Chapter 14

Running Out of Time

Prompto was back. Normally this would bring a smile to Ignis's face, but the spirited gunslinger was curious as to where a certain General was and why he had yet to replace his phone. The Advisor didn't know how to tell the blonde what Gladio had done. They had been harsh with Prompto about his attempt to "see Noctis again". And rightfully so. Ignis had no regrets with how the after math of that situation was handled. However, it made Gladiolus a hypocrite. There was nothing more Ignis wanted to do then defend his friend, except when he was making abysmal decisions that led to life threatening occurrences such as where he was now.

"Iiiiiiggggggy." Prompto whined.

"You are a man of thirty. Aren't you past these childish displays?"

The blonde crossed his arms with a pout. "I'm not completely stupid Ignis. I know your hiding something. Where is Gladio?"

"Currently unavailable."

"Is he on a dangerous mission or something?"

"You could say that."

"You are the one that just said I'm an adult now. I can handle it. Where. Is. Gladio?"

Ignis sighed; he could hear the frustration and concern in Prompto's tone. "Very well. Follow me."

The gunslinger was uncharacteristically silent as they walked the halls. Once they stepped into Gladio's room he heard frantic footsteps rush toward the bed.

"Gladio? Glads! Gladiolus!" There was a pause as Ignis joined him by the bed. "Ignis! He's still breathing, so what's wrong? What happened?"

He told him what he knew.

"Noct! On your left!"

"Right."

They were in the midst of daemons once again. This was whole nearly everyday was spent lately. Noctis with his trusted Engine Blade, Gladio with his Genji Blade, and Luna was keeping up just as well with her trident. Today was turning out to be particularly nasty. The swarms of daemons had appeared without warning and they had been relentless in their attacks for several hours now.

The only real relief that they had among this was that creatures had no concept of working together so it wasn't too difficult to pick them off one at a time. By the dwindling of the numbers it seemed that they had stopped coming as well. Just a handful of small fry and two Red Giants remained. Noctis and Gladio each took one of the giants while Luna made her way through smaller daemons. It was a system that had been working well for them.

Until today.

The Red Giant Noctis had been working on was nearly finished; he could tell that it was staggering more than it had been. Just a few more well placed hits… and then he heard Luna cried out.

Turning he saw a coeurl turned daemon standing over her.

"Luna!"

Warping toward the beast he sliced its head right off as it disintegrated into nothing. "Gladio!"

"Covered!" The Shield grunted, already standing behind him to watch his back.

"Noct, I'm fine. It just surprised me." Luna coughed sitting up.

"Luna you're bleeding." He gritted his teeth trying to suppress the panic rising in his chest at the all too familiar sight of crimson blooming on her white dress. He didn't have time for that.

She grabbed his hand. "I'm fine."

"We're getting you to the Citadel now."

Gladio grunted an agreement.

Carefully lifting her in his arms despite her protests Noctis watched as Gladio took down the last of the Red Giants then began to hurry toward the Citadel. The trip wasn't that long, but it felt like ages. Gladio waited outside the bedroom door as Noctis laid her on the bed. She had insisted she was fine, but had passed out on the way there.

"Luna…" He muttered carefully peeling away the torn bits of her dress around her hip and stomach.

"Anything I can get Noct?" Gladio asked quietly from the doorway.

"No. I got a potion here…" He made sure the contents spilled directly onto the gaping wound.

She had been right, nothing vital had been damaged and the potion would heal up the torn skin. But she had lost a lot of blood, which is probably why she was unconscious now.

"Iggy would know what to do." Noctis grumbled as he paused, unsure what to do next now that she was out of immediate danger.

"I think cranberry juice helps with that? Or something like that?" Gladio offered.

"Can you go check the kitchen?"

The Shield nodded then left.

As Noctis hovered uselessly around the bed he realized the blood on her dress was drying.

"Drying blood gets all stiff and uncomfortable on clothes." He said out loud, though he wasn't quite sure why. "Lets get you into something clean. And comfortable."

He walked over to her closet but hesitated. He'd never gone through her clothes before, he had no reason to. Growing up, as a prince he was well versed in what was proper – going through a woman's belongings was not. She wouldn't be angry with him though. Surely she would appreciate not waking up with blood all over her. When he still couldn't bring himself to open the closet he went to his own dresser and pulled out one of his many black t-shirts and a pair sweats he sometimes wore to bed.

Once he returned to the bed he realized the other problem he was now facing. Someone needed to put these clothes on her.

While they slept in the same bed they had done little more than that. Luna was adamant about this. He still wasn't sure why, but he was often so worn out from the world that they lived in now draining what little was left of him that he didn't have the energy to really try to push beyond what she had deemed enough. There were honestly more important things that required his attention. If Ignis and his father had ingrained anything into him it was duty before pleasure.

Keeping the daemons from breaching into the other side took up most of his time and energy. Luna supported him in every way she could. That was their relationship.

But now she needed him to help her. He could do this. He wouldn't touch her undergarments, and that was no different then the women he and Prompto had seen on the beach at Galdin Quay.

