If Loqi had thought things had gone chaotic at the base, that had nothing on how things exploded as soon as Ardyn brought them back to Lestallum. Perhaps no one was dying anymore, but the sheer number of bickering voices was giving him a migraine that he was certain would last until next year.

There were questions about why Ardyn had been asked to assist. There were accusations towards Ardyn about him going along on the mission with the intention of shedding blood from the start. There were protests of defense of Ardyn because the men he'd killed had been terrible people. There were demands for the exact details of what had gone down.

Loqi had questions of his own as well, but he didn't voice them, and he only gave the barest minimum of a response when he was asked anything.

He didn't want to speak. He wanted to sleep. He wanted his lackluster bed back in Crestholm. He wanted Fita back. He wanted to not have to tell her husband what had happened.

Sighing, Loqi tuned out as much of the bickering as he could and sank down into one of the meeting room chairs, resting his head on the top of his arm.

Astrals, he was tired.

He could feel Echo and Evan hovering at his sides, but even Evan had been yanked into the argument. Echo was the only one truly focused on Loqi.

Loqi was thankful to him. Maybe it wasn't much, but the grounding press of Echo's hand on his bicep was still nice, especially since Echo was still so clueless in terms of human interaction.

"Really, I don't know what you expected from me!" Ardyn said, not seeming the least bit phased. "These types of situations rarely work out well, and they'd already killed one of your people. I did precisely as was requested and returned all those still alive when I arrived back here safely."

"Lunafreya made it rather clear she wanted a diplomatic solution if possible when she asked you to take me!" Ravus snapped.

"It also seemed quite clear to me that the lives of your dear fellow leaders were held in higher regard than merry band of thugs that took them captive–"

"Silence, all of you!"

Loqi actually flinched at Lunafreya's raised voice.

Everyone obeyed, quiet dropping over the room in an instant.

Loqi brought his head up just enough to take in the scene.

Lunafreya looked very displeased. Ardyn's non-caring expression was suddenly gone.

Lunafreya kept her firm gaze locked on Ardyn as she spoke. "Marshal, I believe the three of you were all drugged when you were taken?"

"That's correct," Cor said, as calm as ever.

"Then I believe a visit to the hospital would be an apt idea for all of you, if the Argentums wouldn't mind seeing you there?"

Ah. She was trying to clear the room for a more private and controlled conversation.

Well, Loqi had no complaints. He didn't want to be part of this drama anyway. Hell, he wouldn't have any protests if the medical personnel wanted to knock him out for some reason.

Cor nodded firmly. "A wise idea." He headed for the door without another word, Prompto on his heels and Dino behind him.

Evan glanced at Loqi.

"Go on," Loqi mumbled, starting to slowly rise from his chair. Echo released his arm once he was fully up. "I'm right behind you."

Evan nodded and gave a small tired smile before heading after Dino.

Loqi took about twice as long to cross the room, hazily trying to remember the way to hospital.

"…You all right, mate?" Petra asked.

Loqi flinched. He hadn't even realized Petra was behind him and Echo. Astrals, he was out of it.

"…No," Loqi said honestly. Usually, he sassed at Petra. Usually they bickered and snipped and never showed weakness around each other, and Fita would shake her head at their attitudes.

But Fita wasn't here. Her body was back in the meeting room, her top half under Amicitia's coat. And Loqi was just… too exhausted to play their usual game.

"…This is about more than Fita, isn't it?"

Loqi stopped in the street. Not because he actually wanted to have this conversation, but because he legitimately didn't remember where to go.

"Cortez…" Loqi had a hard time even getting the name out. "I used to think just like him, only in regards to the Empire instead of Tenebrae. That superiority… That inhuman treatment of those not from my country… The people in Crestholm have every right to hate me. I helped take their homes. I helped make this world."

"Oh, bloody 'ell – you shut up right now with that load of daemon shite." Petra snagged Loqi's shoulder, forcing him to face him. "Listen here – we were all bloody idiots a few years back. You think you were the only one with prejudices? 'Ad my share too. But we've changed. We're not stuck in the past like that murdering bastard. Crestholm exists because of you. You've done everythin' you can, and nobody coulda done betta!"

Loqi smiled faintly, looking down. "…I really don't like having to be given a pep talk by you. Shouldn't you be insulting me?"

Petra scoffed. "Yeh, sure. You're a dumbass for thinkin' this way. That betta?"

Loqi chuckled halfheartedly. "Much."

Petra clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on. Hospital. Dunno about you, but I could use some drugs."

Loqi snorted.


Gladio and the others left could take a hint. Lady Luna didn't need to come up with some other reason to get the rest of them out of the room.

Aranea had just left without a word, and Gladio found himself chasing after her. Looked like he was going to keep doing that.

Damn. He hadn't put this much effort into pursuing his last girlfriend, he realized.

He wasn't at all trying to cover the fact that he was there. Not that it would do any good with her anyway, but he wanted to be open about things. He wanted her to be open about things. Open with him. Here. Not in the field when it all became too much.

And everything was too much. He'd felt the difference in her attacks right before this whole kidnapping thing started. She was on the verge of cracking.

"I am not in the mood, Gladio."

Really on the verge. There was an edge to her voice – an unsteady wavering that definitely wasn't usually there. And she'd actually just called him by his real name. She always used nicknames.

"Not for sparing. Not for talking. Not. In. The. Mood."

"Fine," Gladio called, using his height to his advantage to quickly close some of the distance between them. "Then how about I talk and you give me cues on whether or not I'm right? Because I'm pretty sure I've figured most of it out."

She rolled her eyes.

"You're afraid of being alone, but you have no idea how to be close to someone."

Aranea shot him a startled looked.

Yeah. That was right. He wasn't going to pull his punches any more than she'd pulled hers last time they'd sparred.

"You've been a mercenary your whole life, and Ignis was the first person you'd ever been able to picture any kind of future with."

"Amicitia–"

"And Evan only made the picture clearer. But you both held back because he was an idiot who had no idea how to not put duty first and you were only just learning how to navigate relationships in general when money didn't play a part."

"Amicitia, I swear–"

"And now that you've lost Ignis, you don't know what to do with those emotions, and you don't want to lose Evan too–"

"Shut up, Amicitia!" She shoved him hard, jabbing a finger in his face as his back thudded with the wall of one of the buildings they'd been walking alongside. "You are not my therapist!"

"No, I'm not! I'm your friend!" he shouted back. "And I'm trying to help! Do you really think Evan wants to distance himself from you? He's gravitating to where he feels most welcome, and right now, that's Loqi. So why don't you pull your head out of your ass and remind him that you're still here?"

"Because he's better off with the others!" she snapped, the barest hint of moisture in her eyes. Her shoulders sagged a bit, and she rubbed her forehead. "You're right, Amicitia. I'm not great with relationships. What the hell good would I do him when he's formed his own family?"

Gladio waited a moment, softening his voice as he leaned his head back against the brick behind him. "It doesn't have to be an either or thing. Loqi will be in the hospital a bit before they leave. Talk to Evan now."

Aranea hesitated, dropping her hands to flop at her sides before letting out a rugged sigh. "…I hate you."

Gladio grinned. "I'm sure you do. Now go talk to your kid."