I was scared of dentists and the dark
I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations
Oh, all my friends are turning green
You're the magician's assistant in their dreams
"Riptide", Vance Joy
Storms in Insomnia were always a sight to behold. The crystalline structure that encased the city would spark and flicker as the storm currents raced across its surface at immeasurable speeds. The atmospheric obstruction almost always kept the city from having calm storms. Instead, the citizens were treated to what the locals referred to as the infamous, "Lightning bug effect". Like a giant sieve, rain would pour through the twinkling pores of the shield and cascade down with brilliant colors that faded before they struck the ground. Storms at nighttime, then, would be breathtaking. Tourist traps would always proclaim to the wide-eyed sightseers that Insomnia, true to its name, never slept at night.
"Rather," the entertainer would stage-whisper dramatically to his captured audience, "The gods would play the innocent and deadly music of nature upon the instrument of man's protection; the Wall of Insomnia, bolstered by the strength of our mighty King Regis, a god among men."
A lightning bolt would fork across the sky, sending rainbows knifing through the shield, and the crowd would cry out in delight, followed by sighs of contentment, their romantic spirit satisfied for the moment. And for the rest of the night, a sense of wonder would play through their senses as they dispersed to roam the immense, glittering city.
The loud roar of the storms penetrated even the deepest heart of the city, and in the silent, stately Citadel of the King a small figure was awake.
And they did not like the colorful storm.
The figure slunk from pillar to pillar, blending into the shadows and avoiding the lit halls with a precision only a person with exact knowledge of the place could possess. Rain beat against the courtyard stone loud enough to be heard indoors, and as the figure approach the halls opening out into the garden the noise grew louder. The earthy, wild smell of rain washed through the boy's senses as he slowed down by an exit to the outside. Cool wind wafted past the figure, and he shivered lightly and hugged himself, peering out.
The occasional bolt of lightning lit up the swaying garden, and as the child's eyes grew accustomed to the outdoor lighting he trudged closer to a nearby pillar, feeling security at a surface close by to lean against. Even at this late hour the stone was warm against his shoulder, the rock still containing warmth from Lucis's strong sun.
The boy swallowed as the wind began to pick up. The pounding rain, as loud as it was, began to grow stronger.
Noctis, for that was the young one's name, breathed in deeply, in and out, eyes fixed on the garden, fists clenched. The way the wind hissed through the countless leaves sent goosebumps pouring down his back. The youth's eyes darted around, checking every dark crevice close to him before returning his attention to the outdoors, and finally up to the sky. Though the grey sheet of water cascading down from the heavens hid most the detailing of the shield, he could still see the faint, burning colors the rain produced near the shield's permeable surface.
An image rose up in Noctis's mind as he stared up at the faint lights. If he squinted hard enough, the colors bled together in a warm, fiery dance. The towering tree blocking some of the view became a silhouette, tall, tall, dark and growing —
The wind whipped through his dark hair, spitting icy spray into his eyes. The boy gasped at the unexpected sensation, stumbling backwards. At that moment, a bolt of lightning flashed with such strength that everything seemed to pause and hold its breath.
CRACK.
The massive tree in front of the youth splintered, flaming bark and slivers of wood soaring through the sky.
The boy staggered and fell down hard on the floor. The following explosion of thunder was deafening. Wooden shrapnel littered the ground in front the opening to the garden. Noctis flung his hands over his face, scooting backwards behind the shelter of his pillar.
The air almost seemed to hum, and Noctis felt his hair standing on end. He drew in breath desperately, trying to calm his racing heart. The wind and rain screamed on as loudly as ever, their noise unmindful to the youth trembling in the shadows of the Citadel.
Noctis struggled to stand, his expression terrified but hesitant. He looked over his shoulder at the dark hall of his home, lurking silently behind him. The gloom seemed to approach him, menacing. He looked back outside at the storm.
Noise from behind.
Noctis swung around, pressing back against the pillar and holding deathly still. His senses strained to catch the sound again.
It was slithering.
Coming towards him from the dark.
