A LAWFUL WASTELAND

[counterattack]

[ it's December 8. Law turns 18 today. at this point, he's been living in Copalli for over a year. during the final relic fiasco, he achieved trance within about five seconds (because it's basically overlimit) and faced Tiamat in her castle because he had a score to settle with dragons (dragons, wyverns, same shit) and had enough taking shit from these mother fucking guardians in this mother fucking jungle. it was epic.

anyway, it's a few months later and Law lives in Tikal again, down at the bottom of the crater. they've built bridges and pulleys aboveground, as well as created a system to keep the crater from filling with water when it rains. although most of his farm was lost during Tikal's fall, he's rebuilt it bigger and better than ever and repopulated it with even more chickens, hogs, cows and even a few semi-domesticated mist monsters. there's also proper crops, probably due in part to at least one friend or another planting on the huge expanse of land he's set up there. he also rebuilt the inn that collapsed on top of him back then, and this time it's actually finished. he got a local business manager to help run the place and they export animal products and crops all over Copalli. the inn is booming. it's great.

all is well.

except now it's his birthday and Law is just trying to go about his business like he doesn't know that, strapping on his fancy wolf gauntlets and shouldering a big pack of supplies to go make some delivery trips to the other cities. nothin' to see here, not ya lil dude all growed up, a solid 5'9" (and a half) with some cool tribal tats done over his wyvern scars and something of a more mature countenance, buuuuuttt still the dweebo dorkus doofus meathead he's always been.

ANYWAY, THIS IS #LATERGRAM INCENSEDVERSE. medallion him, meet him at any of the cities, fight monsters together on the road, pretend there was a party planned that he's trying to sneak out of showing up to, WHATEVER WORKS. ]

Comments

[counterattack]

[ Law's nose wrinkles somewhere between a "gross" and a suppressed laugh; ultimately, the laugh wins out. He's, thankfully, too far gone to overthink stupid stuff the way he often does in the presence of people he li-iiikes like whether his laugh sounds dumb or whatever, so it comes pretty freely this time. He'd lean over and chomp that thing right off Gladio's finger, but he's afraid he'd take a chunk of actual finger along with it, and heavens know he's got a hell of a bite. Just ask, uh... most of his friends. He's bitten basically every single one of them by now. As a monster, sure, but you'd think it would've strengthened his jaw a bit by now.

He'll just settle for grabbing some of the ones that fell on the table and giving them a taste test. Salty and garbage-y, just the way he likes 'em. Yep, these'll do nicely. ]

Ah, man. That one I actually know. In Cyslodia, we played it to the death. Or to the almost-death, depending on who you were playing with, 'cause you, uh... couldn't kill... yeah. Anyway, I know how that one works. Yeah.

[ Yep, there it is. This liquor, whatever it is, sneaks up on you, man! He's still good, holding his own, not slurring, but it's got his mouth running in earnest now. For better or worse.

Also, he makes a grab for the bottle to refill his glass and almost misses it, so maybe the hand-eye coordination is starting to go a little bit, too. ]

Your idea, you first. Truth or dare? ...This is the not life or death version, just FYI.

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Law makes a grab and Gladio lightly bats at his hand. He doesn't move to stop him from refilling but once that bottle touches the table again he grabs it and takes a short pull from it... pauses... and promptly grimaces as he returns it to its place. Even goes as far as to nudge it away. Is he tapping out? Yeah, yeah he's tapping out. It's all yours, runt. Any more and Gladio knows he'll be at risk of spilling his guts in more ways than just one with the wrong move. On the plus side that means he's free to pick at the cones that fell on his side of the table without juggling two things at once.

And it's a chance to try and regain his everything. At some point or another they're gonna have to leave and he'd rather not leave Law trying to support all two-hundred plus pounds of him through the streets on top of his own balance. ]</sub>

S'treason if I die anyway, remember? And gimme truth. Only idiots jump into dare right out the gates.

_{[ Something nice and easy to start with. What could go wrong? It's f i n e. ]}

Make it a good one, too.

[counterattack]

[ He'd like to say he's not afraid of Noctis or his wrath, like what is he gonna do? Actually put that fat keister of his into gear and chase him? That's if he can rouse himself out of unconsciousness long enough to even notice he's short one friend he doesn't deserve to have in the first place. But alright, fine, even on the far side of plastered, he knows better than to go trash-talking Noctis. Gladio likes him, for whatever ungodly reason, and he wants to look good in Gladio's eyes, so he tolerates his existence.

