hey there! so it's been quite an uneventful week of me trying to figure out what to do with myself now that the main story is finished. i'm currently editing and have up to 10 done (i know, slow going right?) i'll have up to 20 done by tomorrow i swear! but as i'm going through it its dawning on me how unfinished the story actually is. we're missing so many pieces like the Rock of Ravatogh, Cia's isolation, Gladio's first run in with the moogles and various other pieces I just couldn't fit inside. Not to mention alternate endings and scenarios that I originally had and then scrapped for what's up there now. And then I'm STILL toying with the idea of a stand alone prequel or just putting it here. so... basically I still have a lot of work to.
anyway, venting aside I'm going to start with this piece since it's already finished. This is the original scene from chapter 20 in the main story. I scrapped it completely as you may have noticed in the author's notes. I hated it even as I wrote it and I just could NOT let it stand after all the work I had poured into the story already. but... well here it is...
...
Gladiolus lied on the ground of the haven just outside of Galdin Quay. The other three men had retired to the tent already, leaving the Shield to his own thoughts. The fire was crackling beside him as he gazed up at the many stars, the sound of waves crashing on the beach in his ears. Prompto and Noctis wanted to sleep in the hotel room, but they were short funds, having to go do a few hunts. They also had a mission from a local reporter they had met named Dino. He was going to get them ferry tickets in exchange for their help. Gladiolus wasn't really a fan of Dino but if he could come through, then so be it. Whatever they needed in order to get to Altissia and get the Prince wed to the Oracle. Then he could get home and...
And do what exactly? The reality that his relationship was over weighed heavy on him. He let out a sigh, putting his hands behind his head as his amber gaze rolled over the millions of stars in his sight. The sky was so vast, he had never noticed before inside of the city. There was so much light pollution inside the Crown City that he couldn't see nearly as many stars. It stretched beyond his own sight, and he suddenly felt very small. It was an odd feeling, being the bigger person usually. All the tension and anger he had been holding onto the last few days dissipated and a calm took over him.
He smiled, thinking back to the beginning of that night. Chasing her around the park near her house, he wasn't expecting that. He remembered the smile from when she had saved that pregnant woman. The light in her eyes when she had treated Valentina during the code grey. He remembered the infant that needed the heart transplant, her victory diagnosing that, and intent look she had when stitching up him and his friends. Her scent, which was usually composed of lavender with a small hint of vanilla. The genuine happy look she bore whenever she looked at him. How easy it was to embarrass her. He remembered their first kiss, in the middle of a storm. A time that he assured her the past wasn't going to be an issue. He let out another sigh, his heart heavy. Now that his head was clear, he realized how much he truly missed her.
He was being a little insensitive. The thought of someone coming into his house and forcing him to leave made him mad. He couldn't imagine having to leave and never go back. He couldn't imagine growing up knowing that your home was gone, and that you were never going to see it again. Especially when you had no family to help you remember what that was like. She had never talked about it and he never pushed her. It probably wasn't easy, having never been able to depend on anyone before. He moved one of his hands, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his phone. He kept the other arm underneath his head as he put the phone to his ear. The call connected, beginning to ring. On the third one she still hadn't answered. What time was it even? Would she answer at all? Was she working? What was he even doing? What would he say to her? He'd never been so unsure of himself before. The corners of his mouth tugged into a small smile. He really did like her. He was about to give up when the ringing stopped. He heard movement on the other end and then long exhale of breath into the microphone.
"Hello?" came the tired response of Athenacia.
"Hey Doc," replied Gladiolus, though it was uncertain and not his usual enthusiastic greeting.
"Gladio?" her voice made her sound completely exhausted. He felt a little guilty for waking her up, "What are..." she struggled for words, "Is everything okay?" her voice perked up instantly, slithering with worry.
"Yeah, everyone is fine..." he said instantly, not wanting to alarm her.
She breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay," her voice went back to being tired, though a little more awake than before.
There was a long pause. Gladiolus hesitated, not really sure how he was supposed to begin this conversation. He didn't even expect her to answer, completely unsure of where the two of them stood. He couldn't even go see her, being all the way in Galdin Quay while she was still in Insomnia.
