[Tony got out a fresh container of homemade vanilla ice cream from the freezer (not replicator made!) and dished out a few scoops for both of them.
He paused at the question though and .. god why did Prompto have to ask that? The smile it produced was just terrible for his street cred! He tried really hard to cover it with clearing his throat and pretending that didn't just happen, but yeah, you totally saw that.]
We're uh.. we're good. He's a huge pain in the ass.. but you know.. he's..
[Seriously, stop looking at him and eat your pie already.]
He said he wants to make a rock garden or something?
[He returned that grin, glad to see how much Prompto was approving of him dating someone so important to the blonde. You just never knew with these people around here.
He sat down and picked up his fork, but looked at the kid thoughtfully.]
You're great too and I know we don't hang out the four of us all that much, but you treat him really well. It's natural to be worried though.
Scared, I guess. Like...if I say it out loud, it's real. [He chews his lip, and when he resumes speaking, it's halting.] And if something happens... If he disappears, I don't- I can't go through that again.
[He was quiet for a few moments, before he ran a hand over his face and sighed.]
I'm sorry Prompto.. that.. that really sucks. Give me a second, I want to show you something.
[He got up and left the room. He hurried to his bedroom and rummaged around in his drawer for a few minutes before coming back with a couple things. As he comes back, he sets down on the table, a ring.]
Story number one.
[Then he sets down a tiny, familiar, skull necklace.]
[Tony gives him a gentle, but slightly cautious smile.]
Because I know how great Ignis is too. Ever wonder why I'm so connected to you guys? It's not just because of Gladio, though he's my world now.
[He sighs and looks down at his mug for a moment before looking back up.]
He was on the train before he also vanished one day. At the next stop, just like everyone else this happened to, he got off and went through these gates. We could never get through them and the people who left never heard us or looked back.
[He whispers "sap" under his breath, and wonders briefly if he and Iggy come off as saccharine as Tony and Gladio. There's a thought worming through the back of his mind, but he can't quite pin it down. Something about the way Tony looks, the tone of his voice.]
I knew he was on the train, but I didn't know you were all close.
[He breathed a quick laugh at the 'criticism'. He really didn't care. He knew he was whipped and was pretty okay with it.
Should he tell him the rest? He paused to study Prompto's face for a brief moment.]
It helped in some ways because you knew what happened to them but in others..
Anyway, I think you two are a better fit than we had ever been. I'm grateful for the memories and the memento. It took a while before I could look at my ring again though. How I got it back, I'm not sure.
I know I didn't handle showing up here only to find him with someone else and blind very well, but I've apologized to him a couple times for that.
Uuuh. He said you were older...? [Exact quote: "Older guy. Really older. In his early 50s kind of old." But Tony's scowl has him sinking back into his seat with a sheepish grin.]
He also said you were engaged? [That's pretty serious.]
[He rolled his eyes, but his lip curled at the edge indicating this reaction wasn't meant to be taken too seriously.]
'Refined'.. but whatever.
[Alright, letting some of the humor go.]
We were. I don't want you to worry about anything. I'm really happy with Gladio and I would never do anything to harm what you and Ignis have here. Plus, he's not.. they're different- I'm getting off track- my point is, watching him walk away was really hard. It tore me up for quite a while and when I think about it, it still hurts. It doesn't have anything to do with my relationship with Gladio either.
But how would it feel if Ignis really did leave tomorrow? Is it going to hurt any less because you didn't say it?
He's not worried about the state of things. He's seen so many people, and versions of people, come and go and come and go. Noctis and Luna on the Fleet married each other. Noctis here was with someone else entirely. That was, at least, one thing he didn't worry about.
He sits back with a contemplative frown. It gets a little more miserable the more he thinks about it.]
[Tony was glad Prompto didn't seem too concerned about his old relationship with Ignis. There wasn't any of those old feelings still except the friendship.
The important part was supporting the young man as best he could while he was struggling with these emotions. He nods, that he agrees no matter what this would hurt like hell.]
The only difference- if this were me- would be the guilt. I'd have trouble letting go of the fact I'd missed a chance to say it.
But, that's me and that's assuming it's true for you. It's okay not to be there yet. You can love a person and not be in love with them.
[The guilt is...certainly a thing. He remembers how it had felt when he realized Kaname was gone. He also remembers what it was like to be in love with her. He can't deny he feels the same way now, for Ignis - but there's a part of him that hesitates to take that step forward.]
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this_loser) wrote2019-07-26 04:31 am
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He nods quickly.]
Yes please!
[He pulls out a chair to sit, hands propped up under his chin.]
You guys doing good?
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He paused at the question though and .. god why did Prompto have to ask that? The smile it produced was just terrible for his street cred! He tried really hard to cover it with clearing his throat and pretending that didn't just happen, but yeah, you totally saw that.]
