Commish: Kit Leonis: 35$ by BurningArtist

So this is what happens when I listen to sad music... Kit and Ignis and their brief fling together when they were 17.

It started with a kiss.

Kit had had a crush on Ignis ever since she’d first noticed boys in that way, but she’d always just chalked it up to their spending so much time together, and had kept it to herself. But after a particularly bad day where everything that could have gone wrong had, Ignis had come over and cooked her favorite meal, giving her a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. When the worst had passed, she’d gone to kiss Iggy on the cheek in silent thanks for always being there, but he’d turned his head, about to ask her something, so she’d kissed his lips instead. When she would have pulled back in embarrassment, Ignis had pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. At 17, neither of them had had any experience in making out, but they were both more than willing to practice.

The spring was a time of firsts. He called her his angel, because she had saved him so many times, in so many ways, since coming into his life. They spent every moment they could together, and soon that first kiss led to firsts of a more heated nature. As cautious exploration turned into heated passion, so to did the cool days of spring also bleed into the blistering heat of summer.

With summer came excuses. Not at first, but with Noctis out of school, Ignis’ workload tripled. Kit was busier as well, as her training intensified in preparation of her joining the crownsguard next spring. So when one made an excuse, the other accepted with grace and a “maybe next time.” They would still try to spend together, even if it was just lying in bed next to each other as the craziness of the day took its toll on them both.

But soon it was just Ignis that had to cancel, or leave in the middle of a date. Kit would smile, kiss him goodbye and send him on his way, but Ignis knew her to well. He saw the pain that would flash in her eyes, and hated that he was the cause. But despite the pain, she waited for him, determined to fight for the future she knew they could have.

Ignis hadn’t meant to ignore her. But he had been so busy that week, leaving work well after midnight and collapsing into his bed, just to wake up a few hours later to do it all again. It was easy to tell himself he’d reach out later, or do something to make it up to her, before focusing on his current task and putting her out of his mind for the moment. She’d texted once, jokingly reminding him to eat since he’d been missing their lunches together, but when he didn’t hear from her again, he figured she was just as busy as he was. He was going over the latest reports with a very bored Noctis, when the prince alerted him to just how wrong he was.

“Kit seems…off lately, have you noticed?”

Ignis looked up sharply. “What do you mean?”

Noct shrugged, not sure how to describe it. “Distracted I guess? She seemed pretty upset when she checked her phone at one point, and during training today Gladio managed to pin her to the mat twice, and it’s been years since he’s done that. He chewed into her pretty good and she just stormed off, didn’t even argue back.”

Ignis frowned. “I have tomorrow off. I’ll see if I can find out what’s bothering her.” But he had a feeling he already knew.

 Kit had smiled when he’d shown up on her door unannounced, and seeing her made Ignis realize just how much he’d missed her. But something felt off, and Ignis realized she was holding herself back, as if bracing for when he would inevitably rush off. It hurt, but he couldn’t blame her. As much as he wanted to tell her it would be better soon, he refused to make a promise he couldn’t keep. Noct and the kingdom would always have to come first, and it wasn’t fair to her. She deserved better. Swallowing past the sudden tightness in his throat, he sat on the couch next to Kit.

“Ray, can we talk?”

Kit smiled, but it was strained, revealing her nerves and apprehension. “Of course, Iggy. What’s up?”

Ignis sighed. “You probably hate me by now, with how I’ve been distant lately.”

Kit laughed. “Iggy I could never hate you. I know Noct is your top priority, and I’m fine with it. Truly. I’m willing to-“

“But I’m not.” Ignis interrupted. Kit snapped her mouth shut and closed her eyes as Ignis continued. “It’s not fair. To either of us. I’m sorry, my angel. I love you, truly. Our time together…I felt free, for the first time in my life. And as much as I want to be selfish and beg you to wait, I refuse to make you put your life on hold for me.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. She didn’t open her eyes. “I don’t want to cause you any more pain than I already have. One day you’ll meet someone who will make you the center of their world-responsibilities be damned-but I can’t, as badly as I wish otherwise.” He took a breath, and his next sentence was barely above a whisper. “Maybe in another few years that could have been us, but the timing was off.”

