Chapter Summary: Ignis gets a break.

Here they are: the answers to what caused Gladio's heart attack last chapter.

He hadn't meant for it to happen, truly. There was just always so much work to be done. Almost every night there were meals to be prepared and served. Afterwards, once the cook station and all the cookware were once again in pristine condition, there was inventory to manage. Plans needed to be made for maintaining the supplies they required to survive their now rather dangerous lifestyle, not to mention keeping up with their funds and projected spending. He had to ensure ingredients were utilized before their expiration and continuously restocked to save on dining expenses. Available hunts needed to be analyzed based on the necessary distance to be traveled, danger presented to themselves and potential payoff – all to be organized alongside the impressive assortment of favors and odd jobs Noct seemed to collect in mass.

Then there was the grander scheme to consider. The world didn't stop turning just because they had more immediate concerns and the royal arms weren't exactly going to locate themselves. With the added threat of the Empire bearing down on their heels it simply became easier to fall back on his natural circadian rhythm. That is, until the symptoms of an oncoming crash started piling up.

Ignis prided himself on presenting an even temperament, but as the third week of near constant wakefulness rolled around even he could tell his patience was running a bit thinner than expected. It was becoming commonplace to find he was restraining himself from snapping at the others, who'd all grown a bit weary of each other's constant presence by this point. An unpleasant pressure had begun to build behind his eyes that no amount of caffeine could alleviate. He was more prone to distraction. Driving long hours in the Regalia started to wear on him. Though he was loath to admit it, he would need to take a break soon lest his usefulness would decline.

It was in the Leville at Lestallum that Ignis was finally able to garner a moment for himself.

The hour was turning late. Ignis had already braved the market to replenish their dwindling cupboard and lined out a list of all remaining supplies they'd need to restock before venturing from the city. There was no need to set out dinner. Tonight everyone would sate their appetite with fare from the plentiful street vendors strewn about. Noctis and Prompto were likely already indulging.

Gladio was due back from inquiring about rumors involving the Empire's movements, but it was not uncommon for him to delay by way of chatting up companions of the female variety, a habit the shield only really exhibited while within the heightened security provided by true civilization. Or perhaps the Amicitia had simply deemed to catch up on his reading, enjoying some time alone without anyone pressing in on the boundaries of his personal space.

Speaking of alone time, what a shame it would be to waste the hour or so he'd been granted of the hotel room to himself. With the most pressing of Ignis's duties taken care of he could actually relax, if only for a brief respite. The bed furthest from the window and within feet of the entryway seemed particularly alluring as a large swath of shadow partially draped over the mattress, expanding further as the sun continued its slow decline on the horizon.

It was only for a short while, he reasoned. The use of the door would surely rouse him in the event any of the others returned; then he would review the notes from any intel Gladio managed to procure and compile it with his own findings before revising their plans. Yes, just a moment to rest his eyes wouldn't hurt anything.

Despite the often claimed oppressive heat of Lestallum, Ignis wasn't immediately bothered by the added weight of the Leville provided duvet. His core ran considerably hotter than that of a human's and the persistent sultry climate of the region surrounding the Disc never phased him. So it was without hesitation that he pulled the soft fabric up over his shoulder to better shield his eyes when the electric glow of nearby fluorescents pierced his closed lids a bit too harshly.

He almost regretted his decision to leave on a few of the low lit lamps, but he didn't wish one of the others to have to search for them in the dark in case they returned later than expected. Well, there was no sense in lamenting over the decision further. Now if only he could recall slipping under the covers in the first place.

Ignis resisted the urge to moan pitifully into his pillow and strived to reach a state coherent enough to evaluate just how he'd wound up tucked in comfortably in the suddenly too bright hotel room – a task that proved easier said than done. His entire body felt drained and weighted down, as if his short nap had exhausted him further than remaining awake had.

Before he made any progress to speak of there came a soft shuffling noise, too distant to be in the room with him but not far enough to have come from outside the door leading into the hall. Someone must have slipped past with him completely unawares and entered the ensuite washroom.

The sound came again. This time Ignis was able to pick out the distinctive jiggling of the washroom doorknob. No further dallying then.

With seemingly herculean effort, he managed to pry open his eyes but he couldn't prevent the quiet hiss from escaping as the light of the room make direct contact with his fatigued eyes. By the time he became somewhat acclimated a shadow had already fallen over the bed. "Hey, you up, Specs?"

"Noct?" Heavens, his voice sounded dreadful. He cleared his throat, hoping to remedy some of the thickness. "Apologies, I seem to have dossed off."

"Guess that's one way of putting it," Noctis replied in a tone Ignis easily recognized from many drawn out debates with his stubborn charge. Before he could determine what might be the cause of his agitation, Noct continued, "How're you feeling?"

