His choice was either a cup of coffee or a shower. One or the other. Not both.

Ignis laid Nelly down for her mid-morning nap, just as he had every day. At most, he predicted that he would have ninety minutes to himself, and he desperately needed every second he could spare. The dear child had kept him up all night and, ready to collapse in exhaustion, he flung himself onto the sofa for a power nap of his own. Not so long that he'd feel even more tired afterward, but long enough to get him through the rest of the day. He set a timer for himself, intending to wake up with plenty of time to shower, shave, have a bite to eat and a cup of coffee, perhaps even throw in a load of laundry if he really set his mind to it.

He did not expect to oversleep the alarm.

He'd been out for well over an hour, leaving very little time for him to do anything before Nelly would surely awaken from her slumber. He longed for coffee, now struggling to keep his head up in his drowsy state. But, he'd also not bathed in over a day, and he certainly smelled of it by now. It would be difficult to choose which would take priority. Gladio had been gone for two days now, off hunting some bounty with a hefty price tag — one that would more than cover their necessities for the rest of the month. Without him around to supervise the baby, Ignis struggled finding the chance to properly care for himself at all. Being a parent was indeed a full-time career with no breaks, and the madness was only accelerated by his blindness. Household chores fell to the wayside and personal hygiene was hanging on by a thread.

But, in the utmost honesty, Ignis wouldn't have changed it for the world. He was fully and truly enamored by Nelly, completely infatuated with this child who had so unexpectedly come into his life. Only a few weeks had passed since he found her, and already he could scarcely imagine a world without her presence. At the same time, he could sense her attachment to him blossoming as well. Each morning, her laughter greeted him, and each night, her tiny hands clung to his shirt as she drifted off to sleep. He may not have been her father, but he loved her like his very own — skipped showers, sleepless nights, and all.

Ultimately, he chose the shower. There wasn't time to wait for it to heat up, but Ignis supposed the freezing water would at least jar him awake. He hopped in under the faucet, tensing at the cold shock on his skin. Keeping a listening ear on the makeshift nursery, he hurried through his routine — the bare minimum of washing and not a second to be alone with his thoughts. He was nearly finished, a record time if he'd ever managed one, when his highly precise hearing caught the faintest whine of Nelly's voice, moaning and whimpering from the next room.

His hair was still saturated with conditioner, and he frantically rinsed it out while her cries grew louder and louder. It wouldn't be long before her squalling would ring through the entire house, loud enough to disturb the neighbors — he was sure of it. She hated being left alone, and after what she'd been through, he couldn't blame her. It was never determined just how long she'd spent lying on the forest bed, a mere dozen feet from her mother's cold corpse, but it was clearly long enough to have traumatized her. Ignis was not at all surprised to learn that she suffered from mild separation anxiety, and was more than happy to ease her fears as often as it was needed.

Once he'd washed all the product out of his hair, he shut off the faucet. Nelly continued to cry as he toweled himself off, only realizing after he was dry that he'd forgotten to bring in a change of clothes with him. He'd have to retreat to the bedroom to find something to wear before he could placate her, though he loathed having to make her wait for even one more second.

"Just a moment, darling! I'm coming for you!" he called out to her in vain, supposing that she didn't understand a word he said. The screams only amplified in response as he fastened the towel around his waist. "Don't fret! I won't be a minute, love!"

He bolted into the bedroom, wincing at the heartbreaking sound of her distress fading into the distance. Leaving the door open just a crack and praying that she didn't think he was ignoring her, he began his search for suitable clothes. There was a time when he'd known the exact placement of each garment, having such a well-organized system of laundry storage that it was quite easy to find what he was looking for, even without sight. Unfortunately, that entire arrangement went completely out the window once Nelly came along. There was hardly time to wash his clothes on a regular basis, let alone stow them accordingly. Now, as Nelly's wails continued to escalate, he was regretting that he'd let that routine fall to the wayside.

Gods. Bless. Prompto Argentum.

His dear and timely friend barged into the house unannounced, no doubt wearing his signature cheerful smile as he announced his arrival. "Iggy! I brought you some lunch! Where you at, buddy?"

Ignis huffed in exasperation as he dug blindly through his closet. "Ah… I've just stepped out of the shower, Prompto. I'll be dressed shortly."

There was a shuffling of plastic bags in the kitchen as Prompto settled in. "Take your time. I'll handle Nelly."

