Ignis wakes to the feeling of someone rubbing and kneading his back and shoulders causing him to lift his head slightly blinking through blurry vision in confusion. Becoming slowly aware that he was laying on his stomach which still hurting from the Garula stomping on him back when they had taken up the timed quest several days ago.

With the fog of sleep leaving him a bit more he glances around the room recognizing that he's still in the same motel room since the event. It was mostly thanks to the clutter that seems to have increased since he last saw it, causing him to assume that they hadn't left.

Groaning softly, Ignis turns his head earning recognition from Gladiolus who continues to massage Ignis "Hey, how are you feelin'?" He asks causing Ignis to huff a bit laying his head back down "My chest hurts." Ignis mumbles his voice comes out soft.

"Hmmm. Not surprised, little after you fell asleep we had a doctor check you out. Turns out all that coughing caused you to crack your ribs, that garula didn't help..." Gladiolus explains "because of that thing stomping on you your ribs broke." He adds "We were given medicine to help treat and heal them."

Ignis nods slightly his eyes closing some "Where are Noct and Prompto?" He asks realizing that it was unusually quiet in the room.

"They went out to grab something to eat...matter of fact, hold on. Probably should tell em that you're awake." Gladiolus says grabbing his phone from the nightstand "Noct's been on alert ever since the incident. He'd be happy to hear that you're okay." He adds as he sends the text. Gladiolus was more or less rambling to fight off the urge to grab Ignis up into a hug before shaking him senseless for being so reckless.

He was relieved to have the piece of mind that Ignis was all right but at the same time the Shield knew that this could have been avoided if Ignis wasn't so dang stubborn.

Gladiolus' phone dings and he tabs on the speech bubble smiling "Noct says 'What a relief' and Prompto sent a picture of a knight...or something sayin' 'Praise the sun.' I swear why can't he just texted like a normal person." grumbles Gladiolus causing Ignis to smile a bit.

The phone dings and Gladiolus looks over at Ignis who was trying to push himself up for he was suddenly hyper-aware of just how much pain he was in. Every intake of breath feels like he was igniting a tiny fiery explosion in his chest leaving him to gasp for air. Ignis crumbles onto his side with a hand going to his ribs as the other fists the bedding.

"Ah it- Gl-Gladio..." Ignis whimpers causing Gladiolus to drop what he was doing and rush over to his friend "Ah my bad, I shouldn't have left you in that position." He apologizes as he slowly and carefully lifts Ignis into a sitting position. "Lemme get so pillows to prop you up against the headboard."

Ignis only nods as his face twists up in pain. He tries to take in smaller slower breaths hoping that that way it wouldn't trigger any pain but his chest only spasms making him whimper.

"Its gonna be alright Iggy, it'll just take some time for you to heal up. You gotta be more careful." Gladiolus says gently as he places the gathered pillows behind Ignis and eases him down back into the pillows. Gladiolus heads to the small kitchen and pulls out several ice packs bringing them over to Ignis who began coughing.

The oldest could see the agony on the younger one's face and hear it in his cough. Gladiolus knew the level of pain Ignis was in for he had his ribs broken once too back when was still in training.

As he returns he gives Ignis a sympathetic smile "Yeah, that's the down side to this injury. But its gonna be okay." Gladiolus says as he places the packs on Ignis' chest. "I hope I haven't been too much trouble." Ignis groans softly.

Gladiolus shakes his head with a laugh "I don't know you and Noct are about tied at this point." Gladiolus jokes making Ignis laugh a bit "Hope its not getting to hard to tell us apart." the ash blonde jokes.

Hearing Ignis joking despite being in pain made Gladiolus smile for it told him that Ignis was doing okay despite the recent happenings.

Ignis sighs contently and what follows is a brief moment of quiet before he speaks "I just feel like I haven't been pulling my weight." Ignis admits.

