A note: Ignis Scientia's next entries for several months were about expeditions to points of interest, checking out tombs, reading the cosmogony, scrolling through historical documentation of the Kings of the Past, sending messages to Sonia Yeagre to inquire of the environmental shifts in the planet… I will put all of this into a third volume at a future date, for any who may want to reference the historical findings of the Starscourge. For now, I would like to remain singularly focused on Ignis' interactions with his friends, and of the relationship between he and Aleya Claren.

I'm nothing if not a romantic.

[Direct Journal Entry]:

14th of August, M.E. 759

I decided to take a break today and celebrate Aleya's birthday. We spent some time at The Archean's Mirror pond today, catching fish so that I might be able to make her a seafood dish. Granted, Noct is a much better fisherman. We spent most of the day trying to urge even the slightest interest in our bait. A large part of the day afterward was spent trying to snare the catch. Let us not forget that while Aleya was raised on an island, she had never learned the trade of fishing. When I first saw her fish, she scarcely knew how to reel. She had to back up the dock and finally settled to snaring the line with bleeding fingers until she had the fish in hand. And to be honest, her skills haven't improved much. But with time, patience, and my keen sense of hearing, we finally managed to procure two. Rather small, but enough for us.

We played a few games of chess. Aleya commissioned Master Cid to build a very special chessboard for me two years ago. It has raised slots for each square, and weighted bottoms to the chess pieces, so that I don't knock them over as I evaluate the board. Though, I scarcely need such accommodation now that I've learned to work around my sightlessness.

It's always more fun to play the game with Aleya. Though I always win, she gives me a sizeable challenge.

Afterward, we were feeling in such high spirits that we were careful to keep a fair distance from each other. Wouldn't want to spoil her birthday by violating some of her most cherished rules of ethics. Though, I must say that after months of enduring such torture, it's becoming a bit of a strain.

I can't believe she's now twenty-six. I met her when she was merely twenty, I nineteen. How could six years have passed so quickly? Why has it taken me nearly six years to have these moments with her? Perhaps I was blind long before Altissia.

17th of September, M.E. 759

Noise. It was usually so crisp and clear. Now it was muffled; It almost sounded as if he were buried underwater. His limbs were tingling, and there was a sudden wash of nausea. And suddenly, he snapped to consciousness, finding Aleya kneeling over him. Disoriented, he felt around the ground below him. He was laying in a lumpy mound of ferns, and some sort of ivy dangled above him, tickling his ear. He swatted it away. "What happened?"

"You were poisoned."

"Poisoned?"

"Yep. I used an antidote, but you might feel queasy for a while."

The last few minutes came back to him in a blur of thought. He swung his hand out wildly, trying to retrieve his lost dagger. He found it, but it was standing stiff and upright, lodged in a voretooth's hide. "Did you…?"

"Yeah, I did." Her voice dipped a bit with regret.

"You killed the voretooth?" His voice sounded astoundingly surprised.

"Of course I did! It was you or it…what did you expect me to do?"

"With a dagger?"

She huffed. "Ignis, I feel bad enough about it. You don't have to rub it in."

"No, no, that's not what I meant at all." He retrieved his dagger with a sharp yank before standing. "I just…I must say I'm amazed. I had no idea you knew how to use one." He pushed his shades up on his nose, trying not to focus too heavily on the sick sensation in his stomach. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him and he whirled on her. "Are you hurt? Did you use the potion?"

She pushed his reaching arm away gently. "I'm fine, Iggy. Not a scratch." She paused for a moment. "Oh. Maybe one."

His heart gave a bit of a start. "Where?!"

She took his hand and poked his finger through a rent in her jacket. "Right here." She giggled.

He disregarded her playfulness and instead pulled his hand away to place it at her side. "You've a gash!"

"It's not really a gash…"

"It's a long wound! Gods, Aleya! I'm so sorry, My Girl! I didn't notice until it was too late!" He could remember perfectly well, now. He had been busy dispatching the voretooth that had poisoned him, and didn't notice the female flanking their position until after she had leapt, slicing at Aleya's side. He could remember Aleya yelping in pain. He had dispatched the female voretooth, but apparently Aleya had taken the male after Ignis fell from poison.

She tried to calm him down. "Ignis, it's not a gash. It's barely a scratch, now. The potion is working."

"If only I had use of my eyes…"

"We were outnumbered four to one, and I'm practically useless in close combat. If all I got is a little scratch, I'd say you did amazingly well."

"There's nothing 'little' about a Voretooth claw, Leya! How deep did it go? Are you in pain?" He pulled at her shirt, trying to get his fingers better on the wound to access.

"Ignis! Calm down!" She laughed at him as he continued his perturbed search. "You know, by the time you find it, it will be fully healed."

"Curse this blindness!" He muttered, finally finding the two scratches that were—as she said—healing very nicely. She most likely wouldn't have a scar from it by morning, as the potions were working well. But his failure to protect her deeply disturbed him. Had he seen the beast coming, his tactics would have changed. Aleya would have been spared the pain, and he the poison.

He felt her move in towards him, and place a hand behind his neck. "Igs. Please calm down."

"No, Leya. Up to this moment, I've never allowed you to be harmed. Not once. You were behind me. Had you been on my right," He shook his head, "No, had I been able to see anything at all, perhaps this wouldn't have happened."

"You're allowed to make one mistake. It's not even a mistake. These things happen."

He opened his mouth to protest again, but she stood on tip toe and pulled him down, landing her mouth against his to quiet him. He halted in surprise for a moment at her forward behavior. They both knew the rules, and kept their distance as a failsafe. She was in dangerous territory, and most likely knew it. As much as he told himself to wait for the moment to pass, he couldn't abide inaction. He pulled her in and reciprocated, for several very pleasurable moments. And then she drew back, kissing the cheekbone under his scarred eye. "Don't be so harsh about your eyes. They've been through a lot." And with that, she took him by the hand and led him through the roots and vines of the forest. "Let's go make some dinner. I'm starved."

(Later that evening)

Despite her encouragement, Ignis still felt oddly self-conscious. It wasn't only the mistake during the voretooth assault. Several days before, she had mentioned something in passing that bothered him to an absurd degree. She had mentioned that in the past, she would love making eye contact with him, with his sharp green irises. It was meant as a compliment, as they were discussing their early years and mutual physical attraction. She hadn't realized that the comment made him wonder if she somehow regretted his loss of vision, or the altered appearance of his eyes. Did it make him less attractive to her? Moreover, though he knew it was for her Galahdian tradition, and that she didn't want to be carried away by taking too many liberties, she had kept him at a bit of arms' length recently, only letting down her guard briefly the day before to console him in her pity. It gave him a remarkably somber mood, and made him wonder if pursuing a relationship with her was going to cause him to lose all his prior sense of logic, altogether.

He was wondering about this as he sat at the edge of Havenrock, minding a garment repair. The smell of spices and seafood lingered in the air.

"Soup's done."

Ignis paused in mending the tear in Aleya's jacket for a moment. "Fine, thank you. I'll eat when I'm done."

"Take a break. I told you I could do that myself."

"I may as well do something, as you've taken to cooking recently."

There was a curt sarcasm to his tone. Aleya sighed and set the ladle aside before sitting next to him on the rock. She set a hand on his shoulder. "Ok. What's bothering you?"

"There's nothing bothering me."

"I know better."

"I was just thinking this would be much easier with the use of my eyes."

"I told you I could do it." She went to take it away from him.

