"You're gonna have to try harder than that." Gladiolus said with a smirk, moving the hair from his face before he loudly clapped the punch mitts on his hands together. The man was trying his best to motivate Kyrie as beads of sweat drowned her eyes.
Kyrie shook her head as she jumped in place and loosened up her stiffening muscles, "I don't know what it is you're wanting me to do aside from punch your stupid gloves."
"I want you to punch them harder. Hit 'em as hard as you can. You're barely tapping these things." the young Shield said with a cocky tone knowing full well that the pair had spent the last half hour punching and practicing combat.
"It's tearing up my hands you mullet wearing ass." Kyrie said, the beginning of bruising on her knuckles showing the nonstop training she had to endure since agreeing to work with Gladiolus.
Gladiolus shrugged, "Tough shit. Hit me."
Kyrie furrowed her brow, annoyed at the disrespectful tone that came from the man's mouth. Letting her emotions get the better of her, she quickly threw a punch at the mitt as hard as she could, landing a solid hit in the mitt. Gladiolus approved of every hit she landed on the mitt there after, nodding and egging her on further. For several minutes, they continued at a quick pace until Gladiolus eventually called it to a stop. He praised her for a job well done as as he turned his back to remove the gloves and set them aside, preparing to begin the next session of training with her.
Fueled by a second wind Kyrie quickly rushed at Gladiolus, determined to land a solid hit on him. Even if it was a dirty shot on a man with his back turned, Kyrie was certain it would be satisfying. As she cocked her fist back and hurled it towards him, the man was easily able to bring an arm around, blocking the hit entirely. Despite his size, he was agile and nimble as ever as he spun around and brought the woman into a hold. Using what techniques she'd been taught in the short amount of time she'd been training with him, Kyrie began cheap shotting the man and their upright battle began crawling closer to the ground. Gladiolus was no fool to a spar and easily brought Kyrie down to the ground, pinning her wrists to the floor.
"You're pinned. Now what?" Gladiolus confidently smirked out. His eyebrow cocking as he straddled over her.
Kyrie tried to regain her wrists, unable to even remotely move them from the young Shield's grip and weight. She thought for a moment and quickly thrust her hips upwards, knocking the man forward. As he fumbled forward, in an attempt to save his face he released Kyrie's wrists. His nose barely scraping the ground as he fell forward. Quickly Kyrie latched on to his torso and clung to him, throwing his center of gravity off. The man was soon having to fumble with his own body weight as well as Kyrie's in an attempt to not fall forward. The pair soon began to laugh at just how ridiculous they must have looked to anyone who should pass by.
"Gotcha." Kyrie said as she looked up at Gladiolus. The large man eventually dropping his head towards the floor.
"Technically I got you." he said as he leaned all the way forward, letting his weight rest partially on Kyrie. The woman now pinned underneath his waist and torso "The thing about pinning someone and countering, is you gotta follow through. You aren't held by your wrists now, but now you're stuck underneath me completely. To your credit though, you don't look bad under me." a smile widened across the man's face as he watched Kyrie struggle beneath him.
"Exxxxcuse you" Kyrie strained out behind huffs and laughs "Being a perv isn't part of training, is it? You'll be lucky to have me under you ever."
Gladiolus laughed and using his knee, forced his legs between hers, "Ouch... Now I'm hurt."
Kyrie sucked in a large breath as she lay on the floor, using all her might to press him upward. The man obliged her attempt by lifting himself slightly as he let a hand roam from her knee to her hip, "My goodness. If that's what hurts a Shield, the king is doomed." Kyrie's words oozing with sarcasm.
"Can't blame me. It's been a while. I'm stuck with a perpetual tease." Gladiolus complained as he rose to his feet, soon helping Kyrie to her own feet.
Kyrie dipped her head. A silent "thank you" for helping her up, "Sounds like a personal problem. What's it been? A week since you had any from some tail? I'm just a secretary. Remember? I can put in a note though to have some sort of relief sent your way." she said with a wink.
Air left the man's lungs as he chuckled, "You don't give me enough credit, Kyrie. Don't think I've gotten any at all since before Noct's birthday. Two for the price of one. Good times." he said as he smirked at that memory "But yeah. SURE. Sounds great. Clear out my schedule and put that shit in. I'll need your help with that though. You know. Data entry and all."
