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

[indeferent]

I'm hoping you'll like that one more than me, 'specially since I might've done one of the big things you're always tellin' me not to do.

_{[ Going out into the incense without any face coverings was one thing, but going out alone? That's something Gladio had promised to not do. Even having another Viper along was better than running solo out there no matter how much things have calmed down since The Great Relic Fuckening, but that's neither here nor there as he digs into those eggs with the gusto of a starving man. ]}

Don' 'e 'ad or anythin', m'fine— _{[ Obviously. He swallows, and uses a chunk of steak to wipe up the yolk that had splattered over the plate. ]} —been here since last night. I was kinda bouncin' between here 'n Coba for the last couple weeks though, jus' not long enough to stay for more than a couple hours. I, uh...

_{[ One leg stretches out under the table, foot hooking around Law's ankle as if Gladio were worried that if he wasn't touching him he might disappear. See, he's really just that big on PDA and ever since that "little" ice breaker in Coba, this is something he's just come to instinctively seek out with Law. It's good contact, brent. ]}

...think I wound up with some of your handiwork on one of my trips, by the way. We had a Spiracorn haulin' the wagon and for once it didn't try to kick me in the ass when I was unloadin'. And again on the trip over last night.

[counterattack]

Something I'm always telling you not to do...

[ Make those painful dad jokes? But how would that translate into a present? Law takes a moment or two to consider while he's forking up some bits of steak for himself, but quickly swerves a different way with that train of thought: ]

Eh, I dunno. I doubt there's any present I could like more than you.

[ It's too matter-of-fact to even be flirting; he just means it sincerely. Both because, yeah, he just really likes Gladio, and also because he's never considered himself to be particularly material. He's never had many material things to care much about in the first place. Mostly just heirlooms and keepsakes from people who aren't around anymore, which... yeah, about that.

Law's calf rests against Gladio's, comfortable with the contact. ]

Was it the one with the swirly-looking horn? Lollipop? I've been working on training that one up, yeah. She hasn't been taking to tack, but it seems like she kinda likes pulling the wagons. Think it makes her feel important. Not so constrained, y'know? Plus they keep her with Horse at the barn. I wrangled her back when I first got here and she's got a good attitude, so it's probably rubbing off on the younger ones.

[ yeah the horse is named Horse. he got more creative as he went along. sort of. ]

[indeferent]

_{[ The swirly-looking horn? Gladio snorts around his next mouthful, the back of his hand moving to cover his mouth as he tries to stifle a gods-awful grin. This was the sort of normalcy he'd been craving from Eos and he's ashamed to see that this was where it was hiding all along. There's no weight of the world, no threat of any relics, nothing but two people just being people and losing it over a spiracorn of all things. ]}

'abe, I dunno if you've noticed but they all have swirly-lookin' horns. S'why they're called Spiracorns, ain't it?

_{[ At least that's what Gladio always assumed, just like how Behemoths earned their name by being the biggest damned thing within Eos' ecosystem. Swallowing the chunk in his mouth he shakes his head and gestures to one of his ears with the end of his fork before diving into another piece, this time taking the time to actually savor it. ]}

S'one that had part of its ear missing and the tips of its horns were busted, but I think yours was with it too. Real big 'n has a couple scars on the ass-end, right? Not the one you picked Prompto up on but the other one.

_{[ The date-night horse had murder in its eyes, Gladio remembers that much. ]}

You still won't catch me sittin' on the back of one though, not even for a thousand gil.

[counterattack]

Well, yeah, but that one's extra swirly! Not every horn looks the same, y'know. Some have swirls that go this way [ twirling his finger ] and some go the other way, or there's kind of a criss-cross pattern... and don't get me started on how different the ends can look!

[ Never set foot on Eos a day in his life, and he's already got a burgeoning career in Cleigneian ecology. Or, like, at least Spiracornology. The real twist is that he's like this with any animal he has experience being around; he can tell a clutch of freshly-hatched, nigh identical baby chicks apart, knows all the cows' names, and knows exactly which Fangs are which when he's helping the transportation committees put together their sled teams. ]

Oh, no, Trompeta works out of Coatepec now. The plant geeks needed an easy ride for their soft little wussy butts. Part of its ear missing... oh. That's gotta be Dragan. Probably one of the toughest ones we ever broke in, but he still doesn't get on so good with his own kind.

