A/N: Prompto and Noctis are 18, Ignis and Gladio are 21 and Iris is 12-ish. Mostly from Gladio's POV.
Gladio grinned as he watched Noctis and Prompto swearing at the tv screen as they struggled to complete the current mission of their newest game. He could hear Ignis moving around in the kitchen, no doubt preparing enough snacks to last the night.
It's been awhile since the four of them had been able to get together for more than an hour or so. Noctis and Prompto had both graduated a bit over a month ago and Noct had immediately been swept into Royal Duties at the Citadel. Prompto was now working as a fulltime Crownguard with Gladio and Ignis, part of Noctis' personal guard and he had been asked by Cor and Clarus to teach new trainees how to use guns as part of their training.
It meant that while they saw each other daily, none of their schedule matched enough for the four to get together longer than an hour or so until now. Gladio reached out and tugged Noctis unto his lap, drawing a screech of outrage from the prince.
"Gladio!" Noct said with a pout, slapping his Shield on the arm as the TV flashed red on Noct's side of the screen. Prompto laughed at his victory and twisted to give Gladio a high five.
The rest of the evening was spent enjoying first Ignis' cooking then each other until they fell asleep cuddle together in the extra-large, custom made bed that was a gift from his Majesty on Noctis' 17th birthday. When morning came, Ignis and Gladio slipped out of the bedroom quietly and left both of their younger lovers sleeping in for a few more hours.
Gladio headed back to his home, humming as he did; Iris would be happy to see him and maybe they would be able to grab breakfast together. If Gladio was absolutely lucky than his father would be there too but considering the unusual silence or lack of attack from Niflheim, his father was more than likely in another meeting trying to figure out what they were planning.
The Amicitia Mansion was quiet when Gladio arrived, Jared greeting him with a smile. "Is Iris still sleeping?" Gladio asked as he started heading up the stairs.
Jared shook his head, "Lady Iris spent the night at a friend's place. She will be returning later on today." The old butler smiled as Gladio nodded and disappeared up to his room.
Gladio took a shower and got changed before heading back out to the Citadel. He had a training session with some of the newer guards then he was to join Noct for a few meetings in the afternoon. Gladio bid Jared a good day as he left the mansion once more.
The training session went well, the new guards were properly trained, not that he expected anything less from Crownguard recruits trained by his father and Cor. He had enjoyed showing some of the guards some new tricks and had a mixed fighting session set up with the Glaives, and Ravus, for the next evening.
Gladio met, or rather dragged, Ignis for lunch and Prompto met them there by chance. The three of them shared a relaxing hour of laughter and good food, though nowhere near Ignis' cooking, before Prompto left. Ignis and Gladio were heading to the same meeting, they met up with Noct at the door and Gladio tugged the prince and his adviser into a niche to kiss them both before they entered the council room.
Gladio watched quietly as Ignis conducted the meeting with a steel hand, keeping the council members present on task. He caught the heated look Noctis sent Ignis' way when no one was looking and had to hide his grin.
His eyes roamed over Ignis' body and admitted to himself how gorgeous the man was while lecturing someone… As long as that someone was not him of course. The meeting was done before he knew it and Gladio checked his phone quickly before following Ignis and Noctis to the prince's office.
Still no message from Iris, she almost always sent him a message every day. Hopefully it was only that she was having too much fun with her friend or that she forgot, again, to plug in her phone overnight.
Gladio's mind slipped away from worry to delight when the three men arrived at Noctis' office. Ignis decided to made it quite clear that Noctis hadn't been as subtle as he had thought. Gladio was treated to a wonderful show as Ignis showed Noctis just much how the smoldering glances the prince had sent to his adviser had affected the man.
It was with a grin that Gladio found himself walking back to the Amicitia home. Iris had yet to send him a message and it was slightly worrying. As Gladio entered the front door of the mansion, his dad stomped out with a furious and yet worried look on his face.
"Dad?" Gladio asked as he moved out of the way quickly.
