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

[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.]