vatheon | 7th Combo

Entry tags:

7th Combo

Who: Lloyd and anyone who might be interested
Where: Island
When: Backdated to the curse week
Style: [Action]
Status: Open

[Crack!]

Dammit, not again!

[Lloyd glares at the two broken sticks in his hand, frustration mounting. Ever since this curse started, he's been breaking everything. He'd always thought being super strong would be really cool.

It's not. Not when you can't control it. Bowls, cups, the door to his apartment, the coffee table he'd accidentally banged his shin against, it seems like everything he touches is shattering to pieces. Thankfully, he hasn't hurt anyone yet, but how long will that last if he can't control his strength? He doesn't want to avoid everyone for an entire week, or however long this curses lasts!

Assuming it isn't permanent. Despite having been here long enough to know that curses don't stay for very long, he can't quite dismiss the possibility.

So here he is, on the island, practicing picking up and touching things that no one will care if he breaks - mostly rocks and sticks. And logs. Whole fallen trees.

Okay, that's pretty cool.

But once again, when he'd picked up two sticks to swing like swords, the moment he'd tried to grip them properly, they'd snapped just like twigs. He doesn't even dare to use his own swords for this, and he'd left them back in his apartment. What if he breaks them, too? Dropping the sticks, he growls - yes, growls, no one's here, he doesn't care if he's losing his temper now - and to anyone sensitive to ki or mana, his uncontrolled emotions send his power level rising. A scouter would read his power at nine thousand and one.

~~Yes, it's over nine thousaaaaand!~~

But Lloyd doesn't know that. Still frustrated, he turns and kicks a convenient rock. It goes flying, disappearing from sight in a blink. He moodily watches where it went for a moment, then plunks himself on the ground.

Sitting on his tail. Oh yes, let's not forget the other thing that he'd gained besides super strength. Pain lances through his body, toppling him to his side - and mercifully off of the fuzzy brown appendage. Tears prickle in his eyes anyway.]

Ow ow ow ow ow! Augh, I hate this curse!

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It is not as if I wish any harm on you.

[Quite the opposite, really. He wants to protect Lloyd, though for the boy's sake he's entrusted it to Zelos for now. Why had he called out to him? He should have just turned and walked away, but dammit, he'd been worried. He couldn't just walk away when it was obvious something was wrong.]

That didn't stop you from nearly killing me before!

[Nope, he still hasn't forgiven that betrayal. Not that Kratos has given him a real reason to.]

Did you say that when you left me and mom?

[That isn't what happened, and he knows it rationally - but he isn't thinking rationally at all.]

[Kratos lowers his head at that, feeling a stabbing sensation in his chest. He'd done worse than that with Anna, he had told her that he would protect her. That he would protect Lloyd, as well. Even all these years later, he feels like he deserves to be punished for what he did.]

No. I did not say that to Anna. I killed her.

[Once again, he can't see what Kratos is feeling. It's like he doesn't even feel anything at all! Lloyd still blames Kvar for his mother's death, but couldn't Kratos at least show he regretted it?!

Unless he didn't. Lloyd's temper suddenly boils. Kratos didn't tell his mom he didn't wish harm on her.]

You bastard!

[Fists balled up, he lashes out, throwing a wild punch at Kratos's face.]

[The rushing of air lets him know that the incoming punch is strong, far stronger than he'd anticipated. For a split second he considers letting it hit regardless, but on the off chance that Lloyd would hit his face at the wrong angle, that he might snap his neck...

No. Zelos was right, he shouldn't saddle Lloyd with that guilt. He brings his forearms up defensively, gasping and flying back with the impact. The sick cracking sound is the first thing he notices. As he tries to sit up, the next thing he notices is pain. When was the last time he'd felt physical pain this intense? He can't even remember it anymore. Kratos grits his teeth, trying to hold back a yell and not entirely succeeding at it.]

[That... That hadn't been what he'd been expecting. Kratos had always been leagues ahead of him, always stronger and faster and more experienced. He'd never gotten one over on Kratos like this. Even if his punch had landed as expected, he hadn't thought he'd get anything more than a gasp and maybe snapping his head back a bit. Not... not a crack and a yell, or Kratos flying back, and oh goddess his arms. Shock douses Lloyd's anger like a bucket of ice water. Kratos's arms are broken. Not just bruised or sprained, but bent at sickening, unnatural angels, and there are places that look like bone is poking up through his sleeves.

