Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As Ignis adapted to his new life he found everything was a frustrating puzzle with half the pieces missing.

He had full confidence in his ability, in time, to get better at groping around the table to find them. Absolute ability to achieve any goal had been a major facet of his personality before and he was certain it would be after.

But no time had elapsed. He hadn’t been blind for long and as much remarkable progress as he’d made already it wasn’t quite enough.

The pieces? Ardyn’s voice. The sound of Gladio’s sword hitting flesh, hard. A gunshot from Prompto. A body hitting the floor only to get up again and walk past him.

Silently he braced for impact, feeling his ankle pushed against a low rail. The way his heavy footsteps had carried on the metal floor had alerted him to the fact he was on a rather thin catwalk. A heavy coat brushing past his ankle confirming what he’d feared.

Ardyn was definitely immortal. Or at least close enough that it might as well count.

But as alarming as that particular fact was it paled in comparison to the bigger, more important question in his mind.

Where’s Noct?

- - -

The firm grip on Ignis’s arm hadn’t let up since Gladio’d had to stop him from approaching the crystal himself, invoking gods know what power from the glittering menace in some ill-advised effort to get Noctis out.

Not like there was even anything of him they could see or grasp but details like that eluded Ignis in his new state.

Maybe it would have been harder to wrangle Ignis out of there if not for the long catwalk. Even in such a state of grief, it was obvious Ignis wasn’t terribly keen on the idea of sending himself, Gladio, or the both of them hurtling off to their deaths. Submitting the second the sound of boots clanging on metal hit his ears.

Didn’t make Gladio feel any better about the situation. Overpowering Ignis was one thing but holding onto him was another, his reflexes were drastically sharper. Or, well, they were. Would be again. But right now his moves were tinged with a hesitancy he hadn’t had before.

Gladio tried not to think too hard about that. He had enough reasons to be pissed off right now, he didn’t need to pile on more old ones.

“Watch out for the broken glass,” Gladio said, shards crunching under his feet. “They really did a hell of a number on this thing.”

Neither of his companions answered. Didn’t even nod. Just stepped more carefully with the debris underneath their foot crackling and snapping. Somehow the dead silence was even worse then the slightly situationally inappropriate joke from Prompto he’d expected in return. Or even a sharp barb about not being able to ‘watch’ out from Ignis.

But neither blonde was taken to talking right now and Gladio’s never been the one steering conversations.

Thankfully anyone necessary to run the train had survived. Workers all used to the little nooks and crannies they could stay hidden in. Probably used to them for more benign reasons like taking a nap on the clock or for stashing snacks, not trying to stay alive from Daemon hoards.

Mercifully many of the beasties had moved on, believing the train empty. Nothing but a little clean up of the remaining stragglers as they walked through. Largely just a few imps forgotten by their more powerful peers.

Ignis didn’t fight though. at least not actively. It hadn’t escaped Gladio’s notice that unless something was coming for him directly he hung back and let them handle it.

Didn’t like that. But he also couldn’t worry about it, at least not yet.

Not until the train was moving, getting them the hell out of Niflheim.

- - -

It’s Prompto who breaks the silence, which isn’t a surprise.

“So we think Noct’s like, coming back? Eventually?”

“He will,” Ignis finally spoke, with a degree of confidence that didn’t fit the seemingly hopeless situation, “I don’t know how or when. But he will.”

Normally Gladio wasn’t one to question Ignis but this was something far from the norm, “You got anything to back up that statement?”

“You’ll just have to trust me,” Ignis' mouth was a stern line, warding off any further questions. “Hopefully, after all this time spent together you can.”

“Only if it’s you,” Gladio replied.

“What, so if I was the one saying Noct is gonna come back you wouldn’t trust me?” Prompto cut in.

For a split second a meaner version of what he was about to say tried to claw out but given recent revelations…

“Trust you not to stab me in my sleep,” Gladio responded, “But I don’t trust you with basic tasks like finding firewood, why am I gonna trust you with… whatever next level thing Ignis is basing this on. Clairvoyance or some shit.”

If that was the correct answer, Ignis didn’t say anything. Face turned towards the darkened window- or rather, away from them- with his eye closed tightly shut. Back to his staunch silence. Leaving them with nothing but the rattling of the train to break it up.

Despite the lack of conversation and the completely abandoned train car they were closely clustered. A wordless but mutual need to not be alone right now. Challenged by the immediate reminder of why they normally spread out. A contentious fight for leg space, eventually broken by Prompto surrendering and pulling his up. Sitting like an overgrown cross legged child.

The world was dark around them. Gladio intermittently looking out only to see daemons rushing past, swarming everything. Only scattered in small bursts where the lights had been set up before to ward them off.

Back in Lucis… they’d ran a lot of errands for Holly, strengthening the infrastructure. Back then Gladio’d found that a slightly annoying diversion from what they were really supposed to be doing but right now that was the only thing that was potentially keeping people alive.

Internally he made a weird apology to Noctis for that. While he faulted the prince for many things he’d really taken others for granted. Spoiled as he was (is?) Noct was always ready to help someone in need.

Might be damned near the only thing keeping the people of Lucis alive. At least, hopefully alive.

Pulling out his phone for the hundredth time, there was still no signal.

Gladio knew they wouldn’t get any bars until they were closer to Lucis but the inability to check on Iris was maddening. Make sure Cor and Monica were there. She would be, he was sure of that, but in his current state he couldn’t recall if Cor had been heading out or staying at Cape Caem…

Always felt like a stupid ape having to consciously tell himself not to smash his phone but it was more important not to than ever. Stuffing it back in his pocket with a huff before he could act on that impulse.

“Still no service?” Prompto asked. “Worried about Iris?”

“No shit, both accounts,” Gladio snapped back.

“Temper, temper,” Ignis didn’t even look over. He rarely did nowadays.

Again, silence fell. Apparently long, awkward pauses were going to just be a thing they have to put up with now. At least for now, he dared to hope.

Gladio’s stomach lurched as the train did, brakes squealing as the train came to slow stop.

- - -

The other two had jumped to help as one of the remaining employees sheepishly entered, asking if they’d be willing to rescue a cluster of survivors just off the tracks.

Ignis’d felt a tap on his upper arm, Prompto cheerily telling him to get going.

Uncomfortable reminder of how stripped of his role he was right now, even Prompto was calling the shots over him. Ignis forced down a grimace that he was sure Prompto would take as a reflection on himself than something internal. Calmly shaking his head, saying he’ll help on the next one.

He didn’t. They’d stopped five times and each and every one Ignis just sat there.

As the train car slowly filled up with rescued civilians he felt even worse, knowing each person is another he could have helped. That each empty seat could be someone who didn’t make it from him not being out there.

But he also knew he was too distracted to be out there. Between him still adjusting to fighting blind and his thoughts preoccupied with those damned visions of the future burned into his brain…

Ignis doesn’t think he could handle Gladio or Prompto getting hurt covering for him because he was too busy dwelling on the seemingly inevitable. Or worse than hurt. Gods, he really couldn’t entertain that thought.

Closing his eye, he tilted his head against the chilled window. He’d already had a few too-friendly strangers attempt conversation with him and frankly he wasn’t feeling particularly personable right now. Feigning sleep was another cheap out but he’d take it.

Wasn’t the biggest stretch either. Even without the sun everyone could sense how late it was, refugees slowly petering out to claim a room to sleep in.

It wasn’t long before he was rejoined by his friends. Seat sinking in heavily at Gladio’s weight, Prompto chattering away inanely. Evidently quickly having moved to his own form of coping known as “if I keep talking maybe the bad thoughts won’t catch me.”

Ignis ignored the gentle nudges at his leg, “He fell asleep… should we… do something about that?”

“Eh, I’ll carry him to the room in a bit,” Gladio replied. “You go to bed. I’m just gonna stay up a little bit longer until the car clears out, make sure nothing else comes up.”

“Alrighty,” Prompto agreed, dipping down into a deeper voice, “But you kids don’t stay out too late. Have him back by-”

A yelp, Prompto most likely nearly shoved over given Gladio’s cackle.

“I’m the dad, not you. Go to bed or you’re grounded.”

Ignis couldn’t hear Prompto’s response but he could guess. Something along the lines of sticking out his tongue or a mock salute, followed by walking away. That part he could hear at the very least. Punctuated at the end by the door to the cabins opening and closing.

There was silence again for a long, slow minute.

“I know you’re not asleep.”

Ignis debated keeping up the ruse but acquiesced, sightless eye opening, “What gave me away?”

“Most people don’t sleep full body tensed while grimacing, not even a hard-ass like you” Gladio replied. “Slept next to you long enough on this trip to know that.”

That he had. A strategic sleeping arrangement they’d all landed on. Noctis sleeps like the dead, Prompto flails around wildly, Ignis lays there dead still, and Gladio will fall asleep half on top of you.

Just a matter of pairing up who won’t slap Prompto if he accidentally elbows them in the face in the dead of night. Which was only Noctis, who would just miraculously sleep through it.

“I’d ask if you’re okay but I know you aren’t ‘cause I’m not,” Gladio sighed, throwing the heavy weight of his arm over Ignis’s shoulders. “Prompto ain’t either but I know you’re not about to start opening up to anyone else right now. Barely get you to talk to me half the time.”

Gladio tightening his arm around Ignis’s neck in the closest to a headlock he was willing to inflict upon him. A warning not to fight him on this.

It wasn’t uncommon, across the generations, for a friendship like theirs. Standing on either side of the king meant that the shield and the hand had two options: get friendly quick or learn how to work in very close proximity with someone you hate for your entire life.

Despite Gladio’s antagonistic approach the first time they met, he was easily subdued by Ignis. Very quickly learning the considerable bulk he had over him didn’t matter in the face of an already commanding twelve-year-old with the bearing of a tired, easily annoyed adult.

While Gladio frequently took issue with having to listen to Noctis’s orders, he didn’t feel the need to question Ignis on anything except his absolute refusal to show emotion.

“I know you’re cramming it down,” Gladio never was any good at trying to make his voice soft, mostly just getting quieter as he continued to tighten the arm curled around Ignis’ head. The man’s face going a bit red, clearly embarrassed by how intimate this must look from the outside. “Me and Prompto aren’t stupid… okay, we’re a little stupid. But anyone with half a brain would know you’re gonna take this harder than the rest of us.”

“I just feel…” Ignis chose his scarce words carefully, “Defeated.”

“That why you didn’t come with us?”

“Not quite,” Ignis replied. “Never been one to lay down and take it once I’ve been defeated. I am, however, dreadfully distracted and you cannot imagine how much focus it takes for me to fight with my current… condition.”

Arm still around him, Ignis could feel Gladio nod, “Yeah I don’t… know how you do it. But you’ve always been some kinda untouchable super human so I guess I’m not surprised.”

“Don’t talk like that, the kind of childish beliefs that Noctis thought of me,” Ignis barely managed to dull the biting edge of his words. “You of all people know how human I am.”

A benefit of the hand and the shield being close. A confidant in the only other person in the court, country, and maybe planet who understands exactly what you’re expected to go through. Their duties different but the expectations the same. Give up your life for the king.

For Ignis, at least until Altissia, it had always assumed that for him it would simply be figurative.

If he knew that his childhood was stolen from him he’d never shown any signs. Whatever was expected of him he acted out in quiet dignity, even as the duties increased with age.

By the time he was a teenager he was in the war room during the day and taking care of Noctis at night. His thorough education compressed painfully tight as to be completed by the time he would have graduated middle school.

At an age when they should have been hanging out at the arcade with Noctis and Prompto they were leaning on the wall outside the throne room, discussing the Niflheim threat.

“Alright, so not an untouchable super human,” Gladio replied. “You’re still probably the toughest person I’ve ever met.”

“Ah, a rare admission that you’re not the top of the food chain. Refreshing.”

“Hey, I said I’ve ever met. Can’t meet myself.”

A light kick to Gladio’s shin, Ignis smirked, “Playing games like you don’t fall into line behind me just as easy as the other two.”

One. Just the one now.

Deflating again, Ignis sighed heavily and tried to escape the quasi-headlock, “I’ll be fine.”

“You’re not right now though,” Gladio didn’t let up. “And I’m gonna be real, don’t know how to help with that.”

“I don’t think you can, so don’t beat yourself up about it,” Ignis made another futile and easily defeated attempt at escape. “I don’t really think this is something I can talk through, unfortunately. Burned a little bit deeper than that.”

“I mean it’s like… a dorky cliche but I’m literally giving you a shoulder to cry on here.”

“Is that what this increasingly uncomfortable headlock is supposed to be?”

“Yeah, you got a problem with that?”

“You know,” Ignis replied, “Most people don’t sound and act like they’re trying to pick fights when they’re comforting a friend.”

“Well… this is all you got so take it or leave it.”

“Fortunately or unfortunately for you, I have no interest in showing weakness in front of this many people.”

“Iggy, everyone left like fifteen minutes ago.”

Both stopped talking for a second, Ignis listening intently but finding the assertion true. Not a breath of noise outside of the two of them.

With a heavy sigh, Ignis finally gave in. Letting his head lean against Gladio’s side as the tears began to fall. Tattooed arm sliding down around Ignis’s waist to pull him closer, turning the near headlock into a slightly awkward hug as quiet sobs filled the train car.

Chapter Text

“Gladdy, it’s fine and I’m fine!” Iris’s voice crackled over the phone. “I’m here with Cor AND Monica. Do you really think either of them is going to let the daemons overrun this place? And I’m not helpless myself, either!”

“No,” Gladio flustered, “But you could also have me there. And Ignis. And Prompto, I guess.”

Was Prompto better at fighting than Iris? Probably not. But he had a gun and hit the target at least a third of the time and that was better backup than nothing.

“You’re being a big fat baby,” Iris replied. “We need supplies more than we need the three of you to sprint back here empty handed. A car, generators, food… the sustainable kind, Ignis will know what to get.”

‘Ignis will know.’ Gladio felt a pang of guilt knowing Iris wasn’t aware of what had happened to him yet but… it didn’t seem like something to tell her over the phone.

“Fine,” he gave in, “We’ll get the supplies but if anything happens-”

“I. Will. Call. You,” he could hear Iris roll her eyes. “Now you can either waste more time talking to me when I really need to get… lunch? started. We’ve all been fortifying Cape Caem all day or whatever and we’re all starving.”

“Alright,” Gladio sighed. “Stay safe.”

“Can do,” Iris chirped, “Tell Noct I say hello!”

If Iris heard the strangled noise Gladio made before she hung up she didn’t do anything about it.

So distracted by checking on her, he hadn’t even considered… telling her. It had to wait, right? There was no way in hell that Iris was going to take that gracefully, that was even more dire than Ignis’s blindness. At least Ignis is still here, alive and mostly well.

Slinking back to the other two, Gladio felt like he’d made several bad choices in record time. This is exactly why, not so deep down, he hates being in charge. These choices shouldn’t be his, Noctis or Ignis should be in charge of this.

But Iris was his sister, Noctis was gone, and Ignis was busy with a call of his own.

Ignis finished at the same time, sliding his phone into his pocket, “Well, some good news, Cindy is more than sympathetic to our situation. She says so long as we bring her a car, any car, she’ll fix it up for us.”

“Iggy wouldn’t let me say hi,” Prompto pouted.

“I did let you say ‘hi’, she said ‘hi’ back. It was a business call, Prompto,” Ignis chastised, sharp glare missing the mark by a few inches but effective nonetheless. “Did you forget the part where I had to tell the poor girl Noct is missing? Speaking of, how did Iris take it?”

The last sentence was softer, aimed at Gladio, but it sharply snapped him out of his thoughts.

“I, uh, didn’t tell her.”

A long silence.

For once in his life, Gladio felt small in the already abandoned train station as Ignis blindly stared him down. Frozen in place in sheer disbelief before snapping out of it to dig into Gladio for his failures.

“And exactly what are you hoping to accomplish by that?” Ignis was incredulous. “If you’re waiting for me to do it for you...”

“I just… I don’t think that’s the kind of news she should be hearing over the phone.”

“Well then,” Ignis huffed. “We shall hurry to Cape Caem and-”

“Iris wants us to make a few stops and pick up supplies.”

The irritated glare he’d given Prompto a minute ago was nothing compared to the withering one aimed at Gladio, unfortunately hitting the mark dead on.

“Look, I just want to be able to be there for her,” he avoided eye contact the man didn’t even know he was making. “She’s… not gonna take this well. And who the hell there is gonna comfort her? Cor? Monica? Neither of them’s built for that shit. I’m barely built for it.”

His mouth a thin line, Ignis clearly couldn’t agree less but knew it also wasn’t his place, “Do as you will but do not expect me to back up your choices when the time comes.”

- - -

Locating an abandoned car was depressingly easy, the fact they had choices in the first place meant that the darkness had already taken far too many victims. The train station parking lot alarmingly full despite how many people had been on the train.

“How do we know the people who own these are dead?” Prompto asked. “What if we’re just taking a car from someone who’s alive and gonna come back?”

He had a point. As desperate as their situation was, they were capable of traversing without if absolutely need be.

But like following a morbid trail of breadcrumbs they found an uncomfortably reliable method of locating ownerless cars. Left behind as if the people had been raptured, were piles of clothes. Rooting around found them in possession of multiple sets of keys. Not only having a car but a selection to choose from.

