voidtreckernet | Following that other one... [video]

He hadn't seen the ICP message about hot chocolate. He'd wandered to the kitchen on his own and saw people heading up to the dining areas. Curious, he followed.

What he saw... didn't really surprise him. But made him sad. Had so many really seen the same thing he had? So many kids...

Gladio was glad he'd managed to get rid of the damn ICP before Noct and Prompto had been able to see it. Looking at the haunted expressions around him, he was glad he'd been able to spare them the same.

"Hey, you, tall guy," Tony called, with a slight smirk to his lips. The smile didn't reach his eyes like usual, but he was making an effort. He had one of the clothes lines from the laundry room holding the blankets up but it wasn't quite high enough to work correctly yet. "Don't just stand there, pin this up a little higher for me."

When Gladio got closer, he asked in a lowered tone. "You and your boys okay?"

Gladio looked toward the voice, a half-smile curved his lips and he nodded. Why not?

Walking over, he took the line from Tony's hands and started to reach up to get it pinned.

"... They never saw. Made sure of that." He replied gruffly and with a little grunt as he gave a small jump and pinned the line as high as he could. That should do, right?

He nodded with a relieved sigh. At least someone had missed it. He still wasn't sure what Madoka had seen. However, she was only one of the kids he was concerned about.

When Gladio looked, Tony's calm, cool, collected demeanor was starting to fray at the edges. "Alice saw it. Alice. Have you seen Mady? Or Romeo?" He glanced over and saw Joss and then Misa. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a second to regain his composure. "Are you any good at story telling?"

"Not really." Gladio gave a gentle smile. There was something he was good at though. He reached out, hooked an arm around Tony's neck and tugged him into a one armed hug.

"Relax. It's damage control right now. You don't have to fix everything on your own, just gotta ease the kids fears. Most'll be easy enough. Just got to let them know they're safe. Distract them. Blanket forts and hot chocolate was a good idea." He loosened his arm some, to let Tony pull away.

"I'm here to help where you need me though."

He sighed. He needed Feanor and wished Maglor was still here. That gorgeous man could tell stories and sing like a god.

His thoughts went flying out of his head when he was brought into a hug. He wanted to protest that he didn't need this, but.. it was actually rather nice. It felt like the few times he'd gotten an embrace from Steve.

"Thanks," he finally said, relaxing into it. "I don't approve of how it was done, but I agree with whoever that was to some degree. We were taking too long making a decision."

Gladio moved his arm to around Tony's shoulder and held him against his chest. It was a simple comfort, Tony was able to move away with ease should he want to, or stay and accept what he was giving his friend. Whether he needed it or not, it was there for the taking.

He sighed... and slowly nodded. "Something had to happen. I don't like how it was done. Showing everyone? What was the point in punishing everyone like that? I don't agree with the mental torture that shadow put the guy through. If he'd caught him, he should have brought him to the council. Taking it into his own hands was... a stupid fucking move."

Tony's lip curled. "Glad you're on my side." He stepped back and straightened his shirt. He needed his dignity back after that hug, no matter how pleasant it had been. Those little twerps were lucky to have the big fellow willing to be part of their trio.

"You know we could use someone like you on that council. You've got charisma and you don't take bullshit. Ignis never did figure out the comfortable balance between supporting me and speaking his mind on the council. It was a pity."

He let his arm drop before rising again to cross over his chest with the other, he looked mildly amused by Tony's words.

"Too much of a risk." Gladio's lips twitched into a smirk. "Too tempting to beat people around the head for taking too damn long to make simple decisions." And thus forcing the hand of others.

He chuckled at the joke and shook his head. He hoped Gladio would think about it and reconsider. The train needed good, strong leaders like this one. However, he also didn't want anyone who didn't want to be on the council taking up someone else's spot. In this case, he doubted that would ever be a problem with Gladio.

"Well, always good to talk to you, my friend. I'm going to go and make up a couple stories for the kids. You can come join me if you'd like."

Gladio would go where he was needed. If there was a need for him on the council, he would do his best. But he wasn't going to bend over backwards and kiss anyone's feet for the privilege. Still, it was nice to have Tony's vote of confidence.

"I think I'll leave that to you." Gladio chuckled. "I'll go and take a walk around, check on a few others. Come find me if you need me." He'd be around. And it wasn't as if he could hide, being as big as he was.

