Last chapter, guys! We made it!

When Ignis awoke, he was thirsty and had an absolutely horrific pounding in his head. A soft groan made its way from his mouth, and he pressed his palms into his eyelids.

Caffeine headache, he realized. He'd been too long without an Ebony.

Realizing that he'd get no further rest like this, he peeled back the covers and slid out of bed. He left his glasses on the nightstand for the time being. So long as he didn't try to focus, the slight blur of the room damped the throbbing of his head a bit.

He groggily made his way to the kitchen, heading directly for the cabinet where he kept his stash of Ebony for when he was over. One cup would not suffice today.

His body was on autopilot as he set the pot to brew, and he leaned against the counter as he waited. It would be some while. Perhaps he could do something else in the meantime.

A greasy strand of hair fell in his eyes just then. Ah. Yes. He hadn't exactly had time to bathe given the events of late. That was the first order of business, then. Perhaps it could take the edge off of his pain while he waited as well.

He found the bag of clothes that must have been delivered while he was still asleep. Given the attire within the bag, Ignis guessed that Gladio was the one to pick them out – casual enough to be comfortable, but not the overly casual attire that Prompto favored that Ignis didn't care for.

Ignis took the bag into the bathroom with him, setting it where it wouldn't get wet before he turned the tap on. He retracted his hand slightly from the water. He felt childish being so reluctant to be near it, even if he did have reason to be wary.

He tried to shake off the feeling, swiftly discarding the wrinkled clothes he'd slept in before he tested the water's temperature with his hand. Warm. A friendly warm that was nothing like the water that Loqi had…

A shiver washed over him. Best get this over with as quickly as possible.

He closed his eyes as he stepped into the shower, forcing his face into the stream.

He'd never made a greater mistake in his life.

Ignis gasped, unable to move as Loqi's face appeared before him.

"Give me the information, Scientia!"

No. No, no, no, never.

Ignis tried to reply – tried to snap back that he'd never tell him – but his mouth was full. Astrals, his mouth, his nose, his eyes even – all caught beneath the never-ending torrent. He gagged and choked, wanting desperately to fight back, but his hands were tied. Loqi's weight was crushing on his chest, making his wrists dig painfully into the groves of the tiled floor of the restaurant's kitchen.

"Give me the information!"

He wouldn't. He would protect Noct. He would never betray him.

Six, he couldn't breathe. The water kept… it… pain. Pain, pain, pain. Nothing was safe. His chest heaved, the world seeming to tilt around him as he tried to fight the intense feeling of vertigo flooding his mind like the water that had taken its icy grip in his lungs.

He screamed. He wasn't even sure where he'd found the air for it, but he was screaming.

It wasn't loud enough. He could still hear the water.

Six, just stop! Stop this all, please!

Stopitstopitstopit.

Help me…

"Ignis! Ignis!"

Stop the pain, stop the water…

Cold. Wet.

A warm set of hands on his shoulders.

Ignis twisted away.

No, no more being held down!

A single touch fell on his chest again.

"Hey… hey, Ignis… come on… Please come back. Listen to me. Breathe with me if you can, okay?"

Breathe? How could he breathe? The water… He choked.

He needed…

He…

Breathe.

If he'd thought anything in the last day or so had been disturbing, it had nothing on watching Ignis having some sort of freak out-breakdown in the corner of Noctis's shower. He might have cracked himself if he hadn't been so focused on getting Ignis to calm the hell down.

The screams had stopped. Instead, Ignis was now soaking Noctis' shirt as he curled into him, shivering uncontrollably in nothing more than the towel Noctis had tossed on him to at least let him keep some dignity.

Noctis leaned his head back against the wall, falling asleep to the sound of Ignis synchronizing his breaths to his own. He had no idea how long they'd been there.

"…Noct?"

Noctis flinched awake, finding Ignis' pulse to be mostly normal. "Ignis… Six, Iggy, you scared the hell out of me. Are you okay?" He could practically feel the confusion radiating from the man.

Ignis gently pulled away, face flushing as he saw the position he was in. "What… happened, exactly? From your eyes."

Noctis licked his lips. "I… you were just screaming when I found you. Must have been–"

"…The water." Ignis absently trailed his eyes over the remaining wet spots on the shower floor. "Yes… that was what… triggered the attack." He shivered again.

