#tbh i headcanon that Ignis read a lot as a teenager because he HAD to so he could learn enough to be able to do his job

[lunarlegend]

i know it's because of the dub, but the whole "oh they made it so the jock likes to read, how original" take regarding Gladio is even more laughable when you consider that going by the traditional stereotypes the localization tried to impose on the characters, Ignis should be the one who likes to read and he doesn't

you never see Ignis with a book

anytime he's seen reading anything, it's either a magazine or his recipe notebook

he will read magazines at camp while he cooks, at diners while they're ordering food, and in hotel rooms while they're relaxing

meanwhile Gladio is the one carrying entire novels around and giving them his full attention any chance he gets

it's a disservice to both of them to assume the physically stronger of the two isn't intelligent, and that the tactician MUST be a bookworm

they are interesting characters because they're NOT stereotypes

[moonraccoon-exe]

What do you think would happen if Clarus (and or Iris) walked in on Gladio and Ignis smooching?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

This touches one of my most fragile spots inside because *deep breath* I am THE WEAKEST for Gladnis with Ignis + Amicitia family dynamic. I love the dynamic between Ignis + supportive Clarus, and Ignis + sister-in-law Iris, and basically I LOVE to shove Ignis into the Amicitia family while in a Gladnis AU, aaah! ♡ ～(‘▽^人)

I am digressing, omfg, I just love this kind of stuff SO MUCH!

What would happen if Clarus (and/or Iris) walked in on Gladio and Ignis smooching?

Well…that depends. Whether Clarus knows about them--or whether that’s how he finds out they’re dating.( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Let’s check out both! /O/

Seatbelts on, ahead the Keep Reading there is1 short story/headcanons of Clarus finding them smooching1 short story of Clarus finding out they’re a couple by finding them smoochingShort Headcanons for Iris walking on in them smoochingShort Headcanons for Iris and Clarus walking in on them smoochingAND A BONUSA short story of Clarus and Iris walking in on them…smooching in a particular scenario (keeping it fluffy).

Brotherhood era!

Gladio and Ignis have already announced their relationship.

It always happens to Ignis, always, that while he tends to deny any PDA with Gladio during work, for some cosmic reason in the universe, it’s always, always during the only ten seconds in which he agrees that Clarus walks into them.

Always.

Ignis, reserved, and less self-confident back in the days, was always a bit overwhelmed by Clarus’ presence (because holy Astrals, it’s the Clarus Amicitia, Shield of the King Regis, the serious, wise, I-could-murder-a-Behemoth-with-one-hand Clarus Amicitia and I’m dating his son, aakslssklgh) and is always trying to show his professional and educated side, not the “teenage boy in love” one, but bad luck on him, Clarus is finding him and Gladio smooching.

Not like there’s anything wrong on it, Ignis is just paranoid, the poor boy.

The first time it happened was at the Citadel.

Clarus was looking for Gladio to give him a couple instructions for later.

The door was already opened, he only needed to walk in, so he made no noise.

Clarus immediately stops and freezes at the sight.

Gladio and Ignis are standing there, hands gripped together, one in front of the other, kissing.

Gladio’s standing (almost) fully straight, which forces Ignis to come up to tiptoes.

Clarus is taken off-guard; while he had already been told the guys were dating and had often seen them hug or hold hands, to see them kiss is a little…a lot, so much more awkward to him.

He has no idea how to handle this stuff.

So Clarus just stands there staring away and feeling the face burning red and not knowing whether to leave or not.

Gladio notices him before Clarus decides anything.

When Ignis notices too, first thing he does is to let go entirely of Gladio and step away.

Ignis is letting go of his hands, actually using them against Gladio’s chest to (very softly and working more as gesture than actual action) push him away, at the time he takes two steps back and stares entirely away.

And of course:

“…my deepest apologies, mister Clarus.”

Gladio’s just standing there and he too stares away, using a hand to scratch at the back of his neck.

Clarus stands there in silence because he doesn’t want to make Ignis think he HAD to apologize but also doesn’t want to say this is fine, so he has no idea how to word his thoughts without sounding stupid.

It’s super awkward.

The three are standing there, no one looking at anybody ese, the three red in the face.

It’s the most awkward in their lives so far.

“No, it’s fine” Clarus ends up saying, before clearing the throat and focusing the eyes on Gladio as if entirely and absolutely nothing had been happening, and delivers his instructions.

Except he’s still a bit red in the face and wishing inside that this all was over so he can stop looking at Gladio.

He can’t look away from Gladio because he thinks that’ll make Gladio more awkward and uncomfortable, but also hates to be looking at him.

