"He was a dumbass and socially awkward, but he was a good guy underneath it all," Tony said with a sigh. He leaned forward and kissed Gladio's lips softly. He loved the man for being so supportive. "Seeing it is kind of a long story, but yeah, it sucked. It's one of the memories that haunt me but.. it helps I know you're around."

He went quiet as he listened to Gladio talk about his mother. He smiled a bit at the reverence he could hear in the younger man's voice. "She must've been a wonderful woman." He wondered what had killed her, but that wasn't important right now. It also wasn't his business, even if his scientific nature wanted the details. "My mother, Maria, wasn't strong. She did whatever Howard wanted and expected me to do the same. It was always frustrating how spineless she was. The most courageous thing she did was marry beneath her station despite her family's protests."

Tony sighed and ran a hand lightly through a lock of Gladio's hair. "That isn't to say I didn't love her though. I did and I miss her, but she was delicate and painfully proper. She liked buying decorating rooms, buying art, going to the see orchestras or ballets, and playing the grand piano in our mansion." All activities that rarely included or interested Tony. He was sometimes made to go along but.. he had regrets he hadn't said yes to the invitations more often.