Bless him. Astrals, bless this man.

Ignis could have kissed him, guessing that Prompto would never understand what these few extra seconds meant to him. Enough time to pick out some comfortable attire. Enough time to run a comb through his hair. Enough time to sit down and rest his sore back. A moment of calm before the storm. He managed to throw on a plain shirt and a loose pair of sweats, caring very little for whether or not the garments matched. Styling his hair would have to wait until later, but he at least made quick work of combing it out of his face.

"Aw, don't cry, little baby… Uncle Prompto's gotcha."

All the while, he could hear Nelly still fussing and whining in spite of Prompto shushing and cooing to her. It wasn't like her to be so incensed, so inconsolable. Now quite concerned, Ignis dropped his comb with a clatter and dashed into the nursery to assist in the effort to calm her down.

"Whoa… Hey, Iggy," Prompto said quietly as Ignis entered the room. "She's burning up. Her face feels pretty warm…"

No words would ever adequately describe the absolute utter panic Ignis felt upon hearing those words. Hoping against hope that his friend was wrong, he gingerly laid the back of his hand over the child's forehead, instantly confirming the revelation. Her skin was hot to the touch. Her long hair was matted to her neck with sweat. In his presence, her cries had lessened to hoarse warbling and her little hands reached out and clasped his sleeve. Indeed, Nelly was sick, and there was no telling how serious her condition was.

His stomach dropped with a deafening thud, but for her sake, Ignis swallowed down the dread. "Come here, darling. You'll be alright."

Nelly was released into his waiting arms, and Ignis gently laid her over his shoulder. Already, he could hear the congested rattling as she breathed through the thick mucus in her throat. There was no doubt that she suffered from some sort of respiratory virus, though he hadn't any clue where she could have picked it up. Perhaps when he'd taken her to the market the other day, or at her weekly check-up last week. Maybe she caught it from Iris during her latest weekend visit. Ignis could never be certain, and decided against dwelling on the matter.

Nelly's weak mewling devolved into a fit of coughing and sputtering, beginning a vicious cycle which only upset her further. Ignis had never heard such a disturbing sound as her continued struggle to draw breath between attacks. He held her close, his lips pressed to her warm scalp, questioning how in the hell he'd missed this. He figured any good parent would surely notice the very instant that their child was falling ill, yet he must have been completely oblivious to her deterioration. How long had she suffered without relief, without the proper care that a sick baby would need?

When her tears, her running nose, and her drooling mouth started getting out of control, Prompto quickly retrieved a clean rag to drape over Ignis's already-soiled shirt. "Aw… Poor baby…"

Their comforts seemed to go largely unnoticed. Ignis cringed at the sound of her pained cries, only ever interrupted by choked gurgling and productive coughs. "I know, love," he whispered, lightly patting her back. "Papa will fix it. You'll feel better in no time."

He gestured for Prompto to follow him as he made his way toward the kitchen, heading straight for the cupboard where any and all first aid supplies were kept. Surely the standard rescue kit was in there somewhere, and it likely had a thermometer inside. Prompto was heard shuffling into the kitchen closely behind him as he rummaged through the cabinet.

"So, what do we do?"

"I haven't the foggiest."

Prompto thought for a moment. "Well, whenever I get sick, I usually just take a potion and go to sleep."

At last, Ignis found the rescue kit, and the thermometer shortly thereafter. Though Nelly was no longer crying, she wriggled a fair amount while he tried to slide it under her arm. "Hold still, my love."

All they could do then was wait for the test result. With his stomach in knots, Ignis gently rocked her as carefully as he could without jostling the device, listening as Prompto's thumbs tapped rapidly against his phone screen. He'd been searching diligently for home remedies for sick infants, reading off a number of the more popular methods, if only to pass the time. Ignis had figured, of course, that Nelly was too young for hot soup, herbal tea, or strong medicines, but was somewhat dispirited by the lack of remaining options. He urged his friend to keep looking, now willing to do anything in his power to ease her pain and make her comfortable. There had to be something, they just hadn't found it yet.

After a minute or so, they were both startled by the sound of beeping from the thermometer. "Yikes," Prompto gasped as he read off the result. "Pretty high. But a potion should bring it down a little."

The rescue kit had a handful of potions and elixirs inside, thankfully recent enough to be effective to their full potency. Prompto took hold of one, squinting as he turned it all around to examine the fine print on the label.

