at the end of it all

[houseofscientia]

[It happened in the period of taking a breath, and letting it out. Ignis isn't even sure what he was doing before. Was he sleeping? Reading? Though lately he also enjoyed to just sit in the Citadel's garden and enjoy the feel of the sunlight on his face. It was turning into spring again...

Either way, Ignis is sure he definitely wasn't anywhere near a train station. Especially not a strange looking as this one. For some reason, he'd gotten a bit of wary of trains and train stations. Though as he looks around he realizes many other things.

His vision. It's back. He can see things, yet it doesn't feel like he is truly seeing them. It's more like, they are there for him to experience and not to see. In a moment, everything becomes clear.

This is the end, the beginning of the end. He's finally...

Ignis can't help to let out a bit of a relieved breath. They had lost Prompto early on, due to his body not being able to go on for much longer because of his nature. Gladio went just a few years ago and it hit Ignis a bit more than he thought it would. The last few years were... cruel. In the softest, loneliest way possible. It made Ignis wish sometimes that he died somewhere in battle, so he doesn't have to go through all this.

He looks down at his hands, noting how they look so young. They look the same way when he set out on another journey to escort a prince to his wedding. It makes Ignis avert his gaze, up at the blank departure board, hoping something will appear there, and that the train will have a destination before he would board it.

As he turns his head however, he spots someone not far from him. The sight is just so shocking at Ignis barely wants to believe his eyes.]

Comments

[mcring]

[ The pull of the destination is more than familiar to Noctis. He spent way more of his life asleep than awake, not to mention the kind of sideways feeling that comes with warping. It's warm and heavy like a blanket, and he leans into it, dropping his arms between his thighs and letting his weight shift until their shoulders are pressed together and his head knocks against Ignis' shoulder. He's not in any rush to go back to sleep, himself. He's got to see that Ignis gets to where he's supposed to first. So his eyes stay open, even as he relaxes against the comfort of Ignis' steadfast presence. ]

Take all the time you need. You earned it.

[ That's an understatement, in Noctis' opinion. Ignis always worked way too hard. He deserves to rest more than any of them. As the light shifts, Noctis watches through the windows as the blur of scenery passing by starts to slow down. He knows where they're headed, and so the night sky and ocean of lights looks familiar to him, but it's impossible to say if Ignis sees the same. It doesn't really matter, anyway. If there's one thing Noctis is sure of, they won't be separated again for long. He did enough of that already; there's nothing that could keep him from being at Ignis' side after this. Not for long enough to count, anyway. ]

I'll be there when you wake up.

[ He promises, confident in the words even though he's never really used them with Ignis before. It might've been nice if he could've acted like a king a little bit longer while they were on Eos, but better late than never. He still hasn't said everything he wants to say, but there's no rush like there was at that last campfire. He's got forever to put the right words together. No more goodbyes. ]

[houseofscientia]

[When Noctis touches him, it doesn't feel the same way as before. It's more, closer, yet still familiar. Both of Ignis' arms come up to pull him softly to him, something he dreamed to do ever since he lost Noctis. It's the final thing he needed to not be afraid of what's waiting for him.]

Thank you.

[Ignis whispers, truly meaning it. He is thankful to Noctis for letting him have a good rest, and he's also thankful he won't leave him alone again. Not that he ever truly did. Ignis knew even if Noctis wasn't on Eos, he was still there with the gods, with the kings, looking at them.]

Thank you.

[He adds, once again, kissing into Noctis' hair before slowly letting him go. The train also stops at his station. He has many things he wants to say to Noctis, to ask him, to just be with him a little more. But this time Ignis knows they have all the time in the world. Without any responsibilities, duty and all those things. It's only just them and the bond they share. Which is all he ever needed. In life and in death.

He feels lightheaded, and sleepy, but never tired as he slowly rises from his seat to get off the train, and to where he has to be next. With Noctis.]