Behind Slightly Closed Doors

Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia or any of the characters depicted in this work, those rights lay with Namco.

"Ah, Chosen, you look well." I am greeted by Yggdrasill, who is in quite an unusually bubbly mood. Funny, I'm under the impression that I look like shit, seeing as how he took the liberty to summon me up to his humble little castle in Derris Kharlan at 3 in the morning.

"Thanks." I stifle a yawn and stand before the altar he's placed himself on. "So what's up?"

"Just looking for a progress report. Haven't had one in awhile, yes?" He leers at me, taking a strand of his long flaxen hair and twirling it around his finger absently. "I don't exactly appreciate being left in the dark."

"Ah, well..." I try to ignore the underlying threat in his last comment. "There hasn't really been much to report."

"Really?" His eyes narrow a fraction smaller as he looks down at me as if I am something interesting he just happened to find lying in the street. I resist the urge to shiver and instead meet his scrutinizing eyes evenly.

"Yeah, the Papal Knights are still on our asses so there hasn't been much time for pact making..." I trail off as a few guard angels walk into the room and right past me as if I'm not even there.

"Lord Yggdrasill, Lady Pronyma would like to see you. She says it is important." Yggdrasill groans at this and the guard presses on, "It is in regards to the stability of the great seed." Yggdrasill's eyes flicker with surprise for a moment before he nods his head.

"Very well, you may go." He waves his hand absently and turns that unnerving keen gaze back on me. "I'm afraid we'll have to cut this short for now."

"Ah, no problem." I nod, the prospect of getting out of this place and back into my nice comfortable hotel bed is very pleasing, "I'll just..."

"You'll just have to wait for me to return, Zelos. Take a nice tour of the place if you like." He gestures around the room lazily before getting up from his throne and flying over toward the exit. "I'll have you summoned when I'm ready to see you again," he says and exits without waiting for a response. I stare at the door for a moment before sighing heavily and kicking some imaginary rock on the ground.

Leaving Yggdrasill's quarters, I find a few stray angels having a conversation in the hallway. I listen in for a few moments and decide with much disgust not to join in. They're discussing something about their revered leader and the powers in which he uses to keep this mass of rock afloat. It is probably a pretty interesting subject, how Yggdrasil has managed to build and keep this place full of drones running, but I find myself hard pressed to care at the moment.

It's sort of hard to be impressed with these facts when I now know that these people are the ones responsible for the institution of the Chosen and so many other abhorrent things; for the misery in my life and countless others. The only reason I'm working with them is because Yggdrasill had promised to lift that awful title from me and place it upon my sister Seles, a much more deserving and able person for the job.

Plus, if you can't beat 'em, you gotta join 'em. I don't know about you but I'd rather be on the side of the megalomaniac half-elf. Always gives you less of a chance of being crushed if you're riding on the giant's coattails, you know?

Finally giving up on finding any form of decent conversation, I begin my exploration of the castle. Surely there are some interesting things to find here? After all, it is the base of the most secret and influential organization in either of the two worlds.

No such luck I'm afraid. Ah the disappointments, they never seem to end. The most interesting thing I find is a very large library with more books than I have ever seen lining every wall of the room. For someone who lives as long as most of these lifeless angels do, I suppose that is a useful thing to have to pass time. I, however, am not too interested in reading at the moment, but I keep it in mind for later. The rest of the rooms are mostly empty studies and dormitories. Occasionally I find one of those lifeless beings hovering in one of the empty impersonalized rooms and I leave them alone immediately, although they never seem to notice me intruding on their privacy.

I wander around for about another half an hour, not even bothering to check all the doors I come across for I supposed them all to be equally uninteresting. I happen to stumble upon a spiral staircase and climb it to find a small long and narrow hallway. There are only a few doors but I guess since they are secluded they must lead to something a little more special.

Randomly picking one of the doors, I slide it open just a crack and take a peek within. Realizing that the room is empty, I open the door completely and take a step inside. It's very dark and I feel the wall blindly for a moment before finding a switch and flipping on the light.

The space illuminated is a bit larger than the others and a great deal more personalized than its predecessors. The color scheme is dark, with deep reds featured on the velvet couch pillows and thick throw rugs coupled with varying shades of purple fabrics on the bedspread, offset by the neutral black heavy curtains that frame the windows and cover the frame of the large canopy bed. The only area of the room that is the least bit messy is the antique looking red cherry wood desk. It is littered with many open books and looks as if whomever occupies this eloquent space spends much time working there. Overall the room has a nice feel to it; although it is stark in comparison to the bright open airiness that I favor in my décor.

