bardische | Open Post

Basch's smile is betrayed by his sad eyes.

"Anniversary of a very hard day, and not enough work to keep my busy. Not my best stratagem."

He sets a hand on Gladio's wrist. "Company was a better call."

Ah. Well, he knows how to handle that.

"Finish your drink. We're going for a walk."

There's something immensely comforting about someone he trusts telling him what to do. He regrets drinking first, but he doesn't regret finally reaching out to Gladio.

"Alright," he agrees, and it's not long before he's finished and paid the tab.

Gladio downs his own beer, or half of it at least, until Basch finishes up his tab. Then he offers an arm.

"Come on. Let's distract you."

The offer of an arm isn't something he expects, or is entirely familiar with. He stares a moment too long, eyes tracing from the arm to Gladio's face and back.

Then he shakes his head slightly and loops his arm through. He feels a little ridiculous. But, he always does when someone is seeing to him rather than the other way around.

"I am already quite distracted. Thank you."

"Yeah, the drinking does that a person," Gladio agrees. 'swhy I don't do it.

"The drinking hadn't really done it," Basch corrects, very lightly squeezing Gladio's arm. "That's why I don't usually do it."

The amount he's fixated on Gladio knowing he isn't usually like this probably IS the drink though.

"It never does. That's why you have to consider taking care of yourself before you get here," he notes as he guides them outside.

It's not the first time he's been lectured by someone who cares.

It isn't that simple, of course, but he smiles anyway. "Guess I'm out of practice."

"Best way to fix that is to practice."

Because it can be that simple, once in a while.

"And what do you suggest?" Because Gladio clearly had ideas. And listening was easier than arguing.

"A nice walk," he says with a smile. "It's going well so far."

He smiles in return. "That it is." And already doing a lot more for his mood than any of his self-medicating attempts. "I fear I don't always have the option for company, though."

"I'd say you always have the option for me, but we both know we take our duties seriously," he says with a shrug.

"I like that about you," Basch says, tongue loosened with drink. He flushes, but he doesn't make to take it back.

Really? Gladio smiles at that. How interesting to see the man being so forward.

"I'm glad that you enjoy that about me.

Hoe could he not? It went both ways; Gladio understood his own commitment to duty, and he respected someone with that kind of conviction and purpose.

"I'm glad you're here."

"And you're hoping to get to enjoy still more about me?"

And he smiles like he really appreciates that potential.

Basch flushes, but his arm is through this man's; what is he so afraid of?

"Yes," he says, glancing at Gladio. He's rewarded with an encouraging smile, and, gods, are those butterflies in his stomach? "I feel a fool for fretting over it for so long and not simply telling you. This was not the reaction I expected."

"Fear of rejection is pretty much a constant in most people," Gladio says with a shrug. "Makes you nervous, makes it harder to decide on things, or commit if someone can say no. I get it too."

"You are being very kind," Basch says, and he means it. It's easing the knot in his stomach. "I suppose I've never been much good at people."

"It's a skill. You can learn it."

Anyone can learn it. Gladio'd had no choice but to learn it.

"You don't believe in the old dog new trick wisdom?" he asks, but he's smiling gently. He's learned a lot this past year or so. Perhaps Gladio is right. He'd never thought he could do something like this, and yet, here they were.

"We're not dogs," Gladio points out. Of course they can learn new things. They're people.

That gets a rumble of a laugh out of him. "You have a point."

It's so easy to talk to Gladio. Basch doesn't feel like he ends up in some strange place without knowing how he got there.

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ziedrich_bearer - 2023-09-06 18:34 (UTC) - Expand