Sergio looked between Rox and the envelope she had thrown down onto the bar in front of him, arching an eyebrow as his gaze finally settled on the smug smile spreading across her face.
"The hell's this?"
Rox just shrugged, her smile widening.
"Why don't you open it and tell me?"
Curiosity quickly got the better of Sergio and he grabbed the envelope, his forehead pulling into a frown as he ripped it open and saw a cheque nestled within with his name on it. His jaw almost hit the ground when he saw the amount it was worth, the numbers written in Rox's handwriting with her signature just below.
"Fuck me sideways Rox…seriously, what is this?"
"The start of your retirement fund," Rox replied, chuckling as Sergio just stared at her, words seemingly beyond him for a few moments which was a very rare occurrence indeed. "And consider it repayment for all the drinks I've had on the house over the years. Not to mention the hours of whining you've had to put up with, although I'm not sure even the King has enough money to pay for that…"
"Rox you fool, I was joking…"
"Yeah, well I'm not," she said firmly, pushing the envelope back towards Sergio as he tried to thrust it into her hands. "If I remember correctly, you said you wanted to 'sell this dump and retire somewhere warm'. Well, now you can, so long as you don't drink it."
Running his hand through his hair, Sergio sighed deeply.
"Rox…I…thank you." He turned to look at Gladiolus who was stood next to Rox, his arm wrapped around her waist. "Any chance you could fall out with me and get me to sing in front of the King about it? Seems that shit pays well. Very well," he added as he glanced at the cheque again before stuffing it in his pocket.
Gladiolus' loud laugh boomed through the empty bar and Rox scowled playfully at him.
"Hands off, he's mine."
Throwing his hands up in mock surrender, Sergio watched as Gladiolus grinned, something smouldering in his eyes as he clearly enjoyed the possessive nature of Rox's albeit light-hearted threat.
"You heard the lady. Seems I'm taken."
Sergio gave himself a mental pat on the back. The kids were a great match and he was only a pair of wings and a bow and arrow away from being Cupid himself.
"I wouldn't dare, I heard you're capable of flooring even the most elite warriors," he teased, catching the loaded glance that Rox and Gladiolus exchanged and he noisily cleared his throat to snap them out of whatever likely sordid memory they were reliving. "I hope you're gonna let me pay you for tonight, Rox."
"Sure, although I'm only taking payments in liquid form tonight."
"Rox," Sergio warned although it came out in more of a laugh, "drinks were on the house tonight anyway. I'm talking about actual payment for the fact that you're, you know kinda a big deal now. It's not just karaoke anymore although feel free to delve into that later when the entertainment goes to shit as usual."
Rox just shook her head.
"Nope, no chance. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and do a sound check. I expect the first instalment of my payment to be waiting for me when I get back."
With that she sauntered away, making for the stage where several people were setting up for her performance later that evening. The men watched her go and then turned back to look at the other.
"Women…" Sergio grumbled in a mixture of amusement and exasperation and Gladiolus nodded in earnest, although there was discernible fondness in his eyes.
"Tell me about it."
Rox's life had changed dramatically since the night she had sung at the Prince's birthday. Her and Gladiolus had made up, the glorious process of which had almost tempted her to fall out with him again just so she could relive it, and they had been officially dating for a whole month although they'd been so busy it had flown by in a heartbeat.
The Prince's celebrations had been a bit of a blur for her but when Rox found the music producer's card in her bag along with a written message on the back asking her to give him a call when she was free, the gravity of the gesture suddenly hit her.
A music producer had heard her sing and had liked it enough to give her his card. The opportunities this opened up were, well, rather staggering.
She'd phoned him right there and then, still yet to leave Gladiolus' apartment and they had both listened in barely contained excitement as the man had expressed his interest in Rox and wanted to arrange a meeting so they could discuss things further. Rox had been utterly euphoric, Gladiolus bursting with pride and he had proceeded to congratulate her in a manner not dissimilar to the way they had made up the previous night.
Perhaps she wouldn't need to fall out with him again after all.
Things had happened quickly after that. With a contract soon signed, she strode proudly into the crowded office she had spent the last three years in, ignoring the shouts of her name and made directly for her boss's office. Taking a moment to enjoy the look of shock on his face, she informed him she was resigning and had no intention of working her notice before turning on her heels and leaving without a backward glance.
Her musical apology had gone viral, something which pleased and mortified Rox in equal measures and when it was suggested to her that she start off with a low-key performance to ease her into things, there was only one place she was going to go. Naturally Sergio had agreed without a second thought and the modest audience they had both hoped for was entirely surpassed, Somnus pretty much packed to capacity by the time she was ready to perform.
