Good day everyone!

I've put Be AbsentMinded on a little hiatus (until I'm done with the last exam for this month, that's it), but I felt the urge to write this idea down while I was re-playing ToS for the umpteenth time.

It's a small Regal/Lloyd moment (it isn't supposed to be romantic, but whatever) seen through Genis's point of view.

However, keep in mind that this piece presents some OoC on purpose, as it's based on the choices I picked through my current game save. I've made Lloyd shower Regal with attention while keeping Genis off the screen as much as I could.

So yeah. I hope it's decent, at least.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia and the characters which appeared in the game, and I do not earn any money from this story.

Genis puffed over the curry as he poured it into a small bowl. He glanced over the dish, his eyes passing on every member of the group sitting around fire.

"Ow! Sheena!" there was Zelos clutching his hair and sprawled on the floor, while Sheena was flattering the gloves back in their position "Get your timing right! You can't tell me you're going to smack me when you already did!"

"Of course I can, idiot Chosen!" she reached for the male Chosen's face, making him squeak and move backward further "Come back here!"

Zelos pouted, sticking his tongue out "Not a chance, evil banshee! But if you drop on your knees and confess your undying love for me-"

Sheena's empty bowl hit him straight in his face, the ninja completely red in embarrassment and grinding her teeth together "Why, you shameless…!"

Raine, who was sitting next to Sheena, simply shook her head at such sight and returned at silently eating her dinner. The sparks in her eyes had since disappeared little after leaving the Temple of Earth earlier in the day, leaving her thoughtful.

Colette and Presea were happily chatting; at least, the blonde girl was, widening her arms and smiling "And once Randy said he had captured a fish this big!" she giggled, but Presea merely tilted her head and stared at her puzzled "But then Genis told me it couldn't have been possible, because there was no fish that big nearby Iselia…"

Presea dipped the spoon in her portion of miso stew "This kind of auto-gratification is one of the most used among both worlds. The percentage of truth in such statement is most likely around zero"

Colette clapped her hands, still smiling "Oh really? But we've fought such big fishes before!"

"Although sea monsters of said size do exist, fishermen do not hunt them" Presea slowly munched on the miso afterward, humming slightly in the process "Most of the time, their meat results to be poisoned for most humans and half-elves"

Colette's eyes widened "Oh? Oh, I'm sorry…" she said, bowing her head down and looking a little less cheerful than before.

Presea's spoon froze in the air, like she was carefully thinking over her answer "…There's no need to apologize"

"You're right, I'm sorry!"

Genis sighed, then his head snapped upward again as the information sink in his mind "Where are Lloyd and Regal?" he asked frantically, turning his sight around repeatedly and making sure that no, they weren't around chatting or bickering or eating.

The ninja slowly shrugged her shoulders, Zelos taking advantage of her momentary distraction to slip away from under her and her slaps. "Oh, no, you don't-!" Sheena's hands clutched air as the red-head slipped behind Colette, clinging behind her as she was his shield.

"C'mon Zelos, you really look like a stupid bimbo when you do that" the midget mage commented exasperated at his antics, really wondering why he was still sticking around them. Then he saw Raine, whom had just regained from her apathy, glaring at him.

"Genis Sage" she said, stressing each word carefully. A shiver ran down the mage's back "Where did you learn such words?"

The half-elf simply pointed at Zelos, whom took this as a signal to run away from the professor and hide in a random bush without protesting. Colette looked behind her as he let her go.

"Why did Zelos run away?" she asked, beaming all the other presents with a radiant smile. Sheena sat down again, snickering, while Presea made sure to put down her bowl without spilling the remains over.

Raine made to answer the female Chosen, but Genis sprung upright first, fingers still grasping the curry hard "Does anyone know where Lloyd and Regal are?"

He glared at the surprised comrades as they shrugged their shoulders insecure or shook their heads "Maybe" Colette began "Maybe they're still looking for wood to burn…"

"Lloyd asked Regal to show him some of his daily exercises"

Presea gazed at Genis, no emotion transpiring from her eyes. The midget mage, instead, turned utterly red, veins pulsing on his forehead as his hands were trembling, barely keeping their grip on the bowl full of curry. "He did what?"

"Genis" Raine's voice was calm and firm; even Zelos had poked his head out from the bush to see what was going with the midget "Although I agree it was irresponsible of them to leave the group without telling the others –except Presea" she glanced briefly at the pink-haired girl, who was sharpening her axe with a whetstone "You're overdoing it-"

"Presea, do you know exactly where they went?" the red-headed Chosen sighed at a certain midget mage cutting off his Beautiful Highness, whom was now silently fuming.

The lumberjack didn't look up from her weapon "They're south-west from here, on the dock we used to land"

Without further words, Genis packed the bowl with tinfoil, chewing on his bottom lip. Sheena and Colette stood up at the same time, looking genuinely concerned "Listen, I have no idea why you're reacting like this, but I'll go with you" the ninja said, with the female Chosen nodding in approval behind.

