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[It hadn't been his intent to ask for an elaborate explanation through his shocked reaction, but it seems he'd gotten it anyway. That's... a lot, and midway through Noctis looks away from him, shifting to rest his hands together in his lap. By the time Tony finishes Umbra has returned to him, sensing the mood and abandoning the stick to rest his head on Noct's knee. Idly, he brushes a hand through the pup's dark fur, keeping his eyes averted.]

What you said to me... was that from him?

[He can't think of another explanation. They've shared all of what, two conversations? One that was mostly about the VR stuff and the other Gladio's party. None of what he'd been accused of had really come up. And if he's that protective of Gladio then it makes sense that any private griping Gladio might have done would form those opinions of his friends, right?]

[He tries, but he can't always find the off switch once he starts talking. He was trying to do better, but he was who he was.]

No, not really. When I first got here I asked what you all had done to help him cope. It sounded like he just wanted space. I think that's changing now. He's ready for more and I was hoping that doing something for his birthday would be a good way to help.

[He paused to think for a moment, before adding to it.]

It had a lot do with my conversation with Ignis when I first got here. It didn't go so well and we found out later part of the reason was he had one of those imprints on him.

He did want space. He told me that. And we're not really... we don't talk about that stuff. Never did, anyway.

[Just as Gladio had said, heart to hearts were unusual for them. And Noct himself isn't exactly chomping at the bit to share his story, especially when in most instances beyond this place Gladio might have called it whining. A few months of this new Gladio doesn't erase 12 years of ingrained habit.]

Ignis is allowed to think what he wants. Of Gladio, of us, whatever. He's earned that. [They'd have been screwed so many times without him. He can't begrudge how Ignis might have felt, when he'd shared some of those same feelings at the time- and anyway, Gladio's apologized. Apologies don't erase the past, but they help, and they're working on things.] What he said shouldn't have anything to do with me.

[He listened and quietly nodded along with what was being said till the end. He sighed.]

You're right. I'm sorry for that too. It's.. it's a little easier to blame you than blame him though. I realize that's not fair, but I didn't realize I was doing that till now.

That's not just unfair, it's garbage.

[He's not altogether unused to being judged for his associations; a king can be criticized for the behaviour of one's guards, after all, and he'd (through his father) gotten flak from the council for what he did and who with plenty of times. But it's weird to imagine Ignis of all people making him look bad to someone else. He doesn't have a high enough opinion of Tony to believe for a second that it was a justified response, even if Noct was meant to take responsibility for it. Which... he is not. Or trying not to, anyway.]

[Be kind, Pyra had said. Tony took a deep breath and mentally booted all the snide remarks he really wanted to say to that aside.]

There's more going on here than you know. I'm trying not to 'overshare' at you again.

[Yes, this was Tony trying to not talk a lot. Scary, isn't it?]

It's very complicated, so from my point-of-view I'm sticking with the unfair label. Either way though, I'm agreeing it was wrong and I'm taking ownership of that mistake.

[Noctis exhales a breath through his nose but doesn't object further. It's just semantics at this point, so fine, whatever. Unfair, if he wants it to sound a little better that he shoved his problem with Ignis onto him, when all he's done is give Gladio what he asked for and make a request to start from the beginning instead of whatever halfway point might otherwise be expected of him, without getting into why the nickname, privately, gave him a helplessly visceral response.

Finally he shrugs his shoulders.]

Okay, fine. Apology accepted. And for the record, I don't hate the 'train versions'. I don't know anything about them, and I don't really want to. I just wanted to make it clear that's not me.

[Tony thought about that for a moment before turning a little so he could see Noctis better.]

What if we gave the 'train versions' nicknames? I realize you don't like nicknames and you're right, you aren't them. However, by not wanting to know anything about them you're saying, in a way, to Gladio that you don't want to know about his life on the train. From my opinion only, which you can obviously tell me to go choke on. So why not just remove the part that's causing the problem and that's this doppleganger effect? Would that help?

That's not what I'm saying...

[Noctis grimaces. Ugh, how does he even explain it.]

I don't want to know, as in I'm not gonna start asking for details. But if there's stuff Gladio wants or needs to talk about, I'll listen. I'm not a little kid, I don't need nicknames and stuff. Even if you used them I'd still know who it is- that won't make it less weird.

[He doesn't touch the "don't like nicknames" comment. He has no coherent way to get into that right now.]

[Tony frowned and studied Noct's face as if somewhere there'd be a clue to make that statement make sense. He kept his voice as nonjudgmental as possible.]

I wasn't trying to imply you were a little kid.. but, why wouldn't you want to know? I don't understand.

[He's quiet for a moment, debating how to answer. He doesn't like the idea of opening up too much to someone he barely knows, but there's not really a super-logical response besides the weirdness factor, which he's already offered but wasn't accepted as enough.]

I've already got enough to measure up against, [he opts for, finally.] I don't need to add myself to the list.

[It hadn't felt like a good enough reason to not be as involved with Gladio's recovery as Noctis could've. However, this reason, now that sounded like something real. It was also something he could relate to personally given who his father had been and then being an Avenger, a father, and finally a leader on a train.]

Alright, that's fair. I'll do my best not to bring them up again and I'll focus on learning who you are here.

Would you still be willing to come if I host that small get together for Gladio's birthday? Again, with me taking the blame.

Uh, yeah. [Noctis shifts a little uncomfortably in his seat, relieved to be switching topics, and reaches down to toss the stick for Umbra again. The Messenger happily obliges now that things seem less serious.] Even if you hadn't done this, I'd have gone. Somebody has to save Gladio from whatever disaster you're planning.

[Tony laughed.]

I like your sass, kid. I knew I wouldn't have to worry about that, but thanks for that anyway. Take care of yourself, Noctis.

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