[He'd felt such fear in those moments, dreading the thought of dying alone again, surrounded only by blades that seek his demise. (Why does he even know that? Is that the last memory he gets before his life once again fades from this world?) His breath comes quick and harsh, but he clings to every gasp of it, knowing each one, and each pulse of his heart, means he's still alive. Blood pools slow and steady at his back, and from the wound left by the terrorist's dagger, and as the seconds creep by, his now-freed hand claws weakly at the floor, searching for something, anything to feel less alone.
Ignis... please...
Then a hand touches his, and he blinks weakly, gaze flitting around until he finds Ignis hovering above him, holding onto him. He hadn't had a chance to check Ignis over before the ambush had interrupted him. Is he hurt? Is he okay? If there are any injuries, he can try to heal them before he-]
Iggy, [he manages with a shaky gasp, fingers curling around the other man's.] You safe...?
[There could be more of them, they could still be in danger. He needs to get up, heal Ignis, they need to run. He braces himself and tries to push himself upright, but every limb refuses to budge for him, frozen in pain or too weak to obey his mind's command. He cringes, biting his tongue against the pain, and curses his own weakness. Why won't he move? They don't have time...]
[ Ignis frowns a little at that, a little confused. He gives their joined hands a squeeze. ]
I'm safe and unharmed.
[ Noctis... isn't, he's harmed badly. He lets their hands go and tears at the fabric on his sleeve, needing to do something about that shoulder wound. Once he gets the fabric off, he wraps it around Noct's shoulder, applying pressure to stop it from bleeding out further. ]
... Noct? [ His eyes are shut and Ignis' heart jumps in his throat. Panic hits him. No, don't be. Please. With shaky fingers, he feels around Noct's pulse and finds a steady beat of his heart.
He quickly moves to Noctis' other side and picks up him up carefully and hastily, giving him a quick glance. He's trying not to panic as he moves around the fallen bodies, stepping outside. His breathing is coming out shaking. Ignis steps quicker after that with only a single thought running through his mind.
Save him.
Then he almost bumps into someone and he steps back in surprise. ]
Dave! [ He hasn't see the man in.... years. His tone coming out quick and shaky. ] Help us, please. He's hurt. I... [ He looks down at Noct's form in his arms, frozen in place himself and trembling as he talks again. ] I have to help him, I... I can't lose him. [ again.
Tears drip off Ignis' cheeks at the mere thought of it. He can't do it again. He can't. ]
--------
[ Dave gets them back to the Leville safety and he shoos Ignis away, seeing how emotional the other man is. All Ignis can do is watch Dave patch up Noctis, pacing back and forth.
Will he be alright? Was he too late? What if he doesn't wake up? A few other thoughts like that plaguing him.
A hand claps itself onto his shoulder and he's face to face with Dave. He's done all that could do for Noctis, he's paid off their hotel room and he'll back in a few days to check up on them. He also mumbles to not worry about the building that they'd came out of, that he'll take care of it. ]
Thank you for everything.
[ Once Dave's gone, Ignis rushes to Noctis' side, taking his hand on both of his. He watches Noct's chest rise and fall with every breath that he's taking. ]
You were the one that was in danger, [ he murmurs quietly, tears falling off his face once more. ] yet you were worrying yourself sick over me.
[ Losing him again, Ignis doesn't know if he can go through it. It's cruel to get Noctis back, just to fail him again. He doesn't know what he'll do if Noctis dies like this. He'll break. ]
--------
[ Nothing can get Ignis to lose his composure like this, Noctis being in danger. All of his rational thoughts go out the window and as he sits there, that much hasn't changed at all. He has a can of Ebony between his hands, the can itself trembling.
He hadn't slept much at all. Too worried sick to sleep, his mind plaguing him with nightmares. Nightmares that he'd failed Noctis and he'd woken up in a panic just to check up on him. Relief had flooded his system as he checked Noct's vital signs. The relief was only temporarily however, as he can do nothing else besides sit and watch from the table, trying to keep the dark thoughts out of his mind. Trying, but failing.
Movement? Or was it just his imagination? Either way, he's up on his feet, the can of Ebony clattering loudly to the ground in his haste to get to Noct's side once more, taking his hand in both of his and sitting down on the bed. Worry and fear is written on Ignis' face, hope stirring in his heart. ]
[He doesn't dream while he sleeps; it's a void of nothing while he's out, but somehow, it isn't lonely at all. When Noctis begins to stir, he's stiff and sore but warm, and that alone is a comfort that almost makes him smile before he can even realize why.