After some slight deliberation and a bit of input from Ignis, they choose the nicest available. It was no Regalia but it wasn’t a slouch either, apparently formerly the property of some lost souls trying to get out of Insomnia by the license plate. Vanity, reading “STARLITE.”

It was pure muscle memory that had Ignis pulling the driver’s side door open, stopped from sliding in by Gladio’s firm hand on his shoulder.

“Might want me to take that one, Iggy.”

Right. Can’t exactly do that anymore.

He’d felt the edge of that pit when Noctis had taken over driving in Niflheim, right before the Regalia was trashed but had been too distracted by the goings-on to really take it in. Now given the time to think about it… well, he’d liked driving.

Just another on the list of meager pleasures taken from him.

“Of course,” Ignis’s voice flattened in disappointment. “Just… forgot.”

“Why can’t I drive?” Prompto whined, ability to read the room nonexistent. “I did before when Ignis was tired and Noct didn’t wanna.”

“And then the car broke down,” Gladio reminded him.

“That wasn’t my fault!”

“Still happened.”

“Fine, fine! I call shotgun then,” Prompto recovered quickly, footsteps circling the car as he went to claim his prize.

“No you fuckin’ don’t, get in the back,” Gladio replied.

“What, why?”

“Because I said so, now move.”

An exaggerated sigh and groan followed by an opening and slamming of the car door signalled that Prompto had quickly given up and accepted his fate. He wasn’t as fighty right now, quickly and quietly accepting what was handed to him. No doubt due to Noctis being gone.

Well, nevermind. He’d been like this a bit longer, hadn’t he? Since Ignis had been blinded. Forced to simultaneously step up and step back.

Ignis made a mental note to make Prompto’s favorite for dinner that he immediately had to strike.

Another not-so-small pleasure taken from him.

“I don’t need to sit up front,” Ignis protested, dealing with the issue at hand. “I can’t even see, it’s not like I’m going to enjoy the view better up there.”

“Well I wanna enjoy a view without Prompto flailing around trying to get my attention while I’m trying to drive,” Gladio replied. “Don’t know how you put up with it the whole time. Maybe it’s because you’re a better driver.”

“Was a better driver. But more so I think it’s because when I’m angry I don’t become overtaken by the urge to smash whatever’s in arm’s reach,” Ignis noted, circling around the car with his hand skirting across the hood.

“Hey, you’re not perfect. I saw you grab his face and shove him that one time.”

“He came into my personal space bubble, he knew the risks.”

- - -

At the angle they were approaching Hammerhead, Gladio could barely see the main building for the heavy duty and already nearly complete fence. Reinforced to hell and back, easily enough to keep Hammerhead secure from the daemons wandering past.

Only a woman as charming as Cindy could have enough manpower in the middle of nowhere to have a huge, impenetrable fence half built this quickly into the apocalypse.

Gladio was almost jealous of Cindy’s ability to turn flirting and shirtlessness into tangible gain. He’d ask her for pointers but had a feeling she’d just answer that you find the biggest, dumbest dude in the room and act like he’s interesting.

But that person was usually him so that wouldn’t quite work.

Also he doesn’t flirt with dudes.

There was still enough room to pull their newfound car into the parking lot. A slightly haggard Cindy’s face going from hollow to lit up in a second, like a fresh Jack-o-lantern.

Apparently even without Noctis with them they were still a very welcome sight.

Tapping on the window insistently, Cindy pointed down until Gladio obliged. She started to talk the second the window began rolling down, “It’s no Regalia but y’all found a decent ride all things considered. Didja have any difficulty? Seems like you got here in damn near no time.”

“Hell of a lot of abandoned cars,” Gladio replied. “Try not to think too hard about why there’s so many.”

“Wish I could,” Cindy’s smile faltered as she backed up to let the three men get out, “But I can’t, unfortunately. All I can do is keep trying to move forward and help out those I can. Speaking of, I also need a couple more strong young men to help me get the rest of this fence up.”

“Hey!” Prompto exclaimed, “Ignis can still help.”

Cindy’s face went red at the yelp then sheepish and confused at the actual words, “It wasn’t Ignis I was counting ou…”

Maybe Gladio would have had a chuckle at Prompto’s expense but unfortunately it would also be a bit at Ignis’s. Also it could not be less appropriate as Cindy approached Ignis cautiously. Taking in the newfound scars, sunglasses, and cane.

“Oh, hun,” Cindy’s voice impossibly soft, “What happened?”

By the way his whole body tensed it was obvious how little he was enjoying this new sort of attention. Never one who liked sympathy, getting catty even at the insinuation that he should take a break and let one of the others drive. Insisting he didn’t need help even if he was visibly nodding off.

But he was also polite to people unless they gave him a reason not to be, Gladio watching Ignis physically choke down his pride to not offend the woman who had already done so much for them.

“An accident in Altissia,” he answered, “One that you need not concern yourself with. I have dealt with it.”

She didn’t look comforted by that but Gladio knew she knows men well enough to know when to back off and do damage control. Unsurprised when she quickly dropped her own feelings to assuage his.

“Well, you’ve always been the smart one anyways so you can just come help me with the car repairs,” Cindy grabbed him by the arm, not really waiting for an answer before she started dragging him towards the garage they were half parked inside. “You two go talk to the other guys, they’ll getcha working on the fence.”

Prompto made a half effort to chase after them but Gladio easily caught him by the collar, “Oh no. If I’m stuck building a fence, you’re stuck building a fence. Start walking or I start dragging.”

- - -

Cindy’d dealt with a lot of personal loss in her life but it was starting to feel insignificant in the face of everything she’d been handed over the past few days.

The whole world going dark, daemons flooding the area, holing up in the garage with Paw-paw while they waited for help, getting the fence going, finally hearing from Ignis, said news being that Prince Noctis is gone indefinitely, offering to help, having to sit on her hands while they made their way here, now learning Ignis was blind…

You ever feel like you’re a minor character in a greater story that barely involves you? Cindy was feeling that, hard. Like she was just a sidequest on a mission to save the world.

And worst of all, it wasn’t even going well.

All she really could do was try and help the main characters.

Grabbing Ignis’s wrist, Cindy thrusted a heavy toolbox into his hand. Leading him back to the car with it he objected lightly, “You know, even when I could see my management of the Regalia was purely navigational.”

“Yeah, I know,” Cindy replied. “Mostly I’m wantin’ to know more about the situation and you’re the best one to talk about it.”

“Ah, so this is an interrogation then.”

“Pretty much, except you’re gonna be holding the light,” Cindy put the heavy duty flashlight in his hand. “We’re gonna have to play a little bit of hot-and-cold with it but we’ll manage.”

Cindy set to work, throwing up the hood, as Ignis sighed, “Alright then. What do you want to know?”

“What happened to Noctis? Like you said he’s gone but didn’t say how.”

Ignis was quiet for a second, “I’m trying to think of the least insane way to say this… Noctis was sent to another dimension, for a presumably long but not infinite period of time.”

Pausing, tool in hand, Cindy looked over at him with her eyes wide, “If that’s the least insane, what’s the most insane?!”

“Rock ate him.”

The silence was immeasurably suffocating.

“You know what?” Cindy replied, tucking her head back down under the hood. “For my own sanity I’m just not gonna ask you to elaborate on that. Little to the right.”

“Good choice,” Ignis complied. “I know I’m certainly trying not to think about the logistics of that myself. Small blessings, I didn’t have to see it at least.”

“Can I ask about the whole…”

“I’d rather you didn’t. As I said before, it was an accident. Do not worry yourself about it.”

“Alright,” Cindy tilted her head, “You’ve always been a bit of a closed book and I don’t got enough stamps on my reading club card to get in.”

A loud clanging in the near distance jolted Ignis, head tilted in the general direction, “What was…”

Tilting to look past him, Cindy relayed, “Well I see a heavy piece of fence layin’ on the ground and Prompto gettin’ chewed out by a couple of the hunters so, uh. Gonna guess he didn’t pull his weight.”

“Not surprising,” Ignis relaxed, slowly, “Never exactly had strength on his side. When we had to push the Regalia it kept nearly veering off the road. Outmatched even by Noctis.”

Made sense. From all Cindy knew it sounded like they handed Prompto a gun and maybe a month of training. Noctis was never a big fella but he had at the very least been training since he was a teenager. Maybe longer.

“How’s the little guy holding up without the Prince? I know they were close.”

Ignis sighed, “I could give you a better answer in week or so, I imagine. As of right now he seems to be trying to ignore it and plaster it over with jokes as hard as he can. Compounded by a bit of other… bad news he got.”

“Can I ask…”

“Very, very much not my place to say.”

“Fair enough,” Cindy tightened something deep, down in there. “He tells me too much sometimes, he’ll say it if he wants to. Sure he’ll be hovering around me more at some point especially with Noctis gone, I keep catchin’ him looking over here.”

“If you make eye contact, he probably will.”

Cindy laughed, “Oh hun, when you look like me you get reeeeaaaaaal good at avoidin’ eye contact with boys. Always take it as an invitation.”

“I can tell him to back off, if you’d like,” Ignis obliged as she moved his hand holding the flashlight. “I may be recovering a bit still but, well, with Noctis gone… I’m the one in charge.”

“Weren’t you anyways?” Cindy kicked up a foot, digging down deep into the car’s guts. “And you can leave him be, Prompto ain’t a creep like some of my, uh, wannabe suitors are. Hope he takes a hint eventually though, I’d like t’be better friends.”

“As I figured, not a chance for the poor boy?”

“Nah,” Cindy poked her head back out, “I ain’t lookin’ for anyone right now and just… yeah, we’d be good friends! Just friends. If you wanna impart that on him I’d be okay with that, don’t scare him off though.”

“Noted,” Ignis replied, “Is he… causing any more problems by the fence?”

“Worried, ain’tcha?” Cindy chuckled. “Nah, he’s fine. They made him a tool box boy in charge of handing them what they need and he mostly just looks bored now.”

“I imagine they’re making better use of Gladio.”

Looking over, he was very much right. Where it usually took two or three of the workers to get one of the poles in the ground, Gladio was doing it by himself with ease.

“Yeah, uh, there’s a reason why I was gonna put you two on fence duty,” Cindy pushed herself up and out of the engine. “So, how’s Gladio doing with this, then? He’s uh, hardier. But it was also his job to watch over Noctis so it’s gotta sting. You can stop with the flashlight now, by the by.”

“Honestly I think he’s more worried about me than he is about himself,” Ignis finally let down his aching arm, leaning against the car. “But that within itself is how he deals with things. If he’s too busy worrying how I feel about something then maybe he can ignore how he feels. Lets him pretend he’s just being protective.”

“You really got every one of them pinned down, huh?”

“It’s my own way of being protective.”

Cindy slammed the hood shut, rattling the car against him, “That’s why you two’re the mama and the papa. Two halves of the same whole, good thing you always stick together.”

“I am very grateful to have Gladio by my side, as always.”

“You know…” Cindy sidled up to him, “I’ve always wondered but are you two like... a thing or somethin’?”

By the way Ignis’s incredulous look drifted vaguely in her direction she got her answer, even as he confusedly spat out, “What?”

Well, she’d already leaned in. Might as well commit.

“I ‘unno, guy who only likes dudes real close with the guy who never has a shirt on, you even let him hang off your shoulders. Just didn’t think you’d tolerate that from just a friend.”

Crossing his arms, he frowned, “You don’t know that about me, relying on stereotypes is-”

“It’s not that,” Cindy pushed him a little with a giggle, furthering the sharp downturned line of his mouth, “Kinda a moot point now but you’d always make eye contact with me the whole time. Didn’t catch you starin’ later either so you weren’t just being polite.”

Tilting his head, Ignis nodded, “That’s fair. I don’t really make an effort to hide it.”

“So I just wondered, y’know? Always think it’s cute when my friends’re dating.”

“Well, unfortunately, I am single and I am more than sure you’ve caught Gladio staring at you at some point so I doubt that will change anytime soon.”

“Yeah, he does the polite one where he waits ‘til I’m not looking,” Cindy shrugged, “But he could like men too.”

“I find that unlikely.”

Another clanging took their attention. Looking up at the progress of the fence, they’d gotten a whole side up. Blocking out the view of the daemons in the near distance as the gate managed to slide shut to a small cheer from the gaggle of men.

Wrapping this up, Cindy clapped Ignis on the shoulder, “Didn’t mean t’get so personal with those questions, sorry about that. Y’all can stay in the garage as an apology, we’ve got some old cots from when Paw-paw used to take me camping.”

“I took no true offense but I’ll take the benefits of the apology regardless.”

Chapter Text

Gladio felt every joint in his body crack painfully into place as he rolled up off the cot, quietly swearing as he stretched out his formerly crumpled body out to its limits.

Fuckin’ miserable. Nice of Cindy to offer but the makeshift beds were very obviously intended for small people. Never thought about it, but Cid was barely any taller than his granddaughter. Maybe shorter. Run tiny in that family and unfortunately bought camping equipment to match.

Looking across the other two cots he found himself the first one awake. A rarity but he was bound to sleep the worst, given how painfully, uncomfortably tight he’d had to curl up.

Next to him, Ignis was still out cold. An atypical grimace contorting his usually calm face, either from discomfort or general anger at their situation. He didn’t fit on the cots either but had taken the smart approach of sliding down and just letting the lower half of his legs rest on the ground over the edge. Hands laced neatly over his stomach like they always did.

Gladio would have imitated this approach but he’d never been comfortable lying on his back either. Felt like his body was crushing itself and way more nightmares.

Really didn’t feel like finding out what kind of terrible dreams his brain would spit out now that the world was going to hell. As it was, his sleep was devoid of any dreams and frankly that was probably for the best. A nice one would probably just hurt at this point.

He realized he was still staring down Ignis, quickly averting his eyes. Glad the man didn’t wake up to that but feeling like a creep nonetheless. How would he even explain-

Wait. Ignis can’t see, he wouldn’t even realize. Unless Prompto woke up and loudly announced it, which was a danger in itself.

Looking back, he was still asleep too. Albeit less fitfully.

Prompto, the little Goldilocks bastard, fit his cot just right. Able to comfortably lie on his side like normal with room to spare. The bully part of Gladio’s brain was telling him to go over and flip it but he managed to tamp that urge back down.

Besides, it’s not like it was Prompto’s fault he’s short enough to fit.

Gods, this is the only time in Gladio’s life he’d ever wished he wasn’t a fucking giant. Between the too-small cots and the short, narrow beds of the train cabins he was dying to be able to sleep without being crushed into a little ball.

They had to stop by Lestallum, right? He was sure he could get ahold of some replacement camping gear. He’d had the presence of mind to ask the hunters about the havens and they all still swore by ‘em. Said they were even more secure than some of the strongholds in the area.

The only reason they weren’t swamped was how far you’d have to traverse the daemon ridden land to get to them. Which, luckily for the three of them, wouldn’t be a problem.

He tried not to think about how empty the tent was going to feel without Noctis there.

Before he could bother waking the other two up, the door to the back clicked open.

- - -

Head rattling against the window, Prompto tried not to think about the trailer bumping along behind them or how much he’d rather Ignis be the one driving with it. Gladio’d always been a rough driver with a bad case of road rage and if the trailer slammed into the car he was the one in the danger zone.

It was heavy stuff too, he’d be flattened like a pancake! Cindy’d been nice enough to give them a huge haul of generators as long as they’d promised to drop a bunch off for Wiz too. Said they could even keep the trailer if they agreed to make deliveries for her in the future.

Prompto had a feeling that would fall to him but he wasn’t complaining, get to see Cindy more. Gladio sure as hell wasn’t going to willingly drive that much, Prompto was surprised he was even doing it now. Probably because Ignis was here. His overprotectiveness had dropped a bit but it was always still there.

Gladio’d probably take up hunting jobs for some cash inflow. Ignis would most likely take up a leadership role at Cape Caem, a mothering role if he was being honest. Try to start cooking again with Iris’s help or something.

So, delivery boy wasn’t that bad. Might get them money, would definitely get them supplies. Scout out the area to see if any problems arise or get any news of Noctis’s potential return.

Brain flashing forward, he broke the long silence, “Do you think the chocobos are okay?”

“Hell if I know,” Gladio growled. “We’ll find out if we get there and there’s a piles of feathers and cooked turkeys lying around.”

Prompto blanched.

Slapping his arm, Ignis shut it down, “I’m sure the chocobos are fine. They’re smart and hardy animals, at the very worst they’ve run off and we’ll need to track some down.”

“I ain’t running around the daemon infested countryside for-”

Ignis cut Gladio off, “You will, if need be. They’d be a valuable tool for hunters’ rescue missions and it’d be foolish to let that resource go to waste. Also, you’d feel guilty if you let a whole animal population die out and you know it.”

Gladio grunted in response. Not confirming nor denying that but all of Prompto’s time around Ignis had left him inclined to assume the man was always right about like, everything. Only one thing Ignis claimed with an absurd amount of confidence that was left digging at Prompto’s mind was... touchy.

Despite Noctis very openly calling him his best friend Prompto felt like an intruder on the topic of the prince himself. In theory it should be perfectly acceptable for him to question why Ignis was so sure he’d come back but in practice… you don’t question Ignis and you double don’t question Ignis on matters regarding Noctis.

