III
Gladio often claimed my suggestion to return to Lestallum was purely sentimental. It raised my ire, and we argued. While I'll readily admit I was eager to return to dear friends and family, I will also say with heartfelt honesty that was not the determining factor in my decision. Lestallum was the new refugee center, and it was imperative that we look after the populace. Furthermore, it was the current command center for the Crownsguard. It was best if we coordinated our efforts with the Marshal's. Also, it was where we had the best change of procuring supplies and items. Lastly, I did not intend to sit idle while Noct was away; It would function as a base as we continued training for what was to come. Not to mention, I intended to research the unending questions that brewed regarding the events of the times: The failure of the luminary, the hoardes that seemed to expand with multiplying numbers, what was to be expected in the future, what power the Chosen King truly held, the vast power of the might of The Six, and where the Infernian might be located. To do so, and as I was blind, I would need an assistant. I knew exactly where to locate one.
Although, I admit it did take all the courage I had to confront her. I hadn't spoken to her in many months, and when I had last seen her, I had been whole.
We found Iris straight away, and she gave us the guided tour of the New Lestallum. It was a strange conglomeration of a refugee camp and a military base; a haven and a fortress. A new fence and gate had been make-shifted to encircle the city, heavily guarded by hunters and Glaive alike. Apparently, there had been some sort of mass power outage during rescue operations, and the Glaive were working tirelessly to ensure the power was extended to various camps and locations throughout Lucis. To accomplish this meant calling in more volunteers at the power plant. There was a buzz of women teaching others about the various functions of power and plumbing throughout the city.
Iris informed us the families, elderly, and most of the women and children stayed at the Leville. The rooms had been split into two or three, respectively, separated by very thin and hastily constructed walls. Now one room, which used to accommodate up to six people, was used to house up to fifteen. The restrooms for each 'unit' were now communal. Three families each shared the facilities. Hot water was strictly regulated due to the strain on the power grid. Even the far wall of the lobby—the closest to the windows—housed families, as did the back storage areas.
As for the Glaive, the Crownsguard, most Hunters, and single men—they were to sleep on the opposite side of the city. There stood temporary bunks, sheltered from the elements. They could pay a visit if they were 'invited' to the Leville, Iris stated, but they were not to house there unless they had families within. "There's just not enough room," Iris explained.
Prompto was exasperated, I recall. He had been looking forward to a bed for once, as we hadn't the good fortune of such in well over six months, by this point.
There were other changes. Fallstar had been changed into a supply station for the warriors braving the dark. Master Cid set up shop on a nearby corner, modifying and strengthening armaments. Iris ran a swap-shop of sorts for clothing. (Even in crisis, one of man's most basic needs is clothing.) A vehicle with Cindy's modified ultra bright headlights would drive people back and forth to Old Lestallum, if needed.
The scent of roasting skewers was gone. The air smelled more metallic, more damp. It stank of smoke and sweat. The air was cooler due to the lack of sunlight. Lestallum had always been stifling; Now the temperatures were very bearable, even in my rag-tag jacket. It was a new world, especially for a man who was sightless.
The tour was fascinating, to be sure. I mentally took notes as we traveled, as always. Internally, I had lost all patience. No one had said a word regarding Aleya: Not Iris, The Marshal, Monica, Dustin, Talcott, no one. Gladio and Prompto never even thought to inquire of her. Should her name not have come up? She was just a part of the Crownsguard as Monica, Dustin, and certainly Talcott! Had she fallen from the surface of the earth? Had she been sucked into the sky? Banished to another dimension? It was as if she never existed!
So once the tour was completed, we debriefed the Marshal, and everyone stood about chatting, I wandered away. If no one had the courtesy to point her out to a blind man, there was no other choice. I would have to find her myself—somehow.
I wandered about for a long time. Of course, I have no idea exactly how long. Even though I still wore the watch she gifted me in her days as my assistant, I naturally couldn't read it. When it started raining, I became so dismal that I simply stalled in whatever street I was on, helplessly. Wherever she was hiding, it would be impossible for me to find her alone. I didn't know where I was myself, much less where she was.
I stood there a long time, drenched, positively defeated. And then, fate decided to take pity.
[FLASHBACK]
The breeze picked up, and Ignis caught a familiar aroma on the air. He fell still and tilted his head slightly, inhaling deeply through his nose. There could be no doubt as to the sweet mingling of apples and almond.
