The bedroom smelled faintly of musky cologne and clean linen, but also with a touch of… cinnamon? It was a strange combination of aromas, but it smelled like home to the newly crowned King of Lucis, as he awoke rather groggily to the early morning sunlight sweeping through the dark curtains.
He groaned, moving to turn over when he felt strong arms hug him close to a broad, taut, muscular torso; warmth radiating so comfortingly off of it. The king chuckled, running his hand through his lover's brown locks that had grown longer, but were nevertheless still as soft as they were ten years ago.
He gazed lovingly at that face, that warm, gruff, familiar scarred face that loomed over his smaller frame and made passionate love to him so many times in so many nights while also proving that he was the one and only man for him.
The king never doubted that. He never needed it to proven to him. It stared him right in his deep, sapphire eyes. The king saw all the things that reminded him of the love that they bonded over and held onto in those warm, loving amber orbs.
Passion. Tenderness. Desire. Kindness. Warmth. A future, a future that held them to its breast and never let go.
Ten years of having to survive in the eternal darkness brought that fear and doubt crawling back into the shield's head: what if the prince never came back? What if the Chosen King was truly gone?
But the moment he heard that lazy mumble at their reunion in Hammerhead, he pushed all of that out and filled it with the memories that were, and the times that were promised to be.
"Hey," was all the king had to say, and Gladio's heart leapt for him before his body had the chance to later that night. They spent the rest of that darkened evening in each other's embrace, reliving their intimate vows of lovemaking: always close, always true, and always entirely felt in the heart.
It was what they thought to be their last night together before the prophecy was fulfilled, and the Chosen King sacrificed to banish the Accursed Immortal forever. But it was not to be.
The glorious dawn arising over the hills after a decade of loss and turmoil, lead to new promises. A hope that shined through, never to be forgotten as the last King of Lucis stumbled weakly down the steps of the Citadel.
His eyes rimmed red from exhaustion, his hair messy and askew, his scruffy face weary and stained with mud and dirt; his kingly garment torn and burned from his confrontation with the fickle fire god, Ifrit.
His knees shook, signalling that his whole body was tired and finished. He was ready to give in to his long overdue slumber that beckoned him from beyond. Finally, he fell to his knees, and cried into the dark, crumbling city around him.
His fated battle with Ardyn Lucis Caelum had taken its toll on him, and he felt as though he were truly at his absolute end; being wracked with heavy sobs and the pain and aching from so much overwhelming power and magic.
Through it all, he knew he had done his part. He, no, they had won. The whole world slept in victorious silence that night as they awaited the promised dawn to come and cast out the darkness. The king soon lost consciousness after crying out into the heavens with such fervor and such thankfulness that he was alive.
He lived. He was free to choose, to live and to love. But he swore he would never forget the sacrifices made in his stead by both loved ones and dear friends. He hoped his father was watching over him the moment he set foot in Insomnia, and claimed back his rightful throne.
His father, who sent him off on a different path that led to life. It was the greatest thing he ever did, and the king thanked the man before him: his loving father.
And Luna… he prayed she was happy, wherever she was. He knew all she wished for him was the same. He promised her they would see each other again one day, but it was not that day. She wanted him to go on. To live every day to the fullest.
And he would do just that in her honor, her sacrifice.
The gods sure had a funny way of changing their minds.
The king lay sleepily in his shield's limp arms, watching the steady rise and fall of his lover's chiseled torso, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his slightly parted lips. He gently scooted up a little higher on the fluffy pillows so he could run all ten fingers through his lover's silken hair, kissing the top of his messy nest of browns.
Gladio groaned through a small grin, squinting through bleary eyes to wrap his broad arms around the small of his lover's smooth back, reveling in the feel of his king's thin fingers tickling his scalp. "Mmm…" he grumbled, snuggling closer to his lover's soft breast, kissing his collarbone. "If this a dream, don't wake me up…"
The king smirked, snickering through a breathy moan as Gladio's beard lightly brushed over one of his perky nipples. "It's not a dream, love, but it's way too damn early in the morning," he purred into his shield's brown locks. "Shouldn't've kept me up so late last night."
"YOU shouldn't have begged me for more if you wanted to sleep in today," he retorted with a low chuckle, slowly slipping back into sleep.
The king hugged his lover's head close to his thumping heart, leaning into his ear. He blew some loose strands away from it and gently sucked on it. "Kiss me," he demanded.
"Not now," Gladio uttered, trying to hold back a yawn. "Sleep."
"I'm too awake now to go back to sleep. I need you…"
"For what?" He asked anyway, even though he knew what his lover was hinting at.
