9
"Gladio! For the last time, put me down!" Ignis commanded, squirming in his companion's large and muscular arms.
They had been running around for what felt to Ignis like forever, and with the decently fast pace Gladio was going in, he could tell they had covered a decent amount of ground. But having been thrust over the man's shoulder without any semblance of warning, the blind man was already irritated. And having been stuck in such a position all this time was only serving to increase his irritation exponentially.
"This is getting ridiculous!"
"Only if you promise to stop acting so weird!" Gladio responded, keeping his hold on the advisor so that he wouldn't slip out of his grasp as they continued on through the fortress, making pretty decent time all things considered. "I don't like what this place is doing to your head, Iggy. Whatever's going on, you'd better cut it out before you start to really piss me off!"
Ignis sighed with a thick veil of irritation draped over his voice, the heavy sigh lingered in the air for a moment along with Gladio's booming footsteps on the metal plating of the floor beneath the big and burly man and his friend currently serving as human cargo over his shoulder. The younger of the two was decidedly very frustrated with his present position, also annoyed with the awareness of the fact that it was his own fault that he had landed in this spot. But of course, it was no one's fault that they were currently there.
No one's fault but Ardyn's, that is.
Had the despicable and absolutely horrid man not deigned himself to kidnap poor Prompto, none of them would be in this fortress looking for him, and Ignis wouldn't currently be uncomfortably slung over Gladio's shoulder. Of course as well, it was a fact that the Crystal was here as well as Prompto, so even if the blonde weren't kidnapped they still would have ended up here.
But if that were the case, at least Ignis wouldn't be overcome with the frustration currently emanating from his deep sigh.
"Very well, I promise. Now, if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if you would please put me down!" Ignis answered, a sort of commanding tone in his voice as he squirmed uncomfortably in the shield's grasp. Having been stuck over Gladio's shoulder for at least several minutes was not exactly what Ignis had envisioned for himself as they made their way to try and meet back up with Noctis in their search for Prompto.
But clearly, Gladio had other plans. Carrying Ignis without most likely even considering how the man would object. It had all happened so quickly after the sick and twisted display of his cruelty Ardyn had shown them, blasting Prompto's pained and tormented screams over the speaker system for the whole of the fortress to hear, there really wasn't time to think about it.
"Fine, fine." Gladio obliged, slowing to a stop before carefully lifting the blind man off of his shoulder and back onto his feet, placing a hand on Ignis's own shoulder just to ensure that the latter was steady on his feet. Not that he doubted he would be, but for his own peace of mind it was necessary. "But if you try to hit me with your cane again, I'm gonna confiscate that thing and I will carry you the rest of the way through this goddamn place if I have to!"
"Very well." Ignis agreed, a heavy sigh exiting his lips as he nodded his head at the elder. "I suppose I've brought this temperament upon myself, haven't I?"
"Damn right you have, threatening me with your cane like that. The hell is going on with you, anyway?" Gladio questioned, placing his hand on his partner's back and leading him as he took them further down the pathway into hell. "I know how you feel about Prompto, but it's not like you to act out like that."
"To be perfectly honest, Gladio... I'm not entirely sure." Ignis admitted as they continued on their way, trudging along through the fortress as they hoped to reunite with the two remaining members of their party all the sooner.
Fortunately, making conversation was a fine way to pass the time. Unfortunately the topic wasn't exactly a favorable one all things considered.
"But you are correct." Iggy observed. "Ever since we arrived in this place, it's as if every worry and anxiety I've felt since I lost my eyesight has been almost, well, amplified in some sort of way. I don't understand it any more than you do..."
"It's gotta be that damned chancellor playing mind games with you, Iggy." Gladio scoffed under his breath, glaring his eyes at even the thought of the most evil man in the entire universe. "When we find that bastard, I'll make it stop. I'll kill him if I have to, but one way or another he's gonna stop fucking up your head!"
"Gladio..." Ignis sighed, shaking his head at his dear companion as they continued on their way. "I appreciate your concern. But right now our focus must be locating Noct and Prompto. Once we're back together, then we can worry about the chancellor."
