A/N: Okay, I really wasn't quite sure how to continue this story Because it's supposed to be Angst fiction, and it's not really that anymore! Because there's nothing else to be angsty about! So, yeah! Though there is a bit. There's also some rather rough language here... but nothing too bad. Besides, this is R rated, so things like this should be expected... I also decided to take a bit more of a 'mature' look at their relationship between here (Don't get scared, it's nothing dangerous!) and there's also a fair amount of comedy now. After all, I can write that for a bit, considering this is a 'happy period' in which everything is working out fine (so it seems). And yeah!
To my happy reviewers: Congratulations, you guys actually convinced me to write some more...
To the one who wasn't happy, and anyone who might have picked up on these as well...
-How far am I into the game? Why didn't the characters match how they are later in the story?
Actually, if you read it, I said I was about 7-8 hours in . This story is written a short while after the Water Seal was released - in particular, the night after the Book of Spiritua was finally read. Character development, relationships, etc. after that are totally forgotten about. And I bet I'm not the only Fanfiction writer for ToS that hasn't played through the entire game! You also have to remember that 99% of Fanfiction is AU, so it doesn't necessarily follow the main storyline, as you'll see.
-Did I just take a tiny look at the game and decide to slash these two?
Okay, first off, I didn't 'Slash' them. If I did, this wouldn't be allowed on due to content level (Though I am sick enough to write something like that!). I put them together in a relationship. Two, I didn't just take a tiny look at the game. Three, I'm definitely not the only one who could see this pairing happening, and I know the game kind of supports it too, in its little subliminal ways . Yes, I'm crazy and I read between the lines, but I personally thought there could have easily been something going on.
-Genis isn't that troubled. Lloyd doesn't hate anybody in the group. And Colette's really quite strong in character.
At the point at which this story is written, I noticed a few things personally about the characters. First off, Genis seems like he's keeping a lot of troubles of his own hidden up, and as far as I know he never actually talks about how much getting hit all the time does or doesn't hurt him inside! I don't believe his obsession with studying was ever fully explained. There could be alternate reasons for it, as written beforehand. Second, I never said Lloyd HATED anyone. He never said he hated Colette, just that he thought Genis was a stronger person, and Genis merely thought that Lloyd hated him because of how he treated Genis at times. As for Colette, yes, I do agree she's quite strong with her emotions and has a powerful opinion, but you must compare her overall with Genis, and that's where Lloyd gets his words on the matter. Aside from that, he was caught up in the moment, as you'll see, should you choose to actually continue reading
And as for what's still to come...
-I always thought Genis almost seemed more grown-up in his desires and mentality than Lloyd... that's just my opinion, but...
Now, since I'm ALL done that (That's an entire page on word, right there, people!) it's time to get on with the story!
--2: On The Road--
Nobody had slept much that night. Genis and Lloyd had slept beside each other, the smaller mage curled up in the older boy's arms, and Kratos had been stuck watching over them while Colette and Raine were discussing where to go next, trying to discern where the locations in the Book of Spiritua were. Eventually, they too fell asleep, and Kratos ended up staying awake the entire night.
The next day, though, they were over the mountain and into new territory, and unfortunately, there was no clue as to where they were to go, except for a long dirt road leading to no-one-knew-where.
"Raine, you're smart" Lloyd spoke up. "Don't you have any clue where this trail leads?"
"I told you, no" Raine sighed, smacking Lloyd on the back of the head playfully. "Now stop asking. I've never been up this way before. It's... exciting, being in a new land like this."
"What about you, Genis?" Lloyd turned and looked down somewhat.
"Oh goodness to..." Genis sighed, putting a hand on his forehead. "There should be a house of salvation a few hours walk from here. We can get directions there."
"Oh?" Lloyd paused. "How come you're so certain all of a sudden?"
"Because I've seen maps of this place" Genis growled, slightly annoyed. "If you cared to study for once... maybe look at a book in your spare time..."
Lloyd put on a frustrated look. "Genis, why didn't you tell me this the first time I asked your sister?"
"'Cause I like seeing you get smacked" Genis smiled. Actually, he did, because it was just his little pleasure from when he had been suffering beforehand.