[ Nudging Gladio's leg under the table, Law points with his fork before he takes his bite. ]

I'll get you on one someday. I hang around with chickens all day as it is, I don't need an even bigger one.

[ Lest we forget about Beary Manilow and that little girl scream Law insists he heard. ]

[indeferent]

You want a bigger chicken, I'll ask the dragon for a 'bo egg 'cause I ain't one.

<sub>[ Would a chicken go toe-to-toe with not one but several Behemoths? Maybe a red one would but that's beyond the point. Gladio winds up nudging Law's leg right back with a gentleness that says despite his "tone" he's not actually that defensive about it. After the first nudge he lets his foot rest against Law's ankle and chooses to run the side of his boot up and down the inside of it a few times, his head tilting with another good bite. Something tells him that if Gladio ever manages to get Law back to his world he might wind up losing track of him in Cleigne or Duscae. Maybe not for good, but good enough that he'll have to scour the countrysides for the guy himself.

(In actuallity he's going to wind up glued to Law's side.) ]</sub>

Remind me to introduce you to Sania if I take you home with me. Or, uh... I can also ask the statue for a bunch of the books she's written too. That's a woman who'd give you a run for your gold if she ever set foot on this world - hell, I'd probably lose both of you in the wilderness now that I think about it.

_{[ There's a pause as he seems to consider something, then Gladio shakes his head to himself. ]}

Tell you what: You manage to get a harness 'n bridle on me when I'm all... monstered out? Then I'll think about getting on your kick-happy horses with sharp teeth.

[counterattack]

You should do that anyway! I wanna see one in real life. I'll pass on the books, though.

[ Seeing the photos wasn't enough. Prompto really did manage to impress chocomania on him, if nothing else, although honestly, he's more curious about it than obsessed with how cute and fluffy they might be. The farmer life had been thrust unexpectedly upon him, and he'd never had the time to really lean into it back home enough to take a real, proper interest in it, but now? Turns out he does actually have a vested interest in animals.

Reading, on the other hand? Nope.

Anyway, look what you've done, Gladio. Just look at what you've done. Law stops with the fork still in his mouth, and then those gears start turning in his head. He's never seen Gladio monstered out, and he's still not completely positive what a Behemoth even is, but he knows that it's big, dangerous, and, uh, apparently edible. Not any different than any other monster-turned-livestock he's dealt with, right? Except this one's a person, actually.

Law considers. And considers some more. And then his lips curl into a devious little grin as he pulls the fork from his mouth. ]

Challenge accepted. But just so you know...

[ Leaning forward. ]

I don't use saddles or bridles when I ride. Don't need 'em for the Spiracorns, and I won't need 'em with you, either.

[ i mean he sure didn't need them before— ]

[indeferent]

<sub>[ As always its his ears that give him away. While his face remains mostly neutral save for a curious raising of an eyebrow, his ears go from the easy, relaxed droop to perking up in complete and utter attention. No matter how much he tries he can't stop it, but has there really been a need to around Law? Not that he can think of. He doesn't even try to restrict them around Noctis, not anymore at least. It's a slow process but he's slowly becoming more and more comfortable with the damned things no matter how much they ruin that Too Cool And Tough To Care image he puts on.

And really, can anyone blame him when that comes out of Law's mouth? Gladio swallows, digesting that little nugget of information for a long minute, then he's grabbing another piece and sticking the fork out to Law. Brat. ]</sub>

Then you're gonna have to find a way to wear me out 'cause I might try and throw you off twice as hard. 'least I can promise to not try and eat you this time.

_{[ Probably. He's... Look, Gladio's getting better about that, okay? He might posture and show off his teeth when he's halfway out of his mind but he hasn't tried to eat anyone in awhile. Then again the people he'd been around had alway smelled familiar to him so that prrooooooooooooobably helped more than he (or any of them) realize. ]}

Now open up.

