Beta read by: SinikkavonWolperting, istoleyourcheesecake and Prompto_Cam
Ok, so here it is, chapter 2. So thrilled that people seem interested in this, and it's honestly a huge relief. XD Again, this is my first 'real' pairing story, so any and all feedback is welcomed and appreciated. 3
Anyway, hope you all enjoy, things will be going downhill in the next one. :D
xYukiNoYume: XD Yeah, I was really excited to get started on this one, plus I had a writing frenzy for a few days and got a shit ton done. lol So glad you think so though, to be honest, I was iffy on what people would think with a double disability thing. Aw, well thank you, I appreciate you giving it a go anyway. But, if it ends up that it's not for you, than know that I will be doing a a story for the other pairings as well. (Promptis and Promptio) ;D
Bagpipes5K2: Yessss, I'm actually liking this one the more I think about it. But, Promptio will always be my #1 I already have how they'll communicate, and all that. In fact, I cover that in the next chapter. And that one I am not amswering. You already have so many you wanna do though, don't go and overwhelm yourself. D: And thank you. Hope to have the next up within the next few days or so.
Anichame: Why hello then. :D Also, thank you, glad you've been enjoying them, means a lot. OwO Ohhhh yes. I'm going to try to avoid the having him speak, mainly because I don't want it to come off the wrong way, if that makes sense. But, he probably wouldn't want to try either.
Yeah, I'm not going to be having lip-reading in this. Sure, you can get decent with it, but that takes years, and even then, it's not perfect. You can pick up some words easily, but for the most part, it's not as easy to pick up as some think. And, I also considered having him learn that, but that wouldn't work for Ignis. XD It's gonna be a bit of a mess, but I will try my best to keep it as realistic as I possibly can. So, of course, if anything seems off, don't hesitate to let me know. -
For a while, Prompto merely sat there, trying to just enjoy the gentle breeze for what it was. Leaning back, he glanced to his right and held up his hand to scan it, wiggling his fingers a bit with a heavy sigh. Slowly, he lowered it to rest on the arm of the bench; and, reluctantly, began to tap his fingers against the surface, waiting for the sound to reach him. Each silent wave of them grew more intense as they thrummed harder against the metal. Harder and more intense as his teeth sank into his bottom lip out of frustration.
After the tenth sequence, he balled his hand into a fist and slammed it against the armrest. There was a slight sting, but no 'ding' to go along with it, and deep down, it almost felt like it wasn't even real. Turning his hand over to gaze at the reddening flesh, he jumped at the light touch that grazed his shoulder.
'Iggy', he mouthed, unsure if any sound came out or not; he really hoped nothing did. Slowly, he scooted closer to the side, and with one hand, grabbed onto the adviser's wrist to help guide him along to the other side. With a nod of appreciation, the older man eased himself down, being a bit more cautious than usual.
This felt so unnaturally awkward, the lack of ability to actually speak up was driving him insane. The best he could do was nervously fiddle his hands in his lap like a child. The blond took a deep breath and slowly let it out before cutting his eyes over to the other. Out of instinct, he tried to give the guy a small wave, quickly jamming his hand back in his lap when he remembered.
For over a week, it had been like this. The small gestures, the barely acknowledging one another. It wasn't like the others; with them, there was at least a way they could communicate, so it was less forced and awkward. But, with Ignis… all there was was the fact that they knew the other was there, beyond that, there was nothing.
Dropping his gaze, Prompto unintentionally stiffened up when he felt the slight shift next to him and tried to scoot over just a bit more thinking Ignis needed a bit more room. But, the adviser was quick to raise a hand, signaling that it was alright. Again, the gunner nodded, then shook his head for letting it slip his mind again. Instead, he let out what he hoped was just a small hum. Wanting the other to know that he at least understood what he was trying to say.
