words barreled out of him without his awareness until there they were and Noctis realized they were so right. “I want- I want to have pretty hair and pretty clothes and wear pretty jewelry and-” His throat tightened, gravel pressing against his lungs. “Luna used to show me her new dresses and show me how they twirled and I was so jealous it never made sense. I used to think it was her walking and dancing around and showing off that she was healthy but- but-” He'd never been staring at her legs or her feet. He'd always been staring at her pretty skirts and feeling envy that boys couldn't wear those. 

Prompto made a small noise. “Oh. Oh! Do you… do you wanna be a pretty guy?” Prompto’s hand smoothed his hair down. “Or do you wanna be a pretty girl?” 

Noctis’s throat closed up. “But I'm not a woman.” Noctis whispered, because Noctis had never heard somebody just ask something like that. You were one or the other and that was that. That was what had been drilled into Noctis for ages. 

“Well,” Prompto said slowly. “You can be a pretty man yanno. Guys can totally rock dresses.” He paused and a complicated look entered his eyes, looking away. “When I used to hang out- w-with Lidya- remember Lidya, from Sophomore year?” He rambled. “Well I went to his- his house once and he let me wear his skirts he wanted to throw away.” 

Noctis’s brain stalled a bit. “...Didn't Lidya move?” 

“Yeah. He wanted to start at a new school with his new name. He changed his name to Lionel.” Prompto looked up at the ceiling. He'd lost most of the blush from his face and looked a little pale. “Well I didn't keep them cause I didn't want to get any shit from anyone about it, but- but he told me I could keep his old skirts and dresses if I wanted, cause guys could wear them too if they want. I wanted to keep them. They… they looked great on me.” Prompto bit his lip. 

“Oh.” Noctis said, like a genius. “I've… never really heard… that.” Noctis’s heart was racing. 

“I'm not surprised. Most of the Citadel is super old fashioned.” They both snorted. That was an understatement. “Most old fogies wouldn't have the slightest clue what to do if a guy started walking around in skirts. Probably die of a heart attack.” Prompto’s eyes remained firmly away from Noctis and that was concerning because Prompto only did that when he felt bad about doing something. “...I didn't want to do that, to your reputation. We had just really become friends and- I dunno. Everyone was watching me and I didn't want to be stared at for being the freak dude that wore a skirt on top of everything else.” His voice was a little watery. 

“Prom…” Noctis sat up, propped up on elbows. “Don't… don't call yourself that. You- you didn't have to do that. You know I've always supported-” Noctis had always supported Prompto. No matter what that meant. Lower class, mathlete, photographer, punk, Crownsguard- it didn't matter to Noctis. Noctis always had his back against the idiots who wanted to make comments about what riffraff the Prince made friends with. 

“Yeah.” Prompto said, choking up. He immediately sniffled and blinked a few times. “Yeah I… I hoped you would say something like that, but I was kinda scared. You were already so scared about being a punk openly bi prince to everyone else. I know you got backlash from being friends with me. I didn't wanna make that any more complicated for you than it already was.” 

“Prom-” Noctis said, frustrated. 

“I know! I know I didn't have to do that.” Fingers scratched Noctis’s scalp and he finally looked down to smile warmly. “But I didn't mind doing it. Wish I could've shown off how great these hips look in a miniskirt, but it wasn't… it wasn't too bad. Look, I got way off track-” Prompto huffed and threw his free arm over his face for a minute. “My point is- I'm a guy and I can wear skirts. And if you want- you can be a guy who wears pretty things. Or you… can be a girl who wears pretty things.” 

She breathed. 

“Oh.” She said. The world rushed back in. “...Oh.”  

Prompto uncovered his face and looked down at her. “You okay?” He looked puzzled. 

“Nobody's ever said something like that.” Noctis said, realizing her face was twisted up into something awed and understanding because something made sense. “Nobody ever- Lidya just chose… to be Lionel?” 

Prompto seemed to start to understand if the little twitch of his cheek said anything. “Yeah, he did.” 

“I want to be pretty, not handsome.” Noctis said to herself. “I want to wear pretty things and pretty dresses and be a pretty woman.” She said, awed. 

“Oh. Sweet.” Prompto said dumbly, looking down at her like she'd hung the moon. “You- yeah. Um. Totally.” 

Noctis didn't even comment on his weird face, sitting up and patting her pockets. She pulled out the earrings Iris gave her in Lestallum. Pretty little stars that would dangle from her ears. 

They were so pretty. No wonder she wanted them. Because they were for girls and she was a girl. The world made so much sense now. And so little. Why couldn't somebody just tell her this sooner? 

“What do I do?” Noctis looked up at Prompto. “To… to be a girl? Just choose and now that's that? What did Lionel do?” 