"No!" the half-elf mage shouted angry, stepping backward as his sister raised on her feet as well "I'm… I'm not so weak! I can walk for such a little distance on my own!"

"Oh, just leave the brat on his own!" Zelos finally walked back to the dying fire, raising an eyebrow to the mage, smiling amused "Let him feel like a big man, at least for a bunch of minutes"

That did it: the half-elf turned around and ran, clasping the bowl tight to his chest. He frowned deeper, trying to ignore all the yelling of his companions still around the fire.

Genis's eyes burned and watered. He gulped down, scanning the area for monsters as he dashed across the field.

Why? That was a good question. Ever since they stepped on Tethe'Alla, Lloyd had stopped paying him much attention altogether. He would ask what he wanted for dinner, just for his best friend –he was still his best friend, wasn't he?- to wave him away, uncaring.

Actually… Now that he was thinking about it, it was even before that. Lloyd had made a habit out of being around Kratos. He was training him after all –and he was the first human swordsman the boy had ever admired.

He just wanted to be stronger to protect Colette, it was natural for him to spend more time with the older mercenary than with him, who was barely able to lift a sword at all.

But then Lloyd had been leaving Colette behind as well. Yes, he did create the key crest to free her from the parasitical Cruxis Crystal, but she found herself having more opportunities to chat with Sheena or Presea or to study with Raine than…

Zelos would be there to glomp Lloyd from behind or wrap an arm around his shoulders, grinning as he teased the naïve swordman. It was that, or the stupid red-headed Chosen chasing girls of every age down the streets.

But mostly…

Genis slowed down as the missing swordsman and ex-convict came in sight; they had set up their own fire not far from the dock itself. He could watch them clearly without them being able to see him, the fact humans couldn't sense mana helped greatly too.

Lloyd was uncomfortably sitting on the ground, one of his feet shaking behind his head as he was using both his hands to support himself. Regal was keeping the quivering limb in its place, pressing it firmly against Lloyd's nape.

"Regal, is…" the swordsman inspired sharply, sweat rolling down his livid face "What was this exercise for, again…?"

"I'm just taking note of the current state of your muscles" the older man shook his head slowly at the boy's distress "You're not ready for this kind of exercise, after all. I shouldn't have let you have your way"

Lloyd shook his head "No! I can do it!"

He tried to inspire deeply, but Genis doubted he managed to keep a hold on most of the air he drew in. Regal looked conscious of this as well, yet he just smiled softly at the teen's efforts.

Stupid, stupid Lloyd. Always pushing himself to his limits, or straining himself beyond that, chasing some hopeless daydreams and dragging all of them with him…

Genis's heart tightened painfully. There was his best friend, a stubborn fool whom is the first to rush into a battle, even when all the odds of the worlds are against him. A naïve idiot whose straight-forward way of thinking led to countless problems and embarrassing situations, and yet…

He was probably the reason he didn't automatically hate every human out there, and why he kept on struggling to keep himself together in a human society instead of choosing the easy way out.

"Lloyd, that's fine" Regal let go of the young swordsman's leg, and he put it down as soon as possible. Then Lloyd proceeded to throw himself backward, stretching his back against the ground, sighing frustrated.

"I can't feel my leg anymore!" he stated, but the older man just nodded in acknowledge "So, how was it Regal?"

The ex-convict stroked his chin, looking far away at the ocean "You nearly strained your muscles, Lloyd. You don't stretch your limbs much during the day, do you"

Lloyd blushed furiously as he rolled on his side, showing his back to Regal "N-not true!" he shouted a bit too loud, and the older man noticed it immediately. He sat down next to the swordsman.

"Lloyd, be honest with me" Regal's voice was soft, devoid of any kind of anger or disappointment.

The young swordsman rolled further away, his blush getting deeper "Well, ok… Once in a while?" he murmured, making Regal chuckle. "Ok, ok, I get it! Don't laugh!" Lloyd pouted ashamed, and Genis couldn't tell the difference between his face and his red shirt anymore.

"That's more like it, Lloyd" the ex-convict absently picked a nearby piece of wood "We could say the current state of your body is this" he bent the wood as much as he could without cracking it "However, if you try to go over…" the small log snapped immediately. Lloyd shivered.

"Wait, do you mean I nearly broke myself in half earlier?" he gasped, scrambling on his bottom. "I would have never thought it!"

Regal blinked astonished at the boy's worried expression. He quickly recovered himself when he noticed Lloyd was actually waiting for an answer out of him "…No, Lloyd, it doesn't work like that" the young swordsman sighed in relief "Unless, of course, you try to stretch yourself over your body's natural limits…"

The young swordsman basically froze on the spot, his expression of relief still etched on his face. Genis had to stifle his laugh at such sight; it reminded him of the countless times he found Lloyd unprepared for an incoming exam…

"I want to know what spicy is! You prepare spicy and I let you pass!"

