Sunlight

The fifth in the series of Yuan x Lloyd oneshots, Lovelight

A/N: This is Part 1 of the beach sequence, and Part 2 is the chapter after this one. Basically, they both take place at the beach. :P Uh, yeah, chapter 5, this is more than halfway done with the 8 chapter trilogy thing...and I hope you all like it! I'm trying as hard as I can to finish this and keep up with school work, as well as band and whatever else. And I will admit this one is a little random at parts and I had a hard time getting to the point. Good thing there's a part 2! And this might be rated T+ for language and sexual references. And it has more of a funny/parody feel to it. That's just my mood. So on with it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia nor any characters, nor the manga from which this was inspired (Love Hina, long story).

An almost milky form of sunlight drifted in between the closed blinds, signaling the morning. A sleeping couple shifted in annoyance at the invading light, having been totally adjusted to the dark all night. The light illuminated thin horizontal lines on the plush carpet and silky, wine-colored sheets, dark and twisted around the waking figures. Finally, one sat up with a short sigh.

He pulled the sheets around his bare waist and mumbled something incoherent as he tilted the blinds more, making the bright alabaster lines thinner and thinner, though never disappearing completely. The sleepy man climbed back into bed and wrapped his arms around the other person, who moaned lazily in response.

"What time is it?" the first one asked, nuzzling into his partner's shoulder. There was a silence as the other checked the clock.

"About 8:15."

"...What?"

"8:15, isn't it?" The clock-checker rolled over and opened his dark umber eyes, a playful smile on his lips. The smile, however, faded slightly at the sight of his friend's expression. "Yuan, what's wrong?"

Yuan shot up in bed and ripped the clock from the nightstand, pushing his frazzled blue hair back through his fingers. It read exactly 8:18 a.m. "Holy hell, I'm late!" Before another word could be said, the half-elf was fully awake and rushed to his closet, pulling on a pair of pants while hopelessly trying to comb his hair. "Why didn't the alarm go off?"

The brown-eyed boy bit his lip, trying to hide his smile. "Because I turned it off."

"Why? I still have to go to work!" Yuan gave up on his hair and strung his arms through his shirt sleeves. "Lloyd, this is serious!"

Lloyd wasn't convinced and grabbed Yuan by the collar of his shirt when he walked near. "So?" He pulled the man closer and breathed softly by his ear. "Quit your job," he offered in a small whisper. But he frowned bluntly as Yuan jerked free and buttoned his shirt in a hurry.

"No, don't you want to eat? That requires money, Lloyd. Dammit, I can't see anything!" Forgetting that he'd closed it earlier, he tore the blinds open all the way, revealing a hideously blinding light that made Lloyd's arms go up in defense so fast, he almost pulled a muscle.

"Aah! Yuan, that's bright!" Lloyd whined, his eyes barely open. "Take a day off or something, but don't take it out on me..."

Yuan picked up his jacket and strode over to Lloyd. "Why not? It's your fault I didn't wake up!" He forced their lips together for less than a second before tearing off and heading out the door. "See you tonight!" he hollered before the door slammed and silence prevaded the house once again.

Lloyd heaved a sigh and leaned back on his arms, still squinting at the horrifying bleach light. "See you tonight."

--------

Meanwhile, Yuan shredded through the streets of Meltokio, whose population had increased greatly and bustling crowds were everywhere you looked. That didn't stop his determination though.

"Outta my way, people! Move it!" He threw his elbows at every person he passed, spilling people's morning coffee and nearly knocking some poor old lady off her brittle feet. He didn't feel so sorry for her though after he heard a myriad of curses explode from her mouth at him. That only made him hit more people out of his path.

Yuan had a strong, violent urge to use his wings, but knew that would only lead to chaos. The bustle of the streets didn't at all help his appearance as he finally reached his destination, flinging the doors open with such force the delicate glass could've shattered. People around him cast him worried glances of pity and shock, but he ignored them. The later he was, the worse the punishment.

His office was almost the top floor and he nearly broke the elevator buttons by mashing on them five at a time. "Dammit, go or I'll leave you for the stairs!" he shouted at the elevator menu, ignoring the people around him who must've thought him a total head-case by now.

The elevator dinged and stopped at the 7th floor, Yuan almost tripping out of the door. He reached his boss's office door, then caught a glance of himself in a nearby mirror. He paused in thought, then sighed. "Three minutes, then you're going in." And so he stood, trying to smooth himself out for a good two minutes until he heard his name.

In his boss's office, he sat in the chair facing his employer's desk. The heavy-set man that served as his boss was pacing, contemplating Yuan's punishment. Then he stopped and leered at Yuan harshly. "What's your story this time?"