"And you're quite certain it says it's safe?" Ignis asked warily over the sound of Prompto murmuring instructions, side effects, and warnings under his breath. All standard jargon found on any medicine label, yet only this once did Ignis listen intently to every word his friend recited.

"It says 'adults, children, infants, and some animals,'" Prompto shrugged. "This stuff's harmless."

Still apprehensive, Ignis reflexively tightened his grip on the child. Intrusive thoughts were spinning in his mind. What if the potion turns out to be toxic? What if it's too strong and makes her deathly ill? Far be it from him to ever distrust a simple potion; he'd been using them for years and had never experienced a single side effect. Certainly none of the wild ailments Prompto described from the label. Logic, however, didn't apply here, and was powerless when up against the might of parental anxiety.

But the persistent sound of gurgling in her throat was enough to sway him. He'd surely never forgive himself if anything were to go wrong, but he simply couldn't let her continue to suffer. He nodded to Prompto, keeping her close as he prepared to activate the potion over her tiny body.

"This won't hurt a bit."

Prompto swiftly activated the potion. Ignis wasn't sure what he really expected to happen, but all he detected were the same crack of released pressure, the same shimmering flash of light, and the same hiss that fizzled away to nothing as the magic seeped into Nelly's body. Just the same as every other potion he'd ever used. Perhaps it worked. Perhaps it didn't. So far, he was just relieved that they hadn't made her any worse.

Prompto let out a sad sigh as he lightly brushed his knuckle on her cheek. "Oh…"

Ignis's head shot up. "What? What is it?"

"Nothing, it's just that pouty little lip. Those big eyes. She looks so sad…"

Ignis grimaced at the observation. In listening to her breathing, he could hear some slight improvement at least, but was disheartened to learn of the lingering discomfort. He sighed heavily, never before feeling so helpless in the face of a crisis situation. "What else do the instructions say?"

Prompto scrolled further down the page on his phone. "Just the usual stuff. Keep her hydrated, give her a tepid bath, make sure she eats if she can…"

"There are bottles in the refrigerator. Perhaps she'll feel better if she's fed."

"I'm on it."

He could hear the urgency in Prompto's movements as he scrambled around the kitchen, heating up the bottle in short bursts to ensure that the formula wouldn't become too hot. Ignis kept his attention fully on the child cradled in his arms. She was still, no longer squirming and no longer crying, but not relaxed either. He could sense that she was still awake, her wide eyes searching for his, seeking comfort that only he could provide now.

He smiled at her, his gaze as focused as it could be. He ruffled the thick curls on her head and stroked the soft skin of her tiny hand. She was alert, responsive, engaged. Ignis never wore his visor when tending to her, in hopes that when she looked up at him, he appeared to be looking back. He no longer knew quite what his remaining eye looked like, only ever having it described by his friends as 'lighter' and 'kind of cloudy.' He worried that the sight of his marred face would frighten Nelly, but from the very beginning, she didn't seem to mind one bit. Neither was she bothered by Gladio's lesions. She was fearless, and she saw right past the scars and into the heart. All the more fitting, he reckoned, for a child under their watch.

When Prompto was satisfied with the temperature of her formula, he handed over the bottle. Upon presenting it to Nelly, however, Ignis was dismayed to find her pushing the bottle away and refusing to eat.

"Not interested?" he asked, rather baffled given what he knew of her usual appetite. "Come now, you can't get well on an empty stomach."

Prompto was already back on his phone. "It says if she won't eat, don't panic. Her throat might be sore, but she'll get hungry eventually. Fluids are more important at this point."

Ignis directed him to fill an empty bottle with water, but as expected, Nelly rejected it a second time. "Sweet child, won't you try just a drop?" he pleaded with her. "For me?"

"Oh, hey," Prompto said, poking his head back into the refrigerator. "This says you can try a little juice. I bet she'll be all over that! You got any in here?"

Though Ignis was wary of bribing the child with sugar, at this point he'd have tried any tactic to prevent her from getting dehydrated. It didn't take long for Prompto to find the pitcher of fresh orange juice that Ignis had squeezed himself, even having taken the extra time to strain out the pulp. Though neither he nor Gladio paid it any mind, he supposed it was just an old habit carried over from his chamberlain days. Noct always hated pulp.

