#sorry about the Cup Noodle joke Gladio

[dustofwarfare]

In which Prompto shares a link to the CrownsguardMyHeart RPS Fic Archive to the group chat.

Ignis is offended on behalf of his ethics, Gladio his wardrobe, and Prompto just thinks the whole thing is funny. Noct wants links to send to Lady Lunafreya before Ignis gets the whole site shut down.

____

I'm about in FF VII and FF VIII fandom but this is my first FF XV fic. And it's a kink meme prompt fill for:

All the boys are more or less publicly known. You can't tell me there isn't fanfiction about them somewhere. Give me them reading it, or finding it, and being amused or horrified. Feel free to add Prompto finding it funny until it includes him.

+ them ribbing each other + finding all the Tropes + pointing out the inaccuracies + giving each other hell in general.

___ I hope this satisfies, anon! It's a quick little thing, but I had a lot of fun writing it :D

(I tried to make Prompto horrified but...he had a hard time not, uh, really enjoying the idea of being included *coughs*)

[scottymcgeesterwrites]

Final Fantasy XV Review

Year: 2016

Original Platform: PlayStation 4

Also available on: PC (Steam), XBox One

Version I Played: PlayStation 4

Here we go. The final Final Fantasy review of the main single-player games. I just want to say, first off, we’ve been waiting for this game since 2006. It took them ten damn years to finally release this game. I clearly remember the teaser trailer they released when it was called Final Fantasy XIII Versus, and my next-door neighbor and I were so hyped for this game when we were freaking teenagers. After years of delays, Square Enix revamped it into Final Fantasy XV.

Did it live up to the wait? Well, read and find out.

Synopsis:

Noctis Lucis Caelum is the heir to the throne of the kingdom of Lucis. On his birthday, he sets off with his three best friends and bodyguards (Ignis, Prompto, Gladio) to marry his betrothed, Lunafreya. The marriage is supposed to be a political one, though Noct and Lunafreya had grown up together and become fond of each other. But peace turns to war as the empire of Niflheim betrays Insomnia and invades. Noct, now on the run, has to reclaim his right to the throne by collecting the necessary family heirlooms which will banish the darkness.  

Gameplay:

Open-world Final Fantasy.

That is the big selling point for this game. 

A MASSIVE step up from Final Fantasy XIII’s gameplay, Final Fantasy XV has you roaming around and attacking enemies on the field in real time. The battle system returns to something slightly more conventional by having you cast spells and use items. It seems like this is what Square really intended to do after Final Fantasy XII. Looking back, Final Fantasy XIII feels like some prototype before Final Fantasy XII, so it really becomes apparent that Final Fantasy XIII’s gameplay comes off as a huge mistake.

This game’s major’s strength comes from the player engaging with a massive world. You camp. You take on hunts. You take on a bajillion sidequests. You run across the world. You drive across the world. You can ride a chocobo across the world.

However, the dip in the gameplay comes from how easily accessible these sidequests are. The map tells you exactly where you go 24/7. I started to have an existential crisis around my 50th sidequest in a row. Why am I doing this? What’s the point? I go here to kill a thing, or go there to help someone by giving a potion or taking a picture. You start to realize that a good bulk of sidequests are either hunting daemons or fetching an item. You start to deconstruct the meaning of playing a video game as you think to yourself, “Why do I play video games?” while also thinking “But wait, one more and then I swear I’m done.”.

I get it, not everyone has the time nowadays to figure out a huge game like this. I get it, video games are now marketed to everyone for ease. At the same time, I personally love a good challenge. I mean, I’m the guy who has Dark Souls as one of his favorite video games of all time, so my opinion on the matter might definitely be skewered compared to most. I generally want to feel like I actually figured something out by myself rather than following a tracker on the screen and walking from task to task and then saying, “Okay done. Next.”.

Too much of that and playing a video game starts to feel like a 9 to 5 job to me. This game is great to play during quarantine, but at one point I saw playing this game as feeling like an actual job. Wake up, eat breakfast, time to hunt some daemons.

This is the growing conflict some people have with story-driven games versus open-world games. I see the argument focused too much on words like “linear”, but in reality we should be talking about “automation”. If a video game is too automated, then did you really play a video game? Or did you watch a movie that allows you to control the camera angle? At first, the idea of driving around an open-world Final Fantasy game sounds amazing. Isn’t that what fans always dreamed of? In reality, you don’t really drive around at your leisure. Even when you have the car set to “manual”, you can’t speed up, drive off-road, or pull off a sick drift like in The Fast and the Furious. Your car still automatically stays on the road wherever you’re going. It’s not so much “manual” as it is “I can control where and when to stop and which road to take”. Riding chocobos at your leisure is much more fun, but becomes increasingly impractical as you can just fast-travel to necessary locations in your car.

The sights and sounds of the fictional world of Eos are enough to gloss over these shortcomings though. It IS still fun to roam around and fight monsters and save the day. My bottom line is, “You don’t think about just how mindless the tasks are unless you keep playing for many days straight.”. And I poured hours into this game day after day because of the 2020 pandemic quarantine.

Graphics:

Obviously the best thus far. However, in-game facial expressions on the NPCs are still quite stilted and awkward. This game made me realize that we’ve yet to jump a hurdle when it comes to in-game graphics. The game is so polished but there are still limitations when it comes to giving the characters natural movements, both in body and lips. So an NPC could be shouting “WOW THAT’S AMAZING!” but have a straight face jumping up and down, despite the fact that the character model is the most realistic we’ve created so far in a video game. I was looking back at in-game cutscenes of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, and found it ironic that they can portray body movements so much better, but that’s the trade-off. Less graphics power to portray realistic bodies, but the graphics power can then be allocated to focus on natural movements. Nowadays, all the graphics power is focused on making things look good, but that hardly leaves room for making things move naturally.

Story:

After the overly-complicated plotline of Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XV feels like a breath of fresh air. On the surface, it’s a straightforward tale of a boy seeking to become a king after his father is brutally murdered by enemy forces. The bromance between the young king and his bodyguards is endearing. Each character feels distinct and genuinely makes you laugh. The setup sounds like prime real estate for an emotionally charged storyline.

Unfortunately, it falls apart somewhere around the last quarter. What should have been a strong and straightforward story turned into a rushed, hasty mess by the final act.

The story started SO strong, they practically had it in the bag, but then it became apparent that many important elements were glossed over - especially when it came to the main villain. I realized that some things required me to read between the lines, or even were only explained in character dossiers in the archive section of the menu. Supposedly, the movie Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV explains more, but do you really expect me to have to watch a separate movie to understand the actual game? The final quarter of the story feels like someone was trying to finish NaNoWriMo, realized they were running out of time, and quickly jumped from scene to scene to reach that 50k word goal. The ten-year time-skip is a joke. The final chapter is sorely disappointing.

The ending was appropriate though, and even beautiful. However, the overall story didn’t have the necessary emotional weight to really make me feel anything. I thought to myself, “I feel like I should be tearing up but instead I feel nothing.”. Even Final Fantasy XII, which lacked a romance, had me swelling up at the end. Final Fantasy XV didn’t make me swell up until literally the last few seconds of the post-credits scene.

People complained about the advertising (Coleman, Cup Noodles) but that didn’t bother me.

What does bother me is the lack of variety in the main cast, and in numerous ways. There were so many interesting side characters that didn’t receive much screen time, or use at all in the story. The strong focus on only the four male leads made it a sausagefest. I was craving more out of Aranea Highwind and Iris Amicitia. They are important but don’t get any screen time at all in the final chapter, nor do we ever hear from them ever again after the time-skip. Aranea Highwind was such a cool character, but once again ends up being wasted potential.

The main cast lacked distinctive styles. When I first saw the main cast, I had a hard time telling them apart. They looked like a k-pop band. Compare the main cast of Final Fantasy XV to literally any other Final Fantasy main cast and you can immediately spot the difference.

The four main leads do have distinct personalities, and I quite loved hearing their comments and banter. It felt realistic, but at times it became ridiculous. I rolled my eyes when Prompto would say things like, “Hashtag sorry not sorry.” That was a bit too on the nose, and came off as Square trying to pander to the current generation.

But what really rubbed me the wrong way is the incredible lack of non-white characters in the entire game. Lestallum feels so wrong to me as a Hispanic. Lestallum is supposed to be modeled after Havana, Cuba.

Its music, its buildings, its activities. It has a tropical climate, and yet every single denizen is pale white. Every. Single. One. I am not exaggerating. It feels so absolutely wrong walking around that city and not seeing anyone with the slightest shade of brown. This isn’t some uncalled-for SJW rant, it’s a simple fact. Tropical climates breed tanner skins. My brain naturally did a double-take when seeing the all-white population, saying, “Hmmm, something’s wrong here.”. For God’s sake, Final Fantasy XII, made over a decade earlier, did a better job at displaying the various nuances in skin tones, and that was on the PlayStation 2! Final Fantasy X, even older, seemed to properly portray tropical beach populations, inspired by the Philippines, with the character Wakka.

I noticed that they really took the time to incorporate elements from virtually every single Final Fantasy game. Aside from the crystals, the modern settings, and other obvious elements, four male leads are reminiscent of Final Fantasy III, the sinister chancellor hearkens back to Kefka from Final Fantasy VI, the enemy Yojimbo resembles Final Fantasy X’s version of Yojimbo, a certain boss battle reminded me of Cid Raines from Final Fantasy XIII.

Also, there’s Dino. Quite possibly the most annoying Final Fantasy NPC ever.

The overly obnoxious Italian stereotype made me want to punch his face, and also took me out of the experience of the fictional world. Every time you spoke with him he's all like "HEY HOW YOU DOIN WELCOME TO OLIVE GARDEN YOU TALKIN TO ME BADA BING BADA BOOM SPICY PIECE OF MEATBALL CAPISCE? AMIRITE??"

Square seemed to treat this game as a milestone in the series, alluding to everything the series ever did. It’s a shame that the story itself wasn’t quite up to snuff to be held in such regard.

Music:           

The game’s major lyrical song is copyrighted, which is a first for a Final Fantasy game. It makes sense why they chose the song “Stand by Me”, both in literal and figurative terms of the story.             

The score to this game is quite fantastic. The series has its first female composer, Yoko Shimomura. I have absolutely no complaints about the music. Nobuo Uematsu didn’t even pop into my head during the entire game. It’s the first time since Uematsu’s departure that I felt immersed in the score. The motifs are distinct and strong. The battle music is vibrant and an orchestral orgasm to listen to.    

Notable Theme:            

“Somnus”  

The main theme of the game. It plays right away in the main menu. I love how it is incorporated into the rest of the score, and my brain kept wanting to hear it to its completion.   

Direct Sequel?           

Nope. However, there is downloadable content that fills in the gap of events within the game. Supposedly, Final Fantasy XV is loosely connected to Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Type-O, all sharing common themes and possibly set in the same universe. You can also watch the prequel movie, Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV.

Did it Live up to the Hype?           

Eh.           

Yes, and no.            

It was cool to play around, but the rest is a flaccid attempt at being a notable entry in the series “for fans and first-timers”, as the words proudly display every time you load the game. It’s not the worst in the series, but certainly not the best. It’s somewhere in the mid-to-low tier.

[chloca-cola]

Imagine having a huge Christmas party with chocobros at the palace and reader is nervous on giving all her friends their gift.

Sorry if this is terrible. I have been in a writing slump honestly. I'm trying for everyone, I swear...I'm just having a hard time right now. I hope you like it!

