In truth, Gladio might have taken the lead. At any number of points over the last two months he could have shaken Tony and demanded to know what the fuck was going on... but he didn't. And the reason was plain and simple. Tony Stark. The reason he said nothing was because he had no idea what Tony wanted. Some days he thought it was him and sometimes he believed Tony was happy just being what they were. And then there were moments like this. His issues where so far reaching, Gladio knew he could handle them if he was given the opportunity to, but Tony needed to let him. The idiot bottled it all up. Kept them all hidden from him because of... what? He felt he wasn't worthy? He was damaged? He'd messed up with Ignis so he didn't deserve to be with anyone? It was all bullshit and one day Gladio vowed to tell Tony just that. But until that time came he would bide his time and wait, and deal with these little pieces and hints that he was given.
He was still and quiet as he watched his friend set his cake aside and slide on up to him.
It was an easy thing to curl his arm around Tony's shoulders, drawing him closer, keeping him tight to his side. Tony kept talking and, just like that, suddenly things became clearer to him. Ignis.. had been jealous. Clearly he had been, but it also explained so very much more about his behaviour. The way he had been so single minded about Tony, the way he had almost forgotten that he and Prompto had even existed in favour of Tony and his 'new life'. He'd been possessive and he'd been jealous in a way that made Gladio feel a little ill to realise.
Because he knew he could be like that. He knew he could be possessive. And he knew he could be jealous. But he also knew that it was not to the same dangerous levels as Ignis had been. Because clearly Ignis had been unable to control his emotions. Maybe because it was his first time actually being in a relationship? Maybe it was the ghost of Pepper that had sent Ignis into a tailspin. For whatever reason, Gladio was understanding some of his actions on the Train a little better now. They where still unforgivable, but at least he could make sense of them.
"... I miss them." He replied after a long moment. Gladio leaned back a bit and closed his eyes. "Some days a little less than others. Sometimes it hurts so much I can barely move." He hesitated... voice quieted. "It's grief I feel. I'll never see them again, Tony. The people here aren't them. If we ever return home, it won't be them either. They're gone. I'll always love them. But they were a dream I've woken up from."
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He was still and quiet as he watched his friend set his cake aside and slide on up to him.
It was an easy thing to curl his arm around Tony's shoulders, drawing him closer, keeping him tight to his side. Tony kept talking and, just like that, suddenly things became clearer to him. Ignis.. had been jealous. Clearly he had been, but it also explained so very much more about his behaviour. The way he had been so single minded about Tony, the way he had almost forgotten that he and Prompto had even existed in favour of Tony and his 'new life'. He'd been possessive and he'd been jealous in a way that made Gladio feel a little ill to realise.
Because he knew he could be like that. He knew he could be possessive. And he knew he could be jealous. But he also knew that it was not to the same dangerous levels as Ignis had been. Because clearly Ignis had been unable to control his emotions. Maybe because it was his first time actually being in a relationship? Maybe it was the ghost of Pepper that had sent Ignis into a tailspin. For whatever reason, Gladio was understanding some of his actions on the Train a little better now. They where still unforgivable, but at least he could make sense of them.
"... I miss them." He replied after a long moment. Gladio leaned back a bit and closed his eyes. "Some days a little less than others. Sometimes it hurts so much I can barely move." He hesitated... voice quieted. "It's grief I feel. I'll never see them again, Tony. The people here aren't them. If we ever return home, it won't be them either. They're gone. I'll always love them. But they were a dream I've woken up from."