voidtreckerexpress | (closed) we're all gonna be alright

Entry tags:

(closed) we're all gonna be alright

Who: Madoka and Gladio
When: A day or two after the party-ish..
Where: The greenhouse car
What: Madoka teaches Gladio the wonders of gardening.
Warnings: Probably nothing, but will edit if that changes!

The greenhouse has been an excellent addition to the train. It's not as if Madoka can't appreciate the others that had been added over time, but this one feels extra special. Especially since it arrived right after they had started on the little plants project-- maybe the train was listening to what they wanted after all?

But ever since its addition after the most recent time the train stopped at a platform, Madoka has often been in there. Just admiring the carriage, looking at the bulbs and trying to figure out what might grow out of them, starting to plant some and helping out others who asked her for help on how to learn about gardening..

And so she's seen Gladio there before, just quietly spending time there as well. But the poor girl is so shy that despite how nice he seemed on the platform, she's just too nervous to approach him.

Until now, that is. Because the crate that contained seeds and bulbs has been entirely emptied. And there's definitely more left, but they're all closed. And there's only so much a fourteen year old small girl can do to try and get one of them open. And Gladio is right there, sitting in a corner and reading. Of course she worries that maybe she'd just disturb him if she asked for help.. and so she just stands there next to one of the closed crates for a moment, hesitating and changing her mind over and over.

But in the end she decides to go for it, no matter how nervously her heart is pounding in her chest. Madoka makes her way over to where the big guy is sitting, trying really hard to smile although the nervousness is so very evident in the edges of the smile.

"U.. Um. H-Hi, sir, I remember you from the platform.. I'm sorry, b.. but could I maybe ask you something? If you aren't too busy..!"

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It really helps whenever he gets down to her level. Sure, he's still a pretty big guy even while sitting down, but at least Madoka doesn't have to crane her neck to try and look up at him. And it's not like that's the only thing to decrease his intimidation factor here.. the laugh also helps. A lot. Madoka can't help but think she really likes his laugh - it's so warm and genuine. It makes her smile at him without even realising it, it's just purely instinctive.

Not to mention that last part of what he says. There's no way he would say anything like that if he didn't care about Ignis a whole lot. Now Madoka feels a tiny bit guilty for having been so afraid of him back on the platform when he seems like such a warm and caring guy now..

"But mister Gladio, aren't you doing the same thing?" It makes it a little easier to talk to him too, since this isn't the sort of thing she'd say to someone she was afraid of. Her tone isn't as excited as a moment ago, but it's very genuine - she doesn't hold herself back out of shyness. "You're doing the same thing as papa where you won't accept the compliment."

At least she doesn't sound sassy. Her tone makes it sound more like an observation.

"Does that mean I have to keep telling you it too?"

"Is that what I'm doing?" Gladio replied with that same grin. "I think you're wrong." If she didn't mind being honest with him then he was going to be honest right back. Though he had a lot of respect for her to actually come out and say something like that, given their previous interactions and the fact she'd barely been able to look in his eyes then. Maybe she was warming up to him? Or maybe he'd just ruffled her feathers by seemingly dismissing her compliment. "Compliment my hard work and I'll thank you over and over again." He continued with a chuckle. "But a superhero's pushing it. I'm not interested in the limelight, kiddo. I'm the guy who does his best to keep the superheroes safe. When I can." Though being stuck in a trice damn train kind of ruined that some, so he was stuck at a disadvantage with nothing to do and no one to protect.

She's definitely warming up to him. Which is why she doesn't immediately start to panic when he says she's wrong. Instead Madoka just seems to listen to what he says, and then slowly nods as if she understands.

Granted, she still kind of thinks someone who keeps superheroes safe is probably a superhero themselves, but.. still. She's willing to just chalk that up to personal opinion. Maybe.

"Keeping people safe is really cool too though.. It's very admirable." And she can't help but think Gladio must be great at it. He just opened that crate with his bare hands, he's so strong!

Madoka pauses, and then does look a bit more shy again. Although it has nothing to do with Gladio as much as it has to do with her own embarrassment, bordering on guilt.

"I wish I could be someone like that too."

