You can't just buy new pans whenever you burn something Noct
I know it is Especially given the place we're at And there are things that are beyond our control (example: Keeper) But you know we always figure this out together, right?
[And true to his word, Ignis really is there in five minutes. How? Even he doesn't know. But he's there and when he sees Noct, he runs up to him. He's trying his best not to panic for Noct's sake but-]
[To his credit, Noct is actually taking this pretty well.
If your definition of 'pretty well' includes having drug your best friends lifeless body to the nearest tree before collapsing against it and cradling said body in your lap.
He does look up when Ignis gets close though, the light of his lantern casting eeire shadows over the scene he's unlucky enough to stumble upon.]
[Ignis instantly crouches by his side, eyes wide in shock and pain. Without waiting, his fingers go immediately to check Prompto's pulse at his neck, even though he can clearly see that he is not breathing. Hoping it's just shallow.
It's not.
With a shaky breath and pulling back unsteady hand, he tries to pry off Noct away from the body, ready to wrestle him if Noct fights back. Wanting to pull him into a tight hug.
He will work later on how this happened- right now he needs to take care of Noct.]
[Indeed, Noctis fights back with all the feriousity of a cornered coeurl, all claws and teeth. Snapping and scratching and pushing because at first it doesn't register, exactly, that it's Ignis who's trying to pull Prompto away from him. Because why would he?
Why why why? That one word keeps playing over and over within his mind with no answer to be found. He can't let go. He made a promise and he couldn't even keep it. He can't let go of him now. He just can't.]
[Ignis doesn't have it in him to tell him to let go of the body either- he just continues to try and pull him away, grabbing both of his arms in a vice grip. Then shifts himself to push and corner Noct with his body against the wall of the post office, to reduce the trashing.
He doesn't tell him to stop crying or trashing or snapping at him. Just accepts the bites and scratches and keeps him cornered like that until he grows tired of fighting.
[In the case of fight or flight, Noctis had always chosen the former. Would run headlong into any battle he thought they had even a snow balls chance in hell of winning. Fleeing just wasn't an option. Wasn't something he had been taught how to do.
But Ignis presses against him, drags him away with that vice like grip and all of the fight goes out of him. Until he's going limp, body sagging down against the wall and Ignis' own. Using them both as the only support keeping him upright as the first sob tears from his throat.
God's, he was such a failure. He was ways supposed to have been some savior. But he couldn't even keep his friends alive.]
[There's no one to fight here, however. He can take out anger on Ignis as much as he wants, he'll be there for him. But they are not fleeing either- they have nowhere to go and no one else to count on, except themselves. Ignis has no idea how they will move on from this but- they have to. And they have to pray that Prompto found proper peace somewhere else.
When he feels that Noct had let up on fighting him, Ignis releases his hands and wraps his own around Noct's shoulders, drawing him into a tight hug. Ignis can feel tears sting his own eyes, gliding down his cheeks silently. He wants not to cry, he wants to remain solid support for Noct but- the thought of Prompto being gone. The sound of Noct's sobs. Slowly but surely it breaks his heart bit by bit and Ignis can't keep up the facade anymore.
His hug tightens around Noctis and Ignis buries his face in Noct's hair.]
Since they had been children, Ignis had been that one thing that Noctis could always depend on. That stone wall. That pillar of strength. Always so calm, cool and collected. Always had the answers. Knew what to do. What to say. Noctis had come to rely on him for guidance. To lead the way when he couldn't. To be his light in the darkness.
But he felt that pillar crumble just a little now. Felt the way Ignis clung onto him, arms wrapping so tightly about his shoulders it felt like they might break. How he buried his face down into his soft hair as he cried.
His own hold tightened, strengthened as he shifts, brought himself up to wrap around Ignis, like a barrier between him and the rest of the world. Guided his face away from his hair, brought their foreheads together softly so he could glance up into his eyes.]
Please don't cry, Iggy. Please. I can't take it.
[But even as he speaks he's dipping forward, kissing those tears away, staunching the flow from one eye before moving to the other. Soft and reverent over the faded scars. Gentle and loving.]
[He was the one that's supposed to help Noctis through this, the one to support him and help him. How did it come to this? To them losing everyone and everything they care about, in such a small time!? It's as if the afterlife doesn't want to give them a break as well.
Ignis blinks through his teary eyes, glassy-]
I can't... see you cry either, [his thumb coming up to wipe whatever tears are left on Noct's cheek. He can't take seeing people he cares about, people he loves, in pain anymore. With a small, shaky breath, he closes his eyes and nods- in return, he won't cry. He won't because it upsets Noct and he doesn't want that. He presses a kiss to Noct's forehead and then leans back, only slightly.]
I'm sorry, Noct... I really, really am.
