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Autumn Equinox would rarely feel like the beginning of fall, honestly speaking. More often than not, summer simply wouldn’t let go, and it would still be hot even well into October. Still, Gladio and Ignis held on to their tradition.
On the first day of fall, they make and eat apple crisp together. Nothing quite hit the spot like enjoying the warm gooey goodness of baked apples and the crunchy crispness of oatmeal while snuggled together on the couch. What better way to welcome in the cool autumn weather? (Or at least they would hope.)
However, every year, something would nearly go wrong. Sometimes, they would almost forget it was, indeed, the first day of fall (“It’s 28 degrees, Iggy! How could you expect me to remember when I’m sweltering?”). Other times, they would both work too late and almost be too exhausted. But always, they preserved and maintained the tradition.
This time, however, they promised: they would not forget the day, they would not get held up with duties. They would carry out their tradition smoothly. This time, everything would work out perfectly.
“We don’t have the key ingredients!” Ignis moaned, rubbing his temple. “I was supposed to stock up this weekend, but it completely slipped my mind.”
“It’s all right, Iggy.” Gladio placed a comforting hand on Ignis’s shoulder. “We still got time after work. No problem.”
Ignis groaned and muttered, “But for once I would like to do this perfectly right.”
“And we will.” Gladio kissed Ignis’s forehead. “What exactly are we missing?”
“Hmmm… the apples, flour, and oatmeal.”
“All right…” Gladio paused a moment, considering, then gave a few nods. “How about this? All my trainings and meetings are done for the day, so I’ll go get the apples before the greengrocer closes. Then, would you have time to go to the supermarket to get the flour and oatmeal?”
Ignis clicked his tongue and then nodded. “I should be able to manage. Still have one more meeting, but it should not take very long.”
“Perfect, so then it’s all good.”
“I hope so…”
“Hey.” Gladio wrapped an arm around Ignis’s waist. He took Ignis’s chin gently and raised it to make eye contact. “It will be. And we’re going to have a perfect time tonight.”
Ignis’s eyes wavered for a moment before shifting to renewed determination. “All right. It will be all good.”
The two shared a quick kiss before heading to their respective missions, resolved to have a perfect Autumn Equinox evening.
~
One might be surprised to learn that Gladio was the one who was particular about the ingredients for apple crisp. Well, notably, the apples. The recipe called for Golden Delicious, and no other apple could be more fitting. Just that extra bit of natural sweetness made all the difference.
Furthermore, for something as special as their Autumn Equinox apple crisp, Gladio would not settle for anything less than apples from a proper greengrocer. The regular supermarket wouldn’t do it at all. Hence, Gladio’s plan to go to said greengrocer, the same one he had been going to before for their previous apple crisps…
Should have been no problem.
“What do you mean you’re out of Golden Delicious?”
The shopkeeper shrugged. “Sorry, a man in a fedora demanded all of them. We’re fresh out.”
Gladio groaned. “What kind of a person needs all the apples in a store…”
“We still have plenty of other types.”
Gladio shook his head firmly. “I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. It has to be Golden Delicious.”
Gladio waved the shopkeeper goodbye and walked out of the store, sighing. He knew there were other greengrocers in Insomnia, but now this was going to take more time than expected.
Sorry, Iggy. Hope I don’t keep you waiting too long.
~
Ignis had never been happier to hear King Regis announce, “Meeting adjourned,” and at the scheduled end time, no less. He was quick to gather all his materials and swiftly make his way down the hall. Just had to make a quick spot to his office to drop off his clipboard and grab his keys and then-
“Scientia! Just the guy I was looking for!”
Ignis twitched. He recognized the voice immediately and didn’t even bother to look when he heard footsteps approach next to him. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Ulric?”
“So happy you asked.” Nyx slung an arm around Ignis’s shoulders as they continued to walk. “Made a bet with Libertus that I could blow up more and bigger balloons than him in five minutes. We’re almost ready to go, but we need someone impartial to officiate and judge.”
“Well, there are plenty of Crownsguard around,” Ignis said, shaking off Nyx’s shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding someone.”
“And that I have!” Nyx jumped in front of Ignis with a big stupid grin on his face.
Ignis tsked and moved to walk around Nyx. “My apologies, Ulric, but I have important business to attend to, and I have no time to regulate your shenanigans.”
“I beg to differ, Scientia.” Nyx grabbed Ignis around the elbow before he escaped. “Unless you don’t mind the Marshal learning just what exactly you and Amicitia get up to in Training Room #9.”
