Ohayo! This is the 4th chapter! Huzzah.
Just a warning though Lloyd's gonna a bit emotional for the next little bit. I feel Lloyd is the type to keep his emotions inside of him until they blow up and he loses it. This is because Lloyd is never anything but cheerful, angry or contemplating. I feel he should have his sad moments. Thus, there are quite a few in the next few chapters.
Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia, but I do own my realistic version of Lloyd's Wings and if Namco wants them, too bad.
Ps. Only Colette could 'chime' only Colette.
Much thanks to Mr. Eck for the help
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The Regeneration team had decided to take a small break in Flanoir. Since the tree fiasco and the revelation of Colette's illness the adults of said group decided everyone needed some downtime, away from the rest of society. To be fair, what's more remote and isolated than Flanoir? So, despite the fact they really no business there, everyone was currently relaxing and blowing off stress in one of the many lovely inns Flanoir had too offer.
Lloyd was currently standing by the fire in hopes of warming up from a cold that wasn't caused by the weather. He was dressed in a fleecy red sweatshirt, a white tee, and navy blue sweatpants. Around him the group chatted senselessly. His head perked up slightly when he heard Raine mention his name.
"…Yes when Lloyd was about 7 he developed an obsession with jumping off things. He insisted he was trying to fly." Said Raine.
"Poor Dirk. He always said he'd manage it," laughed Genis, "How stupid can you get! It's like one day he expected to sprout wings."
The group appeared to have forgotten Lloyd was standing less than 10 feet from them. He froze, horrified.
"I told him he couldn't fly," added Colette cheerfully, "I told him only angels, birds and holy things could, but you know how Lloyd can be. He was being stubborn and wouldn't listen to me."
Lloyd felt a small lump rise in his throat, felt his eyes grow wet. No wonder they'd noticed back then. He'd been such an idiot. Lloyd's small display did not go unnoticed by Regal and Presea, who were watching him carefully.
"Hahahahah!" roared Zelos, "Fly? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." He turned to Lloyd. "Bud, what made you think you could do that? It's impossible."
"That's what I tried to explain to him." Interjected Raine, "but he was stubborn as usual and wouldn't listen. He was completely convinced he'd manage it one day."
Lloyd was on the verge of a meltdown. This conversation was bringing back some memories he'd rather have left in the back of his head and ignored. He decided to leave before he lost all composure. He started towards the door.
"I have to go." He choked as he pushed past Presea.
"Oh bud, don't be like that." He heard as the door shut behind him.
Regal and Presea shared a look. Then looked at their other companions who were still laughing at the story and had moved on to telling exactly injured Lloyd had been after every attempted.
"I think they hurt Lloyd." Muttered Presea.
"Perhaps it has further opened old wounds that have been bothering Lloyd for awhile." Deduced Regal.
"…Yes, perhaps."
Sheena chose that moment to enter the common room. She immediately scanned for any sign of Lloyd. She preferred him to the majority of her companions as of late. She felt she was finally making a break through in getting close to him. He had a wall of ice around his heart, but it wasn't noticeable until you got close enough to notice. She thought she made progress and was starting to slip through some of the cracks. Seeing the Iselians and Zelos still laughing but no Lloyd, she walked over to Regal and Presea.
"Have you guys seen Lloyd?" she inquired.
"He just left. He seemed quite distraught," answered Regal.
"Distraught? Why?" exclaimed Sheena, immediately going into protection-mode. She knew just how fragile Lloyd really was, despite the fact he didn't show it. Nobody hurt her chibi tenshii without catching holy hell from her.
"I believe it has something to do with his past. The story Raine told about him attempting to fly seems to upset him greatly."
Sheena blanched at this. "Oh no." she whispered, more to herself than Regal.
"Sheena… you know what's wrong don't you?" Presea asked.
"Yes I do Presea, but I swore to Lloyd I wouldn't tell a soul and I intend to keep my promise. I'm sorry." She looked into the fire, "I just hope he doesn't do something stupid." Regal and Presea nodded in agreement.
Lloyd managed to keep his pace steady as he walked down the hall, all the way to the inn doors and put on his shoes. Then he wretched the inn door open and barrelled out into the street and the cold Flanoir night. Tears streamed down his face as he went. He wasn't really sure where he was going and quite honestly, he didn't care. As long as he was away from their mockery and the ghosts of old memory, he couldn't care less where he ended up. He continued to run even as he nearly ran down an unsuspecting traveller. He pushed past them not even bothering to apologize. Anything to be away from the taunts.
To say Kratos was slightly perturbed would be a gross understatement. He was downright shocked actually. Lloyd had nearly run him down and was apparently upset enough not to notice. He briefly wondered what the group was even doing in Flanoir, as nothing related to their current crisis was even remotely near here. Wait, what did he care? Lloyd was upset at the moment and he was going to find out why. Kratos turned and chased after Lloyd, apparently they weren't travelling companions, but enemies. He found Lloyd sobbing at the balcony outside the Church of Martel. Lloyd was so upset he'd forgotten all his winter clothes except his shoes.
'He must be freezing,' thought Kratos. Even he had basic winter clothes on. A cloak, scarf and gloves suited for the weather. His senses may have been dulled due to the Angelic Transformation but he could still feel changes in temperature. Not as well as when he had been human, but some of them. It just didn't bother him as much. He started over to Lloyd.
Lloyd was an absolute mess. He was sobbing uncontrollably. He tried to tell himself to quit being such a baby, but the tears wouldn't stop. He heard the snow crunch behind him.
"Go away." He sobbed but the person didn't, they kept on walking towards him.
"I said leave!" Lloyd yelled and whirled around, quite intent on slapping the person that decided to rain on his pity party only to have his hand caught before it could make contact. He looked up in surprise.
"…Kra…Kratos?" he stammered unbelieving. 'Great, just great.' He thought, ' he must think I'm pathetic now.' He decided as he started crying again averting his eyes.
Lloyd looked at lot worse up close thought Kratos as he gazed down at the distraught teen. He was sobbing again, quieter now though. Kratos felt an inexplicable jot of anger. Someone had made his baby cry and they were going to catch holy hell when he found out whom it was. Vengeance would have to wait however; taking care of Lloyd had to come first. He pulled the boy into a tight hug. Lloyd was shivering violently.
'I need to get him warmed up before he gets sick.' Thought Kratos. He put his arm around Lloyd and began to guide him towards the inn where he was currently staying.
"Come on. Let's get you warmed up." He said softly, as he led Lloyd through Flanoir's snow choked streets.
Lloyd, so disoriented from the cold and tears didn't really notice what was going on until they made it to the inn where Kratos was staying.
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OHHHH Cliffhanger!
What will happen to our poor cherub?
I can say on thing, OYAKO STRAIGHT AHEAD!
Stay tuned for the next chapter of Silverfeather.
Owari
R&R PLZ.
