Untold Omens
Chapter Fifteen: The Chase
Dressed up in a neatly pressed, grey pinstripe pencil-skirt paired with a silk ivory blouse, Aracelis pushed through the triplex revolving doors into the Citadel's atrium. With a new leather satchel swinging at her hip, Aracelis embodied the ideal model professional strutting across the concourse.
The peak of the morning rush hour during the mid workweek meant the Citadel's entrance hall was at its busiest, abuzz with a slew of arriving commuters. Staff members, office employees and a myriad of high officials herded through the entranceways, maneuvering along the concourse to their respective admissions halls. The heels of polished dress shoes shuffle against the tiled marble floors in a sedate routine procession, clearing several precursory security stalls and checkpoints.
Balancing two brimming paper cups of hot coffee in both hands, Aracelis tactically wore her issued Kingsglaive ID on a lanyard around her neck for ease of mobility. When the final security checkpoint was cleared, the young woman made her way to the Military Divisions Antechamber, alleviated at the sight of a single door at the entranceway being held wide open for her.
Pleased at the luck of not having to do any awkward fidangaling today, she quickened her pace to catch the door in a timely manner. The stoic girl slipped past the open passage, only to regrettably discover that perhaps luck was not on her side after all.
"Good morn~ing, Aracelis!"
Aracelis returned Flabio's ostentatious greeting with stony silence, then hastened her step in an attempt to escape the redheaded pest. However, before she can manage to leave the blithering nuisance behind, he is fast to trail right alongside her. Beaming with a smile despite her overt disdain for his presence, he even bumps up against her shoulder with his own in a show of playful familiarity.
"My, my, my! Color me impressed." The impudent redhead commends. "It seems that you and Ignis managed to make a difference in Kingsglaive after all! But then again, I wonder…"
Aracelis groaned in annoyance at these uttered words, having grown all too familiar with the threat of ceaseless chatter promised within them. His finger began a neurotic idle tapping against his lower lip as he revealed the capricious train of thought.
"… Just how exactly do you think Kingsglaive has managed to function for so long before you two came along? I mean… I'm sure it must've been more than dumb luck keeping it all afloat before you and Ignis arrived to save the day, so to speak. Do you think it could be collusion? You know… like secret government corruption and under the table dealings. Cool stuff like that."
Though Aracelis remained unresponsive to the frivolous, and frankly dangerous line of inquiry, involuntarily the truth sprang to her mind uninvited.
In reality, Titus Drautos is an imposter whose current display of loyalty serves little more than an undercover ruse for him to infiltrate the Lucian Kingdom. The Kingsglaive Captain himself is compromised, adopting the vital military position in order to fulfill treasonous obligations to Emperor Iedolas Aldercapt. The traitor serves the Niflheim Empire under the alias General Glauca, none the wiser.
Once an embittered Galadian refugee, Drautos fosters a deep loathing for the Lucian Kingdom over the loss of his homeland, Galahd during the Great War 25 years ago. Though her sole memory of the lore would normally fail her regarding chronological trivia, simply paying attention in history class filled in these lost specifics.
To ensure the most reliable possible outcome comes to fruition, the vengeful man must adhere to script, destined to betray the Lucian Crown.
In haste, the brunette frowns deeply then merely shrugs when met with the unblinking stare of her unsought companion, hoping it enough to excuse away her pensive thoughtfulness. Apparently satiated by the abject response, her clumsy reprieve proves effective. In the blink of an eye, Flabio moves onto another random idea, fully engaging them in a long albeit one-sided conversation.
Irregardless to her forthright scorn and wordless posturing, they made their way together until arriving at the mezzanine where he was forced to part ways with her. Stepping onto the nearest elevator available, Flabio bade farewell to his colleague.
With a sigh of relief, Aracelis was glad to be rid of him.
"Oh! That reminds me!"
The tense brunette paused to glance back over her shoulder, her senses in keen awareness of the irate twitching at her eye.
"The next time you see Gladiolus, can you be sure to pay him my highest compliments? If I understand correctly, congratulations will soon be in order!"
Before Aracelis could even begin to comprehend the left-field request, the elevator door slides shut and his sleazy winking face is out of sight. Though bewildered, ultimately the girl disregards her odd associate. The request didn't make any sense, but Flabio never made any sense; not for as long as she's known him. He was gone now, she was glad for it and she had more important matters to attend to.
In the quiet mornings within Kingsglaive HR, Ignis was often found perusing through the countless documents in his small cubicle. He barely took notice of Aracelis when she walked through the office doors, until a familiar gesture interrupted his concentration. His focus was near immaculate before her hand shoved the cup of hot coffee directly in his line of sight.
Ignis blinks slowly several times, accepting the offered drink. His glasses hung low as he glanced up at her.
