#shieldofvalor

GLADIO    ( 👑 - to bow down before your muse ) misc action memes  accepting     @shieldofvalor​

THE WORLD HAD CHANGED  ,   bringing darkness that dominated   --   that felt stifling and threatened to pull the very air from your lungs if you weren't careful.   Nobody had been immune to its effects  ,   nobody had gotten through it unscathed  ,   and everyone had the same question.   Would it ever end ?  Noctis stood on the edge of the cliff.   Ocean hues looked out over the skyline at the buildings he could see in the distance  ,   a place he once knew as home.   A place that had been filled with as many happy memories as there had been bad ones.   The place he'd been born and raised  ,   and the place he would ultimately give his life.

Could he bring himself to lament a single moment that led him to this point ?   No.   Perhaps he wished he had done more or expressed more nevertheless there was little point in dwelling on thoughts of the past.   He glanced down at his hand   ,  curled into a fist.   Questions were raised in his mind.   Did he have the resilience to go through with what he needed to ?  Noctis hadn't been unaided throughout the journey.   He wouldn't be alone at the end either.   Their strength and courage were what had driven him.   It would be them that saw him through it.

A noise drew him from his thoughts  ,  the footfalls he would recognise anywhere.   They belonged to his Shield.     ❝ It's almost over. ❞     The King conveyed quietly, though his eyes did not stray from the skyline ahead.     ❝ Tomorrow the sun will rise once more. ❞     There was a smile on his face, albeit a melancholy one.   Noctis wouldn't witness the sunrise beyond the horizon.   He wouldn't see the people rejoice that the long dark had finally ended.

❝ I've accepted what I need to do. I don't want any of you to mourn for me. ❞    Noctis turned to face him then.  Goodbyes were always challenging in any context.   Yet one that spoke of forever ?  That was always going to be a bitter pill to swallow.  For Noctis  ,   it would be but a moment.  Yet  ,  the people he was leaving behind would have to deal with losing him.    ❝ Live your life, Gladio. Please, do it for me. ❞

Unprepared was he  ,  as the Shield bowed for what would conceivably be the final time.  Noctis rests his hand on his shoulder.   Optics illuminated in the little light they had.   Yes  ,  goodbyes were difficult -- but this one was necessary. Giving up his life for the lives of the people he loved. It was a worthwhile trade, in Noctis' opinion.

just cute little things

Perhaps he was too proud to admit it or perhaps he simply didn't want to deal with having it pointed out that he should have brought a jacket, but he kept quiet even as the temperature dropped.

He had no control over his traitorous body though which, despite all of his willpower, began to shake. He was hoping Gladio wouldn't notice. It wasn't far to his apartment, so he could deal with the cold until they reached it and he could crank up the heating.

Gladio did notice though because of course he did. It was his job to protect him - something that stemmed from more than just duty now - but that didn't extend to protecting him from the cold.

"No, it's...I'm good. Besides, won't you be cold?" Gladio insisted though and a few moments later, Noctis felt the weight of the heavy leather jacket on his shoulders. He let out a soft sigh before slipping his arms inside. It was a little big on him, but it was warm and...well, it was Gladio's.

@shieldofvalor​ said: "… stay with me?"

Aranea was probably not the best one at this; she always had a hard time finding words. She CARED for him though, of course. This was the reason why she hadn’t left. Gladio wasn’t the type to talk much either about the way he felt, so maybe she could remain at his side; maybe it could be a good way to COMFORT him, to show him she cared, even if it wasn’t always easy to deal with her. Dealing with Noctis’ loss wasn’t easy for her either. They had never been great friends, but she had always believed in him. She had even planned to work for him, as a member of the Crownsguard, once he was back. The world had been saved, but it was still a mess, of course. 

“I’m not going anywhere.” She assured, smirking briefly. “Just... Just tell me if you need anything, okay ? I’m not the best one with words and with other people in general, but you probably already know that.” She admitted, half-joking as she gently leaned her head over his shoulder.

      The continuous slashing of blades and numerous exercises was really taking a toll on the prince. He knew all of this was in efforts to make him stronger. Noctis needed to be able to carry his own weight and becoming a better unit on the battlefield. It was also important to learn to balance his blade and his magic. Gladio of course was an amazing teacher, but sadly Noctis couldn’t keep up with him always.

@shieldofvalor​ said: “I’m not in love.”

Ignis nodded for a moment. He always wanted to be there for his friends, to SUPPORT time every time it was necessary. He wanted to help them in any sphere of their life, even if he didn’t know a thing about the situation. He wasn’t sure he was good at giving advice when it came to love since he had never been in a relationship himself and hadn’t even been close to be into one, but he still wished he could help Gladio, so he was at least trying. They didn’t see each other as much as before in this world surrounded by darkness and daemons, but when he spent time with his friends, Ignis wanted the others to see how NOTHING had changed; they would remain brothers, always. 

“Then, I think you should tell them.” He first spoke calmly. “It will probably hurt at first, but I think it is better for them to know the truth instead of hoping.” 

❝ we will make it through. ❞ @shieldofvalor // prompt from god knows how long ago.

“ So you say.. “ Noctis groaned, almost losing his boot in an effort to pull it out of the mud. His hair stuck to his face and he couldn’t tell where his shirt ended and his skin began. Soaked through to the bone that badly it was almost like they were one. “ But we’ve been stuck in this bog for half an hour and have only made it about a third of the way across. “

Next time Noctis opts for a shortcut, perhaps they should all tell him no.

Although he couldn’t have foreseen that the skys would open above them either, nor that the ground would shift beneath their feet and make their passing even harder. “ Maybe we should go back? “ It would take them just as long but at least it wouldn’t be as long as continuing on. Though he wasn’t about to complain about it; his knee was really beginning to hurt him. Maybe it showed on his face, that he was in discomfort.