melodiesofeternity | Sister Searching

Entry tags:

Sister Searching

Who: Gladiolus Amicitia and literally anyone
When: July 14 and July 16-31
Where: Yun'Ashia then literally everywhere
What: The Actual Worst - Where's my sister?
Warnings/Notes: Distraught older brother; CW/TW: some threads may contain references to self-hatred and self-harm (self-harm induced by seeking out injury at the hands of others), tumultuous emotions, fits of rage, depressive episodes, if you see something in a thread that needs to be added here I will do my best to amend this or add it in the tags if that's possible.

I. July 14th - Yun'Ashia

Gladio figured Iris slept in when she missed breakfast, thought maybe she wasn't feeling well when she missed training, and started worrying when he couldn't reach her at all. Every text went unanswered. Every call straight to voicemail. Her room was devoid of any sign of her and even her Moogle was missing. Frantic, Gladio began asking everyone in the house - and then anyone he saw when he went into town - "Have any of you seen Iris today? Or heard from her?"

II. July 16th thru 23rd - Worldwide

His boss had been miraculously understanding when Gladio begged for the next week off. He'd have to work insanely hard when he got back, but he wasn't about to write Iris off as gone until he'd scoured the whole of this world. As it was, he spent the entirety of the 15th searching as much of Yun'Ashia and the surrounding land as he could. He'd returned home sometime pre-dawn on the 16th and grabbed maybe an hour or two of sleep before making an iMog video that he'd post publicly. Once that video was made, he packed a few essentials and prepared to set off on a hunt of his own. He knew his father was out looking too, but the more eyes the better, right? Everyone he met would be greeted with a photo of Iris on his iMog as he asked them, "Have you seen my sister?"

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Sohma scooped up each article of clothing as it was discarded, then fluttered -- a little crookedly -- toward the utility closet. Gladio didn't wear much clothing, but the leather was a little heavier than the moogle anticipated.

"It's all the same," the little voice answered flatly. Either way there was going to be a bare ass somewhere and he was going to have to clean up after it. It would be easier to wipe off hard surfaces, but if he discouraged Gladio from the upholstery then he wouldn't be a good host.

"Oh -- though I suppose I should warn you. I wouldn't use the guest room if I were you."

I'm not presuming to know your feelings, Ravus. I'm reminding you that you were opposed to this in the beginning, and that you made your discomfort with me wanting both you and Ignis pretty clear. [He's not trying to be argumentative, but it probably sounds that way.]

And you already have that promise - I'll never run off like that again. No matter what.

[Those are the only words he's spoken that sound like his usual self, confident and determined, but all too quickly he slumps again. Normally Ravus basically telling him to suck it up and shove all this pain away would piss him off. Now?

Now he just realizes how much everything that's happened is effecting him.]

You think I like this? Looking and sounding so weak, especially in front of you? [Shit, those are tears starting to burn his eyes. If he looks up, there's no way Ravus will miss that pathetic sheen. But if he keeps his head down, they'll spill over...]

Physical pain's easy to shove off and ignore. This ... this isn't...[Gladio makes the mistake of looking up and clenches his jaw in embarrassment and shame when a few tears do, in fact, leak out of his eyes and burn like acid down his cheeks.]

Guess no one expects a Shield to get emotionally overwhelmed. Not even his lover.

[Well, he's definitely ruined his image enough for one night. Time to attempt an escape.]

Thanks for cleaning and bandaging everything. I'll work on stowing my shit, don't want you to be too sickened by me, but right now I just want to lie down in my room - [Fuck, that's not an option now.] I mean ... on the couch and sleep so I can pretend all this emotional and crying shit didn't even happen in front of you.

[Okay, so Ravus' words kind of hurt. Gladio's never experienced so much emotional upheaval in such a short time and Ravus is acting like he should just be able to turn off his feelings. Which maybe he should - an emotionally compromised Shield protects nothing just like a weak Shield protects nothing.

So Gladio tries to stand, intending to get to the couch and sleep until the next day.]