"Did Marcus catch you on the way in?"
Strangely, Ignis always picks up on her foul moods.
"Lucky guess…?" She retorts, making her way around the counter to her own seat.
Ignis took a sip of the hot beverage, the barest hint of amusement tugging at his lips. At the sugary assault to his taste buds however, he bit back a grimace discreetly covering a hand over his mouth. He forced down a swallow then waried a glance at the brunette in confusion.
Aracelis hissed after taking a gulp soon after, pursing her lips in distaste. Her condition mirrored his own, tongue salivating in disgust. She glared at the beverage in hand as if its very existence was an insult to her.
Staring at one another, they immediately swap beverages with a curt nod, quickly gleaning the simple mistake that was made. With some uncertainty, he tilts the drink to his lips, gingerly assessing the taste.
"Unlucky guess…?" Ignis quips, looking up at her from behind his cup. His green eyes glisten in a concealed smile.
Working in Kingsglaive Ignis soon realized… is mundane.
While the mountains of paper appear intimidating at first glance, it wasn't so much that the work was difficult. More so, the department suffered due to a lack of order and coherence, its outdated practices failing to meet the most basic of quotas.
If not for Aracelis' well thought out defense on Kingsglaive's behalf, it never would have crossed his mind to take up her cause in the Human Resources Department. He might've gone so far as to specifically preclude his placement prior had he known of the Iggy fans amongst its ranks.
"Hey girlie, I see you're alone today. Is Iggy out?"
Nyx Ulric's voice drew a curious peek from the young man hidden away within the archives. The man held a friendly smile on his face, arms resting atop the counter where Aracelis was seated heedless to his presence. The older glaive caught a glimpse of the discrete teen lingering behind her.
"Hey Iggy." Nyx teased, shooting him a winning smile and a casual wave.
Face red at the mention of his silly racing moniker, Ignis fought the urge to slip back into the archives. The beguiling man grinned at him, amused by his shy discomfort.
"I don't recall there being any issues with your paperwork, Mr. Ulric," intervened Aracelis without breaking away from her work. "What are you doing here?"
"Can't I just swing by to say hello?"
"No."
When Ignis first joined the department, he was more than happy to go along with Aracelis' lead. She faced any disgruntled glaives that happen to come their way, in turn he handled the burden of the chaotic mess within the archives.
As Ignis overheard the growing exchange, he feared the day might come when he might have to actually speak up. If Nyx's outgoing demeanor was anything like what he's experienced with Claire in the past, the brazen man might become a handful from time to time.
"Tell me what you want or get out." Aracelis motioned to the door, humoring no nonsense from the older man.
"No need to work yourself up on my behalf." Nyx held up his hand. "I was just wondering if you could help me locate someone. After all, you do know where all of us live. Handling our important paperwork and all."
"If you're asking me to disclose private information on another glaive." Aracelis stated bluntly. "The answer is no."
"Come~on." Nyx ribbed playfully. "I'll get you a date with him if you help me. You're into nice muscles right?"
Ruffled by his condescending attitude, Aracelis carried on working with a vehement composure. "You're insane if you think I'm going to bend the rules for a date with someone I don't even know."
"He's a hottie." Nyx teased.
"Leave." Aracelis snapped. "Or I will file a harassment suit on you."
"Okay, okay, sheesh! I'm just looking out for one of our own. You see, I'm trying to find Gladiolus Ami—"
"You're looking for Gladio?" The brunette paused to regard the man at the mention of her childhood friend.
"Gladio?" Nyx repeated, a smile crossing his face at her use of the nickname. "So you do know him."
"Don't change the subject." Aracelis interjected. "Why are you looking for Gladio? He should be training with the Kingsglaive cadets."
"Not today he isn't," countered Nyx casually. "He's—"
A loud throat clearing interrupted the line of questioning as the Captain of the Kingsglaive cut into their conversation. "—And pray tell where is Gladiolus today, Ulric?"
"Captain." Nyx rolled against the counter to face his superior, a counterfeit grin plastered across his face. "Filing for vacation again? I hear the weather's going to be great the next couple of weeks."
Hands propped at his hips, Drautos disregarded the glaive's ludicrous attempts to distract him. "I was informed Gladiolus was late yesterday and he hasn't checked in today either."
"What? No way." Nyx feigned ignorance. "The system is probably glitched or something."
"I am not buying your cocky bullshit today, Ulric." The Captain's tone remained flat and unamused. "Let's not forget you were the one who insisted he join our ranks. Any misdemeanor he accumulates while in Kingsglaive will be on your head, I assure you."
"If he gets a misdemeanor." Nyx countered with a cheeky grin before adding a prudent. "Sir."
