middleofsomewhere | Day Twelve, Conclusion

Day Twelve, Conclusion

All battles come to an end. Professor Chill and his henchpeople is defeated, the ice giant slain by the brave heroes of purple team. The townspeople led out of the tunnels and due to some extraordinary pun-hacking skills by Kaito the weather machine is de-powered.

Being a magical snowstorm the shutting down of the weather machine causes it to vanish, snow begins to melt and then evaporates into the air before it can become a larger problem in terms of a flood. The temperatures rise, going from dangerously cold to a warm spring day, warm enough that the voidtreckers will soon be too warm all bundled up as they are. The clouds disappear, the sun shines. Within a short period of time the streets are dry, the mountainsides are green and the trees are bright with flowers.

The streets are still a mess, property is damaged and the clean up operation is going to be intense but it doesn't look like there is any lasting ecological damage at least.

The ice labyrinth vanishes and those inside it will find themselves suddenly standing in the field below. For red team, the journey to the top of the mountain took four days in the blizzard but with the weather clear and going downhill they will reach the valley by the end of day eleven.

The army has arrived and mostly taken over gathering the injured and dealing with the more serious damage but there is plenty to do for those who still wish to help. Houses need put back to rights, streets and paths need sweeping of debris.

Help out, find your friends, swap stories. Celebrate a job well done.

Towards mid afternoon of day twelve a beeping from their SCA's should draw everyone's attention. The map leads them to a place just out of sight from the town and there is the Voidtrecker Express. It is time to leave.

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Ignis forced himself to stay still and not move away when Tony touched his cheek as questions tumbled in his head. He'd listened to everything that had been said but there was still an ache there. His voice came out a little stronger but it was cool and distant.

"Tell me, do you always discuss the end of things before you've had a chance to enjoy anything? Or is this simply because Madoka isn't a biological child of yours?" He couldn't imagine that Tony discussed divorce before marrying Pepper, nor could he quite picture them discussing custody before their daughter was born.

Of course it was a logical discussion to have given their circumstances and clarity was needed. But they hadn't even really had a chance much to even be happy at all.

But if this was the way it was, Ignis wouldn't be blindsided again. Next time if there was one, he'd be formidably prepared.

Tony watched as Ignis almost recoiled from his hand. Confused he watched the man's face for clues before he heard the words. Those made him flinch and look away. Wow.. the cut from those words was deep and went right through him. He let out a barely perceptible gasp, like Ignis had sucker punched him. He could hear the hurt in his boyfriend's tone and that only made the knife sting worse.

Slowly, he shook his head and tried to think of what he was supposed to say to that. "What am I supposed to say to that? Is that really something you'd think I would do?"

This was all wrong. They were supposed to be in the other room enjoying Madoka's company and coming up with some sort of celebration for formality adopting her. They weren't supposed to be at odds.

"It sounds as if that is what you're doing now. And while I completely understand your logic, if we need to look at end results before there are beginnings, then I shall indeed be more prepared in the future."

He knew damn well they were both in pain. Ignis really wanted to reach out and somehow make this all better, hurting as badly as he was.

Before he would say anything else, the advisor turned and headed for the exit. "I'm going to spend time with Madoka and pretend that this conversation didn't happen. I don't have the heart to dampen her bright spirit."

Tony was furious with himself for messing this up. Ignis was right. He shouldn't have said anything about that no matter how much he was afraid of it. It was wrong to push his insecurities on someone else. He hated that he'd hurt the man and would've given anything to redo this.

Before he could really recover from it, Ignis was heading for the door. A large part of him thought he should just let the man go. It would be better to distance himself from anything he could harm. But he couldn't.

"Hey, what a second.." He grabbed Ignis' arm and held on tight. "I screwed up. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that but don't shut me out. This is the closest I've felt to my family in three and a half months. Don't leave pretending the first part didn't happen just because I made a mistake."

Half surprised, Ignis turned and looked at Tony. His green eyes stared into those enchanting dark orbs and for a moment pondered saying something.

There really wasn't anything he could say. Coldly logically Tony was absolutely correct and plans should be in place. By that same logic, they shouldn't be together either.

On the other hand, he'd just gotten a family, something worth going on the missions to come back to. People who loved him and he loved in return. They'd just come back from devastation and destruction and to hear about splitting up before any happiness had occurred, it was really just bad timing.

Ignis was trying to take a page from Tony's book and let his heart speak more and Tony was being logical like Ignis. The advisor would never be Tony nor would he ever want to be. But he stared at Tony wordlessly and a small smile crossed his lips before he used the arm on his to pull his lover closer to kiss.

Edited 2020-02-01 02:49 (UTC)

He hadn't figured out yet if one of them was acting like the other or what had brought about what. He just knew he didn't want to lose... he didn't even know what. Just all of it. He didn't want to lose Ignis or Madoka or Joss or any of his friends here. He didn't want the family he was building to be for nothing. He didn't want something so precious and good to get tainted or harmed. It was a terrifying responsibility.

