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year 5, quarter 3
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UHM. HERE'S A GLADIO NOVEL. SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHAT HE'S DOING AND WHY HE'S DOING IT. This definitely isn't the best writing for the first thing I wanted to put out, but it'll have to do. Hope someone enjoys!
How long had it been since he’d woken up in this strange world?
More than a month, right? The days were easier to count when the sun rise and set like it was supposed to.
Over a month ago, Gladiolus Amicitia had awoken, naturally, to the creeping, bright sun peeking over the horizon. Seeing the sun rise again after a decade of nothing but darkness was still an odd sight, but his circadian rhythm had picked right back up where it left off, as if the sun had been around all those years. It wasn’t the sight of the sun that had caused him to quickly leap upwards in a startled panic, that stole the breath from his lungs and the sleep from his form. It wasn’t the lack of a roof over his head either; that was far more normal than the alternative.
What he hadn’t expected to see was giant, mushroom trees hanging high in the air.
It had taken Gladio a day to even find people to speak with. There was a small, cramped outpost hidden within the trees -- were they really trees, though? -- brimming with rugged faces and helpful knowledge. They’d let him know he’d woken up in a place called the Reikin Woods, on the continent known as Serentestra. It was nothing he’d ever heard of before, and apparently, that was common. He wasn’t the first person they’d seen come wandering out of the woods, lost and claiming to be from a different place entirely.
With nowhere to go and no leads to anyone or anything he might’ve known, Gladiolus remained in the woods, working at the outpost. Most of the men and women who worked there were hunters of sorts, and joining their ranks was as easy as slipping into a pair of old, worn boots. Thankfully, they had a fairly impressive stock of weapons, and he’d managed to procure a decent enough greatsword with the promise of being some help, for a time.
For the next month, he combed the woods, eliminating pesky and dangerous monsters as he searched for any other familiar faces that may have randomly dropped into the area with no explanation. However, much to the swordsman’s dismay, day in and day out, he had no such luck. All he could manage to find were strange monsters and the occasional lost civilian. Each day weighed a little heavier on his shoulders. What had happened to Ignis and Prompto? To Iris? Why was everyone suddenly jerked from his arms, or was it the other way around? Was he pulled from them, or were they taken from him? Either way, it hurt.
He’d lost enough already.
It was a particularly long and nasty fight with a powerful beast that had changed everything. Gladiolus fought hard and blind, taking his aggression and confusion out on the beast that had been stalking a nearby town in the cover of night. He managed to get the drop on the beast, this land’s version of a behemoth he’d been told. It wasn’t quite as massive as he’d expected it to be, and foolishly expected that to play in his favor. However, the swipe of the monster’s massive claws against his sword proved otherwise, as he felt the muscles in his arms strain to keep him upright. The battle proceeded back and forth, dodging and swiping on both sides, with man and beast bruised and bleeding. Gladio was knocked to his back by one quick and powerful movement he hadn’t seen coming, and for a moment, things seemed as if they would end.
Gladiolus’ free, naked arm swung forward in a vain attempt to protect himself, and for a moment, the world stilled and flashed in a bright light.
A shield had appeared, blocking the behemoth’s monstrous claws from gutting him. With no time to give it a second though, Gladio fought hard to end the battle, managing to land a killing blow in the beast’s confusion. Breathless and bleeding, his mind spun. He held his arms out, watching the weapons vanish from sight. With a familiar pull of will, they reappeared in his arms.
“Noct … ?”
The very next day, Gladiolus threw down the gil he’d earned on a chocobo, and saddled up with the equipment he’d managed to acquire during his working time at the outpost.
“If you’re looking for someone,” one of the men tapped on the map he’d shoved in Gladio’s hand, flashing a helpful grin, “Best start in a big city like Provo. Now go on, we finally won’t have you stealin’ all the kills around here.”
“Uh huh. I give you a week before you send people after me.”
With that, he was off. There were a lot of sights to be seen as he crossed the continent -- and thank god for that map. Following it, Gladiolus was able to avoid the desert, but still manage to see the sights and make a mental map for himself. Many nights were spent under the stars, where he belonged, but his friends weren’t going to wandering in the middle of nowhere.
Gladiolus first stopped at the Temple, but found the area mostly deserted after a strange incident had apparently occurred with most of the people staying in the area. He wasn’t allowed to enter the temple, after being told a terrible accident had occurred there.
His next stop was a city called Torensten. The people there were on edge, eyeing him cautiously as he poked around and asked for assistance here and there. Gladio was able to, thankfully, procure more supplies for his trip, but the people there hadn’t been of much help. A few kind locals explained that a stranger had appeared and summoned dragons from beneath the city, leading to many deaths.
I wouldn’t be so keen to talk to outsiders after that either, I guess. We’re all wired to protect our own.
It took a few days longer to cross the small mountain range between Torensten and Provo than he’d of liked, but Gladiolus finally found himself in the city called Provo. Even from a distance he could hear the noise; a bustling hub of activity. The chocobo proudly trotted in, and Gladio found a place to house the bird, with just enough gil left in his pockets to put some decent food in his stomach. There wasn’t any need to waste it on an Inn, anyway. Camping out in the wide open plains right outside of the city would be much more pleasant.