The Captain's onerous glare bore into his protégé, a thin lipped scowl pressed deep into his jowls.
"I warned you from the start that this would be a terrible decision. Our solemn pledge to fight for hearth and home means absolutely nothing to someone who has never once lost such a thing. We both know that Gladiolus will forever remain an outsider among our ranks and that in truth, he was never meant to be a part of Kingsglaive in the first place. Pretending otherwise is simply foolishness on your part."
Drautos turned on his heel to exit the office concluding with a final statement.
"If his disgraceful failure as a shield is any indication, that boy probably wasn't suited for the likes of Crownsguard either."
Unnerved by the Captain's harsh renunciation Aracelis averted her gaze, holding her breath until Drautos left the room. Ignis couldn't help but dwell on the man's display of heartless reasoning. It seemed to him the narrow-minded Captain knew little of the Amicitia's true character.
"Now that grumpy's gone." Nyx turned to face them, previous good-humor replaced with a rigidness in stark contrast to his usual lax attitude. "Care to tell me where the kid is?"
Muttering under her breath Aracelis pulled out her phone attempting to give Gladio a call. Her teeth gnawed on her lower lip when he failed to answer. The brunette fell into a pensive silence, curling a finger against her lips in search of a clue.
The young woman continued to glower until her sharp eyes grew wide and unblinking, her face grim in an unpleasant realization. Aracelis shot up from her seat, snatched her things in a fury then stormed out of the office.
Taken aback, both Ignis and Nyx could only exchange a look in agreement to hurry after her.
Ding!
The elevator came to a stop arriving at the Crownsguard Bureau Headquarters. Ignis and Nyx step off the elevator behind her, still clueless as to where she might be leading them.
The stylish high ceiling offices afforded to the Crownsguard Bureau bear little in comparison to the Kingsglaive Department's more dour working conditions. Tall plants accent choice nooks and spaces, bringing a classy green embellish to the gold-lined glass interiors. Edge to edge windows adorn the premises to provide a great view of the Crown City perimeter, the skyline of the wall visible from a distance.
Dressed in formal business attire, the two young interns didn't appear too out of place among their upscale surroundings. In contrast, the rugged older glaive stood out like a sore-thumb.
Nyx's foreign appearance, save not for his Kingsglaive uniform drew in quite a few looks from the passerby office workers. With a hint of uncharacteristic self-consciousness, the glaive subtly dipped his head keeping his hands firm in his pockets while following along.
It wasn't long before Aracelis zeroed in on Marcus Flavius, finding her target seated behind a large front desk in the center of the Crownsguard Offices. Of all people, the Flavius heir might've been the last person Ignis ever expected Aracelis to actively search for. Their classmate all but perked up in delight at the sight of her, springing up from his seat as the trio approached him.
In a poor attempt at a cool gesture, Marcus dipped forward to rest an arm atop the desk counter. Instead, his elbow misjudged the distance resulting in an awkward miss. In a clumsy scramble, he manages to right himself before nearly face-planting into his workstation.
"Well, well, well, what brings you to these parts Aracelis?" The young lord addresses her with an air of suave indifference, putting up a comedic act that the witnessed mishap never occurred.
"Are you done playing with Kingsglaive and looking for a transfer to Crownsguard? Because if you are, I'm sure I could put in a good word or two. No need to thank me. I work with Crownsguard after all, so you could say I have friends in high places."
The glaive scoffs at the insolent young man's offhand remark. However, Nyx is provided no chance to intervene as Aracelis is quick to begin her interrogation.
"Marcus, you need to clarify something you said to me earlier this morning."
"...What exactly did I say to you?" The redhead blinks, staring at her in guileless uncertainty. "Because if I recall correctly, we had quite a lengthy conversation."
With forced patience, Aracelis focuses a calm demeanor over her frustrating colleague. "You said to congratulate Gladiolus for you." She clarifies, enunciating each word for him with a controlled anger. "Tell me what you meant by that."
Marcus slowly tilts his head in confusion before his eyes light up in recollection. "Oh yes, that!"
With a mischievous little grin, his eyes dart from Nyx to Ignis, settling on his so-called rival. He leans forward, motioning with his fingers for her to come closer, as if eager to divulge juicy gossip.
Biting back all her vitriol for his loathsome arrogance, Aracelis takes in a slow breath through her nose. In great reluctance, she yields to his tawdry whims.
Once Aracelis offers him an ear, Marcus begins murmuring in enthusiastic hushed tones, growing quieter with every whispered word. "...Before I went home last night, I saw Gladiolus Amicitia speaking with Lady Claire Auburn." His eyes shift as if expecting someone to eavesdrop in their conversation. "That's when I overheard them talking about going to the Tempering Grounds."