Ignis rose, kissing Kit’s forehead gently as she sat frozen. “I hope in time…I hope we can still remain friends. But I will understand if you decide otherwise.” He turned and walked away, his heart shattering into thousands of pieces with every step away from Kit he took.

 Kit wasn’t sure how long she sat on the couch after Ignis left, but suddenly being in the apartment was just too much. She grabbed her keys and drove to the Citadel, determined to distract herself from the pain. She had just finished warming up when Gladio approached her. Knowing he was probably about to give her hell for the other day, she held up a hand.

“Leave me alone, Gladio. I’m not in the mood. Whatever it is can wait til our next session.”

Gladio raised an eyebrow. “Bad breakup?”

Kit laughed bitterly. “You’d actually have to date before you can break up. No this was ending a fling just as it was turning into…” Kit grit her teeth, refusing to shed a single tear. Gladio was silent for a moment as he watched her struggle with herself.

“Grab your scythe and get in the ring.”

Kit glared at Gladio. “I don’t need your pity, Amicitia.” Her voice was as sharp as the scythe she wielded, and was intended to cut him just as deep. Gladio just gave a slightly feral grin in response.

“This isn’t pity, Kitten. Now get your ass in the ring.”

Figuring that beating on Gladio was just as good as a training dummy, Kit finally nodded. She summoned her scythe as Gladio called on his greatsword, and they began to circle each other.

“When you get a squad of your own, they’ll want to know that you can keep a level head no matter what life throws at you. They don’t want a leader who will collapse at the first sign of trouble and get them all killed. So swallow the pain, or use it to help fuel you as you accomplish your objective.” Gladio grinned again. “You won’t like what I have in store if I put you on the mat again.”

Kit just nodded, harnessing her grief and pain the same way she had learned to harness her anger so long ago. She focused it all on Gladio, landing blow after blow and putting him immediately on the defensive. She was a force of nature as they sparred, and while Gladio gave it his all, he didn’t come anywhere near landing a blow, or pinning her. He finally called a halt when they were both covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and he saw the faint muscle tremors from exhaustion Kit was trying to hide. Without a word, Kit dismissed her scythe and started to leave the training room, freezing for only the briefest moment when Ignis walked in, before pushing past him.

 Gladio watched Kit leave, hands fisted in frustration and anger, though none of that was directed at her. He knew she was still hurting badly, but he knew channeling some of that pain into her attacks had definitely helped-though she might not think so at the moment. He watched as Ignis came up to him, nodding in greeting.

“Is she alright?” Ignis asked quietly. Gladio shook his head.

“Not yet, but she will be. And if I ever find out who caused her this much pain, I swear I’ll punch them so hard they won’t remember their own name, I don’t care who it is.”

Ignis gave a sardonic laugh. “Trust me Gladio, when I say they’re in enough pain as it is, giving up someone like her. Physical pain would just be a blessing, a way to drown out the hurt they caused themselves and her.” Ignis was quiet a moment as he looked over at Gladio, who was eyeing him skeptically. Part of him hoped Gladio realized he was talking about himself, but another part was curious at the big man’s reaction. “And since when do you care about Kit’s…wellbeing?”

Gladio grimaced, but finally shrugged and let out a little sigh. “From day one. She was so timid, but there was this…spark…in her, and when it finally ignited, it was an inferno. I saw the real her, the one not plagued by doubt, and I was lost…”

Ignis started at him in confusion. “Then why rile her up and provoke her at every opportunity? If that was your way of winning her over, you failed miserably.”

Gladio gave a self-depreciating laugh. “Because she forgets to be timid, or lost, when she’s angry. Even as upset as she was, I watched her harness what she needed to fight and shove the rest away as easy as breathing. And she was spectacular. So yeah, I would rather her hate me and stay alive, and be able to take on all comers, than to be my friend, or more, and die because she hesitated at the wrong moment.”

Both men were silent for a moment, until finally Gladio turned to face his friend. “And don’t you dare breathe a word of this to her or the others, Specs. I mean it.”

Ignis chuckled mirthlessly. “She won’t hear a word about it from me, I assure you. I doubt she’d even believe me if I did say something.” He cast a look over at Gladio. “You’ve done quite a good job of… keeping her alive.”

Gladio sighed. “Don’t I know it?”

 When they were done sparring, Ignis checked his phone as Gladio headed to the locker room. There was one message.

