I wrote this for a challenge community, and it's supposed to be one of 100 stories that feature Kratos and Zelos as an anti-pairing. Well, I think it's safe to say that'll never get finished so I'm posting it here for anyone who might be interested (since I'm not updating the things I should be working on).
So, this is for Ali Myrrh Kim and anyone else who might have been hoping for another chapter of Uphill Battle. Heh, it has both Kratos and Zelos in it, is that good enough? I'll try and work on some new stuff soon but for now I'm going to be a loser and recycle stuff.
"This blows," Zelos stated, summing up what he thought of the entire situation within a single blunt statement. He plopped down on a creaky wooden chair and blew a renegade strand of hair away from his face. Kratos chose not to acknowledge him and instead calmly removed his boots and armor. Zelos was already annoyed that the other man didn't seem to be as distressed about the situation as he was. "I said! This blows. And not in a good way," he added as an afterthought and chuckled at his own admittedly poor joke. Kratos sighed in an exhausted manner and turned to inspect a small fireplace in the corner of the room.
"Does everything have to be sexual with you? It's deplorable."
"Sorry dad," Zelos stressed out that last word with a mocking tone. "I didn't realize I had to watch my mouth around you," he sneered and Kratos ignored the nasty look he was receiving with practiced ease.
"You can be as vulgar as you like, it doesn't bother me. I just wouldn't want you to suffer from the impression that you're actually amusing."
"Oh, ha," Zelos snorted at the retort. "I hate this place and I hate you."
"Is that all you've got? And I thought you were supposed to be a clever one," Zelos stuck out his tongue at the dry comment and continued his pouting unfazed. "I'm not happy about this either, but there's nothing we can do about it." Kratos nodded his head towards the window, which you could hardly see anything out of thanks to the massive amounts snow swirling around outside. "It doesn't look like the storm is going to be letting up anytime soon."
"Yeah, just what I want. Stuck in Flanoir, in a snowstorm, with a cranky old man," Zelos groaned and let his head fall back on the chair, glaring up at the ceiling as if it were the source of all this evil.
The whole situation was all Lloyd's fault, really! Since the restoration of the worlds, the group had been working on rebuilding the various damaged towns and cities. When Kratos volunteered to go to Ozette and salvage some timber, Zelos almost whooped for joy. That was until Lloyd had insisted that Zelos accompany the man. The young hero didn't seem to like that fact that two members of his happy little posse couldn't seem to get along, and sought to fix that. Clinging to his idealistic beliefs as always. Beliefs that Zelos would consider foolish if he weren't busy admiring them in the first place.
Still, despite how nice the idea was, Zelos knew that in fact people couldn't always get along. There would always be conflict, differing points of view, bigotry, and eventually more wars.
Not that Kratos was a particularly difficult person to get along with. In truth, he mostly kept to himself and wasn't usually much of a bother. But there was just too much about that man that reminded Zelos of a past he'd rather forget.
Not to mention that fact that with Kratos present, Zelos was starting to feel more detached from the group. Him and Lloyd had been real tight up until that jerk had returned from space, but now it seemed like Lloyd was only interested in bonding with his blood father. Maybe it made him a horrible friend, but Zelos couldn't help but feel jealous.
Even the others! Raine, Genis, everyone… they all seemed to look up to Kratos. They valued his opinion, even after all the horrible things he had done. They never took Zelos seriously. What did they think he was? Some understudy designated to fill the magic-swordsman void until mister high and mighty saw fit to return?
So naturally, filled with resentment, Zelos wasn't happy about these new turn of events. The one bright spot was that at least he knew Lloyd still valued him. He wouldn't have been so concerned about Zelos getting along with his father if he didn't plan on keeping the ex-chosen around for while…Right?
It seemed a cruel twist of fate that Zelos had to be trapped in close quarters with his very most unfavorite person, during which his very most unfavorite weather raged on outside. But with the vicious storm that had blown in, the rheairds could carry them no further. Zelos thought of as many curses as he could in as many languages as he knew and whispered them as a mantra. Even that didn't seem to be enough to alleviate his frustration. Zelos sighed and turned his head as he heard a fireball spell being cast.
Kratos got up and dusted his hands off, turning to see Zelos' eyes fixed on him hard. He returned the look and the two remained fixed on one another until Zelos looked away awkwardly. "What is it?" Kratos asked calmly and Zelos continued to stare at the wall.
"Nothing…" Zelos whispered but Kratos picked up on the bit of venom in his tone. He eyed the boy suspiciously but decided not to comment, instead taking his former position on the bed. The bed, as in singular. Due to the late notice, this room was the only one the Inn could offer. An issue that was sure to come up soon, so Kratos decided to address it now and get it out of the way. "How shall we decide who sleeps on the bed?"
"Damned if I know."
"We could…duel for it?"
"Too tired," Zelos sighed, even though the possibility of going one on one against the recent object of his resentment was appealing. "Besides, we'd probably wreck the place."
"Forget it. I'll sleep on the floor. Just spare me a pillow." Zelos looked up at the seraph in surprise, and then took a glace towards the bed. The soft mattress looked so very appealing to his aching muscles. He bit his lip and considered Kratos' offer carefully, but finally decided on shaking his head.
"No. Sorry, I couldn't let you do that."
"I insist. You took a pretty nasty blow from that monster earlier. You should get your rest. Besides, you know I don't need much sleep." The way Kratos explained this didn't sound so much concerned as it did calculating. Like a general trying to maintain his troops for future battles.
