18th Combo

[redcladidealist]

Who: Lloyd Irving and friends/visitors
Where: Zelda's house
When: Please specify the time of day! Any time of day from roughly 11:00 PM the night before and on is fair game.
Style: Whichever!
Status: Open to people with any sort of reason to visit Zelda's house

[Kratos hadn't given Lloyd much say in the matter, and frankly Lloyd hadn't been up to arguing at the time. Still bloody and traumatized from being kidnapped and tortured, he hadn't resisted when his father had brought him to the safest place he could think of, the house shared by Zelda, Zelos, and Dhaos, where he'd been cleaned up and settled into a bed.

But no matter how he closed his eyes, no matter how he tried bury himself under every blanket he had, he couldn't sleep. He couldn't sleep. Every time he tried, his mind snapped back to knives and needles and pain and a smile as Kvar laughed and ripped his Exsphere out and gray-green hands reached out to slaughter all his friends.

He wouldn't get any sleep that night, and anyone who came into his room before morning would find him sobbing brokenly. Later in the day, it would be easier to talk, but it would still be rough. Nightmares have a way of lurking in shadows even when you're awake.]

Comments

[chosen_gigolo]

I'm just that awesome! They don't call me the Great Zelos for nothing.

[He reaches over to ruffle Lloyd's hair, a friendly gesture but also to get the kid to stop looking at him like he's gonna cry. The Chosen doesn't really feel like he's done anything to warrant such a strong expression and moreover it's embarrassing. Yeah he'd wanted Lloyd to be happy with the tools - hell, he'd spent nearly a month figuring out what to get Lloyd and another researching the best type of tools and hunting around for ones that would suit his friend - but he'd rather a broad smile and a simple thanks, not a serious outpouring of gratitude that he can tell is welling up just under the surface.]

I just noticed it last I saw you working, that's all. Gotta have good tools to do good work, right? Isn't that a vow or somethin'?

[redcladidealist]

[Maybe another time Lloyd might have swatted that hand away, might have acted like he was annoyed at Zelos for ruffling his hair like a kid. Not today, though. His emotions are too raw and close to the surface to pretend he doesn't appreciate the friendly contact. He quickly scrubs his eyes again, at least still trying to put up a stronger front. There's no way that Zelos can be fooled, but still.]

Thanks, Zelos. It's a great gift. I'll make sure to use it.

[chosen_gigolo]

That's what they're for, after all. Maybe you can finally show me how, eh? When you're feeling up to it.

[No Lloyd, it doesn't fool Zelos in the slightest and the lack of the friendly swat doesn't go unnoticed. Despite his hangups about emotional displays, Zelos knows Lloyd needs more than what Zelos is giving here. He knows his friend needs someone to tell him everything is okay, that for once he needs to be the beacon of optimism. It's a tall order for someone who occasionally wonders if he'd be better off dead, but for Lloyd, for the person who showed him that the only meaning in life is living it? For him Zelos can make everything be okay by sheer force of will.

Gingerly at first, then in a rush, Zelos pulls Lloyd into a tight hug, the teen's head against his shoulder to prevent any awkward eye contact (hey, he's trying, okay?). His voice is gentle and uncommonly warm.]

You're safe now, Bud. Don't worry about a thing, we gotcha.

[I'm so sorry I let this happen.]

[redcladidealist]

[He doesn't cry this time. He doesn't. Or at least he doesn't sob. Maybe there's a hitch in his breath, and his eyes might still be a little more damp than when he scrubbed them dry, but he doesn't break down or break apart when Zelos wraps his arms around him. It's not what he expected. Zelos doesn't do hugs like this. When Zelos hugs, it's usually him just goofing around, not a tight, warm hug that feels like it can hold everything together without losing a single piece. Lloyd stills for a moment.

Then he leans into it, returning it with a tight hug of his own. He needs this. He needs it and he'll take every bit he can get. No more words even need to be exchanged, because Zelos knows. Everything Lloyd could say, he knows.

Thanks. It's not your fault. You're here now, and that's all I care about.]