sunset_horizons | With Fang and Claw (Private to iwillshieldhim)

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With Fang and Claw (Private to iwillshieldhim)

Who: Noctis Lucis Caelum, Gladiolus Amicitia
Where: The Royal Gardens, the Citadel, Insomnia
What: Lycanthropy AU! The crown prince meets his Shield in the most adorable(?) way.
Warnings: None yet!

Noctis had a little problem that most of his line did: sneaking out and away when everyone else thought they were asleep. Usually it wasn't very far, still inside the Citadel. Hey, even Iggy would join half the time and they'd climb up the tower steps and just gaze up at the stars! Tonight though was one of those nights when Iggy couldn't 'cuz he'd already fallen asleep, and Noct had already gotten him in trouble so he felt bad about even thinking of waking his friend.

Climbing up the tower just wasn't nearly as fun without the other's quiet amusement. So instead, he decided to head for the gardens. Heck, maybe Mr. Cat would be there! It always liked sneaking in at night before.

He made his way quietly, once in a while checking around a corner to make sure there were no guards or attendants to notice him make his way through the citadel's hallways. He'd gotten lucky by missing their patrols so far. So by the time he made it, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Phew. Made it," the little prince muttered under his breath, rubbing his eyes with a tiny fist. No, now wasn't the time to be sleepy! He wanted to see if his furry friend was here! Though he'd forgotten one tiny little thing.

Mr. Cat never visited the royal gardens on any night with a full moon.......

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Noctis visibly flinches at that sound, biting down on the inside of his cheek and staring down at the ground for a moment while he listens and tries to put it into words. "I-" He shakes his head, sighing. "...Never said you did."

But he saw that look in his eyes, when Gladio got to see his scars. He takes a couple steps to his walk-in closet, but stops at the door, resting a hand on the frame as he peeks behind him over his shoulder. "I do like you. Just... wish you'd stop being so quiet all the time." Because, other than Iggy... he's basically alone all the time, thanks to his royal blood. Noctis ducks his head, disappearing into the closet for a few minutes. Today is going to suck.

He wouldn't lie on that - they looked like scars that hurt. The kind of wounds that should have ended someone's life. Instead, Noctis had managed to live through them, something that Gladio was only just coming to terms with as he sat here and replayed the image of them across in his mind. They hadn't gotten along terribly well so far in their lives, but Gladio had only seen the later pieces of some of it in Noct. The sullenness, the stubbornness, the disinterest in nearly everything.

But last night, he'd seen something more. A child with something more in him than just being a brat. He'd done everything right, even fought for himself as much as he could against the assassin, but more... hadn't been afraid of him. Something that could have, if Fate had been less with him, torn him apart long before anyone could have stopped him.

"Maybe I'm just a quiet guy," Gladio points out, but lets out a breath. Fine. "...Meaning you want me around more?" which is very different than their mostly separate existence.

Barely, though only a handful of people know just how close it had been. Himself included. Which is why he's so listless and bored all the time; he has no idea how else to respond unless it's something that peaks his interest, especially with how tired he is half the time.

Something that, he knows, has put a lot of strain on the few friendships he does have. Iggy and Gladio included, even though he- really isn't friends with him. Not yet, even though he desperately wants to be. And not only that, but to be stronger— so he can keep up and not hold anyone back. Like he knows he probably did last night. It was a wake-up call he desperately needed.

"...Yeah," he answers from the closet, finding the outfit that'd been prepared for him and started changing already. Just out of view. "I do." Is it really that surprising, after what happened last night?

Yes. Yes it is.

Gladio rubs the side of his neck, thinking on it. He had his friends among the guard, those who saw an impossibly strong kid and helped train him, but he doesn't exactly have friends his own age. Of noble blood, training to be the future King's Shield, privately schooled... but he gets along well with those who he trains with. That's enough, for him. He has a job to do, even this young.

Could he figure out this? Hanging out with Noctis. They're already around each other quite a lot, given his position, so shouldn't it be natural?

"...yeah, okay." Not the tone of being forced, but someone coming to a conclusion, some real thought, and agreeing. Not that he's exactly sure what to do with the beginning of this change, but he'll figure it out, right? "So, uh, breakfast and school, first. Then... we'll see how much of me is left after Dad and I talk."

Well, Gladio has a while to get used to it. He frowns, forcing himself to bend down to put on his shoes. Today was already promising to be a rough one, and that didn't even count the whole werewolf thing and likelihood that he'll get scolded again for his actions last night over breakfast the moment his dad's sure he's feeling alright. Well, aside from the pain flare up.

He exits the closet, fully clothed by the time Gladio's done soul searching for the moment. Kind of glad for the tone, because the last thing he wants to do is force someone to do anything they don't want to. (Rest in pieces whoever has to wash his clothes from last night, though.) "And how much is left of me after breakfast," Noct mutters, rubbing the back of his neck gingerly. "Pretty sure I remember getting grounded last night..."

