TFLN

[ancientflower]

 

you know what to do

Comments

[sonoflucis]

Noct nodded, finally able to look back over at Gladio. He offered him a small smile. "I know it sounds really weak and lame...but thank you for taking me seriously." It took a lot to admit, especially to someone so hard-working like Gladio. "I'll do my best."

[callmegladio]

"Hey... You can talk to me, alright? I know you'd probably prefer one of the others but I'm not here to make your life harder. I can work with you, if you work with me. I think we can find a balance." Gladio finished off his beer and sat himself up a bit straighter.

"If you wake up with extra energy and a sudden impulse to train harder, tell me. You want something slower? Let me know. Things stressing you, pissing you off or gettin you down. I need to know." Because all those things could put a strain on Noct, on the training they did, his mental health. It was all connected and they were all important things to Gladio. "I'm your Shield, Princess. Remember that. I'm not just here to take a bullet for you. I can protect you from a lot more... if you tell me."

[sonoflucis]

It was nice to hear. If made Noct feel better knowing he could tell Gladio how he was feeling. He didn't like Gladio implying he would have preferred someone else.

"It's not that I want to talk to someone else. I just...really didn't want to disappoint you. " Gladio's opinion mattered a lot to Noct, even if it didn't seem like it.

[callmegladio]

"You can only disappoint me in two ways, Noct. Hiding when you're hurting. And not givin me your best when you're able. I'll never ask for more than you can give. But I rely on you to tell me when you've hit that limit." Gladio wasn't a mind reader. Sometimes he could guess... But he needed Noct to speak up more. Not just wait till shit got too much and everything imploded. That was a sure fire way of pissing Gladio off too.

[sonoflucis]

Noct reeled his rod in and set it down next to him. "I'm working on that. Talking more. That's why I asked for a code. For when I can't voice what I'm feeling." He was never much of a talker, and less so when it was about his feelings. "I'll do my best to be honest from now on...and to give training my all."

[callmegladio]

"I get it, I'm not sayin you aren't! Just clearing up that whole 'disappointing' me thing." Gladio gave Noct a smile then. "You don't have to spill your guts and tell me your inner most feelings. A hint is all I've ever needed. But this code works just as well."

And he hoped it would work. With some of the pressure off and knowing he had an out if it was needed, maybe Noct would be able to relax a bit more?

[sonoflucis]

Noct nodded. "I know." He reassured. "I just wanted you to know that I'm making an effort." He smiled. "Thank you, Gladio."

[callmegladio]

"And I want you to know I see it." He grinned right back. "You're welcome. Now... You done fishing? Can we start grilling these guys?"

[sonoflucis]

Noct looked at the fish and nodded. "Yeah, let's eat." He stood up and grabbed the cooler. "I'll fish more later."

[callmegladio]

Gladio pulled himself up to his feet as well and reached down to take the cooler from Noct's hands.

"Sounds good. Just so you know, Iggy wants us to bring some back for him too." He smiled over his shoulder once he started walking. "Can't get fresher fish than just caught."

[sonoflucis]

"I'll catch him some before we leave in the morning?" Noct suggested. "I'm honestly surprised he let me out of his sight." Ignis had been quite on him lately in terms of schedules and promptness. "I guess he trust you more than me."

[callmegladio]

"Not a matter of trusting me more than you. It's a matter of not giving him a choice." Gladio grinned. "And I'm your Shield. What I say goes. If I say I need to get you away for a day, he's got no room to argue." Even if he would, and he will. Gladio fully expected Ignis to demand an explanation once they returned. And Gladio could give him a limited one. The things they talked about now were for them alone, he wouldn't share it. He wouldn't betray Noct's trust that way.

"It's why I said come to me if you need this again." His duty was only to Noct. Not getting him to his appointments like Ignis.

[sonoflucis]

Something in the way Gladio said all this had his heart racing and hurting at the same time. The dedication was mesmerizing...but at the same time, it came as what could be seen as an obligation.

"What if you weren't my Shield?" The question came in a barely there whisper.

[callmegladio]

Gladio's brows knitted in confusion. "Would I even know you then?" He asked, an honest reply to the strange question.

If he wasn't Noct's Shield, would there be any chance of them having known each other or being friends? It took Gladio thinking that way for him to realise what Noct might have been getting at. So he moved the cooler full of fish from one hand to the other and hooked himself a fish of his own. He caught Noct around the shoulders and pulled him in to his side.

"Oi... Might have been born into this. I might be by your side because of duty. But that doesn't mean I can't be your friend too, Noct. If it was 'just duty' all I'd need to do is stand off to the side and let you do your thing. Not get involved." He gave Noct a little squeeze then. "But I'm involved. And even if you don't agree, I consider you a friend. Someone I give a shit about. If you fired me right now... Alright, I'd be furious and wanna kick your ass, but I'd still be your friend."

[sonoflucis]

Relief washed over Noct and he turned to bury his face in Gladio's chest. That was all he needed to hear. "You're my friend. Of course you're my friend."

[callmegladio]

Confusion became surprise when he suddenly found a Prince attached to him. Gladio had stopped walking quickly enough or he might have tripped over the kid. But he kept the arm about him, shifting it to be a bit more comfortable.

"What's this all about?" He had to ask. "You doubting me, Noct?" There was a hint of teasing to his voice, mainly there to hide the uncertainty.

[sonoflucis]

At that teasing tone, Noct couldn't help but give a small smile. "Not you. I don't know...I guess I Just wish I was a normal guy, you know?

[callmegladio]

"Yeah, well you're anything but. So why worry about that? No point in making more troubles for yourself, Noct." After a moments thought, Gladio lifted his hand and set it heavily, but gently, atop the Prince's head. "You're fine the way you are."

[sonoflucis]

Noct nodded. He knew Gladio was right. He had to deal with the cards he was dealt. "I guess so. Thanks, Big Guy." It was nice to know someone as grounded as Gladio was in his corner.

"Maybe we should eat before I have another existential crisis."

[callmegladio]

"Yeah, maybe we should. But if you do... I've got your back." There was a gentle pat of Noct's head before Gladio removed his arm to free him to move again.

[sonoflucis]

Noct nodded with a smile, grateful for the sentiment. He headed back to camp, letting himself stretch before turning back to his Shield. "Um...so you're cooking, right?"

[callmegladio]

Gladio chuckled and gave a nod. "Yeah, I'm cooking." He pointed to where he'd gotten a fire set up. It was unlit at the moment. "Just waiting for a certain someone to use his magic on that." Since Gladio couldn't and doing it the old fashioned way could be a ball ache, he had no problems in using Noct's skills.

[sonoflucis]

Noct grinned and headed over to the fire. With a simple flick of the wrist, he had a nice fire going. "Even you take shortcuts sometimes."

[callmegladio]

Now he laughed out right.

"Keep that to yourself. I'm supposed to be a good influence on you not a bad." Gladio grinned but thanked Noct for lighting the fire before he got down to cleaning and gutting the fish. It was going to be a simple meal. He'd brought some things along with him, but the fish would just be skewered and set close to the fire to grill.

[sonoflucis]

"I won't tell." Noct was perfectly fine with simple. He sat down and watched Gladio work, content in the happy silence.