When Ignis says he needs to be alone Gladio's eyes snap open, the shattering of something inside him on full display for his (former?) friend in that brief moment green eyes actually look at him.

*'By yourself.'* The words echo in his head as he watches the man who'd never once abandoned him fully turn away from him. Iggy has been his best friend for years upon years - Gladio can hardly remember a time where he hasn't been able to go to Ignis for advice or comfort or anything in between. And it always held true in reverse, Ignis could come to him for the same things and he'd be there.

But now ... now Iggy is going to walk away. Probably for good. Because Gladio had completely betrayed the bond they'd had by leaving.

The magnitude of exactly what he did by leaving - of what he's losing now because of it - renders Gladio almost incapable of breathing. He doesn't feel it when he drops to his knees, the thud of them hitting the ground lost to his ears. All he feels is loss.

And it's a loss he deserves.

With his head bowed, tears dripping onto his thighs and rolling to the dirt, he doesn't beg Ignis to stay. He has no right to. All he can do is whisper, mostly to himself, "I'm sorry, Ignis. You deserve better."

And as Ignis walks away, Gladio remains kowtowed and cries until his tears dry up. There's nothing else he can do right now. Eventually, he'll get up and dazedly wander back to the campfire in order to keep up some sort of appearance that things haven't been completely destroyed.

But he knows the truth, knows that nothing will be okay for a long while. And deep down he's terrified that this damage is permanent.