Of course, he sort of enjoyed how much Gladio truly cared for him. It was nice to know, however uncomfortable it made him feel to be fussed over, after all, he'd much rather be the fusser than the fussee. But regardless, Ignis would prefer to find their missing companions before they started throwing death threats around. He was too worried about Noctis and Prompto to want to talk or even think about anything else at the moment.
And with his heightened anxiety, it was hard not to worry.
"I'm certain Prompto is injured. We must find him immediately."
"Yeah, no kidding." Gladio sighed, the hatred for Ardyn burning inside of him on burning brighter and hotter. A slight growl finding its way into his words as his thoughts wandered to their kidnapped friend. "He's been gone for days... no telling what that sick bastard's done to him in the meantime. Kid probably needs a real doctor by now..."
"I'd... rather not think about that." Ignis sighed, realizing how true Gladio's assumption about the blonde boy's health could be by now. "But unfortunately, you're more than likely correct..."
"Then we should hurry." Gladio answered, keeping his eyes front as they made slow but steady progress through the fortress. Of course any progress was good, but both of them would have preferred a faster pace moving forward. But considering where they were and Ignis's own injury to account for, they couldn't afford to be reckless. "Noct's probably looking for us too. With any luck, we'll cross paths on the way. Then we can go find Prompto together."
The shield sighed quietly to himself as the metal halls passed by one by one. He understood the guilt Ignis carried in regards to the situation they were faced with. Of course they talked about it, but it was still a problem they both faced whether they liked it or not.
"Hope the kid's okay..." Gladio thought as they continued on their path.
"And unfortunately as we just discussed, it's more than likely Prompto's been injured..." Ignis sighed, hating the thought of their dear friend alone and hurt in a place like this. "The extent of his injures, I can't be certain of until we find him. But I can guarantee he is not well."
"Well then, we'd better hurry along." Gladio concluded, keeping his eyes front and his arm around Ignis, leading him along as they came upon what he hoped was the central elevator. It had been a while since they'd seen anything other than plain and empty halls, hopefully now they would be able to actually get somewhere.
"Where are we now, Gladio?" Ignis inquired, taking note of the change in the air as if the space around them had opened up. But with his lack of vision he couldn't be sure, but that's what Gladio was for. "The air here is different. Have we entered another chamber?"
"Yeah, sure have." Gladio nodded, keeping his arm protectively around the blind man's back as he led him further into the elevator chamber.
Hopefully the thing was actually working.
Knowing Ardyn, he probably wanted them to reach this place, subtly leading them in that direction only to get their hopes up and only to find out that the damn thing was broke or something. Honestly, Gladio wouldn't put it past the man if that were true. It was just the kind of thing a snake like him would do.
"I think we found the central elevator." He said, scanning the area carefully to determine if there were any hidden threats lying in wait. "We should be able to make it to the upper levels now, and hopefully Noct's not too far ahead after that."
"Yes, well, let's just hope it works." Ignis sighed heavily, worried just the opposite would be true as he felt around him with his cane, making sure the way was clear even though Gladio would be more than ready to inform him of any obstacles in his way. But of course, he preferred having his own personal assurance too. "It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest had the chancellor led us here only to taunt us with a broken elevator. The ticket to our friends, gone."
"You read my mind, Iggy." Gladio said, kinda blown away by the fact that hey were thinking the same thing. But also, it wasn't really a surprise, they were only thinking about how Ardyn could be for sure screwing with them. After all, he killed Luna and kidnapped Prompto did he not? This would be cake for the man in comparison, and even those acts seemed to come naturally to him. That fact neither of them really wanted to think about. "But don't worry about it, I'm sure it'll be fine."
The false confidence was strong with Gladio. But it almost had to be in a place like this, surrounded by danger that could show itself at any given moment. And with Ignis unable to defend himself, Gladio had to be on extra high alert. He knew he was sworn to protect Noctis and not Ignis. But if anything happened to Ignis, Gladio wasn't sure he would be able to handle it. It tore him apart when he found out that Ignis had lost his sight. That he had been hurt so badly, and there was nothing he could have done.