I still want to be friends. But that’s all we can ever be. I can’t go through this pain again. I just...need time to get over you first.

Ignis closed his eyes as both relief and pain ripped through him.

I understand. Just let me know when you’re ready.

This takes place 6 months after And then it all changed (I really need to learn how to make a masterlist so I can organize all this). Since Kit has a weapon unique to her, I decided it would be cool if she was the one to make it with a little help from an expert of course. The ending feels kinda meh (I had a better ending before my computer ate everything) but it is what it is I guess...

---

Kit spent every free moment for the past six months planning out her design, throwing away several rough drafts before she was finally satisfied. Plans in hand, she headed down to the royal smithy, where the kings and their chosen few had their weapons made. She smiled when she saw the Weaponsmith, waving the paper at him.

“I finally figured it out Vulros!”

Vulros wiped his hands on his apron and came over, smiling. “About time, girl. Let me see what you got and then we can get to work.”

Kit laid the plans on a nearby clean workbench. Vulros looked the design over and grinned. “You’re certainly ambitious, Ray. This is gonna be a lot more work than those trinkets you come down here to create.”

Kit blushed. No one outside of the smithy knew that Kit created some of the most sought after protection charms out there. Not just for their abilities and benefits, but because each one was its own little piece of artwork. She usually gave them to one of Vulros assistants when they were done and then collected the money once they were sold. Vulros didn’t understand her wanting to hide in the shadows, but he kept her secret nonetheless.

“I’m ready. And you know I’m more than willing to put in the hard work.”

Vulros grinned. “Let’s get to it then.”

Vulros led Kit over to the furnace, where several bars were sitting, ready to be melted. Each bar had been blessed by a priest of the six to bestow certain qualities. A few were blessed by light, while the others were blessed by the elements-fire, lightning, and ice. Kit carefully examined each bar, selecting the ones that she felt would be best for the blade itself. In the end she selected three bars of light and two of ice. Vulros nodded approvingly.

He made quick work of welding the ice bars to two of the light, the weld so flawless that they looked to be one solid piece of metal. “This will make a fine weapon, Kit. One daemons will come to fear.”

 Kit grinned. “That’s the plan.”

Kit helped Vulros transfer the bars to the forge, watching as the first one was placed inside and slowly heated. She watched Vulros pull the softened metal out with tongs, placing it on the anvil before starting to flatten and shape it with his hammer, folding the metal several times to create strong layers that would withstand almost any punishment. After getting it to the correct dimensions, he started on the next piece, adding it to the first once it was in a similar state. When it came time to start on the third bar, he turned the tong and hammer over to Kit.

“Let’s see what you’re made of, shall we?”

Kit took the tools with a grin. One of the benefits of training with Gladio every day was that while lean, she was much stronger than she looked. Following the smith’s example, she hammered out the shape this piece would take. With Vulros’ help, she reheated the first two pieces and added hers. After that she set the whole thing in the furnace to normalize, allowing it to slowly heat before taking it out to cool. Once Vulros was satisfied that all the impurities and stresses had been removed, Kit quenched the blade under the smith’s careful watch.

When she removed it, Vulros took back over to temper the blade while Kit carefully observed. Once done, Vulros carefully engraved runes of protection, strength, and the ability to summon the blade through Prince Noctis’ power. After he was done, he passed the blade to Kit to polish and sharpen. Once the blade gleamed with an almost unearthly shine, they took a break to finally eat before beginning work on the staff. It was a long cherry wood that Vulros had somehow managed to reinforce with a steel center. It already had the slit that would allow the blade to lock in, so Kit set about carving her own runes into the wood and attaching various trinkets near the top for added effect. On the bottom she attached an ornate sharpened metal blade that Vulros brought her, usually reserved for lances.

“Thought it could use an added touch.” The smith grinned when he saw just how well it fit.

“It’s perfect.” Kit agreed. “Now for the piece de resistance.”

She carefully added the blade to the staff, smiling at the wicked curve that arched over her head. Once secured, she swung it a few times to test out the balance, before making the grip out of soft leather. She wrapped it just below the middle where the balance felt perfect, then treated it so that it became a part of the wood. It was late into the night when she finally declared her new weapon done. Vulros gave a low whistle as he examined the finished scythe, casting eerie reflections from the still faintly glowing coals of the furnace.