And won't kill his Shield. Wait—what?

God. Stop thinking, start drinking. He gives Gladio a look as if to say wuss when the bottle goes down, then cuts that shot back and sets the glass down a little too hard on the table. Whoops. ]

Awright, you asked for it!

[ You really did. If anyone knows how to cut to the core with their truth questions— ]

What's your biggest fear?

[indeferent]

_{[ Oh boy he sure asked for it. They both did, didn't they? For a time Gladio stares at him as if he's trying to process it, mouth half open and a look of bewilderment etched on his face. He really came out swinging with that one and holy shit after he regains his composure his answer is immediate because— ]}

Failure.

_{[ He's felt it too many times already. Insomnia, Ravus, Jared... he felt pangs of it during the Trials, Altissia and Zegnautus... All of it. Whether he's aware of it or no, Gladio touches the scar cutting across his torso and frowns to himself. He should, uh. Probably elaborate on that, huh? "Failure" can mean a lot of different things after all. ]}

Failure as a Shield. 'Cause... Shields're supposed to protect their Kings. Outside of old age or sickness, I don't think we get to "retire".

_{[ Any Shield that outlasts their King had to have done something wrong beyond those circumstances. His frown deepens and he reaches in to steal a proper handful, brows knit together in thought. Was that too much? Probably, but it's Truth or Dare not Half-Truth or Dare. ]}

Outside of that? Uh... Being eaten by a Malboro. Alive.

[counterattack]

[ Yeah, he probably could've picked something a little less heavy to throw at him. There's "lowering the temperature when they're both way too keyed up" and then there's "bringing the mood back to a zero", but you know what, that's the game as he knows it and so that's how he played it. He's sure he'll be paying for it big-time when it's his turn. ]

I mean... it makes sense, though. That's a pretty rational fear. That's a lot of expectation on your shoulders, a'course you'd be worried about it.

[ This is him trying to save face, but also it's just the truth. He can't say he doesn't relate, albeit not to that particular specificity. Failure, making a mistake, letting people down, especially the ones who're counting on you... yeah. If it's not rational, like he said, then it's sure as hell relatable, at least. ]

Malboro, though... why does that sound familiar? Do we have those here? It sounds like some kinda zeugle.

[ he's fought so many of them at this point he can't even keep track. ]

[indeferent]

It's more than expectation, but uh... I'll get into it another time. Someplace where it's just us or something.

<sub>[ Because if he gets fired up about it he'd rather not have a building full of strangers gawking at him or Law. They're both hot-headed idiots at the end of the day and... it works? But he'd still rather spare the rest of the population any potential bickering over a difference in lifestyles and/or expectations of their own lives.

A year past or no, the train still sits pretty heavily on his mind and he still kicks himself over it. ]</sub>

But, uh. Yeah. We do. There was a big one hanging around here awhile back, actually. I think someone dealt with it 'cause I haven't smelled it since? They're not fun. Actually, this thing-

_{[ He grabs the crumpled bag with Li'l Malbuddy's face on it, smoothing it out— ]}

This is from a kids show on my world. Real popular in Galahd and Insomnia, but I think Kenny Crow beats 'em both in the rest of Lucis 'cause I never saw any merch for either of them when we were on our trip. He's probably the only Malboro I'd trust 'cause the real ones? They're nowhere near this cute.

[counterattack]

[ Law studies the bag, brow furrowed. That's one particular monster he hasn't faced, and if someone told him it was around during March, that'd explain why it's not familiar to him. Around the end of March, when someone would've been taking care of that thing, Law was busy getting half eaten by a wyvern. But hey, he got some super sick tats out of it, so who's laughing now? ]

They... put monsters in things for kids where you come from? You'd think that would just make them not afraid of 'em.

[ Then again, they don't have to be cute and all that to teach certain kinds of kids not to be afraid of them. Law saw the easy work his parents and the other fighters in Ulzebek made of the zeugles around the village and he learned not to waste his fears on something that simple, either.

Law pours himself yet another shot and retrieves a few more bugels to help keep it all down with. The likelihood that he'll get sick from drinking is pretty low, but the more he can do to mitigate those potential damages, the better. ]

Getting eaten does kinda suck, though, yeah. And this one's got all those... uh, tentacles. Yeah, nope, don't like that. —I'll take a truth question too, by the way. Don't trust myself on a dare right now. Actually, I dunno if I trust you with the dares, that's the real thing.

