Rue shivered, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders. Honey stood, batting at her face and jumping off the couch. The television played at low volume, filling the space, but Rue wasn't paying attention. Her chest was tight and achy, and her breaths grew alarmingly fast if she didn't concentrate on the pace. Everything inside tried to redirect her to the consequences of her actions. I messed up. Her skin prickled with goosebumps and her fingers were ice-cold—numb. Honey padded back toward the couch, rubbing her face along the soft cushions before disappearing again. Rue sighed, clutching the blanket at her chest so it hung like a cape. She's hungry.

She headed to the laundry room and pulled down the container of dry food, listening to its rattle as she walked to the kitchen. Honey chased her, her steps light on her soft paws. Quickly, Rue filled the cat's bowl and set it on the floor across the room, ushering her off the counter. Lost with nothing to do yet again, she leaned back against the smooth counter, watching her pet devour her dinner.

Rue almost settled into a peaceful zone of half-unconsciousness, slouching and hanging her head. The pounding on the door jerked her from the silence. Honey jumped, her fur standing on end. Rue's heart pounded as she stood in stupid confusion; quickly, she got herself together and strode toward the door, dropping her blanket onto the smooth floor. Her heart stopped in her chest.

"What the hell…" she huffed, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

She was overcome with guilt upon seeing his face as he waited for her to answer. I can't do this now… She squared her shoulders and rubbed her face. I have to. Honey scurried to the other room when Rue pulled the door open, greeting Ignis with an empty expression.

"I thought you had a meeting."

"She canceled," Ignis replied, trying to read her.

"That's too bad."

"Rue, I wanted to speak with you—"

"I can't do this right now," Rue interrupted, swinging the door shut. It stopped short and she scowled down at his foot. "Ignis, seriously."

"Yes, seriously," he retorted, shooting her a stern look. "I want to understand—"

"I said I can't do this now."

"… Alright."

For a moment, she thought he'd drop it and leave her alone to wallow in her misery. However, Ignis wasn't one to waste his time, and he certainly wasn't about to let her blame herself for another mistake on the part of her momentary panic. Rue was too alarmed to push back when he shoved the door back and stepped inside. She stumbled backward, paralyzed as muscle memory screamed for her to run. Ignis closed the door behind him calmly, though he felt anything but calm. Rue's eyes were wide, watching his every move.

"Rue, listen to me."

"What are you doing?" she demanded when he came closer. He paused, brows creased.

"I need to understand," he repeated. "Why are you running?"

"I'm not," she answered weakly, heart pounding in her chest. Ignis drew nearer and she stumbled away, tripping over her blanket. "Stop!"

"Stop what?" Ignis snapped, beyond frustrated.

"Get out!"

"Rue—"

"Go!" She pointed a trembling finger at the door, unable to steady her breathing. She could tell Ignis was wrestling with his thoughts, but she wasn't quite sure which ones. Her legs hardly had the chance to move before he'd lunged and grabbed hold of her arms. He saw her urge to run rise before she did. She thrashed like an animal, feeling hot streaks run cold across her face, dripping onto her chest. Ignis held fast.

"Rue!"

"Let me go," she pleaded, staring up at him through bleary eyes. He frowned, his chest aching.

"What are you so afraid of?" he asked earnestly, trying to see past the walls in her eyes. She glanced toward the floor, pained.

"I just… don't want it to end like all the others." She choked on the air, shaking. "I don't want to hate you." Ignis frowned.

"It's been one day since—"

"It's not that," she sniffed, shaking her head. She finally looked back up at him, finally calming down when she realized he wasn't going to throttle her across the house. "I know, it looks stupid and clingy. I know that." She swallowed the lump in her throat, relaxing her hands from the fists they'd become. "I just want to know when it's coming."

"It?"

"When… You're done with me." Her gaze fell once more. "I don't want to think about—"

"Rue, I'm not done with you," Ignis broke in, trying to catch her eye. "I'm not using you. What I said in the Citadel was horrid, but I didn't—"

"I made you angry, it's fine," she muttered, stopping him before he could apologize.

"… Why don't you trust me, then?"

