"S'cold," Lloyd reasoned as he hastily nestled against Zelos' form.
"Excuses," his partner responded, even as he settled comfortably against him. He hadn't felt the bite of the cold, but then again, Meltokio was a tad chillier than Iselia. Or at least, it had been, before the climates had merged into one big mess.
After halfheartedly dodging a lazy swat - apparently Lloyd had run out of witty comebacks... or steam - Zelos sighed sympathetically and began to rub his pal's frigid skin. Even if the friction didn't help too much, it was a nice gesture.
"Warm," muttered the dual swordsman.
"Y'know," Zelos began, a throaty purr laced in his voice, "They say skin-to-skin contact can actually generate more heat than--"
"Don't," Lloyd interrupted.
"Don't what?"
"You know what."
"Can I pretend not to?"
"No."
Zelos heaved a dramatic sigh, and then shivered hard. Lloyd's cold, bare fingertips had ghosted over his neck and below his collarbone, where the once forsaken jewel laid. The former Chosen's fingers ceased their gentle massage, and instead overlapped Lloyd's own, diverting them from their path.
His voice was strangely uneasy, "You know how to derail a conversation, don't you?"
"Sorry," came the quiet apology. Yet before it could sink in, he recanted it. "No... it's a reminder, isn't it? You don't have to act like that now. It's okay if you want to, but... Just," Lloyd breathed, and hissed an exhale. "Remember... there's more than this," he indicated the jewel.
"I don't know what you're saying..." Zelos' lips twitched, and he was certain Lloyd could see it and just know, even in the darkness. "But, it's cool if I smile and go with it, right?"
"Yeah," the red one assured. That was enough.