They all look out for him, especially Prompto and Ravus. It seems one of them is never far from his side. They guide him out of the cold, back toward the warmer- if not necessarily brighter- climes of Hammerhead.
Luna drives with Prompto navigating. The back seat is a little crowded, wedged as he is between Ravus and Gladio. Ignis says nothing. Driving without the wheel beneath his hands is disorienting to say the extreme least. However, it's fascinating to watch the ghosts of trees and telephone poles flash past. The objects are not moving, but he is. He can see the wipers whip back and forth, as well as the patter and splash of the rain as it begins to fall. Luna's ponytail is briefly visible here and there as she watches the road, as is the back of Prompto's head. If it's moving, he can see it. Otherwise, despite being hemmed in tightly by Ravus and Gladio, Ignis feels alone, lost in a parallel universe in which he is the only inhabitant.
When they stop, someone reaches and tucks his free hand under their elbow. It isn't Gladio's wild grab, Prompto's hesitant touch, or Luna's delicate fingers. Also, it's his left arm they take.
"I'm fine, your Highness," Ignis says, caught between embarrassed and grateful. On one hand, it's a blow to his pride. On the other, blundering into oncoming traffic would no doubt incur far worse injuries. Ravus ignores his protests and instead cautions him of a broken bit of asphalt just ahead, leading him wide of the hindrance.
The walking stick that Noctis gave to him feels like a lifeline, a touchstone, the last thing he has to link him to the person to which he was meant to devote his own life. Ignis feels adrift, lost, and not just because he can no longer see where he's going. Fingers clutching the brass handle, he sweeps the cane in front of him. The pavement is indeed broken and uneven.
"Well howdy!" A familiar voice calls. "Jeepers! Ya'll look like ya took a long walk off a short cliff."
That's Cindy. Her assessment is fair, Ignis thinks. There is a significant and weighty pause. He can only assume she's taken a headcount and come up one short. Also, she's not seen Ignis since before Altissia. She whispers a word that cannot contain more than four letters.
"C'mon in," she says and Ignis feels her hand on his other arm. "I'll tell Paw-Paw you're here."
Cid graciously books them a caravan at a reduced rate. They've been traveling rough, and Ignis is certain he's not the only one glad of a hot shower and a soft bed. Rather than attempt to cook, they splurge and eat at the diner. Oddly enough, the one thing they have plenty of right now is money. That won't last. Ignis has been keeping a mental tally of what they've got, and their stores are pathetically low right now. They'll need curatives, lots of them. It wouldn't hurt to have their weapons serviced, and everyone's clothes must be in a dreadful state.
"Burger at 3, fries at 9, ketchup and pickle at noon," Prompto mumbles to him as they squeeze into a booth to eat. At least diner food doesn't require three forks and a selection of wines. There is a certain level of expectation that condiments will be spilled. The Crow's Nest serves their burgers wrapped in a little waxed paper pocket, and Ignis has never been more grateful for it. Everyone is very quiet as they eat. They're all tired and hungry. No one has made much of an attempt to banter since... Ignis' appetite deserts him and he puts the half-eaten burger down.
"Finished?" Ravus inquires.
"I'm afraid I'm not very hungry, your Highness."
"In that case, would you care to accompany me?" Ravus asks before the others can launch into cajoling Ignis to eat more. "I need to see a man about an arm."
There is stunned silence as Ravus and Ignis rise and exit the diner. Ignis ignores it and follows Ravus out the door and over to the garage.
"Excuse me?" Ravus asks.
"S'up, your Highness?" Cindy replies. "What can I do ya for?"
"Would you know the name of someone who specializes in prosthetics?"
"Someone who ain't attached to a hospital, I reckon?"
Hospitals mean Imperials. "It would be preferable, yes."
There is a long pause as Cindy considers. "Well, there's a feller out Caem way. Most a' his clients are Hunters. Ya'll probably drove past 'em on your way here."
"Do you know if he'd be discreet?"
"Honey, he patches up Hunters for a livin'. I think you can trust 'em to keep your name off the front page."
"Very good. Do you have any idea what his fee would be?"
"Ya'll're gonna hafta ask him."
"I see. Thank you."
"Okay," Prompto announces upon entering the caravan. "We got a set of bunk beds, a full bed, and a couch. We callin' dibs or pullin' cards?"
Despite himself, Ignis smiles.
"Princess," there's no mocking in Gladio's voice now, "why don't you and Prompto take the bunk beds."
"I get top bunk!" Prompto calls out. Luna gives a soft giggle.
"Paper-rock-scissors for who gets to share and who gets the couch?" Gladio suggests.
There is a surprisingly awkward pause. For a moment, everyone is perhaps too polite.
"Shoot," Ravus says.
Gladio loses. He'll sleep on the sofa tonight.