[indeferent]

_{[ Now he laughs, shrugging his shoulders and so very much wishing he had his phone in working order so he could actually show him the series. No matter how old someone gets, Li'l Malbuddy is there for everyone. He's a friend no matter what, unlike every other Malboro that exists in the world out there. Especially the babies, eugh. Those were the worst. ]}

Dude, I had a stuffed behemoth as a kid that I carried with me so much that one of the horns and an eye fell off. Iris found him buried in a box of my old stuff and fixed him, and you've seen one yourself. Maybe not the real, full-size deal but I come pretty damn close to what ours look like. Thing is, you can still respect something while introducing 'em to kids so they learn to respect 'em.

_{[ ...Man, he kind of misses that stuffed animal now that he's thinking about it. He was a real good cuddle buddy on the rare occasion he'd wind up having nightmares, and more often than not he'd wind up bitching and ranting to it about the real world. Who would've guessed that having an inanimate object to complain to would be so good? ]}

I'll keep that in mind when you wind up daring me, but alright lemme think... What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?

[counterattack]

A stuffed behemoth? Seriously? I guess it really made an impression.

[ Haha, get it, cause the horns... yeah. If only that were the deciding factor in what kind of a monster you turn into in this place, then he'd... well, still be at a loss, because he certainly never had any stuffed animals or real toys or anything as a kid. Maybe a pet rock? But like, you were basically ingrained with the notion of being completely over rocks from the time you were born in Calaglia, so not that, either.

Anyway, all things considered, this question could be worse. Law still hides his grimace behind his shot glass before he drinks it, though. What is this? Eight? It doesn't matter that he's going on four inches taller and a fair bit broader, there is nowhere in that lithe body of his for all of that alcohol to go. This should be impossible. ]

Uh—most embarrassing? Dude, everything I do is embarrassing, how am I supposed to pick just one?

[ Well, okay, maybe not everything. He'll probably not think so later, but right now he's feeling pretty good about that kiss execution a minute ago. It was pretty alright. In fact, he's feeling pretty good about a lot of things right this second, but we'll see what happens when the liquor wears off. ]

It... was probably that time I tried to pick up a chick and she looked right past me at my buddy Alphen and started flirting with him instead. I dunno why I didn't just give up. I just kept trying to chime in like, "hey, I'm still here!" But she was fixated on him. Can't blame her, most people are, but... yeah, that was pathetic.

[ Epic swerve away from "can't blame her, I would be, too" into "most people are," which completely absolves him of any guilt. No sir, we are not confessing to anything else weird tonight. In fact, he should probably just avoid talking about all of his friends if he wants to play it safe. They're all extremely dangerous topics. ]

Or, uh, I guess this one time I was showing off in front of some of the other kids in my hometown, then I slipped off a ledge and landed ass-first on a cactus. Not sure what was worse, them laughing at me or having to run home crying to my mom so she could pull the needles out of my butt.

[ wait, why did he just give him two— ]

Ugh. Nope, yeah, that's it. Done talking.

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Two of them. After the first one Gladio is just about ready to reach across the table to pat Law's arm and say something along the lines of "That's rough" or "Been there", but he keeps going after the fact. The first one was a little heartbreaking, but the second one? Oh, Six. There's no way he can keep a straight face for more than five seconds especially once, unbidden, an old movie comes to mind. He's been there too of course courtesy of an angry Cactuar, but that's not what gets him.

What gets him is the thought of a trio of Sabertusks chasing after a lone Behemoth pup— ]</sub>

—Cactus butt.

_{[ Is that going to be A Thing now between the two of them? Absolutely. But just for them. No one else. Gladio snorts again and thumps Law's foot with his own below the table, and above he moves to rest his chin in his own palm with a crooked grin. Now the shots are finally starting to catch up to him if the faint color to his cheeks means anything, and... yeah, it's probably a good thing he tapped out when he did. ]}

I think I can safely say I never had that happen when I was a kid. I dunno if regular cacti could've survived in the city without someone taking care of 'em every day.

_{[ In the Citadel gardens? Sure. And maybe in the manor's garden too, but that also may have been because his mother had one hell of a green thumb. Gladio? Not so much. Not to say he was entirely hopeless with flowers and whatnot, but he wasn't anywhere near her level. ]}

How many'd you end up with in your ass?

[counterattack]

Shut up, man!!