Gladiolus bid her good luck, kissing her briefly before squeezing through the crowds to join Noctis and the rest of his retinue who had come along to watch. Taking a deep breath to try and settle her apprehension, Rox climbed onto stage as Sergio began to introduce her.
"Alright you ugly lot, listen up. For your entertainment tonight we have none other than the woman who has personally given me grief for three long, long years and if it wasn't for the fact that she's pretty much single-handedly kept me in business, I would have barred her long ago." He paused to wink at Rox who shrugged.
"Sounds about right," she agreed and Sergio waited for the laughter to die down before he continued.
"Despite being a real pain in the ass, I've always known she would make it big from the moment I heard her sing on this very stage. The karaoke was particularly dire that night and I'll never forget the moment she slammed down her drink, grumbling something that sounded like 'fuck this' before storming onto the stage and grabbing the mic. I swear to you, my jaw hit the fucking floor. But no matter how much I've pestered her over the years, I don't think she's ever thought she was good enough. Well Rox, all that's left to say is I fucking told you so. You deserve this, girl and I know you've got great things to come. Just don't forget us here when you're big and famous, yeah? I would say it's 'cause I'd miss ya but it's mostly 'cause I need someone to drink all this gin I stock piled after you kept drinking me dry."
"You sentimental fool," Rox sighed as she threw her arms around him, sensing the genuine fondness in his words beneath the affectionate abuse. "And don't worry about the gin," she said down the microphone as they broke apart and the applause died down. "You're not getting rid of me that easy."
Sergio turned back to the audience and pulled a face.
"Lucky us…Well, we're not getting any younger here. Give the people what they came for!"
He dived off stage and Rox brought the microphone back up to her lips with a smile.
"Yes boss."
Before she knew it, her first set was sung and the bar swelled with applause as she took a bow, emotion swirling in her chest at their genuine appreciation for her voice, something she'd dreamt of all her life. Her already huge smile widened even further as she left the stage and made her way over to where the others were sat only to be intercepted by Gladiolus as he made towards the bar. She braced herself, thinking she'd be pulled into one of his crushing hugs but he placed a hand on her waist and dragged her sideways towards him, only breaking his stride long enough to speak into her ear.
"Killing it, like I knew you would, darlin'. Go make yourself comfy, I'll get you a drink."
With that he released her and continued for the bar, clearly adamant on getting there before the hordes could descend too much. Rox just laughed; even the way he told her that he was going to get a drink did ridiculous things to her heart. The Shield needed to come with a health warning, that was for sure.
As she made it to their booth, which strangely was the one they had sat in on the first night they had come to Somnus, Ignis shuffled up to make room for her to sit down.
"Very well done, Rox," he said as she settled beside him. "It's easy to see why you have quite an impressive following already."
Rox stared around the packed bar, starting to feel a little overwhelmed now she was coming down off the adrenaline of her performance. "Yeah, it's pretty insane, if a little weird…Being the centre of attention is exhausting, I don't know how you put up with it, Noctis." She inwardly thanked herself for remembering not to call him 'Prince'. She'd spent enough time around him now to know that he hated it.
Noctis stretched his arms above his head, a grin suddenly on his face.
"You're right Rox, it is exhausting. Guess that's why I'm always tired."
Ignis flashed Noctis a sharp look.
"Still not an excuse for trying to sleep for the majority of the day. I am almost certain that your sleeping habits would remain the same even if you were the last person in existence."
"He's got you there," Prompto chuckled, nudging Noctis in the side who looked about to protest but then he just sighed and nodded.
"Yep, you're probably right…"
Rox smiled; she enjoyed listening to their playful exchanges, the camaraderie between the four men was infectious and it was oddly reassuring that the future King of Lucis had such close companions to guide and support him. Given the burden of the Crown, he was certainly going to need it. Ignis in particular made her laugh, something which a month ago had seemed entirely impossible. His wickedly dry sense of humour coupled with perfectly timed and worded comments meant that more often than not he had the last laugh. Although, just to add insult to injury, it all seemed rather effortless on his part.
Her smile faded instantly, however, as she caught sight of a familiar and very unwelcome face that turned her blood to ice. He was leant up against the wall by the main doors and he just threw her a smirk before pushing open the doors and stepping out into the street.
A torrent of questions ripped through her mind and before she knew it, she was on her feet, the ice in her veins thawing and instantaneously igniting. Following him outside would be playing into whatever little game he clearly had planned but she didn't care.
She needed to have a few words herself.
"Back in a minute," she grumbled to the others before sliding out from the booth and storming after the man whose mere presence threatened to ruin her entire night. She had to deal with him quickly and alone; no doubt Gladiolus would be less than pleased to see him and given the sizeable amount of people in Somnus that evening, she really didn't want to cause a scene if she could avoid it.
