Surprises (Working title)

Chapter seven

The weeks and months that followed went by quickly, one might say all too smoothly. Especially since Ignis had given his uncle the biggest 'fuck you' he dared and broke off his engagement, without permission. So far it seems as though no-one knew about it apart from those involved and those that swore to keep it to themselves.

Clarus and Iris secretly had a bet going on behind Gladio's back, they wagered who would make the first move, the stakes; If Iris lost she'd do her homework without protest for a month, if she won, she got all the sweets she wanted for a month. Needless to say, Clarus betting on Gladio was a bad move on his part. Now he'd have one lovesick child and another suffering with diabetes and cavities.

Not that he minded of course, his son had finally stopped moping around and Iris had stopped her plots and schemes, at least he thought so. She would always plan something or other, whether it was good or bad depended on her mood and how much she wanted to irritate her brother. More often than not it was just her making up some dire excuse for him to stop by Ignis' apartment, pretending to be said person to make it more authentic.

One such prank she executed perfectly a little while ago, Gladio obviously rushing off to help his boyfriend.

"Wait- So you didn't need me to help rearrange the living room?"

"No...? It seems you've been fooled once again, Iris is no doubt becoming quite convincing in her impersonations of me." Ignis said, glancing up from his laptop briefly, watching as Gladio mumbled about stopping her snack supply and settled down in the chair beside him.

"I'm not complaining, means I get to see you but you're always busy so I feel bad, should mention that to the little minx." Gladio let out an exasperated sigh and started toying with the chain on Ignis' USB stick. "In fact, now that I'm here you're not allowed to work. C'mere!"

"No! I have to finish this report!" Ignis grabbed his laptop and fled to his bedroom as Gladio made to catch him. Thankfully for Ignis he was faster than the Shield and it took Gladio a second to realise he had to run after him, faster he may be but with long strides and a knack for being surprising, Gladio actually managed to snag the back of Ignis' shirt and pull him into his arms. "Gladio! Put me down!"

With a chuckle Gladio plucked the laptop from Ignis iron grasp, placing it on the table and hauling the Adviser over his shoulder, forcing him to watch as his laptop grew further out of his reach. "Nah-uh Iggy, you work non-stop, time for some well-earned 'Gladio snuggles'."

"Have I mentioned I hate you sometimes? And really, 'Gladio snuggles'?" The sarcasm was short lived and replaced with a high-pitched yelp as Gladio dropped him on his bed, the latter quickly locked the door behind him with a coy grin. "That was rather brutish of you."

"Yeah well, you secretly love it."

That was all Gladio said before pouncing on Ignis, keeping him in a tight embrace so despite all escape attempts, resistance was futile.

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A while later at the Citadel

"He did what?! Clarus how long have you known about this?" Berin practically shouted, the King's Shield didn't waver however. Ignis' uncle wasn't exactly a threatening looking man and Clarus was more than a match for him if it came down to it, after all, Berin had only undergone basic Crownsguard training back in the day.

"I would have thought you'd be happy Berin, Ignis is young and he is capable of deciding his own future." Clarus said in a tone that infuriated the old Adviser, it's a tone his nephew used often and it usually earned him a clip on the ear. "Had I done something similar with Gladiolus, he would've rebelled in the same way, if not worse. I've forced a professional future upon him already, I needn't force him to marry for mutual benefit, that is his choice."