A/N: I love early dismissal days. Yay... less school n.n

Disclaimer: ShimaGenki doesn't own. If she did... it wouldn't be fanfiction...

Touched By An Angel

Chapter 5

Hours had passed by since Lloyd's outburst. Shortly after he had said what he had wanted to, he left the room, leaving Zelos to think to himself. It was his fault after all. But what could he do? It wasn't as if the way he felt was intentional, by any means. The only thing that was best at the moment was to let the brunette cool off before approaching him.

"I'm sorry. But... it is only for the best. I do not want you to end up unhappy."

Maybe that's what he meant? Or maybe this was only the beginning of his punishment. His punishment for loving another man... it disguisted himself, how he could want somebody so much it hurt your heart to even think about it. He wanted to push the fact that Kratos even existed at the back of mind, but he knew that he had to keep everything considered, as he rose from the bedside and solemnly searched for the one he may have hurt the most.

The steps down the staircase were slow, as if the supports were going to crack with each thud. He hoped he had recovered his voice by this point... he hadn't bothered to even squeak before. Dirk had disappeared from the home, perhaps to gather more supplies, such as food. The observation was forgotten as quickly as it had been thought of, because he spotted the red jacket from across the room. The warm stove had been lit, the fire reflecting in sad, brown eyes. Quietly as one could be walking on creaky floors, the ex-Chosen approached him. As soon as Zelos had opened his mouth to apologize, there came a whispered, "I'm sorry." But Lloyd's head had not turned. He just continued to stare emptily towards the flames, as if looking through it and the rest of the world. "I... shouldn't have done that. Dad... I-I mean..."

"Lloyd," His voice was hoarse... but comprehensible to the youth as he listened closely. "You shouldn't apologize. It's my fault that any of this happened. I just thought..." Tears snuck up on him, swelling in his sky-colored orbs. "I thought that your father could heal my wounds. And to a point... he did. He's made me feel... like a person again."

"And I--"

"--but I think that maybe my emotions got carried away in the way I felt. I dunno... we don't know for a fact he really returned my feelings. Sure, he said I meant a lot to him, but he never said the word 'love.'" The things that he had thought about over and over again... they burned holes through him as he spoke, but he knew that much was true.

"I... does that mean..."

"He hasn't forgotten your mother, Lloyd. Although, as he claimed, I 'filled the empty spaces,' I... wait... I guess... I'm sorry." He looked away. He was about to say 'I replaced your mother for when she was lost,' but that was the absolute wrong thing to say.

"You healed the wounds." Zelos looked back at him, curious and surprised. "If he hadn't had you around, he could have been depressed or something... wouldn't you be sad if you never met someone again after you lost another?" This was shocking. Lloyd was being philosophical? Wow. "And... that's why I'm sorry. I thought too rashly. I didn't put all things into consideration, and... I was selfish."

"You weren't being selfish."

"But I!--"

"You were thinking of your mother." He finally gained the perplexed gaze of the swordsman. "You didn't want your mother to be forgotten. I guess we sort of share the same feelings..."

"You never really talked about your parents much, now that I think about it." As soon as Lloyd replied with so, Zelos knew that the conversation was going to be dragged in another direction. "What do you mean, 'we share the same feelings?'" There was a sigh in reply. "Or would you rather--"

"Let's put it this way," he interrupted quietly. "My mother was remembered in a bad way... I kept the memories locked so far back in my mind, it's difficult to recall many things about my childhood. It had been my dreams that were opening the wounds again..."

"And that's why you wake up shivering so often?" So he had noticed. "Because... of nightmares?" All the redhead could do was nod, salty tears spilling on his cheeks. "I... I'm sorry..."

"You're starting to sound like Colette," Zelos chuckled, his voice cracking. Lloyd's smile faltered at first, but then rose sincerely, bursting out a small laugh.

"Ahah... sorry-- er, I mean..." He couldn't think of anything, and they just cracked up. They had been so depressed for so many hours, possibly days on both their parts, that the small things that would make one small chuckle gave way to a relieving laughter. When it subsided, Lloyd's eyes downcasted slightly. "Well... since Dad's gone, what are you going to do now?"

He hadn't considered this. What would he do? Just move on and love somebody else, preferrably a woman? Or would he stay loyal to Kratos, risking his future happiness?

"I'm sorry. But... it is only for the best. I do not want you to end up unhappy."

Could it be that Kratos left to repent for his sins, and to leave Zelos alone... intentionally? It made some sense: Kratos could still have Anna in his heart, unable to get over her. And Zelos, ruined by his sexuality, could be restored with a woman. But... he really didn't want anyone but him. Perhaps it had been for the best, but at the moment, he didn't want the best! He wanted him... but what to do now that he was gone? A few minutes had passed since Lloyd had pronounced his question, and all the ex-Chosen could say was, "I don't know. I'll just wait and see what happens in a while." And maybe fate would work out the mistakes he made, and fix both of the angel's-- no, all three of the angel's hearts. He looked at the third, working a smile onto his lips. But it wasn't fake, it was heartfelt... from deep down.

"I'll... help you anyway I can." He smiled, taking Zelos hand in his own. "I still don't approve of you and my dad... but I understand, and if it means that you'll both be happy, who am I to decide what happens?"

"You're... his son?"

"Yeah... but I mean..." He couldn't think of anything in reply, and the room fell into an awkward silence. Not a depressing awkward, but the kind that left you with a feeling of stupidity because you couldn't think of the reason why you had said anything in the first place.

A/N: And... that's an awkward place to stop. XD; Although the chapter is still barely two pages long, the paragraphs are longer than my usual. Anyway, this took a better turn than I thought it would... I proofread this once, so it may have some errors... I apologize...

In a better light, this fanfic turned in a better direction than I expected it to. The only thing is... I don't know what I want to do with Zelly-boy. Should he remain loyal to Kratos? Should he end up with someone else? (This is angst, ya know!) Give me some suggestions... I don't want to write something everyone hates! (grumbles about Just Follow Your Heart) Feel free to send in depressing suggestions as well... I think it would be interesting to end like that. Just give something that will end this in the next one or two chapters, please! So... yeah... just review.