Lestallum

Ignis used his hand on the railing to guide him back up the stairs. Taking them slowly so as to not miss a step, he reflected on the evening. He was grateful for the free and hot meal, but it reminded him of one of the most valuable things he lost along with his sight: the ability to cook and enjoy the finished product. He still enjoyed the smell and flavors, but being able to see the color and presentation was a piece of the experience he would likely never get back.

The conversation with Aranea over dinner had helped to distract him though. She had even been so kind as to describe to him the visual aspect of the meal – no one had done that for him before. Their conversation had primarily consisted of fighting techniques, local jobs, and Aranea's recent adventure. The content wasn't what Ignis had enjoyed the most; it was the comfortable air with which the exchange took place. As the night had continued, his anxiety had slowly melted away. Others had joined their conversation, especially when discussing recent jobs, and eventually Ignis had excused himself for bed.

He wasn't sure what he would do over the next several days waiting to go back to Hammerhead, but he would find something. Some of the jobs sounded like something he could do, and if Gladio would let him, he would take shifts looking after Iris. Just as he reached the top of the staircase and was about to start feeling doors for his room number, he felt a familiar hand in his. "I thought you were busy swapping stories?"

He felt her shrug. "They will be fine without me. Plus, I wanted to make sure you didn't crawl into the wrong bed."

"Come to walk me home then?" He turned in the direction of her voice.

She chuckled. "I suppose so. Now, which room was it?"

He smiled. "I'm beginning to think I could have found it easier without you." He winced in surprise when she playfully slapped him on the shoulder. "213"

"Right this way, please," she said playfully and pulled him to the right.

Within a few moments they had stopped, so he released Aranea's hand pulled out the key Prompto had given him. Once the door was open, he listened but didn't hear anything. He felt Aranea lean in front of him and then heard a light switch click. He frequently forgot how dependant he used to be on light. In some ways, he was grateful to be forced to contend with his own darkness prior to the perpetual darkness that had fallen over Eos.

"Looks like it's just you, Specs."

"Thank you." It sounded insufficient as soon as it had come out of his mouth, but he didn't know what else to say. He was so very grateful for how the evening had turned out. The help Aranea had provided him hadn't been tangible, but it certainly had deeply affected him in a positive way. He was still searching for an eloquent way to express his thoughts when he felt her take his hand again. Her thumb teased the place between his thumb and pointer finger, scattering his thoughts.

Ignis heard Aranea's breathing rate increase and began to feel her breath on his face. He tensed, wishing once again he could visually survey the situation to how best to react. He kept his face in the direction of where he anticipated hers to be and allowed his lips to part lightly. Ignis didn't want to assume anything, but he also didn't want to miss an opportunity. Her hand that wasn't holding his moved to rest gently on his chest, so he moved his free hand to lightly trace her arm down to where he found her waist.

All remaining thoughts evaporated when her lips met his. Ignis immediately felt all the muscles in his body relax. Instead of feeling nervous, he suddenly felt more confident than he ever had with Aranea. Both of his hands found her face and he leaned down to deepen the kiss. As he leaned down, her hands gripped the back of his neck and pulled him closer still. He sighed lightly at the softness of her lips and the taste of the wine they'd had with their evening meal. Ignis didn't even try to stifle his shiver when her tongue reached between his lips and grazed his front teeth. Suddenly, his balance was temporarily lost as he felt himself being pressed back against the wall; his hands reached back behind him to steady himself and then immediately went back to her. For the first time in a long time, Ignis felt sure of something: this felt right.

Lestallum - Garage

Prompto had hung in the background once they reached the garage, allowing Cindy to get acquainted with what work needed to be done. Once it appeared she was settled, he turned to leave and head for bed.

"Would you hand me that?" he heard Cindy's muffled voice ask. Prompto looked back to see Cindy already under a vehicle and pointing at a tool just out her reach.

Without protest Prompto walked back over to where she pointed and placed the item in her hand. He hesitated before leaving again, unsure if she would want him to put it back. Within a few moments, the tool reappeared. As soon as he removed it from her hand, she pointed at another one and he obliged.

"Thanks! Say, if you don't mind, would ya stick around for a bit? Paw Paw ain't here to help and it would get things fixed a lot faster."

"Sure, Cindy." He wasn't sure what to do in between fetching items, so he just stood with his hands in his pockets, shifting his weight. Before he was about to break the silence with something trivial, Cindy spoke up.

"Joe, the one who runs this here garage, said they have an extra person or two they can send back with us in the mornin'. They will help ensure the safety of the supplies and then drive the vehicle back that Gladio an' them use to get back to the garage in a week."

Prompto let out a sigh of relief. He figured they would manage, but after their recent experience while traveling he wasn't opposed to increased precautions. "Probably a good idea."

After helping with a few more tools, and wondering what to say, he began to feel more comfortable and decided to satisfy his curiosity. "I know you've been doing this your whole life and all, but what is it you like so much about cars?"

Cindy laughed lightly. "You really wanna know?"

"Well, yeah."

"I suppose Paw Paw probably told ya about my parents?"

Prompto froze. He had tried very hard to never bring the subject up. He got the impression from Cid that it wasn't a topic Cindy liked to discuss.

"I'll take that as a yes," she drawled. "Well, once Paw Paw took me in, I would spend the days watchin' him and the nights tryin' to imitate him. The more I did, the more I realized each one had its own personality, strange as that sounds. It became like a game for me; each of 'em was keepin' a secret that once I figured out what it was I could fix 'er back to the way she was."

