sonoftenebrae | College AU

After last night I'd reconsider calling you a barbarian. [Gladio teases Ravus, his body still feeling the man's iron grip and baring its bruises.] Or are you always so rough with "the ladies"?

[It's only due to his friend's obsession with the stuff that he even has Ebony and Gladio makes a note on the fridge to pick more up as he grabs a can of it and sets it down in front of Ravus.] And there's nothing wrong with breakfast in bed, especially since you looked pretty bad by the end of things. Figured it might be comfier. But it's a good sign that you're up and being as snarky as ever.

[He refuses to let it get to him right now. Either Ravus hasn't had any good one night stands or he really isn't a morning person.

Or both.]

I have both. But I'm not giving you anything until you finish eating. Gotta have at least a little protein in the morning, plus grease is good for hangovers.

[Gladio, a nag? Apparently so.

His friends would ~~laugh~~ be so proud. The man sitting across from him might actually throw the plate at him.

Aren't mornings exciting?]

[Ravus gives Gladio a flat look, which is enhanced by the fact he hasn't had his coffee yet. Their roleplay was great last night, but he's not going to talk about it over breakfast.]

I'm fine. I may have been slightly dehydrated, and that has since been righted.

[He keeps picking at his french toast. He eats red meat on rare occasions, but usually not so early in the morning. He pops the tab on the Ebony and takes a long sip, saying nothing more. If it's a contest to see who is more stubborn, Ravus is confident. He's told Gladio what he wants, and as he is used to doing with his students, he waits.]

If you don't eat meat or whatever that's fine. Just say so and I'll eat your bacon for you. An' the scrambled eggs are just seasoned egg-whites so that's fewer calories if you're one of those calorie-counters.

[He just wants Ravus to take a bite of the eggs before they get too cold to be enjoyable. Does Ravus just not eat breakfast? Or does he not want to eat a breakfast that was made for him?

Whatever it is, Gladio wants Ravus to speak up about it because he's not a mind reader and is not overly fond of playing this kind of guessing game.

Luckily he's used to a bratty kid sister who didn't always want to eat what was on her plate and a grumpy Ravus is totally the same thing...]

Please? [Gladio gives his best pout and puppy eyes.] Just one bite of the eggs and I'll hand over my phone. Scout's honor.

[Ravus' eyes narrow.] What business is it of yours what I eat?

[The breakfast itself is fine, but Ravus didn't ask for it, and he chafes against anyone pushing him to do something he doesn't want to do. Gladio isn't his mother. Ravus can, and will, make his own astrals-damned decisions.

He had been working on the fruit and toast, but he pushes the whole plate Gladio's way.]

I'll take my coffee to go.

[He stands to head back to the bedroom to dress.]

[Shit.

Gladio knew his nervous nagging could be problematic but he doesn't want Ravus to leave because of it. He needs to fix this.

He rises from the table with a self-depreciating sigh, knowing that he needs to apologize and not knowing how to do so without sounding like even more of an ass. Or like more of an idiot. On the way back to his room he picks up his phone from where it charges in his office and he grabs his planner while he's there, figuring Ravus can use whichever he prefers.

Maybe that's the best way to go about this for now. Let Ravus take the lead and don't try to push him into anything, even something as simple as eating a balanced breakfast.]

Ravus, can I come in?

[Not only does Gladio ask if he can enter his own room, he also knocks gently on the doorframe.]

I have what you asked for. And I'd like a chance to apologize...

[Ravus doesn’t answer Gladio right away. The man can come into his own damn bedroom if he chooses. Ravus finishes pulling on his pants and tunic, leaving the borrow sleep pants folded on the bed.

He meets Gladio in the bedroom doorway and takes his phone.]

Shut up for a moment and just listen before I change my mind about this. [His fingers fly across the screen as he speaks, typing information into the phone.]

Hooking up with a student once while I was drunk at a party is not ideal, but ultimately forgivable. There can be no repeating it, however.

[He finishes his typing and shoves the phones Gladio’s apron-covered chest.]

December 15th is the due date for grades this year. Final grades go online at noon. After that time, I will no longer be your TA...provided you don’t sign up for another section of my class.

