InsaneJournal

When Gladio had originally looked at his apartment back home it had been a few things that had cemented his decision to purchase. But top of the list had definitely been the large patio area and the view at the time. And while the view in Vallo wasn't quite the same, and no longer in the shadow of the tall towers of the Citadel, there were other things that more than made up for it. And the view of Ignis, perfectly at home and tending to the planter ladder filled with herbs - well that was better than any view Insomnia could have given Gladio.

Gladio plucked another tomato ready for using and set it into the little bucket. "How many did you want again?" he asked and gently gave another one on the vine a little squeeze to check for readiness.

There was something utterly domestic about it, the late afternoon sun warm as they tended to the little garden set up. The sounds of the video game Noctis had been playing before falling asleep on the couch filtered through the open patio doors. Henruit had lept up onto the outdoor couch on the patio, snoozing away himself, their newest little addition curling around Gladio's feet curiously. And as much as Gladio desperately missed his sister, missed Prompto, the others who hadn't been dragged here - he knew he'd be hard pressed to ever want to leave himself.

“Six or seven, if you can manage it.” Ignis had his little herb basket balanced on a knee as he crouched, pruning shears in hand. He snipped away at the herbs, trimming it back (the basil in particular was getting a little out of control) and taking extras. Their little garden had been blossoming as of late, the warmth and sunlight hitting the patio just enough to give them a desired crop.

And there was something domestic about it all that made Ignis feel calm each time he stepped out here. With Gladio, it was even more prevalent, and that warmth spread around him through the looks he gave his boyfriends. That heat was there now as he glanced over at Gladio and silently mused at just how lucky he was with all of this.

“If I start describing my plan for dinner, will you hate me for it?” It was a tease accompanied by a sly little grin in Gladio’s direction. “A tomato reduction in a basil-- Ow, damn it all.” His own distraction ended up being lightly snipping the very tip of his finger as he was more concerned with staring at Gladio than he was watching where he was cutting.

"Only because I know it'll make me hungry," Gladio answered lightly, a teasing grin sent Ignis' way. Though really, Gladio would listen to Ignis talk food whenever and whenever the other man wanted to. It was nice to hear the joy of it all in Ignis' voice, the little shift in his cadence that may not be hugely different to some but to Gladio who knew him well enough, screamed excitement.

But the sudden shift from food to ow had Gladio standing up from his tomato plant and moving toward Ignis. He grabbed a clean cloth from the supply cart and reached for Ignis' hand. He carefully dabbed at the little bit of blood that had pooled at the tip of Ignis' finger. It was, really, nothing to worry about once he saw the very minimal damage, and there was an amused smile on Gladio's face as he treated "the wound".

He peeked under the cloth. "I dare say, you might just live yet, Iggy," he said with a soft laugh and lifted Ignis' hand to press his lips softly to the tip of Ignis' finger.

Ignis felt a little silly, having Gladio suddenly doting over him. It really hadn’t been a bad cut, just a tiny prick at the annoying part of his finger, blood peeking out just a little as the seconds ticked away.

But he most certainly couldn’t complain about Gladio’s hands on him. That was nice, even if it came with teasing (something he expected these days regardless). Ignis caught himself staring at Gladio rather than the wound, which was barely on his mind, as he got this close. “Do you think so?” He could tease right back, with his own brand of dry humor. “I might have to get a second opinion.”

His second opinion was currently dozing on the sofa in the living room, but Ignis gave the sleeping Noct a fond glance anyway. “On second thought, it appears I’m stuck with you.” He didn’t sound as if he was at all sorry about that.

It was silly, but it was nice. Usually when injuries occurred it was in the midst of a battle and nothing at all like this silly little moment on the patio. And Gladio was more than content to revel in it. As he was every moment he'd been lucky enough to have here since they'd all arrived.

His gaze stayed on Ignis, warm and open. He still had a hold of Ignis' hand and his thumb brushed lightly against the skin. "I'd say you've been stuck with me for a good while now," Gladio pointed out with a warm smile. In so many ways Gladio wasn't even sure how to begin to express. In all of their world, in the world they'd found themselves, Gladio knew there was likely no one who understood the way Ignis did. What their lives entailed, what had been asked of them and what they had so freely given. Two sides of the same coin in so many ways, and it had been years now that Gladio had been grateful for Ignis' presence in his life.

That he could fully show that now? Well, that was something Gladio was sure he'd never tire of.

He reached his other hand to cup the side of Ignis' face, a heated look in gaze as he looked at him. "Hopefully for a good while longer as well," he added.

Ignis responded favorably, a flush creeping up over his neckline and towards his face, that heated gaze Gladio gave him was doing it’s job. He gave another quick glance to the snoozing Noctis behind them and smiled. “For a number of reasons, I hope.”

