#shelloyd

Verius lightly padded up to her, just stopping at the edge of the dais. His form was highlighted against the open windows of the temple, his bright yellow fur against the azure skies. His snout reached out to her, delicately touching her forehead.

“I can read one’s heart, and especially yours, my summoner.” Verius gave a deep chuckle, one full of warmth—so different from Corrine’s, whose laughter had been high and sounded like small bells. Even so, Sheena was comforted by the depths of Verius’ voice. “You try to just keep him solely rooted in your heart and nothing more. But such restraint will lead to a terrible ache.”

Sheena could never find it in herself to argue with Verius, not like with anyone else. The soft touch of Verius’ nose that brushed aside her hair prompted her to cup a hand against her friend’s cheek.

“He’s busy with his journey. And… I’m busy taking care of Mizuho. I can’t let my stupid crush get in the way of our responsibilities.”

“And you once had a responsibility to slay a girl who now has become one of your closest friends.” Verius leaned into her touch, once again bringing to mind how Corrine would do something similar so long ago. “Sheena, listen to your heart. It has always led you down the right path.”

Sheena was still worried, too timid, too insecure in her own judgement despite all she had done. But even so, Verius comforted her, giving salve to her feelings that continued to roil in her chest.

--

Sheena lingered around Iselia, even though she had long left the village itself. The woods just outside the gates were rough, with a well-worn trail that went up steep hills, and consisted of uneven, rocky terrain. She found herself walking along it, surprised that Lloyd had traveled such a distance every day for school, past the dry shrubs and even the poison oak that hid in the shade.

She smiled to herself. Actually…it’s a lot like him. Lloyd was always moving, ecstatic to discover something new. She remembered the way to his home, past the now empty Desian ranch, further into the hills. Would Lloyd be there, visiting Dirk while on another pursuit of Exspheres? If she truly wanted, she could have used Mizuho’s information network, tracking down Lloyd’s movements. 

…Except, that sounded creepy if she was doing it for personal reasons.

Agh, I shouldn’t be thinking that! And I shouldn’t be interrupting him while he’s visiting family! 

Sheena took a deep breath as she continued to hike higher. She knew she should be heading back to Mizuho now, but maybe just another walk around the bend, where a broken log lay across a quick-moving stream. She remembered this spot, Lloyd pointing at something enthusiastically, but Raine had kept the group moving along. What was it that he was trying to show…?

So when Sheena stepped through the brush, coming upon a healthy oak tree, she caught the sound. A small splash, and then—

“Damn! Almost had it that time!”

Sheena stopped herself. That couldn’t be right. It was because she had just been talking with Verius, had been thinking about him all this time, and about her own heart… She was probably just wishing for him to be nearby, convenient as it was.

But then, she peered past the tree. Lloyd was there, his back turned to her, the wind lifting up his neck ribbons so that they fluttered like wings.

What was it about Lloyd that always tended to surprise her, even when she found him in a place that was tied to his home?

Lloyd was shin-deep within the stream, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was looking down with intense concentration, or she assumed it was, going by his wavering reflection in the water. Various shadows flitted past his feet, to swim further downstream. The sunlight bounced off his brown hair, giving various shades of auburn, of bronze.

But what really caught Sheena’s attention was the way Lloyd was standing, half-bent, his hands out, like he was about to grab something. He turned slightly, and she could see part of his face, the way his tongue stuck out as he furrowed his brows. His eyes flicked when another shadow in the water swam away.

Wait, is he trying to catch fish? With his hands?

Then, with quick movement, Lloyd shouted as he thrusted both hands into the stream. Water splashed against the front of his jacket and chin. “Yes! Gotcha!”

There was the brief flicker of a dark fin, flapping wildly. But Lloyd’s grip wasn’t sure enough, and so the fish slipped out of his hands, further drenching his face. “Ack! Pft!”

Sheena had to press a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. She had no idea why Lloyd was even doing this, but the sight of it was so silly.

…But also, was she spying on him right now? Sure, that was what ninjas like her did, but she didn’t mean to be doing that! I should leave. He probably wants to be by himself anyway.

Sheena then tried to step away, but when it concerned Lloyd, her stealth instincts seemed to always fly out the window. Her foot stepped on a twig, loudly. It was a mistake that not even a child from Mizuho would have made on their first day of training.