After watering the juice down considerably, Ignis offered the bottle to Nelly one last time. At first, she nudged it away just like before, but he persisted, hoping she might notice the sweet taste and decide to drink up after all. He noticed Prompto tensely watching over his shoulder as they waited for her to take the bait. They held their breaths in anticipation, moving not one single muscle, uttering no sounds, not even blinking.

Please, child…

Finally, the bottle slipped into her mouth and she began to suckle. Both men positively deflated with relief.

"That's a good girl," he praised her with an approving smile. Her writhing body began to relax and her tiny hands grasped his fingers. He moved gingerly toward the sofa, lowering himself carefully so that he wouldn't disturb her. Sinking into the pillowy, velvet cushions now while the warm bundle in his arms drank to her heart's content was the most divine sensation he'd experienced all day. He'd grown rather fond of listening to her while she ate, endeared by the sound of her humming softly between swallows. He supposed that there would soon come a day when it would be time to graduate Nelly to solid foods. When that time came, these tender moments of lying on the sofa together in blissful silence would be no more. To his own surprise, he found himself saddened by the prospect of losing these chances to be close to her, to bond with her.

But, he reminded himself, feeding her wouldn't simply end when she grew out of bottles. It was only a matter of time before he could begin crafting meals for her. It had been so long since he'd cooked a dish for someone new, and he'd been looking forward to a fresh palate ever since he took her in. He vowed to instill in her a deep love and appreciation for food in all its diversity and all its magnificence. He'd stretch his culinary skills to their very limits, making every trip to the kitchen a new adventure. He'd ensure that she developed a variety of tastes, only ever serving her something he'd gladly eat himself. By then, she'd be old enough to vocalize her approval — to squeal with delight, or turn up her nose in disgust. Either way, he was more than up to the challenge. He couldn't wait to show her just what her papa could do.

"Whew!" Prompto sighed as he collapsed into the cushions beside him. "Well, how've you been, Igs?"

"Ah… preoccupied," he answered, never lifting his gaze from her. "Stretched a bit thin, but managing well enough."

"That's good, that's good…" Prompto's voice trailed off, though the curious tone was one that he couldn't mask. Ignis immediately got the distinct impression that his friend was expecting more, though couldn't figure out just what he might have wanted.

"I trust you've also been well?" he inquired, trying to pick up on where Prompto was leading him.

"Uh— Yeah! Great, even!"

Ignis smiled politely. "That's good to hear."

Once again, their conversation diminished to an awkward silence. Though Ignis welcomed the chance to catch his breath after such an eventful day, he could feel Prompto's prying eyes piercing into him, clearly awaiting something that he, for some reason, was unwilling to request aloud. Perhaps it was only his imagination, Ignis thought to himself. A symptom of fatigue, no doubt. There was a time when he could almost never shake the feeling that the public was gawking at him whenever he went out for so much as a short walk. His paranoia was irrational then, and it was likely irrational now. He kept his attention on Nelly — the only person who was free to stare all she liked.

Prompto cleared his throat. "So…" he began again, only to leave his question infuriatingly unfinished.

Ignis cocked his head, echoing him with marked exasperation. "So…?"

Prompto's tone grew more persuasive by the second, and Ignis could easily detect the widening grin on his face. "You and Gladio…?"

While heat began flooding into his cheeks, Ignis set his eye back on Nelly and locked it there. He dared not look up now. "What about us?"

"Living together, taking care of a baby…"

The longer Prompto drew it out, the more rapidly Ignis lost patience with the sudden interrogation. If his friend had something to ask, he had better ask it already. "Yes?"

At last, Prompto's composure broke. "Come on! Give me the scoop!" he whined. "Are you together? Are you a thing? I want those details!"

The silence that followed was no less awkward than the last. Ignis hadn't a clue how to answer such questions, and for every passing second wherein he said nothing at all, he sensed the overwhelming pressure of Prompto staring at him, waiting on bated breath for the final verdict. Even Nelly became quiet, as if she were listening as well.

"I-I… Honestly…" he chose his response very carefully, his mouth a bit dry as he tried to speak. "I'm not entirely certain where we stand."

"Well, have you talked about it?"

"We've been…" There really was no better word to describe it. He shrugged. "Preoccupied."

Prompto hummed his understanding. "I guess babies are a bit of a handful, aren't they?"

