Sorry it took a while, I started college so I've been kind of busy…n.n'
Colette: Oh, I see. I'm just glad you're back! n.n (hugs)
Me: Don't try to guilt-trip me, Colette, now see the disclaimer.
Colette: Huh-? Oh, okay! n.n Freakyanimegal owns nothing! n.n
Me: Ho boy…
Any lessons planned were quite abruptly forgotten the instant the revelation was made, and instead Kratos found himself wings-withdrawn, sitting on the ground with Lloyd resting his head on his shoulder as his silvery wings spread out behind the both of them. There had been so many things Lloyd wanted to know, and so many of those things that Kratos could only answer that he couldn't answer. Yet, he told him what he could. He explained there were some things he couldn't tell him yet, but he was amazed by how Lloyd had unquestionably accepted it. On some things he persisted a bit, but soon would give in so that he could instead soak in his father's presence. Lloyd lay almost asleep beside him, his eyes closed as he breathed slowly in the sluggish rhythm of sleep. Kratos watched him all the while, reprimanding himself the entire time. Now how could he ever tell Lloyd the truth? How could he turn his blade on him when the time came? How could he do this without destroying the only joy he had left in this life?
"…Father?"
He twitched a bit at the title while the boy opened his eyes, glancing up at the man.
"I have to keep this a secret, don't I?" he said sadly, his eyes downcast and misted.
"I'm afraid so," Kratos answered quietly, "no one else can know."
"B- But what about the Chosen? She's an angel, right? Can I tell her?" he asked, unable to keep the disappointment out of his voice.
Kratos shook his head.
"No, Lloyd," he stated, "this has to be a secret until the time comes."
"…All right," he sighed, "if you say so."
"Lloyd, I…" Kratos started hesitantly, unsure of what he was going to say.
"I'm so glad you're here," Lloyd whispered weakly, burrowing his face into his father's shoulder.
Kratos couldn't find the will to speak.
"Well, there's Izoold," Raine stated as they approached the fishing village.
"Yes, um…are you ready, Lloyd?" Colette asked anxiously, looking at her 'guardian'.
"Hm?" the brunette looked at her, his wings jostling a bit.
"They're probably going to act like they did in Triet," she poked her fingers together, glancing aside as if embarrassed, "I don't want you to be uncomfortable-"
"I'm fine," he stated with a frown, "you're the only one we should be concerned about. Do you not want to go into the village yet? We can wait another day if you don't want-"
"No, no that's not it!" she shook her head, flushing. "I'm okay, really, I just wanted to make sure you were."
Lloyd smiled warmly, his eyes seeming to gleam a bit.
"You never have to worry about me, Colette," he said.
Colette's eyes widened and she blushed just a little bit before turning to the town. They entered within the next few minutes and- just like in Triet- they had risen quite a stir. The next thing they knew Raine was once again milking the townsfolk for supplies (though she did offer some gald, they would have none of it) and Lloyd was once again nervously standing by Colette's side, trying to ignore the gawks at his wings.
"Can I poke them?!" a young girl asked.
Lloyd laughed out loud, remembering how some of the kids back in Iselia had asked him much the same thing when he first grew his wings.
"Sure, just not hard," he smiled, extending his feathery appendage.
"Wooooww!" she gaped, gently prodding the wing. "They're so soft!"
"Um… Thank you," he said a little awkwardly, eying his father seeing as he was still unsure if he should be doing what he was.
"Can you fly!?"
Lloyd visibly flinched as he companions eyed him, knowing that was a sore spot.
"Well…not yet," he admitted, giving his wings a brief flap, "but I'll be able to soon."
"Really?! Wow!" the girl grinned. "I wish I could fly too!"
The teen smiled at this, gingerly patting her head before her mother came and took her away. He watched her go and felt a strange sense of serenity, of peace. He couldn't fly, but he would soon. It felt like everything was finally coming together for him… He'd lived in that village isolated from everyone else aside from his adoptive family and friends, and now he finally had his father; he'd lived feeling as if everyone avoided him and now the people looked at him as a sign of hope; he'd been unable to fly but he would soon…
Yes. Finally, everything was going to come together. Once they got to the tower, he'd even get to go to where he belonged…
So yeah, he couldn't help but smile.
"He's opening up more," Raine said offhandedly to Kratos from the other side of the room.
"Hm?" the man glanced at her.
"Lloyd," she gestured, "he's much more comfortable with people now compared to how he was in Triet."
"He has experienced it before, he knows how to react now," Kratos stated simply.
"Perhaps," she shrugged, still eying him warily, "though I can't help but think you may have had something to do with this."
"Pardon? What makes you assume that?" Kratos asked without his expression faltering.
"…Nothing," she conceded after a moment, turning her attention from him.
Kratos shot her one last glance before weaving through the crowd near Lloyd, whispering softly so only his son could hear him.
"Tell them to leave; the longer people are around the greater the chance something can happen."
Lloyd tweaked somewhat before adapting his 'dutiful' posture and expression.
"I'm afraid you all have to leave," he said, the room silencing at his tone of voice and steely-expression, "the Chosen needs to rest. I hope you understand?"
