(no subject)

[fieryknowledge]

It'd been some time since Ignis had come into his own as a were. The transition hadn't been easy but once he'd adjusted, things just seemed to fall into place. He'd grown content in the knowledge that his life was as it should be. In time, Noctis had come into his own as leader of their pack and had taken his place when Regis deemed him ready and as they'd always been, Gladio and Ignis stood by him as advisors, protectors, friends, and family. Assisting his liege in the daily chore of running the pack was something else Ignis had grown used to, but there were times that it wasn't easy. Weres were a passionate bunch and tempers could flare easily, which meant that calmer heads would have to step in. Add on dealing with outside influences and dealing with other packs and it could drive the usually calm Ignis into a temper of his own.

Thankfully, Gladio was always there to snap him out of it.

Of course, Ignis was still Ignis despite no longer being human. He still worked himself ragged most of the time, only allowing real time off when he or his mate needed some distance while working with their heats. At least those usually ended up lining up pretty closely, or else neither of them would get anything done. Usually, Ignis wouldn't spare a thought to feeling hot or worn down if he hadn't just gone through his most recent heat, but that had ended over a week earlier. There should be no reason that he was so warm... or testy.

Right?

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[sworn_shield]

As Noctis' Shield, Gladios had been training from birth for him the other to take over the pack. Like his father before him, who had also retired when King Regis did, Gladiolus made Ignis' life so much easier by shouldering the burden of the more temperamental parts of the job. The challenges to Noctis' young authority, training the newly turned young were's in the basics of their new forms, he took that on with ease and pride to follow in his father's footsteps.

Of course, Regis and Clarus had never had a Ignis' equivalent to help balance their power duo into a triad, and so even while the work was a lot, split between the three of them it eased the running of the Lucis pack by a lot, especially with how United they stood. Gladio and Ignis' will always side with Noctis, and as two of them were already mates, even before Ignis' had come into his werewolf lineage, the two gatekeepers to Noctis had a powerful deep bond.

It's that bond that makes him realize Ignis' is slipping his mask on at home- the one he uses to get through tough work days when he's worn down but can't show it. Gladio isn't too happy about that, and his initial prying into the subject and concerns had fallen to the wayside so Ignis' could finish his job dealing with another pack.

But. But. Letting his mate work while sick made him feel like an inattentive Alpha, and there is only so much of that Gladio can handle. Which is why one early morning when Ignis' is trying to extract himself from Gladio's heavy arm around his waist, to get up and dressed and all of that to our on his metaphorical battle armor for the day, Gladio shifted closer along the man's back and nuzzled into the back of his neck, feeling the burning hear of his body and faint wiff of sickness on the other to decide enough was enough.

"No."

He doesn't growl, or demand or exert his influence on the other- Gladio simply says no to Ignis' getting up, to working himself into a sicker state, and he means it.

"The Altissians are gone, we're gonna stay home today."

[fieryknowledge]

"It'll be Tenebrae in two weeks."

As usual, Ignis was stubborn to a fault. In many ways, it was a strength, but in many, it was a glaring problem. It allowed him to push through anything, but often at cost to himself. It'd been that way with him for as long as anyone could remember. When they were younger and Ignis hadn't fully bound himself to Gladio, it'd often fallen to Noctis to bully his advisor into behaving when things like illness arose, but those moments had been few and far between.

As he'd grown older, he'd only grown more stubborn. Some claimed that people took on traits from their bonded mates and if that was the case, then Ignis had stubborn to spare.

"I don't have time to stay home and play with you. I have agendas to work on and dinners to plan, plus coming up with preps for Noct on the best way to remain diplomatic with Ravus and the Oracle."

It really wouldn't be that hard. Luna was an old friend of their liege and Ravus was... well. Ravus.

[sworn_shield]

"You've been sick these last couple days, babe. Any more and you're gonna collapse."

Gladio knows him well enough to know it can, and has happened. Before he came into his were linkage it may have happened sooner, possibly in the middle of all the important things he was doing last week, so Gladio has to put his foot down now.

He leans in and nuzzles the back of the man's neck, mouth opening up to let his teeth touch skin in a soft little bite, nowhere near close enough to leave a mark. Hes a hunter, so as always Gladio goes in for the kill. "You smell sick and you're running a fever- what if you give it to Noctis?"

Or worse, King Regis. The man retired because of his frail health after all, but he was still a public face outside of the pack. Gladio won't say that of course, but he knows his mate will draw that conclusion all on his own.

"I just want what's best for you, Iggy."

[fieryknowledge]

Of course he knew that silent implication of Gladio's and he didn't like it one bit. Sure, before he'd first shifted, it'd happened a few times and even then, he would grump and huff and fuss about being 'confined' but that was then. Now, he had a good deal more stamina and his were side kept him very healthy. It wasn't exactly rare for a were to catch something, but it had been a lot easier as a human.

The low rumble was a hint of Ignis' temper rising. He wasn't prone to outright growling unless someone really pushed him, but it was a clear sign that he wasn't feeling quite right. Another telling sign was that he didn't react to the feel of teeth at the back of his neck, however subtle.

"That isn't fair and you know it."

[sworn_shield]

"You're an important man Iggy, you've gotta be around important people."

He sighs at that rumble and nuzzles into the man's neck instead, planting a kiss on the mark he had left on the other almost a year ago now.

"Work from home today babe, maybe tomorrow. You won't have to dress up to impress anybody, you can have all the coffee and tea you like on hand, and itllt make me feel better to know you're resting. By then you should be right as rain."

