Thank Naga there's nothing actually threatening about it or Inigo might just have screamed at those hands suddenly coming down on his shoulders. But even though the hands suddenly being there in the middle of his freakout is a little startling, Inigo loses all instinct to shriek when he looks at Gladio's face and sees that smile. It is friendly and weirdly calming..

But then Gladio just has to say that last part, and Inigo can feel a blush growing on his cheeks that's spreading all the way to his ears. Why this, he's so bad with actual compliments...

"Ah.. um.." Thankfully this time it's not a flustered outward freakout as much as it's a flustered inward freakout? He looks pretty calm on the outside, just.. very, very shy. His eyes dart around for a moment before his gaze returns to meet Gladio's own.

".. Thanks. That's really sweet to say. And.. uh, you don't need to say sorry for teasing me. It's alright, really. You're a sweet guy, Gladio. I know that even when I'm panicking, so don't worry."