"To help me fall back to sleep," he whispered, passion lacing his lazy tone as he swung a leg over his lover's waist.
Gladio sloppily kissed and licked at the king's chest, eliciting a lewd moan from that mouth he loved so much buried in his hair. "Any special requests, Your Majesty?"
"Mm-hm… ungh… do that thing you did last night," he mumbled breathily.
"As you wish, beautiful."
Gladio slowly slid out from the king's arms and down underneath the covers where he twirled his hot tongue around his lover's tip, gently kneading his hips. Those coarse beard hairs brushing up against his inner thighs sent shivers up the king's spine.
"Ooohhhh, yes, that!" The younger man threw his head back into the pillow, spreading his legs further to give Gladio more access. He arched and bucked into Gladio's mouth as he took the king's entire length, sucking it and grazing his shaft with his teeth. The older man happily swallowed some of the milky fluid that leaked out of his lover before initiating a push and pull motion, taking him all the way to the back of the shield's throat.
Gladio choked a bit, coughing through his full mouth as his lover's hardening cock bobbed up and down.
"Don't choke yourself, love- oh, gods…ooooohhhhh, gods!" The king bucked higher into his lover's hot, wet mouth as he tried to remind him of the obvious; he moaned uncontrollably. "Gladio!"
He sucked harder and harder, moving his head with the king's bucking motions. Gladio's saliva mixed with his lover's pre-seed dripped out of the corners of his mouth, slipping onto the soiled sheets from the night before. He slid his tongue back and forth along the king's quivering shaft, making wet, lapping sounds as he sped up his pushing and pulling. His broad palms tenderly kneading the king's hips and sliding down to caress his shaky thighs.
The king tossed his head to the side, panting hard as he gripped at the sheets with one hand, and pulled on Gladio's hair to bring him in closer with the other. "Gladio, more. Gods, please, more," he begged, a higher pitch taking the place of his deeper voice.
Gladio did just that as more white seed leaked onto his tongue, threatening to come all the way. He felt the change in his lover's movements down his throat from pleasurable arching, to desperate bucking as his stiff cock spilt even more fluid into his mouth. It wasn't just the way his lover writhed underneath his hands, it was those sounds he was making. Every time he moaned his lover's name and threw his raven crown back onto the pillows, it gave Gladio rise to an even harder erection.
The larger man wanted more of him. He wanted to be inside of him, thrusting and pulling and pushing until his king was at his most desperate peak: clawing his back, shivering with promised release, screaming his name over and over again as his legs would fall open, giving the shield all the room he needed to ride out, higher than ever, the most wonderful, euphoric moment with his king.
But gentleness and patience came first with Gladio. He, in all the times the two of them enjoyed their sex together, was never rough or forceful. He waited for his king, letting him have all the pleasure in choosing how he wanted to be loved and fondled. Patience had been like a solemn vow during those ten years in the darkness, his heart longing for the presence of his lover once again. But now, here he was, in his arms. His king was here, at the mercy of all the things he wanted to do to him.
No words could describe how beautiful the king looked to him now: his longer raven locks cascading the sides of his scruffy cheeks, the aged lines that crinkled at the corners of his lips whenever he smiled; he couldn't deny the heat that rose in his pants at the sound of the king's deep laughter. Watching him from below was like a glimpse of paradise: his king, vulnerably naked and sprawled out in front of him. He could see every side of his lover and he loved every inch of him. Pale, flawless flesh that glistened as sweat formed a sheen all over his body during intercourse, deep, lustful blue orbs that seemed to peer right into the man's soul, softly toned thighs that quivered whenever he ran his hands down them…
He was just beautiful. Whether he was 20 again or aging past 30, it made no difference to the shield. They were in love and that's all that mattered.
The last slick slide up his lover's shaft made all of the king's milky fluid come spilling forth, most of it swallowed gratefully by the older man's smiling lips while some dripped down his rough beard. The king pushed up off the bed for a second, screaming his lover's name breathlessly as his seed shot out and his hips shook. Gladio finally pulled back with a satisfying slap of his tongue against the tip of his lover's quivering cock.
Taking a few minutes to catch their breath, Gladio sat back on his heels, wiping his mouth and heaving heavy breaths as he lovingly watched the king slowly begin to breathe normally, lying on his back all covered in sweat.
His eyes were closed as he relished the feeling of Gladio's hot, tender lips on him, his cock descending and softening again. "Gladio," he murmured breathlessly, reaching for his lover. Opening his eyes, the king smiled at the larger man under the covers, whose amber eyes seemed to glow in the dark.
