A/N: Early fluff-free conversation between Lloyd and Presea just after the pact forming with Volt. Within the chapters of Don't Leave Me Behind, this is set between Fragile Shield and The Silver Place.
Lloyd paused in the cool night air and stretched, wincing as his sore limbs protested against the painful exercise. The young man looked across the empty rolling hills before him at the Temple of Lightning, still visible despite being half a days travel behind them; a silhouette even darker than the star pocked sky above.
The battle with Volt had been intense, one of the most intense yet, and as he rubbing his aching shoulder Lloyd realised that he would still be feeling the encounter for a while longer yet. And not just him; poor Sheena had lost Corrine during the fight, and although she didn't let it show, it was obvious that the event had hurt her a lot. In fact, everyone had been so subdued at the campfire that Lloyd was glad he had volunteered for the first night watch – giving him a chance to clear his mind in the cool, quiet night air.
The wind had picked up a little from when his shift started, and as he made his way across the high grassy crests of the hills surrounding the camp Lloyd caught sight of a figure watching him from a little distance away. At first, given the silhouette's small stature, he thought it was Genis but as the young man approached, the moonlight revealed two long pigtails on the figure, and he realised it was Presea. That was slightly unusual.
"Hey," he called quietly as he approached. "What's up, couldn't sleep?"
"Lloyd!" Her voice was surprisingly fragile sounding in the quiet air and she studied him with an unreadable expression on her face. Lloyd was just about to begin to feel uncomfortable under her gaze when she continued. "Um, negative, I was just considering whether you required any assistance patrolling." She grasped the shaft on her axe tightly with one hand as she spoke, as if emphasising her willingness to work.
Lloyd smiled appreciatively, but shook his head. "Thanks, but it's pretty quiet," he replied, "you should go and get some sleep – it's been a hard day for all of us."
"I…see." Presea hesitated for a moment. "Then…if you do not require assistance…do you require…company?"
"Huh?" Lloyd looked across at the small girl just as a gust of wind tore through her hair, increasing the forlorn and awkward aura surrounding her. The young man smiled sympathetically, feeling a large amount of compassion for her then; after all, she had spent so long without anyone to be friends with, or to talk to.
"Sure, if you want to talk then we can do that." He laughed ruefully as he sat down on the grassy hill. "I was kind of getting tired with all this walking anyway."
A brief expression passed across Presea's features as she nodded. It looked, to Lloyd, a little like relief. "Affirmative."
She moved to sit down beside him and quietly looked up at the stars for a few moments. "Many stars."
Lloyd joined her in looking up, "Yeah…you can see loads tonight – much more than usual." He frowned, "I wonder why that is?"
Presea didn't take her eyes from the sky as she replied, but tugged absently at the grass beside her. "Weak atmospheric conditions most likely. No clouds in the sky."
"Really?" Lloyd found himself both impressed and humbled at the small girl's knowledge. "Wow, you know a lot of stuff Presea. I mean, you're younger than me yet you know so much more. Bet you'd even put Genis to shame."
He saw Presea stiffen slightly at his admission. "…Younger…yes…" she continued to look awkward and Lloyd attempted to change the subject.
"Uh…so…how are you feeling anyway? You took a few nasty hits when we fought Volt."
"My wounds were comparably minor and easily healed," she replied, before looking across at Lloyd. "Please do not concern yourself, it is nothing compared to Sheena's…loss."
"Corrine…" Lloyd thought back to the event and shook his head. "That shouldn't have happened."
Presea looked as though she was considering his words for a while, picking up her axe and resting it across her lap.
"I think…Sheena blames herself." The pink haired girl shuddered against a gust of wind and lowered her gaze to her feet. "She believes what happened was her fault."
"Yeah, but it wasn't!" Lloyd protested. "Ah, she shouldn't think like that."
"It is easy to have that opinion," replied Presea sadly, "but the feeling of blame is not easily shaken."
Lloyd closed his eyes at her words, remembering what happened at Iselia. Presea had a point there, and he felt a little better for acknowledging her statement. He didn't know if he would ever completely forgive himself for the harm he had brought to his village – nor allow himself to stop repenting for it. "Yeah…guess you're right."
Presea nodded, looking back up at the sky again. "It is like what happened to…" she paused on the word. "…Colette. That was my fault."
"No it wasn't." Lloyd felt the words emerge automatically from his mouth as he turned to face the pink haired girl, and sighed. It was true in a certain sense…she had been the one who had enabled Colette to be taken away – but she had had no control over her actions during that time. "You couldn't help what happened," he continued – smiling reassuringly. "It wasn't as though you wanted to do what you did – or even if you had a choice! Rodyle's the only person to blame for putting you in that situation."
"Even so, I will right my wrong and save her." Presea considered something for a moment before her gentle voice echoed quietly again in the night air. "…Lloyd, a question. Do you…hate me?"
"What?" The young man couldn't keep the surprise from his voice. Although her face was as unreadable as ever, her head was hanging sadly, and her hands were tightly gripping the grass on either side of her – the knuckles white with the effort.
"Of course I don't hate you," he replied passionately. "Why would I? What happened wasn't your fault! I like you Presea, and I trust you." He wanted to make some kind of reassuring contact with her, a pat on the shoulder or something but something about the pink haired girl made him wonder if it would help enforce what he was saying. For someone quite young, she seemed emotionally cold at times.
A ghost of a sad smile hovered about Presea's lips and she turned to look at Lloyd. ". I don't know if I could forgive someone who took away a person I cared about. Your admission is confusing…but, if you truly mean what you said…then you are a remarkable person."
Lloyd blushed a little at the remark and absently plucked tiny flowers from the grass. "Ah…I don't know about that."
"No…you are." Presea brushed a hand through her hair. "Despite what I've done…not only do you not hate me for it…but also you helped save me." Her hand brushed across the makeshift Keycrest Lloyd had made for her out of inhibitor ore and hovered over it as she closed her eyes. "I do not think I deserve your kindness, but I am so very grateful for it."
"Ah…" Lloyd's embarrassed laugh echoed in the silent air. "You don't need to be. I wouldn't have dreamt about leaving you the way you were."
"That may be the case, but do not think I will forget it." Presea smiled again, this one slightly warmer. "And I will work hard to earn the faith you have placed in me too."
"Um…you don't…um…" Lloyd struggled for a reply, finding nothing he could say for embarrassment. If she realised it then Presea didn't acknowledge it. Rising to her feet with a strange determination about her, she inclined her head slightly.
"I…thank you Lloyd," she said – one hand working to keep her hair down against the breeze while the other grasped her oversized axe. "I have…enjoyed talking with you tonight. Are you returning to the camp?"
Lloyd looked back up at the sky, and shook his head. "Not just yet," he replied. "Maybe in a little while. You go back though if you want, get some rest."
"A-affirmative." Presea lingered just a moment longer, staring at the young man. "If you require patrol assistance or…someone to talk to in the future…please, do not hesitate to ask."
The young man smiled. "Okay, thanks, you too!" He watched the small girl descend down the hill and enter her tent before rising to his feet with a sigh. The conversation had been a welcome diversion from patrolling but now it was time to return to work – although he attended it with a slighter lighter heart than before.