[counterattack]

[ As if all the ear-scratchies and horn grabbing didn't give him away before, Law happens to find those goofy ears of Gladio's kinda cute. And if anyone understands those less-than-human signals, guess it'd have to be him, huh? As soon as they perk up, he laughs. ]

Hehe, I'm not afraid of getting eaten.

[ Been there, did that, he lived bitch. And also the, uh, less literal eating thing, also not a problem. Evidently he just has a propensity for getting all chewed up and walking it off like it's nothing.

His nose wrinkles, caught between a silent laugh and a seriously? but opens his mouth to admit that fork in the end, anyway. He's pretty sure nobody's ever fed him anything by hand, at least not since he was a baby, so that's kind of a first. Like most firsts Gladio's introduced him to, though, he's pretty alright with this one. And of course he talks with his mouth full afterward like a heathen. ]

It can't be that hard. I carried people around on my back when I was a monster and I've got way less space to work with in that form. And no free handlebars.

[indeferent]

They're only handlebars if you can reach 'em. There's a sail you gotta worry 'bout on my back too which is why I'd go for some sort of saddle, but it ain't gonna be my ass gettin' stabbed.

<sub>[ Unless?? Come to think of it Gladio isn't entirely sure what the purpose of it is on himself save for a way to make himself look bigger, but if it's anything like an actual behemoth then maybe it's meant to help out in the water. That'll be something to experiment with another day, he thinks. For now, he's got Law and this apparent rodeo to prepare himself for, and the thought makes him snort a little. Hunters used to pull stunts like that with Magnanir, but he's pretty sure Law is going to be the first person to try the same thing with something bigger and ten times more lethal on account of the horses only having hooves and smaller teeth.

Pulling his fork back, Gladio lets his hand drift to the table and after a few moments, he moves it over to cover one of Law's for no particular reason. He just... He wanted to, okay? It's nice. ]</sub>

When am I gonna be able to see this Other You, anyway? I've only heard about it in pieces. Would...

_{[ He turns their hands over so he can effectively slide his palm across Law's, his fingertips teasing at the inside of a wrist. ]}

I have to worry 'bout getting chewed on too? Or could I get you to melt by scratching that spot just behind your jaw like some sort of big dog? Where would you take me if I managed to get up on your back?

[counterattack]

[ Behemoth rodeo sounds fun as hell, and a lot less scary than dealing with wyverns. He'd like to think he has a cheat button for getting through to Gladio, but he's also never really tried to break through the effects of someone screwed up on incense before, really. Anytime he encountered someone else that was all monstered out, he had just tried to kill them right back. And, uh... in Alphen's case, succeeded at doing exactly that. That memory never fails to send an uncomfortable, sickening pang straight to the pit of his stomach, and Gladio taking his hand comes at the best possible time. Law sets his fork down, expression mostly unchanged, but his appetite briefly lost. ]

Don't think you'd want to see me in that form, honestly. Almost every time I've changed, I was out of my mind and I attacked everybody in sight. I can't see very well when I'm like that, but I can sort of... sense feelings? I guess? The more I picked up on, the more I wanted to attack. Especially if they ran. Guess I have a high prey drive.

[ Ngh. It's been over a year and he can still remember all too well the sound of his own voice, deep down in those ruins, stumbling through the labyrinth and growling at everyone he ran into: Don't run.

His fingers curl against Gladio's hand, parting to lace their hands together. At first, his gaze wants to wander every which way, but eventually he meets Gladio's eye and stays there. There's not much point in being ashamed about it, especially not after that little moment he had in his Trance state. And it's not like he can go around preaching how it's a part of you and then act like there's a double standard when it's him. (Oh wait, he can do that. And he does it all the time. And he doesn't intend to ever stop, because while he doesn't have the right to judge others, the impossibly high standard he holds himself to is something he doesn't want to ever let go of.) ]

I think I might be able to control it a little better now, though. After that big thing with the relics and that dragon, it was... different. But I know it's not anything nice to look at, either. My face gets all screwed up. Nobody's ever tried to pet me or anything like that before either, so I dunno how I'd react. And, uh... I'm not that big. Just kinda... long? So you'd probably squash me. But if I could carry you around, I'd take you as far as I could go. I've got a lot of stamina for running already, but I basically never get tired when I'm like that, so we wouldn't have to stop.