"Haven't been pulling your weight? You're joking right?" Gladiolus looks at Ignis crossing his arms "You do realize that you been coughing up your lungs and you got stomped on. We're not gonna be those friends to patronize you just cuz you're not able to kill a couple of daemons or ride out a hunt like you do when you're not sick." Gladiolus explains as he sits down beside Ignis "Look we understand you're feeling under the weather so just focus on getting better." He explains as gently swats at Ignis' knee.

Ignis nods a bit before turning his gaze up to Gladiolus "Right...oh yes, your phone messaged you. I believe it may be Noct." Ignis says getting Gladiolus to check his phone.

"Hmm...yeah it was him."

"What did he say? Is he alright?"

"Just a sec...yeah the kid is okay. Just wants to know if you're hungry."

"A bit."

"Wha'cha want to eat?"

"Nothing terribly big. Some yogurt would suffice."

Gladiolus nods before looking back at Ignis it wasn't uncommon for Ignis to request small foods to eat when he was sick or not the one making a food run. But it was usually something a bit more filling like a sandwich, soup, or a salad.

"You sure?" Gladiolus asks "You can have something else too if you want" but Ignis only shakes his head "Just that is fine. I'm not too hungry."

"If you say so...I'll tell em to get you two you may want some a little later." Gladiolus says as he texts Noctis.

Ignis nods as he closes his eyes suddenly feeling tired. Seeing this Gladiolus covers Ignis with the blanket "Go ahead and get some sleep. I'll wake you when the others get here."

"The place didn't have that many choices for yogurt but at least they had Iggy's favorite flavor. Though to get it Noct had to make a bit of a scene."

"What?"

A bit a laughter.

"Did he really?"

"Yeah, it was hilarious!"

"Knock it off. It wasn't even that bad."

"Dude it was like you summoned Ignis. You had the guy shaking."

"No I didn't."

Ignis blinks awake the sound of chatter having roused him from his slumber. He rubs at his eye a bit before slowly and carefully pushing himself up. He hisses slightly when he finds himself tipping to the left a bit causing Gladiolus to look over at him "Hey you're up." He says as he moves towards Ignis and helps him sit up.

"Hey how you doing?" Says Noctis as he carries over a cup of banana flavored yogurt and a spoon "I've been better. Just hurts to breathe." Ignis explains as he takes the now open cup.

"You been coughing?"

Ignis nods a bit "I have, it hurts like the dickens it does."

This makes Noctis laugh a bit "Well we'll just give you some more medicine. The doctor also gave us some morphine shots if you need it, but I think that's just for when the pain is unbearable."

Ignis simply nods as he begins to eat the yogurt "Thank you for this." Ignis says gesturing to his meal making Noctis nod "You don't gotta thank me. But you sure that's all you wanted? I mean I'm not judging or anything but you know we could've gotten you something a bit bigger."

"I know, I'm just not terribly hungry." Ignis admits "It could be because of my ribs and all the coughing."

"Yeah being in pain will put you off when it comes to eating." Noctis yawns and stretching "We'll just continue to give you ease to eat foods until you're healed."

"You don't have too." Ignis states for he didn't want his friends going out of their way to get things for him. Noctis rolls his eyes "You say that like its a burden. You're not a burden and we don't mind doing this, thats what brothers do." Noctis says taking the now empty cup of yogurt "You want the second one? You ate this one pretty fast." The king says holding up the second cup.

Ignis shakes his head "Please save it for later, could I have some water though?" He asks.

Noctis nods as he heads back into the kitchen where he takes up a red plastic cup and fills it with ice from the freezer "We got sparkling water would you like some of that?" He calls from the kitchen.

"Is there peach flavor?"

"Hm? Yeah, I'll bring you some."

Noctis grabs a bottle of sparkling peach water and opens it. He pours it into the cup filling it to the top. He grabs a straw opening it before sticking it in the cup.

As he returns he stirs the drink a bit before handing it Ignis. "Here you go." Noctis says as Ignis takes it from him "Thank you." Ignis says taking the drink and begins to sip it.