“I’ve never seen its like crafted before, Kit, but it suits you.”

Kit grinned. “I’m calling her Satsuriku, since she is both beautiful and deadly.”

“Just like its wielder.” A cultured voice Kit knew all too well came from behind her. She turned and grinned at Ignis as he came closer. “So this is where you’ve been hiding all day. Vulros, pleasure to see you.”

“You as well, Mr. Scientia.” Vulros said with a small bow of his head. Kit bit back a laugh of hearing a man twice their age call Ignis mister, but with his demeanor Kit wasn’t all that surprised that it actually fit him. Poor Ignis had so many responsibilities that it would crush a normal fifteen year old; even Kit wasn’t sure she could cope with his demanding schedule.

“Were you looking for me for any particular reason, Specs?”

“Noctis has been trying to get ahold of you for a few hours, now. He figured you were busy, but when you missed your sparring session…”

Kit glanced at her phone, seeing just how late it was, as well as several texts and missed calls from the prince. She winced.

“Crap, I didn’t realize it was that late already. I’ll shoot him a message to let him know I’m alright.”

Ignis nodded, looking at the completed scythe in her hand. His eyes widened slightly as he recognized the craftsmanship of the charms she’d attached to it.

“Those are genuine Shadow pieces. Those must have cost you a fortune.”

Kit blushed and shrugged slightly. “They’re not that expensive when you’re the one to make them.”

Ignis stared at her, mouth slightly open in shock. “You’re Shadow?”

“Yeah. But you’re not allowed to tell anyone. Not even Noct. Promise me, Iggy, please.”

Ignis looked at Vulros, who just shrugged, having long ago given up trying to convince her. He looked at Kit again and nodded.

“I don’t understand why you would hide this, but I swear I will never tell a soul.”

Kit smiled. “Thank you, Iggy. Now, how about we head to the training room and show this baby off?” Ignis smiled and Kit turned to wave at Vulros. “See you next week, ‘Ros!”

Okay so I know Gladio’s birthday was the 2nd, but MINE (and Kit’s heehee) is the 11th so I feel like it’s still within the time frame...This is honestly nothing more than a birthday present to myself...it has a bit of angst, smut, and then a touch more (happy) angst. Timeline wise this takes place a few months after Feels like the First Time. Also I recommend reading Don’t Fear the Reaper before this one, just for some Kit background that comes into play. Anyways, hope you enjoy!! (Picture is not mine...here’s a link to where I got it https://www.paintnite.com/events/bridge-under-the-cherry-blossoms-at-mimis-cafe-downey_1175735)

Kit smiled when she heard the knock on the door and hurried to answer it. Standing outside her door, in dark blue jeans and a crownsguard tank top, was Gladio. Her boyfriend. She still wasn’t quite used to that-they’d spent so many years antagonizing each other that it felt weird how…excited…she felt at the site of him. She smiled.

“Hey.”

He smiled back, amber eyes warm as he drank her in. She’d worn a low cut light blue kimono top that accentuated the highlights in her hair as much as her curves, black cut off shorts and knee high black boots. Her waist length hair was down, though she had braided the sides and joined them together in the back to help keep the hair out of her face. From the way he was looking at her, Gladio approved.

“Hey. You ready?” His voice came out low and husky, making Kit chuckle.

“Down boy.” She stepped out of her apartment and closed the door, taking Gladio’s outstretched hand and following him to the elevator. “Where are we going anyway? And why wouldn’t you let me plan your birthday?” She looked at Gladio and gave an exaggerated pout. He bent down to kiss her, nipping gently at her protruding lower lip before pulling back.

“It’s a surprise, and because this is as much for your birthday as mine. I want something that’s just for the two of us before going to whatever our families and the guys have planned.”

Kit couldn’t help the bitter laugh that emerged at that. At Gladio’s curious glance she shrugged. “I guess you didn’t talk to Specs about past birthdays huh?”

“Actually I did. That’s what gave me this idea. And don’t count the Marshal out just yet, Kitten. Now come on, I want to make sure we have plenty of time before the madness really begins.”

Kit laughed and allowed him to blindfold her before he helped her up into the cab of his truck. A few moments later she felt the truck dip as he entered and cranked the engine.