He pulled the garment away, as if offended that she would think to take away the task. "I told you I am more than capable of repairing your jacket, sighted or not. Though, if I could have seen the voretooth coming, maybe this wouldn't have happened in the first place."

"Ignis." She ran a finger over his ear and set her chin against his bicep. "Why is this bothering you all of the sudden? Tell me."

He didn't reply. He kept busy at his work, ignoring her. He didn't want to talk about it in the slightest.

She would have none of it. She raised his arm over her head and snuggled up against him, wrapping both arms around his waist. She rested her head against his heart as she squeezed.

"Leya." Though he sounded impatient, he couldn't help but respond. He dropped the needle and the jacket to use one hand to hold her head to his chest as he ran the other along her waist. "It's nothing that need concern you."

She adjusted her position so that she could be more comfortable, sliding closer to him. "You'd best tell me. Otherwise, we'll both be fretting and grouchy and hungry. We'll both be soup-less. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

Endearing how she could disarm him with her teasing. "I've been doing some thinking. That's all."

"You're always thinking. But you're rarely this moody. What's up?"

Well, he had better tell her right away, lest that creepingly pleasant feeling of having her body nestled against his turned into a total loss of self-control. "I've merely been giving my disability some thought…" He cleared his throat. How he detested being so vulnerable. It took all his courage to work the words out. "And I'm concerned you grow tired of it."

She sat up immediately, pulling away a bit. "What?"

"Do you still resent it? The fact that you told me to care for my eyes and I returned like this?"

"Ignis…!" She moved away to sit on her knees, facing him.

"I've been told it's affected my appearance. And all the work you had to put in to getting me in fighting form…I can't imagine it was ever easy for you. I couldn't see that beast coming today. If I had, we might not have had to patch you up with a potion. Furthermore, I can't see to tell you all you might like to hear; I cannot compliment you on your apparel, or your…" He was cut off as she dove forward, planting two sweet and gentle kisses over his injured eye.

"Don't be silly. Still resent you? I've never resented you! You're a tour de force! Handsome, too. I'd be crazy to not be head over heels for you!" She tweaked the bridge of his nose gently. "And I am, you know."

"Leya…" He wasn't sure how to respond. He was overcome by deep emotion, by the joy and relief of hearing such praise from the woman he lauded as higher than the Oracle herself.

She ran her thumb over his eyebrow as she considered his scars closely. "Your eyes mean so much to me—sharp green or glassy gray—it doesn't matter."

"Aleya…" he sighed. She was so incredibly close, and he remembered full well how delightfully pretty she was. "I grow very tired of not being able to see you."

"You can see me anytime you want." She took his hand and pressed it to her face. "Anytime at all."

He smiled softly as he ran his fingers across her eyebrows, before traveling down the bridge of her nose to her lower lip. How could she be so kind? So perfect? "You're beyond beautiful. No man needs eyes to see that."

She smiled and took his hands in her own. "Nothing about you has changed; It's only improved." She then stood, making her way for the stove. "Resent you? Resent what? I'm not that superficial."

He grew alarmed at that comment. Is that what she thought he meant? "No, Leya, I…."

She gave a light chuckle. "I know what you meant, Igs." There was a pause as she stirred the pot quietly, leaving him to his own thoughts. He picked up the garment again and mused over it for a moment before the silence was broken. "I like the new look: Scars, longer hair, and those gray eyes…you're sexy, Igs."

At that particular phrase, he ended up driving the needle into his thumb as he jolted. He winced in pain and shook his thumb in the air. He rarely knew her to flirt so openly. It always caught him off guard. "I…what do you mean by that?"

She laughed. "Eat your soup, silly."

And he did indeed eat his soup, though it was quite literally the last thing on his mind.

October 28th, M.E. 759

"Igs! Watch out!"

Ignis dodged the swinging fire-laced cleaver of the red giant with a somersault, followed by a roll. He could feel the whoosh of the wind that flew past him, as well as the scorching heat of flame that missed him by a matter of inches. He righted himself and leapt back nimbly. With a sweep of his arm, he gestured for Aleya to do the same.

She waited out the temper tantrum as the gigantic monster flailed his sword this way and that, and held her bow in a relaxed position. "Tell me when."

Ignis was already nearly to the top of the boulder he had scaled. He muttered to himself as he went along. What he wouldn't have given to have warping powers again—of course, not at the expense of another vital organ—to be able to save time and energy. Though he'd never admit it, he was growing tired.

Once he reached the apex, he retrieved his lance and motioned to Aleya. "Now!"

She had righted her bow, aimed, and delivered to the target before the mono-syllabic word died on his lips. The arrow fell as intended—the left side of the creature's shoulder. When he roared and bellowed in anger, exposing his chest, Ignis struck. He leapt, plunged the lance in the creature's throat, and let gravity do the rest of the work. He slid down the distance and chose to leap and roll and the last moment, lest the creature crush him to death when it fell. He didn't need any assistance, but Aleya was there anyway, pulling at the shoulder of his vest as they moved aside. The whole area trembled with fury when the red giant finally hit the ground, and the quaking nearly knocked them off their feet.

He held on to her, steadying her, until the air calmed and the ground stilled. He was panting. The battle had come on top of several other encounters in a row, on top of a long expedition. This last battle had tired him out almost altogether. "Are you alright?"

She dusted at his vest and straightened his collar. "Of course. Are you?"

"Naturally." He tried to control his shivering; He had worked up a drenching sweat during the battle, and now the cold, sunless air blew through his wet hair and clothing. Aleya noticed, anyway, and fished out a spare shirt from their pack. He handed her the discarded one and donned the new one immediately.

She grinned at him as she sponged his face off with her shirt cuff.

It was dangerous for her to be so near. He wasn't even really thinking as he reached out for her hip, and drew her in gently. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his mouth to hers. For a flicker of a moment, she began to resist, but then melted. The sweaty shirt hung from one hand while she used the other to cling to him. Viewing it as encouragement, he got carried away immediately. He was, by now, quite practiced in the kissing art.

However, just as things were beginning to take a lean towards a thrill, she jolted a bit and leaned away, trying to distract him from the current subject he was studying. "I'm always amazed at how you can fight."

"Thank you." Ignis was not so easily distracted—years of training and discipline at work. He pulled her in hungrily for another kiss, but he was denied.

She laughed lightly and leaned away, turning her head. He met with the curve of her jaw rather than the chosen target of her lips. "Wow, my tummy is growling!"

Changing the subject again. She kept him well in check these last few months. It was good that she did, as was because the more they touched, the more they wanted. They had decided to refrain from anything that could lead to unbridled passion, at least until their relationship was 'set in stone', as she called it. It was becoming maddening. But he couldn't ask her for her hand, yet. They had much to learn, and much to do before Noct's return…and they had no clue when that might be. It could be a few days or several years. It was truly torture. He kept the knotted-up feelings buried inside of himself and feigned nonchalance. "Ah. We'd best remedy that particular ailment."

"Where's the chocobo farm?"

Ignis turned his face as if he were looking towards the distance, although she knew that was impossible. "By the scent of the wind," he surmised, "I'd say it's just over yon hill." He tried to force his mind from the taste and touch of her mouth; Of the way the curves of her body felt against him.

"Think we'll make it if we run?" She grabbed at his hand.

"I think we'll make it even if we amble," he answered earnestly. "We're clear of any present danger. Why would we hurry?"

"Uhhh…because it's fun?" She questioned, again leaning into him, teasingly.

