ziedrich_bearer | Open Post

ziedrich_bearer

What it says on the tin

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From:

ziedrich_bearer

[Continued from Here]

As promised, Gladio was there for Noctis soon enough, his own dark vehicle pulling up outside of the hospital. There was paperwork for Noctis to sign, reports to be prepared for Regis, and tons of other things that needed handled. Gladio? All he had to do was walk in, nod his acknowledgement to the members of the Guard hovering around the wheelchair bound prince, and indicate he was taking over.

Though for a moment he froze to see Noct in a wheelchair. It was... Not a sight he liked to see again. At all. It made him angry.

"Can you walk, your Highness? Would rather walk you to the car."

IT was very clear that he'd rushed here, though. Not only was his hair still dripping wet and he still smelled vaguely of soap, but there were points where his uniform coat (because of course he'd gotten that out for this) were clinging to his skin from where moisture had wicked through the shirt below. Clearly he'd rushed.

Edited Date: 2022-01-29 01:37 am (UTC)

From:

princeofnight

“The nurses won’t let me walk out even though I can walk with only a slight limp,” Noctis said from his place in the wheelchair. It was hospital protocol and Noctis had argued with the nursing staff over it when he found out but the nurses were scary and had won out. They also had used him being the Crown Prince and needing to set an example against Noctis so he was extra annoyed.

That annoyance faded a little at the sight of his Shield who had clearly rushed to get there. Noctis snorted softly and the edges of his lips twitched as he tried not to smile as he noticed the wet hair, the uniform and spots where it clung to Gladio’s body.

“Come on. Use those muscles and push me to the front doors.”

From:

ziedrich_bearer

Gladio supposed he could understand why. There could be a fear that Noct's condition from his youth could rear its head again. Better not to risk it. So with a sigh he circles behind the chair and is soon pushing Noctis outside.

"We don't need trouble with the nurses. They'll definitely tell our folks."

From:

princeofnight

“They are scary,” Noctis agreed as they headed to the elevators and to the front doors. Noctis had done the minimum paperwork required knowing that someone, probably Ignis, could do the rest. The prince was tired, his thigh ached, and all he wanted was to be in his own apartment. He wanted to slump in the chair but there was no time because before Noctis knew it they were at the front doors.

The prince carefully stood up from the wheelchair, putting most of his weight on his good left leg. He had a bag of his bloody clothes and medicine in hand.

“So… how fast did you drive to get here?” Noctis asked, raising an eyebrow at Gladio, before taking another glance at the taller male’s damp hair.

From:

ziedrich_bearer

"I drove a reasonable speed," Gladio lied quite easily. What mattered was hovering near his side to get him to the car. ONce Noctis was close Gladio circled to get the door open.

"Come on, you should be getting weight off your leg."

From:

princeofnight

“Liar,” Noctis said calling Gladio out on his bad lie but the prince was smiling a little. Gladio had rushed to the hospital for him. He was grateful that his Shield stayed close as he made his way to the car.

The crown prince carefully settled in the passenger seat of the car, careful of his injured thigh, as he watched Gladio get in the driver’s seat.

“It isn’t that bad.”

From:

ziedrich_bearer

He'd been there as long as he could be. Being sent away hadn't been his choice. Given he had failed to keep his Prince safe, he definitely felt guilty. Once Noctis was settled Gladio went back around tho his spot and got in.

"Buckle up. City driving sucks."

ONce it was done he was happy to get the car moving.

"Your place isn't far form here. It was further, but they've got the secure wing."

From:

princeofnight

Noctis slumped in his chair, grateful to be out of the hospital and with one of his people. He was used to being alone, he grew up mostly alone, and so he was grateful Gladio was there for him. He hated being alone.

“There is no rush to get there,” Noctis said, looking over at Gladio. “The seat warmer is helping and feels good on my back and thighs.”

From:

ziedrich_bearer

"Yeah, well you know how I feel about driving," Gladio answered. He wanted to get them there sooner.

It wasn't that Gladio couldn't drive, it was that he didn't like it. Hard to guard if you're in the driver's seat.

From:

princeofnight

“I can drive,” Noctis offered, knowing Gladio wouldn’t take him up on it. Not while he was on painkillers. “And we could have taken a town car and had a guard drive us.” Noctis pointed out as he slumped a little lower in his seat. He closed his eyes and just allowed himself to rest, completely trusting Gladio and his driving skills.

“You know I’m fine, right?”