[indeferent]

<sub>[ Gladio hums softly as Law speaks, his expression softening as he tries to imagine it while finishing the last couple bites. Changing like that? It's scary. He knows it. When he'd first transformed with all of those strange bubbles he had been terrified out of his gourd that he'd wind up hurting someone, then he'd wound up with an arrow practically right in his asscheek and he'd been in control of himself at the time. The second incident with Noctis... He didn't recognize him until Gladio had his teeth inches from Noct's face and ready to bite. The relics were a blur, but he swears he remembers flying but... That didn't make sense because he didn't have wings, right? But he remembers Noctis. He remembers being in control of himself albeit unable to speak unlike the last time when he'd snapped out of it.

But everything Law describes... Gods, it's terrifying to think about and also something he can't quite put his thumb on. He keeps listening, Gladio's thumb stroking over the back of Law's hand and knuckles whenever his voice trails off. Those moments of hesitance seems to solidify his own decision- ]</sub>

Well... If it helps any, I don't run.

_{[ Not unless he truly has to, and even then he'll be stubborn about it if he's on his own. ]}

You're not afraid of what I turn into and you haven't even seen it yet. You're down to try wrangling me 'n everything else that comes with it, so why should I be afraid of what you turn into? I, uh... I don't think you'd actually hurt me. Not on purpose. And if you're really not "that big" then I'm willing to bet I could wrestle you into submission 'til you calmed down.

_{[ At least there's one thing to be said about Amicitias; they're stupidly stubborn and loyal and the history books have enough stories on their relationship with the Caelum line to prove it. It's only natural that the same loyalty extends to everyone else they love, right? Even if they're meant to die for their monarch in the end. ]}

Then you could take me wherever you'd wanna go. There's gotta be places here that we can only get to when we're changed like that, yeah? It could... I dunno. It could be our thing. Just for the two of us.

[counterattack]

"Not on purpose"...

[ But does that make it okay? Of course all of those things weren't on purpose. He'd never attack anybody for no good reason, least of all the people he loves the most. But he killed his best friend in the whole world. Alphen's the strongest person he knows, how the hell does something like that just happen? Of course his friends were quick to say that it wasn't his fault, it was the incense, that they didn't blame him, but that answer's never been good enough for him. There's no excuse for hurting the people you love. All it takes is one "I didn't know any better, it wasn't my fault, I made a mistake" to ruin everything and lose someone completely.

Law chews the inside of his cheek, grappling with his feelings and trying not to let the worst of them show. He wants Gladio's confidence in him, and in himself, to pierce through that veil, but it's still going to take a little work. Still, it's a little easier not to be so afraid of what he might do after the last time, when instead of feeling like a monster, it had been more like... like he was becoming something he was meant to be and finding synergy with it. If he can manage something more like that the next time, maybe he won't need to worry. ]

You probably could, yeah. Just gotta watch the face. I could fit your whole upper half in my mouth if I tried hard enough.

[ Okay maybe not, like, the whole upper half, but... y'know. A good bit. Those jaws have real loose hinges, man. In spite of that super uncomfortable comment, though, Law smiles weakly, glancing down at their hands. ]

What, like some kinda monster den? I'm a pretty good climber in that form, so maybe we could dig out a cavern in the mountains or something. Start a treasure hoard? I'd probably just bring back bones and stuff to chew on, but... y'know. Who says treasure has to be shiny?