[fieryknowledge]

Even now, temper shifting his mood to something less than pleased, he couldn't help but sigh and tip his head the slightest bit at the soft kiss to the bond mark scarring his neck. As usual, it sent a slow thrill under his skin, making his hackles settle as he felt his ire slowly waning.

"You're not going to let me get away with going to work, are you?"

[sworn_shield]

Seeing how that was working instead, Gladio snuggles deeper against his mate's back, Ignis' back to his chest and that arm around the man's waist holding firm. The other one slips from underneath Ignis' pillow down to find one of his hands, threading his fingers through it. It's the nastiest trick in the gladio playbook, and if it doesn't work nothing will.

"Nope. There's no crisis, so health first, work later."

And then he proceeds to sigh against the back of the man's neck, settling down contently for what would be the normal 30 extra minutes before his alarm would go off. Yep, Ignis' mate had already made up his mind about this.

[fieryknowledge]

That was playing really dirty.

Another low rumble curled in Ignis' chest even as he tightened his fingers on Gladio's. It was true, that he didn't feel well, but he really did have things to do even if he had what could be the world's most stubborn were working to keep him from getting anything accomplished.

Maybe...

Huffing a soft hum in the back of his throat (and if Gladio called it a purr, then Ignis might have to hurt him), he pulled their joined hands to his lips only to press a soft, sweet kiss to the ridge of Gladio's fingers.

If he couldn't just bully his way out of Gladio's arms, then he'd have to see if he could ease him back to sleep. If he could, then maybe he could get something productive done before his mate caught on.

[sworn_shield]

The gentle kiss was nice, and Gladio more than happily just pulled his hand closer to Ignis' body. Sharing his warmth and large protective presence with him, letting him know without words that he is safe here. His mate will protect him in their home while he is recovering, and gods help anyone who thinks to bother them right now.

Sleepy as he was, Gladio's arm is heavy as always around him, and he continues to briefly wake up in small little Increments if Ignis tries to pull away. After about the third time he shifts and tosses a leg over the man's hip too, going from the big spoon to a clingy backpack of over two hundred pounds of boyfriend.

Yeah good luck getting out of this, Ignis.

[fieryknowledge]

The intellect, cognitive side of Ignis knew he was safe but the instinctive side of him, the deep seated were was always soothed with his mate nearby, warm and close and attentive. There were moments when those two sides were at odds in Ignis and now was one of those. He had things that needed doing and he knew it. He had a plan to try and unwind himself from his mate's arms.

He also felt his eyelids growing heavy with the heavy presence of his mate tucked in close behind him. Sleep tugged at the edges of his consciousness even as his rational brain kept trying to work out a way get accomplish what it wanted to do.

In the end, he dozed back off while trying to plot his way out of Gladio's grasp, body curling in a bit on itself as he slipped into a deeper sleep.

[sworn_shield]

It's nice, and they both sleep in until Gladio wakes up refreshed again, knowing this would happen and not have bothering to set his alarm last night. Ignis' would fuss about it being 9 in the morning if he wasn't sick, but Gladio doesn't intend to give him the chance to. With a happy sigh he bundles their warm comforter over his mate and slips out to make them a simple breakfast, making a few phone calls as well to let people know not to expect them that day.

Anybody who really needed to know had already seen how worn down Ignis' was, so it isn't an unexpected call. Most just wish him well and Noct tells him to make sure his mate stays home until he's completely better- also another well know trick of his stubborn lover that's gotten him to the breaking point before.

[fieryknowledge]

Ignis remained asleep for another hour, which was a sure sign that he was under the weather. His usual habits had him up at an indecent hour, well before the sun and it wasn't unusual for him to be neck deep in work even before their beloved liege showed up.

Instead of hauling himself out of bed, he let himself roll over, absently scrabbling for his phone to check the time.

".... how late is it?"

[sworn_shield]

Gladio comes in not but a moment after with a thermos of coffee, a light breakfast and ready to just relax with the other. If need be he'll go in to work later, but for now his most important job is taking care of Ignis.

"I was good babe, it's not too late. I already gave everyone a call, so they aren't waiting on us."

He moves to sit the breakfast tray down in front of the other, and leans over to catch a brief kiss against his cheek.

[fieryknowledge]

There was a soft huff from Ignis even as he allowed the quick kiss to happen, but that was it. Once that little tidbit of affection was done, he was shifting over, clearly intent on getting up and out of bed.

"There was no need. I wasn't planning on staying all day. I just needed a bit more rest and I got it, which means I really should get dressed and start my day, no matter how late it is."

[sworn_shield]

"You're still running a fever, babe- Get up if you gotta, but we're staying home. I got breakfast already ready and your laptop charging."

Gladio can't win every battle of course, but he has a feeling with the state the other is in he might be worn out pretty quickly. The trick would just be to keep him in the apartment until he admitted it, and that Gladio had already planned out.

He'll try not to hover for the next thirty minutes, but he's close by in case Ignis' does stumble.

[fieryknowledge]

There was a faint wrinkle of irritation on Ignis' face, but he kept quiet about it. In truth, he knew Gladio was doing his best to help and if the tables were turned, he'd be doing the same to try and shoulder the weight of their duties to allow his mate the chance to rest and recover. He couldn't fault his love for caring, after all. That was what good partners did.

Still, he grumbled under his breath but the lack of open argument was Ignis' way of acquiescing with grace. If anyone would know it for what it was, it would be Gladio. A moment later and he was back upright, glancing over to his mate with wry affection in his gaze.

"I suppose I have little choice but to work from home today. I had meetings to handle, but I could reschedule and work on the proposals I had in the works."