That evening, I will want to be wined, dined, and summarily fucked into the nearest mattress. If you haven’t done anything idiotic enough to merit me cancelling the calendar notification I just programmed into your phone, you’ll get a notice that day with my phone number in it.

[He looks straight into Gladio’s eyes.]Don’t you dare take a class I’m TAing again, and don’t make me regret this, Amicitia.

[Not wanting to upset Ravus again, Gladio does as instructed and snaps his mouth shut.

He keeps it shut even when he wants to sigh sadly at the thought of not hooking up again. And he keeps it shut when he wants to shout gladly as he deciphers the rest of Ravus' words. His hands clutch his phone as if it currently holds the most precious information in the world, which it pretty much does.

When their eyes lock his breath hitches and it takes him a moment to remember how to speak.]

I won't. [The words are a whispered promise, Gladio's voice hoarse with honesty and hope. He has a chance.]

Make sure you have your best suit ready on December 15th. And try to keep the 16th open too. [He can definitely fuck Ravus into his mattress, but before he'd gotten this new bed he would have been able to fuck Ravus through the bed. He plans to show off his prowess and that means Ravus might be both too sore and too tired to do much of anything the next day.

Gladio leans into Ravus' space as he whispers again.] Since this won't happen once you walk out of here, think I can steal a kiss?

[Their noses already brushing, he lets his lips ghost over Ravus' while waiting for the man to close the remaining micrometer of space between them.]

[Ravus watches the emotions shift on Gladio's face. He has to say, dazed awe of Ravus is a good look on him.]

I suppose I could be persuaded.

[Ravus isn't in the habit of random hookups, last night nonewithstanding, so this will likely need to tide him over until the end of the semester.]

One kiss, then I expect you to be on your best behavior until winter break.

[With a smirk, Gladio presses their lips together in a slow kiss. He moves his mouth sensually, alternating where he places pressure, and only teases at Ravus' lower lip with his tongue, never going any further than the scintillating dance of their lips sliding deliciously together.

He playfully scrapes his teeth against Ravus' lip as he pulls back, eyes glittering with arousal and anticipation.]

I'll see you in class, Ravus. [Gladio winks cheekily.] Don't forget your party favor. [He flicks his eyes towards the panties lying innocently on the nightstand.

After that, he wanders back to the kitchen and dining area and starts cleaning up. He'll wave when Ravus walks past to leave and will pause to handle the alarm system before going about his day with a million thoughts running through his head, most of them about Ravus.

And as much as he wants to send something to him that night he manages to wait almost a week before making his first move in Operation: Fluster Ravus.

Instead of sending him a flirtatious text or a suggestive photo, he decides to go a little bigger. It's an otherwise normal day in class and Gladio is on his absolute best behavior - he hasn't even leveled a heated glance in Ravus' direction once. After finishing the pop-quiz Professor Highwind sprung on them, he walks up to the TA's desk, where the finished quizzes are supposed to go, but accidentally drops both his pen and the exam.

And it just so happens that he needs to bed over to retrieve the items and, since they fell to one side, his ass winds up facing Ravus' desk. But that's no problem right? People bend over to grab things all the time, and Gladio's sure the TA has seen his fair share of clothed undergrad butts. Why should his be any different?

Even though he's wearing one of his shorter shirts, one that rides up all the time, and he forgot his belt this morning so his pants constantly dip lower than they should, there's no way Gladio could have known that as he bends over the lacy top of a pure-white pair of satin panties peaks out of his pants. Directly in front of Ravus.

But maybe he spends a bit longer bent over than necessary, and maybe he wiggles his ass a little bit as he stretches to get the wayward pen. Once he straightens, he smiles casually at the TA and places the quiz on his desk with only the barest hint of a blush and a quick wink.

Any punishment will be worth it, he thinks, to have possibly flustered his TA without giving anything away to anyone else.]

[When Gladio straightens back up, Ravus is glaring daggers at him. This is exactly why he shouldn't have gotten involved with someone taking his class. Distraction.

So much distraction.

He almost whips out his phone and deletes their date then and there.

...except that ass, that damned perfect ass.]