A whimper forced its way from Noctis's throat. His every instinct cried out for him to escape, but animal paranoia told him that it would chase if he ran. So he remained frozen.
Something else could be heard with the sliding. A sort of sharp clipping…
Footsteps.
Noctis felt weak chills break out over his arms as he peered into the dark.
It was a person; he could see that now. They began to emerge from the dark into the flurrying light of the storm. They clutched a shape in their arms, head bent against the wind.
Noctis released a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, and it came out as a gasp.
The figure halted, and looked down at him crouched against the pillar.
"Who's there?" came the sharp question.
Relief washed over Noctis, and he slumped to the ground.
"Ignis?" he whispered.
The figure immediately approached, and Noctis now saw the glasses perched on the older boy's sharp nose, and the prying eyes peering through at him sternly.
Though the appearance of the spying assistant would normally aggravate Noctis, at this moment it was a welcome reprieve from the darkness and rain on his own.
Until Ignis crouched down in front of him and snapped, "Highness! What are you doing out in weather such as this in the middle of the night? Wait till your father hears of this!"
Noctis's mouth dropped open at the harsh rebuke. Heat flooded his cheeks, and his dark eyes glittered.
Ignis waited for a response, but as none was forthcoming he pushed his glasses higher up onto his nose and stood. "Will you come, highness," he said in a manner that was definitely not a question, "It's getting worse."
Noctis didn't move.
"Highness," Ignis warned.
Noctis scowled fiercely and pushed himself up, ignoring the older boy's offered hand. Rigidly he walked past, staring straight ahead as Ignis fell in step beside him. Absentmindedly Noctis realized the slithering sound was Ignis's jacket, and his mood worsened.
"Why are you not asleep?" Ignis asked after a while, eyeing Noctis in a sideways manner. When he received no answer Ignis looked back ahead. "Is his highness having bad dreams again?"
Noctis bristled.
Ignis noticed, and after a moment his manner noticeably softened.
"You do know your nurse's lodgings are only a few doors down?" Ignis reminded him curiously.
Noctis was silent, and then shrugged, still looking down.
Ignis considered him as they both continued to walk towards the Royal Lodgings higher in the Citadel. Rain still poured down in torrents outside, and the sound echoed even as they walked further into the building.
"Why were you outside near the gardens?" Ignis finally asked. "It could be dangerous there at night."
Silence.
Ignis's eyes narrowed at the prince's continued quiet. "If you are starting to sleepwalk," he began, aggravated, "I will have to inform his Kingship."
"I'm not sleepwalking," Noctis gritted.
"Then if you are experiencing disquiet in any other manner, I will have to bring it up with the nurse," Ignis went on mercilessly. "We cannot have you wandering around at night, sleepwalking or not."
"I don't do this all the time!" Noctis halted, clenching his fists.
"Then what, were you meeting with someone tonight?" Ignis pressed, pausing also.
"No, it's not like that! I just don't like my room when it rains," Noctis said angrily. "It sounds… the wind, it sounds like – like slithering, or… or like a snake, and I…" the younger boy faltered for a moment, "I… I can't hear if something's coming."
Ignis blinked, understanding flashing through his intelligent young eyes. "Noctis, his Kingship destroyed the marilith," he said quietly. "It isn't coming back."
Noctis ducked his head, wishing vehemently that he hadn't said anything to the older boy. "Yeah, there could be more out there," Noctis muttered.
"Well, you picked the one place in the palace they would probably inhabit to wander about in," Ignis rejoined mildly, turning to continue their journey. When he failed to hear Noctis's steps beside him he paused, turning halfway. Noctis stood where he had stopped, his gaze distressed, eyes darting between Ignis and the dark hallway beyond him. Ignis noticed the young prince was barefooted and had no other shield against the cold except his dark sleep clothes.
"Why doesn't your highness request another room?" Ignis inquired patiently, settling his binder more comfortably in his arms. He watched the hesitation dart across Noctis's face. "It is understandable if his highness needs a more soothing atmosphere," Ignis guessed. "There would be no reason for his Kingship to be displeased about moving you."