[indeferent]

<sub>[ There's a hint of something in Law's eyes that puts Gladio on the defensive - not regarding himself, but for Law's feelings. He's never been the best at diffusing situations (obviously), but it never stopped him from trying when the situation really called for it. So what if he lacks the silver tongue Ignis has in his mouth or the natural cheer that Prompto has? So he's not Noctis who can - against all odds - inspire confidence in half the damn world just by being him. He's an Amicitia. He's Gladio, and he still sticks by what he'd told Prompto during their idle banter one day while trekking through the fields of Duscae.

If you could be reborn as anything, what would you choose? ]</sub>

Sounds kinky.

_{[ Easy. I'd wanna be me. For better or worse, shitty humor included. ]}

'n why not? Noct hooked me up with a place outside Kiichpan to hunker down in for whenever I get... y'know. Me 'n him got a place like that, so why can't we? We could carve out our own space and go there if we lose our minds so we'd know where to find each other, or... we could use it to get away from everything for a little bit. People can't complain 'bout a couple animals roughhousing if they're not in the cities, right? It'd be safe too so when we came out of it we could take time to recoup on our own terms instead of that cramped, creepy room back in Coatepec.

_{[ Not that he knows what Gay Baby Jail is like, nope. Shh. ]}

Annnnnnnd if you just so happened to start kickin' your leg after I scratched you behind the ears, nobody but me could tease you for it. How's that sound?

[counterattack]

[ Gladio may not have all those traits, but he sure is Gladio, and that's good enough for Law. More than good enough. Some of the tension breaks, and he laughs, squeezing Gladio's hand in his appreciatively. Not taking it too seriously, while still having that big I believe in you energy, is really all it takes to get Law feeling more confident in himself. That's all he ever needed to be his best self, when all's said and done: knowing someone's got his back, unconditionally. Even when they're both going through it—hell, especially when they're both going through it, knowing he's not alone makes all the difference.

It won't heal all wounds in one snap of their fingers, but just like when he first left Cyslodia, that you can still come back from this makes it a little easier to face his mistakes and not let them define him. ]

I like the sound of that. Someplace safe. A no-judgment zone. I've never been in Salamander's monster jail, but my dad has a few times. He always got along with her, but I never wanted to come down like that, 'specially not now that she's gone.

[ He doesn't even know who's on scratchies duty anymore. Is there even anyone? Who knows. Last place he ever wanted to be when the shit hit the fan was at the coterie leaders' mercy, but at least his dad turned out okay, from what he heard. His nose wrinkles at that last bit, half in a suppressed laugh and half with fake disgust. ]

You better not tease me about it! I know what happens when you get scratched behind the ears, and between the two of us, you're the one with the disadvantage.

[ For now. ]

[indeferent]

I don't want to come down like that again if I can help it. It wasn't bad or anything, but it was...

_{[ Gladio finds himself squeezing Law's fingers right back, his brows furrowing as he tries to form the right words without sounding like too much of a Weenie. He made a promise to try and be more open with his feelings after keeping them bottled up for as long as he did and letting them fester until he lost his temper on the train. After that he vowed never again. At least with Law he doesn't have to worry about any real judgment on that part. ]}

I had my head back on straight after I found what I did, but that didn't mean I was any less scared while I was in there. I asked to be put in it just in case, y'know? But I wanted... someone to tell me that it'd be okay, I guess? I wanted someone I knew to be there if something went wrong.

_{[ If he had to be put down like a rabid dog he'd rather someone he trust do it versus a stranger. Shaking his head to rid himself of that particular thought, Gladio flashes a crooked grin and knocks his boot against Law's. Don't make that stink-face at him, young man. ]}

Don't judge me for it, Firecracker. Just you wait 'til I get my hands on yours and then we'll see who's got the disadvantage. Think if I scratched your belly I could get both legs goin'? Or that spot on your ass just above your tail? I heard dogs love havin' their ass scratched 'n I can't say I blame 'em.

[counterattack]

Mm... well, now I can be. If you need me to be.