“Huh? Is someone there?” And before she could rush off, she could feel Lloyd’s eyes on her. “Oh hey! Sheena!! Hey!! What are you doing behind that tree?”

Oh no, now she definitely looked like a creep. Zelos would have been laughing his head off by now.

With a nervous laugh, she turned around, giving Lloyd a small wave. “Uh, hi, Lloyd! Didn’t expect to see you here!”

“Huh, really?” Lloyd scratched the back of his head. Water from the stream slid down his cheek. “This is on the way to my house, so not sure why you wouldn’t.”

She was also suddenly really bad at lying when it came to Lloyd too.

It would be silly to try and run away now, so Sheena walked up to the edge of the stream, careful to not accidentally slip into the water because of a wet rock. “Well… I was hoping I’d see you up at your house. But, what exactly are you doing?”

Lloyd grinned. He put his hands on his hips, puffing out his chest in pride. “I’m catching fish! I’ve been practicing for the past few days!”

“Oh!” Sheena paused for a moment. “Why, um, are you doing that?”

“Well…” Lloyd looked to the side. “Last time I visited Mizuho, I saw someone at the river there… and they were catching fish with their hands! They said it was part of training, so I wanted to try it too!”

The soft laughter that left Sheena wasn’t nervous this time. Somehow, this statement from Lloyd didn’t surprise her. “Are you still set on being a ninja yourself one day?”

If Lloyd had flushed just then, she would tell herself that it was just wishful thinking on her part. “I still think it would be cool to be one. And with this, I can get a head start on training!”

Then, his eyes brightened. He looked at Sheena like he suddenly saw her for the first time. His intense gaze made her more aware of herself, of the awkward way she stood and how a few strands of her hair escaped her hair tie. No, no, don’t try to fix it now…

“Maybe you could show me? I’ve been trying to copy the movements, but the fish keep slipping away. I’m sure you’ve caught hundreds of fish!”

“...That’s flattering, but I don’t spend all of my training on trying to catch fish.” Still, she couldn’t help but want to try—especially if it would impress Lloyd!

And he already looked impressed, his fists clenched, his grin wide and happy. “That’s great!”

Well, she might as well try it now…

Careful again to not slip, Sheena quickly untied her boots, then stepped into the water. It was instantly cold, freezing her toes. The stream was so clear now that she was standing in it, the array of small fish dancing around her ankles before flitting away.

She took a breath, stilled her body, and focused on those small shapes beneath. The wind blew through the leaves and lifted her hair. She had one hand up, all fingers pressed together. Another breath, shallower than the last, until she was hardly breathing at all…

A quick splash, soaking her gi only slightly. In her right hand, a small, silver-speckled fish wriggled against her fingers.

Lloyd gawked in awe. “Whoa! You did that so quick!”

Maybe, just maybe, Sheena felt a sense of pride at doing such a technique. She smiled wide. “Hehe! It’s no big deal, really.” She loosened her hold, and the fish splashed back into the stream to join its brethren. “It’s easier to use one hand instead of both.”

Lloyd nodded rapidly, his eyes sparking with inspiration. “Okay, I got it this time! So like…” He squatted lower, holding up his arm above his head like he was about to chop a piece of lumber. “Ya!”

A big splash, one that soaked him completely. He hacked and coughed, which only scared the fish away even more.

Sheena couldn’t hold back now. She laughed louder, her cheeks aching from her grin. But she tried to calm herself down to finally talk again. “Lloyd, you’re not trying to cut the fish in half! Here, I’ll keep showing you.”

--

Before she knew it, hours had gone by.

Sheena didn’t think she’d have so much fun with what amounted to being a childhood game. The sun had moved through the sky until it nearly reached the horizon, and Lloyd stopped splashing all around the stream in a clumsy attempt to catch something.

“Just take easy breaths through your nose. It’s like when you’re sword training.” Sheena brought her hands in, taking a breath as she did so. She stood next to Lloyd in the river, the sunlight glinting off the ripples. “Pace yourself. Don’t grab for the first fish you see.”