"I do." She rushed to defend herself, snapping her head up to scowl at him. "I do, I just—" Shaking her head, she sighed. "Ignis, I haven't been this close to someone in a very long time. I can't even begin to explain how different this is from me and Eren. You can't fix me like everything else in your life and it's hard…" She let out a short, sarcastic laugh. "I mean, seriously, I murdered the last guy I… let in." Ignis sighed and she allowed a brief smile before reaching up and pinching at his shoulders. "Dude, relax. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I should've been more understanding."

"How could you be?" she countered, cocking her head to the side. "You can't know everything, Ignis."

"I can try."

"Yeah, I guess you could." She forced a smile. "That'd make you considerably less interesting, though."

"You call this interesting?" he countered. She shrugged.

"Maybe. Adds a little flavor to the relationship." She lowered her voice, her heart skipping a beat. "… Is that what this is?"

"Technically, yes."

"Technically, I'm in a relationship with Rayne."

"Yes, you are."

"And so are you."

"Stop," he huffed, quickly catching on to her train of thought. Laughing, she stood on her toes and planted a kiss on his lips.

"… Feeling better?"

"Incredibly."

"Me too."

She kissed him again, pulling away to hug him tightly. She tucked her head under his chin and closed her eyes, trying to ignore the overwhelming guilt that threatened to choke her. Her fingers twisted around the material of his jacket and she squeezed him tighter, trying to memorize the feeling before he slipped away. Terrified, Rue swallowed her fear and spoke quietly.

"Hey, Iggy?"

"What is it?" Ignis tried to pull away to see her face, but she refused to let go. "Rue?"

"I need you to promise me something."

"… What's that?" he asked, filled with dread. Rue paused a mere moment before letting the words flow out.

"I need you to promise me that you'll say when you stop loving me."

Rue winced upon hearing herself speak. She didn't think it would come out like that. The words held a thousand implications, burdens, and assumptions; Ignis couldn't help but weigh them all, his jaw working as his heart thudded against his chest. The sound echoed through Rue's head as she waited, afraid of his answer.

"Rue, why are you thinking about—"

"Please, Iggy. Just promise me."

The advisor took a breath that wasn't meant to shudder through his body as much as it did. Finally, he nodded once, breaking the silence.

"I promise."

"Thank you." She stepped away reluctantly, scrubbing the tears from her cheeks and taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"And I apologize for invading your home," Ignis replied, looking around at the stacks of dishes on the counters and the laundry that piled up in the room in the hallway. Clearing his throat, he bent down and picked up the ragged blanket that laid between them, handing it over. Rue took it with a sheepish smile.

"Sorry, it's a mess."

"Don't return to the apology cycle."

"Okay," she sighed. "You really don't have anywhere to be?" He shook his head. "What happened with Rayne?"

"I told her I had something to address."

"What?" Rue frowned. "You didn't have to cancel just because I was being a—"

"But I did," Ignis cut in, pressing a finger to his glasses. Rue huffed, rolling her eyes, but she couldn't resist the smile that spread across her face.

"Well, let's not waste time, then." She grabbed his wrist and dragging him to the couch, pulling her blanket up to her chin and curling up against his side. "Sorry, I'm too lazy to turn the lights off."

"Rue."

"Right, apology cycle. I'll stop."

She felt his scoff more than she heard it, unable to fight her grin when she felt him kiss the top of her head. Thanks for putting up with me.

"Howdy," Rue greeted, heading into Ignis's office for the third time that day. The advisor spared her a glance before turning back to his computer.

"Did Rayne hire you to bother me?"

"Whatever," she huffed, gesturing for Prompto to follow her into the room. "Gladio wants to know if you plan on holding us up all night."

"I have work to—"

"And Noct said you could leave it," Prompto reminded him, resting his elbow on Rue's shoulder. She rolled her eyes.

"Dude, your pits stink."

"I might've forgotten to take care of that this morning," he shrugged. She frowned.

"Ew?"

"Nah, it's not that bad," he teased, raising his arm higher. Rue scoffed, shoving him away.

"C'mon, Iggy. Let's go," she urged, heading toward his desk. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the wood and pleading with her eyes. Ignis raised an eyebrow, making a point not to look down to where her shirt hung low enough for him to see the floor on the other side. "We're gonna be late."