The only amount of that he’d ever witnessed was from Gladio and it was mostly just griping that Ignis was going too easy on him.

But he had a claim to that. In some ways it seemed like Ignis and Gladio had been more in charge of Noctis’s upbringing than his actual family. Any stories of King Regis seemed like he just showed up to do things like whisk his son away for a lavish dinner or a fun trip. And he’d never even heard about any other family members, aside from Noctis’s dead mother.

If Gladio thought Ignis coddled Noctis it had to be nothing compared to how he felt about Regis.

But at the same time he’d never say a word against the king.

Those two were both more free to speak on matters regarding Noctis and the court but also like... not at all. Where Prompto’d grown up the common folk were openly critical of the monarchy, some even outright hated it. Thought them failures, given their failures to push back the encroaching invasion. It’d be a lie to say even Prompto hadn’t thought that at points as his child’s mind tried to comprehend how and why Niflheim was so dangerous that their supposedly all powerful rulers couldn’t do anything about them.

But it had been easy to say those things out loud when you weren’t straddling the border of Lucis and Niflheim, looking up at giants who had grown up on the top of one side while you were created to be at the bottom of the other.

The words that had been rattling around his head slipped out before Prompto had time to stop them this time, “Hey Ignis, I have a question. Why are you so sure that like, Noctis is coming back?”

Ignis didn’t answer for so long that Prompto wasn’t sure if he would. His never-properly-charged dead phone in his pocket not even allowing him the comfort of knowing if these impossibly long minutes were just seconds, expanded indefinitely.

“I just do and I need you to simply accept that as an answer. At least for now.”

“Can I ever know?”

Another slow minute dragged by like silent nails on a chalkboard.

“Maybe,” Ignis replied, “But for now, I’d like you to talk about literally anything else.”

Damage control kicked in and Prompto filled the silence with the first thing that popped into his head, “It’s so nice of Cindy to give out generators like this.”

“You know, not talking is also an option,” Gladio droned.

Smacking his arm again, Ignis chastised him, “Stop being mean, you’re just mad you don’t have any other cars to yell at.”

Gladio grunted again.

Ignoring him, Ignis replied, “Cindy’s a very kind woman. I’m sure she’ll have many deliveries for us to make, she seems to be intent on flooding the countryside with any mechanical supplies she can.”

Reluctantly Gladio added, “She was tellin’ me about how she makes them from scratch. Didn’t understand a word she was saying but sounds like she’ll be able to make enough for anyone that needs them so long as she has enough parts to make it.”

“I’m sure we’ll be very busy helping her out,” Ignis replied, head tilted back towards Prompto, “Or at least you will be.”

A quiet confirmation of what Prompto’d assumed this long night would look like for him.

- - -

At some point on the ride over Gladio’d just shut down his brain as Prompto and Ignis chatted about whatever inane topic popped into Prompto’s head.

If he were in a better mood he might have joined in but much like their first trip around the Lucis countryside he was being sent to see the damn chocobos instead of getting to his sister faster.

At least this time it wasn’t just Noctis caving to the whims of his manchild best friend but it didn’t stop Gladio from feeling like his own issues were unimportant. Didn’t help that his request that they loop back and deliver them after getting the rest of the supplies to Cape Caem turned down by Ignis.

For a wild minute he considered just driving right to Lestallum. Technically, Ignis couldn’t stop him especially if they got far enough past the turn to Wiz. Or… well, he might figure it out by his own nearly omnipresent knowledge or by Prompto blabbing. Either on purpose or just “Hey, you missed the turn! We’re headed right for Lestallum!”

Also Gladio could never live with the guilt of even attempting to take advantage of Ignis’s newfound blindness like that.

All of his thoughts led to them approaching the eye-searingly bright Wiz Chocobo Post anyways, despite Gladio’s wish to do literally anything else.

While Cindy’d set to work getting a huge fence placed around Hammerhead, Wiz had evidently been forced to take a different course of action. Relying instead on pulling in lights from the racetrack to fortify the main building.

It was working, the downright blinding lights were successfully keeping the daemons at bay. Leaving them to wander around outside the boundaries of the scalding light, unable to get any closer.

Much like Cindy, Wiz was upon them the second they pulled up.

“Well there you boys are, Cindy said you’d be coming my way,” Wiz leaned past them to look at the trailer. “Said she had a good number’a new generators for me.”

Pointing his thumb at the trailer, Gladio nodded, “She stuck yellow stickers on ‘em so you won’t get ‘em confused with ours.”

“You heard him, yellow stickers,” Wiz whistled for a few workers, nodding at the trailer before turning back to Gladio. “We’ve got this covered so if you three wanna have a sit down, we’ll get you something to eat as payment.”

“Are the chocobos okay?” Prompto peeked around Gladio.

“Anxious but the daemons appearin’ kept them from trying to run off, I’ll take the small blessings when I can,” Wiz nodded back towards the barn. “Gotta keep ‘em inside now. They ain’t happy about it but if we play with ‘em enough they don’t get too ornery.”

The only thing Prompto took from that was ‘play with chocobos good’, immediately asking, “Can I go play with them?”

“Please do, everyone else is gettin’ real tired of babysitting the-”

Wiz wasn’t able to finish his sentence before Prompto had taken off for the barn.

- - -

If Wiz had noticed Ignis’s scars or condition he hadn’t said anything. He was never quite as attentive as Cindy, had a bigger, busier business. Even as he slid a couple of chocobo club sandwiches on the table for them he seemed oblivious.

It was kind of nice, Ignis wasn’t terribly fond of the idea that he be expected to manage the emotions of every single person that realized it. Perhaps he could train Prompto or Gladio to tell people in advance.

Probably Gladio. Technically Prompto’d be better at softening the blow but Gladio’d better ensure nobody brings it up to him ever again.

“Eat,” Gladio kicked him softly under the table. “You only had a few crackers for breakfast at Hammerhead, if you don’t eat more you’re gonna pass out.”

“What, no threat to not carry me if I do?”

Gladio scoffed, “It’d be a lie and you know it. Wouldn’t be the first time I’d have to carry you to safety.”

Picking up his neglected sandwich, Ignis asked, “Did I ever properly thank you for that?”

“What constitutes a proper thank you?”

“Saying the words ‘thank you.’”

“Then no,” Gladio crunched into his next bite, “But that’s fine, you’d just been... you know. Blinded. Can’t really fault you for not being perfect and polite when that shit’s going on.”

“Well then,” Ignis tilted his head towards Gladio, “Accept my belated apologies.”

“Nah, you don’t gotta get all formal with me,” Gladio shrugged it off. “I know you’d do the same thing for me. Just be a lot harder and you mighta had to recruit Prompto and Noct to help.”

“Don’t be silly. I believe Ravus was still walking around, I would have grabbed him. Less management.”

“What was that dude’s deal anyways?” Gladio asked. “Thought he was with the Niff’s side but you mentioned he helped you.”

“I don’t think Ravus was on anyone’s side but his sister’s. Tragedy, that.”

Gladio didn’t exactly know all the fine details of what went down that dark day in Altissia but he knew enough to know Lunafreya’d died by Ardyn’s hand. With them having to kill the daemon-turned Ravus later, that was the end of the Nox Fleuret line.

Strange how a many centuries old uninterrupted line can be wiped out like that, within just a few weeks.

Good thing no one cared about the continuation of the Scientia family line.

Not only did he have no surviving family to urge it on but being the king’s advisor wasn’t even a generational position. He and Weskham couldn’t be less related and he knew the man before him hadn’t been either.

Gladio would be expected to, eventually. Or, well, Iris could do it. Perhaps the both of them would have some terrifyingly oversized Amicitia baby, capable of wielding a man-sized sword by the time they’re in middle school.

Then again… would they even be needed ever again? With Noctis gone… well, he certainly hadn’t left behind an heir. Let alone one old enough to lead the country. Would the monarchy simply collapse or...

“Speaking of sisters,” Gladio brought Ignis out of his idle and futile thoughts, “We aren’t staying here long, right? I wanna get to Lestallum by… well we don’t got nightfall anymore but before the shops close.”

“And exactly what are you planning from there because you certainly can’t drive a straight shot to Cape Caem from here,” Ignis raised an eyebrow. “And I can’t take over for you.”

“Prompto’s not that bad of a driver, he can handle it.”

“I understand that you’re nervous about getting back to Iris but they’ll be able to hold down the fort until we get there, I promise,” Ignis put down the sandwich to pat around the table. Missing a few times before managing to find Gladio’s hand, balled into a fist that didn’t release as Ignis gently gripped it. Giving up and resting on top of it. He hoped reassuringly.

Touch had changed between them a little since Altissia. Gladio’d always been a physical person but Ignis was used to contact being limited to an arm over the shoulders, hand-to-hand sparring, and occasionally an over-exuberant, one-armed hug. A not-so-gentle jostling, should Gladio get a bit too excited and forget who he was interacting with.

Touches were softer now. Always on him somewhere even when he didn’t need to be. Some semblance of an anchor in this now-dark world. A hand on the small of Ignis’s back, a gentle grip on his arm, grabbing his wrist to hand him his cane...

That long, lonely moment on the train with Gladio reaching across the table much like this, with a weird, nebulous promise to take care of him.

From someone else maybe Ignis would take that as patronizing but he’d accept it from Gladio.

He was just like that, after all.

Gladio didn’t seem to mind it, at least not making a move to stop the contact, “I just… it’s just like the first time we had to do this trip. Gets frustrating being sidelined all the time.”

“Wonder how that feels,” Ignis coldly mused, tilting his head.

“Shit, sorry, yeah you… you’ve always…”

“Been the last considered?”

It was true. For all the prestige being the hand of the king brought, ultimately it meant you were there to serve anyone but yourself. Not only balancing the needs of the king but managing the people underneath you.

“I mean… things are different now,” Gladio cautiously approached. “If Noct doesn’t come back-“

“Noct WILL come back,” Ignis cut him off.

Despite that same unnerving confidence, Gladio continued pushing, “C’mon Iggy, I know you’re not the kind of person to not have a back-up plan for your back-up plan. You worry too much to not have thought about the absolute worst case scenario. If Noct doesn’t come back we can always, you know. Try to have normal lives.”

“What exactly are you implying?’

“Just… we don’t have to be serving under the king if there’s no king,” Gladio replied. “Permanent night’s an obstacle but we could live on our own terms at least. I know you’ve thought about it, at least a little.”

Of course Gladio was right and Ignis had considered what they’d do in case Noctis never returned but it seemed like sacrilege to say it out loud.

But Gladio wasn’t going to give up.

“Fine. I have thought about it.”

Gladio’s cocky exclamation was grating and out of place, “Ha! I knew it.”

“Is this really the thing to gloat over?” Ignis coldly replied.

“Not… really. Sorry. Go on.”

“If… and I cannot stress this enough, IF. Noct doesn’t come back… I think we’ll just simply have to adjust to a life that would help sustain the people of Lucis through the night. I imagine we’ll set up our own little stronghold at Cape Caem with our people. We have particular skills granted to us by our upbringing that would benefit the people at large and I think it would behoove us to try to use them to help people and even have others learn them too.”

“What like, be teachers?”

“I mean, technically you already taught Noctis.”

Gladio laughed, “Yeah that was… less teaching him and more kicking his ass until he started getting better at dodging.”

“Good thing I don’t expect you to have the dignity of a teacher,” Ignis leaned on a fist. “I imagine we’d have you out and about, helping developing settlements or people in need. Rescue missions.”

“So I’m the workhorse.”

“Pretty much,” Ignis smirked. “Prompto’s good with machinery and will also make a suitable delivery boy. Imagine we’ll be shipping him off to Cindy to help her build things and subsequently distribute them.”

“Oh he’s gonna love that, keep him from getting bored too.”

“Like exercising an excitable dog,” Ignis agreed. “Now Cor and Monica, they’re the ones who’d be best suited to actually teaching people to fight. We could even set up something resembling a school at Cape Caem, we’d have enough space albeit some would have to sleep on the ground.”

“And what about you?”

“Myself… I imagine I’ll take up some sort of leadership position,” Ignis leaned back. “If we’re treating Cape Caem as a hub of sorts, someone will have to run it and I’m certainly not leaving it to Iris. The world’s been stolen from her but she’s still young, she doesn’t need to have every scrap of her youth taken. All I’ll ask of her is assistance with cooking, at least until I’m able to handle it again.”

“Do you… think you’ll be able to?”

“If I can fight monsters blind, I can cook a meal.”

- - -

Ignis didn’t eat nearly as much of his sandwich as Gladio would have liked, claiming that his stomach felt uneasy before putting the remainder on Gladio’s plate like an offering.

Depressingly, it just made him think about how Noctis would do the same with his vegetables. Dropping them on Ignis’s plate in disgust. He’d always chastised Noctis for his eating habits and Ignis for enabling them. But, hell, at this point he’d eat the damn vegetables himself for the rest of his life if it just meant Noctis was still here to reject them.

He tried not to think about it as he looked down at the half eaten sandwich. And just like Ignis would with the neglected veggies, he ate it. No reason to let it go to waste, especially not with the world like this.

Wiz ushered them into the barn to pick up Prompto and hopefully take an early leave but immediately it was obvious that prying the small man from what was probably the last thing on this planet that could make him happy was going to be… a challenge.

Especially because, currently, Prompto looked damned well ready to just sleep in the pen with them. Sandwiched between three of the huge birds curled up in a pile, evidently tired out from whatever asinine games he’d been playing with them. The black chocobo chick nestled contently in his arms.

“Prompto,” Gladio barked, lording over him. “Don’t you fuckin’ dare fall asleep in the chocobo pen. Stink up the whole car with bird stench.”

“Aw, chocobos don’t stink! They smell like hay and birdseed.”

“They absolutely do stink, you just can’t tell because YOU stink now.”

“No I don’t! Ignis, smell me.”

His concurrent noise of disgust ruffled the birds nestled around Prompto, “Would you like me to lose my sense of smell too?”

“You guys suck,” Prompto mumbled into one of the massive birds’ side. “I’m gonna live with the chocobos from now on. They’ve accepted me as their own.”

Before the inevitable mocking about his hair could start, Wiz walked up.

“Well, the good news is we’ve unloaded all the generators and we’re mighty grateful for it,” Wiz put his hands on his hips. “But the bad news is there’s a storm rolling in. Don’t know if you boys have experienced one of these yet but I wouldn’t recommend trying to drive in it. Like bein’ in a blender with a buncha pissed off daemons.”

Pretty much the last thing Gladio wanted to hear, “We ain’t staying, Iris is already gonna have to wait too long as is. We’re heading out tonight.”

“Dunno who ‘Iris’ is but I’m gonna say with a lot of confidence she’d be happier waitin’ an extra day than having to arrange a closed casket funeral,” Wiz replied. “We’ll getcha set up best we can in the loft. Away from the birds so-”

“Can I sleep in the pen?”

“Prompto!” Gladio barked.

“Sure, you can stay there as long as the chocobos’ll have ya.”

- - -

Leaning on the door frame, Gladio huffed as he looked up at the sky ominously twisting above.

If it was just him alone chances are he’d be making an ill-advised trek out alone into the storm but he wasn’t the one in charge. Even though that was probably for the best he was still sore about it. Cringing at the sound of familiar footsteps approaching.

“Gladio,” Ignis half asked, half ordered.

For a mean second Gladio contemplated staying silent. Failing immediately, he obediently replied, “Yeah, I’m right here.”

Ignis came up next to him, arm brushing against his as he stood just a little too close, “What does it look like out there?”

“Uh, bad?”

One of those strange, muffled snorts that passed for laughter. Any chance of Gladio staying angry melted away by that and the fondness in Ignis’s voice, “Well, aren’t you helpful? Never did have a way with words.”

“Sorry, it was always your job to be the smart one who notices shit.”

“I’ll make sure to put that on my next resume,” Ignis pat him on the arm before leaving his hand there. “Have you called Iris yet?”

Despite that being what Gladio had stepped away to do, he hadn’t. His phone was still gripped tightly in his hand, digging grooves into his palm.

It was like Ignis was reading his mind, “You’re trying to decide if you should tell her about Noct or not.”

“I just… fuck, we should already be there,” Gladio loosened his grip on the device, looking down at it shamefully. Normally he liked the background on it, a selfie Iris had insisted he take with her as he was walking her to school. It’s off kilter and lightly distorted with motion blur but it was the first time she’d ever tried to take a picture with him. Hitting the power button he pushed that image out of his mind, “This wouldn’t be a problem if we went straight to Cape Caem.”

“For what it’s worth, I think you should just tell her.”

“I know you think that.”

- - -

Whether Gladio had ever intended to take Ignis’s opinion was up for debate but regardless, he didn’t.

From the trepidation in Gladio’s voice, broken by uncomfortable pauses, Ignis liked to think he at least intended to. He could handle someone wanting to do the right thing and listen to him but failing due to nerves much better than the idea he was being coldly ignored.

He chose to take Gladio’s uncharacteristically meek apology to him as confirmation.

“It’s not me you’ll have to apologize to when this is all over,” Ignis replied, feeling a sudden drop of liquid hit the side of his face.