There were no protests, there were merely nods and voices of compliance as they bowed and rushed themselves out, leaving the group alone. The second that was so, Lloyd relaxed and turned to Colette with a smile.
"Are you tired?" he asked. "It's been a long day and all…we can set your bed."
"No, no I'm fine," she shook her head with a small smile, "thank you."
"Well…if you say so, Colette," he sighed, glancing aside with a faint blush, "so um…Genis? Are you sleeping?"
The silver-head responded with a loud snore from the chair by Raine, indicating that yes, he had gotten quite bored with his two friends in the spotlight and having been ignored. There was nothing much to do, they guessed, in such a situation.
"Genis!" Raine snapped loudly.
"Huh-? Wha-? Oh!" he jerked up, shaking his head as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Sorry guys…"
"Oh no, don't apologize," Colette shook her head, "I'm sorry that we had to do this again-"
"No, it's okay," Genis nodded, "it's for the good of the world…I can't complain about that."
"I guess, but still, Genis…" Lloyd bit his lip.
"Hey, nevermind that," the boy smiled, "why don't I cook up something really good tonight?"
Lloyd fully left his 'guardian' mode.
"Aw, sweet!" he grinned widely, his wings giving an excited flap. "How about beef stew?! I- I mean, if that's okay with you Colette-"
She nodded with a small smile.
"Great!" he grinned again.
"Heh, you and your food, Lloyd," Raine laughed as she shook her head, "honestly, you need it the least out of any of us…but I guess that wouldn't be you to not eat."
"W- Well, if we were running short on supplies I wouldn't eat," Lloyd stammered with a faint blush, "but we're okay on stuff now, aren't we?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," Raine smirked, glancing at the bulging pack of supplies.
"Sis, you're such a miser…" Genis sighed.
He was immediately refuted with a smack.
"Ouch," Lloyd winced.
"I'd like to discuss something with all of you," Kratos spoke up.
The group turned form their various positions to look at the mercenary, an even more stern than usual expression on his face.
"The next location we will be visiting is Palmacosta, the largest city in the world," he stated, "we cannot do what we have done in Triet and here as well. Though I understand you wish to boost the citizens' morale, attracting a large crowd in Palmacosta would be a mistake."
"What? Why is that?" Lloyd frowned.
"Small towns are easy to watch," Kratos said, "a crowd that was just here is manageable for security purposes. However, to do the same in a large city would give ample opportunity for someone to hurt the Chosen, if not bringing the attention of the Desians themselves to the scene."
"I see your point," Raine brought a hand to her chin, frowning, "but it's not like we can hide what Lloyd is-…wait."
Her gaze jerked to Colette, looking her up and down before looking at Lloyd in turn. The woman narrowed her eyes.
"What I want to know is how is it Colette can hide her wings, but Lloyd's are…how they are?"
"Perhaps the 'Chosen' is just a different kind of angel than a guardian angel?" Lloyd suggested, remembering what his father had told him.
"Well, I guess that is a possibility, but Lloyd, have you even ever attempted to make your wings go away?" she asked, her head tilted slightly.
Come to think of it…no, no he hadn't tried, though sometimes he may have regretted having them- only sometimes, mind you- he never tried to imagine them going away, disappearing…anything of that sort. He wanted to fly too badly to ever wish that.
"Why don't you try?" she suggested. "I mean, it won't hurt anything- unless you're uncomfortable with it-"
"N- No that's not it," he shook his head, "if it could help protect Colette, and besides, I should be able to take them right back out if that's the case, right?"
"…" Kratos' eyes narrowed.
Lloyd looked at the floor and closed his eyes, his wings fluttering gently behind him. Put his wings away? Hide them? Such a thought never occurred to him, so the ones that followed after naturally had not come until this point. He could be- well, not be, but look- like everyone else? People wouldn't gawk and stare or whisper or point? Then again…he liked his wings; a lot. His wings were…his wings weren't just a part of him, they were the part of him that he cherished the most. Though he had yet to fly, they were what would let him, and just having them…flapping them, moving them, filled the emptiness that had plagued him in his childhood. Still…
He tried to withdraw his wings.
Nothing happened.
"Hm, I guess you can't then," Raine sighed, her suspicions confirmed.
"I- I apologize-" Lloyd flushed, his face downcast.
"It's not like it's your fault, Lloyd," Genis rolled his eyes, "you don't have to be sorry about it!"
"Y- Yeah, right," he nodded with a faint smile, "sorry."
"We'll just have to keep everyone away," Kratos said as he closed his eyes, "Lloyd's wings are too large to hide and still allow him to travel."
"I- I see," Lloyd frowned, "I'm sorry for causing inconvenience…"
"Don't be, as Genis said, it is not your fault," Kratos stated.
Lloyd went to say something and then locked eyes with his father, complying with a nod instead.
"Now, I suggest we all get some rest," Kratos said.
So it was they all went to their assorted rooms, Lloyd plopping down on his stomach on his bed, letting out a small sigh of relief.
"Comfortable," he said simply, nudging his face into the pillow as if to soak up its feeling.
"You are tired?" Kratos asked, tilting his head to the side.
