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Gladio prided himself on being a big brother. Protecting his sister was a duty he took very seriously, the only thing that came before protecting Noctis -- even if it wasn’t supposed to, and he could never say it outloud. The cost of being the Shield to the crown prince, now technically the King even if he had yet to be crowned as such, was it was treason to show loyalty to anyone but his liege. He swore to even disregard Regis himself over Noctis. The shield of the prince (or the princess) was perhaps the only people who could swear to kill the King without it being treason. Likewise, Clarus had been sworn to kill Mors and Later Noctis, if it had to be done to protect Regis.
While it could never conceivably happen, as Noctis and Regis held a great deal of love for eachother. Or had, though Gladio was certain the late king loved his son even in the after life and Noctis loved his father, dead or alive, technically the law required The Shield of the King and the Shield of the prince to fight to the death if need be to protect the one they were sworn too. It had happened a few times in history, especially in the old days when a prince or princess wanted to usurp the throne before the King had passed, Sometimes even at the King’s request, before they were allowed to retire -- inorder to pass the suffering of the ring. Lucian history was not as clean as they wanted it to be. Nothing had occurred to that degree in a half a millenia, though, thank the six.
So it was treason for Gladio to protect and care for his sister over Noct. He doubted that Noct would have Gladio executed or banished, if he confessed it, but none the less, at times, Gladio felt ashamed that he could not put Noctis’ life above all others.
When Iris came to him in tears, in clear distress. Her fits at her side shacking and her jaw clenched, Gladio was fully prepared to kill whoever hurt, or at least maim them. He wasn’t prepared for it to be him that had harmed her.
“Sometimes, I wish you hadn’t been born and it makes me hate myself,” She whispered, it was silent in cape caem.
“What?” Gladio could feel his heart break as his world started to shatter around her. His mind raced with what he could have done to wrong her and what he could do for her forgiveness, but he came up blank and stared at her in disbelief and perhaps even fear.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she clarified, “you were just born first and I wasn’t meant to be born at all,”
There’s always supposed to be another Amicieta child. In case the first shield has to kill the father. So the line can keep going,”.
“But mom was supposed to be unable to conceive after you, that’s why they made you shield, instead of trying for a son, before that’s what you were. I wish it had been me instead. That they had not choice to raise me a boy and not you,” Her voice was low and cracking as her cheeks were stained with tears. His tears?
“You’re a guy?”
“I want to be, I could have been. I resent you for having been gifted a boyhood.”.
“You can still be one,” Gladio assured, “I’m sorry that you didn’t get to grow up as one, but I can’t help that I did,”.
“Does that mean it’s wrong to be angry?” The younger boy asked, staring at the floor, like it could answer his question.
“It’s never wrong to feel emotions, even negative, but please don’t hate me, be angry if you have to. It’ll hurt but I know you’re hurting. If you hate me, I think I’ll break,”.
“I don’t want to hate you, sometimes I can’t help it. It makes me hate myself,”.
“Don’t, the only thing that could break me more is if you loose love for yourself,”.
“Will you still keep me safe? Even on the days I hate you, until I can stop? I know I will, one day. I love you to much to hate you forever, Gladdy.”
“I’ll always protect you, over everything and everyone,”.
It was treason, but neither of them minded.