Castles they may crumble

[berriedmemories]

WHO:XV Cast
WHAT: General catchall
WHERE: Probably mostly at the XV cottage
WHEN: spring/summer 2025
WARNINGS: blanket CW for depression (Noctis), suicidal ideation (Ardyn, Cor, Ravus), and general PTSD from a bunch of men that've been through hell. See subject lines for specifics

Comments

I could be the one who's always there to break your fall (Gladio)

[berriedmemories]

When Noct busts into the house it's early afternoon, probably the only time this entire damned day that the sun is out and it's enough that the icicles clinging to his horns are already dripping slightly and he barely makes it a step inside before Ignis is commanding him back outside to shake off. It takes a few minutes then, between the door slamming open and an only vaguely damp, densely furred arm draping over Gladio's shoulder where he's sitting on the couch. "Gladiooooo~" A warm little sing song whine in his ear as Noct leans more heavily against the back of the couch.

Then there's a snuffly kiss pressed to his temple. "I've got something for you~" A beat, a glance back towards the kitchen. "Well. I will. Soon."

[swordlily]

"A towel?" Gladio teases, even as he leans back into that half-embrace, grinning as he turns his head towards that snuffly kiss. "I'd be soaking wet if Iggy hadn't made you get dryer before coming in, seems like. You been having fun in the snow?"

[berriedmemories]

"Weeeell...." He draws the word out, tilting his head back and forth a little like he's trying to decide whether what he's been doing has been "fun" or not. No, he's trying to decide if he wants to admit that it's the "in the snow" part that's up for debate. "Yes and no."

Then he's leaning even further over the couch to give Gladio an upside down smile, bright for a moment before the powerful paw on his chest spreads out to smack his chest playfully. "C'mere. Iggy's giving me the kitchen for a bit." Noct withdraws to head back to the kitchen where Ignis was kind enough to get a pot of water already on the stove, confident Gladio will follow. It's not often Ignis lets Noctis in the kitchen but when he does it definitely means there's seafood involved.

[swordlily]

With the scales over muscles, smacking Gladio's chest is hitting a target with even less give than usual. Gladio doesn't even so much as grunt, grinning as he rises to his feet and follows his boyfriend. "Giving you the kitchen, huh? This must be a hell of a scheme you've cooked up, whatever it is. Or is it one you're going to cook up?"

After all, if Noct's arranged to borrow Iggy's kitchen, then it's hardly a stretch to assume food is involved in some way. But Gladio's definitely curious what could make Noct bargain the kitchen away from Iggy to begin with. Noct's not that big on cooking - and not much good at it, either, if some of the stories Gladio recalls Iggy telling from his apartment days were even half right. So what's he up to? Definitely curious.

[berriedmemories]

Noct just grins and pats a spot at the bar top, gesturing for Gladio to sit down with him.

"I guess... cooking yeah but it's not gonna take too long." He's still all excited smiles as he reaches for a square of cheesecloth and begins piling seasonings onto it. Mustard seeds, bay leaves, corriander and more. It all gets tied off into a nice little sachet and tossed into the water alongside some lemon rings. Then Noct is leaning on the counter, practically wiggling with excitement and waiting for Gladio to guess just what he's doing.

[swordlily]

Gladio promptly hops up to sit on the bar where Noct's indicated, whether or not that was precisely what Noct was asking him for, even while he narrows his eyes at the other man thoughtfully. He only watches more carefully as Noct assembles ingredients and tosses them into a pot of water. So he's obviously making a broth of some kind, that's obvious, but he'd almost talked like this isn't exactly cooking...

Truthfully, it's not a huge leap in logic. Everyone knows how Gladio loves his Cup Noodle, he's frequently missing it, there's only so many soup dishes Noct could consider a special treat for him and get all excited about making for him, and...well, Gladio's certainly heard Iggy be disdainful about the idea of making Cup Noodle being cooking before. It all crystallizes pretty quickly, and Gladio's eyes widen. "No way."

[berriedmemories]

Noct's grin only widens as he turns, intentionally not acknowledging the clear guess Gladio has. One shoulder lifts in a half shrug as he turns to the sink, reaching into a bucket to pluck out a cold, sleepy... crawfish? Indeed he dangles one of the little crustaceans over the bucket, appraising it before shrugging and returning it to the bucket.

"I know they're not shrimp but..." He spends another moment dumping the water out, rinsing the bucket thoroughly, refilling it with the little creatures before turning to plop a dozen or so into the boiling water. Not nearly enough for a proper meal for the household but still an impressive number for the season. Certainly explains why he's damp and half frozen if he was digging through the riverbed looking for sleeping crawfish.

For all this, though.... there's still no actual sign of Cup Noodle.

[swordlily]

Gladio's not worrying about noodles, or however close - or far - Noct might end up from hitting that mark. He's figuring out why Noct was cold and wet, realizing how much work went into doing this for him, and between that and the grin...it's way too cute.

The way he's been with Noct sometimes, and the way he'd made himself be Noct's taskmaster for so much of his life...it's hard to believe Noct still feels like Gladio deserves this kind of sweetness from him. But clearly Noct does, and Gladio's not going to argue with such gestures when he could (and should) be showing his appreciation for them instead.

"You think I care if it's shrimp?" Gladio's tail curls out to wrap its slender tip around Noct's wrist, tugging him in closer - only when he's finished with the crawfish, of course. And once he's in arm's reach, Gladio is hauling him effortlessly to stand right in front of him at the counter, practically between his legs, cupping Noct's face in his hands as he grins down at him. "We used karlabos meat once. But even Cup Noodle might be hard-pressed to taste better than something my boyfriend made from scratch just for me."

[berriedmemories]

Noct pauses as he's turning back to the sink when he feels the slide of scales on his wrist. He has a fleeting moment to be jealous once again of Gladio's dexterity when Noct's own tail is more paddle than anything, broad and heavy as hell. Then he's leaning into the counter and Gladio's hands, smile softening to something a touch self-conscious. He still has so many moments when he has Gladio's focus like this that he can't quite believe this is all real. With how much they've been at odds over the years it's all a little overwhelming to be able to set the old grievances aside and just savor his Shield's warmth.

He'd been so convinced for so long that Gladio only saw him as a spoiled kid. One he cares for and wants to see do well, sure, but still a kid. Which only makes it that much more satisfying when Noct can push himself up on his toes to steal a brief kiss, playful and content and interrupted by a soft laugh against Gladio's mouth.

"Hah! Careful or I'll tell Iggy you said that~"

[swordlily]

"Now why would I care if you told him I said that?" Gladio grins mischievously back at him. "It's true for his cooking, too. I think he's just always worried Cup Noodle might suddenly out-compete him someday, for some reason. Or - " And he lowers his voice here, as if imparting a deep secret. Which he kind of is, although it's the kind of secret Gladio feels like everyone should already know. Whether or not they do already know it is a matter of debate, but Gladio sometimes underestimates just how well he knows Iggy compared to anyone else. " - maybe he's just extremely territorial."