"I see." Truthfully, he was exhausted. If he was going to expend his energy on 'fun', it certainly wasn't going to be that kind. "Perhaps tomorrow, if the day is less onerous."

"Oh, come on. Where's that bravado I know so well? Who once bragged that he was 'far faster' than me?"

A smile quirked at his face. He remembered that day. It had been so hard to keep his feelings to himself before leaving for Altissia. She had always known how to mess with his mind, even if she never intentionally meant to. "That was years ago."

She laughed, pinching the bridge of his nose. She was doing that a lot lately: It was a habit she had when teasing him, but he didn't mind. It was just the same as how he would pull on her back belt loop or tugged on her ponytail. It was little actions like those that made them feel like a true couple. "Are we too old, then? Too old to have a little bit of fun?"

Was it his imagination, or had the tone of her voice changed? Ignis felt his dead pupils dilate as he forced down the intrusive thought rising up. Thank the gods he was wearing shaded lenses. He could feel a warm flush crawling over his neck. Had it been the way she said it, specifically, or had he been hanging out with Gladio and Prompto for far too long? He swallowed hard, putting his hands on his hips so that they didn't go for hers. "No."

"Well then, you better grab your gear and catch up, Mister, because I'm going to beat you there." With that, she lit off in the general direction he had indicated.

He retrieved his pack from the ground in a hurry and took off after her. "Wait! Aleya!"

She giggled as she ran up the hill. "Hurry up, old man, or you're going to get left behind!"

'Old man'? He was six months her junior! "Wait! Slow down…" He hesitated a mere moment, pausing his step as the wind shifted. "Leya! Stop!"

She turned to him, now running in reverse at the top of the hill that was overgrown with all manners of greenery. "Come on, you're making it too easy for…oof!"

Ignis could barely make out the shadow of her form that slammed to an unintentional halt, followed by a flailing of limbs as she went over the apex. Her feet went straight up in the air before she started rolling down the other side. Numerous sounds followed: slight yelps and grunts and gasps before a familiar voice shouted 'Woah!' And then there was another crash, two voices now echoing out a painful cry. He made it to the top of the hill and hovered over. "Leya! Are you alright?" He didn't wait for her answer. He began descending swiftly to her position.

"Ow!" She complained with a groan, lying in an unnatural heap in the grass.

"What the heck.." The new voice said. "Allie, is that you?"

She rubbed the side of her head and looked up at the sky in confusion. "Prompto? Why are you here?"

"Allie! It is you! Are you okay?" Prompto got to his haunches to check on her.

Ignis appeared at the same moment, skidding to a halt next to her. Together, one on each side, they helped her sit up. He couldn't help but chastise while teasing. "Are you alright? No broken bones? Twisted ankles? Wounded pride?"

"Gosh, that's embarrassing," she answered Ignis while Prompto picked blades of grass out of her hair.

"Thank heavens you're alright." He put a hand to her back and rubbed gently. He nodded at Prompto. "At last we meet. I must confess I've had an extraordinarily difficult time trying to reach you."

"Mobile service is pretty non-existent these days," Prompto told him, finishing his task of picking out the grass. He smoothed her ruffled hair flat sweetly. "I'm usually working assignments out of Hammerhead."

"I can't imagine why," He facetiously replied.

"Oh! Happy birthday, Prompto," Aleya suddenly said, slapping him on his shoulder. "We should do something to celebrate!"

Prompto chuckled. "Aww. Sweet of you to remember."

"Sorry about tumbling into you. Made a fool of myself. It certainly was not my finest hour." She gingerly checked her ankle that had snagged the snarled root, causing her to trip and roll down into Prompto like a bowling ball into an unsuspecting pin.

He chuckled again, rubbing his neck. "A pretty girl sweeping me off my feet? Why apologize?"

"Still…"

"No problem. Heard all the commotion over the hill and thought I'd come check it out. I didn't expect it to be you guys. How have you been?"

"Busy," Ignis replied. He turned his attention back to Aleya. "Are you certain you're unharmed?"

"Ankle hurts a little bit, but I'm sure it's nothing major. I can probably walk it off." She moved to stand, but Ignis put a hand out on her shoulder to hold her down.

"Perhaps it's better if you should not walk at all."

"Don't be silly. I can walk." She stood up, Prompto and Ignis hovering like nervous mother Zus.

Ignis looked hesitant for a moment, and then scooped her up onto his back.

"Ignis! Let me down!"

There was a slight pause as he determined the best way to reply. He settled on charm. "Let you down, my dear? Never."

It was her turn to blush and grow flustered. "Ig-Ignis.."

Prompto watched the interaction for a few minutes in surprise and suspicion before standing up. He gave a light-hearted laugh. "You better watch it, Igster. Someone might think you two are…" He gasped. "Oh. Em. Gee. Are you guys? Are you two…?"

"Courting?" Ignis replied, never batting an eyelash regarding the admission. "Yes. We are."

Prompto was flabbergasted, nearly stuttering. "What? When? When did this happen?"

There was a pause while they both mulled over the question, trying to figure it out. It was obvious they were struggling to do the math. Finally, Aleya asked Prompto for the current date.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Prompto replied. "You don't even know how long you've been dating?"

"In our defense, we've been busy researching. Plus, the days run together in infinite darkness…"

"And I've no way of telling time," Ignis added.

Prompto cast them a dubious glance. "Still; Allie, you've never looked at a calendar? What kind of woman are you? You're supposed to know these things!"

"I…"

"No, no, never mind. It doesn't matter. You two are a thing now? Isn't that a little weird?"

Ignis shifted her weight on his back. "How so?"

"I mean…boss and secretary getting—you know—getting? I mean, isn't that a little…Actually, no. That makes a lot of sense, actually. It's just like in the movies."

Ignis, at that point, considered the conversation officially over. He turned on his heel and began walking away while Prompto continued talking to himself for a few moments. By the time the gunman noticed he had been left, they were some distance ahead, and he had to run to catch up. When he did, he continued where he left off, as if they had heard every word he had previously spoken. "…And you guys look like total baddies, now. I mean, Aleya's sporting leather. Going hardcore Aranea on us. Got her own climbing gear, weapon, archery glove…Iggy, are you actually wearing jeans?"

"Can we opt for subject matter beyond my love life or my sense of fashion?" Ignis suggested with a sigh.

"Uh…sure." Prompto trailed them, whistling for a few moments. "So….have you heard from Noct, yet?"

Ignis gave a slight pause in his step before proceeding forward. His voice sounded heavy. "I'm afraid not."

"Oh. I see."

"Were you expecting him to?" Aleya asked, with genuine curiosity, still perched on Ignis' back.

Prompto shrugged. "Well, I figured if anyone would have heard something by now, it would be The Igster. He's got this crazy data base of random intel no one else would have. And everyone knows he's sort of Noct's closest relative." He didn't catch Ignis' melancholy expression and continued on, dejectedly. "Plus, it's been such a long time, ya know? I had kind of hoped he snuck back when we weren't looking. Like, half the time I'm walking around, I expect him to do his crazy warping thing and just fall from the sky. 'Hey there, blondie, how ya been'? You know. That sort of thing. It's something Noct would do."

There was a long silence as they walked along. The mood had turned suddenly somber. Everyone became very depressed and reflective as they marched along. Finally, Aleya decided to lighten the mood. She swiped Prompto on the shoulder. "I'm sure that's what will happen," she told him, cheerfully. "He'll show up when we least expect it."

