A Place for My Head Chapter 4: Points Of Authority, a tales of symphonia fanfic

A Place for My Head

Disclaimer: Still disclaiming, because I've worked too hard on this for it to be ruined like that.

A/N: WARNING! This chapter may border on R in some parts, yet I do not find a change of ratings necessary. You have been warned, so if I get in trouble with , I'm am going to be really angry.

Further A/N: This chapter has multiple coexisting stories, and to preserve the first-person form, it will switch POVs often. We will always perform the switch after a lyrical interlude, but not after every interlude. Prepare to be confused.

Track 4: Points of Authority

Zelos's POV

"You truly are sadistic," I told Sheena after the show ended.

"Didn't you say you liked that about me?" she replied.

"Yeah, but you're overdoing it. We should head back to the room. That is, unless you have some other way to torture me."

Forfeit the game / Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame / Puts your name to shame
Cover up your face / You can't run the race
The pace is too fast / You just won't last

"No, I'm done. I was thinking the same thing, actually." Why do I suddenly get the feeling that everyone is conspiring against me? Lloyd's decision seems to go along with Sheena's plans a little too well.

Lloyd had apparently been back to the hotel already, as the rooming arrangements had been written on the "doors". In Lloyd's handwriting. Sure enough, he had put Genis and Presea together. There was only one bed in our room, and I expected that the others would be the same way. "Well, Sheena? I certainly didn't set this up. Unless this is another of your tests."

"No, it isn't. Lloyd's just being a jerk again," she replied, "so how about we just make the best of it."

"If you insist!" I cried, grinning madly.

She glared at me. "Zelos..."

"Yes?"

"...Never mind."

You love the way I look at you
While taking pleasure in the awful things you put me through

Presea's POV

It was getting late, so I decided to head back to the room. As I walked, I wondered, why did Lloyd split us into four rooms? Ah, yes, of course...he wanted to have a room just for himself and Colette. And if they got a room to themselves, Sheena and Zelos would surely ask for the same. I would probably be with Regal... Something about that didn't feel right. He and my sister had been in love. I couldn't...I couldn't do that. I'd have to talk to Lloyd.

As I got up there, it soon became obvious that I wouldn't have to talk to Lloyd. "Curious...he put me with Genis. How could he have known?"

"H-hey, Presea," Genis said as I entered. Why was he so nervous?

"Hello, Genis. Is something wrong?"

"No...nothing's wrong," he mumbled, his face turning red.

"It's okay. I understand. So, that's why he did it...I had been wondering how he could've known what I'd wanted. Now I see that he didn't know."

"What you wanted? You mean...you wanted to...to be...with me? Like this?"

I nodded. "Yes, Genis...I...I..." I couldn't bring myself to say it, but I knew he understood. He felt the same way. "I...'d better be getting ready for bed."

He sweatdropped. "Er...right...good idea..." He turned away, obviously wishing to give me my privacy while I changed. I did so quickly, though I'm afraid to say I couldn't show the same self-restraint. I felt quite guilty about this, and to make matters worse, when he turned around, I was still watching. "Were you...looking at me while I changed?"

Embarrassed, I replied, "I...I was. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Smiling, he tossed a small circular object to me. I caught it. It was a hand-held mirror. "I'm no better," he said.

"Then you also knew I was looking the whole time," I replied, "so why did you ask?"

"To make sure you'd be honest with me about it."

I climbed into the bed next to him. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to stay up a bit longer?" I grinned.

He grinned back. "Sure, I've got no problem with that if you don't."

You take away if I give in
My life
My pride is broken

Sheena's POV

This did provide an interesting opportunity, however. I decided to take my time undressing. Really torture him. Not with another test. No, I don't expect him to resist this one. He'll try to, though, because he thinks that's what I want.

Zelos's face turned bright red. "Er...I..." He turned away. "Sorry..."

"What for?" I asked nonchalantly.

He turned back. "Oh...sorry again...do you always take this long?"

"Nah, but I thought, you know, there's no rush..."

He gave a frightened "meep" and ran off. I guess I overdid it...

You like to think you're never wrong
(You live what you've learned)
You have to act like you're someone
(You live what you've learned)
You want someone to hurt like you
(You live what you've learned)
You want to share what you've been through
(You live what you've learned)

Regal's POV

I had to jump to get out of the way of Zelos. "I'm starting to regret my decision," he said.

"And what decision is that?"

"The one to spend the rest of my life with Sheena."

"So that's what Lloyd was doing." I looked at my rooming arrangements. He had obviously given no consideration to me whatsoever. Not that I disliked Raine, but I could tell that we were put together simply because we were the only ones left. I sighed. "Idiot."

You love the things I say I'll do
The way I'll hurt myself again just to get back at you

Lloyd's POV

Colette was getting worried. "Do you think we made a mistake setting up the rooms like this?"

"No, we did the right thing. And besides, I'm used to messing up. I'll take the blame if anything goes wrong."

"Aren't you worried that we'll ruin a relationship entirely?"

"Maybe a little...but come on, Colette, we're finally alone and you're worrying about the others?"

"I'm sorry," she replied. I couldn't stay mad at her. "I can't help it."

"I understand. I'm not mad at you. You care about everyone. That's a very good thing, you know."

