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

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?

At least this are two things that she can answer easily, even under the current circumstances that have made her a bit muted compared to the usual.

"You wouldn't lie." That's easy enough to answer since she firmly believes in it. She can't recall a time where Gladio has lied to her, and she can't imagine him doing it in the future. He's much too earnest for that. And she trusts him. And then there's that second matter.. That also doesn't require a whole lot of thought. "And.. it's fine if you'd do that.."

Would she get kind of embarrassed? Probably! It'd depend on who she would be talking to at that moment. But Gladio hugs are nice to get no matter when, and if drive-by hugs would make Gladio happy too, then that's all the more incentive to find no fault with them.

"You know I never mind hugging you. Um.. unless you'd think the other person would find it too weird..?"

It reassured him to know that Madoka didn't believe he would lie. Sometimes he may omit a detail or two, but he would always be honest with Madoka as best he could. Most people treated her like she was five years old, but Gladio saw her as a competent young lady. It was proven even now, with the way she was trying so hard to be strong even though there was worry and fear in her eyes.

"Depends on the other person." Gladio grinned. "Maybe I'd give them one too so they didn't think it was so weird?"

.. At least that idea seems amusing enough to her for Madoka to crack a very tiny smile. The idea of Gladio going around like some sort of hug machine is just cute, okay.. and it'd be good for the train and she knows it. She already feels a bit better right now after getting a hug from him, surely anyone's day would be brightened by it.

"If it would be dad, you definitely have to give him a hug too." It's hard to tell if she genuinely thinks Tony could use the hug or would just be amused at his potential reaction.. Knowing Madoka it's mostly the former, but there might just be a smidge of the latter mixed in. "Or he might get jealous."

Gladio just grinned. "But I've already given him one before you came over. You mean I have to give him another?" He asked with a thoughtful look toward where Tony stood across the room, his back to them, completely unaware of their conversation. "Wouldn't want him to be jealous of our amazing huggings... Guess I'd have no choice, huh?"

She stares for a moment. Madoka isn't the type to order others around, but.. well, if Gladio is offering...

.. then she can slowly nod.

"Yes." After all, surely Tony could use another hug. It's a tough time for all of them, and it must be doubly tough for him since Madoka knows he's the type to take all responsibility of figuring this mess out upon himself. "You should definitely give him another hug, mister Gladio. After all, your hugs are the best kind."

"Now?" He asked, looking away from Tony and back to Madoka. When he pushed himself to his feet he was grinning widely.

"We could tag-team him? You get him from one side and I get him from the other?" And wouldn't that raise a few questions? Though he could also just grab him and hug him so tight he'd lift him off of his feet and give people something even better to talk about. And maybe annoy Tony some. Because that was always amusing to do.

"Oh.. That's an idea! Do you think he'd like that, mister Gladio?"

Of course that's what Madoka is innocently asking. Because she's totally oblivious to the fact that it might annoy Tony more than he'd like it.. Although even Tony might start to lean towards the latter if Madoka is involved, huh, so maybe her way of thinking isn't too oblivious after all.

"I can't reach very high, but I'll try my best..!"

"I bet he'd love it." Gladio chuckled and held his hand out to Madoka.

"How about I pick you up? You can latch on and I'll get the other side?" Seemed like a good idea to him. And he was sure that Tony would love being the middle of a cuddle sandwich. Surely that would cheer him up? Gladio knew it would cheer him up!

Honestly, how could that not cheer up Tony? It'd cheer up Madoka too, because.. even as she's just thinking about it now, the idea of it seems really amusing. They'd be like some kind of cuddle robot! A big hug machine! The train better watch out!

So Madoka actually thinly smiles and nods, moving to grab onto that hand.

"Okay. You can lift me up. I know you won't drop me, mister Gladio."

Now there was no way he could ever drop her, not with those trusting words ringing in his ears.

So he smiled and with his hand in hers, he lifted her up and into his arms, and sat her upon the forearm of his right arm. "You ready?"

This was going to be fun. Armed with Madoka, Gladio headed Tony's way. The poor guy suspected nothing at all. This was either going to get him a punch or it would go down in memory as the best Surprise Hug that ever happened.

"Higher. High- yes, right there," Tony said, instructing someone on where to hang on of the clothes lines to make the blanket fort bigger. He stepped back from the group he'd been working with and saw what it looked like from a few feet back.

Nodding his approval, he noticed someone coming up to him. Slowly he turned to see who it was...

At least to Madoka there doesn't seem to be much doubt. Clearly it's just going to be the best hug, right? Gladio wouldn't suggest anything bad to her, she knows, and surely Tony can use it in such a high-stress situation..

So when she's close enough and Tony turns, Madoka lets out a giggle from where she's sitting on Gladio's arm before reaching out to latch onto Tony.

"Dad! It's a surprise hug!"

No, Gladio would never, ever suggest anything bad for her. Because he knew that Tony wasn't the only one who needed hugs. Even if Madoka had gotten some earlier from her dad, it never hurt to have extra in your pocket for later.

When they got closer, he let Madoka make the first move, grabbing for Tony. He was laughing as he wrapped his own arm, the one not holding onto Madoka, and gave the guy a hug as well. "Better than that, it's a group hug. Spur of the moment, so you just get us two. Next time it'll be a bigger group." He promised, laughter in his voice.

Tony let out a surprised yelp and quickly moved his hands so he could help hold Madoka- it was reflex not that he didn't trust Gladio! Of course, next thing he knew he had both of them hugging him.

"Wha-" A surprise hug? It was incredibly cheesy, but Tony found himself smiling anyway. "This is going to be a regular event?" He asked with a laugh. He pulled Madoka a little tighter to him and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Maaaybe."

Madoka says, very slight cheekiness fueled by the fact that she's now having physical contact with both her dad and Gladio - two of her favourite people - and the fact that Tony is smiling at the hug.

"If you could need it. It felt like you could use one right now, dad." With everything that's going on, all of them could probably use a hug right about now.

Following that other one... [video]

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