"So you don't know when he'll be back?"

"Not yet," Ignis drawled thoughtfully. He was beginning to breathe harder as he walked. Despite his determination and desperation to prove to Aleya that he was fully capable of carrying her for any number of kilometers, it wasn't as easy to carry a full grown adult over uneven terrain as he had thought. "All we've uncovered so far is assurances that he will return, and with the blessing of the gods and kings of yore."

Aleya decided to explain the delay. "We don't really have reliable transportation. It takes a long time to travel the tombs and ruins. Then there's the matter of translating the archaic language. After that, we need to reference the material. Communications are down, so we have to find our way back to civilization in hopes of getting a message to the Marshal about the items we need. And of course, most of those are in the Royal library, so…."

"Bummer."

"So we don't even know if we can determine a date. But even if we could, it's going to take a little bit of forever."

Ignis blew out a sharp breath and shifted his hold on her legs.

"Just put me down, Ignis. I can walk."

"I think not."

Prompto grinned. "Aren't you two cute?" He teased. "I'm going to need a picture."

"Gods," Ignis muttered under his breath as Prompt began unscrewing the lens cap.

"On the plus side, Umbra's been pretty excitable lately. And he's been paying more visits to Ignis. Maybe that means we're closer to a royal reunion?" She suggested.

Distracted by such hope, Prompto forgot to take the picture. "You think so?"

She shrugged. "It's a possibility."

"Do you think that…?" Prompto stuck his nose in the air. "Wait. Can you smell that?"

"Only for the last ten kilometers or so," Ignis grunted, beginning to sweat profusely. "We were standing down-wind, after all."

"I think I can hear them, too! Allie—can you hear that? We're close! Hey, do you think Wiz is still there?"

"Doubtful," he answered with a slight muffled groan. "Though if he were, I'd ask him to send along transport."

"Okay, that's it." Aleya kicked her feet until he begrudgingly put her down, still trying to keep the weight off of her ankle. "Stop it!" She fussed, pushing him away slightly. "Stop making a fuss. I told you I'm fine. It's not even twisted. I think I just hit it on something."

"Still, I think it's better if we take no chances," Ignis replied. "Prompto, do you think you could…?"

But Prompto interrupted, shaking Aleya's shoulder so hard that she nearly fell over. "I can see the lights! They're still there! Chocobos! Chocobos!" And he lit off for the ranch as if his back side were on fire.

Aleya burst out laughing at Ignis' irritated expression. "Come on. Let him have his fun. It's so rare these days."

Ignis inclined his head slightly. "Is it true? Is the ranch in operation?"

"Yes," Her voice sounded awed. "It's true. I can see the lights."

He frowned. "I was under the assumption that the power had been cut in that area."

"It was. I sent the notice myself. I asked everyone to evacuate. Most of the ranch hands showed up by the deadline, but the chocobos never did. Neither did the stablemaster. The ranch hands said he had heard the message loud and clear, but refused to leave. You don't think Lestallum found a way to streamline the output, do you?"

"Simply to supply a dude ranch? Doubtful."

"I guess you're right."

They stood there pondering for a moment before he took her hand. "Well, then. Let's be off and investigate for ourselves, shall we?"

The climb was nearly a 45 degree angle at that point. After several minutes, he could hear her at his side, breathing heavily. It was true she was used to walking extremely long distances every day, and she had been through worse treks—the Rock of Ravatogh, for example. But they had just fought well beyond their quota of battles for one day, and he suspected the injury to her ankle was worse that she let on. It couldn't have helped that Prompto had fallen on top of her when she took him out at the knees. Also,part of the reason they were out this far is because she had been tired lately. Being in the middle of nowhere, as they had been, he had supposed what he thought was an abandoned chocobo ranch would be the perfect place to get a little rest. He had assumed the ranch would have at least a few abandoned provisions and a few walls left. He had hoped to make her a tasty meal before letting her bed down for the evening. It seemed they might have hit upon even more fortune.

Feeling sentimental and nostalgic, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side. "Feeling a bit peaked, are we?"

Her voice sounded guarded, the way it always did when he noticed something she didn't want him to. "Maybe a bit."

"It's warm here with all these meteor shards lying about," he murmured in her ear. "Disappointing. You won't need me with you to stay warm tonight."

She dug her elbow it his ribs. "Go away."

He laughed and pulled her right back. "Don't pretend you aren't disappointed, as well." He snuck a devilish kiss on her cheek.

"What's gotten into you lately? Do I need to get a restraining order?"

He shrugged. "Now dearest, you know that wouldn't work."

Instead of moving away, she stopped and turned towards him, leaning in. He felt a cold chill of excitement as she grabbed the shoulder of his jacket and pulled him down. Their mouths were only millimeters apart as she opened hers to retort something cunning back. However, she was interrupted by the sound of a chocobo's cry splitting the dark air. And as she turned her head to the sound, Ignis only managed to get a mouthful of her ear.

They stepped away from each other, both remembering their rules at the same time. She took his hand as an apology. "Shall we?"

"Let's."

Ignis shook off the disappointment as they came over the top of the hill and heard yet another loud 'kweh', much closer this time. He broke into a grin. It might as well have been sunshine, ice cream, and lifetime supply of Ebony. The memories were coming back, and he could see the ranch so clearly in his mind. He could see he and his three companions posing in front of the stables, eating sandwiches around the dining area, inspecting the hunting board, Noct wrapping his arms around one of the golden steeds, and of course, there was Prompto, running to and fro. He could hear the line coming back, 'My hair does not look like a chocobo's butt!'" He could hear it as clear as day.

"Well look who it is!" He heard the rustic, warm drawl of the man approaching. "Fancy seeing y'all in these parts!"

He extended a hand. "It's been a long time."

Wiz chuckled. "You're right, it has. Now, I remember you, and I remember the chocobo lover. Who's this pretty little gal you got with you?"

Ignis couldn't help but glow with a bit of pride. She was indeed a 'pretty little gal', after all, and out of all men on Eos, it was his arm she was holding. "Might I introduce Aleya Claren." He paused, tossing a warm smile in her general direction. "My beloved."

She did a double-take at his expression.

"Well," Wiz chuckled. "Ain't that nice? This the girl you were so broken up about all those years back?"

Oh, that was true. Wiz had once asked him who was on his mind, and it had indeed been Aleya. He had marveled at the man's ability to see what was bothering him back then, even when he had never said a word. The man was fiercely intuitive. "Indeed, she is." He couldn't see anything beyond the pale neon glow of Aleya's shadow, but he could see her extend a hand and do a quick, short curtsey. No other woman would have thought to extend such respectable courtesy to a man such as Wiz. She had identified him as a friend to Ignis, and was ready to assign him the dignity he deserved. That was her way, and one of the reasons he so dearly loved her.

"That's mighty fine to hear. I'm Wiz, ma'am. Owner of this here establishment. Or, what's left of it, anyway. All the tourists have left, and all the attractions with 'em. What you see now is what you get." He motioned to the building, the silos, the stables. All the tables were gone except two, nearest the building.

"It seems well in order," She marveled partly to herself and partly to describe it to Ignis. "How do you manage it?"

"I don't rightly know. Things just seem to work out. None of the critters out there bother us, not even the Behemoths. I wonder if it has something to do with the shards? Maybe since y'all are here, your beau could figure it out? He's got a brain for those kinds of things."

She glanced at Ignis with a knowing smile. "Yes, he does."