Yuan bowed his head and pressed his lips together nervously. "Uh, I forgot to turn on my alarm this morning and traffic was a bitch." It didn't work.

"You never forget to turn on your alarm, though this isn't the first time you've been late."

"I was...I had a hard night the night before and slept pretty heavily. Maybe I...slept through it. This whole morning was kind of a blur to me actually." He looked up at his boss's stern face. "Sir?"

"Then at least explain your hair," he said, nodding at Yuan's head.

Yuan looked up and cringed. His mane of usually silky blue hair was now a disheveled mop that reeked of low-maintainence. "Uh...I'll try harder?"

Nothing. Nothing but three simple words. "Yuan, you're fired."

--------

Lloyd wandered around the silent house, browsing through the newspaper while sipping some coffee. He was one of the only people who didn't have a job, but the others were still sleeping, so he was alone for the time being. He was about to give up on what he was reading when he caught sight of the help wanted ads.

"Yuan's always going to work, I should get a job too. There's nothing to do around here anyway." He looked through it another five minutes until his eyes fell on an ad for a job at a beach café.

Good-looking and talented waiters and waitresses wanted! High pay, low commitment! Weekends from noon to six and some weeknights from seven to ten! Experience the beauty of the beach, get the news on the latest hook-ups, serve, eat, and cook great seafood! Now taking openings for all positions! Cashier, waiter, chef...

Lloyd picked up the phone and kept his eyes glued to the paper ad. The phone rang once, twice, then someone picked up. The boy grinned and held the paper in his free hand. "Yeah, I'm interested in your job opening for the café. I saw your ad in the paper."

"Oh, vedy good, yes? We are vedy new and need as many people as you can give us!"

"What a coincidence! Me and six friends were looking for jobs." Hey, the more the merrier, right? The job wouldn't be any fun if I were by myself.

"Oh, excellent! When you be starding, hm?"

"Uh, let's see, today's Wednesday...how about this Friday at seven?" Lloyd wondered if the others would be okay with this. Oh well, at least I'll get paid. They can just quit if they don't like the free beach visits.

"That sounds wondéful! You have de job! Call us if you have any quesdions, and I will see you then, yes? Thank you!" They hung up.

Lloyd set the phone down and the paper. "Cool, I got a job. I should tell Yuan as soon as he gets back."

But outside, Yuan wasn't having quite as much luck. He stood on the now near empty sidewalk and stared at the cobblestone path, lined with pigeons like your typical city. "Fired...?"

The sun beat down on him with a strong light and he fiddled with the cash in his pocket, what he thought would be all he'd have for the rest of his life. "I can't let Lloyd know I lost my job, he'll get worried and start spiraling on another one of those lectures that I never listen to. I swear, those are fueled only by panic and disorder." He shook his head, letting his damaged hair fall around his face.

"So I can't go home now, I have to pretend I'm gone and come back at five, just like I'd do if I were at work." The half-elf looked around. The city had made many improvements, and there were a lot of places to go to kill time. Yuan didn't have enough money to go on a shopping spree like he usually did when he was depressed, so he set his sights on something different, though not much cheaper.

Tossing his work coat uniform in the nearby garbage can, he stood and walked across the street into the local hair salon.

--------

The brunette's boredom got the best of him hours later and he picked up the phone again. Dialing one of the many numbers he knew by heart, he placed the phone against his ear. It rang three times and a rather bitter voice answered. "Hey, Kratos! What's going on?"

"...Nothing, Lloyd. Why are you calling?"

"Uh, because I got a job!" Lloyd annouced as if it were some sort of honor.

"Huh, that's great. Who 'employed' you?" The boy thought he heard a strange emphasis on a word, but didn't get the hint.

"Ah, I didn't get his name." There was a small silence.

"...Lloyd you little slut, I'm ashamed to call you my son." Kratos hung up the phone with an ugly static click.

Lloyd recoiled from the phone, hung up, and dialed another number. "Yuan! Guess what? I got a job! A real one!"

"Oh, so the ones I give you aren't 'real' enough?" Yuan hissed.

"Okay, there's some sorta weird joke going around and I don't get it."

"Nevermind, I'm at work and very busy, so call back later. no, that shampoo frizzes my hair real bad..."

"Hey Yuan, is that a hairdryer I hear in the background?"

"Hell no, it's a fax machine! Learn your stuff, Lloyd. Now I gotta go." The connection ended.

Lloyd stopped his phone calls and waited for evening to come.