Colette giggled a bit, as Lloyd smacked Genis over the back of the head. Genis grabbed onto his skull, whining.
"Well, how does that feel?" Lloyd growled, still walking.
Genis wondered if, for a moment, the whole thing between him and Lloyd the previous night had been a dream, but then as he looked up to Lloyd again, a sad and disappointed look on his face, that possibility left him.
Lloyd realised how sad Genis looked, and almost instantly took a step backwards and picked the kid up in his strong arms, startling the boy. "Hey-what?"
Holding him in his arms, Lloyd kissed the top of Genis' skull, through the purple hair, where he had hit him. "There, all better"
Colette giggled again, as Lloyd set Genis down, and the boy was as perky as he normally seemed to be.
Kratos sighed, lost somewhere in the back of the pack, silent and unnoticed as usual.
"You two really should try and stop doing stuff like that" Raine sighed.
"What's the matter?" Lloyd looked back at his teacher. "You're not... jealous of your little brother, are you?" he asked, with a brilliant smirk.
Seeing his sister was too far away, and as how he had always wanted to try it, Genis jumped as high as he could and bopped Lloyd a good one while he wasn't looking.
"What the... Genis!?" Lloyd turned.
"My sister was too far away" Genis explained, smiling.
Lloyd sighed, turning back to Raine, expecting a proper answer. Raine told the others to go on ahead a bit, while she tried to explain privately to Lloyd. Genis wanted to stay, but Kratos grabbed onto the back of his clothes and dragged him along.
Finally, seeing they were far enough away, Raine turned to Lloyd. "Okay, Lloyd, listen. First off, if you're going to know anything about having a relationship with my little brother, there are three major things that you can not forget."
"Yes, those being?" Lloyd asked, calmly.
"First off, you're breaking Colette's heart by doing this, you know that? She loves you, Lloyd"
Lloyd looked down at the ground, guiltily. "I know, but... I dunno. I love Genis a lot more than I love her..."
Raine continued, shutting Lloyd up. "Second, a lot of people don't exactly take nicely or feel totally comfortable around two people of the same gender who fall in love. So if you act romantically around Genis while in public... remember that we're all totally acceptant of this kind of thing, but in other places people could insult you or even attack you guys."
"...Is it a bad thing, then?" Lloyd asked, concerned. He had suddenly got the idea into his head that being with Genis could be a bad thing, from what Raine said.
"I don't want you to think that" Raine said quickly. "It's just that a lot of people don't feel comfortable around people that prefer to love their own gender... Look at Kratos. If you haven't noticed, he... he's not totally acceptant of this kind of thing. Makes him nervous."
"...Ah, I think I see" Lloyd said. "And three?"
"Three..." Raine sighed. "My brother is twelve years old. If you try anything adult with him, Lloyd, I will come after you with a vengeance. He's not old enough for that kind of stuff."
"...anything... adult?" Lloyd blinked, then he leaned in towards Raine, a predatory smirk crossing his face. "You're talkin' about sex, right?"
"You don't have to be so blunt!" Raine blushed, taken aback by how forward Lloyd was. "But... yes... I mean, love is supposed to be possible without sex, so... just don't you dare lay your grubby little teenager hands on any part of my brother they're not supposed to be touching! Or any other part of your body for that matter!"
Lloyd blinked, blushing a bit. "I didn't mean to"
"...You didn't?" Raine blinked, surprised.
"Well, yeah, professor. See... it's like you said. Love is supposed to be possible without sex... I mean, it's not exactly like your brother's all grown up and super-sexy yet..." Lloyd admitted. "But I love him all the same"
Raine blinked, surprised again. Apparently she had underestimated Lloyd on this matter. Though she realised that nothing about Lloyd should surprise her. Despite the fact that as far as facts and information went, the boy was as slow as molasses in January, he actually had the mental capacity, emotional power, and common sense to actually be quite wise...
"...sorry" Raine admitted.
"Sorry for what?" Lloyd asked.
"Well... it's just that... you know! I mean... gods, how can I put this? I didn't think... I thought you were just after my brother like some kind of sex fiend..."
"...Is that really how you think of me, professor?" Lloyd growled, annoyed and insulted.