[He is sure Noct carries the same, matching guilt in his chest- 'I failed Prompto'- they are still here and he is gone. And there's nothing they can do about it.]
Gone where? To some better after life where there was actually light? Laughter and sun and the happiness that he deserved? Or had he been taken from them only to go some place worse? Was there even any place worse than this?
Maybe he'll come back. But wasn't that selfish to wish that? Maybe he'd finally find peace. Be allowed that.
Now it was only them. Noctis and Ignis and Luna. What if something happened to Luna? What is something happened to Ignis? He didn't think his heart was strong enough to take it.]
We should do something. Bury him. [Had there even been anyone to do it at home? Prompto had said Ignis and Gladio were there but -
But he wasn't. And Ignis had died at his side.] He... he deserves that.
[Prompto had always deserved so much better. And Noctis had failed him. Noctis had failed everyone. But he tried to keep that guilt at bay. To focus on what they had to do.] Will you help me? I can't... I can't do this without you, Iggy.
[That is what Ignis hopes. What Ignis prays. He will never accept anything less than that for their friend.
He just wishes they had a sign that he's alright out there somewhere. So that Noct's heart can rest for once. It makes Ignis more resolute to be careful and not gamble his life here. Noctis needs him. And he doesn't intend on leaving his side, ever.]
Of course I will help you, [Ignis says quietly, his hold on Noctis tightening briefly then letting up.] I will go bring a blanket and shovels from the General store. You stay here, alright?
[He doubts that Noctis would leave Prompto's body unattended but he needs to hear it from him.] I will be back in five.
[There was no rest for a weary, broken heart. For one that had suffered so very many cracks and fractures. All it knew was the pain brought by loss. By suffering. By war. There was no such thing as rest, as peace. By all accounts it should just cease to beat entirely and shattered into a million blackened shards.
Ignis was the only thing that continued to hold it together. Who continued to hold him together. And somewhere deep within him he realized that either of them could be next. That one day it might Ignis' body who he stumbled upon and he would have to do this alone.
Please. Please please please. Never let this be Ignis. He would lay down and die right along with him. Because he didn't want to live a world without him in it.]
Alright. [Shifting, he pulled away from Ignis had held him, slipping back down until he could resume his previous position. Until he could drag Prompto back onto his lap and cradle him there.]
[Ignis returns in five minutes, as he promised, with a blanket to wrap Prompto's body up and two shovels to dig out the grave. Ignis helps Noct wrap him up and they move towards the forest a bit, near one big tree. They work in somber silence- digging the grave up, placing the body down and then covering it up.
The physical work kept his mind occupied and away from emotional pain, but he knows it will eventually settle in. When they go back to the hut they share. After they take a shower and sit down and it finally settles in. He takes the shovel away from Noct and stands next to him, hand wrapped around his shoulders.
He doesn't say anything. They've put a stone to mark the place but they will return to it to make it better. They stand in front of it for a while until Ignis grips Noct's shoulder a bit, to get his attention.]
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That is my thought too
However, don't jump to the worst conclusions just yet
We haven't crossed out all the possibilities.
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Kind of hard not to
What if something happened to him and I wasn't there?
I promised him, Iggy
I promised I'd be there
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I know it is
Especially given the place we're at
And there are things that are beyond our control (example: Keeper)
But you know we always figure this out together, right?
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I can't here
I know
I know we will
And I know he's probably fine
I'm just really worried
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hence the scrubbing
I know darling
I will be here if you need me for anything
Alright?
1/2
Thanks, Iggy
2/2 A couple of hours later
I need your help
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What happened?
Are you alright?
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I mean
I'm not hurt or anything
It's Prompto
I found him
But he's
I was too late, Iggy
I promised him and I was too late
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calm down
where are you
I'm going to come and get you
1/2
[He is most definitely not calm.]
Just
On the edge of the forest
By the post office
2/2
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[And true to his word, Ignis really is there in five minutes. How? Even he doesn't know. But he's there and when he sees Noct, he runs up to him. He's trying his best not to panic for Noct's sake but-]
Noct, I'm here-!
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If your definition of 'pretty well' includes having drug your best friends lifeless body to the nearest tree before collapsing against it and cradling said body in your lap.
He does look up when Ignis gets close though, the light of his lantern casting eeire shadows over the scene he's unlucky enough to stumble upon.]
I'm here.
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It's not.
With a shaky breath and pulling back unsteady hand, he tries to pry off Noct away from the body, ready to wrestle him if Noct fights back. Wanting to pull him into a tight hug.
He will work later on how this happened- right now he needs to take care of Noct.]
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Why why why? That one word keeps playing over and over within his mind with no answer to be found. He can't let go. He made a promise and he couldn't even keep it. He can't let go of him now. He just can't.]
