….okay, I know I said I'd post this yesterday, but I had writer's block. So, here's the first chapter of Gift Exchange. This is my first multi-chaptered fic, spanning a grand total of three chapters. I'll be using the scripts from the skits but I had to change around the words slightly. That being said, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia.
He really didn't know how he felt. Was it happiness or shock? Never in his young life had such an event ever happened to him. He didn't even know how to respond. His eyes were glued to the unique present that was given to him by a very special person.
It had all started a few hours ago at the inn the group was staying in at Altamira. In the lounge, Lloyd and Colette were sitting close together on a couch, simply enjoying each other's company. Sheena had claimed the rocking chair and she had been recording the recent events in her journal, which doubled as a way of communicating with Corrine (strangely enough, it had been Zelos that had suggested it to her in the first place). The red-haired, laid-back Chosen of Tethe'alla himself had made his way towards the casinos. Both his sister and Regal had already retired to bed. As for himself, he had been playing with his kendama while Presea watched him from her chair.
He had noticed that she had been fiddling with something small in her hands, but he had been too concentrated with his game to identify the object. He announced he'd be going to sleep a few minutes later and everyone bid him good night as he left the room. A few corridors and turns later, he hadn't realized that Presea had followed him until she caught him at the elevator.
"Genis." Presea said upon catching up to him, "Please…take this." And she promptly handed him a small, thin wooden box about the same size as his kendama.
"What? What's this?" the young half-elf asked upon receiving the box. It was about the same weight as his kendama as well.
"It's…my thanks, for saving me," she replied as she calmly watched him observe her gift.
"Wow! I'm so happy!" he said with a grin on his face, determined to let his happiness overcome his usual shyness whenever Presea was around, "May I open it here?"
"Yes…it's yours." she answered, not at all embarrassed.
"Wow, I wonder what's inside!" the mage said excitedly as he slid open the lid. Inside, with some cotton cushioning it, lay…
"A carved wooden bear…" Presea replied to his excited statement.
It was indeed a wooden, light brown bear. The bear felt very smooth as Genis ran his fingers around its surface before picking it up and scrutinizing it closely.
"Thanks, Presea. It'll make a great decoration!" he told her happily, feeling very proud of himself. Finally, he was able to carry on a normal conversation with Presea without any stutters or…
"It's a wealth charm," she said, abruptly, interrupting his private celebration.
"…What?" Genis whispered in a quiet voice as his previous embarrassment suddenly enveloped him.
"These charms…often give its owners good luck with money," she explained, sensing that Sylvarent may not have such items.
"Ah, um, yeah, I love it!" he stammered, silently cursing himself for acting like a stuttering fool in front of her again, "R…really! Because it's a present from Presea…a present from Presea to me," he babbled, trying to keep the conversation going as to avoid any awkward silences (for him, anyways).
"I'm glad you like it, Genis" Presea said with a small hint of a smile on her face. She moved a bit closer to the half-elf, as if to hug him. His eyes widened at the thought and he choked as Presea simply reached over with one hand to pat him on the shoulder. Still stunned, he watched her turn around and head back towards the lounge, numb fingers still clutching the bear and the wooden box.
And so that was how the midnight moon found young Genis Sage, wide awake, sitting on his bed, still holding the wealth charm that Presea had given him and staring at it with blank eyes. The shock had worn off when he had tried to go to sleep but it was soon replaced by puzzlement. How should he respond to such an act like this?
His thoughts were interrupted by footsteps that came from the hallway outside his room. What was peculiar about these footsteps, however, was the fact that the sounds were accompanied by a constant jingling noise as well as casual whistling. Genis turned his head towards the door, perplexed on what kind of person would walk around at night making quite a racket. The whistling grew louder and the young half-elf recognized his voice and grimaced. I guess Zelos is back from his "night life" stuff.
Ignoring the Chosen's whistling, Genis turned his attention back on the present Presea had given him and his predicament. His thoughts whirled around, presenting him realistic, yet utterly foolish solutions to deal with his little problem. Suddenly, a single thought made itself clear in his mind.
Maybe I should ask Zelos for his help. He may be an arrogant idiot sometimes but he knows more about this stuff than I do.
His mind made up, Genis walked outside his bedroom and trotted towards the entrance of the room itself. He poked his head out the hallway and whispered loudly "Zelos!"