Prompto blinked a few times and shook his head. “Uh- well, he wore something that flattened his chest and had a sock he wore in his pants. And changed his clothes and hair and name and stuff. And something about doctors? But I think it's different going the other way around?” He scratched his neck. “Plus, you can't do like, medical stuff on the road and all.” 

“Oh. Right.” Noctis felt a little disappointed. She wanted- she wanted to be more. She was a woman. Obviously. She just… didn't know what to do about it from here? 

“But I mean.” Prompto shrugged. “We can start with picking up some skirts.” He grabbed her hand that was cradling the stars. “Those are really cute. And fun to wear.” He looked at the earrings curiously. 

“Iris gave them to me, in Lestallum.” She looked at them and laughed. “I think- I don't know what she thought, but I think she knew I wanted them and didn't think I could.” 

“Can I put them in for you?” Prompto asked. 

She looked at him a little bemused. “Sure?” 

Prompto sat up from his recline and reached for her hair. He brushed it out of the way, tucking it behind her ears on both sides of her head so gently she felt her heart flutter. He took out her blue studs, leaving in the black ones, and slipped the little hooks in.  

Prompto leaned back and looked her over. He smiled slowly and softly. “Beautiful.” 

Noctis felt her face heat up. “They are?” 

“I mean, those are too.” He leaned in to kiss her sweetly. 

Noctis felt happy. So damned happy there wasn't a warm rock in her chest anymore, it was a whole pack of mentos and a soda shaken up and letting loose. She wanted to cheer and get up and pull Prompto around the room. 

Instead she let him pull her back onto the bed and straddled his lap. 

“Wait wait wait wait wait-” He pulled away from her mouth with a gasp. “Is your back hurting? Because-” 

Noctis leaned over him and brushed their noses together. The proximity made him catch his words, holding his breath. 

“Tell me I'm pretty,” Noctis whispered. “And call me your Princess.” 

Prompto made a squeaking sound. “Sir-” He shook his head. “Ma'am yes ma'am! Sorry, gonna take a sec.” He beamed up at her with all his teeth on display and that blush coming back full force. 

Noctis smiled down at him.

Noctis didn't want to change her name. She liked her name. Even if it meant Night Light, which was a little dumb, but whatever. She liked being Noctis. 

There wasn't anything she particularly disliked about being called a man. That was probably why she'd taken so long to realize she wasn't one. She just… needed to be called something else first for it to really hit home. 

Prompto still encouraged her to try some different names in her head. She couldn't seem to find any that sounded right. Her name was still Noctis. 

Prompto did try calling her different things, when they were alone. He started calling her a little nickname that felt nice when he was being extra schmoopy. 

Tiss. 

It was so dumb, and she still insisted that her full name was more than fine, but Tiss made her chest feel funny in that beautiful way that felt right. 

She didn't have to ask him to keep it quiet. She didn't know how Gladio would react but she was… pretty sure how Ignis would. Prompto understood her fear without needing to be told. 

So unless they were behind closed doors Noctis was still a guy and Prompto still called her as such. It was weird. She still didn't mind. But she felt just a little disappointed every time someone called her the wrong thing until the time came that they were alone and she was Tiss again and the world felt right again. 

She didn't wear her earrings except when they were alone and Prompto could tell her how pretty she was. Just… in case. 

She wasn't afraid. Not really. She knew Gladio would rather die than abandon her and Ignis would be dead in the ground before leaving her side. 

That didn't mean she wasn't scared what they would think of her. That she didn't remember how everyone reacted when the Prince first painted his nails black and put eyeliner around his eyes. 

She'd been sheltered from so much. Prompto wasn't very well-versed in gender shit either. But next to Noctis he was an expert. Up in noble circles and the Citadel's reach, gender roles were so harshly defined and laid out that even just her early forays into punk rock (an infamously gender neutral zone) were pretty scandalous. 

Noctis didn't know what Gladiolus would do. He was the picture perfect image of a man's man. He had manly hobbies and skills and even had respectably unrespectable hobbies too. As much as the Princess nickname was his, it came from a mocking root. Did that mean he would react to Noctis being a princess like it was a big joke? She didn't know. And she already was disappointing enough with the way he thrashed her in training all the damned time. She didn't want to be any more embarrassing in front of Gladio than she already felt. 

Ignis was a whole different battle. Ignis was the champion of noble respectability with the ever so challenging cause of enforcing it onto Noctis. She genuinely didn't mind, it was his job, and she really was a disrespectful shit on a good day. 

But that likely meant Ignis really believed in a lot of the old fashioned thoughts and customs. And he did. He thought Noctis getting piercings was going to destroy his public image. He'd despaired over just the ear piercings. He'd always nitpicked Noctis’s clothes and choices until Noctis had enough one day and told him that so long as she wasn't breaking any exposure laws, she didn't care what Ignis wanted her to dress, and he could fuck right off. 