We're uh.. we're good. He's a huge pain in the ass.. but you know.. he's..
[Seriously, stop looking at him and eat your pie already.]
He said he wants to make a rock garden or something?
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No.
This is great. He's got a grin of his own.]
A garden with rocks? Flowers too boring?
[Okay, okay, he'll eat his pie.]
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Yeah, well, it'll have both, I think. I'll be honest, as much as I love the guy, his interest in gardening isn't something we share.
[He set down the ice cream and then fetched their coffee.]
It's alright, though, there's plenty that we do. Anyway, we're talking about you not me. What's going on with you and Ignis?
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I'm with you on that. Can't do the plant thing.
[While it was kind of interesting when you got into the science of it all, plants required too much patience.
He turns back to his pie with a hasty wave of his hand.]
Nothing's going on. I mean, nothing bad. It's great. He's great.
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He sat down and picked up his fork, but looked at the kid thoughtfully.]
You're great too and I know we don't hang out the four of us all that much, but you treat him really well. It's natural to be worried though.
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He told me he loves me. [And as happy as that makes him, he doesn't look it.]
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[Tony grins widely at him.]
And you two are brand new to the 'L' stage? Congrats, kid.
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[He offers a weak smile, fork tapping on the edge of his plate. And then he sighs.]
I didn't say it back.
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Why not?
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[Food forgotten, he leans back, arms crossed.]
Scared, I guess. Like...if I say it out loud, it's real. [He chews his lip, and when he resumes speaking, it's halting.] And if something happens... If he disappears, I don't- I can't go through that again.
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You were in love with someone here or where you were before?
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Both. We met on the Fleet, but she arrived here the same time I did. Few months later, she was gone.
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I'm sorry Prompto.. that.. that really sucks. Give me a second, I want to show you something.
[He got up and left the room. He hurried to his bedroom and rummaged around in his drawer for a few minutes before coming back with a couple things. As he comes back, he sets down on the table, a ring.]
Story number one.
[Then he sets down a tiny, familiar, skull necklace.]
Story number two.
[He sits down again and folds his hands.]
Or straight to talking about opals and tattoos.
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When he comes back and lays the items on the table, Prompto sits up, curious.
He should probably go in order, right? But...He knows that necklace. He gives Tony a confused look and taps it.]
Why do you have this?
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Because I know how great Ignis is too. Ever wonder why I'm so connected to you guys? It's not just because of Gladio, though he's my world now.
[He sighs and looks down at his mug for a moment before looking back up.]
He was on the train before he also vanished one day. At the next stop, just like everyone else this happened to, he got off and went through these gates. We could never get through them and the people who left never heard us or looked back.
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I knew he was on the train, but I didn't know you were all close.
[He frowns.]
That seems worse than people just vanishing.
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Should he tell him the rest? He paused to study Prompto's face for a brief moment.]
It helped in some ways because you knew what happened to them but in others..
Anyway, I think you two are a better fit than we had ever been. I'm grateful for the memories and the memento. It took a while before I could look at my ring again though. How I got it back, I'm not sure.
I know I didn't handle showing up here only to find him with someone else and blind very well, but I've apologized to him a couple times for that.
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Wait.
A conversation with Gladio suddenly comes rearing back. He...he already knew this!
He suddenly jumps up, hands slamming on the table.]
You're the old guy!
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Is that how Gladio described me before I got here?
[Oh, someone was going to pay for that one!]
I'm not that old!
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He also said you were engaged? [That's pretty serious.]
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'Refined'.. but whatever.
[Alright, letting some of the humor go.]
We were. I don't want you to worry about anything. I'm really happy with Gladio and I would never do anything to harm what you and Ignis have here. Plus, he's not.. they're different- I'm getting off track- my point is, watching him walk away was really hard. It tore me up for quite a while and when I think about it, it still hurts. It doesn't have anything to do with my relationship with Gladio either.
But how would it feel if Ignis really did leave tomorrow? Is it going to hurt any less because you didn't say it?
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He's not worried about the state of things. He's seen so many people, and versions of people, come and go and come and go. Noctis and Luna on the Fleet married each other. Noctis here was with someone else entirely. That was, at least, one thing he didn't worry about.
He sits back with a contemplative frown. It gets a little more miserable the more he thinks about it.]
...No. It'd hurt like hell either way.
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The important part was supporting the young man as best he could while he was struggling with these emotions. He nods, that he agrees no matter what this would hurt like hell.]
The only difference- if this were me- would be the guilt. I'd have trouble letting go of the fact I'd missed a chance to say it.
But, that's me and that's assuming it's true for you. It's okay not to be there yet. You can love a person and not be in love with them.
What's your heart telling you, kid?
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I think-- [He sighs.] I think I need to see Iggy.
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