"Ah. Double the trouble. Sounds like work. But I'll make sure to pencil it into your schedule. Can't promise I won't be busy that night. I have a lot of data entry to catch up on." she teased as she pretended to jot something down in the air.
"Ridiculous." the hungry smile crawling across Gladiolus' face letting Kyrie know she was doing exactly what she'd intended. Despite playing with the man, Kyrie was very much intoned to exactly how bad the tensions were getting. Since working with Gladiolus, the pair was spending far more time together than before and behind plenty of closed doors with neither able to scratch an ever lasting itch. Even if it were in a professional setting, the subtle drops and hints at the others intent was always looming behind every word and action. The pair hadn't spent much time outside of the Citadel since she had begun to work under him. An unfortunate circumstance if one were to ask either party.
The only physical contact that seemed to be happening between the two, was when she was training with him. Otherwise, she was typing in what seemed like endless amounts of daily entries and summaries and was easily able to see exactly how the man was able to get overwhelmed with it all. The man's very schedule for the day had to be made up not by the week, but by the day. All of that information being provided by none other than Ignis. Should a detailed schedule not be made, it was easy for Gladiolus to become sidetracked. So far as Kyrie knew prior to working with Gladiolus, the man spent most of his days with the prince and spending an unnatural amount of time at the gym and warming the beds of strangers. Her assumption couldn't be further from what truly happened within the royal walls. Sitting and punching in entries for the day was easily the simplest part of the man's day and enjoying himself was a quick reward.
When she had finally finished her work with him for the day and made it home and settled herself, she lay back on her bed. It had only been a few weeks since she had agreed to work with Gladiolus within the Citadel while maintaining her work at the Seeing Eye and already it was beginning to take a toll on her. Mentally, working at the Citadel was easily enough to become draining however it was tolerable. Physically however, she was beginning to struggle. There was no way around training. She was more than capable of dancing during her nightly shifts but when combined with the intense training she was having to do simply to be considered employed within the Citadel was a strain. She harbored an entirely new respect for Gladiolus, as well as anyone associated with the high King knowing exactly what they all had to endure. Evening was beginning to roll in and if she were lucky, she would be able to squeeze in at least three hours of sleep.
Gladiolus had began his nightly routine as he settled in. With book in hand, he try to clear his head of the days happenings. He replayed the moment in his head when his pinned Kyrie to the ground. A opportunity he felt had gone to waste. The man was beginning to regret asking Kyrie to work with him. He assumed their nonchalant attitudes towards each other as far as all things relationships went would make things significantly easier. Instead it had created an almost perpetual lingering tension. He quickly shut the book in his hands and lay it on his chest. Dammit he thought to himself as he sighed, soon checking his phone. A cesspool of ignored messages bogged down his inbox. Messages he would continue to ignore. The hour was steadily growing later. By now, Kyrie would likely be at work and there would be no sense to him messaging her for entertainment. Entertainment that simply furthered the tension between them. A few passing kisses seemed to be all the further he could get before reining himself back for reasons he couldn't figure out.
He wasn't sure exactly how it was the woman was able to function off of so little sleep, but sure as ever, she showed up to the Citadel daily since he'd asked her to. Even if it wasn't his business to meddle, he was determined to somehow get Kyrie to leave the profession she'd spent the better part of her young adult life in. Whether it was his own pride, well hidden pity, or something else, the man didn't want to see her continue on this way. Even if they were to become nothing in the end, a part of him would rather see her living a calm life. Knowing that she was a child of nothing but war and refuge, to hope to see her become something respectable sparked a small fire in him. It was seldom the man was ever able to interact with very many refugees comfortably. He was constantly having to tread lightly when among civilians. When having dealing with the refugees within the Kingsglaive, the interactions were always them treating him at his respective rank. It was never a natural feeling. He was no stranger to the annoyances of them as well, knowing full well that many felt used and nothing short of abused by the high king himself and would hardly accept help from those within the Citadel's high walls.
