Helping Gladio find the little brat Prince has worked greatly for the young Shield to be, getting much praise and esteem for the boy. Especially from the one person the teen wanted it the most from.
“You did well, son.” the elder Amicitia says and rests his hand on the boys head.
Gladio smiles with pride as the man walks away, the teen bowing as the man leaves the area. Once the elder is no longer around, Gladio begins to peer around in search until Ardyn reveals himself.
“I am here chi-” Ardyn is silenced when arms wrap around him, the teen hugging him tightly. “Unhand me this instant!”
Gladio does as told but continues to smile up at the man. “I want to thank you again for helping us out in finding the Prince.”
“Well couldn’t let the little brat laze about when he should be learning, especially with all that you and that little steward are put through.”
“You’re a nice man sir.”
Ardyn’s face crinkles slightly, but inside his body, he feels a warmth. “Yes, well don’t get used to it.”
Gladio chuckles slightly and collects up his gear now that he is done for the day. The auburn haired man re-hides himself and follows the teen back towards his home until the young boy stops to look around at the park from before. He lets out a soft sigh and goes to walk away but stops to stare once again, a look of longing taking over his face.
“Shall we go inside for a brief moment? Maybe take a little stroll?”
“Uh, yeah, okay.” Gladio says, freezing momentarily before stepping making his way into the park.
The two males walk the trail that leads through the park, with Gladio pointing out all the places where him and his family would have fun spending time together before looking a tad melancholy. The teen eventually stops and steps off the trail to descend down a hill, looking around before finding what he wants and running to a large maple tree.
He circles the tree in search, before his face lights up. “It’s still there, I thought someone would have carved over it.”
Ardyn steps forward to look at what has got the boy so happy, seeing four initials carved into the tree; CA, LA, GA, and IA. “Your family?”
“Yeah, this is where we’d have our picnics. I carved all our initials into the tree.” he says and purses his lips. “I got disciplined for using a knife and for carving into the tree.” Gladio sits back and pulls his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and resting his head on his knees. “That was two years ago, right before my parents got divorced. I miss spending time together with them, but I know it can never happen again. Dad’s always busy and my Mom, well, she doesn’t come around anymore. Dad usually drops Iris off to her and my Mom’s new boyfriend brings her back. I’m definitely bringing Iris here when she gets older, we’ll start a new tradition and have picnics here.”
Ardyn frowns down at the teen, but then he thinks of something and grins. Gladio lets out a soft sigh and gets up off the ground, dusting himself off before looking up at the older man with a smile. The two return back to the trail, with Gladio resuming his blithering as Ardyn mildly listens while also formulating a plan that he believes will make the little urchin feel better. Upon arriving home, the teen is pounced upon by his little sister, the girl chirping at him and asking how his day was. He tells her about the escapade in finding the prince, but he makes sure to give all the credit to Ardyn, or “Mr. Ghost” as he is referred to by the wee girl. She pouts slightly, saying she was looking all over for him to play with her and gets mad at her brother for hogging him all to himself, but then gets over it when the older man picks her up and gives her a playful toss making her giggle. The siblings head to the living area where Gladio begins working on his homework while his sister mimics her brother by scribbling numbers on a paper with a crayon. Ardyn can’t help but let a smile slip forth watching the children, wondering if things had turned out differently would him and his brother shared a bond like this; or maybe he could have had children of his own. The old butler then calls the two to dinner and afterward Gladio helps clean up the dishes with Iris attempting to dry them. It was then time for the elder Amicitia to return home, scooping up his daughter for a hug and greeting his son with a slight more enthusiasm then Ardyn has seen before. The old butler bids the family goodnight and leaves, with the children’s father taking a seat on the couch to listen to his daughter tell him all about her day. Gladio resumes doing his homework as his family chats just amongst the two of them so Ardyn begins to put his plan into motion. He heads over to a storage closet he remembers shoving a tacky vase into and carefully enters inside, searching around for a box he had seen before and once he finds it on top of another, like a cat with a cup, knocks it over.
“What was that?” Iris gasps and clings to her father as both he and Gladio go on edge.
Their father goes to check what the noise was, opening the closet door and checking around where he finds the source of the noise. “A box seems to have fallen over.”
Iris rushes over curiously and searches through the mess as her father attempts to right it, finding a rectangle box that she smiles with joy at. “Hey, I remember this game. You, Mama, and Gladdy used to play it.” she says and looks up with pleading eyes at her father. “Can we play it Papa? Me, you, and Gladdy?”
The elder purses his lips and crinkles his brow as he looks down at his daughter holding the box. He lets out a soft sigh, his features growing softer. “Sure.”
“Yea!” the girl cheers and rushes over to the coffee table where her brother sits with his school work. Iris unabashedly tosses the papers away and sets the game box down, looking at the teen with glee. “Come on, let’s play Gladdy!”
“All right all right, calm down.” he says and helps her set up the board game.
Their father joins them and the game gets underway, the three truly enjoying themselves. Ardyn stands off to the side and watches, feeling a minor bit of satisfaction that the young boy looks truly happy. The game goes for a few rounds, the young girl ‘winning’ each time until she begins to yawn and rub at her eyes.
