pro multis
Takka's restaurant is a relief from the rain, and Noctis feels mildly guilty as they trek water and mud through it. Takka, in all his patience, says nothing and comes over to take their order as they sit at a booth.
Ignis answers for all of them when he says they have no appetite, Takka understands and turns away.
"If you all need anything, just give me a holler."
Nodding his thanks, Ignis turns back to them and addresses Noct.
"What was the status of the city when you left?" He asks gently.
Noctis looks at him, and then over to Prompto and Gladio.
"It was damaged - but many of the buildings were still standing. I think, with a little effort, it'll be salvageable after we get it back."
"Get it back?" Prompto asks quietly, likely reassured that they were indeed going to take back Insomnia.
Not that Noct would be there to see them rebuild Insomnia. He bites his lip and fiddles with a straw wrapper that had been left on the table.
"I'm not sure about the state of the Citadel, but it looked like all the residential areas and most of the commercial areas were left alone. Whatever was damaged can certainly be rebuilt." He confirms.
The tension seems to drain from them, and if Noct's glad for anything then he is glad he can at least ease one of their worries.
They still had a long road ahead of them. The others likely knew this too.
But at least they had a home to go back to once everything was over.
"Noctis..." Ignis trails off. Noctis doesn't want to talk about what Ignis is about to bring up, and he knows Ignis doesn't want to either.
"We are sworn to stand by your side. Please, remember that we support you. You don't have to go off alone." Ignis looks him in the eye - and there is no anger there, not like with Gladio. It's here, that Noctis feels like the guilt is going to eat him alive.
Eyes burning, Noct wipes at his nose and turns away. No tears fall.
"I messed up - I'm sorry."
Prompto leans forward, hand raising as he tries to think of a way to comfort Noct. He pulls back as his own eyes start to burn.
"Alright - hey, buddy it's alright, just please... don't ever do anything like that again."
Noctis remains quiet, so Ignis speaks back up.
"Noctis, if you would like... we could wait until morning to continue with Cor?"
"I'm fine to continue." Noctis replies truthfully. Ignis looks at him, eyes seeming to take in every detail.
"Your Highness..." Ignis pauses to glance at both Prompto and Gladio, before warily turning back to Noct, "You haven't exactly had time to mourn, it will be perfectly fine to take a short break. If that is what you desire, that is."
Surprise covers Noct features, he hadn't considered the idea too much.
He had always been so rushed whenever Insomnia fell that he had never really had time to mourn. It was always later, in small pockets of isolation that he would allow himself to grieve. He would never allow the others to see him during that time - waiting for them to leave on errands or fall asleep.
He could count all the times on one hand.
That alone was plenty enough, he had felt like he had done enough mourning. However, the others hadn't.
Ignis, Prompto, and Gladio had each lost at least one person who was important to them.
But, like him, they wouldn't allow their grief to be seen. It slips Noct's mind that maybe, that was the reason tension had become so high between their group last time.
Instead of giving them a chance to dwell in their sadness, he decides to push forward - give them a focus and a drive.
It had worked well enough last time.
"I think we'll take a short break here, but I'd like to leave before nightfall."
Ignis gives him one last look before leaning back and signaling Takka over.
"Very well then. It should be a while still before Cindy repairs the window. We should eat while we can."
...
Cor is sitting with Cid when they leave the restaurant a while later. The garage is quiet, the two older men keeping their voices low.
Noctis clears his throat and taps against the entrance to the garage so they notice the group's presence. Cor stands and makes his way over to them.
"Cindy should be finished with the repairs in about an hour or so. Once we leave, we will be heading to the Prairie Outpost and spending the night there."
Cor then leaves them alone with Cid, who has turned to look at the framed picture of their previous generation's journey.
"You know, that kid used to be a real fire cracker. Didn't understand at first why Reggie wanted to bring a boy on our trip. It was only until way later that I saw what your father saw in him." Cid rubs a thumb across the cracked paint on the picture frame, tilting it gently.
"Your father was always good at that. Seeing what's beneath - the true nature of things." Cid sets the picture down.
"He knew the peace treaty would fail." Noctis states.
Cid hums in agreement and looks up at them.
"Your old man called me. We shot the breeze for awhile, put some things behind us. Told me to not be too harsh on his 'wayward son'." Cid stands up, stretching his back as it cracked loudly.
"But ya'know... he must've seen something real special in you if he sent you away before all hell went down in the city." The words are scathing and harsh, but Cid's bite is not directed at Noct.
Cid trusted in Regis. By the same extent, it meant he trusted in Noctis.
"You seem like a smart kid. Little spoiled maybe, but that's probably more your fault," He probes Ignis in the chest, "but I think you know what's right. If you need anything, you know where to find me."
Noctis nods, "Thanks."
...
It's late by the time the Regalia rumbles to a stop just outside of the Prairie Outpost. The streetlamps turn on just as the group exit the vehicle and stretch the exhaustion from their bodies.
"Tomorrow morning we will be meeting with Monica Elshett. For now, feel free to rent the caravan." Cor says as he checks his phone.
"What about you?" Prompto asks.
"I will be meeting with some hunters here. For now, I wish you all goodnight." Cor parts with them, and they wish him goodnight as he leaves.
They cross the dirt road to the caravan, and they all non-verbally agree that Noctis got first shower. He undresses, tucking the Ring of the Lucii into his pants pocket for safe keeping. The hot water runs out far too quickly, and the tile is sticky to his feet.
Noctis couldn't care.
He steps out in clean shirt and boxers, unsurprised to find that he is the last to claim a bed. Noct fumbles around in the dark, nudging whoever could claim the shower next.
He plops onto the fold out bed just as Gladio steps into the shower. Exhaustion from the day pulls at his muscles, and his mental fatigue begs him to fall asleep.