“Hmm, okay…” Lloyd mimicked her, concentrating so hard that it nearly made her laugh again. Though she worried he’d find the lesson boring like he did with most things he was initially fascinated by. But even after the first hour, then second, then third, Lloyd was still trying, was still looking to her for advice.

At that point, Sheena was almost glad Lloyd was a bit of a slow learner.

“Oof! I got it! I got— Wait, it’s just a stick.”

Lloyd sighed, tossing the stick back into the water. But instead of giving up, he got into position again. “Okay! This time!”

Sheena grinned, all while she helped adjust his arm, then helped close the fingers of his hand. “Keep it like this. Got it?”

“Y-yeah!” Lloyd said, and again, she wondered if she was just imagining it… No, Lloyd was probably just getting tired, so the red on his face must have been from his exhaustion instead.

A few more adjustments, and even more tries from Lloyd. He was splashing the water a bit less, but the fish kept escaping his hands.

Then, just when Sheena suggested they could maybe take a break (I’m just keeping him here for myself now…) Lloyd tried once more.

His form was in better posture, and his motion was quick and cutting. He barely shifted his feet as he pulled his hand back from the stream, a little carp flopping around in his grip.

“Look! Sheena! I got it!” He held out the fish to her, ecstatic, like he was performing show-and-tell. “Your advice worked!”

Maybe that was enough to finally move away Sheena’s uncertainties. Was it because she was caught up in the moment? Was it because Lloyd’s smile was so bright, and the way his eyes fell on her made her heart beat so badly?

“Lloyd! You really did it!” She laughed, reaching in for a hug, and one that Lloyd also leaned in to while still holding onto his trophy fish. Except, instead of placing her hands on his shoulders, she touched his cheeks instead. In a way, it was similar to how she did so with Verius just that very morning.

Sheena, listen to your heart. It has always led you down the right path.

She wasn’t sure if it was just a memory, or Verius speaking to her heart, connected to her like all the summon spirits. When she held Lloyd’s face, it compelled her to move closer, and closer. She felt the warmth of his lips, cooled slightly by the water of the stream.

Lloyd stilled. There was a splash. The fish had finally slipped out of his hand to swim away.

She noticed how he didn’t step back from the kiss. But maybe that was because he was in shock.

Sheena separated from Lloyd quickly, feeling the rush of the wind against her face. She wanted to stay within the cool air, with the stream rushing around their feet. A miracle that she didn’t trip at all, but suddenly kissing Lloyd out of nowhere was much more mortifying.

“Sorry! Sorry, I just…” She brought a hand nearer her face, wondering whether to cover her eyes or knock herself silly. “That was so dumb of me.”

Then, in the fading sunlight, she saw Lloyd’s expression. The dusk made it clearer than ever. The blush that bloomed from the center of his face, to spread to his nose, to his cheeks, to even his ears.

She wasn’t imagining it. Maybe that was what made it even more frightening.

Like a wilted flower, Sheena moved inward on herself, stepping out of the sun and ready to go back to the shadows where she belonged. 

“I should be going now—”

“Wait.”

When Lloyd stepped forward, he nearly slipped over a hidden rock in the stream. Just a small stumble, but he flailed his arms, catching himself on an invisible ledge. “Agh, damn it. I mean! Don't leave yet! Just, um.”

But if Sheena was clumsy with words, so was Lloyd at this moment. The stream clung to the end of his trousers after hours of staying in the water, making his steps halting.

“I really didn't mean to bother you!” Sheena said quickly, not sure what she was trying to fend off. 

“But you didn't! That's the thing, Sheena. I wanted to tell you that—”

“It's okay. It's okay!” Sheena held up her hands. She couldn't get the feeling of Lloyd's warm lips out of her head. Maybe she could if she left—

A familiar hold over her heart. A comforting weight against her back. A warm voice calming her mind.

Listen to your heart, Sheena.

Because she stopped, Lloyd was able to reach out, to grasp hold of her hands.

“Sheena,” he called out to her once more. And she saw it—a great smile on his face, accompanied by that blush that highlighted all of his features.

She half-smiled in shame and a strange heartache. She really didn't understand herself sometimes. “...You know, if you had done what I just did to you, I would have knocked your teeth in.” Sheena sighed. “I don't know why you put up with this.”

It only made Lloyd laugh, his fingers entwining with hers. “Well, then I'm glad you kissed me first!”