[ Law makes a face, but eventually he can't help but grin about it, too. The memory is hell and admitting to it is almost as embarrassing as when it happened, but how is he supposed to not think "cactus butt" is funny? He gives Gladio a slug in the arm, playful, but thankfully there's no real force to it. If Gladio's touchy when he drinks, then Law is punchy. Nothing he seems to enjoy more while he's drunk than companionable violence. ...Even more than when he's sober, that is. ]

Twelve. It was a really spiny cactus. I couldn't sit right for days. Y'know, the worst part was that my parents thought it was kinda funny, too. They didn't tease me and just kept telling me to be more careful, but looking back, they were totally holding in some laughter.

[ things zephyr is gonna get laid into about later if he can manage to remember this when he sees him... ]

Your turn. You feelin' a dare yet?

[indeferent]

Ten gil says they probably did the same thing. Or, well... Maybe not the exact same but still wound up with an ass full of cactus. A Cactass.

_{[ Huehuehue he's so bad he's good. At the punch he makes a half-hearted "swipe" to catch Law's hand and misses, but he lets it drop down onto the table with his fingers splayed out and slightly reaching in a silent invitation. If he wants it? He's there. Or he'll just wait until Law's in range again. He's a patient man. ]}

Gimme another truth. I dunno how much I trust you with a dare right now.

_{[ He's always teasing. Always. Just to make a point Gladio even goes as far as to hook their ankles together again. ]}

[counterattack]

[ Good thing he finishes that shot before "cactass," otherwise he'd have snorted it out his nose. That joke is certified garbage, but when you've had this much to drink, even garbage starts to look like top-shelf shit. Besides, he's never had a refined sense of humor in the first place. (Obviously, because every time Dohalim makes a joke he usually just thinks it's another weird poem or something.) ]

Probably wise. My dares are as dangerous as my truths.

[ Even in non-to the death truth-or-dare, yeah. Law's eye falls to Gladio's hand, splayed on the table, while he's thinking of the next deep cut of a question to ask him and finds himself a little distracted. After a moment, he places the tops of his pinched-together fingers in the center of Gladio's palm and lets them spread out from there until their hands are resting flat on top of each other, something he's always thought felt really, really ticklish, but also kind of good in a tingly way. After he left home, one of the friends he'd had before the Renans got them used to do that to him. They only had one pair of gloves between them, so they'd each wear one on opposite hands and try to keep the other person's sole bare hand warm some way or another.

It was just innocent kid stuff back then, but it hits a little bit different this time. ]

What's... the one thing you—no, wait. Never mind. Not that.

[ The one thing you regret the most. Nope, nope, can't go there. That's too deep even for ruthlessly brutal games of truth-or-dare. The second those words start to form on his tongue, all he hears in his head is Not telling others how much they meant to me before it was too late... that's the greatest mistake of my life.

Nope. ]

Uhhhh, haha... no, okay, here's a better one: what was your first date like? There's no way you were always this cool and confident. Everybody's awkward the first time, right? Don't spare any details.

[indeferent]

<sub>[ The response is automatic — his hand flattens against Gladio's, and his fingers entwine themselves with Law's. There's nothing weird about a couple people holding hands in public, right? No one else seems to give a damn or even notice, nor would they. His ears perk up for a moment in interest, then they settle back into a more relaxed position all while he stares down at their hands for a long minute or two. This is nice.

Really, really nice.

It's nice enough that he doesn't question the first thing Law says. It makes him tilt his head for a second, sure, but he doesn't press it. Gladio turns their hands a bit so he can get a better hold, but that's about all he does until he says first date. ]</sub>

It, uh...

_{[ Boy he hasn't thought about that one in a long, long time. ]}

It was pretty bad. Not the worst date I've ever been on, but it was up there. I was... fourteen? Fourteen-ish? Somewhere around there, but there was this girl in school that I liked. She was a couple years older than me, bit of a nerd, real cute, freckles 'n everything. It took me half a year to work up the nerve to ask her out 'n looking back on it I don't know why she said yes 'cept for maybe my name — I dunno — anyway, she made a comment about how she'd never seen chocobos, so I thought to myself "hey, my dad knows a guy who has a couple on a little ranch out in Northern Insom," got my dad to talk to the guy, and I was gonna surprise her with it, you know? I, er...