Now there's someone who's easy to spot in a crowd. And it's also someone she's rather glad to see at a moment like this. After all, despite not having seen what happened, Madoka still feels pretty uneasy from what she can hear people talking about.

So when she does spot Gladio, she's already making her way through the crowd in the dining carriage to reach him. He seems to be looking in a different direction for the moment (and to be fair, Madoka is just really small next to him), but Madoka is comfortable enough with the man to actually just tug on his arm a little in order to try and get his attention.

"Mister Gladio..?"

He was looking around, checking on just how many people were gathered and gauging reactions, when there was a tug on his sleeve. Gladio looked away and down, to see a familiar head of pink hair.

With a smile he moved to crouch down, bringing himself more to Madoka's eye level.

"Hey, Princess." His tone was gentle. "How're you doing?"

That gentle smile is so much like Gladio, she thinks. But at the same time Madoka can't help but wonder if he isn't bothered by the situation as well.. Surely he has to be, right? Even though Gladio is such a tough guy, it can't be easy for anyone to see someone being killed like that, let alone know it happened on the train..

"I'm, um.." Her voice trails off, like she's either not quite sure of the answer or would rather just not say it. If he might already be feeling bad, should she let him worry about her on top of it all?

Maybe there's a better compromise, and so she shakes her head as if to shake off the question.

"Do you maybe.. want to hug?"

Madoka knows she could use one. His hugs are always so nice. And maybe he can use it too.

He waited for her answer, but the reply he got took him by surprise. So much so he rocks back a little bit and looks down. Did he really seem that out of sorts? Or was Madoka just being Madoka and her sweet, kind self? Whatever the reason was, Gladio knew his answer.

When he looked up again, his eyes were a little brighter, his smile a touch on the sad side, and his arms slowly opened. "... Yanno, I really would." And no, this little girl would not make him cry like a baby. But she could come damn close to it with her kindness.

She doesn't hesitate the moment he opens his arms like that. Madoka throws herself at him the moment she's able to, tightly clinging to him with her own little arms. She did spot the hint of sadness in his smile, after all, and that's all she needs to confirm that this can't be easy on Gladio either. It can't be easy on anyone. No matter how tough you are, some things are just sad and painful to anyone. (And besides, no matter how tough Gladio is, Madoka has always thought his heart seemed very warm. It'd make it more easy to get affected by this, right?)

At first she doesn't say anything, just chosing to lean against him and try to gain some comfort from the hug. Which she does. It's hard to feel unsafe when near Gladio of all people, and some security is definitely something she can use in this situation of all things. But just the warmth of having another person near is some nice comfort.

It's only after a few moments pass that she speaks up - softly, like it's only meant for the two of them. "Actually.. I'm a little scared," she admits.

Madoka flew into his arms and Gladio was there to catch her up, arms wrapping tight around her small frame. He went from a couch to kneeling and sitting back on his heels, just holding her as tight as he dared. She wasn't wrong in the slightest... He was physically strong, that was never in question. But he wasn't dead inside. He had thoughts and he had feelings, and what he had seen... it had hurt to watch. Anger had been his first instinct. Anger that it had happened at all. Once that had simmered down some it was just sadness...

Sadness at how many people this had hurt. Sadness for the girl who he had seen being murdered. Hell, even the bastard who had done it hadn't deserved to be tortured. That wasn't justice. That had been cruelty plain and simple. And then there was sadness at the understanding that life on the train would not be the same again.

He gave a quiet sigh and lowered his head to lean it against Madoka's gently, her words bringing another sad smile. "Me too." He admitted to her just as quietly. "It's a good thing to be scared, Madoka. Only an idiot wouldn't be scared when something like this happens. But what you have to remember..." He pulled back a little so he could look at her, his smile widening a little. "... is that we're here to protect you. You're safe."

"I know..."

There are so many people here on the train who would help her. Who would keep her safe. Madoka knows that. Honestly, Gladio is already helping her a little by just saying he's scared.. It makes it feel a little less bad that she's scared if even someone as great and strong as Gladio is feeling the same right now, so she gives him a very, very thin grateful smile.

"B-But.. I'm not just scared for myself." That wouldn't be very Madoka-like at all, after all. Sure, she is scared for her own safety out of sheer instinct, but the worries that come to the forefront of her mind the most are-- "I know you're really strong, mister Gladio.. And so is dad. And even uncle Prompto, and everyone else.. But we don't know how strong that person is, right..? What if he hurts one of you..?"

