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[ziedrich_bearer]

What it says on the tin

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[princeofnight]

“Will you let me walk if I want to walk?” Noctis asked, raising an eyebrow at Gladio between mouth fulls of cereal. “And I’ve forgotten that he is your godfather.” Noctis smiled a little but he made a face.

“I just had the thought that you are almost like a brother to me.”

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Yeah," Gladio agreed. That seemed reasonable. And he could scoop Noctis up if he needs to.

"Well your dad hasn't, like, done much godfatherly stuff since I was, like, ten and started training for real. Then I was the Amicitia heir to be."

[princeofnight]

“The kingdom and people come first,” Noctis said softly, no bitterness in his voice because he understood. He didn’t like it but he understood. It was why his father was a good king. And one day Noctis would follow in his footsteps.

He put his empty bowl down and leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes, and just letting his head rest for a moment.

“I’m glad you are okay.”

[ziedrich_bearer]

Exactly. And for Gladio the people that came first was Noctis. Even if he hadn't liked the guy for a while.

"Me too. I'll be more glad when you're okay."

[princeofnight]

“I am okay,” Noctis said and he cracked an eye open to look at Gladio. “I’ll be up and walking tomorrow and after that it will be nothing.” Noctis knew he probably should get up and get back to bed because he seemed to be falling asleep as he sat there talking with Gladio.

[ziedrich_bearer]

Gladio noticed the sleepiness as well and, having finished his bowl of cereal, set the thing aside before reaching behind himself to haul out a pillow. Bless Iggy for making sure the place was comfortable. The pillow went into his lap and he reached out to pull Noctis down.

"Come on."

[princeofnight]

“No no I can make it to my bed,” Noctis protested only in words because his body was moving, going where Gladio pulled him and the prince found himself resting his head on the pillow Gladio had put in his lap.

“How are you going to rest if I’m like this?” Noctis asked shifting so he could look up at Gladio.

[ziedrich_bearer]

"I can close my eyes, genius," Gladio pointed out, leaning his head back against the couch.

[princeofnight]

"Are you relaxed?" Noctis asked even as he closed his eyes. He couldn't hold off the exhaustion he felt as a hand rested on Gladio's thigh. His couch was comfortable, his leg didn't bother him, and Gladio was nearby. Everything was perfect.

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Yeah," Gladio says easily. He's going to get the worst crick in his neck, but he doesn't care. He's comfortable here. "Get some sleep your Royal Pain-in-my-Ass."

[princeofnight]

"You don't have to stay and watch my Royal Ass," Noctis said, eyes closed, and slowly letting sleep and the drugs take him. "I can take care of myself just fine."

[ziedrich_bearer]

"I do," Gladio said. "It's too cute to let you get in trouble two days in a row."

[princeofnight]

“Then no complaining,” Noctis murmured, more asleep than awake. He moved his hand to rest on Gladio’s arms, giving it a sleepy squeeze. “Glad… you are here.”

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Yes, I am here," he agrees, choosing to take the hanging word as a shortening of his name. "Good that you realize that."

[princeofnight]

“Jerk,” Noctis murmured, barely above a whisper, before the prince was asleep. His hand stayed on Gladio’s arm as the prince fell into a deep sleep. He was comfortable and he felt safe knowing that Gladio wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him.

[ziedrich_bearer]

"You love me for it," Gladio said only after the prince was asleep. "Wish you did at least."

He supposed he could do nothing but, well, stay as calm as he could. He had a thing to do. Which was protect his prince.

[princeofnight]

There was a soft noise from the prince but if he heard what Gladio said Noctis didn’t say anything about it. The prince would sleep for a while and he had just shifted into a comfortable position, his hand resting high on Gladio’s thigh when there was a knock at the door.

[ziedrich_bearer]

Gladio hadn't really managed to sleep yet, too busy watching his prince. But he was careful in levering himself out from under Noctis. Given how heavily the prince slept, Gladio expected the guy to sleep through it.

For now he crossed to the door, stretching sore muscles as he went before he checked through the peephole.

[princeofnight]

Before Gladio could look into the peephole, the door carefully opened and Ignis appeared as he quietly stepped inside. He paused at the sight of Gladio, taking in the Shield’s ruffled appearance for a moment, before Ignis held up two bags filled with groceries.

“I brought supplies. Is Noctis resting in bed?”

[ziedrich_bearer]

Well, should have expected that. Gladio nodded and reached out to take a bag.

"He's on the couch. We were watching stuff when he had lunch, and he started nodding off. I let him stay there, he insisted."

[princeofnight]

Ignis handed Gladio one as he moved further into the apartment and saw the prince asleep on the couch, his injured leg propped up. Ignis paused for a moment, takingin Noctis, but that is also when he noticed the bowls. His eyes then went to the kitchen counter and saw the cereal boxes.

“You let him have cereal for lunch?” And not even a good kind of cereal either. Shame on you Gladio!

[ziedrich_bearer]

Gladio made a tsking noise at Ignis getting that way.

"He just got back from the hospital, Iggy," Gladio said, because he really didn't know how long they'd been asleep. "He can have better food later. For now, let him have what he wants. It's what you do with people who aren't sick enough to need really good food, but rather the comfort. My mom did it all the time."

And his tone said he wouldn't be accepting insults against his mother.

[princeofnight]

“You have a point,” Ignis said after a moment as he started to put away the food he brought and cleaned up after their Prince. “You can go if you need to. I’m here now. I’ll watch over him.”

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Promised I wouldn't go," Gladio said, looking back toward the kitchen. "Both of our parents, and him. Sorry Iggy. Figure you probably don't wanna leave yourself, right?"

Going right now, he can't leave. Can't let go.

[princeofnight]

“I would like to stay and make sure he is alright,” Ignis nodded his head as he continued to move and clean up. “We should get him back into bed so he can properly rest.”