That was a very frosty week until Ignis had apologized for pushing boundaries. Noctis had apologized right back for losing her shit about clothes of all things. They'd mutually agreed that Noctis wasn't a small child who needed to have his clothes picked out for him, so Ignis stuck to only bothering her when social events required a dress code. 

Noctis wondered now what life would be like if she'd been allowed to wear skirts and dresses to those formal events. She probably would've been much more enthusiastic about it. Yeah she looked good in suits but that didn't mean she actually liked them any. 

The point was Ignis mattered. Despite how she liked to act, what Ignis thought mattered. She didn't like going against him. Just his disappointment was a shot to the heart. She didn't know what she'd do if he ever looked at her with actual disdain. 

So her earrings stayed tucked away in her pockets.

Prompto was looking at skirts at the little merchandise shop at Wiz's. They were tacky and mostly not to Noctis’s sprouting tastes. 

She'd been so nervous looking at clothes in every other place they'd tried along the road and just… nothing felt right. Nothing was Perfect enough. Between indecision and the fear that Ignis or Gladio or someone else would catch them looking in the women's section- she just hadn't found anything.

Prompto was a lot less picky. He liked the silly prints and bright colors. 

He was looking at a knee high skirt right now, holding it up to himself in the tiny little mirror against a wall for guests. Noctis was standing behind him with her arms around his shoulders and chin against his neck. She rolled her eyes. The black skirt with repeat yellow chocobo feathers printed all over it was so goofy looking it could only look good on Prompto. 

“Noctis, Prompto, lunch is-” 

“The hell’re you two doing in the women's?” 

Both of them jumped, Prompto clutching the skirt to his chest. Ignis’s voice stuttered to a stop at the louder timbre of Gladiolus's. 

“None of your fucking business.” Noctis snapped without thinking, feeling how Prompto had gone stiff as a tree against her. He tried to pull away. She clutched him close. 

Gladio stood, eyebrow lifted, watching them with a no nonsense look. 

“What are you two doing over here?” Ignis edged around a rack of cheap T-shirts. “We don't have a clothing budget this week-” Ignis paused. 

Prompto was still holding the silly skirt. He squeaked and tried to literally toss it aside but the fabric caught air and the hanger slipped and it kind of just flopped to the ground at their feet. 

Gladiolus mock frowned, face twisted up in amusement. “You know, if you two want to get a bit kinky in the bedroom this is not the place to be looking for-” 

“It is not a kink thing ohmygods-” Prompto slammed his hands over his beet red face. Noctis glared at Gladio over his shoulder and her arms wrapped tight around him. 

“I'm just saying, if you wanna get into crossdressing-” His shit eating grin was painfully gleeful. 

“Lunch is ready?” Noctis said loudly, pushing and pulling Prompto along. “Sweet. Be right out.” She left the skirt there on the floor because she could feel how hard Prompto’s heart was pounding. She guided him out of the shop, across the yard, to the camper, and immediately shoved them both into the cramped bathroom. “Prom? Prom, you okay?” 

“Why're you asking me?” Prompto wheezed. “Are you okay?” 

“I'm not the one who was holding the skirt,” She pointed out. “And honestly I do like seeing you in women's clothing, so, technically, I'm not as bothered by the implication, but you're not doing too hot buddy.” She was a little pissed how mocking Gladiolus had been but she couldn't tell if it was just him shooting the shit or being actually malicious. So she was going to have to pass on that freak out for now. 

Prompto was shaking. He sat down on the toilet lid with a thud, taking a wavery breath in. “Th-the only person who's seen me in a skirt is you and Lionel. And his parents. But that doesn't really count? They made it a whole runway day while he showed off his new clothes too. It didn't really matter so much then-” Prompto gasped for breath. 

“Okay. It's okay. You're okay.” Noctis soothed, petting his hair with one hand and cupping his jaw with the other. “Nobody's going to start shit. And if they do I'll beat their asses.” 

“Tiss-” Prompto’s eyes teared up. “You're not- you're not scared?” 

“I've lived my whole life having people tell me what to do and how to dress and what I'm supposed to be.” Noctis said softly. “You saw what I thought about people telling me I couldn't dress like a hooligan and a delinquent. I'm scared, of course I'm scared, but if I stopped being myself just because I was scared of what others thought then we'd never be friends and I would hate myself.” She shrugged. “I'm still… I'm still trying to figure out this woman stuff anyways. And yeah. I'm kinda high key terrified what Ignis is going to say when I finally tell him. Or what stupid jokes Gladio will make. I dunno what the fuck he's gonna think. But I'll still break his nose if he crosses the line. For myself and for you.” She pressed a kiss to his forehead. 

Prompto hugged her, face pressed into her chest. Their awkward position meant she was standing at an odd angle while he sat on the toilet seat. But the cramped little bathroom didn't have much room so she bore with it. 

