iwillshieldhim | The World We Fought For [for fieryknowledge]

Entry tags:

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"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-"

"All we'll need is one good shot, I think." He looked proud, and it showed in his voice. "I got a tub going. We'll get enough water in there to soak your thigh and your back. Clean out the thigh." Then go for the back. The back was going to be, by far, worse than the stitches, and he knew it. Worse than his shoulder had been because it would take longer, but soaking the burns would help.

Even if it would hurt like a bitch for them to get into the hot water.

One good shot. Okay. He could manage that. He'd find a way to manage it. For a moment, he paused and turned his head back toward that odd potion. Maybe-

No. He knew that Gladio wouldn't let him try it. Instead, he did his best to get back to his feet so they could get this over with. He ended up leaning on Gladio more than he liked to on the way to the tub (shit when was the last time he'd sat in a tub), but as soon as he could, he made sure to straighten up as if his pride depended on it.

The attempt left him pale and a little shaky, but he managed to actually get the water almost boiling so it was as clean as it was going to get.

"Sit." Ignis would end up getting sat on the toilet because it was the closest thing he could sit on, and they needed the water to cool off before he could get in, anyway. Gladio stood with one arm braced on the sink, his eyes closed as his head swam again, but he forced it all down.

He actually looked around for a moment in the now steamy room, then commented lightly, "it looks like a King lived here, doesn't it?" This bathroom alone was probably worth his family's entire home. Everything in the Citadel looked so damn expensive, even to his eyes.

A joke was there, waiting to be made but Ignis kept it to himself. Honestly, he was just too tired to keep trying to lightening things up, not that he'd been doing that spectacular of a job at it to begin with. He knew what Gladio was talking about, though. In fact, he had a pretty good idea which room they were in and he still remembered it from so long ago.

"It's a good thing that Regis wasn't an ostentatious King. He liked his simplicity, even when it cost a pretty gil."

It was.. an effort, trying to keep it light, when Gladio felt like he did. It was easier to reach out and slide his fingers over Ignis' shoulder, squeezing gently even as they spoke. "He didn't need to get fancy; all of the previous kings did that for him." It was something light because if they all started to really think about what was going on right now, on their pain, they were all going to lose it and at least one of them needed to remain with it.

"...It's all Noct's, now." Something he was never supposed to inherit. Regis had given him anything and everything he wanted because they all knew he would die young. That he would be forced into the hell his life became.

And yet... they were alive.

Gladio wanted to know why, but he needed to just keep going.

In a way, in a terrible, horrible way, death was supposed to have been their release.

Ignis' will was the only thing that sustained him to this point. He was tired, down into his bones and beyond. There were days he could remember where he'd just wanted to lay down and die, but each time, he got up and kept going. He knew why. It wasn't the people and it'd long ago gone beyond duty. He'd done it the men that had become his brothers and for the man he'd fallen in love with so long ago.

When Ignis' hand rose to settle atop Gladio's, his fingers were trembling. It was one of the few outward signs of just how worn he was and it was something that only Gladio would see. Still, shaky hands or not, he squeezed his lover's hand before he pulled it toward his lips for a quick, gentle kiss.

"I have no idea why the Six allowed us to live, but whatever they might have in store for us, we'll continue to protect him and our home... and each other."

"...allowed." There was something bitter, almost hollow in that repeated word. "Allowed." He scoffed at it, but under Ignis' hand, Gladio was little better. They were both at the ends of their abilities to keep going, but right now, he was pretty sure anger was the only thing keeping him burning. Anger and concern.

"The Six... didn't allow anything. Hells, one of them stood between us and the Citadel, Iggy! If they did anything at this point, they've-" His teeth came together so hard there was an audible click, a literal bite on his words so he didn't keep spitting out the words brewing in the back of his mind.

How the Six punished them to keep living, in some senses.

"Hush."

It was soft, a barely audible noise but the weary affection in Ignis' voice was clear. It took real effort to stand, but stand he did, his hand tracking up along Gladio's good arm until he could cup a scruffy cheek in his palm. If they weren't both disgusting, he'd draw him in for a kiss to help soothe his temper, but honestly... he wasn't sure if Gladio would want to.

