Chapter Text
Gladio chuckled as he draped his arm across the back of the velvet couch he was slouched on. His eyes glided across the far wall as he took in the information he'd just been told.
"You're kidding, right?" He asked his father.
The white haired man sat across from him at an ornate desk, his hands clasped firmly before his tightly pursed lips.
"This is nothing to joke about Gladiolus." He answered, his tone holding finality.
Gladio sat up quickly, his lax demeanor gone. Amber eyes locked onto steel blue as his brows lowered into a frown.
"What, so I gotta give myself up for-" Gladio gestured a large hand about searching for a word. "How is this gonna change anything?"
Clarus took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. Bringing his hands to the table before him, he looked to his son once more.
"I told you, this deal is to merge the Amicitia and Caelum families. To end the pointless disputes."
Gladio scoffed and he slouched against the couch again, folding his arms across his large chest.
"Why don't you marry him then?" He muttered.
Clarus allowed himself another moment to tamper his growing frustration before responding.
"That is, without question, not an option."
"But it's okay for you all to decide that for me?"
"Gladio," Clarus said in annoyance. "With the up and coming leaders of the families making this step, the others will be forced to accept and follow this change. Regis and I giving our blessing only solidifies that this is a final decision, one that means a new future is at hand."
Gladio let out a scoff. He refused to look at his father. Son of the boss or not, while he knew one day he'd be in charge of the Amicitia gang, and sure that'd eventually mean he needed to either produce his own heir or take someone in to do it, he sure as hell didn't expect his significant other to be picked out by his father.
"Wait, up and coming leaders?" Gladio suddenly questioned, breaking the tense silence that had fallen. "You mean Regis' kid? I'm gonna marry that little runt!?"
Gladio nearly flew out of his seat. His father dictating his marriage was one thing, but marrying that scrawny, lazy, immature, obnoxious kid was definitely not going to happen.
"It's not Noctis." Clarus said firmly.
"Thank the Six." Gladio huffed as he sat back. "But if it's not him then who? Isn't he supposed to take Regis' place?"
"Noctis will be the leader of the Caelums when the time comes. However he's… not ready for that role."
"Then who else is there?" Noctis was Regis' only child. If Gladio was going to marry someone important to merge these two families together and create some kind of treaty of peace, who was he supposed to marry? Perhaps Regis had a daughter nobody had known about. Gladio couldn't say he'd never heard of any women being escorted around by any of the Caelum members, but his own little sister Iris was rather heavily protected and kept quiet at all times. Fine by him. At least if it was a girl he could probably make this relationship thing work out in the long run.
Folding his arms over his chest with a newfound peace at the fate he'd been given, Gladio gave a little nod of approval at the thought.
"Regis has another child that he took in many years ago." Clarus began to explain.
" Ah ," Gladio thought. A bastard child perhaps. That would explain why Gladio had never heard of her.
"This child has been in the family for the past 15 years and knows much of the ins and outs of their entire operation. Unlike Noctis, unfortunately." Clarus added the last word as though stating such a fact was inappropriate. Even in the absence of a Caelum member.
" Child ? Is this kid even legal? I ain't doin' some kid bride thing!"
"Ah, yes, forgive me. 22."
A year younger than Gladio and educated in the ways of the families? Sounds good to him. This could definitely work out.
"His name is Ignis."
" He?" Gladio squinted.
~X~
"A sort of peace treaty if you will." Regis said thoughtfully.
Ignis stared in shock. His heart had stopped, along with the rest of him. A marriage? For the goodwill of some mafia? And he was the offering?
"I am to wed the son of the Amicitia family?" Ignis repeated quietly. Surely this was some mistake, he didn't even have any blood ties to the Caelums! How could such a deal possibly work? Nobody would take it seriously! He had to fight this!
"Sir, I'm sure you've thought this through very carefully, but I have no blood ties to the Caelum family. I'm not even set to lead in the future, how will this work?"
"Yes, there was much thought put into this. Noctis… isn't ready for a marriage, and certainly not in the position to lead." Regis said hesitantly. "You are my next best choice." He continued.
"But Sir, I don't quite understand." To be quite frank, Ignis had no idea he was even up for such a consideration.
"You are very smart Ignis. You understand this business, this way of life, like the back of your hand."
" As if I had a choice. " Ignis thought argumentatively.
"You are like a brother to Noctis. You've been by his side for many years, and for nearly as long I've hoped you would help guide him when he takes my place. I have no doubt that you can do great things. It has been my plan to keep you beside Noctis as long as I can. It is because of this that I find this agreement to be acceptable."
