Title: Learn By Doing
Fandom: Tales of Symphonia
Pairing/Characters: Regal, Lloyd
Warning(s): None
Genre: Gen
Part VI of the Regal and Lloyd Do Manly Things Together Saga.

"They're heavy," Lloyd said, with a hint of surprise in his voice. "Heavier than I expected, at least. How do you wear them all the time?"

"You get used to them." Regal strapped the second greave down and admired his work- Lloyd's legs were smaller than his, but the metal plates fit him pretty well.

Lloyd stood, leaning down to pull his pants over the greaves, but Regal stopped him and rolled them back up. "The most important part of fighting with them on is learning the best place to hit with them. That is what we will be doing tonight."

"-Right." Lloyd took a shaky step and almost lost his balance. "…But I think you need to teach me how to walk first."

x x x

"Find your center of balance," Regal said, as they ran side-by-side on the shores of the Great Ocean.

"Easy- for- you- to- say," Lloyd managed between gasps for air. Regal took it as a cue to step it up another notch.

x x x

Lloyd was almost unable to stand when he sat him down. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah- just- give me a moment." Regal admired the moon while Lloyd calmed down his breathing. "Okay, I'm ready."

He picked up Lloyd's left leg. "The inside part will do the most damage, but will put the most stress on your body if you hit with it too hard. You should use it only when…"

Lloyd was fast asleep. Regal sighed, rolled the boy's pants over the greaves, and carried him back to bed.

x x x

Regal prided himself on his observational skills- being a businessman, it was necessary to be able to read a person's strengths and weaknesses at a glance. Lloyd was much more complicated than the average Tethe'allan entrepreneur or noble but even so there are certain things about the body that do not change much from person to person.

So he left the greaves on Lloyd and told him to wear them in battle. Lloyd, after all, was a trial-and-error kind of person- he learned by doing, not by being told. Over the next few weeks his new diet and the constant weight on his legs were certain to have a positive effect on him.

And so Regal, like everyone else in the party, learned to step back and watch.