"You need anything else?" The king asks wanting his brother to be comfortable. "I'm fine, did you already eat? You should eat something if you hadn't."

Noctis shakes his head "I already with Prompto, we had pizza. We just wanted to bring you something."

Ignis nods "That's good. Don't forget to care for yourselves as well."

"You're one to talk." Noctis jokes making Ignis smile "Do as I say, not as I do."

Noctis rolls his eyes smiling still as he takes the drink from Ignis and tucks him in "Get some sleep. Maybe we can go for a short walk tomorrow to help heal you...maybe try a potion too." The King whispers the last part getting Ignis to shake his head.

"Lets just heal this without potions, this'll be my lesson to learn for not listening to you all when you suggested I stay back." Ignis mumbles around a grimace.

"We did tell you we did tell you." Noctis says pointing at Ignis "But don't be too hard on yourself you didn't plan on this happening." Noctis adds as he adjusts the pillows "But like you say 'what's done is done' there isn't much we can do about it now except wait for you to heal." Noctis steps back and turns the lamp off "Sleep tight Iggy."

"G'night Iggy!"

"See ya tomorrow."

"G'night all of you."

Ignis stirs awake the hour unknown to him at the moment but based on how dark it and silent it is currently in the room he figured the others gone to bed. This was further supported by movement next to him, looking over Ignis could see Noctis laying next to him on his side watching a video on his phone.

Slowly yet carefully, Ignis pushes himself into a sitting position doing his best not to hiss in pain. He must've moved a bit to fast or inhaled to quickly for a crippling pang resonated in his chest causing him to gasp and clutch his left side which sends Noctis to his aide in a matter of seconds.

"Specs! You okay!?" Noctis frets as he looks him over.

"I'm fine." Ignis pants.

"Yeah right, where you trying to go!?" Noctis questions.

"I need to go to the bathroom." Ignis grumbles as he slowly scoots towards the edge of the bed until both of his bare feet touch the rough carpet "Oh Astrals it hurts so much!" croaks the advisor as tries and fails at standing.

Noctis climbs out of the bed and grabs the baggy of ice resting on the nightstand that he had prepared before Ignis woke up. "Here lemme give you some morphine real fast." Noctis says as he moves to the coffee table where the medicine is stationed. He grabs a alcohol wipe and the small needle packet containing the morphine injection and opens it as he moves towards Ignis "Okay this is gonna hafta to go in a vein."

He says as he opens the wipe and rubs it across Ignis' skin just above the bend of his arm. Noctis tosses the wipe to the floor and feels for a vein only to cuss under his breath as he turns the lamp on and tries again.

This time he finds a vein and injects the shot causing Ignis to squeeze his eyes shut, his breath hitches as he feels the medicine course through him with a slight chill. Ignis relaxes a bit the pain he was feel goes from agonizing to a dull ache which in his opinion was far better and much more tolerable. Ignis lets out a huff of relief "Once again you've come to my aide." Ignis says sounding tired.

"Seriously?" Noctis says laughing a bit "Like I said before, I can sleep through pretty much anything except you being sick or in pain. That I can't do not unless I know you're okay." Noctis admits as he stands up and carefully helps Ignis up to his feet.

He watches as Ignis continues to hug himself "Come on, we'll do this one baby step at a time." Ignis only sighs in response as he shuffles slowly towards the bathroom "I shouldn't have drank that water." He says sounding grumpy.

Noctis only lays a hand on his back as he guides his brother "Well either way you'd have to get up to stretch and make sure you don't get sores. Noctis comments. This gets Ignis to sigh again "I know, I'm just complaining."

"What? You? Complaining? Who are you and where is my advisor." Noctis jokes as he steps into the bathroom "I'll turn the light on for you just go." Noctis adds as he flips the switch on the wall near the door as Ignis shuffles inside.