That thought is so much worse to Madoka than herself getting hurt, honestly. The whole thing already sounds bad enough when it's about people she didn't even know here on the train. If someone she knew had been involved...

"Let them try." Gladio couldn't help the slight growl in his voice. He was angry with the person who had caused this sweet girl to be afraid. Who had scared all these kids. Hell, even the adults. They had a hell of a lot to answer for.

"They can't hurt us, kiddo. We haven't committed any crimes. That's what they punished that guy for." Gladio didn't say he had no idea what constituted a 'crime' to this shadow man. He'd killed before, not as much as some, and he didn't know how much magitek troops would be considered 'people'. Prompto would be fine. Tony less so... There were dozens of people who had done worse than either of them. So how did it determine who was worse than who?

"They'll be found and stopped. Don't worry about that, Madoka." Gladio smiled for her. "We won't let them hurt anyone else."

She can't help but hesitate for a moment when he says they haven't committed any crimes. Mostly since it makes Madoka think of when Tony told her that he had done some bad things back when he asked if he could be her father here. And sure, she knows that it's not like her dad would do anything bad on purpose, but what if the person who did all of this didn't know that and just assumed? She can't lose two parents in a row. It'd be too much.

It's hard not to worry under those circumstances. Though she really, really wants to believe what Gladio is saying. He's reliable, after all. He wouldn't lie to her.

"Can you promise that..?"

"I promise." Gladio said firmly, gaze steady, willing Madoka to believe him.

It was only a small train, they would find who had done this and put a stop to them. No one else had to be hurt today. As awful as this thing had been, it had managed to bring the train together to unanimously shout 'No. Enough.' Maybe now they would work together easier? Dragging their feet as they had, it was only a matter of time before someone took the matter into their own hands. Gladio just wished it hadn't been in such a public way...

"They won't hurt anyone again, Princess. I promise."

She stares back at him as he says it.

".. Okay." It would be hard to not believe that. Gladio manages to say it in such a way that he just sounds so sure. Like it's an absolute fact that that person won't hurt anyone again. "Thank you for promising.."

Right after she says that, she leans a little more into the hug again so she can just bury himself against him for a moment more. It feels too nice and secure to give up on so quickly. Like this, in Gladio's arms, things really do feel like they'll be alright again, no matter how messed up they are at the moment.

"I, um.. you don't have to worry too much about me though, mister Gladio." She softly speaks up while still leaning against him. "It's not the first time scary things have happened near me.. I--I'll be fine after a bit."

No, they wouldn't hurt anyone again. And if they made a liar of him, he would ensure they would never hurt another living soul again. But Madoka didn't need to know that. She needed reassurance not more things to worry about.

His arms wrapped about her more securely then, one, large hand lifted to cup the back of her head and he smiled a gentle smile down at her. "Course I'm gonna worry about you." He answered with a deep, rumbling chuckle. "I worry about everyone I care about. Wouldn't be me if I didn't." Gladio gave her a gentle squeeze then. "Shouldn't have to see scary things though. But I know you're tough. I know you're strong. But maybe I'm the one that needs a hug more?"

"You're right.. That is very much like you."

He is super caring, after all. Madoka thinks that much about Gladio should be really, really obvious to all the people around him. And with care does come worry.. If her own experience is anything to go by, anyway. And since Gladio is much more capable of actually protecting people than she is, it just must add to his worries.

But even when he's worried, he can still apparently smile like that. It's so nice.

It makes Madoka smile back at him, but only slightly. She isn't happy enough for a wide smile or anything, but despite how tiny - and kind of sad at the edges - her smile is, it's not fake.

"Did you really need a hug though..?" She kind of thought he might just have been humoring her! "I.. In that case, um.. if you ever need a hug, you can always ask me, okay..? You don't have to wait for me to ask first..!"

"Would I lie to you?" He asked quietly. He wished he knew what to do to bring that happy light back to her, but he knew that was asking far too much after what had happened. No one could be fine so soon after. Not even him. So yes... Yes he did need a hug.

He laughed and pulled her into a tight, squeezing hug. "Shouldn't make offers like that, Madoka! You'll be minding your own business, maybe talking to someone else, and I'll just come by and scoop you up for a hug." Drive-by hugs? Why not?

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