Gladio’s hating that Clarus isn’t staring away, but he’d be as awkward if he did, anyway.

When Clarus is done he does dare look at Ignis again to say something, but has no idea what, so he just bids goodbye.

Ignis wouldn’t make eye contact with Gladio for an hour after that.

Now that the moment’s passed, Gladio’s finding it funny and tries to make Ignis laugh, but nope. The adviser is busy hiding his face in his hands and lamenting on the “poor impression he’s leaving on mister Clarus.”

Ever since then, Ignis tries hard for Clarus not to catch them again.

Not working, Ignis, not sure why you keep trying.

Tbh Clarus just feels…awkward.

One thing is knowing your eldest child’s got a boyfriend, to see them together is different.

Clarus thinks they make a fantastic couple and that they look great together, tbh

He just…doesn’t know how to not get awkward.

To be sincere, he walked on in Gladnis smooching far way too many times at the Citadel and he’s grown used to it by now.

Whenever he walks in on Gladio and Ignis smooching now, he’s just blank faced.

Ignis still has the instinct of stepping back from Gladio when Clarus finds them like that, nonetheless.

Gladio’s grown used to this as well, but still feels and behaves a little shy at first in front of his dad.

What if Clarus had no idea of their relationship, though?

Curiously, it’s less awkward.

Maybe it’s as awkward, but his reflex has the awkward quickly replaced (we’ll see why).

Same than before, Clarus was looking for Gladio at almost the end of the work shift.

He didn’t find his son at his small office, so he assumed he had to be at the training hall.

Clarus walked in and froze immediately before saying anything.

Gladio, in tank top and apparently recently done showering post-training, has the young prince’s adviser’s face in his hands, Ignis has a hand to his chest and one to his face, and they’re kissing.

It’s innocent kissing, but both teens-almost-adults are very focused on it.

It’s small kisses, and one comes immediately after the other

Clarus is watching from the entrance, holding a door open, eye widened and shocked.

Clarus’ instinct was to turn around and exit, but before he could do so, Gladio opened the eyes and looked from above Ignis to him, and flinched lightly in reaction, so Clarus’ second instinct to that was to nail his feet to the floorand quickly come up with a way to fix this.

At the sametime, Ignis is turning around. His instinct when he sees the King’s Shield there is to flinch as well and immediately, without even thinking, step away from Gladio and lower the head.

Gladio’s immediate instinct (this all is happening in barely two seconds) is to take Ignis from an arm because he doesn’t want him to back away, but thinking the gesture is too rough, he moves the other up so, while the first hand gripped, the second caresses softly the other arm as a gesture to ask him to stay near.

“Gladiolus” Clarus calls before any of the boys can say anything. And he frowns. “I’m expecting you can give me a very reasonable explanation for this.”

Gladio’s mind is already working and he’s mentally sighing because Ignis did tell him it was not appropiate to kiss right then because “work shift is just over, anybody could walk through that door”.

Ignis is keeping the head low and tries to think of some way to apologize.

“Dad, I can expl-”

“I won’t accept any explanation” Clarus continues, and while he tries to look firm, he’s also still looking a bit surprised, and he doesn’t look angered at all. “I thought we said you wouldn’t train until you would fully recover from your ankle, Gladiolus.”

Dead silence.

Ignis has put the head up again to look back at Clarus, and currently both Gladio and him are looking at the king’s Shield with confused eyes, and they’re entirely frozen.

Clarus is frozen and tense, too.

That was the only thing that crossed his head to say so he wouldn’t cause any troubles.

He did not want any of the guys to think this angered him or that he was against it, but he could not help the shock, so this was the best he could thinkabout when he was caught staring.

This was Clarus’ attempt of letting the guys know he completely agrees and this is fine. So perfectly fine it’s not even a matter to discuss.

But he stands there tense from 1) the shock bc he really had no idea of their relationship and 2) not knowing whether the guys understood the intention of what he had just said.

Gladio and Ignis keep looking at him for a moment, before Ignis gently steps away from Gladio, who lets go of him this time, and the younger Shield only nods and puts the hands to his waist, staring slightly down.

“Oh. Uhm…yeah. I know.”

“If you get injured again, you wil give a generous payment to the doctor. That we have free medical attention doesn’t mean we can or should make overuse of it.”

“…right. I’m sorry.”

“Didn’t hear you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Fine. Get properly dressed; it’s cold outside and a tank top won’t do. As for you, Ignis” Clarus finally looks at the young adviser. Ignis was about to bow at him and tell him ‘Yes, Sir’ and take his leave, but Clarus is faster. “We can drive you home if you wish. I heard your uncle has taken the car, so…or…you can join us for dinner or…as you wish.”