Gladio actually outright laughs when Dylas calls him thick. He knows it's not meant in a sexual way but for some reason the descriptor strikes him as hilarious.

"Can't say I've ever heard that one before, at least not in that context." He's still chuckling as he reaches for the pot and mug, pouring himself a nice steaming cup of caffeine.

Noticing that Dylas only brought one mug, Gladio frowns a bit. "Grab a mug for yourself, if you want. Waiting tables is a pretty exhausting job sometimes, especially when y'get people like me tumblin' through."

He pauses and decides to press his luck just a bit more. "Is there any way for some of the sandwiches to have no veggies? I ... there's someone keeping an eye on me and I should make sure he eats. And he hates veggies."

[Ravus closes the distance between them and puts a hand on Gladio's shoulder to press him back down into the chair when he tries to rise. The two of them are having entirely different conversations, and Ravus doesn't know how to get through to him. He knows he's not good at...this.]

Stay.

[It is the tears that reveal to Ravus his miscalculation. Perhaps Gladio will need a kick to get him back on his feet, but not while the wound is yet so raw. He recalls his efforts to comfort Lunafreya during their final conversation, feeling just as helpless to combat the pain Gladio faces as he did to face hers. Sometimes, the pain cannot be overcome. It can only be endured, the burden not lifted, only shared.

Ravus kneels in front of Gladio's chair and reaches up to take his hands.]

It is true that I had...reservations...about this relationship, but I am here, am I not? I have pursued no other, and when you left, I saw to your duties in your stead. I know not how long you will hold my reluctance against me, but... [He does not like to say it aloud- too much vulnerability- but it seems Gladiolus has suffered because it has been too long left unsaid.]... I do care for you. I have given myself to you and it is not lightly done.

[He tightens his grip.] So you'll not sleep on any couch. You'll lie in my bed, where you belong. The moogles will bring your bag in if it cannot be left for the evening.

Gladio's ears perked up at the mention of a guest room. He had no plans to sleep, but Reno had said to use his place freely ...

He couldn't resist. Despite the warning, his feet carried him around the house and to each door. As Gladio wandered around, trying to find the mysterious room, his question floated through the empty corridors. "Why not? Reno told me to help myself..."

His voice trailed off as he finally poked his head into what must have been the guest bedroom. "Uh..."

Dylas' eyebrow lifts. Had he said something funny? He's not sure where he went wrong, no, he thinks thick is a great word to describe both Gladiolus' body and his head.

"What context? What are you talking about?"

He sounds both annoyed and urgent; being left out of the loop is a little frustrating, so knowing what he's missing out on would be great.

"You want me to relax, but then you also want me to make a special request for you." Dylas shakes his head. It actually doesn't bother him all that much, but Gladio's concerns are a little amusing. It's a quick trip over to the pass to tell the chefs what's up and then he's back.

"They've got it covered. And they said your friend is too picky."

They also had something waiting for Dylas when he went to check on them. When he returns, he's carrying a glass of something orange. It's not orange juice or orange soda...the color is different. He takes a drink from it while he waits for Gladio's answers.

[Gladio tries to hide his face, looking down at their joined hands instead of at Ravus. His lover's words are a balm, slightly untangling the knots in his stomach and soothing his aching heart.

This moroseness and defeatist attitude are new for Gladio and he isn't sure how to even start getting back to normal. But right now he belongs somewhere. With a grateful squeeze of Ravus' hands, the forlorn Shield stands, intending to lie in Ravus' bed.

He tugs Ravus into a standing position as he rises and pulls him into a tight, almost desperate embrace.]

Thank you. [The words are soft, a broken whisper from a broken man, and muffled against Ravus' shoulder. Realizing that Ravus might not actually want this kind of a hug (he never seemed like much of a hugger, not even in private), Gladio slowly pulls back.

Stepping out of his shoes he sluggishly walks towards the bed, peeling off his clothes with each step until all that's left are his undergarments. When he finally reaches his destination, Gladio silently slips under the covers and curls in on himself.

For someone so large, he appears almost comically small balled up on Ravus' bed. If not for his shaking shoulders, no one would know that he's still sobbing.

