Hello all! After my first story, I wanted to add more to the Final Fantasy XV fandom- primarily in the hurt/comfort area. I just love those boys! And then the idea came to me- what if one of them got sick on the other three? I decided to do Ignis just because I feel like the team depends on him for quite a lot of things, from strategies, to cooking, to basic hygiene, to playing parent to Noctis- his plate's pretty full. So here's a story about one chocbro down for the count. Please enjoy! I own nothing.

Sick Day

Chapter 1

It started off as a strange sensation in the back of his throat. As he drove down the unbearably hot and humid day, the breeze providing little comfort to the black-clad men in a black-clad Regalia, Ignis Scientia had a strong urge to do something he found so undignified he'd never live it down if the others heard him.

But by the gods, he just wanted to clear his throat, and NOT by coughing his mucus up. So he did the only thing that made sense on a long drive like today.

A few meters ahead, there was a small gas station and a parking lot. Ignis used his judgement- Gladiolus, the biggest and usually the least whining of the foursome, was squirming a lot more than normal in his seat as he tried to finish his book on survival camping. His head rested in his right hand as he shifted yet again, the hot air pushing his long brown hair in his face and mouth.

Next, Ignis quickly- and no doubt with skill of a ninja- scanned their royal Prince Noctis, who appeared to be taking a rather uncomfortable nap. His raven black hair kept tickling his nose, causing him to become agitated as he yawned and sat up.

Lastly, from the corner of his eye, Ignis checked on their gunner and the most complaining of the group, Prompto. The blonde was unusually quiet as he looked out the bland scenery, head resting on arms that were surely going to be sunburnt from so much exposure. His camera was more than likely tucked safely away from the heat, Ignis concluded with a sly smile, probably in his jacket pocket. He'd heard the gunner constantly whine about his camera messing up if it came into too much contact with the sun.

As much as Ignis sometimes wanted to sew Prompto's lips shut, he knew he loved listening to the whining and chatter the blonde provided. He wished for it at the moment as they drove on in silence. And while he was at it... he wished that scratchy feeling was gone as well.

"Iggy. Can we please pull over?" Noctis finally complained. "It's scorching out here!"

"We could, Your Highness... if you so wish to." Ignis answered, secretly thanking the gods that Noctis hated such extreme weather change. No one else in the car was arguing down that, either.

"I need to get out and stretch... and take a shower." Gladiolus said as he packed up his book and stretched his arms. "I think a pit's stops a good idea."

"Me too. I think my arms are fried!" Prompto, being the overdramtic he was, held his arms over his head so he friends could see his 'injuries'. "Iggy come on, please park in that gas station! They even have a diner!"

"Diner? Food definitely sounds like a good idea." Noctis grinned at the prospect of an all meat burger with cheese, while Gladiolus rolled his eyes.

Ignis didn't say anything. His throat was more than likely parched from the over four hour drive, and he figured once he and his friends ate something and cooled off, they would be ready to hit the last stretch of trip to Altissa. But a pit stop was definitely needed. It was getting late and he wasn't risking a late night drive anywhere. So he pulled into the gas station and parked the Regalia near one of the old gas pumps so he could fill her with gas while the others entered into the diner.

After five minutes, and about 10 gil, Ignis soon joined the others. Gladiolus and Noctis were having a disagreement about what to order, while Prompto had his camera out, snapping about three pictures before scrolling through some older ones.

"I presume that everyone has placed their order?" Ignis asked as he sat. Noctis glared at his shield, who was trying to convince him to order some nasty veggie dish.

"Well, I did! Cheeseburger and fries, baby!" Prompto smiled before jerking his thumb at the other two. "But they've been arguing like an old married couple for awhile."

"Hey! We are NOT arguing!" Shield and Prince spoke at the same time. Ignis simply rolled his eyes and picked out his order, his head beginning to feel the on-comings of a headache.

"Could you possibly keep your bickering to a minimum?" Ignis grunted as he massaged his temples. "Besides giving me a headache, you are causing a scene."

Gladiolus and Noctis looked around and sure enough, people were looking at them with stranve expressions. They looked back at each other before Noctis, being ever so childish, stuck his tongue out at his shield before the waitress came to collect their order. Gladiolus sighed heavily and glared at Noctis before saying to Ignis, "You REALLY spoil him too much sometimes, Iggy."

"And you never know when to quit. Noct will never eat vegetables. I've tried since he was a teenager."

