Gladio left the Takka's after he'd geared up and gathered up-to-date intel on the local hunts. He was going on a supply run in about an hour, but he had plans to do some hunts along the course of his trip – anything to keep him busy. He had appreciated the opportunity to at least check on his sister though. He headed toward the garage to speak with her before he left. Gladio still wasn't entirely sure who all was going on the trip. From what he heard, Aranea was staying behind, likely to go her own excursion, Prompto still planned to come, and he would make sure Ignis stayed behind. Ignis was likely still in the garage having his injuries looked after.
As he walked, Gladio noticed Aranea leave the weapons supply and head in his direction. He braced himself for the possibility she was coming to confront him about something. Not much rattled him anymore, but her unpredictability set him on edge. Once he realized she was indeed headed to talk with him, he paused in his path to see his sister. He relaxed a little once she was close enough for him to that see her face was more solemn than angry.
"Gladio, do you have a moment?" she asked, stopping in front of him.
He nodded and she pointed to a spot behind a building. He quirked and eyebrow, wondering what sort of conversation she had in mind, but followed her into the shadows anyway. Once she stopped, he faced her and crossed his arms over his chest. "What's this about?"
"Iris."
He took a deep breath and shifted his wait. Of all of the possible topics, this hadn't even been on the list he had thought of. For once, he was in the same place as her and everything had seemed fine.
"Look, I think something is wrong. She isn't the sister you described to me."
He wanted to ask why she cared, or tell her she just didn't know his sister, but the look of concern in her eyes held him back. He waited for her to continue.
"She is carrying something heavy, is keeping it together somehow, but I don't know how long she'll keep that mask in place."
It was out of character for her to talk like this to him, so he decided to heed her words. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?"
"Talk to her before you leave. If your relationship with her is as strong as you say it is, she'll talk to you."
He released his arms and nodded. "I will. Thanks, Aranea." She looked uncomfortable and turned to leave. "How's Ignis?"
She stopped, but didn't turn around. "Why don't you go see for yourself?" she said evenly and continued to walk toward Takka's.
After turning the water off, Iris wiped her hands on her apron to dry them. She walked over to Prompto who was sitting on her cot, staring at his hands. He looked up at her, his usual smile nowhere near his face. "He'll be okay, Prompto. He's just still unconscious."
"Thanks, Iris," he said and walked behind the curtain to sit with Ignis.
Iris took the spot Prompto had vacated and put her head in her hands. It had been a long day and it was barely half over. The sound of the door opening caused her to lift her head, expecting Aranea to enter. She had left immediately after she had helped bring Ignis in and Iris figured she would be returning soon. It was Gladio. "Gladdy," she said as he drew near. "Come to see Ignis?" He visibly tensed.
"Can I sit with you?" He asked. She nodded and he sat next to her on the small cot. He avoided her eye contact. "Is everything okay, Iris?" he asked with knitted eyebrows.
"Of course! Why wouldn't it be?"
"You seem… different," he said, looking over at her
It was her turn to avoid eye contact. "I'm just having more nightmares again, but it'll be okay." She looked back to him with a forced smile. She didn't want to go there with him, not right now.
"Is it Noctis, again?" He looked uncomfortable, and Iris was surprised he would even bring it up.
She swallowed hard. "Maybe." She answered quietly to make sure Prompto wouldn't hear. Since the perpetual darkness had settled in, she had prided herself on appearing strong, even if she didn't feel it on the inside. Iris liked to think that Noctis would have been proud of her. She knew it was wrong to still have feelings for him, as he clearly had been in love with Luna, but it wasn't something she felt she could control. "Mom and dad, too."
He sighed at her answers. "I miss them too," he said softy. "And as for Noctis… Iris, I'm sorry, but he's not coming back."
This is something she had told herself countless times to try to let go of him, but it seemed strange coming from her brother's mouth. She knew Noctis and Galdio hadn't always gotten along, but she assumed, as the prince's sworn shield, he above all would hold out hope. What he said was in direct contradiction to what Ignis had led her to believe just the other morning. "That's not what Ignis said." Gladio leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and his chin on his fists. After a few moments he sighed and it all clicked into place for Iris. "Wait, that's why you went on your own isn't it?" His silence was confirmation.
"I know you really liked Noctis," Gladio said, changing the subject," Hell, we miss him too, but he did care about you, you know."
