Just a little fun one-shot. I've been playing the game so these boys are living in my head for a bit. Love Ignis.
Wiz's voice boomed over the loudspeaker as Ignis, Noct, Gladio and Prompto all lined their chocobos up behind the starting line and readied themselves for the race. Their birds swayed from side to side on their large feet, and Ignis surveyed the track, thinking of every possible plan he could devise to win this race.
Wiz had been planning the tournament for quite some time and when he'd asked Noctis to take part, Prompto had all but begged Noct to agree to compete. Noctis had agreed, more readily than Ignis had anticipated, and now they sat upon their birds with Wiz announcing the start of the third race for everyone and their cousins to hear.
Ignis had lost count of how many races had already been run, they weren't the only ones competing, but it didn't matter as the sun burned hot and excitement filled the air. It was to be a day of fun, and Ignis knew that it was a much-needed distraction for both the people of Duscae and Noct as the days grew shorter and the nights grew longer.
Cindy, Cid, Sania, Vyv and a few others had all gathered on either side of the starting line but one particular girl, no taller than five foot, with pitch-black hair and blue eyes, caught his eye for a brief second before his attention was drawn back by Wiz finishing off his announcements.
The count down began, the whistle blew and the birds were off, running as fast as they could on their powerful legs along the track. Ignis held back in the middle of the four birds. Gladio and Noct were battling it out for the lead and Prompto was struggling with his bird. Despite adoring chocobos, Prompto's chocobo seemed to be giving him some trouble on this day, so he lagged behind a bit.
Ignis hummed, enjoying the sound of the bird's footfalls beneath him and the rocking motion of her gait. He ran his fingers through her feathers but soon he heard Prompto coming up behind him, having finally gotten his unruly bird under control, and Ignis urged his chocobo to start running faster.
He didn't want to tire her out just yet, but he was not going to let himself drag behind the pack, his pride simply wouldn't let him. With her burst of speed, he began gaining on Gladio and Noct as their birds had begun to tire out after sprinting for nearly the whole first half of the course.
Ignis egged his chocobo into a sprint and she quickly fell into line with Gladiolus and Noct's birds.
'Hey!' Gladio shouted at Ignis and he smirked saluting Gladiolus with two fingers before he instructed his chocobo to move into a full on sprint, passing both Noct and Gladio, their birds fatigued for the moment.
Still, he kept her from pushing too hard, maintaining just enough distance between himself, Noct and Gladio but he quickly realised he had another problem coming his way.
"So long suckers!" He heard Prompto exclaim loudly from behind him and Ignis looked back to see Prompto overtake Gladio and Noct on his now cooperative chocobo.
Ignis frowned and pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose before he urged his bird to glide around the oncoming corner. He smiled as she did, laughing softly to himself as the whoosh of air and speed shot through his body, his chocobo's wings brushing his thighs, as she raised them before leaping forward into the air and back into her powerful run.
Despite his effort to stay in front though, Prompto did the same, and a moment later they were neck and neck. Ignis felt his bird tiring and he eased up, letting Prompto take the lead for the moment.
"See ya!" Prompto yelled behind him and whooped. Ignis just shook his head and glanced behind him to see where Gladio and Noct were.
Sure enough, they had gained on Ignis. Noct quickly overtook Ignis and Gladio came up beside Ignis, a smug smirk on his face.
"What do you say, let them take the race?" Gladio asked, his voice nearly drowned out by the sound of the sprinting chocobos.
"I don't see why not, Noctis has yet to beat me one on one," Ignis smirked but Gladiolus scowled. Noctis had beaten Gladio however and Ignis enjoyed the glowering glare he received from Gladiolus.
With that, Gladio pushed his bird into a full-on gallop and Ignis did the same, the wind rushing through his hair and adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Very soon, all four birds were neck and neck and the finish line was just a few feet away. Beads of sweat rolled down Prompto's face as he frowned in determination, but his bird was tiring. Gladiolus pulled ahead, using his chocobo's natural speed to do the work but suddenly, Noctis flew to victory. His bird glided then leapt through the air, landing well over the finish line.
The crowd whooped and clapped as Noct hopped off his bird and Ignis and Gladio crossed the finish line neck and neck. Ignis slid off his bird just as Prompto ambled over the finish line himself, his chocobo's reigns in hand, scuff marks on his arms and cheek.
"I thought you were meant to finish on your bird?" Ignis teased Prompto who narrowed his eyes glowered at him.
"I would have if this stubborn bird hadn't thrown me over her head!"
"Maybe she thought you a bullet and decided to send you shooting over the finish line instead," Ignis shot back and he was certain he saw Prompto pouting but his attention was drawn away by that same black-haired girl. Her blue eyes sparkled and she lifted a small, delicate hand to wave at Ignis before she walked away from the track, disappearing behind the elated onlookers.
"Ignis!" Noctis' voice pulled Ignis back from the little moment and he turned to look at Noct.
"Yes, Noct?" Ignis asked.
"Want to get some food before the next race?" Noctis asked and Ignis nodded.
"Certainly," With that, the four friends left the track and the crowd's attention was drawn to the next race.