TW: none

Word count: 653

~~~~~~~~~

The lights were plentiful as you entered the main ballroom if the Citadel. It was the annual Christmas party, one you've never been able to attend because you'd always be under the weather or just too damn nervous to show up.

It was an honor to be invited and you hated yourself for being so scared to be amongst the guests here, but you felt you were no one special. Only having been friends with Noctis because of school, you were the first brave enough to approach him.

You had been a nervous wreck too but you wanted to talk to him, not because of his status, but because you thought he seemed cool. You never regretted it...at least not until now.

Here you were in a very cute green outfit, carrying a bag of gifts you had made for your four closest friends. You were scared to present the tree ornaments to them, fearing they would hate them, or think they were stupid.

"(Y/n)!" It was Prompto's cheery voice calling to you, you turn to the sound of his voice to see him looking adorable in his suit. You could tell, however, how uncomfortable he was in it though and you giggled at him as he tugged at the collar. "Glad to see you made it this year!" 

"I'm glad too." You smile politely at him as he leads you over to the refreshment table.

"The best place in the room!" You laughed at him, as he poured you a glass of punch, you clinked the glasses together before drinking. You sat and chatted with Prompto for a long time, he kept you highly entertained with his jokes when Ignis, Gladio and Noctis finally joined you.

You greeted them all, before taking in a deep breath, calming your nerves before you dug in your bag to fish out the gifts.

You presented Prompto's first, a small camera ornament that you crafted. He was overjoyed with it, talking about how much he loves it and how it's so cool that you made it yourself. He even asked for you to show him how you did it.

Ignis' ornament, you had thought about doing something cooking related, but instead made him a Knight chess piece, since he had showed you how to play the game. He thanked you in his normal polite, caring way, giving you a small hug, before asking if you cared to have another match with him after the party. 

"Yeah, of course. I'll get the check mate like always!" You teased, knowing he always beats you, know matter how cunning you think you are.

Gladio you couldn't help but make him a small lantern like the one he loves to use when camping. You were gonna take the tongue in cheek route and make a cup noodle ornament, but you knew it would have been a cheap shot. He pulled you into a tight bear hug, lifting you off the ground, sending your stomach rolling at the sudden upheaval and he thanked you for your creative gift.

Last but not least, Prince Noctis. You dug his out, a small fishing rod, complete with line and a tiny fish hooked on it. You held it out to him and he seemed more touched than the other three at your handmade gift. He took it from you before looking you in the eyes.

"Thank you, (y/n), this is the most thoughtful gift I've ever received. I'll keep it forever." You blushed at his praise, smiling shyly, leaning to him to give him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"You guys have been the best friends I've ever had. Thank you and Merry Christmas!" 

At the end of it all, you don't know why you were ever nervous to come here. The four boys always made you feel as if you belonged and you would never ask for anything more.

[adventurous-blob]

Episode Gladio commentary!! Here i go!!

Imma go easy since its my first time also thATS WHAT SHE SAID

anyways, difficulty and immaturity aside, time to begin.

Kay so Gladio's episode is 'bout self discovery? dudes just pissed Ravus beat him I guess? I mean, fair enough but he leaves noctis and they go do like a dungeon and it's just?? It all seems really chill considering he's the Kings shield.

Eh, non-sensicle rambling aside.

Okay so im guessing its gunna be like Gladio telling the story which i'll be playing- neato.

"Just a scratch, the other guy got off a lot worse." Yeah, uh, suure.

"Worse than looking like some kind of thug?" Damn Noctis, chill your beans bro.

Oooo 'Blade master', can't get a title cooler than that, right?

Oh gorsh,,, I suck at controlling Gladio,, This'll be interesting...

Yep. This'll definitely be interesting. Even with the tutorial.

He's just casually sat surrounded by voretooth corpses, as you do.

"Are you mentally prepared?" Cor, sweetie, Gladio seems to just be a 'suck it up, buttercup' type i think he's subconsciously mentally prepared even when he isn't consciously.

"Unless i get more power." Gladio you sound like Vergil from devil may cry, just don't stab yourself with a big sword and go power mad, yeah?

Cor is so serious,, but like he's sort of soft too,, like you can see he cares by what he says and stuff, y'know?

its like 'You go fight that thing you probably aren't strong enough to fight yet!! but stay safe too! don't want you dyin' on me!!' except, more like Cor would say it.

I feel like i've heard the name Gilgamesh before?

Gosh i love Cor and Gladio so much,, they're stronk boyos.

"Alright i've got this." Yeah!! yeah you do!! Thats the spirit Gladio!!

oh uh i've only just noticed but there are bodies everywhere... hecc...

Okay they're alive but also dead now i killed them. Also,, the soundtrack?? that battle music?? hell yeah, thats some good stuff.

Ooo waterslide!!!!

Eheheh Gladio rode the snek. ooo this is spoopy...

Wait we made it to the blade master already?? wha??

Ah okay i was meant to fail against Gilgamesh, that was a little frustrating at first...

"If you do not fear death" yeah i fear that Gladio lets lEAve

"So the blademaster..."

"He's a master of blades. What-- where you expecting something profound?"

coming from someone who plays mainly rpg games i expected it to be something with flying swords? like bahamut except smaller and weaker y'know?

also are we inside a tree??? the whole of this so far and like chapter uhh 4-5 (the one where they're in the crater, i apologise for poor memory lmao) just reminds me of devil may cry 5.

Awhhh, they're eating Cup Noodles togetherr,,

oh hecc yes SAVE.

Option: tell me more

My brain: tell me More, tell me more, tell me mo-o-ore, but Gladio singing it.

imma throw hands with Gilgamesh how dare they deem cor unworthy he's a stronk bean

"Keep your eyes and ears open."

*open area appears*

Me, immediately: I don't like this.

Bdhshjdndjs tHEY DID THE THING!!! Where Cor jumps on Gladio's back and then brings down a strike on the enemy!! Aaaa teamwork is so great!!!

"do you have the strength to survive these trials?" uh I sure hope he does

*looking at a body stabbed into the wall*

You okay there pal?

Sword stuck in the ground: *has the option to touch it*

I'm sorry but my whole play through of final fantasy I couldn't take most things gladio said serious because I'm immature and kept making dirty jokes but this,, this right here has to be the peak point where I could make a dick joke or say 'i dunno that's pretty gay Gladios.'

"hand holding stops here" no Cor stay please ;~;

Sometimes I hate the combat in this game, not because I think it's bad,, just,, gladio,,, in enclosed spaces,, with lots of foes,, it's not good for camera angles.

Ah yes. Touch the glowy thing. That's ALWAYS a great idea!

The soul keeps calling Gladio "young warrior" and sometimes I forget Gladio is like only 23? Like I dunno, he seems older? But at the same time?? It's like right? I dunno? Maybe it's his looks or personality who knows.

COR!!!! HEYA!! :3

"you wanna know why?" I mean, hell yeah. duh.

Awh he's worried bout Noct but i agree tbh, plus, Noct is fine they're just fighting that big dragon thing with Aranea!! :3

okay i can hear growling and snarling thats never good, but maybe its just a big puppy?? No??? awh okay ;~;;

Gladio with a gaint pupper would be adorable

ANYWAYS i'm getting side tracked again oops

I CAN SWING COLUMNS?? HELL YEAH!!!!

Can i just use columns to defeat the blade master? just like 'You might be the blade master but iM BOB THE BUILDER' and just yeet a column at him??

Every column i see i just want to yeet now. In honour of yeeting columns, i paused and made a poem:

my nam is Gladio

and am strong

i hav sword

i tri do no wrong

when wyvern hit

and i do poor damage

it seems liek

somethin i must manage

so when wyvern

has me beat

i pick up a column

and i yeet

hope you enjoyed.

bACK TO THE GAME!!

tOuuCh the soWoRd

HELL YEA COLUMNS TO YEET!! ALSO WHAT IS THAT IT LOOKS COOL!

bdjdndj i want an enkidu now they're so cooll!!!

toucH the gLowly

yOu Can BREAK THE BOXES??? HELL YEAH!!!

Actually Cor can i go home please??

also pft the soul like "Yeah well i knOw betteR." i can't.

however, i can yeet column at this bandersnatch and i will.

i picked up a column after the fight and i dunno how to put it down so i guess Gladio has a Pet column now. Imma call it stony.

NUH i got rid of stony ;~; see you in the afterlife stony.

The way Cor describes the blademasters eyes makes me think of Kakashi from Naruto with his sharingan.

also Gladio's confidence and positivity give me life.

final chamber- this is it!

a red giant?? really?? damn it.

i have my headphones on full and the soul just said "Come here to die, have you?" and it made me jump

"You looking to die again?" Gladio is not having this souls bs

it's talking about Cor and i am ready to tHROW HANDS,,, Cor is bean.

Cor giving Gladio a final warning but not stopping him makes my heart feel weird,,,

Awh that lil grin, Aaa the "Come back alive, be safe Gladio." has me soft™️

"He'd better be ready for me." Uh, Gladio, thats whAT SHE SAID!

Oh hecc here we go!! Heya Gilgamesh!! Time to defeat you!! :3

Gilgamesh isn't actually thatbhard to fight??

oH SO NOW HE HAS AN ARM geez lemme guess he's stronger and has more health too now?

Oh look i'm right!

Okay yea he's a lot stronger i don't like this but Gladio can do it!!! I believe in him!!!!!

Also after realising a tactic i have defeated Gilgamesh and i was right Gladio could do it!!!! :D

"I may be all muscle no mettle, but i'm gunna keep protecting Noct the only way i know how." YOu GO GLADDY!!!! I'm v v proud!!!!

Awhhh Gilgamesh is actually pretty cool dude i like him. Awhhhh he's giving Gladio his sword!! I'm so happy aaa!!

I really like Gladio and all of this and aaaa im so hAPPY for Him!!!!

AAAAAA COR LOOKS HAPPY AND GLADIO GAVE HIM HIS SWORD BACK BUT COR SAID HE COULD KEEP IT AND JSJDJEJDJDJJD I MIGHT CRY

they're just talking and its really nice and i'm not crying but i'm overwhelmingly happy for them!!

wait Gladio got the scar on his eye from dealing with a bully? damn i need to finish brotherhood, huh.

Prompto said "The more you know" and the gif popped up in my head and i'm lauGhing so damn much why is that so fUnny???

"What can I say? I'm worth the wait." Noctis,, sweetheart,, Foreshadow mucH XD

Awhhh, i'm really happy for Gladio. I'm actually really happy with that whole DLC to be honest. It was fun to play and i feel i kinda got more of a look into Gladio's and Cor's characters and such, y'know? That, plus i got better at playing as Gladio too! And getting better at stuff like that is always good! Practice makes perfect after all!

So yeah, hope you enjoyed my commentary of Episode Gladio!

[moonraccoon-exe]

Hello Coon. I hope you’ve been well. I had the most amusing thought, and wanted to share: Do you remember that ATLA episode where they went to watch a play about themselves? In an AU where no one dies or gets thrown off of trains or goes blind... Imagine that in the context of chocobros + Luna, Ravus, Aranea on their way to Zegnautus. - 💚, Amontillado

Dear Amontillado.

This idea alone made me transcend to the ninth heaven. It made my soul detach from my body and ascend to the heavens, it touched the Nirvana, and came back to my body purified and amplified.

This. Goddamn. Genius. Idea.

*SLAMS HANDS ON DESK*

I had to write this. This is one of my most recent asks, but it’s just so genuinely brilliant and gloriously genius, I have this mighty necessity to write it right now aklsjdfklsgj aklsdjsklgj akljalskd ja.

The best part of this is that the main four and Ravus fit SO WELL with some of the ATLA characters, I could write parts of that episode as the script literally goes and it would fit accurately and nicely!!! Hahahahahhaha!!! I hope you’ll find the similarities! ｡ﾟ(TヮT)ﾟ｡

Anyway, a few things to note here for things to make sense,

I picture Ignis did go blind at some point but later recovered. Let’s say we’re following some sort of Verse 2 from episode Ignis but with Lunafreya not dying, lmao.

I’ve made Cor be present too like he should have always been.

Regis and Clarus too because I don’t have the heart to kill them.

Because it’s Verse 2, Ravus has been in the party from before rescuing Ignis (who…let’s suppose they rescued somewhere else prior to Zegnautus. For some…reason.)

Luna’s coming along with them, too.

If at some point you’re reading something and think “is that an Aggretsuko reference?” know that yes. It is.

I goddamn shoved some almost-established Gladnis in here because fuck me, I can’t contain myself, they’re just so genuinely canon askljddkgjdaa

Alright.

Now everybody welcome to,

Final Fantasy XV, Episode 17, “The Gralea Players”.

A.K.A. a parody of ATLA’s famous already-parody episode “The Ember Island Players” adapted to our FFXV dorks plus some extra guests.

Enjoy!!

Everything starts at one of Ravus’ personal places in Gralea that he used to hide away or train. He’s training with Noct, trying to teach him how to defend himself against his lightning arm. Everyone is bored or watching or scattered across the little house.

At some point, Prompto comes in running, and as everyone’s greeting him, someone appears after him.

“Aranea?”

“Hey, dorks.”

Long story short, Prommy stumbled upon Aranea while he was out grocery shopping.

“And she has epic news! Tell them, Nea!”

Turns out Aranea found out that the local theatre prepared and will present a play about Noctis’ journey.

“Hah? Me? But we’re in the empire, why would they make a play about me?”

“Nooooooooct! We have to go! They did research across the globe to write the script, and it involves MTs, hunters, mechs, dogs, and a very knowledgeable merchant of Cup Noodles. Say yes, please, please!!”

No one is pretty convinced. They’re in enemy territory and it would be suicide to throw themselves there where people could recognize them.

But Noctis can’t say no to Prompto’s huge puppy eyes.

So in the end everyone ends up going to this play, “The King of Light.”

At least the title isn’t bad or mocking, but they still try to not get their hopes up. Knowing the Nifs, they may have done something offensive, so they’re mentally prepared for that and just curious.

Later that night, everyone of our team goes to the local Nif theatre, and the show starts.

They enter and get seats on the back as to go as unnoticed as possible.

On the front row, Noctis sits, then Prompto next to him, then Ignis.

As Gladio tries to sit next to him, Ravus unknowingly takes that seat.

“…hey. Uhm. I…wanted to sit there.”

Ravus: “(absolutely oblivious, this DORK) Just sit next to me. What’s the big deal?”

“…no, it’s not- I just wanted…okay.”

The curtain raises to show a representation of the throne room of the Citadel, where we can see the actors of king Regis on his throne, and the four chocobros.

“And so, may you part with my blessing to meet your bewedded, Lady Lunafreya.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

So far so good. Actor Regis gives his speech and bids goodbye to the four young men.

As soon as Actor-Regis is done, Prompto grabs Noctis by the shoulder and shakes him, grinning from ear to ear and pointing at the actors, then himself and Noctis, then back at the actors, in clear excitement.

Noctis can’t help but smile as well, thinking it kind of cool to see an act about themselves.

And then going “downstairs”, actor Prompto clumsily trips and falls over in a comical way.

The audience laughs.

“What?” Prompto whispers. “That never happened!”

“Haha! My fault! I can be a little dumb!” actor Prompto talks with a slightly annoying voice. “Nocto! Help me up?”

“You, useless thing” actor Noctis says while helping him up. “You’re completely useless and not worthy of being in presence of royalty, but I take you along in this journey to fulfill my journey anyway because you’re funny.”

“The only thing I want to fill is my mouth! I’m hungry!”

The audience laughs again, but Noct and Prompto are petrified in their seats. Noctis turns to look at Prompto worriedly. Prompto later on just pouts and sink in his seat, crossing the arms.

“They make me look like an idiotic failed attempt of a joker! I’m better than that.”

Ravus is chuckling under his breath.

“I think he’s got you pegged.”

Prompto swears Ravus is lucky Ignis is sat in between them.

The actors are displayed walking away of the Citadel, where actor Regis catches up with them.

“Oh my god, he’s going to say the thing I told you, Noctis” Regis is whispering in the row behind.

So far, they depict the scene pretty accurately.

“Omg he’s going to say it.”

Then, actor Regis puts a hand on actor Noctis’ shoulder.

“Oh my god, here it comes”

And actor Regis says,

“Don’t fail, my son.”

“What?”

The gang has to turn around to shush Regis because they’re supposed to not call the attention.

Regis is shrinking and cringing in his seat containing all his screaming.

The scenes go on but the gang can’t hear anything but Regis’ whispered complaints.

“I didn’t say that! I didn’t say that! Oh my god, there is a HUGE difference between Walk Tall and Don’t Fail, the context and intention are entirely different, I didn’t tell him to not fail, that implies so much pressure and it’s not support, it’s an order, I just asked him to be brave and to keep the head up, it’s entirely different from Don’t Fail. Don’t fail. He said don’t fail,what sort of awful father is he oh my god.”

They depict Actor Prompto to have ruined the Regalia by spilling soda all over the wheel in an exaggerated comical motion.

“Fantastic, Prompto! Couldn’t you just shove it in your mouth instead of throwing it all over our electronic modern car?” actor Gladio asks in a SUPER AGGRESSIVE and super deep voice.

“I’m sorry! But I guess now you can call this, Fast Food!”

There’s a drum roll and the audience laughs. Prompto just shrinks more in his seat hiding it in his hands and groaning.

The actors are trying to push the cardboard car.

“WHAT ARE YOU LAZY ASSES DOING, KEEP PUSHING, KEEP PUSHING UNTIL YOUR FEET BLEED AND YOUR MUSCLES CRY OUT IN PAIN!” actor Gladio is screeching everything he says. “FLEX. FLEX THOSE MUSCLES. TODAY IS LEG DAY. GET UP AND KEEP PUSHING! FLEX! PROTEIN! GYM!”

Gladio stares unimpressed.

“I certainly don’t yell like that all the time.”

Ravus is chuckling louder than before, almost near a proper laugh.

“That actor’s got you right, Gladiolus. Stop complaining.”

Gladio just growls.

“NOCTIS. WHERE IS YOUR SPIRIT? FLEX! PROTEIN! KEEP PUSHING!”

Actor Noctis is on the ground.

“I’ll do it later, Big Guy. I’m sleeping.”

“Hey, not true” Noctis complains. “I didn’t sleep. I rested a bit, but didn’t sleep.”

“HEY IGNIS. TELL HIM TO GET UP.”

“Your most estimated superior Highness, Noctis Lucis Caelum, son of Regis, son of Mors, 114th of the name of the Lucis, prince of the kingdom of Lucis, heir to the throne” actor Ignis is saying in an overly exaggerated Tenebraean accent and exaggeratedly pompous. “I shall request, with all due respect, you get up from the place you’re attempting to sleep in and do lend a hand to us commoners, for we don’t have the strength to go on without you. My prince. My liege. My protected. My dear brother and friend.”

Ignis stares unimpressed and sort of embarrassed.

“…I certainly am not that pompous or formal. Even less with my friends.”

Ravus is chuckling again.

We see the guys through Hammerhead and Galdin Quay, through the news of the Fall of Insomnia and back to the place from where they see the destruction, etcetera; overall, Prompto is depicted as a damsel in distress, a klutz that’s always giving bad jokes and tripping over, Gladio is a giant brainless gym dude that keeps yelling, Ignis is an overly formal android, and Noctis is always asleep (even mid-battles, and usually being carried around by Ignis).

They go to meet Cor.

Actor Cor is poker-faced. The entire time. He responds mechanically and in monosyllables. When he joins the fight, he moves like a robot.

The actors go to search for the first royal weapon.

Actor Prompto keeps telling jokes and Actor Gladio keeps bullying him.

Actor Cor only reacts when obligatory.

“They make it look like I’m more dead than a corpse” Cor says. No one in the gang says anything.

…only Regis chuckles a bit after a second and this earns him a glare of embarrassment from Cor.

Inside the dungeon, actor Prompto fainted out of fear.

“Hey, I’m not that scaredy!”

Ravus is still chuckling.

When they depict Noctis getting the first royal arm, the paper prop stabs him in the chest; actor Noctis exaggeratedly shrieks out and collapses.

“Oh no! Is he dead?”

“No. He just likes to nap at 1 o’clock.”

The audience laughs, and our gang is entirely unimpressed.

“…you know, it does hurt a bit when that happens. They shouldn’t joke with that”

Actor Monica leads Actor Noct to the infiltration to open the gates with Cor.

Oh no. They remember this part! The part with the tiny annoying brat of an imperial officer. That very short guy that didn’t shut up.

Oh no. Here he comes. One annoying and tiny…

“Well, wELL! IF IT’S ISN’T COR THE IMMORTAL!”

And suddenly, on stage, appears Actor Loqi….

…he’s a GIANT BOULDER OF A MAN.

LIKE, SO BIG AND SO STRONG. GIANT BUILT-UP ARMS AND BACK AND MUSCLES. THE MAN IS ALL BEEF AND STRENGTH.

“So you survived the Citadel! But you won’t survive what I, Loqi the Great Tummelt, have in store for you!”

“Wait a minute. Wasn’t that guy like…shorter and skinnier than me?” Prompto asks.

Cor is laughing.

He’s having so much fun staring at the scene, holy fuck, you should see him laugh and cover his eyes and mouth while watching this.

The actor chocobros are suffering at the hands of actor Loqi, whose cardboard mech keeps smashing them and tossing them around.

“Get away!” actor Cor is yelling. “This is too dangerous for you! Only I, Cor Leonis, the Immortal, Lucian Marshal, am capable of defeating him! This is a fight that belongs to us and only us! My eternal enemy! My personal opponent! My arch-nemesis! Loqi the Great Tummelt!”

Cor is still laughing so much.

“Who the fuck is that, oh my god, I don’t remember him, who spread the rumor that he was my arch-nemesis, wasn’t he like an inch tall, ahahaha!”

Skip to the travel to Lestallum.

Actress Iris phones actor Noctis.

“Oh, my celestial prince! My hero. My beloved Noctis. I am delighted and my heart is so full of hope and light now that I hear your dear voice and I know you’re alright and alive more than only in my heart. I wait for you, my dear heroic prince, in Lestallum. I shall wait for you however long it takes; the wait will be worth, so long it’s about you, my darling.”

“Wow, that actress is making it look like Iris likes me like, like-likes me, haha.”

The whole gang either stares at Noct in disbelief or just sigh because holy fuck, Iris could smack him in the face with a brick that says “I HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU” and Noctis still wouldn’t notice, this oblivious absolute DORK.

“I know the potential future princess of Lucis and only sister and dear family of Gladio just called to tell us she survived after many days with no notice of her or anyone…but what about instead of going to meet her we go to see the chocobo ranch?”

Lunafreya chuckles.

“Oh my. They really are depicting you guys as idiotic, stupid, childish immature dorks, you would never do such a thing like changing Iris and all your dear ones to go see chocobos first.”

The main four stay quiet and all try to not share any glance and they all go “uh…yeah, haha, that is…definitely right, we-didn’t do that, this- this play is so silly…”

…but Ravus chuckles again.

Ravus knows.

These dorks really did that, lmao.

There’s more about hunts and going into the dungeon in the waterfall cave and etc. Prompto keeps fainting and shrieking and making awful jokes, Gladio keeps yelling and flexing and stopping at random spots to do push-ups, Ignis keeps doing everything almost as if coreographed and on perfect timing, and Noctis keeps sleeping at random times.

There’s no actor Ardyn; no one but the bros have idea that he’s been the one helping. In the play he’s just the “Mysterious redhair hat guy”.

Redhair guy guides them to Cauthess Disc.

Actor Prompto made the tomb collapse, actor Gladio kept destroying boulders with bare hands and carrying an asleep Noctis through it, and actor Ignis just for some reason kept saying “Indubitably” at everything he heard.

For the Titan fight, they used puppets to depict the bros and the MTs and a person disguised in a Titan Kigurumi. This person ended up stumbling and falling midways through it.

They lost the Regalia and everything was fine and accurate to the story until the actor chocobros stOLE A CAR BECAUSE “THEY CAN’T GO ON THEIR FEET SORRY”.

Regis asked Noctis at least twenty times in the next 10 minutes “you really didn’t do that, right? Did you guys really steal a car? Hey Noct, I believe in you but you can tell me in all trust, okay, no worries if you did steal that car. Did you steal a car? Omg Noctis.”

They went to get Ramuh’s blessing.

In the cave, actor Prompto was kidnapped by a giant Naga, and actor Noctis had to rescue him.

Actor Gladio kept throwing giant prop boulders at the Naga and screaming “PROTEIN” while actor Ignis kept balleting around it for some reason.

“…do you ballet, Ignis?”

Ignis’ silence had been enough of an answer, but after a moment of blushing and embarrassment and staring elsewhere he just went with “…I think it’s recreative and helped greatly with developing my flexibility and my muscle weight and strength.”

“So that’s a yes.”

“Yes. What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing. I just can’t imagine you in a leotard.”

“And you won’t imagine it, pretty boy, so stop trying.”

That’s Gladio getting a bit jealous over there. He doesn’t want Jerkvus to imagine his Iggy in his precious purple leotard, THAT’S A SIGHT HE’S NOT WORTHY OF >:’(

Actor Noctis saved actor Prompto and carried him in arms bridal style.

“Oh! My hero! I knew you would save me

“Don’t worry, Prompto. Not only did I take you along despite knowing you’re useless because you’re funny, I also took you along because I think you’re cute.”

“O-oh…Noctis-sama…(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)”

“…oh my god they’re making it lo-  no homo, bro, you know that? I mean not that I’d mind but like- no? You know?”

“…yeh.”

They try to infiltrate an imperial base to recover the Regalia, BUT, of COURSE the ALMIGHTY EMPIRE has NO FLAWS and no one can infiltrate there!

THE CHOCOBROS ENDED UP SMASHED AND SHOOED AWAY, LONG LIVE THE EMPIIIIIREEEE!!

The play depicted that the chocobros HAD to use brute force and force a traitor imperial to be able to make it inside.

“Pscht. We did it on our OWN, come on >:(“

Ravus is chuckling.

“Hey, Ravus? Why are you smiling?”

“This is my favorite part.”

No one really knew what he was talking about; what was fun about the guys fighting overpowered imperials and recovering the car?

The actor chocobros recover the car. While talking in there, actor Prompto turns around.