"… Are you done flashing me?" he muttered. His voice was so quiet that Rue could hardly understand him, but once she did, she grinned.

"Are you done admiring?"

"You don't want to hear the answer."

Ignis stood and straightened his jacket. She scoffed, standing straight. Prompto raised an eyebrow at their murmuring, somehow reminded of Rayne and Gladio. Weird, he thought to himself, shaking his head. It was probably nothing. Whatever Rue said, it got Ignis moving, and that's all that mattered.

Rue shot Ignis a smug smile before turning back to Prompto.

"Ready to go?"

"I've been ready all day," he retorted, grinning. "You guys are slow."

"Hey, I'm not the one who's still working at five on a Friday," Rue defended, crossing her arms.

She didn't miss the look Ignis shot her from the corner of his eye, feeling a boost of excitement from their lack of concealment in front of their friend who, as far as she knew, was far from knowing the truth. To the rest of the world, Rue and Ignis were just close friends drawn together by the forces of fate and the consequences of circumstance. Nothing close to romantic. She rolled her eyes at her own thoughts. Gods, I get cringier every day.

"Ready?" she urged, watching Ignis pull his jacket on. "It's hot outside today, you don't need that."

"I'm not leaving it here," the advisor countered. His tone told them he wasn't going to change his mind, so Rue and Prompto shrugged it off and hurried back into the hall where Rayne and Gladio waited, standing silently and scrolling through their phones.

"Wow, look at this modern couple," Prompto teased, laughing when Rayne shot him a look.

Noctis straightened and headed toward Ignis, grumbling something into the advisor's ear. Rue raised an eyebrow, but no one seemed to notice the exchange. Sighing, Rayne shoved her phone into her pocket and jerked her head toward the corridor leading to the stairs.

"Shall we?"

"Look who grew some manners," Rue teased, though she spoke hesitantly. She hadn't forgotten the scolding she'd received the day before. Rayne rolled her eyes and threw an arm around the glaive's shoulders.

"I can be polite."

"Can you?"

"I did grow up in a fucking castle," Rayne scoffed, motioning to the ceiling above them. Noctis rolled his eyes and shoved his hands into his pockets. Rayne gestured to him next. "See, that one over there? He spent too much time here and lost all the manners he learned as an act of defiance."

"Did not," the king huffed, jumping when Gladio ruffled his hair.

"You definitely did, Princess," the shield chuckled.

"Iggy taught me," Noct retorted.

"And Iggy failed."

"I beg to differ," Ignis sniffed, arching an eyebrow. "It was Noct who failed to realize the importance of my annoying lectures."

"Well, what else is a kid supposed to think when another kid's teaching him?" Noctis fired back. The light dancing in his eyes contrasted his defensive voice.

"You got a point," Gladio grumbled. "You're not as old as you think, Iggy."

"He acts like he's twice his age," Rue laughed, looking at Ignis over her shoulder. "Everything's so serious. Relax for once, huh?"

"Gotta pump him full of expensive wine," Rayne murmured. "That's the secret."

"Can't say I'm surprised," Rue whispered back.

Prompto held the door to the garage open and everyone filed inside. Rue pried herself away from Rayne's side, ready to follow Ignis to his car as she normally did, but Rayne grabbed her arm, raising an eyebrow.

"Noct wants him alone," she said under her breath, watching the king and his advisor cross the garage without a second thought as to where the others were. Rue frowned.

"Why?"

"Who knows?" Rayne grinned, her violet eyes sparkling. "Who cares? You get to hang with the cool kids."

"What is this, middle school?"

"Did you even go to that?" Rayne retorted, catching the keys Gladio tossed over Rue's head. The glaive shot him a look.

"Don't scare me like that."

"Worst that would've happened is a bump to the head," Gladio shrugged.

"It would've hurt. Keys can do some damage," she protested. Rayne mocked Rue in a high-pitched voice to herself, pulling the driver's side door open.

"Hey, Gladio!" Noct called. Prompto huffed when the shield hurried to head to Ignis's car.

"Why do they get to go together?"

"I dunno, the guys wanna talk," Rayne replied, dismissing his whining.

"And I don't count as one of the guys?"