His hand twitches on the bed, almost reaching for a moment until another hand closes around it.]
Ignis...
[The name is on his lips before his eyes open,and after a moment of struggling with it he finally manages to crack them open and look around for the one he'd been hoping to find at his side. Ignis... he's right there, waiting for him. Alive and well. And... he's alive, too. He stares quietly, tiredly, trying to parse what he sees as real. This isn't a dream, is it...?]
[Noctis grimaces, eyes clenching shut again at the light- it's not even that bright in the room, he just feels so bleary and weak. He does tilt his head a bit against Ignis' hand, though.]
Like... I got shot? [In retrospect he's pretty sure that's what happened. And stabbed, and kicked, and probably some other stuff too.] You saved me...?
[A little morbid, but his tone is almost humourous. He starts to shift his arm so he can push against the bed, maybe try to sit up, but just trying makes him hiss in pain and remain horizontal. Whoops, moving hurts right now. Instead he focuses back on Ignis.]
[ Ignis frowns a little at Noctis tries to move. He exhales a quiet sigh. ]
You need to keep resting.
[ He's gentle as he slides onto the bed next to Noctis - staying away from the shoulder side that's hurt - and carefully wraps an arm around Noct's middle, laying next to him. He rests his head down on Noct's shoulder, lightly resting. ]
When I woke up here, you were gone. What happened, Noct? [ That's been bugging him too, there's no anger in his voice, just worry and fear. ]
[Noctis blinks a few times, tilting his head to lean on Ignis' head as he tries to think back on what had even occurred the morning before the attack. His thoughts had been lost in the panic, and then everything had been dark and empty...
...ah. The voice.]
I heard her, [he says at last, shifting a hand to grasp at Ignis' hand around his middle.] Gentiana. She called me away... I couldn't refuse her. [He smiles tightly.] The price of coming back, I guess. She wanted to talk, and wouldn't take no for an answer.
[He hadn't even had time to leave a note- and even if he'd had time for it, what would he say? He couldn't even promise to come back, when he'd known so little.]
[ Gentiana. That explains a lot and the fact that Noctis is back is telling too. He's still afraid of the answer, but he needs to know himself as well. He's been worried sick about this. ]
Well... it's good news, so that might make you feel better. [Despite, you know, everything.] She said the Six brought me back because my "soul" wasn't resting, or something like that. Kinda like a ghost story- I had unfinished business. My body was dead and the rest of me was uh... in pieces. They had to put me back together as a Messenger because I didn't have a body anymore.
[He didn't know what happened to his corpse after he died - didn't especially want to know, too morbid - but even if it still existed somewhere, it would be nothing but a skeleton by now. He likes this better.]
She told me I'm free... I can live any way I want to, now. Same with all the Messengers. [His grip is still weak, but it tightens a little around Ignis' hand.] I can stay.
[ Noctis can stay; Ignis' breath hitches in his throat while he listens to that. He'd been so afraid that Noctis might get snatched away from him again. And he'd almost did lose him to the terrorist attack.
He strengths his own hold over Noctis. ]
"Unfinished business," [ He repeats, letting that sink into his system. ] You came back to save me... [ letting the puzzle pieces slip into place. They share a love so strong, he feels like. That nothing could keep them apart for too long. ]
[He glances away briefly, unsure, as he's not certain how Ignis will take the news. But after a long moment he closes his eyes, steels himself, and forges on ahead. Screw it. He's not ashamed of his choice- and he chose this. Memories are a small price to pay for getting to live on with the love of his new life. When he looks at Ignis again, his expression is determined and unwavering.]
If I waited, I wouldn't have made it to you in time. It was my decision to come back before I was whole again.
[ Ignis is quiet for a long, long moment, again letting everything sink into place. ]
... You gave up your memories just to save me. Oh, Noct...
[ That is a grand gesture of love if he'd ever heard one. He can't talk himself, since he saved Noctis in a really risky way in Altissia, where he could've died.
Ignis lifts his head up, gently carefully getting his out from underneath Noct's and looks into his eyes, reading him. Looking into someone that's in love with him too. A small smile falls into place on his face. ]
I love you, too. [ That's what he'd heard as well, there's other ways to say those simple words without saying them. ]
W-well. What else was I gonna do? [His cheeks go a soft pink, immediately embarrassed, though he's smiling, too.] There wouldn't be any point in coming back if no one was here waiting for me.
