vatheon | If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters

Entry tags:

If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters

Who: Zelos, Lloyd, maybe Zelda
Where: the Zel residence
When: Morning of the 31st
Style: Brackets
Status: Closed to Lloyd and possibly later Zelda

[Nothing in particular woke Zelos from his coma. By all rights, he should have been woken up a few days earlier with the commotion but he has no memory of Ky and his lightning spell as he sits up and rubs the back of his head blearily. Really, why should he? He was asleep. He does wonder at the strange frizzy feeling his hair is giving him though. It only ever does that if there's a thunderstorm and no such thing ever happens down in the bubble... y'know, unless he'd missed something.

...what day is it?

The Chosen glances around the room for any sign of how long he'd been asleep and notices two things. One, his usual black tank top had been replaced with a blue tunic like the ones Zelda had been stockpiling in the spare room for an emergency. She said they allowed people to breathe underwater but he'd believe that when he saw it (or maybe test it out and give one to Raine if it did work.) Two, Lloyd is in bed with him, also dressed in one of those Zora tunics.

Lloyd.

In his bed.

And they're in different clothes.

Ohmanohgoddess...]

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[Lloyd's breathing remains even. He's still fast asleep, curled up just slightly on his side facing Zelos. Even when the redhead sits up, Lloyd only stirs a little, a soft murmur escaping his lips. He shifts, unconsciously scooting closer to the source of warmth in his bed - and one arm loops loosely around the Chosen's chest.]

Mmm...

[Nonono keep calm. Breathe. There's no way anything happened. It's Lloyd. That's just completely unthinkable. Right. Yes. Good. Okay.

He remembers Lloyd crawling into bed behind him, staunchly refusing to leave even with Zelos in a completely foul and self deprecating mood. And then... they must have fallen asleep. There's got to be a perfectly logical explanation for the tunics, right? Right?!

Unable to think of one, Zelos does the next best thing and shakes Lloyd's shoulder gently. If he doesn't turn beet red and look at him all... bedroomy, then nothing really did happen.

And if he does Zelos might just gut himself all over again.]

H-hey Bud, rise and shine.

[Lloyd moans in protest at being shaken, his eyes blearily cracking open. Just because they're open, though, doesn't necessarily mean they're focused. In fact, they slip back closed even as a large, sleepy smile spreads across his face. His arm around Zelos tightens, pulling him close.]

Mmm... Noishe... Go back to sleep.

[Yup, the smile of a boy with his dog.]

[...You dork.

With a ruffle of Lloyd's hair, Zelos unwraps Lloyd's arm carefully and slips out of bed. Nothing happened. Phew. Except everything being a little sore from lack of movement and all sweaty from staying in bed for waaay too long of course.

Also where the heck did the tunic come from? Maybe he should find Zelda and ask her. He starts for the door to do just that, but when he lifts his arm to take the knob...

Bleh, maybe a shower first.]

[Zelos might not have been trying to wake him up, but the lack of a warm body next to him in bed doesn't go unnoticed. Lloyd's hand sleepily gropes the vacated spot before his mind registers that "Noishe" is gone. Cracking his eyes open again, he yawns and sits up. When Noishe gets up, he usually needs to go out.]

Hnn? Noishe?

[Wait, what happened to his dog?]

Zelos, where'd Noishe go?

[Heh]

Noishe isn't here, Bud, sorry. You were dreaming.

[Instead of making his way out the door as he had planned, Zelos changes his mind and snags his SFC, idly flipping it on to check the date and time.

....

Well, ten days isn't so bad. Both Estelle and Guy had slept much longer before.

The little message notification pops up but Zelos decides to ignore it. He can check his voicemail later.]

Looks like we've been out for awhile.

[Dreaming?]

Oh.

[Lloyd can't help but look a little crestfallen at that. It's been a long time since he last saw Noishe. He really misses his dog. Zelos's next comment distracts him, though.]

What time is it?

[He yawns, stretching.]

I didn't mean to spend the whole night. Just... you know... long enough to stop thinking.

[Damnit Lloyd, don't look so sad. Better distract him further.]

Ah, actually... it's been something like nine or ten days. Guess we needed the rest!

[He laughs airily, trying to keep the mood light, but he just has to know.]

