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]

"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. ]}

[counterattack]

[ The charmed, comfortable little smile on Law's face, ultimately missed with Gladio behind him but still there nonetheless, disappears almost the instant the lid comes off that box. He recognizes what's in it right away, and it's a blank look of shock and disbelief that takes over his expression instead. For a long few moments, he stands there frozen, staring down at the contents of the box, completely silent save for that first, slightly sharp intake of breath. He just... he just can't believe his eyes, that's all. ]

Gladio...

[ He sounds like he wants to follow that up with something, but whatever it is he might've said, he can't really think of the words, never mind say them. Tentatively, he touches his fingers to the smooth surface of the outer gauntlet, feeling over the white armor with quiet reverence. It's really real. The bracer his father left him, the one he'd been wearing on his left arm the day of the wyvern attack. Well, and every day besides that, too—he practically never took them off. Looking at it now, it's almost unfathomable to his mind that it's whole and intact. He can remember, all too well and with a noticeable, physical shudder, how it felt for those fangs to slice clean through the metal and into his arm. It's still an honest miracle he hadn't lost his arm entirely. After everything, the piece on the right had still been salvageable, but he'd just had to assume the left had been eaten by the wyvern entirely. But here it is, whole. Not quite identical to how it'd looked the day Nayth had given them to him, but pretty damn close.

It's been... almost a year. A year sometime next month, he's pretty sure. At this point in his life, walking away battered and damaged, still alive, but missing something he can never get back is just par for the course. Law just keeps smoothing his fingers over the surface, too incredulous still to pick it up yet. ]

I-I... you don't know what this means to me. I thought it was gone forever...

[indeferent]

_{[ He doesn't. Not truly. Whatever keepsakes Gladio may have been able to inherit from his father were lost when Insomnia fell, left behind and potentially destroyed by the empire. His father's sword was still within the citadel with the late King and Shield and everything else back at the old manor which... he probably wasn't likely to see again for a long, long time. But he at least understands what it's like to have something of home back in his hands. His gaze drifts from the box, to the gauntlet, Law's hand, and up his arm to caution a look to his face with a gentle look of concern written across his own. ]}

...Migel kinda said the same thing. He was, uh. He seemed pretty surprised to see it was salvageable considering how long it must've been inside of it plus the elements wearin' away at it but I guess things on Dahna are made of tougher stuff, huh?

_{[ Dahnan weapons. Dahnan people. Gladio's eyes move back to the myriad scars covering Law's shoulder and to the tattoos covering some of them up, his fingers itching to reach out and touch. But he doesn't. This was a moment he couldn't — wouldn't — intrude on beyond speaking and standing around like a lost dog. This was the sort of thing he was always terrible at even with his sister. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, expression relaxing into something a little more curious and unreadable all at once. ]}

It's like the one your dad wears, right? Was it his when he was younger? 'Cause it looks like it was made for a smaller arm.

_{[ Or maybe his father had it made for when he came of age? That seems like something his people would do considering the way they lived. In a world like Eos and in a city like Insomnia all those milestone years were done so, so much differently. People usually had big parties or wound up with cars, not weaponry. Even Gladio's sixteenth was like that once the traditional ceremony involving Shields-to-be was done and over with; safe and luxurious without a care in the world about the Niffs or the situation outside of the walls. Dahnans... They never had that privilege. ]}

[counterattack]

[ So it really did get eaten. He hadn't ever gone out there to check. Never really had any reason to think he'd find anything, and as for wyvern remains... he didn't have any interest in seeing them. His fingers drift from the gauntlet to the fang also nestled in the box, running along the outer curve and then pressing against the pointed tip. Almost a whole year ago, one of these very fangs almost ended his life. As terrifying and painful as it all was, and sometimes still is, even now while he's looking at pieces of that experience, not perfectly restored but strong enough to remain just like himself, he'd still make the same choice again. ]

I—I dunno. I never asked. I think they were his. I think... he probably retired them when he got older, but he saved them for me.

[ They hadn't been perfect, even when they were first given to him. Fixed up, like they are now, but you could still see the proof of use, scores in the metal, a wornness to them that made slipping them on feel natural, not like when they'd have something brand new forged. Your father wanted you to have these, too, is all Nayth had really said. The letter, the rings, and the gauntlets. And nearly half a lifetime of doubts, questions, and mixed feelings only somewhat resolved. None of them were a replacement for his dad, but when he'd see how the braces would almost glitter in the early-morning light, at least it was like he could feel his presence again. Like he had a piece of his strength packed into every punch.