Ignis took only a moment to reply, and while he’s clearly nervous, he’s not showing himself too shy or any scared,so he thanks Clarus.

Clarus requested Ignis waited outside while Gladio got dressed, a clear implicit request for Ignis to leave them alone so they could have a word.

Ignis shot an apologetic glance at Gladio, who stares back at him as if saying “This has gone to shit, but it’s not your fault”.

After that worried glance, they separate ways and Ignis exits.

Gladio’s upset at his dad even before being told anything, so he’s frowning and feeling all upset and avoids looking at Clarus to keep clear how upset he is as he dresses.

“I’m sorry for interrupting” Clarus says to his surprise, but Gladio’s too proud to admit that’s not what he expected, so he continues to put his hoodie on without looking at him. “I didn’t mean to. You could…you could have told me about…this.”

“I know” Gladio says, and realizes that more than angry he’s feeling rather sad for an odd reason? “I’m sorry. I know we don’t keep secrets.”

“One thing is secrets” Clarus tells him.”Another thing is private life. I respect yours, and this was an intrusion to it. Do know I didn’t mean to, Gladio.”

Gladio’s just standing there, hoodie on, head slightly down and frown on face, but he’s not any angered.

“It’s fine you wanted to keep it quiet. You do were going to tell me at some point. Weren’t you?”

Gladio takes a moment before nodding, still not looking at him.

“What were you waiting for?”

“…I don’t know. See if things worked.”

“A prudent decision.” there’s a bit of silence between them. “Since when?”

“Just a month ago. I mean…as in…officially…”

“A month. Ah, it makes sense. You’ve been particularly happy these last days.”

Gladio’s finally smiling. He still keeps the head down, but he doesn’t look any upset. Clarus untenses when he sees he’s finally gotten Gladio back to being alright and cool, so he smiles too.

“You really like that boy, don’t you?” and, ofcourse, Gladio nods, but he still doesn’t look at his dad. “And do you care about him?”

Gladio takes some moments. He crosses the arms, but keeps the body untensed. And then he nods.

“…a lot.”

“I see” Clarus is slowly nodding. “Ignis is a very rare specimen. Loyal like no other, hard-working like no other, passionate, curious, brave and incredibly smart. Strong, independent. And still, sensible. Very loving, in his own way. And, while needing of nobody else, also fragile in some ways.” he makes a long pause. “Ignis Scientia is wonderful human being to be taken seriously, not as a game. You are aware of all this, aren’t you?”

And this is completely and most definitely the least that Gladio was expecting from this conversation.

He does look at Clarus now, surprised.

It takes him some moments, but then Gladio nods, lowering the eyes againf or a moment.

“And I take him seriously. I take us seriously. Very. Like I’ve never…done before.”

Clarus knows that Gladio means what he’s saying and that he’s firm on it, but he knows what it feels like, to be entirely and absolutely serious on a romantic relationship. And he knows it can be a bit scary. Even if Gladio doesn’t notice it. So Clarus just looks at him and then nods and smiles.

“Why don’t you tell me about you two over dinner?” Clarus suggests and moves a hand to grip at Gladio’s shoulder. “I really want to know what you think about him. How things started, too. How come I didn’t notice?”

Gladio chuckles and laughs a bit, and half-hugs his dad, so both exit like that, half-hugged.

Clarus did as told and offered again to take Ignis home, but still found a way to make Gladio return to the Citadel with some excuse, so he could have a little time with Ignis in private too.

Ignis was very nervous, but not frightened.

Clarus apologized to him for interrupting and the intrusion to their and his personal life, like he did with Gladio, and then told him to not worry about it.

“I wouldn’t like any of you to think I’m against any of this” Clarus tells him. “If anything, the happiest should be me. Gladiolus could not have made a wiser decision in his life when he decided to have you as his partner.” and then Clarus smiles at him. “I do hope things work for you two in this.”

Ignis is taken off guard because he was entirely sure Clarus would be upset about this for…really no reason at all. But Ignis still bows lightly at him and thanks him.

“My son is very, very hard-working, mature, and knows his place in the world. He’s brave, stubborn for victory, and has a will a thousand times stronger than his body. He’s growing into an incredible Shield, a fantastic man, and a wonderful human being” Clarus is telling him, back to seriousness. “Gladiolus is a man with a heart a thousand times bigger than his soul. And a big heart, like a big shield, can cause greater impacts, but is also easier to target to receive the greatest damage. You have a strong, big, but not unbreakable heart in your hands, that he’s gifting to you on free will. Trusting you will not harm it on purpose. You are aware of this, aren’t you?”

