[ albert is everything ignis finds that he wants to cherish and treasure. the first person outside of his fellow eosians and his brothers-in-arms who is truly his own. they've discovered each other on their own terms, fallen in love with each other over so sweetly and so impossibly. there is much they still have to learn about each other, but everything he has learned about albert is heartening -- he is a remarkably kind man made to do terrible things in an unkind, cruel world, a man who can still love so readily, so willingly despite everything that he has been put through.

and his wit, his intelligence, the sheer joy that albert's company brings him makes him want to pinch himself sometimes, makes him wonder if this is a fever dream that he will wake from one day, and pine forever for a man who exists only in his imagination.

but here and now, he has never felt more real as he clings to him. they are a perfect match in every way, albert with his goodness, challenging him to be better -- and ignis in his shades of grey, drawing albert out of absolutes, slowly but surely.

ignis loves him in turn, holds him like he's everything precious, and as he lays him on the bed and follows after with a smile, tugging the scarf free and unbuttoning albert's shirt, he smiles. ]

I'll make sure I'm seared into your heart, dear Albert. [ his hand moves between his open shirt, splaying possessively over the flat of his stomach. ] I'll worship every inch of you, all night long. Take your clothes off for me, darling.