Pushing open Somnus' doors, she emerged into the cool evening, glancing around until she saw Vanus leant against the wall of an alleyway that led off towards the right, an infuriatingly smug look on his face which grew even more insufferable as she approached him.
The location was unsettlingly similar to the last time that she had seen him but this time there was one key difference.
He held no power over her anymore and if he even thought about attacking her, he was going to sorely regret it. Gladiolus had given her a few more training sessions and she'd managed to floor him in each one of them, much to both of their delight. If she could subdue the Prince's Shield, the pathetic man before her wasn't going to be a problem.
"Hey, Roxy," he sneered and Rox had to force herself not to wipe the smirk off his face right there and then.
"The hell do you want, Vanus?" she snarled.
"I just wanted to see how Insomnia's newest star was doing. Given all the controversy, you've done pretty well for yourself."
Hatred coursed through her blood and her hands curled into fists.
"Controversy?!" she spat in a humourless laugh. "And whose fault was that, huh? Don't think I don't know that it was you who started those rumours."
"Maybe I did, but it wasn't me who confirmed them, was it, Rox? You caused that shit all by yourself. But it's worked out so well for you hasn't it." His bitter words were dripping in contempt. "And oh, that song you wrote for loverboy…I didn't know your heart was made of anything other than ice. Guess I didn't break it hard enough to find out." He sighed in satisfaction at the absolute loathing that was twisting Rox's face. "Speaking of your bodyguard, I'm surprised he's let you out of his sight. Probably for the best after last time though, given all the trouble it landed you in…"
Rox took a deep breath, feeling her temper fraying dangerously.
"Face it Vanus, you can say what you want but you're a piece of shit and the whole city knows it. I should be thanking you really. Being with you made me realise that I can do far, far better and Gladio is everything I could have wished for and more. Now do us all a favour and piss off back to whatever hole you've crawled out of. Unless you want to be humiliated in front of the entire bar as your pathetic ass is forcibly removed. By me."
Vanus laughed and rolled his shoulders.
"Well would you look at that, you've grown a spine. Goes nicely with that scar you've got on your cheek. Same side as Amicitia's, right? You even have matching scars, it really is meant to be…"
Rox's hand involuntarily reached up to gently touch the marked skin of her face. Once the bruising had eventually disappeared she'd been left with a small but noticeable silvery scar just above her cheekbone. It didn't bother her too much but Gladiolus had been rather upset about it and she'd had to spend a considerable amount of time trying to console him. In her attempts to cheer him up, she'd made the very same comment about them matching and had teased him about the origins of his own, which he had fiercely claimed was his trophy of a fearsome battle, although his friends had informed her very much otherwise.
Vanus, however, seemed to be gloating, clearly pleased he had ensured that Rox would be forced to think of him every time she looked in the mirror.
"I don't think you're listening to me," she retorted, willing herself to just ignore his comments. "Leave. Now."
His lips pulled into a sinister smile. "Not yet. I wanna see how loud I have to make you scream before your knight in shining armour comes running to the rescue. Bet it won't be very loud at all…"
Rox's rage-fuelled determination faltered slightly, the way he advanced on her making it clear he didn't have just simple violence in mind. The sickness that had seized her stomach fled however as a voice sounded behind her.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Both Rox and Vanus turned to see it was not Gladiolus who had come to her aid but Ignis. His face was perfectly calm, his features not betraying even a of hint of emotion although his eyes were intense as they locked with Vanus'.
"Oh? And why's that?" he challenged, stepping threateningly up toward Ignis. "You gonna run and get the big guy?"
"That won't be necessary. Now although I'm sure the lady has expressed her feelings regarding your actions, which were quite frankly disgusting, but I would like to take this opportunity to express mine also. It is beyond me why you would treat anyone as such in the first place but I am even more perplexed that you would do so to the woman you allegedly had feelings for. And clearly still do, since you have intentionally come to sabotage her evening out of what I am certain is spite. You can't be that foolish that you don't know you've already lost."
Vanus just stared at Ignis in outrage.
"Have you come out here looking for a fight, four eyes? 'Cause it ain't gonna end well for you if you carry on chatting shit."
Arching an eyebrow, Ignis slowly and deliberately rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing his forearms.
"Is that so? I would be inclined to disagree. Now, I will ask you once and once only to leave."
"And if I don't? Only thing you're gonna be able to do is bore me to death. Fancy words don't win fights."