After a few minutes the camper door creaked open. “...Noctis? Prompto?” Ignis’s voice called out. 

“Be out in a minute!” Noctis called, pulling back from their huddle. They both listened. The door closed without the thunk of footsteps entering. “You gonna be okay?” 

“Yeah.” He croaked, wiping his eyes. She pet his hair a few more times before pushing the bathroom door open and squeezing her way out. 

She washed her hands at the little kitchen sink as Prompto breathed in and out a few times loudly. “Take your time, Prom. I'll go stall the jerks.” She paused before she opened the front door. “...do you want me to tell them anything?” 

Prompto wheezed. “Not- maybe when I'm out there, if I- if I can't say it myself?” 

“Kay.” Noctis smiled at him before she exited the camper and let the crappy door slam shut behind her. “What's for lunch?” 

“Just some simple sandwiches.” Ignis replied, not looking the slightest bit ruffled. He was as elegantly composed as ever and Noctis was fucking jealous. 

Gladiolus sat at the picnic table looking particularly ruffled and chewing on his sandwich like it had personally offended him. 

Noctis raised an eyebrow at him but he didn't even look up at her. She rolled her eyes and sat down to eat. 

Prompto looked about ready to bolt into the horizon when he came out to sit down and eat lunch. Noctis scooted a bit closer to him in solidarity as he began to pick at his bread. 

Ten awkwardly silent minutes into picking at their food Ignis finished his own sandwich and folded his fingers together. 

“I was serious about not having a clothing budget for this week.” He said plainly. Prompto tensed up. Noctis squinted and tried to find out what Ignis was going for. “And I daresay we can't waste many of our limited funds on clothing that isn't very functional.” Prompto wilted in his seat. Noctis glared- “However, next time we have a bit of excess gil,” Ignis looked away and cleared his throat awkwardly. “It is nobody's business what clothing you choose to wear, Prompto. Just- genuinely, please do find something practical?” 

Prompto let out a sniffly wet “Uh huh” before shoving half his sandwich in his mouth. 

Noctis watched Ignis with narrowed eyes. He didn't seem… grossed out. Not disgusted or begrudging. He was looking off to the side at the chocobo pens and avoiding looking at them. But Noctis swore with all her Ignis translating experience that he looked more like he was a bit clueless than offended. 

Noctis relaxed and took a bite of his sandwich. She supposed that limitation was… fair. Skirts didn't look like they were very practical. Noctis hadn't gotten the chance to wear one yet, so she couldn't really say. 

Gladiolus didn't say a word the rest of the day.

A month later and Ignis cleared his throat while dispensing their individual allowance of gil for free spending. 

“Again, might I remind you all that practicality is important.” He said simply. “I've taken the liberty of procuring two motel rooms for the night as well, since we are taking a break in town for the next few days.” 

Gladio snorted and rolled his eyes. Prompto was vibrating with nerves. Noctis grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him towards the little thrift store down the road. 

“Sure thing, Iggy.” She called behind them. 

It wasn't until they were both in the store that she remembered it wasn't just about Prompto. It was about her too. 

Prompto was peeking around the women's section with trepidation. He peeked over the hangars at the bored cashier sitting on her phone every now and then but the teenager wasn't even looking their way. 

It was easy for Noctis to be fearless in the face of letting Prompto have his skirts and dresses. It was… a lot harder to remember she was allowed to look too. 

She was almost afraid to touch the hangars. There were… pretty shirts. Frilly. Not T-shirts. Blouses? Noctis thought that was what Luna called her prettier shirts on the rare chance she wasn't wearing dresses. 

She liked the way they hung differently on the hangars than a T-shirt did. They were thinner and softer too. Probably not practical like Ignis warned, but she didn't plan on wearing them around anyone much less out in the woods. 

Just… buy one. Buy one pretty shirt. And maybe a skirt. Or maybe she could find a dress..? Prompto had warned her that both of their shoulders might not fit many dresses very well. Which was kinda sad. Noctis thought her shoulders were one of her best features. 

“You doing okay?” Prompto squeezed up next to her, arm wrapping around her waist. 

“It's never been so hard to go clothes shopping.” Noctis said, eyes drifting over soft pastels. 

“Tell me about it.” Prompto sighed and leaned into her. “...hey, here's an idea. How about we pick an outfit for each other?” 

“That… sounds like a good idea, actually.” Noctis admitted. She could never guess what sort of wacky shit Prompto would wear, but she definitely knew it would be hard to pick something he wouldn't wear. And maybe Prompto had a better idea of what to pick for her. 

They split up again. This time, Noctis went right to the skirts with the brightest colors she could see. She was tempted to get him a hot pink one just to see if he would wear it. But Ignis might strangle the two of them if he ever caught sight of it. 

