Chapter Text
BAM!!
KKRAKK!
The sound of metal against hardened keratin and bone cracking rang through your ears as you finally broke the Duplicorn’s horns with your tonfas. The equine creature let out a mighty whinny in pain, as it fell on its side prone, struggling to get back on its hooves. As soon as you landed, pivoting to face the beast, weapon readied for the finishing blow…
“Too slow, sweetheart!”
A wet splat could be head as metal met flesh, splattering both you and Gladio in blood.
“And wide open, dear.”
Somersaulting over Gladio’s back, your baton connected against the firm muscle of another charging Duplicorn’s neck, sending the creature off course to the side for Noctis to land a precise strike with his Engine Blade.
“Nice work you two!” As the last of the Duplicorns fell to the prince’s feet, Noctis went to gather some of the horns that had been broken off by the party’s efforts for the bounty that was placed on the equine fiends, specifically for their parts.
Making inventory of the needed items, Ignis checked his notebook “It seems we’re found what we were looking for. And the right amount as well.”
Jumping and fist pumping the air, Prompto cheered, the adrenaline from the fight still running through his veins. “Oh yeah! We rock! Especially you-”
However, he was interrupted by the sound your determined scream, as you launched yourself onto Gladio’s back, resulting in the tanned man grunting in surprise.
“You’re such kill stealer, you big palooka!” You exclaimed petulantly, pouting, as you got the tall brunet in a one-armed headlock, playfully punching the man’s back for doing such a heinous thing.
After getting over the shock of you launching yourself onto his back as well as the headlock, Gladio laughed whole heartedly at your childish but adorable tone. “Should’ve killed it faster then, sweetheart.”
Gladio gave your arm a gentle squeeze signalling you to let go, which you did so reluctantly. When your feet landed on solid ground, you crossed your arms and looked to the side, maintaining your huffy mood. Gladio, who had quite the lopsided grin, circled an arm around your waist and nuzzling his nose into your exposed neck. His beard tickled your shoulder, getting a little smile and laugh out of you.
“Don’t be cute, I’m mad at you.”
“But it’s working.”
Click!
Both you and Gladio looked at the source of the noise and see Prompto, camera in his hands and beaming brightly. Noctis and Ignis were behind him, peering over his shoulder at the picture he had taking, looking rather put off.
“Aaaand that’s one for the scrapbooks!”
“Get a room, you two.” Noctis was reflecting your earlier disposition, arms crossed, face to the side and pouting.
Pushing his glasses a little higher, Ignis coughed. “If you two are done, I advise we head back to the Regalia to turn in our mark.” Looking up at the darkening skies and rolling gray clouds, Ignis continued. “Especially if we don’t want to get caught in the incoming downpour.”
As if wanting to emphasise the bespectacled male’s point, the sound of distant thunder was heard right after. And with that everyone quickly gathered themselves and started heading to the Regalia for their trip back.
-------------------------------------------------------
Thu-thump…
…Thu-thump…
That was all you could hear as snuggled even closer into the warm and firm body beside you, nestling further into Gladio’s muscular arms and as well as the bed you two shared. Nuzzling your nose into the cleft between his pectorals, you hummed happily, circling your arms around him, your fingers barely meeting as you rubbed slight shapes against his back muscles. Just being absently noting the slight yield of his flesh wherever your fingertips moved to and being comforted and enveloped by the almost purr-like sounds of contentment coming from the older man as he enjoyed your chaste ministrations.
He shifted ever so slightly, the sound of sheets ruffling in your ears, allowing him to free a hand to lift your face, gazing lovingly into your lidded eyes. Seeing the amber orbs burn with such intense love and affection made you feel shy, resulting in you trying to squirm away and blush. Gladio was having none of that though as one muscular arm held you in your place. You also wanted to look away, but the hand under your chin also stilled your attempts.
Just as you were about to object, to save yourself from that heated gaze, a calloused thumb rubbed across your lower lip. Never breaking his gaze, Gladio lowered his head towards you, leaning his forehead against yours, he rubbed the tip of his nose onto your own, breathing your scent in before moving closer, his lips barely brushing yours, his lashes tickling your eyelids.
