Chapter Text
The outskirts of Insomnia are desolate and quiet in comparison to the vibrant atmosphere found in the heart of the Crown City. There’s no real reason to venture out to the borders of Insomnia, yet Ignis currently sits in Gil’s Parlor – a small bar located on the very border of the city – just so Noctis and Prompto can fool around playing Justice Monsters Five.
Ignis sighs. It’s the middle of the night. They should not be here.
Gladiolus sits across from him as he slowly sips on a beer. He glances at Ignis over the rim of his glass. “You all right, Iggy?”
Prompto lets out an excited hoot and slaps the game machine. Noctis playfully shoves his shoulder. Ignis doesn’t turn to look at Gladiolus when he replies with, “I’m fine.”
Gladiolus laughs. “You sure? You look so stiff you might strain a muscle or something if you’re not careful.”
Ignis rolls his shoulders subconsciously and turns to face Gladio. “I’m not comfortable here. Noctis is safest in the Crown City.”
“We’re technically still in Insomnia.” Gladiolus shrugs.
“Hardly.”
“And besides, look around.” Gladio points a thumb behind him. Rows of empty booths accompany them. “There’s no one here.”
“Regardless – ”
“Aw man! You were soooo close!” Prompto’s disappointed shout interrupts Ignis.
“If Prompto continues to shout like that we’ll surely attract unwanted attention,” Ignis says instead.
Gladiolus chuckles. “Let them have their fun. In the meantime…” Gladio waves a hand at the lone bartender behind the counter. She scurries to their booth. “Could I get a black coffee for my friend here?”
The bartender nods fervently and returns to the counter to prepare the drink.
“I didn’t want anything to drink.” Ignis furrows his eyebrows.
“Trust me, you need something. No alcohol, of course, since you’re driving.” Gladiolus takes a swig of his beer. “So coffee is the next best thing. You’ll thank me later. It looks like we’ll be here for a bit.”
Ignis returns his line of sight to Noctis and Prompto who have now switched places. Noctis is hunched over the pinball machine pointing and directing while Prompto is sporadically manning the controls.
A steaming mug of black coffee reclaims his attention. Ignis gives the bartender his thanks before lifting the cup to his lips and taking a sip.
“How is it?” Gladio asks.
“Satisfactory. Thank you.”
“Better than Ebony?” Gladiolus raises an eyebrow with a smirk playing at his lips.
“Of course not.” Ignis scoffs.
Gladio hums. “It was worth a try.”
“A terrible attempt, I might add.”
A light bell chimes, signaling the arrival of a new customer. Ignis, sitting with his back facing the front door, glimpses at Gladiolus, an unspoken exchange passing between them.
“A woman just walked in,” Gladio reports, his deep voice slightly above a whisper. Ignis watches as his friend’s eyes follow said woman. “A very attractive woman.”
The woman suddenly comes into Ignis’s line of sight as she takes a seat at the counter across from their booth.
Gladiolus was right. She was very, very attractive.
The woman looks their way and offers them a passing smile. Ignis nods his head in acknowledgement.
“Coming here tonight might have been a good idea after all,” Gladio jokes.
Ignis moves his now empty mug away from him. “All it took was a good-looking female to change your mind.”
“That’s usually all it takes.”
As he shakes his head at Gladiolus’s reply, Ignis removes his phone from his pocket to check the time. “1:26 AM” flashes across his screen in bright white numbers. Ignis makes a mental note to tell Noctis and Prompto they’re leaving in the next fifteen minutes.
“Hey, Iggy,” Gladiolus says.
Ignis looks at the raven-haired man over his glasses. “Yes?”
“This girl is seriously eyeing us right now,” Gladio murmurs. “She seems to be looking at you more than me, though.”
“Should we be suspicious of her?” Ignis decides they’re leaving in the next five minutes instead.
“No, no!” Gladiolus waves his hand dismissively. “Honestly, I think she’s interested in you.” He drops the volume of his voice and leans forward. “Go ask for her number.”
“What? No.”
“C’mon, I bet she’d give it to you!”
“No.” Ignis says more sternly this time.
“You – ” Gladio spins his head to glance at the woman and is about to turn back to Ignis but suddenly stops. “Oh, looks like she’s tired of waiting.”
“What are you—” Ignis doesn’t get the chance to finish his sentence because the woman is making her way over to their booth, her hips swaying as she walks.
“Hello,” she says with a coquettish grin as she stands at the head of their table. “You guys frequent empty bars at one in the morning?”
Ignis wants to see Gladiolus’s reaction but he can’t take his eyes off of her.
“We could ask you the same thing,” Gladio replies with a flirty smile of his own.
“What if I said I do?” She tilts her head playfully, her hair falling over one shoulder.
“Then I’d have to start going to bars at two in the morning more often.” Gladiolus winks.
The woman lets out a soft laugh. “What’s your name, handsome?”
“I’m Gladio.”
“Nice to meet you, Gladio.” She bends over to place both hands on the table and fixes her gaze on Ignis.
Ignis shifts slightly. She’s a bit too close. He can smell the perfume she’s wearing – a strong combination of mint and roses – and if he had inappropriate motives, he’d gawp at her cleavage in her low-cut shirt.