"Sure is!" Gladio laughed, no small amount of pride in his voice. It was a 'cool' thing to do and something he had actually loved. It was something he'd been good at. Something to be proud of, something that would make his family proud. To be able to protect the people he cared about was one thing. To protect the King? To be right there at his side throughout all his hardships and keeping him safe? How could you not be proud about something like that? How could it be anything less than cool?

Gladio leaned forward then and made a little gesture for Madoka to come closer, his smile had gentled as he patted the grass beside him. "Can I let you in on a secret?" He asked her, then waited for her answer. He supposed what he was going to say wouldn't be much of a secret, but maybe he thought it would help. If she wanted to be someone who could keep others safe, of course.

"A secret?"

Consider her interested. She looks surprised though - mostly since she might be taking this a little more seriously than he intended, with how gullible Madoka is. The girl can't help but think it's amazing that he wants to share a secret with her already, even though they don't know each other very well yet!

So of course she does come closer when he makes that gesture, even sitting down next to him on the grass when he indicates for her to do so. Madoka stares at him with big eyes before giving a determined nod.

"Of course, I promise I won't tell anyone..!"

Maybe secret had been too strong a word, since Madoka seemed to be taking it very seriously. Though, if Gladio was honest, it was probably a good thing she was taking it seriously. He hoped it meant she would listen.

"You don't have to be strong to protect people." Gladio whispered after he'd leaned in toward the teen to deliver his secret. It was actually something he'd told his sister after she'd expressed a desire to keep him safe a few years prior. She'd been watching him practice and had demanded he show her as well, so that she could protect him while he protected the prince. He'd laughed and sat her down to explain that she'd had a more important job. Sort of like what he was doing with Madoka. "I bet you think you're someone who needs protecting and not the other way around, huh? Maybe you are. Maybe you can't beat up the bad guys, but what you protect is something much more valuable."

Gladio pulled back then and leaned against the crate behind him. The smile hadn't left his lips, though now it held a touch of nostalgia. Almost word-for-word what he'd had to tell Iris. It had seemed to help his sister, he hoped it would help reassure Madoka.

"See, people like you, Madoka... You give us something to fight for. But more importantly, something to come back to. Without that, what's stopping us from running out and fighting until we can't stand? Until we drop? Until something stops us? Without something to come back to, we can't stop. You protect us from ourselves. People like you protect that good part of us we have to keep hidden to be able to do the things we do. You shine a light on the shadows and chase away the bad things, the bad memories." The bad thoughts and the nightmares. You didn't do the things they did without earning a few of those. "Call it heart or call it the soul, whatever it is, you're the one who protects that. And that's a he...ck more impressive than poking someone with a sword!"

She is definitely listening. Especially since - despite not being sure of what to expect - this whole story isn't what she expected to be told. But that's exactly what makes Madoka listen so attentively to the whole thing, thinking along as she does. She's really not sure if that's more impressive than actually being able to fight.. it feels a lot less impressive. If everyone got into trouble, there wouldn't be a thing she could do about it, and nothing makes her feel worse than that thought.

But on the other hand, at least knowing she's useful in some way, even if it's just through existing does make her feel a bit better. And.. really, she can't help but think it's so kind of him to go out of his way to tell her all of that.

So after he finishes, she does just stare for a moment.. but then she smiles. It's not super wide or excited, but it's still genuine.

"I see.. I guess that makes sense.." Even though it's hard for someone with such little selfconfidence to internalize it. But she's trying. There's another slight pause, but then she shakes her head and continues. "I'm sorry that I was so scared of you at first, mister Gladio.. It was very rude of me to judge just based on the way you look. Even though you're really strong, you're also very kind."

If anything proves that, it's all he said just now.

He knew it probably wasn't what she was expecting or wanting to hear, but it was very true. The only way he was able to go and fight and come back mostly whole, was knowing there was someone at home waiting for him. That he couldn't leave his family behind. If he went off and died, who would protect Iris? Who would protect Noct and the others? He had to survive no matter what.

"You were scared of me?" Gladio raised both brows in surprise. "I'm scary?" Of course he knew his size could be somewhat intimidating, he didn't always like it, but it was a fact he had to accept.

