A/N: Here, more! You guys happy now? There's an update to the uncensored version too, so yeah . More happy Lloyd/Zelos stuff . And just because you guys liked Jealous Genis, he stays . He's so cute when he's angry! . So, yeah, anyway, on with the next chapter...
(PS: I'm currently holding a random Shonen-Ai based contest-type thing while looking for new pairings... - go check out my Author Profile for details! Genis Irving)

--3: Breaking News--

Regal was the first to return to the group, and when he showed up, he asked Raine to take Genis away. Genis was still sobbing, and Raine nodded, leaving with her little brother, and Regal went with her, telling the others that Lloyd and Zelos would be along to explain everything.

Of course, during that pause, the group was speculating what had happened.

"I bet you Zelos was getting Lloyd to go with some of the girls that had stayed behind" Sheena muttered. "Genis is probably just upset because he always looked up to Lloyd, but now that he's stooped so low..."

"Genis is probably just mad that Lloyd took so long" Colette smiled, dimly. "He'll get over it, there's nothing wrong."

Presea shook her head. "I do not think Genis would react so strongly to such a simple answer. The response may come as a shock to you two."

"Oh? What do you think, Presea?" Colette asked.

"I will not speak, they do not deserve excess suspicion upon them" Presea said. "They are still my friends regardless."

"Yeah. It won't be that bad" Colette agreed.

And then the girl-talk was interrupted by the approach of the two males in question. Lloyd was walking in front, Zelos walking just a bit behind him, and Lloyd almost slowed down when he spotted girls.

Yet a playful slap from behind got Lloyd to keep moving.

"Zelos..." Lloyd whined. "I don't wanna do this!"

"Lloyd, you should tell them" Zelos smiled. "Besides, you're the one who keeps getting all the girls attracted to you..."

"Me? You are, you..." Lloyd growled, turning around to face the other male.

"Oh, come on and lets get this over with" Zelos placed a finger against Lloyd's lips, and Lloyd was glad his back was turned so the girls couldn't see it. A moment later, Zelos' hands were on his chest, and Lloyd flushed a bit before he realised that Zelos was only turning him around, then those strong hands were on his back and pushing him forward.

"Ehehe... Hi" Lloyd smiled, trying to act totally casual.

"Hi, Lloyd" Colette smiled.

"Okay, Lloyd, Zelos, what's going on?" Sheena muttered, with a specifically harsh glare towards Zelos, over Lloyd's shoulder.

Zelos put on his sad face. "Why do you think something's going on? Are we that untrustworthy?"

"After a night in which Lloyd returns from one of your night parties way too late and blushing, and then when he goes to fetch you Genis comes back angry and crying... What's going on?" Sheena pressed.

"Nothing" Lloyd said quickly, putting his hands up defensively. "I don't know what you guys are talking about..."

"Lloyd, you should not keep secrets to your friends" Presea spoke calmly, looking at the two. "Zelos, since Lloyd's not telling us, would you care too?"

Lloyd's throat caught. Oh, she had just tempted cruel fate... or at least tempted Zelos. Not that they couldn't be the same incarnation sharing a body, Lloyd had begun to think. Zelos, of course, worked at the most inopportune moments to...

"Okay, fine. But I can't promise you girls are gonna like it" Zelos grinned.

"Why's that? You haven't done anything perverted, have you?" Sheena growled.

"No, I assure you" Zelos smiled, wrapping an arm around Lloyd from behind, around the younger male's waist.

Lloyd flushed up a bit, blocking off the instinct that told him to lean back into Zelos' embrace. Maybe he could find a way out of this...

Nope, too late. Presea and Sheena were staring intently at them, confusion over their faces at Zelos' actions, and Colette was pleasantly unaware of what Zelos was about to do.

"Zelos? Why do you have your arm around Lloyd's waist?" Colette asked, confused..

"Oh? Well, I suppose I'd better make it obvious" Zelos grinned, as his other hand slid up towards Lloyd's chin, cupping it and lifting it up, and despite the fact that Lloyd really didn't want to show it, he gave in instantly when he felt Zelos' lips upon his. The kiss was only for a moment, but it was still quite blissful.

Presea stood there, blinking, as if she was totally unaffected or had expected it - a possibility that almost made Lloyd feel... insulted. Sheena's eyebrows were raised with surprise and curiosity, because she had known that Tethe'Alla's chosen was known for stealing anyone who was remotely handsome. But Lloyd...? It stung somewhere deep inside of her, but for the moment she was too stunned to care. Colette was blinking, trying to understand what just happened.

