"I'm sorry, Gladio. I'm so sorry. I have such a thick skull when it comes to Noctis," Ignis wraps his free arm around his waist, pulling his legs up to his chest as he does. It's tearing him apart to hear Gladio this upset and to know he caused it. Astrals, what he wouldn't give to be able to take it all back!

"I should never have kept that stupid vision to myself. I know why I did, but it's clear doing so didn't save anyone any pain. Another failure on my part. I did...so much wrong," his fingers tighten against his side as insecurity washes over him. It's hard to bite it back, even though he knows he should be focusing on Gladio's pain right now.

"I know you have no reason to believe me since I'm not him, but I don't think he could have hated you. He was just blind, in more ways than one. So much about life just passed him by and he thought it was okay in those few moments when he realized it was happening. Duty was enough."

It's not enough. It's not.

"Do...do you want to hold me now?" Ignis swallows hard, starting to lose the battle against his own tears. When he'd come out here, the ocean waves had been calming, but now they just remind him how large the sea is and how small he is. Small, flawed--so terribly flawed--alone, afraid.

Being safe in Gladio's arms sounds like the most wonderful thing in the world right now.