Actor Prompto SHRIEKS OUT IN HYSTERICAL FEAR and then faints.

Actor Ignis has to take him away to protect him. Actor Noctis wakes up.

And so, Actor Ravus comes on in on stage!!!

“…oH MY GOD NO” it’s Gladio finally understanding why Ravus was chuckling and waiting for this. Ravus just laughs darkly again in his seat, satisfied with the Shield’s distress.

He doesn’t even mind that the actor is wearing the SUPER FAKE prosthetic on the wrong arm.

“It has been a very long while, Chosen One. Noctis.”

“Indeed it has, Ravus, Not Chosen.”

Gladio SNORTS and fights a lot with containing a hysterical laugh.

Damn he knows that’s Ravus MOST SORE and fragile spot, so he knows they hit him where it hurts most.

Ravus just frowns and his eyebrow twitches.

Actor Ravus gives a SUPER OMINOUS speech about Noctis not understanding his duty and being unworthy of it. Like SO OMINOUS, it’s worse than Gentiana levels of unintelligibly pompous.

Actor Noctis does complain about him serving the army that’s against Lunafreya.

“I do not serve! I command!”

Actor Ravus SLAPPED THE FUCK OUT OF ACTOR NOCTIS.

Like, no throat grabbing and jerking, HE FUCKING. SLAPPED HIM. LIKE DEAD ON THE FACE.

“Hey, that didn’t happen! That looks more humiliating than what really did happen!”

Ravus is chuckling again.

Actor Gladio gets in the way.

“HEY! NO SLAPPING! YOU SLAP THE TINY DORK, YOU SLAP ME FIRST. IT’S THE AMICITIA WAY! IT’S THE AMICITIA DUTY!” he’s yelling as he’s unnecessarily flexing. “YOU FIGHT HIM ONLY AFTER YOU FIGHT ME!” and then he unnecessarily rips his shirt apart and tosses the pieces to the sides and gets ready to fight.

Clarus chuckles in the row behind them.

“That’s my son.”

“! :D YEH!”

Actor Ravus gets close to him.

“The Shield of the prince. A useless, fragile shield that protects the unworthy and the weaker.”

And, said that, actor Ravus…flicks his forehead.

Actor Ravus. He flicked actor Gladio’s forehead. Flicked it.

And at the touch actor Gladio SHRIEKS OUT AND IS SENT FLYING BACKWARDS AND INTO THE CAR AND PAST IT AND INTO LOTS OF PROPS AND PAST THEM AND INTO THE WALL WHICH HE DESTROYS AND THE WALL COLLAPSES ON HIM, IT’S NUTS.

“…what the FUCK HE BARELY TOUCHED HIM! That’s not- that’s not what happened! Iggy! Iggy, you saw that, right? You know what really happened and it’s nothing similar to this, right!?”

Ignis hesitates.

“…uhm-”

“D: IGNIS!?”

“No! I’m sorry! No, I didn’t mean- what I mean is, it definitely wasn’t like that. You’re right.”

“…yeah…I know…:(“

Ravus snorts and properly laughs under his breath this time.

He has manners enough to contain himself and not burst laughing, but he laughs so much and contains it so much he even has to wipe away some tears of laughter.

“Ah. My favorite part. What a delight. How I wish we could replay that.”

Gladio’s really moody and upset right now, please don’t touch him.

The chocobros have to infiltrate another base, and of course they require of more dirty tricks and brute force to make their way inside.

They follow actor Caligo.

Speaking of which, it’s a young handsome man in his 30’s with Senpai face and a long, silky mane of black hair, giant blue eyes, and a gorgeous voice.

Aranea is cringing in her seat.

Caligo almost defeated them too, by the way. He was IN NO WAY captured or knocked out, he’s an imperial officer, of COURSE he won! The chocobros only won because they summoned a god and everyone knows that’s cheating and doesn’t count.

Actress Aranea comes in!

“FOR THE GLORY OF THE EMPIRE, YOU SHALL FALL!”

“What!? Who said that!?”

Actress Aranea comes into the scene….

F L Y I N G

Actress Aranea is tied to one of those ropes to fly and SHE GOES INTO THE SCENE FLYING, THEN SHE FLIES ABOVE THE PUBLIC, THEN BACK, AND SHE KEEPS ATTACKING WHILE RANDOMLY FLYING INTO THE AIR.

Aranea bursts out laughing.

“Ahahahahahah!! I mean, I do jump very high, but that girl is FLYING! Ahahahahah!!”

Aranea is having a LOT of fun.

Mostly because actress Aranea is SLAYING THE FUCK OUT OF THE CHOCOBROS.

Actress Aranea is super skinny and wearing a pair of fake boobs, but Aranea thinks it’s cool.

And by fake boobs I mean. They’re giant. Giganormous. Anime tiddies.

“Why are my boobs so big?”

“I mean, they wrote the script based on what they heard or what people would tell them, so I guess that’s how people described you.”

“Wow, from all the things people had to look at, they remember me for giant boobs?”

“Aw :( I’m so sorry, Aranea. Women shouldn’t be sexualized like thi-”

“Because damn they’re right, I have to admit my boobs are quite nice! You ever touched them, pretty boy?”

“WhA- NO! WHY WOUL- ARANEA MY DAD IS HERE, NO.”

“Hey, mister dad? Your son touched them.”

“Oh. Really?”

“Yeah, and he’s also seen them in flesh and-”

“ARANEA NO WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE TO YOU WHY ARE YOU RUINING MY LIFE LIKE THIS.”

Aranea didn’t talk much because she’s entertained watching the play and actress Aranea fly around like a real dragon slaying the boys.

She’s also flirting with both actors Prompto and Ignis all along the fight.

Actor chocobros end up defeated and knocked out on the ground on a pile.

Actress Aranea stands on top of them, with her heel on actor Noctis’ face.

“I would END YOU RIGHT NOW. But you know what, I won’t.”

“Why?”

“Just because. See you later, guys!”

“…is that really how it happened? You could have ended them and didn’t and then you just. Joined them? Just like that?”

“Of course not! I had an interesting arc and character development, if you must know!”

“…so did you really just leave and then joined them for no reason?”

“…yeah.”

The actor chocobros are taking Iris to Caem.

Actress Iris is a VERY tall and SUPER INCREDIBLY HUNK young lady that keeps flexing and screaming PROTEIN along Gladio, and fist-pumping with him while yelling “AMICITIA! AMICITIA! AMICITIA!” like brute gorillas.

Clarus finds it a cute sight and is proud.

“Wow, look at the actress playing Iris!”

“I’m sure that’s a man.”

“Wow, look at the actor playing Iris! He makes her look all beefy and super strong and super scary!”

There’s a long silence.

“Most accurate thing so far.”

Everyone agrees.

Actor Gladio informs he will momentarily leave the party.

“I HAVE BEEN DISGRACED BY THAT DEFEAT IN THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY RAVUS. I AM UNWORTHY OF BELONGING IN THIS RETINUE AND I MUST GO AWAY TO PUNISH MYSELF WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FINDING SOME GROWTH AND SOMETHING TO PUNCH. I HAVE TO GO AWAY TO SPEND A WHILE AT THE GYM BEFORE COMING BACK. DO YOU FEEL ME, BRO? CAN I LEAVE YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LITERAL DUTY TO GO DO PERSONAL STUFF NOW?”

“….ZzZz…Oh? Ah. Yeh. Whatever. Just let me sleep.”

Actor chocobros except actor Gladio get to the ruins in the Vesperpool and they meet actress Aranea again.

“Hey guys! I know I kicked your asses last time but I think I changed my mind, mind if I join you?”

“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?! AFTER ALL YOU’VE PUT ME THROUGH, YOU EXPECT US TO LET YOU IN JUST LIKE THAT?! JUUUUUUUST LIKEEEEEEEEE THAAAAAAAT!?!?!?”

“Yes.”

“.___.     Fine.”

“FINE!?”

“Hey, she’s very persuasive.”

(High five to myself for that disney reference *highfive*)

Episode Gladio…. Hasjdjaklf

Actor Gladio spends his time away in the gym and flexing and eating carbs before he goes into a cave to face the Evil Darklord.

(Nobody knows about Gilgamesh, okay, the writers had to make something up).

Cor accompanied him.

“HEY COR. THANK YOU FOR JOINING IN THIS WITH ME.”

“You’re welcome. I’m happy to help in your self-discovery journey, what about we talk about myself?”

“That wasn’t like that.”

Gladio stays quiet and frowning and analyzing it for a bit before he turns.

“…but it was like that, we talked about just you.”

“But that’s because you asked!”

“That’s because you offered it!”

“Wha- no! Why would I talk about myself just like that? You started!”

Basically episode Gladio goes about Cor and Gladio being work-out buddies.

Actor Cor rarely shows any reaction even when he’s being hit in the face.

“Wow…they make it look like I never smile or something…”

Gladio stayed quiet again analyzing everything.

“…but you really didn’t smile.”

Cor didn’t answer.

The actor chocobros go to Altissia, and we get a skip to Lunafreya who receives the news.

“My beloved prince Noctis is coming?” everything is fine. And then- “OH!” then dramatically sobs. “That is…wonderful news! His presence means light. His presence means a savior. His presence…” she sobs and sniffs again, and then she throws herself to her knees, hands to the sky. “His presence…means HOPE! SO MUCH HOPE! Hope for the world!” she sobs louder and throws herself onto the chair. “HOPE FOR EVERYONE!” she lets herself to the floor. “Forgive me if I’m getting too emotional but…this touches my heart and fills it WITH SO MUCH HOPE!”

And so actress Lunafreya burst out into hysterical hyper dramatic tears.

Actor Ravus talks with Actress Lunafreya.

“Lunafr-”

Actress Lunafreya bursts into hysterical tears.

“I can’t go on, brother! The hope! It’s dying and I can’t revive it! I’ve tried for so long to keep it alive, but it’s too much for me anymore! I’m not strong enough! Oh, the hope! You have to carry on with my duty for me, brother; let Noctis know that I love him and that I…I have HOPE IN HIM”

Actress Luna continued crying.

Luna chuckles a bit, but also hides a little behind a hand out of embarrassment.

“Sure I’m not that dramatic…”

Nobody answered.

Skip to the summit with Camelia.

Actress Camelia is far overweight and wearing far too much make-up, almost like a clown.

“You are aware, mister prince Noctis, that Accordo has been under the orders of the empire and loyally serving it for over a hundred years.”

“Yes.”

“As servants to the empire, we’re supposed to do as they tell us; Niflheim does but look for the good of the people. Waking Leviathan will cost the lives of half Accordo and bring destruction to the world.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s DO IT.”

Noctis is groaning in his seat while actress Camelia goes about some fake speech of how she’s betraying “the good guys” for money and etc.

“If only it had really been that easy…”

Skip to Noctis chasing after Leviathan. The imperials are depicted as the good guys that try to stop the destruction by killing Leviathan, and Noctis somehow ends up riding her and laughing like a maniac while guiding Leviathan into destroying half Accordo.

It’s beautiful and bizzarre.

Skip to episode Ignis.

Ignis is ballet-ing his way through Altissia.

He actually looks pretty badass with those pirouettes slaying MTs as he goes, look at that fine young gentleman.

Soon enough he’s joined by Ravus.

“I will destroy you, Ignis Scientia!”

Actor Caligo appears.

“I think your hair is weird!” he says to Ravus.

Actor Ravus looks at Ignis again.

“Never mind that, now I’ll join you, Ignis Scientia!”

Both kill Caligo.

Noctis: “What the fuck was that.”

Ravus: “That didn’t happen.”

Actor Ignis and Ravus slay some MTs before they stop and the atmosphere suddenly gets warm and in dim reddish lights like in a damn burdel.

Suddenly, both get a bit too close to each other.

“Oh, Ravus. I had never seen you from this close before” actor Ignis touches his lips and looks up at him. “I think you’re very attractive.”

Gladio, from his seat, flinches and goes “What?”

Actor Ravus gets some steps away.

“What? We can’t do this. We’re on enemy teams. My heart proudly belongs to the empire” (Ravus ‘pscht’s from his seat) “and rumors have it you’re already dating the Shield of the prince!”

“Gladiolus?” actor Ignis asks, and then he chuckles with some sarcasm. “Oh, Ravus. Don’t be ridiculous. I love him like a brother and just that!”

Gladio was frowning; now his expression just softens in some sort of insecurity, and he’s very attentive on the play.

“So then…you’re single?” actor Ravus asks him, and then he goes back to break the distance between them, and he hugs him with an arm, pulling him close to himself. “Ignis. The man with the beautiful eyes. I will now betray the empire and will swear loyalty to the king of Lucis and help him in his journey…for you.”

“Oh, Ravus…”

“Ignis…”

Both actors proceed to embrace each other and then they kiss.

And they go on.

And on and on.

Actor Ravus may have grabbed actor Ignis by the butt.

The play may have implied that these two slept together during the events of Altissia.

Ravus and Ignis are staring eye-widened and in shock, then they subtly look at each other, then finding the other staring, both look away in absolute embarrassment and burning red in the faces.

Gladio’s really, really upset.

The worst part is that he feels insecure, not jealous, which I think is worse.

Actor Ravus betrayed actor Ignis again and that’s how Ignis ended up kidnapped in imperial hands; then actor Ravus betrays the empire again and joins the actor chocobros to go rescue Ignis.

“I betrayed just ONCE and it was for good. They make it look like I don’t have a position in this and just betray every time things go bad for my team.”

The actor chocobros get the help of actress Aranea to go into Nif territory.

Actor chocobros end up in Gralea to rescue Ignis, who they find dead.

Apparently, Ignis died as result of wearing the ring, when trying to open the gates of the city for the chocobros.

“No! Ignis!”

Actor chocobros + actor Ravus cry for him, until actor Noct uses his magic ring.

“In the name of the moon! Healing magical power of the kings! Hi-yah!”

“…that’s not how you use the ring.”

Prompto laughs.

“They make you sound like a magical girl, dude.”

While using the ring, actor Noctis asked actor Gladio to hold Ignis for a moment.

When actor Ignis comes back alive, actor Gladio yells out

“IGNIS! YOU LIVE! OH, MY DEAR BROTHER! I WAS WORRIED FOR YOU…LIKE A GOOD BROTHER WOULD BE.”

Gladio just “Pscht”s.

Actor Gladio is pushed aside by actor Ravus, who holds Ignis in an over-dramatic over-romantic way.

“Oh, Ignis…light of my new life, star of my new skies, love of my new life…you live…”

“Ravus. I fought to stay alive…for you.”

“Oh, Ignis!”

“Ravus!”

“Ignis!”

These two incoherently start making-out again in front of everyone as the actor chocobros cheer for them or throw petals on them.

This finishes with Gladio’s patience.

Gladio gets up from his seat and leaves; Prommy asks him if he can bring some gummies when he comes back.

Skip to Lunafreya staying behind somewhere “safe” instead of coming along in the journey like a damsel in distress, she cries because she’s back home in Tenebrae and that gives her so much hope.

She’s questioned about Noctis and if she doesn’t want to stop the rituals despite this wearing her out.

We get a flashback of actress Luna in Tenebrae.

Actor Ravus approaches her.

“Lun-”

“OH RAVUS!” actress Luna is hysterically crying again.

Actress Luna went on in a rant about hope and light, crying all the time. Actor Ravus stayed still and frozen like a statue, frowning.

“Just get over that boy, Lunafreya. You’re way prettier than he deserves.”

“…he didn’t say that, Noc-”

“Yes, I did. In other words, but yes I did.”

Savage, Ravus.

“He’s never going to be worthy!”

“After you were proven unworthy, you say that about everyone!”

“SHUT UP, LUNAFREYA!”

“Why are you yelling at me!?”

Ravus sighs in his seat.

“They make it look like I’m totally stiff and humorless, except from the times I’m with Ignis.”

Ignis chuckles. “Actually, I think that actor’s pretty spot on.”

Ravus: “How can you say that!?”

Actress Lunafreya: “I think Noctis is cute.”

Actor Ravus: “HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT!?”

Ignis just laughs.

There’s an intermission where the guys mop and complain about the things that aren’t accurate. Aranea is the only one happy with her character. Noctis tries comforting Prompto about him not being useless, Regis talks with Noctis about sleeping during important fights, etc.

“Have you guys seen Gladio?” Ignis asks after a while.

“He went for snacks ten minutes ago and I’m still waiting, bro!”

Ignis decides to go look for him.

Ravus is moping and Aranea goes see what’s wrong.

“What’s with the long face, tough boy? Not enjoying your character?”

“It’s easy for you to not be upset about this. You get a flying badass super strong heroine, but to me this is just a reminder of all the things I did wrong. From wearing the ring to having joined the empire, and things like failing to protect Ignis in Altissia…which they didn’t only rub in my face again, but also manipulated to make it seem like it was because of me that he got captured. It’s telling me how many mistakes I’ve done in my life and how it’s going nowhere. That I should have believed in Noctis since the beginning.”

“Hm. You sound pathetic, Ravus. You know, I don’t think there’s a time to be correct. It took me years before I left the empire, too, and I don’t mop for what I did in the past. I just try to get my present right for once. You should be doing the same. Besides, your sister is watching. I thought you wanted to make her proud; sitting here and mopping won’t get it. You get up and fight for the good causes now. Okay?”

Ravus smiles at her and thanks her, even when he doesn’t really like being lectured.

A random little kid that was chasing after his friend back into the theatre stops and looks at him. Like really looks; stays a while in there just staring.

“Oooh…your Ravus costume is SUPER COOL! But the fake arm goes on the other side!”

Ravus just blinks in disbelief at the child.

While the kid runs away, Aranea stops Ravus before Ravus gets to grab him by the skull, eyebrow twitching and face entirely unimpressed and soul screaming.

While the guys talk, Ignis finds Gladio at a balcony, grumpy and down in the dumps.

“Hey, Gladio? Is anything the matter?”

“This play is stupid. Everything about it is stupid and I don’t like it. Let’s just go back and get out of here.”

“Calm down, Gladio. I know it’s silly and far unrealistic, but it’s not so that you take it this personally.”

“Gods, I’m just- so angry right now…”

Ignis is quiet and doesn’t know very well what to say. More than angry, Gladio looks plain sad. Ignis tries standing next to him to at least let him know he’s there.

“Did you really mean that, Ignis?”

“What? If you could be a bit more specific…”

“Back in the play. You said- that you love me as just a brother. And I…”

“…Gladio? What do you mean?”

“Never mind. Forget it.”

Ignis stays quiet again and they say nothing for a long while. After the long pause, Gladio clearly tries saying something but seems to not know how, but after some attempts he puts the head slightly down and just lets it out.

“…did you really- kiss Ravus? Back in Altissia, I mean…”

“What?” Ignis is taken completely off-guard. But he laughs a bit. “Of course not. The writers just…took me to make me the romantic arc of the story, with the first person they saw, and built an over-dramatic romance.”

“Right, but why didn’t they take anyone else, then? Why Ravus?”

“I know you’re not exactly friends with him, but it’s not so you overreact, Gladio-”

“I just mean it was me who held you in arms after Noctis healed you! Not him! And it was me who carried you outside and looked after you until today…not him…”

“…Gladio-”

“And it was…I just…thought there was maybe something going on between us. But it’s not, is it? You see me as the actor says, as just a brother. Right?”

“…Gladio, it’s just a play. I think…we could talk about us sometime else, okay? When you’re feeling better…if- you wish.”

Gladio is still down in the dumps, and can’t help it, but he knows Ignis is right about discussing this later, so he just nods.

Gladio does think about leaning in to steal a kiss from him, but he really doesn’t want to ruin it, or make a move that may upset or offend Ignis, so he resists.

Secretly, Ignis thought about holding his hand, maybe even dare to reach and kiss him, knowing it’s going to make Gladdy feel better, because yes, Ignis understands his feelings and they’re reciprocate, but he also really wants the moment of confession to be special, so he doesn’t dare make a move.

These two idiots hngh…just- kiss already AAAAHHHHH

Both head back to the play.

This time, Ignis makes sure to let Gladio sit in the seat next to Ravus, so Ignis is sat only next to Gladio.

Ignis also makes sure to throw hints at him by leaning against him and softly resting a hand on his arm across the rest of the play.

It does help Gladdy to feel better. :’3

The story follows the guys making their way through Gralea.

Ignis back then was healed but not fully and hence still blind, and the play didn’t miss that out.

Actor Ignis is going around SLAYING MTs and being a badass.

“Wow, Ignis, we thought you were blind?”

Actor Prommy is waving a hand in front of his eyes.

Actor Ignis is all smirk and then he goes.“I can see you doing that. I can still see, I see everything you see, except I don’t see like you do. I release a sonic wave from my mouth. Like this.”

Actor Ignis turned to look at the others and SCREAMED VERY  LOUDLY.

Like, SO LOUDLY. It’s a shriek. It’s a screech.

Actor Ignis is screaming so loudly, the chocobros, in the LAST row, all flinched and covered their eyes.

Everyone is staring at actor Ignis in absolute terror.

Actor Ignis is still yelling.

After like a whole minute he shuts up.

“There. I got a pretty nice look at you.”

Skip to Nox Fleuret sblings meeting again.

“Lu-”

“I KNOW WHAT MY DUTY IS!!! I KNOW WHAT IT’S DOING TO ME!!! STOP BEING SO CRUEL TO ME, BROTHER!!! YOU’RE SPOILING THE HOPE! THE HOPE!!”

Actress Lunafreya went into a long rant and speech about the hope and lost love for the next ten minutes and then bursts into hysterical tears..

Actor Ravus has been still the whole time staring poker-faced.

Actor Ravus, after the heartfelt, emotional speech, turns over his heels and leaves entirely unimpressed.

“Wow, they make it look like Ravus doesn’t care about you, Luna.”

“….yeah. It…definitely didn’t happen like that….”

Ravus is too scared to look at Lunafreya right now.

….he may….or may not….really have walked away unimpressed leaving her speaking alone….

The play doesn’t offer much other than what Cor is supposed to be doing and the guys making their way through Gralea.

“Well, we’ve reached the present. Guess that’s it.”

“Wait! There’s more!”

The gang is actually pretty curious about seeing what the play theorizes will happen in a future.

The scenography shows some creepy place.

“It’s in Zegnautus! There’s the imperial keep where the throne chamber is” Aranea informs the chocobros in a whisper.

Suddenly…ACTOR ARDYN COMES IN.

The chocobros all DAMN FREAK OUT AT HIS MENTION LIKE ZOMG THE MAN THAT’S MADE THEIR LIVES IMPOSSIBLE, they’re triggered even if they know it’s just an actor.

Actor Iedolas sits at the throne.

“My emperor!” actor Ardyn says as he bows before the emperor. “The Lucian prince and his friends have finally arrived here, in Zegnautus keep.”

“You’ve done well, Chancellor Izunia. They’re falling right in our hands, and on free will.”

“You were wise at advising we opened the doors for them. Our security is impeccable and they wouldn’t have been able to infiltrate or attack on their own.”

“You are not questioning me like that traitor of Nox Fleuret always did with my commands.”

“That’s because I have no doubts that you know what you’re doing and that you’ll be able to receive our guests as is deserved.”

Actor Prompto died at the hands of a random MT.

Prompto is pale and pretending he’s fine but you can see his soul abandoning his body in anxiety.

Actor Gladio died at the hands of Ravus because Gladio got angry at Noctis and tried to murder him and Ravus tried to save the day.

Actor Ignis died protecting Noctis from a valiant attack by the Chancellor.

Ravus couldn’t handle the loss and killed himself hugged to Ignis.

Noctis took the sword from Ravus and chased after the Chancellor alone.

Noctis arrives to the throne room.

“Emperor Iedolas! My sworn enemy!” Noctis says valiantly while swinging his sword in cool movements and pointing at the emperor. “I demand you give me back the Crystal that is by right mine! Give me back my source of power, you, greedy old man!”

“Greed? You think that what I want is the power that radiates from the Crystal?” the emperor asks him. “You, fool! I’m trying to save the world and the righteous people that live in it! You Lucians have kept the Crystal selfishly for yourselves all this time, not sharing it with anyone. We did steal it, I admit, but it’s for a greater cause! It’s for a bright and peaceful future!”

“Lies! I won’t listen to you! I don’t care about the future of the world, I only care about the future of my kingdom! Give it back!”

“You shall take it from my dead hands only.”

“So, I shall do!”

Suddenly, actor Noctis and actor Iedolas get into a frantic and pretty cool battle.

Someone in backstage is using mirrors and led lights to recreate Noctis’ armiger.

Actor Noctis is also tied by the waist to make some of his warps and big jumps.

“Fire spell! Hi, yah!”

The props are pretty decent, making a smoke bomb explode, or throwing random “snowflakes” when he uses blizzaga, etc.

Actor Noctis jumps around, armiger activated, the royal arms flying around, and Iedolas somehow manages to dodge and move away, and sometimes he counterattacks, it’s a frantic and pretty epic battle.

They reach a point where Actor Noctis stops on a side of the stage and Iedolas in the other. A prop of the Crystal “floats” in the back and in the middle.

Actor Noctis goes

“Oh, powerful Crystal that chose the Lucis two thousand years ago! Crystal that chooses the righteous and the fair, the good and the powerful, I claim your aid and ask you to finish this unworthy traitor of the gods!”

Noctis moves up in his seat, interested, and smiling all full of innocence and hope.

The “Crystal” suddenly starts gleaming.

Prompto shakes Noctis by the shoulders, as excited, and both boys watch happily.

The “Crystal” suddenly envelopes actor Noctis in its light.

The chocobros are all smiles and happiness while watching the moment, and then-

“Wh-what is happening…!? No….nooooo!!!”

Actor Noctis suddenly IS CONSUMED BY BLUE FIRE.

The light that previously surrounded him turns to blue papers that tornado around him, consuming him.

“AAAAAGHHHH!!! IT BURNS! IT BURNS! What is happening!? Why is the Crystal not giving me its power!? Why is it BURNING ME!?”

Suddenly, the previous lights go to cover and circle around actor Iedolas, who spreads the arms and looks up as if in divine realization.

While actor Noctis burns, actor Iedolas goes to give a speech.

“The Crystal…it has given me its approval!! I have been chosen as worthy!”

Actor Iedolas turns to look at actor Noctis and throws the arms of armiger at him, while actor Noctis still “burns”.

“The Lucis may have been worthy two thousand years ago…but not anymore! Their time has ended, their kingdom has fallen! They let their ego grow too much believing themselves superior only for being the safekeepers of the Crystal…but not anymore! The times change, and so does the choice of the gods, and this time, we have been chosen! We, Niflheim, are the new and righteous chosen of the Crystal, new warriors and safekeepers of it, we have been given the power that belongs to us, the superior race! And as the first emperor of the Crystal era, I have been chosen to eradicate the past, and finish the traitors of the gods, the Lucis Caelum! Your line ends here!”

“Nnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!”

There’s a whole show of lights and FIRE that comes out of nowhere and the endless armiger and dramatic music.