Storm must be picking up, they should head inside before-

The sudden, strong arm unceremoniously hooked around his waist and hauling him away from the door was nearly hard enough to knock the air out of his lungs. Stumbling backwards, nearly to the ground, Ignis squawked out, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

He didn’t get an answer, only a calloused hand roughly wiping the rain off his face with a weirdly intense level of desperation.

In the near distance, Ignis could hear a small calamity of people rushing into the barn punctuated by the heavy doors being swung shut with a slam. Panicked chatter implying he wasn’t the only one being assailed like this. Wiz yelling over, demanding headcounts both human and bird alike.

Beyond the human element around them, Ignis could hear the storm picking up outside. Serenaded by chilling, inhuman noises that he could only assume were the daemons… gods, he almost wanted to say “celebrating.”

A few more questions levelled at Gladio were ignored as Ignis was pulled deeper into the building, nudged by people frantically trying to squeeze past.

The next few minutes were disorienting as Ignis managed to be bullied up into the aforementioned loft area. It afforded him freedom from being boxed by strangers but being all but pressed up against the roof meant they could hear the storm raging outside and the jubilation of the daemons.

Some part of Ignis darkly wondered if this was simply another permanent thing in the endless night. A storm tightening around their neck like a noose, trapping them in place.

For all they knew they’d die here in this barn.

Ignis knew his face must have betrayed how rattled he was because again he found himself trapped against Gladio’s side. Strong arm across Ignis shoulders pulling him so close that he could feel breath against the side of his head.

A degree of familiarity Ignis wasn’t remotely used to and one he frankly didn’t know what to make of it nor how to reciprocate this adequately. All he knew is he could feel his face burning.

If leaning his head into the crook of Gladio’s neck was inappropriate he gave no indication. More than that, it seemed like Gladio’d squeezed him a little tighter. Were it happier times Ignis could have relaxed and enjoyed this unusual level of physical affection.

It was comforting at the very least. Screaming of the storm muffled against the cold leather collar he was pressed against.

For a long moment in the tense silence, he wondered if it’d be similarly acceptable to hug back.

This thought was interrupted by an uneven creaking noise from the ladder at their feet, someone climbing up with an odd, slow pattern.

Both person and reason came in one answer as Prompto collapsed next to him, the fluttering of small wings indicating that he’d managed to carry a chocobo chick up here. Albeit with some difficulty. Without even being able to see, Ignis could only assume it was the black one they’d saved.

Even Prompto wasn’t feeling chatty. Turning their dejected twosome into a pile as he leaned up against Ignis. Having much less reservations about cuddling up against his side. It wasn’t unusual for him to be this affectionate after all.

The barn was filled with panicked noise and fear, wrapped from outside by even more of a calamity. All they could do was hope that the storm would pass and they’d live the night. Well, the night-within-a-night.

Ignis couldn’t be sure how or when but eventually he drifted off, despite the storm raging. Exhaustion taking over.

Chapter Text

Flexing his hand on the wheel, Gladio was already getting real tired of being the one in charge of driving.

Gladio might’ve wondered how Ignis did it so long but knew him enough to know why. Ignis just really, sincerely liked driving and truly didn’t trust anyone else to do it as well. Even when he got tired he was loath to give up the wheel. Controlling nature barely even allowing Noctis to drive his own car.

His affection for it had been obvious the second Ignis’d first gotten his license. Royal connections allowing him to get it several years early, a favor from King Regis.

Gladio himself wasn’t even old enough to get his before Ignis was parading up to him, small piece of plastic in hand. Most unflattering picture of him ever gracing the side, capturing the worst elements of Ignis’s ugly duckling years in stark clarity.

Those days were long behind Ignis, gangly nerd turning into damn near a male model. Even Gladio had to admit that. Maybe he’d be more threatened by that but Ignis had never shown any interest in girls. No competition there.

Not like he could worry about girls either right now. Life was going to be all business no pleasure for a long, long time. Maybe he should be more upset by this but considering everything that’s happened in the past few months… well, he wasn’t feeling terribly personable anyways.

Weirdly, he didn’t even want to stop in Lestallum. It’d be crowded for sure, flooded with refugees on top of the already bustling regular populace.

Never in his life has Gladio wanted to avoid people this bad. Worst of all, he’d always been the outgoing one and would certainly be in charge of any negotiations for supplies or board. Ignis was in no state to debate prices and Prompto was… Prompto. Anything he’d say would probably make them raise the price out of annoyance.

Gods, he hoped they could get a room. If he didn’t take a nice, long shower and get to sleep in a real bed he was gonna put a hole in a wall.

He might as well be on zero hours. Barely slept at Hammerhead, skimmed the surface of unconsciousness at Wiz at best.

Gladio wasn’t alone in that. He could just barely see Prompto out of the corner of his eye, leaning half out the open window, out cold. Unless Prompto’d been petting that chocobo while unconscious, he’d slept even less.

Considering the wind beating him across the face wasn’t waking him up…

Well, he reeked of chocobo so he’d have to suffer it until they were able to hose him off.

Ignis… he wasn’t quite sure of. He’d definitely fallen asleep on him back at Wiz but it was hard to say how long he’d been out. Something in Gladio felt a weird sort of pride that Ignis felt safe enough with him to do that, even with the storm raging outside.

It was certainly not enough sleep whatever the amount. They’d taken off directly after the storm had passed, to the other two’s ire.

But for once, Gladio put his foot down.

With permission from Ignis.

Ignis wasn’t happy about it though. Arms crossed and trying to aim his glare at least in the general direction of Gladio. He wasn’t proud of how close he was to begging but it worked, Ignis sighing heavily and giving in.

Given Gladio’s failure to tell Iris about Noctis… well, he wasn’t exactly in good standing with their resident team mom right now. Proverbially, and hopefully not literally later, sleeping on the couch.

Speaking of sleeping, right now Ignis' head was tilted down a bit, eyes gently closed. But he just did that now sometimes, only really looked “at” people for their own benefit and he was certainly too irritated with Gladio to do that for him. Really had no idea if he’d gone back to sleep or was just mad.

Whatever, can’t beat himself up over it. Gladio’d figure a way to make it up to Ignis later, this was far from the first time where they’d gotten into a disagreement.

Despite how much he’d like everyone to believe he’s the ultimate hardass, deep down Ignis hated nothing more than any sort of infighting. Wanted nothing more than everyone to be one big, happy family.

He’d probably doubly want that right now, given the loss of their most central member.

- - -

Lestallum was packed, Ignis nothing short of shocked that they were able to get a room. Only one bed, but a room nonetheless.

Normally Ignis was one to throw around his weight and demand the first shower but Prompto smelled like filthy birdhorse and was nearly thrown into the bathroom the second they were in there. He wasn’t fighting that, eagerly taking the win and sliding into the bathroom. Water on so quick Ignis wondered if he even bothered to take his clothes off.

Lying down on an actual bed felt divine, Ignis stretching out as far across the soft duvet as he could. Never thought he’d miss such a basic comfort this badly. Certainly he’d never take it for granted again.

Reluctantly, he obliged the nudges to his side and retracted a bit. Bed sinking in as Gladio joined him.

“Fuck me, never thought I’d be so goddamn happy to be in a hotel.”

“Indeed,” Ignis’s voice dripped with frigid sarcasm, “With the way you’ve been behaving I half expected you to drag us out into the middle of nowhere to set up camp. If not making us drive a straight shot to Cape Caem.”

Yeah, there it is. Worst part was Gladio knew he was right.

He usually was.

“Look, Iggy-”

“Ignis. I’m mad at you.”

“Look, Ignis, I’m just…” Gladio tried to come up with a justification and failed, giving in, “I’m sorry. I ain’t making this easier for you.”

“No. No, you are not.”

“Is there… something I can do to make it up to you?”

“Not really.” Ignis huffed, “I’ll get over it. I always do.”

“I can… sleep on the couch?” Gladio reluctantly offered the most severe punishment he could think of.

“Don’t you dare,” the ghost of a smile at the edge of Ignis’s mouth. “You’re going to be the barrier between myself and Prompto. Your penance will be having to protect me from the stench of chocobos and getting slapped in the face.”

“I dunno if getting half-smushed by me is much better, I’m a sleep cuddler and you know it.”

“I’m used to it by now. Comforting, really. Like a teddy bear that could snap me in half if it had half a mind to.”

Already giving in to the friendly banter again. Gladio’d been right about him being too soft, not just towards Noctis but towards the group at large. He was a peacekeeper, first and foremost.

A familiar, heavy weight across his upper chest only reinforced that thought. Gladio feeling so bold as to imitate the too-intimate way they slept. Bearded chin digging into Ignis’s shoulder a little, “This working as an apology then?”

Regretfully, Ignis’s body was a traitor and he was left just hoping Gladio didn’t notice the way his heart began to race.

If he did, he didn’t say anything.

Ignis reluctantly shrugged it off, his words noncommittal despite their supposed finality, “I’m still mad at you, don’t get any ideas about trying to endear yourself to me just yet.”

“You’re just mad because you’re not as mean as you like to think you are,” Gladio repositioned himself, snuggling in more.

Ignis was glad he couldn’t see the undoubtedly smug look on his friend’s face as he didn’t nudge him away again. He always hated when someone else got to be right for a change.

He had to get away from this subject, lest he become even more flustered. Asking a question which had slipped his mind for nearly too long now, “This isn’t really related but I’ve been wondering… back during the storm, when it first started and you so rudely hauled me in and attacked my face-”

“Alright, one, it was a daemon party hellstorm out there so I didn’t ‘rudely haul you in’ I got you out of danger,” Gladio prodded a finger into his arm, then two. “And two, that rain was… not normal.”

“Indulge me and elaborate?”

“It was like that… purple-y black sludge. Like the daemon junk when they’re possessed.”

Sobering up, Ignis would have sat up in shock if not for the heavy arm pinning him down, “Daemonic miasma? That’s… that’s what rain is now? But the water supply…”

“It wasn’t like… all of it,” Gladio replied. “I could hear people talking, it was thin and came in waves. Don’t know if that makes a difference.”

“I… don’t either,” Ignis hated that his normally rare admissions of uncertainty were growing more common. “Not much we can do about it, I suppose. Just try not to get caught out in it.”

“Hope Iris and them are safe…”

“If something happened, they would have called you,” Ignis pat the arm trapping him comfortingly.

“Not if they’re all dead.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Ignis chastised, gentle patting turning into a sharp slap. “We have no reason to assume they aren’t smart enough to go inside. Had a better view of the area and could see it coming further away too. I’m absolutely certain Iris and everyone else is fine.”

He wasn’t lying when he said he found Gladio’s presence while he slept comforting and could only hope that his confidence in the face of uncertainty could return the favor.

If the way Gladio pressed his face into his shoulder was any indication, he did.

Reluctantly, Ignis let himself just enjoy the intimate moment.

But truly it was only a moment as a sudden force to Ignis’s left nearly crushed him, a third body crashing onto the bed and making himself entirely too at home against Ignis’s other side. Unpleasantly damp on top of everything else.

“Nice, we gonna sleep in a big pile tonight?” Prompto chirped, wet hair plastered against the side of Ignis’s face. “Haven’t done that since that one really cold night in-”

As quickly as the presence had invaded, it was gone. Weight lifting off his chest and a single hard thrust to his right, followed by a sharp yelp and the sound of a body slamming hard to the ground.

“Get offa Iggy and put a damn shirt on,” Gladio settled back in a little more possessively this time. “He doesn’t want any part of that, be respectful.”

“What?!” Prompto whined, “But you’re not wearing a shirt either!”

“Yeah but I look good like this, it’s a public service. And Iggy likes it, right?”

Aghast and face surely a bright shade of red, Ignis balked, “I don’t- what are you say- how DARE y-”

Jostled harshly, Gladio’s laughter reverberated through Ignis’s chest.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.”

- - -

It was a good thing that Ignis never trusted Noctis with the money, handing over the black leather wallet emblazoned with the Caelum family crest to Gladio.

“Alright, Prompto you’re gonna be in charge of getting the weapons,” Gladio pulled out his phone and sending Prompto the list. “It’s pretty much just guns so your wheelhouse anyways. Mostly arming the civilians, easiest things to teach you guys.”

“Okey-dokey,” Prompto stuffed the money handed to him into his pocket. “What’re you guys doing?”

“Iggy’s coming with me, we’ll get the food and seeds then meet back by the general store to pick up camping equipment,” Gladio replied. “You know, help carry shit. Also it’ll be less scarce pickings, imagine we won’t have much competition. Not like anyone but us is thinking about camping.”

Prompto didn’t like that answer, “Why do you two get to stick together?”

“We’ve always split up like this, don’t make it weird,” Gladio rifled through the remaining money.

“It wasn’t…” Prompto looked away, “I wasn’t stuck alone then. Can’t we just all go together?”

“We don’t know when the shops will close,” Ignis replied. “Would that we could, we'd be even more split up but unfortunately that’s not exactly an option.”

“Well why can’t you come with me then? I don’t want to go alone.”

“Perhaps you’ve forgotten but I’m the one who knows about cooking,” Ignis’s patience started wearing thin. “It’s not like Gladio can tell what’s good without me there, picking through the poor descriptions he’ll be feeding me to try and guide him towards the highest quality ingredients we can manage to scrounge out of this certainly picked-over marketplace.”

Prompto wasn’t giving up, “Then let’s get the food together last and-”

“What Prompto, carry the camping equipment the whole time?” Gladio cut him off sharply, every second dragging out their third diversion of the trip even longer.

Ignis tried to soften that blow, “Yours will take the shortest time. If you hurry you can just meet us in the marketplace to help out.”

It looked like Prompto was going to try and further debate this until Gladio shot him a withering glare.

Immediately backing down, Prompto turned, “Alright, fine, whatever. But don’t make leaving me behind a habit.”

Before either of them could make any promises he was trotting away, disappearing into the crowd.

- - -

“I think we were too hard on him,” Ignis said.

“Really?” Gladio’s voice dripped with sarcasm, “Because I coulda been way more mean.”

“You stop that, he’s having a hard time too. While he lacked our duties his loss is no less significant,” Ignis replied. “And he did have a bit of a point, it was always him who split off with Noctis. You and I still have each other, as always.”

That they did. The streets of Lestallum were overflowing but when asked Gladio said it wasn’t as many people as he would have thought. Didn’t stop Ignis from being jostled as they squeezed through the frequently narrow alleys of the city. Pressed tightly against Gladio’s side, tattooed arm wrapped around him protectively.

While the downsides to his newfound blindness were numerous, Ignis had to admit he didn’t mind this particular element.

Now that Gladio had pivoted to trying to make up for his initial childish behavior Ignis was enjoying an even greater degree of attention. Gladio’d always kind of hovered around him, a consequence of being the only one in the group he seemed to truly respect, but this was different.

Ignis had always prided himself on his ability to keep his crushes well under wraps, given that none of them were viable for one reason or another. Sure, this change of dynamics didn’t mean that Gladio liked men now but he could enjoy the increased amounts of physical contact.

Besides, Gladio never made an attempt to move away when Ignis got closer. Head nearly resting on his chest with a content sigh.

“Speaking of having each other,” Ignis endured a particularly hard shove from the crowd as they entered the actual marketplace, “You’re not going to be disappearing into the wilderness too often with that camping equipment, right?”

“Just want to have it for emergencies,” Gladio replied. “Especially if you want me out on hunts. Can’t say it’ll be much fun like it used to be though, sleeping alone in the middle of fuckin’ nowhere with all that daemon bullshit going on…”

“Perhaps we can attempt to regain a bit of normalcy and go out for fun sometimes,” Ignis said, hearing Gladio quietly barter for a few bags of seeds. “After we adapt to this new world, I mean. It’s bleak but we’ll have to find glimmers of light where we can.”

“Somehow I don’t think we’re gonna get Prompto to leave the safety of established human-safe areas or a secure car on the road anytime soon,” Gladio replied, taking the bag handed to him with a nod. “Maybe just you and me can go.”

“You’re going to give the poor boy a complex, you know.”

“Eh, he’ll survive.”

“Ideally, I’d like him to more than just survive,” Ignis let himself be led to the next stall. “And I think he’s doing much worse than he’s letting on. Doing what he always does, crushing down how he feels until it starts eating him alive.”

Their conversation briefly brought to an awkward halt as they had to awkwardly back-and-forth as Ignis tried to explain to Gladio how to identify good fruits and vegetables. Mostly leading to Gladio accidentally bruising them and handing them to Ignis to be chastised for his clumsiness. Leaving them stuck with a basket full of half smushed fruit.

“You’re all like that, absolutely the most frustrating part of my day,” Ignis endured a few more harsh shoves to his right shoulder. “And that’s against stiff competition.”

“Not everyone’s as confident as you with speaking their mind.”

“I’m going to take it in good faith that there’s no backbiting in that comment.”

“None intentional at least,” Gladio pulled Ignis out of the path of a few children running past. “I got plenty of regular confidence at least.”

“Well, Prompto doesn’t,” Ignis bit, “So perhaps we don’t press where the wood is already rotting. Alright?”

Huffing against his side like an agitated animal, Gladio agreed, “Fine.”

“Then let’s wrap this up and try to pick him up again so he’s not alone for l-”

Ignis’s sentence was cut short by the thunder crack of a gunshot, nearly being knocked to the ground in the ensuing chaos. Safe only for the strong hand keeping him upright, gripping his upper arm tightly.

