A/N: Okay, this is my first attempt at a Tales of Symphonia fic. Hope you like it, criticism is always appreciated. And a BIG thank you to my beta, Rane. This wouldn't be here without you!
Warnings: Hey, it's yaoi! Uh… Zelos/Lloyd, pretty tame right now but it might change later. Spoilers for Disc 2.
Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia, or any of the characters.
Trust
Chapter 1 : Lost
Lloyd and Zelos had gotten separated from the group. Luckily, Raine had foreseen the possibility, and insisted on following a buddy system. She had paired everyone up, and told everyone to head for the inn in Sybak if they got lost. The two were trying to do just that when suddenly Zelos decided to walk off the path to pick some flowers.
"Zelos!" Lloyd shouted. "Come back here!"
"Nya nya!" replied Zelos. "Can't catch me!"
The brown-haired teen chased after the redhead. "C'mon, Zelos," he called. "Raine's gonna kill us if we get killed by monsters!"
"Dude, what?" said Zelos, popping out from behind a tree with a quizzical look on his face. "Bud, that makes no sense. She can't kill us if we're dead."
"Sure she can. Raine knows Resurrection," Lloyd said.
"That only works if we're knocked out. It won't bring us back to life."
"Oh." Lloyd paused to think. "Well, she'll use a Life Bottle on us, then."
"Bud. Seriously. Use your brain. Life Bottles only work if we're knocked out, too. If we get killed, that's it. We're dead."
"Really?"
"Really."
Lloyd looked around nervously. The forest seemed suddenly more threatening, as if they could die any second. "Maybe we should get out of here. Who knows what could come jumping out at us here!"
Zelos laughed. "Lloyd, my bud. Are you really scared of monsters? After going through everything you did in Sylvarant and coming to a whole new world, are you really still scared of monsters?"
Lloyd hit his friend gently. "That's different. I thought that Raine could use Resurrection, or a Life Bottle, and I'd be okay. Now I know she can't just revive us, so it's scarier."
"Hmm." Zelos tapped one elegant finger against his lips.
Lloyd found himself staring, unable to look away. He'd never realized how… well, how erotic the other man could be. "Zelos?" he said softly.
"Yeah, bud?"
Lloyd swallowed. "Um… Could you give me some advice?"
Finger still pressed to his lips, the Zelos turned away, glancing back from the corner of his eyes. "I suppose, for my best bud, I could maybe give a little advice. Depending on the question, of course. What's on your mind?"
"Have you ever thought about…" Lloyd trailed off. How could he ask Zelos if he'd ever thought about a man like that? Zelos would never look at him the same again.
"Just spit it out, already." Zelos' light blue eyes were dancing with humor.
"Uh… I was just wondering if you could give me some advice about Colette." He sighed. Looked like he'd chickened out this time. Oh, well.
"Yeah, don't think I can help you there. You don't have my incredible beauty or way with the hunnies. Sorry." Zelos walked quickly toward the path.
Lloyd hurried after him. What did I say wrong? Zelos had never been easy to figure out, but lately he'd been getting more and more confusing. And there was a strange tightness in his chest that had never been there before, whenever he thought about the older man.
I wish I could talk to someone about it.
Raine, maybe? Lloyd shuddered at the thought of trying to talk to the Professor about this. Definitely not Genis or Colette. Presea was out, too. Sheena would… well, Sheena would probably be okay to talk to, if it was anyone other than Zelos. And Regal might be able to help, but he didn't know the man well enough. Lloyd sighed, and trotted the last few steps to close the space between himself and the Chosen. "Zelos?" he asked hesitantly.
Zelos ignored him, pointedly not looking back.
Lloyd sighed, again, and walked a step behind his friend until the trees thinned, revealing a deserted stretch of land that… looked nothing like the area around Sybak. The sun was setting to their left, so they must have come out the northern edge of the Gaoracchia Forest. "Zelos, do you think--"
"Sorry, Lloyd," Zelos said, cutting him off. "Looks like I got us really lost. D'you mind if we camp here tonight?"
Lloyd smiled with relief. He's talking to me again. Good. "Yeah, no problem. I don't really want to go through the forest at night, you know? It's dark enough in the day."