Seeing those beautiful sapphires beckoning to him, Gladio wasted no time as he crawled on top of him, caging him between his broad legs and his toned, tattooed arms. His radiant, oppressive body heat made the king whine and shift his hips a little to align his opening with Gladio's heavy cock as he wrapped his arms around his neck. Gladio grinned, sweeping some of his lover's raven bangs away from his face.
"Even after all these years, you still manage to turn me on with one look from those beautiful baby blues," he said, gazing right into his lover's half-lidded eyes.
"Glad I haven't lost my touch," the king hummed, holding himself up on his elbows to peck his lover's swollen lips. He tasted himself as Gladio returned the kiss. "Was it… alright?"
Gladio chuckled softly, leaning down further to gently push his lover back onto the bed. "Anything I do with you is amazing."
"Is your throat sore?"
"Little bit."
The king moved onto his side, avoiding Gladio's gaze. "Maybe we should go to sleep now then."
"Stop it," the larger man sighed.
"Stop what?"
"Stop doubting everything. You're so afraid of being with me now. What's goin' on with you?"
The king glanced over his shoulder, looking puzzled. "What are you talking about? All I said was that we should go back to sleep. If you think about it, I've only slept for 3 hours. You kept me up till 4 o'clock in the morning."
Gladio grumbled. "Don't blame this on not getting enough sleep. I know what you're really thinking about and I want you to cut it out, alright?"
"The hell do you mean?"
The shield laid comfortably back down on his side of the bed. "You hesitate with every little thing, like when you asked me if you were 'alright'. Why wouldn't you be alright? I told you, you were amazing."
The king threw his hand up in irritation. "What's wrong with asking you that? I just wanted to know if you hurt yourself, okay? It's not a big deal. I don't want you suffocating because of me."
"How come you never asked me that before?"
"Before what?"
"Before you left," he said plainly.
Trying to ignore the question, the king scooted away to the opposite edge of the bed with his back to his lover. "Why is it such a problem? I don't hesitate with everything, just this because it's only our second time doing that kind of thing."
"It's not just this and you know it," Gladio huffed, propping his head up on his elbow. "Ever since you came back, it's been this way. Every time we have sex, you act all hesitant and scared like you're gonna hurt me. Why? I wanna know." His voice rose with each word.
"I don't know," he admitted, his tone as calm as ever. "And keep your voice down. You're too loud."
"If you didn't know, you wouldn't be doing it, now would you?"
The king bit his lip, wanting to keep up this little charade as long as he could. But Gladio saw right through him, just like he always had. He knew he lost this game. "I guess it's just… this all doesn't feel real to me yet… and if for some reason we can't keep it, then I don't want to leave any part of myself behind with you," he came out clearly, turning over onto his back. "The last thing I want is for you to wallow in sadness for the rest of your life, Gladio, on account of me." He looked deeply into Gladio's unwavering stare, willing him to understand.
Gladio smiled knowingly, rolling on top of his lover once again. "Remember what you said when you left us on the steps of the Citadel?"
The king nodded.
"You told us to take care of the rest. And since the gods were selfless enough to give you back to us, then that's what I'm gonna do. I'm here to take care of you. They gave you back to me and I'm not letting you go."
His lover studied the shield's face carefully, listening to every word.
Gladio continued, a tender gleam in his ambers. "I swore an oath to you many years ago to protect you and keep you from harm. You're here now and I'm holding up to that oath till the day I die. So don't you worry, or doubt, or hesitate in showing any love for me, because I'm not leaving you and you're not ever leaving me again. You got that? I'm your friend, your shield, and your lover for now and forever."
Tears welled up in the king's blue orbs when he heard all the promises nestled in every word that left his lover's lips. "Gladio, make love to me."
It was more of a request than a command as Gladio wiped away a tear rolling down his lover's stubbled cheek, cupping it and pressing a kiss to it. "I missed you, Noct."
"I missed you too," his breath hitched as he fought back more tears.
Gladio began his caresses with kissing his king's knuckles then trailing up his arm, sucking at his shoulder before moving to his neck, lingering on his throat and licking around to his nape. Noctis leaned his head back with a sigh, welcoming Gladio's loving motions as the shield's warm hands smoothed over his bare belly, gently kneading his sides. It tickled the king's sensitive skin and made him laugh.
"Still ticklish, huh?" Gladio teased him some more by crawling his fingers up and down Noctis's sides, earning a hardy chuckle from his lover.