He rose from his bed, making his way towards the wet bar within his living quarters of the family estate. The successive shots of whiskey warming him thoroughly as he tried to clear his head. His eyes doing nothing more than reading the messages that bogged his phone before he hit delete. The words "I'm sorry", "Asshole, and "I love you" seeming to be a common trend in them. Pouring himself another drink, he made his way towards a large leather arm chair and let his weight sink into it. At the rate he was going, his night would soon be dragged out, just as it had been since his first initial interactions with Kyrie. What once filled his head with worried thoughts of war and scandals, changed too greatly to thoughts of tomorrows and what it might bring with Kyrie around. Distractions he couldn't seem to shake. He quickly dialed in for a familiar friend to speak to. One who would pass no judgements and tell no secrets: Jared. In only a few minutes, the elder servant was knocking on the living quarter doors, soon helping himself in.
"Gladiolus. What is it that has you so bothered at this late hour." Jared asked. The elder was dressed down as he had already settled himself to rest. He was well aware of Gladiolus' lack of rest that had been happening for a short while now. The man spending more than enough time cleaning up after the near nightly benders the young Shield seemed to suddenly be taking.
Gladiolus shook his head before pointing to his own head, "No idea. Just know my head won't let me sleep."
Without giving much thought to the actions, Jared removed the nearly empty drink from Gladiolus' hand. The smell of whiskey that permeated from the glass giving away what the man needed to refill it with, "Surely it must be something a great deal heavier than usual. The duties of the Amicitia line are never easy." Jared stated bluntly as he poured a drink for the young Shield.
Gladiolus stared at nothing in particular. His eyes having a thousand yard stare as Jared handed him the drink. Thanking him, Gladiolus took a drink before sighing and rubbing his eyes, "Can I assume you know about what all happened with my dad?"
Jared nodded, "Yes of course. It is very well known. You handled the situation well I might add. The whole ordeal was viewed as nothing more than usual royal antics. From my understanding the woman involved disappeared quietly without so much as an issue or payoff as well. Quite merciful of her."
Gladiolus chuckled, 'Yeah...about that..."
Jared looked at the young Shield knowingly and shook his head, "Ah. I see. She isn't merciful but rather, has you wrapped around her finger. Mr. Amicitia, surely by now you have learned your lesson with women. Why it is you insist on recklessness with women..."
"Hold on a minute..." Gladiolus interrupted "Nobody is wrapped around anyone's finger...this is the messed up part. You and I both know I can have just about any of these broads in Insomnia. Won't say I don't love every minute of that, but..."
"Yes and that is far from something to be proud of Gladio...the amount of bastard children of yours that likely live in this city..."Jared said sternly.
"Okay first, the answer to the children thing is, none. I'm not that stupid. I know what all could happen. Big reason I cut it off with what's her face. She wanted a hell of a lot more than a relationship. But this one...this one doesn't want anything. She's perfectly happy to just exist as a person in the situation she's in...even shot down the idea of a relationship." Gladiolus said as he rose to his feet and started to pace the room.
Jared's expression changed to slight surprise when he heard that, "If she wants nothing, than why are you chasing her?"
Gladiolus shrugged his shoulders, "I guess to pull her out of the life she has."
"And who are you to judge the life she has." Jared asked bluntly "The work she does is paid in full. A life you yourself seem to lead when the city lights dim, and you do it for free. It is not your duty to fix the life of someone who doesn't want help." Jared watched as Gladiolus continued to pace the room. He could tell the young Shield had been pulled from his usual thoughts of warfare and royal doings. Even books were beginning to go unfinished. A very unusual thing for Gladiolus. The man wasn't known for leaving books unfinished. Having dealt with Amicitia's most of his life, Jared could see the same stern, temperamental expression beginning to cross Gladiolus' face that crossed many Shields before him. A family of short fuses and silence when agitated. He sighed. "Have you offered to take the woman out?"
"Of course. We've been out a few times." Gladiolus responded. Finishing up his drink. The glass quickly being shuffled away by Jared and replaced with water. "What about it?"
Jared thought for a moment, "And what came of that? Anything worth noting?"
Gladiolus nodded, "Yeah. I ended up hiring her."
Jared laughed lightly, "Well surely that was a slight mistake, was it not? Why would you need to hire a woman to bed you at all?"
