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Gladio never thinks that his birthday is a special day. Never. It has never been special since his beloved mother passed away.
It was on early March, ten years ago. He was about to turn 13 years old and Iris was 5. He was still adjusting himself as a young trainer, training a spoiled ten years old prince: Noctis Lucis Caelum. Gladio was a brash teenager back then. Unfortunately, his mother just passed away – a month before his birthday.
“Stop moping,” his father said - Clarus Amicitia, the sworn shield of King Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII.
“I do understand your sadness. I am as well torn. However, moping will not make your mother comes back to life anymore, Gladiolus,” He said. His stern blue eyes were tired. He only took two days of compassionate leave before he continued his usual duties. To be precise, King Regis convinced him to take more time off, but his father had still been working since then. Meanwhile, Gladio had been a no-show for two weeks in a row.
“I've explained to His Majesty that you need time to clear your mind, but you also must turn up in person. You have to be strong. You are the future Shield. On top of that, you have to be an anchor for your sister, Iris. Only you can pull yourself together, not anyone else.”
So, that night he decided, it would be the last night for him to grieve, and he wouldn’t hold it back. Tears had been falling uncontrollably on his cheeks when he locked his bedroom door. He threw his body on his mattress, bit his pillow to muffle his sound as he cried loudly, screamed and howled – until he lost his breath.
He would be alright, he thought. And, the next day he would apologize to his king and his prince, acted like nothing major had ever happened to his life.
Two weeks past after that pathetic night. It was on a weekend and Gladio woke up in surprise. His heart almost jumped to his throat when he smelled a peculiar aroma of freshly baked spice cake. He quickly kicked his blanket and went downstairs. Only his mother can bake that special cake! Spice cake with cream cheese frosting - Mrs. Amicitia’s signature dish for family members on special occasion. He almost tripped over at his last step on the stairs. His heart sank.
“Jared??”
Right in front of him, the Amicitia household retainer stood with a freshly baked spice cake on his hands, he carefully put the cake on the marble dining table.
“Hi Gladdy! We’re just about to decorate the cake!” Little Iris sat down on one of the dining chairs. She didn't fully understand the concept of death. Everyone told her that mother is in a better place, so she believed that her mother moved out to live with Shiva and befriend The Astrals.
Gladio just sat down next to his little sister. His knees were too weak to stand up.
“I wish you a blessed birthday my dearest master, Gladiolus. Lord Amicitia ordered me to bake the special Amicitia’s spice cake this morning.”
Stop moping. Moping will not make your mother comes back to life anymore.
Great. “Then, where is he?” His father wasn’t even there.
“Lord Amicitia has a meeting this morning in Citadel.” Typical. It drove him mad. He was eager to crush the cake and flip the table at this point.
..You have to be an anchor for your sister, Iris.
“Happy birthday Gladdy,” Little Iris crawled to his legs and gave him a big smile.
..Only you can pull yourself together, not anyone else.
Gladio took a deep breath. He pulled Iris to his laps and kissed her on the head.
---
Today is officially a decade after his thirteenth birthday. The ring of his mobile’s alarm pulls him out from his dreamland. Gladio rubs his eyes. He's sitting alone in the tent and wondering why.
Oh. Now his morning brain starts processing. Today is his 23rd birthday. Yesterday he and his 3 friends: Noctis, Prompto and Ignis drove to a private campsite inside the wall to take a breather overnight and to celebrate his birthday.
Huh, his birthday. He never considers that his birthday is a special day.
But, he can't believe what he sees in front of him right after he's out from the tent. Noctis stands with a sheepish smile, holds a round plate. On the plate, there are seven cup noodles tied with a wide red ribbon.
Standing on his left, there is Prompto, he's holding blue and yellow balloons on his left hand and a camera on his right hand, preparing for a snap.
The most epic sight is on the right of his prince. Ignis, with a stoic face, holds red and green balloons on his right hand and a picnic basket on his left hand.
On the count of three, they scream “Happy birthday Gladio!” and Gladio bursts into a loud guffaw.
No. His birthday is never special. Never, until… Today.