Clumsy. [He declares as Gladio passes him. It's going to be a long month if Gladio keeps this up.]

[Later that night, Gladio reminisces in the shower and decides to have some more fun. Ravus never said anything about photos after all.

So before he completely steps out of the shower, he grabs his phone from the sink's counter-top and snaps a fantastic selfie. Hell, he might post this one on his Instaframe.

The picture captures his body from his slightly curled lips down to the beginnings of his happy trail. Droplets of water bead on tanned skin and the ink of his tattoo draws the eye to his left pec, which only calls the eye to drop further and follow the water trails over his taut abdomen. Of course his 8-pack is perfectly defined, as if all of his training could leave an ounce of fat on him.

Deciding the picture is perfect, Gladio sends it to Ravus with a little message.]

Wishing you were here.

Edited 2019-01-16 05:31 (UTC)

[In his little dorm room, Gladio's flirting garners a different response from Ravus than his earlier flashing in class. Here, after hours, he can let himself respond.

And so he does. He lets himself drink in the sight of Gladio's wet body. Two can play at this game.

The response picture Gladio gets is a of Ravus' torso and the beginning of his waist, stretched out on his bed. The waistline of the red panties is just barely visible.]

I'll be wearing these to class one day. Not telling you which.

[After that response, which Gladio may or may not have transferred to his personal, double-encrypted laptop, he finds himself needing to release a little... tension.

A tension he finds himself suffering from after every following class with the TA. It's a good thing he can multitask because taking notes while trying to catch glimpses of Ravus' ass is no easy feat. Any time the man walks past or stretches up or bends over, Gladio fights the urge to lean forward in his seat.

The thought of Ravus wearing those panties haunts his dreams. And all too soon it's the week before finals and Gladio can no longer afford to stare unabashedly at his TA's ass. But his TA can likely afford to stare at Gladio.

So he begins wearing progressively tighter shirts and one day he shows up in nothing but a hoodie, which he unzips most of the way in the heated classroom.

And every night, without fail, he sends Ravus photos.

His personal favorite is the one he takes the night before his final in Ravus' class. It's a fairly spectacular almost-nude. He's wearing only a jockstrap, and nothing else. The elastic frames his glutes perfectly as he squats, quads and hamstrings straining and calves bulging while his back muscles ripple and glisten - he actually beat his own personal record that day by squatting 800 pounds. Which, of course, he includes in the message he sends that night.]

Making a new personal best just for you. 800 pounds.

[Ravus doesn't respond to the texts after the first night. It's a slippery slope, and he really is trying to uphold his duty as a TA.

On that final night, though, he does send a quick response.]

You should be resting up for tomorrow.

[Gladio doesn't have to know that Ravus is oogling the picture with a mixture of fascination and bafflement. How'd he even get a shot of himself at that angle? Damned magnificent musclebound bastard.]

[It's the morning of the final and Gladio is up early. Ravus' response only makes him smile and he decides to take one final chance.

He makes his way to the classroom with purposeful strides, a surprise tucked away in his bag, and he reviews his various study guides as he sits outside the room as he waits for it to open. Well, more like as he waits for Ravus to show up and unlock the door.

This time other students gather, likely eager to get in some last-minute cramming, so the surprise will have to be given subtly enough that no one else gets suspicious of its true nature.

And when Ravus arrives everyone begins shuffling out of the TA's way while simultaneously heading towards the door, which creates an actual sea of undergrads all hovering on the precipice of invading Ravus' personal space as they all wait to be first into the room. This is where Gladio's bulk comes in handy.

He deftly swoops into the space directly behind Ravus and plants himself firmly where he stands so that no one else can crowd around the TA.]

Figured I should try my hand at bribin' you for a better grade on this final. [There's a laugh in his voice and a smile on his face as he presses a can of Ebony into Ravus' free hand.]

Hope you like Ebony.

[Now the classmates closest to him are mixed parts chuckling and mourning not thinking of something similar. No one was any the wiser that Gladio already knew how Ravus enjoyed Ebony.

And only Ravus, Professor Highwind, and himself knew that he didn't need to bribe anyone for a better grade, though that didn't stop some finals nerves from setting in once he took his seat and the exam began.]

