Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Body

II

A/N: With the game now in the hands of the public for some time now, it is time for me to make good on my promise and give a second chapter. Now that you know it's destination (sort of, hue hue), I shall show you the journey that both Aquas and Gladiolus underwent from being mere acquaintances to saying I love you. I hope you enjoy this project of mine.

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XV is owned by Square Enix and Sony studios. I do not own any other mentioned properties.

They were on the road once more, Noct, Prom, and Ingis napping in the back with Gladio in the passenger seat and Aquas at the wheel. The two of them had apologized to the poor prince about the towel incident by promising to warn him next time he's about to pick up something that they used to clean themselves off. Plus, they had to buy him any sweets he wanted for the next two weeks. Fine by Aquas, as childish as he thought it was, he still had plenty of his own gil to spend in case the group's ran low. Not that anyone knew that, except maybe Gladio. Speaking of...

"Hey," laying his hand on the one resting on the console, giving it an affectionate squeeze, "don't ya think it's time to make a pit stop?"

Aquas took a look at the dash display, they were under a quarter tank. "Fine, there's a gas station up here anyways," he relented. Normally, he would of been a bit more stubborn and would've argued about how they could make it quite a few miles. But now that they didn't have to hide it any more, Gladio was using this new found freedom to make him more compliant. It pissed him off at first, seeing how easy a few affectionate gestures and sweet nothings could make him falter. But, when he began to think about it, he liked how Gladio could openly love on him like that and how it felt, unlike some. Aquas sure as hell didn't expect it after their first time telling each other 'I love you.' It made him smile, as they pulled into the station.

"Whatcha ya thinking about," Gladio asked, noticing the fond grin on his face as he shut the car off.

"Just how we got together," stepping out, "took me a few fucking tries."

"Really," said Gladio, somewhat surprised as he got out to stretch.

"Yeah," staring to refuel the car after selecting the fuel grade, "I was either thwarted, too late, or I couldn't get to ya."

"Well, no one wants to be caught with their pants down," smirked Gladio.

"You did, apparently," Aquas added, calling him out.

