azume | Week 5.

Week 5.

WEEK 5

As of morning the next day, it seems the rain has stopped; with Azelf awakened and your newly-hatched companions by your side, it's possible that you're feeling a new sense of resolve regarding what needs to be done - and, perhaps more importantly, your ability to accomplish it.

The device Maylene gave you certainly does seem to work; activating it will reveal a dark portal crackling with energy, shades of pink and purple swirling brightly around the outer edges, and those of you that walk through it will find yourselves quite suddenly standing somewhere else - there's grass beneath your feet and an unfamiliar city to the west, and the place you're standing seems raised up in some way; turning around once the portal has closed behind the last of you will reveal a massive bronze statue depicting a Pokémon of some sort, though what it is seems to be a little difficult to tell...

The trip to Eterna City may leave you feeling a little dizzy and disoriented, and for a few uncomfortable moments you're likely very, very aware of your organs, but the effects will pass after a few moments and you'll soon feel right as rain.

Of course, it'll likely become obvious very quickly that you aren't alone near that statue...

Either way, it's a long journey up to Snowpoint City; you might want to take some time to make sure that you're prepared before you set off. It really does seem as though finding Azelf at Lake Valor has done the world some good, though, along with your combined effects on the world already; hopefully the Guardian at Lake Acuity in the north will be just as helpful...

CURRENT LOCATION: ETERNA CITY
POKEMON AVAILABLE: WITHIN CITIES

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY
[OOC: Welcome to week five of Azume; feel free to make as many top levels as you'd like and tag out to other characters! This post is for all of your interactions this week... at least until the weekend. Don't forget that a write-up is due this weekend!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ At first, Noctis says nothing. Yet, the hand tightening on Ignis's jacket--the Kingsglaive jacket that fits him so well--says so much more than Noctis ever could. Ignis knew... he's known the whole time. Even without his eyes (bright green, always so clear, looking forward and finding the right path), he saw what would happen.

It hurts.

Noctis focuses on breathing, once the ringing in his ears stops. Ignis is hurting, and Noctis feels it like his own. A knife in his heart, more poignant and painful than the royal arms of his ancestors. And Noctis isn't sure, for once, how to heal it.

But he brings Ignis close, into his arms. He holds him, secure and more than a touch protective. ]

That's why you tried to stop me. That day in Altissia, when I woke up. That's why you...

[ The words get all choked up in his throat, and his head pounds. ]

Ignis, don't blame yourself. Please. [ He's still holding him, and he has no intention of letting go. ] It's not your fault. It was no one's fault.

[ But that's not true, is it? Noctis thinks, bitterly. ]

... The vision, is that-- Is that what blinded you?

[For once, he was actually distracted enough that he hadn't heard Noctis move until there were already arms around him, the strategist's mind scrambling for an unseen outcome. It didn't make sense--Noctis should have been furious that he'd never been told what price would eventually be paid, that Ignis had tried to condemn the entire world to darkness just to protect the life of his king.]

[...Truly, perhaps that had been why he never told Noctis why he was asking. Because he would never have allowed it. His life, or the entire world; for someone like Noctis Lucis Caelum, it was never even a choice.]

...no.

[The answer came at length, Ignis pulling off his visor to rest his head against Noctis' shoulder. Not returning the embrace, not yet--not until everything was out in the open and the king would decide if his retainer's deception was too much to forgive.]

When we got to the altar...we were followed. Ardyn and a small battalion of MTs. Ravus and I were both cornered, he was threatening to kill you, and--

[Ignis' voice cracked and broke off against Noctis' shoulder, composure cracking but not yet shattered. He took a slow breath and pulled back, taking off black leather gloves with faintly unsteady hands.]

...I did something...terribly careless.

[Around the middle finger of his left hand was a single scar; a burn matching the ones left on his face, forming the unmistakable band of a ring.]

[ Had he any reason to doubt Ignis, when he told them of the last thing he'd seen? Of course not. It hadn't even occurred to him. It shakes Noctis up a little, but... no, he's not angry. How could he, when this is Ignis, and Ignis has always been there for him? When Ignis has been the one Noctis has always, always been able to rely on. Ignis, steadfast and devoted...

Followed.

Ardyn.