Caffeinating me won't make up for studying.

[Ravus is curt as he unlocks the door to let the panicking students in to the classroom. Damn it, Gladio. If he'd just handed Ravus the can, he might have been able to drink it, but making a stupid joke about bribery...and in front of other students...

Ravus sets the can on his desk, untouched, and sets to work unboxing the exam booklets.

Professor Highwind gives a few final words as the TAs begin to hand out the tests, and then it is a waiting game. In between walk-arounds to check for obvious signs of cheating, the professor leans over Ravus' desk, smirking.]

You know you're allowed to drink that, right?

[Ravus scowls at her.]

If you don't want it, I'd be happy to take it off your hands.

[Almost possessively, Ravus takes the can and pops the tab. He doesn't know how Highwind pinpoints the perfect target for teasing, but she always finds it, damn her. He takes a sip.]

Satisfied? Now excuse me, the idiots in the third row think they're being subtle with the notes written on their shoes.

[He stands and goes to pull the cheaters out of the room and write them up. Thus is the glamorous life of a TA.]

[Once testing begins, Gladio's face becomes one of absolute concentration. The world around him disappears and he has eyes only for the papers on his desk, his pencil scratching as he fills in his answer selections on the Scantron and his pen flying as he responds to the open-ended questions on the actual exam paper.

He barely notices when Ravus leaves his desk and confronts the people cheating two rows behind him. He can't afford distractions - his grade might be passing as it is but he refuses to give less than his best. Despite his focus Gladio feels his hand start cramping so he drops his pen and stretches, shaking his hand out and keeping his eyes shut so that he can't be accused of cheating.

The golden orbs open as he finishes his languid stretch, and he smiles upon noticing that the Ebony he'd gifted Ravus sits open on the man's desk.

With that boost he finds the energy to get back to work and makes his way through the remainder of the exam, not stopping to stretch again and not once asking for permission to get up to use the restroom. Once he finishes every question, he glances at the clock and realizes he has enough time to review all of his answers at least once. So he does.

When "time" is called, Gladio has reviewed his answers twice over and made a couple of revisions to his essays. He puts his pen and pencil down with an air of confidence - not arrogance - and he finally allows himself another stretch. This time he keeps his eyes open and focused on Ravus and maybe there's a slight sway to his hips when he starts walking up to hand the TA his completed exam and Scantron.]

Thanks for a great class! Your feedback on my papers really helped me look deeper into the literature. [His voice is completely normal, no teasing lilt or subtle undertone. It's as if Gladio truly feels that Ravus did a great job as a TA, which he absolutely does.

Without so much as a flirtatious wink he turns to the professor and pulls a wrapped gift out of his bag.] And to you, Professor Highwind, a thank-you gift for accepting my request. I look forward to working with you in the future.

[With a gentle smile and a jaunty wave, Gladio walks out of the lecture hall.

When Professor Highwind opens the gift, she'll find a perfectly aged and highly sought-after Altissian wine. After speaking to his father about wanting to pursue an advanced degree in Literature and mentioning how a certain professor implied some of his papers could make good dissertation topics, Gladio had received an overnight delivery of a case of the wine with a note to "gift them as he sees fit".

Hopefully Ravus won't be too jealous. Gladio plans to sweep him off his feet and he has far rarer and more elusive bottles of fine wine and champagne he'll spoil the Tenebraen with. He just needs to wait for the grades to be posted.]

[Once Gladio gets out of the classroom and can turn his phone back on, he'll find a message from Ravus.]

Hope you saved me a bottle.

[There's not time for much more than that. The next section of the class starts filing in for their exam, and Ravus is back on monitor duty.

He goes dark on all contact for the next couple of days, drowning in exams and the grade keeping software the college uses. Students always whine about how long it takes to hear back on their grades, but from the other side of the desk, there is barely any time allotted to the professors and their TAs for grading.

He doesn't bother checking his phone until his last grades are entered on the 15th.]

[He snorts at the text and debates sending one back but ultimately decides against it. There are more students waiting to take their exams and Gladio knows Ravus will be busy for a while, first with monitoring exams and then with grading them. And though he mourns the lack of contact, it gives him time to prepare for their date.