"Got me there," he admitted.

~~~A few months earlier, in Hammerhead~~~

"What are you doing here," demanded Cor incredulously, drawing his sword and rushing Aquas.

Rusty, he barely brought his staff to meet the blade in time, "Aww, and here I thought you'd forgotten about little ol' me," looking genuinally touched as he shoved him off.

"Shut up!"

They continued exchange blows before Noctis got involved. "Stop it Leonis, he's with us so lay off," he ordered the older Crownsguard.

"Better listen to him, wouldn't want to cause a scene here," Aquas said cautiously, but they swore they heard a hint of smugness. "And one more thing," he added, sweeping his staff and knocking the man off his feet, "now we're even." He offered a hand to help Cor stand, but it was ignored.

"Even? Did I miss something," asked Prompto, confused.

Readjusting his glasses, Ignis said intelligently, "Throughout their scuffle, I counted exactly thirteen blows that landed between them. Aquas just made it even with seven strikes a piece."

"Wow! Aquas is amazing to keep up with Cor the Immortal," exclaimed Prom, "They were going so fast, my eyes couldn't keep up!"

"I find it more amazing that he was able count them while fighting," added Gladio, sounding slightly impressed.

"You've lost your edge," whispered Cor his back to everyone.

Aquas, who heard him, smiled darkly and responded in equal silence, "Who's to blame for that, tricking me into that ambush."

"It was for your own good," hissed Cor.

"Can't argue there, I enjoyed the peace of Insomnia while it lasted." He sighed at the loss (the memory of the Fall still fresh) and stepped forward, "But I'll never miss it as much as I did you, four years can be a long time..."

"Enough, I have business to attend to," cutting Aquas short, he turned around and tossed a small cylinder to Noctis. "Meet me at those cordinates at sunrise," he explained curtly before walking off.

"Well," said Noct, after a moment to take everything in, "I guess we have some downtime tonight."

In the west, the Sun was just kissing the horizon with it's radiant edge. This left them a few hours of freedom. Prompto and Noctis headed straight for the diner for a bite to eat despite Ignis' protests as he followed, leaving Aquas and Gladio, who headed for the gas station. Aquas was looking for something to do tonight among the shelves, picking a couple snacks for later, when he noticed the other man shooting him quick glances before looking elsewhere. If Aquas hadn't been a thief before, he wouldn't be able to tell that this was a novice's way to make sure no one was watching him. But Aquas was watching him now, all be it much more subtle than his ally, using a magazine that had been left where it didn't belong to hide it. Pretending to be scaning over it's pages, he kept Gladio in the edge of his vision. Gladio, finally sure with himself that no one was watching him, grabbed something from the shelf in front of him and headed to the counter to pay for it with his share of the group's gil. Aquas saw him roll whatever it was up and stick it in a pocket inside his jacket before walking out. Purchasing his things, a deck of cards and some chips, he glanced over to the spot where the taller man had been standing. There were an array of erotic magazines pandering for straights, gays, and everything in between. Now he was curious as to what the big, burly hunk was into. Time to indulge some old habits. But first, looking to the pack of cards in his hand with a devilish grin, let's just see what I'm working with.

When night fell, the five of them took to a nearby caravan. Once settled in the small space, the former thief set his plan into motion.

"Anyone up for a game of strip poker," asked Aquas, shuffling the deck idly as he watched them with interest.

"What's that," questioned Prompto enthusiastically, naively thinking this to be an innocent, new game.

"Easy there Prom, if you knew what it was you wouldn't jump in so quickly," admonished Gladio.

"I'd like to know too," added Noctis. No surprise there, thought Aquas.

"It's like regular poker, but instead of gambling gil you bet articles of clothing on each round," Ignis explained, giving Aquas pause to reconsider his initial impression of the man.

"That's right," continued Aquas, "I had a lot of fun playing with my friends back when I was still running around the with Filii Dea. The stories that I could tell if we had the time. So who's game," he asked once more, the cards flying from one hand to the other. I wonder what else I'll learn tonight.

"I'm game," said Noct.

"Count me in," added Gladio.

"You'll understand if I pass on this excursion," input Ignis, "Though I may spectate."

"Fair enough," Aquas acknowledged, "So, what about you blondie? Ya in or out?"

Prompto seemed to debate the question for a few seconds as Aquas began dealing out the cards before jumping in to the small booth with them, "I guess it couldn't hurt to have a go."

"That's the spirit!"

"Any special rules you want to throw in," asked Gladio, confidently eyeing the hand he'd been delt. He's a good bluff, I'll give him that, considering how I stacked the deck against him.

"Hmmm...," Aquas pondered, setting the remaining deck aside. "Though anything I learn about you three would be new, the last to lose has to answer questions about themselves that the rest of us don't know, we each get one. How's that grab ya?"

"Should make things interesting," commented Noctis, a mischievous glint flashed acrossed his eyes.

"Is it to late to back out," asked Prompto nervously.

"Quit yer bitchin', and let's decide what we're betting first," said Gladio.

"He's right, you and His Excellency here have the most to bet. If the cards go your way, you should be fine," laying his hand down for a moment, he stretched what aching sores he could. Picking them back up, "I'll start, I bet my shirt on this round."