"Ignis."
The voice came from behind him. How melodic that voice was! It was nearly as sweet as the smell in the air. He had begun to think she was missing in action (or something far worse), and everyone had avoided bringing her up to spare him the misery. To hear his name on her tongue caused his heart to leap in elation—and immediately begin to pound and flutter at the sudden realization that she would now learn of his disability.
A hand on his shoulder. It was light, gentle. He knew it was hers. She was so close now that he could almost feel her at his left shoulder blade. He stiffened, suddenly concerned about how he must look and smell. He wore the same bedraggled attire he had left Gralea in. He had stripped and washed when he could along the way, but chances were few. The last time he had a chance to clean up was at a resting point four days prior to his arrival. The journey had not exactly been easy. He was sure he was still covered in mud, sweat, splashes of various liquids, blood, and all manners of other things. She smelled so lovely, and he was sure he smelled like the communal dumpster. Hardly how he intended to meet her after eight long months!
"Ignis Scientia!" She spoke again. It sounded as if something had caught in her throat. And then, to his surprise, she rounded on him and flung her arms around him tightly. It nearly knocked him over. As she was significantly shorter, he struggled to catch his footing before he tumbled forward and they both wound up lying in the street. She clung to him as if she would never release him. "You're back! I knew it! I knew you would be back!"
He paused, slightly hesitant. So much had changed since he was with her last. The world had completely upended. How could he even begin to explain to her what had transpired? And after all the tragedy that had occurred, he knew he had changed. He was broken, but still trying to march with the same resolve. He felt trapped and numb; His only thought on a daily basis was to turn his face to the wind and keep moving. Part of him feared she had changed too. When he left, she had tried to be cheerful, but he knew her wounds had been fresh. After her brother's death, the attack on the Citadel, the assault upon fleeing the Capital….He knew personally how trauma seemed to ebb and flow, and it cut away at the soul of its victim.
He had played the reunion over many times in his head; What her reaction might be were she to lay eyes on him again. Somehow, he had always thought she'd be shocked to silence, or angry for his recklessness. Instead, she reacted with excitement. She seemed to be pure relief and joy. Ever his light, she hadn't appeared to change much at all.
At a loss, he went to wrap a polite arm around her in reciprocation. As his hand ran over his shoulder and down her back, he was surprised at her attire. It was a close-fitting stretch fabric of some kind that bared her shoulders and a significant portion of the middle of her back. By the feel of her hands on his back, he could tell she wore padding of some kind—work gloves, no doubt. And as he hadn't heard her approach, she must have been wearing soft-soled shoes, perhaps rubber. It was the type of thing a hunter would wear, or an industrial worker of some type. Her hair was either completely up or much shorter. "Yes of course," he replied, pushing away the confusion. He'd rather focus on the fact that she was alive and well. He'd prefer to revel in the joy of having her within his grasp—all 5'5" of her. She was the same Aleya in that regard too, just shy of clearing his shoulder.
She pulled away much more quickly than he would have liked, but kept a firm grip on the fabric over his biceps, twisting the sleeves slightly. "Igs. You're home!"
"I—" By now, she would be looking directly into his face. She would see the glasses that had been tinted. She would see the ghastly scars peeking around the edges of the lenses. She'd notice the remnants of the burn scar at his nose, and at his lip. She'd know. Aleya would now know he had been blinded. He stiffened again as a long pause ensued; It felt like an eternity. What was she thinking? Had she gone silent in dismay? He stood silently in the drizzling rain for a few more gut-wrenching moments before he thought he could bear it no longer. "Aleya, I…"
"Igs." Her fingers moved from his arms and suddenly brushed through his hair at his temples, sweeping towards the back of his skull.
The old thrill came back, familiar, sorely missed. All he could see of her was a faint neon blur; the same as how he could see Noct. But, whether he could see her or not didn't matter. When he was near her, he seemed to always lose cognition and sensibility. He swallowed hard and his lips parted. She was so close, her body nearly touching his own. It was agonizing. He felt a pain start to well in his throat as he fought back tears. He had missed her so desperately! He hadn't even realized how much until now.
"It must have been so hard for you," she nearly whispered. Her hands pressed to the side of his face as she talked to him, and she brought his forehead down to her own. "I'm so glad you're safe!" With that, she embraced him again. He could feel her cheek press against his ear. She patted his back as if comforting him.