Careful not to get her hair tangled in it, he pulled down the zipper and eased the straps off her shoulders to her waist. Using a damp towel from the restroom he cleaned off the remaining blood before pulling the t-shirt on her. While the dress's skirt still was covering her he slipped on the sweat pants before pulling the dress off. Stepping back he looked her over and decided he did a decent job.

"That was the most awkward thing I have ever seen in my life." Gladio said from behind him.

Jumping slightly at the suddenness of his presence Noctis turned on his Shield. "How long were you watching?"

"I didn't see anything, calm down." He shoved a glass of red juice into his hands.

Noctis glared at him for a moment more before sighing and setting the glass on her bedside table.

"Is she ok?" Gladio looked down at the slender woman as Noctis tucked her under the covers.

She seemed so fragile. When he had seen the Oracle before she had been a strong woman. There was no doubt in his mind that she was a worthy opponent. When he had first arrived her she had seemed tired, but still strong. The longer he remained though he had watched her slowly decline. A little thinner, a little paler, eyes more tired. But she still smiled at Noctis like he was the sun. Her determination was still clear in her voice. What about this world was draining her?

Gladio glanced at Noct. There was no way this had escaped his notice. Did he know why? Did he have a way to save her?

"She'll be fine." Noctis nodded. "Just needs some rest."

"Good. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me." Gladio grunted before leaving.

Noctis sat beside her on the bed carefully undoing her intricate hairstyle. Why did she even bother with these tiny braids? Because they looked nice. Even though it was just the two of them in this hell of theirs, she still got up everyday and tried to look her best. Which of course she managed every day. The fact that she was steadily looking more faded as each day passed had not missed his attention. They were running out of time.

"Why Luna?" He gingerly pushed her soft blonde locks to one side of her pillow. "Why did you choose this? Over there you wouldn't have to suffer anymore. I know you understand that." He watched her peaceful expression as she slept. "Over there you could see Ravus again."

Luna was the most intelligent person he knew.

Well, she and Ignis were likely tied. Possibly.

The point was, he knew that she knew of way out. A way back to where she belonged. The fact that she hadn't brought it up meant that he couldn't follow her. There was no way he could leave his position here.

"Why are you so stubborn?" He sighed.

Prompto wanted to punch Gladio. And since the dumb bastard was stuck in some sort of coma and couldn't fight back, he could probably actually land a hit this time.

Ignis had explained what he knew before excusing himself. The Advisor was a busy man.

"Gladio you idiotic jerk." Prompto grumbled kicking half-heartedly at the bed.

Now he was curious. Did Gladio find a way to see Noctis? If the Shield woke up was this something that Prompto could try later? If it was a dream state… was it something Ignis could try and actually go somewhere and see Noctis?

The Advisor would likely shoot down the idea as ludicrous and claim he was too busy for such things. But if there was a chance that he could see again, even in a dream, wasn't it worth it?

If they had discovered a way to see Noctis, shouldn't they take advantage of it?

Ignis had forbidden him from contacting the person who had supplied Gladiolus with the mixture that had invoked this coma.

Prompto wasn't that stupid. They didn't even know if it worked. For all they really knew, Gladio was somehow dead, but his body was still alive. They didn't know where his soul was.

It could be gone…

It could be with Noctis.

It could be hovering about this freaking room.

Prompto stood up so suddenly he knocked the chair over as he began to pace the room.

This was so frustrating! Why couldn't things just go their way for once? Why couldn't something in their lives be easy? Why –

A groan came from Gladio.

Prompto spun away from the window he had paused at and dashed to his friend's bedside.

"Glads?"

"Ugn. Prompto?" He rasped, his eyes blearily blinking seeming unable to focus.

"You damn idiot!" Prompto snapped punching Gladio's shoulder.

From the mild grunt he received the blonde suspected he injured his hand more than he hurt the Shield.

"Water?" His voice sounded dry.

"Yeah hold on." Prompto muttered reaching into his backpack and pulling out a bottle.

Slowly Gladio pulled himself into a sitting position leaning heavily back against the headboard. With a grateful nod he began to take sips from the bottle like he knew he was supposed to, instead of chugging it like he wanted to.

"So?" Prompto urged. "Did it work?"

Gladio debated whether or not he should tell the energetic blonde. But one look into those pleading eyes and he knew he couldn't lie. Not about this. "Yeah Prom. It worked."

Prompto cheered. "Wait till we tell Specks! He'll be so excited!"

Wincing at the mention of their friend Gladio shook his head. "Uh, lets wait till I have feeling in my limbs again."

"I can go get him." Prompto offered.

"The problem isn't getting to him." Gladio muttered. "It's running from his daggers once he realizes I'm conscious."

Big thanks to all of you who have been following this story! And a bigger thanks to all of you who have reviewed! With life getting in the way it is hard to keep up with certain stories. This one is important to me, and I only want my best work going into it. I apologize for the long wait between chapters! And thanks again!

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