Ignis didn't even flinch as Vanus threw a punch at him. He effortlessly parried it, bringing his fist up to crunch against Vanus' nose which sent him crashing to the floor in agony. Adjusting his gloves so they were perfectly aligned with his wrists once more, Ignis settled his cool gaze on the man sprawled out on the ground before him. Vanus was clutching his nose which, judging by the amount of thick, hot blood that was pouring from it, was broken once again.
"I am quite aware. Now, have I made my point clear? I will gladly repeat myself if it's necessary."
Vanus seemed beyond words as he gingerly pushed himself to his feet and, in a last ditched attempt at defiance, he spat on the ground by Rox's and Ignis' feet before turning around and stalking away into the night.
Ignis regarded the pool of congealing blood with disgust.
"Delightful. Remind me again what you saw in him?"
"Still haven't a clue," Rox scoffed, her tense muscles sighing in relief as she finally relaxed them once Vanus was out of sight. "Thanks, Ignis. You didn't have to do that but I appreciate it."
"I hope I wasn't encroaching. I just couldn't help myself after all the trouble he has caused. And besides, I promised you I would break his nose if I ever saw him again. I pride myself on being a man of my word."
Before Rox could reply, the sound of a door being thrown open crashed through the air. It made her jump and she whipped round to see Gladiolus storming out of the bar, his jaw set and amber eyes ablaze with fury.
"Where is he?!" he growled, rage rolling off his body in waves.
"I'm afraid he's fled, Gladio," Ignis explained, relief washing over him that the Shield had only just arrived. Given the state of the man, Ignis would have likely had to restrain him had Vanus still been present, something that was far easier said than done.
"Fled? The coward…" Gladiolus' anger seemed to lesson for a moment as he caught sight of Rox and he rushed up to her, checking her over for any sign of injury. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
"I'm fine," Rox urged, rubbing Gladiolus' arm soothingly, the muscles of which were straining from how tightly he was gripping his hands into fists. "He didn't get chance to. Ignis broke his nose before he could."
Admiration flew across Gladiolus' face.
"You did? Nice one, Iggy."
"It was my pleasure. Clearly the once wasn't enough for him to get the message." Ignis looked between Gladiolus and Rox, catching sight of their silent but intense exchange and, sensing they needed a moment alone, he excused himself. "I better head back to check on Noct and Prompto. With any luck the Prince won't have moved an inch. I did tell the both of them to stay where they were."
"Yeah we'll be in in a sec," Gladiolus called after him, not breaking eye contact with Rox as he pulled her into an embrace and gently stroked her scarred cheek. "You alright, darlin'?"
"I'm fine. Honestly," she urged as Gladiolus looked about to protest. "Only thing I'm disappointed about is that I didn't get to break his nose but watching Ignis do it was pretty damn satisfying. Didn't know he had it in him."
A laugh rumbled in Gladiolus' chest.
"Oh Iggy's absolutely terrifying. Even I do what I'm told when he glares at me."
Rox looked up at him fondly.
"I bet you get in trouble with him a lot, don't you."
"All the damn time." Gladiolus swept some loose strands of Rox's hair behind her ear. "Well, I was gonna wait until you'd finished tonight but I kinda want to tell you now…I've got a surprise for you."
Rox felt her heart speed up in anticipation as his grin widened. "Judging by the look on your face I'm not sure whether to be excited or nervous…"
"Oh you're gonna love it, don't worry," he chuckled smugly. "Tomorrow we're finally going on our first date."
"First date? Gladio if you haven't noticed already, we've been dating for over a month…"
Something playful danced in his eyes as he winked at her.
"Believe me, I've noticed. But we've been so busy that I still haven't managed to take you on a proper date yet. I promised you the first night we met that I'd take you for the best evening of your life and I'm not about to go back on that now."
Rox rolled her eyes, trying to fight her smile.
"I see. So, where are we going then?"
The smugness returned to Gladiolus' expression.
"Now that bit's the surprise. I'll let you know the details when you need them."
"You and your surprises…" Rox sighed, her smile finally breaking through as she shook her head. "We've had some damn good nights though, they're gonna be pretty hard to top."
Sliding his hand down to hold the small of her back and pulling Rox towards him, Gladiolus arched an eyebrow at her, the amber of his gaze smouldering.
"Believe me, darlin', you ain't seen nothing yet."
He swept her into a dominating kiss, his lips wordlessly echoing the promise of his suggestive words. Rox was both annoyed and relieved that the moment was quickly shattered as the door banged open again and Sergio's voice ripped through the air.
"Alright you lovebirds, leave the heavy petting 'til later! Rox you got two minutes to get your ass back up on stage or I'm letting the public loose on the karaoke."
"Don't you dare…" she warned, taking Gladiolus' hand and storming after Sergio as he grinned and darted back into the bar.