"No! Of course not!" Raine said quickly. "It's just... I dunno. You didn't seem capable of such a powerful emotion as love, but... you surprised me, Lloyd. I'll admit that. And I'm sorry."
"Now you're starting to sound like Colette" Lloyd sighed.
"I am?" Raine blinked.
"Yeah. You just said sorry twice within the last thirty seconds."
"...Oh dear"
"Come on. Let's catch up with the others" Lloyd smiled, turning and quickly starting to jog to catch up with the others, who were a fair distance ahead.
"Of course" Raine smiled, waiting for only a moment or two more before running to catch up with the rest of them. She was pleasantly surprised at Lloyd... and then she realised something.
"Lloyd! I don't believe it! You actually listened to everything I said! Oh, if only we were in class right now!" Raine shouted out, running quicker.
-----
Finally, a few hours later (as Genis had predicted) the group had finally arrived at the local House of Salvation, and Raine finally had Genis alone, up in the bedroom they had reserved. She had to speak to him on the same matters, she knew.
"...Genis..." Raine turned to her younger brother.
"Yeah, sis?" Genis asked.
"...What do you think of Lloyd?" Raine asked.
"You don't wanna know" Genis laughed nervously, as he studied one of the textbooks he had found in the building, reading with his mouth in an effort to memorise the chant to another magic spell.
"I'm your sister, Genis, I have a right to know" Raine smiled.
Genis growled. "Can't you see I'm trying to learn something?"
"...I can't believe I'm saying this, Genis, but shut the book and come talk" she spoke up, rather forcefully, with a powerful command in her voice.
Genis froze in mid-word, surprised at the tone in her sister's voice. He shut the book, and looked up towards Raine, acting almost mechanically. "Okay, what do you want to know?"
"What do you think of him? How do you feel about him?" Raine asked, moving to sit down beside Genis.
Genis shuffled a bit. "...You haven't figured it out? Raine, you can't be that stu..."
"I think I do, but I want to hear it from you" Raine said.
"...I love him, sister... I really do. I know he's mean to me sometimes, but that was only before he knew how much it hurt me... and all this time I was torturing myself because I couldn't manage to speak to him about that and how I felt... I still think he's a bit of an ass at times, I actually still like seeing you smack him once in a while... but..."
Genis let out a long sigh. "I just love him, because its his stupidity and his brashness and..." he muttered something under his breath, "...that makes him attractive."
"What was that, Genis?" Raine asked.
"That's what makes him attractive" Genis stated.
"No, no, just before that..."
"...It's his stupidity and his brashness and how damn sexy he is" Genis repeated, his eyes facing upwards, as if reciting from a textbook. Then he realised how loud he had said that.
Both Raine and Genis were stuck for words. Genis flushed a terrible red, curling up in shame, as Raine stared at him. She knew his brother was somewhat grown up... but...
"...Genis, do you want him?" Raine asked.
"Sis! Why do you ask all the tough questions?" Genis whimpered.
"...Genis, answer me."
"Yes, I do!" Genis spoke back, looking slightly tearful. "And I know that's wrong because we're both guys and I'm so much younger than him and I shouldn't be thinking like that and... and... and..." he choked on his words and started to cry, ashamed of himself and his feelings.
Raine wrapped an arm around her little brother, pulling him close and letting her lean on his shoulder, as she took a moment to digest this information. What a twist... They both loved each other, yes, but the older one didn't seem to have much of a sexual craving for the other, while the one too young seemed to make up for that. Of course, it was probably because Genis had a much more grown mind...
Besides, Genis had actually been exposed to stuff like that a year ago, and that was her own fault (she should have never left one of her romance novels out in the open!) but that wasn't the important thing now.
What mattered was her little brother.
Raine gently rubbed Genis' shoulder. "It's okay, Genis... you've got nothing to be ashamed of..."
Genis whimpered, his words coming out highly choked and broken. "It's just... Raine... I'm too young... I want to... but... can't... mad... just want... want to be... with him... oh... guh..."
Genis started sobbing full out at the thoughts, and Raine pulled him closer, understanding. Of course Genis was too young, but...
"You love him, don't you?" Raine spoke the first thing that came to her mind.
