A/N: Hallo there. Here's the new chapter. Let's just say you're all very lucky that I wrote this before I got writer's blocked. Shorter than I'd like, but meh. It'll do. It's the next chapter that I really look forward to writing, even if I am afraid I'll butcher it slightly. As always, massive hugs to all my lovely reviewers. Let's see how this goes.

Reading people was a surprisingly easy skill to pick up. Even those who thought they were so successfully hiding what they thought gave themselves away. More times than not, these people who thought they were so well hidden away showed on their faces, right there, exactly what they were thinking, if you were watching and knew enough of the subtle language to read it well. Too often, the only thing getting in the way of people reading others was their own insecurities, their own doubt, not knowing whether or not what they thought they saw was really there.

Of course, Lloyd was one of the easiest people Zelos had ever read. He didn't have many secrets. If asked, he'd tell you the whole truth about himself. If he was angry, he'd look angry, and if he was irritated and groggy in the mornings, then he'd show that. He'd look as confused as he was, as frustrated as he was and as foolishly determined as he was.

Marta and Emil were much the same. Not quite as easy to read as Lloyd, but Lloyd at least had those subtle nuances that you only caught after knowing him for quite awhile. These two were…quite frankly, boring. All they saw was what was in front of them, and that was rather uninteresting. He knew how to read Sheena and Regal, of course, as he'd spent a good amount of time with them not too long ago. Not that it had been that recent, but the two of them hadn't really changed that much.

He sincerely doubted, however, that any of them could read him as well as they thought they could. Knowing how to read people had it's advantages besides the obvious. It also taught you how to not be read so well. Oh, he knew he couldn't be quite as mysterious and difficult to read as he'd like, but he did know that his hands would inevitably give him away, if not hidden. Hands reacted more than even the face in some circumstances, twitching as the person the hands belonged to considered strangling the person in front of them, clenching with anger at whatever said person had just said, fingers fiddling with each other in nervousness.

Still, though, these four hadn't had the leisure time to just sit around and watch people go by in their little squabbles and ordeals. He'd had time to figure all this out. It more often than not put him a step ahead of the rest of the crowd.

And this crowd he was currently travelling with (temporarily, he reassured himself) just had no idea how much he was going to gloat after all this was over. Or how much he was going to snarl at Lloyd. Actually, he was rather looking forward to that.

The timid Emil was studying him curiously. Zelos very plainly ignored him, not really wanting to talk to the ignorant kid who'd wanted to kill Lloyd just a few hours ago.

"Why do you always have your hands in your pockets?" he burst out suddenly. "Wouldn't it…m-make more sense if your hands were cl-closer to your sword?"

Zelos raised a brow at him. Pity. He'd almost gotten to liking the kid, too. Or not hating him as much, but then that backbone had disappeared.

"I don't see how that's any of your business," he said coolly. "Maybe I just like my pockets."

"O-oh…I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," Zelos snapped, irritated, then lengthened his stride to distance himself from the two brats. Sheena gave him a look.

"Yes, Sheena? Do you want something?"

"Would it kill you to be pleasant to him?" she growled.

"You never know."

"Arrgh! Honestly, I have no idea how Lloyd can like you so much."

"Well, that's good," he said pleasantly. "I'm glad I'm not the only one confused by it."

She gave him a level stare, trying to decide whether he was serious or not. Finally rolling her eyes, she jogged ahead to walk next to Regal.

"I bet he's gay," Marta announced out of the blue, after being a little quiet for once.

"Wh-who? Zelos?"

There was a sound up ahead that sounded suspiciously similar to a cough.

"Who else? Regal's obviously not. And Tenebrae's probably not…right, Tenebrae?"

"I see no reason to even dignify that with a response."

"So that means you are—!"

Tenebrae bristled. "No, it most certainly does not!"

"You think Zelos is gay?" Emil interrupted, not wanting to see another silly argument unfold. Grumbling, Tenebrae disappeared. Marta just nodded.

"Of course! Don't you think so?"

"Hm…"

"Have you seen how he looks at you? It's like he wants to devour you on the spot!"

The coughing increased tenfold.

"Me? N-no, I don't think he likes me very much…or at all…"

"That's just obviously his way of showing affection!"

"M-Marta, he shoved me in the dirt when running after Ll—Decus."

Marta nodded. "Good thing he was able to control himself in time."

They glanced ahead. Zelos had stopped to lean against a pillar, wheezing a little.

Marta pursed her lips. "Do you suppose he heard us?"

"No way…he's too far ahead…right?"

"Well, he could have really good hearing."

"Y-yeah, but it'd have to be really good."

"Yeah, you're right." Marta smiled brightly at him. "Just be careful, okay?"

Emil studied Zelos, who had begun to walk again. "I don't know, Marta…if he's interested in anyone, it's pr-probably Lloyd, not me."

