Work Text:
Ignis woke with a startle. Cold sweat dripped down his neck and his heart pounded against his chest as he bolted upright on his side of the bed. Without even realising it, his dagger flashed into hand as he searched the room for anything that could harm him or his dear partner, who laid next to him on the other side of the bed, blissfully asleep.
Another nightmare, he realised…
It was just another nightmare.
She’s okay.
Ignis quickly shook his worried thoughts away with a sigh. Dismissing his dagger back into the armiger before his beloved would wake up and see it in his grasp again. The strategist let his shoulders slump with a heavy exhale and rubbed his face, exhausted of having the same nightmare over and over again every night. It had been so long since they had both gotten a good nights rest. And he knew that it wouldn’t get any better once their child came into their world.
But at least there was one benefit to being awake.
The brunet looked at the woman he loved so dearly and let a fond smile grow on his face, knowing she was safe. Her lips slightly parted in rest and long lashes brushing gently against her cheeks. There was just something about her that made him feel a bit more at ease, and Ignis let himself slip back down into the warm embrace of the hotel’s bedsheets — Thankful that Noctis had agreed with them to start resting in hotels more frequently after Ignis and his partner found out that they were expecting. He carefully wrapped his arm around her as he shuffled close to his beloved’s side, back flush against his chest and close enough that he could easily nuzzle into her soft hair. Ignis always felt more comfortable holding her in his arms, protecting her from all harm — although it had become gradually more uncomfortable for them to do so as the months passed by and their unborn child grew— Still, any opportunity he could get to simply hold her, he would take in a heartbeat.
Ignis continued to cuddle her side until he felt the small, but feisty kick of the tiny child against his hand —The advisor couldn’t help but quietly chuckle. They were moving a lot less recently as their due date grew closer, yet somehow they’d still announce themselves, just for Ignis. So small and fragile, yet so strong and full of valour, just like their mother. He gently rubbed his hand over the small spot along her belly where he felt their kick, hoping that they didn’t wake their mother with all of their fussing. ‘A restless one, just like him’ she’d say.
Though a hard worker he may be, it didn’t stop Ignis from yawning as sleep continued to pull at him. Promising to let him rest up for what was surely going to be a gruelling day. Pressing a soft kiss into her hair, Ignis let his sore muscles sink into the mattress and he slowly slipped back into sleep, hoping that the nightmares would be satisfied with scaring him only once that night.
Ignis’s heart pounded roughly against his chest as he ran. The only sounds filling his ears were the roars of Titan as he fought off imperial airships and the almost deafening orchestra of rain against the ruined city of Altissia. Millions of thoughts darted through his head, too fast for him to keep up with. Were Gladio and Prompto okay? Did his partner make it out of Altissia in time? Was she safe? Was Noctis safe? Where was he? He had to find Noct before imperials got to him…
He swore an oath.
Turning a sharp corner on the tips of his toes, Ignis finally caught sight of the Prince in the distance — Lying flat on his stomach and unconscious, but otherwise he looked unharmed. Lunafreya next to him, Looking rather worse for wear with a grizzly wound staining her dress in blood, yet her hand resting against Noctis’s chest. A warm orange healing glow radiating from her fingertips told him she was still alive.
The advisor didn’t even hesitate to pull one of their only phoenix-downs out from the Armiger. Racing over to her weak form and cracking over her in the hopes that it would be enough to keep her breathing. The flames from the feather instantly seeped into her skin, mending together the wound on her stomach until the bleeding slowed to a complete stop.
He reached into his pocket to call Gladio before resting the phone between his cheek and shoulder, and started to lift Noctis up into a sitting position. Taking care to move him slowly in case he had any wounds that the advisor couldn’t see. But by the time Gladio answered his call, Ignis turned around with Noctis in his arms and realised that he was too late.
On the other side of the altar was Ardyn, surrounded with several MTs that steadily flowed down from the airship hovering above them. But to Ignis, they meant little. All that he knew was that in Ardyn’s grasp, with a knife pressed to her throat; was his beloved. Her calm and vibrant composure that he knew her for no more as she feared for her life and their child’s.