"Yeah!" Genis managed to get out that very fast, clearly, before he returned to sobbing, the rest of his response coming out in fragments. "I love him... love him so... so much, sis... like life..."
"Then do you really need to be with him like that, if you love him?" Raine reasoned. She knew there was no way she could fix the problem. The only thing she could do was help her brother to understand that he had to accept it...
Genis didn't respond, too caught up in trying to make sense of it. Of course Raine didn't want her little brother going about and doing stuff like that, because she, just like everyone else, thought he was just the innocent little kid... even with what he had just told his big sister, she still thought that way about him.
Genis felt another one of those familiar surges of disappointment mixed with self-hatred. He hated being so young, everybody would pick on him and give him no respect at all...
Genis broke down fully, finally, his whole body quivering, and he didn't even hear Raine aside from muffled sounds because his ears were covered with his still-torn sleeves, and he didn't make an effort to try to ask Raine to speak louder. Even the feeling of his sister comforting wasn't enough, because his whole body was going numb.
Faintly, Genis thought he heard somebody open a door and come in, announcing something loudly. Lloyd, Genis thought. Why now, why does he have to see me crying like this...?
Quickly, Genis tried to stop crying, as best he could. He started to push himself up into a standing position when a much stronger arm replaced that of his sister, and he was pulled in the opposite direction, a bit farther, his head resting on Lloyd's chest.
"...Genis, you alright?"
Genis flushed, embarrassed that Lloyd was giving him all this attention. But it did feel good, Genis had to admit, being so close to Lloyd. He could feel the older boy's muscles underneath his clothing, which had been toned from all the travelling they had been doing. Not to mention Lloyd normally was quite fairly built because of his constant battle training and such.
Genis quickly found himself calmed, his tears flowing away, and he looked around to see if his sister was still there. She had left at some point, and looking around he spotted a new set of clothes to replace his current ones. He blushed a bit more when he realised that Lloyd had brought them up. They looked awkward, they were certainly clothes made for just common children. Annoyingly enough, Genis realised they were just his size.
Genis sighed, deeply. "Thanks, Lloyd, but you didn't have to take up your own time to..." he looked up towards Lloyd, who was staring down at him lovingly, worry across his face that had been caused by Genis' tears.
"Hey, I love you. This is nothing" Lloyd smiled, making Genis' heart light up. "You know, I brought you some new clothes... I can leave while you change if you want..."
Genis flushed a bit, twisted thoughts running through his mind, but he decided that perhaps his sister was right. Still, his childish side that was with him, only added to the adult sense of mind he had, and he decided on a compromise. "No, it's no problem" he smiled, getting up from his love's lap (and catching the whimper of disappointment from Lloyd) as he grabbed the clothes, moving behind one of the beds.
"No peaking" Genis called over, before he ducked down behind one of the beds and began to strip out of his torn clothes, putting the new ones beside him on the ground.
Just as he slipped into the underclothes and trousers, he heard the door swing open.
"Hey, Genis, we just found out that there's a big library where we're headed" Raine called out, happily, standing in the doorway. Instinctively, Genis stood up, but because of his short height and his lack of shirt, Raine thought he was missing more than just that.
-----
"EEEK! LLOYD IRVING!!!"
Colette and Kratos were outside, underneath the stars, looking to the cosmos as they lay on the grass, almost side-by-side.
"...Kratos, what was that?"
"Just Raine. Don't worry about it" Kratos sighed.
"Oh. Okay" Colette smiled, looking back up at the stars.
-----
Lloyd fell backwards onto the bed in front of Genis, as Raine flew madly towards him. "What the hell were you trying to do my little brother, you pervert!"
"Nothing!!" Lloyd shouted, jumping behind Genis and pushing him forward, using him as a shield against the oncoming attack.
"AAH!" Genis put his arms in front of his face, in part to brace himself if Raine actually did collide with him, and the other half to cover up the blush at the feel of Lloyd's strong hands on his sides.
The blow didn't come. "Okay, good. You're wearing pants. What's going on?" Raine looked at the two.
Genis lowered his arms. "I was just changing into the new clothes that Lloyd had brought me..."