What is it you wanted to stop thinking about, Bud? I mean, maybe I can help.

[The corner of Lloyd's mouth tugs upward at what he thinks is Zelos joking around.]

Nine or ten days? Yeah, right. I don't need that much beauty sleep to look better than you.

[At Zelos's question, though, Lloyd's smile fades into a discontented look.]

It's nothing. Just... Dammit, I don't know what to think of Kratos.

I'm serious! We took one of those patented Vatheon power naps.

[He leans on the wall, expression darkening at the mention of Kratos, but this is his bud and Kratos, for better or worse (usually worse) is his father. He'd been charged with telling Lloyd the truth and just.. hadn't gotten around to it in all the commotion in the last two months.

Two months.

Yeah, he's just been avoiding it.]

What about him?

[Lloyd casts Zelos a sidelong look.]

...you're serious? But... both of us? At the same time?

[He runs a hand through his hair. Ugh, it feels like it's been nine days. Not that he takes anywhere near as many showers as Zelos does, but he doesn't ever let it get this bad.]

I'm not even sure if he's our enemy anymore. He betrayed us and he works for Cruxis, but he says he admits what they're doing is wrong. I hate what he did, but if he's changed...

[He pulls his knees up to his chest, an unconscious defensive posture, shoulders hunching just a little bit.]

I just don't know if I can trust him enough to give him a second chance. Can you believe he tried to claim he was my dad?

[There it is. Zelos lets out a heavy sigh, moving back to the bed and sitting across from his friend with one leg hanging off the side. He doesn't want to have this conversation. He's so very tempted to lie, to tell Lloyd that Kratos is just a complete dick who's messed up in the head and trying to jerk him around for his own ends. But he can't bring himself to do it. Lloyd needs to know the truth, the actual truth, even if it sucks.]

I don't think that guy'll ever really change, but... it's true he is your father.

[Zelos looks aside, finding some spot on the floor to stare at.]

He's a jerk, don't get me wrong, but he's a jerk who actually did try and help you in the end.

[Lloyd stills when he hears those words come out of Zelos's mouth, his thoughts feeling like they just hit a brick wall. He stares, mouth dropping open. He closes it.

Zelos still looks dead serious.]

No... No way. You believe him? What would he have even had to do with my mom?! She was a prisoner in a human ranch and he's one of the highest angels there is!

[Damnit... This is so backwards. It should have been the other way around, with Lloyd thinking deeply about it and Zelos questioning how he could trust somebody who jerked him around like that. But they're on opposite sides this time and Zelos has to at least give Lloyd all the facts before offering up any opinions.]

Her exsphere, your exsphere is special, right? You heard it from some of the Cardinals. He was checking on it is my guess and, well, stuff happened. They were on the run when they had you until the Desians caught up and the crystal went out of control. You know what happens with that.

[Running a hand back through his hair, Zelos pauses and shifts his feet. Telling the story makes him uncomfortable; it shouldn't be his to tell, but he sees now why Kratos can't. It's not just because it's too painful, but having Lloyd deny him up and down while he tells it.. well...

Ugh, sympathy for Kratos? There must be something wrong with him.]

He had to kill her, as a monster, to save you, but Kvar wouldn't let it go and you went off a cliff with Noishe and your mom's crystal and he thought you'd died.

[He shifts again, not sure what else there is to say but watching Lloyd very carefully. He knows his delivery was a little less than sympathetic but he's not sure how much more delicately he could have put it.]

Edited 2012-06-07 03:57 (UTC)

[Lloyd's hands twitch, clenching involuntarily at the mention of Kratos killing his mother. He knew Kvar had said his father killed his mother, and he knows he'd forgiven the nebulous figure in his mind for something that hadn't been his fault, had been out of his control. Having that figure gain Kratos's face somehow makes it harder to accept and brush off. Kratos, the man who'd already betrayed him once - he was the one who'd killed his mom?

It's still hard to get past that lump of denial, though. He doesn't want to believe. Especially not after what Kratos said.]

Okay, so maybe it could have happened. That doesn't mean it did. There isn't any proof he's my dad except a picture that... that could be anyone! If he was my dad, why didn't he make sure-

[He chokes off.

"I have nothing to gain."]