"…Let's get you up and dressed, okay?" Noctis was already on the move. "We can go to the couch, and I'll get some Ebony for you, and anything else you'll need, okay? Sound good?"

It really was a testament to how off Ignis was that he didn't protest in the slightest. The only time Noct left his side was to let him get dressed – he could still do that on his own, at least, even if it did take long enough for Noctis to worry for a couple minutes.

The Ignis that came out of the bathroom didn't look like the one he'd seen only two days ago. This Ignis was… just different in so many ways.

How could someone change so much in so little time? Ignis was always so put together. So… composed and unfazed.

Right now, Ignis just looked small and drenched and cold. Even with his clothes back on, he didn't look like he'd really dried off. His eyes were… vacant. Not observant and calculating like they should have been.

Noctis sprang off the couch, taking hold of Ignis' arm and tugging him over to sit down. Ignis didn't fight him. He sat with his hands clasped in his lap until Noctis returned with his coffee, and then he only spared it enough attention for a few small sips.

Noctis took a seat next to him. "So, uh, I don't wanna talk about all the crap we went through with anyone yet, so I'm guessing you probably don't either, but… well, I guess I'm here if you end up wanting to? Just… let me know so I can turn my left side to you."

Ignis' head jerked up suddenly, eyes somewhat more clear. "Your hearing…"

Noctis shrugged. "Could have been worse. S'posed to get a little better over the next few days."

"But some of it is permanent damage?"

Noctis nodded. "Just my right ear, though. The other one should heal up fully. Not… not as bad as what it looked like you were just going through…"

Ignis looked away, face burning with what Noctis knew was shame.

"Specs," Noctis snapped. Hell no. He would not have Ignis feeling ashamed of this. "You were tortured, of course you might have a couple of issues."

"It's a weakness I cannot afford in my position. There is a chance someone would use that against me to get to you in the future–"

"Oh, bullshit! You tried to kill yourself to protect me. There is no one on this planet that could be a better Advisor than you! Besides, who else would even put up with me?"

That got the slightest hint of a smile. "Nevertheless… I must find a way to overcome this."

"Yeah… me too." Noctis tapped at his ear. "So, we can help each other out?"

"That seems agreeable." Ignis' nod was faint. "Noct… I only ask that you not speak of this to those close to us, particularly Gladio and Prompto. I don't wish for them…" He trailed off.

"You… don't want to burden them?" That was so Ignis.

"No, not quite, though I suppose that is a factor as well." Ignis traced the edge of his mug with his thumbs. "It may seem selfish, but I don't wish to be treated differently. I don't want them to see me as…"

"Damaged…" Noctis filled in. He understood that. He really did.

"Precisely," Ignis whispered, and Noct couldn't actually hear him, but he'd known Ignis long enough to figure out what he'd said.

"Okay. This stays between us unless you say otherwise. Promise."

Ignis closed his eyes. "Thank you, Noct."

Noctis clasped his shoulder. "Knowing you, I give it a month before you're totally cured."

Ignis snorted. "Your faith in me is flattering, but I don't believe that's how it works, Noct."

"Well, however it works, I'm sure we'll figure it out."

"Hmm." After a few moments of silence, Ignis looked at the kitchen. "Can I interest you in some breakfast?"

Good grief. "No, Specs, you don't have to do that. I'll just get cereal."

"It's no trouble, Noct."

"It is trouble for you, and I don't want to–"

"Noct." Ignis leveled him with a flat stare. "Let me cook something."

…Oh. So, in other words, Ignis needed to cook something.

"…Yeah, okay." Therapeutic cooking. What would take a while and give Ignis the time he needed? Maybe baking. "Pastries?"

Ignis snorted. "Hardly a healthy breakfast, but I suppose I can make an exception, so long as you eat some eggs as well. You need protein."

Noctis bobbed his head eagerly. "Yeah, I can live with that arrangement."

"Good."

"…Anything I can help with?"

"Well, I wouldn't object to an extra pair of hands."

"Cool. Then for after breakfast, I've got a deal for you."

"Oh?"

Noctis grinned. "I will go along with your dance lessons for two whole hours with zero complaints… if you play on the PlayStation with me afterwards."

Ignis chuckled, shaking his head. "I believe you have a deal, Your Highness."

Good. This was just… good.

Neither of them were really okay at the moment, but they would be eventually. They'd help each other get there.