"I can't, it's my room," Noctis said simply.
Ignis raised his eyebrows. Sometimes he really couldn't follow the younger boy's train of thought. "Do you have some attachment to it?"
Noctis shifted uncomfortably.
Ignis struggled to remember any details of the prince's room. He had only been there once or twice before; his duties at this time were concentrated around education far more than spending time with the prince. There was one thing, however, the nurse had mentioned to him offhandedly concerning the murals of that particular room.
"Your… mother painted your chamber herself, did she not?" Ignis probed.
Noctis didn't answer, but his stare saddened.
Ignis sighed, and pushed his glasses up higher on his nose tiredly. "We will go find your nurse, and discuss this in the morning at a more reasonable hour," Ignis decided, beginning to turn once again to continue on the way.
"Lunafreya said there's a flower," Noctis burst out suddenly, causing Ignis to pause in surprise. The prince wrung his hands together, not meeting the older boy's eyes. "She said it helps heal green-eye and blisters, and it also keeps snakes away."
Noctis once again paused, and Ignis considered him for several seconds. "And you think there may have been some in the garden?" Ignis asked, attempting to keep a scathing edge out of his voice.
Noctis glared at him now. "Luna said that in Lucis it only blooms at night when it's raining," he retorted.
A thousand questions rose up in Ignis's mind, mostly consisting of why could the prince not have asked someone to retrieve this blossom in a reasonable manner. Another was whether the young soon-to-be Oracle, whom the prince had visited maybe eight months ago before Tenebrae was attacked, had only done this as a soothing mind trick or whether this plant had actual properties. He had certainly never heard of this type of flower that bloomed only at night, and in the rain at that. Ignis drummed his gloved fingers against the side of his binder absentmindedly, searching his memory for something with properties like that of the flower.
"What was this plant called?" he asked slowly.
Noctis studied him again, and with some weary dread Ignis caught the sudden hopeful glint in his eyes.
"Sylleblossoms," Noctis answered.
The name clicked, and Ignis exhaled, somewhat relieved. "Those aren't native here, Noctis," he said, trying to remember what he could about the foliage of Tenebrae. "They don't do well in our environment." Though he certainly didn't remember them blooming only at night in the rain.
Noctis deflated, looking confused. "Then why did she say they were here?" he asked despondently.
"They used to bloom here when her Highness was alive," Ignis recalled, "but when they became too hard to maintain their defensive properties were synthesized using other plants."
Noctis, focused on the part about his mother, perked up at the last part of Ignis's sentence. "There's something else like them?"
Ignis froze, and made a mental note to not ramble on when he was too tired to know when to stop.
"There is something equatable, yes," Ignis replied cautiously.
"Do we have it in our kitchens?" Noctis asked, now watching Ignis like a hawk.
Ignis's eyes narrowed at that. How did the prince know about his preferred pastime? When he had mentioned it offhand in a meeting he hadn't realized the silent prince had been listening.
"Yes," he responded delicately.
"Can you make it?"
"Certainly not tonight" was on the tip of Ignis's tongue, but he bit back the hasty response. Noctis was getting a gleam in his eyes that he did not like at all. It was the one he recognized when the prince refused to eat certain things on his plate and would not be convinced to change his mind.
"Can this not wait till the morning," Ignis ground out.
"Lunafreya also said it's supposed to help with sleeping," Noctis pointed out, rather smugly.
Ignis shut his eyes, letting himself breath slowly. He would have to rethink the initial attributes of unawareness he had assigned to the prince before him. Noctis may be quiet, but that did not mean he didn't know exactly what was going on. In this situation, it was Ignis's word against Lunafreya's; Noctis's word, more correctly, but the Tenebrae royalty wasn't exactly there to correct the prince's statement.
"We are not going anywhere until you put shoes and something warm on," Ignis finally stated harshly.
Happily, Noctis skipped past Ignis to the hallway leading to his room, and Ignis followed, silently cursing his lack of maneuvering in this arrangement.