The mage's mood suddenly dropped, his eyes fixed on the bowl of curry. It was probably cold by now…

"Uhmmm, ok…" Lloyd turned to look at the rest of the group, singling silently "How about…"

Genis raised on his tiptoes, mentally wishing there was a "Choose Me!" arrow above him as both Colette and Raine were slightly covering him. Maybe he could use some magic, but it would be too flashy.

Why was he worried? He smiled, but something kept on nagging in the back of his mind. Lloyd was surely going to choose him-

"Regal, could you make some curry?"

"And how do I know which are my body's natural limits?" Lloyd threw the two pieces of wood in the fire. Genis gritted his teeth: why was Lloyd asking such obvious questions? That's why he had failed any exam Raine had given him!

The older man pulled out his kitchen knife while answering "The same way you understand you don't have mana left when fighting. When you reach your limits, you'll know" Lloyd, instead, was rummaging around in his back bag.

"Is there anything you want to eat before coming back, Lloyd?" the young swordsman nodded frantically, taking out some red satay and onion from his personal stock. His smile was so goofy, and yet it appeared so brilliant to Genis…

"Could you make some more curry for me, Regal?"

The bowl Genis filled so carefully with his curry shattered on the soil. The wrapped tinfoil prevented the food from spilling everywhere, but that didn't matter anymore.

"Is there anything you want, Lloyd?" Genis puffed over the fire, enjoying its warmth. He smiled at his friend, but the young swordsman was looking elsewhere.

"Whatever's fine, Genis"

No, no, "whatever" wasn't fine…

"Hey Lloyd! How about we try the new recipe the Wonder Chef gave us!" the midget mage had just locked a protesting Raine out of the kitchen. Lloyd was sticking his head outside of the window, searching for someone.

"As you prefer, Genis. It's not really important"

Not important? He talked like he wasn't even going to eat it…

"…Lloyd" Genis tapped on the young swordsman's shoulder, catching his attention "What do you want for dinner?"

"I don't care!"

"You've already eaten curry at the Temple of Earth, Lloyd" nonetheless, Regal was already pouring oil in a pan "Eating the same thing everyday and more than once isn't healthy"

Lloyd grinned, trying to look ashamed of his request although his eyes clearly told the contrary "But your curry is just too good!" as the ex-convict smiled at the compliment, the boy continued "Ok, anything you cook is just too good! You're an amazing chef!"

That was it, then? That was so ridiculous! Genis kicked the remains of the bowl, curry and tinfoil. They didn't even turn around at the noise. It was like he wasn't there at all.

However… It was true, wasn't it? He hid himself in the darkness, where he could see them, but they couldn't make the mage's figure out of the landscape.

Genis turned around, tuning out the conversation Lloyd and Regal were having right in front of him. His best friend was slipping away, finding more company in his new friends, in Regal of all the people.

Not that Genis disliked Regal. Well, yes, he didn't know Presea and yet he was so concerned about her well-being, but he was so mature and composed and knowledgeable. He didn't have a "Ruin Mania" like his sister, his endless amount of patience was simply amazing, and he wasn't going to betray them like Kratos did, was he?

But Lloyd…

"Idiot Lloyd" the midget mage muttered, walking his way back to the original campfire "Stupid Lloyd. Stupid, stupid Lloyd. Stupid, idiotic, dumb Lloyd!"

His best friend had been leaving him behind, and what has he done? Looked at him from far away, contemplating the distance between them widening day by day. He could have done anything: tease him, drag him away to do his homework, put his bottom on fire without meaning it –he could have said he was aiming for Zelos and the swordsman got in the way-, fill his plate with tomatoes, blast the ground so they could have built a small fort together with the rocks produced by his magic…

Instead, he waited for Lloyd to make the first step, as usual. It was always dumb Lloyd to rush head first in any situation. He preferred to ponder the chances far away –but then again, he never finished any analysis due to the swordsman's impulsiveness.

And now that there weren't any enemies to fight in a mortal battle, he had all the time to plan out his actions. Which Genis never carried out.

He was a coward.

My, this is more angsty than I wanted it to be; I don't have anything against Genis, so I kinda feel bad about it now.

On another note, I like writing one-shots. They're faster to write as they end in, well, one chapter. I'd like to write some more one-shots with Lloyd when not having the time to flesh out my longer projects, so I'm not tagging this fanfic as "complete" for now.

If you have any idea for a one-shot with Lloyd and another random character (or two random characters, or three, and so on), feel free to suggest it. I'd really want to try to get on it while keeping the characters –and the world(s)- as IC as possible, unless it's stated otherwise. Anything's fine, except 18+ material: I'm just plain terrible at it.

I hope you enjoyed reading this piece. If you didn't, I'm sorry I've wasted your time.