Gladio grinned and leaned forward again, this time he held out his hand. "How about we make a deal? I won't be afraid of you, so you can't be afraid of me. And if you really want to get tougher..." He grinned. "You can always come work out with me. If you can get yourself up early in the morning."

Her face starts to grow red with a blush fairly quickly after he seems so surprised at being called scary. And Madoka is honestly about to stammer out some apology about how it's most likely not him being intimidating as much as she's just scared easily--

But then he's already holding out his hand, stopping her in her tracks before she even gets started. And the fact there's only a slight moment of hesitance makes it obvious Madoka is at least not scared of him anymore now.

"Okay, but.. let's make it a pinky promise." Instead of shaking hands. "No one can break a pinky promise, after all..! A--And then I'll come train with you too! I'm always up early for breakfast and to do chores anyway. I promise I'll do my best..!"

It was a simple thing to change his held hand into a half fist, with his pinky finger held out. Once again he was reminded of his little sister, and wondered if he would ever see her again... He hoped he would.

"I'm always here before breakfast." Gladio said with a grin. "You're welcome to join me." Part of him didn't expect her to though. It wasn't fun or exciting, he could see her getting bored very easily. But it was nice to make the offer at least, he thought.

Madoka hooks her pinky finger around his own.

"Alright! Then it's a pinky promise!" Gladio might not have a clue yet what he's in for.. She is most definitely going to show up every morning. Even if there's no way she can keep up with him. The least she can do is try! She's a determined little thing! "I promise I'll show up."

After a few moments she untangles their fingers, Madoka's expression turning a bit thoughtful. He's being so nice to her here, maybe she should do something in return too..? After looking around them, her gaze returns to the man in front of her.

".. um, mister Gladio, have you ever tried gardening before?"

He definitely wasn't going to hold her to that promise, but if she turned up while he was working out he would be happy and he would just as happily show her some routines she would be able to do herself.

"Can't say I have." Gladio paused, reconsidered his words and then grinned. "Maybe a small amount. I've pulled things out of the ground but never put them in." Plants, at least.

"It's fun!" Madoka smiles, seemingly pretty happy with that answer. Mostly since she can offer him something in return now.

"Um.. Of course I don't know for sure if you'd like to try, but.. you're often around here, right? Maybe if you get bored of reading or doing other stuff sometime, you could try gardening. It always makes me feel calmer and happy."

She points towards a nearby patch of soil. There's no plants visible yet, but there's definitely a small 'please don't step on the soil, the plants are sleeping!!' sign with cutesy flower drawings on it that could only have been made by one person...

"I planted some flowers there already!"

Gladio looked where the girl pointed and smiled when he saw the little sign. He couldn't quite read it from where he sat but he could see enough to understand Madoka had personalised it herself.

"I'm willing to learn. If you're willing to teach me." Gladio offered her. Sitting around in the greenhouse and reading was all well and fine, but actually doing something... And hadn't he mentioned to Ignis that he was considering taking up gardening? Maybe this was fate telling him to go ahead and take on a new hobby?

Her eyes widen slightly at the very mention of the word 'teach'.

But even so it doesn't take her very long to answer. "Of course I am..!" If there's anything that's true about Madoka, after all, it's that she loves any chance to be helpful. And it feels like it makes up for him having been so nice to her in return.

Even though the idea of teaching Gladio anything is kind of mindblowing. He seems so awesome! How could he possibly learn anything from a tiny girl like her!

"Don't worry, it's really easy. And since the train gave us so many different seeds, you can pick what you want to grow!"

"I've no idea what seeds are which." Gladio said as he started to pull himself up to his feet and turned to check out the crate of seeds. He reached in and moved a few around, picking up this and that to check out what was what. But really he had no idea so he would have to rely on Madoka for this part as well.

"Any advice?" He asked with a nod to the crate. "Something easy that I can't accidentally kill." Because there was a high chance that is exactly what he'll end up doing if he wasn't careful.

"Um, let me see.."

She moves over to peer into the crate as well. Madoka ends up having to stand on her toes just a tiny bit to be able to properly look into it, but she's managing.