Ignis blinked in disbelief. He hoped his face didn't betray his feelings too much. He felt like a small child again, like this man who had become a father figure to him over the years was once again some stranger with total control over his entire existence. Like if he showed the fear, anger, and betrayal that threatened to explode from him he might be put to death then and there.
"I'll be honest, I've only seen Gladiolus in passing," Regis continued, unaware of Ignis' inner terminal. "But from what I hear, he isn't too bad." The face and tone the leader of the Caelums used betrayed the sentiment. "I highly doubt Clarus would raise a bad child you know?"
Ignis wasn't listening. Regis was serious… this was serious. Ignis was to be traded away like some sort of collectable sports card. Again. Again . A tool to be used for someone else's gain. Again.
"My apologies Sir," Ignis managed out. His throat was tight, his tongue thick. "If that is all." He couldn't even meet Regis' eyes, let alone his face. How could he?
"Yes." Regis answered after a pause.
Without hesitation Ignis stood from the plush chair he had been seated in and left the office, a stunned Regis watching in silence.
The walk—or maybe jog was the more appropriate term—from the office to Ignis' room was short. The door nearly left his hand with the force Ignis had used to open it. Fumbling to catch it, he quickly closed it behind him, leaning his weight against his hands as his breathing picked up. His head dropped between his tense shoulders, his knees wobbled as they slowly gave out.
Sitting on the floor, Ignis' chest hurt and his eyes stung with unshed tears. Wide pale green eyes stared unmovingly at the back of the door as his chest rose and fell with unnaturally sharp breathing. This couldn't be happening. Not again .
~X~
Perhaps he could run away, Ignis had thought as he stared out the heavily tinted window of the car escorting, delivering , him. Such a thought hadn't crossed Ignis' mind in years. To think things would come full circle. Ignis had truly forgotten such plans long ago.
The feeling of needing to escape had left Ignis mere months after joining the Caelums. But those weeks leading up to it, escape had been all he could think about. Really, what could a 7 year old have done to escape the highly secure home of a crime boss? The leader of the largest mafia in the city no less?
Ignis was older now, stronger. He specifically had gun training and hand to hand combat skills. But right now, he didn't have a gun, and the men transporting him were at least twice his size. Specifically chosen to protect Ignis. Or maybe to make sure he couldn't escape. He wasn't even sure he could bring himself to attempt to fight with Regis sat beside him. While he felt betrayed, he couldn't bring himself to make a scene and shame the man he once looked up to.
The car came to a stop and the driver and additional bodyguard left the front seats. A moment later the back doors were opened for Regis and Ignis. Not taking much time to gather his thoughts, lest he be forced out, Ignis stepped into the setting sun with as much dignity as he could muster.
Before them stood a tall building, a luxury hotel where they were to meet the Amicitia leader and son. This meeting was to sign the contract solidifying the marriage and end the disputes and fighting that took place between the two gangs. This is where Ignis would officially meet his… fiancé.
Just thinking the word made Ignis want to throw up. His tongue felt thick and his mouth dry. If he was going to escape, now would be his chance. Though he had no doubt the guards that were with them wouldn't hesitate to use their guns to take him down. While Ignis heavily doubted Regis would have him killed, he didn't doubt that he would deliver him to the Amicitia with a bullet in the leg.
Ignis was only able to take in the ornate hotel lobby and its grand decor for a brief moment before the group cut straight across to the elevator. The back wall of the elevator was entirely mirror. Ignis lowered his gaze to the floor as he entered, unable to look at himself.
Ignis could name every emotion he felt in that moment. Anger, betrayal, sadness, pathetic, weak. He was disgusted not only with himself for simply following along like the lapdog of a scary gang boss, but also disgusted in Regis himself. Disgusted that the man who had raised him would just throw him away. Just like his mother had.
Regis knocked three times on the hotel door. No specific rhythm or pattern to discern a special or secret guest. Three simple knocks. There was a pause before the door opened to reveal a man with the sides of his head shaved and a couple small, barely noticeable, face tattoos. Stepping aside, he let their small group enter.
Ignis had been in a couple hotels in his time with the mafia. Though none had been as nice as this. Regis wanted him to help guide Noctis when it was his time to lead, but he tended to keep Ignis out of many matters physically. While the young man knew well of the inner workings of the organization, both professional and dirty, Regis had rarely invited him to sit in on any serious meetings. Thus his hotel visits when related to business tended to be much more mundane looking. And while there were the occasional threats that left Regis worried for his son's safety, even then Ignis and the young boss had been put up in a private, inconspicuous home rather than a hotel. This difference made Ignis feel all the more sick.
