middaeg | Bonds and Talks and Chocobros, Oh My! [closed]

[Prompto pauses, biting his lip and wondering how best to phrase it]

When...after Altissia, you...obviously you need help. And Noct wasn't able to do it and I don't think Gladio knew how so...I did.

[Do the math.]

[There's so much math in this conversation.

Ignis looks up at him, frowning at first, brow furrowed. Of course Noct would have been too shell shocked to do much, and besides that it wasn't his job to take care of Ignis. It's... possible he also saw him as a liability, Ignis realizes, and that hurts him deeply. The same for Gladio. Of course Gladio would think he was a liability at that point. He was probably utterly useless in Prompto's time. Incapable of doing anything for himself. If Prompto was kind enough to help him...

There's a distinct sadness in the Bond between them that probably echoes right to Noct. A feeling of complete despair. He tries to cover it.]

And I resisted the attempt?

A little, yeah. I mean, I'm stubborn and you needed me so I just kinda...basically told you to suck it only without actually saying that and helped anyway. But.

...I hope I properly thanked you.

[His voice is thin, and the heat from his hand dissipates.]

You do! Like, not right away obviously but once we're on the train to Tenebrae and things have calmed down you do.

[Not a hint of a lie.]

[Relief. A little, at least. He folds his hands on his knees for a moment, though.]

Did... Noct want me to stay behind?

Nope. Gladio told him he should, but Noct wanted you to decide that.

I'd expect nothing less from Gladio.

[Even if there is a twinge to hear him say it.]

To tell you the truth, Prompto... I'm slightly afraid of the future I've lived in your time.

Yeah, but he didn't have to be such an asshole about it.

[Just saying.

But Ignis's confession gets him to look over.]

Afraid? Because you go blind?

Honestly, a little of that. Though it sounds like I navigate it well enough, it's still harrowing, knowing I'll lose the ability to do many things I now do with ease.

[He looks away.]

Mostly it's... that I fear losing my purpose. I'll lose Noct, and then what? I'm sure at the time I had little ability to process it, and no real choice in the matter, but...

[He has to stop, he's getting choked up.]

[Nope. Prompto shifts and moves to pull Ignis into a proper, tight hug.]

You don't, y'know. At least not as far as I know. You just go from helping Noct to helping other people. Still can't fight but when we last talked to each other you were in Lestallum getting people where they needed to be and setting up all sorts of stuff.

[He stiffens in the embrace, but allows it.]

That certainly sounds like something I would do. Maybe I'll eventually be able to handle myself in combat completely. Coming here was an unexpected end to the constant adrenaline and chaos. I've had too much time to think... I can't say I like it.

You? Not liking a chance to think?

[But he understands completely.]

We'll be fine, Iggy. Promise.

Thinking productively and ruminating are very different things. I appear to be doing the latter. I'll make myself busy soon enough.

[Caren's a handful, and he'll be doing the magic study group.]

Yes, I'll be fine. It was a momentary concern. [Lying.] I won't stop pushing forward.

[Does he call him out on that? Because Prompto knows it's not temporary.]

I know you won't. You totally annihilated a malboro while blind.

Did I?

[He tries to sound bright, amused.]

Yeah. Not gonna lie, it was badass.

[He's trying, okay?]

A-and you and Gladio and Noct made your way through Zegnautus Keep despite daemons and MTs everywhere and out of the three of you, you were totally the one least beat up.

[The effort is appreciated by Ignis. He so very rarely needs to be comforted, or reassured in any way, but the fact that he'll lose a precious thing and still not have protected Noct from death haunts him to no end. Maybe years from now he'll have coped with it, but for now... it's raw and horrible.

Still, he can't let Prompto down.]

Did we? Perhaps I learned a thing or two, after all.

[A pause.]

I hope I can properly express my gratitude at some point. I could have said a dozen more things to you are the Bonding ceremony, but I didn't, and I hope I'll find a way to say them in the future. Knowing you were the one who helped me recover... it doesn't necessarily surprise me, but it makes me feel like I gravely missed your warmest qualities.

Whaddya mean?

[Warmest qualities?]

You said plenty at the Bond! I don't know what else you could've said.

Perhaps it's better left unsaid.

[He doesn't want to make Prompto self-conscious, after all.]

At any rate, you say you've taken good care of me, and now it's my turn to do well for you. Let's have you lie back again so I can warm your joints more.

[Which Prompto does, sighing a little in relief.]

Thanks, Iggy. You didn't have to.

You say that, but you forget this kind of thing is absolutely my pleasure. I take pride in my role, as you know.

[He smiles, and it's finally really sincere.]

It's nice to stay busy.

Yeah but...I'm not Noct. Taking care of me isn't your job like it is with him, so...thanks.

Taking care of both of you is a privilege.

[He tries not to make it sound so formal, so detached. Maybe with Noct it started as duty, as a job, but now he truly enjoys the time they spend together, and he long has. He's come to appreciate Prompto as well, especially for the things he does for Noct. The three of them are Bonded now, and he treasures it more than he'll say. More than he'll let on. Like he'd rarely tell Noct just how much he values him as a person, as a friend, he'll hold these Bonds close to his chest and keep them quietly beloved. He wouldn't know how to do anything else.]

But, in any case, you're entirely welcome. If ever you need something, ask, without reservation. I insist.

[Prompto nods, and Ignis can probably pick up on a little bit of emotional turmoil right now as he considers something. He's tired. He hurts. This is the first full moon he's had a Bond for and honestly?

He just wants to cuddle. But would Ignis like that?]

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