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."
"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?
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."
"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."
"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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
"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."
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."
"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.
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?"
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.
"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.
Gladio just grinned and winked over at Noct. He knew his secret was safe.
Once he had the fish prepared and set up, he went and fetched the potatoes he'd brought. He wasn't dumb. Veggies were a no go here. But the foil wrapped potatoes next to the fire to bake would go just nicely with the fish.
"Want another drink?" He called over while he was there.
"What Iggy doesn't know won't give him an ulcer." Gladio tossed one of the cans over to Noct and settled down with one of his own. He stretches his legs out and sighed.
The sun was just starting to go down. This was one his favourite times of day. The other was when the sun was just rising. The colours of the sky were so beautiful.
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sweetestsurrender2021-10-25 06:59 pm
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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?
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"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."
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"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.
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"What if you weren't my Shield?" The question came in a barely there whisper.
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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."
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"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.
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"Maybe we should eat before I have another existential crisis."
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"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.
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Once he had the fish prepared and set up, he went and fetched the potatoes he'd brought. He wasn't dumb. Veggies were a no go here. But the foil wrapped potatoes next to the fire to bake would go just nicely with the fish.
"Want another drink?" He called over while he was there.
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The sun was just starting to go down. This was one his favourite times of day. The other was when the sun was just rising. The colours of the sky were so beautiful.
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