“All right Iris, it’s time for bed now.” her father tells her.
“Can Gladdy read to me first?”
The man grunts but gives in. “Not a long one, he needs to finish his school work.”
“Okay!” she says and grabs her brother by the hand.
The siblings head off, leaving their father to pick up the game. Once finished, he looks with curiosity at his son’s homework and scoops it up, checking over everything he has done thus far. Ardyn watches as the man flips through the papers, then does another scan over them. A rare smile forms on his lips as he grunts approvingly and sets the papers down just as the teen walks back in. Gladio freezes in slight apprehension as he views his father set his work down but relaxes when the man nods to him.
“Your reports are all correct, but you still need work on your penmanship.”
Ardyn can’t help but roll his eyes at the little critique the man had to slip in after praising the boy. But he lets it go since the teen smiles.
“I will work on that issue.” he says and returns to his papers.
The elder becomes a bit ridged as the room grows silent, his brow furrowing slightly before relaxing, only to move back into its prior wrinkle. It would seem Gladio has noticed his father’s uncomfortableness but he returns to his work and tries to ignore it.
Finally, his father sighs. “Gladiolus, do you, find me harsh?”
The teen goes still, more than likely trying to think of the best response before answering the man.
“No, not really.” he replies, a slight shake to his voice. “Why do you ask?”
His father frowns. “I have heard from, a few people that my actions towards you are quite cruel, that I am too hard on you and should let you enjoy being a child more instead of forcing you into your role so soon.”
Gladio begins to chew on his lower lip and looks down at the table to avoid his father’s gaze. “Well umm-”
“With the looming threat from our enemies constantly on the horizon, I just want you to be prepared thoroughly to take on the mantle of Shield and protect your liege with all of your being. But, maybe I am being overly pessimistic.”
Gladio looks up at his father, the man wearing a genuine remorseful look and gives the elder a soft smile. The man gives one back and ruffles his son’s hair before standing up from the couch and heading off to bed with a quick goodnight to his son before going to check on his daughter. Gladio lets out a soft sigh, smile still on his lips, and returns to finishing up his homework. He stops when he feels another hand lay upon his head, smiling growing even wider as his locks get tousled again.
“That was you who knocked over the box, wasn’t it?” Gladio whispers.
“I thought it would be a nice little bonding moment between you and your kin.” Ardyn says as he manifests himself. “It seems to have worked too.”
“Yeah, it did. Thank you, sir.”
“Ardyn. I think you’ve earned the right to use my name now, Gladiolus.”
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timeasmymeasure
Fill (8/?) Any/Ardyn, demon summoning gone wrong
Date: 2017-12-29 04:05 am (UTC)“You did well, son.” the elder Amicitia says and rests his hand on the boys head.
Gladio smiles with pride as the man walks away, the teen bowing as the man leaves the area. Once the elder is no longer around, Gladio begins to peer around in search until Ardyn reveals himself.
“I am here chi-” Ardyn is silenced when arms wrap around him, the teen hugging him tightly. “Unhand me this instant!”
Gladio does as told but continues to smile up at the man. “I want to thank you again for helping us out in finding the Prince.”
“Well couldn’t let the little brat laze about when he should be learning, especially with all that you and that little steward are put through.”
“You’re a nice man sir.”
Ardyn’s face crinkles slightly, but inside his body, he feels a warmth. “Yes, well don’t get used to it.”
Gladio chuckles slightly and collects up his gear now that he is done for the day. The auburn haired man re-hides himself and follows the teen back towards his home until the young boy stops to look around at the park from before. He lets out a soft sigh and goes to walk away but stops to stare once again, a look of longing taking over his face.
“Shall we go inside for a brief moment? Maybe take a little stroll?”
“Uh, yeah, okay.” Gladio says, freezing momentarily before stepping making his way into the park.
The two males walk the trail that leads through the park, with Gladio pointing out all the places where him and his family would have fun spending time together before looking a tad melancholy. The teen eventually stops and steps off the trail to descend down a hill, looking around before finding what he wants and running to a large maple tree.
He circles the tree in search, before his face lights up. “It’s still there, I thought someone would have carved over it.”
Ardyn steps forward to look at what has got the boy so happy, seeing four initials carved into the tree; CA, LA, GA, and IA. “Your family?”
“Yeah, this is where we’d have our picnics. I carved all our initials into the tree.” he says and purses his lips. “I got disciplined for using a knife and for carving into the tree.” Gladio sits back and pulls his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and resting his head on his knees. “That was two years ago, right before my parents got divorced. I miss spending time together with them, but I know it can never happen again. Dad’s always busy and my Mom, well, she doesn’t come around anymore. Dad usually drops Iris off to her and my Mom’s new boyfriend brings her back. I’m definitely bringing Iris here when she gets older, we’ll start a new tradition and have picnics here.”