No family had yet been found for Nelly, despite the records-keepers working 'round the clock to find someone. When several weeks had passed with no luck in their search, the doctor rather unceremoniously pronounced Ignis and Gladio to be her legal guardians. Her parents. In every meaningful sense of the word, Nelly was now their daughter. To say that she was a handful was a gross understatement. Gladio was right; this was nothing like caring for Noct, and his job as Hand of the King hardly prepared Ignis for parenting such a young infant. Though he knew that it would be difficult to raise a child, even for someone who could see, he never once doubted his ability to learn and grow from the experience. He knew that babies were high-maintenance. He knew that it wouldn't be the same as raising Noct. He knew that he was woefully unprepared, and he expected he'd take it all in stride, finding a way to adjust like he had for everything else.

What he hadn't expected was how often he'd fail. Ignis was no stranger to making mistakes in his life — even a fair few that he couldn't remedy. But there was nothing in the world quite so humbling as making a mistake in child rearing. Every time he was corrected after changing or dressing her, every time she slipped in his hands while bathing her, even when her cries rang out in the night and it seemed that nothing could console her, Ignis was left with the deep impression of true helplessness. How steep would the learning curve be, he'd ask himself in desperation. What sort of father, he wondered, couldn't even protect his child from their own fearsome dreams?

But, whether he succeeded or failed, Nelly harbored an abundance of patience. Generous and forgiving, she still clung tightly to him in moments of uncertainty, seeming never to resent his failures as a caretaker. She still giggled when he tickled her belly. She still clasped his fingers when he fed her. She still fell asleep in the safety of his arms. From what he could tell, she loved him just as much as he loved her.

"She's no trouble," he beamed down at her. "Not one bit."

The cushions crunched as Prompto crawled closer, peering over Ignis's shoulder at Nelly's stunning face. "Well she seems to like you a lot. Both of you," he said with audible joy in his voice. "You're one big, happy family."

Family. The term struck a chord with Ignis. Growing up, he effectively had no family. Only an uncle, with whom his relationship was distant and a bit estranged. It was only natural, he supposed, that he'd chosen a new family of his own. He'd found what he was missing in people like Noct, Prompto, and Gladio. They were all the family he ever needed, and he would always be satisfied with the bond they shared as a team. He didn't dare dwell on the idea of it ever breaking. Refused to acknowledge the inevitability of loss. Likewise, he never could have dreamed that there'd be a new addition, especially one quite like Nelly.

Concerning just the three of them, it was understandable that from afar, they looked like a typical, nuclear family. Two parents, one child. But of course, they knew full well that their family was much larger and more complex than that. Nothing nuclear, and nothing typical about it. He had to hand it to Prompto, then, for hitting the nail on the head. They were, indeed, a family. An unconventional one, with perhaps a village's worth of parents to one child, but a family nonetheless. And they were very, very happy.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts on the matter that he didn't notice when Prompto slinked up beside him, whispering deviously into his ear.

"You like him."

Ignis hurriedly balked at the claim. "Don't be silly."

"He likes you."

"Prompto…"

"It's written all over your faces!"

"Alright, alright!" Ignis heaved a long sigh, preparing himself for the lengthy answer that had been demanded of him. "Prompto, you didn't know us back in those days…"

Again, he was cautious in how he worded his explanation, almost censoring himself in his effort to be just deliberately vague enough and hoping that Prompto would be satisfied with the bare minimum. "When we were much younger, we… Gladio and I were very close. I greatly admired him and he seemed to have similar feelings."

The longer he spoke, the stronger the memories became. Beside him, Prompto was still as stone. It was quite jarring for Ignis, who had grown accustomed to the light rustling of his habitual fidgeting. There was no turning back at this point, so he pressed on with the tale. "I suppose we just didn't have the time. Our duties to the crown came first, and so we set all that aside to revisit later on. But, later on never came…"

When he could think of nothing more to say — nothing more that he wanted to say — Ignis ended the explanation. As he dreaded, Prompto could not accept the cliffhanger, piping up in near-desperation. "That can't be the end of it. Where's the rest of the story?"

Ignis shrugged his shoulders. "There's no more story to tell. Gladio and I are good friends, just as we have always been."

"Well, that sounds like quitter talk," Prompto huffed in defiance. "You said you didn't have time. You've got time now!"

