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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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Could do what I'd planned on the Voidtrecker... I'd wanted to get fruit trees. A-Qing had me convinced, we needed to be self-sufficient." And he'd planned on doing just that. The last thing he'd done before leaving had been to buy a hell of a lot of fruit, vegetable and herb seeds to grow and start to fend for themselves. The train couldn't be trusted to give them food that would last, food that could keep almost 300 people going. And if this world was going to grow, maybe they'd have to do the same thing. They'd have to seed it, to help it thrive again.

"I want to hear about Earth." Gladio confirmed with a smile, a smile that widened when he was kissed. When Tony moved to lay more on his chest, Gladio's hand moved from his friends arm to his back, slowly moving up and down.

He wasn't wrong though. There seemed to be many versions of Earth. He'd heard a few, though not in detail. It was one of the reasons he was curious about where Tony came from, how much it differed from what he knew. So he listened quietly, slowly rubbing Tony's back as he spoke.

"The city that never sleeps, huh?" And his own beloved Insomnia. He could see the similarity and it amused him. "So big city, center of your world. Tell me more?"

"Add space for fruit trees, big ass work space, bath for two, and.. whatever else to the list with the fireplace," Tony recommended with a grin. He was getting a very strange combination of his Malibu and cabin homes in his mind and it was making him want to laugh. Gladio would hate that California place.

Given where he kept placing his head, he couldn't help but admire the man's chest. Gladio's body should be sculpted in marble. His lip curled as he ran a hand along toned muscles and broad pecs. The man's chest would put some women to shame- and that wasn't even mentioning these perfect little nips. He ran his fingers over it, enjoying how it felt in his hand.

He kept talking, pretending he wasn't doing anything distracting with his hands at all. "There are other important cities, but yeah. Very central, particularly to my worldview. Let's see.. the country is so large it covers just about every kind of terrain depending on the state. New York is on the northeastern coast, so the winters can get rough."

Palming Gladio's whole breast was fun too. Squeeze. "Our country's technology is better than what I've seen so far of Verstael's and Sully's, though much closer to Verstael's. Magic isn't something known to most people except what they've seen on TV with the Avengers- which is the group I was apart of. Up until our first encounter with a global invader, the worst we'd seen were the evils and ugliness that were just other people- which.. can be really ugly and evil."

Did he have the energy to bang Gladio? He really liked banging Gladio.. he had such a great ass.

Space for trees, a big bath and a fireplace. He was sure they could work that into the design and he would have said as much, if he wasn't distracted by what Tony was doing. The hand running over his chest was bad enough, but when the asshole just went and straight up squeezed his pecs, Gladio had to stretch a hand down and swat his friends ass.

"Oi... We're having serious talks here. Stop copping a feel." In truth it didn't do much for him, clearly it was more entertaining for Tony though. He was trying to pretend he wasn't doing anything, but Gladio could tell from his smile and the look in his eyes. Tony liked what he was doing. And that was just a little confusing but Gladio wasn't going to knock it.

Tony wondered if they could have a custom house built. This place was simultaneously both so normal and unfamiliar. It was hard to always gauge how things worked here without having to research every detail. To be honest, it sometimes gave him a headache, but at least they had the opportunity to do things they wanted here.

He busted out laughing when he was abruptly spanked. He lifted his head and grinned roguishly down at his roommate. "What?! You have an amazing rack! Have you seen this thing? I'm only human." Still, he tried to settle down again. "I've always admired your bird too. That's.. actually why I used to call you 'Tweetie Bird'. It was a joke because he's the most famous cartoon bird.. a yellow sparrow I believe. And this is.. what? A hawk? Eagle?"

He probably would know the difference if he'd had any interest in learning more about them. Up until this exact moment, he hadn't felt the need but now he wished he did.

"Rack...?" Gladio looked down at himself and just didn't see what Tony saw. Muscle, sure. But clearly his idea of breasts and Tony's where two different things. And he wasn't entirely sure how he felt about Tony seeing female attributes on him... Gladio was generally pretty secure in his own masculinity but that didn't mean he needed to be told he had a great set of tits.

"... It's a Raptor. I suppose an Eagle'd be the closest comparison. What it really is got lost generations ago, it's a symbol of the Shield." And he might have gone all out on his tattoo. "Took weeks to get it finished. You really like it?"

Tony laughed, catching that look. He shook his head and leaned down to plant a kiss on Gladio's cheek. "I'm just playing around with you. You have a very sexy, masculine chest. But, come on, you're more impressive than my wife was... you sure I cop a feel a little longer?" He teased, putting his hand back where it was to grope his pec again.

"Why did they pick that as the symbol? Is there a legend or story behind it?" He nodded, guessing that kind of detail had to have been a ton of work. Gladio and these other Shields clearly were a little crazy. "I love it. I couldn't take my eyes off it when I first saw it. Still can't most of the time."

"You're an asshole." Gladio grumbled. He felt like he should be stopping him, but that boyish smile of his was kinda cute and he seemed to be having fun. Gladio just found it weird as hell that Tony seemed to like doing it. In the end he couldn't help laughing.