“No peeking.” He said as he took her hand, threading his fingers through hers. She grinned.

“I promise.”

 Kit had no idea where they were, but after what felt like twenty or so minutes, Gladio finally came to a stop and put the truck in park. He let go of her hand, only to grab it again when she went to remove the blindfold.

“Not yet.”

“But Gladio,” Kit turned her face to him so he could see her frown. “How am I supposed to walk?”

Gladio just chuckled in answer and got out. A few seconds later Kit heard her door open before feeling Gladio reach across to unbuckle her.

“Gladio?”

“Watch your head babe.” He warned before reaching in and lifting her out bridal style. She let out a small yelp in surprise and quickly put her arms around his neck to keep from falling.

“Gladio put me down. I can walk.”

“But I like carrying you, and this is quicker.” She felt him press his lips briefly to her forehead. Sighing, Kit lay her head against his shoulder, mumbling under her breath.

“This better be worth it, Amicitia.”

Gladio laughed. “See for yourself.” He set her down gently, hands going to rest on her waist as Kit removed the blindfold. And gasped.

“Gladio, this is…” her voice failed her as she looked around. All around them, as far as she could see, were cherry blossoms in full bloom. The air seemed to almost glow with the pale pink and white blossoms as they filtered the afternoon sun. Gladio took her hand and led her down a well-kept stone path; he was quiet as they walked, watching as she drank everything in. The path led to a small river with a gently arched wooden bridge. Gladio led her to the bridge and stopped, turning to face her.

“Gladio this is…this may the most beautiful spot in all of Eos. How is it not crowded with people?”

Gladio smiled. “It’s a private garden. My mother loved the outdoors, especially flowers and cherry blossoms, if you couldn’t tell by my and Iris’ names. So this,” he held his hands out as if to encompass the entire thing, “was my father’s wedding present to her. She loved it here, so much so that after she died, dad buried her here, a little farther down the path, instead of the family crypt. Dad’s too busy at the Citadel to ever visit, but I bring Iris down when I can. You’re the only one outside of the King and Amicitia household that even knows this place exists.”

Kit looked around her with a sudden understanding; he didn’t need to say why he’d brought her here. She knew he was the one who practically raised Iris while his father buried himself in work at the Citadel. But she also knew that both Gladio and Iris had a fairly close relationship with their father now. Knowing words were both easy to come by and to dismiss, he’d decided to show her that there was still hope for her and her father. She blinked back tears.

“I can see why your mom loved it here. It’s so peaceful.” She turned back to Gladio. “Thank you for bringing me here.” She put her hands around Gladio’s neck and pulled him down for a kiss, groaning when Gladio took over and deepened it, tongue seeking entrance which she gladly granted. After a few minutes they broke apart, chests heaving as they both tried to catch their breath. Gladio grinned at her, reaching into his pocket.

“I also bought you this. I know it’s a few days early, but happy birthday, Kitten.”

Kit took the box from him and opened it. Nestled inside was a gleaming silver chain with a tiger’s eye skull charm, polished smooth, the golden bands the exact shade of Gladio’s eyes. It was a piece Kit knew all too well, seeing as she had made it. She hadn’t wanted to give it up, but when Vulros said someone was willing to pay three times the asking price for it, she had reluctantly let it go.

“Gladio…” She looked up, ready to tell him, but so many years of hiding behind ‘Shadow,’ plus the hopeful look on Gladio’s face had her choking back the confession. “It’s gorgeous, but this piece must have cost a fortune.”

In fact, it was her biggest sale to date, and none of her pieces were considered cheap, though she made sure Vulros and his assisstants knew to give hunters, Crownsguard, and Kingsglaive steep discounts, along with anyone else who needed the protection her charms gave. She made a mental note to chew the old weaponsmith out for not telling her it was Gladio that wanted to buy her piece.

Gladio just shrugged, taking the chain out of the box. Kit turned and swept her hair to the side as Gladio placed it around her neck. It settled as a comforting weight a few inches above her breasts, the stone cool against her skin. Gladio smiled warmly when she turned back around.

“Perfect.”

Kit smiled back. “I have a gift for you as well. Since, you know, today is your birthday.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a box that looked very much like the one he’d given her. Gladio raised an eyebrow and Kit shrugged.