And he was so looking forward to seeing Ignis try this game. Maybe it wasn't the most stress-free, but it would definitely take his mind off everything that had happened. Maybe give him a heart attack too, but, eh, it would be worth it.

"Cool. But you're gonna need another nap so we can stay up and play."

Ignis frowned. "Why not just play and then go to sleep normally?"

"Oh, because this has to be played at night." Oh, man, this was going to be awesome.

"…Consider me concerned."

Noctis couldn't wait to see how many main cast members Ignis wouldn't be able to save in Until Dawn. He never thought he'd actually get him to agree to play it. "You should be."

Noctis wondered how he'd do compared to the rest of them.

Buzzz, chirp chirp chirp chirp.

Ignis slowly pulled his eyes open, sitting up from his awkward position on the couch and giving his neck a rub. He and Noct hadn't even made it to their beds after that… rather interesting experience Noct had labeled as a game. As much as he was loath to admit it, Ignis had actually enjoyed himself quite a bit with the game mechanics of having to accept what his choices caused with no ability to reload and Noct's unending amusement. The banter they'd shared over the last few hours was something he would look back on with great fondness. Not to mention the rather more serious discussions they'd had…

Buzzz, chirp chirp chirp chirp.

Ignis grabbed the phone off the armrest, intending to make sure it was nothing important and then silence it so he and Noct could both get some further rest.

Instead, his hand froze as he read the first message.

Prompto: Got out of the city all safe and sound.

Prompto: Thanks for the help with Biggs and Wedge, kid. I owe you and Specs both.

Ignis blanched at the text. Noct was texting Aranea? Better yet, he'd helped her get Biggs and Wedge out of the city? He'd failed to mention that particular set of details while the two of them spent the last eight hours alternating from making sarcastic comments and holding their breath as Ignis tried to keep the characters alive.

Ignis hesitated, but then decided to type out a reply.

Noctis: I'll be certain to pass along your message when His Highness awakens.

Prompto: Specs? That you?

Noctis: Yes.

Prompto: :Confetti Emoji: Glad you aren't dead.

Ignis smiled faintly.

Noctis: Likewise.

Prompto: Thanks, by the way. Didn't expect you to take an actual bullet for me.

Noctis: I had intended to push you out of the way… Taking the bullet myself was hardly my plan.

Prompto: lol Still. Thanks. I owe you one. If you're ever outside the city and need a favor, don't hesitate to call.

Ignis paused. She truly meant that? Well, she was certainly a valuable ally to have. That would be an excellent resource to call upon. And… he couldn't say he'd terribly mind seeing her again. Perhaps she'd be willing to aid him in improving his lance work as well.

Noctis: Do you intend to hold onto Prompto's phone permanently?

Prompto: Maybe. :Smirking Emoji:

Prompto: I'll find a way to keep in touch. You still gonna have the same number as is on this phone?

Keep in touch. That sounded a fair bit more personal than calling in a debt at some point.

Noctis: I destroyed that phone, so I'm not certain if I'll retain the same number for the new one or not.

Prompto: Well, let me know when you find out.

Noctis: Certainly.

Prompto: Great. So, how's your night going?

…Speaking of more personal.

Noctis: …Interestingly. I just spent the last several hours with Noct laughing at me as I attempted to save a group of teenagers from being brutally murdered, though I dare say several of them deserved it.

Prompto: lol What the hell?

Noctis: A game His Highness was keen on watching me play. I admit, I found the mechanics compelling.

Prompto: Good for you. You need to relax for a while.

Noctis: …I wouldn't call that game particularly relaxing with all its jump scares and gore, but it did keep my attention diverted for a while.

Prompto: Well, that's the important thing.

Noctis: And you? How has your night fared?

Prompto: Currently updating my resume to include 'no kidnappings' and 'if you're an imperial, :Middle Finger Emoji:'

Ignis snorted.

Noctis: A wise choice, if you ask me.

Ignis sat back on the couch, smiling softly as he waited for her reply. Perhaps his life was a mess at the moment, but maybe something good could come of these terrible events.

Only time would tell.

Well, guys, it has been one heck of a ride! Thank you all soooooo much for your comments/1favorites/kudos! *hugs*

I hope you will join me for the sequel! I've already posted the first chapter. :) Prepare yourselves for some aftermath feels, angst, fluff, and humor as Ignis tries to smart his way through Until Dawn.