"...Lloyd?" Raine looked at the older of the two, and finally Lloyd realised that he could stop holding Genis out as a shield. He let his arms fall away from the boy, his ears picking up the whimper of annoyance from Genis. He was tempted to put them back, indeed, embrace the kid even stronger, but he had a feeling Raine would not leave him without a bruise on every inch of his body if he did such a thing. Actually, he thought Raine might whack him senseless anyway, but maybe now he had a chance to survive without a scratch.
"Umm... just what he said. I didn't see anything!" Lloyd defended quickly.
Raine put on a cautious face, before reaching down and picking up the shirt of the new outfit and tossing it to Genis. "Here. Put your shirt on" she commanded, and Genis did. Raine looked at Lloyd. "You're lucky, I'm not gonna do anything to you this time... but if I ever catch you doing something like that to my brother again..."
"He wasn't doing anything!" Genis spoke up. "...Raine..."
He looked at Raine, with a look that asked for understanding, and Raine understood. Of course she was blaming Lloyd... her brother couldn't do anything wrong in her eyes...
"...Sorry" Raine sighed. "Sorry, Lloyd."
"See, you're doing it again. Acting like Colette"
Raine growled.
"Sorry!" Lloyd quipped out, quickly, and Genis couldn't hold it back any more. As he finished putting on his shirt, he began to laugh happily.
-----
"Okay, so since I managed to convince the priest to let us use his room, we've got two rooms, each with one double bed... umm..." Raine flushed. "Me and Genis are gonna share one bed, and..."
"No! Sis, that's not fair!" Genis whined.
Raine looked awkward, she hated having to be the mature one and make some of the toughest minor decisions. Like who slept in the same room as whom. "I dunno. Fine, I guess" she sighed. "Genis and Lloyd can share a room, and me and Colette will share one..."
There was a loud 'ahem' from behind her, startling her. She turned to see Kratos, who looked impassive as normal, but she could tell he was annoyed.
"...And Kratos can sleep outside with Noish" she announced.
Genis giggled a bit, as Kratos sighed, muttered "again...?" and left without another word. Raine gave a sharp look to Lloyd that just screamed 'Lloyd Irving, if you try to do anything with my little brother...' and then gave a caring look to Genis before turning to head for the bedroom to catch a rest, Colette already having gone ahead.
"...So I guess we're sharing a room" Lloyd smiled at Genis, as they walked into the room together. Lloyd removed his two swords, putting them down on the ground, as Genis, tired, settled down underneath the covers.
Lloyd let out a long yawn, looking out the window, before he turned to the bed, stepped out of his shoes, and crawled under the covers, wrapping his arms around the little boy and planting a kiss on the boy's forehead.
Genis smiled, snuggling up instinctively closer to Lloyd, in his state of half-sleep, and Lloyd smiled at the innocence in his arms.
Lloyd knew that even if he didn't think of Genis as being sexually attractive, at the very least, Genis was so cute that nothing else could match it.
-----
In the room beside, however, things weren't going so perfectly.
Colette was softly sobbing, trying to keep herself quiet so as not to disturb Raine, who already seemed to be asleep. She was wrong, though, Raine wasn't asleep. In fact, she seemed to be quite awake, as she rolled over to face Colette.
"Colette? What's wrong?" she asked.
"...I..." Colette let out a long sigh. "I dunno... I just... I just miss having the feeling that Lloyd loved me, even though it was incorrect... I mean, I'm happy for him, because I'm sure he's very happy, over there, falling asleep with your little brother... but... I dunno. I think Lloyd was the only one who loved , you know that's not true" Raine sighed. "We all love you, and you know it."
"No, I mean... loved me" Colette whimpered. "...I'm sorry, this is foolish, please, forget about me, I don't want to burden you with my own problems..."
"No, it's perfectly okay, Colette" a soft hand rested upon Colette's shoulder, drawing her back a bit. "I know how you feel. But at least you know what it's like to think somebody's in love with you... I've never had the pleasure."
"...Oh... professor..." Colette blushed a bit.
"Please, don't call me professor anymore" Raine sighed. "Just Raine"
"Okay" Colette nodded, as the two fell asleep, the heart of the angel chosen momentarily calmed.