_{[ His ears droop down a little and his face twists into a half-smile, half-grimace. What was he thinking back then? He's not entirely sure looking back on it, but Law asked and it's the rules of the game so after a breath he keeps going. Even if he finds himself squeezing his hand once before he does. ]}

Think my first screw-up was I took her to the Crow's Nest for lunch instead of some ritzy place 'n she spent more time on her phone than anything. Then I wound up dragging her across the city for a good hour 'til we got to the farm and... she tells me she's allergic to the birds. Big time allergic. And scared shitless of them. I had zero idea 'cause she never said anything, you know? Even told her where we were goin' and everything, so, uh...

_{[ Bad with a capital B-A-D. Thank the six it had almost been time for her class to graduate so he never really saw her again outside of the hallway at school, but man it was pretty awkward for those last two months. ]}

I felt like shit for ages 'cause I didn't know. Fourteen-year old me thought it was somethin' fun and interesting to do versus the cliché dinner-and-a-movie everyone else always did, you know? Somethin' for her to remember and... I mean, I suppose it was something for her to remember, just not in a... good way.

[counterattack]

[ When their fingers twine together, Law can't help the pleasant little shiver that runs through him. It does feel nice. God, he just... has missed touch so much. He'd already been absolutely starved for it most of his life, but after the incident in Tikal, he'd pulled away from others in a big way. His father, his friends, everyone. It's... gotten better since then, since the relics were all finally sealed and he felt some of that sour, rotten energy inside of him find a place for itself when he'd gone through Trance, but nothing's ever really been the same. It toughened him up, and not entirely in a good way. He's more stronger, more serious, more independent, and even though he's popular in Copalli and gets on with pretty much everyone with that easygoing way about him, he's just kind of forgotten what it feels like to really make meaningful contact with somebody. Hugs and clasped hands are few and far between anymore, and he's just now realizing how much he's really needed it.

It's so distracting he almost forgets to listen at first.

But then he snaps out of it, his fingers curled loosely in Gladio's, and uses his free hands to popcorn.gif with the bugels as he tells his story. Big time allergic makes him snort loudly, and even if he can't help but laugh, it also makes him think how lucky he is that the same thing hasn't happened to him yet, what with his affinity for animals and all. ]

How the heck were you supposed to know, though?! She didn't say she never saw 'em because she was allergic! I can totally see you trying to go above and beyond, though, yeah. Next time, try a spiracorn. Bet you could pull that off.

[ DO NOT DO THAT!! But whatever, it worked out for Prince Charming riding in on his noble demonic steed. ]

I guess, like... you had to have those lame experiences to learn how to be such a smooth-talker later, huh?

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Another laugh from Gladio and he shakes his head, the corners of his mouth quirking up into a smile. Again with the spiracorns? He'll never understand how he can be so calm around them, but then again Gladio had been on one too many hunts involving the animals. Too many stories about how a hunter got careless and wound up with a pair of hooves to the head and even taking one point-blank to his shield (which probably would've required a phoenix down if he didn't have it up in time). Nah, he'd rather appreciate the wildlife rather than mess with it unless it was actually, y'know, required. He wouldn't leave an injured Coeurl on its own if there was a chance to get it help, and the same would go for the murder-horses.

No matter how much they'd want to eat his face. ]</sub>

Maybe I should've asked for a stuffed one just for you. I still can't believe you ride 'em like it's nothing.

_{[ But now he knows what to get next time! So that's something! ]}

I'd say confidence plays a part in it too, not just shitty experiences. Eventually you'll figure out what works and what doesn't, and then you just go from there. Hell, it took me awhile to figure out most of the girls I'd wind up going out with were only in it 'cause of my name and my looks. The ones that weren't only after that... They never liked knowing that they'd always be second in my life, so it was usually broken off. Or they wanted to try and get close to Noct which, uh. Wasn't happening on my watch.

_{[ It's one thing to try and flirt with someone on their own but using him to do it? Fuck that noise. It's tacky, cheap, and downright rude. ]}

Can't say it's all that bad though at the end of the day. Sometimes I met a couple people who were more than happy to be friends with or without benefits. People who didn't give a damn 'bout any of it. Those were the good ones.

[counterattack]

[ Shrug. Demon unicorn monster pony horses love him, yolo69swag420blazeit. ]

...Wait, people would use you? To get to him? How?? Why?!

[ yeah yeah because he's royalty and whatever but still, what the actual fuck. He's not supposed to smack talk Noctis, but first of all, he's drunk and second of all, the very idea of thinking that Noctis is a trade up from Gladio is unfathomable. Law's incredulity is really over-animated, eyes wide and mouth open, positively hornswoggled. That's like... that's like... he can't even think of an example. Using Alphen to get to him is the closest he can think of, and even that seems to miss the sheer gravity of the "that is not a step up, dude" scale at play here. ]

No friggin' way. What's wrong with people where you come from?! I get he's important and all that, but you're... and he's so... blegh. I can't get my head around that, sorry. You deserve better than that! Ignis and Prompto, too. I always thought you were criminally underappreciated, and this just proves it.