And damned if he knows why anymore.]

[Ravus, as a general rule, does not hug, but he allows Gladio to embrace him. The strength in Gladio's arms wrapped tightly around him is reassuring. He does not feel broken.

And then Gladio releases him and trudges to bed. Ravus follows, a pace behind, and sits on the edge of the bed. He reaches out a hand, hesitates in the air above Gladio's trembling back, then determinedly presses down against it.]

Do you...need anything? [In spite of what self-care his friends had pressed Gladio into at the camp, he is still likely in need of a good meal and a shower, certainly at least some water. Ravus isn't good at this, and does not know what to do with himself when the people he cares about have sorrows he cannot repel.]

[He's trying so hard to stop crying, feeling more weak and pathetic with each sob. Gods, he knows he fucked up - Royally - but hasn't he cried enough? Hasn't he done enough to make his lover think less of him?

Gladio's shoulders keep shaking until he feels Ravus press his hand against his back. At the gentle pressure, he takes in a shuddering breath and goes still.]

I ... I just need to figure out how to fix everything I messed up. [Everything else takes a back seat to that. He's at least been able to talk to everyone, and only Ignis truly turned him away. But Gladio knows there's a lot he will have to do in order to regain the trust he broke.

Before he can stop himself, Gladio moves the arm he's lying on so that his right hand can reach over his chest and shoulder towards Ravus. He makes a pitiful grabby motion with the hand and whispers quite possibly the most desperate plea, his voice belying his vulnerability.]

... Can ... will you hold me?

[Gladio's eyes are shut tight as his body tenses, anticipating a laugh or a rebuke. What kind of Shield needs to be held? What kind of warrior practically begs to be the little spoon?]

[Ravus draws back his hand and rises from his seated position. Without a word, he strips off his boots, socks, shirt, pants. He climbs back into bed and presses his body to Gladio's back, draping his arm over Gladio's side.]

Leave that for the morning. [He whispers into his lover's ears. Fretting the evening away will do no good.]

...

...I missed you. [His arm tightens protectively around Gladio.]

[When the hand pulls away, Gladio sucks in a breath. Maybe that was finally too much weakness - Ravus doesn't want a weakling and this current demonstration is anything but one of strength...

But the rustling of fabric followed by a dip in the mattress has the Shield releasing a shuddering breath of relief and gratitude. One of his hands blindly sought Ravus' and held tightly to it. With Ravus' words, more hot tears leak from amber eyes.]

M'sorry... [He presses himself more firmly against his lover.]

... I missed you too...

[Though he's still crying, Gladio's shoulders have stopped shaking and his breathing is less erratic. As much as he enjoys holding those he cares about, being held by someone he loves is equally calming and cathartic.] M'such an idiot...

[Ravus pinches Gladio, though he does it with his real fingers, not with the magitek.]

I'll not suffer anyone to slander my lover in my hearing, not even the man himself.

[He rubs his fingers over the skin he just pinched and tightens his hold around Gladio.]

Rest now.

[Though Ravus can't see it, a small, watery smile crosses Gladio's face. As fingers soothe his pinched skin, his eyes slide shut and his breathing evens out.] Stay?

[It's a whispered breath, emotional and physical exhaustion taking hold and rapidly pulling him under sleep's spell. He feels safe and, despite his stupidity, wanted. The strength of his lover's arm around Gladio and the warmth of Ravus' solid body at his back lulls him to sleep, his hand never once letting go of Ravus.]

As far as Sohma was concerned, one warning was enough. If someone chose to do something dumb anyway, then that was their problem. He had more than enough on his plate trying to figure out how to best clean leather with the supplies he had in the house (though it wasn't his first rodeo, and at least Gladio's weren't something weird like ass-less chaps).

A scratching, shuffling sound could be heard as Gladio approached the guest bedroom, although nothing could initially be seen when he first opened the door and the sound stopped.

After opening the door Gladio looked around the room, unsure of what to expect.

"Is someone in here...?" He spoke the words mostly to himself.

At first, there was silence. A tense silence, like something was watching him.