She knew he was blind. She must have. She chose—for whatever reason—to overlook it, for the moment. It was her way of sparing them both. And for now, she seemed to be satisfied that he had survived, that he had returned in one piece….more or less.
"Aleya. I've missed…"
"Allie!" A voice pierced the intimate moment as well as the dreary fog and rain. And who else could it have been but Prompto?
[Back to Entry]
Prompto has a penchant for interruption. Had he even been capable of seeing we were embracing each other, he would have been senseless as to meaning. He's fiercely naïve. Thought I admit, it's often more endearing than annoying.
Aleya didn't hesitate for a moment. She hugged them both and welcomed them back, and then leapt into practical action: Inquiring of Noct, and once she got over the shock of that answer, suggesting rest and regrouping, offering to coordinate with the Glaive or the Marshal regarding anything we should need. She was loath to allow us to stay at the Hunter's quarters –just a set of bunks and tarps. After all we'd been through, she suggested, we should stay a few nights at the Inn. After all, "visitors" were allowed. Prompto, she suggested, should stay with Talcott and Dustin. Monica usually shared a room with Iris, but she was on assignment, leaving room for Gladio for a few nights.
Prompto, ever the caretaker, inquired of where I might stay.
[FLASHBACK]
"Iggy can stay with me for now." Aleya replied, as breezily as if she were making a statement about the weather.
Ignis nearly lost feeling in his limbs at the surprise. Aleya had always been fiercely prudent about appearances. She had been desperate to keep her distance from him; To avoid the impression of something indecent between them. Indeed, she was always the first to remind him that any slight misstep could spell disaster for his reputation. It wasn't like her to toss such instincts out the window and suggest something so flagrantly scandalous. What had come over her?
In the awkwardness of the silence, she spoke again. "What's that look for?"
Ignis wasn't entirely sure whom she was addressing. In the pause, he opened his mouth to speak, but Prompto answered, instead. "It's j-just, you know…you and Iggy? Together? Don't you think that's kindof a bad idea? I mean, you used to blush when he handed you a cup of coffee in public. I mean, it's not really…" he gasped. "Ooooh! Now it makes sense! Are you and the Igster—you know—together?"
Gladio didn't give either of them a chance at rebuttal. "Are you serious? Iggy and Aleya?" His voice sounded like a sulky scowl.
"Why not? They're both completely alike."
"They're too alike. I happen to know what lights Aleya's fire, and it ain't Iggy."
As if he could see her, Ignis' head snapped towards her with impressive speed. What did that imply? Had she and Gladio…? He found a cold ball in the center of his chest—icy cold shock—before it rapidly disintegrated into anger. He balled a fist.
She sighed. "What are you on about, now?"
"Come on. You know what I'm talking about." The tease in his tone was obvious.
Ignis gripped tighter, feeling his nails cut into his skin. His face felt as if it were going numb. He shouldn't feel such betrayal, should he? It was not as if they had ever made any promises to each other. They hadn't even reached the point of confession. Still, there it was. Jealousy and betrayal.
Iris was stunned. "No way! Did you and Gladdy…?"
"No!" Aleya angrily snapped. "We most certainly did not!"
"Come on, Allie, don't be shy," Gladio said, moving towards her position.
Relieved at her denial and obvious offense at the suggestion, Ignis stepped between them.
Prompto was oblivious to the tension and inquired further. "Is that true?"
Gladio halted, probably evaluating Ignis' move to block his path. "It's our secret, right Allie?"
Ignis' heart felt as if it were sliding towards his naval, kicking in protest. Not Aleya! Surely not! She was innocent and sweet, pure naïve goodness. Surely she couldn't have…. How dare he! Of all the women, he should have never touched Aleya! No, no. It couldn't have happened. Aleya would never have allowed it. They were friendly, but she was smart enough to know he flirted with any young twenty-something that crossed his path in a skirt. What's more, Ignis felt positive that she had some reciprocation of his own feelings. Not every woman would run her fingers through his hair and cling to him in such a way, especially one so morally forthright as she. If that were the case, would she have even passed a glance at Gladio? Then again, they had been remarkably close for a while…
No, Gladio had a way with women, but he would have respected someone like Aleya. Wouldn't he? If he hadn't, he was certainly going to pay for it!
