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[From the feed, it's clear Tony's not the one holding the camera and as a dramatic contrast to his first message, he was smiling brightly with an excitement only a new project can bring. Aaah, spring.

Anyway, he's standing in the entertainment district with one of the old abandoned businesses behind him with a sledgehammer in his hands.]

Good morning Havenwall! For those who don't know me, I'm Tony Stark and that...., is Mr. Petunia.

[He points and the camera moves to include Gladio standing a few feet behind him with his trademark easy-going grin and a large industrial broom resting over one shoulder. He rolls his eyes and gives the camera a friendly wave and, when Tony isn't looking, flips the idiot off playfully.]

Just kidding, you dandelion, that's Gladio Amicitia!

We're here in front of what will be the new Insomnia 2.0 bar!

[Brief pause for effect.]

We're looking for some volunteers for helping us remodel this place and possibly, if you're hot and we actually can stand you, working here once it opens. Just think, the faster this bad boy gets ready, the faster we can drink and eat greasy bar food!

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Tony wanted to know what was going on in the other man's heart. He normally wasn't the best at this and now it was even more confusing. There had to be more than just what he was feeling though, if Gladio kept kissing him back, right? He was afraid to commit to that conclusion and then be made a fool when he was wrong. However, how could he see any other reason when he was being so clearly desired?

Whoever had made that sound, Tony wanted their head on a platter. He loved it when Gladio got possessive and held him like that. However, there'd just be another person going by soon enough. They had too many helpers not to get caught and he didn't want to do that to the other man.

He nodded in agreement, reluctant to take that last step away. "Yeah, it is. Raincheck?" He asked, with a wink. He returned to his boom right as one of the young adults came down the steps to ask a question. Tony answered, but his gaze kept returning to Gladio till they went away.

As he scooped up another shovel full of sludge and carried it back to the waste bucket, he remarked, "We need to come up with some ground rules at the bar. If we let all of our friends drink and eat for free we'll never make any money. What if we make the agreement that we pick five people each who get the 'family discount'?"

Edited 2021-03-24 17:43 (UTC)

"Raincheck." Maybe. The mood was gone, whether it would come back or not, who knew? But he was definitely quieter now, just watching Tony deal with the questions before he finally pulled himself up to go back to work. Work was good for helping to shut off his brain. If he kept going, kept pushing himself, he'd be too tired to be able to do more than fall into bed tonight. No laying awake wondering...

"Think there'll be some overlap, but sure. Maybe certain days could be cheaper than others? Happy hour? Ladies night." Gladio grinned. "We'll make the money. Maybe we need to think about juices and stuff as well as the alcoholic drinks?"

Silly man, did he really think the mood would stay gone? Watching Gladio strut around here like that all day was a promise Tony was going to come to collect on. Besides, who didn't love morning sex?

Anyway..

"Cool, I get Pyra, Reggie, Prompto, Aerith, and..." He paused to think. He knows he's forgetting someone. "Mina's only 16, she's too young to even be at the bar." What could he say? The girl grew on him.

Gladio just looked over at Tony with a raised brow, waiting for a few seconds for him to readjust his choices. But when he didn't... "You get Prompto and Regis...?" While he was pretty sure Tony had just picked people he had yet to piss off, Gladio couldn't help feeling a little... unamused that the asshole had picked two of the five people from his world that he called family. But, he'd also said there would be overlap. And aside from the last two...

"Not sure I like this game." He decided and went back to shovelling up debris.

"But so long as we don't serve an underage kid alcohol I don't see why they can't go in the bar. That's why I said we should think about juices. Maybe soda's." They'll be selling food, after all. And have some games, if Tony got his way. People would want to come in and the money of a 16 year old was just as good as the money of a 60 year old.

Tony flashed him a grin, but paused when he saw the younger man was having a much different reaction to this conversation than he'd thought. He tilted his head a bit and frowned unsure what was going through his friend's mind.

He glanced toward the doorway where they been interrupted before, but decided he couldn't approach again like he wanted to. "Hey, I just thought our family was obvious so we should split them. If you only get five people you should get to have a couple friends, not just the people from back home. I'm not really 'claiming' them. We can call it our top ten instead. Regis, Pyra, Prompto, Noct, Ignis, and.. is Ardyn in the inner circle or not? I can't tell. He seems to be with Regis, but we've never talked about him- a different time though. I'm more interested in what's going on in that lovely, little head of yours."

He could see the reasoning behind juice and sodas for those under 18. He was onboard with the idea too... but maybe he liked Mina and would probably sneak her a few things here and there, but overall, she was paying.

"It's not important. But Ardyn should be included, yeah. Luna too. Suppose we should leave it at that. Bar named Insomnia, makes sense the people from Insomnia get discounts." He laughed a bit as he carried on shovelling... But he also knew hedging wouldn't fly too well with Tony. Knew he was moments from being called out. So he sighed, not looking over, just carrying on with his work.