"No no, stop! Stop- ahahahaha!" He squirmed and writhed against his shield's torturous fingers until he captured the king's soft lips in a passionate, needy kiss. Noctis couldn't control his laughter even after Gladio's tongue invaded his mouth, his snickers sending pleasurable vibrations down his throat. A luscious moan escaped through the small gap between their tongues leaving Gladio with all the leeway he needed to subdue his lover's tongue.
Their saliva swirled together and slipped down their stubbled chins as their tongues danced. His king's hands threading their way through Gladio's long brown hair as the shield lowered himself closer to Noctis. Gladio loved how the heat of their passion made them both hot and sweaty all over again.
Reluctantly breaking the kiss, Gladio moved down to Noctis's breast and greedily sucked on his perky right nipple, earning another moan from his lover as he stroked his brown locks. He then switched to give attention to his left nipple, glancing up at his king, who smirked at him tenderly. Lifting his head with a slick pop coming off his king's soft nipple, he saw how needily Noctis gazed at him. "Now?"
"I think you know the answer," Noctis muttered in that husky tone that made Gladio growl in anticipation.
"Noct," he cupped his lover's face with both hands, pressing one last soft, sweet kiss to his swollen lips. "I love you." He made sure to nudge his erection up against Noctis's soaked opening, getting a high-pitched mewl out of him.
"I love you too, and I want you, Gladio… I need you. All of you… everything you've got, I want you to do so much more to me than you did last night," he said, taking hold of Gladio's hand and kissing his palm. "I wanna be lost in you… make me forget everything right now. The only thing I wanna know is you and me alone, here together. Shut out everything and everyone else…" He wrapped his arms around his lover's neck and hugged him close, tears slipping from his eyes. "And if I fall asleep, let me sleep forever in your arms…"
Gladio gently lowered him back down and gazed into his tearful sapphires. "You and me, Noct, I promise. Let me take you away."
Noctis gave him a tearful, honest smile before letting his eyes slip closed, coming to slide his hands down both of Gladio's firm, sturdy biceps. "I'm yours."
"I know," the older man replied, kissing both of his king's thighs before towering back over him and licking at his lips for another long, loving kiss. The king's mouth was still firmly closed when Gladio forced his tongue inside, exploring every nook and crevice within his lover's lips, claiming everything for himself. He then gently shifted his knees and hips in such a way that his bulging tip rested at Noctis's entrance, eliciting a desperate whine from him that echoed off the walls of the bedroom.
Gladio was thankful that this was a pretty small room in which they could be as loud as they wanted when Noctis arched his back and threw his head to the side, letting out the most beautiful lustful mewl. Gladio slid himself in then, a smooth path to follow to the end of his lover's squishy, wet, pink cavern as his walls stretched and contracted, taking all of the larger man's girth and swallowing it.
"Gods!" Noctis winced and gripped at the pillows under his raven crown as his body took Gladio's length all the way, just as it had done many times before those ten years ago. His womb had since grown accustomed to his lover's heavy, massive cock and was always prepared for the most incredible, passionate thrusts that sent him over the edge.
At this point, Noctis was already panting heavily and looked completely exhausted. Despite this, Gladio resolved to continue as he let both of them get comfortable and settled before he started moving inside. This was what his king wanted and Gladio was not one to disappoint him, especially when it came to giving him that sexual and emotional gratification that he so desperately needed right now. The shield broke their kiss and watched with a smile as his lover's body heaved up and down with shallow breaths, sweat beading down his scruffy face. "You okay, baby?"
Noctis rocked his hips slightly and let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah... you can move, but take it slow. I wanna enjoy every single second of you inside of me, Gladio… please. Keep me here for as long as you can."
"I can do that and more," Gladio reassured him, beginning with slow, even thrusts, leaning in to capture his swollen lips once more. He crawled further up and over him, looming over his Noctis's entire body, pushing his legs open wider while his broad hands roamed over every inch of his king's glistening torso.
"Ahhhhnnnn…" The pleasurable pressure already began filling Noctis's sex as Gladio picked up momentum and speed. The king arched yet again, gripping at the sheets for some measure of assurance that he was still on earth as his ears were assaulted with that wet slick noise of flesh slapping against flesh. His opening was soaked, his fluid dripping down his thighs and onto the bed. It just felt so good to be full of warm liquid as Gladio's hardened cock swam in Noctis's sweet fluids between thrusts.
"Oh, Noct…" Gladio groaned, feeling the constant contracting and pulsing of Noctis's soft walls crowding his arousal. "Noct, c'mere," he purred, sliding his hands under Noctis's shoulders and pulling him into his chest as he rolled his hips faster, his breath hitching with every thrust.
