(HECK yes for the new categories. Yeah, I haven't uploaded a fic since they added Friendship. xP Uhyeah. Speakin of that... no shounen-ai here. Interpret how you want, but I say they're just close buds here. Meaning yeah, if you didn't see the top... main relationship is Zelos/Lloyd.)

(Hoo, boy. Almost first ToS fic... I was working on two at the same time. This one came out less cheesy than the other, plus it happens first chronologically (though maybe I should've changed it justa little). So I'ma post it first. Aaaand if people actually like it, I'll post the other one. And I have two similar onces in mind... depends on responses. Not that I'm a review begger... beggar... erk, whichever... I forsee this winding up like a couple of my other fics: I'ma post it, people are gonna like it, but I'ma look back and hate its guts. But eh. Like the others, if this winds up making anyone happy or entertained, it's gonna be up here FOREVER AND EVER. YAY. xP )

(Ohh... what else... don't own ToS, if I did it'd be mushier, Colette wouldn't get s'many scenes in the OVA, yadda yadda, here goes... )

As the strange team of eight fighters finally made the pact with Celcius, they grew weary. Therefore, they decided to spend one night in an inn in Flanoir.

As the others stayed up to talk about plans and whatever else came to mind, Zelos yawned and stated he'd just like to go to sleep. No one protested, and wished him pleasant dreams.

Of course, they knew better than to let him off so easily.

-

No matter what his teammates were talking about, Zelos's mind would be distracted by the falling snowflakes outside. He had really hoped he'd never have to see snow again, but there he was. He figured maybe he would get ahold of himself before the others went to sleep. However, shortly after arriving, there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Zelos groaned, as he lay down on the bed.

"Uh... it's me," Lloyd said. "Can I come in?"

"All right." No use fighting him off.

Lloyd walked in, closing the door behind him. "So er... just came to see how you were doing."

"Right. Well, I'm fine, just... tired."

Lloyd sighed. "I find that kinda hard to believe."

"Hmm?" Zelos rolled onto his side, facing away.

"Well... actually, everyone got a little suspicious when you of all people said you were sleepy. So they sent me in to check."

"Sent you in?"

"Er... we figured if anything really was wrong, you wouldn't tell it to just anybody. So they told me you seemed like you'd probably wanna talk to me more than anybody. And I... just agreed to it."

"Oh... well..." The man didn't know what to say. "It's nice that you came in here but it doesn't really matter."

"It does matter." Lloyd's tone was mixed with frustration and concern. "I know you don't like talking about things, but I don't want you to feel like you have to keep things from us."

Oh... there are definitely things I can't tell you, even if I wanted to, Zelos thought to himself.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

"Er, yeah I know." He mumbled a quick apology. "Sorry."

"So are you gonna say what's on your mind now?"

"You really are stubborn, aren't you?"

Lloyd began to get annoyed, but yes, he wasn't going to give up, at least not just yet. Luckily, Zelos was willing to compromise, as he sighed in defeat.

"Well, if you have to know," he began reluctantly, instantly gaining Lloyd's interest, "I was just thinking of something I was told a long time ago..."

"What was it?"

"That's... for me to know. It's really none of your business."

"Grr. How am I supposed to help you out if you don't say anything?"

Zelos sat up on the side of the bed, hesitant to go where he planned to go next. "All right, bud. Answer this. What would you think... if I..." he paused, wondering how to word the rest, "didn't exist? If you never met me to begin with?"

"That's... a weird question." He blinked, and answered without thinking at first. "But okay. Well... then we never would've got that key crest for Colette... and we wouldn't have known how to get in Meltokio through the sewers... and Sheena wouldn't hit someone all the time... and we'd be short a team member..."

Zelos nodded slightly. He still felt like he was either a tool or an obstacle.

"... but then we'd probably be a lot more depressed. I try to look on the bright side when I can, but I can't do it by myself. Even if some people get mad... you say stuff that makes us laugh or cheers us up. I don't know if you're doing it for us or you or what but... I guess I don't really want to think of what it'd be like without you."

"You sure that's not your conscience talking?" he muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"That you're not just saying that so I stop sulking? Come on. When you really think about it, you know you'd be fine without me. Maybe better off."

"What? No! Where are you getting this?" Lloyd walked up to him, though still giving him space. "I mean, even if you cause a little trouble for us... so what? I don't care, you're my friend. If someone's bringing you down, I'll do something about it..."

He was amazed by that word. He'd always call the others on the team his friends, though he was rarely called one in return. And Lloyd of all people would be honest about it... partially because he hardly spoke before thinking, usually making him a terrible liar.

Part of Zelos wanted to know what it was like to fully open up to someone. His most hated memory was what haunted him, and he didn't want to take sitting there and pretending like nothing was wrong.

In addition, he had to reconsider his plans as a spy. Throughout his life, all he thought he could do to be free of his title as the Chosen was follow Yggdrasill's plans or die trying. Yet here Lloyd was telling him he honestly liked having him around.

He had no idea what to do... maybe... given more time... to review his options... maybe if he could think of some way to make this work... a way to make it so he wouldn't hurt his companions, he'd tell everything.

But with this level of uncertainty, he couldn't reveal much. Not now.

Lloyd had been staring at his back for an awkward time. Yet he knew yelling wasn't going to get his attention when something was wrong.

"Z-Zelos...? Hello?"

"You're right," the other swordsman finally mumbled. "Guess I just let it get to me a little more than I should."

"Let what get to you?" He blinked.

Zelos got up and walked closer to him, eyes low. "Noth... something." The man's voice was still quiet. He spread his arms out, causing Lloyd to tense up, though he didn't move away.

Instead of instantly pulling him into a hug against his will, the embrace was rather slow. Lloyd felt Zelos become tense and his irregular breathing as he squeezed him tighter than usual.

The brunette grew concerned. "Hey... are you..."

"I'm not," Zelos forced out, with a voice that only grew more unsteady, "not if... anyone asks..."

"S-sure." Lloyd was incredibly puzzled as to what to do. His own body froze out of discomfort, for he generally loathed hugs, especially from Zelos. Yet this was entirely different... and because of that, the teenager uneasily wrapped his arms around his friend.

For an unknown time, it was quiet, with the occasional half-sob and reassuring words. Lloyd figured that if Zelos wasn't going to tell everything he wanted to know, perhaps times like these were all he could give... and maybe all he really needed.

(Gawd, the end was HECK to write. I've fudged up/gone over this story about five times now... But eh, Zelos/Lloyd hugs kyootness? Point is, there ain't enough non-yaoi fics so there, so I hope ya had some fun. Review would be sw3333t so I can see how much I sucked. Or if another one's worth uploading. -shrug-)