Anytime you need a friend I'm gonna be by your side

[faithfulsupport]

Characters: Tony, Ignis, Madoka, Prompto, Gladio and Peter
When: About a week after new arrivals
Where: Dining carriage
Warnings: Tony
Summary: Growing family dinner




Ignis had called on the fellow members of the Crownsguard to come to a family dinner one night. Normally he made dinner just for them and then had another dinner with Tony afterwards, but tonight was different and so he busily prepared something akin to the Skewered Wild Trout and Spicy Long-Bone Rib Steaks, those being some of Gladio & Prompto's favourites respectively. Working with this month's recipehs too, he made Cheese & Rosemary Focaccia as an appetizer without any onions.

He'd been given fish and meat from the townspeople that he'd helped rescue on the last mission on the ice world. Of course he'd tried politely to decline anything but the young father who'd mistakenly thought Madoka as his daughter (at the time) refused to hear it and the advisor didn't want to insult the man. So when Ignis came home he had just pounds of meat and fish that he stored away in the freezer for a special occasion.

Well now was one such as that.

Having informed Tony of his idea, the Red team leader then invited Peter to come meet the other side of the family. Madoka of course was all for it and she busily started working on side dishes and dessert. Normally the advisor had no problem tanking everything but he wanted Madoka to feel included and she'd worry he was taking too much on by himself. That was nonsense in Ignis' book but the bigger rule than his pride was not to make his daughter worry. It happened once and since he couldn't handle the onslaught of those eyes, he'd silently vowed to never go through that again.

Like ever.

Comments

[callmegladio]

Sometimes it didn't pay to be right. Gladio's suspicions were soon confirmed and he was at a loss. His mumbled reassurances petered off when Prompto began to speak and he just fell quiet and listened. When Prompto pulled back he allowed him, but couldn't quite meet his eyes even though he knew that was what the blonde wanted of him. He didn't fully react to the touch either, though his rebellious body tried to lean into those gentle fingers.

He was thinking. Or trying desperately to.

On one hand, Noct wasn't there. How could they possibly know if he would ever show up on the train? Ignis had gone for months believing that he was alone and he would never see them again. What if Noct was forever lost to them?

Finally his eyes fell closed and his head tipped back, without anything to lean against he didn't go to far. "You can love as many people as you want, Prompto." He found his voice, low and deep and as calm as he could make it though he was feeling anything but calm. "Guess I'd always known I was, at least, the second choice. Always thought you and Noct were a thing already. Because I know he cares about you. No matter what happened. That wouldn't have changed..."

[bethereprompto]

It seemed fair enough to him that after what he'd said to Gladio, he'd get hit with something that hurt too. They both knew this wasn't intentional nor would either of them ever want to injure the other. However, it hurt to hear Gladio think he was second to anyone.

"That's not true!" He gave Gladio a light whack on his shoulder. "It's not! You're not second. You never have been, ever. Not now not then not however other way there is." He found Gladio's hand and held it whether the other man wanted him to or not. "You're Gladio. You're everything." He frowned and thought a moment before pulling off his glove. "You're the one who accepted me."

[callmegladio]

Gladio found the ability to smile when Prompto hit him. He opened his eyes and looked at the blonde with raised brows. He had just hit him. Maybe lightly, but still. "Ouch..."

It was sweet that Prompto lied to him though. He knew very well that he would play second fiddle to Noctis and he was, for the most part, fine with that. The fact that Prompto had spared him time at all was a miracle to him. It was a gift he would cherish always, no matter what happened.

He didn't pull away when his hand was taken. Why would he? What he did do, was gently take the hand that Prompto had uncovered. As before, he lifted that hand to his lips and softly pressed a kiss to the tattoo imprinted there. "Thank you, Prom. For giving a damn." No matter how wrong it was, the fact Prompto believed it made him happy. "But this? This doesn't change who you are and never did. You're no different because of it." So he hadn't needed to accept anything, he already had long ago.

[bethereprompto]

"Do we need to go get Iggy to look at your arm? I might have broken it.." He snickered. Leaning in, he planted a kiss on Gladio's shoulder. He loved how the large man played along with all of his jokes. It made them so much more fun. In fact, he made everything more fun.

He could tell he wasn't being believed but he didn't know just how he could prove it. It was likely he couldn't unless Noct really did show up. It made him afraid but he also missed his king. Ever since he received that letter from Luna, his whole life revolved around being the best friend he could to Noct. The fact that Gladio and Iggy were there too were the best bonuses ever!

The sweet reassurances were making him melt. He closed his eyes for a moment, just enjoying that still new emotion of being free. He moved the large hand and set it over his heart. If only he could get the man to see what was inside there. "What if I love you both equally? I believe he loved us and Luna equally too." He certainly had. Noct wasn't the only one who lost her, though he'd very obviously had been the one most hurt.