"He's done a lot of favors for me in the past."

"Really?"

"It wasn't just myself," Ignis answered. "The four of us each did our part."

"He's done everything from photography to healing wild birds, to incubating an egg."

Aleya clapped a hand over her mouth to suppress laughter. "An egg? Are you serious?"

"We took turns…"Ignis began defensively. He knew Aleya must have the image of him sitting on a chocobo egg, reading a newspaper. He didn't have time to explain. Wiz continued.

"In all seriousness, though, you got a right good man here. He's as fine a man as they come."

Aleya turned to Ignis with a sweet smile and put her hand back in his. She took his elbow and leaned into him. "I know."

A silence passed between them: Ignis basking in the flush of pride, Aleya staring at him with enamor, and Wiz shaking his head with a chuckle as he watched. "Well, shucks. What are we standin' around chewin' the fat for? You two look half-starved and exhausted. Why don't y'all stay for a while?"

"That's precisely why we came," Ignis admitted. "We hoped there might be a place to rest for the evening, though I'll admit I never expected it to be in such grand order. Might your caravan still be available?"

"She's available, alright," Wiz answered. "But she ain't in the best order. I suspect you'd want the finest for your gal here."

Aleya opened her mouth to deny his offer. "Oh, no, that's not necessa—"

"Of course," Ignis spoke over her. "What options have you?"

"Why don't you stay at the homestead? My daughter and son-in-law stay in Lestallum now. I reckon they won't be returning anytime soon. You two can bunk there if you'd like."

She tried again. "But we wouldn't want to impose."

"That would be splendid," Ignis interjected again. "I'll gladly pay whatever price you state for the stay. Though I'm afraid gil is no longer an option. I'd be glad to pay you by other means."

"Now, y'all don't worry about none of that. Seems I owe you for all you've done for me and my birds. Besides, I haven't had visitors her for a few years, now. I'd like to have some company."

Ignis seemed happy about it. "Very well," he cheerfully replied. "But allow me to opportunity to cook up something smashing on which to dine. We all need to eat, after all, and it would be my way of showing thanks for your hospitality."

"That's mighty kind of you."

"We won't be but a moment; Prompto and I will be off to set about a hunt for the main course."

Wiz smiled. "No need, son. I've got everything here. You name it: Steak, fish, even chickatrice—but don't tell the birds. It gets them out of sorts."

Aleya nodded gravely, not so much because she took him at his word, but because the moral gravity of eating fowl in front of fowl wasn't lost to her. She was an animal lover. Ignis often had to evade in run-ins with wildlife during their travels, for fear he'd have to kill a malevolent animal in front of her. It would make her dismally upset.

Pleasantness over, Wiz took them both to the interior of the homestead; close to the former shop, and showed them to the room. Ignis stood in the doorway, inhaling the slight smell of dust and damp. Otherwise, it seemed in relatively good order. Wiz apologized for the lack of décor and the state of dust, and urged them to make themselves at home with whatever they found within.

Aleya headed immediately for the showers after changing the sheets on the bed, while Ignis busied himself in the kitchen. Shortly after all the mise-en-place had been organized, Aleya stepped into the kitchen to assist. He breathed in deeply, catching a familiar whiff of her hair. Nostalgia flooded through him quickly, and he gave an enamored smile as he chopped at an onion. "Wherever did you find that?"

"What? Found what?" She hovered alongside him, looking over the beginnings of his culinary creation.

"The shampoo. Haven't smelled that in forever."

"Oh. Wiz's daughter apparently used the same brand. You don't like it?"

"No," He swept the last bits of diced onion from the knife with a careful sweep of his forefinger. "In fact, I'm rather fond of it."

She faced him, and he knew that she must have been smiling. He kissed her forehead quickly as he went about his work.

"What can I do to help?"

"Would you mind stirring?" He asked, putting the diced vegetables into the skillet.

She worked quietly by his side for a while. That was how they worked together very often—no one needed to think of something to converse about. They were comfortable in silence, content just to carry about their own business in the presence of the other person. They didn't have to keep each other entertained; They never had. Whether in study, battle, or every day affairs of life, being together was enough. Even silence felt like team work. Conversation—and lack thereof—always felt rather natural.

"I like Wiz," she finally spoke first. "He seems to be a good man."

"He is. Anyone so truly kind to animals generally have equal kindness towards humanity."

"He didn't even mention your sunglasses. He must have known you were blind."

"No doubt; But he's prudent." Ignis leaned back on the counter casually next to her, crossing his arms. "It appears he's taken a shine to you."

She laughed sarcastically. "He's taken a shine to you. I just happen to be the other half."

Ignis paused thoughtfully.

She caught her mistake and turned to him, hovering the stirring spoon in the air. "I…I meant like a salt and pepper shaker. A pair of shoes. A set of dice. A couple of…"

"A couple of lovers, perhaps?" He interrupted.

She scoffed. "Maybe; In the oldest sense of the word." She turned to fetch a spoon holder, but he grabbed her elbow and pulled her back towards him.

"How about the newest sense of the word?" He teased, wrapping both arms around her tightly, snugging her up to himself. "As you said; We're not too old."

"Ignis." She tried to push away, but he only held his grip tighter. "Galahd tradition says…"

"I'm well aware of your traditions," he replied. "And I have every intention of honoring them. Would it hurt us too badly to entertain ourselves with a preview?" He leaned in and kissed her neck, just below her ear.

She tried again to push away, but quickly gave up. "What do you mean by that? What are…?"

He cut her off by kissing her briefly, only once. He paused for a moment, thoughtfully, and kissed her again. And two kisses became four; And then a lengthy, longing one; That devolved into a passionate craving sort. She struggled for a moment before going slightly limp. She quickly began to return the gesture, drinking him in greedily. She slid her arms under his, pressing against him. Ignis told himself far in the back of his mind to keep control, but found his arms pulling her at her eagerly. He felt her catch her breath, and it made him even more estatic. He found the tip of his tongue gliding over her lip. The decision-making section of his brain—though usually iron-clad with strength—failed him completely in a starburst of delight as she allowed him further access. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her slightly to meet his height.

They both were becoming mindless, and Ignis knew it. Somewhere, down in the deepest part of his brain, reflection started to stir to life. Did he love her? Yes, of course he did. Did he want her? More than anything! Did he respect her?...Yes, yes he most certainly did. He had always been proud of his self-discipline, and now he was going to exert such self-discipline, before there were any passionate regrets. How would their relationship fare if it was built on a total lack of self-control? Aleya would regret, and later resent, and he couldn't allow such a thing—for his sake, or hers.

Reluctantly, he slowed his pace and began breaking from her. At one final experimental tug at her lower lip, they were beginning to pull away.

And then in walked Prompto. "Whoah!" He cried, as he rounded the corner. Aleya moved away so quickly, Ignis had feared he had drawn blood. Prompto covered his eyes, whirling around. "In the kitchen, guys? In the kitchen?! Is that even sanitary?"

"Prompto…" Ignis growled between his teeth, wiping at his mouth with the back of his hand.

Aleya, embarrassed, turned away and began stirring the pot with vigor. "It's nothing. Ignis and I were just…"

He shook his head. "No details, please. Awkward!"

"How is a bloody kiss awkward?" Ignis griped, with ire in his voice. He turned to Aleya, running a thumb over her lower lip to check for injury.

She was nearly to the point of tears, both in realization of what had happened and out of sheer embarrassment of being caught. She shoved his hand away.

