When Ignis smiled at him, it never failed to bring out some of the child in him, even all these years later, that just wanted approval it felt like he had so rarely gotten. Like maybe his father really would forgive him for accidentally destroying that vase some dignity from another country had given him, or like maybe he hadn't done everything wrong and doomed the world to eternal night. While he had come to accept what must be done, the certain knowledge of his Fate, he had never stopped missing the people he loved. It had been the hardest part about accepting his fate.

The fact that he would leave behind, and so deeply hurt, his friends.

"A pity, that, because someone will get very lucky if they can have your heart." Noctis' words didn't hold the anger or self-pity they would have once, screaming at Bahamut, but there was the notion that perhaps his death would do them some good. Ignis, Gladio, and Prompto would be free. Ignis could finally find someone, someone who would be so damned lucky as to have Ignis at their side. All he wanted to do was survive to make sure that he could do what he needed to do, to free them. To free all of them from the darkness.

But it didn't stop his heart from wishing he could have that for tonight, as selfish as the thought was.