sonoftenebrae | College AU

College AU

[Most students out on the quad sit on the lush grass or spread out towels or blankets to lay on. Ravus has appropriated a chair from one of the academic rooms and set up a tv tray table as a makeshift desk under a tree at one end of the green. He has a stack of papers spread before them, which he descends upon with a red pen.

He wouldn't be out here at all, this close to exam-grading deadline, but Lunafreya had come to his tiny dorm room and stubbornly demanded he leave before he turned into some sort of cave-dwelling goblin. ~~It was not his fault he was in a basement room, that was where he'd been able to secure a single in the grad complex.~~

Out on the quad, students jog, walk, lounge, strum at guitars, toss frisbees back and forth, and do all sorts of other activities that are infuriatingly distracting. Ravus scowls to himself. The ones in his class might not be so carefree if they could see him grading these abysmal midterms of theirs.

Ravus pauses his work to rub at his temples, then gather up his hair into a messy tail to get it out of his face. It is so much easier to concentrate when he's shut away. The gorgeous weather, the sounds of others enjoying their Friday afternoon, they just serve to make Ravus more dour. He still has two classes' worth of exams to get through.]

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[Gladio huffs out a chuckle. He should have figured that Ravus wasn't one to be a complete lay-about for even one measly day. With a hum of acknowledgement the brunet gets to his feet, water sloshing in the tub as he unstops the drain before stepping onto his plush bathmat and wrapping a towel around his waist.

Droplets cling to his skin as he multitasks, using a second towel to dry his hair while he shuffles into the bedroom. After a quick wipe down, he deems himself functionally dry and dons a pair of black boxer-briefs, a pair of black joggers, and a comfortable grey cotton tee. Grey no-show socks follow and so does a pair of clean running shoes. Before shrugging into a black zip-up hoodie, on with his father's business logo, Gladio pulls his damp hair into a messy bun.]

Ready when you are, Rae. [Yea, that nickname is here to stay because he loves the way it rolls off of his tongue. Gladio makes sure to grab his wallet and keys before going into the kitchen to give it a quick clean, if needed, while Ravus finishes getting ready.]

[Ravus pulls on a pair of sweatpants and a shirt. He steals a second hoodie from Gladio's closet, and pulls it on in front of him. He considers for a moment, then steals one of Gladio's hair ties as well, pulling his hair up into a loose ponytail to keep it out of his face.]

Is there a path that leads away from campus?

[Ravus wants to enjoy nature, and Gladio's company too, and he's in no rush to be seen by anyone else he knows in such a... casual... state of dress.]

[Having seen Ravus dressed in various styles - the polished TA look in classes, that criminally handsome Knight costume at the Halloween party, naked - Gladio is woefully unprepared for how stunning the older man looks in casual clothes. He gapes for a moment, entirely entranced by the sight.]

Yea... [Is that his hoodie? It is.] Yea, there're a few paths that head away from campus. Got one in mind that you'll really enjoy.

[Smiling warmly, Gladio takes Ravus' hand in his and leads them out of the apartment. He'd grabbed his keys in case they needed to drive anywhere but the path he wants to show Ravus isn't too far away and it's nice outside. So walking just makes more sense.

The sun plays brilliantly in his lover's hair and Gladio knows that the trail he's chosen is the perfect one for today.]

[Ravus lets Gladio keep hold of his hand until they reach the sidewalk outside, then he takes his back. What they have is between them, private and intimate. But he keeps close to Gladio, enough that they can bump elbows as they walk.

They're both long legged, so Ravus can set a brisk pace and expect Gladio to keep up without much trouble. No running, not after the pounding both of them have taken over the last 24 hours, but walking with purpose. Even if that purpose is just to be outside and beside one another in nature.]

Are you spending all of your break here?

[He doesn't say anything when Ravus pulls his hand away, though a flash of something crosses his face and leaves just as quickly as it came. Maybe Ravus isn't much of a hand-holder. It's fine. Besides, their arms brush together as they walk so they're still touching. Sort of.]

Planned to. Dad's with the King on some diplomatic thing and Iris went to visit her girlfriends, so I figured I'd stick around here. [Gladio doesn't bother saying that he'd been hoping to spend the break, or at least part of it, with Ravus and that he decided to stay at his apartment long before Iris and Dad made their plans. It seems like too much to say this early, so he keeps it to himself.

The sun on his face and the fresh air feel wonderful as he easily keeps pace with Ravus. Gladio guides them down an empty path, the trail not quite as worn as the others they've passed, and as they walk the trail becomes significantly more unkempt. But it's still walkable. Plus Gladio shows no signs of stopping.]

And you? Where are you spending your break?

[Ravus easily keeps pace with Gladio, even when the path begins to grow wilder. Still no hand-holding. Ravus is a private person, especially with the things he values.]

I will travel back to Tenebrae for the days of the winter festival. I planned for most of my break to be here, though. Professor Highwind agreed to let me borrow some texts from her private library after all of the overtime hours I worked for her, getting those papers graded.

[So the answer to Gladio's question, 'where are you spending your break' is 'with my nose in rare old books.' With breaks to be fucked silly, of course.]