“Great minds think alike, apparently.” She handed him the box and he opened it to reveal a necklace of his own. The charm was a simple gold X, with several gold skulls interspersed along the full length of the sturdy leather cord. It was long enough that Gladio could just slip it over his head, and it hung down to his pecs. Kit had worried that she had made it too simple, but resting against his chest, the gold glittering against his black shirt, it looked…

“Perfect.” She grinned, mimicking Gladio’s earlier sentiment. “The skulls each have little boosts to strength and vitality, two things I figured you would need as the Shield. I had it made especially for you, so it’s one of a kind.”

Gladio grabbed her in a hug and spun her around, making her laugh. When he stopped, he kissed her before setting her down, keeping his arms around her.

“I love it Kitten. Thank you.” They stayed like for a few minutes, just enjoying the peace of the garden and being together. Eventually Gladio let her go and led her further along the winding path. The river wound along beside them, ending in a small waterfall by an elegant marble statue of a woman holding a bouquet of Iris and Gladiolus flowers. Gladio smiled up at it.

“Mom, this is Kit. She’s the one I’m always talking about. Kit, meet my mother Lily Amicitia.”

Kit smiled, bowing her head slightly in deference. Gladio looked very much like his father, all hard planes and solid muscle, but Kit could see Iris had had the great fortune of taking after her mother, who had clearly been a beautiful woman. Gladio turned to face her.

“My mother would have loved you, and probably would have kicked my ass for the way I treated you growing up. She was a force of nature, and dad used to say that the only two things he feared in life were his wife when she was angry and failing the King. In that order.”

Kit laughed. “I wish I could have met her. And just how long have you been talking to her about me?”

Gladio shrugged. “Since our first training session, or soon after.”

Kit stared at him, shocked, then shook her head. “You really did carry the torch for a long time, didn’t you?”

Gladio chuckled. “Always, Kitten. Now come on, Iris will be mad if we’re late for dinner.”

They walked through the garden, the air taking on a faint orange glow as the sun began to set. The cherry blossoms looked like they were filled with an inner fire, and Kit pulled out her phone to take a picture. Gladio took it from her, holding it out as he held her close, snapping a picture of them with the fire blossoms in the background before handing it back. Kit snapped a quick picture of the trees by themselves and then followed Gladio towards the Amicitia estate.

 The next few hours passed by in a blur. They had supper with Iris and Clarus at the Amicitia home, with Iris easily keeping the conversation flowing between everyone. Kit had been surprised to learn that Gladio hadn’t told his father or sister they had started dating; something for which both of them had gotten onto him about. It had been so long since Kit had seen a real family dynamic, and she had to admit it was fun watching Gladio squirm. Eventually she decided to rescue him, reminding him that they still had to meet up with the boys.

They arrived at Noct’s apartment a little while later. The ‘party’ was a small affair with just Kit and the boys, with a bunch of fighting video games and food to occupy the next few hours. Gladio and Prompto became the ones to beat while they played, until Noct and Kit teamed up to take them down. Ignis, content to stay on the sidelines, watched to make sure no one cheated.

Once Noctis was crowned champion, they moved on to presents. Prompto asked Kit if she wanted hers as well, but Kit just shook her head and said she’d wait-she didn’t want to take away from it being Gladio’s day, no matter what the big guy said. Gladio just rolled his eyes and went to open the gifts sitting on the table.

Ignis’ gift to Gladio was a top of the line weapons cleaning kit. Gladio grinned as Prompto and Kit cracked jokes, each trying to outdo the other and see if they could get Ignis flustered. Gladio was the only one who wasn't surprised when Kit won. Noctis got him a couple of new shirts, smirking when Gladio raised an eyebrow at him.

“Apparently you’ve lost all your others, as often as you walk around without a shirt.”

Gladio laughed. “You’re just jealous you don’t have anything to show off. Besides, I’ve never heard Kit complain about my lack of shirt.” He winked at Kit and she just laughed.

“I’m a little bit biased where you’re concerned, big guy. Others might not appreciate it as much as I do…though some appreciate it more than they should be allowed to.” She grimaced at the thought of his little fan club that still followed him around like love-struck puppies.