Without warning, he felt a hand brush over his thigh and his face heated up, but glancing over, he realized that Ignis was just trying to get his attention. He wasn't sure why that made him so flustered for no reason. The man couldn't see, it's not like he did it on purpose. Now that he was paying attention, though, he noticed that Gladio and Noctis were standing not too far away, the former waving at him for them to come along. His mouth was moving too, but not a single syllable reached him.
'Right,' he thought, 'can't stay here forever.' He pulled himself up and linked his arm through Ignis'. At least he still had his sight; he couldn't imagine what it must have been like for the adviser, and for some reason, he wished that they could trade. Sight was far more important than hearing as far as he was concerned. And it was clear just how much the man was suffering because of it, he lacked that confident posture that he usually wielded, his shoulders angled in a way to show just how defeated he felt. Even his steps were way less certain, and his head was almost constantly facing downward. Thinking about it, his grasp on his arm tightened, causing the adviser to tense slightly himself. Realizing what he was doing, the gunner quickly relaxed, an apologetic look in his eyes. He gave Ignis a soft pat on the arm with his free hand in an attempt to say sorry.
"So, everyone all set to go?" Gladio asked, his tone a husk of what it once was, it was as if the guy was on autopilot.
Next to him, Noctis nodded, a small, "Do we have a choice?" under his breath as he turned away from the others. He just wanted to go, to get out of this place. Staying here was doing nothing but souring his mood more than it already was.
"Indeed," Ignis agreed, tugging slightly on the presence next to him. He felt a slight tug back and gave a nod of his own. "If Prompto's ready, then I think we have everything we need." Gladio's attention switched from the brunet to the younger man, he held contact with him until Prompto eventually nodded as well.
"Alright then," Gladio replied, sauntering after the raven, who took it upon himself to leave the three of them behind. And, the brute wasn't sure why, but he felt a minor twinge of annoyance at how he was behaving. He didn't expect him to just bounce back, but it looked as though he weren't even trying at this point. Scoffing to himself, he looked over his shoulder to make sure the others were keeping up alright. Surprisingly, the two of them were only a few feet behind him, Prompto making sure to keep a hold of the adviser and keep him on the right track.
More than once, the gunner had to steady the other when he got tripped up over a small bump, or when his foot ran into a minor curb. But, every time, he was there to get him back on balance and veer him away from any potential obstacles. There was one stumble in particular, one that cause the brunet to lean farther into him, and he easily picked up the scent of the man's cologne. He narrowed his eyes at the fresh aroma; he couldn't quite put his finger on the scent, but it subtly reminded him of spring mornings. There was almost a minty undertone to it. Weird, he never really noticed it before, maybe because he never paid attention, or perhaps they were never close enough for him to smell it.
He had to hold his breath until he was once again at a safe distance. Not that it was a bad scent or anything, quite the opposite, but if he stayed as close as he was, then he was afraid he'd end up blushing again. The last thing he needed was for anyone to notice that. Thankfully, there was no way of Ignis noticing, so at least that was a blessing.
"Are you alright back there?" the shield asked after a few more minutes and a few startled gasps and hisses from the adviser.
Ignis furrowed his brow at the insinuation. "We're quite alright, thanks for your concern," he replied, voice full of stubbornness. "I haven't fallen yet," he felt the need to remind. His arm pulled on Prompto's in a secure way, and the younger man couldn't help but smile to himself with the gesture. They had this. Sure, they were both missing something, but that shouldn't be too much of an issue. 'Together, we kinda make a whole person,' Prompto thought to himself. Instantly feeling embarrassed for thinking such a thing. Why the hell was he even thinking like that?
He shook his head and breathed out heavily through his nose. This was ridiculous. Though, there was no denying, ever since that day, they had been around each other a lot more… Rolling his eyes at where his mind was, he tried to pull himself together. He needed to stay focused; after the hell they all just went through, the things they now had to deal with, there should be nothing else he should be concerning himself with.