Clarus stopped, his expression turning to surprise, "Gladio? What are you… No it doesn't matter. Something has come up and I will be gone for some time. There… There might be an attempt at his Majesty or the Prince's lives so I suggest you pack up and stay by Prince Noctis' side until this is resolved."
Gladio snapped to attention, nodding at his dad's orders and watched as the King's Shield walked away in a hurry without letting his son ask for more details. Gladio shrugged, if it was that serious Cor or Ignis would be able to tell him what was going on. For now he needed to let Noct know to stay at Citadel with Ignis or Prompto until they could ensure the apartment was safe.
Behemoth to Our Light: Hey Princess, stay by Iggy or Prom for now will you? Something might be going on.
Behemoth to Brains to spare: Dad just told me Noct and his majesty might be in danger. Told him to stay by your side or Prompto's. I'm going to go check on the apartment. Can you fill me in ASAP?
Behemoth to Laughing Sun: Hey Prom :) Sorry to bug you but can you find Noct and stay by him? Make sure he stays at the Citadel until me or Ignis come get you. Stay sharp for me.
Messages sent, Gladio grabbed the prepacked emergency bag he always had ready anywhere he visits on a regular basis and left. He headed toward the prince's, more like their shared one these days, apartment.
The first thing he had to do was check the surrounding area for any signs of surveillance, well any that wasn't their own that is. Gladio took his time, chatting casually with the locals who staffed the restaurants and shops in the area.
His search yielded nothing abnormal and so Gladio headed into the shopping mall and straight the apartment security. His quiet questions yielded nothing as well and Gladio sighed in relief. The only thing left now was the apartment itself then he could check in with Ignis and get Noctis here safely.
Checking the apartment revealed the same result and Gladio nodded to himself. His phone buzzed and Gladio checked it absent mindedly. He smiled slightly as Iris' name flashed at him and checked the message she had sent him.
His bag dropped through numb fingers as he stared at the video playing on his phone. Gladio gritted his teeth and forced himself not to crush the phone in his hand from anger. This explained his dad's reaction though, if this had been what he had received.
Gladio has two choices.
Call Cor and make sure he, and by extension the Crownguard and his Majesty, are aware of this situation.
Head over to where Iris is without letting anyone know and hope for the best.
He desperately wants to call Ignis and ask for help, advice or otherwise, but there is a time limit and Gladio had less than 5 minutes to make his choice and prepare. The video looped a second time and Gladio swore, slamming his fist against the nearby wall as tears slid down his face because of the impossible choice he had in front of him.
He turns around, eyes searching the apartment once again before sending another message to Ignis.
Behemoth to Brains to spare: Place is safe. Left you something on the kitchen table… I'm sorry.
With that, Gladio dropped his phone on the kitchen table and left his home to face the task in front of him.
He runs to the metro station and grabs the first of the trains heading to the Entertainment District in the eastern section of Insomnia. His destination is a theater in the middle of the district, the doors closed for renovations or so the sign on the glass pane declares.
Gladio grits his teeth and pushes on the door, unsurprised as it opened easily. The entrance hall is empty, plasters walls half broken and workers gear and equipment strewn about the dusty floor.
He pushes forward, trying to ignore the shiver of fear and worry that shoots through his spine when he notices a familiar shoe among the debris. Gladio forces his attention away from it and heads left down the stairs to the ground level seats.
The dark red doors are marked to indicate seating sections and Gladio checks each faded marker before he finds the right one. The silence surrounding the place scared Gladio, his fear for Iris growing the closer he got to fulfilling what had been demanded of him.
The door opens with a clang, the noise trap, a small tower of empty cans, alerting all those within of Gladio's arrival. The empty rows of seats face the stage, one occupied by both familiar and unfamiliar figures.
"Gladdy!" "Gladiolus?"
Iris and his father shout in almost unison as Gladio entered. Iris was pale, tied to a chair towards the right of the stage, and had a few bruises showing on her face and arms.
There was also two masked and cloaked figures on either side of her with guns pointing at her head.