"Can I have meal without the diabetes, please?" Prompto asked in a whiny fashion. "Or anything else sort of…you know…gross…."

Ignis threw down a hand towel and started to go for Prompto, but he quickly scamped away, leaving him fuming. But then he heard a slight huff verging on the edge of a sob, and he turned to Aleya. "Are you alright?"

"Oh, my gosh, Ignis, what were we doing?"

"I…" He paused. Yes, they had gotten carried away. He had known it was risky when he started, and knowing it was too risky was enough for him to end it, but not before they were caught in the act. He knew the thoughts running through her head—that not only was she mortified with her own behavior towards him, but that Prompto must surely think of her as someone who had already jilted 'Galahdian tradition'. He had told himself over and over again that he had nothing but respect for this woman. But as they spent more time together, he was finding it harder and harder to keep his hands to himself. He had always been attractedto her. Now it was as if he couldn't physically tear himself away. He constantly wanted toshower affection upon her, and in doing so, they had nearly crossed a barrier they had strictly promised not to. 'To appease her accursed ancestors,' Ignis thought in frustration, 'though the popular lore swears their founder held to no such rules.' Still, it was important to her. What was important to her was of course important to him, as well.

Her anxiety over what had just happened wasn't just that they got carried away, either. They both knew that it would probably happen again. Unless, of course, they parted company entirely. That was definitively out of the question.

"I'm…I'm sorry, Leya. I shouldn't have…"

She shooed him away. "Just…go take a shower. You smell like a Zu nest."

"I what?" It was a sudden change of topic, which threw him for a surprise, but the fact that he smelled anything less than pleasant—especially when he had been so excitingly intimate with her—was somewhat off-putting.

"You heard me. Go wash up. Hurry, before I burn whatever this stuff is."

He smiled. "I have faith in you." He reached out to caress her neck, but she threw a hand back, accidentally slapping his away. He went stalk still in surprise.

"Please just go." She told him, dismay still in her voice. "We both need to cool off."

And that was that. There would be no more romancing over the stove tonight.

It did indeed take time to 'cool down', as she put it. They had been at dinner over an hour before either one of them began to relax. Under the awning, on the bench she occupied with him, she had sat bolt upright, stiff as a board. He did his best not to let even their shoulders touch. But the conversation began to lighten, and soon they were back to their old selves. He let her eat off his plate and he put a hand on her knee without her jumping away. And then there they were again, the same old Ignis and Aleya. They were comfortable with each other.

And as things began to wind down, she relaxed into the seat next to him, getting sleepy.

"That's a mighty big yawn, miss." Wiz interrupted Prompto in the middle of his tale about healing a Behemoth calf.

"What?" She replied through the end of expiring a rushing gulp of air. "Oh. Just getting some more oxygen."

"Tired, Allie?" Prompto asked from the chair he had pulled up to the little card table they were eating on.

"Maybe a little. I'm listening, though. Don't mind me."

At her words, Ignis felt a flash of affection. She was just like a child in some ways, including her refusal to admit defeat and retire for sleep. And just like a child, he knew she would fail the fight any moment now. It had happened numerous times on their journeys together. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and drew her in, allowing her to lay her head on the crook of his neck and clavicle. He was relieved when she eased into him. He feared after the incident in the kitchen she would no longer trust him.

Wiz chuckled a few minutes later. "Well, ain't that precious? She's dropped right off."

"I'm not sure if it's the journey or just a lack of proper daylight," Ignis told them both. "Lately, she sleeps as much as Noct ever did." A sudden worrisome passing thought of her anemia crept up.

"I would say call it a day," Wiz replied, "but I'm not sure if that fits anymore. Though, the best I can tell, it's almost midnight."

Prompto leaned forward, all interest. "How do you figure?"

"The birds." He nodded towards the stables. "They know what time it is. Their schedule never changes. Third feeding was a while back."

"I suppose that's one way to tell the time," Ignis agreed.

Wiz stood, creaking joints and a soft grunt of effort. "Why don't you kids cash in for the night? We can talk again in the morning."

"I'll see her to bed," Ignis stated, beginning to stand slowly so as not to wake her too harshly.

Prompto laughed. "Don't be taking advantage of her, Ignis. I saw what you were trying to do to her in the kitchen."

Ignis scowled. "For your information, I intend to stay in the caravan."

"With me? I'm flattered!"

"Don't be," He replied through gritted teeth.

Once they reached the bedroom, they stood awkwardly in the silence for a moment. "I must confess," he told her, bashfully. "I don't actually want to leave."

"I—I don't want you to leave either, but…" She sighed. "I'm sorry for what happened today, Ignis. I really am. I shouldn't have done that."

"Nor I." He turned for the door, but paused. "Leya."

"Hmm?"

He started off with sincerity, and found himself in an embarrassed ramble. "I want you to know if—when—I do 'honor Galahdian tradition', as you say, it won't be for what I can gain from you. I assure you, I regard you with the utmost respect. I would never want to…" He froze as she dove forward and hugged him from behind.

She was silent for a moment. "I know you stopped it. I'm grateful." She took a deep breath.

He told himself to stay in check. It couldn't happen, not again. He simply stood quietly.

"Will you wake me up tomorrow? Where are we going?"

"Nowhere tomorrow."

"But I thought you wanted to cross-reference the material on the Chosen King's…"

"Have you forgotten why we're here?" He cleared his throat. "Sleep in tomorrow. You'll need your rest. We've a full schedule in the next few weeks. I'm in need of your linguistic prowess with that tome we bartered away from the peddler in Saxholm."

She stepped away, allowing him to open the door and exit. "Yes, sir!"

As she went to close it, he held his hand out to prevent her for a moment. "Leya. I…I do love you." When would he ever get over the abashed discomforture of the same confession?

"I love you, too." She let out a nervous laugh. "One quick kiss should be ok, right?"

He paused, considering where the last kiss led. "Could be dangerous."

"I'll risk it." She flung open the door and kissed him on the cheek quickly, then slammed it shut on him. "Goodnight, Ignis."

He smiled. "Goodnight, Leya."

[Direct Journal Entry]:

It's positively frightening at times how much I want her.

We can't possibly keep going like this. She and I desire to be together; Not only in the waking hours, but in the dormant ones, as well. It's a natural event, I suppose, for those that care for each other so much, and share everything else. And, if I'm honest with myself, I'm growing quite exasperated with Galahdian tradition. It's not that I disagree with it. Indeed, I find it a sincerely considerate concept. However, Noct hasn't returned yet, and it could be years still before he does. Galahdian tradition has its faults.

Which is why I have come to the conclusion that it may not be wise to wait for Noct's return. It will feel as if something inherent is missing, to be sure. However, I promised myself even before Insomnia fell that I would pursue Aleya until I could convince her to be my wife. I don't want to wait any longer. I have put off the natural progression of a relationship with her for so long. It's part of the reason why we've known each other for six years and nearly loved each other for as long, but only entered the 'courtship' phase a year ago. I've traveled with her over a year minding my manners, and I think I've endured more than any other man possibly could.

I kept hoping Noct would fall from the sky; We would somehow manage to save him from the vision I saw of the future. Then, I could marry her in the sunrise, with Noct available to witness our union. However, we've no idea how long it will take for Noct to arrive. Further, I've no idea if I can actually save him. It does pain me to admit it, for I will gravely suffer the loss of my beloved King.

