#can someone in-universe just sit down and listen to his backstory. i am begging

[binary-bird]

i just think he’s neat

[clericbyers]

[ because i couldn't leave this alone, here is part 2 ]

---------------------

“Hey.”

Mike looks up from his reading and smiles awkwardly as Robin hovers over him, hands stuffed in her shorts’ pockets with a shy smile on her lips. He scoots over on the bench and watches her settle down before opening his mouth.

“Why are you here?” Robin shrugs in response and Mike frowns. “I’m sure you have better things to do than hang out with a kid.”

“Probably but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hang out with a kid. Especially if that kid is you.” She grins and leans back in her seat with a happy sigh. “You looked like you could use some company is all. It’s no fun sitting in the snow by yourself. If you don’t want me here then—,”

“No!” Mike cries out and then huffs when Robin’s smile grows wider. “Don’t look so pleased with yourself, Buckley. It makes your face look all gross and demented.”

“Love you too, kiddo,” she pats his shoulder and then cocks her head as she inspects him. “You didn’t tell him, did you?”

Mike stiffens. His jaw involuntarily clenches with his fists as his spine hardens and the tension in his shoulders spikes. Robin makes a noise and tilts her head up to the sky. “I know it’s hard,” she begins softly with a voice Mike knows is meant for this particular conversation. “I’ve never been brave enough to tell a girl I like her myself. When you told me you wanted to tell him I was so proud. I still am, even if the words haven’t reached him yet.” Her blue eyes turn to Mike with gentle care echoing in their rich color. “I don’t know Will very much, but if he’s even half a modicum as amazing as you tell me and Steve, he won’t hold this against you.”

“It’s not that,” Mike groans, running hands down his face before tangling them in his curly hair. “I know he won’t hold it against me. I just don’t want to sound like a hopeless romantic in front of him. A pining dipshit with feelings for his best friend who doesn’t share those feelings.”

“Hey, you don’t know if—,”

“Robin,” he hisses as he turns to face her fully. Mike can feel the tears burning in his eyes and he wishes she had left him alone after all. “I know he doesn’t.” Anymore is the important word, but Mike still can’t get the word out. It would be a lot easier to deal with his feelings if he knew Will never reciprocated them. His throat tightens around that seven-letter word—anymore—reminding Mike that Will is over him, Will doesn’t have a crush on him now, Will is past the stage of affection Mike is currently stuck in. “I can’t—I can’t tell him. I can’t let him know I’m never gonna get past this…this crush I have on him.”

“You’re young! Time is on your side. You’ll get over him, let the ship sail on by.”

“That’s the problem: I can’t!” Mike can feel the tears spilling over, running ribbons down his freckled cheeks as desperation takes hold of his heart. “I can’t get over what I feel and I never want him to know I’m too weak to move on. I don’t even think it’s a crush anymore.” His voice falls to a barely-there whisper. “I think I love him.”

Robin pulls Mike into a hug and caresses his back as he silently cries into her shoulder. Mike has a clear thought for a moment, ever so thankful that Steve befriended Robin and the girl trusted him enough and saw her own struggle in him when he spent hours at the rental store rambling about Will, Will, Will. “Mike,” Robin starts after the boy manages to stop sniffling, “I say tell him anyway. Let him know you’ll always love him.”

Mike nods lightly and sends Robin a shaky watery smile that makes her laugh and ruffle his hair.

After taking a few more minutes to calm down and talk about something else with Robin, Mike makes his way back home where he knows Will is located. During the bike ride to his place, Mike builds up his courage to say something but the moment Will opens the door and grins at Mike as he sets his bike down, all courage leaves his soul in a flash of lightning. Will is—Will is everything; he is strong and gentle, caring and adorable, eyes tinted soft with affection and cheeks rosy with adoration. He’s wearing one of Mike’s oversized sweaters and it slides over his shoulders and pools over hands until just the tips of his fingers are peaking through. Will may have had a growth spurt in the time he was gone but Mike is still a good few inches taller than the other boy.

Right now, the size difference between them seen so blatantly in Will wearing his clothing is making Mike’s knees shaky. He offers Will a smile and whizzes past him in an effort to get to the couch before his legs give out. Mike only looks over once he feels the cushion beside him dip from added weight. Will is still everything and Mike’s heart speeds its frantic pace.