Even so, Lloyd had always been brave, and so open to touch that it still caught her breath. His other hand reached out to cup her cheek, and then leaned in to give her a light kiss over her temple.

In her heart, Verius hummed in satisfaction.

She was still a bit new to this Chief business, but with the World Reunification duties, the constant trips to Meltokio to ensure that things kept running smoothly, and just overseeing day-to-day life in the village, Sheena had her hands full, learning all she could from Tiga. But festivals! She had loved those especially, and helping organize one had felt more like play than business.

“Anything else need to be done? I saw Chiyo’s wrists had been hurting so…” She cracked her knuckles, feeling invigorated – “I can help out with her taiyaki making!”

Orochi though had this look. A look that meant that he had more news to share. “Actually, we just got word from one of our scouts near Sybak. It seems that one of your friends will be arriving soon for the festival.”

Sheena blinked. Who had she told about this festival? Not many, since everyone had to do their own things after the world was reunited. Regal had his company to overlook, Raine and Genis were still traveling together, and Colette had mentioned something about taking care of dogs, which had been hard to understand as she had spoken about it so excitedly last time… She inwardly groaned, remembering that Zelos knew for sure, and probably wanted to butt his nose into it like usual. It was bad enough he hit on the women here during the day! “Ugh, so it’s that idiot again?”

At that, Orochi raised an eyebrow. “While I understand Lloyd may be a bit slow at times, I think idiocy is a bit-”

“Wait, Lloyd?” she shouted, then lowered her voice. “He – I don’t – I don’t think he’s an idiot! J-just-! He’s coming here?”

“That’s what the reports said.”

She wasn’t prepared at all for this.

“Hi, Sheena! Wow, this place looks so bright! What are those paper-looking thingies?”

Sheena swallowed, ecstatic to see the young man standing before her. Here! During one of her favorite times in Mizuho! Although it was hard to get her tongue to work, suddenly feeling it too big for her mouth. Was it swollen? Did she eat something that made her allergic? Oh no, Lloyd was staring at her so much. Maybe her injury from the last mission was still on her face-

“Hey, uh, Sheena? You’re kinda blanking out.”

“Y-yes! Yeah! Haha…” She shook her head, gathering herself. She put on ‘Chief-mode Sheena’ in her place, pretending she was talking to one of her subordinates. Who was wearing blindingly bright red. That would never work for any ninja or for any kind of stealth mission and why the heck was she thinking the logistics of this?

“It’s good to see you. And those are paper lanterns!” She gestured to the decorations that lined the top of the village, giving everything a soft flow. “Secret craft of Mizuho. Don’t tell anyone!”

“Oh yeah! No problem. The secret’s safe with me!”

It was really not at all a secret – people from all over Tethe’alla tried to copy the same design, but Lloyd looked so genuine about it that Sheena couldn’t help but smile. She had missed him, more than she had thought. She had to grin back at him.

“How did you find out about this anyway?”

“Oh, Zelos told me. I’m trying to find this Exsphere caravan and we ran into each other… He said he couldn’t go because he was busy. And, well.” He grinned even wider at Sheena. “A festival sounded fun! I haven’t seen you in a long while anyway.”

It really had. Lloyd was off on his Exsphere journey, and she could only imagine how tough it was by himself. Sometimes she had thought…

Nah, it was stupid. She had a village to run anyway. People needed her. Lloyd wouldn’t want someone like her along anyway.

“Well, you came at the best time! Bet you haven’t tried kingyo-sukui before, have you?” She waved Lloyd over to the nearest stall. “It’s more of a kid’s game, but it’s tougher than it looks!”

“Kin ga what?” Lloyd blinked, but followed her along with complete trust. “How do you win at it?”

“Sorry. It’s goldfish scooping! Here, I’ll show you!”

Lloyd was already very eager to try, and the moment Sheena had the paper scoop in hand, Lloyd was already grabbing his own. He had gone through ten of them by the time he finally got one in his bowl, breaking each of them completely. But he had been as wide-eyed and excited as the numerous little kids at the stall. Sheena also made sure that Lloyd didn’t have to keep paying for each scoop he broke… he probably would have lost half his gald by this point. Just helping him save that made Sheena feel happy.