He started forward, hazel eyes scanning over the crowds as he passed everything under the sun; restaurants, shops, markets and stalls. He seemed to blend in well enough, dressed casually without anything in particular to make him stand out. The city was like nothing he’d ever seen and something familiar all the same. But, even the sights weren’t enough to distract him from the weight pushing heavy on his broad shoulders.
Somewhere, Noctis was alive and well on this planet. It shouldn’t have been possible; after all, he’d seen the King off to his death. But, that was the only thing that could explain his familiar magic. He had to be around. And if he somehow around, then perhaps, Prompto and Ignis were as well.
He hated fighting against the more logical voice in his head, but for once, he really needed to.
Gladiolus had to believe, and he had to try. Even if it meant turning another city upside down.
“... There has to be someone here. Anyone. I can’t stop looking.”
He wouldn’t leave anyone to face this world alone.
Don't lose your way In the night We have to fight as one
HEAR MY WORDS THAT I MIGHT TEACH YOU TAKE MY ARMS THAT I MIGHT REACH YOU
BUT MY WORDS, LIKE SILENT RAINDROPS FELL
A new city and a new crop of headaches. It didn't help that the injuries he'd gained in Torensten still ached deep within his bones. The potions had been plentiful and there had been folk with healing magic after but considerable time had passed as they worked their way through the broken city. Bless them... they'd even tried to heal his eyes but there was no helping his sight.
Perhaps the aches weren't his injuries after all but phantom pains brought on by the nightmares. Ignis might not have been able to see them but he'd heard, and felt and even tasted the wretched beasts. Those memories followed him into his slumber night after night. Traveling over the mountains hadn't been easy but it had been an escape from those reminders. Had his rest increased since coming to Provo? Marginally but it was hard to say if it was merely the fact he was to tired to dream.
Ignis' knee connected with the metal railing outside a shop and he had to muffle a curse. Provo was somewhat less noise ridden so his hearing was able to differentiate between stimulus much easier but he was still stumbling into things. It aggravated his pride to no end. How could he fight daemons with absolute precision and yet scuff his boots on the stone base of a fountain? Something he could very well hear.
"Ahhh another day in paradise." Ignis paused in his stroll to turn his face toward the sun. It was warm and is he opened his eyes there was a whitish spot in the sea of dark gray and black. At least the sun had risen on another day. He should be looking to the positives. Luna was alive and well and he'd managed to dispatch several dragons and wyverns without trouble. Then there was the fact he was walking down the streets of an unfamiliar city without requiring the aid of a walking stick. Scuffed shoes were but a small price to pay. Things could be so much worse.
Ignis found a bench just a bit further around the fountain and took a seat. His ribs and knee twinged ever so slightly but such nonsense was easily ignored. Relaxing into the slats of the bench he allowed himself to reach out with his senses and get a better feel for the city of Provo. The winds were light and variable and carried the scents of toasting tree nuts and confectioners sugar. It wasn't quite swift enough for him to pick out the edges of buildings or statues. The low murmuring of the scattered people about the plaza was the most immediate sound he could pick up. There were avian species of some sort flocking around. Every once and a while they would take wing in a cacophony of feathers and calls if anyone ventured to close.
It was peaceful in it's own way. There weren't any beasts or villains trying to attack. The most he had to fear at the moment was an opportunistic pickpocket. It was nice, though it would hardly last. Reprieves were rare and short for people like him. Throwing himself into danger was second nature anymore.
"Hmm?" Ignis tilted his head to the side as his ears caught the sound of heavy boots. Large or heavily armored men weren't uncommon and at first their footsteps all sounded familiar. He was quick to perhaps toss this one out too but there was something familiar about the gate. Strong and assured and most likely on the hunt.
It wasn't until the person spoke that Ignis believed. "Gladio..." His surprised breath was far to soft for the other man to hear, which was fortunate because it took him a long moment to get over his shock and sort things out.
It was unexpected much more so than his encounter with Luna should've left him. If she were alive and well why not the others? Then again his initial assumption of this being some sort of after life felt quite accurate until recently. Still underneath it all he felt the joy bubbling up in his chest.
Ignis was fighting a smile as he stood. It felt wrong to be so happy, to allow himself to feel relief. "Gladio! Did you get yourself lost again?" His voice was loud, not unlike in years past when he was more used to snapping orders. It drew the attention of those around him for a moment but he could care less. His senses were focused on the man a short distance away.
Hearing his name alone felt like a slap to the face. It felt like a long time, like forever, since someone had addressed him by his nickname. There were only three people around that called him by that, after all, and only two of that he could probably swear up and down were actually alive. The other was just an optimistic guess, a chance, a bet he was willing to throw down on.
Gladiolus stopped hard in his tracks, hardly feeling the few people who bumped into his back. His head immediately snapped towards the fountain in the middle of the square -- and there he found his familiar face. Ignis stood in front of a bench, peering directly at him, doing his best I won’t smile because I’m the only other mature one face.
“Did you get yourself lost again?"
