Chapter Summary: Dragons don't like frogs.

Notes: I don't even know how to explain this…

Ignis stared down at the red frog sunning amidst the rocks of the Astor Slough's muddy shore with more caution than was likely warranted. The small creature croaked, seemingly perfectly harmless and unbothered by the shadow he cast over the warm rocks. Still, Ignis couldn't quite bring himself to stoop down and collect the amphibious specimen, something about the taunt crimson skin and bulging eyes setting his instincts on edge. He must've stared too long as he heard the others amble up behind him.

"Specs, don't even think about trying any new recipes. There's no way I'm eating one of these things." Ignis had to work hard at not letting himself retch or otherwise react to Noct's very suggestion of the idea.

"Yeah," Prompto agreed. "Who knows what that Sania chick would do to us if we tried."

Gladio scoffed. "What, you scared of her or somethin'?"

"Wha – No!" Prompto denied a little too quickly. "She just seems really intense, you know."

Ignis couldn't help but agree. He'd been hard pressed to place the unusual woman they'd come across at the edge of the Coernix Station parking lot, scouring his memories for the source of his nagging sense of déja vu. It wasn't until Gladio had shoved Noct towards the lady, professing to have chatted her up back at Hammerhead, that Ignis had finally recognized one reason Professor Sania was familiar. At the time, the more pressing concern of paying off the rather hefty debt of the Regalia's repairs had hung over their heads and he'd hardly paid more than a passing glance to the lady harassing the weapons merchant, having only really noticed the pair for the peculiar odor hanging about them. That same odor still clung heavily to the professor when they'd run into her again. It was an oddly pungent stench that made Ignis' stomach roll uncomfortably, and one he now knew to associate with the frogs she studied. How peculiar.

The other reason for the familiarity he felt in her presence was, of course, being that Dr. Sania Yeagre was actually a famed professor of biology with works published the world over. It had taken him a moment to make the connection to her prestigious standing, though he was likely not alone in that difficulty as one would hardly guess such from her youthful appearance and rather eccentric disposition. It was clear Dr. Sania preferred to get her own hands dirty when it came to matters of her research, even if she wasn't above enlisting unnamed strangers to wrangle together test subjects for her. Speaking of which, "Do we have all we need?"

Ignis was more thankful than he hoped he let on as Noct nodded, scooping up the last frog into the armiger. "Yep, should be enough. Let's go ahead and turn back."

"Good. It's about time we started heading for Lestallum." Gladio rolled his shoulders as they all moved back toward the steep incline leading up to the highway. It was easy to tell he was want to reunite with his sister after everything that had transpired.

"Whoa, wait! Hold on a minute! Do we have to?" Prompto practically begged, pulling on Noct's shoulder to get his undivided attention. "Come on, Noct, the chocobo ranch is way closer. Can't we just make a quick visit? Promise, it'll take no time at all."

Noct shrugged him off. "Uh, I guess it wouldn't hurt."

Frankly, Ignis simply hoped the famous birds of burden smelled better than the frogs did.

Gladio scoffed at Noct's easy cave to Prompto's pleading. "I got an idea. How 'bout we race for it – first one to the car gets to pick the next stop. You in?"

"What, that is totally not fair! Noct already said yes," Prompto whined. "Besides, you'll destroy me!"

"What, thought you were a runner." Gladio shoved the younger man forward, playfully.

Prompto squawked in offense. "Yeah, and your behemoth legs out stride mine by about ten feet. Seriously, dude, you're a giant!"

Noctis hung back a ways from Gladio and Prompto as the two chased each other up the hill, turning an assessing look on his advisor. "Hey, you doing okay? You seem… anxious."

Blast. It was always easy to forget how intuned Noct could be to the subtler emotions broadcast through their bond when he so chose – and, admittedly, his feelings of repulsion had possibly not been as discreet as he would have preferred. "I'm fine. Nothing requiring royal attention."

Noct quirked up an eyebrow. "You were staring down that frog like it might be poisonous or something."

Was that it? He supposed his instincts could be warning him of toxins hidden beneath the creature's slimy, red skin. Though typically indigenous to more tropical climates, brightly colored frogs were certainly capable of posing such a threat. He suddenly felt guilty at having allowed the others to do all the handling. "Let us hope not. I can't imagine Dr. Sania would fail to warn us if such is the case."

"Hmm, well, we'll be rid of the little guys soon enough. Don't keep it to yourself if you start to feel worse." Noct attempted a casual shrug, but he crowded closer in on the borders of his advisor's personal space all the same.

Excellent, now Ignis would have to contend with Noct's hovering, as his king was likely to watch his every move until he was convinced there truly was nothing bothering him – never mind that their dynamic was very much intended to work the other way around. Not that Noct had ever really been one to accept that excuse.

What was worse, when they returned to deliver the frogs to Dr. Sania, she seemingly noticed his exception to the little devils as well. At first, she had focused on bartering with Noct, attempting to secure their aid for further errands, which Noct thankfully had the sense not to promise upfront for once.