When they arrived to the prince's room Ignis paused in the doorway, observing the walls quietly as Noctis gathered his necessary items. Now that he studied them, the stylistic mannerisms of the paintings were different than the ones found in the rest of the Citadel. These paintings were warmer and filled with growing things rather than the majestic paintings of kings that curled around the rest of the palace.
Ignis was left no further time to observe as the prince came pacing out his closet, wrapping his fluffy robe around his skinny frame. Ignis stared at him flatly.
"Are you ready?" he asked with composed politeness.
"Oh, wait!" Noctis spun and ran back into the closet, startling Ignis. He came running back out with another robe, one that would hardly fit Ignis's taller frame.
"Here," Noctis said quickly.
Ignis stared at the article of clothing. "Your highness, I don't need—," he began, but was rudely forced to stop when Noctis tossed the robe to him carelessly and pushed past into the hallway.
Ignis gawked at the offending wrap. Why—?
"Ignis!" came the hiss from outside in the hallway.
With frustration Ignis lurched into the hallway, and exhaled loudly when he saw the prince dashing away into the gloom. He hesitated for a moment at the doorframe, then pursued with the robe still slung over his arm, not knowing where to place it in the room anyway.
When he finally caught up with the prince, Noctis was crouched behind a pillar, peeking around with all the expertise of an assassin.
"Highness," Ignis began, but Noctis whirled and jammed his finger against his lips, glaring at him. "They'll hear you!" he whispered.
Ignis stared at him. "Who will hear me?" he snapped back, though he realized that he was whispering now also.
"The guards," Noctis whispered, looking around the corner again. "I'm not supposed to be up this late again."
"Again?" Ignis echoed darkly, and now his temper was really rising. "You are not supposed to be up this late nonetheless, but now you've made me an accomplice in your misconduct?"
Instead of answering, Noctis dashed from his hiding spot and began to run down the corridor leading to the kitchens.
Ignis almost shouted "guards" right there, but he kept silent and followed, realizing now it was far too late to for him to distance himself from this night escapade. Perhaps there might be a good stealth lesson to come out of this mess for the prince.
"Noctis," he hissed, "Slow down or you will be caught!"
The shadowy figure of the boy actually slowed, and Ignis ran in a crouch until he caught up. He gripped the boy's shoulder and yanked him to the side, out of sight of the hallway.
"Listen to me," he growled, and Noctis stopped struggling, looking at him with wide eyes. He'd never heard Ignis speak in that manner to him.
Ignis noted the reaction, and resisted the urge to use that shock to his advantage. "If we continue," he said in a milder tone, "you will have to listen to me and follow exactly what I say, understood?"
Noctis nodded solemnly. Ignis heaved a breath, and pushed his glasses higher up on his nose as he surveyed the halls.
"The only people who should be walking the halls closest to the kitchen are those cleaning and readying it for tomorrow," he briefed. "The guards will be further out behind the kitchen closer to the gate; they should not bother us. And as it is only," Ignis checked the silver watch on his wrist, "2:49 in the morning, there should not be anyone in there. We will have to move fast, however."
Noctis had begun to bounce up and down on his haunches, and seeing the way he was glancing up and down the hall Ignis doubted whether he had even listened to the last of his dialogue.
"Let us go," Ignis said tiredly, releasing the lively child and standing himself.
They made it past the halls, their footsteps hardly able to be heard in the ambiance caused by the rain still falling outside. The smells of herbs and wine greeted them as they turned into the corridor opening into the kitchen, and Ignis had already located the places the ingredients ought to be in his memory before they paced quietly into the warm kitchen.
Soft light from above the stoves still flickered as the meals nestled in the ovens cooking for the next day released their tantalizing smells. Ignis saw Noctis's head perk up at the aromas.
"Quickly," he prompted the child, and pointed at a shelf Noctis could reach. "Schier turmeric and Aegir root."
Noctis padded over to the pantry, his slippers an odd sound in the mellow kitchen. Ignis turned and quickly grabbed the rest of the ingredients, noting how much was left still on the shelf. They shouldn't miss it just tonight. The thought that they could potentially be viewed as stealing these items sent tightness through Ignis's shoulders.