Seeing his partner so hurt... it was unbearable...
"Well, I certainly hope so." Ignis sighed, keeping his thoughts away from the abyss of doom that was what could possibly happen if the elevator didn't work. It was just best not to think about that. Certainly too much had already gone wrong in the past few weeks for something else to happen already, right? "Let us continue on."
"Sure thing." Gladio nodded, fiddling with the mechanism as he and Ignis had reached the elevator proper.
Waiting for an anxious moment of stress and quiet as they prayed silently to the Astrals for the machine to function, the elevator jolted to life, slowly climbing upwards in full working order. A collective praising of the Astrals took place in that moment as the wave of relief that washed over the two friends in that moment was an overwhelming size and strength, subsiding all other feelings they had felt at that time.
"Thank the Astrals..." Ignis sighed, adjusting his sunglasses on his face as he felt his relief release, lifting a fifty pound metaphorical weight off of his already burdened shoulders. It was liberating, all things considered at least.
"Yeah, you can say that again." Gladio scoffed, relieved beyond all reasonable belief that they could continue forward with no resistance, even if just for now. It was a luxury they needed to be given, and given it they were. Though how long it would last, there was no telling. There was no telling anything, really. No certainty to be had no matter what that nonexistent certainty could possibly be about.
The only certain thing, was that they had to find Noct.
Walking swiftly yet cautiously through the eerie metal halls, Noct's eyes scanned every single inch of the space around him, never stopping for even a moment. He couldn't stop, not when Ignis and Gladio were still out there, and not while Prompto needed their help. The poor blonde was battered and broken, it hurt Noctis to even think about his best friend like that.
It also made him angry.
Angry at the man who inflicted that pain and those wounds onto the precious boy. Up and down Noct swore that Ardyn would pay and pay dearly, but first he had to find Ignis and Gladio and get Prompto some real help from someone who actually knew how to. That had to come first. Getting revenge could wait until they were all back together and Prompto was well enough to move forward with their mission. Sure, regaining the Crystal and ring and returning the sun back to the world was important, but right now the health of his best friend was even more important to Noct than anything else.
"I hope they're alright..." Noct thought as he pushed forward, hoping with all his heart and soul that the group would be reunited sooner rather than later, and that the two remaining members were both in top form. "Don't have time to worry about taking care of anyone else right now. Prompto needs all the help he can get from us."
"They damn well better be close by." Noct muttered quietly to himself, remembering how he had left Prompto alone in the barrack to search for Ignis and Gladio. His intentions had been to help, but the thought came to him that perhaps his actions would only serve to harm his friend, left alone in such a dangerous place wounded as he was. Perhaps Ardyn were to find him? He would have no way to defend himself alone and helpless without him or the others there to protect him.
All in all, the fear and anxiety clawed at Noct's soul. The fear was real, and undeniable. Unbearable even within the imposing and soul crushing walls of Zegnautus. There was an ever present aura of malevolence in and around the building that sustained an almost overwhelming presence as a companion to the young king. And especially in that moment, wandering alone in search of his friends and worrying for the best friend he had foolishly left alone and helpless in order to find those friends.
Of course the irony was, to help Prompto, Noct first had to leave him. But when all was said and done nothing changed the fact that he didn't like their situation one bit. It was a hundred and ten percent less than ideal.
"Come on, guys..." Noct whispered quietly to himself, looking down each corridor he passed by hoping Ignis and Gladio would be down at least one of them.
Alas, they did not appear.
The ongoing solitude was less than ideal, as was the entire rest of the situation with which the four brothers had been presented. But if just one thing could go right for them, Noct prayed that this would be the time the Astrals would show them even an ounce of favor. If they didn't, the four might as well say goodbye to their lives since Ardyn would be more than ready to kill all of them at the nearest and most convenient opportunity for him. From their experience with him, that's just how the man seemed to operate, completely in keeping with his own agenda. But then again, was it really so outlandish for a man like him?
