Pain. White hot, molten agony. That was all Prompto could remember feeling, all throughout his entire body. His mind kept slipping, drowning in darkness and confusion. /I don't wanna d!e-/ /Astrals, please don't let me d!e-/ /I still have a chocobo chick to take care of-!/ Once the pain subsided, he waited to come back to himself, to wake up. ...except he didn't. Prompto could sense more than see what was happening around him. He watched, an observer in his own body, as he stood stiffly, words exiting his mouth that didn't make sense to him. “...MT-05953234, operational and awaiting orders.” Those words buried what was left of Prompto, pushing him down, breaking him with agony until all that was left was obedience. There was no use fighting. After all, it was an MT, and MTs obeyed orders. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ The first thing MT-05953234 registered when it woke from a confusing sleep cycle was that it was not a designated time to be functional, as the moon was high in the night sky. The second thing it registered was that a member of its current unit was missing from the tent where the four of them went through their designated sleep cycle. /Unit designated ‘Ignis’ is absent./ MT-05953234 stood, exiting through the tent flap silently and carefully. It scanned the surrounding area as it nursed the fire back to its proper heat and brightness. And there was Ignis, kneeling a short distance away, trembling like a leaf with his fist pressed against his sternum, breathing coming in sharp, quiet gasps. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
Noctis blinked awake. Something was wrong. He sat up, glancing around the tent. Gladio was out cold, snoring like a freight train. They were the only two in the tent, Prompto and Ignis were missing. Noctis stood with an internal groan. /I swear, if Prompto’s gone off to find greens for the chocobo chick-/ He stepped out of the tent, his shoulders relaxing slightly when he saw both Ignis and Prompto kneeling a short distance away. “Astrals above, why are you two up this early-” Noctis paused as he realized Ignis was trembling violently. /...oh, Six./ Noctis stepped closer to the two, close enough to hear Prompto murmuring to Ignis. “Breathe. In, then out. It will help you calm down.” Ignis didn't answer. His breathing was ragged, gasping for air as he tried to steady himself, one hand on the ground and the other clutching his shirt. “Ignis? What's going on?” Noctis moved over, kneeling and placing a hand on his advisor’s- no, his /friend’s/ back. “I-” Ignis took a shuddering breath. “Apologies, Noctis. I know there is no reason for me to be reacting in this way to, quite literally, nothing-” He squeezed his eyes shut. “It- it appears my mind believes I'm currently about to die again-” Ignis shuddered, his breath catching in his throat. “Astrals, it feels like I'm dying again-” He managed through gritted teeth. Noctis gently rubbed a circle into Ignis' shoulder blade. “Try to follow my breathing, okay?” Noctis breathed in, then out. In, then out. After a bit, Ignis attempted to match his breathing. In... Out... In... Noctis’ hand brushed against a spot on Ignis’ back without meaning to. Ignis’ breath caught in his throat, and he hunched over with a ragged exhale, his eyes wide and unseeing. His breathing became erratic. “Astrals- Ignis?” He didn't respond. “What in Leviathan’s Tide is going on?” Gladiolus grumbled as he poked his head out of the tent flap. “Six- Iggy?” His annoyance disappeared, replaced by concern as he came over, kneeling in front of Ignis. “Hey, can you hear me?” When Ignis didn't respond, Gladio looked to Noctis for an explanation. Noctis shrugged. “He was mostly coherent when I came out, I'm not sure what happened-” “You touched his wound.” Prompto’s voice was flat, so unlike Prompto it took Noctis a second to register what he'd said. “Wound? What wound?” “From when I shot him.” “Astrals, Prom, you remember doing that?” Prompto looked at Noctis blankly. “Of course I do.” “Why would- Nevermind, we’ll talk about that later. We healed his wounds, there isn't even a scar.” Prompto tilted his head. “Scars will occasionally continue to exist in the mind, even if they are no longer on the body. Phantom pain is common, and as he did die for a time it would not be too surprising if there is lingering trauma from the experience.” Noctis stared at him. Then looked at Ignis. /Six/, but Ignis did seem like he thought he was dying again. Gladiolus, at some point, had taken the advisor’s arm gently and was just breathing slowly. Ignis attempted to match his breathing, and after a few minutes of silence broken by his ragged gasps, he succeeded, calming down enough to speak. “...thank you. I... I do not know what came over me.” He adjusted his glasses, which had become slightly askew on his nose at some point, most likely when he’d fallen to his knees earlier. “It's fine. You don't have to apologize, Ignis.” Noctis hesitated, then rested a hand on his other shoulder. “We're here for you no matter what, okay?” “I understand, and I... I appreciate it. Thank you.” Ignis sighed. “I feel... somewhat embarrassed. I apologize if I woke all of you up.” Noctis smiled. “It's perfectly fine. You don't have to apologize or feel bad for your brain freaking out.” Gladio nudged Ignis’ arm. “Yeah, Iggy. You're allowed to ask for help, y'know?” He grinned. “We’ll help you get back no matter how high of a cliff your brain feels like it's perched on.” “I...” Ignis smiled faintly. “I am grateful to hear that.” Prompto stayed silent, and Noctis glanced over to find that he’d withdrawn slightly, absently petting the sleeping chocobo chick in his jacket. /...we’ll get you back too, Prompto./ /I promise./ Enjoy the Prompto art I did on Magma lol He's so gorgeous First: Previous: Next:
