*Takes place about two years prior to the game. A few months after Gladio get's the scar over his eye. This is a slightly slower burn than some of my other stories, but will pay out in the end. I promise.
"Right up ahead," said Ignis as they turned off the main road by the Vesterpool and headed north along the dirt road. Thankfully Gladio's family owned a four-wheel drive truck in addition to the Amicitia's family town car Ignis frequently saw him in.
"I still can't believe you have a cabin all the way out here," said Gladio as the truck's suspension was tested in the ruts in the road.
"Technically it's my uncles cabin. It was left to him when my grandparents passed," offered Ignis as he held his can of coffee aloft, trying not to spill it as they hit another dip in the road. "Thank you for joining me, by the way."
Gladio gave a wolfish grin, not taking his eyes off the road. "Thank you for inviting me. I didn't want to say anything when you asked, but why me? We don't really hang out too much outside the Citadel."
Ignis feigned a shrug, pretending like he hadn't planned this for a month. "Normally my uncle or Noctis come with me most years. Alas, my uncle is busy and Noct is off to Galdin Quay with his friend for spring break."
"Oh yeah, I remember seeing that kid around. Freckles, kinda skinny, and hair like the ass end of a Chocobo?"
Ignis smiled and nodded. "That would be Prompto. He's a bit…unrefined, but I'm glad his Highness has made a friend. I was growing concerned at his isolation."
"You still haven't told me why you invited me along. Me specifically."
Because I've been intrigued by you for quite a while and I'm never able to get you alone, thought Ignis. Instead he said, "I was under the impression that you like to hunt." The cabin was surrounded by about seventy private acres. More than enough for some decent game. "Besides, I felt foolish coming all the way out here alone. Also, it gives us a good excuse to get to know one another outside the training arena. Especially considering how closely we're going to be working with his Highness."
"Yeah," said the shield idly scratching the healing cut running vertically alone his left cheekbone. "A little vacation away from Princess might do us both some good. The Glaives that went along with him didn't seem to mind an excuse to go to the Quay anyway."
"Hopefully they don't have too much fun," said Ignis.
Gladio grunted. "Libertus is with them. He might slip them a few drinks, but he's a good guy. He'll make sure they don't get hurt. Hangovers withstanding."
"I sincerely hope so," said Ignis. "Turn right here."
The truck veered right onto an even smaller dirt road that looked like it could use some maintaining. The truck just barely fit down the narrow path as bare limbs brushed along the windows as they passed. Ignis hoped it wasn't scratching the paint.
Eventually the road opened up into a small yard and a medium sized cabin. They pulled up in front of it and threw the truck in park before getting out. "Shiva's tits, it got cold," said Gladio as they exited the truck. He threw on his hunting jacket and zipped it up.
"It's early March and you're in a tank top. What did you expect?" said Ignis as he retrieved the groceries from the back seat. Honestly, he couldn't complain. The entire trip he'd been stealing discrete glances at the new outline of feathers that had only recently graced Gladio's arms. If the progress it was making was any indication, then it would be quite the work of art when it was finished.
Gladio slid the oversized cooler out of the bed of the truck and walked it to the cabin. "I don't know why I brought this thing. At this temperature we probably could have just stuck anything we wanted to keep cold on the porch."
"Fair point," said Ignis as he found his keys and unlocked the front door. The inside of the cabin's air was stale and it was in desperate need of a good dusting, but it was just how he'd left it. He put the groceries down in the kitchen and cracked a few windows to let some fresh air in. "Would you mind getting a fire going?" Ignis called from the kitchen. "There's wood on the side of the house."
"Alright. Then I'm gonna wander around the property for a bit if it's alright with you. I wanna see if there's any good hunting spots."
Ignis shrugged as he found the fuse box and flipped the power on. "Fine by me. Maybe you'll catch something for dinner. I packed some anak meat, but I certainly wouldn't mind some more exotic game."
A moment later Gladio walked back into the main part of the cabin. His hair and shoulders had a light dusting of snow on them. Ignis glanced out the window to see that it was indeed snowing at a pretty decent pace. He'd checked the weather multiple times before the trip, and while it did say it would be cold it didn't mention anything about snow. "Are you certain you want to go out in this? Wouldn't it be wise to wait for it to pass?"
Gladio blew into the fireplace, stoking the embers into the newspaper until a flame grew. "I won't go far. Besides, if we can't handle a little snow then what kind of Crownsguard are we?"
Ignis sighed. He had a point. "Don't be out there long."
Two hours later and Ignis was seriously worried.
It had taken them the better part of the day to get from Insomnia to the Vesterpool and now the it was beginning to get dark under the heavy blanket of clouds. On top of everything, the snow was still falling heavily. Gladio's tracks had vanished completely an hour ago, hindering any attempt to find him. He had called his phone several times, but Gladio wasn't answering.
Ignis had to keep himself busy so he wouldn't lose his mind. He double checked the stew on the stove and added a splash more red wine before reducing the heat. He wet a rag and dusted all the flat surfaces. The fire was getting low, so Ignis threw his coat on and went outside to get some wood.
Picking up a log Ignis readjusted his glasses on his nose and took a few deep breaths, his breath clouding up in the air before his face. He was probably panicking for no reason. Gladio knew wilderness survival better than anyone he knew. He knew wild edibles, hunting, and navigation on top of being incredibly physically fit. Gladio had probably found a good trail or had actually managed to catch something and was just taking a while to field dress it. Nothing to worry about.
Bringing the wood inside he threw a few logs on the fire before checking his watch. The sun would be setting in fifteen minutes, but he doubted daemons would keep to a schedule. Especially when it was overcast. Moving over to the fuse box again Ignis flipped the large red switch controlling the flood lights. As soon as he did he heard the generator in the basement kick on, relieved to know that it still worked after all these years.
Checking the stew again for lack of anything else to do Ignis ended up putting his hands on the counter and looking out the frosted kitchen window. The lights illuminated the snow-covered yard and truck and a bit of the forest beyond. He picked up his phone again and called Gladio's number. This time It went straight to voicemail. "That's it," said Ignis turning the phone off before he grabbed his jacket and put his boots back on. He grabbed a potion from his luggage and put it in his coat pocket along with a remedy.
As a last thought, he turned the burner on the stove off before donning his winter gloves and walking out the front door. He called Gladio's name at the top of his lungs. Only his echo answered. He called again, this time hearing something from the woods east of the cabin. Without considering that the noise might be a beast or daemon, Ignis ran towards it as fast as his legs would carry him in the shin deep snow. When the lights of the cabin were well behind him he called again.
This time he heard the sound of a twig snap and labored breathing. His head whipped toward the sound as he tried to make out any recognizable forms in the shadows. Finally, he began to see the silhouette of the royal bodyguard emerge from the snowy underbrush. Ignis let out a relieved sigh as he strode toward the shield. "Gladio, you had me worried. What on Eos were you doing out here…so…" His words died in his throat as Gladio stumbled forward into the snow.
He was absolutely covered in blood.