As his feet were separated from the ground he latched onto Gladio's arm and kicked until his toes could skim the ground again. All of this was confusing. To be smashed against Gladio's chest and have him talking in his ear like that had his feelings all over the place. On one hand, it was nice to feel like there were people out there who liked him. He didn't have a lot of that in his life.
On the other, Gladio was usually more likely to be chasing him down at the campsite after an innocent kancho-related incident. Something like this had never come up before. The dynamics of their group had been changing. There were also things that didn't mesh with reality, much as they were nice to hear.
Once he had his footing he began softly, "Guys..." He sighed. He didn't want to be a downer. "I appreciate it. I really do." He glanced from Ignis up over his shoulder to Gladio and back, loosening himself from the grasp some. This wasn't something they talked about much and he didn't usually bring it up, treating them just like any other friends, but there was a difference between them that he couldn't ignore in this situation. The differences in their positions came with differences in how they got treated, and he wondered if they realized that. He didn't want to emphasize that, and tried to state it softly, "I don't think the way people, uh, treat you guys is the same way people react to me."
He huffed lightly in some weak amusement at the next idea, "No one's going to come up to me. Trust me, I've got twenty years of experience." He was almost positive that Gladio would have no idea what that was like, and he wasn't sure about Ignis, but Ignis was pretty well-built and successful, too. No doubt he had a fanbase. "It's okay, really. You don't have to worry about it. I'm fine. If I keep asking... there's gotta be someone eventually."
No money, no height, no prestige, small muscles. He didn't really think he was playing in the same league as Gladio and Ignis. He didn't sound particularly upset - for him it had always been this way. He knew well that he couldn't compete with the high status muscled mountain next to him.
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On the other, Gladio was usually more likely to be chasing him down at the campsite after an innocent kancho-related incident. Something like this had never come up before. The dynamics of their group had been changing. There were also things that didn't mesh with reality, much as they were nice to hear.
Once he had his footing he began softly, "Guys..." He sighed. He didn't want to be a downer. "I appreciate it. I really do." He glanced from Ignis up over his shoulder to Gladio and back, loosening himself from the grasp some. This wasn't something they talked about much and he didn't usually bring it up, treating them just like any other friends, but there was a difference between them that he couldn't ignore in this situation. The differences in their positions came with differences in how they got treated, and he wondered if they realized that. He didn't want to emphasize that, and tried to state it softly, "I don't think the way people, uh, treat you guys is the same way people react to me."
He huffed lightly in some weak amusement at the next idea, "No one's going to come up to me. Trust me, I've got twenty years of experience." He was almost positive that Gladio would have no idea what that was like, and he wasn't sure about Ignis, but Ignis was pretty well-built and successful, too. No doubt he had a fanbase. "It's okay, really. You don't have to worry about it. I'm fine. If I keep asking... there's gotta be someone eventually."
No money, no height, no prestige, small muscles. He didn't really think he was playing in the same league as Gladio and Ignis. He didn't sound particularly upset - for him it had always been this way. He knew well that he couldn't compete with the high status muscled mountain next to him.
At least he had a snowmobile. And a chocobo.