His father was standing on the opposite side of the stage, facing Iris, and several spot lights beamed straight on him from the rafters. There was one other person on the stage, though Gladio did not doubt there were others hidden out of their sight, a blond haired woman with full lips leaning against a fake tree.
"And the son arrives," She checked her watch and nodded to herself, "with a few minutes to spare." She looked at Gladio and motioned for him to go stand beside his father with the crook of a finger followed by a raised hand.
Gladio follows the wordless order without any fuss, not wanting to risk Iris' life. He clenched his jaw and waits as the woman's eyes roam over his body with a cold precision that reinforces what Gladio had already guessed, this person was a professional.
The woman straightens with a sigh, "I'll be very clear for you boy, and this can serve as a reminder to your father. You will not move or speak unless directed to do so by myself. I will ask you questions, answer me truthfully or the lovely young lady over there pays the price. Do you understand?"
Gladio nods, "Yes." He can feel his hands shaking and quickly tugs them out of sight. His dad is just as tense, perhaps even more so than before, with Gladio at his side, their shoulders almost touching.
The woman nods and moves to stand in between Iris and the two Amicitia men, too far for either of them to reach her easily. "Good, your father didn't take me seriously when he arrived and we'll… you saw what wasn't there in the little video I sent you."
She shot a grin over her shoulder and Gladio heard Iris whimper. His body tensed before he was even conscious of it but a hand landed on his arm, his dad shook his head slightly, and Gladio took a deep breath before forcing his body to relax.
The lady huffed in amusement, "Don't worry about the little lady behind me. Like I said, she won't get hurt if you both answer my questions and so as I say." She smirked, "Now, let's start with something simple shall we? How will the Crownguards react should you not appear tomorrow at the Citadel?"
Gladio frowns in confusion, why would she ask that? He glances over at his dad, uncertain whether he should answer.
Clarus grits his teeth but spits out,"Unless they have a reason to suspect something is wrong, the Marshall shall simply send me a message with the notes from the day's meeting. Gladio has …"
The woman raised her hand sharply and looks at Gladio. " Fine, what about you?"
Gladio swallows, mouth suddenly dry, "His highness has daily morning practice with me. He will try and contact me if I don't show up. Otherwise I am not expected anywhere."
The woman nods and hums thoughtfully. She doesn't bother turning as she shouts, "Toss me a phone! Both of them need to make a phone call."
Gladio clasps his hands behind his back as he tensed uncomfortably. He can guess what the lady expects and a glance to his father shows him that his dad has the same idea as him.
He can only hope that Ignis will be able to check his phone quickly and get out of his meetings before it's too late.
There is some movement in the stage rafters and a phone is tossed down without care. The woman moves with surprising quickness and precision, a hand snapping out to catch the phone without more than a glance towards it. Definitely a well trained professional.
The woman smirks and checks something on the phone before extending it to his dad. "Call the Marshall. Tell him your daughter is sick and the doctor wants your family to stay quarantined until she is better, however long that might take."
His dad reaches out slowly and grabs the phone. The lady doesn't add anything, there was no need to when the two persons were still holding guns at Iris, ready to shot at a moment's notice.
Silence reigns in the theater as Gladio watches his dad input two series of numbers into the phone. He can hear Iris sniffling out of sight and the sound breaks his heart.
Iris was supposed to be keep out of the way of the Amicitia duty, at least until she made her own decision concerning her path in life. To see her being injured because of that duty makes Gladio feel unbearably guilty, he would have to figure out some way to make it up to her after this was all done.
For now he listens as his dad starts talking, his voice steady and calm, sounding mostly unconcerned. "Marshall? My apologies for the interruption but I need a favor."
There is a small pause as the Marshall seems to speak but Gladio can't understand what he is saying even when he strains to hear.
"Yes, of course. It's Iris. She's fallen ill and the doctor has asked that those who came in close contact with her remain away from the public for now." His dad keeps his eyes on the woman in front of him as he spins the required lie.
"Jared and Talcott are free to move around so you can send any paperwork to the mansion. You won't be getting it back for a while though. Doctor's orders. I'd rather not risk His Majesty's health by being around him."