My exploration and critique of the room is cut short as my keen ears pick up the sound of someone approaching the door. I have just enough time to dive into a near-by closet, cursing quietly as the sliding door refuses to shut closed completely, leaving just a crack of it open. I cease my movements as the door on the other side of the room opens and the last person I want to see right now steps inside.

Kratos Aurion, high-ranking angel of Cruxis and all around world-class asshole, makes himself at home immediately and sits down on his bed to remove his boots. Strike all previous compliments on interior decorating from the record, thanks. Now that I think about it, that olive green armchair in the corner really just looks like puke. No accounting for taste, I guess.

The few encounters I've had with the man since making alliances with Cruxis haven't been too pleasant. He is stiff enough to make a good statue and arrogant enough to even make me look modest, although he is far subtler about it. Just speaking with him left me with an awful taste in my mouth, the same thing I am experiencing now that I realize whose clothing I'm hiding in. On the other side of the closet I notice there is even a section devoted entirely to...belts. Freaking head-case, I'm telling you. It must be some sort of insecure phobia, I know it.

Anyway, back to the present bane of my existence. He looks like he's getting ready to climb into bed when he freezes, his head turning towards the lamppost near on his bedside table, and he narrows his eyes at it slightly. Right, must have realized he didn't turn it on when he entered the room. This also probably means that I am now royally screwed. I watch nervously as he gets up from the bed and takes a cautious look around the room. His eyes land on the door I'm hiding behind and I begin saying my prayers as he takes a few steps in my direction.

I have to restrain myself from letting out a breath of relief as someone knocks on the door. He turns his head sharply and glares at the door. He seems to like doing that, glaring at inanimate objects. Then again he seems to like doing that to living objects just as much so I guess this is no different. He appears to debate what to do first but eventually shakes his head and makes his way over to the door when the person behind it begins knocking again.

"Yuan," he states as if he's already stricken dead with boredom at the prospect of speaking with the man.

"Kratos, glad to see you're as cheerful as ever," Yuan answers pleasantly. "Mind if I come inside?"

"Of course not," Kratos scoffs in a manner that clearly indicates otherwise but turns and walks into the room nonetheless. Yuan follows him inside after shutting the door behind him. It seems like a standoff as Kratos turns around and crosses his arms, while Yuan stands a few feet away from him and holds his gaze evenly. "Did you come in here earlier? While I was gone?" Kratos asks suddenly and Yuan gives him a puzzled look.

"No...I didn't. Why?" Kratos frowns at this and takes a glance behind him, back at the lamp.

"Nothing. Perhaps I'm just going crazy."

"I could have told you that." Yuan chuckles and Kratos just stares back blankly at him, obviously not finding the comment amusing. I, however, am finding my liking for Yuan increasing slightly.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be off playing with those...Runaways?"

"Renegades. And I've simply come here to check in on things and keep up a front to Mithos."

"Ah, of course. Be you ever the double agent."

"Aren't you doing the same thing?"

"What I do is none of your business." Kratos narrows his eyes and turns to sit at the work desk I mentioned earlier. Clearly eager to get back to his duties and pretend as if this unwanted guest had never arrived. I can't really judge either one of them for whatever double crossing they might have been doing; after all I have them both beat, since I'm working for both of their groups plus helping out Lloyd and company. Yuan sighs as he is given the cold shoulder and takes a few steps so that he is standing behind the grumpy angel.

"Kratos...I know we both have different ideas on what should be done but I haven't come here to argue with you about that." Kratos stiffens slightly as Yuan rests his hands on the man's shoulders to massage the tense muscles there gently. "I just wanted to see you," Yuan continues when Kratos doesn't respond, leaning down to whisper into his ear, "It's been awhile, yes?"

"Humph," is Kratos's eloquent response and, despite his obvious displeasure, he merely closes his eyes and allows Yuan to nuzzle his neck a second later. Meanwhile, I'm starting to seriously think I'm missing something here.

"Relax, please..."Yuan murmurs into the man's neck and plants a few kisses there before leaning up to capture that silent mouth. Kratos doesn't pull away but he doesn't show much response either as Yuan deepens the kiss and drapes his free arm around the man's chest. I just sort of stand there dumbfounded as I watch this unexpected exchange. It takes a moment for my normally quick working brain to process this situation

I can't say I'm all that surprised to see Yuan swings that way. I sort of got that vibe from him the moment I met him, but Kratos? Mr. Cold-as-ice? I figured he's straight as an arrow if not all together asexual. That doesn't seem to be the case however, as I watch Yuan coax him out of his chair, leading him over to the bed while still placing kisses all over his neck and face, nipping at that man's bottom lip every so often.