Lloyd had just been trying to vent. He hadn't meant to do something like that!]

K-Kratos?

[He takes a jerky step forward, stumbling, like he can't remember how to use his feet. Then a wave of smell overpowers his nose. Blood. He can smell blood.]

Kratos!

[In a heartbeat he's crossed the distance, dropping to his knees at Kratos's side.]

[The glasses were knocked far, far away. Everything is a blur, and he can't move his arms below the elbow at all. Kratos lets out a few sputtering gasps before collecting himself enough to address Lloyd, though his voice is extremely strained.]

I am -

[He's not alright. What is he? Conscious, at least.]

I hear you.

[The pain is taking away his composure. He looks to Lloyd, for once feeling the need to explain himself.]

Her exsphere had no key crest. She became a monster. I had to...

[He's trying to stand up as he speaks, but it turns out that's a bad idea. Without his arms for balance, he can't quite make it.]

Sh-shut up! Just- Just shut up!

[Kratos, he just broke both of your arms! What are you doing talking about that?! Now isn't the time and he doesn't want to know!

When Kratos tries to stand up, Lloyd catches hold of his shoulders, feeling like he's on the verge of panic.]

I'm sorry! I swear I didn't mean to hurt you like this! I was just so angry and this curse- I didn't mean to! I- I'll get help! Just hold still!

[Kratos isn't stupid. He knows he's losing a lot of blood. He shakes his head. By the time Lloyd got back here with a healer, who knows what sort of condition he'd be in? If only he could still cast!]

The coral. Let's go there.

[The coral. Of course! Why didn't he think of that first?

Probably because his panic is still rising, moreso now that he can see the blood soaking through Kratos's shirt.]

Can you walk?

[No, wait, that's a stupid question. Kratos couldn't even stand up!]

I need to bandage your arms. You're losing too much blood!

It's not too far. Just...

[Judging from how far that punch had sent him flying, Lloyd is strong enough to carry him. It's more than a little embarrassing, but he doesn't want to pass out while Lloyd is trying to bandage him.]

Take me there. There's no need to waste time with bandages.

[He's always hated Kratos's stoic, emotionless face, but seeing pain visibly etched into his features is so far beyond unnerving Lloyd almost can't handle it. For Kratos to be showing pain like that, it has to be bad.]

It's farther than you think. We have to use the elevator and-

[He's already acting, leaning Kratos back on the ground, then pulling off his own oversize shirt to tear into bandages. He'd worn the thing to hide the tail he'd gained with the curse, but suddenly that isn't so important.]

Just hold still! I'm not about to let you bleed out!

[With trembling hands, he ties makeshift tourniquets around both of Kratos's arms.]

[Having something tied around an area that's already burning with sensation is difficult to bear. Though he doesn't jerk his arms away from Lloyd (he has that much control, at least), he can't help but scream. He's afraid if he doesn't, he'll bite down on his tongue trying to hold it back.]

[Kratos screaming. Kratos screaming. With his sensitive hearing, it's practically deafening, but the fact is that it's Kratos screaming from pain this is wrong and it's his fault his fault oh goddess make it stop!

With a choked back sob, he forces himself to complete his task, then doesn't even ask before scooping Kratos up. He's still not used to his own strength. It's easier than he expects it to be. But this time he's not complaining.

He takes off, running as fast as he can. Faster than he's ever run before, in fact, boosted the sheer mass of energy and adrenaline coursing through his body like blood.

But dammit, no matter how fast he can run, the elevator still takes time.

Not even aware of what he's doing, he whispers-]

Please, just hang on.

[It's disorienting to be carried by Lloyd. He's still so much taller than the boy, and he still sees it as his job to care for him, not the other way around. He won't complain, though. The tears confirm that he was right - even if Lloyd hates him, he would feel terrible if Kratos died at his hands. And not only that... but facing this sort of death, one without the potential for atonement that releasing Origin's seal offered... he finds that he's afraid of it.]

I'm not going anywhere.

[How strange. For the first time in thousands of years, in a place where he'd simply come back to life in a week, Kratos is afraid to die. He can't help but smile.]

Why are you smiling? If I'd hit your head, I could have killed you.