Ignis is serious, too, and takes a moment to let Clarus know he’s taking his words seriously and not like a random preach.

“Yes. I am aware” Ignis replies, and that it was not a simple ‘yes sire’ speaks greatly of him to Clarus, because it keeps clear that this guy is not seeing him in their usual roles but rather as what he’s supposed to be; Gladio’s father and just that. “It is nowhere in my intentions to cause any harm. On the opposite, I feel honored to have this opportunity he’s giving me. I apologize for-”

“Don’t apologize, son” Clarus interrupts him. “I’m not preaching you or nagging you, and it’s not a threat.” Clarus laughs a bit at that. ”I’m just trying to make sure you are aware Gladio’s feelings for you are sincere and great.”

Ignis is taken off-guard again. This time he does stare down, partly as a reflex of hiding when he feels his face starting to burn.

“…yes. I’m aware. And mine are…reciprocate.”

“That’s fantastic” Clarus smiles softly at him. “Thank you. And another apology. Know our house is yours, whenever you two want to spend the while together. At least that way Gladiolus will stop coming up with silly excuses to sneak out at random days.”

Ignis can’t help a little laugh with that, mostly out of feeling content than out of the joke itself.

That night Ignis was a bit too startled to accept dinner with the Amicitia, so just dropping him home was fine.

After that first time walking in on them kissing, Clarus does start going awkward now like listed above, lmao.

The poor man doesn’t know how to handle this.

Longstoryshort, Clarus tends to get a bit awkward and blank-faced.

What about Iris, though?

Iris is fan number 1 of Gladnis.

Whether we like it or not, she’s taken that title.

I would tell you how it was first time that Iris walked in on them smooching but really she reacts the same ALL THE TIME.

Every time it happens she reacts like first time, tbh, this girl is a fangirl mess.

Iris will want to squeal.

Iris will keep quiet not to spoil the moment and so the guys don’t notice her so she can stare a bit longer.

Iris is internally screeching.

Iris is holding her cheeks and shrugging in place and blushing and wanting to scream “Aaaw!”.

Sooner or later she ends up kind of squealing.

“Iris! I’ve told you so many times spying on people is not- >:(”

“You two are so cute! (*ﾉ▽ﾉ)”

Where is the lie, Gladio, you can’t fight that

Ignis feels awkward too but different than it is with Clarus.

Clarus is kind of imposing.

Iris is…terrifying.

She’s terrifying only because she’s not scared of snapping pics of the two while they’re not watching.

Iris also sometimes goes “Eew!” but that’s as a joke and when she’s just passing by rather than accidentally walked in on them.

Or when she hears Gladio using a nickname or saying something romantic.

Seeing them smooching is adorable.

Hearing her older brother say some corny thing is DISGUSTING.

Seeing them cuddling is cute.

Hearing her older brother say romantic stuff is DISGUSTING.

You get the point.

Iris likes to snap a pic and show them.

She’s refusing to delete the pic.

No matter how much you chase her around, you won’t delete that picture.

Iris is often bringing the subject up at random times with people like Cor or Clarus.

Ignis tends to get all flustered when she does because he doesn’t want them to believe he and Gladio are always kissing when home alone with her because she makes it sound so wrong aosdjkdfl no, Iris, stop

Iris’ fave photos of them is a sequence at the sofa of the Amicitia house.

They’re cuddled together, smooching.

Ignis is holding Gladio’s face and smiling in many photos while mid kiss

Gladio’s laughing while Ignis pampers and showers his face with kisses all around (you can almost hear the laugh in the photos).

Then they’re cuddled again with a last smooch.

And last photo is them cuddled and asleep.

This is Iris’ treasure.

…maybe she shows her friends so they can fangirl together.

MAYBE.

Iris, that’s not right.

What about Iris and Clarus together, though?

First time was home.

Clarus and Iris had gone shopping, and opened the door to a cooking Ignis beign smooched by Gladio.

Clarus’ instinct was to cover Iris’ eyes.

Iris is grinning and letting out a EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE of cuteness, and Clarus’ is all panicked covering her eyes and realizing “Wtf am I doing?”

It’s not like they’re nude, Clarus.

Forgive him, he’s single daddy of a girl that’s like 13 here, it was a reflex.

When Clarus let go of her face she continued to yelp out “How cute!” like nothing had happened.

