Thank you so much, everyone, for all of your support! This is the longest chapter yet, breaking the 1900 word barrier. Though, it still doesn't compare to the chapters of previous fics I've written. However, I've found that, the longer I try to make the chapters, the sooner Writer's Block hits me... or, I find myself writing filler to reach the word count goal. So, shorter chapters it is. Plus, this is definitely the BEST of my fics so far, in terms of quality. And quality over quantity, right? Though, I think that's due in part to the wonderful beta readers who took the time to beta-read this.

For once, this isn't a cliffhanger. This is the first chapter that really feels like it has a sense of closure at the end. Technically, I COULD end it here, but there is still the problem of Zelos' legs to be solved. I'm not cruel enough to leave him (and you) hangin' like that, so there's still more coming. Maybe hinted Kruan in later chapters... like... chapter 9? I'm bringing Kratos into the story, see, and I'm sending Yuan up to retcon the whole "leaving to never return" thing.

WARNING: The rating WILL BE GOING UP for chapter 8 (next chapter). It's nothing graphic, but the content forces the rating up to M, I believe. Well, maybe not. What's you guys' input on that? To use JadedSilk's summary, it's pretty sensual considering that it was written in fairly g-rated language. I don't LIKE writing graphic stuff. Also, it is not full-fledged smex or anything. More like Zelos showing a naiive Lloyd why guys take 'extra-long showers.' n..n; Just a little below-the-belt action, yes?

Warning # 2: Mild Kratosy hilarity ensues, so don't read if you're worried about people hearing you laugh.


Worth Waiting For

Ch 7

Beta read by: k3ybl4d3, JadedSilk, YanaQuNozerith on Y!Gallery, and leichan0767 here on FFnet.

Disclaimer: Tales of Symphonia and all of its characters belongs to Namco, not me.


Regal Bryant blinked as he took in the image of Zelos and Lloyd wrapped in each others' arms, but his impassive face betrayed no other indication of his mild shock. Pausing in the threshold of the mansion's front entry, he took a moment to analyze the emotions the scene provoked. The protectiveness he could understand. He'd acknowledged before that Lloyd felt like a younger brother to him. The faint stirring of jealousy was mildly confusing, perhaps because his own happiness had been denied him so brutally. But… he felt no revulsion. He had suspected that Zelos felt something stronger than friendship toward the naïve brunette, but Regal himself didn't know how he might react should his suspicions be confirmed. Faced with such confirmation, he found that the idea did not bother him as he feared it might. Relieved, he straightened and stepped fully into the mansion, closing the door firmly behind him.

"How have you been, Lloyd, Zelos?" Regal deadpanned. When neither answered immediately, he paced over to the couch opposite the one they currently occupied. Still no response. Regal sat down with a sigh before finally giving into the smile tugging at his lips.

"Did I misunderstand Genis' letter? I thought you were paralyzed, Zelos, not mute," he drawled, quirking an eyebrow. Zelos blinked, blushed, and pulled away from Lloyd. Finally, a reaction. Zelos ran a hand through his disheveled hair, grinning sheepishly at the bluenette.

"Nah, you heard right. But I seem to be fine, otherwise," Zelos replied with a nervous laugh before recounting the incident at Regal's request.

When Zelos was done, Regal ran a hand through his hair in a gesture similar to Zelos', leaning back against the couch. Lloyd was the first one to notice the change in the older man's appearance.

"Regal, you took off the shackles?" He exclaimed, and the man nodded.

"I've paid my debt. Besides, it would be difficult to get work done while wearing them," Regal murmured. "I apologize for not coming earlier. This was as soon as I could get away."

Zelos shrugged. "It's no biggie. We know you're a busy guy."

Regal inclined his head in acknowledgement. "Let me know if I can help in any way."

Lloyd glanced at Zelos with a grin. "Well, Genis has been the only person around here who can cook a decent meal…"

Regal smiled. "Let me show you what I can do without the shackles. Tell Genis that I'll cover dinner tonight."