She found something that was absolutely perfect. Noctis muffled her reflexive laugh, ducking and peeking to make sure Prompto wasn't watching. It was a skirt that would probably go down to his knees, with a slit at the side. The thing was light gray and covered with images of a camera. It looked cartoonish as hell. Noctis would never wear this in her life. 

Prompto was going to love this. 

She only hoped it would fit. The numbers on the tag didn't make any sense. Actually- she slid the skirt back in place, hiding it as she scurried to the cashier. 

“Hey, do you guys have a fitting room?” She couldn't see any signs. 

“Curtain in the back.” She didn't even look up from her phone. “Damage anything and you buy it.” 

“Right.” She rolled her eyes and went to go find a shirt Prompto would like. 

She ended up finding a T-shirt that was almost the same gray, even if it was a secondhand tourist shirt from Galdin Quay. The text was faded and said 'I <3 GALDIN' in an obnoxious blue. There was a little cartoon sun on it with sunglasses and a straw hat. Noctis hated it. 

She went over to the back of the store and found said curtain, wrinkling her nose. It was hardly bigger than the shower stall in a camper trailer. Better than nothing. At least there was a chipped mirror on one side. Noctis held the clothes up to her to see if they'd probably fit Prompto. He was skinnier than her. 

Her nose wrinkled at the dumb look. Prompto was going to love it. 

When he finally came over with way more than one outfit in his arms, he insisted on shoving her into the changing room with a goofy “Ladies first!” Noctis hit him on the shoulder with a fond grin and let him have his joke. 

Prompto got her two different dresses to try on and three skirts and a whole bunch of pretty shirts. She was pretty sure that was the one with ruffles she'd been feeling between her fingers before getting overwhelmed. 

Noctis was scared at first to turn around. The first dress was too tight around her chest and the skirt was so high she felt naked and she almost didn't want to breathe in it. But eventually she turned to look in the mirror. 

“Tiss? You okay?” Prompto hemmed outside the curtain. 

She realized she'd been standing there for a while without the rustle of clothes or saying anything. 

“I look silly.” Noctis snorted, having to look away from the mirror and blink a few times to avoid tearing up. “This red dress is so tight it's about to burst.” 

“...ah. Yeah, I thought it might be too small…” 

She giggled wetly and peeled herself out of the red thing. She had no idea how women with actual tits fit in something like that. 

The next dress… was too big. But when she pinched the top behind her back and pulled the waist in- 

She looked pretty. She looked a little silly, too. Fabric bunching in the wrong places and wrinkles forming. But she looked cute. Noctis did a little swish of the skirt with the hand not keeping the back from slipping. She giggled. Blue geometric shapes fluttered down her calves. 

“You like it? Let me see!” 

Noctis pulled the curtain aside carefully, peeking out to make sure nobody was looking. Prompto gasped and cooed over her. 

Noctis felt pretty when he ooed and awwed over the way it fell down her legs. She gave a little spin just to see and she felt alive when she saw it in the mirror. 

That dress, however ill-fitting, was a definite yes. 

In the end she also picked a pretty light purple blouse that Prompto insisted brought out her eyes and a black skirt with folds that went down to her knees. She didn't like the way shorter skirts felt. And Prompto could wear the skirt too if he wanted. 

Prompto adored the dumb outfit she picked out for him. The shirt fit but the skirt couldn't be buttoned up. He didn't care at all. He almost wore it to the counter before deciding otherwise and just taking it back folded up. 

Despite Prompto’s anxiety the cashier didn't even blink at them. Noctis was a little curious if she was even aware there were two people in the shop. She gave a bland “Thank you, have a nice day sir.” when they headed out. 

Women's clothing was definitely not as cheap as men's. Noctis could've bought five T-shirts and a pair of cargo pants with as much as her clothes cost. But still… worth it. 

They rushed to the motel, giggling like children, and immediately Noctis put back on her dress. She twirled in the little space and laughed. That rock in her chest bubbled like a fountain. That metaphor was getting weird, but she felt fucking great. 

Prompto pulled her close and waved a bag of safety pins. She could barely stay still while he pinned the dress into something resembling fitting her. He changed into his own new clothes and sat on the bed, watching her spin and twirl around as much as she could before getting dizzy and collapsing on the bed. 

“You're very handsome.” She beamed up at him. 

“You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen.” He smiled down at her. 

“...even Cindy?” 

Prompto snorted. “Cindy is- I-” 

“Don't worry, I know she has bigger tits than me.” Noctis hit him on the knee with a laugh. 

“You have a way hotter back than Cindy though.” Prompto said thoughtfully. “I think I would combust if you put on a backless dress or something. Those muscles? Phew.” 

“Something to think about next time we get the chance.” Noctis closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of being.

Gladiolus didn't say anything to Prompto about his new skirt. Ignis looked resigned. 