The foursome continued random chatter until the drinks arrived first. Prompto and Noctis ordered cola, Ignis, straight black coffee, and Gladiolus, a smoothie of sorts. No one knew what it was and Prompto made an offhand comment about the smell, only to be rewarded with a sharp slap upside the head.

Once their food arrived, everyone began to eat. Everyone except Ignis. While he only ordered a cheese egg omlet and toast, the sight of food turned his stomach slightly and he nibbed at the bread briefly before he pushed the plate away. Gladiolus looked at the spectacle-wearing man over the rim of his glass, and Ignis met his gaze.

"Not hungry?" the shield asked softly. Ignis leaned back and looked at Noctis and Prompto. Noctis was smiling at some crazy entertainment that Prompto was providing him. Said blond was holding three fries in one hand, waving it around to emphasis a point.

"Not... particularly." Ignis answered, trying not to make it clear his stomach was beginning to turn. He took another sip of his cooling black Ebony and sighed. "I may just be tired. We should be going soon..."

The tank narrowed his eyes, but continued to eat and chose not to push Ignis further. He knew, however, that something was off with their driver, and he was determined to make him talk.

His suspicions were confirmed as they made their way out of the diner a few moments later. As the foursome walked out of the diner, intending to drive a few more miles to secure a motel room for the night before darkness fell, Ignis suddenly stumbled into the sturdy Gladiolus, his glasses slipping an inch off his face. Gladiolus helped straighten his up, brushing a hand over his skin.

"Iggy, you're hot. And not in that way." Gladio commented as he looked at Ignis. The smaller man seemed to have a hard time breathing, but it wasn't so serious that anyone else, even himself, would have noticed. "Are you sure you're up for driving, Iggy?"

Ignis just nodded, nodding his thanks as he pulled himself together. "Thank you, Gladio. But I believe I will be more than capable to drive. It may just be the heat getting to me. Besides..."

He motioned to the two younger men waiting near the Regalia. Noctis stood with his arms crossed while Prompto waved at them to hurry up. "Would you want these two to be driving her?"

Gladio chuckled, one hand on his hip. "Good point." The two walked over to the Regalia, Ignis shrugging off his jacket and tossing it over the driver's seat. Noctis got into his usual seat, and Prompto called shotgun. Gladiolus got into the right side, pushing Prompto's seat to get him to move his chair up.

"Everyone ready?" Ignis took one good look behind him. "Your Highness?"

Noctis gave him a thumb's up before taking off his jacket and tossing an arm over his eyes. "Get us outta this heat, Specs."

"Or you could just take off your shirt." Their tank laughed as he did so, revealing a very well maintained upper torso, with a tight black sleeveless undershirt. Prompto looked behind him and upon seeing the priceless sputtering of Noctis, couldn't resist taking a picture of his best friends. Ignis shook his head, put the Regalia in drive, and proceeded to smoothly drive her to their final destination for the day.

"Like you?" Noctis smirked as he leaned back into the comfort of home. "You know if you start to sweat..."

"Ooohhh, you're gonna stick to the seats! You can't ruin the Regalia's seats with your nasty-OWWW!"

Gladiolus looked as innocent as he wanted to, and not like he'd just punched Prompto's shoulder rather hard. Ignis sighed and looked in the rear view mirror. This was going to be a long drive.

"Could you possibly settle down? We should arrive there shortly."

The Regalia settled down after another ten minutes. Noctis was fast asleep, the hot breeze ruffling his hair and his jacket. His arm was still over his eyes to keep the sun's rays from hitting his face. Gladiolus caught up on his reading, one hand cradling his head as he absorbed the information off the pages. He felt pretty comfortable despite his bulk and the tight shirt he wore. Prompto was scanning through his camera, looking at pictures that he took from the past three jacket, although sleeveless to begin with, was also off and behind him as support. Blond bangs brushed his freckled cheeks and nose as he looked for the perfect setting for his pictures later.

Ignis was the only one who felt hotter than he should have. Even without his jacket on, he was lightheaded and it was growing by the second. He shook it off, sipping some of the Ebony in a can he always seemed to have literally on hand. The silence was beginning to annoy him, so he reached forward to adjust the knob. Prompto peeked up from his flapping bangs and noticed something that had him worrying a little.

"Hey Specs?"

"Yes, Prompto?"

Prompto noticed his friend's fingers were trembling slightly, and rather than call him out on it, reached out and adjusted the knob for him. "I got it. You just focus on the road, man."

