iwillshieldhim | The World We Fought For [for fieryknowledge]

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The World We Fought For [for fieryknowledge]

It was oddly calm in those last moments, a peace that came over him as he fought purely on muscle memory against the massive giant trying to smash him. Somewhere behind him, he could hear Prompto, not just the sound of gun fire, but it sounded like he was screaming, over and over, as he fought. Wordless angry shouts that if he had the time to think, to care beyond second to second of just surviving, would have torn him apart. The sound of pain, of loss, of anger. He'd lost track of Ignis, always so silent, and he feared the worst. He tried to look anyway, find his love in the chaos. Make sure he was still-

Second to second, he shouldn't have looked away. The giant found its opening as Gladio's eyes scanned the wreckage, trying to spot Ignis in all of it. The fear in his heart settled when he spotted the other, still up, still fighting, even as the massive blade slammed under his guard and sent him flying to hit the ground hard. A spike of pain screamed in his shoulder, but he barely noticed.

They had turned their back on Noct to let him die, walking forward to their fates knowing they would do the same. All they had to do was hold on long enough, just long enough to let him truly become the Chosen King. Gladio had accepted what would come, and while he thought Ignis knew, in a way, he was content with this. He had protected Noct until the end. Ignis might still live.

The giant raised its blade, and try as he might, Gladio couldn't get his own blade to lift. It wouldn't be possible on that broken shoulder. He stared up at his death, then let out a breath. ...I kept my promise.

I love you, Iggy.

Let there be light.

It came across the skies like a needle thrust into the heart of the darkness itself, a shaft of light so brilliant and golden that it hurt the eyes. The giants roar hurt almost as much, stabbing into his head until he was forced to close his eyes.

unconscious

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It worried Ignis as well, but he let it go for now. They were all exhausted and honestly, they should've expected this. This was somewhere 'safe' after a decade in the dark where nowhere was truly safe. For now, he had to tend to his partner while the younger men caught some rest. Safe or not, it wasn't likely that they'd see much rest, especially when the displaced citizens and refugees of Insomnia started to flock to the city.

No rest for the wicked or weary, right?

Once he'd found somewhere out of reach to settle the supplies, he turned his head toward Gladio, a hand reaching for him before he could think.

"This won't be pleasant, love. I've got to see what we're dealing with."

"Just do it." Gladio braced himself for whatever was about to come.

He couldn't be ready for how bad it was.

The joint was certainly out of place, but more than that, the shoulder blade itself was most likely broken as well, all from the hard fall from being thrown up by the strike. On top of the broken ribs that had come from the actual blade contact.

Gladio was gritting his teeth through Ignis' probing of the swollen, already ugly-bruised flesh. "How bad is it?" Give it to me straight.

Ignis already knew it wasn't good the moment his hands settled on Gladio's skin. It was burning hot when he was already warm by nature so that meant soft tissue damage. Bruising, most likely. Sighing an apology, he pressed harder, deft fingers seeking what information they could find. Since his sight had been taken, he'd grown quite adept in using his other senses and this was something he'd grown very good at.

Gladio might be a terrible patient in many cases, but he knew to sit still under those seeking hands as they pushed and manipulated the damage he could feel. It took several minutes to muss out what he could from the shoulder before his hands pretty much went diving under the heavy uniform coat and- yes. The ribs were expected but they still drew a soft hiss of sympathy from Ignis.

"... broken ribs, mostly on this side. The shoulder... it's a mess, I'm afraid. I can do what I can to get things back into place but that might not help much. If I can and you use some of the potion, it might set things well enough that you can let the rest heal on its own. Only time will tell, though. We're not properly equipped to deal with this."

Gladio might have sat still through it but that didn't stop him from hissing and growling when the pain spiked over and over. His tone was already pale under the mess by the end of it, but it didn't stop him from spitting out, "just do it. Whatever you need to do. Need to be able to use this arm." Broken hadn't been mentioned so he was assuming it was just a bad dislocation.

But his hand sought out Ignis' knee for a moment. A hint that he was afraid under the gruff and determined mask. If he couldn't help, they were all further in trouble and he had to be able to fight. They needed a guard tonight.

He would've been concerned if he hadn't been a bit afraid. He made sure to settle his hand on Gladio's in wordless support before he reached up to cup his face. It was even more poignant now that he'd seen that beloved face just minutes ago. It might've been a manic Crystal's dream, but he would hold onto that vision as tightly as he could.

"You'll need your coat off and we need a sturdy sling for when I'm done."

"Help me get this off." It was a little cold, but the cold was nothing to do with Ignis. He was preparing himself because he knew it would be bad, trying to shut himself off from his fear. It would take both of them working carefully to be able to get the heavy uniform off, leaving Gladio in just his tank top beneath. Given that it would need to go over his head, he said fuck it, leave it on. He'd shower in it if necessary.

"...Don't have anything for a sling. We'll... figure out something when we can. Just- set the damn thing, Iggy."

