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“Another day in paradise,” Zelos hummed below his breath as he assisted in pitching the night’s tent. On the opposing end of the tarp stood Lloyd, who caught his gaze, even if only for a moment.
“You say something, Zelos?” Lloyd asked, then returned further with a yawn. Zelos couldn’t help but smile looking back at him, even in that soft, hazy sort of way he always did when Lloyd was part of the equation.
“Mm, nothing important. Don't worry about it.” While Zelos’ earlier statement had been sincere, he wasn’t particularly keen on explaining why, exactly, it was another day in paradise.
He and Lloyd had been travelling together for the better part of a year, seeing as the worlds had been reunited and peace restored to the land; each day by Lloyd’s side was a new beginning, a new opportunity for Zelos to lead a life free of his title, just as he had always wanted.
That, in itself, was paradise to him. What made it just as many times complicated was the fact that Zelos was beginning to want more.
“And… done!” Lloyd exclaimed the moment the tent stood tall. “Now that’s what I call teamwork! Right, Zelos?”
“Right,” Zelos said back with a hint of a wink and a playful smile. “Couldn’t have done it without ya, hunny.”
As they seated themselves by the campfire, Aselia’s winds tangled around them, a reminder that Efreet’s season was coming to an end, and with it, the promise of Celsius’ return loomed. Zelos didn’t have the time to ponder that when Lloyd spoke.
“Hey, Zelos. Can I ask you something?”
Zelos didn’t have the heart to point out that that was a question in and of itself. “Sure thing.”
Lloyd crossed his legs, eyes darting away like he was looking for something along the horizon. “Why do you call me ‘hunny’?”
Zelos should have known Lloyd would never ask anything easy, and the way his brows rose in surprise certainly didn’t help his case.
“Well,” Zelos began in deliberation; truthfully, he hadn’t realized he’d been using the turn of phrase at all. The transition from ‘Bud’ to ‘Hunny’ had been as natural as breathing, much like the rest of Zelos’ feelings transfiguring from mere friendship, into… what were they now, exactly?
Finally, he finished with, “I’ll give you one guess.”
Quietly, Lloyd furrowed his brows, and the look in his eyes made it evident that he was lost in thought. The seconds ticked away aimlessly before he said, “Well… I don’t really know. That’s why I asked.”
At last, Zelos let out a laugh. “You can be so clueless, sometimes, y’know,” he spoke, the words straddling the line between breathy and breathless. “C’mon. You’re smart enough for this one.”
Lloyd finally looked at him, and it made Zelos ache, as he knew deep down, Lloyd deserved better. The way Zelos looked back might as well have given his intentions away, whether he wanted it to or otherwise.
“Wait, Zelos,” Lloyd began in a startlingly firm moment of realization. “Do you— are you—”
“If I knew what love was, I’d say I love you.” Zelos said the words without shame; he’d already made it this far. “But because I don’t…”
“Zelos, do you trust me?” Lloyd finally questioned with a resolute look to him. Zelos stared back, dumbstruck, lovestruck—Lloyd should have known by now that Zelos was weak against those quips about trust. Before long, Zelos managed a nod, which made Lloyd inch further towards him, the firelight illuminating the flush on his cheeks.
“If you trust me,” Lloyd started, then stopped. The pause felt like a weight over Zelos’ heart. “If you trust me, then kiss me. Okay?”
Zelos certainly wasn’t expecting this outcome, nor anything like it. The ache could have consumed him whole. It wasn’t until Zelos realized he’d been caught staring that he looked over at Lloyd and asked, “What?”
“You heard me. Right?” Lloyd shook his head, though his eyes had become so glassy, Zelos could nearly see his reflection within them. “You said you don’t know what love is, and maybe I don’t, either. But what if we found out together?”
Maybe Zelos should have said something in return, but once he leaned in, he couldn’t stop himself. Their lips brushed, and it might have been the first time Zelos had ever been so genuinely happy that rapture filled his being.
If Zelos had ever wondered what love was, then this was it.
When they pulled away, Lloyd’s eyes nearly shone in the moonlight, and the smile on his face was so bright, it could illuminate the remainder of the forest clearing.
“That was my first kiss,” Lloyd muttered with a flush on his cheeks he fought to still. Zelos couldn’t help but feel guilty for taking that away from him; Lloyd deserved better. Lloyd had always deserved better.
“Your first kiss was with the terrible, no-good, philandering Chosen of Tethe’alla, hm?” Zelos smirked, just to make it seem like he was joking. He couldn’t quite tell whether or not he was anymore, but it was enough for Lloyd to furrow his brows and shake his head from side to side.
“My first kiss was with Zelos, who I’ve chosen to travel the world with.”
Now it was Zelos’ turn to shy away. Lloyd always knew exactly what to say, didn’t he?
“Well, I don’t know about you, but,” Zelos began, now more relaxed and languid than ever, “I’d say that that Zelos likes what he has with this Lloyd, whose first kiss he just stole.”
Next to him, Lloyd’s smile radiated exhilaration. “Well, that Zelos could always steal his second, too.”
If Zelos had found the days prior to be paradise, then he wasn’t certain he knew what this was anymore—but he knew that he wanted more.
With mirth, Zelos leaned in and kissed him again.