Ignis might have liked to shoot his friend a stern glare for crossing the line, but he didn't have it in himself to get angry with Prompto. He was right. His point was almost impossible to argue. Gladio had only lived with him for a few short weeks, but already that same tension between them had returned in full force. In a way that Ignis couldn't quite describe, he simply liked having the man around, and missed him greatly when he was gone. He took comfort in hearing the sound of heavy footfalls coming down the hall. He enjoyed conversations they would have during Nelly's midnight feedings, and the cheerful smile in his voice when he recited old jokes and told stories from his bounty hunts. And, though he couldn't see it, Ignis could often sense when Gladio's sights locked on him, following him all around the room as he went about his day. There was no stage fright in those moments — only the stunning image in his memory of those glistening amber eyes, fierce and unblinking as they gazed into his own.

Ignis only sighed again, keeping his watch on the child growing heavier and heavier in his arms. "All of my time," he said in a near-whisper. "Is dedicated to her."

Prompto spoke a bit more apologetically after that. "So, she really is a handful," he took hold of Nelly's foot and gave it an affectionate squeeze. "The cutest little handful I've ever seen."

The sound of suckling had gone quiet, the bottle now empty as it fell from her mouth. Ignis was impressed by just how quickly she'd drained it, hoping she wouldn't suffer an upset stomach after such an indulgence.

"Aw…!" Prompto whispered excitedly. "I think she fell asleep."

Ignis couldn't have felt more relieved. "Splendid. Nothing promotes healing quite like a good rest."

They retreated very slowly back to the nursery, where he laid her in the bassinet without bothering to change her clothes, for fear of jostling her awake. Once she was settled in, he tenderly draped the warmest blanket over her, hoping it would be enough to calm her chills. Nelly didn't stir at all as he released her — a small victory if there ever was one.

Prompto leaned over to admire her once more as she was tucked in. "Goodnight, you sweet little bean."

Ignis bent down and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well, my love."

With the child snug in her crib, and nothing left to do for her, the pair tiptoed out of the room as quietly as they could, cautiously drawing the door closed behind them. Free at last, Ignis took a second just to lean his forehead against the wall. It was so much. Too much. He'd seen Noct ill. He'd seen him injured, in terrible pain. He'd been in the very same position of helplessly watching his best friends suffer, and he'd felt the same wash of relief as the magic of an elixir healed them in an instant. None of that compared to this day. Were Prompto not watching him now, tense and concerned, he might have broken down on the spot.

"Iggy," Despite the obvious apprehension in his stance, Prompto's voice was surprisingly devoid of worry. "Have you eaten today?"

Ignis lifted his head, his expression answering the question for him. Without another word, Prompto grasped his arm and all but dragged him back into the kitchen, where he unpacked the plastic bag he'd brought when he arrived. Inside were fresh skewers from the market in town — Ignis could smell them right away, and they smelled heavenly. They were no longer quite as warm, but the taste was exactly as divine as he remembered, and he wasted no time devouring them. He hadn't realized the depths of his hunger until at last it was satiated, his empty stomach having been ignored for too long. Little by little, the spinning in his head slowed and the trembling in his hands settled. Prompto was even kind enough to brew him a cup of coffee, which he accepted graciously before letting himself collapse onto the table.

Prompto chuckled, giving him a friendly pat on the back. "You feel better?"

"Yes…" Ignis breathed, having nearly succumbed to the exhaustion. "Bless you, Prompto. Bless you…"

"Heh, don't mention it."

They sat in silence for a good long while, picking at the remains of the plate of skewers and sipping coffee together. Too soon, Prompto gasped at the time on his phone and began to gather his belongings.

"Yikes! Lost track of time," he said, slipping into his boots and jacket. "I'd better go. Gotta be in Lestallum bright and early to film some glaives during one of their hunting missions. You sure you've got everything handled?"

"I'm quite sure," Ignis nodded. "You have my sincerest thanks, Prompto."

Cold air wafted in as the front door was opened, and Prompto shivered against it as he dashed outside. "Any time, buddy. Call me if you need more help!"

"Count on it."

Though loath to let the cold in, Ignis stayed in place until Prompto was out of earshot. The biting chill was fierce this evening, he noted, wondering if perhaps it might snow. Silently wishing his friend safe travels, Ignis closed the door at last. He was alone again, his ears detecting no activity in the empty house before him. He supposed he ought to clean the kitchen, but that would have to wait until morning. He slogged his way into the bedroom, falling into a perfect nest of fluffy, down pillows and warm, cotton sheets. This was his haven, a place where he could truly and fully relax. For the first time in a long time, he figured he deserved it.