As soon as Gladio set foot into the room, a loud and angry hiss could be heard from beneath the guest bed.

He felt eyes on him, and it made his skin crawl. Gladio's muscles tensed, ready to defend against whatever or whomever waited.

But that hissing ... what was that? Was it a cat of some kind? He walked to the bed and leaned down to peer beneath it as one arm lifted the foot of the frame off the floor.

"... What the -?"

Oh dear.

No, unfortunately it wasn't a cat. It was a cactuar. And Gladio got a loud, high-pitched screech in the face for daring to intrude on its privacy.

"SKREEEEEE!"

Edited 2018-09-30 21:12 (UTC)

"Shit!" Gladio shouted and jumped back.

After several unfortunate run-ins with cactuars back home, Gladio's love of them faded - slowly and surely with every needle he pulled out of his skin.

"Calm down! Not attacking!!" At least no one's here to see him trying to placate a crazy cactuar that apparently Reno kept as a pet. Oh, Reno was going to get a nasty voicemail from Gladio later.

Sohma did warn him.

Another angry hiss and the cactuar was scrambling out after Gladiolus. On the bright side, most of its needles were contained. In a strange twist, the threatening monster was dressed in what would otherwise be a very cute, disarming onesie with a chocochick print. It skittered, screeched, and hissed as it chased Gladio toward the door.

Shitshitshitshitshit.

He didn't have time to dwell on the cute onsie. He needed to get away from the needle-filled creature as quickly as possible. Gladio backed up to the door and fumbled blindly for the doorknob as he, for some reason, continued trying to calm down the wild cactuar.

"Reno said I could stay here! Reno?! Your ... dad?!" Of all the times to struggle with a fucking doorknob.

"C'mon, no needles when I'm naked. Please?"

No one can ever know of this. Ever.

"SKYAAAAAA!" Daring to equate Reno to its father apparently enraged it more. It began charging into Gladio's shins and swatting at him angrily. It... was kind of awkward, actually, as far as fighting a cactuar went. The cactuar itself seemed to understand its impotence while it was trapped in its onesie, flailing harder against Gladio's legs as if to compensate.

It didn't hurt the same way being pierced by a thousand needles would... It was sort of like getting hit repeatedly with a rolling pin. Once was tolerable, but after that, not so much.

What the hell was wrong with this thing? It had to understand something, right? Maybe crouching down to its level would help...

As he poppped into a squat, one hand dangling protectively over his more sensitive area, Gladio used the other hand to hold the raging cactuar at bay while he tried to calm it down enough to at least let him leave the room without further incident.

"Okay okay Reno's just your friend! Not your dad, not by a long shot." Yea, he definitely noticed that the little guy got angrier after he called Reno it's dad.

"Sorry I even suggested that. But I need you to stop attacking me so I can leave you alone. I don't wanna hurt you - since Reno takes care of you I'm pretty sure you're important to him."

The hand keeping the cactuar from continually ramming into him stayed put, not squeezing or pushing too hard, and Gladio kept his gaze as peaceful as possible. "I promise I'll leave you be if you stop trying to hit me. Okay? Truce?"

He's never been so grateful to be alone as he is right now. If anyone ever found out that Gladiolus Amicitia, Sworn Shield to the Prince-turned-King, begged a onsie-wearing cactuar to stop attacking him, he would never live it down.

The cactuar hissed again that Reno should be called a friend... but it did take pause when Gladio suggested that Reno should care. Like it couldn't quite process the concept.

Finally, it did start to back off -- with a soft growl added as if to say that it was not retreating, it was simply done with Gladio -- and it went back beneath the bed.

Thank the Six.

As soon as the little monster started backing away, Gladio felt his heart rate return to normal. And once the critter was under the bed again, he absolutely beat a hasty escape from the room.

Once safely outside, Gladio leaned against the now-closed door and let his head fall back against it. He was going to kill Reno.

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Sister Searching

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omg Reno's flat ass - and Gladio totally rolled low enough to snoop

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Sorry it's short - there will be more when Gladio sees whatever is in the room

likewise short

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