This idea came to me as I was trying to beat the Episode Gladiolus speedrun trial thing with one million time for the thousandth time (and I still haven't managed it yet, god damnit, I just want the fucking trophy? I thought Prompto's snowmobile trophy was going to kill me but I was wrong, it's the speed trial).

Basically, the idea is that their connection through the Armiger is a bit stronger than in the game; they are able to feel each other, and of course they can tell when one of them is accessing the Armiger.

For now, enjoy single mother Ignis Scientia with his two kids, worrying about their missing dad during Episode Gladiolus!

"...the big guy sure is using a lot of curatives, huh?" Prompto said hesitantly into the quiet of the tent.

They'd gone to bed well over two hours ago, but Ignis had known from the way they were breathing that neither of his two companions was asleep yet, not even Noct.

"Yeah…" Noct muttered, tight with thinly veiled concern.

Ignis sighed and sat up, turning on the camping lamp below the tent roof and feeling around for his glasses. studied both Noct's and Prompto's faces for a moment before he unzipped the tent entrance. "How would you two like some hot chocolate?"

"Aww, yeah, you're the best!" Prompto agreed quickly and struggled to free himself from the sleeping bag that was stubbornly clinging to him.

Noct followed suit. "I'm gonna try to get the fire going again."

They all knew the odds that he'd actually succeed weren't high, considering their pathetic display after reaching the haven. Failing to get a fire started was once again proof of how much they needed Gladio by their side. Still, Ignis knew it gave Noct something to do at least while he prepared the hot chocolate and Prompto attempted to help him, so he didn't say anything.

After having gently shooed Prompto away from the stove by making him understand that there weren't two people needed for hot chocolate, Ignis tried to focus on the task at hand instead of the tingling sensation every time Gladio pulled a curative from the Armiger.

For the first couple of days after Gladio left, they hadn't been too worried. Ignis was still wondering what reasons Gladio could possibly have had, but, having known Gladio for almost as long as he'd known Noct, trusted him to do only what was necessary and to return to them soon.

Tonight was different. They had long since gotten used to the fact that their connection to the Armiger, and by extension to each other, came with noticing every time someone pulled something out of the Armiger. Usually, though, they were with each other when it happened and quite literally watched each other summon curatives.

Now, though, Gladio was gone all on his own, and it didn't help that they didn't even know where he had gone or what he was doing. They wouldn't be able to help him if needed, and there was no way to check for themselves if he was alright. Ignis would have loved to simply trust Gladio to take care of himself and return in one piece, but he couldn't help worrying. Even more worryingly, the other two were concerned too, otherwise, Ignis might have been able to chalk it up to his intense 'mother henning instinct' as the others liked to call it.

All night, Gladio had been pulling curatives from the Armiger, only one at first, then after a while another one, until he kept accessing the Armiger at a rather alarming rate.

Sleep, Ignis thought, would be a miracle tonight.

He brought over the mugs of steaming hot chocolate, handing one to each of his friends and keeping one for himself - he'd figured coffee wouldn't do him much good at this hour - as he sat down by the cold fireplace. Needless to say, Noct hadn't managed to start a fire.

"You think he's gonna be okay?" Prompto asked quietly, drawing patterns into the ashes left from people who had been more successful at making fires on the haven in the past.

"'Course," Noct said, but it didn't sound as confident as it should have to make Prompto feel any better.

Instead, Prompto slumped even more and threw the stick he had been using to mess with the ashes onto the neatly arranged wood. "Man, I hope he comes back soon. I want a fire!"

"Don't blame me, you weren't any good at it either!" Noct defended himself.

Ignis tuned them out for a moment and closed his eyes, focusing on the Armiger and its contents and counted how many curatives were left- or rather, how many Gladio had used.

At least he had mostly used regular potions, Ignis noticed. That meant he hadn't been badly hurt at least. Two hi-potions were missing as well; those were more worrisome.

Just as Ignis started to let his focus drift away from the Armiger again, a phoenix down was pulled from it. He flinched, eyes snapping open with a gasp.

"Specs, you okay?" Noct demanded immediately.

Ignis took a deep breath, not wanting to alarm the other two. Gladio was still able to summon a phoenix down, that meant at least he wasn't dead. Yet, now Ignis was certain he wouldn't be able to sleep anymore until Gladio was back with them.

"...Yes. Don't worry."

"Bit late for that," Noct muttered, but he didn't pry. "Hey… is there any hot chocolate left?"

"Yes," Ignis said, trying to calm his heart that was beating far too fast for his liking. "There's still plenty."