He didn't want to think about that now. In fact, he had a much better idea. Tilting his head to the side, he gave a little smirk. "Do you need me to show you how much I care about you?" His hand ran down Gladio's chest and right over the front of his pants. "Please.. Gladdy.. let me show you?"

[callmegladio]

Before he had a chance to consider Prompto's words and give a reply, hands were moving and without thinking Gladio dropped his own and gently took Prompto by the wrists. "Don't..." He spoke softly, but there was tenderness in his voice, not anger. Gladio wasn't upset. At least, not in the typical sense.

"Just.... give me a second here..." Gladio, still in that same soft, low tone asked this of Prompto. He just needed things to slow down just a hair, just enough for him to get his chocobo's in a row. Just a minute to think.

He knew he had to say something or do something, something to reassure Prompto. He knew how confusing it was to have so many questions and not enough answers. It was maddening. And he didn't want Prompto to worry about anything. Causing him sadness was the very last thing Gladio wanted to do, especially knowing that at some point in his future he had done just that. Now, knowing what he knew, he took great pains to avoid it as much as possible. Was that why Prompto was rushing through all of this? Was he afraid of the answers he could get? Or making him angry? Oh, Gladio hoped that wasn't the case.

Still holding Prompto's wrists he lifted both of his hands and pressed them to his own chest this time. Over his heart, just as Prompto had done.

"Prom... I know. You don't have to prove anything to me. And I really don't want you using sexual favours to do that." That's not what he wanted at all. The times he had spent with Prompto had been some of the best of his life and he didn't want that reduced down to being used to prove something that could easily be shown with words. "I... get what you're saying. I understand it. You love him too and that's fine. I can accept that. But I need you to understand something too..."

Gladio let go of the hands now so that he could gather Prompto up into his arms and pull him close. "No matter what... I love you too. That's never going to change."

[bethereprompto]

Gladio knew him so well. Prompto was rushing through this not because he was afraid of Gladio getting mad, but afraid of losing him. He needed and wanted the other man to be okay with the fact that he could offer him all of his heart that he still had possession over and forgive him for missing a piece. He wanted Gladio to be happy again like when he was looking so dreamy when his hair was brushed. He wanted to show his gratitude for accepting him and he knew the other man kept saying there hadn't been anything to accept- but to Prompto there had! He just wanted all the good things and feelings he could create be given to Gladio for messing their peaceful evening up and also simply because he wanted to give them to the man he loved.

It hadn't even occurred to him that he was throwing around the 'L' word in a way that might seem flippant or not as genuine as it was. They might have just started sleeping together, but he'd been in love with the man for a long time now.

He went completely still at that very first no. His eyes widened a little in concern and he quickly pulled his hand back. Inwardly, he cringed, hating that he'd botch something else. He was used to being klutzy physically but not with someone's emotions.

He watched with no small amount of amazement when his hands were brought to Gladio's chest and they mimicked what Prompto had just done with him. His cheeks colored a little when he guessed correctly the offer might not have been in the best taste. It had sounded to him like something he could do to make Gladio happy again.

Gaping, he stared in disbelief that despite what horrible thing he'd just revealed there was an option they could remain okay- better than okay. He was getting told he was loved. He was never going to forget those words for as long as he lived. Gladio Amicitia said 'no matter what'. "Really?" He breathed, unable to think of anything else to say to that. For once, Gladio had successfully rendered him stunned and unmoving.

[callmegladio]

"Really." Gladio promised with a low laugh. He dropped his head and pressed a kiss to Prompto's shoulder, then one to the side of his neck and up to his cheek. "I love you. Even if you keep throwing me curve balls and not giving me time to dodge. I still love you." There was both a teasing note to his tone and a slightly scolding one. A veiled warning to start giving him time to actually react.

He pulled back then and lifted his hands to gently cup Prompto's face between them. "The fact you care about me amazes me, Prom. I don't care if you were in love with a hundred other guys, so long as you keep smiling for me."

[bethereprompto]

A laugh bubbled up, though he felt more relief than anything else. He didn't know how this had happened. How had he gotten so lucky? Why did Gladio think he was the lucky one between the two of them? It didn't matter. The only thing that did was that the wonderfully sexy man said he loved him. When his face was sort of hidden as he was kissed, he admitted, "I didn't want you to be sad." That was the only answer he had for why he'd been so spastic. However, he heard the warning and knew what it meant- and more importantly, what it didn't. He was loved and there were no hard feelings here and he was loved. Did he mention he was loved? Because he was. Gladio loved him.

His smile grew impossibly bright at those amazing words. It made him wonder again why they'd waited so long. "I'll always smile for you. No matter what!" It was Gladio's words being parroted, but they were genuine too. Prompto had found home and it was in this incredible giant's arms.