His breath catches fast in his chest. He nearly interrupts Ignis, then--did he hurt you, did he blind you--but he decides to wait for the rest of it. Noctis isn't twenty years old and impulsive and reckless and unable to keep a handle on his emotions. And interrupting Ignis now, when he sounds like he's being torn apart from the inside... That could do so much more damage.

It's the last thing he wants.

Noctis watches Ignis's motions, and it's-- it's heartbreaking, seeing him less than steady. Noctis remembers to breathe, again, and he isn't sure what to expect.

But there it is. Not for the first--or last, maybe--time, Noctis's breath stills. Terribly careless doesn't begin to describe it. ]

You put on the Ring, [ Noctis whispers, and his own voice sounds so brittle. ] Ignis, you-- you could have died.

...I didn't--don't care. When the alternative was to have you die there, careless or not I did the only thing I could: fought Ardyn and his soldiers to as much of a standstill as I was able, and bought enough time for Gladio and Prompto to catch up.

[A small sacrifice. That much had been true, as far as Ignis was concerned. In sharp contrast to Noctis, his own voice was steadier now--perhaps on some level he knew he had to be calm if Noctis couldn't be. That was how it always had been.]

I realized he wasn't human--and once I had put on the ring I knew he was of the Lucian bloodline. I...didn't even know how to tell any of you that, and even had I tried it only would have led to the rest coming out alongside it.

[He pulled his gloves back on, neatly pocketing his sunglasses and folding his hands.]

...If I have even one single regret in my life, it is only that I didn't tell you every last detail once you awoke.

[Not that he'd carried the knowledge for ten years. Not that he'd sacrificed his eyes and nearly his life. What did any of that matter? No, the only thing that mattered to him was Noctis--and whether or not he would have known what he was truly getting into all along.]

[No excuses. No qualifiers. Just 'this is what was done, this was why, and now you know.'

I can not ask your forgiveness, knowing that. But I-...you have my sincerest apologies for lying to you and the others. There's nothing else I can offer.

[ I can not ask your forgiveness.

Noctis's breath hitches, and he holds Ignis that much closer. Tighter. ]

Ignis, do you-- Do you think I'm angry at you? That I-- don't care for you any more than I always have?

[ It's painful to think about, that Ignis could possibly think Noctis couldn't forgive him. He doesn't fault Ignis for not knowing how to tell them. He would've done the same. How, exactly, do you put into words that you've seen everything that will happen to your oldest friend?

One that you've devoted your life to serving and protecting? To keeping on the path he's meant to walk, even if it means... ]

You tried to save me. You-- How can I be angry at you when you risked everything to protect me, Ignis?

I-I-...

[Of course he should have been. He'd been lied to by his oldest friend, by the person that swore to guard and protect him before either of them were even ten years old. Noctis had been allowed to walk to his death without having the slightest idea until it was too late.]

...I lied to you. About everything. You--...aren't you--?

[ Maybe if he were someone else, he'd be angry. Maybe if he didn't know Ignis as well as his own heart, he'd be angry. Maybe, if he were less compassionate... he'd be angry.

But he's not angry. It only hurts. ]

You didn't lie to hurt me. You... knew that I'd keep going, even if I knew the truth. Right?

... I don't know if I'd have figured out how to tell you, if our positions were reversed.

...I knew I couldn't convince you otherwise even as I asked it of you. And once you elected to continue, there was nothing I could say to stop you.

[A king pushes onward, never turning back.]

It was something only I could do. I couldn't... not.

[ He takes in a deep breath and lifts his hand to Ignis's hair, gently brushing his fingers along it. ]

But I wanted to stay. [ His voice is quiet. ] There were so many things I didn't get to do. And I wanted to stay with Gladio. With Prompto.

With you.

...I know.

[Finally, his arms came up to settle around Noctis as securely as he could, unable to accept he was the only one being comforted here. That wasn't going to stand.]

You're here no matter the impossibility of it, and no matter what it takes I'll not allow you to be left behind once this is over and done.

I won't...fail again. I can't.

[ Ignis is holding him, and everything sort of falls into place. Ignis is here. Ignis is with him. Noctis is alive, and even if he doesn't know how, he refuses to squander this chance.