[A life without Ignis... it doesn't sound all that fulfilling. Gladio and Prompto have their own lives, the rest of the world has moved on and forgotten him. What would be here for him? It sounds like nothing but a waste if he stops to think about it. A waste of Ignis' life, a waste of his own revival. He'd never want to come back only to be alone, nor would he want to sacrifice Ignis' life just to give himself a few more tidbits of the past.]
[ What terrorist attack? What Dave? Ignis hasn't completely forgotten about those things, but he has something more important, someone more special looking back at him, blushing a bit and smiling at Ignis.
He gently lifts his hand up a bit on Noct's middle and laces their fingers together. His first reaction is to pick Noctis up and squeeze him hard, but that can wait until he's healed.
All he hears is I love you without Noctis saying it. After what he's heard about Noct being able to stay... and it was his choice to come back and save Ignis, throwing away his memories in the process. A price to pay for that.
He's loved. Undoubtedly so. He feels it and hears it from the man that's a bit embarrassed giving him a smile. Ignis' own smile gets a little bigger and he leans in to kiss Noctis softly, closing his own eyes. No, nothing else matters right now, other this man and this moment that they're sharing. Together. ]
[Noctis closes his eyes and leans into the touch, smiling tentatively as he recognizes that Ignis isn't upset or angry at his choice, but rather is touched, happy even. He's glad. It's not like he had expected the worst, but he remembered enough to know that Ignis didn't like him sacrificing himself, in part or in full, for others too much. But no, Ignis doesn't mind it. He can see what it is: a demonstration and declaration of love, more than anything else. That, on top of everything else they'd experienced since his miraculous return, is proof enough that he made the right choice.]
[ Ignis breaks apart the kiss, breathless as he lays his head back down onto Noctis' shoulder. His eyes are slipping shut, he's exhausted from worrying himself senseless and from the nightmares. ]
Thank you for loving me, [ Feeling absolutely grateful to have Noctis back in his life like this. He tries to fight off sleep, but he's failing. He mumbles a soft apology before sleep claims him, luring him into a world of dreams. ]
-------
[ When he wakes, he's not even sure how long he was out for. He blinks sleepily, looking up at Noctis. Did he sleep at all...? ]
[He slept! He absolutely slept, he needed it badly. It isn't an especially deep sleep however, so the sound of his name rouses him after a moment, shifting his head just enough to burrow against Ignis' neck. Now that there's no Astral voice in his head forcing him upright, he's resistant to waking- some things really never change, lost memories or not.
[ He's not all surprised that Noct's knocked out like that, considering the attack and Noct's horrible sleeping habits on top of that. He looks so peaceful sleeping like that he can't bring himself to wake him up just yet.
Ignis shuts his eyes again, nuzzling against Noctis while he waits for him to wake up fully. ]
[How does he feel... how does he feel. He shifts a bit, moving his arm carefully- the one that had been stabbed. It still hurts, but less than he'd have expected.]
...Better, I think. Or better than yesterday at least.
[The name doesn't ring any bells, either when Ignis says it or when he echoes it back. He hadn't expected it to, but he's not sure if it should. Regardless, he shakes it off.]
Um, I could eat.
[He's not sure if Messengers can die of starvation or anything like that, it isn't as if Gentiana gave him a primer on how to live this way. It would be weird if he didn't eat, though, so he may as well live normally. It's... his life, after all.
The thought still leaves him kind of giddy, even after everything that's happened.]
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Ignis... please...
Then a hand touches his, and he blinks weakly, gaze flitting around until he finds Ignis hovering above him, holding onto him. He hadn't had a chance to check Ignis over before the ambush had interrupted him. Is he hurt? Is he okay? If there are any injuries, he can try to heal them before he-]
Iggy, [he manages with a shaky gasp, fingers curling around the other man's.] You safe...?
[There could be more of them, they could still be in danger. He needs to get up, heal Ignis, they need to run. He braces himself and tries to push himself upright, but every limb refuses to budge for him, frozen in pain or too weak to obey his mind's command. He cringes, biting his tongue against the pain, and curses his own weakness. Why won't he move? They don't have time...]
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I'm safe and unharmed.