“That does not even fit you.” He got in close enough to tug at the buttons visible. 

“It's hard to find something that fits these hips.” Prompto said, hands shaking with repressed relief and fading anxiety. “Plus, how could I not with this pattern? Cameras, Iggy!” He smoothed his hands down it with a grin. 

Ignis stared at the skirt like it had personally offended him. But he sighed and shook his head. “Very well.” 

The next time they did laundry, Prompto intended to wash his and Noctis’s clothes to hide her new additions from Iggy's rampage of cleansing. Instead Ignis very firmly requested he hand over his dirty clothing. Noct barely got her clothes tossed into the armiger in time to be out of sight. 

Several hours later, Ignis returned their laundry. As they tucked it away in bags to be stored back in the armiger Prompto found his skirt to have been modified. It wasn't the neatest, but Ignis must have somehow taken it apart and used spare fabric to make the skirt's waistband just a bit bigger. Prompto instantly tossed his pants off and slid into it. He could button it up fairly securely. 

Noctis felt a little flutter of hope.

Prompto and Noctis weren't the same size. They were close, but despite Prompto’s joking he actually had smaller hips than Noctis. And was leaner all around. Except for his legs themselves, no, those were thicker around. 

Her black skirt fit her a little loose, but it was stretchy and she didn't mind. It wasn't like she wore it in front of anyone. When Prompto wore it the waistband had a bad habit of slipping down low. It wasn't a big deal. He didn't wear it half as much as his shitty camera skirt. 

Noctis stumbled out of the tent in the middle of the night, needing to piss. She blinked a few times. 

Gladio, with her black skirt in his hands, looked up at her with a carefully blank face and slightly too-wide eyes. 

“Dude what the fuck?” She snapped first. Then her eyes wandered to the small box next to him and the needle and thread poked into the skirt's waistband. 

“Don't make a big fucking deal about it,” He bit back. “I'm just making sure this thing doesn't slip down Prompto’s bony ass.” 

Noctis’s stupid, stupid mouth opened. “It's not his.” 

Gladio blinked. His face went eerily emotionless. She breathed in sharply. Then she stood her ground and lifted her chin, fists clenched. 

“It's mine. And it's not that loose on me, so you don't need to change it.” She tried to not let the shaking in her voice overcome the solid anger and defiance. 

Gladio looked down at the black fabric and frowned. His fingers began to pick at the stitches he'd already made. “Could've fuckin told me.” He grumbled, quietly. 

Noctis didn't know how to respond to that. The nighttime was filled with an awkward silence for a solid two minutes, only broken up by the sounds of some animals getting in a fight in the distance. She turned to go do her business since Gladio didn't seem to have anything else to say. 

Once she'd taken care of her bladder she came back to sit in her chair next to his. He'd unpicked most of the stitches by now and was doing something with the stretchy cloth that made the holes less visible. 

“We thought Ignis fixed Prompto’s skirt.” Noctis watched him work. She knew he wasn't clumsy of all things, but seeing how nimbly his thick, calloused fingers handled a needle was captivating. 

“Please,” Gladio scoffed. “Iggy can fix a rip or fix some buttons, sure, but that's about it. He can't do shit else with a needle. He asked me if I could fix the damn skirt cause taking something in is easy, letting something out is a whole different deal.” 

Noctis watched as he unplucked the last thread. “So you don't care?” 

Gladio made a questioning grunt. 

“About the skirts.” She clarified. 

“I don't give a shit about the skirts.” Gladio sighed, annoyed. “Specs already tore me a new one about being rude as fuck about it before.” He was quiet, folding the skirt up slowly. “...m'sorry, bout that. Was just giving you two shit.” 

Noctis’s hands clenched in her pj shirt. She didn't know what else to say. She wanted to thank him. She wanted to call him an asshole. She needed to say something. “Can you do dresses?” 

That was definitely not what she wanted to say. But a very big part of her longed to know what it felt like to wear a dress that actually fit. 

Gladiolus stared at her. He rubbed his forehead with a lukewarm sigh. “Yeah. I can do dresses. Can I see it real quick?” 

Very tentatively, Noctis pulled out her bag from the armiger. Her blue dress was buried at the bottom, carefully folded to keep it out of sight. Gladio took it and checked the fabric between his fingers.  

“Shouldn't be hard.” He said. “Big on you?” 

“Yup.” She fidgeted awkwardly. 

He handed the dress back and pulled a round green ball out of his box that bristled with needles. “Go ahead and put it on so I can pin the extra fabric back.” 

Noctis felt incredibly awkward, changing next to the tent as Gladio bent over his sewing box. They’d all changed in front of each other plenty of times. They’d pretty much been living up each others’ asses for the past few months. Noctis genuinely didn’t give a shit anymore. But it was different when she was stripping down to her boxers to change into a dress when Gladio was right there. Even Prompto let her take the bathroom to change when they had the chance to. 

