KRATOS | ℓℓσу∂'ѕ ρєяѕσηαℓ нєαℓвσт (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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beyondthedoor2014-07-16 02:55 am
cruxified) wrote in beyondthedoor2014-07-16 02:55 am
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✝ i wanna be near you and blink in your light
[It had all happened very quickly-- within a matter of days, in fact. The remaining angels of Cruxis had elected a new leader so that Kratos could leave his post and return to Aselia. He had only the barest amount of say in this. An off-handed remark to Yuan had sparked the whole thing, actually, and then some digging in Cruxis storage had found intact escape pods.
He could go home.
It didn't feel like home to him, but then again, nowhere did. His son was there, and that was reason enough according to Yuan. He spent every minute they had connected basically complaining that he couldn't come back soon enough, and that Lloyd would give him an earful, and Yuan too, because he didn't wholly approve of Kratos running away from his problems again.
He had very little in the way of belongings. It was mostly preparations, making sure that the angels would be well-equipped to dispose of the Exspheres outside of orbit as promised, and that necessary precautions and repairs could be maintained. All in all, he felt very much like a captain abandoning his post.
But there was nothing to be said about it, and he was so tired. So very tired. He had been entertaining an idea in his head that he could remove his Cruxis Crystal and let natural aging and whatever awful consequences take over, once his mission was done. He couldn't bear dying an awful death in front of his son anymore. He also knew Yuan would punch him solidly in the face if he found out about it.
And yet... and yet... he found himself spiraling through the darkness toward that blue, beautiful planet, and all the tiredness and arguing he could have done disappeared. Once free of Derris-Kharlan's gravity, his birth planet pulled him solidly into its arms. He was at the mercy of ancient technology now. The temperature inside the cramped cabin heated up immensely as the atmosphere thickened, but Kratos didn't feel it. More shocking was the parachute that deployed at nearly the last second. Were he not strapped in, he would've been launched through the damn viewport.
Something was wrong. The pod spun in crazy circles, the parachute tangled or ripped by age. Strapped in as he was, all Kratos could do was close his eyes and remain calm. If he was meant to die, then he would die here, and that would be the end of everything. He had said his goodbyes to his son, to everyone.
As the ground neared, he could make out the tops of trees, spinning and blurring. He braced himself for the impact.
Still, he wouldn't mind seeing Lloyd's face one more time...
Not too far from Iselia, something strange sped through the air, smoking as it went, and crashed solidly into the forest. Anyone investigating would find a trail of broken trees and scraped up ground where something had dug in at high velocity. And then, resting at the end of the trail, would be the wreckage. It was mostly intact. Probably.]
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The Core could drive people insane. It's why Lloyd's practically been a drifter, leaving masks and posters to desperately let his friends know that he hadn't completely lost his mind, growing increasingly frustrated every time he hears that he's been sighted somewhere else. He has no idea why this is happening, no clue as to how everything turned upside-down so quickly.
All he knows is that it's Ratatosk's doing. And if he completes this quest, if he can stop the Centurion's Cores from being awakened... then the world will be safe, at least from Ratatosk's hands.
He's still caught up in those thoughts, crouched behind trees and shrubs by the village and wondering about the best way to sneak in and get some supplies, when he hears sounds. It sounds like a Rheiard flying through the air, but faster, and he can hear the sounds of confusion and exclamations coming from the villagers. They hear it too, and it's with that realization that Lloyd looks up.
HOLY SHIT FUCK MITHOS'S TITS ON A CRACKER WHAT IS THAT -
Lloyd doesn't have much time to think, because then it crashes down, and the sound of it makes him cringe and put his hands over his face. When he lowers them, he sees smoke come from the forest, hears the villagers talking amongst themselves and wondering what it is and who should go, and wonders the same thing for himself.
As for who should go, however, Lloyd's already dashing towards the spot. Dwarven Vow #38: Curiosity may kill the cat, but satisfaction will bring it back! ... And he's also worried, of course. What was that thing?
When Lloyd reaches the wreckage, he approaches slowly, one hand covering his mouth at the smell of smoke and upturned earth and burnt metal in the air. It's awful, all of it, the trees and the ground and everything. But most of all, there's the wreckage which caused it all in the first place. It looks beaten up, yet intact, and Lloyd briefly wonders if he can use the parts for the crafts he likes to build. But really, the loudest thought in his head wonders what in the world it is, what it's doing here, and if anyone got hurt.
He reaches out to touch the surface and, even though his gloves are made out of tough dwarven material, he still quickly pulls it back with a hiss. So. Touching something that just flew through the atmosphere probably wasn't the best of his ideas, but what else is he supposed to do with such a... touchable thing?]
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The hatch unlocks with a hiss, and Kratos flings it open the rest of the way. He's not too aware of where he is or what might be around, a rare moment when the angel might be caught off guard. All he knows is he has to get out of this deathtrap. He takes one good step, then crumples and falls nearly on his face, not yet used to solid ground after that fun little adventure.
Give him a moment, he's still coughing.]
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And...
It's like time stops all around him for a moment. He recognizes the silhouette, no, the full figure that steps out of the pod and collapses on the spot. He recognizes it because he knows he said goodbye to it two years ago, and came to terms with the fact, fact, that he'd never see it again. That's the shape of Kratos... no, his dad.
His dad. His dad is here...
He didn't even realize that he hadn't taken in a breath until it all comes back in a rush, just as he hadn't realized how much he missed him until now, because he feels his throat constricting from more than the smoke, and wet heat behind his eyes. He squeezes them shut, shakes his head, then looks again.
Kratos is still there. And... This is probably the worst timing he could ever have.