[ Noctis... isn't, he's harmed badly. He lets their hands go and tears at the fabric on his sleeve, needing to do something about that shoulder wound. Once he gets the fabric off, he wraps it around Noct's shoulder, applying pressure to stop it from bleeding out further. ]
... Noct? [ His eyes are shut and Ignis' heart jumps in his throat. Panic hits him. No, don't be. Please. With shaky fingers, he feels around Noct's pulse and finds a steady beat of his heart.
He quickly moves to Noctis' other side and picks up him up carefully and hastily, giving him a quick glance. He's trying not to panic as he moves around the fallen bodies, stepping outside. His breathing is coming out shaking. Ignis steps quicker after that with only a single thought running through his mind.
Save him.
Then he almost bumps into someone and he steps back in surprise. ]
Dave! [ He hasn't see the man in.... years. His tone coming out quick and shaky. ] Help us, please. He's hurt. I... [ He looks down at Noct's form in his arms, frozen in place himself and trembling as he talks again. ] I have to help him, I... I can't lose him. [ again.
Tears drip off Ignis' cheeks at the mere thought of it. He can't do it again. He can't. ]
--------
[ Dave gets them back to the Leville safety and he shoos Ignis away, seeing how emotional the other man is. All Ignis can do is watch Dave patch up Noctis, pacing back and forth.
Will he be alright? Was he too late? What if he doesn't wake up? A few other thoughts like that plaguing him.
A hand claps itself onto his shoulder and he's face to face with Dave. He's done all that could do for Noctis, he's paid off their hotel room and he'll back in a few days to check up on them. He also mumbles to not worry about the building that they'd came out of, that he'll take care of it. ]
Thank you for everything.
[ Once Dave's gone, Ignis rushes to Noctis' side, taking his hand on both of his. He watches Noct's chest rise and fall with every breath that he's taking. ]
You were the one that was in danger, [ he murmurs quietly, tears falling off his face once more. ] yet you were worrying yourself sick over me.
Oh Noct, I... [ Ignis squeezes his eyes shut, trembling. ]
... I need you with me. Please, come back to me.
[ Losing him again, Ignis doesn't know if he can go through it. It's cruel to get Noctis back, just to fail him again. He doesn't know what he'll do if Noctis dies like this. He'll break. ]
--------
[ Nothing can get Ignis to lose his composure like this, Noctis being in danger. All of his rational thoughts go out the window and as he sits there, that much hasn't changed at all. He has a can of Ebony between his hands, the can itself trembling.
He hadn't slept much at all. Too worried sick to sleep, his mind plaguing him with nightmares. Nightmares that he'd failed Noctis and he'd woken up in a panic just to check up on him. Relief had flooded his system as he checked Noct's vital signs. The relief was only temporarily however, as he can do nothing else besides sit and watch from the table, trying to keep the dark thoughts out of his mind. Trying, but failing.
Movement? Or was it just his imagination? Either way, he's up on his feet, the can of Ebony clattering loudly to the ground in his haste to get to Noct's side once more, taking his hand in both of his and sitting down on the bed. Worry and fear is written on Ignis' face, hope stirring in his heart. ]
Noct. Are you with me?
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His hand twitches on the bed, almost reaching for a moment until another hand closes around it.]
Ignis...
[The name is on his lips before his eyes open,and after a moment of struggling with it he finally manages to crack them open and look around for the one he'd been hoping to find at his side. Ignis... he's right there, waiting for him. Alive and well. And... he's alive, too. He stares quietly, tiredly, trying to parse what he sees as real. This isn't a dream, is it...?]
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[ Ignis breathes quietly, watching him stir awake. He's so relieved to hear Noctis' voice again and to see his eyes opening...
He removes one of his hands from Noct's and leans forward a bit, placing that hand on Noct's cheek, thumb rubbing there in a comforting gesture. ]
... How are you feeling?
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Like... I got shot? [In retrospect he's pretty sure that's what happened. And stabbed, and kicked, and probably some other stuff too.] You saved me...?
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When I woke up, they were hurting you bad, Noct.
[ His eyes searches Noct's shoulder and gives a shake of his head. He doesn't want to talk about what he did in general, but; ]
I saved you, just as you saved me before.
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[A little morbid, but his tone is almost humourous. He starts to shift his arm so he can push against the bed, maybe try to sit up, but just trying makes him hiss in pain and remain horizontal. Whoops, moving hurts right now. Instead he focuses back on Ignis.]
Thanks, Iggy... you made it just in time.
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You need to keep resting.