From:

ziedrich_bearer

"Not happening," Gladio said. "Pain killers like yours say no operating heavy machinery. A car is very heavy. I can't even lift it. If I can't lift it, you don't get to use it."

And it's as simple as that.

"You had me worried," Gladio answers as he goes through the streets, getting them toward the Prince's apartment. "Always going to worry about you. It's my job."

From:

princeofnight

“Maybe I should slip you some of my pain killers to help you relax,” Noctis said as he opened his eyes and looked over at his Shield. He knew Gladio had to be taking the injury he got hard because he had been there when it happened. But he didn’t blame his Shield at all. Noctis knew they couldn’t keep him safe, not when he did reckless things.

“Well you are here now, I’m all stitched up and we are heading home,” Noctis said as he reached over and gently punched Gladio in the shoulder. “And you get to sleep in my bed.”

From:

ziedrich_bearer

"Funny," Gladio said, voice a bit flat. But he did try and relax.

"I could use the nap. It's been a long night. And Noct? Thanks for not being mad at me."

From:

princeofnight

“Nothing is going to happen,” Noctis said as he watched Gladio from the passenger seat. He knew Gladio might be speeding a little but he was also being careful at the same time.

“And why would I be mad?” The prince asked frowning ever so slightly as he looked at the bigger male.

From:

ziedrich_bearer

"Because I failed to protect you. All this time spent in my life to that one goal, and I blew it this time," Gladio pointed out. How was that not obvious? But he tried to keep focused, and in this case it meant taking a deep breath to watch the road.

"Never should have taken you out there."

From:

princeofnight

Noctis shook his head because he knew this was how Gladio was feeling but the Prince didn’t completely understand why.

“You didn’t fail to protect me,” Noctis said and he carefully sat up in his seat as he watched Gladio drive. “You killed the creature that attacked me. You stopped it before it got worse. You did protect me. You can’t blame yourself for every injury I have. You will drive yourself insane if you do that.”

Noctis reached out and gave his Shield’s arm a squeeze. “And I was going out there with or without you. I’m lucky you were there or it might have been a lot worse.”

From:

ziedrich_bearer

"Why, you running into a ton of injuries, Noct?" he asked. And here's the turn. He throws on the blinker, is quiet for a moment, and then turned into the parking garage entrance for under the tower.

"I wish you'd just taken me seriously when I said I wanted to be out there with you. That I should be there with you."

From:

princeofnight

“It isn’t fun to think of the consequences of one's actions,” Noctis pointed out as they entered the parking garage to his apartment building. “Especially when I have others doing it as well. So I do reckless things, have fun, and sometimes get hurt in the process.”

The prince let out a breath as Gladio parked in a spot close to the elevators which Noctis was grateful for. It was going to be a pain to get out of the car and get to his apartment.

“You were there in the end. Next time I want to go out I will have you come, okay?” Because Noctis had run into Gladio on his way out. If the Shield hadn’t caught Noctis on his way out then Noctis wouldn’t have taken Gladio.

From:

ziedrich_bearer

"Good," Gladio said as he got out and circled the car to open the door.

"Want me to carry you?" Because it wouldn't be a problem for him to achieve it after all.

From:

princeofnight

“I…” There was a moment of hesitation because Noctis knew he shouldn’t show any kind of weakness but on the other hand his apartment was so many floors away. He carefully got out of the car and nodded his head at his Shield.

“As long as no one sees me in your arms,” Noctis said as he looked around the parking garage.

From:

ziedrich_bearer

"I can't guarantee that," Gladio said. "You'll need to get out on your own."

From there he could scoop Noctis up into his arms. "People who see you like this can try and survive my glare.

From:

princeofnight

“Right. Because you are so scary,” Noctis said, snorting softly as he was scooped up into Gladio’s arms. His Shield held him like Noctis weighed nothing which caused the younger male to blush a little.

“Come on, big guy, I hear my bed calling for us.”

From:

ziedrich_bearer

It wasn't like Noctis weighed nothing, but he was manageable. That said, he was happy to get the man into his arms. Once the bag was in Noctis's hands Gladio closed the door with his hip.

"I'm sure it's callign for me at least. But I can stay up and make tea for you."

From:

princeofnight

“I’ll take a glass of water,” Noctis said as he held onto his shield. His thigh protested a little but Noctis knew he was in good hands. He trusted Gladio. “And the bed is definitely calling for me. I’ve had a very long day. I hope you don’t mind sharing.”