"Okay call me if you need me." Noctis says as he steps out of bathroom and closes the door. The King heads back to the bed and fixes the pillow rearranging them to allow Ignis a comfortable night's rest. With the pillows situated Noctis goes to the coffee table and picks up the bottle of medicine designed specifically for Ignis "I think it's okay for him to take this after getting the shot...should ask him if he's still hurting though." Noctis mumbles as he sets the medicine on the nightstand on Ignis' side.

He heads into the kitchen and opens the fridge pulling out a water bottle for Ignis so he could take his medicine. Holding the bottle Noctis only shakes his head a bit with a laugh as he returns the main room where he is met with Ignis slowly making his way back to the bed.

"Hey you need any help?" The king asks he would feel bad if he sat down and Ignis needed him.

"I got this. Besides I need to get used to working through this pain, wouldn't want to grow stiff." Ignis says through clenched teeth.

Is he in pain?

"Hey you okay? Is the pain back, you want some medicine?" Noctis asks worriedly. Oh how the dark haired king feared he was coming off as overbearing.

Then again Ignis is the same way.

"I'm alright."

Noctis opens his mouth to ask another question yet Ignis only gives a cough before speaking again "I just need to lay down." He adds as he finally makes his way back to the bed and sits down "I'm bound to feel better once I'm laying down." Ignis adds which is followed with a fit of coughs.

Noctis rushes over to Ignis and grabs a pillow gently pushing it to his chest "I read that hugging a pillow when you're coughing with broken ribs makes it feel a bit better." Noctis explains as he goes for the water bottle once Ignis is hugging the pillow. He opens the drink for Ignis and holds it up to his lips once the fit dies down "Drink a bit Iggy." He suggests softly.

Ignis tips his back a bit as he sips down some of the water before holding up his hand signalling Noctis to stop. Noctis caps the bottle as Ignis climbs into the bed his breath sticks in his throat with audible gasps when small bubbles of pain surface up.

Once he was laying down his body is over taken with the sensation of pins and needles causing him to shift a bit uncomfortably. "Okay, you need anything else Iggy?" Noctis asks gently earning a shake of his head "I'm fine just sleepy." Ignis says sounding sleepy.

"Get some sleep. I'll be right here if you need anything." Noctis explains as Ignis nods closing his eyes. Watching his brother a bit Noctis climbs into the bed beside his brother deeming it okay to catch a few minuets of sleep.

When Noctis wakes up again its much later in the day. Sitting up he runs a hand over his face as he grabs his phone off the nightstand checking the time, it read two in the afternoon.

Yawning, the king climbs out bed scratching at his belly as he looks around the motel room only to find that he was alone. He stretches as he heads into the bathroom where he turns on the light. He makes his way to the tub and turns on the shower head as he waits for the cold water to turn hot he heads back into the main room. He heads to Prompto's duffle bag and rummages through it digging around until he finds the gunmens' body wash.

"Eh, I'm sure he won't mind if I borrowed this."

Noctis lightly tosses the bottle a bit as he heads back into the bathroom which was filling lightly with steam. He closes the door and begins to strip before stepping into the shower.

Noctis steps out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist and a toothbrush in his mouth he returns to his spot on the bed and picks up his phone checking the messages. He saw that he a text from Gladiolus mentioning they're taking Ignis out for fresh air since he had been coped up for several days.

The second text that he noticed was that from Ignis about an hour ago, it was explaining they were out eating. Noctis figured they were still eating so he sends a text.

'Hungry'

'Feed meeeeeee!'

'I'm dying!'

'Hungry!'

༼ ༎ຶ ෴ ༎ຶ༽

Noctis was about to send another text when he sees the three dots of a message being typed. Noctis simply stares at it watching the dots sleepily.

'Finally awake?'

It was Gladiolus.

'Feed me, Seymour!'

Another three dots.

'Go back 2 sleep & starve! (｀∀´)Ψ'

It was Prompto.

'Is that how u talk to ur king!? Fine! I will!'