Speeding up his pace, Noct decided to try heading more central in the building. If he was going to run into them anywhere, he figured the elevator would be a pretty strong candidate since if they wanted to travel to any other levels of the fortress easily, that's where they would have to go.
"Please be here somewhere! For the love of all that's good, please be nearby!" He pleaded to the universe as he made his way in the direction he remembered the elevator being in. "If only there was a way to get in touch with them in this place, that would make things so much easier..."
Granted he knew that that both wasn't going to happen and was impossible.
Ardyn wouldn't let that happen and he knew it. But that didn't make him want it any less. In fact, that almost made Noct want it more. But not nearly as bad as he wanted Prompto to be alright. Right now, above anything else, Prompto's safety and well being was the most important thing to him, and currently finding Ignis and Gladio would be paramount in ensuring that well being. But that was just it.
He had to find them first.
And considering what Ardyn had put him through in order to find Prompto, things weren't looking up for him on the subject of locating his other friends. In fact, things were looking down even. Considering the fact that Ardyn almost certainly had to know about what was going on with the four of them, Noct was more than sure he was working up some sort of trap. But then again, maybe he wasn't? One could never be too sure with the man, especially when trying to guess what he was going to do or what he was trying to accomplish. The only thing anyone could really be sure of with the man, was that staying on guard and alert was the one sure fire defense against even the slightest fraction of his plans and intentions.
"Seriously, they better be okay." Noct thought as he trudged along alone, his senses on the highest setting of alert he had ever needed to place them on before. It was both the only way he could even remotely protect himself - aside from the ring and his father's glaive - and also keep himself from going completely insane in the dark and silent halls.
Aside from his own footsteps on the metal floors, there wasn't a single sound other than the ringing in his ears from the complete and eerie silence surrounding and encompassing him. It was a silence that even though it had no sound, sounded like death. The quiet clattering of his boots on the metal was hardly enough to sway the iron curtain drawn over the space.
Yet he found it was enough to keep his thoughts trained on Prompto.
His best friend was back in that room tucked into bed, wounded, unconscious, and completely unprotected. And it was all his fault for leaving him there, even though he only left to find the person who would actually be able to help him. Even so, that didn't make Noct feel any less guilty about the whole thing. After all, as far as Noct was concerned the fact that they were even in this place at all was his fault to begin with.
"I'm so sorry, Prom." Noct thought, trying to expel those negative thoughts from his mind.
He knew it was all Ardyn's fault. Tricking him into attacking Prompto, pushing him the train, getting him kidnapped and tortured... it was all Ardyn's doing.
Not his.
He knew that, he really did. But in Noct's heart, the blame still found itself falling into place on his own shoulders.
"But don't worry, I'll find them soon and we'll get you fixed up. I promise, I won't let Ardyn hurt you anymore. And I'll do better. I'll protect you, no matter what. And from anyone."
The innate desire to protect Prompto had always been strong withing Noctis. Ever since they were in high school together, Noct found himself with an almost unnatural desire to defend his blonde counterpart. Part of that he assumed was because he didn't want to bring him trouble because he was so close to royalty, but thankfully that didn't really seem to ever be too much of an issue.
Thinking about it now, Noct realized that maybe there was a little more to it. He hated seeing the blonde anything other than safe and happy. Prompto's smile and signature cheeky grin were almost sacred to him. And his bluer than blue eyes shined like a beacon of positivity and grace just like his very presence was like a ray of sunshine, shining through even the world's darkened and cursed state. A ray of sunshine that Noct wanted to preserve and protect until his final dying breath. And now that light was fading, and it was scaring Noctis more than most anything had ever scared him in his life.
Losing Prompto, on top of everything that Ardyn had taken from him, had more or less become Noct's greatest fear. And he was willing to do whatever it took to keep that fear from coming true.