[ He's gentle as he slides onto the bed next to Noctis - staying away from the shoulder side that's hurt - and carefully wraps an arm around Noct's middle, laying next to him. He rests his head down on Noct's shoulder, lightly resting. ]
When I woke up here, you were gone. What happened, Noct? [ That's been bugging him too, there's no anger in his voice, just worry and fear. ]
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...ah. The voice.]
I heard her, [he says at last, shifting a hand to grasp at Ignis' hand around his middle.] Gentiana. She called me away... I couldn't refuse her. [He smiles tightly.] The price of coming back, I guess. She wanted to talk, and wouldn't take no for an answer.
[He hadn't even had time to leave a note- and even if he'd had time for it, what would he say? He couldn't even promise to come back, when he'd known so little.]
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What did she tell you?
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[He didn't know what happened to his corpse after he died - didn't especially want to know, too morbid - but even if it still existed somewhere, it would be nothing but a skeleton by now. He likes this better.]
She told me I'm free... I can live any way I want to, now. Same with all the Messengers. [His grip is still weak, but it tightens a little around Ignis' hand.] I can stay.
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He strengths his own hold over Noctis. ]
"Unfinished business," [ He repeats, letting that sink into his system. ] You came back to save me... [ letting the puzzle pieces slip into place. They share a love so strong, he feels like. That nothing could keep them apart for too long. ]
... What about your memories?
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[He glances away briefly, unsure, as he's not certain how Ignis will take the news. But after a long moment he closes his eyes, steels himself, and forges on ahead. Screw it. He's not ashamed of his choice- and he chose this. Memories are a small price to pay for getting to live on with the love of his new life. When he looks at Ignis again, his expression is determined and unwavering.]
If I waited, I wouldn't have made it to you in time. It was my decision to come back before I was whole again.
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... You gave up your memories just to save me. Oh, Noct...
[ That is a grand gesture of love if he'd ever heard one. He can't talk himself, since he saved Noctis in a really risky way in Altissia, where he could've died.
Ignis lifts his head up, gently carefully getting his out from underneath Noct's and looks into his eyes, reading him. Looking into someone that's in love with him too. A small smile falls into place on his face. ]
I love you, too. [ That's what he'd heard as well, there's other ways to say those simple words without saying them. ]
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[A life without Ignis... it doesn't sound all that fulfilling. Gladio and Prompto have their own lives, the rest of the world has moved on and forgotten him. What would be here for him? It sounds like nothing but a waste if he stops to think about it. A waste of Ignis' life, a waste of his own revival. He'd never want to come back only to be alone, nor would he want to sacrifice Ignis' life just to give himself a few more tidbits of the past.]
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He gently lifts his hand up a bit on Noct's middle and laces their fingers together. His first reaction is to pick Noctis up and squeeze him hard, but that can wait until he's healed.
All he hears is I love you without Noctis saying it. After what he's heard about Noct being able to stay... and it was his choice to come back and save Ignis, throwing away his memories in the process. A price to pay for that.
He's loved. Undoubtedly so. He feels it and hears it from the man that's a bit embarrassed giving him a smile. Ignis' own smile gets a little bigger and he leans in to kiss Noctis softly, closing his own eyes. No, nothing else matters right now, other this man and this moment that they're sharing. Together. ]
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Thank you for loving me, [ Feeling absolutely grateful to have Noctis back in his life like this. He tries to fight off sleep, but he's failing. He mumbles a soft apology before sleep claims him, luring him into a world of dreams. ]
-------
[ When he wakes, he's not even sure how long he was out for. He blinks sleepily, looking up at Noctis. Did he sleep at all...? ]
Noct?
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He's smiling as he dozes, though.]
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Ignis shuts his eyes again, nuzzling against Noctis while he waits for him to wake up fully. ]
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...Iggy...? S'morning?
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How are you feeling?
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...Better, I think. Or better than yesterday at least.
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We're expecting company soon today, Dave, he helped me get us back here. He's covered our room for a few extra days.
[ Ignis just hopes that it's more good news. ]
Are you hungry, Noct?
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[The name doesn't ring any bells, either when Ignis says it or when he echoes it back. He hadn't expected it to, but he's not sure if it should. Regardless, he shakes it off.]
Um, I could eat.
[He's not sure if Messengers can die of starvation or anything like that, it isn't as if Gentiana gave him a primer on how to live this way. It would be weird if he didn't eat, though, so he may as well live normally. It's... his life, after all.
The thought still leaves him kind of giddy, even after everything that's happened.]
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