The Mishaps of the Chocobros

Noodle Your Way Into My Heart

Gladio wanted some Cup Noodles. Really really badly. He knew how bad they were for his health, the sodium-laden broth, the plastic-tasting noodles, and realistic vegetables and fixings not concerning him as much as they should be. They were convenient and came in various flavors to try, what's not to love?

Well, with the exception of running out of them when camping in the middle of nowhere during a mission.

He didn't know where this craving was coming from. It definitely wasn't coming from all the healthy tasty meals Ignis would cook up in camp, that would've been a shame. Besides, he knew better than to pass up a grand piece of Garula Steak, cooked and seasoned to perfection

A low grumble resounded in the tent at the thought.

Beside him, Noctis was asleep, curled into himself like a cat, the thin blanket doing little to ward off the chilly night. Gladiolus sighed and got up, careful not to wake the sleeping prince as he crawled out of the tent.

Teeth chattering at the sudden temperature drop, he found Ignis by the dimming fire, the glowing embers emitting a soft light that bounced off his face like a painting come to life. He almost didn't want to disturb the strategist, who was scribbling away at his notebook as he kept watch over the small campground.

"Hey, Iggy."

"Oh, Gladio. Just in time, I was just about to come to wake you up." Squinting slightly, Ignis sniffed as he adjusted his glasses, "Are you alright? You look slightly troubled."

With a shrug, he sat down next to his friend with a grunt, "Nah, it's nothing important, Iggy."

"Are you sure?" When Gladio answered with a nod, Ignis's gaze lasted a fraction longer before he got up out of his chair and walked towards the other tent, where Prompto lay. "Alright... well good night, Gladio. I'll see you in the morning." 

"Yeah."

As soon as the stirring in Ignis's tent ceased, he let out a long breath. I can go without Cup Noodles for a few days. They did get a few gil in the last hunt they completed, but it wasn't nearly enough to stock up on the things they desired, such as Ignis's Ebony or memory cards for Prompto's camera. However, with how low the Ebony stock was getting, he figured that shopping trip was going to be soon.

He kept watching over the camp until dawn broke over the horizon, in deep thought about everything that had happened over the few weeks. He thought about his father, his sister, his comrades he never got to say goodbye to. Turning towards the rustling tent, he was relieved it was Prompto poking his head out of the tent, bright blonde hair poking haphazardly in the air. "Morning, big guy."

"Morning, Prompto. How'd you sleep?"

"Couldn't complain, I think the hard ground really straightened out my back." He grumbled, shivering figure cocooned in the bright yellow Chocobo blanket. The two of them sat beside each other, not saying much of anything. Gladiolus was grateful for times like these; mornings where the weather was calm, the others still stirring in their sleep. It allowed him time to catch up on his reading, and maybe a cup of tea if he was feeling up for it (even though Ignis always insisted on making it).

"Good morning, you two. I hope you slept well." Ignis muttered, voice thick with sleep. The others muttered their 'good morning' back to him before their collective attention shifted towards the tent next door. Noctis.

"I'll go wake him up," Prompto mumbled, to their surprise. Usually, they would bicker about who was going to wake up the Lucian prince, but Gladio figured that since the fall of Lucis no one was really the same as they were before.

No one said anything as the protesting groans of the drowsy prince cut through the morning air. After a while, both him and Prompto emerged from the tent, and the four of them sat for a silent breakfast before packing up to leave.

As the four men piled into the Regalia to head off to Altissia, things seemed to have shifted back to normal; Prompto and Noctis bickering across the car, Ignis driving along the road. Gladio thought nothing of it until he heard, "Hey Specs, let's drop by a store for a minute. We need to stock up." 

Perplexed, Ignis responded, "Your Highness, we don't have much gil to spend on frivolous things." 

"It's not anything frivolous, it's just your Ebony and maybe some Cup Noodles." Gladio glanced over at the Prince, who only glanced back with a shadow of a smile and subtle wink. Gladio knew that if Ebony was involved, there was no way that he could refuse. 

"Very well, but please don't spend too much gil."

Noctis shrugged, "Got it."

Gladio was touched that Noctis had somehow figured out that Gladio needed something to comfort him, even if it was temporary. But little did he know, Noctis could hear the rumbles of Gladio's stomach the entire night.

Either way, as they stopped at a gas station near Lestallum to stock up on supplies, Gladio had never felt more grateful for Noctis looking out for him in the only way he knew how.