A long list that he could keep adding to it. Noct being out of the crystal, the three of them being safe. His eyesight. The fact that they were able to touch like this without fear of pulling away or eyes prying on them at this very second.

Well, eyes could still be prying, but their balcony was thankfully tucked away enough that it wasn’t as much of an issue. And it was far from his mind as Ignis leaned forward for a kiss, soft and sure. When he pulled back a moment later, he was still just as soft. “I am certainly not complaining. I’m very lucky to have you as such a steadfast companion.” Companion might not have been the right word, but he stuck to it regardless.

"Companion?" he teased Ignis with a smile. Though he supposed companion was as good a word as any, conveyed a connection. Especially when it came with Ignis' accent making it sound far more of a serious word than others might. "So formal, Iggy," he continued to tease though, and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of Ignis' mouth. "I love it," he added with a grin.

There was a pause there. Not hesitation, or uncertainty. Gladio was sure in what he felt, what he was about to say. As sure as breathing. And he held no worry that Ignis would rebuke the words - hadn't they been dancing around this very thing for years now really after all.

No, just a pause to acknowledge the moment. To brush his thumb across Ignis' sharp cheekbone and let the teasing fade from his expression into something much softer. "I love you," he said, warmly and open.

Ignis shouldn’t have been surprised. He wasn’t, not really, given their love for each other was all obvious. But had never been explicitly stated in Ignis’ direction. It wasn’t something he had allowed himself to dwell on, either, given that he joined the pair of them a little late and things were still an adjustment.

But he knew full well that he loved the pair of them - the three of them, if he were being completely honest - even before they’d entered into this relationship. Ignis wasn’t someone who did things halfway, and likely wouldn’t have ended up in his spot without those feelings being there.

So of course there was no rebuking, there was just love in return, a warm smile and a kiss as Ignis leaned forward to respond to Gladio’s with his own. “And I love you.” It felt necessary and right to say it, and it made him want to wake Noctis up in a moment to share the same thoughts with him. Just to cover all of his bases. “But if you do want me to use something other than Companion, speak up now. Boyfriend will still be there interchangeably.”

Gladio had known it had been there for…. years really. But to have it spoken out loud, acknowledged in such an open manner, brought a smile to his face. The simple joy of being able to be honest like this was evident in his expression as he looked at Ignis. And for all Gladio read those sweeping epics of tragic love and romance, there was something to be said about the simplicity of this moment. The kind of soft and easy declaration that never would have been possible for them back home.

And so he stole another quick kiss, because he could, and pulled back,

"Paramour?" he suggested with a cheeky grin. "Suitor, partner, associate, consort, lover…" he rattled off and laughed softly.

"Companion is good though," and he knew the depth of the word Ignis meant when he used it. How it summed up a lifetime of having each other's backs, of understanding and care. The bond that existed between them just as deep and as strong as the one they each had with Noctis. "It sounds way better when you say it though," he added with a smirk. Not fishing for a compliment but just a fact that Ignis managed to make any word sound sexy as hell.

“Ooooh,” Ignis breathed out the word with that flush creeping back up his cheeks. He looked pleased, though, as Gladio continued on. He knew reading those books was good for all of them, truly.

“We’ll have to try them all on for size and figure out what brings about the most blushes, perhaps.” Or gets the most engines revved, as Gladio’s list did just that to him, and it was probably obvious as Ignis reached a hand up to pull Gladio a little closer. “I think you do yourself a disservice, paramour. Hearing that list alone in your voice makes me want to wake Noctis up so he’s not missing it.”

Ignis leaned in for another kiss, but took his time for this one, his small wound forgotten and thrown to the back of his mind. There was just Gladio, just them, a quiet heat settled between the pair with no room left for second-guessing and doubts.

The flush that creeped across Ignis' face was met with a warm and appreciative look. It was rare to see Ignis flustered, but it was a good look on him. Maybe even more so by knowing very few actually got the pleasure of experiencing it.

"You're killing me, Ignis," Gladio said lightly with a laugh, though it didn't detract from the heated look as Ignis used the word paramour. Because that definitely had some merit.

Honestly though, Ignis could Gladio whatever he wanted and Gladio would never complain. It was more than enough to just be in a place names and terms of endearment were an option.

He lingered in the kiss, hands taking the opportunity to feel over the taut muscle of Ignis' back, a hand roamed down lower to give Ignis' ass a squeeze. He pulled back and smiled warmly at Ignis. "I'm sure it'd be one of the few wake up calls he'd appreciate," Gladio said with a pointed look. To be added to the list of the others they'd figured out over the past few months now.

Ignis read that look and he knew exactly what it meant. He couldn’t disagree, given it had been on his own mind. Ignis gave Gladio a hip squeeze and another kiss, before slowly heading Noct’s way.

Before he opened the door, he grinned over his shoulder at Gladio. “If you meet us in the bedroom, I’ll bring him as a delivery.”