The magic swordsman in question was in the process of unlocking his room with one hand while carrying two textbook-sized leather bags with the other. He jumped suddenly and the bags made a jingling sound as he did. Genis raised an eyebrow at Zelos' reaction and snickered a bit while the flustered Chosen wildly looked around to find the source of the voice that called him.
"Hey brat, what're you doing up at this hour?" Zelos answered in a blatant voice upon locating Genis. The young mage winced at the Chosen's loud tone of voice and gestured him to come inside his room. Zelos complied and he walked in, his bags still making a jingling noise. The half-elf then whispered harshly, "Be quiet, you idiot Chosen! My sister's asleep in the other room!" He gestured towards another door a little ways away from his bedroom door. Zelos paled at the thought of Raine on a mad rampage and hastily nodded. The duo quietly made their way inside Genis' room and the young half-elf shut door just as quiet.
Genis seated himself on his bed and watched as the magic swordsman carelessly threw his bags towards the walls. A bit of Gald spilt out from the tops of the bags when they impacted surface. Genis raised an eyebrow at the sight of money filled to the brim inside the bags.
"Where'd you get all that?" he asked, perplexed again.
Zelos smirked as he took a seat on the desk that was opposite of Genis' bed. "At the casinos. Those rich, stuck-up snobs just didn't know when to quit against the almighty Chosen of Tethe'alla."
Genis rolled his eyes. Look who's talking, he thought. Aloud, he said, "Look, Zelos, I need your help so be serious for once in your life." he said, deciding not to beat around the bush.
Zelos sat up straighter and cupped his hand around his ear, "What? What was that? Did I hear that correctly? Is the brat actually asking me, the great Zelos, for advice?" he asked in a haughty tone, with a very large, satisfied grin on his face.
The young mage growled and raised his hand in warning but, unfortunately, it turned out to be the hand that still held Presea's gift. He quickly hid the charm behind his back but Zelos' quick eyes managed to get a glimpse of the object. The Chosen smirked at Genis' futile attempt to hide the wooden bear, "What's that you've got behind your back?" he asked.
Genis glared at him and was about to make a snappy retort when his mind suddenly reminded him of his purpose. He resisted the urge to burn the magic swordsman to a crisp and waved the wealth charm once in front of Zelos.
"Look, Zelos," he spoke, "I'm thinking what to give to Presea in return for her present," he waved around the charm again, "If it were you, what would you want?"
Zelos grinned another one of his carefree grins and answered enthusiastically, "A beautiful woman!"
Genis' jaw dropped open at his ludicrous answer, "…What?" he asked blankly.
Zelos stood up, crossed his arms, and leaned over as if to tell him a secret, "So, wait, are you going to introduce me to a beautiful woman?" he asked in a hushed tone.
The young mage shook himself out of his stupor and glared at him, "Why should I do that for you?" he scoffed. He should've known Zelos' answer would be something woman-related.
"Whoa, whoa, I'm just kidding around," Zelos said, holding his hands up, "Man, you guys have no sense of humor whatsoever," he continued, shaking his head, "If you want help, I'll give it to you."
"Forget it, I don't need you anymore," Genis declared, obviously not trusting Zelos' solutions, "You can show yourself out now."
Zelos blinked, then shrugged and walked over to his sacks of Gald, thinking, that brat's never gonna think up a solution. Sooner or later, he'll come back to me. It's just a matter of time. Aloud, he said, "You can keep those," and he indicated the discarded pieces of Gald on the floor that had dropped out of his bags, "You can use the Gald to get a present for your girlfriend." With a smirk on his face, he exited the room and returned to the hallway before the young, flustered mage could toss a fireball at him. Genis heard the Chosen opening his own room and listened as he shut the door rather loudly.
The young mage sighed and lay down on his bed, covering himself with blankets. It was true; he didn't really need Zelos to assist him with his predicament. I'll ask Lloyd. He'd know what to do in this situation. After all, he's likes Colette just as much as I like Presea…I think.
His mind made, Genis closed his eyes and, after a few minutes, sleep came to him.
So, what'd you think? I'm not totally sure if Zelos was in character. He gave me all sorts of troubles. Anyways, please review. Till next chapter!