"Gladio!" The king yelped, wrapping his legs tightly around his lover's hips, bucking and desperately nudging his head into his shoulder; his raven strands resting over Gladio's fading eagle tattoo. "Oooohhhhh, Gladio!"
Holding Noctis close to his heart like this to where he could feel their hearts pounding in rhythm, gave him a warming sense of home. Noctis was his home. He thought he had forgotten what home felt like.
He slid in and out, in and out steadily, rocking Noctis in time with his rolling hips. The spot his cock kept hitting inside of his lover was turning Noctis into a writhing, moaning mess, howling as the waves of pleasure swept over him.
Able to hold his king firmly with one arm, Gladio reached down between their flushed, wet skin to wriggle his fingers around Noctis's sensitive nub of nerves, swirling his hot juices.
"Gladio!" He screamed and threw his head back, his raven bangs flowing off his face. Gladio immediately went for his neck, kissing, biting and licking at once; growling as he thrust further and faster into his lover's womb. "Gladio, uuuuhhhhggggnnnn… Gladio, gods! Gladio, Gladio, please!"
Gladio smiled into his kisses, feeling Noctis's whole body shiver as his walls clamped down, squeezing his heavy, dripping cock. "Noct, it's almost time," he grumbled breathlessly.
"I know," the king whined loudly, his stomach clenched as his womb contracted and relaxed intermittently, the intense pressure rising in his core; he was so close to coming now.
Gladio's roar sang with Noctis's groan as they came together. Noctis arched higher than ever, screaming and drawing out Gladio's name while his lover gave a few more quick thrusts, spilling the last of his seed into his king.
Their panting slowed and their heartbeats returned to soft thumping as they descended from solitary ecstasy. Gladio gently pulled himself out from Noctis's softness and laid him back down on the bed, before taking his place close beside him. "Noct."
Sighing contentedly and still a bit shaky from the aftermath of lovemaking, the king rolled over and laid his raven crown to rest on Gladio's chest. The sound of his lover's steadily beating heart comforted him in a way that nothing else in the world could ever do. "I love you, Gladio," his murmur drifted through the silence of the darkened bedroom and nestled softly in Gladio's ear.
Gladio pressed a loving kiss to his raven bangs, smoothing them away from his pale, aged face. "I love you more than my life, Noct. My beautiful king…" Gladio watched happily as Noctis slipped peacefully back into slumber, the morning light sweeping across his face, making him seem to glow.
The king's dreams were abounding in the memories of that special night before.
His coronation. The party. The music. The drinks and food. The laughter from close friends. Prompto, Ignis and Gladio stood beside him as he raised a toast to peaceful years ahead under the new dawn.
It was a crazy night, but a fun one as everyone laughed and danced and sang, happily making casual conversations about normal, everyday life. Not war, or refugees, or if being out at night meant probable death, but peaceful things; especially life.
All of Lucis was rejoicing in the light and the promise of hope that followed it. The return of their king rekindled that fire of progress and determination as he had ordered the rebuilding to begin immediately in Insomnia.
Every hall in the Citadel was alive with people from all corners of the Crown City, but the throne room held the greatest joyful noise as the people held their own toast to their new king, and for a peaceful reign and good health to come.
Prompto's album roll was overflowing with pictures of the occasion. Every "click" of his shutter meant another beautiful memory to be added to his photo album labeled, "Home." He took shots of everything: from the tiniest crumb stuck on the ebony table cloths to the magnificent, black marble throne reserved only for the rightful king.
The blonde photographer made sure to get extra special pictures of the king and his shield on what was celebrated as both of their special day, as their love was once again reunited.
Ignis tried his hand at dancing around with various lovely ladies, loving the feeling of being whisked across the dance floor. Ten years of living in his own darkness hadn't deterred him from enjoying every piece of life he once latched onto.
He didn't miss a beat, moving gracefully while entwined in the arms of a young lass. The king followed all of his advisor's movements, relishing the joyful laughter that burst forth from the taller man.
The king hadn't heard Ignis laugh in a long time and it was the most beautiful sound his ears had captured that night.
After the party quieted down and everyone returned to their new homes, the king and his shield retired for the night quite early. But it wasn't because they were tired, no. Gladio desperately needed time alone with his king, his lover.
Ten years was too long for them to be apart.
A wrinkled hand halted only an inch from knocking on the king's bedroom door. It had heard the resulting labored breathing and pleasured groans from the couple's lovemaking.
"It must be nice for the King of Lucis to sleep in and spend the rest of the day in his lover's embrace." The voice took an irritated tone.