"Thank you." his friend said quietly. That was another sign that Prompto needed to say something to one of the others about Ignis's behavior later. Ignis sounded... tired. He only hoped a good night's rest in a cool room would be just what he needed... stars knew he needed it.

-FFXV*FFXV*FFXV*FFXV*FFXV-

"We have arrived. Everyone out."

Prompto stretched his arms as he made his way out of the car. Gladiolus followed suit and Noctis... well, he took a little while. Ignis went up ahead to secure a room for them for the night as Prompto stared after him, worried.

"Hey. Something wrong?" Gladiolus asked.

"It's... did Iggy seem off to you?" Prompto asked them. Noctis shrugged.

"Not more than normal."

Gladiolus rolled his eyes; leave it to the king of Lucis, a whole NATION, to be so damn obvious. "Yeah, I did. He barely ate anything while we were at the diner earlier and he seems... I don't know, clumsier than normal."

"Specs is NEVER clumsy, Prompto." Noctis noted.

"That's my point! Something is wrong with him, Noct! And in the car he kept shaking his head like he didn't have the answer to a question or something." Prompto looked at his friends, worry clear on his face. "You think something's wrong?"

"Maybe it was just the heat. Even Ignis can feel the effects of heatstroke sometimes." Noctis offered. "He probably overworked himself or something. Knowing him, he will never say something about it."

"Well... neither do you, Noct." That statement earned the blond photographer a near death glare. Gladiolus snapped his fingers to get their attention, as Ignis was returning back to them with keys in hand.

"It could be... but we better keep an eye on him. Just in case." Gladiolus whispered to them before Ignis arrived.

"Well, I've procured us two rooms. Who will be sharing with who?" Ignis asked. Noctis, now that he could get a real close look at Ignis, noticed his normally sparking green eyes looked a bit dull and he appeared to be struggling to keep his usual composure. 'Maybe he is getting sick...'

The three men looked at each other. Someone trustworthy needed to look after Ignis, whether he wanted to or not. "Alright. I'll bunk with Iggy." Gladiolus plucked a key from Ignis and held it in front of their king.

"Your Highness, Prom. Y'all have fun." Gladiolus said. As he gave Noctis the key, Ignis muttered something along the lines of heading in early and left them. Gladiolous looked at his retreating back.

"I guess you'll keep an eye on him then?" Noctis asked.

"...yeah. Hopefully all he needs is some sleep. I think his Ebony ran out earlier too."

"I can get him some." Prompto volunteered. "I think that small store over there might have some. If not I'll ask around."

Satisfied with the plan for the time being, the largest of the group mumbled a goodnight and followed after their comrade. Prompto and Noctis looked at one another.

"Ready to go to sleep man?"the blond asked, throwing an arm over his best friend's shoulder as they headed to the store to stock up on some ethers. Noctis let out an amused scoff and rolled his eyes, but didn't shrug the arm off him.

"Nah. You'll probably keep me up with King's Knight all night."

"Aww, come on Noct! You love that game too!"

"Keep it down. It's getting late."

"Psh. Whatever, man. Ooooh, let's take a photo right there! The sunset's just right!"

"Oh brother..."

When Gladiolus entered the room, he normally expected Ignis to be sitting in one of the lounge chairs, a cup of something in one hand and usually reading that day's papers, or checking his phone for anything he might of missed for the day.

What he found instead was Ignis half curled in the sheets of his motel bed, his shoes, pants and jacket not only tossed about, but messily thrown about. Immediately Gladio arched an eyebrow. Ignis always kept his clothes neatly folded and his shoes were always near the door and properly put away. As he neared the fitful man, he also noted the man's beloved glasses were still on.

"Iggy." Gladio roughly shook his shoulder, expecting an instant reply or response. Ignis, however, simply let out a moan and stilled, his eyes still closed. Gladio felt his forehead and hissed; he felt far warmer than earlier.

"Iggy. Come on, man. Open your eyes."Gladio sat him up, and it was then Ignis finally opened his eyes.

"Oooh... G-Gladio..." the smaller of the two groaned, already leaning forward as his headache was pushing towards a migraine. "Head... hurts..."

Gladiolus suddenly felt horrid for having woken him. Ignis was allowed to feel like crap sometimes, he knew that. Gently, he laid the man back down, and took note that his friend's face was slightly... pink.

"Sorry man... just sleep. Everything should be better when you wake up." Gladio kept his voice low so as not to interrogate his poor friend's head further. He removed his glasses and placed them nearby on the nightstand before going to fold up his clothes and placing them on the chair.

"You must be getting sick... ah damn, Iggy..."