Ardyn frowns down at the teen, but then he thinks of something and grins. Gladio lets out a soft sigh and gets up off the ground, dusting himself off before looking up at the older man with a smile. The two return back to the trail, with Gladio resuming his blithering as Ardyn mildly listens while also formulating a plan that he believes will make the little urchin feel better. Upon arriving home, the teen is pounced upon by his little sister, the girl chirping at him and asking how his day was. He tells her about the escapade in finding the prince, but he makes sure to give all the credit to Ardyn, or “Mr. Ghost” as he is referred to by the wee girl. She pouts slightly, saying she was looking all over for him to play with her and gets mad at her brother for hogging him all to himself, but then gets over it when the older man picks her up and gives her a playful toss making her giggle. The siblings head to the living area where Gladio begins working on his homework while his sister mimics her brother by scribbling numbers on a paper with a crayon. Ardyn can’t help but let a smile slip forth watching the children, wondering if things had turned out differently would him and his brother shared a bond like this; or maybe he could have had children of his own. The old butler then calls the two to dinner and afterward Gladio helps clean up the dishes with Iris attempting to dry them. It was then time for the elder Amicitia to return home, scooping up his daughter for a hug and greeting his son with a slight more enthusiasm then Ardyn has seen before. The old butler bids the family goodnight and leaves, with the children’s father taking a seat on the couch to listen to his daughter tell him all about her day. Gladio resumes doing his homework as his family chats just amongst the two of them so Ardyn begins to put his plan into motion. He heads over to a storage closet he remembers shoving a tacky vase into and carefully enters inside, searching around for a box he had seen before and once he finds it on top of another, like a cat with a cup, knocks it over.
“What was that?” Iris gasps and clings to her father as both he and Gladio go on edge.
Their father goes to check what the noise was, opening the closet door and checking around where he finds the source of the noise. “A box seems to have fallen over.”
Iris rushes over curiously and searches through the mess as her father attempts to right it, finding a rectangle box that she smiles with joy at. “Hey, I remember this game. You, Mama, and Gladdy used to play it.” she says and looks up with pleading eyes at her father. “Can we play it Papa? Me, you, and Gladdy?”
The elder purses his lips and crinkles his brow as he looks down at his daughter holding the box. He lets out a soft sigh, his features growing softer. “Sure.”
“Yea!” the girl cheers and rushes over to the coffee table where her brother sits with his school work. Iris unabashedly tosses the papers away and sets the game box down, looking at the teen with glee. “Come on, let’s play Gladdy!”
“All right all right, calm down.” he says and helps her set up the board game.
Their father joins them and the game gets underway, the three truly enjoying themselves. Ardyn stands off to the side and watches, feeling a minor bit of satisfaction that the young boy looks truly happy. The game goes for a few rounds, the young girl ‘winning’ each time until she begins to yawn and rub at her eyes.
“All right Iris, it’s time for bed now.” her father tells her.
“Can Gladdy read to me first?”
The man grunts but gives in. “Not a long one, he needs to finish his school work.”
“Okay!” she says and grabs her brother by the hand.
The siblings head off, leaving their father to pick up the game. Once finished, he looks with curiosity at his son’s homework and scoops it up, checking over everything he has done thus far. Ardyn watches as the man flips through the papers, then does another scan over them. A rare smile forms on his lips as he grunts approvingly and sets the papers down just as the teen walks back in. Gladio freezes in slight apprehension as he views his father set his work down but relaxes when the man nods to him.
“Your reports are all correct, but you still need work on your penmanship.”
Ardyn can’t help but roll his eyes at the little critique the man had to slip in after praising the boy. But he lets it go since the teen smiles.
“I will work on that issue.” he says and returns to his papers.
The elder becomes a bit ridged as the room grows silent, his brow furrowing slightly before relaxing, only to move back into its prior wrinkle. It would seem Gladio has noticed his father’s uncomfortableness but he returns to his work and tries to ignore it.
Finally, his father sighs. “Gladiolus, do you, find me harsh?”
The teen goes still, more than likely trying to think of the best response before answering the man.
“No, not really.” he replies, a slight shake to his voice. “Why do you ask?”
His father frowns. “I have heard from, a few people that my actions towards you are quite cruel, that I am too hard on you and should let you enjoy being a child more instead of forcing you into your role so soon.”
Gladio begins to chew on his lower lip and looks down at the table to avoid his father’s gaze. “Well umm-”
“With the looming threat from our enemies constantly on the horizon, I just want you to be prepared thoroughly to take on the mantle of Shield and protect your liege with all of your being. But, maybe I am being overly pessimistic.”
Gladio looks up at his father, the man wearing a genuine remorseful look and gives the elder a soft smile. The man gives one back and ruffles his son’s hair before standing up from the couch and heading off to bed with a quick goodnight to his son before going to check on his daughter. Gladio lets out a soft sigh, smile still on his lips, and returns to finishing up his homework. He stops when he feels another hand lay upon his head, smiling growing even wider as his locks get tousled again.
“That was you who knocked over the box, wasn’t it?” Gladio whispers.
“I thought it would be a nice little bonding moment between you and your kin.” Ardyn says as he manifests himself. “It seems to have worked too.”
“Yeah, it did. Thank you, sir.”
“Ardyn. I think you’ve earned the right to use my name now, Gladiolus.”
“Thank you, Ardyn.”