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'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.]

[He'd been all set to lead the way. Kratos hasn't been to his apartment, and he hasn't said where it is. When the older man starts off in the right direction without him, it catches him off guard.

He takes off after him, catching up within a few steps.]

Hey, wait a minute. How do you know where we're going?

[Oh. That's right, Lloyd has absolutely no idea that Kratos watches over him. He pauses and looks a little flustered, not wanting to anger Lloyd by admitting that he's kept an eye on him. But how could he not? Mithos is here in this city, and Lloyd trusts so easily. Zelos watches over him now, but still! If he's dishonest at this juncture, if he simply says "I was keeping an eye on you", it's possible that Lloyd will get angry again. He's not eager to break more bones, no matter how much he might feel that he deserves it. It seems that whatever race Lloyd is now, his already strong emotions are even stronger.

He'll just have to be honest.]

I... wanted to be sure that you were staying in a safe place.

[Lloyd's footsteps slow as that sinks in and his mind puts two and two together. Then he stops completely, comprehension dawning.

He bristles.]

So you followed me?

I did not follow you.

[To find out where his home was, that is. He has followed Lloyd before, and more than once.]

There is a residency list available on the network. I simply looked it up.

O-oh. There is?

[Dammit, now he feels foolish for accusing Kratos like that. He starts walking again, speeding up a little, as though somehow he can leave the whole matter behind if he just walks fast enough.

Except not entirely, because now he's sidelong glancing at Kratos.]

Does that mean I could look you up, too?

If you wished. Other than this week, I am not home often. I don't require sleep, generally. If you needed to get in contact with me, it would be faster to call.

[Lloyd is free to call him anytime he wishes.]

Have you looked up someone on the network before?

Just to call them. I didn't know you could do other stuff.

[Lloyd and technology. Some things he grasps fairly easily, like the Rheairds, but when it comes to something he has to sit down and pay attention to so many little buttons, and each little button changes its function depending on which button is pressed, and buttons that aren't even explained at all, you just have to guess, he gets so confused and lost and bored and ends up leaving it to do something else.

It figures that Kratos is telling him that there's a way to find him, only to tell him that he won't find him there, that he still has to call Kratos on his terms. Lloyd almost huffs at that, but doesn't because of what else the man mentioned.

This week. The curse. The question that he'd pushed to the back of his mind comes back, but he doesn't know how to ask. How do you even bring up something like that? Does he even want to know? He shifts uncomfortably. To Kratos's eye it'll be plain to see that something is bothering him.]

[It's the movement that catches his eye, finer details being difficult for him to make out. Truthfully, his vision isn't that bad - he just feels like it is. He can tell that Lloyd is feeling uncomfortable, so he stops short on the path leading to the Yutopil apartments, looking over his shoulder at Lloyd.]

Is there something bothering you?

[Even though it is bothering him, Lloyd isn't sure he likes Kratos calling him out on it, being confronted before he's decided if he wants to talk about it at all. He moodily shoves his hands in his pockets, stubbornly staying silent.

That stubbornness only last long enough for his mind to roll back to the question though. Feeling harassed both inside and out, his stubbornness gives way to frustration. The words rush out of his mouth before he can hold them back.]

You're human now, right? But you're not a human anymore. You've been an angel for what? Four thousand years?

[Huh. He tilts his head slightly, not sure why this is what Lloyd wants to talk about, of all things. He thought that he might have more questions about his mother.]

Yes, that is correct. Being human again is certainly a strange experience, though I wouldn't say that it is a negative one.

[True, he can barely see or hear (from his point of view), but he can fully taste and sleep. The sleep is what he cherishes more than anything else. He's been alive for so long now that he needs the rest, mentally more than anything else. Perhaps he should take a page out of Zelos's book and force himself to sleep every once in awhile.]

Edited 2012-06-17 23:10 (UTC)

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