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♥ Who: Gladio and OTA.
♥ Where: Everywhere.
♥ When: January 3rd.
♥ What: Gladio finding his feet and meeting the locals.
♥ Rating: PG-13

Another Strange Place:
[Gladio had been walking toward a small group of children, smiling as disarmingly as a man as large and seemingly intimidating as he could. The adults were nowhere to be seen, aside from some of the elderly. He'd hoped to gain some information. Anything, to help...

But between one step and the next... everything went dark. Not not a bad kind of dark. It felt... strange...

... When Gladio opened his eyes to see sky above him, white clouds, blue, clear sky... He turned his head slightly to see... nothing he expected. Instead of rustic houses, dirt paths, wooden fences and children at play, he saw white. White pillars and columns shaped like trees. Red and white ornaments. Strange looking birds. And he was laying down in the centre of it all.

He rose slowly, turned and dropped his legs over the edge of slab of carved stone he lay upon. When Gladio looked down he still wore the same clothes he'd been wearing (black leather pants, dark brown tunic, black cloak), so at least that hadn't changed. There was a sigh as he lifted a hand to scrub across his face.]

Damn train's done it again...

[Was this a side mission? Why had he been pulled away? And where was everyone else? When Gladio looked at his wrist he frowned, his SCA was gone. That didn't bode well. He was just contemplating calling out when a strange robot approached him... and that's where Gladio found out that he wasn't in Irivar anymore.

He was lead from the stone slab into another area to find more robots... he was handed a tablet, some local currency... and sent him on his way.

Gladio stepped out of the, what was it? He looked back and up. Temple... definitely a temple. He stepped out... and immediately sat himself down on the steps in the snow to try and work his head around what the hell he'd gotten himself into this time.]

A Teeny Tiny Fortune:
[Having noticed the strange booth, Gladio approached curiously. These robots were a strange thing, but so was the box that he was handed. He shook it as directed, a small, amused smile on his lips.

Then he was given a piece of paper.]

"The smallest things can bring the biggest rewards." Huh... good things in small packages, right? Thanks.

[Still looking very amused, Gladio shoved the paper in his pocket and turned to go.]

Stuck On You:
[Apparently he needed to look for a place to live. This was a big step up from a small room with a smaller bed shared between four people.

Gladio had taken his cloak off and had it wrapped over one hand. The laces of his leather tunic had been loosened and he was considering just taking that off as well, but figured near stripping in the middle of the street could be frowned upon.

He was so distracted by his surroundings that he wasn't paying attention to where he was going. Gladio bumped into someone. Automatically he reached out to stop whoever he ran into from hitting the ground... except that never happened. Wait, why couldn't he let go?]

Sorry! You okay?

Taking Stock:
[He'd found his way to the centre of the city it seemed. He'd found a fountain, an interesting structure that Gladio stood for a while, just looking at. He moved around it slowly, looking at all angles, before he sat himself down on the edge.

He stretched his legs out in front of himself and sighed.

So far this place didn't seem to have anything in common with where he had been before... He was starting to get a sinking feeling.

It was cold, there was snow everywhere, but nothing that was going to bother him so much that he was rushing to get indoors. He'd spent so much time inside over the last few months, even the snow was welcome.]

Home Away From Home:
[Houses... Small houses bunched together... And he was supposed to find one.]

Right... so how the hell does this work?

[Gladio walked up the street, then down it again, before he stopped in front of a house that appeared to be vacant. The tablet thing claimed it was unoccupied, so he walked on in.

After having a look around, he laughed to himself and did what was necessary to become the new owner... and then dropped himself down on sofa. Well and truly done.]

Wildcard:
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[ She smiles in kind, an interested light dancing in her eyes. Still stuck to him, they make their way down another street.

"Shields don't run." A good reason for those scars, then, because he stays and fights, stays and defends. ]

So you're the one to defeat his Shield at last. [ She smiles kindly. ] I don't know much about the trials of proving one's worth in your world, but if his spirit was satisfied... [ A pause, and her gaze turns wistful. ] that's even more heroic, I think.

[Ah, but was she stuck to him, or was he stuck to her? It was his hand on her arm, after all. And it was seeing that again that stopped him from patting her shoulder with his other hand, as he'd been about to do, otherwise he feared he'd be even more stuck.

He laughed.]

I like you. You're good for my ego.

[He was teasing, but it was honestly... reassuring to hear her words. Gladio was not without his insecurities. And his strength, his worth, were some of his biggest. He didn't need to be a hero. All he needed was to have the strength to protect the people he cared about... That was all that mattered to him, when you boiled it all down.]

Maybe whisper that into Nocts ear sometime? Think he sees me more as a pain in the... rear that used to make him get up to train than... anything heroic.