The woman gestures for him to hang up and his dad finishes the conversation quickly, "I'll do what I can but i don't know how long this will last. Thank you for this Marshall, I shall repay you at a later date."
His dad hangs up and make to return the phone to the lady but she shakes her head and looks over at Gladio. "Your turn. Call who you need to cancel your training sessions with the prince. Same excuse as your dad."
Gladio nods slowly and accepts the phone from his dad, their fingers brushing against each other and Gladio is startled to feel them trembling. He looks down at the phone and quickly realizes why his dad had to put in two phone numbers.
The phone was asking for an inbound phone number and Gladio carefully put his number in. The screen flashed green and then he was asked to put in an outgoing number. He put in Ignis' 'official' phone number and waited.
He wasn't surprised when the answering machine picked up instead and Gladio took a deep breath as he listened to the recorded message. "Hey, guess you're in a meeting. Look Iris is sick and the doc told me and dad to stay in the mansion for a bit. I need you to cancel my training sessions with His Highness. I'll let you know when we can start up again. Thanks."
Gladio hangs up and returns the phone without waiting. The woman grins as she takes it back and half turns and tosses the phone back stage.
She turns back and grins, "Now that there is no rush let's get things started." She moved back to the side, allowing both men to see Iris clearly. One of the figures lowered the gun away from Iris, the two men relax a fraction.
It doesn't last long as the gun turns to point straight at Gladio's chest, hovering there for a few moments before lowering until it was aimed at his left knee. Gladio tensed up and he heard his dad take a quick, strained breath beside him.
The lady was smiling even more as she leaned back against the prop. "Now then, Mr. Amicitia, I have questions for you. You can choose not to answer but if you do, your son will pay for it. Answer a question with a lie and your daughter answers for it. Are we clear?"
Gladio's breath catches in his throat at the words. His heart is thrumming in his chest as he tried not to show Iris, or their captors, just how terrified he is.
Getting shot in the knee is a good way to permanently take down a fighter, and it was even more effective when the fighter wielded heavy weaponry. If he got shot then Gladio would not be able to protect Noct, ever.
His dad's voice broke through the near panic that was starting to fill Gladio, "I understand clearly. What are your questions?"
Gladio forces himself to take a deep breath and refocus' on Iris and his dad. No matter what, Iris and his dad have to get out of here safely. That's all that matters.
The woman nods and puts on a professional, blank expression as more pronounced movements is heard above them. "What is the contingency plan in place should an assassin infiltrate the Citadel?"
Gladio grits his teeth as his dad answers slowly, "It would depend on where this theoretical assassin would be when the alarm sounds and on where His Majesty and his Highness are at the time."
The lady nods thoughtfully before clarifying, "I want to know the exact route if an attack would come from the front gate of the Citadel for the following possible locations of the royal family: in a meeting in the council room, in their quarter and walking through the Citadel going to or from the Throne Room."
Gladio struggled to keep himself from frowning, a frontal assault on the gate? That would be suicide no matter the amount of attackers. And those locations… Gladio felt a stab of fear, were they seriously planning a suicide attack on the front gate of the Citadel just to assassinate Noctis or his Majesty? Just who were theses peoples?
Gladio could tell his dad had the same questions but once more, Clarus spoke calmly and clearly. "If the attack is coming from the front gate and there is a credible chance that they enter the Citadel itself then the procedure would be for myself, the Marshall or the Commander to escort His Majesty and his Highness to one of three locations. If one or both of them is in the council room then they, and any council member present, will be brought to the inner sanctum."
The woman's gaze sharpened, "And where exactly is this inner sanctum?"
Gladio was wondering the same thing, his dad wasn't lying but he had never heard of this particular escape plan unless… Was it an old one? He forced himself to look away from his dad and the woman, not wanting to risk his expression revealing anything that might put Iris in danger.
It was that look away that allowed him to glimpse the slight movement above the balcony level balustrade. Gladio shifted again, bringing his eyes back to Iris but he kept the balcony on his periphery with ease.