He placed all the ingredients on a stainless steel countertop, pulled a bowl from beneath the counter and quickly placing what he needed inside. He glanced over to see Noctis walking towards him, two bottled clutched in his hand.
Silently Ignis took the materials and added them, noticing in relief that they were all already ground up and ready to be combined. Quickly he sprinkled water and oil over the contents of the bowl, stirring them until the spices had begun to stick.
Noctis wrinkled his nose at the smell that was starting to drift from the bowl. "That is what it smells like?" he asked doubtfully.
Ignis lifted the bottles Noctis had brought him and handed them back without looking. "It's not going to smell like the sylleblossoms, if that's what you are asking," he responded, gathering his own items to return.
Noctis frowned and also put his bottles back, returning to watch Ignis carefully place the mixture in a jar.
"How does that keep snakes away?" Noctis demanded.
Ignis capped the jar and took the used bowl to the sink. "The turmeric, mostly," he answered distractedly, wedging the bowl next to some soaking pots. "Its medicinal traits and close ties to the ginger family make it desirable for humans, but it's decaying for snakes that have qualities similar to daemons."
Noctis frowned for a moment, deep in thought. "Wait," he asked suddenly, "does that mean it's not going to work on regular sna—"
Voices suddenly sounded down one of the hallways.
Both boys jerked, and Noctis immediately began to hide behind large flour bags. Ignis crossed the room and snatched the prince's arm.
"That will not conceal you!" he hissed, pulling Noctis up. Worriedly Ignis glanced around. The voices were approaching from the hall they had used. The only one left was the one that passed close by the Citadel's gate.
Ignis hesitated only an instant. "Come," he whispered, and both boys ran down the new exit.
Ignis took note of the immediate temperature change as they followed the corridor. The sound of rain began to grow louder too, and Ignis, still gripping Noctis's arm, slowed them down.
"I can't hear much," he muttered. "We need to go slow."
The halls were now brighter as they reached places the guards patrolled. Ignis gritted his teeth, hoping he was remembering correctly where the security cameras were mounted.
A hall opened up on either side, and the pair silently took the left path, recognizing the way back to the Lodgings area.
Noctis began slow down, and Ignis glanced over his shoulder. "We're almost back, highness," he assured, propelling the boy beside him to a quicker pace. Noctis sped up willingly enough.
Only when they reached the hall close to the prince's chamber did Ignis allow them to slow down. Quietly, and rather solemnly, they walked down the corridor, passing the place where they had stopped and argued.
Noctis slowed to almost a standstill and seemed like he was about to say something.
A beam of light swept across them both, the source coming from behind. "Halt!"
Ignis and Noctis froze, and turned as one.
A shape came striding towards them, only the outline seen behind the strong flashlight. "Who's there?" the voice demanded. When the light flashed across Noctis's face, the man paused.
"Highness?" came the question, and the light dimmed to a lower setting. Squinting, Ignis made out enough of the man's features to identify him.
"Ulric," he acknowledged, recognizing the Kingsglaive elite soldier. Nyx Ulric was rising in the ranks rather quickly, and had been on the news as of late.
The young soldier beamed the light over Ignis's face. Ignis grimaced and closed his eyes. "Whenever you are done," he said irritably, and immediately regretted the discourteous tone he had used.
The light switched off, and the soldier's grim face could then be seen in the low light, his body standing at attention in the presence of royalty. "May I ask why you are both up so late?" he said politely enough, but with a soldier efficiency that allowed no flippant answers.
Noctis, eyes on the ground, sent a sideways glance up at Ignis.
"His highness, I believe, was sleepwalking," Ignis replied, his voice as courtly as it should have been before. "I happened upon him going back to my abode, and was escorting him back to his room."
Nyx Ulric processed this for a moment, his weathered gaze wandering back towards the prince. "Are you alright, your highness?" he asked.
Noctis didn't look up, but nodded his head.