"From what I remember, the workin theory is it's a supposed to be a representation of Enkidu, the companion of Gilgamesh. He was the first Royal Shield. Except Enkidu is a dragon looking bastard so I've no idea..." Gladio had ran into them both while taking on his trial and he didn't remember any giant Eagles flying around. Just a big ass dragon.

"I know." Tony grinned, taking that as permission to keep touching the man underneath him. He couldn't help himself, he loved touching these amazing muscles. He didn't need this to go anywhere either. Just the act of skin on skin was satisfying coupled with learning more about each other.

"Wasn't he related to the story of how you got your scars? You told me some of that when we had our first heart to heart in the garden carriage, I believe." It was hard to fully remember though. "Your world seems very keen on the notion of reincarnation."

It didn't help that Tony knew. Somehow it made it worse! But Gladio... didn't really mind it so much. So long as Tony stopped equating them to female anatomy they would be just fine..

He went back to running his hand up and down Tony's back then, trying to think back to the conversation he'd had with him all those months ago.

"He was the one who gave me most of them, yeah. But he wasn't a reincarnation, Tony. He was the real deal. He'd never really died. He was... it's hard to explain." He sighed. "He was a test. It was his job to test the strength of the Royal Shields to find their worth, their strength. Not many survived. I did. But I never killed Gilgamesh. I don't think anyone really can." Like Ardyn.

Don't be ashamed of your muscle titties, Gladio. They're beautiful, just like the rest of you!

Tony frowned, not understanding what this creature was. "Is he considered a god then? How'd you get his sword if you didn't kill him? Also, why would they be so hellbent on killing the ones trying to defend their beloved city like those other Royal Shields? Not to discredit what you achieved, though. It is impressive you were victorious when few others could."

It felt really nice having his back stroked like that. His hand stilled and he silently wished he was good enough for Gladio.

"The sword was actually Cor's. When he was younger, my dad was supposed to challenge Gilgamesh but refused. So Cor decided to take the trial himself. He couldn't defeat him but managed to get out alive. No one had done that before, but he lost his sword in the battle. When I defeated Gilgamesh, I was given the sword.

"He wasn't hellbent on killing Shields. Just finding the one strong enough to be able to kill him." He sighed a little and closed his eyes. "There's more to it. More I don't understand myself. But it was somethin I had to do." Gladio had needed to prove to himself, as much as anyone else, that he was still strong. After Ravus defeated him, Gladio had had doubts. But now he knew it was within him, the strength needed to be Noct's Shield when the time came.

"Why didn't your father challenge him? Clarus, right?" He'd been learning more about the older Shield from Regis. Tony looked up at Gladio, he seemed even more impressed than he'd sounded a moment ago. Of course, there was also a naughty little grin too. "You mean, you out lasted the 'Immortal'? I'm so going to have to brag to Reggie about that."

He wanted to ask more, but from how it sounded Gladio might not know the answers. "You're one of the strongest people I've ever met and I've met the strongest of my world. I hope that was the end of any doubting yourself."

"As the story goes, he refused because his duty was to remain at Regis' side. If he went in, who would be left to protect the King if he didn't come back out? His name was Clarus, yeah." He looked down at Tony and smiled a bit at that. "Cor got that name because he came out alive. He was only 15 I think. If he'd gone in at the age I was, maybe he would've beaten him? Who knows?"

Gladio was quiet for a moment then. The end of him doubting himself? Hardly. But it helped regain some of the confidence he'd lost after his fight with Ravus. "It proved to me that I was meant to be beside the Chosen King. And that's all that mattered at the time. I knew my place."

"Hmm. What do you think about him doing that?" Tony could've been spouting off his opinions or asking relentless questions of Gladio till he understood the situation completely, but he decided on a different approach tonight. He wanted to know what Gladio thought of his dad and his dad's actions. That was the part that mattered.

Tony sighed knowing that wasn't the same as what he'd just asked, but it was important. "I know it matters so much to you and your culture that you're there for your king. You know how I feel about both Noctis and Reggie too. But something like that should've told you about you as an individual as well. Gladdy, you're so strong and you're way more than just the Shield."

"It makes sense." Gladio replied. "I'd have felt the same way, but..." Now he sighed and closed his eyes. "There was a battle... and I lost. I took a knock to my confidence. I didn't think I was worthy enough to be Noct's Shield, so I needed to be sure. I took on the trail. Either I lost and proved I wasn't worthy or I won and there was no questions of who I was."

His eyes opened and he looked down at Tony with a warm, gentle smile. "I know I'm more than just a Shield. But I took on that trail for myself. To prove to myself more than anyone else."

Tony frowned as he listened sympathetically. He knew what it was like to lose a battle. There was the pain from whatever physical injuries dealt but the mental kind could be so much worse. For someone to take Gladio down, they must've been very powerful and could've prevented Tony from ever meeting this wonderful man.

When their eyes met, he smiled back, thinking about how grateful he was Gladio was there with him. "I understand. And I know I don't have a firm grasp of everything that entails or the history around it, but I'm proud of you."