In her second set, Rox continued to sing through the songs she'd prepared, interspersing them with requests from the audience which ended up being both genius and hilariously disastrous. Sensible suggestions became increasingly diluted by the ridiculous ones as the night wore on and soon the whole bar ended up singing along to whatever she was performing, much to Rox's delight.
When it came down to her last song of the night, there was only one that she could possibly have picked.
"Got just enough time for one more," she began as the last round of applause faded away and she walked across the stage to pick up a second microphone. "Last time I sang this was after being challenged by none other than the Prince's Shield the first night we met. I wonder, is he up for the challenge again?"
Rox's gaze found Gladiolus immediately and a huge grin spread across his face as the room swelled with cheers and laughter. He pushed himself to his feet, climbing onto the stage and taking the microphone that Rox was holding out towards him. The familiar introduction to the playful duet started playing through the speakers and Gladiolus rolled his shoulders, putting the microphone to his lips.
"Thought you'd never ask."
The following afternoon, Rox glanced at her phone as it buzzed on the table beside her and she placed down the book she'd been reading. She'd finished her list of chores for the day in record time, the mundane tasks failing to dampen her high spirits after her success the previous evening. Despite it being a Saturday, Gladiolus had duties at the Citadel for the best part of the day and so had left early in the morning, the elusive details of their apparent date that evening still remaining a mystery. He'd been immensely smug about the whole affair and his incessant insistence on keeping the details secret had driven her near to madness with curiosity.
Anticipation flared in Rox's chest, however, as she looked at the text from him that had flashed up on her screen.
'Pack a change of clothes. I'll pick you up at 5. x.'
Rox frowned as she read the message that was intentionally and infuriatingly vague.
A change of clothes? What on earth were they going to do, especially that required them to leave as early as 5pm?
The rest of the afternoon passed agonisingly slowly and at 4.55pm Rox sat impatiently, clutching her dutifully packed bag and alternating between stretching her neck out of the window to try and catch a glimpse of Gladiolus and illuminating her phone to see if she'd happened to miss a text from him in the few seconds that had passed since she last checked.
Why was she so damn nervous?
They'd been together long enough that 'first date' nerves shouldn't have been a problem at all but as the clock had ticked closer to 5pm, she had felt the anticipation begin to take hold as Gladiolus' loaded promise of 'the best night of her life' echoed in her head over and over again.
The sound of her apartment's buzzer made her jump out of her skin and she rushed to the door to let Gladiolus in, her eyes widening slightly as she caught sight of him stood in the hallway. The infamous leather pants were back, teamed with a tight-fitting black shirt that was tucked in at the waist and was rolled up to his elbows, exposing the feathers of his glorious tattoo. His dark hair was also tied back in a low ponytail that rested at the nape of his neck, although several unruly strands had already begun to escape.
A crooked smile pulled at his lips, wrinkling the corners of his eyes as he watched Rox's eyes wash over his attire. He arched an eyebrow in appreciation as he did the same to her, drinking in the way her navy top fell just slightly off her shoulders, the material clinging to the silhouette of her waist before a floral skirt blossomed over her hips and swirled a little way above her ankles. She'd been forced to abandon her hair to its own devices, the rebellious waves letting her do little more than just pin a few pieces back.
"Evenin', darlin'. You ready to go?"
Rox held up her bag.
"Yep, all packed. You gonna tell me what that's about?"
Gladiolus grinned and took the bag from her hand, slinging it over her shoulder.
"You'll find out soon enough. You lock up, I'll go put this in the car."
By the time the word 'car' had registered with Rox and she had shouted down the hallway to question him on just how far away this date was going to be, he'd already walked out of earshot, or had conveniently pretended not to hear. Hastily shutting her door and locking it, Rox threw herself down the stairs after him, emerging out onto the side street to see Gladiolus placing her bag into the boot of a small and rather well-worn car.
"Nice ride," she called as she approached and Gladiolus closed the boot, coming round to her side of the car.
"Thanks. The old girl's seen a fair few miles but she hasn't let me down yet. Not much to look at I know but she's a real charmer."
"Like you then," Rox teased and Gladiolus grinned, reaching over to open the passenger door.
"Exactly. After you."
Rox stared at him for a few seconds before smiling and getting into the car. "You're being rather gentlemanly tonight. I could get used to this."
Shutting her door and hopping into the driver's seat, Gladiolus thrust the keys into the ignition and the engine rumbled to life.
"Well it is our first date after all. Gotta make a good impression," he added with a wink and Rox shook her head in amusement, staring out the window as they joined a busy main road, heading notably in the direction leading out of Insomnia.