[ Law stop talking. Law start drinking. Screw it, he's swigging straight from the bottle now. ]

[indeferent]

Power, status... All that typical boring political shit that comes with the territory.

_{[ Frankly it's disgusting and Gladio can't keep the scowl off his face. If there was one thing he could nix out of the whole nobility thing, it'd be that. Things can be hard enough with the weight of the crown and everything else going on in the world, so why add more stress onto it like that? He never, ever understood it. ]}

Thing is, they never stood a chance with him. He's an even bigger nerd than I am, 'specially if you get him somewhere he can start fishi...

_{[ Wait. Wait. Hang on. Pump the brakes, there. Gladio trails off and stares at Law for a good, long while, doing his best impression of a Confused Dog. Did he just-? He just heard him right, right? That's??? å ]}

Huh? Whaddya mean? Criminally underappreciated?

_{[ Gladio. Gladio, open your ears, you're drunk. Listen to him. ]}

[counterattack]

N-Nothing! It's nothing!

[ Good going, IDIOT. You can't just say that stuff to him!! He'll never, for the life of him, truly understand why, but Gladio and the guys really care about Noctis a lot. It'd be the same as if someone who isn't particularly keen on Alphen started trash-talking him. Entitled to their opinion, but you don't just do that to the guy's best friend unless you want to make waves and have words.

But see, though, it's not really about ragging on Noctis, it's the other thing, isn't it? The thing where it's like none of the three of them even realize how amazing they are, and that's because their stupid dumb friend that they live and breathe for doesn't tell them so. Law clams up and he's really starting to nervous sweat when, after a moment's thought, his brow furrows and he has a change of heart. A really sudden change of heart. Thanks, Nine Shot Plus Whatever He Just Drank From The Bottle Law. ]

No, you know what? It's not nothing. I know Noct's, like, really important to you and all that, and I'm not tryna put him down or anything, [ yes he is ] but he doesn't treat you like you deserve. You guys practically do everything for him, and I've never even once heard him say "thank you"! And you all just put up with it like everything's fine!

[ oh god, here it goes. Now he's on the righteous and very drunk road to the place of no return. Turning himself fully in Gladio's direction, he grips his hand tighter and gesticulates wildly with the other hand for BIG EMPHASIS. ]

Gladio, you're one of the coolest, toughest, strongest guys I know. You work so hard and you look out for everybody, and even for a rich lord's knight that had all these privileges growing up 'n stuff, you're totally down-to-earth. You've got so much worth outside of jus' being a Shield, and if that fat lard isn't gonna tell you, then somebody should, so I guess it'll just have to be me!

[ ................ aw crap. ]

I-I mean—

[ no you know what?? fuck it. ]

No, yeah, I said what I said! He's lazy and fat. You're better than he is. And hotter. You're amazing.

[indeferent]

Hey— Hey—

<sub>[ There's no point in trying to get a word of defense in, not once Law kicks himself into gear and starts going. All Gladio can do is listen, and when he feels that grip on his hand tighten he brings his free hand in to gently cover the back of Law's. It's awkward going for sure but it lets him bring their hands up, lets him lean forward, and allows him to brush his lips against the back of one of his fingers after he finishes. He tries to ignore the twisting warmth in his guts, but he can't ignore the way his chest tightens with the same heat.

He won't ignore it. So what if part if it is brought on by the booze? It's sweet. It's... frankly, he can't recall a time someone actually spoke to him like this outside of his immediate circle or family. If they ever did to begin with. Any other day he might rise up to take the "bait" and argue with as much fervor in Noct's defense, but not today. Not right now. Gladio can and will defend him of course — as a friend and not a Shield — but he's not going to raise his hackles or grumble about it like an ornery beast. ]</sub>

He says it in his own way, I promise.

<sub>[ Softly, and barely a murmur against Law's fingers. Despite how quiet his tone is he sounds so damned confident and sure about it that he may as well be reciting some sort of rule.