There it was again! Gladio was certain he had seen at least three people moving around and his instinct were screaming that they were familiar figures and familiar movements. A sense of relief spread through him and he had to fight to keep it from showing in his posture.
Instead he returned his attention towards his dad and tensed up consciously as though angry at what he was hearing. The woman barely glanced his way before returning to concentrate on his dad but she seemed amused and content by the way Gladio was acting.
Clarus was obviously answering a question Gladio had missed as he said, "...rol go through the main halls and corridors every 15 minutes but the staff corridors aren't as watched since they are used often and are a maze that can turn around seasoned staffers if they are not careful."
The lady straightens and grins, "That will b…." She never gets to finish as suddenly there are uniformed Glaives appearing everywhere on the stage. Gladio is suddenly surrounded by a crystal wall as gunshots ring out before the gunners are taken down.
"Iris!" Gladio shouts and rushes over to her the moment the magical wall falls. His dad is by his side almost instantly and they both are by Iris' side within seconds. Nyx Ulric is kneeling beside her, a hand behind the chair and the ropes holding her falling to the ground.
Gladio suddenly has an armful of his crying little sister and his dad brings his arms around both of them. Gladio can feel him trembling against them and knows he probably is too. He tunes out his dad murmuring softly to Iris and concentrates on looking around him, his instinct still telling him there was danger around.
That's what saves his dad's life. Gladio caught the glimmer of light on metal and reacted before he could even think about it.
He jerked out of his dad's hug and pushed his family to the ground roughly. A burning pain streaked across the left side of his face and then his stomach. Gladio dropped to his knees soundlessly, both hands going straight to press on the suddenly bleeding bullet hole that was now in his left side, the blood spreading quickly all over his side.
Gladio barely heard his dad and Iris shout his name as he gritted his teeth and tried to blink away the red haze over his left eyes with no success. Had he lost his eye?
Large hands grabbed his shoulders and someone shoved a glass vial against his chest quickly. The vial broke easily and Gladio gulped down a mouthful of air as the magic of the potion, or maybe an elixir, worked its way in his body and forced the pain back.
Gladio blinked several times, the red haze was still there and he could feel blood sluggishly dripping down his face but his sight was better now. He could barely make out the worried face of his sister on his left but he could clearly see his dad on his right.
Ravus was standing in front of him, looking just as worried as Iris and his dad. In his hands was another potion ready to be administered but Gladio grimaced and grumbled, "Give that to Iris. I'll be fine till we get to a hospital."
Ravus looked like he was about to argue but a glance behind Gladio made him back down and the Commander handed Iris the potion without further delays. "Fine but only because the ambulance just arrived. The three of you will be brought to the hospital to get treated. And yes that includes you too Lord Amicitia, you know protocol for such situations. "
Gladio huffed in amusement as he caught the annoyed look that passed through his dad's face before it disappeared. Ravus seemed to have also seen it and he smirked and continued talking, "You'll be debrief once the doctors have cleared you. His Majesty has demanded that all three of you remain at the Citadel for a few days once you've been debriefed."
Ravus' smirk turned to a worried and yet relieved look and he lowered his voice as the medical team approached, "You had us all worried. I'm glad we got here in time." He motioned for the paramedics to take over and Gladio winced as one of the crew jostled him as they passed by.
Gladio allowed the paramedics to check on his injuries, his dad watching over him and Iris as they were given some quick first aid before being moved to the ambulances. His dad somehow managed to get the three of them in the same truck and Gladio could freely admit, to himself, that he was glad of it. He needed to stay close to his family right now and he was certain he wasn't the only one.
Halfway to the hospital his dad swore and both his children looked up in confusion. The man grimaced and simply said, "Sylva is going to be pissed." Gladio winced at that, Iris shaking her head softly in exasperation at her dad's obvious comment. The headstrong nurse wasn't the only one who was going to be mad, Gladio was certain that the moment the doctors cleared him, Ignis would be there to give him an earful.
He wouldn't change that for anything in the world.