I try to look away as Yuan presses Kratos into the mattress but my eyes simply refuse to comply. It's like watching a train wreck or any other number of horrible things you know you shouldn't be interested in, but can't help but look on with some bizarre amount of fascination. My mind apparently thinks it is a very sexy train wreck however, and my pulse quickens as my blood starts to flow somewhere south of the border.

Yuan has the other man pinned underneath him and locks their lips together again, tangling their legs together and grinding against the firm body. He pulls away to suckle and nip at Kratos's ear, chuckling slightly into it as he hears Kratos gasp out. Kratos merely glares at his antics and Yuan pouts at the harsh look. He seems to shrug it off however as he nuzzles the curve of the man's neck, reaching down between Kratos' legs to stroke the hardness he finds there.

The next thing I know, Yuan has begun working on undoing the many belts that hold the man's clothing in place. I almost wish I have a watch so I can time this; it is rather extraordinary how fast Yuan manages to get all those restrictions loose. Must be the result of years of practice; it would have taken me all night if I tried it. The mass of material and leather is dropped to the ground with an audible 'thunk' and Yuan seems satisfied with his work, but there is still another barrier to be removed.

Yuan slowly pulls the dark slacks down Kratos's long legs and for a moment I almost think I'm looking into a mirror as he grins up mischievously at his captive. Kratos isn't wearing any underwear but that doesn't really surprise me. What kind of underwear would an Angel of Cruxis wear anyway? He probably considers that sort of thing below him. Still, I can't help but wonder if there is any chafing going on with all those belts he likes to wrap himself up in. Can't be the most comfortable get-up in the world but-what the hell am I thinking? Like it freaking matters right now!

Instead my thoughts are drawn towards the seraph's exposed arousal, standing completely erect and dripping precum down to the base. I licked my lips absently, the hardness in my pants growing, and I reach down to stroke it through the material. He looks so inviting lying there, as much as I hate to admit it. Blame it on the damn hormones, they don't have the same refined sense of taste that I have in my right state of mind. Yuan seems to agree with them however, as he moves up Kratos' body, running his hands along the man's legs as he does so.

Yuan leans over, some of that loose aqua hair pooling around Kratos' hips as he gives the length a long, leisurely lick. Kratos shudders slightly at this but shows no other responses as the half-elf continues to treat the twitching member like his favorite flavor Popsicle. After a few moments of the teasing licks, Yuan finally swallows the length and I gasp loudly at the sight. Luckily for me, my gasp is drowned out by Kratos' very vocal approval at the action. Yuan looks up at this, lips still wrapped around the other's arousal, with a bemused expression on his face. Kratos quickly tears his eyes away from the man between his legs and turns his head to the side, feigning disinterest.

Yuan doesn't seemed fazed by this; in fact it only seems to spur him on as he begins bobbing up and down the swollen flesh, wrapping his hand around the base and occasionally pulling away to pay sole attention to the head, swirling his tongue around the sensitive area and licking away the moisture gathering there. Not being able to resist the urge anymore, I undo my pants and push them down slightly to free my own straining arousal. I'd like to close my eyes and think of something else but instead find my gaze fixed on Yuan lips and begin absently trying to match my strokes to his rhythm.

By now Kratos is panting heavily but obviously trying to restrain the urge to cry out again, although I can occasionally hear his breath hitch or the smallest whisper of a moan before he bites down on his lip to silence such sounds. His hands are now tangled up in the sheets, gripping them tightly but never daring to touch that gorgeous man between his legs. Ungrateful jerk, if I was under the attention of that mouth I'd at least have the courtesy to let the man know I was enjoying it. My erection seems to like that idea because it twitches a bit in my hand and I begin stroking it with more attention, imagining myself in Kratos's position.

"...Yuan." I am broken out of my fantasies as Kratos whispers out that name with such uncharacteristic desperation. I look up to see Yuan pull away and lick his lips with a smile. He places a tender kiss on the man's hip bone and begins trailing his hands up the nicely toned abs and chest, obviously enjoying the way the body underneath him arches to the touch. He follows up each caress with a fleeting kiss until he finally trails his way up so that he is eye level with Kratos. The brunette's eyelids flutter shut and Yuan smiles serenely as he pushes the dark bangs away from Kratos' face and runs his fingers through the sweat-dampened locks.