Zelos nodded. "Everyone's out in the city. Genis is at the coliseum, and Sheena and the Professor are working on something in the lab. You're on your own if you want to find anyone else…" he finished with a shrug. Regal nodded and rose to his feet.

"Then I'll leave you be," he said with a smile. "I apologize for the interruption. Take care."

Regal rose and let himself out, and Lloyd sighed in relief as the door closed behind him. Zelos raised an eyebrow, turning his head to look at Lloyd.

"Well, that was a surprise. He doesn't seem to be bothered much."

Lloyd flushed. "By us, you mean? Because… isn't it wrong to be like this with another guy? That's what I've been told," he said in a worried tone. "It's… unnatural. That's what people think, right?"

Zelos scoffed. "How could something be wrong if it feels so right? Whoever told you that didn't know what they were talking about," he assured the brunette. "That backwoods ideology was done away with a long time ago, here in the city."

Lloyd still wasn't convinced. "Besides, I thought you liked girls, even if you never… actually…"

"Slept with any?" Zelos supplied. "Well, I like girls, too. But YOU," he said, poking Lloyd's chest with a finger, "are more important to me than any girl I've ever met. Love and lust aren't the same thing, hunny."

Lloyd blushed, stammering, "B-but… I don't know the first thing about this. If you… and I… how am I supposed to act?"

Zelos smiled. "Just the way you always have. It's what I dig about you, Lloyd. Seriously," he added, "if all I wanted was looks and not personality, I'd have been hitting on Kratos and not you."

Lloyd spluttered in shock. "Wh… WHAT!? Zelos, that's my DAD you're talking about!"

Zelos smirked. "I know. Your old man is hot, bud. Thing is, he's a dick," he said, bemused. "I can't stand the guy, sweet ass or no." Lloyd looked positively mortified.

Grinning, Zelos flopped an arm around him again, leaning against the brunette. "YOU, on the other hand, are cute and LOVEABLE. Thank Martel you didn't inherit your old man's dull personality."

Lloyd pouted, still upset. Zelos sighed. "Lloyd. Don't worry about what he'd think, either. Even if he IS a bastard, he won't mind that you're gay. Trust me."

Lloyd looked skeptical. "How can you know that?"

Zelos grinned. "Two very good reasons. One, I know for a fact that he's had more than a little fling with Yuan," he chuckled, holding a finger to Lloyd's lips before he could interrupt, "and two, you're his son. Even I can't argue that he doesn't love you enough to die for you. Or kill for you," he whispered. "He loved you so much that he took your mother's life to save you, ripping his own heart to pieces in the process."

Lloyd flinched. "I… I guess you're right. But how did you know about that?"

Zelos shifted, bringing his free hand up to touch the Cruxis crystal affixed to his chest just below the hollow of his throat. "I was part of Cruxis, remember? And the Renegades. A three-way traitor," he murmured. "I cornered Kratos once and forced the story out of him. At that point, he didn't know that you had survived. It shook me up, but I couldn't blame the guy for being so cold. It gave me a reason to tolerate being around him…" he finished with a shrug. After a moment, his lips twisted in a wicked grin.

"I found out about his... escapades… from Yuan," he added with a smirk. He leaned over to whisper in Lloyd's ear, "You'll learn that alcohol loosens many tongues, Lloyd. Ever gotten buzzed before?"

Lloyd shook his head, blushing. Goddess, the feeling of Zelos's warm breath against his ear sent a tingle through his body that he wasn't sure he liked. Or maybe he liked it too much.

"The Professor said it was bad for you."

Zelos shook his head, pulling away slightly. "Not in small amounts. Wine is actually good for you when used in moderation, Lloyd." Raising a hand, Zelos called Sebastian over and requested two glasses of something Lloyd didn't quite catch.

Sebastian returned with two shot glasses and a bottle. Smiling his thanks, Zelos filled the glasses as Sebastian left.

"Now, this is a bit stronger than wine, but I'll make sure you don't drink too much," he assured Lloyd, handing him a glass.