In the following days Gladio makes what seems like endless phone calls and arrangements, most of which are for his upcoming date, and by the 15th he's ready to chuck his phone out his window. But he can't because then he'll lose Ravus' number and that would be awful.

His excitement wakes him up ungodly early and he tries to expend some of the nervous energy filling him by going on an early morning run. By 9am he's back and worked up a second and third sweat in his home gym. At 10am he checks his grades on his phone and pouts before moving on from weights to katas. When he checks his grades again at 11am he smiles, because some are posted but the pout returns when he notices none of the ones he sees are the one that matters. Now it's time for yoga, complete with music that should relax him but totally doesn't. He goes for broke and does some kickboxing and muay thai until he can't see through the sweat dripping into his eyes.

Logically he knows that Ravus has other classes to input grades for yet all he wants is the grade from their shared class. So at noon he checks one more time and whoops when he sees that his grade is finally finally posted.

Because that means he can do what he's wanted to do since the day of his final exam.

While all of his previous photos were suggestive and not at all appropriate, none of them captured him at his rawest, most primal state. He strips and grabs what he needs from its hiding spot before setting his phone's camera up to a timer. Leaning the phone against the mirror in the home-gym, Gladio hefts the broad-head naginata into position while stepping into a side-lunge. Just before the photo snaps he flexes so that all of his glistening muscle groups swell to make the most appealing picture.]

Been wanting to send you something like this for a while. Be ready at 5. Our reservation is at 6.

[That sent, Gladio returns the polearm to its proper place and begins properly getting ready.He is going to give Ravus a night he'll never forget.]

[By the time Ravus is finished grading all of the essays (made even more laborious due to needing to decipher various examples of inscrutable handwriting), he has lamented countless times that he didn't tell Gladio to come over in sweatpants with carryout this evening. He's exhausted.

He's in his room at noon when Highwind posts the final grades, so he feels safe in viewing the text right then.

Part of him is bemused, and part (mostly southward) wants to text Gladio to forget the dinner and just come over for the third item on the agenda.

No, if he gives Gladio an inch, the man will take a mile. Besides, he's learned this month what exactly the Amicitia name implies, and he's curious to see what Gladio has arranged in terms of 'wining and dining'.]

Is this an indication of the evening's plans?

Am I expected to 'dress' to match?

[He holds off on hopping in the shower until he gets a response, because even though he's joking, he does want a hint about the reservations to know how to prepare himself.]

[It's lucky Gladio hasn't hopped into the shower yet. He grins at the message and sends a quick response.]

I certainly hope to see you in your birthday suit later tonight.

But for our reservation I'd go with a regular suit or tux if you have one on campus with you. If you don't I'm sure we can both rock business casual without any problems.

[Though the "dress code" at their first destination tonight is usually formal, Gladio knows he can show up in almost anything and still be served. And since he does try to follow the unspoken rules of the establishment he asks Ravus to dress accordingly. But if his date doesn't have a formal suit or tuxedo he will absolutely bend those rules and show up in whatever attire his date can wear.

After all, not many people living in dorms keep semi-formal and formal clothes on hand. Though the Nox Fleuret's are hardly average.

Gladio will select his outfit after he sees Ravus' response, which will happen once he finishes his shower.]

[As a response, Ravus snaps a picture of the tie rack on the inside of his closet door and sends it. He came to this campus fully prepared for all sartorial eventualities. There's at least one bow tie, and various ties, and a cravat thrown in for good measure.

He showers, which turns into an hour-long affair of primping and prepping. At least there's no one else fighting him for the shower at this time of day. It's still a far cry from Gladio's ridiculous bathroom of the gods.

When he finally leaves wraps up and returns to his room, he spends some time on his bed, working himself open enough to slip in a plug. Then he blow dries his hair and suits up- a white tux, which the Tenenbrae bloodline allows him to wear without looking like part of a bridal party.

Ravus also has a small satchel with clothes for the next day set by his door.]

Ready. Do you have a car?

[Gladio's shower is as cleansing as it is relaxing and he spends far too much time scrubbing, shaving, shampooing, and conditioning as he savors the perfect water pressure and the endless hot water. The entire bathroom fills with steam by the time he finishes but that doesn't bother him - he'll simply open the window to help it dissipate.