Her eyes go wide in horror at his revelation. "He's going to…"
"Mmm-hmm. Indeed," Marcus confirms her unspecified presumption, raising his brows with an animated nod. "... I believe Gladiolus is going to undergo the Gilgamesh Trials."
At the mention of Blademaster's name, Aracelis' face pales in dismay.
"I hardly ever have the pleasure of his company, so I was hoping you might congratulate Gladiolus on my behalf when he surely returns victorious!" The cheeky young man exclaims, pulling away from her with a fixed grin.
Digesting the dreaded possibility, Aracelis hands grip firmly onto the counter to maintain her balance.
"...Wait," Marcus gapes in a very feigned disbelief. "...You mean he didn't tell you!?"
Aracelis turns away from the taunting young man, bolting from his desk to leave the glass enclosure. Nyx eyeballs the disheveled redhead before he strides after her.
"Um…" Ignis pauses, affording him a final glance. "If you'll please excuse me."
Posed coolly against his desk, Marcus dons a broad smile on his face that does not quite reach his eyes.
"Not good, not good, not good…" Aracelis muttered under her breath, anxious outside the Crownsguard Office halls. Her hand reached for her phone once more, swiping through its contents. "Damn it! He's out of range. The tracker can't pick up on his location."
Though it was commonplace for Aracelis to handle most things on her phone, it wasn't until recently that Ignis realized she owned a specialized Crownsguard model.
Mobile phones afforded to the public lack in the extensive map technology, detailing Insomnia and the Lucian Territories outlying the perimeter of the wall. Apart from local businesses and residential zones, the Citadel and most other key areas are only made available to the likes of the Lucian Royalty and Insomnia's Defense. Ignis himself was not afforded such access, even as the anticipated heir to the Scientia Counthood.
It would make sense for Gladio to own this exclusive grade phone, as he was formerly enlisted to Crownsguard and once in line to serve as the King's Shield. For Aracelis to have such a phone as well was likely a security measure for the Amicitia Line.
"There's no way I can drive fast enough to catch him if he's already outside the city limits." Aracelis concluded, determined to pursue after her missing childhood friend.
"Woah, woah! Hold on there girlie!" Nyx cut her off. "For your information, you can't just breach the wall without getting authorized clearance. I can help, but first you gotta tell me what's going on."
Aracelis halts her restless steps to outline the dire situation to them. Presently, Gladiolus is heading to the infamous Tempering Ground to undergo a series of perilous trials where he will face off against Gilgamesh, an undefeated ancient entity survived by only one.
"If I don't hurry, that idiot is going to get himself killed." Aracelis emphasized. "No one but the Marshal has ever survived the trials."
The fact that Gladio is no longer showing up on her tracker indicates that he must already be beyond the city wall, somehow. Ignis overheard the previous mention of Claire Auburn's vague involvement, so it would be unsurprising to him if she were somehow responsible for procuring them a means of unlawful evasion beyond the wall.
"Listen, even if all that is true, you have to understand… it's different outside the Crown City." Nyx planted a hand on her shoulder, imploring her to think clearly. "There are daemons out there. Have you ever left the city before?"
Stubbornly, Aracelis disregards the man's concern. Instead, she turns to face Ignis, her dark eyes exuding headstrong determination.
"Ignis, I need you…"
Ignis blinks in surprise at the sudden intimacy of the declaration. Aracelis grabs his hands in hers, gazing into his eyes in near desperation.
"...Ignis." Aracelis groans through gritted teeth, thoroughly snapping him out of the flustering disillusion adamantly stating, "I need you to be Iggy! Please! Only you can do it!"
Beside them, Nyx snorts in a closed mouth chuckle at the miscommunicated nature of their exchange.
Roof down with hot wind rushing against their faces, Gladio's hands held firm at the steering wheel of Claire Auburn's red convertible. His amber eyes laid focused on the long stretch of desert road ahead of them, blatantly trying to ignore Lady Claire on the passenger side. The baroness-in-waiting had her sneakers propped up on the dashboard humming along to the music blaring at max volume.
"Do you have to play that crap so loud?" Gladio snarled in annoyance.
"Well, you've already banned me from driving. Are you so heartless as to take away my music too?" Claire countered with a wry grin.
"No sane person would willingly let you behind the wheel." The Amicitia teen reasoned, glaring at her out of the corner of his eye. Having endured her driving within the first hour of their escapade, he quickly discovered that Claire somehow drove more recklessly than Aracelis while undergoing her worst levels of stress.
"You're welcome to head back to Insomnia." Claire offered. "Get a car of your own and find the Tempering Grounds all on your lonesome. That is, if you insist on taking what little pleasures I still have." She dismissed him with an absent pout and a lazy wave.
