[Video]

[callmegladio]

[The feed opens on Gladio, sat in his garden, the sun shining down on him. The sky is bright, the weather warm but a cool breeze ruffles his hair. The garden is well tended, green and well kept. The scene might have been a lovely and calm one if not for the serious look on Gladio's face. He's not quite looking at the screen, but off to the side, seemingly lost in thought for a long moment before he heaves a heavy sigh.

Still not looking at the screen, he starts to speak.]

It's been long enough. I've had time to think, so I'm going to tell you why I did what I did.

[He goes quiet again, considering his next words.]

I know... some of you are pissed we did this. You were happy livin in blissful ignorance, trusting this world without question. And for a while I was too. Till I realised how messed up that was.

I was so desperate for a peaceful life I didn't think...

[Gladio glanced at the screen then, his eyes narrow slightly.]

When did we all just roll over and accept this insanity? We were kidnapped from our homes, our families, and trapped in this bubble. We were given the most basic info and told to accept it. The most basic food we can't even really call 'food', and we accepted it. We were given tasks and rules and hoops to jump through, and we accepted it. We were forced to touch, kiss, hold and reveal secrets to strangers, and we accepted it. It was the 'will of the Gods'. We all just nodded and accepted it. Why? Why have we accepted all this? Why do people keep coming and going? Where do they go? Do they just go home? Or are they taken? Are they being hurt? Experimented on like the animals they had us catch? Why do these weird things keep happening? Why can't they answer our questions?

And why are we terrorists for wanting answers? We hurt no one. We destroyed nothing. We're the heroes of this world, right? Here to save the planet. So what are they keeping so secret?

Why aren't you all asking questions?

Why're you just rolling over and accepting their truth?

[Again he looks away, heaved another heavy sigh and brought a hand up to rub tiredly at his eyes. He definitely looked tired. Stressed. His tone shifting from angry to confused to desperate for people to understand, and for himself to understand why no one else was fighting.]

We're forced from our homes... Our families. We form bonds with people only to watch them vanish. And... I don't know bout anyone else, but I didn't consent to this. I never signed up for this world.

I want answers. We wanted answers. And we weren't gettin them. So we went looking for them.

[Here he laughs, low and without humour. A shake of his head and a sardonic glance at the screen.]

The fact the natives reacted the way they did should be a red flag. What're they protecting so badly? What's so secret? What aren't they telling us? Is it about what really happened to this world? Who these 'Gods' are? How we actually got here and why? Where our friends go when they suddenly disappear?

And we're the bad guys?

How's that make sense?

[Gladio shrugged and with one last sigh he reached out and switched the feed off. He'd said what he wanted. Now he would lie down in the sun and try and calm down.]

Comments

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony listened impatiently as Katsuki answered, though it was frustrating when so much of it he got wrong. He was all ready to point that out, but that last part caught his attention like a semi-truck's horn.]

Ah-ha! That's what this is about. This isn't about me or this mission! This is why you're always so angry. Who did you let get hurt? Who weren't you strong enough for, kid?

[He held back the vial. If Katsuki wanted this, he needed to answer that question.]

[hot_handed]

I'M NOT ALWAYS ANGRY!

[Katsuki moved to try and snatch away the vial, scowling at his own error. Why the hell did he open his mouth? When he couldn't grab the vial, he stepped back and rolled his eyes.]

I ain't doing this.

[He didn't want to think about it, and definitely didn't want to have that kind of heart to heart with anyone. Ever.]

[runs_on_batteries]

You are.

[Tony spoke firmly but he lowered his tone. It was less angry and more concerned. He then simply gave the vial to him.]

Those times when you screw up and you aren't strong enough aren't the only ones you get. People get hurt sometimes. People you love get hurt sometimes. That doesn't make you a bad person and it doesn't mean you aren't a hero.

[He stepped forward and put his hands on both Katsuki's shoulders.]

If you really don't want to tell me, you don't have to. That's your story and your private business. Just know that it doesn't define you and I've done a lot worse.

[hot_handed]

And you're stupidly reckless.

[Katsuki grumbled, taking the vial and staring at it for a second. Did he pour it on his wound? Did he drink it? He didn't really care. It wasn't just that he wasn't strong enough- not just in the physical sense, anyway. It was more than that. He didn't want to lose any more people, but he couldn't stop thinking about what Mina had told him. What if he could stop it, just like he could stop Tony from dying? But he wasn't strong enough right now, not to stop the gods if they got bored with having Tony or anyone else here, or if they decided it was more trouble than they were worth.

Tony's hands snapped him out of his thoughts and he averted his gaze, gritting his teeth to try and keep any tears at bay. His shoulders relaxed somewhat in relief when his mentor left him off the hook, but...]

But you're wrong. I'm not strong enough yet. I'm still the reason the Number One Hero from my world got hurt- because I wasn't heroic enough. The League of Villain Scum chose me and he got hurt so I- I have to make it fucking mean something. But I don't know how to fight gods. I can't take 'em on right now, this is the only thing I can do to keep those bastards from targeting you or my friends.

[runs_on_batteries]

Drink it.

[He listened for a few moments before giving Katsuki a pat on his cheek that was almost a light slap. He needed the kid to snap out of it.]

You can't do that either. My boy, the only thing you can do is let this nonsense blow over. The bomb has already gone off and we're just letting the dust settle. People are going to whine and bitch over all this but it doesn't mean anything. It'll be okay.

[He gave the young man's shoulder an affectionate squeeze.]

Whatever you did wrong in the past is in the past. You want to take those lessons and use them as reminders as why you're fighting so hard to do things the right way now. You remember how much it sucks when you do it the wrong way and people get hurt. Sometimes that guilt is good and you can use it, but don't let it own you either. You aren't your mistakes. You're not a bad person because you screwed up, Katsuki.

[Hypocrite.]

I believe in the good I see in you. I believe you're a hero. I believe you can be everything you want to be. We've just got to work on getting your anger under control and getting you some armor.

[hot_handed]

[For once, Katsuki didn't argue. He gulped the drink down, noting the not entirely foreign feeling of his rib beginning to mend and the pain beginning to dissipate. At least a potion was a lot more pleasant than being kissed by Recovery Girl.

But his frantic thoughts kept wondering until the pat snapped it out of it. He stopped and stared, red eyes wide as he listened.

And then he felt his lower lip begin to tremble. His eyes misted over a bit as Tony's words sunk in. He knew he would keep getting physically stronger, but that guilt, fear and uncertainty loomed over him, driving him, when it came to other equally important traits heroes were supposed to have. He had to work his ass off so the past wouldn't repeat, but Tony- Tony didn't think he was a villain masquerading as a hero, he didn't think that he was weak, or not good enough. He thought he was a hero. He understood where he was coming from and it quieted some of that anger.

It felt good to be acknowledged.

Ducking his head down to the side, he moved a palm over his eyes for a second, and once he was calm enough he patted his mentor on the shoulder and kept his hand there, his voice somewhat hoarse as he attempted to crack a lighthearted joke.]

Will the armor explode?

[runs_on_batteries]

[Tony gave him a reassuring smile. Katsuki was a good kid even if he was just as explosive as his bombs. At the joke, he ruffled his hair and laughed.]

With you around? No doubt! But we'll pick up those Legos later. Now come on, how about we get you home and watch something violent and explosive on TV.

[hot_handed]

[Katsuki snorted and rolled his eyes, secretly grateful for the offer and subject change. Tony didn't patronize him, but he didn't ignore him either.]

Sure. But only if it's really explosive. I'll cook us something.