Five seconds. Ten. Twenty. A full thirty, and Gladio's gaze lifts to meet Law's. Of all the times for a damned table to be in the way — Six, he can be patient. They're both on thin ice, waiting to see who makes the first step. Waiting to see who makes that leap to the other side. Waiting for... what, exactly? He isn't a hundred percent sure if only because he can't recall a time he's been in this position before because most of the time he's the one saying shit like that to other people.

It's never been the other way around, and... he can't find the words. So, he improvises. Another murmur against skin— ]</sub>

...Truth or dare?

[counterattack]

[ All worked up, hot under the collar (in probably more ways than one by now), all Law wants to do is bang his fist on the table and shout, No! That's not good enough! It doesn't matter if it's not his place, if he doesn't know the whole picture, or if it'll make him look bad. Nobody ever got respect by asking nicely for it, and he feels very passionately about this particular subject. Just like the other feelings he's kept under wraps for nearly a year, he's been carrying this one around for a long time, too. His nose wrinkles, winding up for the pitch—but then he bubbles down to a low simmer, the edge of his sudden-onset quick temper subdued by that one little kiss to the hand.

Well. This is a surprise. He's usually such a happy drunk, sheesh. It's kind of embarrassing how quickly he mellows out, but on the upside, at least he doesn't have to worry about blushing; his cheeks are already hot from the outburst, his face flushed pink from the alcohol. The subject's gone, sort of, but not forgotten. In place of that, the piercing stare between the two of them is like a laser ray, charged with all kinds of energy, all of it intense. Law doesn't realize his shoulders are heaving just a little until they're both quiet, staring, Gladio's lips against the backs of his fingers.

He lets all the air out of his lungs and it calms him, but it doesn't do anything to scatter that static charge building in the pit of his chest. Nobody's ever looked at him like that before, and you can pet your bottom gald he's not breaking that gaze, not for anything. Where he'd been shouting just a moment ago, he answers softly now, his voice low and rough, like that wolf-monster inside of him is growling from within. ]

Dare.

[indeferent]

Say it again.

<sub>[ Not all that stuff about Noct, obviously. The look in his eyes says it loud and clear: Tell me again. Tell me that you meant it. Somewhere deep inside of him that behemoth side is practically purring, all stretched out and soaking up the positive affirmations. Part of Gladio is too, but that's also just Gladio — such a colossal sucker for love and affection that he spends hours upon hours sticking his nose in books centered around it no matter how corny it is. His death may not belong to him but his life?

That's all Gladio's.

It's Gladio's, and he's making the most of it. Turning his head a bit, he gently untangles their hands and moves to press his cheek into Law's palm. Covers his hand with his own larger one. Counts back from three. ]</sub>

Show me.

_{[ Confidence. But he doesn't run away with the ball, oh no. No, he holds the ball and places it right back in Law's court in a silent, teasing challenge. There's a time and a place to shove his way through a door half-open, but not this time. Law? He's different. He's special. He's offering something new and thrilling and if this is just a taste— ]}

Show me and promise me I get to take you on that date.

_{[ Then he can't fucking wait. ]}

[counterattack]

[ Law takes another breath, in and out. It comes a little harsher than he expects it to, a singular pant, too quick, too unsteady to be steeling. Maybe that's to be expected when he's this intensely intoxicated—maybe grounding techniques just don't work that well when your head's all juiced up and your judgment is too impaired to keep a handle on your big, fat mouth or your big, fat feelings. He's used to being constantly caught on the back foot when it comes to Gladio, or quite honestly when it comes to anyone he feels anything toward at all, but what he always has to contend with during those occasions is nervousness. Plain old-fashioned shyness, self-doubt and shaky confidence creating a toxic alchemy with inexperience, resulting in a hot mess of a little wuss that doesn't take the risks he knows he should take.

Right now, he doesn't feel nervous at all. Definitely not shy. It's a different kind of anxiousness messing with his head now, but he can handle this one. It feels the same as squaring up for a fight or getting everything together to cook a meal—that I'm going to do this and succeed hit of dopamine that makes you feel like you've won before you've even started. Not a matter of if, just a matter of when. Even if this overwhelming eye contact, the physical contact, the implications that are so overt by now that they're basically spelled out for him, do totally unseat him by virtue of being just, like, way too hot, he can work with that.

His lips quirk, fingers flat against Gladio's cheek. ]

You're 'mazing, Gladio. You deserve to feel like you are. What I really wan' for my birthday is for you to know that.