Actor Noctis ends up consumed and dead. The actor subtly-but-failed crawled out of the stage while actor Iedolas took the spotlight again and cheered for Niflheim.

Suddenly, the WHOLE audience goes HYSTERICAL and they break into loud clapping and cheering.

It’s a MESS of noise and “Yes!” and whistling, it’s chaos of joy in the theatre.

Except in the section where the good guys sit.

They’re all frozen and stare eye-widened at the stage.

Then, everyone simultaneously and in dead silence turns to look at Noctis.

Noctis is sat there, arms-crossed as he last was, eye wide, and face pale, and he’s whole frozen.

They spent like that like a whole minute before Noctis realizes he’s been observed.

“…I….hadn’t thought of that possibility….”

Long story short, our gang ends up exiting and leaving for their current hideout, all trying to make of this a not big deal.

“Eh, it’s not even a good script.”

“Yeah, it’s full of holes.”

“I didn’t even like it that much anyway.”

“You’re right. Absolutely pointless.”

And they never watched that play again.

*music*

*ending screen*

*credits roll*

[kaoru-takaida]

FFXV Comrades Fanfiction

*SPOILER ALERT*

If you have played Final Fantasy XV and/or watched the Kingsglaive movie that accompanies it, and completed the Prompto DLC, read at your own risk. There are major spoilers in here... So don't say I didn't warn you...

Chapter Two

Lumine reaches up to the door, ready to knock. But she hesitates. She wasn't sure if this was such a great idea. She'd always resigned herself to keeping to herself. But something in Prompto negated that, much to her surprise. Though, she's sure that no one would blame her for her thinking. She looks down at the bottle of wine in her hands. Was this too much for a "hang out between friends" kind of thing? The only friends she'd ever had was the other Glaives. Most notably Sadda, Tobul, and Luca.

But she sighs. Composing herself, and knocking finally. "Oh! Sorry! Hold on a sec!" Prompto's voice calls. She waits a moment. Her mind telling her to turn around and leave. The door opens and a winded Prompto is there. He smiles up at her. "Sorry about that... Was just, um... " He laughs nervously. "Tidying up?" He steps aside. "Come on in."

She cautiously steps in and immediately takes notice at how unexpectedly clean it was. And it didn't actually even smell like a man's apartment. Then again, he'd said he'd just tidied up. So she'll have to catch him on a day he isn't prepared. She instantly shakes the thought from her head and turns to him as he closes the door. "I brought some wine. I'm not sure if you drink wine or not. But I guess a perk of all this chaos is the fact we can drink and no body will be calling the cops."

They both give an awkward laugh and Lumine mentally slaps herself. Prompto smiles, taking the bottle of wine as she hands it over. "Thanks. I'll get some glasses." Lumine pauses a second before cocking an eyebrow.

"Prompto. I-Is something burning?" She asks.

He yelps before dashing into the kitchenette. "Gah! No no no!" She strides over and sees Prompto in a flurry. He hurriedly tries to save the food on the stove. She smiles to herself and laughs a bit. Just as she does, the smoke detector starts to alarm. "Ah!"

Lumine strides over to the window. She opens it and makes her way to the kitchenette. She grabs a wash cloth from the counter and waves it in the air, trying to direct the smoke to the window. Lumine looks to Prompto, and points to the pan of sauce in his hands. "Bring that to the window, the alarm should shut off soon."

He rushes it over and sets it on the window sill. He himself starts waving a rag in the air to break up the smoke. After a few seconds, the alarm stops and they both sigh in relief, sitting on the floor next to the window and fire escape. "That was... not what I expected." He says, fussing with his hair a bit, nervousness in his voice.

Lumine laughs, tossing the wash cloth at him. "Well, to be honest, that's about what I expected." She teases. He scoffs, throwing both wash clothes back at her. They take a second before they both start laughing. She looks at the sauce. "It might have just been the pan burning. So the sauce may still be fine." Lumine stands up. She looks over as she sees a colander filled with thin noodles on the counter. Lumine laughs again. "Do you need anymore help?"

Prompto shakes his head. "Nah. Thanks, though." He stands up, taking the pan from the window and to the kitchen. She sits down at the counter, watching as he tries to save his meal. Not 15 minutes later, they're eating spaghetti. "So? How's it taste?"

Lumine smiles. "Not burnt if that's what you're wondering." Prompto laughs. A mix of pride, embarrassment, and something she thinks is nervousness. Lumine nods. "Color me impressed, Mr. Argentum. Your meal doesn't suck."

Prompto laughs again. "Wow. Such high praise. You shouldn't have." He picks at his food. "I'm not as good a cook as Iggy. But I have my moments."

Lumine takes a drink of wine. "Honestly, I half expected to be eating Cup Noodles right now." Lumine says. Prompto nods. "But I'm glad you proved me wrong."

"Yeah, well. It was tempting." He tells her. "But I thought this would be way better." Prompto points his fork at her. "But if you tell Gladio that I said something was better than Cup Noodles, I will have no choice but to declare you as my enemy. Capisce?"

She gives him a taunting smile. Lumine folds her hands, resting her elbows on the table and setting her chin on her fingers. "Prompto Argentum? As my enemy? I can't have that. I guess your secret is safe with me." They both laugh.

He sighs before looking back at Lumine. "Speaking of Gladio, he tells me that you were very adamant about beating us." He points his fork at her, again. "Don't think that we'll hold back when you face all three of us at the same time!"

She scoffs. "There's no way I'm facing all three of you at once..." Lumine tells him. "That's a one way ticket to losing... especially since all of you have clearly gotten stronger since I faced each of you last." She takes another sip of the wine. "Especially against Ignis... He won't give me one second to think."

Prompto thinks a moment. "Oh yeah, he told me to tell you something about that." Lumine looks over at him, setting her glass down and eyebrows up in curiosity. He closes his eyes before pointing up at the ceiling in a scolding manner. "'You're stance is too close together.'" He begins, in a goofy and terrible accent similar to Ignis. "'You shouldn't depend solely on your warping capabilities, it makes you predictable. And what is with your obsession with your offensive spells? You should only use those when you're clearly in a pinch. You have a long way to go before you can be considered an expert...'" Prompto smiles. "I think-." He looks over at a very annoyed looking Lumine who's squeezing the cloth napkin in her right hand with a death grip. Her eyebrow twitches a bit. "... that's it..." He finishes, swallowing hard.

She clenchs her teeth. "That bastard..." she murmers. Prompto laughs. She sighs to herself. "Didn't think I had so many things wrong in combat... Next time, I'll just have to beat the cockiness outta him..."

Prompto cocks an eyebrow. "Good luck with that. Mind if I watch?"

"Yeah, go ahead. Have a front row seat with some popcorn." Lumine says, in a cocky stuppor. They both laugh again. She takes a second before closing her eyes and sighing. "All joking aside..." Lumine begins. "Thank you for inviting me over." She looks into her wine glass. "I... I don't usually do well, making friends and all." She tells him.

He purses his lips a bit. "Can I ask why that is?" Prompto asks. "I mean, when we met, you were hesitant to even give me just your name." Prompto takes a drink of his wine now. "It's totally cool if you don't wanna answer. I get it." He says. He points his thumb at himself. "I was like that too when I was a kid. Then I met Noct and everyone else." He smiles. "Now I cherish every friendship. But you have to let people in to make friendships."

"Well..." She clears her throat. "I take a big risk, letting people in. I don't allow too many people to get close. And it's all thanks to my Imperial... heritage..." She inhales. "The mention of my birthplace usually is a turn off. Even in these confusing times. People still hate me for being a Niff. Maybe it's for the best-."

"That's not true!" Prompto says, dropping his fork angrily so that it clinks against the plate, making Lumine shudder at the sudden motion. He holds his hands up showing that he's not going to do it again. "Being from Nifilheim doesn't make you who you are. You're a Lucian. Just like all of us." He tells her. "Just like me..." He says, seeming a bit sad at the last part.

Lumine blinks, keeping that same shocked look on her face. Before she exhales a long breath. "Thank you. I'm glad you think that way." She tells him. But a tear slips from her eye. She wipes it quickly though. Prompto nods once, the corners of his mouth trying to smile. But he can't bring himself to do it.

Prompto watches as Lumine shifts in her sleep on the couch. He laughs to himself, grabbing a folded blanket from the cupboard. He covers her and pulls the blanket over her shoulders. "I told you you had too much to drink." He murmers. Prompto watches a second, Lumine smiling in her sleep for a few seconds. She looks younger when she's asleep. If she hadn't had the tattoos and the scars, a person would think her a preteen or teenager. Given, he was only a few months older than her. He steps out onto the fire escape and looks out into the lit city. He looks up at the night sky. "Hey, Noct." He says. "You know, she reminds me a lot of you." He smiles and looks down at his hands on the rail. "She puts the weight of the world on her shoulders as a Glaive. And..." He scoffs. "She's not even from Lucis. And she cares about it like she was born here. She cared about your father. And-and..." He sighs, thinking it's ridiculous, him talking as if Noctis were right there with him. "... about you..." He looks back up at the sky. "I guess she and I have more in common than we thought." He smiles, pursing his lips before guffawing softly. "Who'da thunk?"

In The living room, on the couch, Lumine blinks once, a very unsettling look on her face. She'd heard everything... (He's wrong...) She thinks to herself, a pained expression taking over. (We do have things in common. But one thing heavily outweighs all of those...) She closes her eyes and snuggles into the couch a bit more. (I'm... the only one of my kind left. I'm...) She drifts back to sleep, a tear rolling down her cheek. (... all alone. And a monster...)

[randomfandomimagine]

Birthday Surprise (Gladiolus Amicitia x Reader)

Characters: Gladiolus Amicitia

Fandom: Final Fantasy XV

Tags: Reader Insert, Gender Neutral Reader, Fluff, Birthday

Warnings: None

Requested by anon: Hey! I adore your blog! My bday is this month, so I was thinking of Gladio making a Build-a-bear him for his SO to hug when he's gone. He also recorded a sweet message for the bear to say. They also bought him a load of books for his upcoming bday too. Thanks! 

A/N: I don’t really know the exact date of your birthday, but happy birthday dear anon! Hope you like this little scenario, have an amazing day! <3

You were so excited that butterfles kept flying at will inside your stomach. You felt so giddy and jittery that you could hardly contain the emotion. He was bound to arrive any minute now. 

Indeed, soon enough there was a knock on your front door. You quickly eyed the wrapped gift you had prepared for him and rushed to the door to open it. 

As soon as you did, you were received by two big arms that engulfed you in a bear hug. You recognized the low chuckle against your ear and embraced the feeling of being held by Gladio once more. 

“Gladdy!” You happily greeted him, returning the hug.

“Hey, babe!” He seemed just as excited to see you. “How are ya?” 

“I’d be better if I could breathe” You joked, feeling like the hug was a bit too tight.

“Sorry, Y/N” Gladio chuckled again as he carefully put you on the floor again.

As soon as you broke away, you took a good look at Gladio. It felt like months since you last saw each other even if it had been just a couple of weeks. Luckily, and in spite of how busy he was with being the prince’s Shield and all that, you could meet to celebrate both your birthdays since they came close by. And also to exchange presents. 

Gladio looked as big and handsome as always, and that same smile was plastered on his lips, the one he always had around you. Just like the loving look on his amber eyes.

“I’ve missed you so much!” You stood on your tiptoes to leave a kiss on his lips. 

He then caressed your cheek before coming in and closing the door behind him. He carried an enormous box behind him, nearly as big as he was. 

“Missed you too, babe” Gladio kept lovingly staring at you, showing he wasn’t lying.

“What’s that?” You asked curiously, observing the box.

“Your birthday present” He replied proudly, giving you a smirk.

“Oh” You saddly looked over to the piles of books you bought him, feeling like it was too bad a present in comparisson. 

“Hey” Gladio gently took your hand and squeezed it. “Bigger doesn’t mean better” 

You sweetly smiled at him, endeared by his attempts and also for realizing your thoughts so quickly. He knew you so well. 

“With you it does, big guy” You squeezed his tattooed arm, earning a soft guffaw from him. 

“C’mon” Still not letting go of your hand, he took you with him to sit down on the couch as he effortlessly carried the box behind him with his free hand. “Let’s open our presents” 

“Who goes first?”

“You, of course” 

You clapped your hands, excited, as you sat down and waited for him to put the box in front of you. You knew he was very strong, but he carried that huge box like it weighed nothing! He was just showing off.

You exchanged a glance with him before kneeling down on the ground and tearing down the cute red wrapping paper and revealing the box. When you opened it, you gasped with even more excitement as you saw your gift and pulled it out of the box. It was so big that Gladio had to help you hold it as he laughed in amusement. 

“You cheated! Pretending that this was so heavy” You used the teddy bear’s paw to punch Gladio in the shoulder.

“Have to take any opportunity to impress you, babe” He cutely wrinkled his nose and leaned in to leave a peck on your lips while you jokingly glared at him.

“I love it, Gladdy!” You carefully hugged it, almost afraid to ruin such a beautiful present. 

“It’s the biggest one so you think of me when I’m gone” He winked at you. “And so have something big to hug if you miss me” 

“It’s the best” You knew you were definitely going to miss him when he left on his journey to Altissia with Prince Noctis. 

You squeezed it tight, testing the similarities with your boyfriend. While it was almost as big as him and enveloped you like him, Gladio was strong and muscular so it wasn’t nearly the same. It would never replace Gladio anyway.

You were surprised, however, when the teddy bear produced a voice. Which, you realized, was Gladio’s. 

“It’s Cup Noodles time!” The voice said in his gruffy voice, earning a loud guffaw from you as well as him. 

You tried again, giving the stuffed animal another squeeze, and indeed Gladio’s voice spoke from it with another phrase, this one less comical and far more emotional.

“I love you, Y/N” It said, so you eagerly squeezed it again. “I miss  you” 

“Aw, Gladdy” You put the teddy bear away and went to hug the actual Gladio. “You haven’t left yet!”

“I just know how much I’m gonna miss you anyway” His arms tenderly wrapped around you too as his big hands sweetly ran up and down your back.

You felt like crying just thinking about how difficult it would be without him, missing him. But you knew you’d get to talk on the phone, and now you had that adorable and enormous teddy bear to hug in his absence. 

“Now it’s my turn” Gladio said, probably noticing your sadness again. 

“Yeah!” You went to pick up the heavy pile of books and Gladio had to put one of his big hands under them to help you carry them as you gave it to him. “Here!”

Gladio smiled a little as he opened the gift, eagerly tearing away the wrapping paper himself. Then he let out a soft yet impressed chuckle when the present was revealed. 

“This is great, Y/N” He cheerfully eyed the books, quickly going through the pages to take a look at them. “They will come in handy for the long car rides”

“They’re your favorites” It had taken you forever to decide on which books to buy him, but you knew him well enough.

“I know, I’ll read them on the Regalia and when we go to sleep, it’ll be great” He leaned closer again, now to leave a gentle kiss on your forehead. “Thanks, it’s perfect” 

“Happy birthday, babe” You both said at the same time before exchanging a sweet and passionate kiss on the lips. And that was only the beginning of a wonderful evening together. 

[chocobrotherapy]

Under the cut is the full conversation and headcanons Mod Pupper and I formed to fill in the gaps of Square’s poor use of Luna and the emotional impact and connection she could have had. It changed how Pupper will view the game with these things in the back of their mind now, so maybe it’ll do the same for you? Heck we may even do pictures about these things cause not to toot our own horns or anything, but these are god damn gold

Prepare to hurt!!

Mod Peach

petition to replace all lines using Luna’s name to fuckin onee-sama

Mod Pupper

FUCKIN PLEASE

YOU’RE MARRYING BIG SISTER LUNA?

BIG SISTER LUNA LOOKS AMAZING WHAT A QUEEN

big sister luna died sorry noct :(

Mod Peach

tbh if she was actually called that it probably would

have hurt so much cause they would have viewed her as a

sister figure and when she died it would rip hearts out

Mod Pupper

okay satan nobody asked

Mod Peach

I want to see the chocobros crying about losing their dear big sister Luna

Mod Pupper

tbh tho I would have loved that they were all childhood friends would have  given luna a more emotional impact

Mod Peach

ooooh wouldn’t that help explain Gladio’s violent reaction to Noct on the train? He just lost the only one who could really care for him the way a big sister did and of course, just like losing a lover, that pain gets misdirected and mistakenly taken out on someone else

Mod Pupper

because when she died it was just noctis who was a wreck, everyone else just

ohh shit

well noctis up to ya

Mod Pupper

everyone would have been just as devastated, and we didnt have to see gladio being a dick

hhh we just had to make a joke now we’re questioning the writing and what should have been so we could feel more

Mod Peach

It would have explained his dickishness if he had as much emotional investment as Noctis in Luna. Cause he’s so protective of Iris, I imagine it would be the same for big sis Luna too

when a joke can evolve into a full-blown AU and help

smooth over bad writing and plot holes

Mod Pupper

Exactly tho like

this is the development luna needs

she needs screentime with the chocobros

Mod Peach

honestly square just let us write luna’s dlc

we got this

Mod Pupper

or rewrite luna’s development

so people actually love her instead of not giving a shit

Mod Pupper

just imagining

Prompto crying over Luna because he lost one of his family, since

he’s one of those magitek things

Mod Peach

Prompto would probably scream cry over Luna’s death but we never got to see that or any emotional devastation

Mod Pupper

and Ignis is basically the same yeah? since we dont know any of his family Luna probably taught him manners that he should be teaching to Noct as they grow Gladio trying to be the older sibling but everyone prefers Luna

Mod Peach

yeeeees

Mod Pupper

And when Luna has to leave for whatever Oracle duty she has to do they get emotional because they know they won’t see her for a while

Mod Pupper

When the chocobros try to force Noct to eat his veggies, Luna gets mad and tells them to stop bullying him and you know

they’ll stop because

it’s big sista

Mod Peach

Luna being the one to teach a younger iggy how to do his hair and dress to impress, probably telling them that no matter what if you can walk in heels you’re going to intimidate someone Luna helping give Prompto some body confidence and just big SISTER LUNA

Mod Pupper

YES

also like prompto comes out with like his dream of being a photographer to Luna first because hes too shy

Mod Pupper

and she gives him all that confidence and to believe in himself

and when Ignis gets too carried away with his advisor duties

she’ll call him out

why cant ignis have fun

Mod Peach

She probably brings him things to practice taking

photos with and because she’s ~The Lunafreya, Blood of the Oracle~

she pulls some strings and gets Prompto a good camera, which is the

one he still uses all these years later

Mod Pupper

it’s irreplaceable and the most precious memento Luna left for

him because it’s what gave him the confidence to become the

silly photographer that he is

Mod Peach

just a scene of that, then it cuts to Prompto looking

down at the camera in his hands post-Leviathan would have worked so well

Mod Pupper

in episode ignis, they all run back to where Noctis, luna, and ignis were

But instead they all arrive together and they just see luna

healing noctis while he’s unconscious

They all run towards them to make sure they’re okay

As Luna stops healing Noctis she opens her eyes to see all three of them

Because the last thing she wanted to see is all four of them together

She’d look at them then a tear would shed down her face

They all looked relieved for a moment

Then she closes her eyes then her little oracle spirit appears

behind them as she gives her final farewell

Mod Peach

the chocobros crying out for Luna as she slips away or even one of them spotting Ardyn stabbing her and just running towards her repeating no

Mod Pupper

then they turn around to see her body is no longer there, and all you see beside Noctis is her favorite flower

Mod Pupper

Adding on to Prompto

Luna asks Prompto if he could show all the pictures he took

on his journey with the chocobros to her when they finally meet again

Mod Pupper

And in the end he never got the chance to so he put his camera away for some time until he got over it because he just couldn’t bare to look or take pictures

Mod Peach

and that becomes the main reason he takes photos and has Noct choose them because he wanted the very best to be given to her so that she can feel like she was a part of their travels and not feel left out

Mod Pupper

And you know what, this is perfect

Mod Peach

and it hurt Prompto so much at the end of the game when Noctis went to face his fate cause it would have been a good chance to have Noctis say the exact same thing that Luna did at the beginning and it hurt him cause it really made him realize that he’s going to lose Noctis just like Luna

Mod Pupper

By the end of the game Noctis asks for one picture to take with him

Mod Peach

but this time he does get to bring a memory with him

Mod Pupper

So that Luna can finally see a picture of their time together

PAINFUL

Mod Pupper

and at the back of the picture are just little messages the chocobros wrote for the two

Mod Peach

the message is just

“stand by me”

and little wet spots where Prompto’s tears wet it

or even “walk tall, we’ll see you soon”

Mod Pupper

“Sorry we missed the wedding”

Mod Pupper

When Luna sends out Umbra for those back and forth letters She also leaves stuff for the bros Like “Prompto is probably running out of film so can you give this to him?” “Gladio also loves cup noodles so I sent some for him too.” “And fresh seafood ingredients for Ignis, I also got him new spectacles for extra comfort”

[xylianna]

....It took Ignis a while to realize that he was shaking, literally trembling where he stood, his jaw hanging inelegantly open as he gaped at the scene before him. Astrals, he hadn’t been this wonder-struck since his first visit to the club.... *blush* ummmm like this whole chapter to be perfectly honest.

You. I like you. 

I’m going to totally commentate the entire freakin’ chapter because insomnia is refusing to let me sleep and I love the chance to blather on about my work to a willing audience!

I will be kind and put it behind a cut, though.

Okay, I’m pulling up the chapter and commenting as I go, so if you read it as you go my comments might make more sense!   Wait, first I should make coffee.  Coffee is love, coffee is life. 

Okay, I’m back with coffee!  So, the first thing I’ll say about this chapter is it’s actually the first thing I wrote. Specifically, the Ignis POV starting with his arrival at the club.  A few days later, I wrote the Gladio POV, and a couple days ago, I added the paragraphs at the beginning about Ignis’s relaxing day going to the farmer’s market, coffee shop, etc to help it flow from chapter 1 better.  I initially was going to have this be maybe chapter 4 or so, but I said fuck it, let’s start the bdsm off right out of the gate so people know what they’re reading, lol.

Lest you think those first few paragraphs are merely filler, let me assure you I love Ignis getting downtime, and I will write it into as many stories as I can.  It’s a good balance for how often I put him through all the angst.

So, Iggy’s outfit I put a lot of thought into!  He’s a strategist, so I figured he’d have his disguise nailed.  First, the suit.  Iggy wears suits all the time, but I headcanon they are perfectly tailored, high class affairs.  So for this, he wears something off the rack.  The red tie was actually an in-joke/call back to a scene in my co-authored fic with @aliatori, This Too Is Sacred (check it out).   He couldn’t take his car, too much of a clue to his identity.  He absolutely cannot speak - his accent?  Way too recognizable.  So we have the silent, carless, off-the-rack suited, masked Hawk, anonymous in the crowd but still a bright beacon to those who are looking closely, because even with the different guise, it’s still Iggy, and he’s still amazing.

Fun fact:  the card Iggy needed to show the doorman to get in?  Based off a local kink party I attended for several years before it stopped running. You had an approval process, and once you were totally vetted you got your card and then you could get into events without signing waivers or being vouched for etc.

I also borrowed heavily from personal experience when I described what he saw/heard/smelled as he walked into the club proper.  The very first kink event I went to had a dress code that was basically formal wear or fetish wear, if you showed up in jeans + tshirt you wouldn’t be allowed in.   While I personally don’t feel the need to be that strict, I like the atmosphere of everyone being formal, whatever that means to them.  I also thought it fit Iggy.

The ridiculous cacophony of conversation/sounds of beatings/loud music takes some getting used to, haha.    And I am here for being in a room that basically overwhelming smells like leather.

The ‘rules’ I put in place are again, stolen from real events I attended. Not that consent is a unique rule since its the law everywhere that I live.   Anonymity is super super important at events like this though.  The best events are the ones that manage to feel exotic, but still like a safe space where you can just be yourself.  The no alcohol thing, too.   You really don’t want to mix consensual beatings with intoxication.

Okay I live for the headcanon that while Ignis’s refusal to speak is part of his effort to keep his identity secret, that his refusal to cry out during play is also a challenge issued to every top he scenes with.  

