*Starts a few minutes prior from Gladio's POV. Rating has now been bumped up from Mature to Explicit. Enjoy.

**Thank you again Goldslactuar for cover art :)

Noctis really did have impeccably shitty timing.

If Gladio hadn't been sure of how he felt about the strategist before, but he was fairly certain since their tousle in the snow. If it weren't for that stupid phone call, he would have had confirmation.

Gladio had been training Ignis in combat for about four years now. While the royal advisor had been sharp as a tac, he hadn't had any real workout regimen or combat prior to walking into the training room. It was only King Regis' suggestion that he start training as a future member of the Crownsguard did Ignis approach him in the first place. Gladio had admired him in passing prior to that when he saw him with the Prince. He always seemed excessively busy for his age and always attached to Noctis at the hip. But it wasn't until they started training one on one did Gladio really start to admire the man.

Ignis had taken to training very well, and while he lacked the brute strength that Gladio had and Noctis was developing, he made up for it with speed and deadly accuracy. Ignis had also begun to put on muscle, adjusting the protein in his diet accordingly as per Gladio's suggestion, and it showed. The strategist had even wowed him last week by doing a few hand-stand pushups. Something Gladio had prided himself in being the only one he knew of capable of doing them. It wounded his pride slightly, but built it back up knowing he had a hand in it.

And yet, Ignis was still perpetually unavailable. Not necessarily relationship wise, but he was always always with Noctis. Cooking, cleaning, tutoring, shepherding him around, and more. To the point where Gladio had joked about 'cutting the cord already.' Ignis hadn't found the joke as funny as Gladio would have liked.

Now, finally, he had Ignis alone and literally right where he wanted him…and Noctis had to interrupt. Again.

Gladio had played it casual to diffuse the awkward moment after he hung up the phone, but Ignis only seemed more agitated than usual. They had been laughing moments earlier, but when Gladio poked fun at his outfit when they changed out there was no more laughter to be had from Ignis. What happened?

After suggesting some sweets and alcohol to break up the tension Gladio went to work tending the fire. The logs were wetter than expected and took a moment to catch, all the while he heard Ignis working in the kitchen. Replacing the metallic screen to the fireplace, Gladio stood up and dusted his hands off before walking into the kitchen. He found Ignis browsing through the cabinets with the bowl of brownie batter sitting on the counter. "Oh, you work quick," he said and reached out to have a taste when Ignis quickly moved the bowl out of his reach. "Hey, I just wanna try some. The batter's my favorite part."

"It's unsanitary. Have you even washed your hands since we came inside?" Ignis said, his voice sharper than Gladio expected.

The shield actually had washed his hands when he came in, but then again, he did just spend the last few minutes in the fireplace. Ignis was probably right, but still. Gladio glanced down and noticed that Ignis had gotten some batter on his fingers when he pulled the bowl away. An idea sparked in Gladio's mind that might make up for the interrupted moment in the snow. "Have you?" he asked.

"Of course I have," said Ignis, almost indignantly.

"Good," he said before reaching down and pulling Ignis' hand toward him before the strategist could react. He took his batter covered finger in his mouth and licked the chocolate off much like he would his own before sliding the digit out.

The look on Ignis' face was priceless as color flooded his cheeks.

Gladio waited. He may have already overstepped his boundaries and didn't want to make things worse. He still wasn't completely sure that shocked expression was good or bad. Imagine his relief and intrigue when Ignis intentionally dipped his fingers into the batter and held his hand out to Gladio again. The fact that it was getting all over the floor and Ignis wasn't stopping to clean it up was a sign in of itself. Ignis' blatant disregard for cleanliness in exchange for Gladio's mouth around his fingers again sent blood pooling south fast enough to make his head spin.

He took his time, tasting Ignis' skin and feeling the pads of his fingers trace along his tongue as he lazily removed the chocolate. Gladio kept his eyes on Ignis' green eyes as the iris' faded to black as his pupils expanded exponentially. Eventually he ran out of batter and removed Ignis' fingers from his mouth.

Gladio only had to wait for a second before Ignis's lips were crashing into his own. Hitting him with such force that his back collided with the refrigerator door. Gladio pushed back in return until Ignis was up against the counter top as their mouths opened, hot and exploratory. They broke for an instant so that Ignis could pull the apron over his head, discarding it haphazardly to the side.

Layer removed, Gladio went a step further and untucked Ignis' button up from his pants, allowing him access to the hot skin beneath. Ignis moaned as Gladio's calloused fingers traced along the sides of his well-earned abs. Hearing the smaller man come unhinged made Gladio almost painfully hard as he pressed their bodies together. He could feel Ignis' arousal through his trousers with his own as he moved his lips down to past the sharp jaw and too his pulse. He needed to taste more, and nothing short of Ignis telling him to would stop him.