"Seriously Gladio, my curiosity is killing me," she groaned as more and more signs for the city's exit passed by. "It looks like you're not planning on spending the evening in Insomnia at all."
"That's 'cause we're not. There were three things you mentioned when I asked you about your perfect date. Do you remember what they were?"
Rox thought for a moment before answering.
"I think I said we had to have food, obviously, but it would also be nice to be a little bit out of the city centre so we could enjoy a walk and a good view somewhere."
"That's the one. So I figured why not get out of the city altogether? Now enough questions. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, darlin'."
His words had done little more than just worsen her curiosity even further but she had quickly learnt how stubborn the Shield could be and so she just did as she was told, relaxing back into the worn seat and staring out of the window, watching the spectacular landscape open out before her as they sped over the monstrous bridge that connected Insomnia to the rest of Lucis.
They drove for some time, listening to the car's radio and enjoying the warmth of the late summer evening as they passed through desert that eventually became greener, lush bushes and trees replacing the barren, scorched plains. The air grew hotter as they travelled and the breeze blew through the car as they lowered the windows, soft and cool against their faces. Rox stole a few glances towards Gladiolus as he drove, marvelling at the way the sunlight brought out a warmth in his eyes and his hair, the stray, disobedient strands curling against his neck and blowing slightly in the breeze. He had his arm leant against the door as he casually held the wheel while his other hand rested on Rox's leg, moving only when he needed to shift gears or signal he was turning and always immediately returning to its position.
It was peaceful and it felt so comfortable that Rox's nerves soon melted away, although intrigue spread through her as they descended over a hill and the landscape opened out before them, revealing the shimmering, endless expanse of the sea. It suddenly dawned on her just where they might be going.
"Are we going to Galdin Quay?" she asked, her head snapping between Gladiolus and the coast that was creeping closer by the second.
Gladiolus chuckled at the sudden excitement in her eyes and voice.
"We sure are. You been there before?"
"No but I've always wanted to. I've heard it's gorgeous…have you?"
"A few times but I've never eaten there. Iggy raves about the seafood though so it must be good."
It wasn't long before Gladiolus pulled into the carpark and they stepped out, the breeze warm and salty. Rox stared around in awe at the tranquil scene around her, the placid, turquoise sea lapping gently against golden sands and lofty palm trees that rose out of the water and swayed languidly in the evening air.
Gladiolus nudged her side as he came to stand next to her.
"Not bad, eh?"
"Not bad at all," she sighed, feeling as if the very place around them was slowly washing away the strains and stresses of the past few months. Even the soft touch of the sun on her face was somehow more soothing than it was back in the bustle of the city.
Holding out his arm, Gladiolus gestured for Rox to take it and they began strolling across the sweeping wooden bridge that hovered over the surface of the sparkling water and led to the lavish hut that housed the resort's famous restaurant.
Naturally, Ignis was right about the food; it was exquisite.
They dined at a little candlelit table that overlooked the ocean and the two, rocky peaks of an island in the distance, leisurely eating their food and tasting from each other's plates. Gladiolus had tried to keep up the façade that they really were on their first date, asking Rox all sorts of questions about her life but they quickly gave up as the both of them fabricated increasingly ridiculous stories, trying to outdo the other.
Once they were finished with their meal, they headed towards the bar as Gladiolus suggested they had another drink. As Rox settled on one of the bar stools and began perusing the extensive cocktail menu however, feeling somewhat conflicted as she wondered if Sergio would count it as betrayal, she heard Gladiolus sigh deeply beside her.
"Something wrong?" she asked, the little hazy cloud of bliss that she had been floating on dissipating slightly as she took in the frown pinching his heavy eyebrows together.
He sighed again as he looked up from his phone.
"Sorry darlin' but Iggy just texted saying he needs to talk. I would leave it 'til tomorrow but it sounds pretty urgent. You wait here and get yourself a drink, hopefully I won't be too long." He bent down to place a kiss on her lips. "Oh and they do your favourite cocktail here, I checked." Grinning, he straightened up and strolled out of sight.
Rox stared after him for a few moments before turning back to the cocktail menu, trying to remember if she had ever even mentioned her cocktail preferences to Gladiolus before. Anticipation coiled sharply in her stomach as she read the name she was certain Gladiolus was referring to, conjuring memories from the night they had met in Somnus.
"Didn't have you down as a fancy cocktail drinker."
Rox tilted her head, gazing up at Gladiolus and shrugging. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises." She took a sip from her drink. "No idea what it is but I'd have this 'til I couldn't walk straight."
"Sex on the beach," Sergio called as he walked past and Rox shot him a withering glare.
Of course it was.
