And without further delay, some Ignis and Aranea alone time… Poor Ignis. Aranea really enjoys tormenting him.

Ignis settled the hood of his uniform over his head, pulling down the protective metal visor to shield the top half of his face. It was somewhat awkward with his spectacles still on, but he'd manage. Any extra defensive advantage was welcome currently.

"So, you got a plan, Grate-face?"

…Really?

"That's a rather extreme case of the pot calling the kettle black, don't you think?" Ignis tightened his grip on his lance as the troops neared.

"The kettle's still black, isn't it?"

Ignis sighed. "I haven't fought alongside you before – that limits the types of plans I am able to formulate – but I suspect the two of us will only be able to prevail by utilizing our greatest strengths."

"…So the plan is?"

"Take the high ground. I'll distract them on the ground."

She smirked at him. "Now we're talking."

"Then let us begin."

The minutes that passed seemed to stretch and blur until the fight felt as though it had been raging long enough to be considered of the legendary battles of old. Enemy after enemy fell at their feet. The battle was no longer confined to the house, but had worked its way out into the once flawless fields of sylleblossoms. The petals in the area were torn and dripping crimson now, leaving the battle zone looking like an actual gushing wound in the face of the Tenebraen hills. And not all of the blood belonged to the troopers.

In a battle of such length, there was only so long Ignis and his ally could remain unscathed. They stood back to back now, both breathing heavily and too exhausted to keep up their usual, more evasive styles.

"Hey, Four-eyes, you wanna turn this thing around, or what?"

Ignis admired that the Commodore was still spirited enough to continue her endless verbal tormenting, but her tone was lacking its teasing edge from before.

"Would that I were able." Ignis threw another dagger, taking out the closest soldier to him. Squinting through his visor and the glare brought on by the just rising sun, he felt dread pool in his gut. Too many. There were just too many. Much more of this and they would fall. "As I see it, we have two options: keep delaying them until they inevitably overrun us–"

Aranea broke away from his side with a war cry, using her lance to knock one trooper's gun out of his hands before piercing his heart. "And option two?"

"We try to take our leave and lose the Imperials that follow in the crowds around the train station– watch out!"

Ignis rolled one way and Aranea jumped the other, both of them narrowly dodging the line of bullets that struck the dirt in their previous positions. The line veered towards Ignis, and Aranea hurled her lance into the man's face. "I like option two!"

Ignis didn't hesitate to summon his lance and threw it to her as another soldier took aim at her. "Aranea!"

She caught the lance and whipped it around so smoothly it was almost as though she'd been waiting for it. "Thanks, Hair Gel."

Ignis weaved past one trooper, slitting his throat as he slid through the blood-slicked flowers to grab Aranea's lance. A flash of armor in the corner of his eye had him driving the weapon through the center of a non-flesh-composed target.

A Magitek Trooper.

Ignis fell back as Aranea dropped out of the air, finishing the MT off. "That's our cue for that plan of yours! MTs won't recognize me." She faced him, tossing his lance back as he returned hers.

He gave her a single nod, summoning his daggers in place of his lance. "Go, I'll cover our tracks and follow."

"Sure thing, but if that's a lie and you're staying behind to die, I will find a way to bring you back and kick your ass. I don't leave my men behind."

"I have no intentions of dying here." Ignis crossed his daggers, finding that tether to yank on once more. "And I'm not 'your man' to begin with."

Aranea laughed as she took off in the direction of the train.

Ignis sent a mental apology to Lunafreya about her beloved sylleblossoms as his daggers ignited.

Okay. So… having Monica around instead of Gladio was weeiirddd. Especially since she was so quiet. Like, she hadn't said a word since they'd gotten on the road ages ago. Well, okay, so they'd only been on the road a few minutes, but the silence made it feel longer. Anyways, it was too dang quiet.

No jokes. No Gladio telling him what to do. No conversation at all.

Prompto let out a long, awkward sigh, reaching for his camera. Might as well get some shots of the scenery then–

The squeal of the tires had just enough time to register in his ears before his head smacked right into the dashboard.

"Ow!" Prompto pressed a hand to his nose. Was that blood? Yep… that was blood. "Dude, whhyyyyy?"