Apparently satisfied, Ulric nodded after a sweeping look around the hall. "Make sure his nurse knows he's sleepwalking," he advised Ignis, and gave a short bow towards Noctis. "Highness." He nodded curtly at Ignis, and began to walk back down the hall.
As one, the two boys turned and resumed their walk, neither of them speaking until they reached Noctis's room.
Ignis stopped at the door, watching Noctis enter his room and kick off his slippers. Weariness crept upon the older boy as the adrenaline began to wear off. "If that is all, highness," Ignis stated, too expended to try and add any cynical undertones to his voice, "I will be leaving now." He extended the jar of "snake repellant" outwards.
Noctis turned and observed him for a moment, and to his surprise Ignis saw a shy smile creep over the young prince's features. The boy approached him, and wordlessly Ignis held out the jar of herbs.
Noctis took it, but kept his eyes on Ignis.
"Thank you," he said frankly, hugging the jar close.
Briefly Ignis considered the fact that this jar contained something that pertained to the Lady Lunafreya, and wondered if the anxiety the boy had shown all night wasn't just due to the memory of his near death.
"You're welcome," Ignis replied, and to his surprise, he meant it.
Noctis glanced down, and began to unscrew the lid. Ignis, his curiosity getting the better of him once more, remained in spot until the prince managed to open the jar.
The smell that suddenly flooded the room was strong, but to their surprise the odor wasn't as unpleasant as they remembered. Ignis peered into the jar, and noted that the pale ginger color had darkened to almost a chocolate tint.
"Does it still work?" Noctis asked timidly, holding the jar up to inspect the inside more closely.
"Yes," Ignis replied, leaning back after a last look. "I'd forgotten the oil would tame the mixture slightly. It is not an unpleasant aroma." After a moment of contemplation, he murmured to himself, "I wonder if I could create a new recipe with that."
Noctis, glancing up at him worriedly, pulled the jar closer and padded back into his room. Ignis raised his eyebrows, and couldn't stop the tight smile that pulled at his mouth.
"Well, highness," he began, and then remembered the robe that still lay draped across his arm. He stepped into the room and paced it on a chair, and stepped back out. "I will leave you now."
Noctis placed the jar atop his nightstand, and then sat on the edge of his bed. He looked up at Ignis and nodded. Ignis couldn't remember the last time he had seen the prince's gaze so open and direct. He nodded back, and turned to leave.
"Ignis?"
Despite himself, a shaft of irritation shot through Ignis. He glanced back at the prince, stare deadpan.
But the prince wasn't looking at him. He was wringing his hands (a telling habit he would have to drop, Ignis noted), head down.
"Luna never said this helps people sleep." And Noctis shot a shamefaced look at him.
Ignis blinked, once again startled. And then before he realized what he was doing he rolled his eyes. "Oh, I was quite sure she hadn't," he said, and despite himself a smirk twisted his lips at the guilty expression on Noctis's face. He turned to leave. "Goodnight, Noctis."
"G'night, specs," came the affronted answer from the room. Ignis shut his eyes and simply pushed his glasses higher on his nose as he set out on his way.
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Though it was not his favorite haven by far (mostly because they were very exposed), Ignis had to admit the campsite by the Balouve Mines had a beautiful view. He stood, sipping his coffee thoughtfully as he gazed out over the land. Crickets were beginning to sing in the woods close by, their song loud but blending pleasantly with the evening's gloaming. Warm wind swirled past gently, smelling of oak, wild onion, and garlic.
It was beginning to get dark. Ignis glanced behind.
Their four chocobos were curled around the fire in various poses, most of them with their heads tucked into their feathers, sleeping. Prompto was leaning back against his own bird as he scrolled on his phone. Absentmindedly he stroked his bird's head, which was resting in his lap. His empty bowl lay beside his feet. As awkward as he could be sometimes around the steeds, Ignis knew Prompto had a certain way with the birds; perhaps it was the unbridled affection he never failed to shower upon them.