"My sleeve," Gladio input. That's disappointing.

"Same," said Noct.

"My gloves," finished Prompto.

The round went by quick, only a couple of card draws from Noct, who claimed victory with a cheer as everyone passed him his winnings. Chest lain bare, everyone could see the big, purple bruise in the shape of the Regalia's headlight on Aquas' left side. A rose shaped pendent hung from his neck but was ignored as something else caught their eye. Small scars that scattered themselves across his exsposed skin and a set of runes were tattooed along his collar bone to be precise. Flashing them a charming smile, he jested, "See something you like boys?" The following exchange will forever make Aquas smile after tonight.

Both Noctis and Prompto turned red and looked away only to lock eyes with each other for a split second before their sight snapped in the opposite direction out of further discomfort or embarrassment or both. Gladiolus, on the other hand, scratched his jaw and tried to look innocent while avoiding the thief's amused gaze. Gotcha! Now the question still stands, is there a chance he's into guys like me and what's he packin'?

With a light chuckle, "Come on guys, I just fuckin' with ya. Seriously, you'd be easy pickin's for a guy like me with how guliable y'all are. Just look, its written in the ceiling." He pointed up and Prompto was the only one dumb enough to fall for it, causing the rest of the booth to erupt in laughter at his expense.

The rest of the game continued in a similar manner and the three began to feel more comfortable around Aquas. It wasn't long before they were sharing all kinds of stories, Gladio did most of the talking. Aquas didn't mind, he was learning more about him and it turned out, he's quite the dork. Aquas had the impression that he'd be more like Ignis and reserved, maybe he couldn't read people as well as he used to.

After a couple hours, it came down to the thief and the shield. Noct and Prom having folded before they humiliated themselves further with Ignis cheekily grinning to himself as the two boys sat in only their pants. Speaking of which, Aquas had just lost his, leaving him in his dust blue boxers. Gladio was in the same boat, gray briefs, and Aquas had worked very hard to make it happen. It hadn't been easy to make it look like a fair game, almost slipping a few times when the big man lost a fair bit of his clothing. The worst was when Aquas got an eye-full of the guy's huge bulge, pretending to be fanning himself cockily with his new hand of cards to distract from the sudden tightening of his pants.

But now, it was all or nothing. With some sleight of hand, Aquas delt himself a Full House. Confident that he'd won and against what ever shitty hand Gladio had been delt, he laid down his cards with apparent smugness and leaned back to enjoy the effect. Should've known better than to play cards with a former thief, stuff like this is my bread and butter. But a meaningful cough brought his attention back to reality.

What ever victory Aquas had been feeling quickly flew out the nearest window as soon as he saw Gladio's shit eating grin. Color drained from his face a little at a time as the man torturously layed the cards down one by one, slowly revealing a Royal Flush. How in Etro's name did he...?! He could only sit there, stunned at the fact that he'd lost the game he'd been controlling the entire night. Where did he slip up? Did Ignis notice the deliberate way he shuffled the cards and tell Gladio? Or did he just get over confident and not pay attention to the hand he delt to the man? It must've been the latter, he would've noticed a change in the man's behavior if he'd been tipped off. But could I really? They've suprised me once already. Best to accept this with some dignity.

Aquas stood with a sigh and assumed a respectable posture, well as repectable as someone half naked could. Stepping out of the booth, he pulled off his last remaining article in one fluid motion and tossed it to Gladio. Now standing in his fully glory, Aquas had nothing left to hide. He may not be as big as his opponent, but wasn't a small fry either with a member swaying at a comfortable five inches. "Congrats," he said with a trace of discontent, "Lady Etro and her luck have graced you tonight. A loss is a loss, so who's up first?"

"Am I permitted a question," inquired Ignis.

"I don't see why not," said Aquas, arms crossed in attempt to feel less vulnerable.

"How were you able to stack the cards with every hand?"

"So that's how I lost, you tipped him off," said Aquas in realization, admiration could heard in his voice as well, "Either I'm rustier than I thought or ya got some sharp eyes."

"Wait?! You were cheating," exclaimed Prompto.

"Oh no! Ya caught me red handed," Aquas smirked, displaying his palms in mock surrender, "Honestly, playing poker with a thief and yer surprised he didn't play fair? To answer yer question, not easily. I had to balance makin' the game look fair with keepin' the rest of ya in the dark. I told ya, I used ta play with thieves, I had to learn card countin', sleight of hand, and a decent poker face if I didn't want to lose everything I owned. Alright, who's next?"

"What's with the tattoos," Noct questioned.

"Part of being in Filii Dea, when ya turn thirteen they put ya through test to make sure yer worth keepin'. If ya pass, yer branded with the runes of yer choosin', like 'I walk in chaos, as she intended,'" explained the thief.

"What happens when you don't pass," asked Gladio.

"Deemed worthless before," he drew line across his throat, imitating the sound of a knife cutting flesh, "No loose ends," he finished in almost sinister delight at their horrified reactions.

"That's horrible," cried Prompto.