Still. At least Gladio was too busy messing with his stuff to look up. She thought that was probably on purpose. 

He looked up when she padded nervously closer, squinting through the fire light. “Hrm. Hold on.” 

Her Shield maneuvered her by the upper arms to a better spot, pulling a flashlight out and holding it in his armpit. A bunch of pins went between his lips. Gladio spent a minute just tugging and pulling her dress around until he seemed satisfied. Then he went to work pinching fabric and poking needles into it. 

Noctis was familiar with how fittings usually went. He wasn’t terrible. He poked her a few times but grunted an apology and adjusted his flashlight. She figured it was mostly just the poor lighting and awkward circumstances. 

She stood as still as she could, hands clenching and loosening. This was fucking excruciating. “So how’d you start getting into sewing and shit?” Which was about as far as Noctis cared for terminology, usually. But if she had to stand here in abject silence for another ten minutes she was going to lose her shit. 

Gladio spoke through a mouthful of needles with enough ease that she could tell he’d done this plenty of times. “Iris has been hitting some crazy growth spurts for a couple years now. You know the Amicitia genes. Big men, big women. Always knew how to do some basic stitches and shit, good for a soldier to know how to patch his own gear. But when she started having trouble finding stuff she liked that fit- well I just kinda started looking into it. Easier to just do a little fitting at home than wait for a tailor for every little thing. Not really that great at it, honestly, especially not by hand. My mom has-” He cut off for a minute, voice tight. Noctis didn’t say anything as he ducked to grab more needles. “We had a sewing machine, made it a whole lot easier. Then Iggy figured since I was such a turd to you two I should take the initiative and fix Prompto’s skirt up.” 

“Best big brother Gladdy strikes again.” She couldn’t keep the fondness out of her voice. 

“Damn fucking right.” He huffed. “There. That’s the best I can do pinning it with this crappy lighting. Move alright?” 

Noctis took a step away from him, breathing in deeply. She knew the movements she needed to test. Big breath in, twist the torso, arms up, arms down. Full range of motion. Noctis shivered and tried not to flinch back at the scratching of metal bits against her skin.

“...I think I might need help getting out without looking like I lost a fight with a cactuar.” Noctis admitted. The dress was the kind you slipped on over the head. There wasn’t an easy way for her to do that without getting pricked by a dozen needles. 

Gladio helped ease the dress up over her back and shoulders without a word. This at least was more typical. Sometimes Noctis just couldn’t fucking stand things touching her back. Sometimes she’d have such a bad pain day she couldn’t lift her arms above her head and needed help. 

She sighed in relief, quickly grabbing her T-shirt and sweatpants. It was just a bit too chilly out here to be comfortable in boxers. 

By the time she’d turned around, Gladio had sat back down in his folding chair and was pulling a string of thread between his teeth. She decided to sit across the fire and play on her phone. Noctis didn’t think she’d be able to go back to sleep very easily now. Usually she could pass out just about anywhere, anytime. But now that Gladio was being so… not what she’d expected, she felt like she needed to do more. She wanted to do more. She didn’t want him to think of her as a guy in a dress, like Prompto. There was a burning need to make sure he knew that she was a woman in a dress. 

“Hey Gladio?” Her King’s Knight game was paused. She’d been losing anyway. She couldn’t focus and her fingers were too slow sliding across the screen right now. 

“Yeah, Noct?” He didn’t even look up at her, bent nearly in half. His face was screwed up as he scrutinized his project. 

“...I’m a woman.” 

Gladio looked up. For the first time tonight he showed surprise. He frowned, squinting up at her across the fire. “...huh. F’real?” 

“Yup.” Noctis nodded with false confidence. “I’m figuring out what it means, but I am definitely a woman. Just. So you know.” Gods she wanted to pinch herself hard for that bit of idiocy. 

“...uh huh.” Gladio’s frown deepened. But it wasn’t in disapproval, so she’d fucking take it. “Gotcha.” 

Gotcha? What the hell was gotcha supposed to fucking mean? 

Gladio didn’t say anything else, turning back to her dress with a pensive set to his shoulders that said he was really thinking about something. 

“Thanks.” She said, haltingly. “For the dress. And for fixing Prompto’s skirt, before.” And for not being an asshole. 

Gladio grunted wordlessly and she beat a hasty retreat back to the tent. That was about the limit to her emotional vulnerability for the week.

“Tiss, holy shit Tiss-” Prompto’s voice hissing at her was accompanied by violent shoving. She groaned and tried to roll out of the way. “No, seriously Noct, wake the fuck up-” 

Was that yelling? She could swear that was Ignis’s voice loudly lecturing and bordering on angry shouting. 

“Whud’fuh?” Noctis squinted up from her pillow. “Fuck pissed Iggy off?” 