"Maybe you should start with some kind of succulent then? Those are really hard to kill, because they store a lot of water! So even if you forget to water them for a while, they'll be okay." She points at a corner of the crate. "I think it's those seeds over there!"

"Succulents, huh?" Gladio mused as he reached over for the seeds that Madoka had gestured to. He looked at her for confirmation they were the correct ones before he pulled them out.

For a moment his lips twitched as he thought through his next thought. He shot the young girl a curious look, then back to the seeds. "My... my mother loved flowers." He started, figuring why not, she could know this. Who else was she going to tell? "I used to watch her in the garden when I was a kid. Didn't know what the... what she was doing really. But she'd talk to me when she did it."

"Gladiolus." Gladio pointed at himself and grinned. "My full name. Her favourite flower. She's the only one who ever used that name though. Think there's any of those in one of these crates?"

Madoka stops and stares when he starts telling that story, as if she didn't expect him to suddenly share it. But it's definitely a nice story, and it makes her warmly smile by the end of it.

"That's so pretty.." Although it makes her wonder why he doesn't use his full name. Is it too long? It can't be because it's too strange, Madoka thinks it's so beautiful!

And helpful as ever, she's already looking through the contents of the crate again a moment later, carefully picking up some packets of seeds and putting them off to the side to look at the others below to see if she can find what Gladio is looking for.

"Your mother has such a great taste in names! I wish I had a pretty flower name."

"She was a good woman." Gladio nodded and watched what Madoka was doing with a smile. He folded his arms upon the edge of the crate and leaned himself down against them, half bent over and just leaning as he watched.

"You have a nice name." He assured her with a grin. "Don't wish for another, alright? The name you were given is perfect for you."

"I.. is that right?" Her reply sounds half-surprised, half-slightly-flustered. It's not that Madoka dislikes her name - it's fine! - but she doesn't think it's anything all that special either.

Thankfully she's quickly distracted by suddenly finding what she's looking for. Her face lights up as she grabs something from the crate before holding it out to him. It's a small bag with bulbs.

"Here, I think these should be the right ones! They come from these rather than the small seeds. Because they can become big flowers, just like you!"

"Its the name your mother gave you, so why wouldn't it be?" Gladio grinned. He wasn't trying to embarrass her at all, just reassure her. She had a perfectly nice name in his opinion.

"Big, you say?" Gladio took the packet of bulbs and his smile softened. He wondered if his mother had known? Who knew. He sure didn't. Nor did he know how best to plant them. So he looked to the pink haired teen for guidance. "You'll show me how to grow these?" And maybe, later, he could see if she knew how to grow iris' as well.

Even though he doesn't say it out loud, Madoka can figure out why he repeats the part about them being big. She may not be able to read his thoughts, but she's reached the same thought all the same anyway. Maybe it was just his mother's hope that he'd grow up to become so big and strong.. That's a sweet thought. She likes it.

Rather than mentioning anything about it out loud though, she just gives him a smile and a nod at the question. "Of course! To be honest, there aren't a whole lot of things I can do.. But at least I know how to grow flowers."

After casting a last glance into the crate, she turns back towards him. (Even if that means looking a long way up.)

"You should pick a spot where you want to try planting them here. Anywhere should be fine as long as the soil isn't too wet. Otherwise it'll make the bulbs rot."

"I think you know more than you think you do." Gladio replied and pushed away from the crate, bulbs in hand, to do was he was told and find a little spot of soil he could call his own.

He stepped closer and looked around, there were several spots that looked occupied. And he wasn't sure how to tell what was 'too wet' and what was 'wet enough'. All he could do was crouch down when he thought he'd found a place that looked good enough and, when he ran his fingertips along the soil on top, it seemed cry enough. He looked to Madoka for her opinion. "Will this place be good enough for them?"

Maybe he's on to something about Madoka knowing more than she thinks, since when she follows him over to the soil he's looking at, she only seems to need a look before she's already nodding at him. No need to actually touch the soil to tell.

"I think this place should be fine! Now all you have to do is make sure to plant them with some space left between, so they won't get in each other's way when they grow really big."

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