"Means a lot to hear ya say that." And it did. His dad was gone. Cor had said he was proud of him. No one else. Not that he'd done it for praise, he would have gone his whole life without recounting the story if needs be. Gladio wasn't boasting. But knowing that someone out there was proud of him felt... good.

"Just listening to my story is good enough for me, you don't have to understand it all. It was just somethin I had to do at the time." And he was glad he'd gotten through it. If he hadn't, he wouldn't be where he was right then. And it was exactly where he wanted to be.

Tony stretched out his hand and traced Gladio's cheek with his thumb gently. Just like himself, Gladdy could fool much of the world he was invincible. There were many out there who would only see the muscles and forget the man with a heart and feelings underneath. He couldn't help but wonder how often Gladio's so called friends had told him things like that or were they among the fools?

"How often have you told your story?" He asked, a touch of concern to his voice. "This was after your father passed away, wasn't it? What about your mother?"

"I never got the chance to tell the guys about it. I wonder if I ever did... I think I might have, they seem to know about it." And the only way they could know is if he told them, Cor wouldn't have gone into detail. "I've talked about it once or twice here. Pyra and Ardyn mainly. Ardyn actually knew the guy. Gilgamesh was basically me. He trained Ardyn and his brother."

He's smile became a little sad then. "Mom passed when I was 8. My dad died when Insomnia fell."

Tony nodded at that. He was glad they knew about it and clearly they'd talked about it with this Gladio. He wrapped his arm around the large man as best he could from where he was laying on his chest. He was glad his roommate had told him too.

He was about to mention how strange Ardyn was, but he got distracted by Gladio next tidbit of personal history. "I'm sorry, Gladdy. Both of mine died when I was twenty-one. They were murdered.. by Bucky, actually. It's why things were always so weird between us, but in the end, I had to let it go. He was being mind-controlled and didn't know what he was doing. Still.. I had to see the footage and I don't know if I'll ever stop seeing it. How did your mother pass?"

"Never did like that guy much..." Gladio was never really sure why, but there had just been something about Bucky that had left him feeling unsettled. "I'm sorry, Tony. That you had to see that."

"... She got sick, not long after Iris was born. She just never got better. Eventually she fell asleep and... just never woke up again." He spoke in a low voice. His eyes had closed and the hand that had been rubbing Tony's back had stopped moving as he spoke. "She'd been a strong woman. Vibrant and full of life. Always smiling. Always laughing..."

"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.

"Maybe you'll tell me about it one day?" Gladio suggested quietly, after he was kissed. He wasn't sure how he helped but he wasn't about to argue with the man if he did. All he could hope was that he continued helping, in whatever way that was. If just 'being around' was what did it, then he'd be around.

"Yeah, she was. She was... as far as I know, she wasn't a fighter. She was everythin my dad wasn't. Gentle and sweet, but I think she could have thrown down if her family was on the line." His lips twitched at that, almost a smile. His eyes did open again when he felt Tony's fingers in his hair and he went quiet to listen to him. His mother sounded like most of the noble's from back home, people he'd never really had the time for really. Too busy with fancy thing and making an impression. But what about Tony? "She was good to you though, right?"

"I plan on telling you all of my stories and hearing all of your stories eventually," Tony assured him. As long as the gods of this world let him stay, he was going to be at Gladio's side faithfully. He couldn't foresee any reason that would be enough to break this bond between them- and he prayed he never would.

Tony found himself smiling again hearing about Gladio mother. He wondered how his life would've been different if Maria had been more like her. "What was her name?" He asked, admiring her already.

He sighed and shrugged. "I suppose. I think now looking back, they both did the best they knew how to do. She was kind and affectionate, but she wasn't the type to stand up for herself or for me. I was raised, though, by nannies, the boarding schools, and my family's butler named Edwin Jarvis. He was a good man, but he passed away shortly after my parents did. He was the one who had any time or patience for me. I wasn't an easy child to deal with."

Tony sighed again, but the story kept going. Now that he felt safe and had a captive audience, he couldn't stop. He didn't understand this impulse but then again, he wasn't trying to either. It was Gladio and Tony trusted that he'd be responsible with both the information and the vulnerability he was displaying. If that wasn't trust and love from Tony Stark, nothing was.

"My dad was cold, calculating, and never around. The happiest I'd ever seen him was when he sent me away to boarding school at seven. The son of a bitch was a genius though, both in technology and with industry. It was his brilliance that built Stark Industries that we've earned our fame and fortune from. It's by far the best and worst thing he ever did."

He nodded, happy with that. He'd liked to hear the stories, everything Tony wanted to tell him. He'd listen.

"Mom." Gladio answered with a grin. He'd been 8, he'd only known her as 'mom'. But yes, she did have a name. "Ixia. That was her name." He'd begun running his hand along Tony's back then, falling quiet once more to listen to his friend talk about his family.

He frowned. Sometimes he'd felt the same way about his own father. Cold. Unfeeling. But he'd learned there were reasons for that, it wasn't always how he'd been. Maybe it was the case here? Or maybe Tony's dad was a straight up asshole who should have been ashamed of himself? Gladio had no idea and couldn't really judge. But what he could do was lean up and press a warm kiss to Tony's lips. "... You turned out a better man than him, for what it's worth."

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