Meanwhile, Aleya and I could go on like this for years: Always wanting, never having. Postponing such things for the astrals know how long is not kind to either one of us. Call me a possessive man (and perhaps I am entirely selfish when I admit this much), but I want to officially announce she is mine, and no longer available for the taking. Truthfully, I already lie and wake with her on a regular basis. We live nearly as if we were already wed, and there's no reason not to legally do so. I've postponed her desire to marry long enough.

There will be no more waiting. Whether in daylight or dark, whether our loved ones are present or far away, Aleya and I will have each other.

October 29th, M.E. 759

Prompto was surprised to find Ignis back to the caravan so quickly. He honestly thought he would be locked in that little barn bedroom for a long time. He launched into numerous inquiries, one after the other, shooting them as quickly as he would have handled his weapons. Ignis tried to reply in one-word answers, he attempted the silent treatment. He pretended to go deaf as well as blind, but nothing seemed to work. He finally explained that out of respect for Aleya's culture—which stated a marriage would only be blessed by the divine if the couple had remained in good moral standing—he would be refraining from passing certain established boundaries.

That seemed to silence him for a while, as he took it all in with perplexed and somewhat confused awe. He accused Ignis of being old-fashioned, but he didn't mind. When he was certain he would get no more out of Ignis, he fell silent for quite a long time. And then, he suddenly sat upright and broke into the very beginnings of Ignis' slumber, badgering him as to what they had done all this time if they hadn't been 'together'. It started a wellspring of new interrogation, and Ignis had enough.

He walked outside, and threatened Prompto to follow him.

He found serenity on the bench outside of the chocobo stables; In the peace and quiet of the fresh breeze, the pleasant scent of recent rain and dried gyshal greens.

But he was only alone for a short while. He heard faint footsteps. "What are you doing up and about?" Ignis inquired over his shoulder. "I thought you to be fast asleep by now."

"I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep," Aleya replied, stepping lightly across the wooden planked decking towards him. The boards creaked faintly as she crossed. He felt her hand fall to his shoulder. "Guess I'm not used to that level of quiet anymore."

"Are you implying I snore?"

"Something like that."

Ignis tapped the bridge of his nose. "Surgically repaired septum, if you can recall." He reached across his shoulder to offer her his hand.

She took it naturally in her own. "How could I ever forget? You scared me to death that day. Blood was everywhere."

"Come." He motioned to the seat next to him. She took it, snuggling down under his arm. She had some sort of shawl wrapped around her—she must have found it within her temporary domicile—and her hair was down. He could tell she was dressed in soft pajamas; the material was soft against his skin. This is how he preferred it—no poring over literature, no all-nighters translating material, no battling fiends in the dark, nor the stress of postponed passion. He liked sitting with her quietly and comfortably, like an old married couple on a park bench. These times were when he felt the closest to her. "There, now. Comfortable, are we?"

"Yes."

"Cold?"

"Not anymore."

"Good." He smiled to himself and rested his jaw against her scalp, perfectly content.

She continued their prior conversation. "That was a day for a lot of things. That was the day I fell in love with you."

"So soon?" He teased her.

She fidgeted with his fingers as she talked. "You forget you weren't the most observant person in those days. Your eyes were always on your books. I knew you a great deal longer than the first time we greeted each other. Months longer, in fact."

He took a deep, happy breath and closed his eyes. Even though he was blind, shutting his eyes was still relaxing. "Mmm. I sometimes wonder if you staged that little incident in the library."

"I most certainly did not. You plowed into me like a big ox."

He opened his scar-less eye. "I beg your pardon?"

"It's true! I was minding my own business when this super-tall klutz hit me like a brick wall, out of nowhere."

"Klutz?"

"…Stepped on my toes, scalded me with coffee…"

"You do indeed have an unfortunate penchant for getting doused in hot liquids." He ran his thumb over the scar in the palm of her hand; the one she earned at the boiler in Lestallum.

"Are you saying I'm the clumsy one?"

"That is precisely what I'm saying."

One of the birds, already bedded with its head under its wing, peeked up and shot them a disapproving, annoyed 'kweh'.

She grinned and put a finger to her lips. "Ok, shh. Shh. I get it. We'll be quieter." She laughed. "We're getting attitude from a chocobo."

"Well, of course. She has to wake up, soon. 'Early bird' and all that."

Genuinely comfortable, she shifted a bit on the bench to curl her feet up next to her, and she threw an arm over Ignis' stomach. She nuzzled into him happily. "This is nice."

"I have to agree."

As always, she seemed to know and reciprocate his innermost feelings. "Iggy?"

"Hmm?" He acknowledged her in a lazy humming drawl, content and half-asleep.

"Can you promise me something?"

"I can certainly try."

"Can you promise that we'll be like this when we're old?"

His eyes opened in faint surprise, although he knew he wouldn't be able to see anything through the burnt, filmy lenses any longer. "What's this, all of the sudden?"

"It's just that right now, neither one of us have a place. We're nomads, right? Traveling from one ancient relic to the next? I'm wearing someone else's clothes and sleeping in a stranger's room…"

A wave of disappointed guilt washed over him, and threatened to hurl him into melancholy. He supposed she missed the creature comforts of life while they were traveling on the road. It was something he couldn't give her, no matter how he wanted to take care of her. In truth, he knew if Insomnia had never fallen, they would have been married quite some time ago, and she'd be living like a princess at the Citadel. They would have a plush bed with satin sheets, high above the rest of Insomnia's citizenry. They could sleep behind the one-way view glass walls of their bedroom, taking in the lights. They would have a large tub, hot water, and all the Ebony they could possibly desire. They'd have a library the size of a banquet hall. She'd straighten his designer tie in the mornings, and he'd have kept her supplied in her favorite shampoos and lotions. They would have been the envy of Lucis. Yet, here they were, taking shelter in a dusty chocobo barn, too caught up in the task at hand to really see beyond the present. Even the civilian shelters had become hostile and unwelcoming, and led them to an unceremonious departure from their safe haven. It wasn't what he envisioned for them when he set off for Altissia over three years hence.

"…But all of that really makes no difference," she continued, breaking into his whirlwind of rapid and intrusive thoughts. "Because we have each other. Sitting here with you, I'm just the happiest girl ever." She wiggled her toes merrily.

He turned to face her and gave her a slow smile. It wasn't what he had expected. She never was quite sure what he expected, either. "Really?"

"I don't mind. I don't need anything else. You just have to promise me that when we're really old, we'll still be somewhere sitting just like this."

"What if we're too old to be in this position?" He retorted. "If my bones are frail, I wouldn't be able to support your…"

She clapped a hand over his mouth to prevent the last word. 'Weight' was a topic never to be discussed. Though he found it impossible to believe she had gained a single pound. He usually had to force her to sit down and eat, as food was usually the last thing on her mind. No doubt, he supposed, why she was partially responsible for her own nutritional anemia. "Then, we'll just hold hands." She sat up straight and sat beside him to demonstrate, lacing her small fingers into his. "Like this."

"I can only imagine how much bursitis the pair of us will have after years of writing, turning pages, cooking…"

"Then we don't have to hold hands. We just have to touch. Shoulder to shoulder." She bumped him with her shoulder happily.

"And if we're in wheelchairs?"

"Ignis!" She sighed in exasperation. "I'm trying to be romantic, here."

"Well, I'm trying to be practical. It's a distinct possibility. No need to make the details any more ambiguous than is necessary. We should have a fall-back plan."

"Fine." She stood across from him. "We'll touch toes. Like this."