“Ignis?” Gladio called on the other end of the phone, worry lathering his voice when he didn’t respond.
Ignis had to force himself to slowly lower Noctis back down to the ground. His ears deaf to Gladio’s voice as he desperately tried to think over the ear-splitting sound of his own heart beating in his throat. Her eyes, normally bright and cheerful, now filled with tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
He knew what they wanted.
They wanted Noct. And they were going to play dirty to get to him.
Ignis knew he had to protect him at all costs. He couldn’t let anything harm the king.
…Even if-
Even if it meant he’d have to sacrifice his family before they even got a chance to live.
He… He-
No.
Ignis couldn’t let that happen. He promised to protect both of them. And he wouldn’t break that oath. Ignis would rather die than to to let either of them perish.
“Release her, Ardyn.” Ignis deadpanned, slowly stepping closer to him. He couldn’t let his emotions show. She needed him to be calm right now. “She has nothing to do with this.”.
The chancellor grinned, “Oh, now why would I do that? I quite enjoy her company.” The knife in his hand moved closer to her throat, resting just under her jaw. “You’ve picked out quite the fighter, dear Advisor. I can see why you love her so.” His sickening tone sending a chill down Ignis’s spine.
“What do you want, Izunia?” The advisor asked, hoping to buy some time. Maybe Gladio and Prompto will find them. Maybe Noctis will wake up. Anything.
“Oh, I think you know what I desire…” Ardyn smirked when Ignis shifted his weight into a more defensive stance. “But no, you won’t let me take your dear prince so easily now, will you? Which is why I think that your lovely fiancee will make quite the substitution.” Ignis had to hold back from throwing himself at the man when his free hand tilted her head to face him, far too gently to be genuine.
The advisor didn’t like where he was going with this. Not one bit.
“You’re a smart man, so I’m sure you can tell me; do you know what the magitek infantry is?”
Ignis swallowed, but didn’t show fear. He wasn’t going to play into his sick games.
When he didn’t respond, Ardyn simply continued. “Machinery, some might say. But no, they are more than that… I hear you like a good pun? What if I told you the infantry was just that. An infant-ry…” The man grinned as he enunciated the last word, and the sight of it made Ignis want to throw up. The hand he had around her face moved down towards her stomach, and Ignis’s nails dug into his own palm with such fury he almost broke skin. This was exactly what he wanted… He had to resist.
Ignis’s partner immediately thrashed in the Chancellor’s hold, desperate to get away. “Don’t touch me, you sick fuck!” She spat at him, barely wriggling one arm free from his hold before he rolled his eyes and effortlessly pushed her down to the ground by pressing his foot firmly at the back of her knee, causing her to gently fold down.
That was enough to make Ignis see red. He instinctually ran towards her, but forced himself to pause only moments later when he realised he’d be leaving his unconscious brother alone and vulnerable. His heart fought with his mind as he was torn on who to protect. But before he could decide, magitek soldiers were already in front of him, attempting to subdue the advisor with harsh volts of electricity sprouting from their metal fingertips and heavy steel chains.
He let out a frustrated cry as his daggers flashed to hand and he started slashing at them. He refused to give up the ones he held so dear. Not while he still breathed. He felt no remorse for the humanoid machines, regardless of whether or not they were once human. Ignis would die before he let their cold, lifeless hands touch Noctis or his beloved.
He could barely hear the warning cry from his partner over the sound of his own pulse before Ardyn suddenly appeared behind him. His voice directly in his ear as he spoke softly “I think thats enough excitement for today.”. There was a sharp pain in the back of his head, and the world grew dark.
When Ignis awoke, it was dark, cold and uncomfortably damp. Blinking repeatedly in an attempt to get his eyes to focus, Ignis realised that his glasses were not positioned securely on his face. Actually, they weren’t anywhere to be seen. Though when the advisor bolted upright, ignoring the dizzy feeling in his head from the sudden movement, his priorities shifted from finding his missing glasses when he realised that his surroundings looked worryingly similar to that of an Imperial base.
What game was Ardyn playing at?
