video;

[sidecar]

[The video opens on a three-year-old Lloyd Irving, peering curiously at the tablet with a "What's that thing?" before Kotetsu turns the camera back around to himself.]

Anyone recognize this kid? He says his name's Lloyd, and he knows someone named uh...Noishe?

[Yeah, that's all he's got and he's probably butchering the pronunciation, but there's only so much info you can get out of a toddler, okay.]

I found him wandering around the Hold by himself, so if there's anybody here from his world it'd be a big help to hear from them.

Comments

[boredallready]

[...only to run straight into the tablet and land flat on his bottom. His lower lip begins to quiver as he looks up at where he thought his father was.]

Daddy...?

[flamberge]

[Under normal circumstances, the boy's antics may have gained a smile out of Kratos, but not now. He's far too enticed by the mere sight of his son to crack a smile. Even breathing takes a back seat for a few seconds.

It's really him. Alive. Lloyd's alive. His precious son is alive.

All the despair from mere moments ago has by now been replaced by sheer relief, even a sliver of happiness. It shows on his face as he lets out a deep breath, one he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. Part of him is still wondering whether or not this is real. Only one way to determine if it is or isn't.]

Where are the two of you right now?

[The question being one directed at Kotetsu. Not bothering giving a reply to the man's own question since Lloyd answered that well enough.]

[sidecar]

[Daddy? Despite what Kotetsu might have told Lloyd, an actual parent isn't something he expected to find. He's only known of two people who've been lucky enough to have their kids brought to Exsilium with them, so the odds of tracking down the boy's father weren't exactly stacked in their favor. Until now he'd figured a friend from Lloyd's world who didn't mind looking after him would probably be the best they could do.

...Aaaand then the kid's falling over on his watch. Great.]

Hey, take it easy!

[He hurriedly props up the tablet so he can kneel down by Lloyd to check on him.]

This thing's just a way to talk to your dad until he gets here for real, alright?

[He looks back up to the table to answer Kratos, perhaps a beat too slow to pretend he's got this as under control as he would like.]

We're in apartment 606.

[boredallready]

H-Huh?

[Lloyd reaches out and touches the tablet. Yeah, it did feel kinda like a window in the middle of the room. Mr. Hero had really weird things to help him...]

Why can I see Daddy if he's not here?

[flamberge]

[The offbeat doesn't even get noticed. Kratos is far too busy practically dropping the tablet and then bolting out the door (coming close to ripping it off its hinges upon opening it) to pay attention to small details. Lloyd is here and getting to Lloyd is the only thing presently on his mind.

This is... 701. Going off logic, 606 should be on the floor below. Stairs or elevator? Waiting for the elevator would take far too long (and he would be far too antsy standing idly by inside one for those precious few seconds) so Kratos dashes for the stairs, jumping over the rail and landing on the floor below without breaking a sweat. He sprints down the hall and begins glancing at the numbers.

604... 605... 606!

Here! Upon screeching to a halt, his legs get tangled up a bit and result in him nearly tripping over himself. Nearly. Good balance can be a blessing sometimes. Whatever. Graceful movements can wait until Lloyd is safely in his arms.

The temptation to simply knock down the door is great, but seeing as the occupant of this residence did find Lloyd, doing that may be a bit rude. Instead, Kratos opts to knock. It's worth noting the man arrived faster than most people would have via either stairs or elevator.]

[sidecar]

[Kotetsu's just about to answer Lloyd when the boy's father abruptly disappears from the feed. It's all too easy to imagine himself in the other man's place; if it were Kaede here instead, hurt and scared because of something that had happened back home, and himself with only the word of strangers on the network to rely on to get to her... Well, he can't say he would act any differently.

So it's not a surprise, really, that the knock on the door comes so soon. Kotetsu grins, pats Lloyd on the head, and hurries to answer.]

See? Didn't even have to wait.

[boredallready]

[Lloyd follows him to the door. It sounded like this was supposed to be Daddy and he wanted to be right there waiting for him! Maybe Mommy would be there, too! And Noishe! But he was only supposed to let grown ups open the door, so he leaves that to his host.]