Gladiolus raised an eyebrow as his mind tried to process exactly what it was Jared just stated. Upon realizing that the elder assumed he'd hired her to entertain him, Gladiolus waved his hand quickly, "No Jared. I HIRED her. To work. In the Citadel...with me. She works really well and I'm actually getting shit done now which is nice. But..."
"My. You must be smitten by her than. A cheap thrill turned something more." Jared said as he cleaned the glass that had been used an reorganized the bar.
"HA. Yeah right. We haven't even done anything worth noting. 'Thrilling' sure, but not outside of what I think is normal. Maybe a little bit PG if you ask me. Haven't played around like this since what? High school. Feels weird." the snarky tone Gladiolus had unable to hide the annoyed undertone "If anything it solidified that there isn't really anything to pursue at all. Just a potential fling, if even that."
Jared nodded, "Gladio, what you youngsters consider nothing 'worth' noting, was seen as something worth treasuring in my day. And if I didn't know any better, I would certainly say this woman has stirred something up in the recesses of your rather oblivious mind. It isn't often that a woman has you up nightly yet isn't here keeping your bed warm. Particularly one who means not to you at all."
Gladiolus shrugged, "Times have changed a bit. Believe me. I'm not really looking for 'something to treasure' right now."
"Of course. Gladio. Of course. You're merely kept up all hours of the night because you're simply concerned for her wellbeing. Surely it has nothing to do with someone not giving you something you believe you have readily available. Something you haven't had from anyone. Clearly you crave the life of a bachelor." Jared said sharply. The words all having to fester in Gladiolus mind even further " If this concludes our chat for the night sir, I would surely like to go to bed. I've duties to uphold, as do you, in the morning."
With a simple nod, Jared exited the living quarters leaving Gladiolus alone in his thoughts once more. Despite wanting another drink, he didn't want to disturb the small amount of reorganizing and cleaning the house servant had done whilst chatting with him. He laughed at the ideal of being smitten with anybody at all at the moment. Fun an games were easier to deal with. At the interview Kyrie made it relatively clear that a relationship would interfere with work. Work she hadn't left despite far better pay in the Citadel. Perhaps she really wasn't looking for anything at all. Perhaps he was wrong for stepping in to her life at all and trying to manipulate a situation. As he stood in silence staring at his phone, a plan soon hatched within his head as he grabbed the bottle of whisky and continued to drink the amber liquid down alone.
Mouse watched as Kyrie made her way down the alley to the Seeing Eye. The energy and enthusiasm she carried weeks prior beginning to melt away as she dragged her way into the building itself. "S'matter kiddo? Tired?" Mouse said as she walked in. Kyrie nodded her head, running her fingers through the extensions in her hair, bringing life back into the façade she wore. "Sorry to hear that. Straighten up though. Madam has guests and I'm pretty sure they are here for you." Kyrie sighed audibly as she walked by.
Sure enough, the door to the Madam's office was cracked open slightly and she could see two men standing in there with her. She moved to the back and dressed herself down for the night before emerging and heading towards the Madam's office. She knocked on the door frame quietly as to not disturb the conversation the Madam and the two men were having. "Come in." the Madam said loudly. Upon seeing Kyrie, the Madam gestured for her to quickly come in and shut the door behind her. The Madam rose from her seat and moved over to Kyrie. "Just the girl I was looking for. Gentlemen, this is Ms. Carmen Veritas. She's one of the best girls I have around. And as you can see-" the Madam continued as she lightly grabbed Kyrie's hand and spun her around "-she's EXACTLY who and what I said she was." Kyrie smiled fakely as she looked at the two men and then back to the Madam.
"Yeh. She certainly is dat which you said ma'am. Give ussa moment wouldchu, darling?" one of the men said in a heavy, thick accent. Despite feeling like no more than a show cased product for them, Kyrie had to maintain a smile for them. The two men exited the Madam's office and began to chat just out side of the door. After a few moments the two men reemerged into the office. "Well Madam, she certainly looks just like what it is we need. You 'ave a background on her?" the taller of the two men asked. Neither man made much eye contact with Kyrie, almost seeming to try and avoid it if at all possible as they maintained a cross armed stare with the Madam.