Ignis gasped and glared at Nyx. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Nyx smirked devilishly. “Help me to help you, Scientia.”
Ignis groaned. He really wanted to leave as soon as possible, but he didn’t want to risk facing the Marshal’s wrath either.
“Fine, Ulric. But this better be quick.”
“Excellent! Knew you’d come around.”
Ignis glared daggers into the back of Nyx’s head as he followed him.
Gladio, apologies. Hope you won’t wait too long.
~
“You don’t have Golden Delicious either!?”
The shopkeeper gestured to a fallen fruit stand. “Sorry, but a couple came in and knocked them all over from bickering too much.”
“What!? How does someone even do that?” Gladio ran a hand through his hair as he surveyed the damage.
“They seemed to be very preoccupied with their fighting…”
“And they just had to ruin all the Golden Delicious,” Gladio mumbled. He shook his head. “Nevermind. I’ll search elsewhere.”
Gladio exited the greengrocer and headed back to his car. Attempts one and two failed, but third time’s the charm, right? The next greengrocer should definitely have Golden Delicious, right?
~
Note to self: find blackmail on Nyx.
Ignis tucked that note away in his brain upon finally entering his office. No time to think of ways to get the upper hand on Nyx for next time; he had precious matters to take care of. He put away his clipboard, grabbed his car keys, and walked back to his office door and opened it to-
“Ah, Scientia,” Cor remarked, standing right outside the open door. “Glad to have caught you. There are a few matters I need to discuss with you. May I come in?”
Ignis internally sighed. He didn’t want to be any later, but he’d be a fool to refuse the Marshal.
~
Gladio slapped his hands over his face and groaned wildly. “Are you kidding me? This is the fifth store…”
“I’m sorry, but the kids really needed-”
“IT’S FINE! I’LL LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE!”
~
‘Stupid Cor,’ Ignis thought to himself upon Cor exiting (because he would never actually say that outloud). At least Cor hadn’t discussed anything bad (and nothing about Training Room #9), but Ignis was really running late now. With quick steps, Ignis paced right out of the Citadel and towards his car, determined to-
His phone rang.
Click.
“Hello?”
“Hey… Ignis? It’s Prompto.”
“Prompto? What is it? Why are you calling me?”
“Ummm… Well… There’s kind of a problem… with Noct…”
“Noct!? Is he hurt!?”
“No, no! But uh… He climbed up a tree to get a cat and now… he’s kind of stuck there. Can you help?”
…Why, Noctis? Why?!
~
Gladio had lost count of the amount of greengrocers he went to. Who knew there could be so many in one city? Or that there would be such a shortage of Golden Delicious? But finally, he was able to get his bag at a small shop located at the edge of the city. It nearly cost him his complete sanity, but he got it.
Ignis loved Noctis like a little brother. He really did. But having to deal with his ridiculous antics nearly pushed him to the edge. By the time he got to the store to pick up the flour and oatmeal, he nearly spent all of his energy trying to restrain himself from snapping at everyone and everything.
Both Gladio and Ignis had their ingredients. But it was late. And they were miserable.
They approached their front door at the same time, coming from opposite ends. Their feet stomped, their muscles clenched, their minds screamed.
They arrived at the same time and caught sight of each other.
And they burst out laughing.
“My, Gladio! You look dreadful!” Ignis remarked between laughs.
“Look who’s talking!” Gladio playfully pushed Ignis’s shoulder. “But man, did I have the most awful time!”
“Same, unfortunately!”
“Aw, Iggy!”
The two promptly embraced each other. Held tightly and securely, wrapped in each other’s scent, the evening stress dissipated into comfort.
“So much for performing this tradition perfectly.” Ignis settled his head against Gladio’s shoulder.
“Yeah.” Gladio stroked Ignis’s back. “But hey, the day’s not over yet. Still got time for cooking. Like always.”
Ignis smiled. “Like always.”
~
About an hour and a half later, Gladio and Ignis found themselves on the couch, snuggled up together with a blanket and a bowl of warm apple crisp. Ignis held a spoon full of the crisp to Gladio’s mouth, and Gladio happily ate it.
Gladio moaned in delight, savoring the beautiful mix of apples and cinnamon. “Still the best way to welcome fall.”
“Indeed.”
“And hey, maybe it should be part of the tradition for things to go wrong beforehand.”
“No.”
“Okay, Captain.”