[ Yeah, now he's slurring his words just a little bit. Which is fine, because he almost feels like his voice doesn't even sound like his own. Since when has he ever sounded so... steady? You know what's not steady, though? The rest of him. When he scoots forward in his chair, he practically falls into Gladio's lap—it takes one arm on his shoulder and his knees against the side of his chair again to keep his balance. He'd wanted to do it kinda, y'know, smoother and more slow and suave and whatever, but that's fine. This works. He can roll with it. He can roll with anything right now.

They're so close—so close. But he didn't get that close this time just to kiss him, as much as he really, really wants to. ]

I'll show you, but not here. I don't wanna hafta pull away until I'm sure you got the message. And... by the way, no. You're not taking me on a date.

[ Can he at least... yeah, he can back up a little bit without falling all over the place. That he can do. He gets his legs underneath him and his feet on the floor, and by all that's holy, he can stand upright, just fine and dandy. He tugs at Gladio's chin with his thumb and forefinger as he goes. ]

I'm taking you out.

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Those fingers may as well be hooked into an invisible collar around his throat with how easily Gladio's head tilts up with the motion, eyes half-lidded yet still focused. It all comes back to touch and between how close Law is and both hands on his face it's really no wonder that the taller man melts into it. He actually has to look up from his position which so rarely happens—sometimes he gets someone in his lap where he has to, but normally... Not so much.

And... maybe he does it to support Law. Maybe he does it just because he can or because he wants to, but whatever his reasons for it, Gladio reaches to make sure he's steady once more. Not with a touch to the arm this time, though. He tests the waters, letting his hand hover over his flank before settling it over coarse fabric and the heat of a body. The nice thing about this is the bond they already share makes it easier to communicate without words. A silent "Is this okay" in the subtle press of his fingertips, a wordless "Please" in his eyes, all of it.

Gladio thinks he's thinking to himself but in reality? He's not. He's speaking before he even realizes it, his voice soft and maybe a little bewildered. ]</sub>

Shiva's tits, kid... How have you not been snatched up by someone?

<sub>[ Why did Prompto stop whatever he had with him? Even from a strictly platonic point of view he doesn't get it, and he especially doesn't get it from the good ol' F-W-B one. That's not even taking into consideration the romantic side of things. Tilting his head in Law's hold to inch his fingers that much closer to his ear, Gladio exhales through his nose and shuts his eyes. He's so glad he gave up the game when he did. If he didn't, he might not've been able to enjoy this.

He opens them, his smile growing relaxed. Content. ]</sub>

...Gotta say I feel like a very lucky man right about now. Probably the luckiest in Copalli. How many people can say they've got a badass firecracker who can bust rocks open callin' 'em amazing?

[counterattack]

[ A wave of gratification runs through him, thanks both to the compliments and to the hand on his lower back. He already runs hot as a damn furnace most of the time, but with all he's had to drink making his blood turn into highly flammable gasoline and the gauntlet of emotions he's experiencing? Whew. All his waning common sense is begging him to just melt like a puddle into Gladio's arms, but he stands firm, surprisingly steady on his feet, in his gaze, and in his voice. The easy grin that spreads across his face is wolfish and maybe just a little bit... dare I say... cocky? Oh, gurl, he's feeling it now. ]

Just you.

[ God!! Who is he? He won't recognize this charmer in the mirror even a handful of hours from now, but right now, he's never been more self-assured. Of course the alcohol is to blame, and it's really lucky he has a distraction so he doesn't drink any more of it, otherwise there's a very high likelihood that he'll go from swag to puking everywhere (to be fair, the more it all has time to hit him, the more possible it'll be for that to happen anyway), but it's also just amazing where a little validation will take him. Clearly, it'll go straight to his head.

But so do a lot of things. God. The look Gladio's giving him is introducing a wave of thoughts so inappropriate, it's all he can do not to bite his lip. Actually, scratch that, that's exactly what he does. This would ordinarily be where he'd chuckle nervously and wave it off, try to break the tension somehow, but all this liquid courage has him thinking, what if... what if he doesn't break it? Maybe he doesn't wanna break it. Maybe he wants to see how far he can go. He wants to get even closer. He wants to taste the sweet spice of liquor not from the bottle, but from Gladio's lips. He wants to touch more than just his face.

His gaze darts away, toward the door, then back again a second later. Right now, anything and everything feels totally possible. Including the reality where he doesn't completely screw this up or make a total fool of himself. ]

You wanna go? Right now? We could... find a room at the coterie, and... y'know. Talk about how amazing you are s'more.

[ verbal air quotes around "talk." ]