"A- A little," he admitted with a sigh, "I guess going through that twice is getting to me…"
"I'm afraid you're going to have to get used to it," Kratos closed his eyes, "after all, you cannot hide what you are, so you will have to live as what you are."
"I…suppose," Lloyd frowned slightly, looking at his father from across the room, "..F…Father?"
He barely noted the Seraph twitched slightly.
"What is it?"
"Why are my wings different than yours? I mean, I know there are different types like you said, but shouldn't I be kind of like you?"
"Your mother has something to do with that," Kratos said; not a lie…
"Oh, her wings-?"
"She didn't have wings like mine," Kratos said; again not a lie
"I see," Lloyd said with a nod, "I can't wait to meet her."
The elder angel froze.
Oh yes…Lloyd believed his mother was in heaven- and Kratos was sure she was- but the heaven Lloyd was thinking of was not heaven; he couldn't meet his mother…but how could he tell him that? He would have to, he knew that, but…he just couldn't. Not now. …Not now.
"Father-?"
"You can call me 'Dad', if you wish, Lloyden," Kratos explained.
"A- All right-?" he paused, staring at his father as he stood up. "Lloyden?"
"…That's the nickname I had for you," Kratos said, glancing away.
"O- Oh! Okay!" the boy grinned. "Well…uh…Dad? It's late…"
"Yes?"
"I don't think anyone's up."
"Yes…?"
There was a moment of silence before Lloyd sighed.
"Can we please go flying now?!"
Kratos chuckled softly, smiling a bit at his son's desperate look.
"…All right then, I'll give you your first flying lesson-"
"Really?!"
"In an hour," he finished.
Lloyd slumped, his head down as his wings hunched around him like a shield.
"Oh…oh, all right," he sighed with a defeated nod, "but you promise, right?'
"Yes," he said.
Lloyd smiled as well, content with that. Standing up he stretched out his limbs, backing as far away from everything as he could to do the same with his wings, which were bordering on five feet now. As he did this Kratos observed him with a brief sweep of the eyes, taking in the length-
"No," he said suddenly.
"W- What? 'No' what?" Lloyd looked at him.
All the angels with bird-like wings- Remiel, for instance, needed to have wings at least six feet long to fly. Though Lloyd's were different in the fact they were truly solid, not having a solid appearance while being made from mana, pure mana wings were needed to fly if the subject in question had a shorter wingspan.
"Not yet," Kratos said, knowing how the boy would react, "your wings aren't large enough yet."
"W- What? You mean you can't teach me?!" Lloyd cried, obviously distraught by the look on his face. "But you said-!"
"If you attempt flight with your wings still underdeveloped, you'll injure yourself," Kratos explained with a concerned frown, "I know I said that, and I apologize, but if you rush into this you may harm yourself and never be able to fly at all."
The teen started to protest and then stopped, his wings drooping as he stared at his father. After a minute or two he turned away, hanging his head as his wings went limp.
"I- I understand, F- Dad," he said with a reluctant nod, "all right…"
"…It really means a lot to you, doesn't it?" Kratos asked slowly, observing the brunette's tone of voice.
"W- Well, of course," he nodded, turning to look at him, "it's it's what I was born to do, isn't it? I- I mean besides helping the Chosen and all, I was born to fly, that's why I have wings, right?"
Kratos said nothing, falling silent as his son sighed deeply, looking out the window with a far-off expression on his face.
"I…I've always wanted to fly," he admitted with a weak smile, "even when I was young, and I didn't know that I was a- even before I got my wings, I always wanted to fly so badly…"
The boy sighed and sat on the bedside, his eyes downcast as he folded his hands on his knees.
"It drove me crazy," he whispered, hardly even breathing, "I just had to be up there, I just had to be in the sky…I just… I just couldn't stand it. I…I needed it, I still need it…"
"Lloyd-" Kratos started, walking over to the boy.
"I didn't understand why," Lloyd smiled weakly once more, "I didn't understand why I needed it so badly, Dad, I didn't understand why I just…"
"I'm sorry, Lloyden," Kratos stated, his eyes misted as he gently put a hand on Lloyd's head, "I'm sorry you have had to go through all you have."
There was a long moment of silence as Lloyd simply sat there, taking in the feeling of his father's fingers in his hair, the presence of the man that was his father, that was an angel, that was like him. So much like him, and so much of a mystery all the same.
"If…If you can't teach me to fly tonight, can you teach me something else?" he asked.
"What did you have in mind?" Kratos tilted his head to the side.
Lloyd lifted his head as Kratos removed his hand, the brunette looking up at him with an eager smile working its way across his face.
"Can't you just…tell me more about you?" he asked. "Like- like the stuff you like, and hobbies…stuff like that?"
Kratos looked at him a moment before a small smile coerced itself into his lips.
"Very well, then," he said.
Lloyd smiled.
Poor Lloydie, no flying for you yet. I'm so mean, I torture him with wishing for wings, then he gets them and can't fly, and now he has to wait even longer…XD I'm such a jerk n.n Lol
Colette: Why is that a good thing? O.o
Me: Nevermind that, Colette. Review? n.n'