"Gladio-"
"You were right," he blurted, cutting off whatever she was going to say.
"I was right?"
"Yeah... Everything just feels, small and insignificant... when you look up at the stars."
He felt anxiety in his stomach as he waited for her response. He took the phone from his ear just for a second to see that the call was still connected. The tension was so thick between then, he wasn't even sure anything would change by the end of this.
"Did you see any constellations?"
"I wouldn't know any."
"Ignis robbed me of one of my books, you could probably find something in there."
"I might look tomorrow."
Another long pause. He never had to second guess himself about these things, and it was eating him inside.
"How far did you guys get?" she asked, her voice still riddled with sleep in it.
"Gladin Quay. But there's no ferries running, so we can't set out yet. Camping just outside of it."
"No ferries? That's odd."
"Cease fire has them all docked in Altissia. One of the locals might help us out though."
"Be careful, the world outside of Insomnia is a much different place."
"You don't gotta worry about me, Doc."
She let out a small laugh, and it made him feel a little better. They were back to that awkward silence. Neither of them knew what to say to each other, after stewing on their own anger for as long as they did.
"You at work?" he asked.
"No I got home a little bit ago. Haven't been here in a while."
He grunted, wishing he could make some inappropriate joke. But he didn't want to chase her off, he was still unsure of himself with her responses.
"Listen, Doc..."
"Yeah?"
"Maybe..." he sighed, trying to form the words, "Maybe when I get back, we can come back to Galdin, you know just us. Then we can stop by Galahd, I've never been. Noct's not going to need me right away as a newlywed. We could... if you want to..."
He closed his eyes tightly, wishing he had done that better. He wasn't even sure why he suggested it, not like there was much he could do. But he had absolutely no idea what to say to her, and the constant doubt of himself only made things worse as he tried to focus. This wasn't the same as fighting and enemy, there was nothing physical to this. And as the silence on her end persisted the more nervous he felt. Until she finally answered him.
"I'd like that," she replied, coherent for the first time since they had started talking.
Gladiolus smiled, a warm feeling spreading through his body. That cut the tension between them completely. He began to tell her about their journey so far, about the car breaking down, the hunts they had taken on. Of Cid and Cindy in Hammerhead and the trip towards Gladin Quay. Of their search for hunter tags and the battles they had faced. And finally he landed on current events, purposely leaving out their encounter with the strange man that gave them a coin. He didn't want to worry her, or turn the mood south after reestablishing their communication.
They talked well into the night, laughing and purely enjoying the sound of the others voice. Everything went back to feeling normal between them, as if they hadn't been fighting. And that was what they both wanted, especially while they were apart from each other. Because he helped her break out of her shell and join the real world, and she grounded him, reminding him that he wasn't some sort of godsent. They complimented each other in a way that neither noticed until that compliment had disappeared. But now that it was back, all felt well within their world again.
"You make it to your bed this time?" he grinned.
"I did actually," she replied, all the sleep from her voice gone.
"Shocking."
"My couch is pretty comfy though."
"I like your bed better."
"It is quite nice."
"Be better if I was in it."
"Gladio!" she laughed.
His grin widened, as he imagined her face turning that usual beet red, "Don't deny it, Doc."
She giggled again, "I am a little chilly," she conceded.
He chuckled at her, noticing that the stars were starting to disappear from his vision, "Listen Doc, I gotta run, Iggy's going to wake up any minute."
"Yeah, I gotta head to work."
"I'll... talk to you later?"
"For sure."
He grinned again, "'Night Doc."
"Good morning, Gladio."
He kept the smile plastered on his face as he pulled his phone from his ear. He was about to hang up when she had pushed the button on her end. He closed his eyes, suddenly realizing how tired he was. He let his phone sit screen down on his chest as the sun began to peek its way over the horizon. It wasn't long after that he heard the tent open up, Ignis stepping out right on cue. Gladiolus didn't look at him. His eyes were still closed as he began to doze, hopefully getting a bit of sleep. Otherwise it was going to be a long day, but a good one at least.
...
i still hate this. but when i wrote it i had a different idea for Athenacia. was part of the beginning before she became who I wrote her to be. those chapter of course will eventually make their way here. thanks for reading!