He might have to murder Noctis if his phone rang right now. Shield or no shield.

Nails were scratching Gladio's scalp as they were practically grinding into each other. Ignis let out a few breathless words, "Gladio…Bedroom. Now."

Gladio removed his mouth from Ignis neck long enough to say, "No."

Ignis pulled away from him enough to look him in the face, "Why?"

Gladio began unbuttoning Ignis shirt as he spoke. "There's no need for privacy. There's nobody else in the house and we're the only humans around for miles." Once he was done unbuttoning he slid the shirt down past Ignis' shoulders and began to place hot, mouthy kisses along his torso. He was rewarded with hitched breaths from the strategist as he worked lower.

"Aren't we *gasp* going a little fast?" Ignis managed to get out as Gladio nipped the curve in his hips. His hands paused on the khaki zipper.

"I'm not complaining if you're not. We could wait until you have some free time back in Insomnia if you'd like," Gladio said as he looked up at Ignis, knowing full well that that was rather unlikely.

Ignis pulled his glasses off and laid them on the countertop before pinching the bridge of his nose to regain an instant of composure. He took a deep breath. "No, I want to keep going. Could we move this to the couch at least?"

Gladio slowly stood back up, kissing and nipping along Ignis' torso as he did before taking the other man's mouth in his again in a hot, heavy kiss before breaking away. "Deal. Let me just get something from my room." Ignis just nodded before Gladio pulled away, his skin cold in the other's absence as he dashed into his room and quickly grabbed his spit-kit from his bag. Ignis was just sitting on the couch when he returned.

Fuck Ignis was gorgeous, especially looking so unhinged. Gladio had seen him shirtless, skin flushed, and breathless before. But that was from training. Now that his glasses were off, his lips were swollen from kissing, and his pupils blown out from endorphins, it was a sight Gladio didn't want to forget any time soon.

Dropping his kit on the floor Gladio pulled his tank top over his head, being careful of the bandages on his arm before tossing it to the side. Ignis' eyes roamed his torso appreciatively for an instant before Gladio crawled back on top of him, resuming where they left off.

They made out like horny teenagers for a moment as Gladio let his weight sink into Ignis. He didn't want to suffocate him, but the pressure between their bodies was heavenly. Ignis tangled his fingers in the shields hair as Gladio resumed kissing his pulse. His skin smooth and hot beneath his lips as he gradually moved lower. Ignis thrust up into his abs as he maintained pressure between them before finally his teeth grazed the edge of his hips again.

The khakis unbuttoned easily and Ignis raised his hips to allow Gladio to pull them down along with his boxers. Ignis member sprang free as Gladio looked up at his face appreciatively as Ignis' face got even redder, if that was possible. Gladio took him in his hand and gave him a few experimental strokes, earning him a breathy moan from the man beneath him. "You're gorgeous, you know. I'm not sure if anyone's ever told you." Ignis smiled coyly, but didn't say anything.

Gladio leaned down and ran his tongue along the length as Ignis let out a harsh breath. He liked that noise so he did it again before taking the member in his mouth. Ignis moaned and lounged his head back over the armrest as he laced both hands into Gladio's hair while he worked. Ignis was above average so Gladio had to concentrate hard to keep his gag reflex under control. It wasn't long before the pale thighs beneath him began to quake and Ignis was pulling up on his hair. "S-stop."

He pulled his head up, "Don't want me to finish you off?"

Ignis was biting his lip, trying to regain composure. "I do, but not like this. I want everything."

Now Gladio was the one biting his lip. "You sure? It's going to require some buildup, especially if it's your first time."

Ignis shook his head lightly, "It's not my first."

Eyebrows arched on Gladio's brow. That was a surprise. When had Ignis found time to date? "Someone I know?" he asked.

"A Glaive. We didn't really advertise and we were both too busy for any real relationship." Ignis looked flustered talking about it. He cleared his throat. "Could we continue, please?"

Gladio nodded and reached down into his kit, producing a small tube of lubricant before adding a few pumps to his fingers. "Ready?" Ignis nodded as Gladio slipped his hand between the cleft of toned cheeks, teasing the entrance in small circles before pushing one finger in. It was tight but went in easier than he'd expected. He kept his comments to himself, but wondered how frequently Ignis did this on his own. He added another finger experimentally and was rewarded with another moan from the strategist when he pushed in deeper.

"More," Ignis gasped, sending another shock down to Gladio's already painfully hard member. Gladio had to bite his tongue as he worked in a third finger. Seeing Ignis come thoroughly undone was possibly the hottest thing he'd ever seen. Gladio took his free hand and traced I across Ignis torso and up toward his chest as he writhed beneath him.