Whatever control Kratos has been exerting over himself seems to be slipping as Yuan presses their lips together again, his hands remaining tangled in that messy hair. Kratos moans into the kiss and reaches up to fist his own hand in the aqua strands that have fallen over Yuan's shoulder, pulling him closer as he throws his other arm over the man's back and grips the dark material there. Yuan pulls away from the kiss, panting, and leans over to whisper something into his lover's ear, pressing their bodies closer and grinding a bit onto the naked form below him. Kratos growls at this and begins tugging on the man's clothing insistently until Yuan gets the hint. The half elf rises up a bit and begins undoing his clothes, shrugging off his cloak and pulling his shirt over his head.

I let my eyes rove over the smooth flesh that is exposed, watching the way the muscles in Yuan's slender back flex as he throws his clothing to the ground. Kratos doesn't seem as transfixed with Yuan's lithe form, probably something he's already seen many times before, and he instead begins tugging on the man's pants, fumbling and cursing for a moment before he manages to loosen them and push them down Yuan's hips.

Yuan groans as his neglected arousal springs free from its confines and practically melts on top of Kratos as the man begins to stoke him harshly. Yuan buries his face in the crook of Kratos's neck and whispers words of encouragement, bucking his hips into the other's hand sporadically.

"Kratos...I need you," Yuan pants out as he pushes Kratos' hand away so he can press their bodies together tight, causing both men to shudder at the skin on skin contact. I am almost in awe of how nicely they seem to fit together, like two pieces of a puzzle. When Yuan manages to pull away from his lover's mouth once more, I see him reach into his pants pocket and retrieve a small vial of some sort of oil. Looks like the man came prepared, I kinda like the way he thinks. Sitting up slightly so he can kneel between Kratos' legs, Yuan begins coating his fingers with the slick substance in preparation. Kratos spreads his legs a bit wider so Yuan can press those fingers lower, slipping into him and gently coaxing the tense passage to relax. Kratos squirms slightly atop the disheveled bed sheets, crying out slightly when Yuan begins to stroke his dripping and slightly painful looking erection once more. I kind of have to envy his control as Yuan continues this treatment patiently whilst timing his strokes with the thrust of his fingers.

"Yuan," Kratos growls out the name, once again gripping the bed sheets as some sort of anchor, "...now."

I gasp slightly and pause in my own stroking as I realize what is going to happen next. Well, I guess I should have known it would lead to this from the beginning, but my brain is currently not much more than a happy pile of hormonal mush. It feels all too surreal as I watch Yuan position himself and slowly thrust his hips forward, letting out a low groan as he buries himself inside the other man. He remains still like this for a few seconds, savoring the moment and absently running his hands up and down Kratos's thighs.

"Move... please," I hear Kratos gasp out and it sounds so weird to actually hear him beg for anything. Hell, if that's all it takes to have the bastard saying 'please' and 'thank you' like a normal human being, maybe I'd have to try it sometime. Well...only if I can put a bag over his head or something.

I feel a surge of pleasure run down my spine as I watch Yuan begin to move slowly and slow down the movement of my own hand on my hardness. I could have released right there but I resist the urge. I want to hold out a little longer so I can watch and experience the pleasure with them. Even though I feel slightly ashamed for enjoying this show so much.

Kratos moans out his approval and wraps his legs tightly around the slender hips, bringing his hands away from the twisted sheets to cling to the man's back. Yuan bends over the pliant form as he rocks his hips into the inviting warmth, panting and breaking out into a light sweat as he moves. The headboard on Kratos' four-poster bed begins tapping the wall as their pace grows faster and more out of control. Yuan's form begins to wither as he thrusts faster and bends further over Kratos' body, burying his face in the side of his neck and whimpering out his pleasure.

"Yuan..." Kratos gasps out in tone I have never heard come out of him before, softly spoken with an underlying hint of awe and adoration. He arches his back sharply and hisses at one of Yuan's more powerful thrusts. One of his arms falls limply to the side, trembling slightly before Yuan seeks it out and intertwines their fingers together tightly.

I stoke myself harder as their pace becomes faster and their lustful cries become louder and louder; even Kratos has become surprisingly vocal. My eyes flutter shut as I feel all the wonderful tension inside me reach its peak and I throw my head back in a silent cry at the sweet sensation of release. I open my eyes to gaze up numbly at the dark ceiling and it's only then I realize how much I have been sweating as I feel something wet creeping down my back. I wait a few moments for the tingling feeling spreading over me to dissipate and take another glace out of that crack in the door.

