There was a measurable silence on the other end of the line.
"…Scientia. You're more resourceful than I realized."
"And you're more of an arsehole than I realized," Ignis shot back, then bit his lip. Really? Had he just devolved to name calling that easily? Not that the man didn't deserve it, being a traitor to the hearth and home he'd sworn to protect. "Did you honestly believe I'd walk into the Empire's hands without a fight?"
"To be honest, I believed an Imperial agent and three highly qualified mercenaries capable of handling one child."
Ignis scoffed at the mild irritation in the Captain's voice. "So, you consider me a child? I do hope you realize that only adds to the despicableness of your character, as it means you're willing to torture and kill children."
Drautos chuckled. "You've always been a head over everyone else your age, Scientia. The King just couldn't resist giving his brightest new Crownsguard the responsibility you craved so much. You knew the dangers of your job when you took your oath."
"You took an oath as well, Captain. Or did it mean so little to you that you'd forgotten?"
"I've never forgotten my loyalties. They just aren't to the same cause as yours."
Ignis had another retort on the tip of his tongue, but the phone beeped in his ear, letting him know that the call had been ended. Ignis clicked his tongue, retiring the phone to the general dialing screen. That traitor wouldn't be able to run fast enough.
Ignis tapped in Gladio's number, drumming the fingers of his left hand as he waited for him to pick up.
He only had to wait midway through the second ring.
"Amicitia here."
Well, that was awfully formal for Gladio. Then again, Ignis' kidnapping would have put the Citadel on high alert, and Gladio probably had been taking and making calls all night.
Still, even with the unnaturally formal tone, it was good to hear his friend's voice. "It's me, Gladio."
"Ignis? Oh, thank the Six! Where the hell are you?"
"You recall the mall Prompto and Noct frequent?"
"Yeah."
"I'm there now."
"Hold on." Gladio rattled off the address of the mall to someone in the background. "Okay, they're rerouting the Glaives there. What are they gonna be up against?"
"Four hostiles total. Three mercenaries and one Imperial by the name of Loqi. I managed to incapacitate two of the mercenaries when I made my escape, but I cannot guarantee that they'll be unconscious for much longer."
Biggs would likely be out a while due to how hard Ignis had hit him, but he wasn't sure about Wedge. His arms had been shaky and uncooperative because he'd been thinking about–
About the men in the garage. That he had killed.
Ignis closed his eyes.
Breathe.
It had to be done. They'd have brought an end to Lucis if they could have. They were–
"Got it."
Gladio's voice brought him back to the present.
Focus.
Good. The Glaive knew more of what they were up against, but Loqi and Aranea weren't their true concern. Drautos was. Their own leader.
"Gladio, listen to me very carefully. I need you to take what I say next directly to the King. No one else, understand?" It was very possible that Drautos wasn't the only agent the Empire had within Lucis' ranks.
"…Yeah, I got you. What is it–"
Boop. Boop. Boop.
Ignis jerked the phone from his ear, swearing. Of all the bloody time to have a dropped call…
He redialed. It didn't even ring.
"The mobile services for this device have been temporarily discontinued. If you have missed a payment, please see your–"
Ignis swore again, louder. That was no dropped call – Drautos had someone shut off the phone's ability to make calls at all. He'd probably had that ready to go as a precaution before Loqi had even gotten a hand on it.
Ignis threw the phone in the sink, turning on the water. If it was no use to him, he couldn't chance Loqi being able to reconnect it somehow.
He had to get out of here. He couldn't wait for the Glaive. Not when he didn't know if Drautos had others working for him. He needed to get to the Citadel himself.
Dismissing his lance from where it was still barring the way, Ignis shoved out the restroom's door, making his way back to the exit of the mall. Loqi and Highwind were likely still searching for him, but hopefully they wouldn't still be looking in this area.
"Oi!"
Dammit.
Ignis bolted out the door as soon as Biggs' voice reached his ears.
How? A blow that hard should have kept him unconscious for hours. Unless… unless Highwind had thrown a potion on him, which she very well might have.
Ignis threw all his energy into running as he tore across the pavement outside. Him against one man. He was fairly confident he could take Biggs on in a direct fight, but fighting meant more time in the area – more of a chance of Highwind and Loqi hearing the commotion and finding him once more. He couldn't chance that. He had to keep moving.
But could he outrun Biggs? He didn't know the man's usual level of exercise. But he had to try–
Ignis fell into a roll, elbow bashing harshly into the road as he narrowly avoided the squealing blur of silver that had nearly slammed into him. Ignis blinked, mind reeling. His elbow ached from the force of the impact with the asphalt.
A car. He'd nearly been hit by a car. Astrals, his failure to pay attention could have been the end of him right then.
Ignis clutched his elbow as he rose on wobbly legs. He heard a car door open.
"Six, son, are you okay?"
