A/N: Hang around someone long enough and their habits rub off. That's what's happening with Kratos. Zelos and Lloyd's vocabulary is starting to rub off on him. He's not all dignity 24/7 y'know? That's kinda uptight!
Ch 5
Lloyd peered into the kitchen and scanned the area cautiously. There was a big pot of something bubbling on the stove and no one around to attend it. Smiling impishly, he tiptoed into the room and lifted the spoon from the stew. He took a sample taste and made a face.
"Eeeyuck!" he gagged and yelped as a broom swatted down on his head.
"Out! Lloyd! You know the law! No tasting the dinner before it's done!" Zelos yelled in mock anger, wielding the broomstick in his hands. They were three days from Meltokio and the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge, and Lloyd had gotten the habit of taste-testing the dinners both Kratos and Zelos cooked up. Dressed in the outfit made for him by Lloyd, Zelos poked harder with the broom. "Out! Now!"
"All right! It didn't taste that great to begin with anyway!" Lloyd shot over his shoulder as he raced out. Zelos sniffed disdainfully and looked at the pot worriedly.
"Funny, it... seemed okay to me." he murmured and tasted it himself. "It seems kinda bland." He stepped back and scratched his head. "Weirdness. Maybe I do need a second opinion."
Kratos was found in his room, polishing the edges of Excalibur. Since the Silver Sword melting in Nealar was Zelos's fault, he felt the need to amend that and gave his new father the Excalibur he had won as a gift from the Meltokio colosseum. At first Kratos refused the gift, but finally accepted once Zelos promptly told him 'no' wasn't an acceptable answer and that he had another sword anyway.
"Hey, Daddy-O!" Zelos announced brightly, sticking his head into the room and receiving a pillow to the face as an answer. Kratos held another one ready, glaring at him.
"Call me that again and the next one shall be filled with fish!" he threatened, "'Father' is nice, 'Dad' is acceptable, but I will not tolerate 'Daddy-O'!" Zelos rubbed his head and winced.
"You wouldn't do that to your own son, now would ya, Pops?" he whined and earned another pillow.
"I'll add 'Pops' to the list." Kratos amended and resumed polishing, "But since you're here, what is it?"
"Will you taste this soup I made for dinner? It seems kinda bland to me." Zelos asked and grinned as Kratos sighed and got up.
"Wasn't it a rule not to taste the dinners ahead of time?" he wondered aloud as he walked with the redhead back to the kitchen.
A bowl of soup was served quickly and Zelos stood anxiously awaiting the critique. Kratos lifted the spoon to his mouth and sampled the stew. For a few moments, he just gazed down at the bowl. Finally, a faint red blush grew across his face and he closed his eyes, tears forming at the corners.
"It's... very spicy." he whispered hoarsely and coughed a bit. "Ah... a bit too hot, but otherwise quite good." Zelos peered into the pot with a frown.
"I don't get it. It's the same recipe I've always used. Let me try it." he remarked and took the bowl from Kratos, who promptly set to searching for a glass of water, throwing open cupboards and wheezing loudly. The redhead stuck a spoonful of the soup into his mouth and chewed on the meat, allowing it to sit on his tongue as long as possible before swallowing. The seraphim behind him abandoned the search for a cup and picked up the pitcher instead, draining the liquid straight from it. "Still seems kinda blah to me." Zelos remarked as he looked over at Kratos's weary smile as he leaned against the wash basin, empty pitcher dangling from his hand.
"Really?" he breathed weakly, "Seems a lot spicier than Colette's cooking back when...." Kratos stiffened then, eyes wide in realization as Zelos drank down the remainder of the soup and scowled at the bottom of the bowl. "Zelos, have you had any body pains lately? During the night?" he asked suddenly.
"No, not that it has anything to do with my sudden streak of bad cooking." the redhead answered, poking at the soup pot, "You think I should add some lemon to it?" Kratos pushed away from the basin and tugged at the short red hair. "Ow! Hey! What the hell's the matter with you?!" Zelos griped, spinning around and rubbing his head.
"Feeling is still there. Had any trouble sleeping?" Kratos pressed. Zelos shook his head, unsure as to what he was leading up to. "But you can't taste this, right?"
