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[ Noctis is calming down, but he's still crying- feeling the wetness on his shirt and the inhales he's hearing. Ignis isn't much better, tears still rolling down his own cheeks, unable to stop them himself.

Don't be afraid to let us share the load. He'd once told Noctis, but he'd been hypercritical back then, he couldn't even share the load himself, burden down by what he did and knew. He's not alone anymore in that. With everything out in the open, they can talk about this freely even if it hurts them both. He'd been scared to speak up back then too, still processing the vision, but telling Noctis back then would've broken him. He'd been afraid of that so he kept quiet to protect his friend. It was only after the crystal snatched him that something broke inside Ignis, he regretted not speaking up. After he got here, he opened up finally.

I'm tired.

Ignis shifts when Noctis slumps against him, letting his hand move to Noctis' cheek, thumb brushing away the stray tears there.

He's exhausted, beyond it. He'd been taking care of Prompto then he found out about Noctis and his near death experience. He'd pushed himself harder to take care of the pair, despite Pyra's help. Sitting still isn't his style when two of his loved ones are bedridden like this. This talk they had, while it had helped, undeniably had hurt them as well. Ignis does wish that he hadn't gotten that vision in Altissia, if given the choice, he use the ring over and over again just to not have this knowledge.

What did I just see? A vision of what's to come? Disbelief was his first reaction then, but he hadn't time to think about it, not with Noctis' life on the line. A small part of him is glad that he has this knowledge though, it gives him a goal to work towards while his friend is stuck in the crystal for... a long time. It helps to have someone that he can talk to, even if that someone is the one that has to sacrifice himself.

Asking Noctis if he's alright isn't the right call here, they're not alright. Crying, it's a start for a healing process he hopes. It isn't good to keep those tears locked in, even he knows that. ]

You'll never be alone in this, [ the shakiness finally gone out of his tone, replaced by a comforting one. ] and never forget how strong you are, Noct.

[ He knows though, just how exhausted Noctis must be after breaking down and after everything else. He still needs to rest, but Ignis isn't up to leaving his friend's side, not after crying on each other like that. They still need the comfort of each other's embrace. ]

[How strong he is...

He doesn't feel all that strong. He feels wretched, trembling and weary to the bone, his body still rebuilding energy after being stretched far too thin and burned up from the inside out. He feels as if he could barely lift a fork right now, nevermind a sword. Everyone who's ever taught him would surely laugh to see a Lucian royal in such a state.

Ignis... isn't laughing, though. He's crying, and it is perhaps that fact that really hits home once again just how bad it almost was. This is how he'll leave them, he realizes. Worried and heartsick and weeping, holding his body, only he won't be alive to hold them back. There will be no kind words or comfort, no resolution. Will he get to say goodbye? Surely the gods will at least give him that. Will it be enough?

...Stupid. Stupid question.

Tentatively he lifts his hand to brush over Ignis' face, fingertips ghosting over the scar, wiping the tears away just as Ignis had for his own cheek. The ring did this. Left him wounded and blind, a harsh price for someone who loves to observe the world around him at all times, so smart and tactical. He could have walked away from all of them and he'd have deserved it- deserved the break, the freedom. He'd done plenty for his king and then some, no one would blame him. But even when an attempt had been made to dismiss him, he'd stayed.

And... he's not laughing. Noct's throat constricts, and it takes him a long moment to find his voice again.]

I love you, [is his tired murmur. A beat, and then,] I love... all you guys. I don't know if I'll say it by the end, back home- [If it hurts too much, if it hurts them too much, if it's too cruel to give them his affection before he snatches it away again.] I just- you should know. Should've said it more.

[It's okay to say it, Pyra had taught him. He should say it. He should tell people, before it's too late. Death could come at any time, and he should know better.]

[ Ignis isn't laughing and he never will with something as serious as this. He'll never leave Noctis' side, always loyal to his friend. Between everything that's happened, this really shook Ignis to his core.

He leans a little into Noctis' touch on his cheek then he hears those three words.

He's stunned speechless, completely floored. He knows that Noctis cares about him, he's felt it through his friend's actions. Noctis is a show, don't tell when it comes to his feelings. He suspects Pyra might have something to do with this, considering what she said to him at the wedding. Pyra described them to be best friends and family and she's not wrong in that.

A long time ago, Regis asked Ignis to stand by Noctis to be his friend and brother, but this is his choice that he's making now. This is his decision to care about Noctis the way he does. They've known each other since they were little kids, always by one another sides, how can they not care for each other?

What he's starting to realize how much he needed to hear that, he'd been okay with feeling it from Noct's actions alone and it was enough. But to hear it is leaving him feeling incredibly touched. ]

Noct... [ surprised a bit at the stray tear rolling down his cheek from how touched he feels. ] I love you, too.

You're my oldest friend and family, my brother. [ Perhaps it's time that they start reminding each other with this, telling one another just how much they care. Noctis is special to him, one of the most important person that he holds dear in his life. Ignis will hang onto this, always. ]

... Lie back with me? [ He'll stay until Noct falls back into sleep. ]

[Noctis merely nods, silent but still pressed close enough that Ignis can feel the gesture. He's quietly grateful Ignis doesn't verbally make a big deal out of it, though he can tell by the man's expression that he's stunned and has to look away from it, feeling ashamed. He hadn't expected Ignis to call it out or anything, but the fact that it's such a shock is just another reminder that he's not made it clear enough, or vocal enough before today. He can't even promise that he'll do better going forward. Still... it's a first step. He said it, and he meant it, and now it's out there. He can't feel too badly about that, and if anything it's a tiny weight off of his shoulders.

At Ignis' request he nods, too tired to argue even if he wanted to, and shifts away to lie back on the bed, shuffling over enough to give Ignis space. He doesn't mind the company. It's a comfort when he's weary and heartsick, and it isn't as if they haven't shared beds before, both when they were children and in hotel rooms on the road with only a couple of beds for four people. Ignis lying beside him is a familiar presence, and with one more soft, shaken exhale, he clutches his fingers around Ignis' hand and closes his eyes, allowing himself to begin drifting. Even with the threat of dark dreams chasing him to unconsciousness, it won't take long for him to fall asleep.]

[ This is, by far, one of the most important talks that they've had and they've broke down together. It's a start to get them to heal and with the heartfelt confessions coming out of them, it's another start, a reminder just how they care for one another.

Noctis pulls away and Ignis moves with him, feeling his way on the bed as he settles down next to Noctis. He twinges their fingers together, listening quietly as Noctis drifts off into sleep. Ignis still needs to check up on Prompto, but he can afford a light nap here, after everything that's transpired between the pair...

He shifts a bit again, carefully getting his body to press up against Noctis', shoulder to shoulder, wanting to be close. They're not strangers to this, sharing tents and hotel rooms, and they were kids. Sharing a bed isn't anything new, it's familiar and a comfort to Ignis.

It doesn't take him long to fall into a light doze here, slipping into a light sleep. ]

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