Surprises (Working title)

Chapter six

A/N: I fixed it! I think... Behold the fluff, or what I can do with Ignis being as emotional as a brick most of the time (He still ma boi though). ANYWAY, it's short but it gets to the point.

Ignis awoke the next morning in a slight panic, namely because he wasn’t home and there was something latched to his arm. That something being Iris, who hadn’t woken up at all and proceeded to cling to his arm at some point last night, the appearance of a mystery blanket made him curious also.

“Good luck getting her off, she’s like a padlock when she’s like that.” Gladio pointed out with a grin. Ignis gingerly moved his arm a little and her grip loosened ever so slightly, just enough for him to wriggle free and flash a victorious smirk.

“You were saying? What time is it?” For extra measures to ensure she didn’t stir, he replaced himself with a few pillows, that way she wouldn’t wake or be uncomfortable.

“Alright smartass, it’s five thirty. Came to see if you wanted me to take you home so you can pack.”

Gladio leaned back against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, hints of amusement on his face at the dishevelled Adviser. Of course, Ignis didn’t find it amusing but he didn’t immediately comment on it, instead he just suffered being a temporary mess.

"If you continue to find my state of disarray amusing I'll stick you in front of a mirror, Gladiolus." Ignis said in such a way that made Gladio flinch ever so slightly. The latter itching to respond with a pun or carry it into banter, but he held his tongue.

That comment wasn't entirely false, Gladio was also not looking too tidy himself this morning, given he wore the sleepy bed head too well. At least Ignis thought so, not that it meant anything or if it did he'd ever admit it. There were a great deal of things Ignis wouldn't admit, to himself or to others. For example, he was lying when he said he would settle for a merely platonic relationship, with a certain someone. Another thing would be the fact he couldn't justify the situation, adding to the tension between Gladio and himself, begging to be released or subdued in some way.

Admitting that he felt something other than friendship or comradery towards Gladio, that would be the day Garula's would fly, perhaps. It wouldn't be the end of the world completely but maybe the end of Ignis' sanity.

"Now I know where Princess gets the sass from." The Shield muttered, half-hoping Ignis wouldn't hear him, grabbing his jacket and car keys. "C'mon, Cor'll skin us alive if we're late and you're gonna wanna pack and shower."

Ignis just followed him without any objections, sparing a glance at Iris to make sure she was still asleep. Strange as it may seem to some, Ignis often thought of her as a younger sister, she even used to joke around and call him her brother at times, dampening Gladio's boisterous ego in the process. Even though Shield and Adviser may not be on the best of terms, Iris was ever the matchmaker and made a point of being close to both of them.

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Not half an hour later, due to slow traffic with the snow, Gladio pulled into the parking lot of Ignis' apartment complex. At first he opted to stay in the car but now may be a good opportunity to clear the air once and for all, ending up following Ignis upstairs like a lost puppy.

"I trust you can entertain yourself while I'm busy?" Ignis asked cooly, putting his shattered glasses in the bin. Honestly, Gladio had forgotten breaking them in the first place.

The Shield just rolled his eyes and took a seat on the couch, following Ignis' movements around the room with a little interest. Gladio made a point of making his staring subtle, if he were caught he’d look away instantly, unbeknownst to him that Ignis was doing the exact same thing. It was obvious which one of them was caught first, Gladio was never one for subtlety in any form, though Prompto was the only one that could out-do him in that sense.