Just to clear it up. Kratos does have his arm on, which is why Lloyd reacted that way.
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Disclaimer: Namco owns Tales of Symphonia.

Chapter 34:

"Who are you?" Lloyd hissed, glaring at the figure.

The figure didn't answer immediately and Lloyd glared. Raine stepped forward. "He is alone, Lloyd. He isn't a threat."

Lloyd growled, but didn't stand back. He didn't care whether he was a threat, the bastard was a Renegade. "What do you want?" he snapped.

The Renegade frowned. "I wish to speak with you alone."

"Not a chance." Lloyd scoffed. What did the guy think he was? An idiot?

Zelos smirked. "Well, looks like your mission is over. Better get out of here."

The Renegade ignored Zelos. "Just hear me out." The voice was softer than before.

Lloyd frowned for a moment. It sounded familiar...

"Why do you want, Lloyd?" Genis demanded, suddenly. "Why is he so important to you guys?"

Raine frowned. "Most likely because of his role in Cruxis, Genis."

The Renegade shook his head. "I only need to speak with him." Lloyd's swords lowered for a moment, his expression turning puzzled. That voice...

He stepped forward then, frowning. "Da—"

"Master Zelos! Master Lloyd! There you are! We were searching everywhere for you!"

Lloyd flinched and spun as the usual crowd of women gathered around Zelos. Serena, of course, found her way over to Lloyd. "Hello, Master Lloyd. I wanted to say sorry for earlier. I didn't mean to—"

Lloyd frowned. "Get off of me." He pulled his arm from her and turned. "Dad—" he stopped when he realized the Renegade was gone. Frowning he looked around, but the soldier was gone.

--

"So you are in Cruxis." Zelos said as they walked out of the city. "What exactly is this role of yours?"

Lloyd frowned. "It is not important, Zelos."

"I would think it is important." Raine looked at him. "You haven't even told your new friend?"

"Just stay out of it." Lloyd snapped at her.

Genis frowned. "Raine, don't. He didn't tell our secret."

Lloyd blinked and looked at Genis in surprise. Raine's mouth tightened and she turned away. Genis smiled at Lloyd. Zelos shrugged. "Whatever. If you don't want to tell me, that is your business."

Lloyd gave him a grateful look. It made him feel guilty not telling Zelos, but it was better that Zelos didn't know he was angel. Besides, he probably wouldn't believe him...

"So what was up with that Renegade guy back there?" Genis spoke up, shaking Lloyd from his thoughts.

Lloyd shrugged. "How should I know." He saw Raine narrow her eyes, but he glanced away.

"Are you sure? It appeared you recognized him after a moment." Raine added.

"Raine..." Genis whispered.

"It doesn't matter if I knew him or not." Lloyd glared at her. "It's none of your business."

"Hey, hey now, Bud. Ease up. That is no way to charm a lady." Zelos laid a hand on his shoulder.

"You can have her." Lloyd growled.

Raine snorted and turned away and Genis frowned. "So...Lloyd..."

"What?" he growled. He was thoroughly annoyed. All he wanted to do was get back to Welgaia, not be hounded with questions by theses two.

Genis flinched, but then stiffened. "So what have you been doing this past year?"

Lloyd's scowled faded and was replaced with shock. He blinked. "What?"

Genis smirked. "Well, you must have been doing something this whole time."

Lloyd shook his head and scowled. Why should he answer? It was just probably some kind of trick to get him to reveal information. He glanced at Genis, who was waiting patiently; Raine was ahead, not even paying attention, or at least was pretending not too.

Lloyd shrugged. "Nothing really."

Zelos smirked and Genis smiled. "I find that hard to believe."

"Ah, squirt. You better be careful. My bud here is one of the best fighters around. He can almost match the Great Zelos Wilder himself!"

Lloyd snorted. "Yeah, you are lucky I go easy on you, Zelos." Zelos grinned.

Genis smiled. "So you were improving your sword skills, then?"

Lloyd looked at him sharply, blinking and then glanced at Zelos who was smirking. "You jerk." He grumbled. Zelos shrugged.

Lloyd sighed and fingered his sword hilts. "Yeah, I was practicing sword play."

Genis nodded. "I bet you are pretty good now."

