★ // king and lionheart

[scourgingstars]

Who: Ardyn + open
What: Camping back on the desert.
When: 1/14 and onward
Where: Monsun C4, possibly more added later
Warnings: None yet.

[He'd gone willingly this time, for whatever reason. Maybe he just knew he'd end up in the desert sooner or later, and it wasn't worth arguing.]

[But the longer Ardyn spent under the canopy Gladio had put up with a giant black chocobo at his side, the less he really cared about that. Sure, occasionally he had to step out into the oppressive sunlight to handle the curious and antagonistic cactus population, but...was that really so bad? The people would need whatever safe haven they could get in a chaotic desert, and he more than had the power to provide as much. That--that was right, wasn't it?]

[By the time night fell, he'd taken off his hat in favor of simply tying his hair back into a short ponytail, idly petting Hresvelgr with the hand not currently holding a red-toned greatsword as she nudged at his shoulder.]

Comments

[scourgingstars]

I'm being literal, you want to check for a pulse?

[piercetheheart]

That would involve touching you and I've had enough stab wounds, thanks.

[He says this like he wouldn't cherish the opportunity to even just lean on Ardyn. Look he's very tactile but-

All he seems to do is push people away with it.]

[scourgingstars]

I'm not going to stab anyone here. Promise.

[piercetheheart]

[He knows that. He's also not entirely sure how he feels about the fact that he wants to touch Ardyn.]

You love being contradictory don't you?

[scourgingstars]

I can't exactly help if the person I am in this desert is the polar opposite of my usual self.

[piercetheheart]

I know-

[Fuck it. Fuck this shit. Ardyn come here. He's leaning on you, deal with it. It's not like there's a lot of space under this little tent anyway.]

Do you have any idea how much I want to just be mad at you?

[scourgingstars]

And should you not be? Heavens know I deserve it.

[Even in the desert, he was cold--at minimum, colder than a human in so many layers under oppressive heat should have been. But he didn't push Gladio away, wary though he sounded.]

[piercetheheart]

I wish it were that easy.

[Knowing that he's cold only makes Gladio want to wrap him up more, cuddle him up to share some of his heat with him. Stupid but there it is.]

I wish any of this were easy. I'm so fucking tired of people getting hurt because of-

We don't have time for this.

[scourgingstars]

I can't help but note we have an abundance of time at the moment, as the world is not yet crashing down around us this time.

[piercetheheart]

But we don't know that. Anyone of us could just-

[His arm slides around Ardyn, slipping under his coat and tugging him in closer. They could vanish. They could all just disappear and leave things a complete fucking mess all over again. Ardyn or Ignis and it's bad enough that he didn't really get to settle things with CT and now she's gone and he'll always have to wonder just how much he could've changed if they'd just had more time.]

We're wasting so much time here. Dancing in circles like this.

[scourgingstars]

...don't. [He'd gone tense under Gladio's arm, but didn't push him off or reach for a weapon--just a quiet, sharp insistence.]

My affection is not so easily earned, and I want none of your pity simply because we care for the same person.

[piercetheheart]

[Gladio closes his eyes for a moment, lets his breath out slow and measured and hates himself for how much that stings. He knows damn well he has no place here. That his love for Ignis might have him confused about his feelings for Ardyn but there's absolutely no reason for Ardyn to feel anything for him.

Slowly, carefully he draws his arm back, pulling one knee up toward his chest to drape his arm over, quietly closing himself off, pulling back into himself the way he should have with so many others before now.]

Right... sorry.

[Whatever his stupid, traitorous heart is doing it doesn't change where they are and how important it is for them to make use of what time they have.]

You should be with him... here, while you can.

[He doesn't say it but it's an offer to make himself scarce so they can be together.]

[scourgingstars]

[Even the shaky trust and hesitant affection he held for Ignis had been hard fought for over months--even as he was in the desert Ardyn couldn't convince himself Gladio felt anything genuine for him. Why should he? Why should anyone?]

...I don't want to send you away. He cares about you too.

[piercetheheart]

I know.

[He does know. He also knows that Ardyn won't be comfortable as long as he's here and that they deserve what time they can have to be together.]

But you don't want me here. Which is fine, that's cool I-

I've got plenty to keep me busy.

[Yeah he can just go home and work on the farm and not think too hard about.... anything, really. It's all good. Haaaaa]

[scourgingstars]

...please don't leave. Is that any clearer?

[piercetheheart]

[A sharp breath and he only looks at Ardyn for a moment but it's enough to see how hurt he is as much as he's insisting it's fine. He's always worn his heart on his sleeve, he couldn't change that if he wanted to.]

.... why?

[scourgingstars]

Because I'd not be the healer he sees in me if I ignored someone in pain.

[piercetheheart]

I can deal. As long as I know you two can be happy I can deal with it for a while.

[scourgingstars]

Don't pull that self-sacrificial nonsense, Gladio. Not with me of all people who knows how it feels.

[piercetheheart]

I want him to be happy and I want you to be happy and I don't factor into that. We both know it.

[scourgingstars]

Don't delude yourself. He won't be happy without you.

[piercetheheart]

Well then what am I supposed to do? You can't stand me.

[Okay maybe a little harsh.]

[scourgingstars]

Circumstances are different here. Just because I don't want you trying to get my clothes off doesn't mean I'd sooner be rid of you entirely.

[piercetheheart]

[Just.... just staring.

Ardyn he put an arm around you and you acted like he had the plague.]

Why does everyone assume I'm trying to get in their pants!? For fucks sake I just-

[He's a teddy bear come on guys. First Laurent, now this. If anyone is going to accuse him of that shouldn't it be Prom?]

[scourgingstars]

Was that...not what was going on here? Usually a dramatic line invoking how both parties have been dancing around an issue immediately precedes all manner of things less suitable for open air or an audience.

[ardyn...]

But whatever do I know, I'm functionally dead and well out of date.