Ignis tries to hurry though his shower- there are other people who should have the luxury of hot water- but it's awkward. Actual bathing isn't that difficult, thank the Six, but putting himself back together proves interesting. He's certain his hair is sticking up in all directions, and the buttons of his pajama top are probably done up wrong, but he can't bring himself to care. At least there isn't enough space to lose things in the tiny caravan bathroom.
Upon opening the bathroom door, he can hear Ravus and Luna chatting quietly.
"What's brought this on?" Luna asks.
"It's time I did my fair share," Ravus says. "I should have looked into having my arm replaced long ago."
"Ravus…" her tone is so gentle it hurts. "Are you quite sure?"
"Ignis has done much more with much less. I cannot hold myself to a lesser standard. I've tried and failed. I cannot protect you with but one hand."
"Well, if you're sure."
"I am."
They stop short at Ignis blundering across the carpet. Ravus gets up. It's his turn for the shower. Luna also stands to let Ignis pass. The space between the sofa and the table is narrow.
"Would you like me to…" she trails off as Ignis shakes his head.
"Thank you, My Lady, I do not require anything."
After a moment, her footsteps wander off and vanish with a crush of fabric. He can only assume she's retired to her bunk. There are heavier footsteps. That's Prompto, climbing down and coming over to sit with him. Ignis finds his shoulder and pats it. Prompto places his hand over Ignis'.
"Hangin' in there?" Prompto asks.
Ignis nods. "I'm managing."
"Yeah you are". There's a smile, even pride present in the words. "You know we're here if you need us, right?"
Ignis smiles for him. "Yes of course. I would be lost without all of you."
"S'why you always have me navigate."
That prompts a chuckle. "Indeed."
Prompto vacates when Ravus returns. He was last in line for the shower. Ignis watches as a shadow of someone tall and broad wanders past. Ignis scoots closer to the wall as Ravus sits down. The sliver of light that tells him if it's day or night blinks out as someone cuts the lights.
Later, Ignis surfaces from a blessedly deep and dreamless sleep. Something has alerted him to wakefulness. It takes him a minute to realize that Ravus is no longer next to him, and someone is crying. Crying, and struggling not to be heard. There's the rumble of a male voice; soothing noises, perhaps words. The voice is too low to make out. The sobs are not pitched right for a man. It must be Luna who's crying and Ravus has gotten up to comfort her.
"He isn't dead," Luna sobs. "I know it, but…"
"I know," Ravus says quietly. "I know."
"Ravus, we left him there!"
"Luna, we had to. You know that. We lingered in the Keep for days, in Gralea for weeks. You know as well as I that we could not stay."
"I know..."
"We'll see him again. Noctis must return to restore Light to Eos. You've told me so yourself a hundred times."
She sniffles miserably.
"Your prince will return to you, fear not."
Satisfied that no one is in immediate peril, Ignis decides it's none of his business and focuses on going back to sleep.
After their stay, dinner, and replenishing their stores, their funds are significantly depleted. They'll have to take a hunt or two in order to make ends meet, especially if Ravus is getting...an upgrade.
The hunter post where the 'feller' that Cindy recommended will require them to backtrack a fair bit. It's alright. They can afford the time, and hopefully the new prosthetic. As it turns out, the fee isn't too exorbitant, at least not to one accustomed to crown city prices. It's a lot of money for a Hunter to carry, however. If they pool their resources and take another hunt, they'll have enough.
The procedure is familiar, but in all the worst ways. Ignis can imagine Ravus lying awake and sedated in the modified dentist's chair, just conscious enough to be in pain. Ignis and Gladio are waiting outside. Luna is inside, holding her brother's hand. Prompto is also there to lend his expertise. Ravus' arm, however, is not powered by magitek, but by a tiny sliver of meteor shard.
It's almost comical as Ravus waves them all away. To the Lucians, this is muscle memory. They know what to do, how to deal with this, but Ravus does not, and he doesn't want their help.
"Leave me be," he slurs, annoyed. "M'fine."
It isn't until later, after the anesthesia wears off and the pain sets in, that he changes his mind.
"Ow!" Ravus shouts as Gladio massages his neck and shoulder. "What are you doing?"
"Don't be such a baby," Gladio says mildly. "You're all cramped up. I know this is a foreign concept for you, but try to relax."
Ravus grits his teeth and tries not to grunt in pain.
"He did a nice job," Prompto observes. "Reminds me a little of what… Um. It looks like a hybrid of Insomnian and Niflheim tech."
Only Luna is not afraid to speak Noctis' name. "I'll bet Noctis never cried," she teases gently.
"Cried like a baby every time," Gladio says evenly. "Never screamed, but yeah, he cried."
"Manly tears," Prompto agrees.
Ignis feels himself smile, but it's heavy. Maybe one day they will all smile freely, but for now, it feels like betrayal. Ravus, at least, is whole again.