Zelos was suddenly coughing up a storm. Sheena glanced at him for a moment before dismissing it.

Marta looked thoughtful. "You think so?"

In all likelihood, Lloyd was going to kill Yuan when all this was over.

"What's so difficult about it?" Yuan had asked from behind his book. "All you have to do is go into the Vanguard base and—"

"Oh, there's a good idea."

"Don't be sarcastic, Lloyd. It makes you look too much like your father in the old days. He was really annoying back then, by the way." A page was turned. "Not that he's not annoying now. Hmph."

"You sound old."

"I am old!"

"Geez, no need to get snappy. I was just pointing out—"

"Well, don't," Yuan said testily. "Look, all you have to do is rescue Seles, right? You'll probably run into Zelos there. And, even if you don't, you can stick around his house until—"

"Yuan, that's creepy and a little stalkerish."

"I'm sure Zelos won't mind."

"Yuan!"

"Fine." Yuan sighed. "If you insist, you can 'accidentally' trip and create a huge mess. And then you can clean it until Zelos gets there."

"That's more Colette's forte."

"You're just Mr. Negativity today, aren't you?"

Lloyd glared. "I'll be going now."

"Mm-hm…be careful. And call if you're not going to be home for dinner."

"This isn't home!"

Just rescue Seles, he says, Lloyd grumbled. That's all. He could have given a little bit more instruction. Like, maybe…be careful of the wandering Vanguard all around. It was only by sheer luck that he hadn't been caught already.

Cautiously entering a large, open room, Lloyd glanced around. Wandering empty halls alone was nervewracking. Entering seemingly empty rooms—especially ones this big—was even more nerve-wracking. If possible. Seriously, if he died from stress and anxiety here, he was blaming Yuan.

He heard the snarl before he heard the footsteps slamming into the ground. Lloyd was barely able to dodge before the war cry started, a sword slamming into the ground where he'd been.

"AAAAAAAAAUGH!" Lloyd screamed at the top of him lungs, yanking his left sword free to block the next sword swing. He took a step back and grabbed his other sword, staring at the enraged attacked. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, staring at his apparent twin. Kratos hadn't told him about any other siblings…

Something clicked in his head. This was probably why everyone thought he had attacked those towns. Feeling smug at his discovery, Lloyd didn't parry the next swing until too late, and it sliced into his arm.

Lloyd snarled. Zelos had better show up and heal his arm, or…or Yuan was going to be in a lot of trouble.

"I'll go look for her," Regal offered, then was gone before anyone could protest. Zelos stared at the hole Sheena had fallen down in dismay.

How could this possibly, conceivably happen? Did whatever gods of fate there were hate him? Did they have some sort of grudge against him? How did one person—who was supposed to be the chief of freaking Mizuho—fall down that many holes? Okay, he could understand falling down a few holes, especially when Colette was involved, as she had been at the Ossa trail. But this…this was pushing it. It was pushing the limits of his patience. Clearly, Sheena had been spending far too much time around Colette.

Furthermore, both Sheena and Regal were abandoning him with these whiny brats. That was not cool. Especially since Marta apparently thought he had a thing for Emil.

As if.

"I guess we better get going, huh?" Emil said, offering a bit of a smile. Cute, if it'd been on a girl. Zelos sighed wearily.

"Whatev—"

Then, in the distance, a scream of terror. Or yell. Definitely Lloyd's voice. That's meant either that Lloyd was here, or Lloyd's imposter was here, and they were terrified. Or very surprised. And that they were at least going in the right direction. Still pretty far away, but not miles and miles, as he'd feared.

"Zelos?" Marta prodded. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, fine. We'd probably better hurry, though."

If that was Lloyd…

Whatever will be, will be.

Hopefully Lloyd could take care of himself.

"I don't think Zelos likes me very much," Marta said.

Emil glanced at Marta, then at the pink-clad Chosen, who was walking ahead of them. "I think he l-likes you well enough," he muttered.

"He's always glaring at me. I think he's jealous."

"Of what?" Tenebrae was suddenly in between them. "Your girlish looks? The flowers in your hair? Your absolutely musical voice?"

Marta glared at the Centurion for a split second, then shook her head. "No," she said, as if Tenebrae had been entirely serious. "I'm telling you, he's gay and he wants my Emil."

There was a loud groaning sound from up ahead.

"Well, either he has really good hearing or he's got a massive headache," Marta said.

"O-or both," Emil said.

And there stood Lloyd, in all his red-clad, suspenders-wearing glory.

In fact, there stood two Lloyds in red-clad, suspenders-wearing glory.

And they were fighting.

Zelos sighed.

Well, this complicates things.

A/N: I know, I know, I'm mean to end it there. -hides from pitchforks-