His face broke out into a grin. Gladio couldn’t help it. Relief was slowly creeping into his chest, happiness blossoming in his heart. He should have been more cautious about it, more wary. Started asking questions right away. But, he simply couldn’t will himself to feel anything but elated. The loneliness and worry that he’d built up over the month he spent, fretting, confused and angry, in the Reikin Woods simply melted away in one quick moment.
Breaking away from the stilled crowd, the large swordsman made his way over to the fountain. There was no hiding the excitement in his heavy footfalls, nor the relief in his voice as he breathed his friend’s name on approach, “Ignis…”.
Gladiolus clasped Ignis’ shoulder with one strong hand, dragging him close for a brief, brotherly embrace. All he felt would be said in the few seconds of that half-hug, the relief, the elation, the still pending concern. He released Ignis quickly and stepped back, taking a quick eye to Ignis’ form, to ensure that he was physically fine. Of course he was, Specs could handle himself, managing to not only be in supposed perfect health, but perfectly dressed as well.
Meanwhile, Gladio looked like he’d been trekking through the wilderness for months. Likely smelled like it too. He wasn’t sure, it had become so natural to him recently.
Go figure. Ignis spot him a mile down the road, even blind.
“Of course I got lost,” there was a hint of laughter on his voice, Gladio unable to stop grinning like a fool, “They don’t make maps like you around here. I had to wing it.”
People who had been watching the spectacle of two friends reuniting began to go back to their own business, just as the overall joy Gladiolus felt began to simmer down to more realistic levels. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, stuck in a comfortable silence while trying to decide what he should say. There were so many questions to ask, how long have you been here, where have you been, where is here. He wanted to know everything. How Ignis got here, what the last thing he remembered was.
But there was one question that was leagues more important than any other.
With Ignis here before him, Gladiolus could only truly think of one other thing. Their other friends. He didn’t want to have to picture Prompto and Noctis there beside Iggy, he wanted to see it. To see a reality he hadn’t considered truly possible in a long time. He dared another quick glance over the crowd, but failed to see any other immediate, familiar faces.
“Anyone else?” The question came out much faster than he’d meant for it to, quietly dripping with hints of concern and hope. Even if the answer was no, well, that’d be alright. This was a good first step. For the first time in a long time, Gladiolus felt uplifted. Positive. Optimistic about the future, even it was engulfed in an endless sea of unanswered questions and frustrations.
Don't lose your way In the night We have to fight as one
HEAR MY WORDS THAT I MIGHT TEACH YOU TAKE MY ARMS THAT I MIGHT REACH YOU
BUT MY WORDS, LIKE SILENT RAINDROPS FELL
Everything had narrowed down to Gladio. The crowd noise and even the tug of the breeze against his face disappeared. There was only the sound of heavy footfalls as his friend and brother in arms turned and moved toward him. The steps were quickly and not quite as heavy as they could of been, belaying Gladio's eagerness and excitement. Knowing the other man was just as happy fueled Ignis' as well.
He lost his fight with the smile trying to break loose and the corner of his mouth twitched upward. The sound of his name had scarcely sounded sweeter. Gladio remembered. Tension Ignis hadn't even realized he was carry melted off his shoulders. After his discovery of Luna and her subsequent amnesia there had been this fear burrowing into the back of his mind. If she didn't remember... what if no one else did? What if he was trapped in the solitude of being the only one with intact memories? So many what ifs, and he chose to ignore them all as he was able. Some were harder to shake than others.
Gladio's hug was brief but more than enough. The physical contact eased another spot of pain in his chest as Ignis was able to actually hear and touch and smell all at the same time. This truly was the man he'd fought beside for years. As Gladio stepped back he had to fight the sudden compulsion to reach out and keep his hand on the others sleeve. It had been so long that it was difficult to trust that his friend wasn't just going to disappear on him.
Ignis was able to squash the feeling down and propped his hand on his hip instead. He hid his joy and slight unease under the bluster of a teasing reply, "I suppose it's a miracle you made it here in the first place. Smells like you took a detour through a bog as well." He wrinkled his nose, before smirking just a bit. Gladio truly didn't smell to bad. One could tell he'd been traveling through mostly wilderness but things were far from rank.
His fingers twitched at his sides once again. Ignis could hear Gladio shifting and moving, no doubt full of excitement or perhaps questions and so much more. He wanted to place his hands on the others shoulders to calm him. It was a motion he wouldn't have given a second thought to before. He'd done it with Noctis and Prompto as well, just a firm squeeze to let them know he had it under control. However now there were years and the confusion of this place standing between them. Those sunless years had done much to the group and while they'd staid in touch they weren't quite as close as they had been. It would be rude to overstep his bounds of familiarity. At least that's the excuse Ignis gave himself to not touch the Gladio.
“Anyone else?”
Ignis opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out in a timely manner. Instead he lowered his head as he tried to formulate a response. He knew his answer would disappoint his friend immensely but he was unsure of how to soften the blow. Shaking his head he looked up once more, "If you are referring to Noctis and Prompto I'm afraid not. However if we are here, I find it highly improbable that they're not somewhere in this world."