His hand returns to the gauntlet, eyes closing as he leaves it there to rest over it. ]

I guess I could've asked him anytime since we found each other here, but I didn't... want to hear about what was supposed to happen. It wouldn't change anything. Everything he left for me, not even knowing if I was still alive to take them someday, I would've given up in a heartbeat to bring him back. I guess in a way that's kind of what I did when I saved him from that wyvern. I thought losing this, or even dying, was the price I'd have to pay not to lose him again. But it's... we're all still here. For now, at least. Still, I...

[ It's a complicated gamut of emotions to run through, and for another moment or two Law stands there with his hand on the gauntlet and his eyes closed, trying to let it all process. After that minute or so, though, he turns around in Gladio's arms to hug him, instead. A little abrupt, and it's quite the squeeze, but it's the best way he knows how to express himself. His words are muffled into Gladio's shirt, but still plenty discernible. ]

I hated thinking about going home without it and without him.

[indeferent]

_{[ Law's arms cinch around his back, forcing all of the air from Gladio's lungs and making his ribs ache in an odd sort of way, but he makes no motion to stop him. On the contrary, Gladio loops his arms around him in return, one sitting loosely over the back of his neck and shoulders and the other just across the middle of his back, the latter just a little bit tighter. He's shit with words, but hugs? He's got that down to a science with eight years of being an older brother behind him. ]}

So don't think about it. You...

_{[ He wants to be selfish. Gods, he wants to be so, so incredibly selfish but the words just don't come. The arm across his neck moves so he can shove his hand into Law's hair instead, amber flicking down to the gauntlet with a slow, steady exhale. ]}

You don't have to go home. You can stay here. Grill your old man over everything you could ever wanna know and then some. If he doesn't know, then... That's when you figure out the answers together, right? Nag the hell outta him 'til he caves, and... you guys stay here. Stay 'til you can find a way to bring him back with you if you really gotta go home, but...

<sub>[ There's gotta be a way, right? If this world can bring the dead back to life then maybe there's a way to convert that to whatever sort of magic exists on Dahna. Ooooor it'd make a weird time paradox like they'd talk about in all those sci-fi movies Gladio would watch back home. Either way if Law was able to keep his father alive? Then he thinks Law would be happy. And... then Gladio would be more okay with letting him go.

As long as Law was happy. ]</sub>

There's no law saying you gotta go. Not because you've got these back.

[counterattack]

But it could be over at any moment.

[ That's what they say, anyway. When people disappear, they went back home. It was as good as confirmed at the end there, when they finally got their answer on who did this and how. It's all at the whim of some dragon. For all he knows, spending too much time in the incense could make it happen, too—there's just no way to really know. Until then, he has to live like this is all they've got, and that means no squandering his chances again. Not that that seems to have stopped him from screwing up left and right anyway, but...

This helps. It makes things feel less final, foreboding, and unfortunate. Something precious to him wasn't lost forever, it was just missing for awhile, and now it's back and just about as good as new. If it's even possible, he squeezes Gladio just a little tighter, taking a big, deep breath in both to steady himself and just to breathe the scent of him in. Zephyr's not the only person he'd hate to leave behind here, after all. Now just a little moreso than before. ]

I don't even know how to thank you for this.

[ Nobody's ever really done anything this big for him before. Nobody alive, anyway. And he sucks at using his manners in the first place. ]

[indeferent]

<sub>[ That's why he tries not to think about it. He tries not to think about being sent back to Eos with or without the rest of the guys. He tries not to think about waking up and finding Noctis gone all while knowing what awaits him, stolen away by the crystal they'd sought to reclaim from the Niffs. He tries not to think about how the nights were getting longer and longer, and... Gladio just tries. Tries to focus on the now versus the what ifs.

That's why if he feels another twinge in his side, Gladio doesn't say anything. That's why he tangles his fingers into Law's hair that much further until he's cradling the back of his head in his palm, nails lightly scratching at his scalp the way his father once did when he'd had something of a breakdown. Clarus never said anything, he simply held his son and guided him through it. It was different compared to this of course, but he never forgot what it felt like. ]</sub>

You don't have to do anything. I won't stop you if you do, but... You don't have to.