Gladio fell silent. It was too late to turn back now. With an annoyed click of his tongue, he gripped the steering wheel tightly and pressed his weight down on the gas pedal. The wind picked up, drowning out the sounds of the loud radio against his ears. His eyes narrowed against the cutting dry desert heat rushing past them.
Rather than growing alarmed, Lady Claire let out a girlish squeal, throwing her hands up in delight at the sudden acceleration. She turned to praise her disgruntled companion, but paused when she spotted a familiar black car fast approaching them. A sly grin tugged at her lips as she reached over to slap Gladio's broad shoulder.
"What now?" The older teen snapped.
"Drive faster," insisted Claire.
"Are you crazy? I'm already going fast!"
"If you don't." She continued in a sing-song, rocking her thumb towards the car gaining on them. "They're going to catch us."
"Who's going to—"
Before he could finish, the black car flew past them, screeching as it turned with an abrupt donut to cut off their path.
"SHIT!" Gladio slammed hard on the breaks then veered off to the side.
Heart racing, pounding violently against his chest strands of loose dark hair fell over his face when he lifted his head to open his eyes. Gladio barely managed to keep the vehicle on the road in the close call.
His passenger appeared unbothered at being abruptly thrust forward by the haphazard stop. Dissatisfied, she leaned back into her seat.
"It's over already?" Claire sighed, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "But I supposed that's to be expected with Igster behind the wheel. You never stood a chance."
"...Igster?" Gladio frowned in confusion, taking a glance at the mysterious car that viciously cut them off.
Black exterior handsomely detailed, he instantly recognized the other vehicle as the car belonging to Aracelis. A wave of anger flooded through him.
If Claire hadn't insisted on taking a break about an hour ago, they might have made it to the Tempering Grounds unpursued.
At the low appreciative whistle coming from the passenger side, Ignis waried a sideways glance at Nyx, who sat beside him grinning ear to ear. "So, this is what Luche meant by Iggy!"
Ignis withheld the rising blush, keeping a grip on the wheel as he studied the all too familiar stalled red convertible, a car he's raced in many times in the past. Fortunately, Gladio wasn't without sense and had immediately swerved to avoid them.
Settling his breathing against the blood pounding in his ears, Ignis prepared himself to resume the chase if the Amicitia fled. However, his vigilance was interrupted when he noticed Aracelis moving to exit the car.
"Wait!" He called out, surprising not only her, but himself as well. Having witnessed the two childhood friends antagonize one another so often, Ignis knew he had to act now to prevent that from reoccurring at the moment.
"…Maybe I should approach Gladio first." Ignis suggested carefully, wary that the stubborn girl would dismiss his words. "I know this is not my place, but the last I saw, the two of you did not exactly part in the best of ways."
Aracelis looked to Ignis, her brows pinched in concern rather than annoyance. The girl's current iire was reserved strictly for the other young man stunned in the other vehicle. Her hand remained on the handle, but judging by her averted gaze and focused intensity of her eyes, Ignis deduced that she must be replaying yesterday's argument in her mind.
"I… I fear that if you spoke with him now, it may only exacerbate the situation." His voice slowly gained confidence at the lack of rebuttal. "I share no bad blood with Gladio, so it's likely he might be open to hearing what I have to say."
"Iggy has a point." Nyx chimed in. "The kid is in a bit of a mood. It's… not exactly wise to harass an angry behemoth in that state."
Aracelis took a deep breath through her nose as she considered their words. Convinced, she retreated from the door and sank back into her seat.
"…Please talk reason into him." She said quietly.
"I'll try my best." Ignis stifled the threat of a relieved sigh against his tight smile. A firm hand clapped over his shoulder nearly dislodging his glasses.
"Let's see what else you've got Iggy!" Nyx's grin offered him a small semblance of reassurance as he unbuckled himself and made his way out of the car.
Gladio emerged from the other vehicle nearly at the same moment. At the unexpected sight of Ignis the older teen paused, taken aback.
Confused, but anger not forgotten, Gladio renewed his fierce resolution. The Amicitia approached Ignis rearing for a fight, booted footsteps heavy and countenance emanating in a quiet fury. Ignis in turn, met him with stoic composure. Both halted far enough in safe distance.
"What the hell were you thinking, driving like that!?" Gladio began the moment he was in range. "You could have gotten us all killed!"
"But he didn't." Claire smirks from behind Gladio. The girl leaned against her car, both hands clasped at the base of her neck.
Ignis resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose at her presence, unsurprised to find none other than Claire Auburn at the heart of this entire fiasco. His racing companion certainly did have a knack for getting herself into one mess or another.
"…I'm sorry," Ignis apologized, doing his best not to further antagonize the older teen. "However, this was the only way I could think of getting you to stop the car."