[ He'd never really had the benefit of it, himself. Every time he'd transformed, he'd found his way home on his own, or he'd woken up fully back to normal by the time he opened his eyes again. Whether that was from unconsciousness or... death. Something he still hasn't told a soul about, and why change that now? It's just always been easier to contend with it on his own. But being there for others? That he can do. That he can definitely do. He fears no man or monster, especially not when his feelings for them transcend any sort of hesitation that might otherwise keep him from them.

Never again.

Also jesus christ the whiplash here. Grimacing, Law reaches with his free hand to swat Gladio in the arm. ]

D—Don't talk about scratching my ass, you freak! It's already weird enough when I'm not a monster, I don't even wanna think about what that's gonna feel like as a screwed-up wolf. I can't even picture anything feeling... good at all in that state. Not to mention what a freak I look like. I've only seen a little bit of my reflection and had other people describe it, but it's pretty bad. Not a lovable, scratchable puppy, that's for sure.

[ local sad animal who has never seen a scrap of affection in his life inadvertently says something pathetic: news at 11. But also, the absolute gall of him to think all these other hideous monsters are fine and then drag a perfectly decent abomination like that?? Outrageous. ]

[indeferent]

_{[ The swats earns a sharp laugh and in return Gladio lightly thumps his foot against Law's calf. If he didn't have a table right smack in the middle of himself and Law he might've even hauled him into a proper headlock but for now this'll have to do. Just some good ol' fashioned table "fighting" with the worst of his doubts slowly falling behind him where they belong. See, this is why he feels like Law is good for him. It's impossible to think about the grim what-ifs when he's got this particular ball of sunshine right here in front of his own eyes. ]}

At least lemme try it before you go knockin' it. You scratch mine, I scratch yours and whoever melts first cooks dinner back home. 'n you let me be the judge as to whether or not you look screwed up, alright? 'Cause I promise you it's not gonna phase me in the least.

_{[ Well, it might a little but he has to be cuter than a Sabertusk, right? ]}

Say yes and I'll let you open that box I brought. I know you've been eyeballin' it.

[counterattack]

You're so weird.

[ He says, way more fondly than he means to. Or, rather, more fondly than he realizes it comes out sounding, because nah, he means the fondness in its entirety, no holds barred. Law may not always be the most forthright with his thoughts and feelings all of the time, especially not with people outside his core group of friends, but he's sincere to a fault and... at least with Gladio, those walls are starting to come down. Some a little slower than others, some, uh, faster.

It only took him a whole entire year to manage it. But look, it's kinda nice being able to be so open about this stuff now, not that he did such a great job of hiding it before. Now when he wants to give Gladio a look like he's the greatest thing since sliced bread while he's kicking him under the table, he doesn't have to tack a "haha no homo though" onto the end of it. ]

I—oh. I kinda forgot you even brought it.

[ Kinda. He had a distraction! Now that he's reminded, though, that curiosity's rekindled all over again, and he cranes around in his seat to look over at the box sitting on the bed. ]

That's the thing that's gonna make me clear my whole day, huh...? Okay, okay, but don't say I didn't warn you. Satisfied?

[indeferent]

Like the cat who ate the canary.

_{[ So maybe it's a little grim, but hey! He's more than satisfied with that little promise tucked away, and that's enough to make Gladio bring Law's hand up to his lips so he can plant one right on his knuckles. Yeah, he'll never get tired of that particular thing and it's entirely because he's a sucker for the Little Stuff that comes with whatever it is they have. Are they actually dating? Gladio doesn't know, but he's taking that thought and running with it in his mind and heart until Law says otherwise. They're going at his pace after all, and Gladio can be patient. ]}

Migel helped with uh... Pretty much all of it? All I did was drool on it a little when I picked it up and get the material he needed.

_{[ Material for what? Gladio's not saying. Instead he moves to stand -fingers still entwined - and lifts Law's hand again. C'mon, up. ]}

It's nothing bad, I promise. And hope? Yeah.

