Author's Note: Turns out those furloughs were decreased. So I had to work 6.5 hours instead of the usual eight, but I had no days off, and still had to be there at 8 in the morning. So I didn't get to write (stay up late) after all. However, there was a recent weekend evening in which a particular baseball game went very, very long. So I wrote as we watched that. My husband was rooting for the Dodgers.
Momentis
Part IV: Life in the Dark
A Day for Milk and Cookies
by Philippe de la Matraque
Today was the day. Moving Day. Everyone had the day off (except certain admin and construction staff), but Ignis still got up early anyway. His shadow, Gladio, had no issue with that. He had his own move. From Ignis's floor back to his bunk in the barracks. Ignis was glad he wouldn't be tripping over anything on his floor this morning. He retrieved their breakfast—bread with jam.
"Today's the day," Gladio said, between bites.
"That it is," Ignis agreed.
"You gonna be glad to get rid of me?"
"Absolutely," Ignis told him. Then he got serious. "I do appreciate the intent, though as you see, no one else tried anything nefarious."
"Maybe because I was here," Gladio said. "And maybe not. Still, I get it. You're not used to having us around so much anymore."
"True," Ignis replied. "But I do miss you both when you're not around at all."
Gladio cleaned up after breakfast. "Come on," he said. "I'll walk with you to the gates."
They left the hotel and stepped into an already busy street. There were a lot of 'good mornings' and a pleasant cacophony of voices. Everyone, it seemed, was looking forward to today. Not only were some seven-hundred and thirty people moving into the now open sector, but many more were moving, spreading out into the space those seven hundred and thirty left behind. It was like the whole city had just let out a breath it had been holding as it waited for today.
Gladio made sure he had a clear path all the way to the back gate. Cinta greeted them both as they approached. Ignis could tell the lights were off on the far side of the wall. Cinta always liked a presentation when he could manage it.
Cinta led him to a small box or podium, and Ignis stepped up on it. He turned to face the residents lined up to move into their new apartments. He held up a hand and the crowd quieted.
"I really should have prepared a speech," Ignis began. There were a few polite chuckles. "But that's not what you want today. Today, we'll all get to breathe a little easier. Shall we, Cinta?"
Ignis heard a soft pop-pop-pop behind him, and he imagined the lights were going on one after the other. The gathered residents clapped. Ignis stepped down. He felt a hand reach for his. "Thank you," the owner said he shook Ignis's hand. Others patted him on the arm or shoulder as they passed. One or two kids actually hugged him around the knees. The anger and resentment of the last six months melted away in the laughter and motion of family after family, couple after couple, person after person as they all passed through the gate.
Gena brought up the end the line. "I knew today was going to be a good day!"
"Well, you and Ann put a lot of work into this," Ignis told her. "Work that has paid off well. All according to plan?"
"Everyone has their room assignments and keys. There's milk and cookies waiting in the cafeteria on the ground floor." She hooked her hand into his elbow and turned him toward the gate. "We're invited." Cinta joined them on the other side.
"On that note," Gladio said, "I take my leave. You're in good hands now."
"You mean no one wants to kill me today," Ignis quipped over his shoulder. He heard Gladio laugh.
"Speaking of," Cinta commented, "no more rubble to trip on." "There are still some areas to work on but the paths to the residence and factory are completely clear. We used a lot of that rubble to build the outer walls.
"It wasn't the path that nearly did me in," Ignis told him.
"There's nothing left to impale anyone either," Cinta replied. "Just some nice sidewalks and some steps down toward the door you slammed into."
"I slammed into the wall," Ignis corrected, smirking. "I merely got blood all over the door."
"The wall and door were easy," Cinta answered. "The broom closet though..."
Ignis stopped their forward progress. "You didn't just leave it as is?"
Cinta chuckled. "Got what we could and painted over the rest."
"No one will ever know you nearly died in there," Gena assured him.
They went on, and Ignis realized it was those steps, covered in various brick-a-brack and debris, that he'd tumbled over.
By the time they reached the cafeteria, residents were already filing in. No one had much in the way of possessions any more, so moving house could actually be done rather quickly. Meals were still simple but they were nutritious. Treats like cookies and cakes were rare and left for city-wide celebrations for the most part.
There were cheers again as the three of them entered. Ignis waved then picked up his bag of cookies and cup of milk from the table with little trouble. He let Gena lead him to an empty seat. As they sat down, Ignis asked those around him if they were happy with their new living arrangements.
"They're great!" one young woman said.
"Not luxury apartments or anything," her companion added. "But we have space now. And privacy. I can go to work then look forward to coming home."
"You all did what ya said you'd do," and older man said. "Six months. Just had to patient."
"And we didn't have to turn no one away!" a young boy said.
"Anyone, dear. We didn't turn anyone away," That must have been his mother, Ignis thought. Or his teacher.
"No we didn't," Ignis agreed. "Thank you all for being so patient with us. And thank Cinta for all the renovation work and Gena for organizing the move."
"And the cooks for the cookies!" a little girl to Ignis's right exclaimed.
"Here, here," Ignis said, smiling. He found himself breathing easier, too, relaxing for what seemed the first time since the kidnapping. The world was still dark. Daemons still filled the land beyond the walls and the city's lights. Ardyn was still in Insomnia, and Noctis was still going to die. But he was alive, as were his friends and the residents of Lestallum and her outposts. And now they'd be just a little bit happier and at ease. Today was a very good day.
