this_loser | Inbox

[ Ignis doesn't click off on the phone until hear hears familiar footsteps running at him. His head snaps towards Prompto at his name, bracing himself for the hug he's expecting. He lets out an 'oof' as he stumbles back a bit, steadying himself. ]

I appear to be.

[ He says softly as his arms wrap around Prompto's form, holding him tightly against him.

I'm sorry, gods, he wants to apologize for the pain that his sudden department left Prompto, but he doesn't. It's not his fault. Either of their faults, they both agreed as long as this place allows. And it's allowing them again. ]

You're here too. [ He'd been worried sick that Prompto might've left or this wasn't his Prompto either. ]

[He's reluctant to let go, but he does eventually loosen his hold and step back so he can look up at Iggy's face, ignoring the tears spilling down his cheeks. He didn't think he'd ever see Ignis here again. Not one that remembered.]

Did you go home?

[ Ignis can almost feel Prompto's gaze on him as he steps back, but Ignis doesn't move, keeping a firm hold on Prompto. ]

I... [ He's confused for a moment, but ] It's almost as if no time passed by back on home for me. [ Gone and back in a blink of an eye, so to speak. ]

The crystal just took Noct.

... Noct and Gladio, are they still here?

[He frowns, scrubbing a hand into one eye. Usually people come back with new memories. But not always. There didn't seem to be any set rules.]

You've been gone two months.

[He sighs.] Noct's still here. Gladio...Gladio disappeared just recently. Tony too.

[ Two months? That wasn't what he'd expected to hear at all, but then again, Ignis didn't have a solid guess to how long he was gone for.

Tony's gone too? He sighs quietly, tis the nature of this world to take away loved ones like that. Ignis was around when Lunafreya left some time back too. ]

You and Noct been alright?

[Prompto lets go of a dry chuckle.] I mean, sure. We're still here. Noct, um. He had a rough patch, but I'll let him tell you about it.

Other than that, there's just the, you know, giant worms eating the city.

[ 'Rough patch'. Ignis frowns a little at that. ] Is he alright at least?

Giant worms? Are we safe out here, Prompto?

Yeah. He's fine. Pyra...[He sounds proud here, and fond.] Pyra's amazing. She's been taking good care of him.

[He slips his hand in Iggy's.] For now. But we should probably move.

[ He smiles softly at that, he's glad to hear that Pyra's still around too. ] I expect no less from her.

[ He squeezes Prompto's hand in his gently. ] Lead the way.

[He smiles and squeezes back. Reality is starting to sink back in, but the surge of happiness hasn't worn off - won't for a while.]

People have been gathering in the city center. [He pauses.] Not sure why. Just a feeling, I guess... [Which is strange, given it's out in the open. They may as well ring a dinner bell and offer forks and knives to the worms.]

But is there anything you need? I've gotten good at avoiding them. [Waaay easier than fighting them.]

[ Granted, Ignis just re-arrived back in this city and hearing of the giant worms roaming about has him concerned. ]

We should keep moving to safety.

[ He offers up his own smile. ] I'll be alright. [ He is without his cane for the moment. ]

Who's running the bar in Tony and Gladio's absence?

[He moves them carefully along, pausing every so often to survey the area before proceeding.

He laughs.] Funny story. I kinda took it over?

[ Well, it's good to hear that laugh at least. ]

... By yourself?

Nah. They'd hired a couple people to help out before. I know at least one is willing to stay on. [He bumps his shoulder into Ignis as they walk.] Wanna run a bar with me?

[ Well, he's glad to hear that he has help. Ignis laughs at the shoulder bump, releasing their hands and getting his arm around Prompto's shoulders. ]

I'd assume you want me in the kitchen.

[ Then in a teasing tone. ]

You just want me to make my soup again for you, don't you?

Well, if I try to cook, everyone'll get sick and we'll be shut down on the first day.

[Okay, he's not that bad, but he's not exactly creative, or patient, when it comes to cooking.]

Welllll, I wasn't going to say anything, buuuut....

[He teases back, but quickly switches gears.]

But, like, no obligation or anything. You can say no. I won't be offended or anything.

You know, I could always teach you.

[ Well, as one could be while blind. ]

I'll need time to get used to the kitchen; you recall how long it took me to get used to the one at the house, correct?

Of course I'll help you, Prom.

[He smiles softly.] I'd like that. [He doesn't want to admit that he'd attempted one of the recipes in Iggy's book and...botched it. Utterly. It was beyond recognition, to an embarrassing degree.]

Of course I'll help you right back. I-

[He stops suddenly. The words settled on his tongue so easily, and why not? He'd been weighed with guilt for not saying anything before Ignis disappeared. He's been given a second chance! They're almost to the city center, there's no immediate danger. He turns to face the other.]

I love you.

[ Ignis goes to make a comment about what he could do to help, but stops in his own tracks too when Prompto does.

Those three words hit his ears and he wonders if he'd heard him correctly at first.

I love you.

He's known, of course, through Prompto's own actions, but to hear it himself is a whole another level. His breath catches in his throat for a moment, his heart skipping a beat. Quietly, he tugs Prom closer to him. ]

I love you too, Prompto.

[He sighs happily and wraps his arms around Ignis.

He knows this. Of course he does. Ignis has told him before. But it's been months, and he thought he'd never hear it again.

He pulls back with a small sniffle and a laugh.]

We should get going before a worm ruins the moment.

Of course.

[ He pulls back as well, slipping his hand into Prompto's and interlocking their fingers, squeezing gently. ]

We'll pick this up later.

[ As much as he'd wanted to stay put in the embrace they were sharing, Prom's right, they need to keep going and get safe. ]

[He would have loved to stay like that, but he can think of nothing worse than having a worm slam into the scene and cause trouble on Iggy's first day back. But there will be plenty of time for talking and holding each other once they're somewhere safe.

Much as he wants to hurry to that somewhere, though, he keeps the pace steady, steering Ignis around the debris left behind by hungry worms.]

I wish we had more time and privacy for a better reunion. You picked an exiting time to come back!

[ Ignis carefully steps around the debris as Prompto shifts them around it. He lets out a small laugh at the remark. ]

You recall how I arrived here last time, correct?

[ He'd appeared out of thin air in Affurgato's, startling Noctis. ]

Mm. I remember. You didn't arrive the way people usually do.

[And it'd been right after all the ghost weirdness, which had been right around this same time last year.

Ignis may pick up on the murmur of voices now, and movement, as they draw near the city center.]

It seems this world has a habit of pulling me in at the weirdest times.

[ He does pick up the voices as they draw closer. ]

Would you like to do something for your birthday once this clears up? [ At least, he hopes it clears up. ]

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