Zelos laughed. "True, true. So, do you have the tent?"
"Yeah, it's right here."
They went through the normal routine of setting up camp in comfortable silence. That night, while Zelos drifted peacefully to sleep, Lloyd lay awake. He couldn't get the earlier conversation out of his head. Why had Zelos' mood changed so quickly? It wasn't that he didn't like Colette – he was always calling her his cute little angel. And he knew that Lloyd and Colette had grown up together. She's practically my sister; and she's going through a lot right now, he thought. Of course I want to help her all I can.
He rolled onto his side, facing Zelos. His long red hair was braided to protect it from tangles during the night.
He really is incredibly beautiful.
Lloyd pushed himself up, resting on his elbow, to study the sleeping man in the moonlight. He'd noticed a while ago, when Raine had started making them share a room at the inns, that Zelos looked a lot more innocent when he slept. It was like all the layers he wore throughout the day melted away, leaving a surprisingly vulnerable young man. When they'd first started sharing a room, Zelos would wake up at the slightest noise. Eventually, he'd grown to trust Lloyd, and started sleeping much deeper.
I could probably yell at the top of my lungs and not wake him up now.
It felt really good, to know that Zelos trusted him that much. He leaned closer, taking advantage of the opportunity to look as much as he wanted at the other man.
Without warning, Zelos rolled and flung his arm out, catching Lloyd by the waist and pulling him close. Lloyd froze, unsure what to do with this situation. His heart was beating so hard he thought it would leap out of his chest.
Why am I feeling like this… with Zelos? He's my friend, there's no way I can feel like this about him!
Then, Zelos snuggled against him, pressing his face against Lloyd's chest. "… Love you…" he mumbled.
Lloyd felt his face grow warm. He tried to lift Zelos' arm and escape, but the redhead only held him tighter, refusing to let go. After struggling futilely for a few minutes, he chuckled softly.
"Well, Zelos," he whispered. "Sleep well. Sweet dreams."
With that, he put his arm around his friend, and drifted off to sleep.
oOo
When Lloyd awoke the next morning, he found that Zelos had already gotten up and left the tent.
Just as well… He was probably dreaming about one of his "hunnies" last night. It was the best rest I've had since Palmacosta was destroyed, though.
The teen stretched, smiled, and climbed out of his blankets. He crawled out of the tent, into the bright morning sun.
"Good morning, Lloyd!" Zelos stood over him, sun at his back. "I trust you slept well with the Great Zelos by your side!"
"Yeah, I might have. If your snoring hadn't kept me up half the night."
"What? You know I don't snore! I'm so hurt, bud." Zelos grinned and started to walk off. "Oh, and if you want breakfast, grab it now. We gotta get back through the forest today."
They laughed and joked their way through breaking down the camp, and entered the dark forest once more. Zelos used his dagger to mark the trees they passed, so they didn't go in circles, and soon the two arrived on the other side of the forest, near Sybak.
As they neared the town, Lloyd felt himself getting more and more anxious. It was strange; on the one hand, he really wanted to be reunited with the group, but on the other hand, he'd really enjoyed spending time alone with Zelos. Even when Zelos wasn't talking to him. Every minute he spent in the Chosen's company, he liked him more. When Sybak came into view, he stopped.
"Lloyd? Come on, we're almost there. What's wrong?" Zelos looked at him with concern.
"I'm still worried about Colette." Lloyd glanced at Zelos, and saw his expression darkening. "It's just that she's taken her failure to save Sylvarant really hard. And everyone blames her for it, too. I don't know how to cheer her up. What would you do?"
For a moment, Zelos looked like he was going to storm off again. "Just try acting cheerful around her. Let her know that you're there to listen, but try and be normal. She'll be back to her old self soon." He shook his head and started walking. "If we hurry, we can reach Sybak by dinner."
As Zelos walked off, Lloyd could have sworn he heard him muttering.
Did he just call me stupid? Why? Gah. I just don't understand! He felt a headache starting. Heh. I must be thinking too much.
With a sigh, Lloyd followed his friend towards the town, and their group.