His hands were gentle as he helped ease the coat from Gladio's frame. It wasn't easy going and he knew it had to hurt but he couldn't do any good with the heavy material in his way. The tank top, he could work with. Once the coat was off, he let it slide to the floor without even really noticing. In the old days, it was his nature to make sure things were in their place as neatly as possible, but he was too focused on Gladio and making sure he was settled somewhere before he started.

Once he did, he set to work. He felt out the obvious injuries as best he could before he started applying enough pressure to force the bones back where they should be. It wasn't slow going simply because he knew that if he took too long, it would be even more painful. Better to get it over with as quickly as possible. There was no warning, just a softly murmured "be still" just as he did what he had to do.

For Gladio, he heard the soft murmur and tried to brace himself for it, but it wasn't enough. Just the white-hot spike of pain that jarred through his whole body and a roaring in his ears, like being caught in a wave that he had lost all control and direction in, before darkness took him.

For Ignis, he would have the very sudden and real problem of someone who weighed as much as Gladio slumping as he blacked out from the pain, even as his shoulder slid back into its proper place with Ignis' quick use of the right pressure.

It wouldn't last long, only a few seconds, but Gladio would jar out of it in a fighter's instinct to the point he had to bite a cry of pain in half, sitting there and struggling to get his mind together.

He bore the weight as well as could be expected, biting back a moan of his own as the weight shifting against him, which made his own weight shift, pulling at the burns along his back. His teeth clenched as he managed to hiss out for Gladio to hold the arm in place while he shuffled around trying to find something for a sling as well as one of the vials.

Once he found a vial, he pointedly shoved it in Gladio's direction as if daring him to disagree about taking it. A moment later and he was shoving his own coat off to see if it would work for a sling once he cut the damned thing down.

"Stop- stop it-" Gladio barely managed, holding his arm in place even as he found himself shaking slightly on the high of adrenaline. "Too thick for a damn sling." He thought fast, breathing hard, before growling, "Bathroom? A towel?" They could cut a body towel down easily enough.

Still, he took the vial and popped the top and took only a small swallow of it. When it hit his throat, he almost choked on it because it was so potent, making his eyes close as his head spun violently and life went through his body like a wave.

"Fuck, me," he breathed out with a hanging head, breathing just as hard. "It's like a healing kick in the teeth."

Too thick, for one. The back was a mess of holes and slices, which also helped render it useless. Ignis shivered for a moment as he canted his head around, quietly seeking to center himself so he could go find what he needed. It had been quite a long time since they'd been in the Citadel, but he'd roamed these halls for years.

A quick hand on Gladio's shoulder to see if he was holding it in place and then he was up again, biting back a curse of his own as his thigh throbbed in protest.

"Stay here. I'll be back."

And off he went, quiet as a shadow.

This was supposed to be getting better, but it was terrible. Looking over to Prompto and Noct, struggling with his own shaking pain, but he worried for the other three more. They were all supposed to be dead. That was what they had planned for, worked themselves up for, and now that it wasn't happening (or at least as immediately as he believed)... he felt like he had no idea what to actually do. Prompto and Noct weren't kids anymore, and hells he felt fifty-three, not thirty-three.

...Noct was still alive. He wanted to reach out and touch him, to make sure he was still warm, still truly alive. His eyes turned to the vial Ignis had said had let him see those connections, and there was that urge again. To see if it was true. To know... Noct really was still with them.

Once he was well out of sight and hearing, Ignis let himself lean against the wall. He'd done his best to keep from showing weakness around Gladio so he'd let himself be tended to first, but it was draining. Everything was draining. They'd been ready to die. They were supposed to die with their King, but they hadn't. It hadn't worked out and now, they were home again, for all the good it did them.

In a way, Ignis was thankful that he couldn't see what remained of their home. It would likely be enough to give him the reason he needed to sink to the floor and never rise again. He didn't have to see it to know it was bad. He'd long since learned to recognize the smell of ruin and this city was thick with it.

He'd cry if his eyes could manage it.

After a long moment of allowing himself to wallow in his own misery and pain, he staggered off to find what he could, then paused and headed back for the suite and the many closets that held Regis' wardrobe. There should be enough there (and most soft enough provided that something unsavory hadn't gotten hold of them) to cut down for bandages as well as see about something cleaner for three of their group to change into once they had a chance to get the filth off of their skin.

Gladio and Ignis both had their quiet moments of wallowing, but neither of them could afford to for very long. However, in the time it took Ignis to go digging for clothing, Gladio had made up his mind, even if he was well aware of his own irony. Still, less ironic he thought, because it wasn't a complete unknown what it was.

So, carefully propping his arm up so it wouldn't fuck up with Ignis did, he took the purple vial and popped the top. A sniff and his nose wrinkled, damn it smelled cloyingly sweet, before he put his thumb over the top and turned it over, then back, leaving a few drops on his thumb. He carefully recapped it before frowning at the faint residue on his thumb.

A quick breath and he licked his thumb, feeling a bit stupid.

For just a moment, he felt something, like a shiver running across his skin as if the room had briefly blown a cold wind across him, and there might have been, for just a single, the feeling almost like that connection, but it was gone in a heartbeat.

And that was it.

...

Had Ignis hit his head??