Aleya was obviously annoyed. "You want to continue this—this—whatever it is you're doing, or do you want to get a hot meal, a bath, and a comfortable bed?"
"What an invitation! Think I'll take you up on that." He moved to bypass Ignis and put his arm around her shoulder.
The purr in his voice was offensive. It ignited Ignis' ire. But, he didn't have time to react physically. Aleya shoved Gladio's arm away and took Ignis' instead, just at his elbow. "Knock it off!" She snapped at him. "Why do you have to spoil the reunion?"
"Stop harassing her!" Ignis snapped over her.
There was a bit of a pause, followed by Gladio's chuckle. "What's the matter, Iggy? I haven't seen you this worked up in a while."
Ah, that was it. He was baiting him. Ignis felt incredibly foolish for having fallen for it. "It may have something to do with the fact that we're standing in the rain whilst starving," he attempted. "Aleya has a good plan. We should rest and regroup, once clearer heads prevail."
"It would be your plan." Aleya kept one hand at his elbow while dusting at the lapel of his jacket with the palm of her other hand. "At least, if I know you at all. It's what you would suggest, right? Rest, regroup, plan and train?" She gave up on removing whatever had permanently affixed itself to his jacket. She wiped the glove off on the hip of her pants.
He turned towards her. "You know me far too well."
"Well then, we'll be on our way. Talcott will be back, soon. He should be done with his studies. I'll make dinner. Can't promise it's anything as wonderful as what the Boss can cook, but I've learned to do some incredible things with mystery meat."
"Ah, good fortune," Ignis replied, sarcastically. He had been hoping to catch a reprieve from non-perishables and preservatives.
She simply tugged at his arm and stepped away. She had all the confidence of having a fully-sighted person in her grasp. And he kept pace with her remarkably, far better than he had with anyone else. It was as if she had a natural talent for dealing with the blind; Almost as if she were taking the lead for an unfamiliar waltz. "Come on, I'm kidding. The hunters took down a few Anaks on the route. Alvor made sure I got my fair share." She was marching on, not missing a beat, his elbow locked in her own.
He wanted to inquire to both what she meant by 'her fair share' and who this 'Alvor' was (it was the second time he had heard the name), but Prompto again interjected. "You a hunter now, Allie?"
She laughed. "Me? A hunter? That's like calling a Chocobo a Griffon."
"Well then, what's with the get-up?" Gladio asked. "I've never seen so much of your legs."
Ignis found himself clamping down on his back molars like a chocobo fighting a bridle. He didn't like the idea of her showing her legs, and he certainly didn't like the idea of Gladio looking at them, but he refused to take the bait this time. Gladiolus Amicitia wasn't stupid. Ignis was fairly certain Gladio knew how he felt about her, as he had mentioned that Ignis was returning to Aleya many times on the trip back. He was trying to get him to misstep.
So, why did he have the gall to talk to her like this? Didn't he understand his relationship was different? He wasn't like he or Prompto, who admired every woman that passed by as if they were some new flavor of entrée they hadn't sampled yet. Much like Luna was to Noct, Aleya had been to Ignis. She was his first, and his only. He was certain that if something untoward were to happen to her, he would never find anyone else that could match her standing. She deserved the ultimate respect be paid. Furthermore, she was already taken. Ignis wouldn't allow anyone else to take a chance at claiming her, not even one of his dearest friends. But, that didn't mean he had to blurt out his intentions from the hillside, either. He could keep his feelings to himself while still protecting her dignity.
"It gets hot in the gear," she was explaining. "That's why everyone dresses the way they do."
"Everyone?" Prompto questioned.
"All the plant workers."
Ignis almost missed his step. The plant?! As in the electrical plant?
"You ought to see her go," Iris chimed in. "She took to it like a fish to water. Holly really depends on her. Noct said it was my kind of place, but I think it doesn't suit me. It gets really hot in the gear."
"Yeah, I remember," Gladio murmured.
They were rounding a curve, and the echoes of their boots began to lose a bit of crescendo. They were entering a closed ally. Aleya began to slow her step.
Iris continued on. "I told her she needs one of those bikinis…like everybody else wears."
Ignis opened his mouth, ready to protest.
"I told you already, Iris. I am never going to prance around this town in something like that. I happen to have dignity."
