#im stuck on the third part currently but ill hopefully mull through it tomorrow!

[leonmckennedy]

a lil while back @likeappletrees suggested this [ kinkmeme prompt ] to me and it’s becoming much more of a Longer Thing than i anticipated. so. here’s the first part? its in progress so bear w/ me pls (also i just want it known that i Meant for this to just be pwp but instead theres just PINING NOW. IM SORRY. I CANT HELP IT)

parts: one (here!) [two] [three]

skill is in the eye of the beholder (and this beholder has great attention to detail)

ignis had, to a most unfortunate degree, underestimated the dogs of the empire. the magitek infantry seemed monstrous at first sight, unapproachable in a hoard, but upon closer inspection they weren't much. just machines, machines with a pretty punch, but machines.

but, that "pretty punch" is exactly whats ailing him now. they've fought mts in small groups before, but never a hoard as large as the one they currently face. ignis would have suggested a strategic retreat, had their escape route not been completely swamped with the things, brandishing their weapons and stalking close to them. So they all kept together and fought. And it was going well right until the point where ignis turned his back on an enemy --and he screams at himself for this later, such an irresponsible thing to do, you know better-- and gets a sharp sword to his side as a result.

ignis swings around when he feels the mts presence, but it isn't fast enough to avoid the blade, slashing deep and hot into his right side. he yells out, loudly but cut short by the pain as he stumbles away. the mt goes for another hit, but ignis is thankfully aware enough to dodge it, only dropping to the ground and rolling a few feet away because damn if moving didn't hurt, currently.

among the usual battle chatter, he hears the others screaming his name. noctis, with his worry barely hidden in his voice, is fighting through a rather large group of mts that have surrounded him. he looks desperate, as best as ignis can see from his low vantage point and he keeps looking in ignis' direction and he slowly mows down the robots in front of him. part of ignis wants to yell at him to keep his eyes forward, lest he end up like ignis now. underestimated indeed.

gladio is also too far away, having a much better time of taking down the things but struggling to advance because there's so many of them. at realizing that he can't do much from his side of he field, the man relents and turns his head, yells "help iggy!" as he buries his sword into another hunk of metal.

the mt in front of ignis has been approaching ignis with it's strange gait, its upper body seeming to twist at odd angles. ignis goes over his options as he watches it, knowing he could roll to dodge one attack but would be wide open for a second one. he could summon his daggers again, but from such s low stance he wouldn't do much other than hold it back for a moment. ignis steels himself either way, because he's definitely not going down without a fight either way. the mt raises his sword, ignis grits his teeth, and--

"got 'im!"

there's a flurry of bullets suddenly, rapid fire that thuds into the machine's metal back, halting it's current action. it seems to stutter for a moment before turning around to look st the source. ignis turns to look as well, because in his pain-addled state it had been the last thing he expected.

apparently prompto had been closer to ignis than he knew, the young man answering gladio's request with gusto. gusto, being the term ignis would use, because prompto is certainly approaching the enemy with lots of energy. it's surprising ignis, because prompto hates battles, is always the first one to complain about a monster being to big or scary or gnarly looking. but yet here he is, running in with his gun blazing, staring the beast in the face.

with a grunt, prompto avoids the swing the mt decided to aim towards him, and he drops to the ground. he uses his running momentum to slide underneath the thing. it's not a perfect slide, as the mts legs are far apart in its stance but not far enough, so to compensate prompto grabs it's leg as he goes, using it as leverage for him to lift his gun arm and fire several shots into it's undercarriage. ignis doesn't have to see it up close to know prompto aimed for the spots between its armor, the small unprotected spots that were in an area people werent supposed to see, because the way the mt stutters to a halt and shakes is all the proof he needs.

prompto rolls to a stop and jumps to his feet quickly, using the small opening he has to kick the mt in the back, sending it sprawling to the ground.

ignis doesn't have time to really register what happens until prompto is suddenly at his side, pulling him to an unsteady sitting position.

"i got you, ignis!" prompto says, producing a potion from one of his pockets. he applies it to ignis' wound, releasing a breath when he sees the green glow that means the magic is working.

ignis takes in a gasping breath as the pain dissipates. he coughs, looking up at prompto hovering over him worriedly, and.... in all honesty, he doesn't see prompto at all.

not the prompto he knows, the one who complains about how scary the night is, who makes cracks about everything he'd rather do than be in a battle at the moment. who noctis sticks closer to instinctively, because he doesn't want anything to happen to his less experienced friend. ignis doesn't see the barely trained, greenhorn that wiggled his way into the crownsguard by luck. as prompto grabs his hand and hauls him to his feet, patting his back in a friendly manner, ignis sees prompto as he is.

a fighter.

he doesn't have the battle experience or training the rest of them have, but if that little stunt told ignis anything, it was that prompto is plenty prepared.

"are you okay?" prompto leans to get a good look at ignis' face, frowning.

ignis clears his throat. "yes. you... you have my thanks."

"no prob-- wouldn't be the same without ya, ignis."

ignis nods to prompto, who gives him a smile and then turns back towards the battle field, already going at a sprint towards their two companions, the ones swamped with the brunt of the mts. ignis finds himself watching prompto as he follows, watches how prompto approaches the mts fearlessly and attacks them head-on. watches the accuracy to his bullets, the effectiveness to his kicks. prompto is a fast runner and has pretty good reflexes, so while he doesn't dodge attacks in a graceful manner he does so quickly and effectively, and a good majority of the time is prepared to counter attack immediately.

at first, ignis is surprised. were these things he hadn't noticed before? perhaps he'd just assumed prompto, who noctis sticks close to just in case, who didn't spend years in the crownsguard like he or gladio, needed to be protected. assumed he wouldnt be able to hold his own. he starts making notes to himself, rearranging the mental file of things he knew and once understood about the man.

when they finally trash the last of the bothersome monsters and verbally celebrate their victory, ignis can't help but let his eyes wander over to prompto. prompto stretches his arms and shoulders after the battle, no doubt because of all the recoil from his pistols, and ignis watches the lean muscles as he moves back and forth. and ignis imagines prompto must be like that all over-- lean, powerful muscle.

ignis takes a steadying breath, looks away before prompto can meet his eyes.

he.... may have a problem.

#promnis #prompto argentum #ignis scientia #ffxv #final fantasy xv #gladiolus amicitia #noctis lucis caelum #fanfic #im stuck on the third part currently but ill hopefully mull through it tomorrow! #and then in a few days second part will be live #when its all said and done im cutting cleaning and posting on to ao3 #and then. letting op know im done lmfao? #anyway ignis is gay im gay and this is gay #soooooo.... leggo #lmfao