“Cool! I get to keep him?” Lloyd held up the clear bag with his tiny goldfish to his face. The way it warped his eye and mouth, while the goldfish swam through the water, made Sheena laugh loudly. Lloyd noticed and stuck out his tongue, making it even more silly.

“S-stop! And yes, you can keep him! Although bringing him on your journey might be hard.”

“Oh, right.” Lloyd considered, then handed the bag to Sheena proudly. “Maybe you can take him for me? Or is that too much? You probably got a bunch of goldfish already!”

Sheena had none at all – the game was meant for kids and a Chief should just be doing Chief things! Although, seeing Lloyd offer it to her, she took the bag gladly. It felt like a gift, in a way. “Well, I guess I can make some room for him. But you have to remember to visit him often!”

She didn’t actually expect Lloyd to agree to that. He was on an important journey after all, set on completing it. But he nodded anyway. “Yeah, of course!” Then his stomach growled. “Uh.”

Sheena snickered. “Okay, let’s get some food in you first.” She would have to leave Lloyd to put away the goldfish, and she didn’t want to just yet. It would be safe in its temporary home for now anyway. “Ever had yakitori? You’ll like that one, I bet.”

And, of course, Lloyd ate whatever was handed to him, probably stuffing down more than what some stall owners were expecting. She caught a few eyes gazing at her, silently pleading with her to not let this strange boy in red drain out their stock. But she could let it slide for now, make up for it later. Lloyd had probably been tired from his journey and deserved what he could get!

By the end of the feast, they were seated by the moat that circled around the Chief’s home – or her home to be exact. Still holding the goldfish bag in one hand, and a cup of sake in the other, she then handed that one to Lloyd – being careful not to mix up the two. That would have been embarrassing… “Here. Best way to wash all that food down!”

“Hey, what’s this?” Lloyd took, seated cross-legged on the ground. On the water, small papers folded like sailboats glided on the water. Both children and adults were setting them there, all while Sheena had briefly explained the tradition; to wish good fortune for the coming year. She wanted to help him make one – she knew he could do it pretty well with his artistic talents, but, maybe that was a step too far. Couples usually did that together, and well, that’s not what they were anyway.

She shook away that thought, and smiled. “It’s sake! You’ll like the stuff.” After all, his dad was a dwarf! And dwarves made their own alcohol called mead, which from what she gathered, was usually much stronger. Sake should be easy for Lloyd. “And if you don’t, I’m clobbering ya,” she said jokingly, clenching her free hand.

Lloyd laughed at that. “Okay, okay! I’ll try this… sah-kay? This cup’s kinda small though and I’m really thirsty!”

He was about to take a sip, but then stopped himself. Ah, maybe he wasn’t actually into it?

“Hey, Sheena,” he said, turning to her again. “This was really fun. I’m glad I got to come by! You’re always really busy so I figured maybe this time…”

“You’re welcome here whenever, Lloyd! I’m, um, not always that busy!” She was sort of half-lying but not like Lloyd could notice. She nudged his arm. “Hurry and drink up. No need to get sappy at me!”

Even though she did like that, quite a lot.

“Yeah, just the last month’s been kinda tough and-” Lloyd shook his head. “Anyway! Thanks!” By then, he had already begun to sip.

She thought on what he said for a moment, but Lloyd probably hadn’t meant to get too serious, so she went past it. “I can get some more. There’s a few different types actually if you wanted-”

Then Lloyd fell flat on his face.

“Wh-” Sheena blinked. Then again. And then just stared. Oh. Oh what. Oh, he wasn’t moving. “L-Lloyd!”

Then his body started to nearly roll off straight into the water.

“No! Stop it!” she yelled as if yelling ever did anything for her. Grabbing Lloyd by the shoulders while still holding onto the goldfish, she lifted him up easily. Okay, he was still breathing, but also not really responding to anything. His eyes were shut, and his face was a bit red. Oh no, what if it was something he ate? Was he poisoned? Who would do that here?

If only she hadn’t been slacking off as Chief, she could have prevented this.

Ignoring some of the surprised looks from nearby villagers, she called out to Orochi. He always re-appeared at her side when she needed him. “Here, help me get him inside. Get the medicines out. We need to find an antidote quick!”