The Advisor spent not a second longer as he bolted upright. Quickly remembering the words from the chancellor that sent his blood cold…
The magitek soldiers weren’t robotic at all. They had beating hearts and blood pumping through their veins. Humans turned into machinery, so that the Chancellor could play his sick games and use them like pawns.
For a rare moment in Ignis’s life, Noctis’s wellbeing wasn’t his first thought. He was far more worried about the health of his partner and their only child. If Ardyn brought Ignis here, the chances were high that she would be too…
The question was where.
So, Ignis did what any worried partner would do if their other half was missing and in danger.
He ran.
Sprinting through the empty steel-panelled corridor, Ignis wasted not a second longer in case he was too late. He made a vow to her and to himself that he would never let anyone lay a hand on her, and he fully intended on keeping it. Glancing down each of the rooms as he sprinted past for any signs of her, a repulsively familiar voice echoed on the loudspeaker. “Best you make haste, dear advisor. Things are about to get interesting…”
Ignis grit his teeth. He’s taunting you. Ignore it. The voice in his head repeated, over and over. Each chant getting softer and softer as a more persistent voice started to crawl into his head to sow thoughts of panic.
Find her.
Protect her.
Save her.
It only occurred to Ignis then in his moment of panic that his priorities were pulled back to Noctis. The advisor experimentally went to pull out a potion from the Armiger. Relief washed over Ignis when the familiar weight of the cool glass bottle sat in his hand. He quickly sent it back into the void, content with the knowledge that Noctis was indeed still alive.
As he continued to run, Ignis began to lose his sense of direction. The corridor he stood in looked identical to one he passed earlier. As though he had been travelling in circles… Curious, he summoned a cup of Gladio’s noodles out and sat it down on the left side of the heavy door leading into the next room. “Straight lines.” He told himself. “All I need to do is stay in a straight line.”.
Gathering himself once more to continue his frantic search, Ignis opened the next door at the end of the walkway. “Tick Tock, Scientia. She’s getting tired of waiting for you. Much like how I grow impatient of keeping your dear king breathing.” Ardyn’s voice echoed.
Ignore him. Ignore him. Ignore him. Just keep moving.
“…Unless of course you don’t want to save her. I honestly wouldn’t blame you. She is quite loud.”.
Ignis squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists, holding back every ounce of strength not to lose his temper and snap back at Ardyn’s taunts. He prayed silently to the astrals that he was lying and that she and Noctis was fine.
Something hollow crunched under his feet.
Lifting his foot hesitantly revealed the cup of noodles that Ignis had placed earlier. There was no way. He made certain that he was moving in a straight direction. Unless… Ardyn was keeping him here. In a loop.
“Come on then, Ardyn!” He called. “You’ve had your fun toying with me. Get it over with and face me!” Ignis taunted back, staring up at one of the surveillance cameras attached to the ceiling. A hint of frustration sharpened his words. He itched to kill something. Someone.
“Ah, I thought you’d never ask!”. Ardyn Jeered as two narrow doors on either side of the walkway swung open, revealing a hoard of eight soldiers armed with various weapons. Assault rifles, axes and lances, glistening in the harsh white artificial lights.
Ignis didn’t wait for them to make the first move before he summoned his twin daggers and lunged at the man closest to him, slicing at his throat without hesitance and leaving him to bleed out as he darted to the next soldier directly behind him. Gone was the warmth in his emerald eyes and the comforting smile that could soothe even the most startled of hearts. Leaving in its wake a man devoid of any other emotion than rage, and a startling gaze that could petrify an army into stone.
Blood splattered from their throats one by one as he struck the men down in a blind rage. His lightly tanned face and beloved purple shirt no longer as they quickly stained crimson. His heart pounded in his chest as the last man attempted to strike at him with his battle axe, only to barely scrape the side of Ignis’s forearm before he too met his demise by the advisor’s blades.
Standing above the bodies, Ignis panted momentarily before the adrenaline started to wear off and he realised that his arm was bleeding. Tearing a potion out of the armiger, he crushed it between his fingers and allowed the magic to soothe and mend his wounds in an instant.
“You seem a bit tense. But you needn't worry; she’s in safe hands so long until she gives me what I want.” Ardyn’s voice echoed coldly through Ignis’s bones. Snapping him out of his trance for a moment, only to bring him right back into a more desperate and infuriated one.
