revivalproject | Captain On A Chill-Cation

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Captain On A Chill-Cation

WHO: Gladiolus, Open
WHERE: Space Dock
WHAT: Checking in, Spa Day
WHEN: During Event
WARNINGS: N/A

I. Captain On Deck

It was almost funny to think that there was some expectation that being a pilot on the ships meant Gladio should have some authority over his crew. There were more than a few of them who would never see him as such, which was fair. That wasn't how things worked back on Agra-10, and it sure wasn't how it was going to work for anyone but station administration now that they were here.

That didn't mean Gladio didn't have responsibilities here. Chances were they only mattered to him, but Gladio still wanted to live up to them. So he found himself strolling through the station, eyes always on the swivel, hoping to catch sight of any of his crew mates. And once he does, he moves immediately to get to them.

"Everything going alright over here?"

And he must be a bit of a sight as he does it too. There he is, in his full Glaive uniform, standing at parade rest, looking over someone he feels responsible for with the sort of commanding presence of a military leader. Which he was. But whatever, just humor him perhaps?

II. Nothing Like Relaxing

There's plenty of time throughout the month to do the work of acquiring parts, consulting with engineers for any modifications, and going through the (frankly recurring) process of collecting his crew from their various misdeeds. Taking time for himself hasn't been something Gladio's done often. But there is something he catches sight on in one of his strolls through the space dock that really gets Gladio off of his cycle.

The sign takes some translating, but when he's got it, he looks intrigued.

"A massage, huh?"

And then he's approaching the counter where a creature that looks much like a living granite statue, who frowns.

"I'm sorry, this is for couples. Without a companion you cannot enter."

Well, now that was frustrating.

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"Yeah we had a real rough start when we met, but obviously doing better." Billy thinks about the time they pushed a mattress out of a window and just… gets this dopey grin on his face for a moment.

"He really is one of the first people to believe I could be better. Actually gave me a shot and helped out when I fucked things up sometimes." And helped out during the times it mattered most. The shower during the volcano situation. The fireworks ordeal. Times when Billy needed someone without asking for it.

Billy rests his head against the chair to lol at Gladio. "Does me crush meet my superior‘s approval then?"

That sort of smile Billy was wearing wasn't the sort that went with 'I had fun doing stupid shit with a friend'. And it makes Gladio chuckle just a little. Kid's smitten. Who knew he had it in him.

"Hey, not my job to weigh in on matters of romance. That's all HR and we seem distinctly out of agents at the moment. Guess it's really your freedom to decide your own love life, kid."

Billy hadn’t been kidding when he described the situations with Tommy earlier. He hears the chuckle and grins at his mentor.

Maybe it really was that easy. Maybe Billy could let himself go from what was waiting for him at home. It would take some time thought.

Hopefully he had enough time for that.

"Now I just gotta figure out how to tell him. Or at least figure out if he likes me."

This was where Gladio wished he could use Noct as a go between. But that would indeed be telling. And he gave his word, which was important. So he considers the advice he could give.

"He's got a brother, right?"

Siblings were often a good way in. Gladio knew about Iris's crush on Noctis (though she hadn't know the other way around). No doubt Ignis had known of Noctis's in return.

"Yeah, Kaplan. The other Billy. One of the two people that healed me up when I arrived." Right. Gladio had been there for that, had seen the state of Hargrove. "Tea did stitches but he magicked a lot of it afterwards. Used it to take some of the pain out."

At some point in this conversation, Bullys leg had stopped bouncing. "Why?"

Good to see the anxiety about this conversation fading some. Not much, but some. Wasn't that half the battle?

"Siblings tend to know. And if he cares about his brother he might try and encourage you. And him honestly."

It’s still there, just…appeased for the time being. Maybe that was some of the battle. He lifts a hand to chew on the side of his thumbnail. "Don’t know if I’m ready for that yet. I think…"

He bites harder and tastes a smidge of copper. Billy pulls his hand away.

"This shit is still really new for me. I wanna be sure and not mentally tied before I tell anyone else."

Because what if he’s wrong?

That's understandable. Gladio nods along because he gets it. Taking time, being sure.

"Just don't be like me, okay? Don't hold so much caution in you that you miss something good because of it."

Because Gladio almost had.

He's silent for a long while. "At home I was known for picking up chicks. Heart-throb. Heartbreaker, too." A pause. "If whatever the hell I'm feeling is actually true, I don't want to actually hurt him."

Unless Tommy pissed him off. Even then, it wasn't like Billy would be able to catch him anyways. He'd have to set some kind of Tommy-trap to do that.

"I don't want to hurt him like that anyways."

Ah, that. Gladio laughs and nods.

"I know what you mean. So was I. Looks, strength, money with family, and of course the title that goes with being the heir to the second highest placed noble family in the country. I was a heart-throb and a heartbreaker. And Noctis knew it. Hell, looking at you, your friend has to know it too. Doesn't mean men like us can't turn over a new leaf."

