Trust

">A/N: Thanks to my beta, Rane, for your wonderful suggestions! You’re the greatest, seriously. Thanks to AschTheHated on Gamefaqs.com for the ToS game script he/she posted. It comes in very helpful for reference! It should be pretty obvious this fic roughly parallels the second disc of the game, but I take a bit of artistic license. That’s about all I’ve got.

Trust
Chapter 2: Found

Lloyd followed Zelos into the Sybak inn. The innkeeper told them that their friends had gone ahead to the library and wanted them to head over when they arrived.

“Ah, man,” Zelos said. “I’m tired from walking all day! Can’t we just rest here now?”

“I wish. But we can at least put our packs down.”

They asked the innkeeper which room was theirs, and were informed that they were sharing a room with Regal. Zelos ran ahead. Lloyd followed almost as quickly, then stopped short when he entered the room. Zelos was standing just inside the door, not moving.

“Zelos? What’s wrong?”

The redhead said nothing.

“C’mon, Zelos, we gotta join up with the others. Move, already.”

“… There’s two.” Zelos still didn’t move.

“Two what? What’s the problem?” Lloyd asked, getting annoyed. They’d been walking all day, fought monsters in the forest, barely had anything for lunch, and had to go to a library to do research, and Zelos was stalling.

Zelos walked into the room, letting Lloyd enter as well. There were only two beds in the room, and Regal had obviously claimed one of them.

“Well,” said Lloyd, scratching the back of his head, “I guess we could think of it like camping.” I’m not excited about this, this is annoying. I’m not excited, I’m not, I’m not. He tried to look irritated, but had a suspicion he was failing miserably.

Luckily, Zelos hadn’t noticed. His face had brightened, and he seemed to be getting into the idea. “Yeah! It’ll be just like last night, only in a comfortable bed in a warm room instead of the hard ground in a cold tent!”

“With Regal,” Lloyd added. Why does Zelos think it sounds fun?

“Right, right. Well, let’s get over to the library. I’m sure my hunnies have been worried about me while we’ve been lost!” He grinned at Lloyd and headed out the door.

~~~

When they got to the library, everyone else was gathered on the floor reading a book. Sheena called out a greeting to Lloyd and he hurried over.

“What’s up?” he said.

Zelos rolled his eyes. Lloyd was devoted completely to Colette’s illness now. That was one of the things he liked about the young swordsman; his idealism, his naïve trust, and his ability to completely devote himself to the problem at hand. Although it could be very irritating at times…

He just takes everyone at face value. No, that’s not right; I know he sees more of me than he says. But he’s so willing to accept what he’s told… I suppose I should be grateful for that.

The redhead grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked it in frustration. It was getting harder to lie to his friend. Lloyd was the only person he’d ever known who even bothered to look behind the cheerful, carefree persona he wore.

Argh! I can’t think like this.

He tuned in to what the others were talking about. The unicorn’s horn… “You mean the one that Raine used to learn new healing arts?”

There. That should keep them talking.

He just had to remember: his treachery would get him out of being the Chosen. And that was what he’d always wanted, wasn’t it? And it wasn’t his fault if everyone was so stupid and blind as to trust a traitor.

They must be almost ready to go. What were they talking about?

“I wonder who Kratos really is?” his cute little angel asked.

“What are you talking about?” Zelos felt he had to speak up. “He’s a traitor. What are you gonna do if you trust him and wind up regretting it?” Kratos sold them out to Cruxis, but if I know Lloyd…

“I trust Kratos,” the brunet said.

He’s a fool, thought Zelos. And I’m a fool for getting close to him. He hated to admit it, but he was starting to have trouble imagining a future without the swordsman. But if – no, when I go through with my plan, I’ll lose him. I’ll lose them all…

Mithos was watching him. “You can trust someone who’s betrayed you once. That’s amazing,” said the half-elf.

Ha. You’d never know that he’s the biggest liar here.

Zelos listened as the blond boy convinced the others that he’d be fine going to Altessa’s on his own while they went ahead to Meltokio.

As they left the library, Zelos murmured to himself. “… Do they all… really believe him?”

~~~

Later that night, the three men lay awake in their room. Regal heard the two younger men whispering to each other in their shared bed. He sighed and rolled over, facing the wall.

Handcuffs are not comfortable to sleep in. Alicia… And if those two start giggling, I’m going to the bar. There has to be a bar, right? Of course there is, the instructors here would need one.

“Hey, Regal?” He recognized Lloyd’s voice.

Maybe if I don’t answer he’ll think I’m asleep. Regal concentrated on keeping his breathing even. I dislike sharing a room with these two. They make such noise…

Unfortunately, Mithos, while friends with Genis, wasn’t comfortable enough with anyone to share a bed; he had a hard time sharing Genis’ Rheaird. That left Regal with Lloyd and the Chosen.

The Chosen, who was calling his name in a soft sing-song voice. “Reeee-gaaaal.”

He clenched his fists, hearing them whispering again. Then, Lloyd’s voice drifted through the darkness. “Regal? Are you awake?”

“Regalregalregalregalregalregalregal!” That was the Chosen again.

They’ll give up soon; I have more patience than two boys.

“I think he’s asleep.” Lloyd again.

“Or ignoring us.” Zelos said, his voice filled with suppressed laughter.

“Whatever. What did you want to talk about anyway?”

“Shhh.” The Chosen hushed the swordsman. “Let’s head outside; we don’t want to wake him up.”

Regal listened as the two gathered shoes and jackets, and snuck out of the room.

I should really make sure they’re not getting into trouble.

He thought wistfully of his warm bed, in the now quiet room, and sighed. This was a perfect example of why he loathed rooming with Zelos and Lloyd. The Chosen always lived up (or down) to his reputation, and the younger man always went along with him.

“I’m really too old for these shenanigans,” he muttered as he climbed out of bed and followed the two into the night.