Every nerve was firing in Ignis' body as Gladio worked his fingers inside him. He sincerely hoped Gladio wouldn't touch his cock, because he was certain he would come at that instant and he wanted to wait. "That's enough," he said. "I want the rest of you."

Gladio withdrew his fingers, leaving him shuttering and empty while he rummaged his bag again. He came back with a gold foil wrapper and held it in his teeth as he stood up and shed his sweatpants. He wore no undergarments and his member hung heavily between his toned legs. Ignis swallowed. Maybe he wasn't quite ready for this.

The shield must have seen the hesitation in his eyes because he laid back on the other half of the couch. "You set the pace," he said as he tore the foil open and rolled the condom on. "I won't do anything unless you tell me. Alright?"

Ignis nodded and crawled on top of him. "Alright." He positioned himself above Gladio's muscular torso and reached back to line himself up. Gladio placed his hands on Ignis' things and rubbed circles with his thumbs as Ignis took a deep breath and lowered himself slowly. He stopped as he felt the head push against the ring of muscle, waiting for his body to adjust. Nearly an eternity later he took another breath and sank lower before pulling up slightly and sinking again. It wasn't until his thighs rested on Gladio's hips did he allow himself to breathe. He didn't think he'd be able to do it.

He praised the Six for Gladio's self-control as he waited for his body to adjust. "You're doing great," Gladio said.

Ignis bent over and kissed Gladio again to diffuse the intensity and the shield returned in kind, wrapping his arms around Ignis' back and fingers through his hair as they kissed. A few moments later Ignis lifted his hips experimentally before sinking down again. Gladio moaned into his mouth as he did it again, each time pain was replaced with more pleasure. He'd never felt so full in his life. "Fuck, Iggy…" Gladio gasped as Ignis began to move at a decent speed, every few thrusts hitting his prostate in a fantastic fashion.

By now he was covered in sweat as was the tattooed man beneath him. Ignis was creeping closer to orgasm, but he wanted Gladio to come with him, or sooner if possible. "Grab my hips and fuck me," growled Ignis and now it was his turn to watch Gladio come undone. Amber irises all but vanished as Gladio's pupils expanded to their max before strong hands wrapped around his waist. Gladio thrust up into him and a shot of pleasure flooded him before Gladio did it again. It was rough but Ignis knew Gladio was still holding back. "Harder," he gasped and very nearly regretted it as he was pushed down to meet the next thrust. Ignis saw stars as he lost all ability to hold himself up any longer.

Flopping forward he became dead weight against the tattooed eagle as Gladio fucked him into oblivion. Ignis' cock thrust against Gladio's abs with every movement and soon Ignis' couldn't hold back his orgasm any longer. He came hard in between their bodies and only added to the sensations as Gladio hammered away beneath him. Muscles clenched hard around Gladio and soon his thrusts were erratic and his breath hitched. "Iggy…" he gasped before reaching up and grabbing a fist full of brunette hair and mashing their lips together as he came. Gladio moaned desperately as his body shuttered beneath him, only pulling away when the orgasm had passed.

They stayed like that for a long while, just waiting for their breathing to return to normal. Finally, Gladio had to withdraw and pull the condom off, leaving Ignis feeling empty and sore. Gladio tossed it into the bin of bandages from earlier and pulled Ignis close. "You alright?"

Ignis moved one leg experimentally, thankfully not wincing at the motion. "I could probably use a shower and a potion, but I'm not complaining."

He could feel Gladio chuckle beneath him. A finger idly traced his shoulder. "You have quite the dirty mouth on you when you're worked up," said Gladio. Ignis might have blushed if his skin wasn't still on fire from earlier.

Ignis hummed in light agreement. "You're a terrible influence on me. I'm never that tactless."

Gladio made a mildly hurt face. "Who are you calling tactless?"

Ignis chuckled. "You know I'm never going to be able to make brownies again without thinking about this."

The shield chuckled. "Well I'm always happy to taste test it for ya."

"I'll be happy to let you," said Ignis, "but maybe not like that in the presence of others."

To that they both laughed before going silent for a while and enjoying the quiet, only occasionally broken by the crackle of the fire. Ignis laid his head on Gladio's chest and nearly fell asleep to the sound of the larger man's heart.

Some time later he felt a tap on his shoulder. He lifted his head.

"Not that I'm not enjoying the hell out this, but we really need to shower," said Gladio. Silently gesturing to the mess still between them.

"Ah, yes. That would probably be a good idea." Ignis smiled. "Care to join me?"

Gladio smiled back. "Wouldn't have it any other way." A pause, "Then we should probably get that batter in the oven before I end up eating all of it."

X~X~X

I'm not gonna lie. I just ate half a bowl of brownie batter while writing this. My stomach hurts and I don't care. This story's not done. More to come, including bottom!Gladio.