Work Text:
One.
Two.
Three…
One.
Two.
Three…
.
The snow followed a rhythm as their feet moved through its mass. Counting the steps as if they were seconds, a useless hobby to keep the mind distracted. Toes and fingers numb, so devoid of feeling that it was near impossible to differentiate if they were on fire or frozen solid. The only consistent fragment of reality, the only thing pushing them forward… was the sound of footsteps on the snow.
One… Two… Three.
An anthem for wandering souls. Sometimes sickening, mostly present enough to make them keep going. The only function of their tired feet, just taking the next step to be able to produce that song.
The road to nowhere seemed eternal. Like if they were walking on a treadmill, and even if they kept going and going their destiny was still as far away… If they even had a destiny at all.
.
Gladio left the void of his mind to look up at the sky. His eyes met with a watercolor of warm tones, a bright light peeking from the horizon. It was the sun.
Seeing it was unreal, not because of its beauty nor hopeful symbolism. But because, even after waiting for a feeling to spark on his chest, he felt… nothing. Even if he knew it made no sense, even if he could look at the sky and the sun as much as he wanted… his sun was gone. His purpose was gone.
Who was he if he couldn’t do his duty? Did he do something wrong?
Was he not strong enough? For Ignis, for Prompto… for Noctis? His friends?
Blaming himself was not a solution, he knew that. But, what was even the solution? What was even the problem? He knew nothing, nor how to fix it nor how to take their pain away.
And oh, the pain was unbearable…
.
Prompto screamed.
He had fallen to the floor on his knees. The boy had never screamed that way, not even with his worst injuries. Tears fell down his face and to the ground as if they were small fragments of stardust. He wrapped his arms around his stomach. The wailing only getting stronger.
It was painful to see… to hear. The crying damaging his throat.
Prompto’s hand moved from his stomach to his head, gasping for air between his cries. Hands clenched into fists around his blond locks, tugging desperately, not caring about his usually perfectly styled hair, even pulling out some strands at times.
“N-Noct…” The blond boy sobbed, barely audible.
“I-it’s my fault…”
“Prompt-“ Ignis tried to intervene.
“IT’S MY FAULT!” He punched the metal floor, but instead of sounding furious or enraged, he just sounded… destroyed.
“He should have never come here…”
Seeing Prompto like that was heartbreaking. A boy who always stayed positive, who always smiled and made everyone smile in return. Just… breaking, shattering that way in front of their very eyes was something indescribable.
Ignis took the first step forward, using Prompto’s cries to guide his way towards him, not even bothering with his white cane. The sound of footsteps against the metal floor echoing in the room. Once he reached him the advisor kneeled on the floor, lowering himself to the blond’s eye level. Ignis’ hand carefully searched for Prompto, eventually perching on his back gently.
“Prompto-“ The man’s voice trembled despite his best efforts. His hands softly traveling along the other boy’s back, finally landing on his shoulders.
“Look at me.” Hands slightly squeezing, trying to comfort his friend. “It’s not your fault.”
“I-Iggy…” Blue eyes finally rising from the floor, now looking at the older man.
“I-It’s not your fault”
“It’s mine” The advisor wanted to say. He could always find a solution, a way out… Why not this time? He had been careless… and now Noctis, his prince… his king, was gone.
Prompto, seeing the pain on the other man’s face, moved forward to wrap his arms around Ignis. His hands holding tightly onto his jacket. At first Ignis looked unsure, as if he was debating between forcing himself to stay firm or lean into the warmth of the hug. Finally, the advisor’s arms hesitantly moved around Prompto’s torso, reciprocating the embrace. Both of them desperately holding onto what was left of themselves.
A minute passed, then two, then three until Gladio lost count. His figure standing there, always strong, just a few steps away. Never faltering nor bending to his inner turmoil. He had to be strong… for them.
Eventually Prompto’s cries went quiet leaving only a few sniffles behind, which surprisingly didn’t come from the blond alone, but from Ignis as well. The embrace had ended with both parties slowly pulling away from each other’s arms after giving one final squeeze.
Gladio swallowed and took a deep breath before heading towards the pair. If he was being honest, seeing his friends on that state made him feel completely useless. He could feel his throat tightening, making it hard to breathe. But Gladio had to be strong… if not to protect his prince, to at least protect the friends he had left. He prayed for the Six to at least let him be their Shield.
Mimicking Ignis, Gladio lowered himself to both of his friends’ level. Grabbing both men’s shoulders with a reassuring yet gentle grip. A small grunt escaped his lips.
“We should get going…” He said with an unusually soft voice.
Prompto whimpered before moving his gaze towards the place where Noctis had been standing not too long ago. On his eyes the reflection from the light flickers of the room. Gladio was right, he nodded in response, finally freeing his gaze from the crystal’s surface.
Ignis sighed and proceeded to get on his feet, discretely wiping the remaining tears with his gloves. “Indeed”
.
And now…they were here, in a seemingly endless white landscape. Their only constant companion being their made up marching rhythm.
One. Two. Three…
It was hard to say if time was passing by slow or fast. Sometimes it seemed like they had been there for weeks, other times it felt like they had just started walking. But despite their personal interpretation of time and space, the wandering soldiers just had to keep wandering.
Gladio kept his arms firm. Both of his friends clinging to each side of him. It didn`t bother him, it actually made him feel better. To be of service, to protect them. Being their pillar on this hard time was the only thing keeping the Shield on his feet.
At first, Prompto had refused the help, not wanting to disturb another with his problems. But both Gladio and Ignis insisted. The blond was still weakened from his injuries, and if the snow got too deep or if there was a strong wind, he could risk injuring himself even more. The advisor also needed the assistance, someone to guide him through the landscape his eyes couldn’t see.
After hours and hours of walking, when the sunrise turned into a sunset, Gladio spotted the welcoming blue light of a nearby haven.
“Let’s make camp”
Once safe and settled, Gladio started working on the tent. Prompto and Ignis busied themselves making a fire to warm up the canned food they brought. Nobody had appetite really, but they knew that to keep going they needed to keep their bodies well fed and rested.
After a while of waiting for the food to heat up, they finally ate. Quickly swallowing spoonfuls of the half warm half cold paste like if it were medicine. Not bothering about its taste or temperature. Once the group was finished with their meal they headed straight into the tent.
It was uncomfortably roomy and empty. The guys’ eyes lingered on the empty spot between them before moving closer to each other. They said it was to keep the warmth, but they all knew there was another reason.
Soon, slow breathing could be heard, meaning that the members of the party had, at last, fallen asleep. Well… at least two of the three members. Gladio grunted and rubbed his eyes with his hand, drying a few repressed tears that had started to fall down his face.
When will this suffering end?
Only time could tell…