He must have dozed off. One moment he was surrounded by light, swimming in those same linens, soft against his bare skin. Strong arms tightened around his waist, enveloping him in sweet warmth. Hot breath tickled his neck as a familiar voice whispered forbidden words in his ear. His heart racing, his fists clenching, his eyes rolling back in his head. The next, a loud and incessant chime had jolted him awake. He was alone in his room, lying atop his bed without having even undressed for sleep. It took a beat to reorient himself and understand that his phone was still ringing. Wiping sweat off his brow and still winded, he reached for it and answered quickly before it stopped.

"Gladio?"

"Hey, Iggy," Gladio greeted him casually before taking a tone of concern. "You okay? What's wrong?"

Flustered and still reeling from the dream, Ignis took a second to catch his breath while he came up with an excuse. "Ah, it's Nelly… she's a bit feverish today."

"Aww," Gladio tutted piteously. "Poor girl. She alright?"

"I've just managed to get her back to sleep," Ignis blew out a ragged sigh. "It's been a stressful day, to say the least."

"Well, take a little break. You've earned it," Gladio assured him, his voice every bit as comforting as Ignis needed. "And don't worry too much. It's probably just a cold. I'm sure she'll be fine in a couple days."

It would never cease to amaze Ignis just how calm and collected the man could be, even under the most tense and uncertain of circumstances. "Yes," he muttered, a bit strained. "Yes, of course. You're right."

A pause followed wherein Ignis desperately tried to slow the thumping in his chest. Slow, deep breaths through his nose were not helping, and to his horror, Gladio could hear them.

"You sure you're okay?"

He swallowed hard. "Gladio, I…" he lost his nerve and changed the subject. "When will you be back?"

Either Gladio had taken no notice of the sudden shift, or was gracious enough not to press him on it. "Well, I've been staking out this spot where the bastards are supposed to hang around but I haven't seen 'em yet. I figure if they don't turn up in the next day or two, I'll come home."

Home. Ignis shuddered from head to toe. "Of course," he replied as flatly as he could. "Take your time. We'll manage here."

Another long pause. Ignis held his breath, and was sure that Gladio did as well.

"Alright," the man grunted, finally deciding to wrap up the call. "Well, I was just checking in to see how you were doing. Sounds like you've got everything under control, so I'll let you get some sleep."

"Wait, Gladio."

The silence was deafening. Ignis breathed in. "I-I… Uh…" He gulped, regretting his outburst almost instantly. Once again, his courage failed him. "Nelly misses you."

When he heard no response for several seconds after his inadvertently coded confession, he wondered if he had been too late and Gladio was already gone. He might have welcomed that possibility, having spared himself the embarrassment of saying too much, of exposing a truth he couldn't face. But after a lengthy beat, Gladio answered in a much softer tone than before. No longer his gruff 'business as usual' timbre, but the gentler one he only used when he spoke to Nelly. "I miss her, too."

Ignis heard a rustling sound in the speaker before Gladio's voice continued, now sounding so close that he may as well have been lying right next to him. "Tell her I've been thinking about her. And that I'll be back as soon as I can."

In that moment, Ignis wished that he could reach into the phone and through to the other side. "Be safe, Gladio."

"I will. 'Night, Iggy."

"Goodnight."

He'd never felt more reluctant to hang up the call than he did now. In a perfect parallel to that night, not even two years ago, when Gladio pleaded with him to stay on the line until he had fallen asleep, Ignis wished for the same thing. The faintly distorted sounds of snoring, the convincing illusion of the man's presence — in the room, in his life — would have lulled him to sleep in a heartbeat.

Later on never came… He couldn't shake those words from his memory, having not realized just how deeply they resonated when they first were spoken. Ignis was no fool. It couldn't have been more clear that the feelings between himself and Gladio were mutual. But what perplexed him was their mutual avoidance of addressing those inclinations. The answer to why a couple shies away from love is rooted in the most logical of human instincts — that of self-preservation. Love, though blissful, becomes a threat. The pain of loss, too much to bear. So, while they truly had all the time in the world, just as Prompto observed, they would likely continue setting it aside.