[And that thought terrifies him. He's so strong he could kill people by accident, with just one moment of losing his temper and lashing out at them. He could have killed Kratos. He could have killed his father. No matter how he feels about the man, how could he live with himself after something like that? It's so hard to resist the urge to tighten his arms around him.

Why can't this elevator go faster?]

[He doesn't really notice when the elevator comes to a stop finally, focused solely on how upset Lloyd is. He can't reach a hand up to comfort him, but he can lean his head on the boy's shoulder quietly. Was this the sort of calmness that Anna had felt? Is that how she'd smiled at him when she changed back temporarily? Even now, he was glad that she did. It seemed appropriate that his last memory of her was seeing her with a smile, no matter how painful that memory was to think back on.]

It seemed appropriate.

[The statement likely doesn't make any sense to Lloyd, but he says it anyway.]

I broke your arms.

[No, it doesn't make sense at all.]

The last thing you should be doing is smiling!

[The minute the elevator doors open, though, he takes off like a shot, racing through the streets so fast he could almost swear he's flying sometimes. The hardest part is avoiding running into anyone. At one point the street gets to crowded to dodge people and maintain his speed. Without thinking, acting on instinct, he crouches down and leaps. Mana and fear and urgency give him strength, more than he's ever had before, and it's like falling, only up as he sails over everyone's heads.

Another time he would have marveled at the feeling of wind on his skin and the defiance of gravity. There isn't any room for those thoughts right now, though. Every bit of his focus is on landing and taking off, racing against time and blood loss.

As soon as he arrives in the plaza, he doesn't hesitate. Still holding Kratos as close as he dares, he races those last few steps, bringing the man so close to the coral that it brushes both of them. He hardly even notices the wave of refreshing energy that washes over him. He's too sick with worry.

When did Kratos get so pale?

Lloyd swallows.]

We're here. We're here, Kratos, just hold still.

[Whether it's because it senses a lot of damage or because Kratos's body is adjusted to overcoming injuries (crystal or not), his arms shift as the bones and vessels knit back together. Color returns to his face, smile replaced by a wince as he clumsily rolls up the sleeves of his suit to assess the remaining damage.

He's not going to be able to roll those sleeves down again, because his arms are swelling up already.]

I should be fine, now.

[Please let him go so he can stick his arms in a bucket of ice and wallow in pain like a toddler.]

[Too bad Lloyd doesn't want to let go, some long-buried instinct making him cling without any real thought for what he's doing. Seeing the half-healed damage only makes the feeling worse. He shakes his head.]

You're still hurt. Are you out of mana? Can't you cast First Aid?

[It hasn't occurred to him that Kratos might have been affected by the latest curse, too.]

[He chuckles just a bit at that, gesturing to his hand.]

Did you not notice? My Cruxis Crystal is gone. I'm an ordinary human. If I have mana, I cannot access or sense it at all.

[If Lloyd won't let him go, he'll sit up some more at least. He has some dignity remaining, believe it or not.]

I will get some gels from the store in the Nostalgia Nook. It will heal up in no time.

[Lloyd lets his attention be drawn to that hand. No, he hadn't noticed.]

You're... human? You're not an angel anymore?

[When Kratos sits up, the teen suddenly realizes that he's still holding onto him. Now that the moment of panic has passed, all the awkwardness settles in. He lets Kratos go, scooting back, turning red.

Still feeling that very real edge of guilt, though.]

I... have some gels back in my apartment...

[There's a little hesitance before he speaks next. He doesn't want to push himself on Lloyd, but he does have a right to know what happened to his mother if he wants to. Should he take him up on that? They could talk about it.]

I would not want to impose.

[Rather than sounding dull, he sounds... unsure.]

[Kratos never sounds anything less than sure of himself. That tone of voice has to be a sign of the pain that he's still in. Lloyd's eyes drop, guilt twisting in his gut.]

It's my fault you're in this condition at all. It's the least I can do to help.

[He wants to press for more on the subject of Kratos's curse, but now's not the time. He shouldn't ask.]

Do you need any help walking?

Edited 2012-06-16 02:37 (UTC)

Very well, then. I can walk; there has been no damage to my legs.

[He stands and begins walking for Lloyd's apartment without any directions whatsoever. He's still lost a lot of bloood, it doesn't occur to him that Lloyd has never once shown him where he lives.]

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