While everyone else ran away from the noise, the two of them ran towards it.

- - -

It’s not hard to find the epicenter of the chaos but getting there was another story. Gladio trying to part the rushing crowd without causing even more chaos but perhaps being a bit too okay with bodying anyone who got in his way. Held back by the fact he had Ignis in tow, arms tucked tightly against his sides and trying his hardest to stumble after Gladio despite the buffeting of the crowd.

Second-to-worst suspicions of the source of the source visible from Gladio’s high vantage point, leaving him at least glad Prompto was the perpetrator and not the victim.

It was all too easy for the Lestallum guards to haul the irate and arguing Prompto away like they were. Gladio hoping they’d be content just kicking him out of the town and weren’t looking to toss him over the edge.

Not that they’d get the chance, Gladio catching up and grabbing one of the women by the shoulder, “What’s going on here?”

She shot him the dirtiest look possible as she shoved his hand away, “Your little friend here shot off his gun within city limits.”

“Did he shoot someone?” Ignis asked, barely having caught his breath and composure.

“No, I didn’t!” Prompto interrupted. “I just… some asshole was trying to take the money and-”

“We don’t care if he hit someone-”

“I shot straight into the sky it was to scare him o-”

He yelped as the woman dug her nails into his arm tighter, “We don’t care if he hit someone, he’s not welcome in Lestallum anymore.”

Gladio tried putting on his most charming smile, “Look, we’re friends with Holly-”

The second woman piped up, “I don’t care if you’re friends with the damn king!”

“Well, we are, actually,” Ignis calmly noted. “As you can see the royal family cre-”

“Look buddy,” the first woman leaned in towards Ignis. “I don’t know or care who you claim to be or what your connections are. Does this look like a world governed by the past? I care about one thing and it’s keeping any fighting out of the city. It’s volatile as hell out here.”

Any of Gladio’s attempts at charm were gone by this point, demanding, “Let us talk to Holly.”

“She’s out on a repair run,” the second girl chimed in. “With a bunch of other guards. Probably won’t be back for a couple days.”

The first glared her down but sighed, “And I’m sure as hell not letting you guys stay until then. You two can come back and appeal his case but if I see the little guy-”

“I’m not that short!”

Another sharp yelp as she jerked his arm, shooting a sharp look into his eyes, “If I see you again before Holly gives the okay I swear I’m gonna throw you into the crevasse. Understood?”

Prompto didn’t even try a defiant comeback this time, just a kicked puppy nod.

“We didn’t get all our supplies,” Gladio crossed his arms.

“You two can get whatever you want, so long as you keep your weapons sheathed,” she replied, clearly not happy that she had to permit that much. “But he’s got to leave. Now.”

Sighing, Ignis pulled his hand from Gladio’s vice grip, “I’ll go with him in the car, we’ll wait right outside town. You get the remaining supplies.”

Pulling free from the agitated guard, Prompto trotted over to Ignis like a child hiding behind his mother. Eyeing the women warily as before shooting one final, uncertain look towards Gladio.

His pleading eyes said he didn’t want to be split apart again but once again, it wasn’t an option.

- - -

Prompto spread across the entire backseat, his head just barely propped up enough to look out at the permanently darkened sky.

This was bullshit. Didn’t even point the gun at the guy, shot it way over his head, just… the bastard got away on top of it after it all too. Scumbag was probably picking the pocket of some poor lady who’s just trying to feed her kids right now.

Maybe he should have just shot him.

He closed his eyes, shaking his head. If firing into the sky was bad enough he’d be banned forever if he’d actually hit someone. Even Holly couldn’t get him out of that.

Groaning, he kicked the door in frustration. Rolling over so he wouldn’t have to look at the dead sky anymore.

“Don’t kick the car, Prompto.”

“I didn’t kick it that hard.”

The way Ignis would turn around to ‘look’ at him in disappointment still worked, even though Ignis was staring blankly through him. A weird powerplay that shouldn’t be as effective as it is.

“Sorry.”

“About kicking the door or what happened this evening in general?”

“I’m not sorry about trying to scare off a thief!” Prompto bolted up. “As far as I’m concerned? That’s you and Gladio’s fault, not mine. I didn’t want to split up, you made me, this happened.”

His ire raised, Ignis leaned back into his seat, “We couldn’t have predicted this.”

“I mean, yeah, I kinda did,” Prompto retorted. “Why do you think I didn’t want to go alone? World’s different now. People are desperate. Like, what the hell did you think was going to happen?”

He could feel the many layers of Ignis’s patience growing thinner by the word but he’d pressed on nonetheless. Leaving Ignis’s reply colder than it would have been, “I would have thought you a little more capable of taking care of yourself by now.”

“Look, if this is what it’s gonna be from now on just drop me on the side of the road,” Prompto threw himself against the cheap, scratchy fabric of the car seat. “I’m cute, I can get someone to pick me up.”

“Would you like to be trafficked? Because you’re describing an excellent way to end up in some very nightmarish scenarios.”

“Psh, everything’s a nightmare now,” he replied, pulling his legs up to his body. “What’s the point…”

Prompto didn’t look up at Ignis but he could hear the heavy sigh. Followed by an awkward clamor as he tried to climb into the backseat over the center console. Prompto rushed to catch Ignis by the shoulders before he could crash face first into the headrest.

“Thank you,” Ignis righted himself, settling into the seat next to Prompto. “I don’t… want you to think we’re leaving you behind. With Noc… with everything that’s happened we can’t afford to be fighting like this.”

Deep down Prompto wanted to continue throwing his little tantrum, eyes darting back and forth. But he heaved his shoulders and grunted, “Yeah…”

“We’ll all feel better once we’re at Cape Caem and can breathe a little,” Ignis continued. “It won’t fix all our problems but once we have a base of operations we’ll at least have an anchor. Some semblance of normalcy.”

Lips pursed tightly, Prompto blinked back the urge to make some snarky quip about how anything being normal had gone up in flames when Noctis had disappeared but what would that do him? Cautiously looking up at Ignis, who no doubt was handling this worse internally than the rest of them combined, he opted to proverbially throw up his hands.

“It’ll…” the last embers of saying something shitty smoldered before a shovel of dirt smothered them, “It’ll be better when we get to Cape Caem.”

“You’ll have more people to rely on there as well,” Ignis patted Prompto’s leg. “Iris is certainly going to be bored and you’re a bit older but quite childish. I’m sure you’ll find some immature ways to amuse yourself.”

“Oh man, I didn’t even think about how BORING it’s gonna be when we’re not traveling,” Prompto threw back his head dramatically.

“Whilst we were first in Cape Caem I poked around a bit, there’s plenty of things to amuse yourself stashed around,” Ignis replied, trying not to think about how correct Prompto was about the deathly boredom awaiting them. “There’s board games, books, some movies, and if I saw correctly a few gaming consoles. King Regis always did like his idle pleasures and luckily he didn’t take them with him when he abandoned the building.”

“That’s… better than most people’ll have, yeah,” Prompto admitted. “But you… what’re you going to do?”

He didn’t want to say anything but the majority of those things weren’t exactly something Ignis could do. At least not without some assistance.

“I’m sure I’ll be able to follow the stories in the movies and games well enough, save a few details,” Ignis sighed. “Can always get Gladio to read some books aloud to me.”

Prompto’s irritation had subsided enough to playfully pout, “Why can’t I read to you?”

“Because I’ve heard you try to read aloud and it overclocks your little brain, you stutter through every sentence as if it’s a foreign language.”

“Well, let me come along to Gladio’s storytime sometimes,” Prompto joked, “If you guys aren’t too busy cuddling and making out to let me in.”

Ignis quirked an eyebrow at him, the gravity of his words uncertain, “If Gladio hears you talking about me like that, you WILL be left standing on the side of the road.”

“I think I’ll take my chances.”

Chapter Text

Gladio had never been less happy to wake up in a tent in his life, sandwiched between Ignis and Prompto attempting to steal his body heat.

The animal part of his brain wanted to be mad at Prompto for “getting them kicked out” but honestly he didn’t think he was in the wrong. He didn’t pick a fight, he tried to defend himself in the only way he knew how.

When they’re at Cape Caem he should try to teach Prompto some easy hand-to-hand things.

Er, maybe let Iris do it. Pretty much everything he himself knew was pure brute force. His sister had been trained specifically for being a small person trying to take down bigger people, that would be Prompto's speed.

As much as Gladio was antsy to get there he really wasn’t looking forward to being the bearer of bad news. Today was the day either way. In just a half a day he’d be face to face with his little sister looking up at him, doe-eyed and confused as to where Noctis was.

Gods, he really wished Ignis would do it for him. He shouldn’t have to and won’t but damned if he himself hadn’t fostered a mentality of “Ignis can handle it.”

While Ignis enjoyed the perks of being the most capable person in the room, it was obvious that the duties that came with it wore him thin.

Looking at Ignis, half crushed underneath him and his face way too close, he wondered how Ignis’s life was gonna play out.

Despite mostly believing Ignis’s strange but confident assertion that Noctis was coming back, Gladio wasn’t terribly prone to blind belief in things. Hell, he would have thought the gods were bullshit if they weren’t physically evident in the world.

So all he could think was “What if Ignis is wrong for once?”

How long would Ignis live in denial? Would he drag it out over months? Years? Decades? Until he dies?

Where did he even get that belief from? Who knows. Ignis likes to keep secrets, sometimes. Maybe he thinks it bolsters his cool, mysterious, perfectionist guy thing.

Gladio and Ignis were similar in that right, thinking they were the best. On his end, Gladio definitely agreed with Ignis about himself.

Did Ignis return the sentiment?

Ah shit, he was staring again. Pulling away a little too fast, Gladio successfully woke up the entire tent.

- - -

Swinging her legs, Iris sat as close to the edge of Cape Caem as she could. Perching on a box she’d dragged down the hill. The arc of light that cut into the street just a few feet away from her.

Just beyond that stood an imp, bouncing back and forth threateningly. Almost like it was daring her to come out and join it in a deadly dance.

She could. While she wasn’t as good at fighting as her older brother yet she was more than capable of handling some imps. Even if he had a lot of friends, which he certainly did. Lurking in the unseen shadows behind him.

But it would be pointless, do nothing but wear her out and she wanted to be bright and sunny for everyone’s return.

Gladio hadn’t texted or called her nearly as much as he normally would. Must be exhausted then, she can’t imagine what the four of them have gone through… the destruction of Altissia? Visiting the remains of Tenebrae? Having to travel through Niflheim?

She hoped they were all alright. That’s… that’s a lot. And it’d be just like Gladio to try and hide something bad from her.

If he comes back in a cast, she’s gonna throttle him.

Brightness illuminated the tunnel to her left, an unfamiliar car approaching with a hefty trailer hitched to it.

Encroaching light revealed that her imp friend truly wasn’t alone, a myriad of other little daemons crawling on the other edge of the road suddenly in sharp relief.

But she didn’t have to worry about that anymore. Like daemons always did, they scattered from the blinding headlights and into the safety of the darkness beyond.

Raising a hand to her eyes, Iris squinted past the brightness.

Huh, Gladio was driving. That’s unusual.

Trotting around the car she took a running leap and caught him around the shoulders, dangling there until he returned the hug, “Gladdy! I’ve been so worried about you!”

Were she not an Amicitia the return hug would be a spine-cracker but they were built of sturdier stock. Cheek nuzzling into Gladio’s prickly jaw as he responded, “Been worried about you too.”

Of course he had. Probably taken all three of the others to keep him from rushing right to Cape Caem and even then, just barely.

Opening her eyes she found herself looking down at Prompto who was giving her the strangest look. If she didn’t know better, it was guilt. Peering over at Ignis had him not even looking in her direction, angled oddly towards the hill. Must be looking for the others.

One boy was missing from sight and if she knew one thing about Noctis it’s that the chances of him being cutely passed out in the backseat were skyhigh.

Wriggling out of Gladio’s arms she nudged past Prompto to look in the backseat.

Empty. Front seat too.

Was he coming later? Surely if he had princely- er, kingly- duties to attend to at least one of them would have stayed with him, right? It’s extra dangerous to be alone now, all the training in the world couldn’t prepare you for this new world. Barring someplace they couldn’t follow why else would they...

Hand still on Prompto's shoulder, Iris looked to him and the others in confusion, “Where’s Noct?”

Every muscle in Prompto’s arm tensed at once, Ignis only turned away more, and Gladio did anything to avoid eye contact.

Iris’s already-nervous swirling thoughts about Noctis being away on some dangerous mission alone went down the drain as she realized the answer might be significantly more grave than that.

“Where… where is he?” she asked, not knowing if she wanted the answer.

If Prompto had looked a bit guilty, Gladio was caked in it. Every step she took towards him only made him look more uncomfortable, grimacing hard and staring out into the darkness where the daemons had just slunk off into.

She repeated herself, an edge creeping into her voice that was half anger, half fear, “Where is Noctis?”

“Noct is…” Gladio carefully chose his words but they were clumsy nonetheless, “Noctis isn’t with us.”

“I can see that,” Iris’s voice leaned irritated. “So where is he?”

She could visibly see the heavy, unused gears clunk around in Gladio’s head. He’d never exactly been one for having a way with words and this was really the last time she wanted him to be at a loss for them.

“I don’t understand it myself but he’s like… in another world? He’s gone like… for now? But he’s gonna come back, like... eventually.”

Already collapsing under his own weight, Gladio balked even more at his sister’s eyes narrowing into a confused but already angry glare. Having easily put together the pieces, she knew one thing: whatever happened to Noctis definitely happened long before their return to Lucis.

Apparently tired of watching Gladio try and fail to wrangle all five of his brain cells to try and explain a much more complex concept than he was capable of, Ignis joined them. Voice calm despite the upsetting information, “Noctis was sent to another dimension for an unknown period of time. Some of the finer details are lost to us but we believe it is something that will end the long night. I’m sorry I don’t have a better picture of the situation nor any proof, you’ll simply have to take my word for it.”

When Iris looked up and over at him to try and find a semblance of comfort, she only found another piece of bad news. The cane, the scars over his eye, the dark sunglasses that had no place in the dead of the eternal night.

The cold pit in her stomach widened, threatening to swallow her whole, “Ignis…”

He knew exactly the cause of her distress, of course, “There was an accident in Altissia, I’m fine.”

Hand curling into a shaking fist at her side, Iris’s eyes flicked back and forth. Noctis was gone, Ignis was blinded, Gladio’d lied to her… Only Prompto seemed unscathed.

She stood like that, shaking with a quiet rage until Gladio broke the tense silence, “Iris?”

Her answer was sharp and sudden, stomping over to her brother and delivering the hardest jab she could possibly muster to his left pec. Knocked a step back from the force, Gladio held his chest and gaped down at her.

He stammered out, “You HIT me? What are you, five?!”

“Are you?!” she threw her arms up. “Ignis got hurt in Altissia! Noctis disappeared in Niflheim, didn’t he?! You waited this WHOLE TIME to tell me ANYTHING?! It’s been WEEKS.”

“I wanted to be here for y-” Gladio caught the second punch, growling. “Not to be here to be your punching bag, cut it the fuck out.”

“Do you have ANY idea how worried everyone’s been?!” Iris yelled, red in the face. “And this WHOLE TIME you know what we’ve thought?! ‘Well, at least nothing serious happened to anyone we love. Big dumb ugly Gladio would tell us if something was seriously wrong!’”

Gaping like a fish, Gladio seemed the younger sibling for once. Watching him completely shut down didn’t help Iris’s mounting frustration.

“AUGH,” dust puffed around her foot as she stomped it down, “You are such a big BABY. Apparently I’ve got to handle this myself...”

Taking one last, long, punishing look at Gladio, Iris turned around and started stomping back up the hill.

- - -

Despite bringing back vital supplies that would keep Cape Caem self sufficient for a good long while they received no hero’s fanfare.

By the time they’d made it to the top it was evident Iris had successfully told everyone there. Dozens of faces darkened and downturned, no doubt feeling like the last semblance of hope had been snuffed out.

Gladio barely got a look at Iris crouching to comfort a quietly sobbing Talcott before Cor approached, sweeping them away towards the entrance.

“Gladio,” he said. “Part of me wants to chastise you but if they bruise on your chest is any indication, Iris beat me to it. Beat you too. So I’ll make this short. We got a lot of refugees here and not a lot of beds. One more in the main house, we’ve set up an extra mattress in the hideaway under the lighthouse.”

Well, he’s already in the doghouse. Might as well commit.

“I’ll take the lighthouse room,” Gladio offered. “Be nicer in the house, I’m fine with roughing it anyways.”

“Valiant, but unless Ignis and Prompto are alright with sleeping on top of each other one of them’s gonna have to join you,” Cor nodded towards the room. “It’s a twin, if that. Full size in the lighthouse.”

“Nah, we can snuggle,” Prompto threw an arm around Ignis’s shoulders. “Gonna be kinda cold even in the house, ri-”

Abruptly he was jerked away by his scruff, Gladio growling a warning at him, “He doesn’t wanna cuddle up with your boney ass. I’ll deal with you until more beds open up.”

“What?! I don’t want to sleep in the lighthouse, it’s gotta be cold and damp and-”

“Cease your bickering,” Ignis cut in. “I care about exactly one thing and one thing only right now. Being facedown, on an actual bed, out cold. Prompto, you stay here. Gladio, you and I will take the lighthouse.”