And yet, Ignis asked himself, was it any easier to sit at home now, worrying whether Gladio would come back alive and well, than it would be if they were together? Was watching him throw himself in front of danger again and again, the Shield that he was, less terrifying as good friends than it would have been otherwise? Did Gladio find it less agonizing to stumble upon him, lying soaked and frozen on the Altar of Leviathan, having burned out his own eyes and nearly perished, without having sworn his devotion first? Was their fear of loss worth protecting at such a cost? Were their hearts any safer now? Ignis couldn't speak for his unwitting partner, but he found just the thought of losing Gladio to be every bit as heartrending and torturous now as it would have been, had they the stones to speak up.

But, of course, they didn't speak up. And, when duty called, they separated. Promised to visit, to keep in touch. Failed on all counts. Ignis dedicated himself to overcoming his blindness, having already made great strides by the time their trio parted, and went about his life. He lived alone for many years, never having considered it a struggle to do so. He memorized the size, shape, and location of every piece of furniture, every appliance, every surface, and every object in his home. He made his way around by counting steps, operating on sheer muscle memory and instinct. It was by no means easy to master; he'd crashed into walls and doors, knocked over and broken plenty of belongings, bruised his shins and stubbed more toes than he could count. But all the while, he persevered, and little by little, his independence was restored.

He traveled. He hunted. He found light wherever he could. And then, fate brought Gladio back to him. Teamed up on a collaborative mission to exterminate some daemons, Ignis hadn't even realized that the man would be joining until he heard him gasp his name. In picking up where they'd left off, it was as if no time had passed at all, as if years hadn't come and gone since they'd last stood in the same room. All at once, he was eighteen again, sparring in the training room of the citadel. Or perhaps he was twenty-two, making bets on which of them would deliver the final blow to their targets. Always on the same side, yet always competing. That fateful night, a mere few weeks ago, was no exception.

"What are the stakes this evening, Gladio?"

"Hmm…" the man stroked his beard in thought. "If I win, you make me that drink I like. The one with the five different liquors and the sangria."

"And if you lose?"

He heard the grin widening on Gladio's lips. "You have to drink it."

They never determined who'd won. Fate had laid another card on the table, and Ignis returned to camp with a bundle that irrevocably altered the course of their lives. From that moment on, Ignis owed Gladio everything. He left his home, sacrificed his career, and put his entire future on hold, all for Nelly's sake. He had no warning, no time to prepare, but he dove right in without hesitation. Never once did he question the decision, and never once did he complain. He both embraced and excelled at his role as guardian and provider. Ignis, having next to nothing to give in return but hospitality, offered up every corner of his home, every amenity, every service he could provide, including his own bed — a trade that would never seem adequate or fair. But in spite of his insistence, Gladio refused to take it. He shared the load in housework, in keeping the bills paid and the kitchen stocked. He slept on the sofa, adamant that he wouldn't disrupt the routine that Ignis had spent eight years practicing.

What he must not have realized was that Nelly had done just that, and Ignis couldn't have been happier to have all the structure and order in his life go up in smoke. He might have found a sense of stability, even in blindness, but was happy to throw it all away for her sake. Likewise, it would certainly be no trouble integrating Gladio into the mix. The man was more than welcome to make a mess of the place. Ignis would adapt. He would adjust. Just like he did for Nelly.

You're one big happy family…

As he set his phone to charge and tried to fall asleep, he felt that the room was a bit too quiet for his liking. The bed was too empty, the sheets cold and stiff. He retreated instead to the sofa, pleased to discover that the cushions smelt vaguely of Gladio. In a few hours or so, Nelly would awaken again, crying out for him as she did every night. Even as exhausted as he was, he'd answer her calls with ease. Twenty-seven steps from the sofa to her bedside. Two lefts and one right. The waist-high bassinet stood just beside the window where the floodlight from outside poured in. His arms reached for her and she always reached back. It was never a chore, never a burden, but a blessing.

In a world awash in darkness, Ignis found light exactly where it was supposed to be — in his family. Those precious few who meant the most to him held all the light he'd ever need. If Nelly was the faintest glimmer, then Gladio would be the brightest beam.

Much like baby Nelly in Ignis and Gladio's lives, this second chapter came rather unexpectedly! I hope you enjoyed it. I do have ideas for more cute scenes with these folks, but they'll come later on. I don't intend for this to be a multi-chapter fic with a running plot just yet, but who knows what can happen? Inspiration is funny in that way :)

I'm on tumblr (Ostelan Excruciasm) and Twitter ( ostelan) as usual. I also run a discord server called Ignis Thirsting Hours! Send me a message on social media if you'd like an invite!

Peace and love,

Ostelan