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]

[ Noctis' thoughts are somewhere else, of course. On Ignis. It wasn't like he left Ignis and the guys an easy job. In some ways, building everything back up from ruin was harder than breaking it all down and wiping the slate clean. But they did it. Lucis is thriving. Niflheim's being rebuilt into its own democratic state, and the star's well on its way to not needing kings or gods. Maybe Noctis set the stage, but none of that would've happened without Ignis' guiding hand. Noctis is proud of him. Even if he sacrificed so much, even after Noctis was gone, to get it.

He's not expecting the question to be about himself, and he turns slightly more towards Ignis, his expression a mix of concern and warmth. Worried about him all this time. It feels like a failure in a way, that he couldn't convince Ignis fully before he died, but then, how could he? He could say he'd found peace all he wanted with tears in his eyes, but he'd be stupid to expect Ignis to believe him. He nods now, no more tears, voice steady. ]

Things didn't go the way I'd planned. But it's the way things had to be. We left the world better than we came into it. There's peace now, and light, thanks to everyone who sacrificed everything to make it happen.

[ He lifts his head. ]

Thanks to you, Ignis. And with you here now, it really feels like our work is done. A long break is just what we need. What's not to be happy about?

[houseofscientia]

[Somehow, rebuilding life wasn't as hard as it sounds. If anything, it was a relief. Mostly because of giving people hope, and working toward a goal gave Ignis a new purpose in life. A purpose other than taking care of a prince. Even if it still had so much to do with Noctis. After this death, Ignis felt the dread of a strange crisis, one he had never experienced before; one that felt lonely and aimless. Thankfully it didn't last long, as he found a lot of things to do; Lucis needed their help badly and Ignis was more than ready to pick up work.

Things only started to get bad when they were left more and more out of commission. When new people took their places, continuing their work.

And the worst started when no one had left, and nothing was left to do for Ignis. Only then he realized how hard it all was. It's not Noctis' fault Ignis could never entirely rest about his case, but his own. Ever since he was little, his life was built around Noctis, it was difficult to shake that off entirely.

Now as he's looking at him, and listening to him, Ignis still doesn't regret a thing. The honesty in Noctis' voice, the way his eyes are so sure and his words steady... it worth everything.]

You're right. The future's in good hands. I'm... happy. For you. For us.

[He adds, because it's not a lie. It's like all his questions and doubts are melting away the further they get from the station. A kind of calm serenity drapes over him he had never felt while on Eos. Ignis smiles at Noctis, thankful and calm.]

A break does sound nice. And then, let's do this again.

[mcring]

[ Leaving like he had to, that's all Noctis really hoped for. The guys spent so much time worrying about him, and not just them, either... That being gone would let them find some greater, nobler purpose than just glorified babysitting of an errant king.

And it did. For a while, they pulled together and worked to make the world better, just like they said they would. It was everything Noctis wanted. Except that it wasn't everything. It's not that he expected them to replace him after he was gone, he'd just hoped... There was just that sadness that was always with them, that he put there. Maybe if Ignis had gotten married, had kids, the times when he was alone wouldn't have seemed so... quiet. But it's not like he would want to force Ignis into a family he didn't want, and if he'd wanted it, he would've had one.

It means a lot, now, to hear that Ignis is happy. That at the end of everything, even with all he'd been through, he can look back and still agree with Noctis, that it was worth it, that the world is better than it was. His grin widens and he huffs a laugh at the idea of "doing this again." ]

No thanks. I'm all trained out after this one.

[ The sentiment, though... That's another story. His smile warms again, looking at Ignis looking at him, no scars, no wrinkles, smiling like he hasn't seen in a long time. ]

But something like it, yeah. You owe me a couple decades worth of pastries, for one. Don't think I won't hold you to that.

[houseofscientia]

[It may be a sad thing for others, that Ignis never thought about family and kids, but it wasn't for him. His life was still full, even if tragic in some way, but which life isn't tragic? Working for Noctis' vision, for the kingdom, it worth it all, he didn't like on that.

At Noctis' dismissal he can't help a soft chuckle. How he missed him, how he missed their banters, their talks, their presence together. Nothing ever was the same again when Noctis was gone. Not because they lost a prince, a king, the Chosen one, but because they lost a friend, and brother. Maybe that's why Ignis never wanted a family, Noctis' presence was still so strong with him, despite how empty he felt over it.]

Well then, it's settled.

[The fields outside the windows change into a strange, yet familiar one as the train stars to slow down. Though Ignis finds he has no idea how long they are on the train, how long since they departed. But he knows they are getting closer to wherever it takes them. Somehow, it makes him sleepy too.]

I just... need to rest a little. Before all that.

[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.]