"I'm probably just coming down with something that's messing up my sense of taste." Zelos shrugged it off. "But if it's freaking you out that much, then you can cook in my place." Kratos eyed the pot warily.
"I think I will. If only to spare my tongue." he muttered.
Lloyd looked up at the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge as he maneuvered the ship into the dock beside it. So many Exspheres were used to control the mechanisms, how was he going to get permission to get them all? His thoughts were scattered when Zelos walked up beside him and gazed up with the younger man.
"Kind of awful, knowing so many human lives were lost to make the stones that power it." he murmured, "So where are we going to put all the Exspheres we've collected so far?"
"I kind of had the idea of Dad taking them up to Derris-Kharlan and scattering them in space like he did with the ones already in Welgaia. If he got down here from Derris-Kharlan, then he can get back up there, right?" Lloyd replied, "Anyways, let's go to Meltokio and get your clothes and visit Seles. When does she have to go back to the abbey anyway?" Zelos looked startled and plastered on a smile.
"Ah, well. Funny thing is, the house arrest was overturned and she's free to do whatever she wants. So I invited her to stay at my place for as long as she wants." he lied and gazed out at the dock workers pulling the ship into position and tying it down. "As for the clothes, I don't mind this outfit that much. To tell the truth, I don't have any others anymore. I took all the stuff I could and what with all the crap we go through out there, I basically shredded most of 'em. All I have left is that formal costume, my bathing suit and this getup."
"So no more pink?" Lloyd questioned in confusion. Zelos shook his head. "You were attached to that vest, weren't you?"
"It belonged to my mother. It had sentimental value." the redhead muttered shortly and pulled away from the banister that surrounded the little ship. "Well, let's go and say 'Hi' to my sis and see where we go next!" Kratos joined them, scanning the area out of habit and falling into step as they disembarked the ship to a group of horses that they could borrow to ride to Meltokio.
"I have that covered already. Sheena sent another message through Origin about Exspheres that are stored in Altamira. Regal and Presea already have them packed and are waiting for us to come by and pick them up." Lloyd answered brightly, "This part of the trip's easy! I wish it would stay like this the whole time, then we'll be done faster and we can go home to Iselia!" He looked back at Zelos, "Oops. I forgot that Zelos would come back to Meltokio. You'll visit me and Dad after the journey's done, right?" Zelos smiled weakly.
"Yeah. Sure. Can't abandon my little bro, y'know?" he answered and mounted one of the horses.
Nadilene sat primly on the bench in Meltokio's second level and looked out at the people that passed by. Her parasol provided adequate cover from the sunlight and she lifted her scarf higher to hide her face. Since leaving Nealar, she had spoken at length with her husband as to what they should do next. Her new orders were to be sure the Chosen's transformation continued, only without the need for the world regeneration journey, the opportunities to coax him into danger and battle were few and far between.
"It will all be worth it, in the end." she sighed and smiled, closing her eyes in remembrance of her husband. "He is so much like you, my love. Four thousand years we have waited to create a body that is the closest match to you, mana signature and physical attributes." Nadilene lifted a small round disc in her hand and spoke into it. "Are they on their way here or not?"
"He said they were going to Meltokio to visit. They should show up within the next few days if they have good horses and don't stop to let the Chosen philander about." a voice responded coolly, "I don't see how you managed to let him live. I practically gave him to you in pink wrapping."
"All in good time. He shall have what he deserves and the world will be in far better condition then." Nadilene replied and put the disc away, watching children run by in their play and laughter. "Perhaps there is a way to speed the process along further." she mused and laughed as she vanished in a burst of light.
Kratos despised horses. The bucking, the snorting, the smell, the fact that every single last damnable one of them had to taste his hair at least once; it was enough to make him want to cut them into pieces. He stood to one side, shooting them all evil looks as Lloyd and Zelos rubbed down the animals after a day of riding. One of the horses tossed its head and began walking towards him.
"No, not again!" the seraphim exclaimed and fled for the safety of the nearby lake, "Get away from me, you blasted beasts of burden!" The two younger men watched him run, looked at each other, then burst into laughter.