Noctis is still shifting around, sleep eluding him, long after everyone takes their own turn in the shower. From the sound of their shifting and irregular breathing, the others were not faring any better.
"We'll get it back." Prompto says, voice lacking any confidence.
"Of course." Gladio immediately replies. Noctis can hear the bed creak as Ignis shifts to add his piece.
"Starting tomorrow."
"Cor will be with us too. It's not like we'll be alone." Prompto says, and this time the hope is audible.
"Not just Cor. Insomnia was the home to many people, they will want to get it back too." Noctis decides to join in.
"No one will be alone in this." Ignis murmurs, and Noctis knows it is directed at him as much as it is a reassuring statement to Ignis himself.
He turns on his back, looking through the darkness up at the ceiling.
"We'll get our home back. Starting tomorrow." Noctis states.
Sleep still struggles to find them, but the reassurances they gave each other work to ease their tension. They mutter their goodnights and the conversation ends. Slowly, he hears the breaths of the others even out one by one until he is the only one left awake.
"Thanks." He whispers out to their sleeping forms. He turns over, and sleep eventually pulls him under.
It's a restless sleep, and he dreams of various things - important and insignificant alike, all twisting together into something he won't remember when he wakes.
Hours later, he is woken by the sound of something clinking against the ground and rolling away - shortly followed by Ignis cursing under his breath.
Noctis rolls over to face him, displeased at the hour and that not even Prompto or Gladio were up yet.
Ignis is holding his dirty pants, pockets inside out and looking as if the world had ended all over again. Noctis sits up and Ignis whips his head in his direction, shame coloring his cheeks.
"Your Highness... I, uhmm," Ignis trails off, "I may have lost your ring under the sink."
Noctis throws the covers off and crouches down next to the sink. There, behind the cover of a vent, the world's most precious heirloom gathers dust.
He summons his biggest hook, one meant for groupers and maybe sharks, and works on angling the ring closer.
Noctis turns his back to Ignis to try and get a better angle, "You didn't touch it, did you?" he asks seriously.
"No, I was simply preparing to clean your laundry when I dislodged the ring from your pocket."
A chill runs down his back at the thought of Ignis accidentally putting on the ring, "I'll try and keep it in a safer spot next time."
Noctis lowers his head to where it is almost touching the ground, and he hears Ignis shift uncomfortably behind him.
"No, it was completely my fault."
Noctis ignores Ignis's attempts at self-blame and sticks a finger into the vent. It's too big to fit all the way through, but he can feel the ring brushing at his fingertip if he stretches just right.
He nudges it close enough to grip, "I've almost got it."
Ass in the air, it wasn't how he expected to greet Cor first thing in the morning when the other walks in.
Noctis shoots upright, snagging the ring and standing beside Ignis with his hands behind his back.
"C-Cor! Good morning!" Noctis greets, Cor looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"Morning. Lose something?" Cor asks and Ignis pales beside him.
"Eh, just dropped a fishing lure under the vent. Got it back though." Noctis sends the ring to the armiger and summons a lure to show him.
When Cor's expression remains unchanged, Noctis returns the lure with a nervous laugh.
"I came to tell you that we will be heading to the tomb soon. Meet me at the hunter's outpost after breakfast." He turns around and pauses, "You may want to get dressed first, Your Highness." With that, Cor leaves.
Face red, Noctis slumps. Ignis, face equally red, apologizes.
"Please, forgive me."
Noctis purses his lips, "It's no big deal."
They sit in awkward silence for a moment, watching the caravan door.
Ignis snorts.
Noctis watches with mirth as Ignis tries to hide his laughter. There are tears lining his eyes, and Noctis knows Ignis is still sad.
But he is glad that he can make Ignis laugh, even if it is at his expense.
Noctis sighs and rubs a hand through his hair, "Guess I'll go put some pants on. You can make this up to me by making breakfast."
"I was planning on making breakfast anyway." Ignis replies.
"Well, you better hop to it." Noct says with a grin, "I'll go wake the others."
He kicks the base of the Gladio's bed and knocks at Prompto's foot, stirring both of them awake.
"Noctis, waking me up? Must be some alternate universe I'm in." Gladio says with a stretch.
"Ha, get up. We're meeting Cor after breakfast." Noctis would die before he would let Gladio find out why he was up so early.
The group gets dressed and eat breakfast, Noctis ever grateful of Ignis's silence about what happened that morning.
"Alright, you guys ready to head off?" He asks as they finish their plates.
They chime in in agreement.
Noctis smiles, "Let's get started then."
Thank you guys for reading!
Please, let me know your thoughts/comments/concrit/etc! It helps a bunch!
Decided to squeeze this chapter out before I go back to Uni, and wanted to also get it out early in celebration of 100 kudos on Ao3. Thank you guys sooo much! Sorry that it's another slow one.
I also wanted to thank everyone who has commented/fave'd so far, in case I am gone for awhile.
Thank you to Oracleshadow, Ms. Zeal, NixieShimo, Aries Orion Odett, LoonRider, Blackcurse01, KHLostEmpress, KafeiDetour, and any guests for commenting! You guys seriously don't know how much it means to me, thank you! You guys leave such detailed comments, I want to let you know how much a appreciate it! They really help inspire me, thank you so much! You all are awesome! T^T
Also, winkyface;) to one of you who maaay have caught onto something a chapter or two back. You probably know who you are.
Alright, I think that's it from me for now. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon, but it may be several weeks with Uni (and Monster Hunter World, srry) coming up. Hit me up at RoosaurusRin on tumblr for anything from a chapter progress report to chatting, I'm on pretty much daily.
Thank you again for reading, ya'll are awesome! :)