“Sheena.” Orochi looked to the boy curiously, though didn’t stall, already grabbing his other shoulder.

“Come on, we need to hurry!” She was trying her best to not lose her cool as they opened the sliding door to her room, but she couldn’t bear to lose Lloyd. Not after everything. She’d inspect every food barrel they had here and find the source. Maybe it was sabotage – there had been mutterings of people who hated Tethe’alla and were forming a group. Maybe they saw Lloyd had been coming here in advance? She needed to gather all her sources for this.

“Sheena,” again, Orochi said, laying Lloyd on a cot.

“Get the local healer. I know it’s usually her time off but I really need her salves for this. And tell Sakuya to travel to Meltokio so we can see whose been on the roads-”

“Sheena.” Orochi said hard, his hands still, his entire body still.

She looked to him in confusion. “What is it? Why are you wasting time?”

“Sheena, he’s just drunk.”

She paused then, and in that pause, she saw Lloyd stir and start to mumble.

“Hafta… see the doggies… ofer ther..”

Oh. He was drunk. But… he had barely taken a sip? Was he that much of a lightweight?

“I’ll go outside and tell those who saw it’s no trouble. He will need water.” Orochi stood up, making the signal for leaving. Though before he did so, he smiled. “He probably needs someone nearby as well.” Then he vanished in a puff of smoke.

Oh no, she was so stupid.

Sheena tried to not think about that so much, finally remembering the goldfish in hand, and getting a nearby bowl to put it in. She had some flakes to give it, but later. Because right now, Lloyd was trying to sit up, and also get up, and also tried to stumble into her door where the paper covering would definitely not hold his weight.

“Sit back down already!” She pulled him near, hands gripping his arms. His body went limp in her touch, leaning against her, his head tilted. He was smiling still.

“Thers a lotta doggies here.. like.. here..?” He pointed at the corner, where a painting of well, a wolf was set in the background of her room.

“Yes, Lloyd. That’s a doggy..” She rubbed his arms, maybe lingering too much. “Go and sleep.”

“Ish a lot! An alsho scary snake?” He pointed above at a divider, its surface painted over with a dragon. “Shnakes are… bad..”

“Okay, yeah, I got it.” It was.. kinda cute how he kept rambling. But she felt weird for still holding him like this. So she tried to get him laying down again.

“And Sheena is!” Lloyd proclaimed and not following up for a while. Like he was thinking on it. This pulled at her patience a little. She was what? Just spill it!

“You need to sleep now.” She then forced him down, hands on his shoulders, half over him. She got a better look at his face, his eyes soft, his hair a little messy from his sudden falling. He was still smiling a lot too. Oh, she was way too close to him. Don’t do this when he was drunk! Don’t do it at all!

“Sheena is… good..” He muttered, half-closing his eyes. “Miss..”

She lifted away slightly, kneeling beside him. She moved a loose hair strand around her ear. “Um, I missed you too,” she said softly, feeling stupid. Was that what he meant?

“Really like her..” Lloyd shifted to his side, to get comfortable. Or maybe to see her better? No, that was also really stupid. “Really.. huh..”

His voice was slowing more, which worried her. He was just drunk, but still.. “Hey, you okay?” She held out a hand to him, then stopped. Too far. Don’t do that.

But Lloyd reached out to it. His Exsphere winked in the light. He brought her hand close to him, just near his face.

Sheena’s face was heated to an extreme.

“Like… I like.. Sheena…” Then he fell asleep, still holding her hand. He held it so tightly, too.

She could still easily leave his grip. Just a quick bend of her wrist and she would be free. But she felt his even breathing near her knuckles. He shifted even closer to her.

She had placed his goldfish in the bowl on a nearby dresser, swimming calmly through its small home. She wasn’t as contained as it was. She could leave at any time.

“I like you, too,” she whispered.

Sheena stayed by Lloyd’s side, watching him sleep.

By morning, she was frustrated.

Some of the paper lanterns had broken, their shells caught on the roofs of nearby homes, and the small boats still lagged in the water, filling it up with trash. It would be a pain to clean up. That and half the stalls had not been taken down yet. There were supposed to be gone by late midnight yesterday!

Also, once Lloyd woke up, he hadn’t mentioned anything about what he said last night.