Something else entirely smouldered in the depths of Gladiolus' eyes.
"I'll bear it in mind."
Was he just messing with her or was he genuinely hinting at his intentions for the rest of the evening?
Whichever it was, the mere thought caused heat to pool under her skin and Rox fervently cursed Gladiolus for his flawless ability to send her mind into overdrive with a few well-placed words and a flash of his wolfish smile. Ironically, she concluded that the best way to settle the nerves that had emerged once again was to indeed order the very drink that had landed her in trouble. She laughed inwardly as the cocktail arrived with various garnishes and one of the infamous umbrellas that Sergio had particularly strong feelings about and she took a sip, her smile widening as the sweet, heady liquid washed over her tongue. It was nice but Sergio still won hands down and Rox wondered why he hadn't just moved to the coast and made drinks in Galdin's fancy restaurant instead of in some dingy bar in the city.
Time ticked by and Rox began to grow worried as there was no sign of Gladiolus. Whatever Ignis needed to talk about must have been urgent and she hoped that they didn't need to leave early. Clearly Gladiolus' instructions about bringing a change of clothes suggested that he intended they stay the night, a prospect she was very much up for, especially as she glanced at the luxurious looking hotel adjoined to the restaurant.
As she got down to the sludgy remains of her melted ice, Rox thought about going to try and check up on him but a shadow loomed above her and a relieved smile spread across her face as she turned around to see Gladiolus stood beside her.
"You took your time," she said as he leant against the side of the bar. "Everything alright?"
"Yeah sorry, Rox. Just Iggy fussing as usual, nothing to worry about." He gestured to her empty drink. "You finished? Come on, I've got something to show you."
They strolled back across the bridge and down onto the beach, at which point they both took their shoes off and delighted in the feeling of the hot sand sliding between their toes and compacting under their feet. The evening was beautiful and they walked along the beach hand in hand, watching as the sun set and turned the mirrored surface of the water into a fiery canvas that undulated as the ocean's heart pulsed eternally against the shore.
There were many people enjoying the sunset but as they continued further along the sand, their numbers dwindled until they were the only people around and Rox wondered how far they were going to walk for it seemed Gladiolus was determined to continue onward.
Her curiosities were soon answered, however, as they rounded a slight outcrop of rock that obscured the rest of the beach from view and formed a little, secluded cove. Gladiolus chuckled as Rox gasped in surprise as she took in the haven nestled within and the tent that sat upon it, with two chairs placed beside a campfire that was waiting to be lit.
"I thought about staying in the hotel but I figured you'd enjoy this more," he explained, watching in pleasure as a warm smile spread across Rox's face. "Besides, the view is far better out here."
Rox turned and stretched up to throw her arms around his neck.
"I gotta say, you weren't lying about being good at dates…"
"Told ya." The words rumbled in his chest as he bent down to kiss her but Rox suddenly broke their contact as something dawned on her.
"Wait…did you set this all up just now? You didn't need to phone Ignis at all, did you?"
He winked at her.
"Rumbled. But, even as good as I am at setting up camp, it would have ruined the surprise if you'd had to sit and watch me put up the tent. I brought our bags over too so don't worry about them." He disentangled himself from their embrace, crouching down beside the campfire and grabbing some flint from his bag which he began to strike, effortlessly generating sparks that quickly caught on the dry wood below. "Even packed a couple of towels in case you wanted a swim. I know I do."
"You really did think of everything…" Rox gazed out across the ocean which was now darkening as twilight approached. The idea of going for a swim in its warm waters was undeniably tempting and electricity surged down her spine as she realised she was devoid of anything to go swimming in. It didn't matter, the secluded cove shielded them from the prying eyes of the rest of the beach but there was one pair of eyes that were certain to watch her every move.
"I fancy a swim right now, actually," she continued, sauntering down to the water's edge as she slowly removed her clothes, abandoning them behind her as she walked. She could feel Gladiolus' stare burning into her from behind but she didn't turn to look at him, her heart fluttering as she stepped into the sea, delighting at how warm it was, even now the sun had entirely set. She kept walking until it became deep enough to swim and she turned onto her back, floating on the gentle waves and staring up at the star jewelled sky, admiring complex constellations that were never visible in the sleepless city of her home.
A splash brought her to her senses and she manoeuvred herself upright, looking for Gladiolus. She frowned; he wasn't on the beach anymore, nor could she see him in the water and she began to call out his name only for it to turn into a gasp as he erupted out of the water behind her and pulled her tightly to his chest. His deep voice purred in her ear, his breath hot against her already flushed skin.
"You're such a tease it hurts. Perhaps I was just hoping for a drink and a chat around the fire."