"I won't let him take you away from me, too." Noct thought, more than determined to see this mission through if it meant saving Prompto. "I'll find them. I'll find them and we'll save you."
"Just hang in there, Prompto..."
"Here we go, the upper levels." Gladio declared, placing his hand on Ignis's back as he led him off of the elevator platform and onto the main floor. "Time to investigate, I guess."
Looking around the space it didn't really look any different from the rest of the fortress, but the air almost felt thicker, more sinister. Something was definitely up there. There was almost no doubt about that, not with the thick and heavy feeling in the air that felt like the air itself was trying to push down on them from every angle.
It was enough to put even Gladio on edge.
"I dare say, I don't care for the atmosphere here..." Ignis declared, taking in what he could of their surroundings. Looking in Gladio's general direction as he steadied himself on the now solid ground beneath his feet. "Do you suppose there's a magitek generator on this level? That might very well explain it."
"Can't say for sure." Gladio answered, shrugging his shoulders instinctively, though he knew his partner couldn't see it. "But yeah, there might be. You'd think there would be at least one in a place like this, so yeah. Probably."
It certainly wasn't out of the question, and the feeling in the air was somewhat similar if not a little stronger. But of course, it made sense that a stronger version of the generator would be in the heart of the empire rather than in their mobile bases around Lucis. In light of that possibility though, it had become even more favorable not to run into trouble with just the two of them with Ignis unable to fight with as much ease and precision as he used to. That would mean being even more careful than they were already being. Which wasn't exactly a problem, but it put even more pressure on poor Gladio's shoulders. And the man already bore such a heavy burden already without that extra responsibility being thrust upon him.
But for Ignis, Gladio was willing to hold the entire weight of the world on his shoulders and then some.
"Do you think Noct is nearby?" Ignis inquired, taking a few steps forward to survey the area with his cane as needed to be sure nothing was in his way to obscure his path.
Once the area was deemed acceptable, Ignis continued on, closely followed by Gladio, who wasn't about to let the blind man out of his sight for even a moment. Especially not after the little episode they had had earlier.
"It would certainly be beneficial if we were to cross paths with him on our way forward."
"Not much farther to even go in here from the look of things." Gladio answered, recalling what little of the building's map he had seen before, not remembering seeing much more after the floor they found themselves on. "I'd like to think the chances are pretty likely."
It more like a hope than a legitimate thought.
Of course, he knew he was right about the chances being likely, considering that if this really was the innermost sanctum level then it was a genuine possibility that both Prompto and the Crystal were nearby. And if Noct was anywhere around, it was more than likely that he would be headed straight for Prompto. Or maybe he had even found him already and was looking for them now too? The possibility stood to reason.
"Good." Ignis sighed, extremely worried for their two youngest members.
They had both been put through much more than they deserved. Noct had lost far too much and been given a much too heavy burden to bear. And Prompto... well it went without saying that he deserved nothing of what had happened to him. The young photographer deserved only love and happiness, and that was something that the three others had all stood by. Needless to say they had no problem agreeing with Noctis that Prompto's health and safety was to be their first priority while they were here, only rivaling their own safety. The Crystal could wait until the brothers were all back together again, safe and sound.
Every single one of them.
And Prompto had been absent for far too long. It was time that issue was remedied.
"I hate thinking of those two being lost in this place on their own..." Ignis sighed yet again. "I'd much rather we reunite as quickly as possible."
"Yeah, you and me both." Gladio sighed quietly under his breath, leading Ignis down the corridors on their way forward through the fortress. "He damn well better be here. This whole separation thing is getting really fucking old."
"Unfortunately, I'm positive this is what the chancellor had planned all along." Ignis stated, keeping them separated on purpose to try and pick them off one by one would be just like him. Of course, that was only a speculation. A theory, if you will. Not a pleasant theory, but at least it was a possible explanation to a situation that currently had no explanation. "At the very least, I wouldn't be surprised if it was."
"No, I think you're right." Gladio agreed, taking a moment to consider the possibility himself before taking heed of the large opened chamber they were about to find themselves walking into.