_{[ And hey! That box doesn't even have nails pounded into the lid. It's one of those nice, easy lids that just slides off and on. And suspiciously almost as long as one of Gladio's arms now that he's getting a better look at it. ]}

[counterattack]

[ There's probably something to be said about kissing his hands, in particular, given that they're also his weapons. You could argue it's not all that different from kissing someone's sword or gun. The thing about fighting with your body, though, and with your hands specifically, is that you have to be so much more conscious of the actions you take. You can lay down weapons and distance yourself from the things that you do with them, but you can't ever do that as a martial artist. It's important to keep them clean. Metaphorically. (And literally, but tell that to his chewed-up, dirty nails.)

Law gets up with a strangled sound in the back of his throat. ]

Drooled on it? What the heck are you putting in your mouth that Migel would wanna work with? Unless—wait, you didn't change again, did you?

[ Something you're always telling me not to do. What's the number one thing he's always saying to everyone? Stay out of the incense, don't travel alone, take precautions. Even now that the incense sometimes just... decides to have positive effects rather than negative ones, it's not a gamble anyone should be taking unless they really have to. It's better not to breathe it in at all. Before he can slide the lid off that box, he turns to give Gladio a look, instead, one hand planted on his hip. ]

Tell me what happened.

[indeferent]

_{[ Try as he might to keep the disappointment off his face when Law's hands slip from his own, Gladio's ears droop a little for all of maybe two seconds. It's not hard to follow him up, both of his own hands held up palms-out in a silent easy gesture. He's not going to argue — Six, no — but he also doesn't want this to start veering in that direction either. If anything it's more for himself. ]}

Nothing happened, I swear. Nothing bad, anyway. It's... something I had to do after that shit with the dragon and all the relics. I've been trying to get a better hold on that side of me, which is why I think you'd be okay around it. M'starting to know what sets it off and how to keep my mind in the driver's seat, but uh... I was out where I wouldn't hurt anyone incase it did go wild.

_{[ And near Coatepec where the Salamanders had set up a system of traps and signals that would alert them of any monsters that just so happened to set them off. In that particular case they would've had to deal with an angry Behemoth but they were still equipped to capture him either way. ]}

If anything happened I swear you would've been the first to know. Everyone in the lodges know to contact you 'n Noct.

[counterattack]

[ The funny thing is how neither of them realize just how eerily much Law is acting like his father right this second, from the stern way he frowns all the way down to the way he's standing. A small-fry like him pulling a son I am disappoint is kind of hysterical, but it comes from a place of caring, just like the person he picked those mannerisms up from. As much as he doesn't love the idea of Gladio willingly subjecting himself to something that could put himself—and potentially others—in danger, he lightens up as the explanation goes on. Can't exactly argue with that sort of logic. It's just another sort of training, isn't it? And he's got no business criticizing anyone for being reckless. ]

Gladio... I don't wanna know about it after something happens. What'm I supposed to do for you then? If you're gonna do something that crazy, at least tell me where you're going next time.

[ Guess that let's find someplace just for us to wild out at might not be such a bad idea after all. The times he's transformed have been relatively few and far between, so he hadn't thought about it being that urgent, but clearly he's going to need to rethink that bit. Sighing, he relents, and takes the hand from his hip to nudge Gladio's arm with it instead. You can have it back if you want. Punk. ]

Don't make me worry about you more than I already do, okay?

[indeferent]

_{[ Gladio immediately brings Law's hand up to his face the instant he has it, pressing one cheek into his palm for a few moments and finally turning to press a kiss to it. He may be shit with saying sorry with his words, but speaking with his body and actions? That's definitely more his forte. He lingers like that for a little longer, then when he speaks it's partially muffled by Law's hand. ]}

Coatepec.

_{[ A tilt of his head and Gladio takes a slow breath, leaning his face back into that hand. Maybe it's the more animalistic side of him that seeks out forgiveness via touch in the moment, or maybe it's just his way of apologizing for a second time. Whatever the reason for it Gladio keeps at it, his fingers gently stroking the back of Law's wrist. ]}

Whenever I do that, I go near Coatepec. Partially 'cause I know they're equipped to handle shit like me and partially because, uh... Look, don't laugh too much at this but Behemoths have a pretty damn good sense of smell and... there's a lot of shit to smell over there. They've got all those gardens that I can pick up on when the wind hits just right, everything up by the mountains, the jungle... 'n they're semi-aquatic too, so the hot springs is kinda nice even if it makes it a little more ornery than usual 'cause of the temperatures.

