Secret Visit Author: Sylven

Fandom: TOS

Pairing: tentative Kratos/Lloyd?

Rating: PG

Summary: Kratos refuses to admit his feelings for Lloyd and visits him in the dead of night. One-shot ficlet.

A/N: Dedicated to Kate, to make up for the V-Day ficlet I never finished, and also to cheer you up a bit. I must also add, I haven't written any fan fiction in a long friggin time, so please excuse this if it's horrible. o.O Read and review please! Sylven

--------

It was after midnight. Kratos lay restlessly in his room, staring at the shapes that moved across the ceiling. They had arrived in Triet late that afternoon, and everyone had wanted to rest right away. It was a dangerous thing to do, what with the Desians after Lloyd, but…

Lloyd. He whispered the name into the dark, enjoying the way it rolled off his tongue. Somehow it felt even more forbidden, whispering Lloyd's name to himself where no one could hear. He shivered and sat up, hugging his knees to his chest. This wasn't right, and if he wanted to protect the Chosen until their pilgrimage was over, Kratos was going to have to forget about him. Lloyd.

His hand brushed the doorknob and he jumped. When had he gotten out of bed? "Stop it, Kratos," he told himself bitterly. He knew he couldn't seriously be thinking of going to see Lloyd. He turned and began to head back to bed, running a hand through crimson hair, when he changed his mind.

What if he did go to see Lloyd? If Lloyd was asleep, the younger male would never know Kratos had come to see him. The bodyguard's secret would be safe, and seeing Lloyd like that would make him forget. The Chosen would be safe.

It was brilliant plan, probably his best one ever – even if he was trying to convince himself it would work out so brilliantly. Kratos crept slowly into the hall, looking around to see if the coast was clear. It was. He slipped into Lloyd's room, opening the door slowly in case it squeaked.

Moonlight spilled in through the open window, casting its opaque light on Lloyd's skin. It cast an ethereal effect, making the boy look

"Beautiful," Kratos whispered. Lloyd stirred in his sleep and the bodyguard clapped a gloved hand over his mouth.

This was worth it. If Kratos could never confess his feelings out loud, at least he could know he had gazed upon the boy in his sleep. Before he realized what he was doing, the crimson haired bodyguard was leaning over the sleeping Lloyd. A lock of crimson hair brushed the boy's cheek as Kratos bent to kiss his forehead, and then the boy was awakening.

Alarmed, Kratos ran for the open window with wild eyes, scrambling out onto the balcony in time to get back into his room and join the party as they checked on Lloyd.

Lloyd's interrupted slumber was blamed on the Desians, and Kratos's secret was safe.

--------