"That's life, only the strongest survive," countered Aquas, "If ya can't make it on yer own, what use are ya to the guild that raised ya?"

"Crude, but fair," commented Ignis.

"Hmm," Aquas hummed in agreement, "Living in the city like you boys did, y'all had it pretty good. Hell, I didn't see the inside of the Wall till twelve years ago. Never thought too highly of the people who lived there, believed they had it real easy. Changed my tune a few years later...," trailing off into past memories.

"Wait, exactly how old are you," asked Prompto.

"Twenty-eight," he answered, adding, "That counts a yer question y'know."

"Dammit!"

"That just leaves our lucky winner here," his gaze meeting Gladio's, grinning, "Go on then, shoot."

"What happened at the treaty signing? What went wrong," he asked, serious.

Whatever lighthearted feelings that had been brought about by the card game had been crushed by the weight of eight, simple words. Aquas' face had darkened, feeling his throat constrict slightly as he silently reached out for his clothes. Believing it better to be dressed for the somber subject, the others seemed to be thinking the same thing. Clothed once again, the thief sat down in the booth, his fingers drumming on the table top as he pondered on what to say, or where he should even start. Two minutes of uncomfortable silence passed before he said anything. "You don't pull any punches do ya," Aquas jested darkly.

"Understand that some of this I learned second hand and it's not a lot. You have no idea the chaos that it left in its wake," he began, "I had just closed shop when an explosion sounded from the Citadel, some radical group attacked to give the Niffs the distraction they needed. A fight broke out in the signing room, all of the king's attendents died there when General Glauca entered the fray. At least, that's my guess when I saw the damage while looking for the armory. But his Majesty wasn't among the dead..."

"Then he's still..." cut in Noctis, looking hopeful, almost desperate.

"No," Aquas interupted before he got too far, "I'm sorry Prince, but he is gone. That I'm sure of, there were... a few... pieces on the floor. None of the corpses were missing any parts. So if he was able to get away, he didn't make it far. I couldn't tell you where he... where he passed on." Aquas sounded very grim, like it almost hurt to talk about it, but he continued, "Anyway, it wasn't long after that the Empire took down the Wall and stole the crystal." He clasped his hands together tightly, resting his forehead on them. "That was it for a while, MTs set loose in both the streets and the palace, Imperial Dreadnots flying overhead, and everyone running through the streets in panic." He hands began to shake as he lowered them into his lap, "It was madness, what they did next. They had gotten what they came for, they were just adding insult to injury." Pausing, he collected his thoughts, "Things started to calm down for a bit as we started to learn what went wrong, what our casualties were, when another bombshell was dropped on us. One of the Kingsglaive had betrayed Insomnia, giving those terrorists the info they needed for this whole mess to start. And then, night fell. We thought it was done, but there was more death to come." Slamming a fist into the table, he made the four of them jump as he shouted, "THOSE FUCKERS BROUGHT GODSDAMNED DEAMONS INTO THE CITY!"

"D-deamons," whimpered Prompto.

"Yeah, and not yer run-of-the-mill deamons either," Aquas said, anger still boiling beneath the surface, "These were huge, bigger than half of the buildings in Insomina. Not only that, they were able ta level several blocks before anyone could blink. Words can't describe the damage they did." They all sat in shock, unable to think of that kind of devastation. Noctis looked as though he was taking it the worst and Aquas didn't want to see him like that. "It's not all bad, there are a couple good things to come of this yet."

"Yeah?! Like what," Noct asked, voice racked with emotion, namely anger.

"Like that Lady Lunafreaya made it out alive," he answered, stone faced, "And that someone was able to activate the Old Wall to deal with the deamons before too many people got killed."

"What," asked Gladiolus.

"Who," questioned Ignis.

"How," exclaimed Noctis.

"Whoa whoa whoa," Aquas said gently, "Yer askin' things I can't tell ya."

"Why not," asked Noct incredulously.

"Because I just don't know," beat back Aquas, "I've done told you I don't know everything, this is just something that I heard from a very reliable source before I left. All I know first hand is that I saw those huge statues from around the city come to life and fight off the deamons. I only found out that it was the Old Wall yeterday morning 'cause I was busy trying to stay out of their way all night. That's when I heard that the Oracle was alive and it crossed my mind that you might still be too, even if it was only a slim chance. So I packed the esentials, broke into the Citadel, escaped the city, and found you four. Anything else that happened while I was gone is just as much as a mystery to me as it is to you." He looked to the clock on the wall and said, "We best get to bed, Cor gets real grumpy when people are late."

"How do you know that," said a curious Noctis.

"Sorry kiddo," he smirked as he grabbed his bag, "that's another, long story for another time." Walking past them, he ruffled Noct's hair as he threw his stuff into the bed above the caravan's hitch before following it himself with a slightly half hearted, "Night," and throwing himself under the covers, laying comfortably on his side. His back to the rest of the group.

"He's an odd fellow," said Ignis in a low voice as they all looked at him in bewilderment, unaware of the solumn expression that adorned the thief's features.