'Noct. Don't be so quick to die, we'll bring you something to eat. Just tell me what you want.'

'See Icons loves me!'

'Should I be concerned that this Icons has taken interest in you?'

'Who is this Icons!? R they hot!? Or a thot!'

'Do they like Cup Noodles?'

'I meant Ignis! (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ'

'Suuuuure u did ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)'

'Shut up Pronto!'

'Proton'

'Prompt'

'Promptly'

'PROMPTO!'

'Stupid auto correct'

'O WOW. U ok there buddy? (≧∀≦)'

Noctis rolls his eyes and tosses his phone to his bed he looks around the room searching for the remote control before spotting it on the couch. "Guess I'll watch TV while I wait for them to come back." Noctis mumbles as he gets to his feet "Probably should get dressed too." The king adds as he sits down and grabs up the remote turning on the television. The king flips through a few channels before settling on the animated version of the web slinging hero.

Noctis watches a bit "I swear Spider-Man sounds familiar...where have I heard that voice before?"

Noctis sighs as he settles back into the couch as a yawn escapes him again as he picks up his phone once again checking the time and any new messages he may have got.

He hadn't gotten anything new.

He opens King's Knight and begins to play a round or two of his favorite game. He just logged in when he hears the keys in the door, with a few clicks the door unlocks and opens revealing Gladiolus, Prompto, and Ignis.

"Where did you guys go?" Noctis asks looking up from his phone.

"Ignis had a check up, the doctor wanted to see how his ribs were." Gladiolus says putting the keys to the Regalia on the nightstand. "What have you be up too? By the looks of it you hadn't done anything productive." Gladiolus jokes causing the king to stretch out further.

"What did the doctor say?" Noctis asks as he looks at Gladiolus "Put some pants on and I'll tell you."

Noctis sighs dramatically as drags himself to his feet and move to his duffle bag grabbing a change of clothes out of it "So what did they say?" He asks pulling on a pair of boxers.

"His ribs are mending." Prompto says as he helps Ignis into the bed. The tone however in his voice told Noctis that the photographer had more to say "But?" Noctis questions.

"We learned that Ignis is always coughing because he has fluid in his lungs." Prompto explains as he pulls Ignis' shoes off.

"Wait what!? How when did, was it because of the garula?" Noctis asks frantically.

"No one knows for sure but rest assured we have already scheduled a time for me to get it taken cared of." Ignis says as he holds out the to-go bag to Noctis who takes it from him "But its set for a later date, for now I'm just supposed to rest and wait for my bones to heal." Ignis adds closing his eyes squeezing them slightly when the pins and needles flare up.

Noctis frowns "You guys should've woken me up, if I knew that's where you were going I would've gotten up." Noctis says bitterly as he takes out the gyro they had ordered for him.

"I mean it's not like we had expected to hear that." Prompto admits "Ignis just ended up coughing and didn't stop. And once he did the doctor guy checked his breathing and thats how we found out." The blonde adds.

Noctis sighs.

"Look we know you're worried about him. But this is all part of having broken bones." Gladiolus says pulling off his shirt "If you wanna help Iggy make sure he takes this medicine on time and everyday until it runs out." Gladiolus says tossing a blue and white box to Noctis "Those are supposed to help get rid of the excess water in body until we go in for his treatment." The Shield explains.

Noctis nods as he opens the box pulling out a pill "Specs you wanna ta-..." Noctis looks over to Ignis only to find that the other was fast asleep.

"Oh yeah forgot the doctor gave him something for the pain." Gladiolus says looking at Ignis "It gave him a high for a bit. You should've seen him talking nonstop. He was all excited." laughs Gladiolus "Now he's exhausted, let him sleep. When he wakes up you can give it to him along with his other medication."

Noctis nods as he bites into the gyro. He knows that right now is a bit of a standstill and it must be hard for Ignis to be put out of commission but it won't be for long.

Because Ignis can only get better from here on.

He has too.