“Ow… why does my head hurt so much? That was really weird water you gave me…” He was rubbing it as he walked through Mizuho with Sheena one last time. Then he would be gone, for who knows how long. “How come I want to drink it again though?”

“I don’t think you should,” she said, voice hard.

Lloyd blinked at her tone. She saw hurt flash through his face, soon covered up by confusion. “Uh, okay. Well, you gave it to me!”

“Believe me, I know.”

She didn’t mean to have this grumpy attitude, but what was she supposed to do now? If Lloyd had felt that way about her… if he even actually meant what he said!

He probably hadn’t meant it at all. Lloyd sometimes just… said things, didn’t he?

He was patting his jacket, looking for something. “Agh, did I lose my wing pack? I didn’t drop it in the river or something…”

Waiting around was so stupid. Didn’t Zelos say to just go ahead and say what you want? Apparently Lloyd did! But only when he was drunk!

He noticed her frown, because she was definitely frowning. A lot. “Sheena, did I say something wrong?” He blinked. “Or.. be stupid? I didn’t mean to eat that much stuff yesterday! Just, you know..”

Agh, why did she have to point this out?

“I like you too, Lloyd!” she shouted. They were just outside the village. There were probably eyes watching them. They always were. That’s what living in Mizuho was like. She was used to it. But the only eyes that mattered were Lloyd’s.

He stared at her. “I-”

“So don’t just go spouting out you like me too for no real reason! Was that supposed to be funny?” But it was her fault. She made him drink the dumb stuff. “I’m an idiot.”

“Sheena?”

“Never mind. Just… have a safe trip.” Ugh, she couldn’t even confess right. What was she doing?

A pair of arms encircled her suddenly. She stiffened, ready to break out. Only Zelos did this, and he did it to be annoying and invasive. But the scent was different.

“I.. don’t remember when I said that. I wish I did.” A pause. “I like you though. Um. That’s why I came here, you know.”

Oh, she was really stupid.

“Er, did you hear me?”

She shook her head, then nodded her head. Ah, what was the right answer?! Maybe she should hug back? Okay, maybe. So she did.

She leaned into his touch, like before, when he was holding her hand tight.

Then she decided to kiss him. Wait, that was too far!

“Mmf?!” Lloyd’s voice was muffled, not exactly expecting the sudden and fierce kiss she gave him. She stepped back immediately, putting her face in her hands.

“Agh, why am I so bad at this?”

“Huh? T-that wasn’t bad! That was really nice, actually!” He laughed a little. “I mean, I’ve not done that before so…”

She didn’t want to look at him. She needed to find another pit to fall in.

“Is it okay if we try it again maybe?”

Oh wow, she definitely needed to find a pit fast. She couldn’t do that again! No way!

But Lloyd was there, holding her face in his hands, looking nervous also. He leaned in, kissing her lightly. It was nice, nicer than she thought. She melted into it quickly.

She stepped back again and (kinda) lightly punched him in the shoulder.

“Ow!” Lloyd rubbed the affected shoulder. “That hurt a little!”

“W-well, maybe do that kind of stuff sooner!” Sheena took a deep breath, turning away for a moment. “But… thanks.”

Anyone else would have probably complained even more – even Zelos – at her reaction. But Lloyd just laughed. Not at her either. It was nice and innocent, with no bitterness to it, like she would expect from others. But Lloyd was not like other people at all.

“You’re welcome, I guess.” Then, very lightly, hands placed themselves on her shoulders. She leaned back against him, wanting to be selfish. “I’m glad I got to see you again. Really.”

“Yeah, I know.” She could feel how red her face was, and not from any drinks. “M-me, too… Do you have to go now?”

Sometimes she could feel Lloyd think about things, imagining his expression. Only this time, his face was near hers, his breath blowing against her hair that gave her shivers she felt a little guilty thinking on. “Hm, I guess not right now... I still have time. But it’s been hard doing stuff on my own lately, you know…”

She thought back to the impulsive gift Lloyd had given her, the goldfish still swimming in its bowl, needing to be where it was. She felt the same sometimes.

But… Orochi had been doing such good work lately. Maybe he could take over, for a little bit.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she told him, before turning around to give him a hug.