There was a knock at the door. Gladiolus answered and placed a finger on his lips to tell the newcomers to keep their voices down.

"Hey big guy. How is he?" Prompto whispered loudly. Gladio just shook his head.

"I think he's getting sick on us, but I don't know from what. How are we on potions?" Gladiolus asked. Prompto grinned and presented a bag, which contained six ethers and potions apiece. Patting his dear friend on the head and ruffling his hair, Gladiolus laughed.

"Good job, Prompto."

Noctis was sitting on Ignis's bed, watching as he confidant's breathing hitched at random times. "You sure he's alright? His face... it's pink."

Gladiolus and Prompto came over and surrounded the bed. "He was up but he could barely keep his eyes open. I knew he had a headache earlier so I told him to get some rest."

"Well... maybe we should all just spend the night in here?" Prompto suggested. "We could speak to the person downstairs and ask for the money to go to the room."

"And just WHERE are we supposed to sleep?"

Gladiolus scoffed at the stupid question. "All the times we've been sleeping in the tent and you're really asking that question, Prince?"

It took Noctis a moment to click the answer together; the tank laughed, an arm over his shoulders. "Awww, is someone feeling awkward? Just imagine you with Lady Luna in the same room, in the same bed-"

"Alright, stop that... good grief, those were thoughts I could go without!" Noctis exclaimed, pushing his laughing friends away. A low moan and shifting of the bed sheets warned the men to keep it down.

"Alright then! Should I go put on the charm and get this switch going?"

"Yeah, alright. Go 'put on the charm', my man."

It took a while, but the room's deposit was moved to a new, two-king bedroom. Gladiolus roused Ignis and helped him walk down the hall, while Prompto gathered his clothes and shoes. Once they reached the other room, Gladio desposited him on one bed.

"Guess I'll bunk with him. Don't need him rolling off the damn bed and hurting himself." Gladio made to the bathroom, feeling two sets of eyes boring into his back.

"Shut the hell up you weirdos." Snickering, Noctis and Prompto sat on the bed and decided to order in. There was a small noodle shop not far from their motel; they knew Gladiolus would appreciate it and the soup would help with Ignis as well.

"Oi! Big guy!" Prompto knocked on the bathroom door. "I'm heading out for some noodles! Want anything?"

A head popped out. "Extra meat, shirmp and a really big egg. Don't care which." The door slammed shut. Prompto just blinked and shook his head before he grabbed about 200 gil and waved to his best friend with a smile.

"Alrighty then. Watch over Specs, 'kay Noct?"

It was pushing eleven at night when Gladiolus felt a weak slap on his arm and sat up. He rubbed his eyes in the dark room, his eyes adjusting to the lack of light. He glanced over, seeing Prompto and Noctis fast asleep, limbs and sheets thrown every which way, Prompto's mouth hanging wide open as he snored, Noctis curled on his right side with his pillow over his head.

He then glanced down and saw Ignis's bright green eyes half way open, and smiled. "Hey. Finally decided to join us?"

Ignis was clearly confused. He blinked twice and looked around the room before he settled on Noctis and Prompto. "Wh... wha' happen..." he asked softly, his voice sounding raspy. He cleared his throat and tried asking again.

"Nothin. We just decided to stay together is all. Don't make it awkward." Gladiolus yawned and sat up. "How you feeling? Thinking you can eat?"

The sound of food didn't appeal to the brunette and he shut his eyes, his stomach churning from the movement and thought of food. "Not... hungry..." he croaked, turning his head away from his friend. He felt so... undignified. Vulnerable, if he would.

"Gods, my body... everything h-hurts..." he whispered, more to himself than anything, but his friend heard.

Gladiolus placed a hand on his forehead and Ignis let out a relieved moan at the cold touch, subconsciously leaning heavily into the hand. "Ah, damn...Iggy... I think we're gonna be staying here awhile. Looks like you're getting a fever." Gladiolus got up to get something and Ignis decided laying down was the best thing he could do for now.

"Just get some sleep, man. We're gonna talk more when you come around." Gladiolus placed something on his slowly burning skin and by the gods, it felt wonderful... and he felt so drowsy...

Ignis tried to reply back but he found his body not wanting to cooperate with him. The last thing he remembered was a sheet being pulled over his shivering frame, a wet rag draped over his head, and then everything went blissfully black.

And complete! One more chapter to go after this!

Please let know what you guys thought of this, and I'll have the next chapter up as soon as possible. I hope you like it!

Until next chapter!