He lays out his attire and checks that everything else is exactly where he wants it before returning to the now-steam free bathroom to apply his aftershave, a gentle blend of sandalwood and earthy fragrances, and work on his hair. Once Gladio deems the shorter parts of his hair sufficiently tamed, he pulls the remainder into a low ponytail that he ties off with a solid black ribbon.

After brushing his teeth (again) and finishing up with his body's preparations he dons his selected tuxedo - an all black affair with freshly shined black dress boots. If anyone looks closely, they'll notice the light gold pinstripes adorning both the jacket and the trousers. That plus the matte black skulls adorning his handkerchief signify his family's connection to the Lucian royal family. And the gold cuff-links, in the shape of an eagle's head, indicate to which family he belongs.

Ensuring he has what he'll need for their outing, and doing one last walkthrough of his apartment to make sure everything else is in place, Gladio grabs something from the refrigerator walks out the door and heads to his waiting car.

He decides to surprise Ravus with the car and refrains from sending a photo of it. But he does respond to the text before driving the short distance to the lot nearest Ravus' building.]

I'm on my way. And I thought we'd take a flying Spiracorn to dinner but I suppose I can drive.

[Once he parks, he smiles and nods at the friend waiting to keep an eye on the car while Gladio walks to Ravus' door. He knows many eyes follow him - who on a college campus wears such a fancy tux and drives an obviously expensive luxury car? - but he doesn't care.

Gladio arrives at Ravus' door and takes a deep breath before knocking gently, one hand hidden behind his back.]

Ravus? I'm here.

[Gladio arrives neither early nor late, giving Ravus time to get ready without playing mind games or making Ravus wait on him. There's something to be said for punctuality.

...and also for a well-fitting suit. When Ravus opens the door, once again he is tempted to cancel their plans for leaving the nearest bedroom.]

Not going for the subtle approach, are you? I suppose you're not concerned with being in cognito.

[Forget about this getting back to Professor Highwind. If Gladio is taking him out flashing signs of the royal family, it's liable to end up in the tabloids.

Thank the astrals he insisted this take place at semester's end, rather than risking it earlier.

Besides, it's not like Ravus has room to talk. His white suit is pretty inconspicuous, and if he takes off his jacket, there's a Tenebraen crest emblazoned on his waistcoat. He knows this song and dance, displaying status in order to impress. Gladio is here to prove something, to stake a claim.

Ravus slides the strap of his satchel over his shoulder.]

Come on then, before people start gossiping. You have room in your trunk for this, do you not?

[He almost drops the surprise behind his back when Ravus opens the door. The man has always been gorgeous but seeing him in a well-tailored suit whiter than snow is breathtaking and for a moment Gladio simply stares.

Then his brain comes back to him.] Not much for subtle, no. Not when it comes to wining and dining. [He smiles then, one eyebrow cocked.] That's what you asked for, right? And let them gossip - I have the privilege of being your date tonight. They're probably just jealous.

[Before the satchel can fully settle on Ravus' shoulder, Gladio lifts his free hand and gently grabs onto the strap.] I know you are fully capable of carrying this, but I'd hate for the strap to wrinkle your jacket. [A wink.] And I have something else I'd rather see you wearing, if you'll permit it.

[Gladio finally reveals what he's been hiding and he hopes Ravus accepts the small token. It's a three-flower boutonniere, both buds in mid-bloom, and clearly these flowers are specially bred because all of them are smaller than their typical blossoms. A sylleblossom, to represent Tenebrae and to honor Ravus' home, a magnolia, to represent Ravus' noble stature, and a lavender rose, to represent how enchanted Gladio is by the ethereally gorgeous man in front of him. The flowers are interspersed with pristine baby's breath buds and even with all of those flowers the boutonniere is the perfect size - large enough to be seen yet small enough not to be overbearing.]

May I? [He's asking about both taking the satchel and adorning Ravus with the floral piece.]

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I promise we can move on after this <3 <3 <3 sowwy

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Please kill me for that terrible name (needed to be able to call it Insta)

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