"Highness?" Monica sat forwards in her seat, frowning at Noct. "Are you all right?"

Noct was gripping the steering wheel tightly, shaking his head and blinking.

"…Dude?" Prompto reached over to poke him on the arm, but pulled his hand back when his hand buzzed with magic at the simple contact.

Noct blinked again, eyes flickering from Prompto to Monica. "I'm… fine. I just keep getting this… feeling occasionally."

"Something to do with your magic?" Monica questioned. Ohhh, she must have been able to feel it too.

"Yeah…"

"Should you be driving?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It only happens occasionally."

Prompto lightly touched his nose. "That's not very reassuring, dude."

Noct shot him a dirty look. "You wanna drive? I'll be more careful."

Prompto tilted his chin up, looking down at Noct as he carefully accented his words. "See that you are."

Noct frowned at him for a second, then his eyes widened as he got it and he spluttered out a low laugh.

Monica coughed, clearly trying to cover up a laugh too. Ha. Victory!

"That was surprisingly accurate," she commented.

"Sure thing, Specs." Noct shifted in his seat, looking back to the road. "By the way, I'm so telling him about that when we get to Altissia."

"Don't you dare!"

"Nope. Too late now."

"I will die, man! He will kill me! To death!"

"Not my problem."

Ignis weaved through the people crowding the train station, pulling off his hood and visor. He was thankful that he'd left his jacket undone that morning, and it was easy to shed and drape over one arm like a normal coat as he caught up to Aranea.

"Where's your helmet?" he asked in a hushed tone.

"Tossed it. I have another one."

Now that they were walking together, they both slowed to a more casual pace. Blending in was key if they were going to avoid attention, and their clothes would attract enough of that on their own.

"And your lance?"

"Safe. Don't worry about it."

Fair enough. He wouldn't appreciate her digging into everything he did. And if she was going to be watching his back, he could always lend her his own if the need arose.

They moved into the ticket line, and Ignis resisted the urge to look for their pursuers. They had to act entirely natural.

Ignis looked at Aranea. This was either going to be a much-desired moment of revenge for her unending teasing, or it was going to cause that teasing to increase tenfold. Either way, it was necessary.

Ignis turned his jacket so the blank inside was facing out and hung it over his left arm before placing the same arm gently around Aranea's shoulders. His form and the jacket would mostly cover her dragoon armor from those passing by.

She froze momentarily under the touch before lifting an eyebrow at him. He'd actually managed to catch her off guard for once.

"Just blending in," he said easily, despite how completely and utterly uncomfortable he felt.

She smirked then, leaning closer to him. "Can see I'm going to have to stay on my toes around you more than I originally thought, Hair Gel."

He refrained from rolling his eyes. "You and Ravus are aware I have a name?"

"Yeah, well, you never gave it."

"Neither of you ever asked."

"Touché."

Ignis searched her expression. "Why are you assisting me and the Oracle?"

She broke eye contact with him, glancing around in a way that seemed casual, but he could tell she was searching for any signs of pursuers. "Something not quite right with the Empire lately."

"Only lately?"

"True. Maybe it's time I left."

Ignis tried to picture what it would be like to follow a cause he didn't fully believe in. Tried to picture what it would be like to follow a leader he didn't have absolute faith in. He couldn't. "What about the Empire strikes you as 'not quite right?'"

"The Emperor for starters. A while ago, Ravus too, but now his motives seem pretty straightforward. Then there's that charmer of a Chancellor. Really can't stand that guy."

"Chancellor Izunia?" Ignis noted how the line was moving fairly consistently. At this rate, they'd have their tickets soon. Just a bit longer.

"Yeah. He's a creep. Got that type of demeanor that makes you wonder if he's going to stab you in the back the second you turn it."

"Sounds charming."

Their conversation was cut off by an overly perky, "Enjoy your ride, ma'am!" from the man in the ticket booth to the woman in front of them.

Ignis nearly jumped when he felt Aranea sliding her arm around his back as they moved to the front of the line.

"Two tickets, please," she said casually.

I really think Aranea just enjoys making him uncomfortable. XD

Coming up: we should have one or two more chapters of Iggy and Aranea, and then it's time for the rest of the chocobros to get the spotlight for a while! Woohoo!