Noctis, however, was an altogether different sight. He was sound asleep, half his body sprawled out upon his chocobo. The awkward angle he was tilted at was producing a snore that was steadily getting louder.
Ignis tilted his head critically. Now that he really looked at the scene, there were some striking similarities between the way Noctis slept and the way his bird slept. Unlike the other chocobos, his was sprawled out almost as much as he was, neck out, beak wide open. Ignis wondered if it had always slept like that, or whether it was learning that from its rider.
Ignis surveyed them, eyes unfocused. He knew Gladio was making the last perimeter checks of the night. Gladio hadn't eaten, and neither had Noctis. The prince had stumbled off his chocobo, given grudging assistance to camp setup, and had collapsed beside his bird and immediately fallen asleep. Ignis had only just finished the meal, and had decided to let the prince sleep while he had been cooking it. He highly doubted a nap before bed would hinder the prince's sleep that night, so he hadn't stopped him.
After a few more minutes, Ignis began to light the lamps. The sun had set behind the rocks, and the only light left was the steady glow of the Oracle runes traced in the bedrock of their campsite.
"Gladio back yet?" Prompto asked, yawning and stretching out lazily. His bird cheeped grumpily at his movement, settling its head down again like a cat.
"Not yet," Ignis answered, hanging a lamp over the camping stove. "He shouldn't be long, as it's getting dark out."
"You sure I can't grab seconds until he gets back?"
"If you like, you can wake Noctis up, and make your wait a little less."
Prompto looked over dubiously at the man and bird passed out across the fire. "We could just let him sleep."
"But then you'd never get your seconds."
"Alright, alright." Prompto began to move, and halted as his chocobo gave a pitiful chirp. "Aw, it's okay, big guy!" he crooned, scratching the bird around its neck. It purred in response, its eyes lidding over. "I'll be back! Just gotta wake the food line up is all. Don't want your owner to starve."
Prompto gave the chocobo a final scratch and stood amidst its protests. "Oh Nocttttt," he sang, pacing over to the prince. "Wakey-wakey, your loyal subjects are waiting on you to eat."
Neither Noctis or his bird even budged.
Already defeated, Prompto looked over at Ignis, who was watching interestedly beside the stove, cup of Ebony in hand. "See Iggy? Dead to the world."
"How's about you play savior and bring him back to life," Ignis replied, nonchalantly sipping at his drink.
"Ah, actually I don't really go for that role," Prompto said, laughing nervously. "I'm more of a, you know, like a—"
"Damsel in distress?"
"Mechanic!" Prompto shot back, offended. "I produce the goods and keep everything running smoothly, y'know?"
"Then perhaps next time you might help produce the food."
"Aw c'mon, Iggy! The Empire itself could land here and Noctis would sleep right through it. He'd get captured and just complain about it when he woke up."
"Ah, Gladio," Ignis greeted the man as he trudged into the campground, sword on his shoulder. "Everything well?"
"There's some weird noises coming out of those mines up the road," Gladio responded, frowning as he put his sword away. Ignis noticed he placed it so it would be easily accessible. "Other than that, the coast looks clear."
"Weird noises? What kind of weird noises?" Prompto pressed when Gladio didn't say anything else.
"Oh, just some screams."
"This is not something to joke about," Prompto scolded, and Ignis watched with amusement as he also placed his gun belt so that he could reach it fairly quickly. "I have way too much left to live for."
"Yeah, that's cause you've barely done anything you could call living."
"Now wait a minute…!"
Ignis tuned them out as he turned back and ladled out a bowl of the thick stew he had made. Wordlessly he handed it to Gladio, and then he ladled out two more and took up silverware for both.
Taking a stove mitt and balancing both burdens carefully, he made his way over to the sleeping forms near the fire. Crouching down beside them, Ignis settled in, placing both bowls close to the fire. He glanced over his shoulder, the firelight glinting across his glasses as he located his sleeping chocobo. He clucked under his breath twice. His bird twitched, its head coming up sleepily as it blinked in confusion. He clucked again, and with a low cheep the large bird heaved itself over till it was snuggled against its owner, purring affectionately.