[ She can't help but smile at that, mildly amused that it's the second time he's avoided cursing in her presence. Considering she had the impression he was more bold, she's surprised he would smooth over the roughness of his dialect just for her. ] I think, Gladio... [ Pyra begins to say, adjusting her other hand over the basket of flowers to pat gently upon his forearm. ] ...that you've nothing to worry about. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you.

[ Lowering that hand back down to her side, she shrugs her shoulders. ] Ah, and I'm happy to report that he's still be training. On his own, even, if not with others.

[ Pyra herself has been training with him too, on various things. ] That means that he's taken your lessons to heart, mm?

[Oh yeah, she was definitely good for his ego. He couldn't help smiling, though it turned worried when she patted his arm, afraid that would stick to him too. And when it didn't, he was puzzled. Okay, but why was he stuck to her?

Wait, what did she say?]

He's being what now? Training? On his own? ... No way.

[ She looks at him, her expression not too unlike someone who's proud that Noctis has indeed been training. ] Well, If I remember correctly... It started when Cor was still around. Ah, and Prompto also rises early to exercise. [ On really intense runs! She's been on one once with him. ] But for Noct-- he keeps up with it, and occasionally, I help, too, and...

[ Her voice fades mid-thought.

At present, Noctis isn't training.

He isn't training because he's recovering.

He isn't training because he's recovering from an near-lethal injury, a part of which she feels responsible. ] W-well... He's taking a little break, now. [ Gladio should know, she tells herself. He'll find out, most likely, when they reach their house. ]

Cor was here? Is the Marshal still here?

[Now that was someone who was safe to go meet if he was still knocking around. But the rest, Gladio had to laugh.]

I'm impressed... I had to near drag him outta bed to get him training. If he's doing it himself... [He was proud, alright? Maybe he needed Cor, Prompto and Pyra to actually get him wanting to do it. But at least it was happening.]

[ For his first question, she shakes her head 'no'. For his second statement, her head lifts, mind subsequently lifting from her thoughts, and she smiles.

She can chat about Noctis' accomplishments and feats all day. His ethics in training are probably attributed to Gladio. So, she feels free to inform him: ]

He's become nothing but stronger, here. [ The more she speaks, the fonder her tone grows. Noctis continues to grow in many ways. His power is one of the ways in which he's grown, but she's seen him overcome so much in the past year she's known him, from handling the Ring and what that entails to wielding new weapons with each new royal weapon he acquires. There's something wonderful about watching him grow. ]

He can even warp with others. Not just himself! Maybe one day, he should show you.

Huh, bout time... [He gives a low laugh and is smiling, tone half teasing. He knew sme Glaives were able to do that. He knew Nyx could warp with another. Gladio had only ever seen it done with one other person though. It had never ceased to be impressive.]

Yeah, I'd like that. If it's not a strain on him.

[ It was impressive when he first did so with her. She had lent him her power, and then-- they had trained all night. She remembers that morning, and that she had called Somnus to witness his accomplishment. She was so proud of him!

And the second time she had heard of him doing it months later without
the aide of her power, she had been joyous.

"If it's not a strain on him"... ] Mm... Ah, maybe he'll show you... [ A pause. ] When he's feeling a bit better.

[Gladio shot her a look, his brow raised.]

He's sick?

[For the first time, Gladio used his hold on Pyra's arm to gently pull her to a stop.]

Is he alright?

[ She stops, turning to face him, her smile bittersweet but calm. ]

He's... [ How much to tell him? She doesn't wish to overwhelm him-- he's only just arrived, and he had been a world before this one. There's probably a lot on his mind already. ]

He was injured. But he's alright, now. He's getting better. Just don't expect training again so soon, mm?

He... how? I thought this place was safe?

[The few people who he'd met had made that clear. Safe. Peaceful. Weird, but not dangerous. So how did Noct get hurt.

And then the next part...]

We're far from Eos, Pyra. Wouldn't expect him to train with me now.

[ Here comes the hard part, and a look of guilt finally crosses her expression, as if she's apologizing in advance for the news. Fear also appears as a flash of hesitation. To tell him about the object-- would he wish to seek it for himself? More questions to its origin? ]

Last month... we received items from our world. Mine was corrupted.

[ She shakes her head. ] It would have been dangerous to leave outside, so we... placed it in his armory. [ Her hand shifts up to her chest, her expression solemn. ] We both thought it wouldn't effect him. [ As far as either of them knew, it would be fine. It wasn't fine, not in the least.

Pyra's brow knits, and she looks away from Gladio, unable to hold his gaze. ] But it-- it did.

I'm sorry, Gladio.

[Gladio listened quietly, taking it all in, the only change in his expression was a slight confused frown when she looked away from him.