Iris nodded. He had reassured her of this before, but it never seemed to help. Deep down she knew she needed her own closure with him, she just wasn't sure how. "I know, but I keep having the same dream. He's in the crystal and I just stand there, powerless to do anything." She paused and considered continuing, but didn't want Gladio to get away with diverting the topic. "Don't think I didn't notice the change of subject. It's why you split, right?"
Gladio sat up again and looked over to her, still speaking quietly. "We have a… difference in opinion, yes."
"What if my dreams are right? That means he'll come out of the crystal at some point right?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out. I thought so, but it's already been three years and still no sign of him. I can't seem to find Ardyn either."
"Wouldn't that be easier to do together?"
He laughed lightly without humor, "Not as easy as you think. We still fight well together but are great at butting heads too."
"What about the trip today?"
"What about it?"
"Well, you will be together again."
"Prompto will be there, but we aren't waiting on Ignis to heal."
Iris looked across the garage at Prompto and Ignis' silhouettes behind the curtain. Her heart ached for Ignis, he had been trying so hard to win Gladio's acceptance. "He's gotten a lot better you know," she said, trying to defend him. "He hardly uses his cane anymore."
"But he doesn't have the same skill is before. I heard what happened this morning."
"I don't know that Aranea was fighting fair," Iris said, recalling the events from that morning.
"Yeah well, neither do the daemons."
She bit her lip to stop her from arguing with him further. She could tell it was going nowhere. "Who is going in his place?"
"I was going to ask Aranea."
"Do you like her?" She had teased him before, hoping to glean an answer to this question, but she figured it best to ask outright this time
His eyes quickly looked to hers. "It doesn't matter." After a moment, he turned back toward Ignis and Prompto.
Iris took a deep breath before asking her next question. "What if I came?"
She saw his jaw tighten. "And why would I allow that?"
"Because I am able and you need another." Her voice softened, "And because I think it might help the dreams."
After several minutes of silence, he finally spoke. "Okay, but don't make me regret this."
She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "I won't, I promise!" She leaned over and grabbed him around the waist for a hug, "Thank you!"
This was the sister he was used to. Gladio patted her on the back then stood. "Gather your things and head to the truck parked out by the gas pump. I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay. I'll get Aranea and make sure she looks after Ignis while we are gone." She quickly pulled out her bag and started gather her things.
Gladio allowed himself a small smile that disappeared when he walked toward Prompto. He was concerned about Ignis, but just thinking about being around them again made him uncomfortable. He knew they could still fight well together, but the more time they spent apart the more uncomfortable it became to be around them.
Gladio pulled the curtain back with his hand and looked to Prompto who sat next to Ignis' bed. Before he could speak, his eyes were drawn to Ignis. His shades were off so his scars were completely visible. His shirt was also off and the entirety of his torso was wrapped with gauze. There were several pillows under his head and upper body to prop him up, and icepacks fastened to the sides of his face. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Prompto look his direction. Gladio cleared his throat. "It's time to go, Prompto. Iris said Aranea will look after him."
Prompto looked to Gladio, back to Ignis, then back to him, as if he was trying to decide something. "Would you have let him come, even if this hadn't happened?"
Gladio didn't want to answer that. The truth was he was glad this happened so he didn't have to tell Ignis "no" to his face. "I don't know," he lied. Although, what Iris had said stuck with him. If Ignis was getting around without his cane, there was a possibility that he could one day fight with them again.
That answer seemed enough to satisfy Prompto. He stood, face blank and walked toward the exit.
Against his better judgment, Gladio stepped up next to Ignis' bed. "We will be back soon, brother," he said, then followed in Prompto's path.
Aranea paused on her way to the garage to watch the armored car leave. She smiled briefly at the knowledge that Iris had been able to go along with her brother. "Atta boy, Gladio," she said under her breath. Her heart sank as she continued to walk toward the garage. The one part of this arrangement she wasn't comfortable with was looking after Ignis. She would do it because Iris asked it of her so that she could go, but Aranea hoped Ignis wouldn't wake up until the group returned. She wasn't good at apologies and would feel required to give one when he woke up. "Shit," she muttered as she opened the door to the garage and walked toward Ignis' bed.
Sorry this is a short chapter. I promise the next one will be longer and more exciting/action-packed. There were just important relational things to sort out first. Next chapter will be more IgnisxAranea, but I hope you enjoyed Gladio and Iris. Thank you for following! Comments welcome!