“If you lay a single finger on my family, I will-“
“You’ll what? Kill me? Oh don’t be ridiculous. It won’t come to that.” The chancellor laughed mockingly over the loudspeaker. “But I do think you need to get a move on if you wish to save her. I don’t think it’ll be long before-“ Ardyn’s voice suddenly cut out. Leaving Ignis alone with his thoughts in the corridor. His heart dropped into his stomach.
Millions of what-if’s ran through his head as Ignis picked up his pace. Sprinting through the keep and making sure that no single door is left unchecked on the chance that she might be behind it. Though he was clueless on where he was going, he didn’t show it and moved with purpose.
But the thoughts gradually got louder in his head.
“What if she’s not really here?”
“What if he’s moved her somewhere else?”
“What if I’ve overlooked a room?”
His heart pounded as he fell deeper into the vicious thoughts eating away at him.
“What if something went wrong?”
“Is the baby okay?”
“What if I missed it…”
“She would never forgive me if anything happened to them…”
It was a blessing when a sudden metallic clang cut his thoughts short, jostling him back to focus.
He instinctually ran towards the sound, and nearly collapsed upon seeing her form, leaning against the steel plated wall with her shoulder. Her clothes bloodied and torn and in her arms - a sleeping infant.
Ignis cried out her name, sprinting to reach her just as her wobbly knees started to give out. His eyes blew wide and his heart felt caught in his throat as he realised she was about to fall forwards on top of their child with no way to stop it. He stretched out his arms as far as his muscles would allow, but just as her body touched his skin, she and the child quickly faded away in a cloud of smoke.
Tears struck Ignis’s eyes and his hands shook with fury. His sick games had gone on long enough.
“Stop toying with me Ardyn and face me! Just you and me! Right now!”
“Oh, you’re no fun… But if you insist.” Came the voice from the loudspeaker. Light and infuriating to his ears.
In that moment, the entire room shifted before Ignis’s eyes. The walls melted around him, revealing another of Ardyn’s illusions as the seemingly never-ending hallway was transformed into a catwalk inside of what still seemed to be an imperial warehouse. A steel door waited at either side of the bridge.
Cautiously, Ignis tread towards the door that stood in front of him. His daggers already in hand, prepared for the trap that most certainly waited on the other side.
He opened the metal door.
Nothing would ever prepare Ignis for the sight that he was greeted with.
His beloved partner laid half-conscious and pale in the corner of the large, dark and dusty cell. Her hands were covered in semi-dried blood, as was the ragged blanket that was draped loosely over her body. She would have been lying flat on her side on the cold metal floor, if it weren’t for the chancellor holding her inches off the floor by the shoulders, high enough for him to easily press the edge of his dagger to her exposed throat. A vile grin painted his features as he stared Ignis in the face.
It was then, that the last string of wire tethering Ignis’s rationality finally snapped.
“Don’t you fucking touch her.” The enraged man cried. Flinging the dagger he kept in his right hand straight at Ardyn’s head. The red-haired man narrowly swayed his body out of the way of the advisor’s incoming assault, releasing his beloved in the process for her to collapse back to the hard ground.
Not a moment passed though until Ardyn was pressed against the walls of the cell. Ignis’s second dagger piercing the accursed man’s chest - although the man didn’t even flinch - A gloved hand wrapped around tight his neck and squeezed with the intention to kill. Ignis was livid.
“I swore to keep my family safe. I made an oath to keep Noctis safe. And I will never let you lay a hand on those that I love.” Ignis’s lance quickly came to his free hand and just as he went to spear the miserable daemon of a man, Ardyn fought back with a harsh kick to Ignis’s lungs, knocking the wind out of him as well as his weapon.
As Ignis kneeled on the ground, wheezing for air after the sudden outburst, Ardyn effortlessly pulled the dagger out of his chest and let it clatter to the floor. Dusting off his hands onto his pants - like he hadn’t just been stabbed and choked.
This man wasn’t human.