_{[ Then, something Cor once did that still sticks with him. Again the circumstances were different as was the relationship between himself and his godfather compared to himself and Law, but... Gladio ducks his head down and presses a single, short kiss to the top of his head. Actions spoke louder than words, always. A tight hug and a wordless message to say "It's alright." That tiny little gesture had meant to the world to an eight-year old Gladio who felt like he'd lost half of his that day. ]}

I guess for now... Stay here as long as you can?

[counterattack]

[ A tight laugh escapes from the back of Law's throat, shoulders raising just a little as Gladio kisses his head. Yeah, he's familiar with that gesture. It's definitely a little contextually different between them than it is when it was his parents doing it, but the sentiment is generally the same. His arms loosen a little, but that's not to say that he lets go. Absolutely not. Just enough to let Gladio breathe, maybe, and also to give himself just enough space to be able to speak without saying it all directly into his tit. ]

Oh, I'm not going anywhere. Not if I have anything to say about it. Besides, everyone I love is here. I wouldn't wanna be anywhere else.

[ All his friends, his dad, the people from other worlds that he's met—hell, sometimes the incense is even kind to him and lets him see his mother. Even if that's all just an illusion at best or a dangerous hallucination at worst, the times it's happened were welcome. In reality, he'd kind of... started to forget her face. And her voice. Over the years, the details have faded no matter how much he's still tightly held on to his memory of her, both good and bad. But here, he got to see and hear her just like he remembered.

Tilting his chin up, Law smiles from the space where he's still nestled into Gladio, and after a couple-second pause, his cheeks color a little. Yeah, uh, can you maybe not drop the L word in a vague, obviously includes you but I also didn't make that explicitly clear either way right now? Now is not the time for that. Or... maybe it is? God, he doesn't know. He isn't even sure how to follow that assertion up, exactly. He just gets tripped up on his own thoughts and ends up stuck, smiling like an idiot. Eventually, he tilts his chin right back down again. ]

I just—uh. Thank you. This really means a lot to me and... my whole family, I guess. If I can find some way to pay you back, I will. Besides staying, I mean.

[indeferent]

_{[ He doesn't mean it like that, he tells himself. Even so, that little four letter word that rhymes with a certain bird doesn't fail to warm his ears and make his heart beat a little faster. Still, Gladio marvels, I was wondering what it'd sound like. He quickly decides it's something he likes and try as he might to keep up a bold face that lazy, goofy-ass smile still manages to take over and he's unable to stop himself from moving his hand to gently cradle Law's face in it. Well, up until he decides it's time to tuck it back down into his chest that is. It's not a complete deterrent though because once his face moves from Gladio's palm, he just slides it back into his hair and allows his smile to grow. ]}

Family, huh? Think this means your old man'll quit looking at me like I mauled you like some sort of dog toy and he's secretly planning on turning me into a rug?

_{[ He doesn't, not really. There've been a few Questionable Looks and the end of the day Zephyr knows Law is old enough to make his own decisions, but that's still his son. Gladio catches himself laughing quietly, his hold around Law tightening after he realizes that the one the other man had around him has loosened. ]}

I'm mostly kidding. I don't think he'd actually skin me, I just know that look.

_{[ Big brother with a little sister and all that jazz. ]}

Can I ask something that'll probably sound stupid?

[counterattack]

Heh, yeah, this might win you some points with him. Seriously though, I don't think he was that upset.

[ Uh... was he? Honestly, he hadn't been paying that close attention to any of that at the time. His head, after his birthday? Fully in the clouds. Showing up fashionably late to his own party and explaining, as if blissfully unaware, I was with Gladio, didn't have him worrying about what other people might think, for once. Even his dad; it'd just made him think about the whole with Gladio thing. Again. Memories that hit differently when you're sober enough to see them differently in your head. No amount of disapproving leers could undo the sort of feelings those thoughts were giving him, hoo boy. In a way, he'd been almost flippant about it. As teenagers are, really: I know what I'm doing, I can handle myself, don't worry about it.

