Egret 26. It's time to talk.

[callmegladio]

Who: Gladio and Ignis
What: Talking.
Where: Quiet Room
When: Day after the mission, day 26.
Warning: Not sure how this will play out... Could be hugs. Could be a punch. Could be an atomic wedgie. Who knows?


It had been a few days. By rights Gladio knew he probably should have sought Ignis out right after everything had happened. Or at least the day after giving him time to mourn the loss. But he hadn't done that. His last talk with Ignis had not gone well at all... Their relationship had become... strained at best. At worst, damn right toxic. And he hadn't known how to handle Ignis after that.

But on the heels of that last mission, Gladio had gained a little clarity of thought. Being locked in the train for so long had played havoc with his mood and being injured and useless on top of that, he'd found himself in a depressed slump that he'd struggled to get out of. It may have only been for a few hours, and the return back to the train had not been good at all... But those few hours had saved his sanity... mostly. He felt a deep sadness at the loss of those green hills and blue skies, but he held hopes he would see them again.

It was that hope, and the calm that came with it, that had him hunting down Ignis the next morning.

Maybe he should gone armed with coffee or something. But Gladio didn't want any distractions. He wanted to sit Ignis down and he wanted to talk with him. So, he started in all the usual places and was a bit perturbed to find Ignis was in one of the quiet rooms and not in the kitchen stress cooking like he'd half imagined him to be doing.

Gladio took a deep breath and lifted his hand to knock on the door.

It was now or never.

Comments

[callmegladio]

"Sometimes a little push is needed, Iggy." Gladio spoke gently and moved his other hand to cover Ignis'. "Just like I'm here talking to you. Wouldn't be fair if I didn't extend the same courtesy to Tony." Maybe it would work, maybe not. But he needed to see. Because if he didn't, who would? It was one thing to go and listen to them and let either or both of them rant it out. But who was actually trying to help mend things between them? They sure as hell weren't doing it themselves.

"Like I said. Wait until tomorrow. He he doesn't come looking for you, go find him. But take the time to think about everything I said, alright? It's important." Because he wanted Ignis to think. Sure he'd said he needed to feel more. But to get there he needed to realise it for himself as well. He'd heard what Gladio needed to say, now all Ignis had to do was sort through it himself.

[faithfulsupport]

He really hoped the worry he felt inside wasn't reflected on his face. He was the cerebral advisor after all..but Ignis was more than sure that he was being pretty transparent right now. His hand gripped the Shield's, trying to find strength in the hold. He felt like he was falling apart worse with Gladio here, but that wasn't really true. This man with him was helping him find his courage and helping him heal.

The dusty blonde head nodded as he listened to the instructions. Tony had always gone to find him and it was time it was reciprocated. Finally it lowered in humility and he sought the words that wouldn't come without some emotion as his grip tightened again.

"Thank you..for everything."

[callmegladio]

"You're welcome, Igs. That's what friends are for, right?" Gladio grinned... And then he pulled a hand out from under Ignis' and hooked him around the neck, pulling the man against him. "So stop looking like a kicked puppy! You've got some hope here! Stop damn well thinking of all the bad things and start looking at the silver lining here."

With Ignis in the headlock, Gladio smirked and went ahead and ruffled the advisors hair. He couldn't look all stiff and proper with his hair all a mess! Plus he knew damn well it was a good look on Ignis.

"You'll get your man back. Even if I have to lock the two of you in a room until you've sorted it out and one of you come out knocked up." Gladio was laughing heartily, he was very deliberately trying to get a reaction from Ignis. Get him out of his head a little.

[faithfulsupport]

One day Ignis was going to stop crying, but it was not this day. Suddenly he found himself in a head lock and there was playful growling as his hair was ruffled. That hair was the equivalent to a rooster's comb and he fussed. But as he considered the shield's words he grunted. He didn't feel as if he'd had much hope until Gladio decided to offer to go in and do what needed done.

And then at hearing about being knocked up, the advisor finally let out a genuine laugh. Oh it felt so good to get that out and it reminded him of conversations he'd had with Tony regarding that very topic. It was if he'd put those talks away in a box and locked them up with other dreams he'd had to shelve. Except this time they were no longer in a cage.

If there was ever a time the strategist felt 'free' it was now. Finally when he stopped laughing long enough to recover his voice there was still a chortle in the tone. "The joke I'm afraid is on you for that one."

[callmegladio]

Gladio outright grinned. "Don't doubt it." Well, maybe he was a bit surprised, but given what he knew about Tony and his flirtatious manner, and the sly looks Ignis had sported over the last few weeks when saying nothing at all, Gladio could hazard a guess that their conversations and habits were not entirely innocent.

Not that he really wanted to know the details.

He gave Ignis' hair another ruffle, just for good luck, and then let him go. "Much better look on you!" He declared, laughing.

[faithfulsupport]

He didn't try to move out of the headlock, as this was Gladio's way to play. Roughhousing had always seemed to be his style. And even if at times Ignis didn't understand it, (because who in their right mind played with a smart kid in place to protect the future king? Children weren't really around due to Noct being who he was, and children would shy away from him because if they hurt him, he could go report it to the prince and king and they'd be in Big Trouble.) he envied the shield's ability to drop all pretenses and roll around on the ground. The only one who would play with Ignis was Noct and there wasn't much physical roughhousing. Tickling yes, but wrestling no because the advisor as a child had worried about Noct's back injury.

So he grunted through receiving the hair ruffle and was let go of. Ignis gave Gladio a disenchanted look, but it was covering up how much he'd needed to be 'told' he was loved and needed. "I'll endeavour to keep that in mind." That came out in typical Ignis deadpan, but there was a smile at the shield in the green eyes.

[callmegladio]

"You do that." Gladio smiled and began pulling away, sliding out of the seat to get to his feet. He was pretty sure he was done here. He still had people he needed to speak to after all, and Ignis clearly wasn't feeling as chatty as he had been a minute ago. Maybe he'd pushed a little more than he should have done? He'd remember in future.

"I'll go check on Tony now. I'll see you later, Iggy." He stepped out of the room and closed the door quietly behind him. He knew he'd probably given the advisor a lot to think about. Time to himself would help with that. Gladio took a deep sigh and closed his eyes for a moment, he could feel a headache brewing but knew he needed to get this done before he lost what energy he'd gotten from that world.