They stood shoulder to shoulder on what used to be the Haven behind Hammerhead. They'd both been quiet a while, and Ignis was reluctant to break the silence.
Luckily, or unluckily as it were, his companion had no such qualms.
"It's such a pity that you've lost your sight, you know. The stars are especially beautiful all laid out against the black sky."
Ignis hummed to himself. "I'm sure it's lovely."
"Oh, come now my good man." His companion's voice is dripping with smarm. "Don't be that way."
Ignis held his tongue. He'd like to slit the throat of the monster behind him; his left hand twitched at his side, aching to summon a dagger and complete the deed. But, alas, he knew it would be useless.
"We made a deal. You will tell me where the Crystal is so that I may be there for Noctis when he returns, and I…"
He swallowed hard, unable to complete the repulsive thought.
Though he knew it was impossible, he could feel Ardyn smile. The air around them nearly danced with his happy anticipation. "And you will reveal to me the secret location of our favorite blonde."
If he were still capable, he knew tears would betray the stoic expression he held upon his face. "You will not…hurt him badly, will you?"
The air shifted and a shuffling step signified Ardyn stepping away. "Now why would I want to hurt that delightful boy? I simply wish to see the closest thing to sunlight this world has to offer. Certainly you understand?"
Ignis dropped his head. In his mind's eye, the sun was shining, and the ground beneath him was rich and still thrummed with the magic of the Oracle. If he allowed himself, he could almost smell chickatrice cooking on his old camp stove…his friends with smiling faces and only a hint of the ugly burden they'd eventually have to bear rearing its ugly head.
But he shouldn't let himself drift, shouldn't let himself wallow or hold on too tight. He had a clear objective; be there when Noctis was released by the Crystal. He needed to be with the King. What was one more sacrifice? "And he'll never know it was me that lead you to him?"
"On my honor as a gentleman, I promise I won't breathe a word of your involvement."
"He—Prompto has a small place in the Malacchi Hills, near the old Chocobo Post."
"Ah, yes, that would make sense. His chocobos have always been such a source of comfort." Ardyn moved farther away, now, but his voice still carried over to the former adviser. "I appreciate the information, chum!"
A muted thud followed the words as the chancellor began walking away.
"And Noctis?! Where do I find him?" Ignis scrambled down the side of the Haven after the other man, stumbling a little but quickly gaining his bearings.
"Don't you welsh on your end of the bargain, you son of a bitch!"
A rush of air, and suddenly Ardyn's hand was on his face, thumb tracing across his scars. "I'd be careful if I were you," he murmured lowly, his caress turning into a condescending pat to the former adviser's cheek.
Ignis jerked back, summoning a set of daggers and getting into a defensive posture. A few feet away, Ardyn chuckled.
"So dramatic, Ignis. You really should take it down a few notches." Ardyn was facing away from him again, turned in the direction of Malacchi Hills. "I've taken the Crystal back to Insomnia where our little drama will eventually end, but I doubt the Six will spit their pathetic little chosen one out there. They'll probably do something much more grand, and have him rise up out of the sea, or some other such nonsense. They so do love their (word for fancy dramatics)."
Enraged, Ignis flung his left dagger forward, embedding it in what he estimated to be Ardyn's back. A surprised grunt had him feeling satisfied.
This did not last long, however, and soon cold, wet steel was placed against his neck. "Now now now, Ignis," Ardyn hissed, a bit of spittle landing on the blind man's cheek. "We were doing so well with our bargain, and now you've gone and pissed me off."
A blackness darker than anything he'd ever known swept over him, drowning him in its vast nothingness.
An insistent buzzing roused him and indeterminable amount of time later. He fumbled with his phone, tapping the sensor on the back to answer it.
"H..hey, Iggy…? I, uhm, I don't suppose you…you're nearby, are you?"
Ignis swallowed hard, a soft whimper escaping as he assessed the pain-filled tone in the voice of the other man.
"I mean, it's ok if you're not. I can…I can probably d-deal with it on my own," Prompto's voice wavered as he sucked in a breath.
"Yes, Prompto, I'm nearby. I can be there in a few hours. How bad…?" He trailed off, letting the silence scream between them.
"I think…maybe a few broken ribs and…and my left arm isn't sitting right anymore. Can't feel those fingers…" he chuckled darkly into the phone. "I've totally had worse, I'm probably just being a wuss about it. I'm, uh, I'm sorry to bother you."
Throat constricting in shame, Ignis had to strain to speak any further. "You're never a bother, Prompto. Never." He quickly got to his feet, taking a moment to orient himself. "I'm on my way. We'll fix this; everything will be fine."
The voice on the other end of the phone made some inarticulate false starts before finally answering back. "You promise, Iggy?"
Ignis bit his lip, gripping the phone tight in his hand. "I promise."