"Not right now, you don't. Get in. Rue, you're in front with me."

"Seriously?!" Prompto cried.

"The girls gotta talk too," Rayne shrugged, starting the car. Rue frowned, closing the door and pulling her seatbelt on.

"What are we talking about?" she asked in a low voice, leaning across the console.

"I dunno, man, whatever you wanna talk about."

Rayne backed out the garage much less gracefully than Ignis, pressing the gas too hard to speed up and the break too hard to slow down. Rue gripped her door handle, lips pressed together. Prompto leaned forward between them to turn the radio up. Startled, Rayne smacked his hand and looked over her shoulder.

"You better put your seatbelt on. I'm not Ignis."

"Fine," Prompto huffed, shooting Rue a grin in the rearview mirror.

"So, how's the cat?" Rayne asked, pulling onto the main road. "Damn, it's busy today."

"It's dinner time on Friday," Prompto pointed out.

"She's fine," Rue answered, raising an eyebrow. Rayne rolled her eyes.

"Look, I need to find something to talk about. I thought you liked your cat way more than you do."

"What, you thought I was one of those pet moms?"

"Hell yeah I did," Rayne laughed. "With the cat sweaters and everything."

"Yeah, no." Rue slumped in her seat, smiling faintly. "She just keeps me company."

"I'm telling you, you need to find someone to love the life out of you," Rayne reminded her, shooting her a stern look out of the corner of her eye. Rue shrugged.

"We'll see."

"We'll see?!" Rayne snapped her head to the right, staring at Rue. "What, does that mean you're seeing somebody?!" Rue wrestled a smile.

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Maybe? Don't be a bitch." Rayne smacked Rue's leg and huffed, falling back in her seat. "Who is it?"

"I won't say."

"It's not Ari, is it?" Rayne asked, crinkling her nose.

"No? What's that look for?"

"I didn't think so. He's just a lonely bastard." Rayne's thumbs tapped the steering wheel to the beat of the song playing, her eyes scanning the road as she thought. "Okay…" She paused, stopping at the light. "It's not Iggy, is it?"

"Uh, no."

"Dammit." Rayne sunk back in her seat. "Give me a hint."

"No."

"You're no fun."

Rayne started forward to turn left, waiting for a lone truck to pass before hitting the gas harder. Before she got far, a smaller car swerved out in front of her, forcing her to slam on her breaks in the middle of the intersection. Enraged, she slammed her palm down on the horn. Tense, Rue took a deep breath to relax.

"Fucking idiot," Rayne muttered. Several cars around them honked, demanding for her to move. "Yeah, yeah." Rolling her eyes, she hit the gas again, mumbling more curses. "I swear, everyone around here drives like an—"

"Think they've killed each other yet?" Noctis muttered, slouching in his seat and scrolling through his phone. Gladio shook his head, resting his arm on the open window and letting the wind blow through his fingers.

"No. Rayne can get her fired up, but she won't push 'er that far."

"What makes you say that?"

"Have you ever seen her blow up at her?" Gladio asked, turning to look back at Noctis. The king shrugged, putting his feet up on the console so he had some legroom. Both men in the front seat were so far back that his knees would be digging into their backs otherwise.

"When she sent Eren to Gralia," Ignis answered, smoothly turning the corner. A few cars ahead, Rayne slammed on the breaks at the stoplight, clearing not paying much attention. He sighed, shaking his head. For someone with a traumatic history in accidents, she certainly was reckless.

"That's the only time I can think of," Gladio agreed. Noctis straightened, pressing his elbows into his knees.

"She went off on you when you had that meltdown."

"Yeah, she did," Gladio sighed, knocking the back of his head on the headrest gently. "I deserved it."

"Hell yeah you did," Noct huffed, trying to catch Ignis's eye in the mirror. "Didn't he, Specs?"

"I'd prefer not to comment on those events, if you don't mind."

"Fine." He looked back at Gladio, confused but accustomed to the advisor's strange urgency for privacy in the oddest of situations. "Why'd she freak out, anyway? I mean, I get the part where she helped Rayne, but I don't get the whole ordeal after that."

"Something must've happened," Gladio shrugged. "She didn't make any sense." He frowned, turning to face Ignis. "And she ran to you."