Either way, he'd go to bat for Gladio any day of the week. No matter how things go between them, he's a good, honorable guy. He believes that no matter what, uh, personal things happen between them.

He could step away from him now, but... why do that? This is comfortable. And honestly, even as he's starting to overcome the more complex feelings this is giving him, he's not quite ready to go back to that box and handle its contents yet. In a minute, he can strap the gauntlet on and make sure it fits and all that jazz, but for now, he's fine with the distraction of their arms around each other and a question to answer. His eyes take a moment to follow his words, once he's swallowed that note of shyness so that he can look up again. ]

What is it?

[indeferent]

<sub>[ At this point not even a horde of daemons could keep Gladio from Law. If it ever came down to proving himself worthy to Law's father, he'd do it in a heartbeat just because he could. Annnnnd partially because it's something he's never actually had to do what with being Technically Nobility. His status and position meant he'd be the one with suitors, so to be the suitor was a nice change for once, and part of Gladio still wants to follow through with it. Those sorts of things just take time though, you know? It's not something he'd rush into without at least a little thought put into it.

It wouldn't be as romantic if he did that.

The only thing is he has no idea how Proper Courtship even worked between Dahnans or if they even had it considering the state of pretty much everything on Law's world. It's not gonna stop him from thinking about it though, and speaking of... ]</sub>

Is that sort of thing common with your people? Havin' weapons and stuff as, uh... heirlooms? Or is it just somethin' your family does? Like I said, it's kind of a stupid question but...

<sub>[ Asking for a friend. It's him. He's the friend.

To distract himself from just how foolish he probably sounds, Gladio drops his gaze down to Law's shoulder and "busies" himself with picking a strand of hair from the back of his shirt. Is this one his? Law's? Fang's? It's a distraction that's what it is. A distraction and an excuse to stroke the pad of his thumb back over his tattoos once he gets rid of the hair. ]</sub>

S'just something I never thought about when I first saw you with it. Like the other ones you had when we first met, the grey ones.

[counterattack]

[ Law's eyebrows raise, less at the question itself, and more at the way Gladio asks. And... maybe at the fact that he asks at all. It's kind of funny that he's been in Copalli for well over a year and no one's ever really asked him about his home before. Not that he gave anyone much of a reason to, and anytime he did talk about it, it was always pretty small, throwaway tidbits that didn't explain a lot. Up until now, he'd purposely wanted to avoid sharing, but... maybe it's time to talk about it.

Shaking his head a little, Law lets his arms fall away from around Gladio's back. ]

It's not stupid. Here.

[ It just seems like something he should answer with some modicum of decorum. Stepping back, Law turns to take the box housing the gauntlet and necklace and scoots it aside, careful to keep it from the edge of the bed so it doesn't fall over and onto the floor (not that anything other than maybe the box would break, but still, it's precious cargo). With just enough space freed, he takes a seat on the edge of the bed and gestures for Gladio to sit next to him.

Funny... last time he talked much about the circumstances back home, it was his dad sitting here while he paced back and forth, gesticulating wildly while he explained everything to him. ]

It's... uh, kind of a complicated answer. I'm not sure if it's like that for every realm in Dahna, but if I had to guess, yeah, leaving behind weapons is pretty common, if you're gonna leave anything behind at all. That's because, in most cases, there's nothing else to leave behind. My people are slaves, and most of us barely have the necessities—a place to sleep, food to eat, clothes... that's about it. We barely even get a say in what happens to our bodies when we die. Whatever we have, the Renans can take away whenever they want, and it's not like anyone gets paid so they can buy keepsakes for each other. You have to take your chances scavenging or stealing. Most of my people don't know how to fight for themselves, either, so... those that do, they have to pass that strength on to the ones who come after. So that the fight doesn't die, y'know? The resistance, I mean.

[ Law's hand moves to the collar of his shirt, where his parents' rings sit just beneath, the outline faintly visible. He's lucky he even has these, honestly. Luckier than most. Rinwell never had much from her family, and neither did Kisara. ]

I ran away from home when I was young, but my dad left those bracers for me to have if I came back, even though he didn't know if I was even still alive. He was a leader that a lot of people looked up to, so those gauntlets, they're... kind of like big shoes to fill. A symbol of hope and freedom. That's why they're so important to me.

[ Well... part of why, anyway. ]