A man – late twenties by the look of him – had gotten out of the passenger's side and was running towards him. A woman – presumably his wife – remained in the driver's seat, but lowered her widow. "Is he hurt?"
There was also a young child in the back seat.
"I'm fine," Ignis dismissed. How far behind him was Biggs?
"You arm looks hurt – here, let me take a look. We should get you to a hospital." The man reached out, but Ignis pulled away.
Ignis looked him directly in the eye. "Sir, I need you to listen to me. I am a member of Prince Noctis' Crownsguard. I have at least three hostiles with Imperial connections pursuing me at the moment, and I need to reach the Citadel. Can you aid me?"
For a second, the man stared at him uncomprehendingly, then, "…Yeah. Get… get in the car, we'll take you."
Ignis heaved out a sigh. "Thank you."
The man put an arm on his shoulder, guiding him around to the backseat door on the passenger side. "Well, I wouldn't be much of a loyal Lucian citizen if I turned you down." He opened the sliding door for Ignis. "Hun?"
The woman nodded. "Citadel. Got it."
The man stepped out of Ignis' way, leaving him room to get in the car. He gave Ignis a grin. "Always have been a fan of King Regis."
Ignis gave a weak chuckle, returning the smile. "After this, I'll do my best to get you a personal meet and greet."
And then red splashed across the lens of his glasses, the fresh scent of blood wafting into his nostrils. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Ignis registered that there had been a gunshot, but all he could hear now was the screaming of the man's wife and child as the body hit the ground.
Ignis blinked, shock stilling him. Thick, warm blood slid down his face, the characteristic iron tang in his mouth as well.
"What the hell did you do?"
Highwind's fierce tone had Ignis snapping his gaze to the source of the shot.
Loqi. He'd just…
"You bloody maniac!" Ignis sank to his knees, frantically searching the man to see where he'd been hit. Too late. It was too late. The shot had been instantly fatal. "He was a civilian!"
Loqi marched forwards, gun still raised and pointed at the woman now. Ignis stepped between them.
No. He'd die before he let this monster murder that woman and her child.
Loqi turned his gun on Ignis, but glared at the woman. "Unless you want your child to become an orphan today, drive. Now!"
The woman jumped, hands shaking so badly that she was barely able to do as he said. Ignis glared at Loqi with all the rage within him as the car sped off.
Had he not been so furious, Ignis likely would have thrown up. Two minutes ago, that family had been living a normal day, and now that woman had just been forced to leave her husband and the father of her child behind before the body was even cold.
With Loqi's gun levelled at his head, there was nothing Ignis could do, but oh how he wanted to tear the man apart with his daggers slice by slice at the moment. The red tint to his vision wasn't just due to the coloring on his glasses.
"You want to pin the blame on me for this?" Loqi stalked even closer, grabbing the back of Ignis' jacket's collar and yanking hard. He kicked the back of Ignis' leg for good measure, forcing him down to his knees. The hand on his collar forced him even further down, making him hover barely a couple inches above the man's body. "This? This is your doing, Scientia. You involved him! Take care to remember that when you next feel the urge to escape so you can protect your dear Lucis! You caused this!"
"Loqi, that is enough!" Highwind's tone was so harsh that Ignis felt Loqi actually flinch. "You don't get to blame him so you can justify the war crime you just committed!"
"Choose your words with care, Highwind!" Loqi hissed.
"Or what? You don't have a phone anymore to rat me out to your man in the Glaive!"
"Well then, I'm fortunate that I thought to inform him ahead of time that you might try to sabotage the mission." Loqi's tone was low and threatening. "Should our objective fail to be reached, you'll find yourself and your men dead – whether it be by the Lucis Glaive or an Imperial firing squad!"
Highwind's tone matched his. "You're dancing around a very dangerous line here, Loqi."
"I'll take my chances."
Ignis' arms were yanked behind him as he was dragged back to his feet.
"Get up! I have no doubt the Glaive will be here any moment. We collect your man and we move."
All Ignis caught of Highwind's face was a fleeting glance, but it was enough. She was furious. Absolutely ready to slit Loqi's throat herself if she could.
And Biggs… Biggs was standing in the background, his expression the very definition of horror.
Trapped. They were all trapped. All under Loqi's thumb. All under Drautos' thumb.
Ignis cast a lingering look at the body on the ground. He would not see this injustice go unpunished. Loqi and Drautos would pay. This was their fault, not his.
But even knowing that, he couldn't shake the guilt clogging his throat. Even though he didn't fire the shot, Ignis should have known better than to involve that family. It was his job to protect Lucians.
But no, he couldn't dwell on this. Dwelling would help nothing and no one. He needed to focus on what lay ahead.
Blood dripped from his face as he was hauled away, and he scrunched his eyes shut.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
He needed to focus…
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
He needed…
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
He…
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Astrals, what had he done?
*munches popcorn while waiting for reactions*