Rox smirked and twisted round so she was facing him, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the glorious sight before her. His wet hair was entirely slicked back and moonlight glistened in the water droplets that rolled down the planes of his sculpted chest and abdomen. Her eyes snapped back to his face to glare at him.
"That's the biggest lie I've ever heard."
"Hmm, you might be right…"
They moved closer to kiss, Gladiolus' hand weaving through her hair when the breeze picked up slightly and despite the water being warm, Rox felt herself shiver as the wind passed over her damp skin.
"You cold?" Gladiolus asked, the desire that had been darkening in his eyes turning to concern.
"I'm fine," Rox said quickly, trying to pull him down into a kiss again and frowning when he resisted.
"You've got goosebumps…I'm not having you catch a cold or something. Come on, let's head back to shore."
With that he began to swim back to the beach, cutting through the dark water with strong, powerful strokes. Rox just rolled her eyes and followed him, grabbing a towel Gladiolus had left for her on the edge of the haven and wrapping it around her shoulders. She swept her eyes across the moonlit beach and the anticipation that had been building all evening peaked agonisingly as one very key detail came to her attention.
"Where are my clothes, Gladio?" she demanded, glaring at the insufferably smug look that flew across his face and trying to not to smile.
He shrugged, prowling towards her.
"No idea what you're talking about."
"Gladio if you've hidden them I'll…"
She didn't get chance to protest any further as he pounced, sweeping the towel from her shoulders and lifting her off the ground in one movement. Their lips never parted as he lowered her down onto a towel, which Rox noted momentarily was too conveniently laid out to be a coincidence, before Gladiolus pressed himself down on top of her and all other thoughts other than the man above her became impossible.
"So much for being a gentleman," she gasped as they broke apart, their hands still roaming across the other's slightly damp skin.
Gladiolus grinned, something predatory flashing in his eyes.
"I told you before Rox, I may be a gentleman but I also love being a scoundrel. And it just so happens I left the gentleman back at the restaurant."
Well, she was hardly going to complain about that.
A little while later they were sat around the campfire, clothed once more and enjoying the peace of the evening and each other's company as they gazed out across the ocean that shimmered with silver and the warm lights of the restaurant that illuminated its silhouette in the distance.
Rox hummed in contentment as she nestled against the crook of Gladiolus' warm neck. She'd gone to sit in the vacant chair next to him but he had firmly pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her and she had happily stayed like that ever since.
"Things really have worked out for us, haven't they?" she murmured against his chest and she smiled as she felt him kiss the top of her head, his thumb stroking her back.
"I guess it could be worse."
He grunted and then chuckled as Rox poked him in the side, knowing exactly where he was most ticklish. She twisted her head up to look at him however as his chest swelled with a long sigh and she saw his eyes were fixed on the horizon, something intense in the depths of their amber.
"I warn you now, the next few years ain't gonna be straight forward. Things are brewing in the Empire and I don't think it'll be long 'til Noct has to take the throne. I know neither of us banked on anything serious at the start and I need to know if this is what you want."
Rox reached up to run her fingers through his hair that had since dried and pooled across his shoulders, pulling his head down so she could look into his eyes..
"When have things ever been straight forward? Life can throw whatever it likes at us, I don't care. I'll have your back regardless."
A fond smile pulled at Gladiolus' lips and he tightened their embrace even more.
"Same goes for you, darlin'.
They sat in a contemplative silence for a few minutes, the only sounds their breathing and the tumble of the waves as they gently broke against the shore until Rox spoke again.
"You know, I never really used to like the night. It always felt sombre and lonely, despite the fact that just outside my window the whole city came to life when the sun fell. Now though, I realise how beautiful the night can be when you've got someone to share it with."
"You never have to feel alone again, Rox," Gladiolus said, his voice soft yet intense.
Rox just smiled and closed her eyes.
"I never want this night to end. Any chance you could stop the sun from rising?"
A chuckle reverberated in the chest beneath her.
"I think you'd miss the sun too much if it disappeared. Besides, according to you, I'm the one that makes the sun rise again, not disappear."
Rox groaned as he teased her once again with her song lyrics.
"You're never gonna drop that, are you?"
"Nope, never."
She didn't need to open her eyes to know that he was grinning like an idiot. An idiot with an oversized ego and an even bigger heart that somewhere along the way she had fallen head over heels for. As Gladiolus had said, the future was bound to have its difficulties but she wasn't worried.
If nothing else, it would give her plenty to sing about.
Thank you to everyone for all the support with this story! I never quite decided if this was AU or not and I think I'll leave it that way. After all, the future is a mystery to all of us...
Feel free to let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to write :)
Until next time!