Opening his eyes, Ignis did his best to pinpoint where Gladio stood in front of him. There was a slightly darker fuzzy shape standing against the lighter static of the rest of the world. A brighter whitish fuzz shone from the side, no doubt the sun slowly making it's trek across the sky. It was impossible to discern anything about the shape but he tried anyway. What expression was he wearing? Did he have any new scars? Was his smile as large and unbridled as it had been before?
"There is one thing to support my hypothesis as well." Ignis took a deep breath as this was likely to be somewhat of a shock to the man before him, "Luna is alive. I may be unable to see her but I'm positive it is her. Her memories are not intact, but she is traveling with Pryna. Matter of fact we have been traveling together. She should be along shortly."
So, this post got away from me. Hopefully it isn't ... awful. I'm sorry x__x
How long had it been, since he’d seen that smile? Gladiolus couldn’t recall. He, Ignis, and Prompto had spent so much time apart during those dark, terrible years, and even then, their smiles were hollow and sad when they did meet. How could they have been anything different? The world had been plunged into eternal darkness and chaos, their friend and king had vanished. Things were terrible, for a time. A long, long time.
Ignis warmed his heart, melting away the years of cold loneliness and isolation as if they’d never happened. The back and forth banter felt so natural, despite having not done much of it in the past decade. For a moment, the briefest moment, it felt as if nothing had changed between them. There they were, two old friends, guardian and protector of the Prince, having a quick laugh at each other before getting to more important matters. Though the years had worn on their bodies, it dared not damage their spirits.
But, that moment passed quickly, fading into obscurity. Before Gladio was the Ignis that had survived ten long, lonely years of darkness, that had delivered Noctis back to Insomnia alongside him, that had helped him upturn earth while tears fell as they buried their beloved friend and King in silence. Even as the sun warmed his skin and Iggy’s smile warmed his soul, Gladio couldn’t deny the heavy air that hung between the two of them. The weight of their shared pasts would, likely, not be spoken of, but it was always there. Lingering. Reminders at every glance, at every touch, with every word.
Gladiolus shifted his weight once more, placing his hands on his hips in order to keep them still. Despite Ignis’ long silence at his question, the man was still practically jittery; body fueled with adrenaline and optimistic hope. Each moment that went without a word, though, further assured Gladio of the answer he didn’t want to hear. Finally, Iggy let it go, revealing that he had not yet found Prompto or Noctis, but believed it to be highly probable that they were around, somewhere.
“Right,” Gladio quickly and quietly agreed in a deep mumble, his bright smile falling into a small, sad grin. It was … odd, that they were both quick to discern that Noctis was alive, somewhere on this world. Had Ignis come to same conclusion, after realizing that the Lucian magic seemed to be alive and well, despite the last of it’s name being dead?
Silence overtook the two men, for a moment. Around them were the sounds of normalcy; people going about their day, men at work, children at play -- people laughing and talking as if nothing strange at all was going on around them. The sun was warm and inviting, the occasional cloud blocking out it’s beautiful light. The fountain quietly trickled behind them, the smell of chlorine wafting through the air.
It felt so wrong, still. The peace made Gladiolus itch. Even with Ignis at his side, it felt like doom was slowly creeping up his spine, as if daemon eyes were on him.
Difficult as it was, Gladio did his best to choke down the paranoia. A decade of looking over your shoulder and fighting for your life apparently did a number on one’s mental state, and though they were surrounded by an apparent peace, Gladiolus couldn’t help but feel on edge. As if it were he and Ignis versus the world.
The swordsman turned his gaze back to his dear friend, who was peering at him through sightless eyes. Through the man’s lenses, Gladiolus could see his damaged eyes attempting to focus, to see. It crushed his spirit just as much as they day it had happened, it always did. He wanted to raise his hands and close Ignis’ eyes for him, knowing that seeing nothing but black hurt Iggy much more than it hurt him. He wanted to ask, with faint hope, if any sight had yet to come back to his friend. He wanted to describe the city to Ignis, and laugh as he was told what a terrible picture he painted with his words.
But, he did none of those things. Instead, Gladiolus shouldered the crippling pain and questions, just as he always had. It was a burden he’d carry to his grave.
There were words on the tip of Iggy’s tongue, caught in his throat. Gladio raised an eyebrow, curious as to what his friend would have such a hard time saying. One thing to support his hypothesis? Gladio leaned in a tad, concerned and curious as to what Ignis had managed to discover in this world that would support his claims.
"Luna is alive. I may be unable to see her but I'm positive it is her. Her memories are not intact, but she is traveling with Pryna. Matter of fact we have been traveling together. She should be along shortly."
“What?” The question came out louder and harsher than he’d intended it to. Heads turned towards the pair as Gladiolus quickly tried to collect himself, wiping the look of shock from his scarred face in order to keep any suspicions low. However, it was difficult to process. The swordsman crossed his arms, eyebrows furrowed in thought. There was no way to hide the entirety of the shock that had hit him like a speeding train across the face.
Gladio took a step forward, closing some of the distance between himself and Ignis. Though it was unlikely that anyone on this world knew who Lunafreya was, or even who they were, old habits were hard to break. Luna, alive, was sensitive information. The less people overheard them speaking about her, or the absurdity of the situation, the better.