“Who was that, in the far corner there?”  the point where everyone is hopefully shouting IS IT GLADIO IS IT GLADIO

I stopped typing for several minutes because I read the paragraph describing Gladio giving that beating and… yeah. lol. 

Iggy of course gets pissed seeing him there, because as we established in chapter 1 he has a gigantic unrequited crush on a man he perceives as straight and therefore off-limits.  Also, I try to make the characters human, and Iggy losing his temper at something that isn’t actually a wrong action on anyone’s part makes him very human to me.

One of my favorite lines this chapter: “He cautiously walked closer, knowing he was playing with fire - if anyone could see through his masquerade, it would be Gladiolus - but like the proverbial moth he was drawn ever closer to that brightly burning flame.”     Not to toot my own horn or anything haha!

Now we’re to the section you actually put in my ask box.   Ignis has totally lost hold of his self control at this point. Well, not totally, I suppose.  Totally would have had him going right up to Gladio and kissing the crap out of him, lol.  But seeing the man he’s been crushing on is also a skilled and inventive top, it’s all a little too much for our Igster.

And then, Ignis’s play partner finds him.   I tried to strike a balance between writing their scene so that the reader could tell who Stag was meant to be, without making it blatant. After all, Ignis doesn’t know.   The guise of Stag was directly chosen because of the stylistic details of Nyx’s headgear in Kingsglaive.

Of course Ignis has to hesitate, though, since Gladio is RIGHT FUCKING THERE OMG, but his desire for his monthly fix wins out.

For the beating itself, I won’t say much, except that I do so love writing gladnis bdsm and I never plan to stop.

Now we hit my favorite line of this chapter and I am not at all ashamed to highlight it:  “And then, the kaleidoscope of his waking dream shifted, and he saw nothing but Gladiolus.”

Sigghhhh 

An oops, some clean up, and a little flirty banter, and Iggy’s POV ends with him noticing Gladio staring at him like he’s a Cup Noodles, and he gets a flash of hope that maybe his crush isn’t so hopeless as he’s previously though.

And then we’re over to Gladio.

I shamelessly used the beginning of Gladio’s POV to highlight two issues I’ve seen happen in kink communities.  TOPS NEED AFTERCARE TOO DAMMIT.  FUCK ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY DON’T.  Seriously.  Give your top a fucking hug. A bottle of water.  Make sure they’re as okay as they are making sure are post-scene, ugh.  And don’t treat them like beating dispensers, they have fucking feelings and they are people and and and ooookay, off my soap box. :D

I considered having Gladio also masked, but figured even if his tattoo wasn’t fully done at this point, he’s such a unique figure (even in a fantasy world like Eos, we don’t see that many 6′6″ massive muscular dudes walking around) that it would be rather pointless to try and hide. Plus… I mean, its Gladio. Why would he hide?

And of course I had to have him watch Iggy’s beating and fixate needing to get to know and hopefully play with that masochist because, well, we all know the Gladnis is coming, especially if you’ve read Discretion you know where I am taking this.

I took great delight in writing how meeting Hawk’s eyes reminded Gladio of Ignis’s eyes and then him thinking how ridiculous the idea of Iggy ever being at a place like the club, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.  Ahem.  Sorry.

So of course Nyx had to be the one to invite Gladio/get him on the approved list, because I just watched Kingsglaive and I’m thirsty for some Nyx.   Also I could see them bro-ing it up and talking about shit like this organically, so it wouldn’t be like Nyx creepily offered “you should come to this elite kink party” so much as they just compared notes on relationships/dating/etc and it came up.

I also headcanon Nyx as an unrepentant flirt, so don’t mind him flirting with Hawk and Gladio with equal ease, lol.

Nyx throwing down the gauntlet to Gladio re: Hawk … nothing like a little trash talk between bros, right?

Gladio gets home and I decide he’s a shower beer guy, because really he’s like 21 years old at this point, he just went to a kink party where he spent most the night beating ungrateful recipients who left him high and dry, and then he watched a masked hottie come from no stimulation other than a flogging.  He needed a fucking drink, why wait til after the shower? 

At the end of the chapter I enjoy Gladio thinking it would be more appropriate to focus his thoughts on Hawk since he doesn’t think Ignis would be into him at all, haha. Those two crazy dumb kids, we’ll get ‘em there, I promise.

So this was WAY MORE INFO than you probably wanted when you sent me your ask but I HAVE COFFEE AND I CAN’T SLEEP AND OKAY THEN.

Thanks for being so kind and supportive.

[scribblindown]

Ignis finds out his S/O is a Phantom Thief

Persona 5 x Final Fantasy XV

Intro: Here

Scenario: You are Here

Headcanons: Here

Ignis was up and out of his chair before the door had even opened. Just as you swung his front door open, you walked in and he instantly held his arms out for a hug. You crossed his living room and walked into his arms, wrapping yours around his torso. 

“It’s late, darling,” he said. “I was getting worried.” 

You hummed into his shoulder. “Something came up, and we ended up staying in Shibuya longer than expected.” 

“Is everything alright?” he asked. You stiffened slightly when he said that and turned away to avoid eye contact. 

“Yeah,” you quickly said. Not even a beat after you asked, “Did you eat yet?” You separated from his hug and dropped your bag and slipped out of your jacket. He stared at you with unreadable eyes before helping you hang your school blazer on the coat rack. 

“No, I was waiting for you.” 

You huffed. “I thought I told you not to do that anymore.” As if it was on cue, your stomach growled. Ignis’ eyes glinted with amusement and you blushed. “At least...in this case, it’s helpful, I’m famished.” Trying to get to Makoto and meeting Kaneshiro was already tiring, then introducing her to the Metaverse and crossing paths with the criminal’s shadow was absolutely exhausting. Ignis had a small smile quirking up at the corners of his lips and he pulled you in for a quick peck on the lips. 

“Why don’t you go freshen up, I’ll reheat the food for the both of us.” 

“You wouldn’t mind if I showered, would you?” you asked, already heading towards his spotless bathroom. 

“Not at all, just finish up quickly.” 

“And you wouldn’t mind keeping track of my phone, would you?” You pointed to your bag and Ignis’ eyes zeroed in on the phone charm that was hanging off of it. 

“My mom is supposed to send me some of her papers and she wants me to forward it to this one site. She’ll want me to respond right away, so she’ll nag if I don’t,” you explained, walking off to his bedroom to grab some spare clothes for wear for the night. 

“I’ll take care of it,” he simply said as he grabbed your phone from out of your bag. 

“Thanks, Iggy!” 

Ignis silently stirred the pasta sauce on the stove, listening with keen ears for the possible phone chime that you asked him to watch out for. Just as the sauce started to bubble, a text message was sent to your phone that was quickly followed by another one and another one. The adviser lowered the heat and quickly toweled off his hands. As he walked over to your phone on top of the kitchen island, he pushed up his glasses and was immediately confused to find out what your friends were sending you. 

His eyebrows knit in confusion. Anxiety built up as friend after friend sent messages to the group chat saying words like, “I’m sorry I was so reckless guys. Don’t worry about the money, I’ll deal with it.” 

Immediately afterward the one with the dyed hair—Ryuji if he remembered correctly—told her not to worry about it, you guys were a group so you would deal with it together. Slowly, message after message came in and Iggy pieced together the puzzle. 

Somehow you and your friends were blackmailed into owing Kaneshiro, the greedy crime lord, 3,000,000 yen in less than three weeks. 

He had known that you had been acting weirdly in the past few weeks, or maybe even months. You had more money to spoil him lately, and you’ve become more secretive about your whereabouts, but he didn’t think that you’d resort to crime. 

Right on cue, you walked out of his bathroom. Steam filtered out like a chimney and you walked over to him as you toweled your hair dry. 

He wondered if this was all one big misunderstanding, or if your friends were playing on one big inside joke. You held no sign of guilt or worry about your possible situation. 

Even though Iggy was a man that liked to avoid issues as much as possible, this was one thing that he couldn’t possibly look around. Iggy cleaned up after the people he cared around. He would clean Noctis’ room, tidy up shelves, take out the trash, and he would bandage Gladio when they found themselves in the training room at the same time. He obviously cared about you so he would fix your messes. 

Just as you gently folded up his towel and draped it across the back of a chair, you noticed how off he seemed. You tilted your head. 

“Iggy, what’s wrong?” Ignis looked up and looked you in the eye. He sighed in personal defeat and held up your phone. You narrowed your eyes as your lock screen lit up. One after another, you got a message from your teammates, and you knew exactly what they were talking about.

Your blood ran cold. 

How did I forget about them? you asked yourself. Does he—does Ignis know?

“Darling, what is the meaning of this? Have you been involving yourself with illegal activity?” You stiffened like a brick. “What’s this issue about you owing money to Junya Kaneshiro?” Ignis doesn’t give you an opportunity to answer. He shakes his head with a exhale and moves on. He crosses the kitchen and closes the space between the two of you. “That doesn’t matter right now, I have money saved up—” 

“No!” you automatically said. You understood now. Ignis knew that you and your friends were in a tight spot with Kaneshiro with the money and the deadline, but he didn’t know about your secret. You took your phone from his hand and shook your head. “I know that you’re worried about me, but don’t sweat it, okay? I’ll deal with this on my own.” 

This made him frustrated. 

“[Name], if you think that I’m just going to leave you to fend for yourself in a situation this big—” 

“Ignis, you already do more than enough caring for everyone,” you tried to say in a soothing voice to calm his nerves. “And I know that you’re worried out of your mind for me, but I promise you that I can handle this.” You took his hands in yours and laced your fingers together. You stared him down in his green eyes to catch him of any hidden emotions. 

“Love, you are my world, and I will be worried beyond belief if I had a chance to help you, yet I didn’t do anything. What kind of lover would I be if I did that?” 

“You don’t need to worry about the money or anything because I will deal with it, okay? Junya Kaneshiro will be ours for the taking,” you said. “So I need you to promise me you’ll stay put.” 

Ignis inhaled, and wouldn’t break contact with you. It was a battle of wills, and you had the upper hand in this. Eventually, he sighed and nodded. You let out all of the stress you were holding in out in one big exhale, and finally tackled him in for a hug. Reluctantly, he hugged you back, and the two of you dropped it for the rest of the three weeks. 

“Leaving so soon, Iggy?” Gladio’s deep voice rumbled as Iggy made his way down the Citadel’s pristine stone steps. The past few weeks have passed, and even though Ignis told you that he wouldn’t, the bespectacled man was beyond with worry. Ignis held a thick leather briefcase in one hand, filled to the brim with the money that you and your teammates were supposed to owe. He planned to drive to Shibuya himself and present the man with the money to free you from the debt despite your wishes. 

“Yes, unfortunately, I have some business to attend to, so I’m afraid our prince will have to live off of cup noodles for the night,” Ignis casually said, opening the door to his car. Gladio scoffed with his hands in his pockets. 

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” 

“It might not be to you, but everyone else knows that—” 

Ignis was suddenly cut off by one of the large monitors mounted to one of the largest skyscrapers in Insomnia. 

“We will now present the evening news,” the lady on the TV said, shuffling the papers in front of her. Her voice was amplified throughout the bustling city, and the crowd below stopped to listen. “The crime lord Junya Kaneshiro has turned himself into the police and confessed to all of his crimes. His arrest was unprecedented since the police have been after him for several months now to no avail, only for him to walk himself in.” The anchorwoman continued to talk about his lengthy list of crimes, but then the murmurs beneath started to grow in volume, stealing Ignis’ attention. 

“That Kaneshiro guy was part of the mafia, do you think he was under the influence or somethin’ when he turned himself in?” 

“Are you crazy?” the other guy said. “No way! It’s totally that Phantom Thieves doing!” 

Gladio and Ignis stayed put as that word triggered a mass conversation of everyone trying to talk over another. 

“There were tons of posters posted all around Shibuya! Ya know that one small part of Japan’s main city. They kept on saying somethin’ about stealing his heart and making him confess! And look! It really happened!” 

“That’s impossible! Who has ever heard of stealing hearts?” 

“You’re saying that after you’ve seen some of the stuff our king and his Crownsguard has done?” 

“The police are taking all of the credit!” 

“But have you seen the Phansite? It’s blowing up! You have to check it out!” 

Ignis had enough listening in and turned to Gladio. The Shield shrugged helplessly at Ignis’ gaze and dropped his hands back to his sweater’s pockets. Ignis huffed and leaned in his car to put his briefcase in the shotgun seat. He climbed in the drivers, but now with a new destination. 

As he drove to your apartment, he planned out just how he was going to confront you about being a Phantom Thief. 

Extra:  (because there was an insane lack of the Phantoms)

The moment you walked into Iggy’s apartment, you had to stop, shocked, and wonder if you were in the right one. The smell of amazing food drifted through the air, making you hungrier by the second, but you couldn’t focus on the growling of your stomach when almost every surface inch of his kitchen was being covered by ingredients, mixing bowls, bento boxes, and dishes. 

“Uhhh...Iggy...?” you finally asked. “What’s going on?” You dropped your bag at the alcove near the shoes, seemingly the only spot that didn’t have any pots and pans around. 

Ignis popped up from around the corner, dunking shrimps in tempura batter. He gave you a short, “Here, darling,” before disappearing into the kitchen again to drop the shrimp in the fryer. 

“You’ve never told me that your friend’s diet is absolutely atrocious,” he commented offhandedly as he multi tasked. 

“Yusuke?” you asked as you stepped closer. You walked across his kitchen like a man walking through a mine field. “He’s horrible with money so...” 

“Exactly,” he said. “That’s why I’ve prepared multiple meals for him.” 

“Multiple meals?” you gaped at the understatement. “Are you trying to fatten him up?” You understood how Ignis might see Yusuke as underweight, but he was mostly slender for what it was worth. 

“Some of the lunches are for your remaining teammates. It seemed unfair that I was cooking only for him when you are a team.” 

“I-I guess?” you asked, more confused than anything. You looked at one of the bento boxes and saw that Ignis had stuffed it to the brim with food that was still warm and delectable. 

“Let me finish this up for the night, then we can head over to LeBlanc tomorrow and present these. Please text your friends beforehand.” 

“Delicious!” Ryuji cried with his mouth full. You stared at him with slight disgust as he continued to stuff his face with rice. Leaning back in your chair, you looked over at Ann who was humming with happiness when Ignis presented her with his chiffon cake. 

“It’s so moist and fluffy!” she cried, taking another bite. Ignis wasn’t saying much, but you can tell that your boyfriend was practically glowing with happiness from all of the compliments he was getting. 

“This arrangement...The colors...It’s absolutely perfect...” Yusuke muttered, poking his food with his chopsticks. His eyes glinted with slight madness. He finally took a bite out of the dish. “This is delicious. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it before.” 

“Thank you so much for taking your time out of your day to make us food,” Makoto said with a soft smile. “It’s wonderful, are you a professional cook?” 

“Not at all,” Ignis said as he took a sip of his coffee. “I treat it merely as a hobby.” 

“Ya know,” Ryuji said, finally swallowing, “We were a bit suspicious about you knowing about our secret and all, but if this is what we get, then welcome to the Phantom Thieves!” 

“I’m honored,” Ignis replied. Akira gave a small nod. 

“What did I tell you?” you asked in a sing-song voice. Morgana stood on his hind legs and pawed at the fish that was on the edge of the table. He snatched it and immediately dashed off with a glint in his eye. 

“No wonder you weren’t that impressed when we went to that buffet! You’ve been mooching off this guy and hiding him from us this entire time!” Ryuji said. 

“You know I’d appreciate it if you didn’t make me sound like such a shallow person!” 

[promptis-imagines]

A fluffy little prompt (writing or drawing or whatever you prefer!) for you: A stormy day indoors. Like the sort of day where you cuddle up in the softest, poofiest comforter you can find with a shitty movie to make fun of and lots of snacks. And maybe the rain lulls Noct to sleep and just. Cuteness all around.

This was really fun to write! Also I apologize for the movie selection, it was admin Snake’s decision and I was badgered until I agreed.

I hope you like it! -admin Moogle

“What is that?”

“Um, it’s a couch, Iggy,” Prompto grunted. “What does it look like to you?”

Ignis regarded Prompto with a skeptical gaze as he folded his arms over his chest. Noctis’ high school friend was carrying in a large box with Noctis lifting the other side, and they’d just made it through the doorframe when Ignis intervened.

The two had spent nearly an entire day hunting for a new piece of furniture for the prince’s apartment, but judging by the box picture their choice was…questionable to Ignis. Simply put, it was hideous.

The box landed on the ground with a loud thud. Noctis stretched his arms while Prompto cracked his back, and they both yawned in unison. Prompto soon went behind the kitchen counter and began digging through drawers.

“If you’re looking for scissors, third drawer from the right,” Ignis instructed.

Prompto flashed him a thumbs up and a grin. Thankfully he at least knew better than to run with scissors, walking over to Noctis with his grip on the blades. Noctis was busy staring intently at the couch already in the room, most likely trying to figure out the placement of the new one.

Ignis adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. “Are you sure you need a new couch? Just yesterday you bought a new television set, and now this,” he said cautiously. “Maybe I can look past the wasting of your expenses, but shouldn’t you both be studying?”

For all his efforts and constant reminders, Noctis still shrugged him off. “Plenty of time for that. It’s the weekend, and we don’t have any exams for a couple of days.” Of course Ignis couldn’t hope for him to study. “Oh, and Prompto’s staying over tonight.” The boy raised his head at the mention of his name and gave a curt wave and a smile.

With a small sigh he didn’t even try to conceal, Ignis straightened his back. “Very well. In that case, I’ll be taking my leave. There’s plenty to eat in the fridge, and I suggest eating at a reasonable time tonight. And do try not to make a mess.”

“Yeah, alright. Bye.” Noctis barely glanced at him, helping Prompto to open the box.

“Bye, Ignis!” At least Prompto acknowledged him more.

Ignis retrieved his shoes by the door and looked back one final time before he left. He couldn’t help but wonder if one day he’d check in to find Prompto fully moved into the place.

As the door closed Prompto slid the scissors over the thick tape along the sides of the box. “Shouldn’t we tell Ignis about us sooner or later?” he asked.

Noctis pulled the final flap of the box so that it stood open. “I have a feeling he already knows. He’s just not saying anything about it.”

“Wait, for real? Aw, I thought we were being careful!” Prompto pouted and flicked a speck of stray foam packaging onto the ground.

“Around Ignis?” Noctis shook his head with a laugh. “Prom, you’re just short of making out with me right in front of him. Trust me, he noticed.”

Prompto fished around the inside for the instructions. “But I like kissing you,” he joked. “He should be fine with me kissing you, yeah?”

Noctis shrugged. “I hope so.” He leaned over to place a quick peck on Prompto’s cheek. “Now let’s get this couch together before we get too lazy and tired to do it.”

“Good idea,” Prompto agreed, turning his attention to the instructions.

“Alright, it says here that the parts are numbered, so…ah, here!” The numbers on the pieces were a bit difficult to distinguish, but he was putting them nonetheless. One, two three, four for the bottom supporting beams on the thing. All the other ones were more confusing, smaller pieces meant for attachments.

Prompto was beginning to have a difficult time trying to decipher the instructions after the first few steps. Even Noctis was still struggling with one of the springs, putting it in various places not even remotely near each other in attempts to fit it somewhere.

After nearly twenty minutes of getting nowhere and grumbling frustrated noises, Noctis finally spoke up. “Okay, these instructions aren’t making any sense.”

“I know!” Prompto exclaimed. “Can you do some magic thing to make it finish itself?”

“You know I can’t do anything even remotely like that.”

“Worth a shot.”

A deep rumble of thunder cut through their conversation. Prompto hadn’t even noticed how dark the sky outside had grown throughout the day. “It’s about to rain,” he pointed out.

Noctis nodded. “Yeah, looks like it.”

“Well,” Prompto announced, “now we have to finish this soon.”

“Because of the rain?” Noctis asked, a look of confusion on his face that Prompto found cute on him.

Prompto was already beginning to scan through the directions again. “Duh. You think I’m passing up an opportunity to wrap up in a huge blanket with you and watch movies in the rain? Don’t think so.”

It had always been Prompto’s routine during a storm to find the softest blanket he could and cocoon himself in it while watching a movie or even just taking a nap. The idea of finally sharing that with the person he cared about most made him ecstatic.

Noctis only shrugged. “Alright. Do you want me to call Gladio over to help?” he offered.

“That guy? Nah, I think we’ve got it,” Prompto said. In reality, he was just the slightest bit intimidated by the prince’s shield, especially since he barely knew him. So he just began to work faster. “Look, I got it to fit!”

The two ran through the process more quickly after that. Noctis yawned at least four times while they were working, and Prompto began wondering how long he could stay awake.

Once they were finally done, Prompto took a few steps back to admire the new couch. It was a short thing, a weird greenish-gray cloth that was the kind of fuzzy material where you could run your finger over it to create darker patterns. It was hideous and didn’t go with anything else in the room, but both Prompto and Noctis had agreed in the store that it was the absolute softest thing they’d ever felt. Now was the problem of where to put it.

“Maybe if we put it on the side of the other-”

“Aw, but that’s too far from the TV!” Prompto interrupted.

Noctis sighed and moved around the couches to see the different angles, Prompto following him around to do the same.

Once Prompto realized that there was no other optimal spot, he decided that the only possibility was to move the old couch.

With a quick heave, Prompto pulled the arm of the couch closer to the other end of the wall just enough to make space for the new one. A decorative pillow fell to the ground in its place, which Noctis picked up.

“I’ll help,” Noctis said as he walked over to the new couch. Together they managed to fit it into the space between the two, and Prompto was very ready to fall into it the moment they were done.

The rain was beginning to drum harder against the large windows, and Prompto hurried to the kitchen in search of food as a distant rumble of thunder reached his ears. “Hey, Noct, you wanna just make cup noodles real quick?”

“Sure, I guess.” Noctis snatched a few blankets from a nearby closet and tossed them onto the couch. “We can use those.”

Prompto was already getting out the food. He’d learned Noctis’ kitchen structure even before they’d started dating when he would visit, and since Ignis always kept it organized the same way, he could easily find whatever he wanted.

While Prompto stood by the counter waiting for them to finish heating up, he felt a gentle pair of arms snake around his waist. “Look at you, acting like you live here.”

Prompto chucked. “Not yet I don’t. But I do think I know this place better than you do.”

“Oh yeah?” Noctis asked. “Prove it.”

Without looking at him, Prompto tilted his head towards the furthest cabinet. “Ignis hides the extra food behind the bowls you never use so you don’t eat it.”

The look of shock on Noctis’ face was priceless. “He what?”

“Wait, don’t tell him I told you that!”

“Nope, too late. You already told me.”

Prompto pouted. “Don’t get me in trouble, please,” he begged. “Ignis isn’t even in charge of me and I feel like he’s my parent.”

With a small laugh, Noctis rested his chin on Prompto’s shoulder. “Imagine how I feel.”

“Dunno, my parents are always out for work.” Saying it out loud, Prompto felt a dull pang of sadness at the reminder that his parents were always gone for days, sometimes weeks at a time. He wished they would check in more. “I don’t think they even know we’re friends, honestly.”

He felt Noctis’ embrace tighten ever so slightly and breathed a quiet sigh. “Sorry, being dramatic again. Didn’t mean to turn the joke to be about me,” he said.

“Don’t be sorry, I understand. But I’ll do my best to be there for you in their place.” His words brought a warm smile to Prompto’s face. He felt really lucky to have someone like Noctis around to keep him company.

The moment was cut off by the beeping of the microwave.

“Noodles!” he yelled in excitement.

“Let them cool off for a minute,” Noctis said. “Wanna pick a movie while we wait?”

“Will do.” Prompto flashed a thumbs up and hurried over to the small shelf of movies, kneeling to see the ones at the bottom. The stack of movies—most of them were brought by Prompto over many visits—had a selection across a few wildly different genres, including a few more romantic comedies than he would readily admit.

Prompto glanced outside again. The rain was only getting worse. “You up for horror tonight?” he asked with a small smirk.