Prompto was taken aback by the depth hidden under her words. The cars aren't just her job – they're her therapy. Mental pictures of all of the animals he'd cared for over the years floated through his mind. Cindy rolled herself out from under the vehicle and got to work under the hood without making eye contact. Prompto kept his distance and only approached when she requested he bring over and hold the tool box.

"'Scuse my frankness, but you don't seem like the type who were raise by your parents neither."

"You… you're right. I didn't really get to know them. In fact, they weren't really my parents."

"Well, that sounds like an interesting story."

"Maybe another time." Prompto was enjoying getting to know the "real" Cindy, but he was not yet comfortable enough to approach that subject. He tugged at his glove and flexed his fingers.

"Alright, Blondie." She had him set the box next to her on the vehicle, but didn't ask him to leave, so he moved to sit on a nearby stool. For an unknown amount of time he just watched in silence as she worked. He had always been impressed by Cindy's giving heart and passion for her craft. After her honesty though, he found a deeper appreciation growing – a foreign one. His self-awareness was robust enough that he knew himself to be fickle when it came to romantic affections, but he felt his "crush" on Cindy start to turn into something else.

Prompto checked his phone and almost fell off of the stool. He couldn't believe how much time had passed since they had arrived at the garage. "If you are okay, Cindy, I might hit the hay."

"Go right ahead," she said without looking up. Her focus on the task at hand was absolute. "You probably need some shut eye before we leave in the mornin'."

"What about you?" He asked as he got up from where he was sitting.

"I'm fine. Really. I'll see you in the lobby, bright and early."

"Alright, Cindy. Don't work too hard." He used to get annoyed when he would try to talk with her and she wouldn't even look up. Now it felt wrong to get upset about it, and he regretted all the times it had bothered him.

Prompto made his way through the dark streets, passing few people on his way back to the hotel. On his way up the staircase he heard a door softly shut. Surprised to hear someone up at this hour, he hurried his stride in hopes of catching a glimpse of the culprit. At the top, he saw Aranea making her way to the room designated for her and Cindy. Prompto stayed hidden behind the wall until she made it into her room. Once she was inside, he couldn't hide his grin. With the hope Ignis was still up, he hurried into their room.

Ignis was slowly making his way around the room, preparing for bed. Prompto stood the doorway, arms crossed. Before he could get a comment out, Ignis beat him too it.

"Don't you have a long drive in the morning?"

"Don't make this about me, Iggy," he joked. "Finally got to finish what Cindy interrupted?" he asked lightheartedly while he began to prepare for bed himself.

Ingis looked mildly uncomfortable, but smiled. "I won't ask how you acquired that information, but I suppose so, in a way."

"I don't need details," Prompto joked, crawling into bed.

"I wasn't planning on sharing them." Ignis too got into bed, so Prompto turned out the light that was in between their beds. "I trust you enjoyed your evening as well."

Prompto gave a heavy, contented sigh in response.

"I will take that as an affirmative. Sleep well, Prompto."

"You too, Iggy."

Lestallum

After making sure Aranea was settled to take watch over Iris, Gladio went in search of Ignis. Iris was currently asleep but had been wide awake about an hour prior and used that time to share the story she had promised. Gladio wasn't sure what to think of it, but he wanted Ignis to hear it. He would have liked Prompto to be present too, but his group had left a few hours prior.

Gladio unlocked the door to his room and found Ignis inside, tidying up. Ignis looked in his direction, likely trying to judge who it was. ""Morning, Iggy."

"Good morning, Gladio," he said as he went back to making the bed.

"Iris regained consciousness last night." Ignis paused and turned to face Gladio's direction. He didn't verbally respond, so Gladio pressed on, "She's got quite a story about the time she was out."

"Is that so?"

"I'd like you to hear it. See what you think."

"Can I inquire as to the nature of her 'story'?" Ignis sat down on the freshly made-up bed.

"It has to do with Noctis. And the crystal."

Ignis appeared contemplative, but remained silent. "Anything else I can do to help?"

"You can take a shift watching her. Aranea is with her now. I'm going to go find some food."

Ignis nodded in agreement.

Later that same day

The room was silent but Iris felt the holds of sleep falling away. As she slowly blinked her eyes open, she was surprised to see someone other than Gladio by her side. "Ignis?"

He turned his head from the ceiling to face her and smiled lightly.

"You're awake?" Per her foggy memory, the last thing she remembered about Ignis was that he was in a state similar to her own.

"It appears you are, too."

She smiled. It was good to be back with her friends, but she also missed where she had been. The thought suddenly hit her: Ignis, of all people, will believe you. "Ignis! He's alive!" she blurted.

Ignis' facial expression didn't change, but he leaned in closer. She braced herself for protests similar to Gladio's, but he said nothing.

"I had a dream, or vision, or something," she said continuing. "I saw the crystal, and Noctis was in it. They were sharing power, or something. It reassured me that the True King would come back and purge the darkness when the time was right."

Ignis suddenly grabbed his forehead. After a moments, he acted as if nothing had happened.

"Are you okay?"

"Just fine. Anything further?"

"Not much. Just reassuring me that it would be okay and urging me to make preparations." Her joy began to fade as she shared the part she dreaded. "For the light to purge the darkness, he will have to be… Noctis will be a… sacrifice."

Ignis rested his head in his hands..

"I'm sorry, Ignis. It didn't seem like there was another way and Noctis seems to be okay with it." The silence lingered and neither moved to break it. Iris contemplated telling him the rest, but since it didn't involve Noctis she decided not to.

Ignis reached for and found her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you, Iris. Now, you get some rest."