Not that the work lacked value. The world did seem to be taking a turn for the worse lately, though perhaps it just seemed that way with the recent invasion of their home and subsequent upheaval of their lives. But evidence did appear to suggest the world was suffering a lot of strange phenomena of late, as Dr. Sania put it.

It was only after she failed to obtain a definitive answer from Noct that she took notice of Ignis' mindful distance from her makeshift work station along with the pale pallor to his skin. "Hmm. you seem to be experiencing some sort of natural aversion to these lovelies. Most intriguing."

And Ignis wasn't sure he wanted to know what could have been going through her head as she roved keen eyes over his false form with something akin to intense curiosity. The look was not entirely dissimilar to the cool scientific interest he recognized from some of the less amiable physicians that had once paid him visit in the Citadel. He was not encouraged by the familiarity and attempted to brush off further discussion on the matter. "Simply feeling a bit pallid, nothing more."

"Really? Does this happen often? When did you last experience exposure to an amphibious variable? Have you encountered this subspecies before? Hmm, I imagine not, this mutation hasn't been on the scene long enough to become widespread. No, this won't do at all; I'm going to need more to work with. Would you be willing to part with a small saliva sample?"

Ignis stared down at the cotton swab presented to him at the end of the professor's unexpected ramblings. "I beg your pardon?"

"Come now, no need to be shy. We're talking about important data here and science waits for no one." Dr. Sania waved the swab impatiently.

"Ah, I'm afraid I must decline." The possibility of the professor learning anything of value from his saliva of all things seemed dubious but Ignis was not feeling particularly incautious at the moment.

Dr. Sania's enthusiasm didn't taper off at his refusal. She merely shook her head as if under the impression he was simply being difficult when presented with a perfectly reasonable request, "I see, so that's how you want to play it? Very well, I can be a patient woman when the need arises."

She let the subject drop after that, offering Noct a small compensation for their services and praised them for their efforts. But Ignis couldn't help but notice how she spoke as if their continued assistance was all but guaranteed – not to mention the speculative glances she kept aiming his way. He couldn't shake the feeling that the professor had gleaned something of value from the odd exchange.

It was only once they'd managed to extricate themselves from Dr. Sania and her impressive forwardness – with all his saliva intact, he might add – that Ignis noticed he'd somehow come under Gladio's scrutiny as well. "Yes, Gladio?"

The tall man blinked, still eyeing him with unusual intensity. "Huh, nothing, just never knew you had that kind of game is all."

"Game–?" Ignis began uncomprehending, only to be interrupted by Prompto.

"Ohhh, so that's why she's so interested in his spit… That's actually a kinda creepy stalkerish way to go about it," Prompto mused aloud before seeming to realize what he'd just said and waving his arms back and forth in a wild motion that was likely intended to be calming. "But, uh, in the sweetest way possible, I'm sure. Probably."

No doubt sensing his confusion, it was Noctis who finally allowed Ignis to derive any sort of meaning from the conversation, elbowing his side and waggling dark eyebrows comically. "What'd ya say, Specs? Bet she'd give up her number if you asked the lady nicely."

Ah. It was times like these where Ignis found some of the nuances of human culture to be rather tiresome. "You'll have to forgive me if I doubt that to be the nature of Dr. Sania's attraction."

Noctis shrugged. "S'not like she has reason to study you for real. Out here you're just a normal – if weirdly formal – guy who possibly happens to be exactly her type."

"Yeah, she just really digs guys with, uh, frog allergies?" Prompto faltered helplessly. "Intolerance?"

"Naw, it's probably the accent," Gladio mused.

"Or the glasses," Noctis added.

Ignis shook his head at his friend's antics, already feeling the knot in his stomach unwind with every step made toward the Regalia. "Not to interrupt this rather… informative debate, but perhaps one of you would be so kind as to enlighten me to our next destination?"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" Prompto cleared his throat with a faux air that was most decidedly just for show before enunciating his words in a proper lilt that had Ignis considering if perhaps his accent was being mocked. "To the chocobo ranch, my good sir!"

Gladio rolled his eyes. "Still think you cheated, blondie."

"All's fair in love and chocobos." Noct teased, slipping into the backseat. It was only through many years of having Ignis as his helpful shadow that kept him from offering to take the wheel instead, knowing his advisor would not be comforted or appreciative of his driving.

Ignis couldn't help the slight smile that broke out on his lips. Their latest favor and resultant unplanned contribution to the scientific community may not have been the most enjoyable of experiences, but as the typical banter filled the Regalia's cab Ignis found his anxieties eased. It didn't hurt that they were now actively putting miles of road between themselves and the frogs of the Astor Slough.

Still, he couldn't help but hope they would not be crossing paths anytime soon with Dr. Sania Yeagre.

So… I found Dr. Sania to be one of XV's more interesting side characters with a lot of potential for humorous situations. I'm curious if anyone's interested in seeing more of her.