Yuan is now lying in a quivering pile atop Kratos, his back rising and falling gently as he gasps for air. I am slightly disappointed that I have managed to miss the grand finale, but instead settle for watching the two of them wrapped in each other's arms while enjoying the sated bliss. They stay like this for a few moments, with Kratos's hands stroking Yuan's back soothingly and occasionally running his fingers through the long silky hair splayed there. I can just barely make out Yuan murmuring a few intelligible sentences against the other man's collarbone before leaning up to place a few lazy kisses upon the length of his neck.

"I can't stay," Yuan sighs heavily and sits up on his knees, staring glumly over at the pile of clothes on the floor as if he is debating whether it is actually worth the effort to get up and put them back on.

"I wasn't expecting you to," Kratos says flatly, his voice holding the same guarded tone it did when Yuan first walked into the room. I almost have to feel sorry for Yuan as he turns back to smile sadly in Kratos' direction.

"I'm sorry." Yuan leans back down for a kiss but Kratos sharply turns his head to the side. Yuan falters for a moment before placing a soft kiss on the man's temple. "Really...I am," he whispers and pulls himself up from the bed. I watch as Kratos pointedly ignores him while he collects his clothes and puts them back on in silence. Yuan tries in vain to straighten his clothes a bit and pull his hair back smoothly but eventually gives up after a few moments.

I try to control my heavy breathing as I watch Yuan leave the room. If I'm lucky Kratos will fall asleep and forget about his earlier suspicions that someone had intruded upon his private quarters. Then I can slip out of the room and forget that this ever happened. I take a hopeful peek out of the door to see Kratos watching the closed door silently with an unreadable look on his face. He turns away from the sight quickly and begins stretching leisurely, raising his arms over his head as he does so before rolling over on his side and closing his eyes. I can just barely make out the small, almost satisfied smile that graces his lips.

Shifting a bit amongst the clothing pressing against my back, I patiently decide to wait until I'm sure he's out. I am aware of the stickiness coating my hand and reach up to grab one of Kratos' coats to wipe it clean. It's disgusting, I know, but I can't help but feel some amount of satisfaction that I'm getting him back. It is his fault after all, so he deserves to deal with the mess. Well, it's Yuan's fault too, but I don't suppose I will have time to sneak into his room and soil his clothing as well.

I jump slightly as I hear the creak of a bed, seeing Kratos getting up from it and pulling the sheet off to wrap around his waist as he begins approaching my hiding space. I fight off the urge to yelp and back up against the clothes that are hanging up behind me.

The door swings open a second later and I wince at the brightness. Kratos is looming over me and giving me a disgusted look. "Hello, Chosen," he states simply, but it is amazing how much air of superiority one can fit into one small harmless sentence. "Did you enjoy the show?" His lips curl up slightly as he leers down at me.

"Uh...no!" I shout out awkwardly, sounding about as eloquent as a five year old who just got caught with his hand in the cookie-jar. But my brain is still feeling like mush at the moment, so you'll have to forgive me for not being quite as quick-witted as I normally am.

"Might I ask what you are doing here?"

"Look, Yggdrasill kicked me out and I was just wandering around here when..."

"When you stumbled upon my private quarters and decided to treat yourself to a live show?"

"Like I actually wanted to see any of that!" I shout out in my defense. It's true, I hadn't come in here to spy on anyone. Although I can hardly say I didn't enjoy it, as shamed as I am to admit it. "Do you have a shower in this place or what?"

"Why?"

"Oh, just want to wash myself until I feel clean again," I grumble out while trying very hard not to make eye-contact with the man. It is a bit awkward looking into his face when we both knew I had just witnessed him getting fucked into the mattress. Strangely enough, he doesn't even seem all that embarrassed about it. Actually, he seems almost...bemused?

"Over there," he gestures toward a door behind him, "Help yourself to whatever you like." I snort at his damn generosity and walk past him toward said door. "By the way," he continues, why must the assholes always love the sound of their own damn voice so much? "Your fly is open." I freeze whilst storming away from him and look down to see he is correct. I can practically feel the arrogant smirk he's aiming at my back and it takes all my self-control not to turn around and throttle him.

Instead I reach down and do up my pants with a bit of misplaced anger and stalk off to the bathroom in a huff.

A/N: Well, there you go. First pwp in a long while...it's all cause that RP I'm in! Blame them! Anyhow, If I do a sequel it'll either be Kratos/Zelos or Yggdrasill/Zelos but I'm not so sure I'll have the energy to write porn again in the near future. This one nearly killed me, but writing from Zelos's pov is just plain fun.