"Hey, before we eat, you wanna try out some more sword spins?" Zelos asked, "You could use the practice, I swear if you leave your back open again like that time in Nealar, I'll beat you over the head with a club!" Lloyd snickered and nodded.
"You wouldn't dare 'cause you know I'd beat you first! I have two swords!" he retorted. Zelos lifted an eyebrow, staring at him.
"You think that makes a difference against me? Psh, I can take you on without a sword!" he shot back with a proud tone.
"Yeah? Prove it! Let's have a practice battle with you using just your hands!" Lloyd dared and the two walked towards an open area of land for the match.
Nadilene materialized high above them and smiled, lifting her hand out towards them. A swirl of dust rose from her palm and flowed down to surround the dark-clad Chosen as he began dancing on his heels, arms lifted for defensive measures. The wind helped to disguise her little trick as she closed her eyes.
"Each blow that is struck will increase your fury, burn your soul with rage and hate. Battle hard, Chosen of Mana, for only then will you reach your fate." she whispered and then disappeared, leaving no trace of herself behind.
"Okay, so here's the rules. Use those wooden swords of yours, I don't want to get diced up IF you manage to get a lucky swipe in." Zelos teased, "We'll duke it out until one of us cries 'uncle' or we get too close to the horses. Loser makes dinner tonight!"
"Not fair! That means I'll have to throw the fight if I want decent stew tonight!" Lloyd whined and grinned as he traded the Kusanagi swords for the wooden ones he trained with. "Okay! Let's go!"
Lloyd dashed forward and swiped at Zelos with the swords, preparing to link the attack with a Tiger Blade technique, only to yelp as the Chosen danced and spun around, snapping the side of his hand into his back.
"Point for me!" Zelos laughed, then gasped as his vision suddenly went dark. For a moment, he heard himself in his own mind crying out for victory, demanding that he be sure to show the other boy his power. Shaking his head, he danced back away from Lloyd, unsure of what had just happened. The boy was already racing back with a smile. He stopped short of Zelos, spun as well and used the mana ribbon he conjured to pull the Chosen close and thumped him in the side with the wooden blade.
"Got one for me!" he declared and yelped painfully when Zelos snapped his hand out and struck his head. "Hey!"
"Brat! Not there!" the redhead hissed and darted aside, skidding as he shook his head, "What? Wait, that wasn't what I meant!" Lloyd ran by, holding the sword low as he swept Zelos off his feet.
"Then how's that?! You didn't have to hit me that hard!" he shot back and cried again when the Chosen flipped back onto his feet and leaped forward, slamming his full weight into Lloyd's body. The two tumbled and rolled, kicking and clawing as Kratos warily stepped back into the clearing. "Ow! Zelos! Stop it! Not in the rules!" The seraphim paused and watched them in confusion, unsure whether they were playing or training or what.
"I'll kill you!" Zelos suddenly raged, pinning the younger man to the grass and pressing his hands around his throat, squeezing as hard as he could as Lloyd struggled fiercely. "Ignorant human, I'll show you my power! Die in this world that you dared to take from me!"
Kratos dashed across the clearing, wings half-spread as he grabbed the redhead and threw them both off of Lloyd, tumbling across the grass until they stopped. He held Zelos tightly, looking over at Lloyd.
"What the hell's going on?! What happened here?!" he demanded as Zelos hung his head, trembling as his heart raced. The red-clad swordsman climbed to his knees and rubbed at his neck, gasping for air.
"I dunno! We were playing around and he just went crazy on me! He was talking weird too, like when Mithos possessed him." he exclaimed and crawled towards them, "Is he okay now? Did he get over that nutzoidness?"
"Owww, my head is freaking killing me." Zelos groaned and shook it slightly, "What was I doing? Man, that was the craziest thing that ever happened." He lifted his face up and stared bleary-eyed at Lloyd, "Don't tell me I look like crap, I already know. I feel like it, too." He sighed and shifted, a sign that Kratos took to mean he was all right and released him. "Thanks for stopping me, Pops." A gentle slap to the back of the head made him smile. "Sorry, to the both of you. I don't know what got into me."