Gladio laughed, pulling Kit close to kiss her forehead, and moved on to Prompto’s gifts. One of them was a set of really nice free weights. Kit had made an exaggerated groan and everyone just laughed. The other was a full sized picture of Kit that she’d posed for. She was in a three point crouch with her scythe held out in her right hand for balance. Her hair was loose, some of blowing out while a few strands covered her face, as if she’d just finished spinning. Kit grinned as Gladio stared at it in astonishment, before clapping Prompto on the back in thanks.

“You outdid yourself with this one Prompto. Thanks, man.”

Prompto grinned. “It was nothing, really. Kit made it almost too easy, to be honest.”

Kit smiled and winked. “If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s fighting. Making it look good is just a bonus.”

They hung out for a little longer, eating cake and just enjoying being together, but Gladio decided it was time to leave when Kit started dozing against him. The drive home was quiet, filled with a comfortable silence that neither felt the need to break. When they arrived at her apartment complex, Gladio got out and walked with her until they reached her door.

Kit smiled up at him as she pulled her keys out. “Wanna come in for a bit?”

Gladio nodded. “Sure.”

Kit unlocked the door and led Gladio inside, switching on the lights. The place hadn’t changed much in the almost two years since he’d last been inside, though seeing pictures of him and her scattered around was a new and very welcome addition. Kit turned to him.

“I have one more present for you, if you want it.”

Gladio raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Kit gave a sly smile and stepped closer, reaching up to pull his head down to hers. The second her lips touched his, he knew exactly what she had in mind. With a groan, he deepened the kiss, enjoying the taste of her before reluctantly pulling away.

“Are you sure, Kitten?”

Kit nodded, meeting his eyes so he could see she had no reservations. “I’m sure.”

Gladio claimed her mouth again, hands tangling in her hair as he backed her against a nearby wall. His hands roamed down to grip her by the hips as his lips trailed down her neck. Kit groaned as her hands fisted his shirt.

“Gladio…”

Gladio grinned against her skin, the sound of his name leaving her lips music to his ears. He lifted her by the waist and she quickly wrapped her legs around him, grinding herself against the growing bulge in his pants with a smug grin. Gladio nipped her lower lip in retribution.

“Bedroom?”

Kit pointed down the nearby hallway, eyes hooded as she leaned down to kiss a trail down his neck. Gladio made his way down the hallway and quickly found her room. He didn’t take much time to look around as he set about unwrapping his last birthday gift.

He made quick work of her clothes, while she gladly divested him of his. He captured her lips in a rough kiss as he laid her on the bed, then began kissing his way down her body. She groaned, back arching off the bed. Gladio paused his exploration to look at her; drinking in this long desired site of her, eyes glazed and hooded in desire, chest rising and falling as she fought to catch her breath. Apparently he’d been staring for too long, cause she rose up on her elbows, desire turning to concern.

“Gladio?”

Gladio smiled, leaning forward to capture her lips with his own. When they broke apart, Kit raised an eyebrow at him.

“Sorry Kitten. You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of you, just like this. Just wanted to enjoy the moment.”

Kit chuckled. “Well hurry up and enjoy your moment so we can get back to enjoying it.”

Kit felt more than heard Gladio’s low chuckle as he bent his head, resuming where he’d left off, relishing every moan and restless shift as he brought her closer to her peak, every tug of his hair as she wordlessly urged him on. As much as he wanted to spend hours teasing her, he felt his own control begin to slip. He rose above her, brushing a damp strand of hair of Kit’s flushed face before kissing her.

“Ready Kitten?”

“Yes, Gladdy,” she panted. “Please.”

As he buried himself to the hilt they both groaned, and Gladio knew without a doubt this was the best birthday he would ever have. And then he set about making sure it was one neither of them would forget.  

 *Bonus (9 days later)*

Kit rolled out of bed with a groan when she heard a loud knocking on her apartment door.

“I’m coming, I’m coming… Someone had better be dying…” She grumbled as she navigated the darkened living room. It was her birthday, dammit, the one day a year she was supposed to be able to sleep in. She caught a glimpse of her sleep tousled reflection in the mirror and grimaced, but whoever it was could deal. She unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door only to freeze at the sight before her. A very nervous looking Cor stood holding a bouquet of flowers and a card.

“Dad…?”

Cor smiled, and for a moment, he was the man she remembered from childhood. “Happy Birthday Rayna.”