"Better than before."

"What else did you do?" Genis looked over at him, hoisting his pack higher on his shoulder.

Lloyd opened his mouth to answer and then snapped his mouth shut, narrowing his eyes on the small half-elf. Genis didn't flinch, or look away. Lloyd growled and looked away. "Nothing."

Genis' face twitched slightly as he looked away, his brow furrowing slightly. "Oh."

Zelos glanced at Lloyd curiously, but Lloyd shook his head. He had been sucked into the conversation. Genis was just like Raine, both were just digging, trying to get information. What did Genis care about his time in Welgaia?

--

Kratos watched, from his rheaird, as his son walked with the others towards the bridge. He closed his eyes. How could he have been so foolish? Approaching Lloyd, dressed as a Renegade would have undoubtedly gained that type of reaction.

He shook his head. It seemed he was making more and more mistakes as time went on. Perhaps it was best if he remained in the shadows for the time being. It appeared that Lloyd was at least accepting Raine and Genis' presence, if only. It could be a possibility that Raine and Genis would manage to reach out to Lloyd in the end.

Kratos frowned. Though, Raine did have a tendency to pry and may only close Lloyd off more. If Colette still had her soul, she would have been able to get Lloyd to see reason. She nearly did so at the Tower of Salvation.

No. It would have to be Genis. Though, as Yuan mentioned, Genis seemed to be the cause of Lloyd's anger and could yet push them even further apart.

Closing his eyes, he sighed. He was doing it again, allowing others to take the role while he watched from the sidelines. It was cowardly; he knew that, which is why he couldn't simply disappear.

Kratos slowly eased the rheaird forward, but turned it towards Flanoir, instead.

The thrum of the machine grew louder as he increased its speed, the landscape flying past, the wind snatching at his clothes. He had been running for too long. He was tired of hiding behind other's shadows.

Snow whipped around as he neared the ice continent and he slowed the machine, searching the islands for the blue dome. He found it easily enough and banked the rheaird down, easing it towards the hanger as the large doors opened.

The was dark because of the glare of the snow, but Kratos did notice Yuan striding towards him, angrily. He blinked to clear his vision, before stepping down from the machine.

"Where the hell have you been?" Yuan growled as Kratos wiped the melted snow from his clothes.

"Meltokio."

"Why the hell would you go there?" Yuan crossed his arms, glaring at him. Kratos ignored him, pulled off his helmet, and tugged down the hood, shaking his hair loose.

"To see my son," he said.

Yuan's eyes closed. "Did he know it was you?"

"No." Kratos answered, brushing past him as a pair of half-elves hurried over with rags and began to wipe the water and snow of the rheaird.

Yuan sighed. "At least you didn't screw that up." Kratos kept walking and Yuan caught his arm, bringing him to a stop. "I suggest you stay away from him until the Fooji Mountains—"

"I am leaving, Yuan." Kratos tugged his arm away and headed for the doors.

"What?" Yuan growled, following him out of the hangar.

"I am going after Lloyd and I can't do that if I am his enemy."

"You are his enemy, Kratos." Yuan snapped.

Kratos stopped and then turned around, eyes blazing. "I will not play your games, Yuan. I can reach Lloyd easily enough without waiting for him to fall into some trap."

Yuan smirked. "And what happens if he won't listen to you. What happens if he begs you to return to Cruxis with him?"

Kratos glared at him. "I will make him listen."

Yuan scoffed. "You would buckle under the first accusation of abandonment. He is not stupid, Kratos. He will know that you are trying to persuade him to leave. Yggdrasil has got him so firmly under his control that Lloyd will label you a traitor."

Kratos' hand fell to his sword. "I won't let him make my mistakes." He hissed. "He is my son and you are not going to stop me from helping him."

Yuan's eyes flickered to Kratos' sword and then back to his face. His expression hardened. "No, instead you will do that yourself. Just wait until they return for the rheairds and then Lloyd will be forced to stay and listen."

"He would be a prisoner." Kratos growled. "That is not how to earn his trust. I will not betray him again." Kratos gripped his sword tighter.

Yuan smirked. "You will have to."

--

"This is the perfect time for nicknames!" Zelos shouted out.

"No." Lloyd said.