~~~The next morning~~~

Ignis was up long before everyone else (as always) to wake everyone and prepare breakfast. While everyone else went about their morning routines, Aquas attended to his healing wounds. Some had already started to disappear, while the rest had scabbed over and it didn't help that Cor had added more. He dressed and redressed them with practiced eased and Gladio had taken notice.

"You bandage a lot of injuries when you were a thief," he asked, watching him struggle with redressing a nasty gash on his upper arm.

"Had to," Aquas said matter-of-factly, strip of gauz clamped in his teeth, "No one was going to do it for me. Except maybe... Dammit," he cursed as the wrappings came loose as he went to tie it off.

"Here, let me take care of that for ya," Gladio said, reaching for the fallen bandages.

Aquas grunted in thanks as he watched him neatly dress the wound. "Y'know, you're probably the third person to say that to me," he said, surprising them both. Why'd I say that?!

"Really? And who would be the other two be," asked Gladio, curious as he peered into his violet eyes. It was a soft, almost tender gaze, one that made Aquas' heart skip a couple beats.

Ignis saved Aquas from having to answer by calling everyone outside to eat. "You go on, I still need to get dressed for the day," Aquas simpered, giving the large man slight pause. But he didn't question it and left to join the others, leaving the thief stunned that he had been unable to restrain his urge to try and charm him. "Aquas you idiot, you could've blown the whole thing," he berated himself under his breath as he pulled 'new' clothes, "This isn't some one-night stand you picked up at a bar and you ain't lookin' for one niether!" He pulled off his shirt to replace it with a faded long sleeve one, continueing to grumble all the while. "Play it slow, get to know him before ya make yer move. If you lay it on too thick now, you'll only make things awkward later." As he finshed with the last strap on his boots, he admitted, "But I can't help it can I, I've always had a soft spot for anyone who might look out for me, like she did."

Before he stepped outside, he caught a glimpse of himself in a full-length mirror and chuckled lightly to himself. By Bahamut's wings, he never did think he'd see himself wearing these old things again. Aquas had grabbed his guild armor from his days running with Filii Dea before leaving Insomnia. They used to be charcoal black, but that was before years of wear and tear that came with the job discription. The outfit consisted of dark pants and undershirt, a layered leather jerkin, pauldrons, bracers that covered the tops of his hands, and greaved boots that had all faded with time. There was a hood too (battered like everything else), but he choose not to don it. Not yet, at least.

The four of them had gathered in the lawn funiture, enjoying a rather delectable looking breakfast. It looked as though it had been prepared by a prefessional chef. Maybe Aquas was too out of it when Ignis made breakfast the other morning to notice the quality of the food. But by gods, he was going to enjoy it today.

"Well, whatta we have here," asked the thief, licking his lips.

"Lightly pouched salmon, mint salad, and sides of toast, scones, and campagne," Ignis said confidently as Aquas grabbed the last remaining plate that was obviously ment for him. While looking at what beverages there were, he noticed a kettle with vapors faintly streaming from the spout. Drawing closer he caught a whiff of a familiar aroama, something he thought he wouldn't have for some time.