“You shouldn’t have to sleep out there in the cold,” Gladio retorted.

“Been out in the bloody cold for months now, I’ll just simply trust you will maintain your duties as a living space heater. Now come or I’ll trek out there by my lonesome.”

Ignis didn’t wait, pushing back out of the house into the eternal night, knowing he’d be followed.

- - -

It wasn’t as bad as Ignis had thought it might be. Managing to be relatively warm at the wall farthest from the water’s edge. Nicer mattress than he’d expected too. He could get used to this easy, the sound of the waves was rather soothing.

Immediately he’d kicked off his shoes and laid down, the only thing stopping him from stripping down and changing being their bags still in the car.

That had been an uncomfortable stop on the way back to the train in Niflheim. Picking over the corpse of the Regalia for whatever they could salvage. Their camping equipment had been destroyed but their bags, which had been in the center of the luggage, had survived almost entirely unscathed.

Ignis had been kind of glad that he didn’t have to see the state the Regalia ended up in. Walking through the shards of broken glass and metal had been heart wrenching enough.

The metal stairs down to their new home were a bit of a blessing too, a good way to know if someone was coming or going.

Right now they were rattling with Gladio’s heavy steps, fetching their luggage.

In the end, Ignis was basically the one to tell Iris what had happened. To say he was agitated was an understatement but deep down… he was getting really tired of being mad. He knew he was going to cave in much too early.

It was probably fine though. Deep down Ignis knew he’s a softie and wasn’t terribly enjoying the sad way Gladio kept huffing and puffing around like a dejected bull, ejected from the embrace of the herd.

Thus, he didn’t say anything snippy when Gladio set the bag by his feet. Just silently sitting up and rifling through it, feeling for the softer fabric of his pajama top.

While they’d all travelled he’d made an art out of changing without anyone seeing him in any state of undress but unfortunately in his current state that wasn’t really an option. Having to simply accept that Gladio would see him like this, at least for now.

Maybe the number of people in the main house would reduce with time. That seemed unlikely though, the stronghold would likely see many visitors especially if his own suggestions would be heard of training people.

He could get used to down here. Even as he pulled on the last of his pajamas he wasn’t cold.

Ignis could hear Gladio moving around the large space heaters, presumably to places that he’d be less likely to walk into.

Swinging his legs back he squirmed down into the sheets. It was far below what he’d had at his apartment in Insomnia but gods if he cared. It was a bed and unlike the one in Lestallum it was one that they weren’t going to get kicked out of anytime soon.

The bed sunk in deep near his feet, Gladio breaking Ignis’s content silence, “... Sorry.”

It didn’t have to be said for what.

“It’s fine,” Ignis replied. “Deep down I knew I’d have to do it for you. I’m not surprised save for one thing; did you ever once on the trip back rehearse in your mind what you were going to say?”

“No… didn’t think it would be that hard,” Gladio continued. “Feel like I can’t do anything right anymore. Just… sorry for that too.”

Ignis picking his words very, very carefully.

“I think we all feel like that, Gladio,” Ignis replied. “I am… sorry as well. I should have intervened back at Hammerhead. I have Iris’s number, I could have called her myself and told her.”

“It’s not your job to pick up after me.”

“It’s not but it was going to fall to me in the end and it would have been the kinder route for everyone involved. You’ve never been good at breaking bad news.”

Gladio chuckled, “Remember when I got my first scar?”

“And I had to be the one to tell Iris? Of course,” Ignis smiled. “You hid behind the door like a contestant on a game show, waiting to be called on down while I had to break it to her.”

“To be fair, you broke the news kinda bad that time.”

Ignis prodded a foot into Gladio’s side. “Perhaps starting with ‘your brother was in an accident’ was an ill advised choice, yes.”

Gladio clapped him on the leg, “You made her burst right into tears.”

“That I did,” Ignis smiled, just a bit. “So… we’ll call this even.”

Even without being able to see, Ignis could feel Gladio loosening up and dispelling that dark cloud just a bit. Voice warm and fond, “I can always count on you, Iggy.”

“Of course,” Ignis replied. “Everyone can, I’m extremely dependable.”

Another pat on the leg followed by the weight leaving the bed, “I’m gonna handle this next part on my own though. Gonna go talk to Iris and try to smooth things over, I don’t want her to go to bed feeling angry and alone.”

“I’ll be here, presumably asleep.”

“I’ll try not to wake you up when I get back.”

- - -

The knock on Iris’s door wasn’t exactly unexpected. She’d been around her brother for fifteen years, he couldn’t ever let anything go. Always wanted to fix things as fast as possible and would throw a tantrum if he couldn’t.

Rolling over to face the peeling wall, she huffed. Let him stew in it, he certainly wasn’t enough of a brute to knock down a lady’s door.

He was, however, a brother and wasn’t above banging on her door over and over til she wondered if he’d woken up the whole damn house. Muffling it with her pillow wasn’t working either.

Iris loudly growled and kicked at her bedsheets for a second before stomping over and cracking the door open, just an inch. Glaring up at him, “What?”

“Lemme talk to you.”

“Don’t wanna.”

Iris made to slam the door but her brother was faster and stronger, stopping it just shy of closed.

“C’mon Iris, let me in.”

A few experimental pushes that barely nudged the door told her what she already knew. There was no way she was getting it closed again, shouldn’t have opened it in the first place. And while Gladio wouldn’t force his way in, he sure would stand there a long, long time. Begging like a dog.

Sighing she threw open the door with a dramatic eye roll, “What do you want?”

“You know why I’m here,” Gladio walked past her and sat on the slightly scratchy blanket and patted it for her to sit. “C’mere.”

Iris considered the merits of escaping to go hide out in the wooded area heading down to the road but mad as she was it would be far too cruel to let her brother think she might have run out into the daemon infested world beyond.

So she walked over and sat down with a huff, smacking away his hand as he tried to place it on her head. Crossing her arms tightly across her midsection, glaring a hole into a nearby corner.

“I’m sorry,” he started, “I should have told you when I first called you.”

“You should have. But you didn’t. You let everyone think everyone was fine but Noct… Ignis…”

“I just wanted to be here for you, so you wouldn’t have to be alone when I told you,” Gladio hooked an arm around her shoulders, despite some half-hearted attempts to squirm out of it.

“I was never alone,” Iris pouted, trying harder to back out of the quasi-headlock, “I have Talcott, Cor, Monica-”

“A kid and two adults who’ve never been good at comforting people when they’re down,” Gladio spoke from personal experience. “I wanted to be a shoulder for you to cry on, not to punch.”

“I punched you in the boob, not the shoulder.”

“Pec.”

“Boob.”

“Whatever,” he waved a hand, not about to argue that point, “You getting mad and running off is the opposite of what I wanted. You were… still alone in the end. But if you’ll let me, I wanna be here for you now, ‘kay?”

Arms still crossed, Iris huffed. As much as she wasn’t feeling particularly forgiving… he was right about her being alone. Despite her claims… a kid and two adults she doesn’t know very well…

Scooting closer, Iris tightly wrapped her arms around his midsection in an intentionally crushing hug. Face pressed tightly over where the bruise must be forming underneath his tank top.

Iris wanted to have one more witty jab to throw in his face but as she searched her brain for something to sharpen into a weapon she just felt it all pile up until tears were spilling out of her eyes. Gladio’s shirt growing damp as she muffled her crying in the all encompassing hug.

- - -

Gladio never realized how much he’d relied on the sun to know how much time had passed until he was walking through the same moonlight he’d been in however long ago.

Never was one to mess around with his phone much either, so he really had no idea how long he’d been in Iris’s room

It had taken a while to get her to stop crying. Never one for comfort, he instead tried to distract her. Let her talk about what they were doing to improve Cape Caem through diminishing sobs.

Some were obvious like the repairs being done to the walls but others were more subtle. One of the hunters had some electric skills and he’d beefed up the lighting systems so that they’d endure even the worst storm. Her and Monica had started getting the garden ready so they should have reliable food.

Well, vegetables at least. Gladio was no Noctis but he had his own concerns about the meat supply. But it sounded like thus far at least the daemons weren’t terribly interested in the animals.

Just people. That in itself was a worrisome thought.

After that it was a slow, winning battle as Iris drifted off. Unwilling to let go of her hands balled tightly into the back of his shirt until she was completely unconscious.

Giving Gladio the opportunity to carefully lay her down and tuck her in, bringing back bittersweet memories of comforting her after nightmares as children.

Walking down the metal stairs without disturbing Ignis was difficult but Gladio managed it. Stepping carefully on the sturdy edges with a little of his weight as possible.

He wanted to brag when he got to the bottom but unfortunately his only audience was asleep.

Well, fortunately. Meant he didn’t wake Ignis up.

As Gladio slid into bed he thought he’d blown the whole thing as Ignis shifted, moving closer. But all that amounted to as a still asleep Ignis, nuzzling into the side of his arm.

Well, as long as he’s still asleep.

As long as they’re in something resembling a home.

As long as no one’s mad at him anymore.

Chapter Text

Gladio’d always had ugly handwriting, like that of an overgrown child. Mostly because he just didn’t bother to write things down, it wasn’t ancient times. Why shouldn’t he just type it?

But Ignis had insisted that the daily log be written by hand. While he confessed that his reasoning had no solid basis, he was anxious about the possibility of a power outage or another kind of technical failure.

Gladio wanted to point out that if they lost what day it was on a now-useless calendar that whatever caused that failure was a much bigger problem than the loss of a meaningless formality.

But it seemed important to Ignis, so he just shut up and did it.

Today marked three months and two weeks since Noctis disappeared.

As time wore on, Gladio became acutely aware that this supposed period of time before Noctis came back was possibly years out. If ever.

Honestly, he hated keeping the date. He’d rather not know, let everything blend into a vague slurry. Let weeks and months and years blend together until they could just forget about it and live in the moment.

But Ignis didn’t ask for much. So he did it.

Rather than focus on the void left in Noctis’s wake and the interminable darkness surrounding it, Gladio would rather focus on what was right in front of him.

Over the past few months they’d majorly improved Cape Caem.

Crops were kind of sad, given the state of the world, but they were growing nonetheless and were reasonably tasty. Hunting for meat had become a constant but they were saving a lot of time by trading with hunters passing through. Food and other necessities for a bed. It wasn’t a bad deal on either side.

If they stayed and helped out they’d even get a dish, courtesy of Iris and Ignis. The latter rapidly working his way back to being able to cook alone again. But it was largely spearheaded by Iris, for now.

The house looked good as new. No, better. Not only had they fixed the exterior but fortified it, just in case the worst came to blows. Cor was looking to expand and add an extra room or two in the back.

He’d offered it up to Gladio and Ignis as a way to get them out of the half-finished lighthouse basement but they’d turned it down. Any extra beds were better utilized to get more hunters in for trading purposes.

Besides, they kind of liked the privacy. Down there they were the only ones who had a personal living area, only occasionally invaded by the others. Typically Iris or Prompto, often at the same time, usually because they were bored.

More than once one of them sleeping on the couch. Curled up under a spare blanket after having passed out.

Prompto’d even offered to give up his bed in the house to sleep down there on a permanent basis before being chased off by Gladio. As far as he was concerned, they had the closest thing to a normal home and he wasn’t going to let a couch crasher disturb that peace.

The two of them were going out on a mission together today, Gladio and Prompto.

Prompto seemed to like when he got to hangout with one of them alone, get some rare one-on-one time.

It would be a lie to say Gladio didn’t get nervous leaving Ignis alone though.

Frankly, he got nervous leaving ANYONE alone anymore.

Whenever someone was in excess of about two hundred feet away from Gladio it would dig into his mind. Didn’t matter if it was him leaving Ignis and Iris in the safety of Cape Caem or if it was Cor and Monica heading out to Lestallum for a supply run.

He’d told Ignis once and in response gotten a kind hearted chuckle paired with a cold, “Welcome to my world.”

Pulling on his jacket, he tried to keep his back to Ignis as much as possible.

One slightly awkward part to their one-room arrangement was Ignis’s enduring modesty. Before going blind he’d done everything to avoid being seen in any state of undress. Didn’t like being seen as anything less than one hundred percent made up and ready to go.

Technically there was no way for Ignis to know if Gladio was looking at him or not but he wasn’t the sort to stare at someone naked who didn’t want him to.

The sound of heels on the ground twice told him Ignis was done, standing up and brushing himself off.

“Can you help me?”

Gladio wasn’t sure why Ignis bothered asking, considering it had become part of their daily routine.

Frankly the whole thing was something Gladio wasn’t sure about.

It was probably a marriage of convenience that led to Ignis asking Gladio for help getting his hair ready in the mornings but he was still asking himself why Ignis wouldn’t go to Prompto for this instead.

Wasn’t like he’d have to walk around Cape Caem half ready. Gladio was sure if Ignis asked Prompto would trot down here, dark and early, every single not-morning to help. Dude was practically dying to be useful and get at that precious resource of positive attention. And he definitely had more experience fucking around with his hair than Gladio did.

But Gladio wasn’t one to question Ignis’s decisions unless they impacted him negatively and he didn’t really mind this.

It was strange for a different reason though.

Ignis was far from a standoffish person. A good thing, considering how much easier it was to guide him by hand. But he’d never much liked eye contact, always got a little snippy if you stared at him for too long.

Made the act of being face-to-face with Ignis’s unseeing eye while fixing his hair feel wrong. Like he was intruding on something private. How close he had to get didn’t help. Uncomfortably intimate but one-sided as Gladio did his best to mimic the way Ignis’s hair looked before.

It was also a good look at the damage on Ignis’s face too. The scars that were normal nicks were nothing compared to that strange, patch-like one over his former left eye.

Gladio didn’t properly know what happened on that altar. Just that Ardyn had been there, Lunafreya had been stabbed, Noctis was knocked unconscious, and Ignis was blinded. What power did Ardyn contain that he would bother to stab someone when he can wield whatever strange magic flayed the skin off Ignis’s face?

Normally this part of his faux-morning was silent but this time Gladio spoke as he paused to run a finger over the patch of scar tissue, “You know, Ignis-”

A sharp slapping noise echoed in the quiet room as Ignis grabbed Gladio’s wrist, harshly jerking it away, “I know what you’re going to ask, don’t.”

Taken aback, Gladio didn’t move until Ignis let go of his wrist sheepishly.

“I apologize, that was out of line,” regret seeped from Ignis’s words, carefully touching Gladio’s forearm, “Just… please don’t ask about that day again. I’ll… I’ll tell you soon. When I can.”

Gladio hated when Ignis started talking like that. He’d rather Ignis stay pissed and stomp off than revert into this weird, meek shell of himself. Hell, he’d rather Ignis strike him across the face. Anything but shrink down like this.

The worst part is Gladio didn’t know what to say to fix it when he got like this.

“It’s my fault I shouldn’t have asked,” he replied. “Really. Don’t… don’t worry about it.”

It didn’t stop him, Ignis pulling away and feeling for the stairs, “I’ll have Iris help me make one of your favorites for your lunch.”

“It’s not-” Gladio called after Ignis scaling the stairs with alarming speed. “You don’t have to do that.”

“As if you could stop me,” Ignis replied.

At least there was some bite to that statement, a coy smile visible from below.

Gladio’d take that.

- - -

By the time Gladio caught up to Ignis he was already entrenched in his work. Sandwiched between Monica and Cor, in his element.

That was one thing that always made Gladio feel better, seeing Ignis as he were. It wasn’t hard to catch glimpses of it considering. While he’d never been a slouch in a fight it was never Ignis’s true forte. An auxiliary thing he’d picked up to tack onto his long list of duties, most of which took greater use of his mind than his body.

Maybe that was why he didn’t take it harder when he wasn’t able to come with.

As Monica and Cor departed to do whatever Ignis had planned for them, Gladio approached, “Where’s Prompto?”

“Still asleep,” Ignis replied, amused. “Thought I’d give you the satisfaction of fixing that.”

Oh, Gladio LOVED playing Wake The Manlet.

Chuckling, he grabbed Ignis’s shoulder and gave him a fond shake, “How’re you such a damn angel?”

“Prompto wouldn’t agree, given what I’m about to let you do,” Ignis replied. “Do you think you’d benefit from my assistance on this hunt?”

Hunts were the one part Ignis didn’t get too involved in, letting Gladio take those reins. He had enough on his plate with Cape Caem, he didn’t need to be micromanaging that too.

“Nah, it’s too dangerous,” Gladio dodged the sharp glare. “We’re not going far but we’ll be down by the shore. Shitty footing and high waves, be easy for you to twist your ankle and get swept away.”

Ignis nodded at that. He didn’t like his capability questioned but he was far from stupid and proximity to the sea… well, that was a risk he wouldn’t want to take anyways. Sighted or not.

It wasn’t like Ignis came for all of them anyways. Frankly there were better uses of his time especially while they were still working on improving Cape Caem. Unless they needed the manpower, it was smarter to use his intellect than to go and stab some daemons.

“If you’re close you’ll be back by dinnertime?” Ignis asked.

“Yeah, we won’t be out that long,” Gladio nodded, immediately realizing how pointless that gesture was. “Just clearing out the coast for some fishermen. Guarding them while they get their hauls. Probably be a pretty regular job for us as long as they can catch somethin’. What’re you gonna do?”