--------

It was 5:30 when Yuan finally walked in through the door, breathing heavily. "Whoa, work was a killer today. They kept me overtime, greedy bastards." Lloyd dashed into the room and hugged Yuan. "Ack, Lloyd. Watch the hair."

"Oh, sorry. Wow, it looks great! Did you get it cut?" Yuan shrugged, knowing that if he said he'd gotten it trimmed (which he had), Lloyd would know he hadn't been at work. "Well, I'm glad you got time to fix it before work, and I'm sorry I made you late." He stood on his toes and leaned up to Yuan, kissing him softly. But before Yuan could totally get into it, Lloyd pulled back. "Oh yeah, speaking of work, you can quit your old job because I got you a new one."

"...You what?"

Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.

"Hurry up you guys! We don't wanna be late for our first night!" Apparently, Sheena, Raine, Seles, Presea, and Mithos had been all for the idea, since they were failing miserably at their old jobs anyway. But Yuan seemed quite uncomfortable with the idea.

"Yuan?" Lloyd peered into his lover's room and saw him sitting on his bed. "You told me you quit your old job, so try to act enthusiastic about this one! No more waking up early, or anything like that. We get to sleep in everyday! Which means we get to stay up every night."

Yuan sighed and slumped his shoulders. "Yeah, thanks Lloyd. I really needed a new job, and this seems to be just what I wanted." He forced a weak smile in the boy's direction.

"That's not what your body language is telling me," Lloyd pointed out, kneeling behind Yuan on the bed. "I don't want to force you into something like this." He set his hands on Yuan's tense shoulders and massaged them gently. "You'll come to like it as time goes on. I'm sure we'll have lots of time to spend together too." His lips placed tiny kisses along the man's neck, and his hands wandered down his sides and to his hips.

"Lloyd..."

Lloyd leaned forward and his soothing voice turned into a harsh whisper. "Now this title is called Sunlight and if we don't get out there and see the sun before it sets, this chapter'll get too long and the author will get pissed."

They were soon on their way.

The Altamira Beach Café was basically a rundown shack in need of some serious remodeling and renovating, but they entered with open minds. Lloyd talked to the old manager and became the new manager. Lloyd obtained the title of New Manager "Okay, Raine, Seles, Sheena, Presea and I are waiters/waitresses, Mithos is the cashier, and Yuan is the chef."

"That's sexist," Yuan observed.

"Are you calling me a girl?" Lloyd warned, glowering at the man.

"Of course...not..."

"Okay then everybody! Get to work! To start off," Lloyd wrapped an arm around Yuan's waist and grinned. "Yuan and I are going to take a break."

Raine stamped her foot down in anger, breaking the heel off her uniform shoe. She ignored it. "That's not fair! Can I have a break?"

"Sorry, Professor. Single women don't get breaks." Yuan turned to Lloyd, starting to like him even more.

"Then can I get a break?" Mithos pried, doing his trademark shrug pose.

"...Single women don't get breaks." Lloyd repeated slowly, causing Yuan and Seles to stifle their laughter.

"Now if anything is sexist, it's that." Mithos and the others got to work without further objection as the couple walked off into the beach with the sun dipping in the water. The sun looked like a giant tangerine slipping below the water surface as it's final red-yellow light struggled to stay afloat.

The ivory sand shifted beneath their bare feet as they journeyed the tawny beach. Beryl water crashed gently on the shore, bearing a complex shimmer of the flaming sunset.

The two sat down on the sticky sand and Lloyd turned to Yuan, a lust-filled light in his eyes. "Yuan..."

"Hm?" Yuan turned to him, his eyes a warm viridian under such breath-taking light that complemented his every feature.

"This chapter is getting too long, so I just have to say that line that I say in almost every chapter," he blurted out, killing all drama and Nakoya's devious plan to NOT give away the chapter formation.

"Shoot," Yuan replied casually, agreeing with Lloyd totally.

"I love you." Lloyd closed the gap between their lips and tackled him to the sand, pinning the man's strong arms down.

"Whoa, save that for the next chapter," an omniscent voice voiced.

"Huh? What's that horrible voice? Ugh!" Yuan sat up and dumped Lloyd into the sand. "Nakoya!"

"Yeah, that's me." (Turns to readers) "Thank you for reading, and please feel free to review-"

"Save it for the Author's Note," Yuan sneered back.

A/N: Ahem. I know that one was a little less serious, but the rest of the story won't be like that. I was just in a good mood. For a Sunday night. I thought it was pretty damn funny myself. The next chapter will have a little more to do with the café, I got a tad carried away with Yuan's job in this one. Sorry! Reivew please!