shatteredlenses | LifeAfter Inbox

It hurt. It already hurt that Gladio was gone, and hurt even more to see Iggy in such a state. He wanted to fix things and felt absolutely helpless. He was falling apart himself, and trying to hold himself together for Iggy's sake. How can he fall apart when Shion and Iggy had both lost people so significant to them? He had to be strong.

Of course, he didn't need to say anything. Had he found Gladio anywhere, he would have let Iggy know. He walked over to the bed, and it sank slightly where he sat near Iggy. No words were coming to him, because he couldn't think of any that would fix the situation. Instead, a bit after he sat down, he reached over to put an arm around Iggy.

It's only once Prompto puts his arm around Ignis' shoulders that he finally shows signs of noticing the blonde is there. He lets himself lean into Prompto, even as Leo shifts so he can wrap himself around them both.

When Ignis finally speaks, his voice is soft. He's not crying; he can't yet. Instead, he's merely detached as he fights to find some way to start dealing with this.

"I...think I knew when I woke up this morning. He's never left without me waking before, but I kept telling myself he just slipped off to the lighthouse and would be back."

Of course, he never quite brought himself to go check because he knew if he looked and didn't find Gladio there, he wouldn't be able to pretend any longer.

He took in an extra long breath to try and keep his nose clear. It wasn't working, but at least he was still managing to breathe stably. He needed the extra time to keep himself together when he spoke.

"I thought this time would be different."

Noctis had come and gone a few times now, but it was only Gladio's first time, and it had been a good while. Somehow he thought they would be safe. But he was wrong. His fingers dug into Ignis' arm, tone cracking, "We still have each other."

At times Gladio had misinterpreted Prompto's feelings as preferring Ignis over him. It had never quite been that. Ignis had been there from the beginning. Ignis hadn't left. Ignis was one of the stable points left in Prompto's life, and if that disappeared he didn't know what he would do.

Ignis nods in agreement. He'd thought--hoped--the same. Maybe it was foolish of him, but it had felt so right with Gladio there. Like he would always be there with them, fighting until they finally figured this whole place out.

And then he wasn't there and...

Ignis swallows hard, bringing a shaking hand over to rest atop the one Prompto is digging into his arm, "Yes. We have to stick together. He's going to be depending on us to find a way to him once this is all done. You know how much he hated the idea of becoming king after...everything."

"Yeah. And then we'll have to kick his butt for worrying us."

It had felt so much like Gladio was going to be a staple in their lives, and this shook his beliefs yet again. There was no way to make it stop hurting. He knew it was going to be a matter of time. All he could do was hang onto Iggy and hope that he wouldn't vanish.

At least he wasn't alone.

"Can I stay here tonight?" And maybe many nights in the future. His room had been kind of lonely without Noct around, but he never wanted to interrupt Ignis or Gladio.

"Of course," Ignis' voice is hoarse though he still hasn't let himself cry. At least this answer is one he can give easily unlike so many of the others running though his head when he can focus enough to acknowledge them. "I don't know that I could sleep if I was alone."

Not even with Leo sharing the bed as he no doubt will. It will be to easy to fall back into those old fears of being left alone again. Fears he's not had to think about for so long; he knows they are just waiting for the right moment to jump at him again.

"That's not a problem. I can stay here as long as you want."

It definitely wouldn't bother Prompto. It would be like camping again. With half their group.

"...I'm gonna grab my pillow real fast." He slipped off the bed, making sure Iggy knew he'd be right back before going to the other room to grab a few things. Along with the pillow, he snatched up some clothes real fast. It would be obvious enough he was moving more things when he came back to the room to set a few things down, and then jogged back to grab his camera and few other little items. It would just feel weird to sleep with all his stuff in another room, even if it was right next door.

He dropped a pile of his clothes messily on what they used for a table or dresser or whatever it would be called, and threw off his clothes to change into the cleaner and still softer random tank and pants that served as his pajamas. Then, his own specially made birthday pillow in hand, he placed it in its new spot.

Now he was all set, though he honestly wasn't sure how well he'd sleep. "You can use it too, if you want. It's a real cushy pillow. Made with feathers from the chocobos."

"Of course. Bring whatever you need," he wants Prompto to be comfortable, after all. There's no reason he shouldn't be.

Ignis knows he should get up and start his own preparations for bed, but it's only when Leo nudges him rather hard in the side that he finally finds the energy to move. The clothes he wears to bed aren't far away but he freezes once more when his hands find the silly tank top that Gladio had always been so happy when he wore--even if just to bed. For a moment, the memory of that happy day is almost enough to finally bring tears to his eyes. The only thing that stops them is Prompto returning to the room once more. Ignis blinks his good eye quickly to make sure the tears stay away and then finishes changing, eventually making his way back to the bed.

"Thank you," he tries to smile just a little, but it falls flat with the tears so near the surface. "I would like that. Leo will probably try to share too. Just a little warning."

"Yeah. Well. Better than sleeping alone."

It was that force upbeat tone that he got when really he was upset by something, but he was trying not to show it. He plopped down, feeling weird about actually going to bed. It would be like if Noct was missing and they just went to sleep. He felt like he should be doing something. Out there looking for Gladio a little more. Finding some sort of world-bending solution. Or, even finding out if they were dead...

Funny thing was, even if he was dead he wasn't sure if he wanted to wake up if it meant abandoning Ignis.

He finally laid down on his back, facing the ceiling. Though they often slept near each other, he rarely slept this close to Ignis. At home they were in tents in separate bags or on separate beds. Even when they shared beds he didn't usually end up sharing with Ignis. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to doze off tonight, but they couldn't sit there the entire time. He knew he at least had to try.

"Iggy...?"

"Much better."

Ignis knows he should say more, especially considering his knows what that tone in Prompto's voice means. The blonde is probably just as aware of how much the advisor himself is trying to hide. If the situation wasn't so painful, he would laugh at how hard they are both trying to be strong for each other, while at the same time really not helping each other at all.

Gladio would never let them hear the end of it if he was still there.

Once Prompto has gotten comfortable, Ignis crawls in as well, settling onto his side. Much as predicted, Leo wastes little time joining them, though he lays down against Ignis' back instead of crawling between them like Ignis had thought he would. He's surprised at how quickly the weight at his back causes his body to relax. It's something he grew used to with Gladio there, the weight grounding and safe.

He's just reaching out to rest his hand on Prompto's arm as a comfort when the blonde speaks.

"Yes?"

"I won't leave you. No matter what."

Unsure as he was that it was a promise he could keep, he knew he was going to try his best. It was strange, but even if they were dead, he wasn't sure he could leave Ignis if it meant waking up. The guilt would be too much.

At the same time, he wondered if somewhere Gladio was trying to wake them up.

Taking a hold of Ignis' arm, he turned to his side and scooted towards him, wrapping his arms around him when they were close enough.

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