Lestallum

Gladio couldn't believe they had made it to Lestallum. It wouldn't have taken long in a vehicle, but it had been several hours on foot, in the dark, carrying his sister. They had been met by an escort at the gates of the city and brought to the hotel. Prompto and Gladio shared a room, while Iris had an adjoining one. Before falling asleep after they arrived, Gladio had taken stock of the supply but knew that they now had no way to get the supply back to Hammerhead.

A check of the clock on the night stand told him it was a little after noon. Deciding to get up and figure out how to proceed, he headed to the shower and noted that Prompto was still asleep and snoring lightly. The journey had taken a toll on them all, physically and emotionally. Gladio had been impressed that Prompto had not complained once. From what he remembered of the blonde, complaining was second nature for him. Prompto had even offered to carry Iris for bit, but Gladio didn't trust anyone else to carry his little sister. He hadn't intended to let Prompto know about the burden he felt as protector, but the stress had been building and caused a weak moment.

As the warm water ran over his back, it worked to soothe as well as clean him. He and Prompto had been so tired when they arrived that they had gone straight to bed, dirt and all. To his knowledge, Iris still hadn't woken, but one of the nurses in town had offered to stay with her and tend to her. Even though she was in good hands, he planned to check on her as soon as he was cleaned up. He made an effort to avoid thinking that the worst had happened to her. He kept telling himself she was just unconscious and would wake up soon. The nurse had not been unable to give him any information with her reason that the availability of technology was limited. Part of him knew that they had to return to Hammerhead, but he wondered if that would be best for Iris. As he thought it through he realized the only one with any medical inclination at Hammerhead was Iris.

Once he was out of the shower and dressed, he decided that even if he and Iris stayed until she was well, someone would need to get the supplies back. As he moved toward Prompto's bed to wake him, a solid knock at the door made him pause. He feared the worst. Gathering his courage, he walked to the door hoping that it was the nurse with good news.

When he opened the door, he had to look down. "Talcott?" Gladio stood with his hand on the door, dumbfounded. The last time he had seen the kid had been right after they returned from the crystal. He looked older, but was still recognizable.

Talcott cleared his threat and glanced around nervously. "Can I come in?" His voice was lower than Gladio remembered

Gladio instinctively backed up and allowed him entry. Prompto sat up in his bed and looked as if he had seen a ghost. Talcott took a seat on the chair across from the beds. Gladio sat down on his own mattress. They sat in silence for a while until Talcott spoke up. "I heard you guys were here, so I wanted to come see for myself. Where's Mr. Ignis?"

Talcott's question brought Gladio back to the present. "He didn't come. My sister did." Gladio noticed The boy's eyes brighten as he looked around. He knew Iris had been like an older sister for Talcott while he himself had been on mission with Notics. He assumed Talcott was eager to see her again after so many years.

"Well, where is she?"

Gladio hesitated. "She's not up to visitors right now, but maybe later."

Talcott's shoulders slumped, but he didn't push further. "Okay."

After a few moments, Gladio spoke up with the desire to start to sort out their situation. "Talcott, is there a vehicle we could borrow to get our supplies back to Hammerhead?" He purposefully left out that he intended for Prompto to make the run while he stayed with Iris.

Talcott looked at the wall for a moment and hummed a single note while he thought. "I think the last of our working vehicles left this morning. The soonest one is scheduled to return is the end of the week."

Gladio cursed under his breath. That was 5 days away. He would need to return the supplies before then. They needed a plan B. He didn't like the first idea that formulated in his mind, but it seemed they were running out of options. "Prompto, do you have your phone?" The blonde grabbed his phone from the side table and held it up in response. "Good, because I lost mine in the fight." He sighed before continuing. "Give Aranea a call."

"What should I tell her?"

"That we're stuck in Lestallum and need her and Specs to come get us. Add any details to that you want."

Prompto's eyebrows shot so high Gladio had to keep himself from laughing. He wasn't keene on eitherbcoming to help them, but he knew Aranea could hold her own, and if what Iris had said was true, Ignis could at least help. He supposed he owed that to his old friend.

"Just do it," he said as he stood. "I'll be next door."

Hammerhead

Ignis still couldn't believe that he'd done it. He had allowed himself to touch her face, and she hadn't pushed him away. Even a few hours after it happened, he still had to make an effort to keep his hands from shaking. He still wasn't sure how they had remained so steady while they had touched her face. How her skin felt was burned into his memory and conjured up images of her face. Though feeling her face had been divine, he wished he could truly see her again.

He had felt shy at first, as such boldness was foreign to him. After their conversation the previous evening he knew that if he wanted more than friendship with her, he had to do something. His fear of dying and leaving her was still strong, but he had realized that his desire to truly live with the time he had left was stronger. He wondered if that was why Aranea hadn't seemed bothered by the fact that their future would be uncertain. It wasn't in his nature to be impulsive, but when it came to losing Aranea or keeping her, he was willing to attempt to act beyond his comfort zone.

Ignis only wished he'd had time to kiss her. He had wanted to, but Cindy had inadvertently arrived. He hoped she would be receptive, but his heart rate accelerated at the thought of the possibility that she would refuse him. It frustrated him that he felt so nervous and unsure of himself. He hadn't even thought of what to say to her when she returned.

He sat up when he heard the door open, both with hope and fear at the possibility that it was Aranea. The foot steps drew close so he assumed it was her.

"It's good to see you sitting up without pain showing on your face. How are you feeling?" Her voice was laced with concern.

"The throbbing in my head has subsided. And to be honest, I tire of this bed."

Ignis heard her chuckle. "Well that's good to hear, because I got a call from Prompto."

Ignis held his breath in ancticipation of what she would say next. "He said they are stranded in Lestallum. Sounds like we have a job." Ignis could hear a smile on her face.

"We?" He asked. Unsure of what she meant.

"That's what I said, isn't it?"

Ignis knit his brows in confusion. It didn't make sense that Gladio would have agreed to him coming, and Prompto wouldn't have said it if Gladio wasn't on board. The only reason he could think of that Gladio would even consider his aid... "Did Prompto say if everyone was okay?"

"Iris is unconscious. They don't know what's wrong."

So he was right. "Desperate times call for desperate measures," he muttered. He didn't realize until Aranea responded that he had said it out loud.

"He thinks more of you than that, Ignis."

"Does he?"

"Looks like he is willing to give you another chance." Her voice was soft and soothing.

Ignis nodded. He wasn't about to let Gladio down.

i apologize for another short chapter, but better two short than one giant one, right? Also, I edited this as best I could, but I didn't use my normal mothod for writing, so I also apologize if this was fraught with mistakes. Looking forward to what comes next! :)