The entrance led to a large living space with two couches facing each other, a large wooden coffee table situated in the middle. The far wall was made entirely of floor to ceiling windows, an amazing view of the sprawling city that was beginning to light up for the approaching night. To the right was a kitchen with a moderately sized dining table, and down a short hall on the left Ignis assumed was the bed and bathroom. Though there were more important things in the room that he needed to focus on.
Standing from his spot on the couch, a man with buzzed gray hair and a well tailored suit approached Regis. Clarus Amicitia. He was the current leader of the Amicitia group, his son Gladiolus was to take his place in due time. Ignis hadn't heard much else about either, just the bare basics.
"Clarus," Regis said with a grin as they got closer. Ignis watched in pure shock as he opened his arms and embraced the man.
Ignis' eyes darted to one of the guards that had already been in the room, a young woman who wore her hair in a messy bun. She maintained a serious expression and her weapon was left tucked away Ignis noticed. So either they knew something he didn't, or there was no expectation of treachery.
"It's been a long time my friend." Regis continued with a pat to Clarus' arm.
"Indeed it has." The other man responded with a small smile of his own.
" They know each other. But more than just formally…" Ignis thought.
"Let's begin." Clarus motioned to the couch across from the one he had been seated on. Moving to take his seat again, he continued. "Gladiolus isn't here I'm afraid. He should be arriving soon."
Ignis' heart skipped a beat at the name. He hadn't realized, but the only other man in the room before they arrived had been the one who opened the door, and Ignis highly doubted Clarus was letting his son just great guests carelessly. He wasn't sure how to feel knowing that his… finacé wasn't around.
"My, how old is he now?" Regis asked thoughtfully.
"23." Clarus answered. He looked at the female in the room and motioned towards the kitchen with a small gesture. She gave a nod before turning.
"I think the last time I saw him he was just starting school!" Regis chuckled.
"Has it really been that long?" Clarus wondered.
"Yes, Noctis was barely a year old!"
"Ah, preschool then. They're only a couple years apart aren't they?"
Ignis couldn't believe what he was hearing. These two men were chatting away as if his life wasn't about to be thrown in the garbage like it was nothing. Like he wasn't sitting here with no inkling about what was to happen next for him. The leaders of two of the largest mafias in the city were catching up like good old times while Ignis nearly exploded with tension.
The young woman from before returned shortly with two tumblers of amber liquid, placing them on the table before them before returning to the kitchen to retrieve a third.
"Pulling out all the stops!" Regis teased, raising his glass in a silent toast.
"This is a momentous occasion." Clarus returned. The two men took a drink as Ignis watched, his own glass left untouched. "It isn't poisoned." Clarus smirked at him. Ignis swallowed as his eyes jumped to the drink before him. He hadn't even considered such a thing. Regis placed a gentle hand on Ignis' shoulder.
"My apologies, this is Ignis Scientia."
Ignis' brow twitched downward. He hadn't heard Regis, or anyone for that matter, say his full name is so long. The other members typically referred to him as The Son's Keeper or something along those lines if not simply by his first name. He had been an honorary Caelum for almost his entire life, and now even Regis was moving on like all of that time meant nothing. Like he hadn't raised him himself.
"Clarus Amicitia," Clarus introduced, like Ignis didn't know who he was. Steeling his nerves as much as he could, Ignis reached across the table to shake the other's waiting hand. Not able to muster up enough strength to speak however, he gave a simple nod in greeting. Definitely not the correct choice when dealing with these kinds of people.
Clarus' smile seemed sincere enough. Not like he was trying to put Ignis in his place. Remind him that he had no power. "I've heard a lot about you."
Ignis wracked his mind for some sort of response. What was he supposed to say to that? He was a tool in a mafia trade. Was he even supposed to say anything? He couldn't even return the statement.
"This agreement has been in talk for a while." Regis informed, saving Ignis from the trainwreck that was his poor social skills. "I'm not sure how much you've told Gladiolus."
"He is aware of the terms and what we plan to achieve. But I thought that explaining our history during this meeting would be best." Clarus said as he took another drink.
"I agree. You two are being used to help bring peace to a long pointless war. You deserve to know everything."
Ignis managed to meet Regis' eyes for a moment before casting them down to his drink again. Everything would be explained. Hopefully that included Ignis' future.