He waited impatiently, mentally pleading with Ignis to not pull out of his hand and leave like he should be doing. Everyone should. Tony ruined things and always would. That didn't mean he wouldn't try hard not to let it happen or be devastated with the smoke vanishing into thin air.

He could've cried when Ignis pulled him in and kissed him. He was far too aware of how much he didn't deserve this, but he would selfishly take it. He kissed the other man back with everything he had. Whenever their kiss broke, he kept Ignis in his arms and held him in a tight embrace, unwilling to let go.

Feeling Tony press into him like he was only made Ignis want him more. He kissed back just as fiercely, hungrily and need fully as was being done to him. It took a lot of inner strength not to push his knight into the wall because they had somewhere to be soon.

When he finally pulled back, the advisor was very surprised to find those strong arms wrapped around him so tightly. But he he held on because if he was needed as badly as it felt like right now, there was no way Ignis was letting go.

Only after a long (for Tony) silence, he finally piped up but didn't move. "Darling what's wrong?"

Tony drew back so he could see Ignis' face. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry I ruined that." He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to Ignis' like the younger man had done on a few occasions. "You know I never mean to, right?"

He glanced toward the door that would lead back to the kitchen. "I know we need to get back there, but.. what if I screw that up too?"

Ignis loved this gesture because the first time they did this was the night Ignis gave himself to Tony for the first time. It was greater still when Tony initiated the gesture. Lowering his tone to something soothing, the advisor placed his hands on either side of his lover's face. "It's quite alright. You're here with me where you belong."

Following the knight's gaze to the door, the green eyes smiled. "And here I thought I distinctly hear you tell others you're made of iron and are rather invincible." He gave the other a soft kiss and slid his hands back to the dark hair. "Madoka loves you as do I. You're not going to screw it up, you've had practice. I'm the one that will be making mistakes, but I believe the biggest mistake would be not trying at all."

Gently he rubbed his nose against his knight's and smiled. "But if you need more time then take it. Go at your own pace darling and Madoka and I will always be waiting for you."

Tony would never forget that day. He'd still been so weak from the mission and Ignis had been right there when he woke up. It was then they decided to take the plunge and they'd been together ever sense. Sure there had been hiccups along the way- this was Tony after all. But all in all, they were trying their best and doing the most important things right.

He had to laugh hearing his bragging words thrown back at him. "Yeah well.. you know better." As Ignis had always said, he was a man underneath. The nuzzle to his nose made him smile as this felt more private than it felt when Ignis had done so when they first reunited. "No, I'm fine. I'm ready to make apple buddies or whatever she said these damn things were."

It was the closest he would get to hearing Tony say he was right but he would take it and run with it and oh how Ignis loved that laugh. But he smiled in return to the one he got and gave his lover a soft kiss.

"Apple bunnies darling." He'd almost said daddy but had caught himself in time. "And don't forget the octopus sausages." Taking Tony's hands in his (he'd almost offered his arm) there was another smile. "If you're ready then let's go back because I'm sure she's waiting for us."

He was ready with a proper apology for Madoka of course but that girl and the knight holding his hand would become the focus of his entire world. His team and friends were very important too, but there were no words that would ever adequately describe how very grateful Ignis was to both Madoka and Tony.

Maybe some fairy tales really did come true.

Edited 2020-02-01 05:16 (UTC)

Guess who has two thumbs and is absolutely oblivious to the fact that Tony and Ignis went to do a little bit more than just grabbing supplies from somewhere? This girl over here. Madoka has no idea at all about what those two talked about. She doesn't even seem to find it weird that they're staying away for a bit longer than you'd expect - it's just not in Madoka's nature to think much of it at all. If they say they're going to grab something and will be right back, then she just believes it. Thinking that they might want to discuss something without her being present? The thought doesn't even cross her mind for a moment.

So she's been patiently waiting for them. Although it seems she did get bored of totally sitting still by herself, since there's already some apple bunnies ~~ignore the carrot, okay~~ on a plate in front of her. She already seems to be working on more, but looks up from it when the two men return.

"Oh..!" She immediately smiles. "Welcome back! Did you find what you were looking for?"

"No, we didn't, but it's alright," Tony answered smoothly like that had been rehearsed or thought of ahead of time. As he entered the room, he gave Ignis' back side a light smack, but it was when Mady had glanced away. He continued on into the kitchen as though nothing had happened.

He came over and looked at the apple bunnies. "Oh. So they're apples cut a certain way, huh? We're not cooking them, just cutting them?" He picked up one of the apple bunnies and chuckled at it. "It's cute. What are you using for these eyes?"

"How do you make those other things? The octopus sausages?"

He knew Tony knew better than to smack him when Madoka (or anyone else) was looking so Ignis wasn't offended. He had gone to give a different answer than the older man did because he did in fact find what he was looking for. He in fact found her a second Dad, but that was up to the other to reveal so he said nothing.

Sitting down, the advisor looked at the bunnies and smiled as he picked one up to examine it. This was very clever and would probably make the children on the train smile. No wonder Madoka had said as much to him, they were adorable.