“Did you have a good walk?” the brunette asks with genuine curiosity in his tone.

Mike nods. “Y-yeah, yes, it was good. Grand. A good walk. I, uh, ran into Robin. Well, she ran into me when I sat down to read this X-Men comic.”

“Oh,” Will reaches over Mike to pluck the paper from where Mike had unconsciously placed it at his other side. Mike wonders if death by smiting would be less painful than Will half on his lap while he’s mentally making a checklist of all the reasons why Will Byers deserves nothing but good in the world for the rest of time.

“It’s a good issue.” Mike rambles on. “There’s some Thor universe things in there. The Alpha Flight team. Have you read X-Men and Alpha Flight? It’s good. Loki is the bad guy in this one though.”

“Yeah, being a bad guy is his role,” Will laughs and flips through the issue. “Uncanny X-Men Giant-Sized Annual. Can I read it at some point?”

Mike nods stupidly. “Of course. It’s yours as much as it’s mine.” He makes a vague motion toward his room. “I also have some Alpha Flight issues if you don’t want to listen to me explain things for you to help you understand.”

Will shrugs and places the comic issue down. “I don’t mind listening to you talk, Mike. I miss listening to you a lot actually.”

“I wish calling wasn’t so expensive,” Mike whispers hoarsely, staring into his lap for reasons he can’t explain. “I miss your voice, too.”

A nudge at his shoulder makes Mike look over and his breath catches when he locks eyes with Will. Will who is sitting so close, Will with soft pink lips begging for Mike to kiss and cherish with his own. Mike bolts from his seat and grabs at his hair with a strangled cry. He can’t take this anymore.

“Mike?” Will questions carefully with concern in his eyes and it breaks Mike in half.

“Will, please don’t hate me but I’m a thousand percent sure I’m in love with you but I can’t stop feeling this way. I’ve been trying for months; I’m so sorry.” Mike’s voice shakes and he wants to take a breath for air but he knows if he stops now he’ll never open his mouth to talk about this again. “I’m sorry I only realized this after you left and that I hurt you letting you believe you I could never like you in the way you desired and—,”

Mike comes to a sudden stop when Will presses his hand to the babbling boy’s mouth. He’s half tempted to lick Will’s hand but the seriousness in those green hazel eyes keeps Mike’s tongue at bay. Will’s hand moves from his mouth anyway, carefully cupping his cheek as a loose grin curls his lips.

“Sometimes I wonder how I came to love someone so dense like you,” he laughs and Mike scowls but feels his cheeks heating with blush. “I said I used to have a crush on you, not that I fell out of love.”

“Isn’t that the same?”

Will shakes his head. “When you love someone as long as I have loved you, the childish feelings eventually fade away.” He shrugs and rubs his thumb against Mike’s cheekbone. “I’m no longer embarrassed about what’s left behind because what’s left behind is simply me. Loving you is, well, my best me. Returned feelings is optional but I’m super happy you like me, too.”

Mike wants to cry. “You could have told me you love me instead of saying you don’t have a crush! I was scared you were gonna think I’m an idiot for having a juvenile crush on you.”

“You are an idiot but not for liking me,” snorts Will but not even the unappealing snort can wipe the wide grin off his face. Mike feels like the sun is shining directly on him. “I’m sorry I worded my confession weird. I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable if I confessed to loving you so I left that part out.”

“Lying by omission is still lying, Byers.”

“To quote my dear sister, ‘boyfriends lie,’ Wheeler.”

Mike shoves Will’s shoulder with a guffaw before plopping back onto the couch. Will sits beside him chuckling under his breath, curling his feet under his legs as he presses up against Mike with the X-Men comic in hand. Mike turns his head to press his lips to the top of Will’s head before snaking an arm around his shoulders. “You’re wearing my sweater.”

“It got cold in here after your folks left to get party supplies for New Years.” Both boys know what the cold does to Will, so Mike doesn’t question and only kisses Will’s head again to hide a happy smile at how the smaller boy turned to Mike’s clothing for comfort. Will points to the annual issue and nudges Mike’s side. “Newly minted boyfriend of mine, would you care to explain the Alpha Team to me so I can read this?”

Boyfriend. Mike Wheeler is Will Byers’ boyfriend. He can barely contain his glee.

“It would be my pleasure,” Mike replies with a posh accent he would take on to talk as random travelers the Party would run into during Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. Will laughs and the warmth that floods Mike’s body sizzles away any lingering concerns.

“Goddamn, I love you,” wheezes Will as he snuggles closer into Mike’s side.

“Yeah, me too,” is his easy effortless reply before launching into a explanation of the Alpha Team’s creation.

(It’s while he’s explaining how the Team was originally just in X-Men comics for Wolverine’s backstory that Mike remembers reading that issue with Will years back and thus, Will knows this information already. Mike just barely hides his grin and simply continues to honor Will’s request. Even if the request was only made to hear Mike’s soothing voice and nothing more.)

[sassycassie-s-writing]

The Original Story

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Final Fantasy XV/Ignis Scientia feat. Noctis Lucis Caelum + Gang

Rating: PG-11 

Original Idea: Listen y’all, the FFXV universe gave me a lot of feels (and the ending broke my fragile heart) so things happen.

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) This is the original version of Princess Estelle’s story, where I came up with her character. Bear in mind it has a lot of time jumps but I think y’all will be alright. It’s a mess because it was a bunch of disjointed ideas that helped me get to know Estelle. It also has some timeline issues with the backstory because Estelle’s only about year or two younger than Noctis.

^^^^^

“C’mon, Iggy, you’re a Crownsguard. I’m the daughter of a Crownsguard. You know as well as I do that we’re of the same rank.”

“We are not, princess. Whether you like it or not, King Regis legally adopted you. You are the princess of Lucis and you are Noctis’ sister.”

“Not by blood,” I pointed out. “If something happened to Noc, no one would let me lead Lucis—because I’m not of the line of Lucis.”

“Stop this, Estelle. That’s not true and you know it.”

“It is true!” I exclaimed, flinging an arm out. “I’m not real royalty! I don’t have a drop of royal blood in me!”

Ignis stared at me in silence for a moment. “Have a seat, Estelle,” he said. “I’d like to tell you a tale.”

“Ooooh,” I said as I sat down. “An Iggy story.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “This story began many years ago in the halls of Tenebrae. There, a young prince of Lucis was recovering from an injury with the help of the Oracle at the time—the queen of Tenebrae.

“Not long after, while the boy was still there, a member of the Crownsguard of Lucis brought a small baby to the palace of Tenebrae. The baby was ill and the poor father didn’t know what to do. He begged the Oracle to help him. She did what she could, but nothing seemed to work.

“So, the Oracle communed with the gods, and the Glacian gave her counsel: a single drop of blood from the line of Lucis would revitalize the child and let the baby live.

“The Oracle immediately sent word to the king of Lucis, pleading with him for assistance. The baby was, after all, the daughter of one of his trusted Guard.

“But, the king refused. He said the blood of the line of Lucis was only meant to mingle when an heir had to be born.

“Fortunately, the prince of Lucis was listening outside in the corridor. Once he heard what was happening, he snuck to the princess of Tenebrae—who had become a close, dear friend of his—and told her what he heard. Neither of them hesitated. The princess of Tenebrae found a hairpin and the prince of Lucis found where the baby and her father would be staying the night.

“Once all in the palace had fallen asleep, the children snuck into the room where the baby’s cradle was next to her father’s bed. The princess pricked the prince’s finger and he let a single drop of blood fall into the baby’s open mouth. The infant began to cry and the children fled the room as quick and quiet as they could. But the father knew that his child would live. The Oracle proclaimed it as a miracle from the Six, but she knew what her daughter and the prince of Lucis had done. She took the secret to her grave.

“But, once the prince and princess were out of the baby and her father’s room, they stopped and listened. They only heard him say one thing before fleeing to their chambers,” Ignis said.

“What was that?” I asked.

“‘My precious star,’” he said.

I set one hand on my necklace over my heart. “Star—Estelle,” I said.

Ignis nodded. “Yes. That baby was you. Noctis saved your life without hesitating. You have the blood of the line of Lucis in you.”

“A single drop of blood in my mouth when I was an infant? No I don’t.”

“The cells in that drop of blood worked their way out of your system a long time ago, yes. However, the power of the line of Lucis rests weakly within you, Princess Estelle. Not to the extent that it resides in Noct, but there are vestiges of that power in your veins. The magic of the line of Lucis doesn’t care that your blood and Noctis’ aren’t from the same parents. You are his family. In theory, you could wear the ring without sacrificing something.”

I curled my knees up to my chest and stared at Ignis. “Really?”

“It’s never been tested before, but I don’t see why not.”

^^^^^

“So, are Ignis and Estelle the only ones who drive?” Iris asked.

“I can drive,” Prompto said.

“And so can I,” Noctis added.

“Yeah, they both can, but Iggy and Estelle are the only ones we trust,” Gladio put in.

“And with his little sister in the car, the big guy wasn’t taking any chances,” Prompto said with a small grin. I smirked and glanced at the backseat in the rearview mirror.

“Which is why I’m driving,” I remarked playfully. “Because no matter what the other three might tell you, I am actually a better driver than Ignis and he’d be the first to admit it. He’s a fantastic driver but I’m more cautious. Prince Noctis is messy and Prompto is too reckless.”

“Hey!” Prompto protested. I laughed and guided the car around a rather sharp turn in the road.

“I’m not messy, Estelle,” Noctis said.

“Mmhmm,” I grunted sarcastically. “Hey Iggy, let’s swap out at the next rest stop before we reach Caem so I can sit in the back so the boys won’t be so squished back there and Noc can drive my car.” Iris and I were similar in size, but I was a little smaller. Iris was okay in the backseat crammed between Noctis and Gladiolus, but the boys both looked a bit irritated.

“Sounds like a plan,” Ignis said through the earpiece I had in my ear. He was driving my car right behind us. We’d thought about splitting up with three in each car for more room, but had ultimately determined it was better to stay as close together as we could. Just in case something happened. “However I’m surprised you’re willing to trust your brother with this beautiful machine. It nearly rivals the Regalia.”

“Yeah, well, that thing is tough as an airship. Noctis could smash it headfirst into a mountain and barely dent the front bumper,” I said.

Ignis chuckled in my earpiece.

^^^^^

Ten Years Later...

^^^^^

“Oh, Estelle’s really stepped up while you’ve been gone,” Talcott added to Noctis. “Become a real leader.”

“Has she?” Noctis asked, interested.

“Yeah. The mayor of Lestallum still keeps the city running smoothly and supports the infrastructure; but when people are scared or seeking comfort, they go right to Estelle. She gives comfort and organizes daemon-slaying hunts—sometimes even rescue missions. A lot of people say she’s the closest thing we have to… well. To you, Your Majesty. But others just say she’s the closest thing we have to a queen.”

“Huh,” Noctis said. “They’re not wrong.”

“Yeah… By the way—she and Ignis finally admitted their feelings for each other about a year after you disappeared. With seven people in the room—including myself. We were having a discussion about a search party for a mother and child who’d somehow gotten out of Lestallum and gone missing and Ignis was being a bit protective, saying Estelle should stay behind even though she wanted to go because she was the closest thing we had to you and a monarch. And Estelle… she got mad at him. She made some insensitive comment that maybe he should stay behind instead because he couldn’t see. They kept arguing and he finally shouted that he loved her. She just stood there in stunned silence.”

Noctis chuckled. “I’m surprised Iggy would raise his voice,” he said.

“Well, no one can push your buttons like the one you love, right?” Talcott asked with a smile. “They’ve been semi-together ever since.”

“Semi?”

“Well… they don’t want to be really together because they’ve both said it’d be weird to be happy without you around. But every so often giggles sweep the city because the princess and Ignis were caught kissing behind a staircase somewhere.”

Noctis smiled. “I’m glad,” he said.

“Yeah… I think she’s going with him to Hammerhead. So you’ll get to see her.”

“Good. I need to ask her a favor.”

When they arrived at Hammerhead, four familiar figures were outside waiting.

Prompto. Gladiolus. Ignis. Estelle. They all looked older, more scarred, and just slightly different. Ignis had reflective glasses on to hide his blind eyes and the scar over his left one. He had Estelle’s hand in his. Her hair was longer and bound up in a ponytail. Her eyes were tired but determined. Gladiolus’ hair was bound back as well. Prompto had a goatee.

The moment Noctis was free of the truck with the door shut behind him, Estelle’s face broke out into a smile. “Noc!” she cried, running forward. She slammed into him, hard, and threw her arms around him. “Oh we missed you!”