"Not even the Six could stand against us, love. This? This is something we'll overcome. We just need to make it through today. One day at a time, remember?"

Overcome. Gladio's lips came together and he barely let out a breath through his teeth, saying nothing else. If he did, he had a feeling he was going to say something he regretted, and that was the last thing they needed. So instead, he just touched their foreheads together before he pulled away.

He knelt to dip his fingers into the tub, then said honestly, "it's cool enough to get in, but you're going to hate every second of it." That thigh was going to burn when the water touched it, but thankfully the burns were high enough that they would be out of the water... for a little while. Eventually he would have Ignis lay back so they could soak the burns and that was going to be the worst.

Ignis didn't need his eyes to tell him that Gladio's expression wasn't a good one. They'd known each other far too long not to. There was something unsaid there and Ignis, for once, decided to leave it alone. Still, he sighed when Gladio pulled away, his head turning away from his lover as if they both needed the distance.

When he rose, he did it with a hand on a nearby counter and a hiss of protest. He didn't reach for Gladio since he knew his temper was likely all that was sustaining him this far and it was just in Ignis' nature to try and ease it, but that only worked when Gladio wanted to be soothed. If he didn't, then it was best to leave it as it was. Things would settle soon enough.

Easing into the tub was a chore but the water felt good... at least, it did until it started to lap at the open wound. Long fingers tightened on the edge of the tub as most of the rest of the scant color slowly started to drain from Ignis' face.

Gladio knew it was coming. His hand was right there, cupped to the side of Ignis' face, his thumb stroking over the prominent cheekbones. "I got you. Stay with me, Iggy." If Ignis passed out, he knew it was going to get rougher rapidly, but he wouldn't blame his lover. "Stay with me. Just keep focused on my voice."

He would keep it up, murmuring anything that came to his mind to try and get Ignis to stay conscious until the pain became bearable. ...It hadn't gone so well with him, but this pain wouldn't be over so quickly. "Just need to get this cleaned up and stitched. ...Get some of that crazy potion in you and you're going to sleep the worst of it off, after that."

It didn't take long for his knuckles to go white as he gripped the edge of the tub as hard as he could. His breath grew shallow and harsh, hissing through clenched teeth as he tried to keep any sound of pain from escaping. He knew that soaking the wound would be best, but there was no way he could stand it that long so even as he leaned himself against that grounding touch along his cheek, his other hand moved to damn near dig into the wound to try and get it cleared out as quickly as he could manage.

The wash of pain made his head swim and his stomach roll and if he'd had anything in it, it probably wouldn't have remained there for long, but three decent sweeps of the wound and he stiffly asked Gladio how it looked. Oh, he hoped it was clean enough now...

Gladio made sure to keep a hand on Ignis so that if the other went, he wouldn't fall in any particular direction, his hand sliding down to Ignis' shoulder. He looked closer at the wound, telling Ignis to briefly bring his knee up to bring it out of the rapidly changing water, and nodded. "It'll be enough." It had to be; he was fairly sure Ignis wasn't going to stay conscious much longer if it didn't.

"If I leave you here long enough to grab the needle and thread, will you stay with us?" Because he wasn't about to leave Ignis to crack open his head or worse.

His thigh was throbbing again but that was a good deal better than numb. Numb meant more nerve damage and he would honestly rather have the pain. He managed a shaky nod as he worked to settle his breathing back down to something normal before he reached up to absently pat at Gladio's hand before letting himself lean back just a bit.

"I'll be alright."

"...Better be." He brushed his fingers through Ignis' hair gently before he went to go get the equipment they needed. There was a pause long enough to actually touch Noct again, to make sure his friend was still breathing, still warm, and a second touch to Prompto who only curled in closer to Noct. ...Both of them.

He came back to Ignis, putting stuff on the counter near the tub, making sure the other was still with him. "...they deserve so much more time together than the world's gonna give them." Prompto went ten years without Noct; it wasn't fair.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject