Backdated Fiddlesticks 1- Late/ Video

[bethereprompto]

[Prompto's image appears on the network with a worried expression on his face. He's already in his pjs (tank top and chocobo yellow pj bottoms) and he's pretty sure Iggy's already in bed but.. there's a very big and important 'something' missing from his room.]

Hey uh.. sorry for bugging everyone but uh..

[He glances back at his room uncertain.]

Has anyone seen Gladio? Buddy? If you're around will you just.. I don't know, shout 'Marco' or something for me? If you need alone time or whatever, that's cool. I won't come bother you but.. just..

[What if Gladio really was needing some alone time and he was being stupid about this? He didn't want to be harassing the poor guy.]

Never mind.

Comments

[bethereprompto]

No no no! There has to be!

[He tried to force down a sob. He hated this. He hated all of this. And he'd been really confused after the last mission. A lot had happened all at once and he did think Iggy was important. He knew their friend had others looking out for him and had assumed.. shit, why had he assumed anything?

He staggers back a step, doubling over and put his hand on his knees. This wasn't happening.

He jerked his head back up.]

The next platform?! Are you crazy?! We just had one! We can't wait till then! You gotta do something Iggy!

[sonoflucis]

[Noct stared at them both. He didn't know what to do. Part of him wanted to comfort Prompto. Part of him wanted to strangle Ignis... And another part all together wanted to jump off a cliff. With that much raging inside, he began to shut down. His voice flat, he turned to Ignis.]

So, if his name is gold, then there's no use in looking for him.

[faithfulsupport]

"I.." Ignis' heart ached for the marksman. He really wanted to help but he knew what the answers were because he'd learned them himself. So he was quiet and scrambling for an answer when he heard the king's tone and faced him..

He knew that tone.

"No Noct. We'll simply have to keep checking the luggage every day." And then he made a decision. "In the meantime I will camp out with one or both of you."

It was the least he could do for them.

[bethereprompto]

[He couldn't figure out why Iggy wasn't fixing this! He could fix everything! Okay, so that wasn't entirely true, but he really needed to fix this and he wasn't. And now Noct was looking all cold and Prompto wanted to hurl and..

He really wanted to hug Bear Gladio. He was Noct's bear, but..]

Can I go get Bear Gladio from your room?

[sonoflucis]

[Noct frowned, shaking his head. He couldn't believe this. They were just supposed to check every day in hopes that they didn't have to wait until platform day?!]

And if he doesn't show up by then? Then what Specs? I'm just supposed to sit on my hands until then?

[He was broken out of his cold rage by Prompto. He nodded, trying to not be harsh.]

Yeah, if that's what will help you.

[faithfulsupport]

Green eyes lifted to Prompto when he asked about his bear. It was amusing in a sad way that that would be a token of the man who had left them behind. Ignis couldn't blame Gladio because he was more than sure the shield wouldn't willingly abandon these two. He had disappeared too and it was no fault of anyone's though Tony and Madoka must've worried plenty and his heart ached over it.

There were no good answers here and if lashing out at him made Noct feel better, Ignis would take the heat. "Noct, we're just going to have to wait and see." He knew this wasn't going to be easy. "Unless you prefer we search the entire train every day just in case." At this point of course Ignis was willing to go to any length to try and help.

[bethereprompto]

[Prompto stepped away from them, emotionally reeling. He went into Noct's room and found the bear. He hugged it and looked at the door. What if Gladio was gone? How would he cope?

Hugging it, he came back out. He stood there feeling lost and sniffling, unsure what to do with himself.

Except..]

D- did you guys want to stay in my room?

[sonoflucis]

I don't think that'll help. We'll just do as you say.

[Noct was so upset, but he couldn't be, not with Prompto being a mess. When the blonde came back, he nodded, laying a hand on his arm.]

Yeah, let's do that.

[His voice was still flat, but he was trying. He wanted to go hide, but he had to think about more than just himself now.]

Specs... Do you know if the color changes back when people come back?

[faithfulsupport]

The advisor nodded slowly at Prompto as he emerged sniffling with that damn bear. It made Ignis recall giving it to Noct and how happy the king had been. It was such a treat to see the other smile amidst all the chaos and confusion of being in an unknown place.

Noctis seemed okay but Ignis knew better. Still, he was proud that the king was showing concern about Prompto. So he walked over to Noct and hugged him. Not content with that, he gently tugged the blonde into their embrace too. Ignis was very upset too, but he had to keep it together for these two. He knew he could cry around Tony and he more than likely would. But for the moment he had these two to be there for.

And only after holding them for a few minutes did the advisor speak up albeit softly. "It does, when they return." He didn't even want to think of the alternative.

[bethereprompto]

[Prompto looked up when Noct touched him. His bottom lip quivered, but he tried to smile too. He really wished he'd been stronger for Noct during this but, no he was a total mess.

He was about to 'make' Noct hug him when he was suddenly feeling Iggy do it for him. It was so sweet and he buried his face against the tall, thin man and didn't bother holding back the tears anymore. Why would he? He was with his family.. well, the ones still here.]

He'll return.

[It was said with a lot more conviction than he felt, but he was going to hold on to that.]

[sonoflucis]

[Noct wasn't strong enough to be so sure, but he didn't deny it. He hugged Ignis and Prompto, a soft, hitched breath escaping his lips.]

C'mon,lets get Prom to bed.

[faithfulsupport]

It was all he could think to do for them, just to be here. And even while Prompto was making his shirt wet, his heart went out to the blonde. It went out to the king of course too, and Ignis wasn't fooled for one moment.

Looking at Prompto and hearing the return made him smile softly. "I think he will too." Especially with how strong willed the shield could be.

When Noct spoke, green eyes turned sympathetically to the king and he nodded, letting go of the boys. "You two go on ahead, I'm going to go get my own blanket and pillow. But where are we meeting up?"

[bethereprompto]

[With another sniffle, he nodded at being told he was being put to bed.]

My room is empty but we can go wherever you want?

[He didn't want the hug to end but Iggy drew back. That meant he was supposed to cling harder to Noct, right? If not, that's what he was doing anyway.]

[sonoflucis]

Let's just meet at Prompto's room.

[He held on to Prompto, trying to comfort him in any way he could.]

We'll see you there, Iggy.

[Noct wrapped his arms around Prompto's shoulder to lead him to his room.]

Is the bear helping?

[faithfulsupport]

"Alright." Ignis looked back at the pair worriedly before heading off to the room he shared with Tony. Once there, he got his blanket and pillow, explaining to the man what was going on and what had happened.

The advisor couldn't cry in front of the others but he did partly in front of Tony. The shield was his anchor at times with the other two and he could always count on Gladio to have his back in a battle. Regret came out about what happened when the man had first boarded the train and he ended up being held in spite of claiming not to need it.

They weren't the only ones who would feel his loss as Madoka would surely be upset too.

[bethereprompto]

[Prompto let Noct guide him into his own room. This felt like a nightmare and the man he always turned to with nightmares was the very person not there.

In his room, he nodded.]

Yeah, but so are you. I just.. I can't believe this is happening.

[He looked at his bed and winced. He should deal with it and crawl in there, but it seemed wrong without Gladio.]

How's your knee?

[Would Aaron be okay with them switching for the night? Assuming he was still here at all.]

[sonoflucis]

[Noct led Prompto to bed and then sat next to him. He shook his head.]

It's fine, don't worry about that.

[The pain in his knee was nothing compared to Gladio just...going missing.]

I'm sorry, Prompto...I wish there was something I could do...

[bethereprompto]

Do you think we could sleep on the top bunk? He also likes the bottom..

[Although how were they going to get Iggy in bed with them too.]

Never mind, that might not work.

[He wrapped his arms around Noct and put his head on his shoulder.]

He hasn't been acting all that happy lately. Do you think that's why he was sent home? I mean we were here so.. even if he hated it, don't you think he would like it because of us?

[sonoflucis]

[Noct held on to Prompto, letting out a soft sigh.]

He and I talked about it. He was unhappy because he was homesick...but he would never leave us on purpose. He said so himself. That's why I don't like this...

[bethereprompto]

[He buried his face against Noct's neck and let out a few more sobs. He hated that Gladio hadn't been happy and he really hated that he was gone now. It was twisting his insides in painful knots wondering if this was permanent. It was so similar to how he felt when he fell off the train.]

I don't like trains.

[He shifted Bear Gladio in his arm so it was half hugging Noct too.]

Why couldn't we be in a boat?

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony opened his eyes with a reluctant grunt when Ignis came back in the room. He was tired and didn't want to be awake. If this was Peter, he would've skinned the kid alive. (No, no he wouldn't have).

He cleared his throat and asked, groggily, "What's going on?"

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis didn't want to put words to anything because it might make the situation more real. So he sighed and shook his head. "Gladio's gone missing." The words were spoken heavily and he reached for his blanket and pillow. "I'll be in with Noct and Prompto..until the train returns me here."

The green eyes were downcast, and there was a slowness to his steps. "Now I..know how it feels when someone's gone missing." He looked down at his engagement ring on his hand as if to reassure himself it was still there. His gaze returned to his fiancee's face and he looked worried. "I'm so sorry I disappeared without a word to you or our daughter."

And that's where he stopped because he was afraid if he kept going he would cry.

[runs_on_batteries]

That news was like the ice bucket challenge all over again. He sat up, fully awake now. "Damn. Yeah, of course. You should be with them." They were fine. They didn't need to be constantly in the same bed to feel secure about their relationship. This was much more important and something they both respected about the other one.

He reached out and took Ignis' hand, gently pulling him down for an embrace. "Hey.. it's not your fault, love. We knew that." He ran his fingers along his cheek. He hated to see Ignis in pain. He would do anything to take that away from him, but sadly he couldn't fix this. However, he could offer advice- whether it was wanted or not. "Give yourself a moment here. You're allowed to be upset too."

[faithfulsupport]

He was standing in the middle of the floor, with the blanket dangling over his arm but he looked at Tony just wanting to memorize the man's face in every single detail. His expression was obviously upset but he was keeping everything inside. He would have to be the pillar of strength for Noct and Prompto so putting his feelings in a bottle was simply second nature.

Ignis felt the hand on his and was pulled down. He said nothing as Tony touched his cheek and stared into the dark eyes as if they held his answers. "I know..." The head lowered and his eyes closed, feeling a few tears there. "I'm still so sorry. I must've worried you something awful." Guilt swept through him and he gently swiped at them.


At hearing to give himself a moment though, the blondish head shook. "I don't have time darling, they're both so lost." Not to mention Noctis was shutting down, Prompto was crying and Ignis had his hands full. This didn't even start to include how he personally felt about his childhood friend up and leaving. They sparred together, they drank together, Gladio was the first one to know Ignis was into guys..and the list went on.

And the tears just kept coming quietly.

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony hugged the other man tight before slowly releasing him. "It's okay, sweetheart. We survived and the important thing is you're home now." There was no point in remembering the bad if he had Ignis back in his arms. They both had a bad habit of hurting each other, but so far nothing had been broken to an irreversible level.

"Okay, love. Then go do what you need to do. If you need help though, call me. I'll come and help, even if it's just to get you some medicine for the headache they're about to give you."