“ … How can that be possible?” Gladiolus finally asked the obvious question, his voice quieter amongst the nearby crowds, “Luna, and Noct. Both of them were dead. It feels like we just --.”
Buried Noct yesterday.
The words died in his throat. It was a lot to take in. Of course he’d had faint hopes of Noctis somehow being alive again -- how could he not? The man was a brother to him. But, to come face to face with the reality of it was mind-boggling, to say the least. And for Ignis to have discovered Lunafreya, living and breathing after a decade of being six-feet under. It felt like some sort of twisted fairy tale.
And, if Iggy was correct about Luna having lost her memories, he was one hell of a lucky bastard to stumble upon her before anyone else did. After all, if Luna was alive and well … Anyone could be.
He had to switch gears. The how’s and why’s, Gladio would have to save for later. He had an objective now; to stick with Ignis and Luna, as they searched for the rest of their friends.
His duty was far from over, it seemed.
“More importantly,” Gladiolus forced himself to drop the more blazing questions in his mind, still speaking to his friend in low tones, the natural secrecy hard to break, “Is Luna alright? You said her memories aren’t intact -- does she remember anything?”
He needed to be caught up with the situation, sure that Ignis had already assessed their predicament front to back, side to side, two ways to Sunday. If Luna was to join them shortly, it meant that they didn’t have much time to speak openly about what all this meant, and what their next move should be. All the things Gladio was now considering, he was sure Ignis had already thought of. The dead coming back to life, with amnesia? Who all would be included in that? They had lost so many good people, friends, and family.
As well as enemies.
The invisible weight on Gladiolus’ shoulders seemed to double in that moment. He took a deep breath, trying to keep a cool head in, what was easily, one of the strangest situations he’d ever found himself in. His fingers gripped his biceps, his lips pulled into a frustrated, thoughtful frown. There was a whole open world out there, where apparently, anything might be possible.
The prospect of it was as exciting as it was terrifying.
Don't lose your way In the night We have to fight as one
HEAR MY WORDS THAT I MIGHT TEACH YOU TAKE MY ARMS THAT I MIGHT REACH YOU
BUT MY WORDS, LIKE SILENT RAINDROPS FELL
“ … How can that be possible? Luna, and Noct. Both of them were dead. It feels like we just --.”
Gladio didn't have to finish his sentence, Ignis knew well what he'd meant. Climbing those steps to retrieve Noctis' body had weighed heavy on them all. For a moment he'd been glad he wasn't able to see how his friend had been forced to take his life in the end. However that had merely been denial and denial wouldn't bring Noctis back. They saw to a proper burial, befitting of the last of the line of Lucis and a hero to them all.
"I know it's hard to believe, I had my own doubts near the beginning as well. How can we say for certain that anything works here the way it did in Lucis?" And that opened a door to a mess Ignis had been trying to avoid with some marginal sucess. There were to many unknown variables and he was a man who prided himself on knowing everything. It was impossible to know in their case and he felt as if he was grasping at air when he formed his strategies. There were to many potential holes and blinds spots for his liking and oh how it irked him. "We can't even explain how we arrived. Answers have been few and far between so we will just have to take things at face value. For now."
Ignis adjusted his glasses and grimaced, irritation showing on his face. At least Gladio would find it somewhat humorous. The tone of their conversation was still far from a pleasant one however. "Physically she is fine." Under his supervision, Luna's physical wounds had healed and she was far healthier than when he'd found her. As if she would be anything but if he was involved. "Her memories do appear to be returning, but nothing very heavy. She does not know that she is the Oracle, or of the star scourge."
Ignis cast his gaze to the distance, where he approximated the horizon to be. It stung and twisted his heart to admit the next part. He was relieved that Luna didn't have to live with the pressure of her destiny or the weight of her past but that came at a cost to those that did remember. He wasn't sure what he should feel about it all. "Her ladyship doesn't remember me... or you, or Noct or anyone. Perhaps it's for the best as it will potentially keep her safe but we can't be for certain."
Too many unknowns, too many potential threats. Ardyn, Ravus or any of their less than pleasant fellows could be out wandering this world just as they were. There was a great weight on their shoulders and it was only acerbated by Zephon's own problems. Hoards of dragons had nearly obliterated Torensten as had Chaos not long before his arrival to this world. It was enough to bog anyone down if they let it.
Ignis didn't want that, instead he turned his attention outward, feeling the world around him once more. At least he didn't have to share the burden alone, not anymore. He hesitated slightly, but in the end still lifted his hand and placed it on Gladio's shoulder. The irrational fear of his friend suddenly vanishing was temporarily sated and Ignis was able to relax marginally. The shoulder under his fingers was as large and toned as he remembered and the familiarity was soothing.
"Luna is here now I believe." Ignis left what he truly wanted to say unspoken. Now was not the time nor the place for such things and to many years had estranged many things between them. A careful tilt of his head picked up the delicate sound of the Oracle's footsteps. Hopefully it wouldn't be too shocking for Gladio.