[Gladio sends a warm smile Ravus' way, utterly enamored with the mental picture of his lover sitting with his his face completely buried in a rare book, eyes focused on the pages and mind somewhere far away from wherever he's sitting.]

If you're planning on reading, my place has a lot of natural light. [Is he trying to bribe Ravus into possibly spending more time at his place?

Yes.] Definitely more private than the library plus I bet it's bigger than your apartment. And you know what they say- [He leans a little closer to whisper in Ravus' ear.] Bigger is better.

[He pulls back with a wink and a chuckle, heading straight for what appears to be a solid wall of green, brown, and yellow. Since the barely-trod path veers away from the apparent wall it would stand to reason that nothing more than wild and unkempt forest lay beyond.

Yet Gladio pushes one hand through the wall and pulls the strange curtain to the side.] S'just some Lucian Moss. Got thick enough that the trees grew slower so all the branches and leaves make it look like a brambly mess back here but we can get through if we duck a little.

[Another smile, this one a little softer, eyes imploring as he reaches out a hand.] Trust me, it's worth it.

I thought it was 'how you use it' that matters. But your space is used effectively. I suppose I could stop by.

[He's underselling just how fully he plans on living on Gladio's couch over break. It really is a much more comfortable option than anywhere else he'll be able to access while campus is closed.

He doesn't do anything so overt as wink back, but he does raise an eyebrow and give Gladio a quick smile.]

You know quite a few oddly secluded places in this town. [Hearkening back to his teasing about Gladio's fortified bunker of a penthouse. It doesn't stop him from ducking under the branch.]

[That smile does things to Gladio and he offers a witty retort of his own as they proceed through the brush.] Makes it easier when I have to dispose of the bodies.

[After ten or twelve steps, Gladio brushes aside another curtain of moss to reveal a quaint pond, fed by a handful of gently babbling brooks and surrounded by soft grass and colorful wildflowers. The grass surrounding the pond is taller than most lawns but appreciably shorter than long-grass, likely due to animals that enjoy resting at the serene spot and also, in part, to how frequently one man appears to practice kata forms and meditations when the weather (and coursework) allows.]

A little slice of paradise, eh? [His voice is soft, an attempt to keep the peaceful atmosphere as unspoiled as possible.]

[Ravus looks over the spot with an appreciative eye.]

I'd not though I'd see such natural beauty outside of Tenebrae.

[Almost on Tenebrae's level is about the highest praise he can give. Looking back at Gladiolus, he quirks an eyebrow.]

It must be well-fertilized by all those bodies.

A gentleman never tells. [The lighthearted banter reminds him of their early interactions.

Gladio internally laments his lack of forethought; next time he'll pack a light picnic so the two of them can spend even longer admiring the secluded scenery and enjoying one another's company. Ravus, handsome on any given day, looks absolutely breathtaking among nature's beauty.]

You're stunning...

[Sometimes he speaks without thinking.

Closing the distance between them, Gladio brushes his fingers along a porcelain cheekbone and whispers the desire shining in his eyes.] May I kiss you, Ravus?

[It's hard to say 'no' to Gladio when he's pressing in close, touching Ravus with clear reverence. And in such a secluded little corner of the woods, there's really no reason to.

He lifts his chin, proud and aristrocratic. A prize worthy of Gladio's desire.]

You may.

[He keeps teasingly still, letting Gladio come to him to claim that kiss.]

Mmm- [There's a smile curving Gladio's lips as he leans down and claims Ravus', his hand shifting to cradle the cheek he'd just caressed. He uses his other hand to gently pull Ravus closer.

Intimacy is something to savor and in a place as delightfully private as this there's no hurry, so Gladio takes his time. His lips and hands linger, though he makes no attempt to deepen the kiss.

He's no stranger to some seriously risky PDA but those were mostly casual flings, and his few more serious relationships hadn't been with anyone from his Family's social circles so getting caught wouldn't have been disastrous. Embarrassing? Definitely. And it might've resulted in some official reprimanding and other obnoxious shit like that.

Ravus not only comes from a similar Family background but also has his reputation as a TA to consider. Gladio may not particularly like curbing his affectionate nature in public but he will absolutely not do anything to damage Ravus' image or name. And that includes keeping their tender moment in this secret hideaway soft and sweet.

Still, he doesn't quite want to relinquish this closeness so even as he pulls back from the kiss he keeps his arms loosely wrapped around Ravus.] I'll have to bring you back here in the spring, when everything is fully in bloom.

[Implying that they'll still be dating come spring; Gladio wonders if he can reasonably blame Ravus for his sudden inability to think before speaking when in Ravus' presence. Did the man actually succeed in fucking his brains out over that table?]

[Ravus hums his assent.]

Yes, I imagine this spot is a sight to see when it is in season.

[They are alone, surrounded by nature, and Ravus sees no need for pointless posturing or teasing. He likes Gladio. Barring some disaster, he anticipates no reason why he wouldn't take a walk with him here in the spring time.

He runs a hand through Gladio's hair, one of those affectionate gestures he won't indulge in in public.]

Bring a blanket next time, and we could pass an afternoon together here.

[A picnic isn't precisely what he has in mind.]

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College AU

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he may or may not be pouting

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Lucian Moss = Spanish Moss but without the tropical/subtropical requirement

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