Gladio scoffs, aiming a dark look at the black car intercepting the road. "So, Arie put you up to this." He stated flatly.
Ignis shrouds his face by adjusting his glasses, a red tinge coloring his cheeks at the Amicitia's supposition.
"Come off it, Ignis." Gladio sneers. "Can't suppose you're all the way out here pulling a crazy stunt like that for me, so get out of my way."
"Be that as it may." Ignis remained sensible against Gladio's derisive attitude. "What are you hoping to accomplish by doing this?"
"Hoping?" Gladio spat, an incredulous look of disgust fell over his face. "I intend to prove my worth, there is no room for hoping here!"
"I see… So then, whom are you going to prove yourself to, if I may ask?"
"Everyone." The angry teen grounded. "My father, the King, Crownsguard, Kingsglaive and even that brat of a prince, Noctis. Everyone! I will show them all!"
"… And Iris?" Ignis added.
"What does Iris have to do with any of this?"
"Everything. Speaking technically, Iris must be accounted for as well, correct?" The bespectacled teen laid out calmly.
A frown marred Gladio's face.
"From what I understand, the Trial of Gilgamesh is a life threatening challenge to undertake. Apart from the Marshal, no other soul has ever survived the ordeal and lived to tell of it." Ignis recited the facts Aracelis previously disclosed. "If you were to fail… how do you think your little sister would react to the news?"
Gladio fell silent. Explosive laughter was heard coming from behind them.
"Pft, whatever." Claire mocks. "Who cares about her? Let's just get out of here already. We're wasting time!"
"…You took off without a word." Ignis intervened, toying with the bridge of his glasses as he spoke. "Had you failed, none would be the wiser to your fate. Iris would've spent the rest of her life wondering what happened to her brother, live on without any solace nor comfort. As the only other Amicitia remaining, she would forever question if somehow she is to blame for your disappearance."
"Why would she think—"
"Iris is just a little girl, one who loves and idolizes her older brother…" Ignis reminded him gently. "You don't have to do something like this to prove yourself to her. Isn't that what's important? Can you really take this risk, knowing there may be a chance of leaving her in such condition?"
Gladio looks away, fists clenched tight at his sides. After a moment of inner contemplation he returns his attention to Ignis, eyes clear of anger or confusion.
"…You're absolutely right." The older teen agreed, exactly as Ignis anticipated.
"So that's why I won't lose. I can't lose." Gladio then added, thwarting Ignis with his very next declaration. His amber eyes lit with renewed determination. "Step aside, Ignis. I won't say it again."
"Yeah!" Claire chimes in, further goading the situation. "He can't lose! Losing?! Pft, impossible!"
From a distance, Nyx and Aracelis waited in pensive silence, overseeing the deadlock within the parked vehicle. Dismayed by the south turn, Aracelis tugged the door handle disrupting the glaive's careful attention.
"Aracelis." Nyx snapped sharply, causing the girl to jump in surprise. His eyes pleaded with her to muster up a bit more patience as he wordlessly mouthed his next words. "Just wait. Please."
She reluctantly complied and released her grip on the door's handle. Teeth gnawing at her lower lip, she hoped to the heavens that Nyx was right about this.
Dumbfounded, Ignis reassessed the hard nosed older teen anchored across from him. The Amicitia remained firm in proud opposition, mind dead-set and heart much too overdetermined. Gladio was proving to be the single most stubborn person he's ever encountered, the sort who didn't seem to know when to give up.
"…I can't let you do this." Ignis eventually starts again with stronger resolve. "Simply put, odds are not on your side Gladio. I won't let you throw your life away for nothing."
"Nothing?" He repeated softly under his breath. Gladio winced before erupting in a flashing bout of awful rage. "THIS ISN'T NOTHING!"
Flexing lithe fingers in pent up uncertainty, Ignis didn't allow himself to flinch yet he could no longer afford to remain impassive.
"What do you know?!" Gladio demanded through his rising anger.
"…I know that if you were actually thinking clearly, that you would put your sister before your family name. I know that you would never do anything to hurt or bring harm to the people you care about most! I know that if you even so much as try." Ignis seized the unstable teen with a steely look. "I won't let you…"
Gladio held firm, stubbornly determined to refute the other young man. However, as the seconds dragged on, his face fell and his broad shoulders dropped like a chastised dog. Rubbing the base of his neck the older teen broke eye contact in a long-standing truce, visibly lost and indecisive.
"…You won't let me, huh?" Gladio murmured more so to himself than anyone else, sizing up the quiet teen challenging him.
Their eyes locked, arresting one another in an impasse. Ignis met him with nothing but forged confidence. In reality, he wasn't at all certain if this had actually gotten through to the Amicitia or not. He only feared the worst if he failed now.