Prompto was pulled from his thoughts when he bumped into someone. After blinking away the daze, he glanced up to find Gladio staring down at him. Looking frustrated, the man pulled up his phone and tapped away at it before facing it towards him. 'Watch where you're going. He can't see, so one of you needs to pay attention.' Confused, the blond glanced around, and realized his mistake. If it weren't for the shield, he probably would have lead them straight into the road, and all it took was for him to avert his gaze for no more than a few seconds.
He watched as a few cars zipped by and his heart dropped… he could have just killed them both. Swallowing thickly, he took the device from the larger man and typed out his own message. 'Sorry, I'll be more careful.' He avoided eye contact as he handed it back for him to read.
'Not too much longer, and we'll be at the station,' he replied. 'At least try to stay focused until then.' Prompto nodded curtly and handed the phone back for the last time. When he finally caught a glimpse of the man's gaze, he was surprised to see it lacking the anger he was expecting. It was somehow soft, almost sympathetic. Prompto shuffled uncomfortably on the spot and he cut his eyes over to Ignis, who was oblivious to the silent conversation the two of them just had. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to get used to this; the whole finding new ways to communicate without the use of a voice.
"Is this it?" Noctis asked after some time, sounding completely disinterested, his voice coming off as borderline hostile as he asked the shield.
"What's it look like?" he shot back, brushing by the prince as he stepped forward to purchase their tickets. He could feel the intense eyes piercing into him, but he ignored it, Noctis could be as upset as he wanted.
Gritting his teeth, the raven chose to focus on the other two. And, they were still right there behind them, Ignis facing forward while Prompto was glancing all over the place, in a paranoid way. The sight of them like that was enough to drain him of his momentary rage and he took a deep breath to calm himself. "Iggy, we're about to get on," he informed, looked to the younger man to wave him along.
"Right," the adviser sighed, tilting his head when the hold on his arm pulled him forward. He followed the guidance with complete trust, letting the younger man become his eyes for him. Not normally the one to rely on others, this was taking quite a toll on his pride, and he was already feeling the pressure of it deep down. His mouth tightened into a tight line as he fell into a steady step next to the blond.
The easy part was over, next was the tricky part, actually getting on the train. 'Easy peasy,' Prompto thought, and without warning, he placed one hand on Ignis' back, just wanting to make sure the man didn't fall back or anything. He may have been a little too precarious, but as far as he was concerned, there was no such thing as being too careful. One step at a time, and so far there was no incident, but he wouldn't be able to relax until they were all seated and in one piece.
Finally, they were standing on steady ground, and Prompto felt he could breathe with ease again. Slowly, the four of them made their way down the aisle, and took the first free spot they could find. Anything that could keep Ignis from traveling more than necessary was perfect. Gently, he guided the man to his seat and helped him get situated before sliding in next to him, maybe a bit closer than he needed to. But, there was a sense of security he felt from the man's presence, one he couldn't explain.
The raven sat across the aisle, and by now it felt as though Noctis was unconsciously avoiding the two of them. Did they do something wrong that he didn't know of? His eyes shifted from Noctis to Gladio, who decided he'd rather sit a couple seats down. What the hell was happening? He then looked to Ignis, his own attention seemingly focused on the window.
In an effort to feel a bit more at ease, he grabbed a hold of the brunet's hand, gripping it rather tightly and drew his feet up to wrap his other arm around his legs. As he leaned his forehead to rest against his knees, he felt the slender fingers curl up around his, and for the moment, he felt like things just might turn out alright.
He didn't know how long he stayed like that, the only indication that anything was even happening were the bumps from the train. And, it wasn't until the hand in his felt oddly tense and there was a slight change in his position that he felt the need to look up. Prompto had no idea what was going on, but glanced over to where he remembered Noctis sitting, and he was standing now… as was Gladio. His blue gaze flicked between them, and it was obvious that they were arguing, but about what, he had no idea.
The more they went on, the closer they got too each other. It wasn't until the shield grabbed a hold of the raven's collar that he felt the need to stop it. He could feel his chest tighten uncomfortably, and before he could stop himself, he was jumping out of his seat. Desperately, he tried to squeeze himself between the two of them, trying to separate them before they ended up hurting one another.