"Whatever it was, it was scary. I think I'll make dinner anyway. Just to get us all to relax some, okay?" Lloyd remarked. Zelos nodded and waited for him to leave before doubling over and cringing in pain.
"Owowowowow. Gah, what is... ugh!" he groaned. Kratos stood and watched him worriedly. He knew what this was, had witnessed it so many times before, and again with Colette.
"No, please, not you." he whispered as he knelt again to hold Zelos steady as he retched and coughed harshly. The wings came unbidden, flapping furiously despite their still tattered state with each spasm that tore through the Chosen's body. "What could be doing this? The need to open the seals is gone, you have a Key Crest to control the crystal and... Zelos!" he murmured harshly.
"What?! Ugh! Goddess help me, this hurts like a...!" Zelos bit his lip to stop himself and shuddered as the final wave passed through.
"Let me see your Cruxis Crystal." Kratos ordered and helped the younger man sit up and unbutton part of his shirt. He studied the crest and cursed venomously. "That's what they did! The bastards!"
"What? What is it?!" Zelos demanded and cringed as a surprise wave of pain seemed to attack his lungs, stealing his breath from him. Kratos brushed dust from the crest and studied his fingers, the metallic yellow of the inhibitor ore flaking from the tips.
"They destroyed it, the bastards. Zelos, your Key Crest, the mount that protects you from the effects of the crystal and keeps you from losing your soul to it... those thieves gouged out the charm. It's useless!" he told him in a low voice. The Chosen blinked at him in confusion, then in fear.
"What the hell does that mean?!" he hissed, grabbing his shoulders both to shake more information from him as well as to steady himself.
"It means you can turn into an angel. And that's exactly what's happening to you now." Kratos answered softly, "Someone or something has triggered the angel transformation for you. That's why you can't taste anything. I believe you also stopped eating recently, correct?" Zelos stared at him in shock, nodding slowly. "I wondered why you kept telling Lloyd you would eat later but never did."
"How do we make it stop?! I don't want to be an angel!" Zelos blurted and looked over at the campfire quickly, afraid he'd been heard. Lloyd didn't move, too intent on cutting up the vegetables for the stew.
"There isn't a way. Once it starts, it has to go through to completion. You'll lose more of your humanity as it progresses, but once it's complete, we can find a way to repair the crest and restore your soul." Kratos muttered as he thought through their recent experiences, trying to find out what triggered the parasitic process and who would want a new angelic vessel made.
"We can't tell Lloyd about this." Zelos suddenly said and the seraphim looked at him strangely. "If Lloyd finds out, he'll stop this quest and focus his efforts on helping me out." the fledgling angel pointed out and ground his teeth as he felt his stomach protest the sandwich he had forced himself to eat when Lloyd had made lunch and was watching him closely. "I don't need that. Just find me some of that ore and I'll be fine, right? And I don't want him to go nuts trying to help me, like he did for Colette. She deserved the fuss and the trials we all went through to help her." he added and narrowed his eyes. "I don't."
"That may not be wise...." Kratos began. Zelos looked up at him pleadingly.
"Promise me you won't tell." he begged, "We'll let it go at this, okay? And you just keep me out of sight when... when it finishes taking everything from me. I don't want him to see me... like Colette." Kratos studied him silently, a war raging within him over the situation. "I know this isn't fair for you. Please, promise me just this once... Father." Zelos finished his plea. Kratos remained quiet for a long moment, then sighed, lifting his hand to his forehead.
"You play dirty, Zelos." he muttered, "All right. We won't let Lloyd know about this." The redhead grinned at him and stood shakily as the last of the pain left him. "The trial should have ended by now. If you're following Colette's variation, you will lose the ability to sleep." the seraphim added as he followed him back to the campfire.
"That's fine. I'll take over night watch from now on, then." Zelos remarked calmly, "Though I might get bored just staring at you two sleep all night."
"Count the stars." Kratos simply answered and allowed the subject to drop as he ruffled Lloyd's hair. "Is that Miso Stew? You forgot the lemon."
Fearful and quiet,
That's how I'll be,
Hiding my pain
From family.
Death is too kind;
Life takes its toll.
Will I make things right
If I forfeit my soul?