It certainly didn't seem very inviting, though not a single room in the place was. Even in the slightest fashion.
"Keep your guard up, Iggy." He advised, his eyes narrowing as they entered the space. "I don't like the look of this place."
"I see, there must be a magitek generator afterall. The air feels the same as the mobile bases..." Ignis observed, bracing himself for a potential confrontation like Gladio advised him to do not but a moment ago.
"Yeah." Gladio nodded, taking note of the large, red glowing machine on the ceiling in the center of the large chamber. "Yeah, looks like it. And a huge one too."
"Well then, we'd best be cautious." Ignis advised, moving forward, but slightly slower and more cautiously than before.
Gladio took the lead in a protective gesture, wanting anything that were to come at them to have to go through him first before it could get to Ignis. Something, a feeling deep down in Gladio's gut was telling him to be more vigilant than usual. Looking around, Gladio took note of the tens of thousands of what looked like holding chambers of some sort lining the walls. It was unsettling to say the least, what with the extremely large magitek generator hanging overhead. It gave the place an even more sinister and unsettling vibe than it already had just being in the fortress at all.
The fact that they were probably surrounded by thousands upon thousands of MT's sleeping in those chambers was decidedly not helping.
"Ahh, welcome, welcome!" The unmistakable voice sounded overhead as Ignis and Gladio stepped onto the center platform of the room, looking around for the source of the unwanted voice. "I'm so glad you two found your way here. Wouldn't want you getting lost, now would we?"
"I knew it. We walked right into a trap." Gladio scoffed. Taking his sword into his hand, he waited for the inevitable attack. His free hand extended in Ignis's direction, aiming to keep the blind man behind him and safe from any harm.
"Well of course you did." Ardyn chuckled darkly, not even trying to hide his intentions any longer.
"Where is Noctis?" Ignis demanded, a slight bit of panic entering his tone thinking about how Noct may have also walked into Ardyn's trap, or had even been caught.
The thought was unpleasant to say the least.
"Yeah, and Prompto, too! What have you done with them!?" Gladio added, anger more so than fear overpowering his voice as he, too, thought of their missing friends. Not knowing what had happened to them was honestly the scariest thing either of them could think about then. Their own welfare be damned if Noctis and Prompto were in danger.
Of course Prompto was in danger, he had been kidnapped for fuck's sake! But Noct? They had no idea where he was or if he was alright, and that didn't sit well with either of them.
"Why I assure you, Gladio. I haven't laid a finger on young Noctis." His dark and malicious laughter tailing the end of his sentence wasn't in the least bit reassuring. In fact, it was just the opposite. "Although, your dear Prompto isn't feeling so well. I think it best for you two to hurry along. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Bastard!" Ignis spat out, his curt and venomous tone was enough to send Gladio into a moment of shock, not used to hearing vulgarity from the refined and elegant Ignis Scientia. "What have you done to Prompto!? Where is he!?"
"Now now, that wasn't very polite, Ignis." Ardyn scolded condescendingly, a dark smile able to be heard in his voice. "Especially when speaking to the man holding all of your lives in the palm of his hand."
Turning swiftly in every direction, Gladio heard the grotesque sounds of deamons spawning in the space, rising though the floor, along with a few select MT cambers opening to release their contents to attack as Ardyn laughed to himself over the loudspeaker.
Pushing Ignis against the walls of the circular room behind them in a moment of pure protective instinct, the shield kept his free arm pressed on Ignis's chest, holding him in place while he swung his sword in front of them as a warning for the enemies closing in on them. The glare on his face never wavered along with his determination to keep Ignis safe from their attackers.
Nothing was to lay a hand on Ignis.
And that, Gladio would make sure of. But it wasn't going to be easy with himself being the only one present who was able to fight back, and with nowhere safe to hide Ignis until the battle was over. That was the main concern.
"Dammit, Noct. Could really use your help." Gladio muttered under his breath, keeping his gaze fixed on the incoming threat. "'Bout now would be a great time to show up."