Relief spilled over him for a moment, but irritation won out in the end. He turned to address her as they came to a halt. "I told you not to work at the plant!" He complained.
She stepped closer to him momentarily, but dropped her grip on his arm. "And I told you to be careful about your eyes!" She quipped back. "Guess we both owe an apology!"
He paused for a moment, stunned. So apparently was everyone else, for the silence hung thick. "I don't like you taking such risks," he began.
"You're one to talk!" She snapped again.
With that, he felt completely lost. He and Aleya had quarreled before, but something about this was different. It felt far more personal. Her frustration was palpable. She was suddenly beginning to bubble into a torment, like a volcano. He had imagined how she would react when they were reunited, and he even had imagined anger. But she had seemed perfectly accepting only a few minutes before. Her sudden change in mood was startling. Besides, she had always been so gracious in prior arguments, always allowing herself to give leniency; to subject herself and appease him. What had happened? Didn't she realize he needed solace? "Aleya…" he replied, his voice quiet and approaching complete confusion.
A new voice, one Ignis had never heard before, interrupted the outburst. "Well, hello ladies! You came back in one pretty piece, I see."
"Fuller, can you open the gate?" Aleya asked, with an annoyed sigh.
Ah, so they were at the gates barricading the civilians from the soldiers. Ignis had lost all sense of direction during their rather distressing conversation.
"Well, Leya girl. That depends."
'Leya?' No one had ever called her that before, aside from Ignis. His jealousy flared again, quicker than he could control it. Who was this man who dared address her so casually?
"I told you not to call me that!" She snapped, over Iris' irritated vocal exclamation. They apparently couldn't stand his gall, either. "Would you please just open the gate?"
The man spoke in an undertone to her, but Ignis' ears—which were becoming sharper by the day—picked up his words with crystal clear clarity. "I will if you will."
Ignis couldn't help it. He moved towards the horrid owner of that voice, readying his fist. Again, he met interference, as Gladio stepped into his place.
"Hey now!" He barked. But neither of them made it to the offender in time. There was a rustle of leather, the sound of a sharp cry, and a body hitting concrete.
"Aleya?!" Ignis called in a panic, noting the outlined neon blur of Aleya below him.
Gladio put a hand on his shoulder. "Hold up, Iggy. Seems those Crownsguard lessons paid off."
She was furious. "I don't need any more of your ignorant dribble, Fuller! Give me the gate key!"
"Alright, alright! Let me go! You're going to break my arm!"
She stood, but with a sharp jerk, and he cried out again. By the shape of the blur, Ignis supposed she most likely had her heel in his sternum. "Give me the keys, now!"
He cried out in pain as she twisted the arm a bit more. "Fine! Damnit, it's in my front left pocket!" She eased up on his arm and stepped away slightly. Danger passed, his tone changed. He crossed his arms behind his head. "Go for it. It's all yours."
Gladio pitched forward, pushing Aleya away from him. "Don't mind if I do," he answered, going for the pocket himself.
"Hey! Hey, hey! Stop!"
After a few moments, everyone seemed to be back on their feet. Ignis could hear the man dusting himself off. The gate opened, and everyone began filing in. Iris gave him the middle finger as she passed. Ignis was the last to step forward, and as he did, he heard the man muttering under his breath. "Pretty little bitch, aint'cha?"
Something in Ignis snapped. He whirled on him and grabbed his throat, lunging, shoving him against the nearest wall. The man cried out in alarm. "I'd advise you to watch your language," Ignis growled at him through clenched teeth. "If you ever dare to spill one more foul word towards that woman, you'll only live long enough to wish you hadn't."
The man clenched Ignis' collar and began to push back, but it was futile. By now, Ignis had his other arm driven deep across his shoulder and chest, and Fuller was completely pinned. He struggled for a moment before hissing back. "What? You going to hit me, Bright Eyes?"
Ignis smirked at him. "I invite you to find out. You have no idea what you're up against."
The man gurgled a bit under the weight of Ignis' hand.
"I trust we understand each other?"
The mans chin bobbed up and down slightly against his knuckles.
With that, Ignis released him cooly and marched forward into the gates. Once he reached the opposite side, he met with complete silence. He didn't need his eyes to know everyone was most likely staring at him in complete shock.