He wasn’t entirely sure of his boyfriend’s stance on horror, but he wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass. Noctis would either enjoy it and they’d laugh at all the dumb characters, or he’d be terrified and they’d hold on to each other the whole time. Either way, it was a win.

To his slight disappointment, Noctis only shrugged and leaned against the counter, looking apathetic and dramatic as ever. “If it’s fine with you,” he said casually.

“Aw, come on, I need a little more enthusiasm here.” Prompto stuck his bottom lip up and stared at him like a hurt puppy. “Tell me you really want to?”

Noctis looked momentarily stunned. “Okay, I really want to watch a horror movie with you.”

Prompto beamed. “That’s the spirit!” He shuffled through several of the films as Noctis came to kneel beside him. “How’s this?” he asked, holding several up for Noctis to see.

“What's…The Babadook?” Noctis looked him in the eyes quizzically. “That a weird name.”

“Oh, that,” Prompto said with a laugh. “I’ve heard it’s really stupid. We have to watch that.”

Noctis tilted his head slightly as he looked over the cover, but didn’t seem to mind. “If you say so. Let’s go for it.”

The noodles had cooled down enough by the time Prompto retrieved them, and Noctis had already inserted the DVD and was waiting for him under the pile of blankets. To say Prompto was excited was an understatement. He was a sucker for being sappy.

With all the lights off and the movie starting up, Prompto plopped down into the space between the arm of the chair and Noctis. He situated himself so that the four blankets covered him and Noctis with allowed arm room to eat their cup noodles.

“Ready?” Noctis asked.

Prompto nodded. “Hit it.”

The movie began, and they fell silent.

Of course, they couldn’t even make it past the first scene before they began ridiculing it to no end.

“Can you tell what’s going on?”

“I really can’t, Prom.”

Prompto slurped his noodles and watched the woman onscreen flail about in slow motion.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Noctis squinting. “Did they get in a car wreck or something?” They both registered the confused look in each other’s eyes and shrugged.

Several more minutes into the movie, the empty cups set down on the coffee table, Prompto pulled the blankets up to his chin. Noctis leaned into his side and laughed a bit. “This is the weirdest beginning to a movie I’ve ever seen,” he mused.

“And that kid really likes to scream a lot. Just look at him, mom lady!” Prompto yelled at the screen.

Prompto felt Noctis’ arm wrap around his side and his lips press against his cheek in a small kiss. “Pretty sure they can’t hear you.”

“What, you want me to say it louder?”

“Please don’t.”

They both tried to suppress their giggling as Prompto leaned in for a proper kiss.

Noctis smiled. “This is absolutely the most unromantic movie we could be watching right now,” he said.

With a grin, Prompto shrugged. “We both picked it.”

“Hm, kiss me again,” Noctis muttered.

Prompto gasped dramatically. “But what if the Babadook sees and tries to get me?”

Noctis snorted. “He can try.”

“Alright, alright.” Prompto figured he could spare a few kisses for him.

While they sat on their awful couch and locked lips in a sleepy kiss, the movie played on. They only stopped when a scream onscreen jolted Noctis back.

“Maybe we should…watch this first,” he suggested.

“Uh-huh, yeah.”

They spent a while still criticizing every bit of the movie and laughing at each other’s comments. Prompto was glad that they could find time to do these things, fairly sure that Noctis felt the same.

It was a bit of surprise to Prompto to see that Noctis had stayed awake for over half the movie. He had slowly snuggled up to Prompto, who was leaning against the arm of the couch. Prompto could feel Noctis’ warm breath against the base of his neck as the other boy rested his head on Prompto’s shoulder and breathed a soft sigh.

He wasn’t really paying attention to the movie anymore either, so he shut off the TV for the night. As the rain continued to drum its dull pattern behind him and Noctis’ breathing evened out, Prompto smiled.

“Hey, Noct,” he whispered. “Thank you. I really love spending time with you, and I’m so happy we can be together here. Love ya.” He ended the sentence with a kiss to the top of Noctis’ head.

Since Prompto was fairly sure neither of them would be very comfortable in the morning if they stayed sitting up, he gently hooked his arms around Noctis and lowered him to lay down on the couch. Prompto positioned himself so that his back was pressed against the couch and Noctis was facing away from him, since he knew Noctis would inevitably throw his leg off the side of it during the night.

A low roll of thunder drowned out any final thoughts Prompto had as he held Noctis snugly against him, knowing he could sleep soundly that night. He was content to stay that way for as long as possible.

[chocobostrinket]

And if it was Gladio's s/o that proposed to him instead of the contrary?~ sweet and fluffy, please?~

The day had started like any other. Both got up at different times, got ready, and went to work. They were normally the first awake, due to working with the marshal. He was known to keep odd hours, which meant up before the sun and working through out the day on most things. Being his lead intelligence officer required them to keep the same hours. Which wasn’t all bad. They were always on top of their work, got a longer lunch hour, and were near their beloved at all times.

Gladio on the other hand could take his time getting to the citadel. Noctis never woke up early if he could help it, despite Ignis’ best attempts. Which gave him enough time to sleep in a bit, go for a run, and then get ready for the day. He didn’t have a schedule like his dearest did. More like he was on call in case Noct wanted to go somewhere. But while he was in the citadel? Noctis was as safe as could be which gave him time to wander about and maybe even catch a few moments with his other. 

It was a simple life. There was no push or pull from either of them for things to change. (Though a small part of him hoped that one day, maybe they’d honor him by taking his last name.)

While he was walking by one of the training rooms, he could hear a voice he recognized. Quietly, so not to distract the combatants, he slipped into the room. He wasn’t the only one here too, and he could see why. His dearest was amazing, flowing through blocks and attacks effortlessly. Cor wasn’t so bad either.

He watched them move forward, refusing to step backwards no matter how hard Cor pushed them. Their breath was heaving as they moved, and their collar and tie slightly undone so their movement wasn’t as restricted. And though they would say that they didn’t look their best, he found them dazzling…

Right until Cor managed to slip past their defense and knock them across the room with the back of his blade.

With a loud thud and a grunt from them, they hit the wall and slid to the floor. He frowned but didn’t rush to them. Though he really really wanted to. (As in every fiber of his being was yelling at him to check if they were hurt.) But if he did, he knew they wouldn’t appreciate it. He could practically hear them scolding him in their head.

They huffed and lightly hit their head against the wall at their back. “This round goes to you, Marshal.”

“Alright. I trust you’ll follow through? “He raised an eyebrow, and if Gladio didn’t know better he looked…pleased. 

They got to their feet, having caught their breath and straightened out their clothes before replying. “Of course.”

“Good.” With that, the gathered crowd cleared the way to the door as the Marshal walked toward it. He caught Gladio’s eye and nodded in acknowledgement, “Gladio.” 

He nodded back to him, and then the Marshal was gone. He had to be imagining things, Gladio thought to himself. But he could have sworn that Cor’s eyes had lit up a little upon seeing him. (Should he be worried? He felt like something was going on and just couldn’t put his finger on it.)

It was only after he had put it out of mind and over heard some of the guard talking about an agreement that his sweetheart had made with the marshal. For the sparring match he assumed. He finally walked over to them as they tried to stretch their shoulder muscles and the knots that must have been forming after their bout.

“Hey.” He smiled and when they heard him they turned and beamed at him.

“Hey there.” But then the smile slipped into a frown, “Oh…did you see all that?” 

“I saw only the last few moments. You looked good babe.” He guided them to face away from him and carefully began to massage the part of their shoulders they had been trying to relax.

They sighed with relief and closed their eyes, leaning into his touch. “I don’t agree, but thank you. …Damn, I’m going to be feeling this all week.”

Gladio laughed. “I’ll bet you will. Sparing with the marshal’s no joke. Can I ask how you got him to? He rarely does these days.”

They smiled, and he felt his heart flutter. (Which he’d deny to the end of his days that their smile still did that to him.) 

“It was just my luck honestly. I caught him in a good mood.” They turned around, and before he could ask any more questions, reached up their hands to his neck to guide him down into a kiss. That made him forget his curiosity, and softly relax into the kiss. 

When they pulled away he opened his eyes and couldn’t get over that they had kissed him. In public. They were never one for public displays, and he wondered if this meant they would be okay if he kissed them in public. All the time. Because he had always wanted to. 

“So, it’s my lunch hour now. Care to join me?” 

“Y-yeah. I mean yes.” He huffed with laughter and really hoped that no one could see how stupidly happy they made him. 

They led the way out of the room, ignoring some of the hoots and whistles from the few trainees that were left. While they opened the door, Gladio turned around and glared at those who were making the noises. Like hell he was going to let them make his sweetheart nervous over that kiss. Especially since her really wanted them to be comfortable in public with him. 

But then they left the room and walked toward their office, presumable to pick up their belongings to go home for lunch. However, they surprised him when they entered their office and then gestured to the couch they had inside. 

“Sit. I packed lunch today because I figured we could just hide out in here for awhile instead of taking the time to go to a restaurant.” 

“I’m fine with that. Just gives us more time to eat.” Gladio flopped into the couch cushions and watched them as they went over to the small kitchen area and began to dig around. upon seeing what they brought out, he snorted.

“Cup noodles? I thought you hated those things.” 

“I don’t hate them, I just think they’re not very healthy.” They threw a frown over their shoulder as they set water onto boil, “And after that fight I deserve to be a bit unhealthy. I got all my training in for the week.”

“I hope you don’t mean that,” He smirked from his place on the couch, “We have a training session together later.” 

They froze for a moment and then groaned. “Shit.”

He laughed quietly and then his expression softened. “But if you really don’t feel up to it, we can skip for this week.”

They sighed and then gave him a smile over their shoulder again. “Like I would miss it.”

After that they both fell into silence. They were so focused on the task at hand, not wanting to burn themselves with the water, that they didn’t notice Gladio watching them. He enjoyed seeming them lost in their head. Which clearly they were. Cup noodles, though good, didn’t require much thought or that much hovering. So the fact that they were standing there meant they had something on their mind. And he could wait to see if they would share. If they didn’t? That was fine too.

Eventually, they wandered back to the couch to let the noodles soak up the water. They flopped down beside Gladio and rested their head against his shoulder. He in turn shifted to put his arm around the back of them. They closed their eyes, just enjoying the closeness, and Gladio couldn’t help but press a kiss to their forehead. A small smile crept across their face and they gave a hum of appreciation. 

But then they broke the silence, “And to think in a few hours we’ll be kicking each other’s asses.”

“Babe, we were having a moment.” He couldn’t help the small laugh that followed.

“Our noodles will get soggy if I let the moment go on too long.” They snickered as they stood. They then strode over to where they had left the noodles and carried one in each hand back to the couch. the pair then got to eating and passed the time by comparing their days and letting the other know where they’d be before their training session. 

Before long, they heard a knock at the door.

They straightened themself up as best they could and then called, “Come in.”

The door swung open and there, once again, was Cor. “Officer.”

“Marshal.” They stood and walked over, “Trouble?”

“Yeah. Of the outer agents kind.” Cor pointedly looked past them at Gladio.

“Ah. A moment then.” They looked over their shoulder. “Glads?”

“Go ahead, I’ll clean up in here before I leave.” He smiled at them and waved.

They flashed a thankful smile at him and then followed the Marshal out the door.

~

He didn’t get to see them again until later in the afternoon. He was already in the training room, considering that Noctis was before his dearest. He’d already sent Noctis on his way, though he had a feeling that him an Prompto were lurking nearby, and maybe even Ignis if he had the time. The three of them could not believe that he was in a relationship, especially with them.

Speaking of them…

“Glads, sorry I’m a little late.” They were smiling, but it didn’t quite reach their eyes. Instead there was a nervousness there. Why? Heck if he knew. 

“It’s fine, I figured whatever had the Marshal pulling you off our break was pretty serious.” He smiled as they reached him and pushed part of their bangs out of their eyes. 

Their smile was a little more genuine after that, and they relaxed. But then they smiled, undoing their tie and collar once more. “Ready to begin?”

“You know it. Should we run through some drills, or would you rather just spar?” Gladio asked, likewise removing his coat. He took their tie and bundled it in his jacket before sliding it across the floor to the wall. 

“Just sparring today. I’m out of practice the Marshal said.” They grimace and shrugged.

“Alright. Get ready then.” 

Unlike most training sessions, the pair used live steel. So any injuries would be real. They both had talked it over when they had started training together, and chose this method purely for the lessons it would teach. They’d also had set guidelines and rules that they followed to keep each other as safe as possible with this. Gladio, though it hurt him to harm them, made peace with the idea by remembering that they would learn from it. 

They stepped back from one another and brought out their weapons. Somewhere off to the side, they both heard a startled squeak.

“They’re going to KILL each other.” The voice was soon silenced by a stern, “SSSHH.” 

They blinked at each other, and had to both keep themselves from laughing. The Prince and his friend. But then they refocused, and dropped into the fight. Both were sizing one another up, as usual. Gladio always attacked first, but this time they didn’t give him a chance to fully take them in. They stepped forward and swung at his right side with their left. It was their weaker side, but it would also take him off guard.

His eyes widened and he blocked with his sword before trying to step forward and into their space to use the pommel to strike their ribs. But they quickly stepped out of reach to his left, and thrust forward. He blocked once more, and started to pick up that they were trying to get him on the defensive. Which caused them to lower their defense a bit more than normal.

With that knowledge, he grinned and began to push back. 

They clashed over and over, moving through out the room. Gladio knew that if he could get one good hit on them it’d be over. But their speed made that extremely difficult. But not impossible. However, both parties had already collected a number of scratches and bruises to the cheers and yells of the two watching. (And if they concentrated on the conversation, they would have caught some rather hilarious commentary from Ignis about their match.) It had been an hour almost since they started, and they both were breathing hard. And so they decided they had to end it. 

Then they surprised him by locking their swords together, and using them as leverage to headbutt him. He blindly retaliated, using the pain to fuel a kick to their stomach and send them flying into the wall. But this time, they managed to land with their feet on the wall and push off back toward him. 

They were moving too fast and his eyes were still teary from the headbutt. It would have been a killing strike, had they not reversed their grip and used the haft of their sword. The blow was enough to knock the wind out of him, as it hit the center of his chest. From there, their momentum threw him off balance and he tipped backwards. The back of his head hit the ground and he was dazed…

right until he felt the blade pressing against his neck.

“…Well damn. I submit.” He huffed in amusement, but then groaned in pain. 

They flopped forward on top of him, just trying to catch their breath. “…You certainly…know….how to keep someone on guard.”

“Sort of my job.” He mumbled. They lay their wallowing in the pain that came after such an intense session, but then both got back to their feet.

“…Infirmary?” They asked, eyeing his swelling nose and they way he held his chest.

“Only if you’re going too dear.” He laughed and they shook their head. 

“I didn’t get my ass handed to me just now.” They replied with a raised eyebrow.

“Hey now, I gave as good as I got.”

“I’m not the one who looked like they got jumped.” 

“You’re in denial dear.”

“Call me dear one more time, DOLL.”

“Owch babe.”

From the direction of the door they heard one of the boys call out, “Just get married already!” 

To Gladio’s shock, they called back, “Fine!”

“What?”

“Gladio, will you marry me?”

“Uh….” He couldn’t think of a more eloquent response. But then he figured they were joking and grinned. “Sure why not? And you two punks aren’t invited!”

“GLADIO NOOOO.” They heard a whine.

“Prom, lets get out of here now.” The prince was laughing, and they heard THREE sets of footsteps leave.

They both chuckled and went to retrieve their things. But there, they fell into a loaded silence. He wanted to ask them what that was about, but didn’t dare. If they had only been joking, he’d be crushed, but they’d still be dating and maybe it would be a reality one day. But if he brought it up would that seem like he was taking things too fast? Would they be? He’d like to think that they would be married one day…

“Eos to Gladio?” They called, and snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Oh, yeah?” He turned toward them and froze when they took his hands in theirs slowly.

“I was actually serious.” 

He blinked. And then he blinked again. Then heat rushed to his face as he looked them in the eye. “Uh…w-what do you mean.”

“I’d been trying to ask you ever since this morning with Cor… Which, by the way, we should thank him somewhere down the line.”

“Why?” His voice was soft, but he didn’t break eye contact. 

“Well…we sort of got to speaking, because he’d heard about our relationship I guess. And wanted to know how long we’d been going out.” They squeezed his hands. 

Honestly, he wasn’t really sure this was happening. Maybe he had read WAY too many romances lately and this was a dream. But he really really hoped it wasn’t. “And?”

“He brought up if I wanted to marry you.” They brought up one of his hands to their mouth to kiss his knuckles, and lowered it once more.

“What did you say?” His heart was beating in his ears, making everything seem distant.

“That I do.” 

He surged forward and kissed them, trying press into them just how much he loved them. And when they needed to pull apart to breath, he started peppering kisses all over their face. They in turn just held him close. 

“I love you, you know.” He said, his lips still pressed to their forehead. 

“I love you too.” They said. They they pulled away, a small smile on their face. “So will you? You never gave an actual answer.”

They’d hardly finished speaking before he almost shouted, “Yes.”

[iamthechocobabe]

A Camping Adventure

Okay, so I kind of wrote this when I’m only going on two hours of sleep, but I really wanted to punch this out before going to bed. I might go back later and do some edits. Also, maybe I’m just not good at threesomes-oh, well, it’s done. I’m sure one of you guys will be happy. 

I’m aware we’re all in Noctis Hell right now, but I’m going to tag @cupnoodle-queen @gladiolus-mamacitia and @roses-and-oceans in an attempt to bribe them to the small corner of Chocobro hell reserved for Gladiompt stuff (Prolius?) 

Come, join the small corner of hell with me-I have cookies  (◕‿◕)♡ (◕‿◕)♡

A Camping Adventure GladiolusXReaderXPrompto Word Count: 2,962

"Which one of us is hotter?" 

The sudden question from Prompto made you choke on your Cup Noodles, the shock of the question from the sweet blonde boy almost having you throwing your Noodles into the campfire. Gladio was only amused as he chuckled and tapped on your back in typical boyfriend duties as you choked and coughed, trying to force a stray noodle out of your lungs. 

"Did you seriously just ask that?" You wheeze as you grab a paper napkin Prompto had brought on the trip and used it to cough into. "What are we, twelve?" 

"Noctis and Ignis aren't here to chastise us," Prompto argued. "Come on, which of us is hotter?" 

"I am not answering that," Gods, you were so glad Noctis and Ignis had to leave camp to go see to something in Coernix station or you would be dying with embarrassment right now. 

"Something you wanna tell me, babe?" Gladio growled into your ear, his deep and resonating voice sending a shiver down your spine. Gladio always had that weird ability of turning you on with just his voice. 

"Ugh, Gladdy," You punch him slightly and look at Prompto. "I'm obviously gonna say my boyfriend,"

"Are you just saying that because he's here?" 

"No, gods," Shaking your head, you try to hide yourself behind your hair out of embarrassment. "Look, I find you both equally attractive, okay?" 

"So..." Gladio sat back in his camping chair and stroked the stubble on his chin thoughtfully. "Then you'd sleep with both of us? At the same time?" 

You snicker a little-while you meant it as a joke, you couldn't deny the little flame that lit up in your center at the thought of being with Gladio and Prompto...at the same time. You fight those feelings though, covering them up with sarcasm. "Oh, hell yeah, Gladdy. I would ride you both into the ground," 

You thought the two would have looked shock at your statement, maybe having Prompto blushing like crazy. Instead, they both just looked thoughtful and while the thought of them actually taking this entire damn thing seriously made your heart go crazy, you immediately backtracked. "Uh, kidding, guys. I'm kidding," 

And you were kidding...

Well, sort of.

When you walked into the tent to see Gladio reading in nothing but his pants, you felt your mouth water quite a bit at the sight of his tattoos that rippled over the many muscles on his shoulders and back. With that, you wasted no time crawling into his lap and gently plucking the book out of his hands, sure to fold a corner of the page so he wouldn't lose his spot as you tossed the book aside. 

"Babe, I was reading that," Gladio says, but still groans softly when you grind your center against him. 

"I have something else you can read," You reach underneath your camping shirt and undo your bra, maneuvering it off your body without taking your shirt off. 

"Prompto will be back any second-and I still think that's a form of wizardry," Gladio chuckles and slips his tongue into your more than welcoming mouth, causing you to sigh and begin to relax into his mouth and embrace. 

"Women do it all the time," you mumble and reach your hand between the two of you so you can grab onto the front of his pants that were beginning to tent, much to your satisfaction. 

Turning you around, Gladio sits you in between his legs and reaches over for the book. "After this chapter, promise," he whispers while nibbling on your neck and you giggle when his teeth hit a ticklish spot. 

You pout, but can't resist sitting back against his warm chest and relax as he opens his book. "Fine," you grumble, but focus on the page he's reading-it's one of those mystery books about an intense chase between a detective and a criminal and you read the words, slightly interested in what's happening. 

It's not long before you feel Gladio nibbling on your neck once again-you're not even aware that you're leaning back even more into his chest, letting your eyes close as Gladio puts the book down and reaches his hands underneath your shirt to palm your bare breasts. Kneading the mounds gently, you gasp softly when your nipples are pinched slightly and you jolt like you've just been shocked. 

By now, the two of you are completely melting, both of you feeling completely relaxed and not rushed at all. Gladio runs his hand down your chest and unbuttons the denim shorts you wore camping so he could slip his hand down your pants, above your underwear. Rubbing his fingers over your center gently, you start to mewl at the intensity of the combination of his fingers and the now soaked fabric stimulating your clit. Gladio turns your face to his so he can touch your lips with his gently, then increasing the pressure of his hands on your center and breast as the kiss deepened. 

You're so into it that when you hear a small gasp, you wrench your lips away from Gladio's and open your eyes to see Prompto now in the tent, watching you two like he was watching a dirty movie. 

"Astrals, Prompto," you couldn't stop the tiny yelp when you noticed Prompto watching you. "You scared the shit out of me," 

"Sorry," he mumbled, but never averted his eyes as Gladio continued to massage your breast and center. You're so stunned by what you're feeling that you don't even think about shrugging Gladio's hands off, not that you really wanted to. Somehow, having Prompto watch you and Gladio sent electricity to your nerve endings and made you tingle with excitement. 

"Gonna ride us into the ground, babe?" Gladio growled into your ear and squeezed the hand that was down your pants, and you barely bite back a moan as you feel pressure against your center and clit. Gladio was an excellent puppeteer and always knew how to tug your strings to make you tremble in his arms and you're suddenly wondering if Prompto was just as good at making someone tremble in his arms....

"I was..." You were trying to say you were kidding, but your voice fades away as Prompto slowly crawls up to you and your eyes strain down to notice his shirt riding up slightly to show a patch of skin on his hip and you have a sudden image of running your hands up his shirt and feeling the lean muscles on his back, digging your nails into his shoulder blades as he thrust into you. 