"... I just realised that I've been keepin to myself since coming here is all." His pool of friends had narrowed considerably. From a dozen or more to... just the people who where near obligated to be his friend. Once the bar was finished, he knew he'd have to make more of an effort in this world. Closing himself off wasn't going to help anyone.

"So.. seven and employees? How very biblical of you." Tony teased lightly. When he got the inevitable weird look, he added, "Religious. It's.. an Earth thing."

Gladio knew him so well. He was just gearing up to question that remark when the other man explained. He watched his friend for a moment, with a sympathetic frown. "You've needed time to adjust. We lost a lot of people we were close to coming here. Seven people plus employees isn't that bad of a start. It's better than coming here and picking fights constantly with other people."

Definitely getting a weird look there. Another Earth thing that went over his head. Gladio was starting to wonder if that place was as crazy as it seemed.

"It's tough starting over again, huh?" He commented lightly, scooping up some rubble and chocolate and depositing it in the container he was using. It was almost full so he'd have to haul it out and get rid of it soon. "Least we don't have to rush here. Nothing forced. And..." He glanced over at Tony with a small half smile. "You did come here and pick fights, you dumbass."

What Earth wasn't allowed to have religious references? He had to learn about the stupid Leviathan and Titan from Ignis. Does he have any idea how ~~cutely~~ annoying that history lesson was?

"It is," he agreed and went back to shoveling. He wondered if he detected a note of depression in Gladio's voice. He didn't like that. He would have to think of some new tactics to use over the next couple weeks to make the man feel better.

He chuckled though when he was called out. "That's why I wouldn't recommend it. It's not nearly as fun as it looks."

"It's not. Don't know why you keep doing it." Though, in a way, Gladio knew. How often did Tony annoy him? The only difference was he'd known Tony longer than anyone else, save for Feanor. And they tolerated the annoying parts because the good parts... the good parts where really good.

"Wish you'd let more people realise what a good man you are." It wasn't something he'd push, Tony would do whatever Tony wanted to do. But Gladio also understood how much stress that put him under. They should have been taking the time to relax more.

"I'm not doing it on purpose," Tony grumbled, though that didn't even sound as convincing as he wanted it to.

He dumped his shovel load into the trash can and signaled mentally for Friday to send Mark 85 down to them to dump their buckets. "What's my incentive? If they think I'm an ass, they'll leave me alone. If they think I'm a 'good man', next thing I know I'm on a medical bed and they're blowing up my one and only sanctuary. Or they're idolizing me and I let them down. Or they're asking for advice or help and I end up becoming a monster. Or they never stop questioning every little thing I do and I'm so busy re-proving myself that I miss out on time spent on things that really matter. I'd rather just.. you know, be your friend. Maybe Pyra's. I think we should buy Prompto a puppy.."

"... Not everyone is going to blow your shit up, idolise or make you a monster. Maybe they'll just get to know the man and learn to like him?" Gladio suggested. Like he did.

Gladio didn't have plans to destroy any of Tony's belongings. He didn't have him on a pedestal and so far he didn't think of Tony as a monster for the advice and help he'd been given already. It didn't seem fair for him to put everyone in little boxes left by other people. Not everyone was the same...

But he got the hint and nodded, leaning back. "Alright. But where would you buy a puppy?"

Tony looked at Gladio and gave him a small but genuine smile. "Why do you think I like you so much? Besides, your fine bod, that is."

Was it a silly reason to be afraid of getting close to people again? Probably, but it is what it is. "I'm working on it," he promised. He was getting better, day by day. "But maybe you could 'fess up to why you've been holding yourself back."

He shrugged about the last bit. "Noctis has a dog. Can we ask him?"

"Figured there had to be a reason..." Gladio fell quiet for a moment, the question taking him by surprise some. "I can't say. I didn't think I was... Not deliberately anyway." But he knew he wasn't going to any actual effort and thats what needed to change. He needed to make more of an effort. There where people in this world he hadn't even spoken to yet, he saw them walking around but had never approached. Maybe he should be doing that more?

"Umbra? He's from our world, Tony. He's not some dog they picked up here." A pause and then a smile. "He's a special dog."

"Hey, it's like you just said about the bar. We've got time. So what if you needed some time to enjoy not having eight hundred people bothering you all the time. You're ready now and that's a good thing. The bar will help you meet new people," Tony said encouragingly. He really wanted to go and give Gladio a supportive hug or kiss, but again.. he was trying to behave while people were around.

"Oh. What about the other pets in their house? I could ask Lup. When's his birthday?" He didn't remember celebrating it on the train, but he might not have noticed. "What makes Umbra special?"

Edited 2021-03-25 19:00 (UTC)

That as true enough. Not being swamped by people, by voices and needs not his own, he'd just been taking the time to find his feet. Now he was ready and yes, the bar would help. It would help them both.