"Might I take this also?" she inquired, fingertips brushing over the hanging group of long, healthy carrots and eyeing their grown perfection. She'd been on ingredient duty to keep herself both busy and useful during the day when Ignis was out doing other things. He'd been so kind, so selfless. They'd traveled together ever since their meeting and he'd explained a few things; that her name was Lunafreya, which sounded right, that they'd been friends, and that they did not belong here. [break][break] Those were the three things she knew. The others-.. would be important later. Luna had decided to take it slow, one day at a time, and try and figure out what she could on her own. They'd come up with a system: 'happy or sad'. Frankly, the beach had more than shaken her and it made her heart flutter uncontrollably to think of what might have happened.. So, she strayed from thinking of it at all. It wouldn't do right now while so stressed in a new world to add to it by learning of her own misfortune. When she asked Ignis for answers, she would follow the question with 'happy or sad?'. If the answer of the memory was 'sad', she would determine whether or not it was truly worth it to know the answer. [break][break] The market was lively, but not crowded. It was such a colorful place full of life and she felt right at home walking its streets - even as much of an alien to this place as she was. The old woman behind the stall grinned at her and removed the carrots with shaking but caring hands. Lunafreya helped her halfway through the air and cupped the woman's hands in her own so that they'd bring the vegetables down together. They exchanged thankful, wordless smiles and Luna left with a full canvas bag over her arm after having set a few coins Ignis had earned onto the stall's counter top. [break][break] They were to meet in the small town square just east of the neighborhood's market at midday when she'd finished her errands. Quite proud of her findings and accomplishments (and honestly excited for what it meant as far as dinner and Ignis' wonders), Lunafreya walked with a confidence to her perfect posture. What a wonderfully simple day. The trip to the fountain square was just as perfect as the rest of the morning had been; gorgeous weather, fresh air, kind folk. [break][break] As she entered the square, she stopped at its entrance and first took account of all its small wonders. There was a young couple on a stone bench nuzzling noses in contrast to an elderly pair holding hands just a few yards away and feeding the birds that bounced along the ground. A group of girls sat on the ground and braided one another's hair in a circle. Mixed children played tag, ran about, and a class from some form of school was near the corner listening to an instructor speaking over the rest of them about commerce. The fountain, humble but glorious in its abundance of unity it had provided to the people, tied it all together in the center. And then there was Ignis. [break][break] Seeing him brought a smile to her features and had her step forward- but then stopping yet again as she eyed the large man he was speaking to, his hand on her friend's shoulder. She criticized herself for the brief moment of worry she had before she saw the two acting friendly with one another. Luna looked down at herself, fixing the mid-length beige skirt of wrinkles and straightening her loose, navy sweater. Comfortable but casual. After situating the canvas bag on her arm, she continued on and stopped at his side with her bicep brushing against his for both reassurance of her presence and to allow him to hear the small ruffle of the bag. [break][break] "Hello," she offered kindly to the large gentleman in front of her, not phased by his intimidating nature. She didn't enjoy the idea of judging a book by its cover. After all.. he almost seemed more cuddly than frightening, for some unknown and more than likely foolish reason. Her head turned to Ignis and she extended her arm for him in case he'd want to sift through the bag and its contents. "I've made myself quite busy this morning. I hope these will do. I was choosy, just for you," she grinned, small dimples showing in her cheeks at her tiny pride. Noticing her rudeness, she jumped slightly and shifted back to the stranger, "My manners! Do forgive me. Lunafreya," her head tilted down as a small bow, free hand reaching out for a shake. Hopefully he'd be gentle with his twice-as-large palm. [break]
Still getting into Gladio's shoes. Sorry for another long one while I get comfortable!
Answers were few and far between -- that was the understatement of the year. Gladiolus chewed on his bottom lip in thought, brows furrowed with mild frustration and discontent. A small part of him truly wanted to lash out about how confusing and strange all of this truly was, but a much larger part of him was simply calmed by Ignis’ words and seemingly strong control of their situation. As predicted, he’d already familiarized himself with as much as he could. How long had Iggy been on this world? How long had he faced the burden of unanswered questions alone?
It was hard to think about. A month of searching and finding nothing in the woods had been enough to almost drive him mad.
At least Lunafreya was in good health, physically. Not that Gladio had expected anything less, seeing as how she had been traveling with Ignis. Iggy would not have left her side if she was in anything less than purely perfect health, that there was no denying. He certainly wouldn’t have let her roam off on her own, either, if she couldn’t handle herself. An urge swelled inside of Gladio’s heart -- to find Luna and keep and eye on her, to keep her safe until they could get this whole mess figured out.
Ignis turned his head, looking, but not seeing, out into the distance. For a moment, Gladio’s eyes followed, figuring that Luna would soon be appearing on the horizon. However, he felt his gaze drifting back to Ignis. One thing at a time. He was looking for subtle signs he hadn’t searched for in years. How deep was Iggy’s thoughtful frown? How rigid was he standing? He’d known the man long enough to know what signs of wear and tear to search for, even if he’d opted to ignore them in the past.
Though, even seeing how tense Ignis was, it’s not like it was to be unexpected, considering the ever-more-complicated circumstances.
"Her ladyship doesn't remember me... or you, or Noct or anyone. Perhaps it's for the best as it will potentially keep her safe but we can't be for certain."