Noct got to his feet, making his way over to the stove.

"Oh, me too!" Prompto exclaimed and thrust his empty mug at Noct.

Noct rolled his eyes. "I'm your king," he reminded, but he took the mug anyway.

"Yeah, yeah, now get your peasant the chocolate!"

By the time there was no more hot chocolate left, it was well past midnight, Prompto wrapped his arms around himself. "I dunno about you guys, but I'm ready to go back inside. I think I'm gonna freeze to death if I stay here any longer."

"People don't freeze to death so easily, Prompto," Ignis told him. "Regardless, I agree. We should try to get at least some rest."

He got up and collected the empty mugs. Briefly, he considered cleaning them before he went back inside, but after a second of staring at the sponge and thinking how much he really did not want to wash up right now, he simply set them down in the sink and decided to leave them for once.

Both Prompto and Noct were already inside the tent when he entered. Ignis took one look at the boys curled up in the tent that was much too big for the three of them and collected his sleeping bag from near the tent wall.

"Noct, could you please scoot over a bit?"

Noct did as he was told, albeit a bit puzzled, but understanding soon dawned on his face when Ignis settled between him and Prompto, lay down on his back, and spread out his arms.

"Come," he said.

Without hesitation, both boys shuffled closer and curled up to Ignis who wrapped his arms around them to keep them close.

"Do try to sleep for a couple of hours. You will need the energy," he told them gently when they had properly settled against him.

"Mmmkay," Noct muttered, eyes already closed.

Prompto whispered, "Good night."

It took a while, but at last, their breathing slowed and they were both fast asleep, Noct, unsurprisingly before Prompto, but not much later Prompto was out like a light as well.

Ignis lay with his eyes closed and both of his hands caressing Noct's and Prompto's hair, but sleep would not come to him. The worry for Gladio was too great, but at least, he hadn't pulled any more curatives from the Armiger since the phoenix down. Still, the fear of not noticing the next time Gladio required a potion - or worse - wouldn't let him get any rest, no matter how little he would be able to help anyway.

Ignis sighed, resigning himself to the fact that he would only sleep again when Gladio was back. At least the other two were getting some rest, that was what counted.

"You guys miss me?" Gladio asked gleefully. He was sporting a fair handful of new scars to exactly no one's surprise, and thanks to his usual revealing clothes Ignis could very clearly see in the shape of a giant scar across his torso the very reason why he had required a phoenix down.

"Yeah, we couldn't get the fire started," Noct said dryly, pretending very hard he hadn't missed Gladio at all.

Ignis busied himself with his cooking equipment until Gladio sauntered over and threw a heavy arm around his shoulders, nearly knocking him off balance.

"What about you, Iggy? How'd you like being a single mom?"

Now, Ignis loved Gladio to death, like he loved Noct and Prompto. He was relieved to have him back safe and sound, too; seeing him had been a great weight off his chest. He also normally did not mind Gladio's habit to touch everyone anytime, not at all. But the stress of having had to best an entire dungeon with one capable but unfamiliar companion instead of Gladio, paired with the fact that Ignis had not slept the past few nights and was currently running on more coffee than what was healthy - he couldn't remember the exact number of how many cans he'd had this morning which, frankly, said enough about his state - and all of it was Gladio's fault alone - well, nobody could blame him for wanting to strangle Gladio on the spot right now for having the godsdamn nerve to crack stupid jokes at him.

Fortunately - for Gladio - Noct and Prompto unintentionally saved Gladio's life.

"Don't bother Specs, he's pissy today."

"Yeah," Prompto added and grabbed Gladio's arm to pull him aside. "He's been stuck babysitting us all alone, cut him some slack. C'mon you gotta see the pics I took of that dungeon! It was amazing inside!"

Ignis longingly eyed a can of Ebony in the cooler, but he was fairly certain that his heart might just give out if he had any more caffeine right now, so he grabbed himself a water bottle and wearily sat down in a camping chair by the fire.

The urge to murder Gladio lessened soon and he found himself immensely relieved that Gladio was back with them once again as he watched him and Prompto gush over the photos of the gorgeous hall inside Steyliff Grove, and Noct who sat a bit further away and fed his chocobo.

And when Gladio dragged a chair closer to him, plopped down on it and offered Ignis a big grin and told him, "Hi," Ignis even returned the smile.

"Hi yourself. Welcome back."

What do you MEAN this chapter is very similar to one of my other stories *coughs*

ANYWAY, hope you liked, and I'd love if you dropped me a comment! Those water my crops and clear my skin, bless.

Next up: Episode Ignis told from Prompto's point of view.