They can be beautiful and powerful and sensitive. Men in it for something more than a lay. But it also took two to set up for heartbreak, and this guy clearly has more desire for the kid than a simple hook up.

"So maybe you let him choose what he wants for his heart, by being honest with him."

Billy leans his head to the side, smirking. "You’re okay I guess." It’s teasing, seeing if Gladio would rise to bait like that, but he looks away.

Billy doesn’t want to hurt Tommy like that. He knows from experience how rough it is to be rejected and have it completely destroy you mentally. It’s how it felt when his mom left, and how it felt growing up under Neil‘s thumb. A cold trickle runs down his spine.

Could he even be good for Tommy? The guy was a superhero, he deserved better than someone like Billy Hargrove. A near delinquent, and a dead man walking.

No.

Billy couldn’t do that to Tommy. He didn’t deserve someone like this.

He knows where Billy's mind is going. He can see it in how the kid looks away. And that worries him.

"You're not going to be honest with him, are you?"

The cockpit is big enough for Billy to get to his feet and pace. From his seat to the door and back. "He’s a God damn superhero and I’m the asshole that tried to kill kids with my car to get a rise out of my sister. I’m a guy stuck in his dads shoes thinking he’s interested in a guy he hasn’t even known for a year!"

More pacing, with the speed picking up. Billy wants a cigarette. Maybe a fight. Maybe both.

"He can have better, Gladio!"

Okay they're coming back to the car thing later. Because that's not okay. And he needs to know how genuine the kid was, and the progress they're making on NOT doing that. They can also talk about how time doesn't matter in these situations. But first he has to address the important one.

"And I thought the same for Noctis. But all you're doing when you say that is taking away his agency."

"His agency? In making a really bad choice to maybe be with someone like me when there's others around in this shitty town?" Great, Billy's riled himself up now. "Others who are better?"

Could he name one? He could actually name two, really, but they were both in a relationship. With each other because of course they were. He's too upset to think of anyone else right now.

"Otis and Tommy aren't the same! Your guy is a king, he could order you to be his or whatever. Tommy's been through all sorts of shit as it is, he doesn't need a piece of shit like me to be dragged down with!"

"Have those others been around longer than you and still not started dating him or having him date them?"

Because if so then maybe he doesn't want them. Is it really that hard to figure out?

"It's his choice to make. Taking that from him is a lesser version of your father taking away your ability to choose someone who you like just because they're a guy."

Agency is important. So important. Gladio wishes that he could explain how. Laws deprived him of agency with Noctis in his world. Laws and tradition. And the Astrals deprived Noctis of his agency, and his life, in his world.

"And Noctis could no more order me to love him than you could order this Tommy I bet. Hearts are given as they will."

Of course Tommy wasn't dating anyone else. He would've said, right? Right? In all the months they had been hanging out, he would've said so? But Tommy kept information pretty close it seemed so... Another worry to add to the pile.

It's when Gladio remarks about acting like this is acting like Neil and he stops. Well, the pacing stops because he guns for Gladio, grabbing him by the shoulders and shoving. There's no where to shove, since the guy is still sitting in the cockpit chair, but the aggression is there in his movements, in his expression.

"Shut the fuck up!" Stop talking about shit you don't know anything about!"

Gladio looks decidedly unimpressed by the shove. And unconcerned. Knows better than to touch Billy to get the kid to back off. Just keeps his voice level and calm when he speaks.

"It's natural, to be scared of the chance of being loved. When we open ourselves up to feelings we invite the chance to be hurt. But keeping it all inside is like shaking a bottle of soda. Crack it open just a little bit and it will all explode, leave you with almost nothing left."

"Shut up! Shut the FUCK UP!" He yells, voice ringing loudly in the cockpit that housed only the two of them. Hopefully it was somewhat soundproof to keep people outside from knowing something was going on within.

It feels worse that Gladio isn't even reacting to Billy's anger, not stepping up to fight back to it.

"Get out! Get the hell out of my cockpit and get off of my ship!"

Honestly, he's getting used to these outbursts from the kid. Comes from not knowing how to face the intensity of his emotions, or so Gladio thinks.

But he won't argue now like he didn't argue then. Waits for Billy to give him the space to stand, with his unfinished plate, so he can head for the door.

"With time, it gets a tiny bit less scary, leaving your heart in another person's hands. I hope you get to feel that sort of trust someday."

Billy didn't exactly have the best parental role models. Space is given for the man to get out as ordered. The empty plate Billy had gets picked up, with some intention of cleaning it later or something.

"SHUT UP!" He nearly screams, throwing the plate towards the man. It doesn't hit him, smashing instead against the wall to shower to the floor in chunks. He blanches and staggers back at the action he went through with.

"Get out. Just go." It's all he can say as he drops back into his seat, pressing his hands to his face.

He says nothing more. Just leaves the bridge and wonders.

Wonders just who it was that Billy loved so intensely and was betrayed by in such a way to leave the boy such a wreck about the very idea of being loved.

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Captain On A Chill-Cation

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