Lloyd should get out before he sees him. He knows this, he knows he still has the Core, he knows he can't stay, can't let him know what's happening until - Yuan, Yuan would know what to do, he'd know if it's safe, but - but -
So Kratos is certainly getting a moment, because Lloyd looks a bit like a goldfish, still taking a step or two backwards, and still completely unsure of what to do. He's torn between closing the space between them to fall to his knees and help him recover and maybe hug him tight like he wanted to do before he left - and leaving, letting Yuan know what's going on and get back on track, because there are still Cores to gather and...]
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He blinks once, twice. He tries to find the words, but they tumble out all wrong, hoarse from smoke and disuse.]
Lloyd-- I...
[Maybe that escape pod had better aim than he thought. This close, he can see the scorch mark on Lloyd's glove. He gets to his feet, unsteady and laborious, but he manages.]
Are you all right?
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Are you all right, and Lloyd bites his lip and takes another step back, wavering between wanting to cry and wanting to punch something for what he has to do. He shifts his burnt hand behind his back; it's fine, he'll bandage it later, maybe eat a gel, he's fine. It's nothing compared to the punch to the gut he just received.
Are you all right?
He's not, he's not all right at all.]
Y-You should go to Yuan. He'll let you know what's going on... I can't say anything. I'm sorry. I -
[He should be getting out of here. One more step back - it'd be easy, just turn tail and take out the wing pack, the Rheiard, and run, he could - ]
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Lloyd, [he calls, and he's disappointed to find that his voice is quieter than he wants. Less firm. He tries again, this time stepping toward the man in red.] Lloyd. Slow down. What's wrong?
[While he might've kept his hands to himself a few months ago, part of him isn't sure this is real. He reaches for Lloyd's arm, hoping and praying that he's not imagining it. If this is the sight greeting him after finally dying, it's a mean one.
He can tell that something is wrong, and Lloyd is hurt. But he won't say anything. Why-- why... Is he mad at Kratos? Does he hate him for leaving?]
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It's why, though he does take an extra step back when Kratos moves toward him, he doesn't move further when he's reaching out for him. He watches his hand as if he were fascinated by it, and then he can feel his dad's grip on his arm. He's still weak from - wherever he just came from, but to Lloyd, it's still as strong as ever. Real as ever.]
... I can't believe you're here.
[He shuts his eyes and grits his teeth, fighting back the urge to tip forward and press his forehead to Kratos' shoulder and tell him everything. The last thing he wants to do is put anyone else in danger, especially Kratos, who just came back and doesn't know what's going on...]
I can't tell you. I want to, but - I can't.
[He looks back from where he came from as he tries to pull his arm from Kratos' grip; he's not sure if anyone from Iselia decided to investigate the - meteor-Rheiard or what, or if - God, what if his dad came out here? But it's not safe for him here.]
I need to go; y-you can't tell anyone I was here, just - go to Yuan, he'll tell you everything, I swear...
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Kratos feels a bit hurt, too. Mostly because he's being shut out. He is suddenly quite conscious of what it feels like to be on the receiving end of the cold treatment he gave out, all those years.]
Let me come with you. [He sounds desperate and he knows it, but he doesn't care.] I can walk just fine. We can talk on the way.
[He lets go of Lloyd's arm, reflexively moving to touch his hair, and then he stops.]
-- You've grown.
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The conflict is clear on his face, as Lloyd's always been pretty bad at keeping himself guarded when he's put on the spot as he is now. The Yggdrasill tree is pretty far; they'd both need a Rheiard to get there within the day, and Lloyd only has one. He could attract monsters with the Core on him like this, he still needs supplies that he can't really get with Iselia all stirred up, and -
And he's thrown off when Kratos makes that remark. You've grown. Lloyd blinks and looks up at him, dumbfounded for a moment and unsure what to say, as if he lost the social skill necessary for it. Which could be true, seeing how he's limited interaction with people as much as he can. But it could also just be the fact that he's still greatly in shock that his dad is here.]
I... yeah. A couple inches... [He tries for a smile - it's a twitch of one and doesn't quite reach the eyes, but he's trying.] Pretty good, huh?
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The smile, however, is temporary.]
If it isn't safe, then we'll go somewhere else. [He is woefully unarmed. He's not sure where his sword went, and it's too late to go back for it.] I will speak to Yuan, so there's no need for you to tell me anything you don't want to.
But... I want to be by your side, at least for a little while.
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So, even though he's not sure of the wisdom of this or if it's really safe to travel with someone else like this, Lloyd bites his lip, then nods. Accepting the decision seems to seal it for him; no more trying to push all of this aside, no more trying to shut out the fact that god, god, he's so damn happy to see Kratos, and it's such a relief knowing he's alive, that he came back -
He came back.
Still biting his lip, Lloyd squeezes his eyes shut, then finally, finally allows himself to tip forward enough to press his forehead against Kratos' shoulder, his good hand lifting up to grip his shirt. It's not quite a hug, not the one he'd imagined after Kratos left and he'd dreamed of him somehow finding excuses and ways to come back. He's still holding part of himself back, but...
Still. He missed him so much.]
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He filters his fingers through Lloyd's hair as he used to, a tender gesture, and rests his chin very lightly against his son's head.]
Lloyd...
[His other hand wraps around the boy, not pulling him closer unless he wants it. He's afraid, somehow, that Lloyd will simply crumble in his arms.]
Everything will be all right. Even if you must run... you do not run alone. After all, even if you don't remember, we have both been running a very long time.
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It's why he freezes in Kratos' arms when he hears voices coming toward them. No, he should've known people from Iselia would start to show up, and he can't stay, he can't -
He turns his head to look behind him, body already tensing as if ready to flee.]
Dammit, we have to get out of here!
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Go!
[He's still weak from the crash, but he's able to run. He cuts aside some brush with his hand as if it were nothing, making sure to stay close to Lloyd.]