Ignis absentmindedly stroked its head, gazing into the fire. After a minute or two he delicately reached out and rotated the bowls, observing the light brown film that was bubbling atop the stew with satisfaction. After another few minutes he pulled both from beside the fire with the mitt and let them cool; he tasted his after a half-minute, face expressionless.
"Noct," he said, moving the other bowl close to the prince's figure.
The man stirred at Ignis's voice, brow immediately coming down in a frown. "Jus… five more…minutes…" he muttered. Ignis waited patiently until the smell of the stew wafted close to Noctis's face.
Once it did, the prince's eyes immediately opened, though he looked around in groggy alarm for a second.
"What's wrong?" he slurred, pulling himself up. His chocobo also woke, and Ignis saw with some curiosity that it woke almost the same way Noctis did; with a sour look in its eyes.
"Supper is ready," Ignis said simply. Noctis stared at him, frowning in concentration, and his eyes drifted to the bowl. It took a moment, but finally he sat up all the way and yawned, still eying the bowl.
With a suspicious sniff, Noctis reached for the spoon, though with a motion Ignis warned him the bowl was still hot. "How'd you make that?" Noctis asked, when he confirmed the identity of the soup with a taste.
"Apparently, the locals at the outpost we passed have a problem with snakes," Ignis answered, watching the Prince's reaction to the flavor. Apparently seeing satisfaction on his face, Ignis proceeded to eat his own. "I was surprised that the store had accesses to those spice selections. I also wasn't aware that the formula ever left the Citadel's Alchemy department."
"A lot of Lucian immigrants were in that department," Noctis responded after a moment. "The formula was probably out here circulating long before we ever got it in the capital."
Ignis nodded, a small smile crossing his face at the prince's knowledgeable insight. "You're probably right."
There was a moment of content silence; the sounds of Gladio and Prompto's loud bickering blended into the background noises of the night.
Noctis thoughtfully finished the stew, and looked down into the bowl. "I still can't believe you made a recipe with this, though."
"It's the only healthy thing you will willingly eat."
"Must be the turmeric."
"Or a certain Lady who led you to this recipe."
Noctis shot a startled glance at Ignis, and quickly looked away. "What? No, I ate this stuff way before that."
"Well, you certainly became much more passionate about it afterwards."
"Whatever."
Ignis chuckled quietly. Noctis rubbed his head uncomfortably. "Uh… so is there any more of this stuff?"
"If Gladio and Prompto left any, then yes."
"Hey!" Noctis said sharply, causing the other two of the party to pause in their back and forth. "You guys left some food, right?"
Gladio and Prompto traded glances. Noctis's eyes narrowed.
"Wellll, you see Noct," Prompto began, edging away, "Gladio pretty much convinced me that this could be our last night on earth, what with the mines nearby and all—"
Noctis lurched to his feet, bowl in hand. "You ate it all, didn't you!" he accused in disbelief.
"Iggy said I could have seconds!"
Noctis stomped over to the stove, and saw the cast iron pot was still full of steaming food. He growled as Gladio and Prompto both started cackling. "I'm gonna kill you guys."
"Hey Noct," Gladio said, smirking. "You're pretty protective over that food, huh."
"Yeah, almost like he's thinking of someone."
"Oh, shut up!"
Ignis watched, feeling a peaceful contentment touch his soul, if only for a moment. If only this hard journey that the prince was forced to walk on would continue to provide these small moments. Astrals forbid, they may end up being the only ones he had.
Ignis felt disquiet enter his soul again at those thoughts. Even as he listened to the companions talk back and forth, he felt suddenly drawn to look up at the cliff towering above them. Was that a man's outline, or was it a trick of the moonlight that was moving shadows tonight? He could have sworn he had caught the glint of yellow eyes.
But Ignis blinked, and it was gone. Uneasily he brought his coffee to his lips, eyes still focused above. They were near the mines, after all. No telling what creatures lurked in an area where the earth met the surface.
But the disquiet followed Ignis to bed, and touched his dreams with darkness.