He placed a hand on either of them and did his best to shove them away from one another, but not a moment later, there was another pressure on the side of his face. And, with little effort, he was shoved aside, hard enough to knock him off balance. The moment he realized what happened, he grabbed the side of one of the seats and turned his attention back to them. By then, Gladio was sauntering off in the other direction while Noctis was going towards him and passed him without so much as a glance.
Stunned, Prompto reached out a hand to stop the prince, but just narrowly missed him. So, instead he just stood there awkwardly, looking up and down the aisle until they were on opposite sides. After a moment, he shakily stood back straight and allowed himself to get his composure back. ...What was that all about? He wondered if he should go after one of them, but he wasn't sure which one, or what good it would do. It was obvious from the way they stormed off that neither was willing to talk about things. Maybe they just needed some time to themselves.
With nothing better to do, or because he couldn't quite muster the courage to go to either of them, he worked his way back to his seat and placed himself back beside Ignis. Looking the man over, his features were much more drawn, and now he was really curious. But, unlike the others, he couldn't just type out his question. All he could do was hunker down and wait until one of the others calmed down enough and came back.
A few minutes flew by, and an idea crossed his mind. It seemed ridiculous, even in his head, but if it worked… Eagerly, he fished out his phone and typed out a quick message. His heart thrumming lightly, he made sure his volume was up, but kept it on a low so as not to disrupt others. Turning on the text to speech, his blood froze as he clicked 'play'.
'Nod if you can hear this,' sounded out. He couldn't hear it himself, but he could feel the slight tremors it produced in his hand. Instantly, he saw the small gesture of the adviser's head as he turned towards the blond. Prompto nearly jumped up, more than thrilled that this would work. He wondered why they didn't think of this earlier.
Next message, 'What happened? Why are they fighting?' He waited for a moment, then switched to speech to text. Once that was set up, he shoved the phone in the adviser's unsuspecting hand and lifted the both of them in front of his face, trying to hint at what he wanted.
It took a second, but Ignis eventually pieced things together and his eyebrows rose in interest. Prompto watched as his lips moved, pausing every now and then before they picked up again. Once finished, he handed the device out for the blond to take, which was excitedly snatched away, much to his amusement. 'Don't worry about them. They'll get over it. It was nothing more than a minor argument.'
The gunner's face fell, though he didn't expect him to tell the whole truth. Because, from what he could see, it sure didn't look like nothing to worry about. 'Tell me.' he typed out, turning the volume up a few notches in his way of sounding demanding.
He could see the way the older man chewed on his lip, clearly debating on how he should answer. Sighing, Ignis held out his hand and the phone was placed back in it, a bit more gentle this time. Clearing his throat, he began to relay what happened, summoning it up. "Gladio is just upset," he started. "He's trying to get Noct to move on and look forward. But, he's still clearly grieving, so that resulted in what you saw." He took another deep breath as he handed the phone back. The man did feel a small pang of guilt for having left out the part about blaming his hearing loss on the prince as well.
He didn't need to know that part. They all knew Noctis felt bad enough about it as it were. About his sight too… Without a warning, he felt a weight lean against him, and his hand was once again grabbed, this time held between two others. In a split second, he withdrew his hand, pulling away. Instead, he reached it around and, in one fluid motion, pulled the other in close, his fingers wrapping around the younger man's upper arm until he felt some of the stiffness fade. Not normally one for such things, he was at a loss of what else to do; it didn't take vision to see the turmoil the other was dealing with. The brunet sighed deeply, and tightened his grasp. 'What in the name of the six am I doing?' he asked himself, dipping his head slightly.
A little shocked from the sudden embrace, Prompto just let it happen, it wasn't like he had any complaints about it, or like he didn't want this. But, it was a surprise nonetheless. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head against Ignis' shoulder, and again let the enchanting scent carry him away.