His head rests against Ignis's. ]

Ignis, I-- If I go back with you... What if that undoes everything? It was a sacrifice for a reason.

[ Perhaps it's irrational. But it's a thought that has Noctis almost frightened. Because as much as he desperately wants to go back to Eos with Ignis, he can't risk what might happen. ]

[I don't care, he wanted to counter. What did that matter? A world without Noctis wasn't worth saving.]

[But he stayed silent instead, collecting his thoughts and gathering his composure. For just a second he thought of Maylene, a young girl asking the honest question of do you really think you can win and the immediate answer he had given.]

Then we find another way.

[I will see this done no matter how hard the fight or how many setbacks I suffer.]

There must be some other course of action, else I don't know why I would have been shown such a thing in the first place. So regardless of how difficult a fight it may be or how long it takes...I won't allow this ending to stand.

I will not lose you again. Even if I have to fight the very Astrals to keep you here.

[ He nearly chuckles, but it dies in his throat. ]

What, are you gonna shove a knife into Bahamut's face?

[ He means it to be a joke, but it falls so flat. Noctis shifts a little, to hold onto Ignis more securely. It feels like when they were kids, when their shoulders weren't bowed from the weight of so many burdens. ]

You say that as if I won't.

[There was the faintest, smallest edge of a smirk as Ignis said that...but his voice was entirely serious. He pulled Noctis a little closer, as if fully intent upon protecting him from any force whether divine or mortal.]

...I don't care what it takes. I can't...allow this.

I believe it.

[ He doesn't want to let Ignis go. He doesn't want to let him out of his sight. Noctis wants to stay here forever, safe in Ignis's arms, and draw in his warmth and strength. Hell, if he fell asleep like this, he'd be fine with that. ]

... I don't want you to hurt yourself again. Not for my sake.

[ If he can't protect the people he loves... what good is he, truly? ]

You know I can't promise that.

[He'd already done it once, risked his life in an instant without hesitation. because it was right, it was necessary, it was what kept Noctis alive.]

[It was also what caused that pain in his voice tat ached worse than the burn of the Lucii's price.]

...But I will do my best.

... Yeah. I know.

[ Breathe in, out. His heart's still beating, against all odds, and it's beating along Ignis's. He can feel it, pressed this close to him. ]

But we can worry about that later. I'm here, Ignis. And I'm not going anywhere. Not even Team Galactic can tear me away from you.

Neither am I, Noct. I'll not leave your side again, you have my word on that.

Looks like we're stuck together forever.

[ He lifts his head, and he feels wrung out, like he's been emptied of everything and then stitched up again. Noctis is raw at the edges again, and he feels like he could sleep for days. ]

But I wouldn't have it any other way.

I would certainly hope not.

[He managed to answer with a faint smile, more for Noctis' sake than his own. Ignis of all people knew that tone of voice well enough to understand which of them needed support right now.]

Will you be alright?

You just poured your heart out to me and you're worried that I'm the one who's no alright?

[ He laughs quietly. It's so... Ignis that it warms his heart. ]

Yeah, I'll be fine. What about you?

Nothing warranting royal attention.

[A slightly brighter smile, that time. Not quite back to himself, but enough to make a joke.]

[ And just like that, things are easy again. It's easy to be around Ignis, because even though Ignis is and always will be the king's advisor.... Noctis has always been Noctis above all else.

It's comforting, and Noctis feels warm all over again. It occurs to him that this isn't the first time his feelings for Ignis have always been something more.

But it's the first time he's seriously considering doing something about it.

... Hell, what's he got to lose? ]

... I'm gonna try something. You don't have to do anything but sit there, okay?

Of course.

[No hesitation, because there wasn't a single reason to doubt Noctis of all people. Ignis could and would put his life in his hands without a second thought, so whatever he was thinking was surely nothing next to that.]

What is it, Noct?

[ He almost reluctantly pulls away from Ignis's embrace, so he can rest his hands on his cheeks. He could back out. Whatever happens could change everything.

Or it could just be the same, but more. Noctis cradles Ignis's face gently, and he touches his forehead to his briefly. His heart's racing in his chest, and his throat feels sort of tight--nerves, he's pretty sure.

All the same, he leans in, and he presses his lips to Ignis's. ]

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