It was childish and ridiculously entertaining, but he loved it. While she balanced on one foot to touch his toes with her own, he reached out to her and pulled her close to him. "Very well. I promise. I will gladly touch your toes." He gave a low chuckle in his teasing.

"Every day?"

"You have my word."

She pondered it for a moment. "We have to promise to stay together from now on. Deal?"

"I thought we already had." He let her sit on his extended knee. She threw her arms around his neck, accidentally hitting him in the face with the folds of the shawl.

"Sorry," she giggled, pulling the tassels away from his face before laying her head upon his clavicle.

The sweetness of it all inspired him. He had been wanting the perfect moment, a moment without further hesitation or planning. Now seemed as perfect a time as any. He put his hand in hers as she lay against the crook of his neck. "Marry me."

She stayed very still, not even so much as a slight motion of surprise. He wondered for a moment if she had fallen asleep. Then he heard her take a soft breath. "What?"

He cleared his throat. The last statement had come more as a command than a question, and it wasn't what he had intended. "Would you marry me?"

She slowly sat up and watched him for a moment. "When?"

Her tone was practical and serious. It wasn't what he had expected at all. He also found it an extremely odd way to answer his question, and he grew nervous. All of the sudden he felt like the very young man vying for her attention, again. "When—whenever you think is best…As soon as possible, I suppose."

She stood, but kept a hold on his hand. "But Noct's not here."

No, he wasn't. It was something he was woefully aware of. It was one of the reasons he had prolonged asking her for so bloody long. He and Aleya knew each other through and through; He could have proposed years before without any qualms that they didn't understand each other well enough to launch into a marriage. He could have proposed in Lestallum. He had already confessed his feelings by then, and her reciprocation was evident in how she had responded. But, as ever, he had waited. Part of him had wanted to wait for Noct. And she was so considerate to acknowledge it. "There's no use in prolonging it any longer," he told her. "I've postponed the natural progression of our relationship since the day we laid eyes on one another. There always seemed to be an excuse, a better time, a valid reason. I've thought of every excuse: 'I have no time for a relationship now', 'I must determine if my feelings are genuine', 'I must determine if she possibly returns my affections, first', 'Once I get back from Altissia', 'Once Noct is settled', 'Once I get my bloody eyesight back,' 'After I've trained', 'After we've dated a while', and 'When Noct returns'." He shook his head. " 'No good comes from procrastination. It only causes frustration and regret'. My Uncle said that. Surprisingly, one of the few lessons he gave that ever found truly valuable."

"Ignis," she answered softly. "I thought you said Noct needed to be a priority."

He reached for her other hand and took it gently. "We don't know when Noct will return. It could be now. It could be decades. I don't want to put it off any longer. And I certainly don't want you to have to wait, if…if you're waiting, of course." He suddenly felt nervousness rise in him again. He could feel his face begin to pale a bit. "Now you know you've always had my heart. Might I have yours?"

"Ignis…Are you certain?"

"What do you mean? Of course I'm certain!"

"But, you're going to be in the government. Are you sure—Am I the right fit for the part?"

"If you don't fit the part, we'll have to toss the government."

"You wouldn't do that."

"You'll fit the part. Because you fit me. Even if you refuse, I won't have another." His heart hammered. He knew she was just nervous of her reflection upon him; That she was concerned she would somehow hinder his reputation. But part of him wondered if she was having second thoughts regarding being permanently affixed to him. "Aleya…I ask you again. May I have your hand?"

She broke into a delighted smile. "Always so suave." She ran her thumbs over his knuckles.

This was maddening. Was she intending to keep him waiting? "Is that an assent?"

"Silly! Of course it is." She pinched the bridge of his nose, her normal affectionate tease.

They embraced again, and they held on for a while. There were no tears or giddy laughter, just a solemn sweetness that seemed to define their relationship. It was a homey, peaceful, still quiet that evoked calm and ease. "You know you are the only woman in all of Eos who could get away with calling me 'Silly'."

She gave a pleased chuckle in his ear. She didn't reply, but he could tell she was happy. Therefore, he was completely happy as well, and thoroughly relieved.

After a while, he heard her voice in his ear. "I'm not sure what an apocalyptic-era bride is going to look like."

"Have you ever looked over the view deck at Lestallum to observe the flames of meteor on the night sky?"

"Yes."

"Something like that."

She gave him a chiding huff. "Or a fresh ring in the nose of a garula."

"Hardly." When she sat and cuddled up to him again, he wrapped his arm around her and got comfortable. "I had envisioned somehow Noct giving his blessing on our marriage. Let's be frank. That probably won't occur. Who do you suggest in his stead?"

"Do we have to jump right into planning right this very second?"

"Of course we do. As I said, we should put it off no longer."

"You put this off for years, and now you want to rush?"

He shrugged, slightly embarrassed. "As today's incident demonstrated, it's getting exceedingly difficult to further postpone."

"Ignis!"

He was slightly flabbergasted, embarrassed at what had just fallen out of his mouth. "I meant…"

"I know what you meant," she half-heartedly scolded, laughing a bit in her own shyness.

He tried to salvage himself desperately. "There's no sense in waiting any longer to be wed. The sooner we plan, the sooner it can be done."

"Hush, Iggy. Give a girl a second to let it all sink in, okay? Besides, I'm crazy tired."

Of course, how daft of him! "You should go to bed," he told her.

"I'll stay here," she yawned and snuggled her face deeper into the crook of his neck. Her hand entwined with his and she curled it up to her heart. "Just for a while."

Ignis was absolutely besotted. "If that's what you want." And he didn't have to wait long. She was soon soundly asleep at his side. He smiled as he inhaled the scent of her hair that smelled like happier days in Insomnia. He felt as if they were being reborn.

And with that pleasant thought, he swiftly fell off into slumber, as well.

October 30, M.E. 759

Of course it would be Prompto that found them that way the next morning, and of course he would commence with a major production of finding them sleeping there together. Wiz was polite enough to work stealthily so as not to disturb them, before Prompto clapped eyes upon them. Ignis supposed not everyone was blessed with natural manners and foresight.

He urged Leya to bear him no mind and retire to her room, which she complied without argument. She slept some four hours later, and missed breakfast altogether. It wasn't like her, and made him somewhat anxious. That produced even more chiding from Prompto.

He decided to spare her further fatigue and go on the next errand without her. Cindy Aurum arrived early in the afternoon with an assignment for Prompto—she needed a new supply of ultra-bright headlights for the Hunters and Kingsglaive that are minding the road. She also commissioned him afterwards to find a capable engineer in Lestallum, as all havens were now to be retro-fitted with lights that could withstand the draining properties of the particulate matters floating in the air.

Ignis was only required for the first part of the mission, as it required more peril.

Leya wanted to go with him, of course, but he was adamant to leave her behind. She needed rest, firstly. Secondly, he thought she might like to take some time to figure out the specifics of their upcoming nuptials. At this point, he was not even certain they could locate a Justice of the Peace.

It would, by his approximation, take about a week to even reach their destination, and there would be other stops along the way. They took along a chocobo whistle, just in case they needed it. He wanted to complete his task as quickly as possible. He still had much to research, and it would be odd to be away from Aleya for so long. He had been with her nearly every moment for the last year. He didn't like so much time and space between them.

She was not thrilled about the prospect of his leaving her behind, but she sent him off with the assurance that she knew his obligations to Noctis and the Lucian Kingdom must come before her.

If anyone could truly understand duty, King and Country, it was his Leya.