Gladiolus grunted an agreement in response, trying his best to shake off his mounting frustration. Luna was alive, seemingly given a second chance, and she couldn’t remember much of anything. It was, well, pretty terrible. Or, maybe it was bliss. There was plenty Gladio wished he could forget at times, but not knowing would drive him to madness. If Luna had amnesia, would Noctis too when they found him? Would the two of them just be blissfully unaware of the hardships and death they’d both experienced?
One step at a time, c’mon.
Shaking off the cold hands of dread that had been creeping up his soul, Gladio took another long, steadying breath. There was too much to think about, and he didn’t have the time for it.
If Gladiolus had any other lingering thoughts or fears, they quickly melted away as Ignis raised a hand and placed it on his shoulder. He focused back in on his dear friend, seeing that Iggy’s own shoulders seemed a little less tight; if only a little. Just some reassurance, maybe, that he didn’t have to go through this whole ordeal on his own, or that Gladio hadn’t suddenly vanished again.
Gladio brought a free hand to Ignis’ back, gently placing his warm palm between the man’s shoulder blades. His fingers pressed against the soft fabric of Iggy’s shirt, giving it a reassuring little scratch. Even barely touching the man’s back as he was, he could feel the tension, the tightness. He kept his hand there, perhaps longer than most would have been comfortable with, without letting any of the words he really wanted to say come forward.
I’m not going anywhere, Iggy.
There were words on the tip of his tongue, but they simply wouldn’t fall out of his mouth. It wasn’t the time or place for such things, so perhaps that was a good thing. It had been too many years with nothing said, and now that they had found themselves in a somewhat-similar circumstance, those feelings had bubbled right back to the surface.
"Luna is here now I believe."
“Oh. Right,” there was a heaviness to Gladio’s words, as he pushed his feelings aside and began to prepare himself for the shock that was soon to follow, a hollow laugh in his throat, “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Sure enough, a familiar head of light blonde hair appeared in the direction Ignis had been facing. Dressed in simple clothing, clutching a canvas shopping bag in her arms, she almost blended into the crowd. Luna began to make her way over to them, passing by the near-perfect scenery as she did, where no heads turned towards her in wonder or adoration.
It was … surreal. The shock definitely hit Gladiolus much harder than he thought it would, as the air was stolen from his lungs and his mind temporarily went blank. There before him, wearing a familiar smile, was Lunafreya Nox Fleuret. Alive and well. It had truly floored him for a moment, and the king’s shield had to swallow down the urge to give her a polite bow and address her formally, as he had for many years before.
“Hey,” he returned her greeting, the simple word bitter on his tongue. An inner voice screamed at him, did you really just address the Oracle that way, but it was beat down by logic. He had to … play along, right? He couldn’t be so overly formal with Luna, if she didn’t know who or what she was. As it stood, right now, she likely saw him as nothing but a stranger that was talking to her friend.
Her bright blue eyes lingered on him for a moment, perhaps solidifying any opinions she had of him, before she turned her attention to Ignis. Inside of the canvas bag was an array of ingredients, from vegetables to spices, something Gladio was only privy to noticing because he towered over her. He remained silent, letting the two interact, trying to shove a small, warm smile on his face. This was a delicate game he had to play, and being delicate was far from Gladio’s speciality. Delicacy and subtlety were best left to … well, anyone but him.
Luna practically jumped as she turned towards him again, bowing her head and extending her hand to him, giving an introduction. Gladiolus froze for a half-second too long, just long enough for it to be awkward, as he tried to find his voice and approach this situation as if he had no idea who she was or what she was.
Shit, this was hard.
He took her hand, gently, returning the simple bowed head gesture she’d given him. “I’m Gladiolus,” the warm smile came naturally to his face, his typically gruff voice gently lowered, “It’s a pleasure, Lunefreya.”
Not quite as casual as he was going for, but the gut punch of that moment was far from over. Gladio was well aware that Ignis may find some humor in his struggle, as he likely experienced the same thing, but he had to keep pushing onward. He let the introduction hang in the air for a moment, before moving to quickly clear up the potential curiosity of why he was there.
“I’m a friend of Iggy’s,” he supplied helpfully, throwing an arm around the man’s shoulder and giving him a little, affectionate shake, a friendly laugh leaving his grinning face, “I’ve been on the lookout for him for a long time. Hope you don’t mind, but I’ll be joining you for a little while, so we can catch up.”
It was weird, and awkward, but Gladio would settle into it eventually -- or so he hoped. Maybe he’d get up early the next day and run himself ragged until he stopped giving a shit about everything, and then this would all come a little more naturally. On the upside, wearing a cheerful smirk and keeping a happy air about him wasn’t difficult to maintain. He was happy. He had Ignis, he had Luna. The chances of finding Noct and Prompto, even Iris didn’t seem so small now.
He’d worry about keeping his inner demons away during the night.
Don't lose your way In the night We have to fight as one
HEAR MY WORDS THAT I MIGHT TEACH YOU TAKE MY ARMS THAT I MIGHT REACH YOU
BUT MY WORDS, LIKE SILENT RAINDROPS FELL
Ignis wasn't expecting Gladio to touch him so it came as a surprise to feel that large calloused hand between his shoulder blades. A shuddering breath at just how shockingly grounding it immediately was, was just barely avoided thanks to his iron will. Those large fingers were so familiar and between touching and being touched he felt pinned to the world instead of some nameless wanderer that pinpointed objects that might or might not truly be there based on sound and touch. It was more than he'd had in a very long time and if Ignis were honest, it was on the verge of overwhelming. Ignis' fingers clenched slightly, bunching the material under his fingers.
