Leaving

thechocoboos:

It’s college time, guys. A dear friend of mine is leaving tomorrow morning for her first year of college, and I figured that she could do with a going away present. It’s not perfect, but hey, what writing is? @angelic-guardienne

Genre: sliiice of life?
Word Count: 1312
Warnings: just a little sad
Pairing: If you squint there’s some Ignis/reader

That’s it. It’s here. The very day you’ve been dreading for two months straight: the day you go to college. You keep telling yourself that it’ll be fine, but you never really believe it.

It’s a day that comes to many people – a day when you go off on your own and leave those you love behind. It’s a day of change, a day to look forward and see the life ahead of you. Even so, you couldn’t help but turn around and look at the life behind you, instead.

As you turned around, you caught sight of the four men who stood behind you: Noctis, Prompto, Ignis, and Gladio. You hadn’t known them for long, but the few years you’ve spent together felt like an eternity. Saying goodbye to them was saying goodbye to family.

Noctis was smiling at you. His arms were lazily crossed and his boots mismatched as always, but there was a certain edge to his posture and a tenseness to his smile that reminded you of his own parting woes. Still, he gave you a nod of encouragement, his grey eyes holding the familiar warmth of your friendship.

When your eyes slid to Prompto, you could only wish that he was holding up as well as Noctis. There were tears in his cornflower blue eyes – the same eyes that smiled at you on days when you felt so sad, the same eyes that held encouragement and support whenever your high school studies felt like too much. Prompto was crying with snot dripping down his nose and the occasional sob leaving his lips. Prompto was a star to you, a wonderful ball of warmth that radiated encouragement even when he was down. Watching him cry only reminded you of your own unshed tears.

Gladio was holding strong. He stood tall, his broad shoulders squared up as he looked at you by your car. His arms were crossed, just like Noctis, although there was a certain ease to his stance and a laid back smile on his face. His amber eyes were warm as they met your own, and the solidity you found waiting for you in his gaze filled your entire being with confidence. Things would be tough, yes, but you would be just fine; you always were. Gladio’s warm gaze and lazy smile was a reminder of how much he believed in you as well as how much you should believe in yourself.

Ignis. Meeting his eyes was more painful than the others. There were many things between you two, things said and unsaid. Any of your four friends could tell you that Ignis was your favorite out of them, regardless of how often you would tell them that you had no favorite. Ignis had been helpful and kind, but pushy and blunt at the same time. He was a man of contrast, but he had always been what you needed. Whenever you needed a push, he was there. Whenever you needed a cup of tea or a someone to listen, he was there. He was always there.

His light green eyes were searching your own. They held so many words, so many emotions, but you weren’t sure what any of them meant. Your eyes were filling up with tears, your chest clenching and your heart aching beneath your shirt.

You were so scared of what the future would hold, and staring into Ignis’ eyes only made you realize how much you weren’t ready – how much you just wanted to turn your car off and run into his arms to stay here forever.

You squeezed your eyes shut and dropped your head before the tears had a chance to fall. Your ears were full of the sound of your running engine, your stomach lurching from the idea of your future. Things were changing so fast – you had so much to say and do and –

Footsteps. There were footsteps, and then a warm hand on your shoulder.

You paused, lifting your tearful eyes for a single moment only to meet Ignis Scientia’s once more. His face was grave and his eyes were just as sad as your own.

“Everything is changing.” He told you, as if you hadn’t said to yourself hundreds of times. “But that’s alright.” He lifted his other hand, brushing a lock of hair behind your ear. “You have a bright future ahead of you and potential beyond the horizon.

“I know how much you worry, whether it be about money or your grades… But you’re a resourceful, intelligent young woman and I believe, one hundred percent, that you’ll come out of this as an even better person.”

His voice was soft as he spoke, but his gaze was firm and certain. Everything he said was the truth, whether you thought so or not. Ignis Scientia never lied to you, and he wasn’t about to start now.

Still, his warm words hung in the air and blanketed your shoulders. You felt the tears falling as your breath caught and a choked sob escaped your throat. You cried, tears of fear, of anxiety, and of uncertainty. Ignis’ words were what you needed to hear, but not what you wanted. You wanted him to tell you to stay, that college could wait another year, but you knew it was time to say goodbye.

Another hand joined Ignis’. Looking up through your tearfilled vision, Noctis was smiling at you, tears of his own pricking in the corners of his eyes. His smile was shaky at best, but it was more honest than the fake smile from earlier.

“Specs is right. You’re gonna be just fine.” He said, pausing for a moment, “But uh… Listen, we’re gonna miss you, too, alright? Call us every now and then. We’ll pick up.” His voice was as shaky as his smile. He let out a choked laugh, wiping away a tear that trailed down his cheek.

Two thin arms wrapped themselves around you, tugging you close and squeezing you tightly. “I’m gonna miss you so much!” Prompto cried, his tears only flowing more as he tried to stifle his half cries. “Listen,” He began, pulling away. “Noct says to call every now and then, but he’s lying- call every day! And if you need anything, we’re just a phonecall away!”

You managed a small laugh at that, nodding towards Prompto as you wiped away some tears and gave him a shaky smile. You’d miss his bright smile and wonderful attitude, but like he said, they were just a phonecall away.

A heavy hand landed on your head, urging you to look up. Gladio was standing behind you, his smile much sadder than you’d originally thought.

“Don’t give up, kid. You’ve dealt with worse.” He told you, voice a little rockier than normal. “Remember, we’ve got your back, even if you’re far away.” He patted your head at that, stepping back with a loud sniff and wiping his nose on the back of his hand.

Your heart was aching a little less now, your tears all but gone. As you looked at the four men around you, from Ignis to Gladio to Prom and Noct, you knew things would be just fine. They believed in you, and so did everyone else in your life.

Things would be just fine, and this time, you believed it.

As you climbed into your car, your four friends waving at you with encouraging smiles, you felt something other than anxiety rising in your stomach: confidence.

Things will be fine. Your friends will miss you and you’ll miss them, but they support you no matter what. You’re strong, capable, and intelligent; the future is yours. Don’t lose sight of it by looking back too much. Many of the things you had, you’ll have again, and those four friends of yours? They’re waiting for you in your future, too.