I have insomnia, so I decided to write another oneshot about Lloyd that was inspired by my nephew. This probably isn't very good, but whatever. I also thought that of my other fics, but people didn't think they were too bad.
Oh, yeah. SPOILERS.
Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia, its characters, its places, or my nephew.
"Hey, Daddy?"
Kratos turned to his three-year-old son, who was perched on the bed, watching his father get dressed. They'd been traveling from inn to inn for years; they were currently preparing to leave Asgard.
"Yes, Lloyd?" He was used to Lloyd's never-ending curiosity and questioning. He was always on alert, however, for questions that didn't have answers. Lloyd had once asked why he had wings, and Kratos had changed the subject. He would tell him one day.
"What's on you?"
Kratos glanced down. He was bare-chested, a shirt clutched in his hand. As far as he could tell, nothing was on him.
"What do you mean?" he asked the child, sitting next to him on the bed.
"This things." Lloyd squeezed the older man's upper arm and smacked his chest. "Them stuff that pops out like that."
It took Kratos a moment to realize what Lloyd was asking. "Oh, this?" He flexed his arm, making the muscles on it more pronounced. Lloyd nodded.
"Mhm, that stuff! What is it?"
"It's called muscle, Lloyd. It helps you fight to help people."
Lloyd stared down at his skinny arm and mimicked his father. "What happened to my muscle stuff? It's not here!"
Kratos chuckled at his son's distress. "Lloyd, you're not big enough to have muscles yet."
"Yes, my am!" His tiny face fell. "Yes, my am," he repeated, slightly disgruntled. "It run away. Dininit like me?" He looked up at his father. "Daddy, why dininit like me?"
Kratos stared at the pouting face. "Here," he said. "I know how you can get your muscle back." He pulled his sword from his sheath, then pulled his sheath from his belt. He held the sheath out to Lloyd. "Lift this up over your head."
Lloyd took the empty sheath and lifted it over his head. Kratos held the end, supporting it in case his son wasn't able to lift it. After a few seconds, Lloyd put in down in his lap. Kratos took it from him and put his sword back together.
"Daddy, didya see me?! I liffid it up! I do gots muscles!" he yelled delightedly. Kratos smiled and pulled his shirt over his head. Just then, Anna came out of the bathroom.
"What's all the noise? I could hear you in the shower." She sat next to Lloyd and kissed his forehead. "Why are you yelling, sweetheart?"
Lloyd stood up on the bed. "Mommy, Daddy 'n' I gots my muscle to come home!" Behind Anna, Kratos made a pose showing off his arm muscles. Lloyd made the same pose. "Looky, Mommy! Muscles!"
Anna laughed. "My little tough guy. I see your muscles."
Lloyd nodded, pleased that he had an audience. "Yeah, I'mma tough guy! I can help you with stuff now, Mommy! I can fight, too!"
Anna and Kratos frowned in unison. Kratos hastily spoke up. "Lloyd, you can't fight with us."
Lloyd frowned, too. "But you said that muscles are for fighting 'n' helping."
Kratos thought quickly. "You can help, but you aren't allowed to fight. Daddy doesn't want you to get hurt."
Lloyd pouted, but his attention was diverted when Anna said, "Let's go show Yuan your muscles. I bet he'd love to see them."
"Yeah! And I'll help him!" He put his hands up toward Kratos, who put him on his shoulders without needing to be asked.
They left the town and began to walk. Lloyd chattered all the way, talking about his muscles and how much he was going to use them. After a while, he started to fall asleep, drooling lightly on Kratos' head.
"Daddy?" he said drowsily.
"Yes, Lloyd?"
"I'm all…sleepy."
"Go to sleep, then."
"Can you tell You-in about my muscles for me?"
"Of course I will."
"Okay. Just so he know…that I's gonna help him."
"Okay."
"And Daddy?"
"What?"
"If you guys need help, I'll help you with my muscles."