Needless to say, he does not.
“How about you?” she asks him. “Are you gonna talk or just stare holes into the side of my face?”
Ignis clears his throat. “We’re leaving.” The tips of his ears are starting to burn. He slides out of the booth and stands up in a swift motion. “Have a good night.”
Gladiolus follows. “Nice meeting you, Miss.” He nods his head.
“Aw, we’re leaving?” Prompto whines once he sees Ignis walking towards them. “Can we play one more game? Noct and I are so close to beating the high score!”
“Would you prefer to walk back?” Ignis says, making his way towards the exit.
Prompto immediately lets go of the pinball machine. “I’m suddenly ready to go!”
Noctis snorts. “What’s up with Specs?”
“He struck out with a girl,” Gladiolus whispers to Noctis.
“Hey!” An unexpected call from the woman halts all four boys in their tracks. “Glasses guy! You forgot something!”
Prompto pats Ignis’s shoulder. “Iggy, I think that woman is talking to you.” Prompto gasps when he turns around to get a good look at her. “And oh my gosh she’s beautiful.”
Ignis instantly feels like something is wrong. His first instinct is to pat his pockets and he isn’t surprised when he doesn’t feel his phone. He strides back over to the booth.
“That’s who Ignis struck out with?” Noctis asks Gladiolus.
“Yep.” Gladio crosses his arms over his chest.
“No wonder he’s crabby,” Noctis says.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” The woman wiggles a sleek black phone in her hand when Ignis stops in front of her. She places it on his outstretched palm.
“Thank you.” He slides the phone back in his pants pocket. “It must’ve fell out when I got up.”
“No problem.” She smiles. “Have a good night.”
The night air is chilly as the boys walk across the parking lot to reach the car.
Noctis slows his pace to stroll alongside Ignis. “I’ve never seen you forget your phone before,” he says to him. “Were you that distracted?”
“I was not distracted.” Ignis glances at Noctis who is smirking at him in a teasing way. “I’m tired because someone made me drive an hour out of the city in the middle of the night for an inconsequential game.”
“This is the only place in Insomnia with Justice Monsters Five.” Noctis shrugs.
“I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true,” Noctis says.
“Surely you and Prompto can find other means of entertainment?” Ignis suggests. Insomnia is a great city with a plethora of attractions.
“We’ve exhausted every arcade in the city,” Noctis states. “I’m pretty sure I can play DDR with my eyes closed now,” he mutters.
“Are you twenty or twelve?” Ignis asks sarcastically.
Noctis rolls his eyes. “Says the guy who’s the best King’s Knight player out of all of us.”
Ignis smiles as he opens the door to the driver’s seat. “Ah, so you finally admit it.”
---
It’s around two-thirty a.m. when Ignis arrives at his apartment. He shrugs off his blazer and heads straight for his bedroom. His bones ache with exhaustion and his muscles beg him to rest but he refuses to go to bed until he showers.
Ignis exhales deeply. He has to be up in four hours. Why does he let himself get involved with Noct's nonsensical escapades?
Repetitive vibrating coming from his pocket breaks him out of his reverie. He grabs his phone and is greeted by a text message from an unknown number.
Unknown [2:45am]: You never told me your name :(
Ignis is confused. He has the numbers of everyone he regularly associates with saved in his phone. Could this be someone with the wrong number? He hesitantly texts back.
Ignis [2:47am]: Who is this?
Unknown [2:48am]: You don’t remember me?
Unknown [2:49am]: Disappointing. I assumed my face was burned into your memory.
It’s too late and Ignis’s patience is too thin to put up with foolish pranksters.
Ignis [2:52am]: I am blocking this number. Goodbye.
Unknown [2:52am]: Whoa! Wait!
Unknown [2:52am]: I was just joking! It’s the girl from the bar!
Ignis frowns. He has no recollection of giving that woman his cell number.
Ignis [2:54am]: How did you obtain my number?
Unknown [2:55am]: Remember when you left your cellphone? I might’ve called my phone with yours, haha.
How childish, Ignis thinks to himself.
Ignis [2:55am]: Why?
Unknown [2:56am]: Because I wanted your number, duh.
Ignis narrows his eyes. Is this some type of hoax?
Ignis [2:58am]: I’m not sure what joke you’re playing, but I have nothing to offer you. Please delete my number and stop contacting me.
Unknown [2:56am]: Ouch.
Unknown [2:57am]: I know flirting over text is hard but maybe I’m not as good as I thought…
Ignis [2:58am]: What?
Unknown [2:59am]: Hey. I think you’re attractive and I want to get to know you.
Unknown [3:00am]: Is that any better?
Ignis stares at his phone. This is absolutely absurd, his mind says. He berates himself for being so careless. He’ll make sure to double-check for his cellphone whenever he leaves an establishment from now on.
Ignis [3:06am]: It’s late and I’m going to bed. Please refrain from contacting me any further. Goodnight.
He sets his phone aside and enters his restroom. He’s not nearby when his phone buzzes and the screen lights up one last time.
Unknown [3:09am]: Night.