Zodiac (Final Fantasy XV)

|•XXVII•|

~Zodia's POV~

Being the second to wake after Ignis, I walked out of the tent to see how the weather was. The rain still poured down, making my mood dampen. I pouted with crossed arms until I heard Noctis wake up. "Well, well, well. You're up earlier than usual."

"Good mornin' to you, too. Specs wanted me to help you and him with breakfast. Where is he?"

"Not sure. I know he woke up fifteen minutes ago, but I don't where he went."

"Maybe he's-"

"Zodia! Noct!"

My brother and I turned to face a frantic and breathless Ignis. The tactician stopped in front of us, trying to catch his breath.

"What's wrong? Are you okay!?" Noctis asked worriedly.

I stood in front of him and realized his glasses were missing. "Where are your glasses, Iggy?"

"Gone. I was making ready to leave camp when a black chocobo sidled up, snatched my specs from over my nose, and bolted!" He replied in a distressed tone. Noctis bursted into laughter and I sent him a harsh glare, making him fall silent.

"We'll get them back. I'm sure the chocobo hasn't gone far," I reassured him.

He finally calms down at my soothing tone and takes a deep breath. "The fowl foul trotted off in that direction. Let's move."

With Ignis in the lead, Noctis and I follow him to where the royal tomb was located. After a prolonged silence, the royal advisor sent us an apologetic glance. "Sorry to drag both of you along."

"Don't apologize. We would've snuck off after you even if you did go alone," I admit. Ignis sent me a sweet smile before focusing on his glasses again.

"You've a spare pair, don't you? Just use those," Noctis states with a shrug.

"And let a perfectly good pair go to waste as a chocobo's trinket? I think not!" Ignis hisses.

"We'll get them back, Iggy. Also, if there's any damage to the spectacles, I can fix them at camp," I said.

"Much appreciated, Zodia."

We run through the rain and reach the area where the royal tomb was located. Halting just where we killed the Treant, Ignis gestures to a black silhouette through the heavy drizzle. "We have the culprit. There!"

"So what now, Sergeant No-Specs?" Noctis questioned with crossed arms.

"I brought along a secret weapon just in case: a handful of gysahl greens."

"Nice. So, how you wanna do this?" Noctis asked.

"We lure the bird this way. While it gorges itself on greens, you both will grab the glasses," Ignis answers.

"That won't be necessary," I spoke up.

The two men sent me questioning glances before I slowly closed in on the black chocobo. The bird sensed my presence and watched my every movement with beady black eyes. Gradually, I reached a hand out towards the bird, hoping it wouldn't lash out and attack.

The chocobo tilted its head with a small peep before taking a few steps towards me. I smiled at the bird and just when my hand was placed on its head, the chocobo closed its eyes and leaned into my touch. "You're not rambunctious at all. You probably caught a glint of his lenses and thought it was a toy. Now, where did you hide them?"

The chocobo removes its head from my hand and trots over to a nearby tree. The bird picked up something and returned to my side. I opened my hand, allowing the black chocobo to drop the object in my hand. It was Ignis' glasses. "You're nothing but a giant sweetheart."