"Is this Earl Gray," he asked, smiling at the sweet smell.

"Why, yes it is," pronounce Ignis, slightly stunned.

"Do you mind if I have some," looking to the man any objections. Ignis gestured for him to help himself. As he poured his cup, he added, "Thanks man," before taking a seat at the empty table a little ways from them.

"Never figured you a tea drinker," smirked Noct, taking in the strange sight of a thief sipping tea with his breakfast with an almost classy posture.

"Never thought ya'd be so down ta earth, but it seems were both surprised," countered Aquas, nonchalantly eating his food, savoring the tastes. "Damn this is good," he added offhandedly, "Hey Scientia, you'd make one hell of a chef if I say so myself." Taking a bite of a scone, he turned to Noctis, "But seriously, did ya think all thieves were barbarians? 'Cause we ain't, at least the people I knew. Take me for example, I've always had a likin' for tea that had ta be brewed and drank warm. We weren't always out shakin' folks down fer gil, everyone had their hobbies." He finished his food quicker than he'd like, but it gave him more time to just sip his tea contently, "But it's not my business to tell ya how you should think about people."

"He does have a point, you can't judge a book by it's cover," said Prompto, displaying a rare bit of wisdom.

"Well said," praised the thief, "But I'd hate ta spoil the moment, but we should hurry along if we don't wanna be late for Cor." With that, he drained the last dregs of his tea and set it with the other dishes.

"If you're that ready to go, why don't you have a crack at driving today," said Ignis, tossing him the keys to the Regalia as he stepped into the caravan to retrieve his things. He barely caught them and glanced at the car before looking back to the man in confusion, "Really," he asked eyebrow raised while the other furrowed.

"What? Can't drive a stick," teased Gladio, helping Ignis with the clean up.

"Oh I can, it's just been a stretch since the last time I did. Do you mind if I go for a quick spin while y'all finish up, just ta dust off the cobwebs," said Aquas, having tossed his things in the trunk. With comfirmation, he inserted the keys into the ignition and started the vehicle. Admiring the purr of the engine, "Man, it's so much easier with the keys," he marveled as the others looked at each other with concern, thinking the exact same thing. "Let's see, shift inta first and feel for the gear change," he muttered to himself, hand on the column-shifter while going over what he remembered and keeping in mind that he didn't have to hot rod it.

Pulling out of Hammerhead, he took the Regalia to the Longwythe rest stop and back. Getting a feel for it's transmission and where he needed to change gears. By the time he had returned, Aquas was driving the car like he'd owned it his entire life. Gliding up to the caravan, the thief parked in front of the rest of them with the Regalia's nose pointed towards the highway. As they piled their things and themselves into the car, Noct asked," So how was your drive?"

"She handles great," praised Aquas, "Steerin's tight, brakes stop on a dime, and she purrs like a kitten goin' down the road. But she's a bit sluggish on the acceleration and the gear shift is a bit rough. I'd look inta that if I were ta have say," he finished, "but there's no time for that now. So yer Highness, where's Cor at?" He glaced at Noct in the rearview mirror sitting in between Ignis and Prompto, having to force Gladio up front so everyone could fit comfortably.

"Wish I could tell you, but I can't read cordinates. Or at least tell you right off the bat," Noctis admitted.

"Well hand 'em over, I had to use 'em all the time," comforted Aquas, reaching back for the cylinder. "What are you up to Cor," he muttered after reading them and pocketing the tube, shifting from park to first gear.

"Do you know what's there or something," came Prompto's voice as they pulled out onto the open road.

"Yeah, a Royal Tomb," he said, there was an undertone of distaste that almost went unnoticed, "but I don't have the slightest clue what he's plannin'."

"Something wrong with that," Noct inquired.

"Let's just say that I'm not a big fan of tombs and Cor is fully aware of that," said Aquas, slightly bitter, "And before you ask, I ain't sayin' how he knows. If yer that curious, ask him." That torpedoed any questions about him and Cor for now, but Aquas was waiting for the right time for that particular story.