Zelos shook his head again, wanting to agree but feeling like he might be loosing some sort of battle if he did. Maybe it was just stupid pride, but he did not want to appear weak in front of the ancient seraph. If Kratos thought he was going to get away with being the 'better man' here, he was sorely mistaken.
"Really, I don't want it. Old people like you shouldn't be sleeping on the floor anyway. Might snap a hip or something, yanno?"
"Zelos…" Kratos began in a weary tone but the former Chosen cut him off before he could finish.
"Look, I'm not some weakling you need to take care of, alright? Just drop it. I'm sleeping on the floor."
"I never said you were weak." Kratos spoke quickly, sounding almost defensive.
"You implied it. You have a knack for that sort of thing," Zelos griped and turned away from the man that had held Lloyd in his arms as a child. Pfft, it was so not fair. Why did they get to be so much closer just because Kratos figured a way to insert tab A into slot B 17 years ago?
"No, I'm pretty sure I didn't," Kratos frowned, displeased at having words put into his mouth. He knew this next comment was going to go over like a lead balloon, but felt the need to establish some defense for himself, anyway. "Perhaps you feel weak, and that's why you're taking your anger out on me."
"Got to hell," Zelos all but hissed. He wasn't some book to be read so easily, and he sure as hell didn't want Kratos of all people getting into his head.
Zelos looked up to see that Kratos was approaching, and their eyes met for another staring contest, although this one was not nearly as tense, merely questioning. Dark eyes turned soft for a moment, an expression on the man's face that Zelos had never seen before. It resembled pity, and Zelos hated it. "Who are you really fighting? Yourself or me?" Everything about that question infuriated Zelos, so much so that he couldn't find the exact words that would do his anger justice.
Taking the boy's silence as defeat Kratos moved closer, his voice insistent. "Come now. Go to sleep, things will be better in the morning."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Zelos only regained his voice when he felt a persistent tugging on his arm. Kratos was standing over him, physically willing him towards bed before the Chosen shoved him away. Kratos glared as he crossed his arms, wondering what sort of approach to use next.
"Go to sleep. Lloyd would be worried if he could see the way you are acting."
"Oh, that's the best you can do? The guilt trip isn't going to work, I'm not that simple minded" Zelos growled out, irked at how Kratos thought he could manipulate him. Manipulate him! Didn't he know you couldn't trick a tricker?
"Why are you being so difficult?" Kratos asked harshly, obviously at the end of his patience and now becoming irritated. Zelos might have been unwilling to end this already long and tolling day, but Kratos was more than eager to call it a night.
"Because…" Zelos started, unsure of what he was trying to say, "You're making me look bad. Okay?" he finished lamely. It sounded even more ridiculous out loud than it did in his head, but now it was too late to take it back.
"Making you look bad…to whom?" Kratos took a moment to glance around the room, making sure that they were still the only ones around. He looked back over towards Zelos and raised a curious eyebrow.
"Just…shut up." Zelos sighed pathetically, the conversation exhausting his normally excellent wit.
"Zelos," Kratos started, realizing this was going nowhere fast, "I honestly don't care what you think if me, though you have every right to hate me." The man's eyes lowered in what Zelos thought was shame. At least, it had better damn well be. "However, I'm sure you realize this whole trip was just a ploy to give us time to bond. I suggest you make the effort to be civil with me, or it might jeopardize the future of yours and Lloyd's friendship."
"Yeah. Who would've thought that one of Lloyd's half-baked plans could ever go wrong?" Zelos couldn't help but laugh. Kratos expression remained somber. "Alright, listen," Zelos sighed, ready to compromise if that's what it took to end this, "when we get back home, we'll make up some bullshit story about how we saved an injured puppy and bonded in the process, or whatever."
"Zelos, that would be lying and it wouldn't be very nice," the grave expression was still in place, but Zelos could see just hint of mirth in the stoic one's eyes.
"Yeah, but we could totally get away with it!"
"Hm. I was thinking I might try out some honesty. Parts of this story might actually prove entertaining. Like how you can even find the energy to argue with me about such things as the floor."
"Suit yourself. I'm going to stick with what I'm good at."
"We both know you're better than that," was Kratos' unexpected comment, and Zelos was stunned silent for a moment. What would have been comforting from anyone else, just sounded weird coming from Kratos. Zelos wondered if he even meant it at all.
"Whatever," Zelos replied awkwardly, suddenly feeling inexplicably embarrassed.
"What, you don't believe me? Honestly, why else would Lloyd value your friendship so much?"
"Uh, beats me?" Zelos blinked. This conversation was taking a turn he had not expected.
"I have to admit…sometimes I get jealous watching you two together. It just seems so natural between you." Kratos fiddled with some buckle on his uniform as he spoke. Oh man, this had to be some kind of joke, Zelos thought. Was Mr. Tall Dark and Frigid actually feeling uncomfortable?
"You're…jealous of me?"
"I said sometimes, as in fleetingly," Kratos murmured, not pleased with having to admit this. "I feel even more foolish saying it out loud."
"Wow, you're right. That's so lame." Kratos glared as Zelos laughed at him. It wasn't malicious laughter, he just felt so damn relived. Of course, pissing off Kratos was just an added bonus.
But really, to think that this was the reality of it all changed everything. Could it really be that the person Zelos most desired to outshine, already figured himself beat?
Without much warning, Zelos launched himself onto the previously disputed bed, landing with grace that he would never be able to replicate again. Maybe that had to do with the giant weight that had just been pulled off his chest. "I'm going to bed now."
Kratos squinted at the strange behavior. Had he missed something? "I thought you didn't want the bed?"
"Nah, jealous guys deserve the floor. G'night," and with that, Zelos was fast asleep.