“Did you tell Gladio last night?” Prompto sounded a little hysterical. 

Noctis paused to drag her thoughts together. “What- about- about me? Yeah.” Oh. Oh shit. “Fuck-” She scrambled to sit up, nearly headbutting Prom. “Shit- he- yeah. Uh. I didn’t really mean to but he was gonna take in my dress for me and I- I just kinda told him? And he didn’t really react at all, so I thought it went okay. Shit what went wrong?” Did Gladio decide overnight that he wasn’t weirdly okay with it all? 

Prompto put a hand to her chest. “Okay that makes! A little more sense, aha, cause he said something to Iggy about us while he was cooking breakfast and I think Specs thought he was just being an asshole again and so he’s real pissed off at Gladio-” 

Noctis grabbed his hand, squeezing it tight. Prompto took a deep breath in. Noctis breathed with him because honestly, she needed it too. “Right so uh. I should probably go say something before Iggy bites his head off.” 

Prompto made a little wheezing noise. As usual, the sight of Prompto’s anxiety made her own go up in smoke. 

Noctis crawled out of the tent to see Ignis fully squared up against Gladio, shoulders set and arms crossed. Gladio was scowling and looked like he was about to start swinging. The way they were standing, Gladio saw her first. 

“Fucking finally you’re up-” He threw his hands up and pointed at Ignis, glaring at her. “How the fuck did you tell me this shit before you told Specs?!” 

“Noctis!” Ignis spun around. “You don’t have to-” 

“Woah there, Iggy,” She tried to wave them both down frantically. “Uh- cause honestly I didn’t plan to tell anyone, both times I came out it was kind of just entirely on impulse?” Prompto gave a little hysterical giggle. 

“Pardon?” Ignis took an audible calming breath, trying to smooth his expression. 

“I’m-” Her throat tried to close up in the face of Ignis’s heated emotion. He was arguing for her. He thought he was protecting her from Gladio being an ass. But it was still a whole different beast than just casually throwing it out at Gladio over the campfire when the whole thing still felt almost like a dream. “I’m a woman. Now. Uh. Probably always was. Uh.” She swallowed dryly. 

Ignis’s face locked down as he throttled his immediate reaction into a smooth mask of composure. It almost hurt, but it was also familiar. He’d done the same thing when she’d first come out as bisexual. He’d made sure to not show any of his own emotions because he’d wanted to show her nothing but support. 

“So Noct told me last night,” Gladio pointed to Prompto. “Are you a lady now too?” 

“Oh no, not me!” He stayed mostly behind her, giving her his shoulder to lean on. “I’m still a dude. Just a dude who looks great in skirts.” 

“You are-” Ignis nodded slowly, in the way that meant he was frantically trying to recall some etiquette he hadn’t studied up on in a while. “You are a transgender woman?” 

“Yup.” Noctis nodded, fighting the urge to bite her lip in a way she hadn’t since she was a teen and Gladio knocked that bad habit out in training. “Um- she, her, dresses, the whole deal. Prompto tried to get me to try out other names but honestly, I just like Noctis.” 

“I’ve been calling her Tiss.” He shyly offered. 

“Noct is still fine though.” Noctis shrugged. “I don’t um- I dunno what exactly to do about it, but it doesn’t need to change anything. I’m still… Noct. I just like to wear pretty clothes, when it’s safe to.” 

“And jewelry.” Prom added, a little more chipper. “She’s really obsessed with shiny “pretty” things.” 

“Prom,” She hissed, elbowing him. 

“What? It’s true.” 

Ignis hadn’t said anything. Noctis swallowed dryly. “You um- you don’t have to- this doesn’t have to change anything.” She said quietly, unable to keep looking at his blank face. 

There was a slight thud. “Now’s the part where you pull your head out of your ass, Specs.” 

A footstep as someone approached and a hand on her shoulder. Noctis stiffened, but looked up to see Ignis looking conflicted. 

“I’ll admit I’m not quite sure how to react to this news,” He said carefully. “But know this, Noctis, that you are-” Ignis paused, to tilt his head and think. He pulled her against him in a hug and she near collapsed into his chest. “I have been proud to call you my Prince all these years. I am just as proud if not prouder to call you my Princess.” 

Noctis sobbed immediately, clinging to his shirt. 

They were supposed to head out that day to the next hunt. They had trails to hike and gil to earn. Crying into Iggy’s button up shirt and then Prompto’s jacket for a few hours was not a constructive use of their time. 

They didn’t go anywhere that day. Ignis leaned over his phone, frantically googling everything under the sun, while Gladio sat back and worked on fitting her dress. Prompto ended up cuddling with her in the tent when she gave herself a stress headache and backache from all the damn fuss. 

Getting to slide on a dress that fit her body almost to a T was one of the best feelings of her life.