Fic for the day seven prompt of Colloyd Week 2023, "Free Day".
Another post-game fic set in the same timeline as the other ones I've written where Lloyd and Colette are living in Mizuho. Also another one in which I've used the term wireless for radio.
For my "Lloyd". Thank you for proofreading so much fluff for me again this year.
Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia.
Colette tipped her head to one side then winced as her neck cricked. Lloyd looked over at her from across the table with a sympathetic look on his face then turned to check the clock.
"I think it might be time to stop for the day," he said, putting the tools he was using down on the table.
"I think so too," Colette agreed, setting the fabric she was working on down as well.
They'd both been working on intricate crafts, leaning closely over small, fiddly projects and Colette could tell from the way he was stretching and moving that Lloyd's muscles were sore as well.
"Shall we have a soak in the bath before dinner? I think there's time," Colette suggested.
"That's a great idea," Lloyd nodded. "Shall I go and get that started while you put the rice on?"
"Yes please," Colette replied, getting up from the table and heading to the kitchen.
When she got near the door she was greeted with a lovely aroma. They'd put a stew in the slow cooker this morning before they'd started work and it smelled wonderful. Smiling as she imagined how good the stew was going to taste Colette got the rice cooker out and set it going then stopped by the bedroom to grab some fresh clothes before going to the bathroom.
When they had stayed at Sheena's house Lloyd and Colette had liked the set up of the bathroom there, where you could wash first then soak in the bath tub afterwards. They'd decided to have the same type of thing for themselves when they'd designed their house but had made sure to include a tub they could both fit comfortably in at the same time so they could enjoy relaxing in it together.
"Would you like me to wash your back for you?" Lloyd offered as she entered the room.
"That would be nice, please. I'll do yours for you if you'd like?" she replied.
"Sounds like a fair deal," Lloyd smiled, moving to give her a hug.
It wasn't long before they were happily settled in the bath, both of them letting out sighs of contentment at the feel of the warm water on their aching muscles.
"I needed this," Colette said, wigging her toes.
"Me too," Lloyd replied, half closing his eyes.
"You got the temperature of the water just right, thank you," Colette smiled, resting her head on his shoulder and nuzzling him a little. "I think we got the stew right too, it smells like it anyway."
"Mmm, I'm looking forward to that later," Lloyd said. "It's nice having the slow cooker, being able to just leave things to cook in it so there's less work to do to get dinner ready after we've had a long day."
"I think it's magic too you know, I'm sure some dishes taste even better when they're cooked in it," Colette said.
"I think you're right," Lloyd nodded, wrapping his hand around hers and squeezing it gently.
They soaked for a while, letting their muscles relax, but eventually the lure of dinner became too tempting to resist and they decided it was time to get out.
Colette giggled as Lloyd's stomach rumbled hungrily while they were drying and getting dressed.
"Good job we prepared a big batch of the stew," she teased him affectionately, kissing him lightly on the cheek before they finished dressing and headed into the kitchen.
Lloyd dished up while Colette gave Noishe, who had gone into the kitchen when he heard them come out of the bathroom, a fuss. The arshis gave a soft, low, happy growl and leaned in to the fuss then dashed over to the bowl of dinner that Lloyd offered him.
Colette smiled, sat down next to Lloyd at the table and hungrily started tucking in to the stew.
"Mmm, see, I told you, the slow cooker is magic," she said when she'd finished a mouthful, waving her spoon at the plate. "It's delicious!"
"It is, and it works really well with the rice too!" Lloyd agreed happily.
They chatted while they ate, talking about what was on the wireless that night and, after having had seconds the food was so good and they'd been so hungry, moved to the living room to settle snuggled cozily together to listen to the programmes that had sounded the most interesting to them.
Their selections turned out to be perfect, both the story programme and the music one were relaxed and gentle, perfect to listen to to unwind after a busy day. As the music ended they all yawned. Lloyd moved to turn the wireless off as Noishe stretched and started padding off in the direction of the bedroom. Colette and Lloyd followed and were soon settled, warm and snug, under the duvet with Noishe at their feet.
Lloyd sighed and quietly uttered the word "cozy".
Colette nodded and snuggled even closer into the hug, replying with a happy little humming noise.
As she began to drift off she thought about how lucky she was to have all this. When she was younger she hadn't expected to have a life after the journey she had to take as the Chosen and that journey itself, along with some of the things that had happened after it, had been arduous. For quite a bit of time in her life she hadn't even known exactly where she'd be sleeping each night, or what the next day would bring other than that there would probably be gruelling challenges.
Some people might think of domesticity and the type of life she was living now as boring and dream about adventures but she was deeply grateful to be able to enjoy small, simple pleasures like the ones she had this evening and live such a peaceful, quiet, happy life with Lloyd. Occasionally travelling was nice, but knowing that they always had their home to return to, a safe and cozy sanctuary, and that Lloyd would always be by her side was a blessing that she would never take for granted.