This place with these two was light and warmth and so with a relaxing sigh, Ignis sat back after making himself and Tony some coffee.

"I daresay if we can combine our cooking, we'd have everyone on board pleased with the meals served."

Edited 2020-02-01 23:15 (UTC)

"I used the apple's seeds as decoration for the eyes.. I thought it'd be a little sad to let those go to waste." Yes, only Madoka would feel sad for seeds of all things. But at the very least she smiles at Tony as she says it, probably beaming because of the compliment. "I'm really glad you think they're cute though, thank you..!"

She likes Tony a lot, so that makes the compliment feel extra meaningful. She worked hard to make them look just right! But just as she's about to explain the sausages as well, she hears what Ignis says - which immediately makes the girl blush and stammer.

"A-- Ah..! There's no way I'm as good as you though!" Ignis would sure be pulling the weight there in making everyone pleased with the food. He's just so amazing at it.

Tony was just going to keep his opinion about using things full of cyanide to himself, but her logic is pretty adorable ignoring that fact. He knows it's not that much cyanide anyway. "You know all the ones you don't use we should save for when people get the garden project started. Now let me see, who was in charge of that? Somehow I can't quite remember."

He gave Ignis a grin when he was included in the suggestion the three of them become the train's full time chefs. "That could be fun. We should do it every so often." He wasn't going to spend every day cooking for these fools. "You realize it's a full time job just cooking for the spider kids, right? And Mady, you do a great job too. Ignis is just.. he's had a lot more practice than you have."

Ignis took a sip of his coffee and smiled about Madoka feeling bad for seeds. He took another quick sip of coffee to cover the smile that threatened to appear on his face.

With the way she was beaming at Tony gave the advisor future ammunition if he needed it should his knight waiver on whether being in the girl's life or not was a good idea. Stealthily he took out his phone and snapped a picture of that beautiful face all lit up at Tony's compliment. Of course if he was asked, he was simply taking a picture of the apple bunnies which he actually did afterwards.

The dusty blonde head shook. "I've simply had years of.." and then Tony finished the thought for him. So Ignis smiled gratefully at the older man.

But a question lingered in his mind as green eyes met dark ones. "A garden project?"

Oh no. At the very mention of that project Madoka's blush just gets worse. We're slowly reaching maximum levels of it over here. She figures she can at least explain since she most definitely knows what Tony was talking about and who he was refering to, but she really sounds bashful about it.

"W.. Well! A while ago mister Stark had a really great idea about making small gardens in the train.. And since I was part of the gardening club back home at school, he thought I should.. um.. b-be in charge of it.."

But that idea still kills her. Tony is practically a leadership expert. He's the leader over the whole train and he's doing such an amazing job in Madoka's eyes! While being in charge of one project already feels terrifying to her. There's no way she could do that well. And she really doesn't want to disappoint him or Ignis or anyone else on the train.

He grinned, watching this ball of cuteness stammer and attempt to explain the gardening club. "You and Evie will do a brilliant job at it. I brought in a couple boxes worth of soil from the world we were on. We just need someone cute and tiny to tell everyone it's time to put the boxes together. I may be cute, but I'm not tiny, so it can't be my job."

He looked over at the other ingredients they pulled out. "So.. what are those sausage things?"

Ignis coughed at the part where Tony said he was cute but not tiny. Boy did he have that right but he would never explain that in front of their daughter. And on that thought, green eyes looked over at Tony hoping the man would say something but he didn't speak a word.

He waited for Madoka to take center stage with the sausage project, this was her thing and there was no way that the advisor was going to take away her chance to shine, just as she'd done with the apple bunnies.

"I.. I'll try my best to not disappoint you!"

Especially since he seems to think it'll go so well. That means Madoka has no choice but to do her utter best on it. Even though actually asking people for help is so terribly hard and-- okay, no, Madoka, this isn't the time! She lets out a deep breath, trying to force that thought to a later worrying point in time so she can focus on what the three of them are doing here.

"Um, the octopus sausages are kind of like the apple bunnies.. It's not really a special kind of food or anything, it's just a way to make them look cuter. Here.."

She takes a sausage, focusing for a moment on cutting it just right before putting it down on a plate. (Yes, it does have a cute face carved into it too.)

"Like this. I sometimes made them for my baby brother back home."

Tony made sure he was at eye level with the girl, before brushing a hand over the top of her head, like someone might pet a cat but brief and just the one motion. "Mady, that's impossible. You could never disappoint me, kid. Never. And if you find you need some help just ask your dad, okay? I'll still think you did a wonderful job even if you needed some help."

With that point clear, he stood up and made a point not to look at Ignis as he found a nice platter for her bunnies and octopuses. Clearing his throat, he turned to the fridge. "We should make some decorations for the plate."

Green eyes watched Tony kneel down and pat Madoka on the head. It was really wonderful and heartwarming to see the two interact though when his knight told her to 'ask her Dad' he turned away to hide his disappointment.

When decorating the plates was suggested, he started to work on that without a word.

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Day Twelve, Conclusion

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