Prompto approaches you and the look in his bright blue eyes are uncertain, silently asking you for permission. Lust takes over as you reach forward and attach your lips to Prompto's, moaning as you feel his tongue beginning to tangle with your own tongue and you reach down to tug Prompto's shirt off. Gladio continues to rub his hand down your pants and his other on your breast-when you reach up to run your hand through Prompto's hair, you realize that your hands are shaking, so you mentally try to relax them...it doesn't work, but all be damned if you were gonna stop now.  

"That's it, babe," Gladio purrs as he pushes aside your underwear and slips a finger in you. "Show your magic tongue," 

Prompto breaks the kiss, the sight of the small trail of saliva trailing between you two making your stomach hum in anticipation. "Magic tongue, eh?" That was new, but you go with it and reach forward to show Prompto your tongue when Gladio chuckles and pulls you back to his chest. 

"I was talking to Prompto," He whispers in your ear and you swear your heart stops when Prompto winks at you and takes off your shorts and underwear to slowly drag them down your legs. He tosses the shorts to the side, still somehow leaving your underwear on one of your calves as he puts the leg over his shoulder and settles his face in between your center, over your radiating heat. 

Reaching his hands under your shirt, Gladio continues to palm your breasts as he watches Prompto over your shoulder. "Show her what you're made of, Prom," 

Spreading your folds, Prompto gently grazes his tongue over your center, taking a nice, long lick before running his lower lip over your clit and you swear that you can probably orgasm just by having Prompto's breath against your center.

"Quit stalling," Gladio growls and reaches down to run his hand through Prompto's hair, gripping the back and gently shoving his face towards your folds. "Make her come," 

"Alright, already," Prompto looks up to glare slightly at Gladio, but obeys and slips your tongue into your center. The muscle curves and goes farther than you would have thought it would and you buck your hips instinctively, which causes Prompto to speed up his tongue, lapping at your folds, preparing you for the quickest orgams you had ever had. 

"Oh! Fuck," you hiss, feeling your toes curl as Prompto's tongue was apparently very magic indeed. Prompto trades between pushing his tongue in and out of your center and wiggling his tongue quickly on your clit and the alternating movements cause your legs to tremble. 

"That was quick," Gladio chuckles again after you keen, feeling yourself coming undone to Prompto's tongue and Prompto licking all of your juices up. 

With a soft kiss to your clit, Prompto sits up and giggles a little at the sight of you practically comatose as you lied against Gladio's chest, your eyes wide and mouth hanging open at the intense and fast orgasm you just had. Gladio pulls your face to his so he can kiss you, lazily tangling your tongues together. 

"You enjoy that, babe?" Gladio whispers against your lips. 

"Heeehhh," Was the only noise you could muster, feeling completely spent already. 

"Don't get too comfortable," Gladio backs away, laying you down gently on your back and kisses you again. "The night's just beginning," 

Gladio crawls over and spreads your legs wide, licking his lips at the sight of you soaked through with your legs trembling and hands still shaking. Prompto crawls up so he's lying right next to you and begins running his fingers through your hair, his touch more gentle and soft, the opposite of what you were used to with Gladio. 

"You okay?" Prompto asks, some of the first words he's spoken since starting this. 

Laughing, you start tracing your fingertips on the freckles on Prompto's face before placing gentle kisses there. "Never been better," 

"Hey, Prom-" Gladio starts tugging at the bottom of your simple t-shirt. "I think one of us is too dressed for this occasion-help her out?" 

Prompto perks up and practically yanks you to sit up right so he can hastily pull your shirt off, causing you to giggle in Prompto's rush to see you completely naked. You smile lovingly at Gladio and realize that he already had taken his pants off, but are distracted when Prompto pushes you gently back to the floor of the tent and starts caressing your breasts. 

Prompto just stares at your breasts, watching the soft flesh morph under his hands as he kneaded the mounds. "They're...you're so beautiful," Prompto whispers and reaches down to latch his mouth onto one of your nipples, his tongue circling the nub before sucking it in between his teeth and tugging at it. 

Prompto does the same for your other breast before trailing his tongue down your ribcage and tracing it over your stomach to dip into your belly button, placing an open kiss there. As you're running your hands through Prompto's hair to encourage him, you look up and see Gladio panting as he palmed his erection at the sight of Prompto kissing your upper torso, like seeing someone else kissing your breasts and belly button was turning him on. 

When your eyes meet, Gladio smirks and looks you up and down before reaching over and running his hand through your hair a little harshly, gripping onto some strands as he adjusts himself just outside your center. "You really are beautiful," Gladio agrees with Prompto before pushing into you, making you moan loudly as you feel his massive erection fill you completely once again. 

"Mmm," Prompto hums as he sits up to watch Gladio grab onto one of your legs to hike it up so your knee was against your chest as continued to thrust into you, slowly at first, then beginning to speed up as your cries got louder. Prompto palms your breast with one hand and unbuckles his pants with the other, freeing his erection and palming it as he watches Gladio make work of you. 

Gladio reaches down to plant a desperate kiss to you and as he reaches down to rub your clit and soon enough, you feel your release building once again, building to the brink and just getting ready to crest-

"Gladio, slow down for a sec," Prompto taps on Gladio's shoulder and Gladio reluctantly backs away, but not before sucking on your bottom lip. As he sits up, Prompto pecks a kiss on your lips and smiles. "I've got an idea," 

Gladio obeys Prompto and slows down his thrusts and you almost start crying at the sudden loss of friction. Prompto gives you relief, though as he bends over to your center and attaches his lips to your clit as Gladio continues to thrust into you slowly. The feeling of having your clit sucked on while still being thrust into you was a first and brand new sensation and you hold onto Prompto's hair for dear life as he brings you to edge once more and you curve your spine and clench your toes when you come for the second time that night. 

When the haze fades away, you still feel the sensation of a tongue over your clit and gentle thrusts into you-Prompto has never stopped sucking and Gladio still rocked gently into you, sending your overly stimulated nerves over the edge. You try to back away, but Gladio has an iron lock on your legs while Prompto tightens his fingers over your hips as he makes a loud and lewd slurping noise over your clit. 

"G-Gladio," you tug on Prompto's hair, but he never stops as he continues to suck and Gladio just shoots you a wink as he thrusts very deeply into you. "Prompto, Gladio, please, FUCK-" 

You're almost screaming as you come undone once again, this time seeing stars as your nerves go into complete overdrive at the stimulation. 

Prompto finally lets up and Gladio stops for a minute to let you catch your breath, but you don't want it to stop-neither of them have come yet. Gesturing to Prompto, you grab onto the front of his unzipped pants and tug him towards you so you can pull his pants down a little to have better access to his erection, tonguing the head, licking from the base to the tip before greedily taking it into your mouth and sucking it into your throat until you started to gag as a reflex. You refuse to stop as you take him in completely, bobbing your head up and down and making Prompto moan as he stared down at you with wonder. 

"Fuck, Gladio," Prompto whispers as Gladio begins to pick up his thrusting again. "You are so fucking lucky," 

"I know," Gladio mumbles and reaches down to rub at your clit again, making you moan through your nose as you swirled and sucked on the tip of Prompto's member before taking it completely once again, still bobbing your head up and down and picking up the pace with Gladio's thrusts. 

"Shit," Gladio huffs, his thrusts quick and shallow, the movements of his fingers over your clit are moving in quick circles and you feel yourself coming undone once again. 

"Shit," Prompto mimics and tugs at your hair. "Let go, I'm-I'm gonna-" 

"Fuck-" Gladio hisses as he comes in short and quick spurts into you and you're whimpering as you feel yourself reaching completion just after Gladio, the sensation almost making you stop your administrations on Prompto. You don't stop, despite the orgasm still coursing through your veins and you suck Prompto in deeply once again. 

"Aaaaah," Prompto comes with a whine and you swallow everything he shoots into your mouth, despite the gag reflex wanting to make you cough it up. 

Gladio collapses on top of you, resting his head on your chest while Prompto rests his head next to yours, gently tracing his lips over your eyebrow and you nip at his chin. 

"Well," you gasp, still reeling. "I didn't exactly ride you guys into the ground, but I think we had fun anyway," 

Gladio chuckles and nips at your breast while Prompto just smiles, too overstimulated to come up with any decent words. Sitting up, Prompto gazes into your eyes lazily. “So, you never answered my question...”

You’re biting your lip to keep yourself from laughing when you hear the tent zipper dragging down its path and you suck in your breath at what Noctis and Ignis were about to see. 

"Well, we've discovered-" Ignis starts to crawl into the tent, but stops dead in his tracks when he notices you and Gladio completely naked and Prompto almost as naked, just with his pants down to his knees. Without another word, Ignis turns around and exits the tent, closing the zipper and you giggle when you hear Noctis whining about not wanting to sleep outside and Ignis practically telling him to shut up and grab his sleeping bag. 

Prompto looks at the tent flap and looks back at you and Gladio. "Does this mean we can't go again?" 

[promptistrashqueen]

Could you do a Drabble of each of the chocobros finding out their s/o has an eating disorder?

YES. Sorry It took me a bit to get to this

Noctis-

He’s so used to Ignis reminding him to eat he doesn’t think it’s weird when his S/O appears to be forgetting. It takes him a while to realize that he’s only seen them eat once, maybe twice and it’s been months. He’s worried when they start to get dizzy more often. He puts things together eventually, asking Prompto some questions, because the guy knows about health crazes and stuff.

Noctis would try to ask about it by not asking about it. He’d offer something small to eat, like “Hey, popcorn sounds good, want some?” and things. After a while he would sit next to his s/o and take their hands in his, looking at their palms because he’s uncomfortable but gods they mean so much to him and he wants to help. He’d swallow all the awkward and the difficulties talking about things and he’d let them know.

“You…I…I don’t know, what you see in the mirror that’s making you so sad. You’re amazing, to me, and I want to show you that. I’m a prince, you know, so i can have all the mirrors and all the scales destroyed? I…please, how can I help?”

He’d have to ask, because he’s really, really not certain, but whatever was asked of him he’d try to do his best, even if that meant just quietly giving them his veggies or holding them and making sure to say how lovely he thought they were.

Gladiolus-

He’d figure it out pretty fast. Gladio’s really into physical fitness and taking care of his body, even if he does eat a lot of cup noodles. He’d put it together when his s/o’s calorie intake was really low, or really high without noticable effects. He pays attention to details, so he’d always realize when they were in the bathroom for too long, after too many meals.

He’d be angry, at first. Upset that they thought they had to deprive themselves of food, that they apparently thought they had to try to reach some unattainable number to be happy. He’d probably confront them.

Gladio would be waiting outside of the bathroom, arms crossed and frowning.

“You know, I don’t give a shit what your pants size is. It’s not healthy for you to do this, cut the shit out.”

When they look at him, with miserable expressions, he’d soften, because he knows he can be too harsh.

“I’m sorry. I care about you and I want to see you happy.” He’d settle his hands on their hips, “Those models look ridiculous anyways…if you want, I can help you pick a diet plan, something that’ll help you stay in shape…without harming you. We can work on it together. Things always seem better to me when I’m sore, even if I don’t see change for awhile. It takes time for bodies to change, but I’ll help if that’s really what you want.”

He’d kiss their forehead and do what he could to help them feel good about themselves the healthiest way he knew.

Ignis-

He loves to cook, so it comes up early. He doesn’t say anything, just starts leaving small bowls of snacks that are healthy but high in protein or other basic nutrients around. Things he knows his s/o likes and will probably nibble at a little. He’s pleased to see them eaten a peanut or two sometimes, because at least there’s something until he can put together the best way to approach things.

He gathers all the information he can find using his resources. He finds groups to join, forums, face to face counseling, anonymous chat rooms, anything he can offer as an option and he checks them all for safety, legitimacy. He also does a lot of thinking, about how he can be supportive without patronizing or overbearing, without making them feel guilty.

He’s prepared after a few weeks and he picks them up, he doesn’t make lunch, he doesn’t want to pressure them. He’s gentle in his approach.

“Darling, a moment? It’s apparent to me that you’re struggling. I’m not upset, I don’t think it’s strange, there’s a lot of pressure on your shoulders for many reasons. You don’t need to tell me your reasons if you’re not ready, but I would like to help you.” He would show them all the things he’d found, reminding them along the way that it’s alright if they don’t want to engage any of them, but stressing the importance of finding an outlet.

“I love you very much, you mean a great deal to me and I would see you find joy in yourself and your body as you are. You are more to me than this,” He would touch their skin and take their hand, “You will always be beautiful to me, I want you to be beautiful to you too.”

Prompto-

He’d catch them, fingers down their throat with snot running out of their nose, because he always forgets to knock. His smile, automatic when he’s startled would melt and he’d be on his knees beside them in a heartbeat.

Prompto’s very familiar with feeling inadaquate, like you’re not enough. He’d help them clean themselves up and just keep repeating “I love you” and “You’re so lovely.” He’d not make jokes, not at first, keeping things serious, because this is important.

He’d pull them onto the couch and hold them tightly, talking to them about how he feels about them, making sure he says, in detail everything he thinks they might need to hear, because he knows how important it is.

“Your laugh, the way your mouth goes all wide and the air catches in your nose funny sometimes are beautiful. It makes you look so real and so happy and I love it. I like that you get grumpy when you’re tired and I’m being a butthead, because you always let me kiss your cheek to apologize. I like that sometimes you get really silly for no reason. I like the way your hips look under the blankets, I like the marks on your skin in the light, a little map of your life, ya know? I want you to like that stuff too, but I know it’s really..hard. So for right now, let’s focus on trying not to hate that stuff too much okay?”

He’d kiss them and offer to learn their favorite recipes from Ignis, to have them join him on his runs, if it’s important. He’d cuddle them more for the next several days and spend that time reaffirming that bodies are beautiful. That they can change, that even when it feels like all the effort being put into them isn’t doing anything, it will if they’re patient. He’ll know that he can’t fix everything, but he can be there are the bad days.

[moonraccoon-exe]

Thief!Ignis being all acrobatic, never getting caught and Detective!Gladiolus doing his best to catch the thief. But when he does, it's only short lived because he's enraptured by Ignis' beauty. Another successful heist from the thief.

YOU, ANON

ARE

A

GENIUS

10000POINTS TO YOURSELF, ANON, HAVE THEM ALONG ALL MY YES THAT THERE’S AVAILABLE INMY YES STOCK. WHICH IS EVERYTHING. ALL MY YES.

Mygod,I read it almost as soon as you sent it, and I’ve been thinking about it eversince. It would make such a good AU, jesus christ. Had I the time, would I SOask you to give me permission and turn it into a whole fanfic, chaptered andall. 

Damnright Thief!Ignis is ON POINT. Reserved, quiet, honorable Ignis turned into asilent but damn sly, sassy and acrobatic thief.

Imaginethief Ignis using his super jumps and acrobacies to escape all the times thepolice is after him.

Caught on a rooftop? Ignis jumps off itwhile turning and holding the edge last time to break through a window of thefloor below. Good luck finding your way around the building, he justescaped throughthe inside.

Non-exitalleyway? The man just used a damn broken tube to reach the fire-escape ladder.You just let him escape through a non-exit way.

Corneredinto an abandoned building mid-construction? You took too long entering; theman’s currently climbing up a chain like it’s a damn joke.

Gothim handcuffed? The man doesn’t need his hands; he just beat your 7-men squadusing only legs.

“He’sthree yards away, fucking shoot him!” The man’s backflipping over and over,good luck aiming correctly. 

“Aha!The rooftop ended here, it’s too far from the next building, he has no optionbut to stop!” Nope. Ignis continues to run, flips, impulses on a hand, flips,impulses on a foot, flips, impulses on both hands, he’s still going, flips,impulses on both feet- oops, he just mortal-flipped his way onto the nextrooftop and landed just fine.

“Aha! Ain’t no way he’s escaping now, no way across, only a metal fence and no way is he-” he’s definitely making his was across it. You know the metal fences with outstanding, thin bars? He’s definitely crossing it right in front of your nose. A hand on top of one of the bars, the rest of the body up, and he’s suddenly fucking making his way across the bars on his hands with the feet pointing up.

“Aaaahaaaa! He’s on top of a bridge, we can go up by both stairs and he’s cornered!” Ignis IS cornered and he DOES put his hands up. And he’s suddenly bending backwards until letting himself fall off the edge, rolling once and landing on top of a passing truck. The bastard calculated everything.

“Aha! No route of escape for you, now, there’s only us, you, this alleyway with  no exit, and the clothlines above us.” yes, well, the man just fucking made his way up the clothlines like a damn aerial dancer. Also took his time to hang upside down and ask one of the cops to ‘kiss him, Mary Jane’. 

“OKAY, WE GOT HIM NOW, IT’S DEAD END AGAIN THERE’S NO WAY HE CAN-”

He definitely could.

“WHY HAVEN’T ANY OF YOU, POLICE OF CAPITAL CITY OF INSOMNIA, SUPPOSLY THE BEST SQUAD AFTER GLAIVES AND CROWNSGUARD, BEEN ABLE TO CATCH HIM!?”

“Uhm…my captain…”

Ignis:

Still chasing him? I’m  very sorry, my dear police officers. He just:

This above demonstrates his usual way of going; damn gymnastic. The man was either in circus or the Olympics before. There’s no photos of his face, the  man is too swift and agile. That above was no impressive escape; that’s his every day go.

You’re chasing him?That’s cute.

He just did THAT.So, of course, cops were dazzled and confused; first impulse is to jump the first bar and keep going, seeing him come back makes them stop and stumble and go back,but he ends up facing the other side again so it’s a confusion mess and WHERE IS HE GOIN- HE’S GONE THE- NO THERE, ASOJFFJGDFKLGJ, LET’S GO

It’s snowing. We should be able to catch him now, he can’t go far with all the snow and there’s no buildings or walls nearby in which he can do his stupid circus stuff. Go go go

Ignis be like

Except without moving the arms, like he’s just standing there. Like he damns does it ALL THE TIME.

Imagine when somewhere in the middle of this mess, detective Gladio is contacted to take charge of the persecution because the previous detective gave up and got tired of that shit. That was the fourth officer that rennounces to the task.

There’s no photo of the man in the expedient. Just blurry pictures of the best they’ve managed to capture, but he’s got a half-mask as if a ninja, and in the clearest photo you can’t see the eyes and upper side of the face isn’t too clear. Still, his expedient does have a list of his robberies. 

Apparently, the man has sneaked into high-security strongboxes, the movie-like ones with all the laser detectors, and managed his way into the safes without turning the detectors off not even for a minutes; it means, the man somehow made his way inside avoiding the lasers when it’s proved nobody with bones in their body could do that. 

He’s also stolen in art galleries which have the laser sensors all across the floor, not an inch uncovered, which means he flies or some stupid shit. 

There’s recordings of his very famous escapes, but still no luck on his face.

[adding a Read More cause I am SO triggered, so here, have a drabble on the whole situation, BLESS YOU, ANON]

(after finishing it)

Well this is definitely not a drabble.

PEOPLE: have this fanfic.

The Blazing Thief

Gladiolus Amicitia/Ignis ScientiaThief!Ignis, Detective!Gladio as suggested by dear, genius anon.

Anon, if you’ve ever got more of this AU, GIVE IT TO ME. I LOVED IT. 

I hope you like the thing I did down here under the cut! c:

And I’ll never tire of saying: ANON, YOU’RE A GENIUS.

Detective Gladiolus has encountered a few times, but has almost never been close enough. The sneaky bastard keeps finding ways to escape even in the most impossible of cases.

Gladiolus had been contacted for the case after 3 other detectives grew exasperated of being “fooled around by a circus lunatic”, of course, but also because of his importance as detective. Gladio may not be the swiftest or most agile, but that’s precisely why they contacted him; if the slyest and lightest have been unable to face an opponent with their same qualities, maybe the answer is on finding someone with the opposite skills and description.

Unlike “the Blazing Thief”, Gladio’s a rough type of fighter; heavy, tough, big. He is, however, not even slightly brute; he’s one intelligent man. Maybe not strategist material, but he’s a very important detective with skills to have caught, so far, the most dangerous and sneaky of criminals. Maybe he’s qualified enough for the Blazing Thief.

The first encounter was a mess to his heart; the Blazing had 3 years on the constant go without being caught even once (the closest had been to get him handcuffed one or two times, but the bastard had had it all planned and had escaped even before getting close to any patrol), so it IS an extraordinary event, the first time the emergency alarm goes off and he gets notifications of the Blazing being spotted somewhere nearby.

Gladio leads his squad, always. No matter the situation, he takes the lead. His philosophy, ‘you can’t order a man to run after someone he’s got to shoot while you’re playiing with a clip behind a desk’. The Lucian law system forbids the police to shoot at anyone unless they’re the proven culprit, and even then the shots are forced to stay in “safe spots” of the body; you can only aim to kill if the criminal is a proven murderer or has threatened directly against the King or his household.

So, while it could have been simple to aim and shoot him off the rooftops, Gladio was unable to; he could shoot him in a leg to inmovilize him, but the man is constantly backflipping and almost dancing as he parkours his way away. It’s impossible to have a certain aiming success.

So, despite the chasing and attempts of cornering him, the Blazing escapes. Gladio doesn’t take it too personal; it’s his first go at it. The previous detectives spent hundreds of times trying to catch him, so the first one really isn’t disappointing. Besides, Gladio has to learn from him before even trying to think of success; you can’t hunt what you haven’t seen before. You can watch all documentaries on hunting, but the truth is you’ll only really learn in practice. Theory is just to mentally prepare you; real life is all practice.

He doesn’t make a big deal out of it and decides to be very attentive and learn from the prey so he can be a proper, succesful hunter. 

Ten months go with Gladio chasing him and learning the most he can learn out of every failure. Because everything so far has been a failure; the Blazing insists on making of his escape a whole show and come up with something new every damn time. The bastard does it in such an amusing, professional,beautiful and even artistic way that there’s fan-ages of him in different social medias. Gladio’s own little sister is impressed rather than scared of the thief, and there’s nothing the detective can do about it. The man…he IS impressive. Totally new, a whole phenomenon. He’s extraordinary in the extent of the word.

Gladio’s office has never been a bigger mess; there’s two large boards with thousands of papers and pictures attached to them, and there’s a giant mess of lines connecting things here and there to the point it’s even messier than frozen, tangled noodles in a cup. There’s papers everywhere on the floor, on the walls, on his desk, even on the damn fucking roof. 

Gladio has spent the months learning, thinking and analyzing. And, today, he’s going to try something new.

The gallery is dark, at the exception of the vague moonlight that peers through the armored glass roof. The masterpiece and new baby of the owner, a multimillionare, rests in its display case; a ruby worth millions, nestled in its cushion, shiny.

The Blazing Thief has not only managed to open a square on the armored glass (how, nobody saw or noticed), but also managed to make f this robbery an entire spectacle again. He maybe doesn’t have the required instruments of professional thieves, but he’s not using a rope to climb down; he’s using a damn long cloth, like aerial dancers (as he’s been described in his archives).

He also doesn’t go down the cloth like he’s holding a rope; he knows what he’s doing, so he tangles himself in a way that’s complicated while also being note; not anyone would know how to do it, where to put what and how to slip where in which part, but he also doesn’t tie himself in it; in a movement he could fully free himself, but so long he doesn’t do it, he’s completely safe and totally secure in the clothing. He knows what he’s doing. He’s not experimenting. He’s sure.

The Blazing is going down very slowly and, oddly, very beautifully. He takes his time but also moves precisely and elegantly. Like watching ballet, slow, graceful ballet, but in the air, under moonlight, in the dark, and towards a precious jewel.