"I sure do boys." shuffling through a few files in a cabinet, the Madam pulled out Kyrie's file and handed it to the men without so much as a fight. Kyrie had seen the look on the Madam's face before. It was a face the woman often made when she was about to come in to a great deal of money "But first...you know the deal" the Madam stuck her hand out greedily towards the men and sure enough, one of them handed her a large stack of bills that the Madam eagerly began counting. For the first time in a long time, Kyrie was suddenly nervous. It was the same feeling she had when she was younger and put into the business of selling herself to start.
Kyrie chewed at her lip, pulling a bit of skin off and causing her lip to bleed as she watched the two men thumb through the file, "I'm sorry. What exactly is going on here?" Kyrie asked, her eyes darting between the two men and the Madam.
"Business as usual Carmen. You know how it is. Trading and all." the Madam said bluntly as she gestured for Kyrie to be quiet.
"You're...selling me off?" Kyrie took a subtle step back as she watched the two men continuing to read. One of the men gave her a sympathetic glance.
The Madam looked up at Kyrie with a devious smirk, "You're a product that I own and you have been this entire time. Literally since the day you set foot into this city. Just because I gave you more freedoms, doesn't mean you aren't a product. Don't forget that. I took you in and I can throw you out just as easily. You're just lucky you gross in more than others."
The taller of the two men spoke out quickly, stopping what was sure to become a berating conversation "Not quite, darling." he said, gently closing her file and handing it back to the Madam "See, our client is lookin' for someone. Someone quite specific. Lucky for us, our client seems to fink you fit the bill 'most to a tee. We merely 'ave to get a sample to confirm things. So. If you don't mind comin' with us..."
"And if I don't want to go?" Kyrie said objectively, watching as the Madam suddenly scowled deeply.
The Madam called in Mouse in. The large man walked in and shut the door behind him. He and the Madam were fully in each other's confidence. Even the two men were a bit surprised to see things beginning to escalate, "Kyrie, you're going. You're not gonna cost me a damn cent to go either. You had better find yourself leaving the damn city tonight and listening to these two gentlemen."
Kyrie faked a confident laugh, "Or what? I don't need this job. I've got plenty of back up plans."
The Madam laughed under her breath as she picked up her phone and messaged someone, "Oh honey. You're gonna wish you left with them if you don't go right now."
The taller of the two men again spoke up trying to diffuse the situation, "Oi. Look ma'am. Ms. Veritas seems a bit nervous bout the situation. Don't much blame 'er either. You held up part of your end of da deal Madam. Won't fault you for her not leaving. But unless she comes wif us, we can't pay you in full. That said, let's not be hasty. We aren't out to scare or hurt the girl after all." he said laughing nervously. He handed Kyrie a card that simply had phone number and coordinates on it. "She can come when she's ready and when she does, we'll 'ave you paid fully."
The Madam looked over at the taller man, eyebrow cocked, "It's getting filled. I expect the payment at 3AM, got it? Kyrie. Get out. NOW. Get your ass back on the subway and go home. You're fired."
Before Kyrie even had a chance to object, the large arm of Mouse was soon around her shoulders, dragging her backwards out of the office. Kyrie looked back and forth between the Madam and the two gentlemen before correcting her own posture, pulling Mouse' arm off of her and storming to get her belongings. The Madam laughed under her breath as a message came through her phone. Lighting up a cigarette she smirked and looked over at the two men, "Sorry you had to see that. Sometimes these girls have trouble getting the hell out of here mister...what was it again?"
"Callux. Ma'am, what exactly are you going to do to get 'er to leave. She seems pretty steadfast on stayin' 'ere in the city. Probably won't get a dna sample before leaving 'ere either, that's for certain. To be honest, dats the important bit."
"Look. Mr. Callux. I've got A LOT of connections here. A. Lot. Stick around the city til tomorrow. Got it? 3AM, you'll have your sample. Getting her out of here is on you though. She's fired now so it'll be up to you to get her. I'll set something up that'll make it a little easier, but no promises she'll go."
Both Mr. Callux and his companion straightened their stances and became both worried and angry, "If you so much as lay a finger on 'er..."
"Please." the Madam said, dismissing their posturing "What the hell are you going to do? I've got enough protection here to have you two wiped off the face of the planet. Get the fuck out of my building. Be expecting a call in the next couple of hours. They'll give you directions from there. I expect my payment soon."