Noctis doesn't even remotely flinch under Gladio's gaze. Instead, the stare only grew sharper at the admittance. Almost as if he felt insulted. "You think I don't know that?!" He hissed under his breath, hand itching to grip Gladio's shirt but restrained himself. Instead, his now-glare leveled at his Shield. "Look, I get it, but you running off without a word, only leaving that message on the linkshell does not excuse it."

"You're not the only one who's worried for her. We all are. Denying us the chance isn't just reckless, it's exactly what got me in the situation back home." He was never given a chance to really grieve. Never got to speak in depth with Prompto about what happened until they were here. He blindly acted and it led to Prompto being captured, and them being lured into a trap that got them separated.

It's almost as if Gladio was acting as though he were already dead.

"I'm not leaving you, so you'll just have to deal with it."