"They've a full house. You think they'd welcome another dog?" He laughed. "His birthday's October 25th. As for Umbra... hard to tell. But he's no ordinary dog." And that was where Gladio was leaving that. Honestly he wasn't too sure himself. What he did know was that the dog had had the ability to find Noct wherever he was.

"Fuck it." He tossed his shovel and walked back over to Gladio. He pushed his roommate's shove aside and hooked his hand behind his neck. He pulled him down into a firm, brazen kiss. He let it linger there for a few moments, savoring it before drawing back. "Are you okay? Really?"

He didn't really care about the dogs at the moment. "If I didn't know any better, you sound depressed. And I can't have that. I like my Gladio's happy. Is there anything I can do?"

Gladio was confused when Tony dropped his shovel and stormed over. He honestly though Tony intended to hit him... and didn't lift a hand to stop it, should the punch come. But instead of a fist he was pulled down into a kiss that was even more surprising. At least, until they parted and his friend spoke.

He smiled and wrapped his arms around Tony to pull him into a hug and a much gentler second kiss. "I'm not depressed. You'd be the first person I come to if that happens. I've learned my lesson there." Dealing with those feelings along had been hard. It had been so much easier once he'd admitted he wasn't okay. But right now? He was okay. "I'm better than I've been in a while."

"Really?" He asked, breaking into a big smile. His dark eyes searching Gladio's face for a moment, looking for any reason to worry or not to believe him, but no. His friend really was happy and there weren't words for how that made Tony feel. Just when he thought he couldn't do anything right, he gets something beautiful like this handed to him. That deserved at least three kisses.

"So even though you just found out that all your friends really like me better and would've liked to be on my 'free booze' list you're okay?" He teased lightly. "The first night we can secure the locks and windows on this place, we're christening this place. Got it? Better wear your skimpiest panties."

"Really." He promised. While it might not have all been happy moments, there where stresses and doubts, he was generally happy. Or at least in good spirits. Definitely not depressed.

Gladio laughed but didn't bother to comment on that. It didn't dignify a response. Tony could think whatever he wanted, Gladio knew the truth. The other though... "Stark... You don't shit where you work and you don't fuck there either. No one'll bother coming here if they know what we get up to."

"First of all, no one cares." Tony laughed and shook his head. "I do shit where I work, it's called the restroom. And I fuck anywhere I damn well please," he sassed and stepped back. "But because it's you and I'm such a romantic, I'm willing to wait till there's a roof without holes in it and windows so no one will hear us. I mean, if that isn't respect, I don't know what is."

He's learned you give Gladio an idea and let him balk at it, then you let him think about it. After a few weeks, he'll execute and give the man the romance he really deserved. It was fun to keep the younger man guessing.

Just as he was opening his mouth, he overheard one of the teenagers joining the group in the other room. He sighed. It was time to behave again. "We need something new to talk about that's rated G." Which meant, Tony was out of ideas.

"Such a romantic." Gladio's tone was thick with sarcasm, as was the eye roll. But he let Tony back off and again believe what he liked. He was pretty sure their ideas of romance where vastly different. Somehow they'd have to find a way to meet in the middle. Maybe... It was just sex, right? Who really needed romance for that?

"I'm not the one with the mind in the gutter, Stark. I'm just working over here. Keep your hands to yourself and you won't risk scarring your workers." He chuckled and went for his shovel again. "Sooner we get this place up and runnin the better."

If only he knew. Tony glanced back at Gladio and winked at him with the most devious of smiles. His brain was working magic over here and he wanted the other man to know.

He laughed. "That's why you're on deck, because there's no way I can work and not talk. If I can't be trusted with the subject matter, that leaves everything riding on those chiseled to perfection shoulders of yours."

He noticed something on the ground though and went over to snoop. Yep, another live wire. Did no one give this place a proper inspection before shutting it down? Pulled out some tools from the belt he wore and crouched low. "I'm still waiting.." He teased, even as he kept his eyes on what he was doing. These could really start a fire if they weren't careful. "Glad we let this place dry out before we started work," he muttered. As nasty as the chocolate was caked on things, the moisture could've been a lot worse.

He thought about it. Tony wanted him to start a conversation and being asked that directly had stalled Gladio's brain. He couldn't think of a damn thing to say. So he just watched his friend quietly as he did something with a wire.

So he waited.

And then, in the most deadpan of voices...

"I'm pregnant."

Almost got it, just another clip and the wire would be- wait- "What?!"- Bzzzp!

Tony yelped, way more out of surprise than pain as his brain short-circuited, and spun around to stare at Gladio. His friend would be able to see on his face when his mind rebooted and he finally realized what he'd just heard.

He put a hand to his heart as he burst out laughing. "I said talk to me! Not try to kill me!"

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