"Something going on between you two?" Noct pressed, reaching forward to grab Ignis's shoulder. The advisor shook his head, taking a deep breath.

"No. I was the nearest person who wasn't in danger."

"No one was in danger," Gladio grumbled.

"What was the whole panic about, then?"

"I…" Ignis shook his head. "It's not for me to share. Part of her history."

"I think I know what happened. She and Iggy are pretty close. Wanna hear somethin' you don't know?" Gladio grinned back at Noctis and Ignis's stomach sank with dread.

"Gladio, I'd prefer—"

"About Iggy?" Noctis leaned forward. "Course I do."

"Remember when Marks brought all those kids to the Citadel?"

"Hard to forget it."

"Yeah."

"Gladio—"

"Anyway, before that, our friend here decided to make a move on Rue."

"Seriously?" Noctis raised his eyebrows, staring at Ignis, who stared irritably at the car in front of him. "Make a move how?"

"Kissed her," Gladio said, grinning and leaning back in his seat, satisfied. "Look at his face, gettin' all red."

"It is not," Ignis snapped. "And I told you I prefer not to talk about it."

"… Not well-received I'm guessing?" Noctis asked.

"No."

"That's all I know. Anything else happen between you two?" Gladio pressed.

"No."

"Nothing?" Noct asked. Ignis turned to scowl at him. "What? I'm just making sure. Obviously you don't feel the need to tell me these things."

"I didn't—"

"Shit"

"What?"

Gladio didn't have to explain. Rayne's car stood smoking in the center of the intersection, the right side completely crumpled in on itself from the impact of the white truck that sped off down the road. Ignis's heart raced and Noct's face went pale.

"Shit," the king repeated.

Without further hesitation, Ignis pulled around the car in front of him, wedging himself between two vehicles that were already moving and slipping into the parking lot for a plaza, ignoring the loud horns of the annoyed drivers around him. As soon as he was out of the way of traffic, he parked the car, ripped his keys out of the ignition, and ran. Gladio and Noctis hurried after him. The three sprinted down the sidewalk, rushing into traffic recklessly to reach the crushed car. Just as they cross the road, Rayne's door popped open and she stumbled out on shaky legs, falling to the ground in a panicked mess. Physically, she was bruised. Emotionally, she was destroyed, brought back to the accident that beheaded her previous fiancé years before. Gladio was there before Ignis and Noctis.

The advisor hardly noticed, tugging at the passenger side door. It wouldn't budge, dented into place. Prompto's door opened next and the gunman emerged, choking on smoke, but otherwise unharmed. His eyes were wide.

"You gotta get Rue outta there."

"We're trying," Noctis reassured him, watching Ignis struggle with the door. He didn't miss the splatter of blood across the SUV's ceiling, unable to deny the gravity of the situation. Ignis grit his teeth and pulled harder, but to no avail.

"I need Gladio," he demanded sharply, trying to see Rue through the shattered window. Through the smoke, he saw nothing but blood. Her head hung to the left, resting on her shoulder.

"Here," Gladio said, pushing Ignis aside, grabbing the jagged window frame, and bracing his foot against the wall of the car. He pulled once, grimacing. Nothing. Twice. Nothing. Three times.

The door popped open with a snap and Gladio jerked his hands away, glancing down at his shredded palms. Without hesitation, Ignis reached inside and dragged Rue out, laying her out on the pavement and resting her head on his knees. A nasty cut in the back of her head bled freely and her arms and sides were covered in nasty gashes from where the interior has given way to the sharp edges of split metal. Her hair was stringy, soaked.

"Is she okay?" Rayne asked quietly, clinging to both Noctis and Prompto with trembling hands as her shaking legs nearly gave way over and over again. Her face was red and splotchy, streaked with tears. Gladio knelt beside Rue, lifting her clothes to find the damage.

"Iggy, give me your jacket."

"Find something?" the advisor asked, shedding the layer and handing it over. His hands were trembling with adrenaline. Get ahold of yourself.

