Gladio listens to Ignis quietly, letting him lather up their hands together, mostly letting Iggy have all the control because he thinks that might soothe him here. Besides, it feels nice. Not just in the basic tactile sense, but it's a quiet, intimate, domestic moment that really does feel like so many other little moments of their relationship. Some of the best ones. Gladio's never one to undersell sex, or kissing, or even shamelessly romantic gestures, but he can't help feel like moments like this somehow cut deeper. Two halves of a whole completing each other even in the smallest, most mundane matters of their lives.
"Of course you wouldn't be unhappy about Noct growing up," he murmurs, lifting his free hand to lightly rest warm fingers against the back of Iggy's neck. "But...I can't imagine it doesn't hurt, not having gotten to see the steps in between. Even if some version of you got to see it, you haven't gotten to yet, and seeing Noct come into his own would mean so much to any version of you. It's gotta be a weird feeling, being jealous of your own older self. And seeing Noct the way he is...must feel like somebody spoiled the ending of a story you loved reading."
He leans in a little closer, so he can rest the side of his head against Ignis'. "And...yeah, it would feel like a betrayal. I had that agreement with you, in the technical sense, but not with you specifically. And the things that I think made it something we consider, in your future...I don't think they're established for you yet. So of course it doesn't feel right." His hand rests more fully against the back of Iggy's neck, warm palm against skin. "Namely...the deeper we get into our relationship as we grow older, Iggy, the more we realize that we're something special to each other. In a way nobody else could touch. There's a reason I've never missed the casual relationships and hook-ups I used to have before I was with you, Iggy. You're on a whole other level from them. I don't need any of that stuff anymore, when I could have you instead. I'd have to really love someone - like I love Noct - for it to be really worth my time to even look twice, because how could I downgrade now and have it be remotely satisfying.
"But even with Noct...I love him, and my relationship with him is irreplaceable in its own ways, but you're you. And no matter where I go or what I do, or who I'm with - I'm always gonna love you, Iggy. I'm always gonna need you, and want you, and come back to you. I think the older version of you was with me long enough to know that in his bones." He slowly strokes his thumb over the nape of Iggy's neck. "And if you haven't had the chance to learn it yet...then I'll make sure to teach you. I plan on spending the rest of my life at your side. Nothing and nobody else is gonna change that, and I want to make sure you know it."
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"Of course you wouldn't be unhappy about Noct growing up," he murmurs, lifting his free hand to lightly rest warm fingers against the back of Iggy's neck. "But...I can't imagine it doesn't hurt, not having gotten to see the steps in between. Even if some version of you got to see it, you haven't gotten to yet, and seeing Noct come into his own would mean so much to any version of you. It's gotta be a weird feeling, being jealous of your own older self. And seeing Noct the way he is...must feel like somebody spoiled the ending of a story you loved reading."
He leans in a little closer, so he can rest the side of his head against Ignis'. "And...yeah, it would feel like a betrayal. I had that agreement with you, in the technical sense, but not with you specifically. And the things that I think made it something we consider, in your future...I don't think they're established for you yet. So of course it doesn't feel right." His hand rests more fully against the back of Iggy's neck, warm palm against skin. "Namely...the deeper we get into our relationship as we grow older, Iggy, the more we realize that we're something special to each other. In a way nobody else could touch. There's a reason I've never missed the casual relationships and hook-ups I used to have before I was with you, Iggy. You're on a whole other level from them. I don't need any of that stuff anymore, when I could have you instead. I'd have to really love someone - like I love Noct - for it to be really worth my time to even look twice, because how could I downgrade now and have it be remotely satisfying.
"But even with Noct...I love him, and my relationship with him is irreplaceable in its own ways, but you're you. And no matter where I go or what I do, or who I'm with - I'm always gonna love you, Iggy. I'm always gonna need you, and want you, and come back to you. I think the older version of you was with me long enough to know that in his bones." He slowly strokes his thumb over the nape of Iggy's neck. "And if you haven't had the chance to learn it yet...then I'll make sure to teach you. I plan on spending the rest of my life at your side. Nothing and nobody else is gonna change that, and I want to make sure you know it."