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He doesn't tell him to stop crying or trashing or snapping at him. Just accepts the bites and scratches and keeps him cornered like that until he grows tired of fighting.
For as long as it will take.]
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But Ignis presses against him, drags him away with that vice like grip and all of the fight goes out of him. Until he's going limp, body sagging down against the wall and Ignis' own. Using them both as the only support keeping him upright as the first sob tears from his throat.
God's, he was such a failure. He was ways supposed to have been some savior. But he couldn't even keep his friends alive.]
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When he feels that Noct had let up on fighting him, Ignis releases his hands and wraps his own around Noct's shoulders, drawing him into a tight hug. Ignis can feel tears sting his own eyes, gliding down his cheeks silently. He wants not to cry, he wants to remain solid support for Noct but- the thought of Prompto being gone. The sound of Noct's sobs. Slowly but surely it breaks his heart bit by bit and Ignis can't keep up the facade anymore.
His hug tightens around Noctis and Ignis buries his face in Noct's hair.]
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Since they had been children, Ignis had been that one thing that Noctis could always depend on. That stone wall. That pillar of strength. Always so calm, cool and collected. Always had the answers. Knew what to do. What to say. Noctis had come to rely on him for guidance. To lead the way when he couldn't. To be his light in the darkness.
But he felt that pillar crumble just a little now. Felt the way Ignis clung onto him, arms wrapping so tightly about his shoulders it felt like they might break. How he buried his face down into his soft hair as he cried.
His own hold tightened, strengthened as he shifts, brought himself up to wrap around Ignis, like a barrier between him and the rest of the world. Guided his face away from his hair, brought their foreheads together softly so he could glance up into his eyes.]
Please don't cry, Iggy. Please. I can't take it.
[But even as he speaks he's dipping forward, kissing those tears away, staunching the flow from one eye before moving to the other. Soft and reverent over the faded scars. Gentle and loving.]
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Ignis blinks through his teary eyes, glassy-]
I can't... see you cry either, [his thumb coming up to wipe whatever tears are left on Noct's cheek. He can't take seeing people he cares about, people he loves, in pain anymore. With a small, shaky breath, he closes his eyes and nods- in return, he won't cry. He won't because it upsets Noct and he doesn't want that. He presses a kiss to Noct's forehead and then leans back, only slightly.]
I'm sorry, Noct... I really, really am.
[He is sure Noct carries the same, matching guilt in his chest- 'I failed Prompto'- they are still here and he is gone. And there's nothing they can do about it.]
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Gone where? To some better after life where there was actually light? Laughter and sun and the happiness that he deserved? Or had he been taken from them only to go some place worse? Was there even any place worse than this?
Maybe he'll come back. But wasn't that selfish to wish that? Maybe he'd finally find peace. Be allowed that.
Now it was only them. Noctis and Ignis and Luna. What if something happened to Luna? What is something happened to Ignis? He didn't think his heart was strong enough to take it.]
We should do something. Bury him. [Had there even been anyone to do it at home? Prompto had said Ignis and Gladio were there but -
But he wasn't. And Ignis had died at his side.] He... he deserves that.
[Prompto had always deserved so much better. And Noctis had failed him. Noctis had failed everyone. But he tried to keep that guilt at bay. To focus on what they had to do.] Will you help me? I can't... I can't do this without you, Iggy.
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He just wishes they had a sign that he's alright out there somewhere. So that Noct's heart can rest for once. It makes Ignis more resolute to be careful and not gamble his life here. Noctis needs him. And he doesn't intend on leaving his side, ever.]
Of course I will help you, [Ignis says quietly, his hold on Noctis tightening briefly then letting up.] I will go bring a blanket and shovels from the General store. You stay here, alright?
[He doubts that Noctis would leave Prompto's body unattended but he needs to hear it from him.] I will be back in five.
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Ignis was the only thing that continued to hold it together. Who continued to hold him together. And somewhere deep within him he realized that either of them could be next. That one day it might Ignis' body who he stumbled upon and he would have to do this alone.
Please. Please please please. Never let this be Ignis. He would lay down and die right along with him. Because he didn't want to live a world without him in it.]
Alright. [Shifting, he pulled away from Ignis had held him, slipping back down until he could resume his previous position. Until he could drag Prompto back onto his lap and cradle him there.]
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The physical work kept his mind occupied and away from emotional pain, but he knows it will eventually settle in. When they go back to the hut they share. After they take a shower and sit down and it finally settles in. He takes the shovel away from Noct and stands next to him, hand wrapped around his shoulders.
He doesn't say anything. They've put a stone to mark the place but they will return to it to make it better. They stand in front of it for a while until Ignis grips Noct's shoulder a bit, to get his attention.]
Come. Let's head back.
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