The drive to the Prairie Outpost was uneventful, minus the idle chatter that passed between them. "Hey Noct, any ideas what we'll find there," asked Prompto as the parked next to a nearby haven.

"Your guess is as good as mine," answered Noctis, "Any ideas Aquas?"

"Not many," said the thief, "any tombs we found none of use could get into, not even our best lockpicks. But I heard about one in the Nebulawoods that had its doors busted off their hinges by deamons and stole whatever was in there. Well, whatever was valuable anyways."

"Hmm, that's interesting...," pondered Ignis, "But before we go meet the Marshall," changing subjects, "I do believe that Mr. Nigrum could benefit from a secondary arm, like the rest of us."

"Whadda ya mean," summoning his staff, "I can clear a room with this thing."

"That's the issue, we may not have the luxury of space in a fight for you to wield it," Ignis pointed out.

Thinking of some of the tight spaces he's been in, he relented and said, "Fine. But what would you have me use?"

"Well, I don't think a greatsword or spear would do you any good," input Gladio, "You'd run into the same problem. From yer little scuffle with Cor, you like yer distance too much for daggers. So how 'bout a gun?"

"I've always believed the guns are for pussies who can't fight," said Aquas casually.

"Hey! I use a gun," exclaimed Prompto, offended.

"Aren't you proving his point," said Noctis snidely.

"Well, what else is there," pondered Gladiolus, ignoring Prompto exhasperated blathering as he chased after a smirking Noct.

"I'm a bit of a fair hand at swordplay, so how's 'bout yer run-of-the-mill sword," suggested Aquas.

"I don't know about common, but you did bring us a broadsword from the Citidel that you can use," said Ignis, pulling out a crystal from his bag in the trunk and tossing it to him.

Almost dropping it, "I did," he questioned. Activating it, a simple looking blade appeared in his grip, looking at Ignis with an odd expression, "What about this isn't common? It looks like the default weapon in a video game," Aquas observed.

"Hey, wasn't that the sword Noct used to learn how to warp with," asked Gladio, eyeing it from over the theif's shoulder.

"Indeed, it is," said Iggy confidently.

"Hang on, 'warp?'"

"Just throw the blade somewhere and think about following it and you will," explained Gladio.

Skeptical, he threw it as hard as he could into the air and follow their instructions. In a blink, he was holding the sword again with shock. Realizing where he was, he screamed, "WHAT THE HELL!?"

On the ground, by the repeated mantra of 'SHIT' that they could hear, Ignis and Gladio could tell he was panicing and not thinking straight ,like he ever did(obvious gay joke is obvious).

"Gladio," said Ignis simply, concerned as he started to come back down to earth.

"I've got him," responded Gladio, equally as worried as he prepared to the catch the man. Noctis and Prompto, having forgotten what they were doing, watched Aquas fall like a cursing boulder. As the distance between him and the unforgiving ground closed, they could see that his sword had disappeared into the ether and his limbs were desperately searching for something solid in his descent. Gladio caught, thankfully, but it nearly knocked him flat on his ass. When he straightened up, he noticed that Aquas had wrapped his arms and legs tightly around him like a startled cat. His eyes were still wide with fear as his lip were drawn back to reveal clenched teeth, seemingly unaware that he was no longer falling to his death. Gladio, unsure on what he should do, held onto him out of reflex to keep him from actually hitting the ground. They may have been frozen like if Prompto hadn't opened his mouth.

"Aww," mocked Prompto, "They look like a couple going through a haunted house."

Finally coming to his senses, "Wha...," Aquas said as he took in what he was clinging to before making eye contact with Gladio. Faces thuroughly red, Gladio put him down and sheepishly tried to act like nothing happened while Aquas pulled his hood over his face to hide his embarrassment. Turning around, "Says the guy who'd probably piss himself from a jump scare," he snapped, "We better head for the tomb, I'd rather minimize Cor's bitching."

And that's chapter two everyone! I'm so sorry of the wait, I just wanted time to play the game and write down ideas as they came to me. I endeavor to cover as much as the game as possible and catch up to and build on the events of the first chapter. See you all next time! Until then, tell me what you think about this chapter in the meantime. Later!