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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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"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!"

Gladio's expression never changed. Grave and serious, he looked steadily at Tony.

"Guess Iggy never told you Eosian have a 5% chance of getting pregnant, huh?" Throw in percentages. Random 'facts' to make the lie sound more real. That's the way to do it. That and keeping an utterly straight face.

The laughter faded and Tony was left staring at the large man with the most conflicted look on his face. He kept trying to speak, his mouth would even open and start trying to form words but nothing came out.

Okay, logically, he knew this had to be Gladio joking with him. He knew that. He was so.. almost positive.

The only hang up was of course something no one would know but Tony and the Ignis he used to be with on the train. And.. one particular kink the younger man had always enjoyed a little too much. He'd always assumed it was a kink at least? Could he have.. was Gladio.. there was no way.. but..

"What?" He finally squeaked.

There it was. That little hint doubt where Tony started to think he was telling the truth.

Gladio... could have dragged it on. Was even tempted. But the look in Tony's eyes was enough to let him know that he could go too far with this. So, with a heavy sigh, Gladio let his shovel drop against the wall and walked over to his friend. He lifted his hands and dropped them onto Tony's shoulders...

"... I'm joking." And now he grinned, laughter in his voice. "Had you for a second there though."

There was still plenty of doubt on his face until Gladio was in front of him and not smacking him in the head for being insensitive.

He breathed a sigh of relief to learn it was a joke and felt the heat blossom on his cheeks. There was no two ways about it, he'd been had. "You got me," he agreed, laughing and thinking he just might kill his roommate tonight in his sleep. "That.. that was the funniest thing you've ever done," he admitted, very begrudgingly.

"You Eosians are freaks.." he muttered, with a playful tone. "You know I'm going to get you back for that right?"

A brow rose. "I'm a freak for making a joke?" Now Tony got the smack upside the head. "Rude."

Gladio dropped his hands and returned to his shovel, laughing the whole way. Tony could get back at him if he wanted. But to Gladio, teasing someone like this was a form of affection for him. It was his way of showing he cared. He cared enough and felt relaxed enough to let his guard down, to want to make an effort to get a smile and a laugh from someone else.

Tony laughed and took the punishment with only mild protest. "Hey, you knew that going in," he teased back. Gladio barely got turned around before his ass was smacked and Tony was dusting himself off.

He glanced back and smirked. "It's disappointing really. I think you'd be real cute in one of those maternity gowns and going to your Lamaze class." He chuckled at it. "With your name and Iris would we have to name it like.. tulip."

Tony was very lucky he didn't just turn and smack him again for that hit to his ass. He just looked at him with narrowed eyes before he turned back around to listen to how disappointed his friend was he wasn't actually pregnant. Now he was almost amused.

"Who says I'd wear a gown?" He hesitated, then smiled. "And Dahlia. Not Tulip."

Tony continued to just watch Gladio a few moments. It was a very amusing topic, but.. it was also hiding something painful underneath. He couldn't help but wonder..

"Is that what you would want to name your daughter?" He asked gently. Dahlia Amicitia. Beautiful and strong, just like her dad. He could see it.

"That's right." He smiled a bit wider and nodded. Thinking about kids and such wasn't something he typically did. It wasn't a fantasy he entertained on the regular. "Read the name in a book and always liked it. So if I ever have kids, the girl gets named that."

And one day he would. Naturally or adopted, he didn't care. One day when he was older and he was settled and things in his life, his world, where at peace... he'd have that family.

If only Tony knew what he was thinking. He would've begged him. Don't wait. Don't wait or it might be too late. Fortunately he had no part in this. This story, this tale was Gladio's and it was a beautiful one, assuming the younger man would get the chance.

"What about if you had a son? Do you have a name picked out for him too?" He leaned against his shovel, smiling softly at his friend. Why they'd never talked about this, he didn't know. "You'd make a really good father, Gladdy. You're lightyears ahead of me when I was your age."

Probably even now.

"Helio or Luka." He replied without hesitation. Then he grinned, realising he wasn't doing himself any favours with the 'not something he typically thought about' thing. But he supposed it was always an idea to be prepared. And if it never happened... he'd get dogs and name them after the kids he would have had.

"I think I would be, yeah. One day. In the future I hope it'll happen. But if not..." Gladio's own smile softened. "Adoption and fostering kids is a good direction to go in. Or just bein a kickass uncle. I can live with that too."

“Are those family names or ones that are important in your culture?” He asked. “I always liked the name Exton, personally.”

It would never happen, but that wasn’t the point of the conversation. “Are you like the king and have to marry for political gain or do you get to marry whomever you choose?

"Just names I liked the sound of." Gladio, tired of just standing in the middle of a ruined room, turned and went back to the wall from earlier and sat himself down on it. They really needed to get some chairs or something.

"Pretty sure I can marry who I want. Political marriages aren't unheard of. But... with my dad gone, it's just me and Iris now. I get to call the shots. So I marry who I want." Or not. Marriage wasn't a dealbreaker. A family wasn't a dealbreaker... mostly. It was desired, but who knew what the future held? From what he knew it would be a bleak future for everyone from Eos. Maybe a family really wasn't something he could attain? Maybe all it was was hopes and dreams with no real substance? Gladio just shrugged. "But who knows?"

Tony smiled and tossed the bits of wire in the trash. He liked that Gladio would get to marry who he wanted and name his children what he wanted. It felt better than being expected to use family names or those of the kingdom. He liked the flower theme. How sweet would it be to see Gladio with two little daughters, Dahlia and Marigold?

"If it's a dream, don't give up hope. We've seen weirder things happen," he remarked, trying to sound encouraging. He had only a little more to go in this corner, so he kept up the work. Was there a small part of him that was doing it so Gladio would watch him move? No. There was a big part and Tony was a gigantic fool.

"So.. think if we bribed the gods enough and promised kinky preggo sex, they'd let me knock you up?" He asked, playfully blowing Gladio a kiss.

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