Prompto was the one to break the silence. "Daaaang, Iggy! Who knew you were such a badass?!"
"Come, now." Ignis pulled at his sleeves, even though he lost his last cufflink months before. "It's nothing special."
"What did you expect?" Gladio asked. "He's trained for years to protect Noct. Iggy ain't no push-over."
"Gotta say," Iris said, awe and respect in her voice, "I've never seen that side of you before. It was pretty cool! That Fuller is such a jerk!"
Gladio addressed Iris, ready for a fight. "What? Does he talk to you like that, too?"
Iris stated he had, and then had her hands full in an attempt to calm Gladio down.
Ignis could tell Aleya was very still, watching him, trying to decipher his abrupt change in character. He couldn't judge her mood. Finally, she turned on her heel. "It's still raining," she said. "Anyone still hungry?"
"Me!" Prompto called, giving a short hop-skip as he followed her. "I'm always hungry!"
[Back to Entry]
We all went inside for a meal. But as we walked away, I couldn't help but wonder. Was this what Aleya had to put up with since I had been away? Scraping money from the menial and quite frankly alarmingly dangerous labor of the power plant? Being harassed by good-for-nothings? (Who had the audacity to give that man responsibility of the gate key? Surely there had to be more reputable survivors!) And after all that had happened, surely the trauma of her previous experiences had made things all the more difficult to deal with.
Sadly, I added no less to her burden. She had no doubt hoped for a victorious return. Or, at the very least, a safe one. Instead, we had returned completely the opposite: A darkened world, fear in every corner, a lost King, a blind guide, a hungry and bedraggled trio begging for a hot meal and a bath. I can't even begin to imagine her disappointment. However, Aleya never expressed anything of the sort.
I remember that first night was beyond awkward. After everyone had eaten and parted to go to their own shelters for the night, I stood perplexed and uneasy in her presence, in clothes that were two sizes too large. Iris had done her best to round up something that suited me, but in an apocalyptic world, she had to make do with what was to be had. The soft material of the fabric was reminiscent of sleepwear, and all too vivid a reminder that it was just I and Aleya, alone.
Her room could hardly be called a room. It was somewhat of a square, with a twin mattress in one corner, and a makeshift shikibuton on the adjacent corner. There was a single-burner camping stove that she would fold away when cooled and not in use. A very small refrigerator at her feet. What little clothes she had hung on a line at the head of her mattress. I felt so terribly culpable at that moment. For all she meant to me, I couldn't even secure her a proper bed on which to lie! But she seemed to take it all in stride, assuring me it was at least out of the rain.
We fought for a while over who would sleep where. She kept insisting I take the mattress. I stood on the padding of the shikibuton and would not be moved as she tried to persuade me. She kept telling me how she was used to this sort of thing; that she remembered how plush my bed was back in Insomnia, and that she would treat me to a real mattress. She told me she couldn't allow a man of my station to take the lowest place. I was the Right Hand of the King, and as such, it was her honor to allow me to have the best of all she offered. I insisted I was no delicate vase that needed such care, that she needn't take pity on me for being blind. She assured me it was not pity, that she simply wanted to do her part to assist 'the Future of our World'.
I broke. There's no other way to describe it. I nearly fell apart right there. I spilled everything upon the poor girl; Everything that had been pent up within me for several months. I told her I felt far from being 'The Future of our World'. Everything was dubious, I said. The fate of the world, Noct's rule, the daylight, our hope, our future…everything was dubious and ambiguous. If losing my eyesight wasn't ironic, it was certainly cruel. How could I lead anyone out of darkness, when I couldn't even lead myself?
I said all these things out loud, in a rant of helpless fury. I remember shaking where I stood, fighting the tendency to shout, or throw something, or simply burst into tears. And as usual, there it was…glorious luminescence.
[FLASHBACK]
"Ignis." Her voice was soft, choked with emotion.
He pulled his glasses away aggressively, out of pure frustration and embarrassment. He turned away from her, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to calm down. He had always prided himself on staying remarkably put together, cool under pressure. But even he had his breaking point, as he had learned long ago in Altissia. There were times where even he would swirl into helpless panic and fury, reacting on emotion instead of cognition.
"Ignis," She said again, pulling at his elbow.
He tried to stay in place, but he found himself being turned around to face her. And then she once again wrapped him in an embrace. This time, her arm around his neck, pulling his head down onto her shoulder, cradling it in her hand.