Ignis was busy rummaging through the clothing he could find. Most of it was heavier but he'd found enough to get them started. He dragged out what he could, visibly starting to limp now, only to settle heavily next to Gladio. A flick of his wrist and a dagger shimmered into being only to get to work slicing apart the things he'd found.

"You're keeping it still, yes?"

"Haven't moved," Gladio said, which was mostly.. okay a lie but he didn't feel like getting into it, more worried now that Ignis really had hit his head. "Get me in this sling so I can help you." He hadn't missed that limp or how bloody Ignis was; those burns and the slashes needed to be looked at and cleaned.

So let him at it before he got grumpier, Ignis.

"I can take care of myself."

That was years of habit speaking. Since losing his sight, he'd worked hard to try and regain what he could. Gladio had been there most of the time, a steadying hand when he needed the support, but he'd learned to make do with what he could. It was all any of them could do.

Once he managed to cobble together what he could, he settled himself close by Gladio, lips thin as he worked to get his injured arm in place in the sling.

"You'll need to take it easy for a bit. Healing will still need some time even with the potion's help. I think we'll be safe enough here for some time."

"Or together we could do the damn thing together." Gladio's tone tried to be flat, pointed, serious, even as he grit his teeth through Ignis helping him get his arm into the sling. Fuck did that hurt, but less with the joint back in place. "I've still got a good hand to manage this with, you know."

And, even if he wasn't about to say it, he also could see Ignis' back and where the wounds wrapped around Ignis' thighs. "I've got to help you with your back no matter what." Those burns would need to be possibly scoured of burnt uniform and dirt, and he knew it was going to be bad.

He didn't trust 'safe'. He hadn't felt safe in over ten years, and one night couldn't change that. Even if finally the night was over.

Once the arm was snug in place, Ignis reached down to stroke Gladio's fingers. As long as they stayed warm and he could feel something with them, then he'd heal. It might not be as strong as it'd been in the past, but he should have use of the arm in time. He gave those fingers a brief squeeze before his hand slid up along his chest to rest against his cheek.

"... should I ask how bad it looks?"

"Your back... it's ugly, I'm not gonna lie, but your thigh is what has me worried." The idea of Ignis ending up with a limp sent a bolt of anger through him. Weren't his eyes enough for you? Don't you dare take any of his mobility again!

"Come on, lay back. Let's get those pants off you." Not even having the heart to make it into a joke, not when he was honestly worried. He thought he'd be able to stitch these up, but worse was the idea that they didn't have anything to numb it with. At least he'd found anti-septic and disinfectant to try and keep it all clean.

"So romantic. It's been years since I've heard that."

He was trying. Really, he was. There was no way to miss that tone in his voice... Ignis was just as afraid as Gladio had been, but even then, he tried to gloss it all over. It made it easier, somehow.

Getting his pants off were a task all on its own. Bending enough to get them off made his back sting as if it was on fire and he knew that it had to hurt Gladio since he had such a limited range of motion. Still, they managed until Ignis could reach down and let his fingers probe the wounds marring his thigh.

Gladio could see just how deep those wounds were, and when he looked carefully as well, he could see at least one point where one channel went down to the bone. Fuck. How was Ignis even still standing on this? "...how do you wanna go about this? If we let the potion go at it, you're gonna end up with deep ridges that might tighten up but less chance of infection. If we do the stitches first, I've got no way to numb you. We're just gonna have to do them then use the potion." The smaller gap would mean less ugly scars in the end.

Sheer force of will. That's how. Unfortunately, even that was wearing thin.

Neither option sounded good. There might be less chance of infection if they just went with the potion, but that could mean limited mobility thanks to the tightened skin. The other.... well. It was the smarter option in the long run as long as they watched out for infection, but it was clearly the more painful one.

"... stitch it up once it's cleaned out. I can manage it. Surely it can't be worse than Altissia."

Gladio stared down at the wounds, then reached up and brushed Ignis' hair back. "Stay. I'll be right back." His look said he meant it, and he got up, rode the ensueing dizzy wave that passed through him, before starting to poke his nose around.

It didn't take long to find what he was looking for and more so, he wasn't going to comment that it didn't have the layer of dust everything else had. Also wasn't going to ask, not in a million years, how when he turned the tap on, water came out. It wasn't even brown or sludge but real water. The bathtub didn't have that luxury, though, but he was a relatively smart man.

It didn't take long to plug it up and manage to find a way to get the sink to start filling up the tub. All they needed was enough to be able to cover up Ignis' thigh.

He came back, leaving the tub to fill, and looked pleased with what he'd done. "Dumb question, but can you still manage any kind of fire?" With a wiggle of his fingers, suggesting magic.

Fire?

Lips thin, he tipped his head as if thinking. With Noctis as he was, his connection to that raw elemental power might just be compromised. On top of that, he was exhausted. All too easy to either be unable to conjure what they needed or simply be unable to control it if he could.

Still, he dug into that part of him that had always seemed to house that odd connection and felt an answering flutter. Not anything strong, but there was something stirring.

"... I think so. It won't be much, though. I'm drained and with Noct out-"

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