“Was it worth it?” Ardyn sneered. He leaned down to Ignis’s ear to whisper, his breath deathly cold against his cheek. “You may be able to spare your beloved for now. But its too bad you won’t be able to save them all…” He jeered.
No, It wouldn’t just take daggers, lances and elemency to kill him… It would take something much more powerful.
Taking a deep breath, Ignis rose to his full height. Returning his fallen weapons back to the armiger with the flick of his wrist. Surprise would be on his side. If he was quick, maybe he could do it…
“Well?” Ardyn pressed, clearly getting irritated of waiting. “Come on then.”.
In a flash, Ignis grit his teeth and reached into his pocket to drag out the Ring of the Lucii, and without a moment of hesitation, slipped it onto his middle finger to the knuckle.
Instantly, flames filled his vision. A burning pain searing beneath his skin that made him feel like he was dying. He dropped back down to his knees in a scream of agony. Distantly, he thought he could hear the menacing laughter of the chancellor echoing in his head. Like he had won.
Maybe Ignis was dying. But it would be worth it if he could spare Noctis and his family. His life meant nothing in comparison to theirs.
Suddenly, the heat of the flames vanished, leaving behind purple flames to painlessly lick at his skin and eyes. He hesitantly flicked his eyelashes open to find Ardyn still standing in front of him. Waiting. The smile on his face suddenly dropped upon realising that the Ring had granted Ignis its power instead of rejecting him.
The advisor didn’t wait a second longer in attacking at his foe. He summoned his daggers to hand and with the icy magic lacing the edges of the blades, Ignis warped to strike at the man.
The fight was fast-paced and tiring. With each lunge, parry and stab, Ignis felt his muscles tire and could see his skin slowly turning into an ash grey from the flames that continued to embrace his being. But it seemed like he wasn’t the only one that was exhausting. Ardyn’s movements were getting more and more sluggish and desperate. Like he knew that he made a mistake of poking and taunting the bear for too long.
Weaving past the launching weapons that Ardyn threw at him from his own Armiger, Ignis flung his daggers at Ardyn’s chest as he sprinted at him. His muscles burned with each step, legs screaming for mercy and only just able to keep him on his toes as he danced with death. Unlike the dagger Ignis initially threw at Ardyn that he merely pulled out as though it were just a splinter, Ardyn stammered back with a gasp as the two blades embedded themselves deep into his skin, laced with elemency that would freeze everything that they touched.
Ignis didn’t stop running. Seizing the opportunity as Ardyn flinched and fought against the sudden burst of pain, Ignis leapt up into the air, summoning his lance and on the downward strike, planted it viciously into Ardyn’s chest and out the other side with all the strength he had. The blade surprisingly not covered in blood, but the blackish ooze of starscourge.
Ardyn remained still on his knees. Wheezing breaths of air and unable to move with the various weapons protruding from his flesh. Ignis let go of his lance and dismissed his daggers back into the Armiger before slouching over himself in exhaustion, the flames in his vision fading away as the ring’s energy burned out.
Ardyn let out a wheezing laugh. So quiet, Ignis could barely hear it over the sound of his own raspy breaths. “Well, congratulations… You beat me. But know, one day - I will have my revenge.” The man stared death into Ignis’s eyes, before his entire being faded away into the wind as black ash, leaving naught a trace of his presence, other than the puddle of scourged blood on the cold floor. Ignis’s weapons clattering to the ground now that the body was no longer holding them straight.
Relieved that the battle was over, Ignis fell to the ground in a heap, his exhaustion finally catching up. His breathing rapid and like sandpaper against his throat, skin now ash white and cracked with severe burns. On his side, he looked over into the other corner of the spacious but empty room, where his partner lied unresponsive and splashed in dried blood. He needed to check on her, but there was no way he would be able to reach her in his dying state.
Steadily getting closer, Ignis could hear multiple sets of footsteps outside of the chamber. Guards, probably.
Tears dripped down Ignis’s face as he reached a hand feebly out to reach her. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you, my love. I’m so, so sorry.” He sobbed, clenching his eyes shut as a set of feet entered the room.
“Sweet Shiva…” A deep voice whispered in the dark. Horrified, Ignis noted. “I’ve found them! They’re over here!” The familiar voice called.
“Oh fuck…” Another voice, one that sounded suspiciously like Noctis’s. “Ignis!” He cried, the sound of him warping closer to his body followed closely behind.
The advisor cracked open his eyes to see his King leaning over him, terror painted his features as he spotted the dreaded ring on his finger. “Luna! He’s hurt!” He cried out to her as he gently slipped the artefact off of Ignis’s charred finger with the trembling hands of his own. Ignis dared to glance over at where his partner laid to see Lunafreya checking her vitals and for injuries.
“I-Is she-“ Ignis croaked in between coarse breaths as Luna made her way over to him.
“Be still. She’s just exhausted and has lost a little bit of blood.” Lunafreya confirmed.
“No doubt from the amount of stress and torture those fuckers put her through…” Gladio growled from behind them, clearly emotional over something they knew that Ignis didn’t.
“This should help with the pain a bit.” Luna warned before placing her hands over the wounds on his face. Ignis closed his eyes, but could still see the warm yellow glow that shone through her fingertips over the scars on his face. It felt like sunlight. Warm, comforting and peaceful all at once. The pain on his face subsided and he felt like he could breathe easier, though it was still an effort.
Wordlessly, she moved down his body, unbuttoning his shirt just enough to expose his chest, where she then began to heal the burnt skin. “You will have some scarring, but hopefully that is all.” She spoke clinically. Clearly concentrating more on her work than making conversation.
Several minutes of silence and healing had passed before Noctis spoke up timidly, his voice echoing through the room. “Ignis… Before we found you, we- um… We found something you should probably see.” His voice wary.
Ignis turned his head to look at Noctis, but the King shifted out of his way to sit behind Ignis and lean him to sit upright.
Lunafreya halted her healing for a moment to let Ignis watch as Prompto quietly stepped into the room. Gladio’s spare green jacket bundled up and cradled carefully in his arms.
Ignis felt his heart stutter as the blond man made his way over. “I-is that-?” No matter the answer, Ignis reached out his arms to hold the little bundle.
“We found her alone in one of those incubator thingies. We weren’t too sure how they got their grubby hands on a baby, but when she opened her eyes to us we instantly knew that she was yours.” Prompto carefully handed over the tiny child to rest gently in her father’s arms. Sound asleep, she had fair wisps of hair dusting her head that most definitely matched the colour of her mothers.
“A little girl…” Ignis repeated to himself, still digesting the news that she finally arrived. Albeit early. His stomach twisted at the realisation. “She wasn’t due for a few more weeks… The chancellor was behind this, wasn’t he?” He asked quietly, feeling the burn of fury in his heart when Prompto reluctantly nodded, confirming Ignis’s fears. Stolen from her mother - Too early, and he wasn’t there to stop them or even comfort his partner when she needed him most.
“I can’t believe I missed the birth of my daughter… I’m sorry, little one.” Ignis sighed sadly and felt tears struck his eyes. “I promise I will never let anything happen to you ever again.” He brought the fragile bundle up to press a kiss to her small forehead, holding her close. The advisor then remembered he wasn’t alone and looked up and around to his friends. “She’s so beautiful. Is she healthy? They didn’t… do anything to her?” Ignis scrunched his eyes with disgust at having to ask the question. But he didn’t trust the Imperial soldiers with his newborn daughter for a second.
Prompto spoke up. “Not that we could see. She’s got a bit of strength for such a small bean.”. Ignis felt a wash of relief, but that was quickly turned cold as he looked over at his beloved, who likely hadn’t even had the luxury of seeing the child that they were blessed with.
“If you think you’re okay to stand, Ignis - Prompto will hold your daughter and Gladio will carry her mother so we can get all of you to a hospital. Noctis and I are here to support you as well, so don’t be afraid to lean on us a little if you start feeling tired.” Lunafreya extended a hand out for Ignis to grasp once the blond man had a secure hold of the baby. Albeit handing her back over to Prompto reluctantly, not wanting to be separated from her again, even if she was just right there and in safe hands.
Through the entire journey out of the keep, Ignis didn’t take his eyes away for a second from the two girls that had stolen his heart.