“Much more riveting business, working out a delivery schedule for Prompto to transport goods.”

“Damn, I’m gonna miss out on that? How could you?” Gladio gave Ignis one more pat on the shoulder. “Speaking of, I’m gonna go flip Prompto’s mattress on him to get his ass moving. We’ll talk more later, ‘kay?”

He didn’t wait for the answer, didn’t need it.

- - -

Although Ignis didn’t relish the idea of being swept out to sea he had to admit his day was absolutely, hellishly boring in comparison.

Not every day, mind you, but when it was…

Well, let’s just say dictating letters to Iris wasn’t exactly Ignis’s idea of a good time.

Especially considering Iris, bless her heart, had her brother's horrid handwriting but a dogged determination to hide it. Resulting in painstakingly slow dictation, pausing constantly to allow her to catch up.

Luckily for Iris, Ignis was a man of infinite patience when he chose to be.

After a successful read back, Ignis nodded, “Sounds good, seal it up and leave it in the basket. The post will come pick it up in a day or two.”

“Alrighty!” Iris chirped, ruffling through some envelopes, “It’s so weird not to have stamps…”

Many archaic formalities had already been dropped in this new world. No time to worry about postage when the world’s overrun with daemons, no one to collect the money even. Everyone’s electronics worked still but everyone was reluctant to use them as if they would shatter in their hands. Everything that wasn’t purely for entertainment became for emergencies only.

Ignis didn’t like that. The heavy weight of Prompto’s phone in his bag. They’d insisted on only taking one at a time to reduce the chance of losing multiple phones at once.

Closing his eye, Ignis tried not to think about why that could come to be.

Hearing Iris stuff the letter into the envelope he stopped her before she could seal it, “You didn’t doodle on it, did you?”

The guilt of silence.

“It was just one moogle, in the corner.”

He opened his eye again, “You know these are addressed from myself, right?”

“I know,” Iris replied, “But I think people will know you didn’t write it.”

She had a point there. He sighed and agreed, “This is true but perhaps refrain in the future?”

A mischievous smile was plastered across her face, he was sure of it, as she answered, “I make no promises.”

“I don’t know who causes me more trouble, you or your brother,” Ignis shook his head. “Always chasing one of you into line.”

“Gladdy’s worse,” Iris said with confidence, sliding the envelope shut with a crinkly noise. “At least I try to be helpful and nice and don’t flip mattresses over on my friends.”

“Iris Amicitia, I know with full confidence you pick on Prompto in your own ways,” Ignis replied. “Albeit while your brother pushes him around physically, you get him to do whatever fancy crosses your path.”

She whined, “He just makes it so easy! Besides, is having an old fashioned tea party so bad? What else are we going to do in the dark?”

An old memory whirled in Ignis’s mind, voice fond, “I remember when you were young and Gladio would bully Noct into playing prince with you. Granted, he was doing it to get out of having to fill the role himself but I think it was a sweet gesture nonetheless.”

“He’d carry Noct in over his shoulder sometimes,” Iris giggled. “Never did teach him how to get out of holds. No wonder he needs help when he gets pinned in battle.”

If there was one thing Ignis appreciated about Iris’s handling of the world going to pieces it was the way she never spoke about Noctis in past tense. Nor did she have to correct herself when she talked about him like he was dead because she sincerely believed he was going to come back as well.

Sometimes Ignis thought Iris was the only one who truly believed him.

An admirable trait in the girl but unsurprising. She’d always looked up to him, amber eyes sparkling.

It was nice to have confidence in asking her for help with things others surely thought were beyond him. Ignis suggesting, “You know, I was thinking that tonight I’d try to cook something on my own. With your supervision.”

“Sounds good,” Iris supported him immediately. “But I’m gonna sit on the counter to watch and you can’t stop me.”

She laughed at the way he cringed, “Just go put the letter in the basket before I lock you out and attempt to do it on my own.”

“Alrighty!” Iris’s chair scraped back. “Don’t start without me!”

- - -

By the time she’d returned, Ignis had started without her.

Counters already piled high with ingredients he’d need. Examining the garulessa meat and garlic amid other ingredients she took a stab, “Prime garula rib?”

Without turning to her, Ignis answered as he continued to prepare, “I figured something a bit hearty for tonight. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to fight on the craggy rocks of a shoreline but it’s tiring work.”

“Nope, some rocks and water but never anything that bad,” Iris replied. “Frankly Gladdy barely let me outside the safety of the training halls before all this, let alone now.”

“He just worries about you, you’re so young,” Ignis replied. “Although frankly I think he’ll always worry even as you blossom into a young woman. You’re his favorite.”

Already hopping up onto the counter, Iris made herself at home swinging her legs, “Yeah, I know! Speaking of favorites, you’re making one of Gladio’s right now.”

“That I am,” Ignis’s face betrayed no emotion as he pulled out the butcher knife and took it to the meat. “In many ways Gladio has questionable taste but as I said, hearty fare.”

“You know, if you wanted to impress Gladdy all you had to do was stick some Cup Noodle in the microwave.”

“I’m not trying to impress anyone,” Ignis scoffed before tilting his head back at her with a world weary look. “You know, the one time I did try to impress your dunce of a brother? I made him some actual, nice ramen as a treat. He pulled a face and I nearly slapped him.”

“Yeah that sounds like Gladdy,” Iris grinned widely. “But you HAVE tried to impress Gladdy. In the past. Totally not right now.”

“I’ll thank you to watch your tone,” Ignis waved the knife for a second before setting about dicing the garlic. “And your insinuations. What are you even angling at and why?”

“Just noticed you seem to make his favorites the most, even more than Noct’s if you’re all together,” Iris replied. “And sounds like it’s always been that way. Saw it myself before all this happened and Prompto’s complained about it.”

“Well, he can complain all he wants. I’ll make whatever I please. And I repeat my question, what are you even angling at and why?”

Ignis never had any patience for beating around the bush, let alone when something was potentially at his expense. Iris knew if she kept this up perhaps he’d make sure her portion was cooked just slightly too long but she was having fun for once.

“I’m just saying,” Iris grinned wider, leaning forward. “You and him have that whole love nest…”

“Unfortunately, I’m not the right kind of leggy blonde your brother likes.”

“I think your hair is more brown.”

“Blonde, brunette, whatever,” Ignis dropped the first cut into the sizzling pan. “Either way I find myself not in possession of particular attributes your brother’s always chasing after.”

“Ha, boobies,” Iris narrowed her eyes mischievously. “He does like older women though and-”

“I am both younger and a man.”

“Yeah but you’re kinda like if a MILF was a twenty-two year old man.”

Pausing, Ignis turned to give her a look of shocked disbelief that was a foot to her left, “What in the blazes does that even mean?”

“I dunno, just a vibe,” Iris replied. “I just know Gladdy’s always loved hovering around you and he’s doing it even more now. I mean, you’re sharing a bed down there and it’s not like he’s been paying the normal amount of attention to the lady hunters coming through here. Not chasing any of them at all.”

“Gladio simply, despite all his otherwise mental deficits, is not stupid enough to potentially knock a poor girl up in this current world.”

“So, do you like big, dumb ol’ meatheads?”

“You’re playing a dangerous game called ‘I can burn your portion if you irritate me enough’, Iris,” Ignis replied. “I’ve always been aware that I’m not Gladio’s type.”

“So you’ve thought about it? For a while, it sounds like!”

Ignis pressed the steak hard into the pan, “I will commence the burning.”

“Noooo!” Iris wailed jokingly. “You’re bullying me!”

Releasing the meat, Ignis replied flatly, “An amazing bit of projection there.”

“You’re just mad I know you like my brother.”

Iris watched Ignis pause. Visibly contemplating his next move before making it. Even a casual social interaction like this was a battlefield to navigate in his mind. Trying to access how much of a threat the currently humming girl could possibly be.

Not much of one, he seemed to decide.

“Even if your bold accusations are true, both of myself and Gladio,” Ignis replied. “Now would not be the time or the place. Too many secrets lie tucked away in my mind that I can’t even begin to think of how to bring them up. We’ve had a hellish year and I’ve taken on the brunt of the hidden evils, it seems.”

“Is it about how you went blind?” Iris noted Ignis flinch as she hit the nail on the head. “Gladdy’s worried about that, you know. He’s talked to me about it before, he wanted to know if you’d said anything to me while we were cooking together or something.”

“It’s among my secrets, yes,” Ignis set back to work. “As well as how I know Noctis is coming back.”

“Whatever happened…” Iris chose her words carefully, “We all care about you. Everyone just wants to know so they can try and help you feel better.”

“I need no pity,” Ignis caught the insinuation in her words as well, “And who else has been asking?”

“Prompto, mostly,” Iris replied. “He’s been hanging out and playing games with me and Talcott a lot. I think he’s missing Noctis and he knows he’s less mature than you and Gladdy so I’m the next closest thing to a peer.”

Ignis added on, “He also mentioned to me once that he’s always wished he had a younger sibling.”

“He better watch out, he’s going to make Gladdy big-brother-jealous if he keeps acting like that,” Iris half joked. “But I don’t mind having more brothers.”

“We all need as many people to lean on in these trying times.”

“Yeah and you do too, so you should tell Gladdy what happened in Altissia.”

Again he turned to shoot her a look, this one hitting its mark. It was amazing how much power he was able to imbue a disappointed stare even without his vision.

Iris changed tactics, “Well, how about this. Why don’t you tell me? I’m lower stakes right and I pinky promise not to tell anybody if you don’t want me to. Think of it like a practice run.”

For a long time she watched Ignis ignore her and return to cooking diligently, back turned sharply to her. The second ticked by on the nearby clock as Iris began to wonder if she’d pushed too hard. But if she left Ignis alone for a day or two he usually cooled do-

“That day on the altar…” Ignis dashed those concerns, voice weaker than it normally is. “When Ardyn had us cornered with his Niflheim guard… he was going to kill Noct. He was thrown to the ground, the ring of the Lucii rolled out of his hand…”

Iris’s eyes grew wide, much sharper than her brother and immediately recalling what happened to Ravus.

“You put it on…”

“That I did,” Ignis replied. “Asked the kings of Lucis to help me defeat Ardyn and they gave me their blessing at a steep cost. I fought Ardyn but only scared him off before being left to watch my vision burn from my skull. The last thing I ever saw was Noctis lying there, not knowing if I’d done enough.”

Pushing herself off the countertop, Iris wrapped her arms tightly around Ignis’s waist. Burying her face into the middle of his back, her voice muffled against the leather appliqué on his shirt, “You did. You always do.”

The long silence said he didn’t believe that assertion.

But Ignis tended to avoid being contrary when people were just trying to be kind.

Patting her arm, he murmured, “Thank you, Iris.”

Freeing him from her grasp, Iris slid away to start grabbing some plates out of the cabinet, “Outside of this, you do too much actually. Gladdy talks about it a lot, how you’ve always had to follow around Noct like his second mom.”

“Is that why you called me a…” Ignis gestured vaguely.

“MILF?”

“Please stop saying that word, you’re a child.”

Iris puffed up in indignation, holding a plate in her hand like a shield, “I’m fifteen! Almost sixteen now!”

“An infant, barely capable of basic mobility.”

The edge of his mouth was pulling back into a coy smile, Iris glad to see such a now-rare sight. Bonking him on the shoulder with it before going over and placing it on the table, devoid of food, “Babies don’t have to help set the table.”

“If they want to eat they do,” Ignis rattled open the silverware drawer without even pausing his food preparations.

“That’s not how babies work,” Iris protested, grabbing a fistful of forks.

“Then perhaps I will allow you the scant dignity of being a child again,” Ignis batted an arm in her general direction, catching her shoulder and nudging her towards the table. “And don’t call me that word again.”

“You’re trying to seduce my brother, I’ll call you whatever I want,” Iris looked back and stuck out her tongue, realizing how futile a gesture that was nowadays.

She had her victory though, watching red flash across Ignis’s face as he averted his gaze.

- - -

The rest of their set up had gone over well, save for Iris doggedly insisting that he should tell Gladio about what happened in Altissia. Her small, pointy little hand finally resting over his as he placed the final plate, Gladio’s.

“I mean it, Ignis. You should tell him, it’d be good for both of you.”

He didn’t like how often he had to hear Iris’s voice so solemn. Missing the carefree way she’d come bounding down the stairs to greet him when he’d stop by the Amicitia household for whatever reason. Typically to pick up Gladio, the man didn’t like to hang out at home.

Ignis had always been fine with that. Clarus was a kind man but was a high ranking coworker. Not exactly an environment where Ignis could kick back and enjoy himself.

As much as he was ever able to in general, anyways.

The worst part is Ignis knew she was right.

Dinner was unusually spritely, Gladio and Prompto having befriended the fisherman they were helping who’d come back with them bringing gifts of fish and alcohol.

Ignis didn’t mind, they came back in time for him to carefully shift and provide the three extra plates with ease. Glad to trade that for other meat, so long as they’d maintain their stores at Cape Caem and not go hungry themselves.

One benefit of his naturally placid nature is that when Ignis is distracted and lost in his thoughts, nobody questions him on it.

He only really came to attention when someone interacted with him where he could expertly put on a little song-and-dance to sate them and allow them to return seamlessly to the cheery dinner.

The sole dark spot, in their eyes, came when the fishermen asked about the extra plate, lying empty at the head of the table.

As it was Iris’s thing so she was the one to speak up, cryptic as her words were.

“It’s for a missing friend.”

Despite being only a few months into the darkness people had already learned to not question things like that. Everyone had known loss by this point and knew that everyone bore wounds, fresh and bleeding.

Eventually the night closed out and Ignis found himself guided towards the lighthouse by Gladio, just as he did every night he was able.

Rattling down to their little makeshift home, Gladio was still bright and chatty. It took a lot to get him properly drunk, Ignis doubting he was anything beyond tipsy. Vacant words bouncing off Ignis’s mind without sinking in but Gladio either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

Didn’t notice, likely, considering he didn’t want to go to sleep yet. Dragging Ignis over to sit on the rundown old couch to keep talking.

Conversation finally turning to Ignis’s night rather than Gladio’s with the latter asking, “So you make my favorite on purpose because I’m doin’ such a good job?”

Gladio always did try to gain his approval, whatever scraps of it he may manage to sniff out.

“You simply prefer food that suited the situation best,” Ignis deflected, as he always did when people tried to gain his favor. “I knew you and Prompto would be hungry when you returned and wanted to make sure you ate well.”

Gladio’s praise had always been less guarded, “Well, either way it was fuckin’ delicious. Iris said it was the first dinner you’ve made all by yourself, right?”

The clarifier of ‘since the accident’ hovered at the end of that sentence, invisible but looming.

“Yes, I’ve come much further than I ever could have expected in such a short time,” Ignis nodded. “I never thought I could recover so quickly.”

“I did, you can do damn near anything,” Gladio poured out more of his easy compliments, perhaps a symptom of his womanizing that simply carried over into all his relationships. “I won’t pretend I don’t still worry about you sometimes but you’re… really something else.”

Gladio didn’t know the half of it and that guilt dug deeper into Ignis’s side.

One on one it was much harder to hide when he was distracted.

“Hey, Eos to Ignis,” Gladio snapped his fingers a couple times, “You still in there?”

“Ah, my apologies and my… thanks. For the compliment.”

“You feelin’ alright?” he didn’t wait for an answer, placing a hand on Ignis’s forehead. “Kinda hot. You getting sick on me? Or just drink too much?”

He hadn’t drank anything at all, actually. Never was much of a drinker as is but didn’t terribly relish the potential risk of deciding to tell everyone all his secrets, at once, in front of strangers no less.

Ignis pushed the hand away, Iris’s words driving him forward, “I’m fine I just… have to talk to you about something.”

Gladio didn’t answer and Ignis claimed the silence to repeat his words from earlier, embellishing a bit. Explaining Ardyn’s arrival, putting on the ring and having it burn through his body, fighting Ardyn on the remains of the platform, only just managing to fight him off before wandering back to Noctis, the last thing he ever saw being Noctis’s body lying there and not knowing if he’d done enough.

His heart was pounding in his ears as he waited for a response that wasn’t coming. Gladio holding so still that for a wild second Ignis wondered if he left, until he finally spoke again.

“I thought… Ardyn…”

“While his presence necessitated it, he wasn’t the one who blinded me.”

“You… did it yourself.”

“Yes, for Noct’s sake.”

While Ignis had already mostly made peace with the fact he’d never see his loved one’s faces again he was experiencing a spike of loss as he was unable to see Gladio’s reactions. The man had always had the most unguarded facial expressions, you could easily witness his entire thought process as he cycled through them.

But Ignis was robbed of that now and left with the other half of said process: Gladio shutting up to preserve what little brainpower he had to try and decide how he felt about something.

Ignis also knew that the longer it went on, the more likely the answer would be “I’m angry about it.”

As if on cue, Gladio came to that conclusion although not in a way Ignis could have predicted, “Why would you do that?!”

The answer that seemed like it should be obvious, even to their resident meathead.

“It’s our job?” Ignis squinted. “What do you mean-”

“That’s not-” he could hear Gladio’s voice escalating up, couch creaking as he shoved himself to his feet, “That's bullshit, it’s fucking garbage! That’s not your job, you’re not some… sacrificial lamb!”