Hey, you don't have to believe it. I just said I'd tell you for 'im. I mean, you don't have to think too much about it. The guy's a complete idiot and a jerk to boot. You know I certainly hate him and I'd love to tell ya he's a fat liar and you should kick his ass to next week for it, but...

[Zelos digs his toe into the carpet, looking at the floor as he shoves both hands in his pockets and forcing the words out between a sneer, as if it was physically painful to say something in Kratos's favor.]

He's telling the truth.

[Hearing those words from Kratos is one thing, but Zelos is his best friend. He wouldn't lie to him, not about something like this. And he's said it twice now.

Lloyd leans forward over his knees, digging his fingers into his head. His breath becomes ragged, his thoughts tearing around in his head. It feels like his world is breaking to pieces around him.

He wants to cry.]

What am I, then? Was everything I thought I was a lie? I'm Lloyd... Aurion? Am I even a human?

What? Lloyd, c'mon...

[The span between the wall and bed is crossed in a few short strides and Zelos sits next to Lloyd and puts a hand on top of his head, as if to keep those raging thoughts at bay.]

You're you. You're the same person you always were, just with new information. Just because the guy had a hand in bringing you into the world doesn't change who or what you are.

[He lets out a slow breath, sincerity not a usual tact for him but in this case... he can't leave Lloyd feeling this way. Besides, even if Zelos can't escape the shadow of his own father, Lloyd at least has proven time and again he's nothing like his.

The words that leave Zelos's mouth remind him of the many times Lloyd has reassured him or even conversations overheard with Genis. He surprises even himself with how steady they sound.]

You're Lloyd Irving. You're my friend no matter who your parents are and nothing's changing that, alright?

I'm... me?

[It isn't often that someone uses Lloyd's own words on him like that, least of all someone like Zelos. It startles him out of his downward spiral of thoughts. He looks up, meeting Zelos's eyes, searching his face for a moment. Whatever he finds there, some of his tension starts to fade.]

Yeah... Yeah, you're right.

He draws in a breath and lets it out, slowly straightening up. He seems to gain a little more confidence, although maybe it's just relief.]

Even if I'm not what I thought I was before, I'm still the same person inside. I'm still Lloyd. I'm still your friend.

[He reaches up to grasp Zelos's hand.

He's so grateful Zelos is there.]

But... this still changes some things...

[Yeaaaahhh Zelos can't do this warm and fuzzy thing for too long before he gets uncomfortable so after he's smiled and grasped Lloyd's hand, he promptly pushes Lloyd's head down with the other in a playful manner.]

You don't have to worry about it now! I'd worry a little more about that epic bed-head of yours, or how much you smell from sweating in those clothes the whole time. Phew! You're offending my nose, Bud!

[Even with the again jovial air and brushing off of serious discussion, however, he's slow to release Lloyd's hand. He may be uncomfortable, but Lloyd knowing he has at least Zelos's support no matter what is far more important than his antsy nature.]

[There's still so much he needs to work through on this and his emotions are still a tangled mess, but he feels a little bit more able to deal with it now.

And he could also use the break.

He laughs, shoving back.]

Oh, like you're any better! You spent all that time in the same bed as me! You smell as bad as I do!

[You get a groan for that one, Lloyd.]

I know! It's terrible! I call dibs on the downstairs bath!

[The Chosen pops to his feet, letting Lloyd go and bounding for the door. Gonna challenge him, Lloyd?]

[A pillow flies through the air after him, courtesy of Lloyd. The teen grins, leaning back in the bed.]

Oh, fine. I'll be the manlier man and let you clean up first. Not like this is the first time I've gone a week without a bath.

[He also wants a little more time to collect himself, but he's not mentioning that.

Besides, it might be funny to hear Zelos's reaction to that last bit.]

[Zelos gets it. He was trying to spark a mad race to see who could get to the bathroom first but the tiny shift in Lloyd's tone is enough to make him let it go and give Lloyd a few minutes to himself.

That is, until that last bit.]

A week without a bath?! That's disgusting! How could you stand it?!

[Bingo. He knew Zelos would rise to that.]

There was a really bad storm once that knocked a lot of trees over. It blocked up the spring that feeds the stream by my house. Dad and I couldn't take any baths until we unblocked it. We just got used to the smell.

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