It had been three days since they were found at the keep and she still hadn’t woken up from unconsciousness. Ignis had stopped eating and sleeping and would only ever leave his partner’s side to use the bathroom, only to immediately return to her afterwards. His daughter was kept in the same room in a little cot when she wasn’t being held. Ignis’s own wounds were still being monitored and cleaned, but Lunafreya’s magic seemed to have healed the worst of it. All he really needed was some rest - Of which he was not allowing himself to have until he saw his beloved awaken.
He looked down at the tiny infant that fit snugly in the crook of his arm. Bright green eyes that mirrored his own stared back curiously. Savouring the calm moment of watching her drink from the bottle of formula in his other hand, her tiny fists bunched up in concentration as she suckled eagerly.
Ignis had decided not to name her yet, much to the displeasure of the nurses that kept pressing him. He told them that he wished to wait for his partner to wake so they could decide together. And while that wasn’t untrue at all, there was also another, more selfish reason for Ignis to wait.
Ignis wanted a fresh start with his beloved and their daughter. He couldn’t bear the thought of taking the pleasure of naming their child while her mother still fought for consciousness. Since he wasn’t there for her birth, he at least wanted to share the moment with his partner for when they named her together.
Still, he couldn’t escape the awful thought that he nearly lost them both. Ignis’s felt sick to his stomach. Whether or not it was from stress or hunger he couldn’t say. He must have been very deep in thought because he didn’t notice Noctis’s presence in the room until he spoke softly enough not to startle him. “Hey Specs. How’re you holding up?”.
“I’m fine.” Ignis answered smoothly. Though his body language spoke otherwise as he hunched his shoulders forward, almost protectively over the baby in his arms. Dark circles had formed under his eyes and his lips were cracked from dehydration.
“Uh huh.” Noctis agreed, but was clearly unconvinced. “Ignis, you’re not gonna be able to look after her for much longer until you look after yourself. Take a break. Go eat something and have a nap. A long nap. Because - no offence - but you look like hell.” Noctis suggested, slowly putting a hand on his advisor’s shoulder.
“Thank you Noct, but I’ll be alright.” Ignis insisted, flashing a fake smile.
“Please, Ignis.” Noctis pleaded. “I’ll watch over them both while you while you rest.”
The advisor considered it for a moment, but shook his head. “I can’t. What kind of partner would I be if she woke up and I wasn’t there for her? I’ve already missed so much… I can’t afford to miss this too.”. Ignis glanced down at his daughter to see that she had finished her bottle. Placing it onto the bedside table next to his resting partner, the new father repositioned his baby so she rested securely with her chin on his shoulder, his hand gently patting and rubbing her back to try and encourage her to burp. Noctis couldn’t help but feel a little proud of his oldest friend, he was adjusting to fatherhood very quickly.
Noctis waited patiently for the sound of the child’s belch before he continued to speak. “If she were awake, she’d tell you to rest. I promise to wake you if anything happens. Please, Iggy. Rest.” Noctis reasoned.
The advisor let out a defeated sigh and a tiny nod of his head. “Alright.” He muttered, rising up onto his feet to slowly place the little baby back down into her cot. Now that she had been fed, she would no doubt be getting sleepy. “But I’m not leaving this room.” Ignis persisted, to which Noctis nodded in understanding.
“I’m going to go and grab something to drink, and then I’ll be straight back here to watch over her for you.” Noctis gestured to the hospital room door vaguely, slowly making his way to the exit. “I’ll be back in a minute!”.
And with that, Ignis was left to his own thoughts. He pulled his chair a bit closer to his sleeping partner and reached out to hold her smaller hand in his, rubbing his thumb soothingly over the bumps of her knuckles.
Ignis didn’t realise just how tired he was until he had finally allowed himself to feel it. His eyelids grew heavier by the second, and it didn’t even take a full minute before he felt himself drifting off into a comfortable slumber. Hand never leaving hers and body gradually leaning forwards to rest his upper body on the bed, beside his beloved’s.