Lloyd looked towards the group, blushing, as Zelos still held him around the waist. He tried to lean back deliberately into Zelos' embrace, but he couldn't. He was too tense.

"...Well, I hope that explains it" Lloyd said.

"Lloyd Irving...!!" Sheena's voice rose at the end, rough with annoyance and anger, and Zelos moved himself fully behind Lloyd for protection. Then her gaze shifted over Lloyd's shoulder to his love. "Zelos Wilder!! What the hell have you done to poor innocent Lloyd?"

"I haven't done anything!" Zelos stated quickly.

"You've corrupted poor innocent Lloyd and made him just another one of your floozies!" Sheena started, but Lloyd cut her off.

"No, Sheena. Don't get the wrong idea... I... I..." Lloyd tried to visibly relax, falling into Zelos' arms, as the older bishonen kissed the younger once more.

"...L-Lloyd... Argh!" Sheena threw her hands up in the air in frustration, and annoyance. Of course Zelos would steal from her the one person she was falling in love with. "Zelos, do you always have to ruin my damn life!"

And with that, she stomped off roughly towards the coliseum, intending on letting off some massive, massive frustration.

(Later that day, she would be crowned champion of the Advanced Class of the Coliseum)

Colette blinked, finally beginning to understand.

"...Lloyd, do you love Zelos more than me?"

Lloyd choked on words. He had thought he had loved Colette. But he had thought the same about Sheena... but Zelos was on a whole different level then the two of them. He couldn't look Colette in the eye as he nodded.

"...Well, that's okay" Colette smiled.

Lloyd was startled. "It is?"

"Yes. We're still good friends, aren't we?" Colette asked. "...I mean, I really like you, but if you would rather be with Zelos, then... I won't stop you."

"...Thanks, Colette" Lloyd smiled, but despite her cheery attitude, Colette retreated towards the local inn. Now that reality was setting in on her, she needed some time to think.

"And you, little Presea?" Zelos asked.

"It is nothing I need to concern myself with" Presea smiled slightly. "Though I do feel the pain of the others... I understand your position and I had supposed it when I saw Genis come back crying. He had often said that he loved you, Lloyd, did you know that?"

Lloyd gulped. "No... No, I didn't."

"Well, he does" Presea said. "And I don't like the fact that you broke his heart, because he is an innocent child, but... I accept things as they are. I'm going to go see Genis."

With that, Presea left, turning towards the inn, like most of the rest had done.

"...Well, that went well" Zelos shrugged.

"What do you mean, that went well?" Lloyd growled at him, turning around sharply. "You... we just both really hurt Sheena and Genis, and we both probably ended up hurting Colette too, even if she doesn't show it!"

Zelos sighed. "I know, Lloyd. I know" Lloyd was startled by how serious Zelos was when he spoke now. "I know that it's painful for us to have to hurt our friends... but wouldn't you admit one thing? That you'd never go back on this decision?"

"What?" Lloyd blinked. "What decision?"

"To love me?" Zelos offered, his sarcastic, joking voice finally starting to return.

"...Yes I would, how can you..." Lloyd started, but then trailed off.

He had hurt his friends, and that was a major low... but now he had been with Zelos and even just their kisses had made him happier than he thought possible.

"...Yes... you're right... I don't think I would" Lloyd finally gave in, and Zelos wrapped his arms around the younger boy, as he cuddled up to the older's chest.

"...So, it's true then" Raine muttered, startling both, as she approached from a side street.

"H-Hey, professor... where have you been?" Lloyd asked.

"Regal told me everything" Raine sighed. "And just now Colette comes back looking like she's ready to cry..."

"But what about you?" Lloyd asked another question. "We've already figured out how every one else is about this, but how are you feeling?"

"I'm mad that you guys hurt my brother a lot, but..." Raine sighed. "Truth be told, I'm very curious."

"...Curious? About what, professor?" Lloyd asked, continuing his string of queries.

"About how another man could possibly feel love for another man, when nature dictates that love is supposed to be between a man and a woman" Raine answered, but she wasn't done. She stood up rather proudly. "Though it's not a good thing for my brother, I was surprised to learn he fell into this particular category as well. It is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the human mind. And aside from that, I'm curious about you, Lloyd Irving."