That seemed an odd thing to ask after. It wasn't so alien a concept that Ignis partook in a quick catnap, though Noct was far more prone to do so. Honestly, the Air of Lucis slept more than enough for the both of them. "Nothing requiring royal attention, just a touch tired."

Noct scoffed. "Right, ask a stupid question."

Ignis blinked slowly, wondering why Noct was acting so strangely? "I beg your pardon?"

Noctis didn't respond for a moment, seemingly having become concerned with rearranging the blankets more securely around Ignis. "How long has it been since you last slept? And don't give me any of this thirty-minute nap BS. You had the guys worried sick."

Now Ignis felt even more confused. Noct was well aware that Ignis didn't need sleep like the rest of them did. If need be he could go for weeks before – oh.

Well, this was embarrassing. He hadn't succumbed to his instincts like this since he was not much more than a hatchling; not since his uncle had broken him into a sleep cycle more closely resembling that of a human's. Eight hours of rest in a day was simply too much for him, no matter how much time he spent in his second skin, but he'd learned to make due on four to five. It was enough to circumvent the several day long hibernation that would result in an absence from his duties that had always upset Noct, which was more than likely what had just occurred.

"My apologies. I'd lost track. Have I been out long?" Ignis was a little anxious of the answer. It was never ideal to wake up to find a whole slew of events had transpired while he'd been essentially unavailable, but in their current situation his reckless behavior would not only be highly inconvenient, it could prove deadly.

Easily reading his anxieties, Noct was quick to reassure, "Just for a couple of days."

"I see." Ignis had to keep himself from growling at his own foolishness. He'd forced the others to operate with one man down and limited their movements for days. That was inexcusable, especially considering their recent history in Lestallum. What would have stopped the Empire from seizing the Leville again?

Noct held his silence at first, expression drawn, like he was building up to saying something until, "Look, Ignis… I know you didn't ever have a lot of choice about this type of stuff and I'm sorry that I never asked you before, but do you – is this what you want?"

Ignis looked up sharply at that. If Noct was offering what he thought he was… "Noct, I assure you this wasn't my intention. You know as well as I do that we can't be held down in one place for so long. What if the Empire were to learn of our location? It's simply not viable. I can't –"

"You can," Noctis challenged, full of heat and something Ignis couldn't quite parse in his current state. "If you wanted to, we would make it work."

Ignis stared, synapses stalling out from either lingering exhaustion or the shear absurdity of such a proposal, or perhaps some combination of the two.

It was true, the decision to forsake his dragon nature and take on the behaviors of man had never been his. It had simply been expected of him, falling in line with all the necessary steps taken to ensure he was the most capable of performing his duties to serve his prince and future king. Nothing else had ever mattered.

And it was still all that mattered, he decided. It made little difference if Insomnia likely laid in ruins. He'd sworn an oath to stand by his bonded, always. He would never willingly compromise his usefulness to Noct, nor to any of his friends – even if that meant hiding away a part of himself. "I'm truly flattered by your concern, Noct."

Noctis held his gaze for the barest of moments before releasing a long, heavy sigh. "But you won't do it."

"It's a nice sentiment but completely impractical. Besides, I doubt I'd truly be able to sleep easy knowing the three of you were to be left to your own devices for such a length of time on a regular basis. I assure you, sleeping every 20 hours or so bears me no ill –," a rather monstrous yawn cut off Ignis' assurances, cracking his jaw with its size.

Noctis huffed in amusement. "'Preciate the vote of confidence, but I don't think you're quite ready to get up yet. Why don't you take it easy for a little longer?" He moved to shut off bedside lamp but stayed close, eyes roaming over the comforter and pillows as if searching for some imperfection to right.

It was hard for Ignis to imagine allowing himself further rest after literal days of sleep, but he was still tired and Noct's hyper attentive hovering was well meaning, and maybe just a touch endearing. Perhaps just this once. "I suppose a few more hours wouldn't be too damaging at this point."

"Of course not. So don't stress. We've got the room for the whole day anyway." Noctis nodded to himself, seemingly satisfied, before hesitantly looking down to meet Ignis' eyes. "And we'll figure it out, okay? Just no more working yourself into the ground – that's an order."

Ignis smiled a bit as he felt himself being dragged under again. This time he didn't resist. "Understood, Highness."

While it certainly wasn't meant for Noct to be looking after him in any capacity, it wasn't an altogether dreadful experience. There would be much to catch up on after his next waking – not to mention sorting through whatever trouble his trio of friends had managed to get into while he'd been indisposed – but every now and again it wasn't quite the end of the world to allow himself to be supported in return.