And then he hesitated. Just for a moment, before he reached out with his free hand, holding it out to her.

When he spoke, his tone was low, calm. A deep, soothing rumble.]

Did you do it deliberately? Was it maliciously put there to hurt Noct?

If the answers no... you don't have to apologise. Not to me.

[ Her answer is almost immediate, her eyes widening-- ] Wh--...No. Of course not. [ Never. Never in all her years she would do something on purpose to hurt him.

It's just time that something did, and she feels responsible because it had been hers.

....But she's been talked about this at length with others. It had been an accident. Neither Noctis nor she could have known it would injure him while it was stored within his armory. ]

[ But then she sees the hand he's reached out to her, and how his voice is not accusatory, but gentle.

He understands.

She feels a little sheepish, actually, when it occurs to her that perhaps she shouldn't have doubted that he would. Pyra smiles meagerly at him, blushing slightly. ]

It's my turn to say that you're good for my ego. [ More like, self-reassurance, but there's charm in repeating his words back to him. She takes his hand. ]

[When she put her hand in his, Gladio curled his fingers around it and gave it a gentle, affectonate squeeze, his smile widening to a grin.]

I can tell you care about him. Why? No idea. He's a brat. [He was teasing! Mostly.]

But I can tell you wouldn't deliberately hurt him.

So my question now is... this thing. It's taken care of? Can it be purified?

[ He'll find that her hand squeezes his in return. Her gaze is kind. ]

Mm. It's been fixed. Now he's just-- [ What had Regis said? ] He was bedridden for a few days, but now he's up and walking a bit.

[ ...There is a faint scar of where he had been wearing the ring, though. That. That is something that won't heal. But at least it is only a scar. ]

He was... really strong throughout the entire ordeal, though. And he remains strong, afterwards. [ Oh, she cares about him, definitely. She loves him through and through. ] I'm guessing he gets a bit of that strength from you.

[Gladio relaxed a bit, hearing that. He'd not even realised he'd tensed. But if Pyra said the item had been dealt with he'd trust and believe her. If it wasn't a threat then Gladio had nothing to worry about. Everything was in hand.

Noct had people around him who could shield him a million times better than he ever good, who loved him. And he was genuinely glad for that.]

Think he gets that from his dad. The King was a tough old guy. Kept his city protected down to the last.

Nocts always been strong. He just... needed to realise that for himself.

[ ...He understands Noctis, too. ] At this moment, he's probably not feeling all that strong. [ What with recovering and a brand new scar about his finger.

But what would make him feel better, she wonders...? Besides cake. ] Ah--

[ She glances at the sylleblossoms she still holds beneath her arm, and then to Gladio again. ] You can give him one of these yourself, if you'd like.

Probably not. But he'll get stronger.

One of...? [He'd noticed the basket but hadn't really paid attention to what was inside of it. Now he frowned.]

How... Wait. You said you could get things from home here? [It literally just clicked in his mind, the dots lined up, and Gladio felt like an idiot.]

[ Her best suggestion is giving Gladio a flower to give to Noctis. Yes, this will go over well--

At least, Pyra sincerely believes to think so.

She looks up at him, momentarily surprised at his surprise for not. putting two and two together. ] Erm. Yes.

Were you wishing for something of your world?

[He laughed, looking down at the flowers with a shake of his head. He shouldn't have been surprised. The last place he was at had a similar method of obtaining items... which left him feeling suspicious, but he pushed those thoughts aside.

His gaze moved to Pyra, and his smile held a touch of sadness.]

Only things I could want from there, I can't have.

But it's good information.

[ While she catches that saddened look in her eyes.... she shifts the sylleblossoms in the basket beneath her arm upward, as if to insist that he takes one. ] Besides some of the impossible things to have, you might be surprised with whatever little things you get.

[ She says this not to bring out more sorrow, but to be as reassuring as she can for him. That he's saying he can't, well. Surely, a little hope won't hurt. So: ]

...A heart that doesn't give up. [ Pyra continues, nodding to the sylleblossoms. That is their meaning, something she hadn't known. She'll give one to him. ] Allow me to give you a little piece of your home... for however long you've been away from it.

[ She hopes it helps, if even a little. ]

[He really didn't want to, if he was honest. He couldn't imagine what it was like for the others, how long they'd been away from home, he didn't dare try and guess their feelings on the matter. But he had battled with a homesickness that had driven him into a depression almost too deep. Too deep to have left on his own. He'd had help.

But the way Pyra was looking at him, so hopefully, fully expecting him to take a flower. So Gladio did. He took a blue flower from the basket and held it within his hand. It was so damn small and delicate looking in his large, rough palm, he almost put it back.

Almost.]

Thanks, Pyra. I uh... I appreciate it.

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