Zelos laughed when Lloyd coughed and made a face after taking a sip. "I should warn you, it has a bite."

Eventually, Lloyd started to loosen up. Zelos never refilled Lloyd's glass, despite the brunette's assurance that he could handle it. Zelos stopped after two glasses, not wanting to get drunk either. He noted the flush in Lloyd's cheeks and the slight glaze in his eyes with more than a little satisfaction.

"Never fly after drinking, Lloyd. Alcohol does slow your reflexes and makes your head fuzzy, and crashing a Rheiard would be fatal," he said in a serious tone, sliding the tray with the bottle and empty glasses away. "Also, always go to a bar with a buddy. It's easy for other people to take advantage of you if you're drunk," he muttered darkly, recalling an unpleasant memory.

"Why's that?" Lloyd asked with a frown. He kind of liked this floaty feeling, this "buzz."

"Because being drunk makes you suggestible and horny, Lloyd, and that's a very dangerous combination," he growled.

Lloyd's eyes widened. "You… sound like you're speaking from experience."

Zelos bit his lip. "I… was lucky. I never got raped, but I made the mistake of going to a bar alone when I was younger. I'd had one or three too many drinks… and this guy started warming up to me. Talking nice, buying me drinks, you know the deal. He offered to escort me home, but I didn't realize until it was too late that he never actually asked where I lived. Not everyone knew my face and name back then, because my father was still alive and the current Chosen," Zelos explained at Lloyd's questioning expression. "The guy led me out and started taking me down this alley. That was about when I figured something was wrong, and when I asked the guy about it, he shoved me against a wall. Next thing I know, his hands are all over me and I'm too smashed to get away from him," Zelos whispered. "He put a hand over my mouth when I tried to scream, and I wasn't strong enough to fight him. He had just shoved a hand down my pants when someone came up from behind and knocked him out cold," he finished quietly.

"Who was it?" Lloyd had to ask. "The guy who saved you, I mean?"

Zelos' lips twitched in a half-smile. "It was Kratos. He carried me home. Cruxis was keeping tabs on me. I don't really remember it too well, but I recognized his voice when I was introduced to him after joining in on Cruxis' little scheme," he murmured. "I never thanked Kratos for it, and I'm sure he doesn't know I remember."

Lloyd hummed softly as he thought the new information over. "You and my dad… go way back, huh?"

Zelos smirked. "Yup. Been hating each other since before we met, right?"

Lloyd shook his head and laughed. That tingle from earlier had returned, this time even stronger. It was strange; Lloyd was actually craving the sensation of Zelos' mouth whispering against his ear again. He wanted more of that feeling, whatever it was. He felt hot and cold at the same time, and he shivered as Zelos' arm shifted around him. Goddess, was it the alcohol making him feel this way? Lloyd couldn't think entirely straight. His skin suddenly felt hypersensitive, and the burn of his cheeks told him that he was probably flushed. Something in his gut was nagging at him, telling him that this wasn't the alcohol talking at all. He felt a strange fluttering in his stomach. Lloyd found himself entranced by Zelos' lips as the redhead spoke, not noticing that they were moving closer and closer…

Lloyd's eyes fluttered shut as Zelos' lips brushed against his in a chaste kiss. Suddenly, it hit him. This was what he'd been wanting all this time- to have Zelos this way as his and no-one else's. And Zelos was right; this did feel right. Too right for it to be wrong.

As Zelos pulled away, Lloyd slowly opened his eyes and was greeted with a heartbreakingly joyful smile. Zelos gently brushed a thumb across Lloyd's lips, reveling in the happiness he felt.

"…I've been wanting to do that for more than a year, Lloyd."

Lloyd returned the soft smile. "Why didn't you?"

Zelos moved closer again, closing the distance until their foreheads touched. "Because you're worth waiting for."

---

R&R if you want more!!!!! Rating goes up next chapter... I think. Nothing graphic, but content demands it. Unless you think otherwise?