Noctis:
When they first wake up, he’s so relieved. Like holding onto their hand and pressing kisses to their knuckles as they start to wake. He’d push their hair back out of their face and press a kiss to their forehead, and ask how they feel.
“A little uncomfortable with you kissing me. Who are you?” He’d definitely be shocked, and lay their hand back down by their side. He’d question their memory and upon receiving an answer of them not remembering much of anything, he’d go to Ignis.
Ignis would state that with memory problems, there was nothing much they could do but wait. Noctis would nod his head at the information, but be very much numb inside. He’d go back to them, reintroduce himself, explain that they were hurt, and that he’d like to try and help them remember if he could.
They accept, but they’d be back to square one with trust. So it’s a lot of dancing around each other. For Noctis, it would be finding and remembering boundaries that weren’t there before. But slowly, they’d grow to trust him again as they recover.
They’d listen to him talk about their memories together. He’d borrow Prompto’s camera and show them picture from before. He’d point out the places they’d been and what they had done in the past together as well. It’s a lot of work, and emotionally trying for Noctis, but he keeps at it. And it starts to pay off.
He’d be in the middle of a story when they’re alone, sitting at the edge of a haven. He’d be pointing to the stars and reminiscing on a stargazing adventure they’d gone on. He’d mention that it had been the night after his father had told him that he’d be marrying Luna, and that they’d be parted. They’d suddenly take his hand in theirs and say what they said that same night.
“I would wish on every single star to never be parted from you Noct.”
He’d fall silent and look over at them, and they’d frown, their expression becoming confused at the sudden rush of emotion that came with that phrase. He’d be so excited and ask if they remembered now. They’d say no, but they remembered that. And after that moment more come streaming back to them in the next few days. They recall the stories he told, and even start adding in details of the stories he tells them.
It’s a long road, but eventually they remember everything.
Prompto;
He’s too scared to be by their side when they wake. They’d been thrown into a stone wall, their head had made a sickening smack against the wall. He wouldn’t be able to get that out of his mind. And he would blame himself. If he’d been faster, he was sure that he could have gotten them out of the way in time.
When they do awake he’d drawn back into the tent upon heading a thud. They’d tried to get up and walk around, only for their legs to not support their weight. He’d ask if they were alright and mention that they shouldn’t be out of bed, and that he could get them what they wanted so they really should just stay in bed. They ask for a glass of water and he gets it in record time.
“Well aren’t I lucky.” they’d say after downing the glass, “I think I got the cutest nurse in the history of Eos. Can you tell me your name?”
He’d turn pale, but offer them a shaky smile and give them their name. He’d ask if they remembered their own. They’d shake their head no, but find that the thought didn’t frighten them as much as it should have. So he’d tell them their name and explain what happened. They’d ask if they’d recover what they lost and he’d reply he didn’t know. So he’d explain everything he remembered about their life, and what they had been doing, their goals, and the fact they’d been travelling with them.
They’d be cleared to travel again and that’s that. The others worry for Prompto, when he keeps them at arm’s length, but they allow it. If he needs time to work through this they’d give it to him.
They weren’t expecting their memories to play out while they slept. As nightmares. Or that they would sleep walk and talk in their sleep. They wake up time after time and apologize to whoever had to bring them back from their wanderings.
It all comes to a head in Lestallum. They’d get a flash of a memory, and fleeting feeling of love and sadness. As soon as the car parks they stomp off, pulling the hair on the back of their head, trying to remember. Prompto goes after them and takes their hands in his.
“There’s something missing…someone. Someone so so important. I need to remember them. Why can’t I remember?”
Prompto wouldn’t have wanted to fight for their memories before, feeling like he had failed them, and hoping that they could move on without their memories of him. But this inspires him to start with his camera and showing them pieces of what they don’t remember. He’d ask their impression about the pictures, and be surprised when they’d take a guess at what they’d been doing and get it right. So the memories would be there, lurking beneath the surface.
So he’d start by asking the guys to revisit places they’d been, and walking them through their memories. And things would come back after they broke through the initial barrier of things. But only the truly important things. Like loving Prompto. The rest is just…there, waiting to be recalled.
Gladiolus:
He’s holding their hand and falls asleep while waiting for them to wake. Instead, he wakes to someone running their fingers through his hair gently, and asking him softly if he’s up. And it’s funny, because it’s just like his S/O to be the one waking him in this situation. So his sits up and just looks them over, recalling how a day ago it wasn’t sure if he’d ever see their eyes open again.
“Hey.” He’d say, not sure what else to say. Though he’d squeeze their hand tighter.
“Hi.” They’d speak quietly, feeling safe around him. Loved almost. They wouldn’t be able to place why though. “Where…Where am I?”
He’d explain and say what happened and then ask, “Any other questions?”
“Y-yeah. Who am I?”
He’d definitely be hurt and a little scared. He knew it was a possibility, but he had assumed that such a thing like memory loss would never happen to his S/O. But he’d stay by their side and tell them everything. They’d accept it easily enough, trusting him so easily. Trusting him felt familiar at least. And they’d tell him that.
So he has hope that they’d remember him. They remember their trust for him, and surprisingly, they, even without their memories, fall in love with him again. It’s rather sweet, that they remember their love first before anything else. So he’s content to let things stay like that if they wished. Telling them the things they couldn’t remember. And they don’t want to chase after their memories. Not yet. They’re content as well.
And it’s not surprising that after a time, they do start remembering. But it’s an odd way to remember. They become displaced in time mentally. The first time it happens, they wake up and are excited to get the regalia back from Cindy finally, and then be on their way to Altissia. He has to tell them that was months ago and they remember themself.
It happens a few more times, but Gladio is there to ground them back in the present. And soon, they wake up and everything is as it should be. The only draw back is that they have a massive headache that doesn’t go away for about two weeks.
Ignis:
He is prepared for the worse and the worse occurs. They awaken and immediately ask where they were, what happened, who he was, who they were, and how long before they were well again. He’s used to the rapid fire, no nonsense questions and answers just as dutifully. But it’s eating him inside that they don’t recall anything. And worries him endlessly. He wants to take them to Lestallum to an actual doctor and place them in the care of Iris while they recover.
But they automatically rebel against that thought and demand that they will see the prince through his journey. “If you were hurt like I was, would you want to be sent away?”
He’d have to admit that no, nothing would keep him from his duty.
“Well good. Because in that we are the same.”
So they recover and function without their memories for a few weeks. Or their emotions it seems like, another troubling turn of events. They become logic to a fault. And almost all to willing to sacrifice themself for the ‘greater good’. Even the most traumatic things they go through doesn’t phase them. It’s almost too much for Ignis to bear, and they make it worse by wishing for their memories to never return. “I’m more useful this way.”
He prays that they don’t think that’s true and prays their memories return to them. And he thinks that just maybe, he was heard.
Because one day it just comes rushing back to them. They’re helping him set up their small camping kitchen when they suddenly drop the plate they were holding. It shatters and they start hyperventilating and though Ignis tries to calm them, they pass out. So he takes them into the tent and sets them down, once more waiting for them to wake.
And when they do they dart out of the tent and into his arms, apologizing over and over again for the past few weeks, of not remembering, of not feeling anything. He refused to accept the apology because he feels there’s nothing to apologize for.
“You were hurt. It’s not your fault.”