"Yeah. Nasty cut." Gladio balled up the material and Ignis held it in place, pressing it firmly to her stomach. Gladio sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He was hesitating; it put everyone on edge. "Rayne, you in any condition for—"

"Yes." Rayne stumbled forward before anyone could hold her back, wiping blood from her lip. "I might throw up in the middle. Ignore that." She grabbed Rue's sticky hand and shook her head. "Done this too many times. This bitch is a bad luck charm to herself."

"Just heal her," Ignis snapped. Both Gladio and Rayne looked up at him, surprised by his anger.

"Okay."

Rayne squeezed her eyes shut and Gladio rested his hand on her back, watching as curls of light illuminate Rue's skin, slowly stitching her wounds together. The woman's lips moved in silent prayer, a plea for strength and mercy, but the life in her face very quickly drained, and before she could stop the bleeding in Rue's side, she leaped to her feet, raced to the curb, and collapsed, vomiting. Gladio followed her, knowing full well she was drained enough to faint. Ignis pressed his fingers to Rue's neck, feeling for her pulse. It was there, going strong despite her condition. His shoulders relaxed a touch, but the rest of him remained stern, focused.

"Noct, there's a first aid kit in my trunk."

"On it."

"She's out," Prompto reported with a hiss, watching Rayne's head loll back over Gladio's arm when he pulled her away from the curb.

"I can't say I blame her," Ignis muttered, pushing the matted pieces of hair out of Rue's face. His heart pounded faster the longer he sat there unable to help. "Does anyone have anything else to—"

"This shit again?"

Ignis's head snapped up at the sound of Schrader's voice. No one's expression neared welcoming when the young man approached and crouched at Rue's side. He reached into his pocket quickly; Ignis instinctively pulled Rue away. Noctis looked especially unhappy to see his old commander.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded. Cameron reached out to touch Rue; Gladio kicked his leg.

"Answer him."

"I'm trying to help," Cam snapped, whirling around to scowl at the king. "Is there a problem?"

"We don't need your help," Prompto cut in, finding his bravery.

"Doesn't look that way." Cam pulled a pair of potions from his pockets and raised an eyebrow, waiting impatiently for the go-ahead. Noctis glanced over at Ignis, seeking an answer. Ignis took a deep breath and swallowed his pride. Rue needed help more than he needed his integrity.

"Hurry up."

"Yes, Sir."

Cameron knelt and handed a potion over to the advisor. The two quickly pressed the curatives into Rue's bloody hands, watching the sparks dance across her skin. Ignis lifted his jacket to see the wound in her side stitch itself back together loosely, breathing the slightest of relieved sighed. Quickly, he tugged her soaked shirt back down and looked up at Cameron, giving a curt nod of reluctant thanks. Gladio had a far less grateful reaction. He reached down, took hold of the man's arm, and jerked him up to his feet as if he weighed nothing at all.

"What the hell?" Cam demanded. "I just—"

"Get the hell outta here."

"Seriously?!" Cameron stood, staring at his audience in disbelief. "I saved her life!"

"Beat it," Noctis retorted.

Cameron stood a moment longer before scoffing and turning on his heels. Prompto stood a mere inch in his path and, clearly pissed off by the cold reception, shoved the gunman out of his way. In a flash, Noctis appeared before the soldier and shoved him against the smashed car, pressing his father's sword to his throat. Cam stared down at him, startled.

"Touch him again," Noct snarled, shoving Cameron again. The soldier raised his hands defensively.

"Okay, damn. I'm leaving."

Noctis stepped aside, waiting for Cameron to follow through before letting his weapon dissolve. Gladio heaved a deep breath and looked back down at Rue, holding Rayne over his shoulder.

"What do we do with her?"

"She can stay with me," Ignis volunteered, touching his glasses. The tips of his gloves left bloody fingerprints on his cheek. "That way I can keep an eye on her condition."

"Doesn't she need, like… real help?" Prompto asked meekly. Gladio looked like he agreed.

"I can take of anything else she might need," Ignis reassured them. "The worst of it is over."

"The worst of it happens when she wakes up," Gladio pointed out.

"If anything happens, I will bring her someplace else."

"Will you?"

"I don't want her dead, Gladio."

"Guys, trust him," Noctis butted in, shooting the advisor a look. "He knows what he's doing."

"Okay," Gladio nodded. "If you're sure."

"I am."