"I've made myself quite busy this morning. I hope these will do. I was choosy, just for you."
Luna's approach was a welcome distraction and after another moment he let his hand slide away to take the canvas bag from her arm. "As you should. The vendors try and sell subpar produce at normal rates. It might as well be robbery." Ignis snorted and reached into the bag to feel what was inside. He'd become quite adept at picking out imperfections with touch alone. It was difficult to willingly admit how long he'd spent learning to do so. It, along with learning to fight, had been a few of the things he'd insisted upon after Noctis had disappeared into the crystal.
Ignis listened to his friends exchange greetings. He was proud of Gladio for hiding his surprise well and treating Luna as a normal person rather than the Oracle. It had to be difficult and he understood all to well himself. At least travelling together had allowed him to fall into a habit of addressing her politely but not formally. Should she ever regain her memories, Ignis was more than prepared to change that of course. It was a touch humorous to hear Gladio a touch out of his element, but it was difficult to find the drive for more than a moment of fondness. The situations that had brought them all together and the heaviness of their pasts and what had been forgotten was to much. It felt... absurd to him rather than truly funny. If things had been as they were supposed to be, there would be no pretending that Luna was a commoner nor would they even be in this new world to start with.
The arm around his shoulders was unexpected and he scowled in Gladio's direction. Such displays of camaraderie he'd always disapproved of but he couldn't bring himself to admonish the other for it. "Occasionally I question my sanity for keeping such company but Gladio has proven to be acceptable fodder when needed," Ignis smirked and jabbed Gladio in the side with a sharp elbow. "You did an exccelent job with your purchases Luna. Everything is suburb, I was well to trust you with the shopping."
As his hands went towards the mouth of the bag, she propped her elbow up a bit higher to angle the opening as conveniently as possible for him, trying to guide it towards him so that he didn't have to go searching. While she knew that he could literally dance circles around her in the dark while she stumbled over her own feet, she still felt a bit responsible to make what she could easier for him. If he didn't have to spend every waking moment of his day giving massive amounts of focus, perhaps she could ease his stress - even if it was just a little. [break][break] Luna watched with a quiet, abashed pride in her eyes at her work as he sifted through. It was hard to impress the master chef and doing anything that wasn't making him give a question murmur was a personal huge success. "As you should. The vendors try and sell subpar produce at normal rates. It might as well be robbery.""Oh stop it," she smiled, shaking her head at him, "Not all have your masterful taste and simply must work to get by. Thankfully, an elderly woman on the corner where the flower shop is, the one with the large windows, shares your admiration for perfection." [break][break] It was more of a story than an offering of information. She'd had a lovely time meeting the woman after spending a bit too long admiring what flowers were in bloom behind the greenhouse glass nearby. Perhaps tomorrow she'd use the flowers as an extra incentive to greet her again. Or.. was it the other way around? When the large man introduced himself, she shut her eyes briefly and nodded with a kind smile. "A wonderful name. A pleasure to meet you, Gladiolus." To her, the proper speech was simply natural. The contrast between his and hers went unnoticed to her. [break][break] But then came other news. He'd been an old friend of Ignis'. Of course the first question that came to mind, along with its own prepared guilt, was; had she been friends with him too? Had she forgotten, like she had with Ignis, as he stood there smiling knowingly at her face? If it were true-.. How awful. How horribly awful. It would leave a scar that would never heal. Perhaps she was jumping to far-off conclusions, but the possibility was still there. Now that it was in her mind, it was there to stay. She found herself staring at him for a moment, almost longingly as if trying to apologize for something she couldn't recall or was uncertain of even existed, but blinked back to reality at Ignis' compliment. [break][break] "I believed it was about time I was of some use," she teased herself to him, a hint of sadness to her tone even though a smile stretched along her features as she pulled herself from her worries. "If you don't mind," she took a steadying breath, chest straightening with her shoulders as she glanced over to the fountain beyond them. She went everyday since they'd been here to just... sit. Watch, listen, relax. "I'd like to visit the fountain. It's silly, I know," she looked to Gladiolus and shrugged, hands clasped together in front of herself with the bag held tightly in their grip now that Ignis had finished judging its contents, "but I enjoy it. I look forward to travelling with you, Gladiolus," she gave a small bow with her head and brushed only barely past Ignis so that he could feel her direction at his back. [break][break] Luna took her usual spot (as it'd been for the past few days) at the fountain's stone edge, set the bag by her feet, and held her hands in her lap to inevitably explore the lonely chasms of doubt in her mind. As an attempt to pull herself away from such a negative feeling - having given herself a rule to do so when she recognized it - she glanced just at her side below the surface of the clear water at the hundreds of coins that lie along the bottom. The most priceless wishes paid for by the smallest of currencies. How wonderful it was to think of such a thing. Anyone in the world could afford their dream. [break]