The first times it was the same, lmao, Clarus would reach for her eyes, then realize it’s nothing wrong and that he’s just being paranoid.

In future times, Clarus has stopped doing this, but now Iris is grabbing him by the arm.

If they happen to find the Gladnis smooching, Iris will contain a squeal and grip or hug Clarus by the arm, leaning against him.

She’s saying something like “Aren’t they cute!?”, “How adorable!” “Aw, look at them!”

Iris, Clarus doesn’t want to look, lmao. Not particularly.

Not like he hates the sight, he just still doesn’t know how to handle this.

His bby boi with a boyfriend, all grown and mature and stuff ;____;

(imagine when Iris gets a partner, omfg, the poor man)

There was this once, ohmygod, I’ve got an entire FLUFFY AND PRETTY SCENARIO LISTEN TO ME agh the visuals are killing me, okay, here:

There was this once Clarus walked on in them at the training hall.

He did not find them smooching.

He found them dancing.

The hall was long ago cleaned, mats in their place, all weapons and dummies in their place, so the entire room is free and empty.

It’s not a secret that Ignis tends to go look for Gladio if the young Shield takes particularly long in there at the end of work shift (if Ignis has the time, ofc), to offer him a towel, water, or just company.

Clarus lacked the context (how the subject was brought up by Ignis telling Gladio about Noct’s dancing lessons, Gladio’s joking that eventually led to this), but he did not want to interrupt to ask for it.

These boys…no, these now men really know how to dance.

Clarus is so used to ignore everything during events and parties due to his position nearby Regis and always with full focus on Regis’ surroundings that he had not paid attention to whether Gladio danced or not.

He knew Gladio had learned, just had no idea he enjoyed of it or did it at all.

Ignis was in his work clothes, and Gladio in his hoodie, but that was not stopping them.

A quick waltz. Not a slow one two three, in their place. Hell NO, they’re using and going around all the space of the training hall, all of it.

One two three quickly while turning, three’s barely over when there’s already a one two three again.

Clarus can hear their voices, laughs and silly noises at times, like they’re telling jokes to each other as they dance.

The way they move and use the entire room makes them look like professionals.

…except, of course, they are not.

Clarus had been so interested and attentive on the dancing that it did surprise him a bit when the guys finally stumbled upong their own feet.

Clarus flinched lightly when they finally fell down in a tangled mess.

Desite the groans, there was laughing afterwards, so Clarus did not worry too much.

They sat up and asked each other at the same time “Are you okay” before bursting in laughter again.

Soon enough, as Ignis adjusted his glasses, Gladio stood up and offered his hands for Ignis, who accepted and came up to his feet as well.

They shared a loving glance before Gladio let go of him for a moment to offer an exaggerated bow at him.

They exchange a few words that aren’t so clear, and then, among laughter, they reach close to each other, hold their hands together, and lean in for a kiss.

A kiss turns into two, three, four innocent little kisses, lips letting go of each other only to meet again.

Clarus was about to turn around when Iris came in about to yelp out she was looking for him when she saw the scene.

She stopped at a side of Clarus, gasped and watched in silence.

The Gladnis were still oblivious to the spectators, as invested in their dancing and current smooching as they are.

Iris lets out a dreamy sigh and puts the hands to her chest.

“Aren’t they perfect together, dad?”

Clarus was so used to Iris fangirling at his side that he never tended to answer.

That one day, however, Clarus saw so many more things than what the eye saw.

The dancing was silly, like kids playing together. And, to him, love kind of is that, finding someone you can be your inner child with together, and laugh like back in the days; no pressures, no problems, just your partner and you pretending to be dancers.

The way they hugged as they fell down, by reflex, not even thinking. Falling together, receiving the hit together. And that kind of means loyalty to him.

And the way they looked at each other…that connection of glances…

And their kisses. So sincere. So playful, but serious, and loving, and innocent and so, so full of love..

“Yeah” Clarus smiles. And, for the first time, he doesn’t feel awkward watching them. “They are.”

Needless to say, he guessed it was best to leave them alone, so he took Iris with him.

Needless to say, of course, Iris told them anyway.

None Gladio or Ignis could look at Clarus to the eyes for a day for no other reason than the silliest and most naive

“He saw me dancing….( ´ д ` )”

Because kissing, smooching? Pfft, Clarus is so used to accidentally walk on in them they don’t care anymore (…maybe Ignis does still care a bit).

But dancing.

“Astrals above, my dad/father-in-law saw me dance….(/～\ )”

And that’s what I think happens! I hope you liked this. Thank you for the lovely ask!  ( ´ ▽ ` )♡