“I missed you too.”

^^^^^

“Estelle, a word, please?” Noctis asked me. I glanced at Ignis, squeezed his hand reassuringly, and stepped away from the group.

“What’s up?”

“I need you to do something for me. The biggest favor I’ve ever asked of you.”

“Name it, Noc,” I said.

My adoptive brother put his hands on either side of my face to make sure I was listening. “Be queen, Estelle.”

I took a step back. “What?” I breathed.

Noctis tugged me even farther away from our friends. “Listen, the only way to stop this endless night is for me to… to sacrifice myself. To die. When that happens, Insomnia and Lucis will still need someone to sit on the throne. I don’t have an heir so the only person who can possibly take up the throne is you. And I would trust no one else with this.”

“But, Noc, I—”

“Estelle, trust in me. You have much more wisdom and experience leading our people than I do. Just do what you’ve been doing these past ten years.”

“On a much bigger scale,” I said.

“Well… yes. But you can handle it. No one would do better than you.”

“I’m not royal by blood, Noc.”

“I know. But after I’m gone, royal blood won’t matter. The star scourge will be over with and the Ring and Crystal’s purpose will be fulfilled. Besides, Dad adopted you legally. You have a right to the throne. Please, Estelle.”

I sighed and wrapped my arms around my brother. “Okay, Noc. I’ll do it.”

He sighed and kissed the top of my head, his own arms wrapping around me. “Thank you. I know Lucis will be in good hands.”

“I hope so,” I muttered.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Noctis added. He did so in a tone that I knew something teasing was coming.

“What?” I asked.

I felt him grinning. “Please marry Ignis.”

I giggled. “Noc…!”

He chuckled. “I’m serious. You two seem happy together.”

I sighed, forehead resting on his chest. “We are.”

“Don’t be afraid to be happy, Estelle. Even when I’m gone.”

I sniffed. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I know. But I’ve made my peace with it.”

“It won’t be the same without you, Noc.”

“I’m sorry, Stell. But this is something I have to do.”

I sighed and wiped the tears from my eyes. “I know. And our hearts go with you.”

“Thank you.”

I kissed his cheek and we went back to Ignis, Prompto, and Gladio. I took Ignis’ hand. “Get everything sorted out?” he asked.

“More or less,” I said.

“I’m glad,” Ignis said. “Come. We should get the camp set up.”

“Right,” I agreed.

^^^^^

“The four of us around a campfire. How long’s it been?” Noctis asked.

“An eternity,” Ignis said.

“Yeah…” Noctis agreed.

I looked around at them, remembering when they first left on their journey.

*****

“Estelle? Dear?” King Regis asked as Noctis and his friends climbed in the Regalia.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” I replied, turning to the king with my eyebrows raised expectantly. I peeked at Noctis and the others as they drove off, not wanting to miss them leaving.

King Regis smiled at me. “Go after them,” he said. “Give them fifteen minutes, then make your way to Hammerhead.”

I grinned and giggled. “Yes, sire,” I said.

He chuckled. “Take care of them, Estelle.”

“Always, sire.” I bowed to him.

“You’re excused.”

“Thank you, King Regis.” I turned and ran off to pack some stuff up and grab my car.

Once I had some clothes and food thrown in a bag and that bag thrown in my car, I drove out of the city, following signs towards Hammerhead. I’d never liked driving in the city—too much traffic. But out on the open road, I found myself having a good time. Listening to music with no buildings and almost no cars. It was so nice outside.

I was getting pretty far outside the city when I saw a car being pushed down the road by a few people. It was a convertible. A rather familiar one too. The people pushing it were familiar as well.

The Reglia. As well as Noctis, Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis.

I chuckled and pulled up next to them. “Hey boys. Need a lift?” I called out the open passenger-side window.

“Estelle?! What are you doing here?!” Noctis demanded.

I laughed. “King Regis sent me to make sure you got to Hammerhead alright,” I said.

Noctis sighed. “Of course he did,” he muttered.

“C’mon. Hop in guys. There’s plenty of room for all four of you. I’ll take you to Hammerhead and then you can get a tow truck there to come get the Regalia.”

“With respect, princess, I’m gonna stay here,” Gladio said.

“Not a princess, Gladio,” I said.