Were they not, deep down?

“What’s done is done, Gladio,” Ignis made to stand too. “There’s no use getting worked up about it. I made my choice and you’ll simply have to accept it as I have.”

Several confused noises of irritation, accompanied by stomps pacing back and forth. Gladio no doubt trying to summon some sort of intelligent retort for his side of the argument but he’d never been one for words. Usually he just blustered around until he burned out his anger then fell asleep.

Well, Ignis wasn’t going to babysit him through a tantrum. Especially not with his own irritation peaking at the childish reaction to a problem that wasn’t even his.

“When you’re done pitching a fit, come to bed,” Ignis skirted the other side of the couch, voice cold and distant. “And next time I try to open up to you? I’ll keep this moment in mind.”

Another sputter of half baked responses, tamped down by rage.

Ignis wasn’t sure how long it took him to fall asleep but he was acutely aware of the fact that he never felt Gladio join him as well as having woken up alone.

Chapter Text

The room felt colder sans Gladio.

Perhap it was s a trick of perception, considering the silence made the waves crashing against the edges of the cave louder. Reminding Ignis that their little hideaway was all but a campsite hedging a frigid ocean.

Maybe that was why Gladio’d so quickly chosen himself to be the one staying down here. He always did like being closer to nature.

And his privacy. Ignis was a bit surprised the man hadn’t tried to bully him back to the house by now.

Most Gladio’d ever done was for a few nights at the start he’d made half-hearted efforts to nudge Ignis into the house with the others but never fully committed. Ignis had never really figured out why but he could take some educated guesses.

Maybe he wasn’t much of a lone wolf as he fancied. Maybe he just wanted to seek Ignis’s approval and attention. Maybe safety in numbers. Maybe wanting to keep a protective eye on Ignis. Perhaps even simply enjoying Ignis’s company.

Whatever the reasoning had been in the past, Ignis feared that perhaps last night may have broken the spell.

Ignis wasn’t even entirely sure what had gone wrong.

While Iris and Gladio were rather different people, he’d assumed the reaction would be something similar. Hug a bit more spine-cracking from Gladio but… sympathetic, looking to comfort, perhaps protect from further harm.

Not whatever that had been. An adult temper tantrum followed by presumably disappearing into the eternal night.

Pulling on the last of his clothes, Ignis accepted he would simply have to leave his hair down today. Always hated the feelings of bangs on his forehead but unless Prompto offers his services unprompted he would simply suck it up. Bigger fish to fry, as they say.

- - -

Ignis only made it about halfway through the somewhat clumsy walk to the main house before he found himself accosted.

Unless some strange new girl was getting rather bold it was Iris, wrapping herself around one of his arms like she’d always done since she was tall enough to manage it.

Her voice confirmed it, already going into placation mode, “Hey Iggy, how was… your night?”

The dear girl was always good at diffusing situations, no doubt from a lifetime of having a hothead for a brother.

“Given your tone I imagine you’re more than smart enough to realize the answer to that is ‘unsatisfactory,’” Ignis replied before inquiring. “If you could enlighten me as to where your brother has gone, I’d be grateful.”

She was quiet for a few steps before carefully admitting, “Uhm… Gladdy came back up and set out on a mission shortly after you two went back to the lighthouse…’

“Never took him for a coward,” Ignis mused with irritation as they took uneven steps down the slight incline of the hill. “Did you manage to catch where said mission was taking place?”

“What happened last night?”

“I’ve no good answer for that myself,” Ignis replied. “Perhaps, I’ll have a better one after tracking him down.”

He felt Iris shake her head, feathered hair brushing against his exposed forearm, “You can’t go alone!”

“I’ll take Prompto.”

“Prompto’s gone too!”

Now that was an issue. Ignis asking more questions this morning than he’d ever had to in his life, “With Gladio or off on his own? Because if your brother has intentionally attempted to strand me here…”

“Oh, no, Prompto is just helping fix something at the Chocobo Outpost. I don’t…. Uhm…” Iris chose her words carefully, “I don’t think Gladdy’s smart enough to cover his own tracks like that.”

That was a fair, if harsh, assessment.

“Sounds about right,” Ignis admitted. “Now where has he gone off to?”

- - -

Iris’s attempts to dissuade Ignis fell on deaf ears, the man taking the information wrangled from her and hailing a nigh unknown hunter to escort him there. He’d pulled his wrist free from her deathgrip with considerable difficulty and slid right into the passenger seat.

Mercifully the man was not chatty. Whether that was his natural disposition or a silence enforced by Ignis’s simmering anger intimidating him into submission was as unknown as it was unimportant.

Nearly nothing was said between them but a curt thank you, you’re welcome, and a turned down offer to stick around until Ignis was able to locate the missing man.

Besides, Ignis suspected that locating Gladio wasn’t going to be hard.

It’d be a lie for Ignis to say that being alone, unseeing, in this new world wasn’t still intimidating but he’d always firmly believed in confronting your fears by grabbing the bull by the horns.

When he’d been just eight he’d discovered a fear of spiders. Naturally, he’d decided to force himself to pick up spiders through terrified tears until he could handle them with ease. A skill abhorred as much by Noctis as it was by the man he was currently pursuing.

Frankly, Ignis wished he had a spider or two on hand. Find Gladio and throw them at him when he finds him.

A suitably childish punishment for his childish behavior.

While Ignis’s remaining senses certainly weren’t enough to sense spiders, they were more than enough to avoid the daemons boldly stomping around and make his way towards the distinct, familiar yelling in the distance.

While the deluge of daemons was nigh endless it would eventually dwindle as they were slaughtered, reduced down to little ones lurking at the edges. Waiting for their chance to dive back in when or if their enemy staggered or fell.

But Ignis knew this one wouldn’t, leaning in the dark shadows of a tree to avoid detection and wait out the storm.

- - -

There were admittedly times in his life where Gladio felt held back by his limited brain capacity and lack of emotional control. However, he could always be grateful for them in one specific circumstance: it’s very, very hard for him to bother wasting thoughts on his interpersonal problems when he’s out fighting for his life.

But his problems always seemed to find him anyways, this one causing particular anxiety as Gladio spotted the familiar figure through the crowd.

He’d expected hell when he eventually dragged his sorry ass home but he didn’t expect hell to find him.

Only Ignis was quiet and threatening enough to ward off any attackers. Glaring at him from underneath a tree, sparse flashes of light glinting off his sunglasses threateningly. Face abnormally framed by hair that typically pointed skyward. Somehow Ignis looked both softer and more intimidating like that, making the daemons leaping at Gladio look like enraged kittens in comparison.

Eventually the daemons abated and Gladio was forced to come back to heavy thoughts about what had happened last night.

Unignorable with Ignis sharply tapping his foot as the noise dimmed.

For a second Gladio considered turning tail and bolting but it was a futile thought. He wasn’t about to abandon Ignis in the middle of a field, surrounded by countless daemons. Also something in the animal part of his brain pictured Ignis easily chasing him down, pouncing on him like a coeurl, and ripping him apart.

Swallowing that unfounded fear immediately filled the void with anger again and the pressing question demanded answers.

Stomping over to Ignis, Gladio demanded, “How are you here?”

The edge of anger was squelched by confusion, unsure of how Ignis had physically pulled it off.

“Caught a ride with a hunter.”

Just as he’d always been, Ignis was a master of being passive aggressively dismissive. Always made Gladio feel real small when aimed at him. A feeling unfamiliar both due to his abnormally large structure and generally having Ignis’s approval.

“S’not what I mean and you know it.”

“You’re a remarkably easy man to track, Gladiolus,” Ignis replied, Gladio flinching away at his proper name, used as if he was a misbehaving schoolchild. “Perhaps you are unaware of the amount of noise you make when you swing that inelegant coffee table you call a sword.”

“That’s…” Gladio stumbled, apparently Ignis’s prediction was true. “Whatever, it’s dangerous to be out here alone.”

“You’re out here alone.”

“I’ve been training to be the shield since I was born.”

“Doesn’t mean you’re invincible,” Ignis replied. “Besides, in case you’ve forgotten, of the two of us you’re the one with quite a few scars criss-crossing your body.”

Gladio didn’t like that, snarling back, “Well, in case YOU’VE forgotten, you’re way more fucked up than I am now with all those-”

The second it came out of his mouth, Gladio wished he could cram it back in.

However, the anger he expected in retaliation didn’t come.

After a beat of shock, Ignis’s face dropped into one of unexpected pain.

Worse was how the insult hung in the empty air, Gladio knowing he can’t backpedal back onto the cliff’s edge he’d just plummeted off of.

“Ignis, I-”

Ignis forced himself back into well-practiced composure, ghost of defeat hovering over him, “I was actually unaware of exactly how much permanent damage my body has accrued. Unfortunately I find myself unable to look in a mirror and have only touch to go by. I’m not… ignorant of being scarred but good to know they’re apparently left me ‘fucked up’ as you so elegantly put it. Quite a greeting you’ve given me today, Gladiolus.”

Pushing himself off from the tree, Ignis abruptly about faced and started powerwalking back towards the road.

“Iggy, come back-” Gladio reached out a hand that was abruptly slapped away.

“I do believe you’ve lost nickname privileges,” he coldy didn’t look back. “Now if you don’t mind, I’ll hitchhike my way back. I’m sure some hunter will be kind enough to give a poor mangled man a ride home.”

“You’re gonna get your ass kidnapped doin’ that,” Gladio continued his pursuit. “I know you’re mad at me but I’m not gonna let your corpse get dumped in a ditch over it.”

“I came out here because I was concerned about you,” Ignis ignored him and kept walking. “Despite your childish behavior last night and yet you hand me cruelty right out the gate for my worries. Were I not a dutiful man perhaps I would just disappear into the night as you have and let you have a turn fretting about me. Luckily for you, I could never do that to Iris or Prompto, so I’ll simply have to suffer in silence as I always do.”

“I didn’t mean it like that-”

“I’ll be moving into the main house,” Ignis continued to walk along the ridge of rocks towards the road. “Tonight. I don’t care if I have to curl up on top of Prompto, at least he’s never taken a jab at me. Hell, if I tell him you mocked my looks he’ll probably trip over himself to insist I’m still pretty.”

Gladio didn’t have time to consider why that threat made him so angry as a crack of thunder sounded overhead.

Jerking to attention, Gladio happily shoved aside emotional conflict to deal with a more tangible one. A quick assessment of their surroundings left them not too far from his campsite. Never one to ask before dealing with a dangerous situation, he too easily hauled a shocked and struggling Ignis back towards it.

The fighting against him quickly stopped as the rain began to fall. Ignis allowing himself to be shoved against Gladio’s side under the barely big enough space of his jacket.

- - -

It was silent in the tent save for the heavy rain coming down against the stiff fabric of the tent.

Shivering against the cold, Ignis wrapped his atypically bare hands against his arms. Stripped of any piece of clothing with a drop of the tainted water left him in his button down and briefs only.

They’d gotten in before it had really starting coming down but Gladio was adamant.

But now with the immediate problem dealt with they were simply trapped together for an uncertain amount of time in a much smaller space, the fight looming over them like the dark clouds above. With no light outside and no clock he could see, Ignis had no idea how long they were locked in that deathly silence.

Eventually he heard Gladio moving, a grunt and the presence of body heat against his folded knee telling him he was no longer alone on his side of the tent.

“Ignis…”

He didn’t react.

“I’m sorry.”

“I know you are,” Ignis’s voice was cold against the attempt of warmth. “But that’s a rather lackluster offering considering the damage you’ve caused.”

Again silence fell but Gladio didn’t move away.

“I just…” Gladio finally spoke. “You shouldn’t have put on the ring.”

“Well, I did, and somehow despite being the one who was blinded and scarred by it you seem to be taking it worse than I am,” Ignis replied. “And then for some reason you decided to take your own misplaced anger and throw it at me.”

“I just…”

“You know, you’ve nearly hurt me more than almost dying did.”

Ignis could feel Gladio force back some primal urge to continue his previous fit of anger. This time winning in that struggle. Words strained but coherent, “You shouldn’t have almost died.”

Again back to that same senseless argument, Ignis replied, “Is it not our job to put down our lives in service of the king?”

“It’s not…” Gladio forced out, “It’s not YOUR job.”

The implications were not lost on Ignis but how to react was. He could feel Gladio silently fuming next to him, unsure of if the man was waiting for a response or simply lost in his anger. The nuance he used to be able to glean from reading people’s faces was now a lost art.

“Come now, of the two of us I’m easily the one better suited to this new reality,” Ignis gestured at his own face. “My greatest skills were never in my physical capabilities but my mind. Were it you on that altar and blinded you’d be deprived of your greatest assets and, frankly, you’d be a bigger, meaner baby about it.”

His attempt at being comforting was far more literal than anything that would calm Gladio down, having the opposite effect.

At least Gladio managed to swallow that down again, nigh audibly, “That’s not…”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s done,” Ignis replied. “You don’t like that I’ve been injured, I don’t like that you apparently think yourself so dispensable that you deserved that injury.”

“You’re sayin’ the same damn thing, just calmer,” Gladio shot back.

“Look, we must both acknowledge that to some degree our order of protection to the king meant potentially laying down our lives.”

Gladio huffed but otherwise stayed quiet, letting the sound of rain fill the brief silence.

“If it makes you feel better…” Ignis chose his words carefully, “I didn’t do it for ‘my king,’ I did it for Noctis. My dear lifelong friend who I couldn’t bear to just lay there and watch die.”

It grew quiet again but when Gladio spoke again, he sounded… relieved.

“It does.”

“I’m very protective of my loved ones. I would have done the same for Prompto or Iris… or you.”

Suddenly accosted, Ignis made an ungraceful noise as he was crushed against a wall of bare muscle. An unfamiliar but not unwelcome experience that immediately left Ignis paralyzed in shock, face flushed against tattooed skin.

Ignis cautiously returned the one sided hug, awkwardly maneuvering in this unfamiliar interaction. Honestly he’d been hugged an embarrassingly low number of times in his entire life, typically not for very long either.

Usually by someone wearing considerably more clothing.

And, despite his lack of experience in this arena, this hug seemed to be going on for much longer than normal.

Hesitation evident, Gladio cautiously offered, “Look… I dunno if it’s weird to say and I’m biased ‘cause of like. Mine. But I think your scars look cool, like a sexy, mysterious badass.”

“Sexy?” Ignis choked out.

“What?!” Gladio finally pulled back. “You don’t like that?”

“No, I just…” Ignis backed off himself, hand still on the crux of Gladio’s arm. “I’ve never been called that and certainly didn’t expect it from you of all people.”

“Well, we’ve always been the hot half of the friend group,” Gladio dismissed it as he moved away, the sound of the flap of the tent being pulled up. “Looks like the storm’s clearing up. Don’t want you out here if it picks back up, got a car parked a bit out. I’ll drive you back.”

“You know I’m more than capable of fighting on my ow-”

“I know, I know,” Gladio replied. “But you’re also prolly still at least kinda mad at me and I know you don’t fight as good when you’re distracted. Too busy thinking.”

It was true. Ignis acutely remembered a spar gone awry a few years ago. Noctis’s grades slipping dangerously low, the end of the year looming, tutoring over late nights that always seemed to end with the young prince falling asleep on his textbook.

Ignis had tried to keep up with all his duties as usual, including showing up for training as scheduled.

It had ended with him getting broadsided by the thick plank of wood Gladio called a practice sword. A bright flash of stars as Gladio was upon him, forgetting all emergency training to scoop him up and carry him to the gym’s first aid station.

Ignis’d only had the wind knocked out of him, thankfully, but the moment had stuck with both.

“That’s fair,” Ignis conceded. “I’ll help you pack up your camp.”

- - -

The radio was tinny and weak as they drove. A quality that would formerly make Ignis quickly turn the dial to get away from the imperfect crackling but nowadays they didn’t have the luxury. If anything, this level of reach was impressive.

A labor of love growing even in the dark dead of the night by some lost soul. She came on, occasionally, the one thing letting them know she was okay. She’d mention Lestallum and read off missing person reports that Ignis was sure would never be resolved.

Gladio was quiet, no doubt wanting to avoid any other sort of confrontation. Knowing damn well he was in the dog house and wanting to avoid any further chastisement.

But he must have not thought it enough as he finally spoke again, “You’re really somethin’ else, Ignis.”

“What do you mean?” he quirked an eyebrow at the vague statement.

“I just… you do literally anything for anyone else, no matter what,” Gladio continued. “And I don’t… I don’t think anyone appreciates you enough.”

“Tis the life of a caretaker,” Ignis replied, recrossing his legs. “I knew that when I took on this role.”

He didn’t. He was only six.

Suddenly a hand grabbed his, squeezing nearly hard enough to hurt. Gladio’s voice uncertain, “Still. You deserve better. You deserve for people to take care of you too, deserve to be happy.”

“Unfortunately, the universe seems to have other plans.”

The car pulled to a slow stop. For a second Ignis thought it was for dramatic effect but he was quickly alerted to the fact they had simply reached their destination by the yells of a particularly annoyed Iris demanding her brother get out here and explain himself.

Their conversation cut short as the sibling squabbling started and continued all the way up the hill.