"Really?"

"Yeah." I held her closer. I am always thankful that Colette is back... When she had lost her soul, her body was always cold. That was...a very hard time for me.

Colette turned to me. "You're not the same person you were when we started this journey," she told me.

This caught me by surprise. "Really?" I asked, "How so?"

"Well...you're stronger, for one. You also work harder...and of course, you're a much nicer person." She giggled and playfully took a nibble at my neck. Now this was new. Usually I had to make the first move. Still, I was all too happy to oblige her.

You take away if I give in
My life
My pride is broken

Sheena's POV

Yeah, I definitely overdid it. I quickly finished changing, started to run out, then looked down at myself and ran back to get a robe. I had to wait for the elevator, which told me Zelos had just left. It was currently on the first floor. I realized that Zelos was still dressed, and could easily go outside again, so I ran back to the room again to get dressed. Again. "Zelos, you jerk...you can't do this to me!

Genis's POV

Not that I was complaining or anything, but what the hell just happened here? This...this couldn't be real! This was impossible... I don't mean that Presea loved me all this time just as much as I loved her. I mean...you know. That.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"No, nothing," I lied. "It was a bit unexpected, that's all. Us doing so much on our first night."

"I agree. It was...troubling, that we were both so carefree this early in our relationship."

"I'm glad you think so. Let's promise to take it slow from here on in."

"We can try, but...they say that once you've gone all the way, you can never go back. It's all or nothing now, I fear."

This was even more troubling. "But it doesn't have to be, right?" I urged, "We can try to change that!"

"You—you're right. Thank you, Genis."

Forfeit the game / Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame / Puts your name to shame
Cover up your face / You can't run the race
The pace is too fast / You just won't last

Zelos's POV

From my vantage point at the fourth floor window, I watched her go. "Hurry up, Sheena!" I mock-called, laughing. I returned to the room. Serves her right for what she did to me. I...

Forfeit the game / Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame / Puts your name to shame
Cover up your face / You can't run the race
The pace is too fast / You just won't 't do it. I went to follow her.

"I'm sorry, sir, we're locking up now," the receptionist informed me. "I suggest you return to your room."

"But...but...I..." I sighed and turned around, puzzled. The doors shouldn't be locked yet... I summoned the elevator, which had just reached the fifth floor again, and sighed, "Okay..."

"Looking for something?" Sheena asked as I entered the room.

"Yeah, I...Sheena! You're here! And looking as hot as ever, I might add."

"Where had I gone?" she asked. So, she knew exactly how things were. "You ran off, remember?"

"No, I didn't, and you know it. You, on the other hand, did."

"Then why was I here, and you weren't?"

"I think you can answer that for yourself," I replied, knowing that we both could.

"Very well. You were hiding on the fourth floor, something that I wouldn't have figured out had I not..."

"...stopped to ask the receptionist if I had gone out. Her desk faces the elevator, so she knew that it had..."

"...stopped on the fourth floor, and then was sent empty to the first floor. So I came up with a plan..."

"..and had her help you. You ran out, and then when the elevator started moving again, she called you back. You then..."

"..hid on the fourth floor..."

"...just as I had done, and sent it empty to the fifth floor..."

"...just as you had done sending it to the first. I then..."

"...watched the floor display, just as I had done..."

"You were watching?"

"Yes. I waited for it to start moving before..."

"..going to the window to see me leave..."

"Exactly. Where were we again? You interrupted for the wrong reason."

"Sorry. Anyway, I had watched the floor display, just as you had, and..."

"...when I inevitably felt "guilty" about messing with you like that and went downstairs..."

"...the receptionist refused to let you out, but kept you busy long enough..."

"...for you to summon the elevator to get you back here before me. However, you wanted me to figure it out..."

"...because the elevator wasn't on the first floor..."

"...and it still isn't closing time..."

"...so you'd complain to the manager..."

"...and end up out in the cold..."

"...which I didn't want..."

"...because that would mean that you would lose me..."

"...on the last test."

You like to think you're never wrong / forfeit the game
(You live what you've learned)
You want to act like you're someone / forfeit the game
(You live what you've learned)

"Last test?" She had me confused now. "You mean it's over?"

"Apparently not," she replied. "Although, I suppose there's no way for you to see that one..."

"...because there won't be that many opportunities..."

"...for me to test you like this..."

"...so I can see that I'd be paranoid to think that every come-on you made towards me was..."

"...a test. You..."

"...figured it out, yes. Before I even..."

"...ran out, because I had seen how..."

"...I had been drooling this morning when..."

"...you woke me up, and so to wear..."

"...anything sexier would be unnecessary for testing purposes..."

"...and could only mean that..."

"...you actually wanted to..."

"...sleep with you, and that..."

"...the testing is over."

You want someone to hurt like you / forfeit the game
(You live what you've learned)
You want to share what you've been through / forfeit the game
(You live what you've learned)

A/N: Finally, what was supposed to be a very short chapter is over. The computer kept erasing my work, and so I kept having to do the second half of the chapter over again. The only problem is, this current ending screws up my plans for the next chapter! I had two songs, and was trying to figure out which order to use them in, but with the multi-person view, I thought that I should save the other for next time. Oh, well...until next time.