"I think you do." He vaguely remembers something like that, though- "It's... not easy to remember everything." It's strange, talking about this to someone who isn't his father, who just knows by nature. How do you even explain something you yourself barely understand? "The wolf doesn't see things like a person. Doesn't care about the same things. Sometimes memories are really weird or just not there because it didn't care enough to even make a note of it."

It sounds stupider said aloud and Gladio's face shows his distaste on what can be perceived as a weakness. "Your dad's just worried about you, even if you're gonna get grounded for sneaking around." Not for playing tug-of-war with a giant dangerous werewolf or anything.

Noctis nods, but the next part makes him pause. It's hard? Oh. That explains a few things, then. "...Makes sense." He hums thoughtfully, as if debating something. "Well,if we're gonna be spending the full moons together... I could help fill in the blanks?" Provided he remembers as well, because his sleeping habits man.

There is no judgment, though. Only a curious desire to help. It's likely not something Gladio's used to, the prince's instinct to go 'Okay, how can I help?' but considering they will be spending a lot of time together... he'll be seeing it a lot.

"I know," he says, lightly kicking at the floor with the toe of his shoe. "You'd think it'd be for more than just breaking the gardens rule..." Because, you know. Giant werewolf. It doesn't even register that Regis doing so would be hypocritical.

The offer gets Noctis a look of surprise that turns almost into suspicision, not sure what to do with that kind of offer. Since when is Noct the kind of person to help? However, to match, there was a warmth in his chest at it, something he doesn't quite know what to do with, either, but his suspicion turns into a small smile.

Gladio slowly stands up, wiggling a foot and realizing his leg feels completely fine, before giving a grunt. "Come here. Lay on the bed, on your stomach." He has an idea. For the help for his leg... there's something, maybe, he can do in return for Noct. If he doesn't manage to somehow hurt the prince more because he's never done this before.

It'll be a bit of a matter of trust, for both of them.

Oh, he can be helpful when he wanted to. Most of the time he never announced it or the intent, though. This time? He's making an exception. A small insight to what he really thinks, considering how he normally acts. Which is hard, given his inability to really open up to people. Even Ignis.

"Uh, sure." A couple alarm bells rang in his head, but... he trusts his Shield. He does as he's told and lies down on the bed, on his stomach, arms crossed beneath his head.

Please be gentle along the scars because they actually are the kind that hurt.

He won't lift the shirt, given the fact that Noctis did not react well to him seeing the scars, but instead he lays his hands on Noctis' back with surprising gentleness given his size. His palms are warm, and he doesn't press down into the scars, instead just letting the heat soak in. Seeing what the reaction will be. Sometimes, when he's absolutely at his sorest, his father had taught him how to work out cramps and aches from his muscles while still in the training room. This would end up being... a slightly modified version of that, but he wants to help in return.

No one should go to school hurting. That would just be one giant pile of suck for the whole day.

It wasn't so much as him seeing it (he did voluntarily show him), but the reaction that followed. Still, he appreciates it. Even as-

His initial reaction is to bristle and tense up, but unlike so many who've tried... there's no pressure. Just warmth. He blinked, confused for a moment, but then relaxes. Trying to soak up as much warmth as he can. It felt nice.

All he did was slowly smooth his hands across the scarred back, again and again, spreading the warmth out over it. Then, into the silence of it, "nice to know my warmth is useful for something." He was well aware that he was always a bit of a furnace, not that he thought he'd be using it like a living heating pad, but Noctis didn't deserve to go to school in pain so if he could reduce it, even a little... worth it.

But things would just go back to normal, wouldn't they? He'd take Noctis to breakfast, drop him off with the chauffeur, Noctis would go to school and he would go to his own lessons. There would just be a few harsher words from both of their fathers along the way.

Noctis smiles faintly at the comment. Trying not to chortle at it too loudly. "Did kinda fall asleep nuzzled into you," he mumbles, rather unbecoming of someone of his status, but what had been of his actions the last twelve hours or so? No blankets were really needed because even as a wolf, Gladio's a living space heater. This is something he's going to keep note of from now on. Along with how icky the wolfsbane draught is.

Things might seem the same to most, but... Noctis isn't sure if he can really call anything after this normal, now. Last night is gonna be stuck in the back of his head for at least a day. Maybe even longer depending on what their dads say.

It's going to be a long one, isn't it.

"You did." Amused, because well, it's easier to tease about it then take it seriously how much he had enjoyed waking up tucked up beside the other. Some part of him had wanted that on a level he didn't understand at this age, maybe any age, until it happened. The wolf wanted pack. The wolf wanted someone in charge. A bond that his father hadn't talked to him about.

Yet. Yeah, it's going to be a very long one.

His thumbs spread across the ripple of scarred flesh, trying to work out the tension beneath it in slow, easy movements. "...I don't think the King can get too angry at you, other than sneaking out."

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With Fang and Claw (Private to iwillshieldhim)

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