"…Okay." Gladio surrendered, satisfied with his estimation of the Scientia heir. He steadily began to approach Ignis, temper stable once more. "I won't do it then…"
Frozen stiff at the unexpected victory, Ignis didn't act on the inexplicable urge to gauge for the reactions of his onlookers. To his surprise, the older teen reached out planting a grateful hand over his shoulder. So caught up in his speeding thoughts, he almost missed Gladio's next words spoken only for their ears.
"…Thanks… for talking sense into me, Ignis."
Holding his breath, Ignis could only nod in response. As the older teen broke away, he felt a flood of relief melting away all the tension that had built up over the duration of their standoff.
At the noticeable change in atmosphere, Aracelis hastily kicked the door open and scrambled out racing towards them, her hands balled tightly into fists. Nyx stepped out a moment later, following behind at a more leisure pace.
Seeing his furious childhood friend rushing towards him, Gladio grounded his feet just as she crashed into him.
"You—stupid—muscle—headed—idiot!" Aracelis pounded her fists against his chest with each word.
"Nice to see you too." Gladio retorted dryly, ignoring her half-hearted attacks.
"What were you thinking running off like that?" Aracelis' slender form shook with consternation, her brows pinched with worry.
The quiet teen observed the reunited friends from afar. It didn't matter at all that Aracelis was entirely angry with Gladio. Without warning, he pulled the shorter girl into a tight bear hug drawing out an indignant yelp from her. Aracelis flailed in his hold, but eventually gave in and sank into the other's arms.
Green eyes transfixed with pitiful envy Ignis couldn't look away as Gladio drew Aracelis into a tight embrace, unable to dissuade the sick feeling polluting his heart.
"…You're still an idiot." Aracelis grumbled darkly under her breath, her cheek pressed against his broad chest. The Amicitia's gaze grew softer over his childhood friend. For the briefest of moments, he held the little girl that made him promise to never leave.
"But you came after me anyway." He replied softly.
The girl swatted him tepidly in response.
Lips furled thin, Ignis wearily lowered his trespassing gaze granting them a private moment. Perhaps they truly had a bond he could never hope to match.
"Okay kids!" Nyx clapped his hands in order to seize their attention. "As much as all this lovey-dovey hugging crap is nice and all, we still have to address the catoblepas in the room."
Gladio released Aracelis as he turned to confront the older glaive. Back straight and shoulders taut, he readied himself to face the repercussions of his actions. Nyx greeted Gladio with a hardy pat to his wide shoulder.
"You're lucky I like you, kid! That's why when we get back, I'm going to make sure you don't take the fall for this one."
Almost instantly Gladio shrugged the hand off and began to vehemently protest, decrying the man for his unwanted pity. Not far behind, Aracelis sided with Nyx, drawing the older teen into yet another one of their usual disputes.
"…Predictable, huh?" Claire lamented with a wry scoff.
Ignis turned to see the mischievous girl coming to a stop beside him.
"And here I was hoping Tall, Dark & Ugly would actually be interesting." She snickered with a toothy smirk. She cocked her head towards her car raising her brow suggestively. "Looks like the big guy was so eager to chicken out on me, he even forgot his bag in my car."
"…How exactly did you leave the city?" Ignis questioned, accompanying her to the remote convertible on the side of the road to fetch the overlooked luggage. He found the green duffel bag slumped in the back seat.
"Pulling strings. In a manner of speaking, pulling heart strings." Claire answered with unashamed disclosure. "You could say I know some mindless jerks over at wall security. Nothing I can't handle to get my way."
There was no comfort found in the thought that Insomnia's Wall Security could so easily be breached by the clever wiles of a sixteen year old girl.
"Besides," Claire continued. "I'm tired of people treating me like I'm just some stupid kid. I'm quite done playing nice with the likes of Crownsguard."
"Done?" His brow furrowed in confusion before his face settled into a knowing smile. "So, does that mean you're quitting?"
"Quitting?!" Claire huffed. "Me? No way!"
"Then what, pray tell, are you doing exactly?" Ignis inquired.
"I'm leaving." She rectified, shooting him a coy sideways glance. "As a matter of fact, I'm ditching the lousy Crown City as a whole."
"Leaving?…But what about—"
"—What? The path set by our forefathers?" She cut in with a chuckle. "Oh please."
In an act of excessive court formality the former heiress spun into a curtsy flourishing her hand out to him. "Rather than following the boring dregs of the upper echelon, why don't you come away with me instead?"
"…With you?" He repeated quietly.
"Yup!" The answer popped on her lips. "We'll start life anew outside the Crown City." She touted, brandishing an open hand out at the land's horizon. "Away from the monotonous office routine. No more of the stupid court drama. What do you say?"
Claire paused for a calculated moment, gazing at him almost tenderly.