“Beautiful…”
That one word, sounding deep and tender, sent a pleasant jolt in your spine. The tone of his voice rumbled through your body, shaking you to your core, giving a sense of comfort and… realness to the current present. That right here and right now…
Gladio was right here.
With you in his tight embrace.
Longing for you.
Just as you did for him.
“Gladdy…” His nickname came out airily from your lips.
“Kiss me…” You uttered softly… Squeezing him tightly, trying to get yourself closer to him, and him to you. Just wanting him to engulf you and your senses completely. “Please…”
With a smug smirk, Gladio continued brushing his lips against yours, resulting in you whimpering in protest, the adorable sound appealing to the raw and primal side of him and relishing it before obliging your request.
As the large hand moved from under your chin to cupping the side of your face, Gladio’s lips finally met yours. You sighed happily, eyes fluttering close, simply melting into the ardent yet languid kiss, as love and affection poured into you, the scent of campfire and his own musk invading your olfactory senses. Your fingers were busy caressing and sliding into every dip of the firm muscles of Gladio’s back, the need to have all your senses be completely dominated by the man before you.
As the kiss deepened, Gladio’s talented tongue rubbing so tantalizingly against your own, swallowing your moans, his hands busied themselves with exploring your body. One was running through your hair, the other sliding onto the small of your back, slipping into your loose nightshirt, to caress the soft skin underneath.
You pulled away, a thin strand of mixed saliva breaking from the passionate lip lock as giggles erupted from you, due to his calloused fingers dancing along your back, tickling you.
“Stooop~ That tickles~” Your voice was a little hoarse from the breath-taking kiss, nuzzling the tip of your nose onto his in response, a big smile on your face.
Chuckling, Gladio gave you a chaste peck on the lips and continued his slow exploration of your own body, memorising your own curves and dips of your body, the yield of your flesh and the spots that made you giggle, moan or shudder with pleasure. With the deep baritone of his voice rolling through you like waves lapping against the sea shore, and hot hands roaming appreciatively all over, you were simply sighing mess, occasionally coming back up to give short but sweet kisses on to your beau lips, like a swimmer surfacing back up for air.
“I love you, Gladio…” was uttered so softly, and unconsciously. Your hands travelled from his back to his chest, just off to the side of the sternum where the inked beak of eagle resided, resting where his heart was. You could feel a faint but steady throb of his heart beating. You spent a moment appreciating all the details of his avian tattoo as well as running your fingers and knuckles against the sides of his pectorals, in adulation and awe, earning a groan of pleasure and approval from Gladio as well as a squeeze on your hip and your back.
Stopping your worship of his body, you looked up, gazing into his eyes from under your lashes, drowning into the smouldering gaze of glazy honey brown, you continued. “…so, so much.”
“And I love you…” Was his husky response before sweeping you into another deep kiss. This time though the kiss was rougher and bellied a hunger deep inside Gladio. His tongue was completely dominating yours, melding and massaging, until pulling it into his own, his teeth nipping lightly at your lips as if trying to devour you and your soul. His hands pulled you closer, your hips flushed with his and your hair being tugged so firmly.
Pleasure coursed through you, sending all sorts of sensations throughout your body and senses, overstimulating and overwhelming. From shivers from his grunts as he swallowed your mewls rang in your ears to the jolts of ecstasy as mouth and tongue (along with his beard) did all sorts of wonderful to your own flesh, leaving his claim over you again and again.
As the need to sleep reared its head in, the kiss you two shared was broken, leaving both you and Gladio breathing heavily, lips swollen and wet as you both shared sleepy yet sated smiles, legs tangled and arms draped over one another, just savouring each other’s presence letting the moment ebb away.
“Goodnight, sweetheart.” Was the husky response Gladio drawled out. Pulling the blanket until it covered the both of you, Gladio gave you one last kiss to your forehead and brought you a little closer, his lips resting near where he just kissed before settling onto the pillows below.
Bringing a hand up to gently stroke along his bearded jawline, you whispered “Sweet dreams, my dear…” Before resting you hand on his shoulder, near the base of his neck as you nestled in his embrace, closing your eyes and lulled to sleep by the faint pulses of his heartbeat felt by you fingers and heard by you.
Thu-thump…
…Thu-thump…