Ignis wasn’t sure how long he was asleep for, but when he awoke to the feeling of a soft blanket gently draped over his shoulders, he felt refreshed - albeit a little sore from accidentally arching his back over in rest. He glanced over to Noctis, who sat in the other corner of the room, his eyes a little wary, but focused as he gently held the small infant in his arms. Their eyes met for a quick moment before Noctis spoke. “You must have been really tired, Specs. Not like you to sleep through loud nosies” he smiled and nodded down at the calm little bundle in his arms.
“My apologies, Noct. Has she been giving you trouble?”
“A little. Luna gave me a hand though. Kids are… a lot harder than I thought.” He shrugged.
Ignis smiled fondly, reaching his arms out to Noctis. “Pass her here, I’ll take her off your hands. Thank you very much for watching over her for us, Noct.”. The Prince nodded and gently handed over the now sleeping child over to her father, before standing and making his way to the door, letting Ignis know to call if he needs a hand again.
Ignis shifted his grip so he was able to cradle her securely in one arm, while his other reached back over to hold his partner’s, giving them a comforting squeeze. “I hope you awaken soon, my darling. I can’t wait for you to meet our little girl.” He spoke softly to his slumbering partner.
Thats when he felt it.
The fingers in his grasp squeezed back.
Ignis’s eyes widened. “L-love?”
A frail but familiar voice spoke through the deafening silence. “Iggy?” She called, head turning slightly on her pillow to face him, eyes only partially opening. But as though suddenly remembering, her eyes widened from their drowsiness and her hands clenched tight. “Wh-where is-?” She whimpered, still clearly physically drained.
“Our daughter is right here, darling. You’re both safe now.” Ignis soothed. “She’s absolutely beautiful, Love. I’m so proud of you.”.
His partner sniffled softly, tears welling up in her eyes from so many emotions flooding her at once. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop them, Iggy. Once they realised I was having contractions, there wasn’t anything that I could do to keep them away from us.” She cried, finally letting out her emotions and trauma to her beloved partner, her grip on his hand tightening at the memory. “T-They said they’d turn her into one of those horrible MTs. I was so scared, Iggy. I was so, so scared they’d take her from us.”
Ignis couldn’t believe what he was hearing and felt sick to his stomach. “Shh, its okay. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you both. I should have been. Gods, I wish I was there for you. But I promise I’m here now, and I will never let anything ever happen to you or our little one again. Never.” He swore, standing himself up to lean over her and press a kiss to her forehead. Not letting her hand go for a moment.
It seemed that at this moment, the little one in his arms was starting to fuss. Her tiny hands bunching up into fists as she let out a small cry. Her mother’s gaze fixated on their baby. “She’s probably hungry, would you like to hold her?” He smiled fondly at his daughter, letting his beloved slowly lean herself upright before holding her arms out to gently take over the little bundle to rest in her arms.
She immediately started to hush her little girl, bouncing her up and down lightly. “She’s absolutely beautiful, Ignis.” A delicate hand smoothed over the fine strands of hair on her daughter’s head before she adjusted her outfit to allow the baby to latch onto her and suckle. She winced a bit at the new feeling against her sensitive skin, but quickly grew used to the sensation.
The air in the room was quiet as the new parents watched their small creation feeding from her mother peacefully. Ignis didn’t think it was possible but somehow he fell even more in love with his family than ever before as his chest was filled with warmth. Finally, the love of his life broke the silence, keeping her gaze fixated on their very hungry daughter as she spoke. “Has she got a name yet?” She asked happily.
“I wanted to wait for you to wake up so we could decide together.” Ignis brought his own hand to rest on top of hers, gently cupping the baby’s head.
She hummed to herself for a moment, thinking carefully. “How about… Estelle.” She looked up at her handsome partner for his reaction.
Ignis’s smile grew warm with the suggestion. “Estelle.” He tried the name on his tongue. “Its perfect. Our own little Estelle.” He leaned down to press a kiss to Estelle’s head, before pressing another to his partner’s lips. “I love you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much for gifting us our little princess.”.
Ignis’s beloved looked at his face, tears stinging at his eyes as she took one hand to cup his face and wipe away a droplet that began to trail down his sharp cheeks, taut with the blissful smile on his face. They looked forward to the future. One where they would guide and protect their bundle of sunshine and take joy in watching her grow.