“For all intents and purposes, you’re Noct’s sister. I’m calling you princess,” Gladio retorted. I rolled my eyes. “And there’s no way we’re all gonna fit in your car.”

“There’s plenty of leg room behind me,” I said. “I have to pull my seat pretty far up to reach the pedals since I’m so short.”

“It’s not just that, Estelle. Someone’s gotta keep an eye on this gorgeous piece of machinery.”

I shrugged. “Fine, Gladio. Be that way,” I said. “What do you think, Noc? Hop in?”

“Sure. Prompto? Ignis?”

“I believe I’ll stay with Gladio,” Ignis said. “None of us should be alone.”

“Okay,” Noctis and I said at the same time.

Prompto didn’t hesitate to get in my car. Nor did Noctis. We headed for Hammerhead.

“You know Iggy’s not coming with because he can’t be around Estelle without blushing, right Noct?” Prompto teased.

I scoffed.

“Right,” Noctis agreed with a smile.

“Noc!” I protested.

“Oh come ON, Estelle!” Prompto complained playfully. “It’s obvious. Iggy likes being composed and dignified—but he just… can’t around you.”

“Ha-ha,” I said, voice flat and humorless.

I drove them to Hammerhead and met Cindy—or was her name Cidney?—and then followed behind while they took a tow truck back to the Regalia so I could drive everyone except Gladio back to Hammerhead. Gladio elected to ride with Cindy/Cidney, whatever her name was, to keep an eye on the Regalia. Noctis even gave up shotgun in my car to Ignis.

“What a good start,” I muttered once we got back to Hammerhead and they got the car in the garage.

*****

Ten years. It didn’t feel that long ago. Was I really eighteen when all this started? Wow.

And now it was coming to an end.

I looked across the fire at Noc. His friends were right—for all intents and purposes, he was my brother. He’d been my brother since I was six-years-old and my blood father died. My birth mother had never wanted to be a mother so she’d left me with my father. Once he died in service to King Regis, the king took me in. Apparently he’d promised my father he would. A year into warding me, he adopted me. I’d quickly grown a crush on Ignis and a fast friendship with both Gladio and Iris. Prompto came a little later, but he became my friend too.

Noctis had always been brotherly to me. I was going to miss him. And given the way Ignis was acting, I suspected he knew what was coming—that Noc would have to sacrifice himself to bring back daylight.

I knew Ignis better than I knew anybody else—except maybe Noc. I could tell by how reserved he was being that he knew. He either heard Noc and I talking or he’d known longer than I had. Honestly, I favored the latter. Ignis was smarter than me.

^^^^^

“What does he look like? The Ignian?” Ignis whispered.

“He’s sitting on a throne in his underwear and has lots of tangly horns instead of hair,” I replied, clinging to his hand.

“Estelle?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Ignis.”

I let go of his hand to manifest my shortsword. Ignis’ ice blades appeared in his hands. He nodded in my general direction, but not exactly at me. Normally he was pretty good at looking right at me, but I’d moved slightly to get away from his ice blades.

I would have nodded back at him, but what good would it have done?

“Princess, assuming we survive this,” Ignis began as we bent our knees and prepared for battle, “I’ve been intending to ask for your hand in marriage.”

“Iggy can you wait to propose till after we’ve defeated a giant fire god?” Prompto said.

I laughed. “Well, assuming we survive this, I’ll be happy to accept. If a bit sad I don’t have a father figure for you to ask permission from. Because tradition.”

“You could ask me,” Noctis remarked. “As her brother and the king.”

“What would be the point of that?” I teased.

“We all know what your answer would be,” Ignis added, more serious than teasing.

“Hey just because you already know I’d say yes doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask,” Noctis joked.

“I’ll take that into consideration,” Ignis remarked.

The Ignian looked frustrated that we were chatting. He let off a huge blast of fire that threw all of us back. We all gathered behind a raised stone block that probably once served as some sort of bench. Another blast surged across the front of the palace, flickering over the top of the bench. Gladio held us all down.

After a moment, the fire died down. We all peered over the top of the bench.

“Now,” Ignis said.

Noctis didn’t waste time hurling a warp-strike at him.

I glanced at Ignis. Something about that warp-strike felt like the beginning of the end.

Before he could throw himself into the fight, I planted a kiss on his mouth. “For luck---and just in case.”

“It ends tonight,” he promised.