"You wouldn't have to face your uncle in that empty apartment anymore…"
To run away from everything was indeed a tempting offer. Sometimes, Claire knew him better than he knew himself. It would be so easy for him to let her lead him away, blazing headlong as if it was just another race.
Beyond his uncle, Ignis had no real familial attachments within the city and even then they were never close. It didn't truly matter if he took up his uncle's counthood or not. Apart from a personal desire to repay the man for taking him in, Ignis had no literal obligation to do so. Upholding his menial position within Kingsglaive even less so. Prior to Aracelis' passionate defense, he had no real interest in joining Kingsglaive nor the multitude of other administrations within the Citadel.
The more Ignis delved into his thoughts, the more reasons he found to accept the heedless offer to run away with her…
"Ignis!"
At the call of his name, he turned his gaze back towards the group he nearly overlooked. Ignis hadn't expected Aracelis to call out for him now that she had Gladio back. The brunette stood waiting for him by the open door of the backseat while the others situated themselves into the car. Nyx had taken point in the driver seat and Gladio, evidently quelled by the older man sulked in the front passenger side.
"Let's go! We have to get back into the city before nightfall!"
His face warmed and a bout of uncertainty hit his chest. As Ignis turned to Claire, the girl let out a long disappointed sigh.
"I guess you've made your decision." She noted, the humor never leaving her face. Claire reached behind her neck to unclasp the thin silver chain she wore. "Since you're not coming along, here's something to remember me by."
Informally, the girl lobbed him the keepsake.
"Heads up!"
Ignis blinked, recognizing the quaint skull pendant caught in his hand. Though there was no legitimacy in street racing, the community highly valued competition. Enthusiasts often pooled to provide rewards and bragging rights for their major races. The skull pendant was once an ornament fastened to a trophy from one of his earlier street races.
"Claire…" Ignis mused, shaking his head in exasperation as he curled his fingers around the gift. He never knew she had the silly old thing, having failed to notice when she made away with it in the first place.
"Try not to have too much fun without me around!" The girl exclaimed hopping over the car door into the driver's seat of her red convertible.
"…Claire, wait…" Ignis stalled her, momentarily indecisive.
The temptation to go along with her would make him no better than Gladio moments ago. It would be irresponsible of him to run away after all that was said and done.
"… Are you… still going to the Tempering Grounds?" He queried, wondering if she would have truly driven Gladio to his grave.
"Only a total moron willingly marches towards certain doom." Claire grinned.
Pulling her car off the brakes Claire began to shift gears, more than ready to take off but not before she shot him a wink over her shoulder.
"Take care of yourself, Igster!"
Seated in the back next to Aracelis, the ride back to Insomnia was peaceful with the steady hum of the car supplying mesmeric ambiance. A sense of nostalgic longing overtook Ignis as his gaze swept over the open plains and vast setting skies through the car window. He hasn't been outside the Crown City since his parents' passing.
He missed sleeping underneath the million stars, his parents barely a stone's throw away. The earthy smell of a roaring campfire with his mother quietly hunched over her notebook and her pen softly scritch-scratching the results of her research for the day. The lull of his father's gentle petting to put him to sleep.
Ignis' lips pressed thin at the memories. He didn't want to draw his gaze away from the scenery, uncertain if he would ever see it again after today. However, he could not deny the pain it brought him to be reminded of what he lost. He closed his eyes briefly with resigned acceptance. What's lost was lost, he missed his parents dearly but…
Thump...
At the sudden weight on his shoulder, Ignis opened his eyes to Aracelis slumped against his side. His expression softened at her slumbering face, free from the earlier tension in the day. Her loose strands of hair fluttered against her soft even breaths.
He caught himself mid-reach to tuck her hair until his gaze automatically darted to Gladio seated in the front. The older teen sat fully slumped in his seat dead asleep, head lulling against the headrest with his mouth slightly ajar. Ignis bit back a breath in ease before meeting with Nyx's amused blue eyes in the rearview mirror. Ignis felt his face flush red when he realized the older man was taking notice.
"You kids are certainly turning out to be quite the handful." Nyx chuckled softly, his voice lilted with amusement yet mindful of the sleeping passengers. "Think you can hold off doing anything half as crazy as these two? At least until we get back into the city."
Ignis bit back a snort of laughter, relieved that the glaive was not about to tease him further as his personality has shown to do. "I'll…see what I can do."
"I'm going to have my work cut out for me, keeping an eye out on you three, aren't I?" Nyx shook his head fondly. "This isn't exactly something I expected to deal with way back when I first joined Kingsglaive."
"My apologies." Ignis quipped, a faint smile playing at his lips as his gaze fell to Aracelis once more.
Kingsglaive certainly wasn't what he expected either.