_{[ Clearly they're going to have to find somewhere near the ocean or a cooler pond of sorts in their wilding out place. Maybe. ]}

I thought I smelled you out there though, like you were passing through on an errand or somethin'. So, uh... I went looking.

[counterattack]

[ Well, that's a good place, he guesses. Monster Baby Jail is there. And a decent contingent of fighters, ever since Eagle went full metal dragon on the headquarters and wreaked such havoc. That was one straw too many for Copalli, evidently. All the coteries are pretty comingled these days, anyway, but still. The last few vestiges of Law's disapproval melt away as Gladio noses into his hand, eventually replaced with a faint laugh (see? he isn't laughing Too Much). ]

No, yeah, I know what you mean. I'm like that with Kiichpan whenever I'm monstered out. It's smelling people for me. There's a lot of 'em there.

[ Well, their feelings or whatever, anyway. He still doesn't... quite understand all that? Most of the time it's just stuff like fear, aggression, and pain, things like that. Anything that would rile up a wolf on the prowl, maybe. He's not going to explain how he smells with his tongue like a snake and just leave Gladio to find out about all that the hard way later, but he can't judge in the meantime. At least going around smelling things is a relatively normal thing to do. Like. With your nose.

His fingers stroke the side of Gladio's face, maybe curl a little for some beard scratches, but pause as he tilts his head. ]

Me? Mm... last time I went to Coatepec was a couple weeks ago, and I stayed on the main road. Geez, that's a good nose. So while you were trying to sniff me out, you... found something out there you thought I'd want?

[ Something apparently important. Now he really has no guesses about what it could be. After he lets that curious look linger a moment or two, it's finally time to turn back toward that box and, with one last questioning glance over his shoulder, slide the lid back. ]

[indeferent]

It was faint. Really faint and combined with something else.

<sub>[ His voice is quiet enough to be a whisper at Law's back after he turns, the rest of him stepping up behind him the rest of the way to lean over and loosely wrap both arms around his middle. So what if it's a little awkward with the difference in his height? It just means that Gladio can prop his chin on Law's shoulder and watch for a time. He only moves when the lid starts to come off, reaching out to catch it so it doesn't wind up on the floor or wedged between the bed and the wall. Once he's got it off where it won't get lost or be in the way, he reaches partway into the box to brush aside some loose straw and peels back a corner of cloth to show the edge of some familiar metal.

It's not as pristine as it once was, but it's pretty damn close all things considered. There's a couple extra dings and scratches that Migel couldn't quite work out without completely reforging the entire piece — something Gladio was vehemently against — but overall? It's... almost like it had just seen some rough combat like another near-identical looking weapon. The leather straps of course had to be replaced thanks to the wyvern's insides and the natural process of decay, and parts of the copper-esque trim had also been replaced with something that Migel had sworn up and down to be stronger. Truthfully Gladio didn't know what he was looking at when he'd fetched the ore from that particular cave, but he'd taken the smith for his word. In another bundle wrapped next to it? There's a fang with a strip of leather corded through it. It wasn't very long compared to the canines of a wyvern, but it's clear it came from one and was no doubt imbedded somewhere in the metal.

Shuffling a little, Gladio reaches up to scratch at the back of his neck. He fiddles with one of the skulls adorning his own necklace, brows furrowing together for a moment. ]</sub>

You were always wearin' it or your other ones, then after April I quit seeing it. I always wondered...

_{[ What happened to it, but now he knows. He put two and two together. ]}

Anyway, that's... what I was smelling. Like I said, it was barely there. Then I recognized what was left when I knocked the bones and shit away and... I brought it to Migel once... You know.

_{[ No point in running into the city as a "panicked" animal and getting arrows and a couple spears lodged into his flank, right? That'd have alerted Law for sure. ]}