Zelos ignored him and slipped over towards Raine, who was walking directly in front of Presea and Colette. "You my beautiful darling shall be Gorgeous Ultra Cool Beauty!"

Genis stared at Zelos wide-eyed. "Huh?"

Raine sighed heavily. "I don't need one."

"Now, now, that won't do. It does nothing for your air of elegance—"

"I don't care."

Zelos frowned, "Well then, how about Her Highness?"

"No."

"Just call her Professor." Lloyd growled, "She seems to enjoy having authority." He mumbled but Raine frowned at him.

Zelos looked thoughtful. "Why Lloyd, you are a genius! The bewitching female teacher!"

"Whatever." Raine mumbled and Genis rolled his eyes.

Zelos smiled triumpthantly. "Now, Genis is Brat..."

Lloyd smirked as Genis scowled. "Fits him perfectly."

Genis smirked back. "Yeah, Bud." Lloyd blinked and then looked away.

Zelos had slid over to Presea and Colette. "Now, Presea will be Little One, and my dear sweet Colette shall be—" he moved to put his arm around her and Colette stopped. Lloyd suddenly appeared at his side and grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "Hey! Whoa, Bud?"

"Don't touch her, you idiot." Lloyd released his arm as Colette resumed walking. "Don't you remember what happened last time? She would have thrown you off the bridge."

Zelos blinked and glanced at the railing. "Huh, that wouldn't have been fun."

"No kidding." Lloyd shook his head. "Look, bother the others, but leave Colette alone."

Zelos looked serious for a moment and then broke into a grin. "Ah, I get it. You just want her all to yourself."

"No, I—"

"Say nothing more, I shall keep my distance." Zelos patted him on the back and sauntered over to Raine, throwing an arm around her waist.

Lloyd flushed. Zelos could make the most stupidest assumptions. He then realized that Genis had stopped and was watching him curiously. "What?" he snapped.

Genis smiled. "Are you embarrassed?"

"What are you talking about?" Lloyd scoffed, walking past him.

Genis jogged to keep up with Lloyd's long strides. "Well you got all red when Zelos—"

"I was just caught off guard. That's all." Lloyd growled.

"Hmmm..." Genis glanced away. Then after a moment, he spoke. "Do you think she can come back?"

"Who?" Lloyd sighed in irritation, quickening his pace. Why wouldn't Genis leave him alone?

"Colette. Do you think she—"

Lloyd shrugged, "Not here, and besides it doesn't matter to me."

Genis' face twisted at his words, but he quickly gathered himself together. "I wonder..."

Lloyd didn't reply, but he glanced at Genis, who was looking straight ahead. "What?" he finally said, angry with himself for giving into his curiosity.

Genis looked at him, "Huh? Oh, I was just thinking that if you told her you loved her, or missed her that she would come back."

Lloyd's eyes widened and he stared at Genis, who surprisingly was keeping a straight face. "That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard!" Lloyd snapped at him at a second.

"Why?" Genis asked, looking confused.

Lloyd threw his hands up. "Because she has lost her memories and her heart! She doesn't remember anything! It would be pointless."

Genis shrugged, unaffected by Lloyd's anger. "Well you don't know if you don't try. Has anyone ever thought of it?"

"There is no reason to. It wouldn't work," Lloyd muttered.

Genis smirked. "I bet it would work."

"No, it wouldn't." Lloyd argued.

"Then why don't you prove it?" Genis looked at him.

"I am not saying anything," Lloyd snarled. "Even I know it wouldn't work. I am not an idiot. I am not going to fall for your stupid little joke."

Genis shrugged. "Okay. But it would be a good thing to know, don't you think?"

Lloyd rolled his eyes and turned away. It was pointless trying to argue with him and it wasn't worth the frustration.

"Genis. Hurry up!" Raine called back.

"Coming!" Genis shouted back and then glanced at Lloyd. "Well, whatever, I was just thinking." He jogged away.

Lloyd stared after him for a moment, before looking at Colette's back, before scowling. "So stupid," he muttered.

There, another chapter complete. It gave me a little trouble at first, but I think that is because I couldn't write when I had time, and wanting to write when I didn't have time. Life can be so cruel.

Regardless, I hope it is enjoyable.

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