It's a while before it happens again. He's lost all of his button-up shirts to the elements at this point. Noctis used one to wipe up ectoplasm from a Flan, and Prompto's chocobo hurled on another after eating some mysterious greens. Only his grey undershirts are left of his wardrobe, and it pulls at his scar every time he has to reach his arm up to put on the damn thing.
Noctis stops staring at his chest as if doing so will make his own chest grow. Instead he's taken to glaring at Gladio's forehead. A lesser man would grow self-conscious, but it's only starting to piss Gladio off.
“Is there something on my face Noct?” spinning around to face his prince. Gladio kicks the dead goblin. “Or am I so handsome you have to stare instead of fighting, like you're supposed to.”
Noctis twitches as if guilty. “I was thinking about Aranea.” he scoffs airily, dispassionate, “and how much easier it was to have her around. Didn't even have to pull out my sword.”
Gladio knows he's lying. Knows from Ignis and Prompto's account of the Steyliff Grove Dungeon. Aranea was deadly and efficient – good to have on your side, but hardly accustomed to the dynamics of the trio she was traveling with. Prompto had described in animated hand gestures how they had nearly skewered each other when Aranea leapt and lanced on the same enemy Noctis had warped to.
“Yes it's too bad she's not here to skewer you again, or is that something you like?” Gladio doesn't want to rise up to the bait. Because he knows Noctis is baiting him to react. He doesn't voice the roughness in his chest like tar oozing down his throat, scraping raw on its way down. A lesser man responds with insecurity, but Gladio is all about offense being the best defense. “You're hardly old enough for her tastes, princess.”
Gladio can almost see the hackles rising on Noctis' back. “At least she was here.” Noctis spat quietly. So quiet he almost loses it in the echoes of the cavern. Noctis turns to face another pack of goblins before he could properly digest the meaning of that.
+++
The next time it happens, it's downright inappropriate. A group of Thunder Bombs hover as they turn another corner of yet another dungeon. The Thunder Bombs engorge at alarming speed as if feeding off the cold and desolate air of the underground. Calculating the time it would take to disarm each of them versus the bombs exploding like an over inflated balloon only takes a second. Ignis is already Regrouping the kiddies into an alcove, having made the same conclusion in half the time. Gladio whips out his shield, Lucii's magic burning blue in a whisper of caress. He grabs Nocti's arm roughly to manhandle him snugly behind himself. His body acting as the shield as much as the weapon in his arm. “Stay here.”
It was hardly a command, but Noctis struggles anyways just to be contrary. Gladio's attention focus on the blinding hoard of Thunder Bombs in front of him instead, counting down to the inevitable explosions.
And that's when he notices a flash of bright blue in his peripheral. The very same flash of Luci's magic that materialized his shield. Except this time it has dematerialized. Leaving a phantom whisp of Noctis's shape in his now emoty grip. Gladio's stomach drops.
That little shit. He's going to – he'd pummel him with his own – how could he -
“Noct!” Gladio and Ignis exclaims in chorus. Noctis' form reappears within the hoard of Thunder Bombs primed to explode. Gladio nearly misses him amongst the engorged masses of blinding lights. He stand ups, shield still posed infront of him as he tries to run towards Noctis.
And that's when everything turns to a blazing white.
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timeasmymeasure
FILL: Gladio/Noctis, Doesn't Bother Me Anyways 3/?
Date: 2016-12-31 06:56 am (UTC)Noctis stops staring at his chest as if doing so will make his own chest grow. Instead he's taken to glaring at Gladio's forehead. A lesser man would grow self-conscious, but it's only starting to piss Gladio off.
“Is there something on my face Noct?” spinning around to face his prince. Gladio kicks the dead goblin. “Or am I so handsome you have to stare instead of fighting, like you're supposed to.”
Noctis twitches as if guilty. “I was thinking about Aranea.” he scoffs airily, dispassionate, “and how much easier it was to have her around. Didn't even have to pull out my sword.”
Gladio knows he's lying. Knows from Ignis and Prompto's account of the Steyliff Grove Dungeon. Aranea was deadly and efficient – good to have on your side, but hardly accustomed to the dynamics of the trio she was traveling with. Prompto had described in animated hand gestures how they had nearly skewered each other when Aranea leapt and lanced on the same enemy Noctis had warped to.
“Yes it's too bad she's not here to skewer you again, or is that something you like?” Gladio doesn't want to rise up to the bait. Because he knows Noctis is baiting him to react. He doesn't voice the roughness in his chest like tar oozing down his throat, scraping raw on its way down. A lesser man responds with insecurity, but Gladio is all about offense being the best defense. “You're hardly old enough for her tastes, princess.”
Gladio can almost see the hackles rising on Noctis' back. “At least she was here.” Noctis spat quietly. So quiet he almost loses it in the echoes of the cavern. Noctis turns to face another pack of goblins before he could properly digest the meaning of that.
+++
The next time it happens, it's downright inappropriate. A group of Thunder Bombs hover as they turn another corner of yet another dungeon. The Thunder Bombs engorge at alarming speed as if feeding off the cold and desolate air of the underground. Calculating the time it would take to disarm each of them versus the bombs exploding like an over inflated balloon only takes a second. Ignis is already Regrouping the kiddies into an alcove, having made the same conclusion in half the time. Gladio whips out his shield, Lucii's magic burning blue in a whisper of caress. He grabs Nocti's arm roughly to manhandle him snugly behind himself. His body acting as the shield as much as the weapon in his arm. “Stay here.”
It was hardly a command, but Noctis struggles anyways just to be contrary. Gladio's attention focus on the blinding hoard of Thunder Bombs in front of him instead, counting down to the inevitable explosions.
And that's when he notices a flash of bright blue in his peripheral. The very same flash of Luci's magic that materialized his shield. Except this time it has dematerialized. Leaving a phantom whisp of Noctis's shape in his now emoty grip. Gladio's stomach drops.
That little shit. He's going to – he'd pummel him with his own – how could he -
“Noct!” Gladio and Ignis exclaims in chorus. Noctis' form reappears within the hoard of Thunder Bombs primed to explode. Gladio nearly misses him amongst the engorged masses of blinding lights. He stand ups, shield still posed infront of him as he tries to run towards Noctis.
And that's when everything turns to a blazing white.
+++