Overwhelmed, tired beyond comprehension, he lowered himself until they were both sitting against the wall, eyes in the crook of her neck, nose under her chin. He could never remember the comfort of his mother, but he supposed this is what it should have been like. He felt an instant calm, a soothing peace. He relaxed into her shoulder, draping an arm behind her waist to ease the strain on his shoulder. She simply was there, one hand cradling his scalp as her fingers ran along his temple, her other hand stretched across to pat his shoulder. They sat there a long time, longer than they would have known. Ignis simply breathed, closing his eyes and washing out all the misery he had experienced since Altissia. Her skin felt warm, soft. The gentle massage in his hair left him so relaxed. Before he knew what he was doing, he draped his other arm across her torso and wilted entirely. She took his weight and simply held him, letting him breathe, comforted for the first time since he had lost his vision.
He fell asleep. He slept there through the night. When a loud alarm rang from the power plant, he was startled awake, and realized with some guilt he had slept with his weight upon her shoulder all that time. She was wide awake herself, and seemed to have been for quite some time.
"Did I sleep here the entire night?" He asked, appalled.
It was then he realized she was in tears. He could hear her strange stuttered breathing and her sniffing back the congestion in her nose.
"Leya…My Girl, what's wrong?" Ignis was startled at the new nickname he had just given her. He crept forward towards her.
"I'm so sorry," she muttered, wiping at her face miserably.
He took her hand and waited patiently, though his heart pained itself in preparation for what she may tell him. After all, it didn't appear her life had been a picnic, either.
Finally she found her voice. "I never should have said that at the gate. It was so thoughtless and selfish of me! I was just…I'm… I'm so sorry."
Was that what she was so broken up about? He was a bit relieved, truthfully. He thought she was going to tell him of something horrid. "No, you've nothing to apologize for."
"I should have been with you. I should have gone. If I had been with you, I could have helped you. I'm your assistant, and I didn't go with you. Isn't it my fault?"
"Don't," he warned her.
"You can't be hurt like this! You're Ignis Scientia!" She took a gulping breath. "Maybe if I were there, I could have been the one to….If it had been me, it would have been better."
Ignis flinched in the horror of the thought. "No! Never! Don't say such a thing!" He thought back on the option to choose the death of someone he cared deeply for, and how he resolutely insisted the sacrifice must be his own. "I would never allow it!"
"But it's you," she replied, still crying. "Why? It's not fair. It's not fair to you! And…and I'm so, so sorry!" She buried her face in her hands for a moment and tucked her knees up to her chin.
He felt guilty. Perhaps he shouldn't have thrown the weight of all his mental turmoil upon her the night prior when she was already taking in the shock of his physical state. "It's actually not as bad as it seems. I apologize for my outburst, earlier. The gravity of all that has occurred strikes me at odd times. Perhaps it was fatigue from the journey."
"Don't try to protect my feelings. You can be honest with me."
He paused. He was sure he could. She and Noct had always had his trust. Her response to his injury touched him deeply. He was aware, now more than ever, that he meant a great deal to her. She had implied that she would rather be blind herself than to allow him to suffer with such an ill fate. And faced with such cold cruelty, he once again found light and warmth in this woman, who somehow seemed to have been with him always. There was no sense in admonishing him; He had to protect her feelings. He couldn't allow her to suffer, or to worry. He held her hand. "Honesty? In honest, I'm exhausted. And in honest….I've missed you a great deal." He sat back against the wall, extending his arm.
It was her turn to lay against his shoulder.
"There, now. We've always seen things through together, have we not?" He felt her nod. "Then I'm certain we can see this together as well."
She wiped at her nose. "How did you get so brave? I'd like to sign up for those classes."
"Don't be daft. You're the bravest woman I know." He ran thumb over her cheek to take off the wet stream running along it.
Another lingering silence, and they both began to drift into a semi-conscious state again. They were both still astoundingly exhausted. Her voice pierced the silence as he was again dozing off in drowsy contentment. "Iggy?"
"Hmm."
"Welcome home."
He didn't even have time to answer before he drifted off to slumber. But somewhere in his dreams, there she was in his arms, leaning against him, pressing those lovely lips to the side of his mouth as she repeated the words with a smile. "Welcome home."