The Blazingstops, tangled in the cloth, in a position that may seem easy but clearly it’s not, facing downwards, the feet up in the air. His hands, gloved, go down towards the display case and managet o grasp it. It doesn’t have sensors; the floor is covered in them, so nobody would expect for anyone to open an un-breakable roof and make their way down without stepping on the floor at some point. So it’s easy to remove the  upper part of the glass, only enough for his hand to sneak in.

Except it doesn’t; before his fingers can make their way into the case, a sudden, unexpected light hits him full on the half-masked face. His immediate reaction is that of covering his eyes behind a hand while letting out a tiny groan of both surprise and hurt in the irises. 

“Well, that was quite a show” a voice, deep and low, like that of a mighty warrior, echoes in the gallery. “It was almost a delight to watch you ballerina your way down, if you weren’t such a sneaky rat.”

When the Blazing recovers and the light moves slightly away, enough to let him look up without being blinded, he finds a rough, tall and serious man nearby, holding a flashlight. A dark coat, half ponytail, a scar on the left eye. And a star badge on his chest.

“Such a waste of a jewel” the Blazing said and moved the head slightly towards the man. Under the mask, he’s smiling. “What a surprise; the police tends to be very noisy and paranoid. Never expected them to send one lone man. Let alone twithout previous warning that I’d be here.”

“There could not be a warning; nobody knew you’d be here. You’re careful” the officer says. There’s distance enough between the both, and adding the darkness (even if using the help of the flashlight), plus the half,mask and the Blazing’s upside-down position, there’s not a chance for Gladio to properly see his face. Still, the thief listen to him in silence. “I’ve been studying you. Your moves. You don’t have a methodical or lineal pattern; no matter how much somebody studies you, it’s almost impossible to make out which will be your next robbery spot. You don’t seem to leave a pattern behind. It’s spontaneous.”

“I admit I’m amazed” the thief calls from his place, moving so he baiscally sits on the cloth like it’s a swing in the park. He even fucking crosses his legs like a lady. “So then I will assume you’re here by mere luck.”“That it seems you don’t leave a pattern behind doesn’t mean you don’t have one. Even spontanity has a pattern.”The Blazing raises his eyebrows at him, sarcasm strong in him.“Does it?”“At least in you, it does. You’re a methodical, intelligent creature; you’re a strategist. I’d even dare say you’re a bit obsessive-compulsive. You can’t be spontaneous even if you tried; you’ve got to plan everything you do, even randomness. So there had to be a pattern.”

There’s silence. The thief uncrosses his leg. There’s something, there’s a soft spot that Gladio just rubbed, and both know it. 

“I must learn your name” the Blazing says. “You may be my first opponent worth a glance.”“Amicitia. Learn just that. You give me your name.”“A man of justice; I give you if you give me” the Blazing damn giggles. He giggles, like a child. Like a girl. And it’s…not childish or girly. It sounds rather seductive. “Ignis. Learn just that.”

Gladio stays quiet for a moment. He hadn’t wanted to admit it, but he’s realizing it now with full clarity; there’s something magnetic about this man. It’s the voice. IT’s the grace. It’s the way he almost looks like living, breathing art. 

“Okay, Ignis” the officer calls after a while with a sigh, “that was a nice chat, but I’m afraid it’s bedtime in jail already, so you should get down there and get in your pajamas.”“I’m afraid I’m still far from my bedtime” Ignis says and readjustes himself in the cloth, prepared to start climbing up. “I’m so sad for you. You almost had me. But you did mistake number one, and you let me know of your presence only to have a dramatic conversation before you’d become the hero. Ow…poor, poor Amicitia. Don’t you know you don’t warn the enemy of your presence?”

“Oh, I know that” Gladio says. “I wasn’t warning you.”

It takes Ignis only a second before it hits him in the head. He looks up; there on the glass roof is another officer. Before he can make any sound, the one on the roof suddenly cuts the cloth he’s hanging from, and he falls straight onto the display case. It’s too strong, intended to not break, so it doesn’t; instead, the man hits it with a loud groan and thud, and he falls from it to a side, facedown. 

By this point, Gladio has deactivated the sensors and is making his way, fast, towards the fallen thief, dizzy and confused from the hit. No alarm sounds; it’s only a matter of the two of them. Gladio rushes to him at the same time he unsheathes his gun, and he comes to stand at a side of the thief, still down on the ground and only now making his way onto his hands. But Gladio rushed fast enough, even more than the sly, agile Blazing was famous of, and was know down on a knee at his side.

Gladio takes him by a shoulder and roughly turns him around, and he comes back up on his feet, which he positions each at a side of Ignis, and he points the gun straight towards his face.

“Free-!”

Gladio stops mid-word. The sudden anger cools in a single snap; his heart, previously heavy, stops; the head empties; the hands on the gun relax.

Ignis is beautiful.

He either took off the half mask when he was down or it fell off somewhere during his fall, so his face is now completely exposed for the detective to see. And what he seems takes him off-guard and simply….strikes him like a bolt. The one freezing, suddenly, is him. 

Gladio’s used to criminals, and most are plain ugly. Some are the cliché kind of rough face features, filled of scars, even tattooed on the face, or plain ugly. The acceptable ones he’s seen have also come to be ugly at some point; drug or alcohol abuse makes what possibly once were pretty faces into haggard expressions and disgusting looks.

So to find a healthy, clean, young and beautiful face is…unexpected.

Ignis’ hair had seemed blonde under the pale light of the flashlight, but now he found it to be brown. Light brown. His face is almost like that of a statue of ancient Lucian artists; far too perfect to be an average look. He could easily pass as a model. The slightly prominent cheekbones, the perfect chin, a nice-looking nose despite it being broken at some point of his life. There’s tiny birthmarks on the right side of his face. His eyebrows are so careful, so fragile and so well drawn that it’s impossible to believe they’re natural. But…they are. 

His lips. Gods, his lips. Soft looking. Like cotton candy. No. Like orange gaps; firm, strong, but soft. His eyelashes, so long it’s almost ridiculous. And there, his pair of sparkling green eyes. Nothing particularly big or small…but especially green. Especially pretty. 

Gladio stays frozen for far too long and it becomes obvious, what he thinks and feels. 

Ignis, at first seeming surprised, now looks scared. He’s widened his eyes and has furrowed his perfect eyebrows, like a scared child. His mouth has slightly opened, and Gladio can see his immaculate white teeth behind the lips. Ignis, while scared, unintentionally shows what his sister would call “a puppy face”. Both stare at each other in complete, deep silence. Gladio’s aware he’s staring and that he shouldn’t be, but he can’t help it. He has frozen and he can’t stop looking.

What’s wrong with me?

He sees but doesn’t react as the thief raises his hands as if he was standing, palms open and showing up to Gladio, hidden under his gloves. The movement was very slow. His hands tremble slightly. He’s still looking at Gladio with real fear. 

“Please…” Ignis whispers to him, eyes gleaming with terror. His words are slow, like he wants to give emphasis to every word and the sincere plead behind them “…don’t hurt me.”

Gladio freezes even more. He knows he shouldn’t be thinking it, but the thought crosses him faster than his ethic does; who would ever hurt or even want to cause any harm to such a beautiful creature? He needs protection, why should he handcuff this man when he looks so scared and he’s clearly innocent and in the need of love and care?

It startles him, to realize he’ thinking all this. And it hits him on the head; it’s a spell, Gladiolus. Come out of it. He knows you found him attractive and he’s using it against you. Don’t let him win. 

“…I-Ignis the ‘Blazing Thief’, you’re under arrest for the crimes of…”

Gladio stops there when his hand doesn’t find the handcuffs. He’s supposed to be carrying them at his waist, at his back. They’re not there and he made sure five times he had them before he had exposed himself to the Blazing. Still, he knows it’s wrong to look away of the criminal, so his hand still looks for the handcuffs without him taking the eyes off the terrified-looking man. But he doesn’t din them. Instinct makes him look back, confused.

It happens in a matter of seconds; he sees his handcuffs under one of Ignis’ boots, and almost at the same time he turns around in the realization that something’s happening, his hand’s pushed away by one of Ignis, the insinctive shot hits the floor, and the other hand gracefully struggles with him only a moment and, when he knows it, Ignis has slipped past under his legs, stands up at the time Gladio turns around, and suddenly the detective has no weapon and is facing the man, currently standing when a second ago he was pinned to the floor, and he’s holding Gladio’s gun, pointed at the officer.

Ignis does a foot movement so he throws the handcuffs in the air and he catches them with his free hand. Gladio stares at him, not really sure that he understands what just happened. Not understanding how. 

Ignis, on his side, only smirks at him.

There’s silence for a moment. Gladio can’t speak even if he tries to. Ignis doesn’t want to. After a couple moments, Gladio frowns at him.“Fucking shoot at once, instead of making a dramatic pause.”“Sadly, I’m not interested in murder” Ignis says and he empties the gun from its bullets. He throws it away into the gallery, winks an eye at Gladio, and turns around to start running.

Weaponless, Gladio runs after him as fast as he can. Ignis is faster but Gladio has stronger and longer legs, so it’s a fair match. The officer thinks he has a chance; Ignis is running straight towards a door that’s most probably locked, and even if it wasn’t, it’s going to take him a couple of few precious seconds to open it, enough for the detective to catch him. So he keeps running with the full intention of not stopping and crashing straight onto the man’s back to finally trap him. 

He keeps going, going, going, and so is Ignis running non stop towards the door. The speed is incredible, but he doesn’t slow down; if anything, he speeds up only. It’s intense and none are planning to stop. And then, Ignis is at the door…

…and he never stops running, using the door like a continuation of the ground and running on it for a second before impulsing himself off the wallin a backflip.

As he does, Gladio’s unable to stop and hardly collides against the shut metal door, half-screaming in pain and surprise when his head bounces off it and he stumbles back. But he doesn’t fall down; he’s stoppped midways by Ignis, who landed a few steps behind him and hurried to press and pin the man to the door. 

Gladio’s almost knocked out by the hit, so he’s too out of his senses to fight back when the man pins him against the metal door and takes his forearms to his back. Gladio mutters a curse when he feels the cold metal round his wrists, and he groans out a long, exasperated wild curse; he’s handcuffed with his own handcuffs. By the thief he had intended to handcuff.

Gladio stays quiet, breathing heavy, bloodied forehead against the door and eyes closed. He feels Ignis pressed against his body behind him. And, suddenly, he feels the thief’s gloves hands sneak onto his torso, caressing his chest like a lover.

“I like the way you stare at me” Ignis whispers as close to his ear as possible, and Gladio guessed the thief has to be standing on tip-toes. And the idea, instead of angering him, tickles. Fuck. He feels the thief’s hands sneak under his coat on the chest, caressing him through the shirt underneath. “Do you usually desire all your cases with so much lust, or am I special?”

Gladio stays still and tenses when Ignis hands caress him, one still on the chest and the other coming out of his coat to travel down his torso, down the belly and stopping there. The detective curses under the breath, in anger.

“Will you stop toying with me, little whore?”

“If that’s what you wish.”

Ignis lets go and backs off. Gladio turns around, helpess, and watches him walk backwards with a smile that Gladio could swear could belong to a fox and there would be no difference.

“It was fun, detective Amicitia” Ignis will say and turn around, walking away like he’s a model catwalking and not a thief heading somewhere else. “It’s past bedtime. Oh, I almost forgot- my ruby.”

Gladio watches him take the ruby, wave goodbye at him, and walk away. 

Of course, Ignis proved himself smarter than he seemed and didn’t exit through any of the doors, where Gladio quietly had planted an officer in. He makes his way to the roof and calmly leaves like nothing out of ordinary happened.

Gladio can only sigh and exit the building, trying to think on how to explain his bleeding forehead, the missing ruby and his own handcuffs on him to his companions without it sounding so ridiculous.

When he exits, he sees a gargoyle-like shadow at a nearby but distant enough rooof. He sees the man stand up, and can almost hear his little laugh when he waves at Gladio from the distance, before hopping his way away like the acrobat he is.

Gladio only looks away from the fire-like man, understanding, for the first time, how very accurate the name The Blazing Thief is to him. He’s fire, in so many senses.

[bespectacled-girl-blog]

Flying Away: Chapter 8

Word count: 2512

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 

Yay, new chapter! I hope you won’t be bored with this one, I felt like there wasn’t much happening but it is necessary. More angst coming in the next chapter, and maybe some fluff if I can stop my hands from writing too long chapters XD Taggin @chocobrodreamteam, @cupnoodle-queen, @blindbae, @atarostarling, @nifwrites, @stunninglyignis, @lupanaoflaminar

Gladio had taken Lyne on a tour of the town. She had been in awe at the view of the meteor when they parked the Regalia the day before, and she was eager to play the tourist. They were crossing the street to get to the outlook where the view promised to be the most beautiful, when something caught Lyne’s eye. A white truck, with the words ‘Cup Noodles’ written everywhere. The font, logo, label, everything was the same. She stopped in her tracks, unable to avert her gaze from the familiar vehicle.

“Wanna try some really good food?” came Gladio’s deep voice.

“No, it’s not… I mean, I love Cup Noodles, but… How come you have these in Eos? We have them as well where I’m from!”

Now that she came to think of it, there were many similarities between their worlds. Cars, smartphones, even though they weren’t exactly the same. Video games, technology in general. And the language. How come they had that in common too? Was it possible that she and her mother were not the first to travel from one world to the other? And if so, did that mean that once she had to leave Eos, there would be a way for her to come back?

Leaving these thoughts in the back of her mind, she promised herself to ask her father when they met again. She turned to Gladio, who had a puzzled look on his face, not understanding what was bugging her.

“Sorry, don’t mind me. I was just surprised. But if you want to eat Cup Noodles later, that’s fine, I like it.”

He gave her a broad smile, and took her arm to lead her to the outlook.

***

They’d had a wonderful time that day. Gladio had taken Lyne to a cute restaurant, where they’d shared delicious cuisine (though not half as delicious as what Ignis usually prepared) and had a nice chat. Gladio was fun, and now that she knew him better Lyne couldn’t recall how she had found him frightening in the first place. He could be serious when talking about books, or about his mission as the King’s shield, and suddenly turn into the best joke teller, making her cheeks hurt from laughing. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed that hard.

He was walking Lyne back to the Leville, where she shared a room with Iris, Gladio’s younger sister. At that moment, life felt right. She had friends, she was helpful to others, her life had meaning. And she had found her father. No need to think about how all this would be taken from her eventually, right now she was happy.

“Thanks Gladio, I had an incredible time today.” she said to the big guy, a smile on her lips.

“My pleasure. We should do that again.” he replied, putting a hand around her shoulders.

A movement caught her eye then. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she saw someone with dark blonde hair and spectacles disappear round a corner, walking briskly.

***

They’d spent a whole day in a mine, looking for one of Noctis’ Royal Arms. After having successfully defeated the monster lurking in the tunnels, they’d found a ghost bow that had belonged to one of the prince’s ancestors. Now they were back in the open, and night had fallen, so they decided to rest at a haven. Prompto and Noctis were setting up the tent, and Ignis was igniting the stove. Lyne was about to ask him if he needed help, when a big hand fell on her shoulder.

“Hey Lyne, wanna help me fetch some wood for the fire?”

“Sure!” she answered, turning to follow Gladio.

Something made her turn back just a second. Ignis was pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes closed. She almost went to him, but then Gladio’s booming voice came from some distance.

“You coming or what?”

They were collecting branches, or rather, Gladio was doing it on his own, with Lyne standing next to him, arms crossed on her chest, feeling pretty useless.

“What did you bring me here for? You look like you can do that very well by yourself.”

“It’s dark already, and I wouldn’t mind having a little help if a daemon decides to come and play.”

“Oh yeah, of course, hadn’t thought of that.”

Keeping an eye around, she paced, thinking.

“Gladio?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you know if everything’s fine with Ignis? He seems… upset.”

The big guy stopped what he was doing to look at her, frowning.

“Of course everything’s fine with Iggy, why would anything be wrong? You’re just meeting the real him now that he’s accustomed to your presence, is all.” The unkind remark, along with the aggressive tone he’d used, surprised her. Maybe it was her raised eyebrows that made him add, chuckling:

“Although I think he may have lost a bet some days ago, so he may just be a sore loser, for all I know.”

Back at camp, while Gladio busied himself over the fire, Lyne went to Ignis, to offer him help and see if she could make him come over whatever was upsetting him. She was met with a polite, but sharp “No, I thank you Lyne but that won’t be necessary” to which she found no answer, and after that she found she had no appetite.

“Okay I’m off to bed. Night guys.”

She said that more to Prompto and Noctis, than to the other two, who were glaring at each other. Once she was in her bed, she heard only the sound of forks hitting plates and an occasional “Hey guys, everything all right? You look sullen all of a sudden” from Prompto, met by a growl from Gladio, which marked the end of conversation for the day.

Trying to cut off the sounds of the annoying lot outside, she closed her eyes, and started breathing slowly and deeply. Meditation had often helped her to sleep, although this time her goal was different. The moment she felt her mind drift off, she grasped her chance.

“Dad? Ramuh? Are you there?”

“There’s a clever girl, finding out how to reach me without me even needing to tell her, I’m proud of you.”

She hadn’t even jumped at her father’s powerful voice.

She could see him, although not so clearly as the other time. Only her mind had reached the astral plane, and it made everything seem blurry. She tried to focus, not wanting to lose the connection. He was floating near her, looking his true self, magical staff, robes and all, but at the same time he looked like he was her size.

“I needed to ask you a question.”

“Ask away my child, and I will answer to the best of my ability”. He wore the same kind smile he had the first time, although now it was his real face. She couldn’t explain why, but it was as unsettling as it felt right.

“I noticed that some things are similar in Eos and in my world. And others are perfectly identical, like the language, and a kind of food I saw the other day, which are called Cup Noodles. It’s the same thing, logo, font, label. How is it possible? Do you think some people travelled from one world to the other before I did?”

Ramuh looked puzzled, and she had a feeling that he was not used to that.

“I have never heard of such a thing before, but it is possible that some humans were able to visit other worlds, whether on their own, or with the help of magic. I cannot give you an answer now, but I promise you to look into it.” “Okay, thanks.” She was disappointed, but tried not to show it. “Another thing: by any chance, would you be able to read every human’s mind?”

“Only those who are linked to us. Why?”

“Oh that’s not really important. It’s just that two of my friends have been acting weird for some days now, and it would really help if I knew what was happening in their heads.” “Well I hope you will sort it out soon. Now, I can see your mind is passing to the world of slumber. Have a good night, child.”

“Good night dad.”

“Good night dad.”

Ignis stopped moving. He wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly at first, but then he realised Lyne was already asleep. She was dreaming of her family. She must be missing them so much, having spent three weeks in Eos without being able to contact them or let them know she was all right.

The others were not going to bed anytime soon, so he took the opportunity to watch the young woman sleeping. She looked peaceful, all the worries of the day erased from her pretty face. Her plump lips were slightly parted, and he had to resist the urge to kiss them. Why did he want to kiss her anyway? He had been stupid enough to let Gladio win the right to court her, and he couldn’t back out now, not after what he’d told him. But at the same time, he knew what he’d said was right. They didn’t have time for such petty things as love, with such an important mission to accomplish. So why did he feel so distraught and angry each time Gladio started flirting with her? They had been friends for many years now, and Gladio’s way of acting with women had never bothered him before. If anything, he’d found it amusing to see how quick he grew bored and remained constantly on the prowl. He had never felt the urge to punch him as much as he did now. Why couldn’t he put that behind him, start seeing Lyne merely as one of his companions, and push onward like he’d always done? Let’s be frank: he knew she was going to fall for Gladio, sooner or later. They all did. There was nothing he could do about that, so he’d better deal with the news as best he could. But rejecting her help like he’d done tonight, although it had been for his own protection, was not going to help. She wouldn’t understand, and seeing her upset would only increase his distress. Besides, if Gladio liked her half as much as he said, he would probably be mad at him for upsetting his girlfriend. No, the best course was to act as if everything was fine. He could certainly do that, right? That was the first lesson his uncle had given him when he had started his training as a royal advisor. Never show your weaknesses.

And whatever happened, he would be here for her when Gladio broke her heart.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine, I know how to fend for myself now.”

“You sure you don’t want to travel with us? I could always ask Iris to go with Talcott, Monica and Dustin, you know.”

“For the hundredth time Gladio, yes, I’m sure! Now go, the others are waiting. I’ll see you in Caem.”

Lyne was still not sure whether she was going to be fine on her own, but right now, she needed time alone to think.

She watched as the car was leaving Lestallum, her sole friends in this world drifting away. A moment before getting in the Regalia, Ignis had looked like he was going to walk to her, but then his gaze had shifted to Gladio and he had taken his place in the driver’s seat.

She didn’t know what was the problem with the strategist. Maybe she’d done or said something offending, and he wanted to have nothing to do with her anymore? Or maybe that thing she’d thought there was between them was just a figment of her imagination. In any case, she was fed up with his behaviour. She’d tried to chat with him, he only gave her short answers and jumped on the first pretext to end the interaction. She’d tried to help him with cooking, but he was so tense when she was around, that he’d burnt diner several times until she gave up. The only moments when he acted normal around her, was in battles. He protected her when needed, and sometimes when their eyes met in the midst of danger, she became sure, for a millisecond at least, that he cared for her. But it wasn’t him who came to her after victory. It wasn’t Ignis who cheered her up when she thought she’d screwed up in battle. It wasn’t Ignis who sat by her side at camp. Even though Gladio was the nicest guy she could imagine, she couldn’t help feeling miserable, and she didn’t know what she’d done to deserve it. So she’d decided that in her new life she was having no more of that kind of treatment, and taken her leave, at least for a few days. She would be with the guys soon enough.

She’d told Monica and Dustin to leave without her, that she had something she needed to do and that she’d catch a lift with someone later. They’d reluctantly accepted, but not after muttering about the orders they’d been given to protect her at all costs.

“And who has so little faith in me as to give such an order to you?” she’d felt compelled to ask.

“Basically everyone, but most of all, it was Mr Scientia, the king’s advisor.” Monica had replied.

Wow. What a surprise. So he refused to approach her, but he wanted to keep her safe. That made her even more angry with him.

Once she was alone in Lestallum, she spent the evening in one of the bars she’d been to with the guys. That was something she’d never done before, when she was someone else. But right now, in this new world, she was the daughter of a god, and nothing could prevent her from being free and happy. Nothing but some turquoise eyes which wouldn’t meet hers…

Pushing that thought from her mind, Lyne spent a good time in the bar, chatting with strangers and drinking just enough to feel numbed to the throbbing pain in her heart. One man tried to hit on her, but she turned him down, and that was her signal to make her way back to her hotel room.

She was walking in one of the small streets of Lestallum, revelling in the night’s fresh air, when she heard some footsteps behind her. At first she thought nothing of it, but after a time she started to have a bad feeling. She turned several times, but still the footsteps were behind her. Now she was sure of it: someone was following her, and they were probably not friendly. When she found herself in a dead end, she knew she had to act. Hiding behind a pile of boxes, she waited for her pursuer. Although she knew she could defend herself, she couldn’t help feeling terrified. So much for Ignis wanting to keep her safe at all costs!