"Why?" another question from Lloyd.

"I'm curious about what you could ever see in a philandering dirt bag like Zelos."

"That hurt, Raine" Zelos whined. "That really, really hurts"

Some hours later, the group had finally rejoined each other at the inn. Genis was trying hard not to break down crying, Sheena was glaring almost literal daggers at Zelos, Colette was putting on a happy face despite her feelings, Raine was watching them intently, and Regal and Presea were acting as if nothing had changed.

Lloyd and Zelos were trying to act totally normal, as they sat in various places in one of the three rooms that Sheena rented from the inn, eating a meal that Regal had cooked up - he was the only good chef in the group who wasn't busy experiencing an emotional breakdown.

Raine had suggested that the group remain in Meltokio for a couple days. Everyone had things to figure out, and it would be much harder to do if they were out travelling and adventuring. Time-wise things were limited, but if they didn't take the chance to resolve their emotional conflicts now, it could be dangerous to their health later. From the way things looked, it seemed as though the group was going to follow Raine's advice.

Nobody spoke the entire time. Everyone ate in silence, trying to avoid looking at each other. There was a lot of conflict to work out.

Then, finally, Zelos was finished first. He stretched. "Well, I'm off to my room, since it's getting late..."

"There's no room for you" Sheena muttered.

"What?" Zelos blinked.

"I only got three rooms, idiot" Sheena growled. "If you want to sleep, you can go walk back to your mansion..."

"Well, then, if you're gonna be that way, I will!" Zelos announced sharply, standing up and leaving.

A moment later, Lloyd stood up. He wanted to follow Zelos, but speaking of that in front of others who weren't so happy with the idea...

"Go ahead" Raine said, sensing what Lloyd wanted.

Lloyd blinked, then thanked Raine, but as he did he couldn't help but see the hurt looks from Genis. They made him feel very guilty inside, but hopefully they would get over it soon enough...

Lloyd left with all due haste. He didn't want to seem too hasty to go join Zelos, to spend the night in his arms, but he also wanted to be free of the guilt. He knew it wouldn't go away until he was back with Zelos, peacefully asleep.

The moment Lloyd knocked on the door of Zelos' mansion, Sebastian was there to greet him. "Hello, sir bud. Zelos has told me everything. He awaits you in his room."

"Thank you, and..." Lloyd turned to Sebastian. "If it's not too much to ask, could you please stop calling me 'sir bud'? My name is Lloyd" he tried to explain. Unfortunately, the butler was already walking off to take care of other business elsewhere in the manor.

Sighing, Lloyd walked upstairs, then found his way into Zelos' room. He knocked on the door, and heard Zelos' voice inviting him in.

Timidly, he opened the door, to find Zelos, lazing about on his bed, his head tilted sideways to look at Lloyd as the boy entered and shut the door behind him.

"What took you so long?" Zelos asked.

"...Do you know how guilty all of this makes me feel?" Lloyd asked sharply. "Do you have any clue how bad I feel when I see that Genis, my best and oldest friend, and Sheena, one of my most trusted companions, hating me? I..."

Zelos stood up and walked over to Lloyd, drawing him down onto the bed and onto Zelos' lap, as the older male wrapped his arms around Lloyd.

Zelos smiled, looking at Lloyd. "I know. I... can imagine. I suppose I'm Genis' friend... and Sheena... well, she's always hated me, but she was half-joking most of the time. She doesn't hate you, she hates me a lot more 'cause she thinks I seduced you into this or something," Lloyd held back a snort, before Zelos continued, "and that's not fun watching them hate me even worse. But... hey, I love you, and as long as you love me back it's all worth it. They probably won't like it for a while, but eventually they'll forgive you."

"...You sure?"

"Well, yeah. They are your friends, aren't they?" Zelos' sarcasm seemed to be one of the wisest things that Lloyd had heard in a long time.

Lloyd smiled, cuddling up against Zelos, as a hand rubbed along his back in comfort, and they shared kisses.

When exactly they ended up lying down, or under the covers, or when exactly it was that Lloyd fell asleep with Zelos' arms around him from behind Lloyd didn't know. But he found it impossible to be depressed.

After all, Zelos was a bit of a pest, but he was still very soft and kind to Lloyd. And while in Zelos' arms, Lloyd felt very, very safe.