Did Daddy get out of the box?

[flamberge]

[As the door opens, Kratos' breath hitches. The small child standing right there, the one whose bootie had been among Desian corpses, the one who he had failed to protect, is right there. This isn't a hallucination. He's right there in front of him.

Relief rushes over Kratos like a tidal wave. All the emotions which had been dead for the prior few hours were returning at a lightning speed. The reality of his son being alive takes a moment to fully hit, which is why Kratos only manages a single word.]

Lloyd...

[Despite it being a single word, it held so much emotion: despair, pain, disbelief, hope and, above all else, love for a child once believed to be dead.]

[sidecar]

[It's impossible to miss that even in person, Kratos' actions carry a certain measure of disbelief. Had the poor guy really believed he'd never see his son again? What an awful thought.

Well, whatever the case, Kotetsu holds back his curiosity and steps out of the way as soon as the door's open. For once he knows better than to intrude on their moment.]

[boredallready]

[Okay, getting an answer for how he kept jumping around from place to place wasn't important now. The fact was that he was definitely in front of him, and Lloyd was very excited to see him again. He races forward with arms outstretched and a big grin.]

Daddyyyyyy!

[flamberge]

[As soon as Lloyd begins running towards him, Kratos gets down on one knee and also stretches out his arms. Waiting for the boy to draw near, though only a few seconds, felt like an eternity, but that painful wait gets wonderfully rewarded. The feeling of the small child running into those open arms and then the feeling of wrapping those arms around him to hug him and hold him tightly (but not too tightly) is like no other feeling. It's as though this single hug had brought him back from the dead.

His son is alive. Dear god, he's alive. Whether or not gods existed, Kratos almost wanted to get down on his knees and pray to whoever made this possible. The amount of sheer happiness bubbling up within him is unimaginable. Emotions are something he's normally able to keep well under control, but right now it seems an impossibility.

A smile breaks out on his face and, more surprisingly, tears begin to well up in his eyes. No movement gets made to wipe them away, instead allowing them to roll down his cheeks. Permitting a stranger to see him this weak and vulnerable in any other situation would have been unacceptable; right now, however, he didn't care because Lloyd is in his arms and alive.]

I'm here, Lloyd, I'm here.

Feel free to skip me as you need to!

[sidecar]

[There haven't been a lot of happy endings in Exsilium.

Successful missions have always came with a hollow sense of victory; another tiny chip at the United Earth's power, another string of senseless casualties usually accompanying even that. For every person they've managed to save it seems like they've lost someone else in their place, and as a Hero, sometimes it's hard for Kotetsu to think of anything beyond the failures.

He finds himself watching now, so glad to see something here go right; so caught up in the simplicity of a father/son reunion and the hope that maybe even in this awful war one family will come out of it a little less broken. All things considered, it's a pretty good reminder of what they're fighting for.

Quietly, Kotetsu slips off to find something to busy himself with just out of sight in the kitchen. These two obviously need some time to themselves.]

[boredallready]

[Lloyd just giggles a bit as he hugs his father. He had been so scared and lonely, and despite seeing all these nice people, he had really wanted to find his parents.

He moves his head to look at Kratos, only to have his laughs cut short by a curious expression.]

Daddy? Why are you crying?

thanks! we'll make sure to call you back in soon, nikki~

[flamberge]

[It's so odd to feel himself crying. Anna's death hadn't had enough time to sink in for tears and the last time he cried had to have been millenia ago. The feeling isn't a bad one, though. It makes even a monster like him feel the slightest bit human.

Lloyd's question gets a soft chuckle from him, the smile never faltering. How can a child so small elicit so much emotion, so much wonderful emotion? It truly is a wonder.]

Because I'm happy, very very happy.

Or I'm horribly late, whatever XD

[boredallready]

Happy?

[Wait wait, something wasn't right here. Lloyd cried too, but it was only when he was sad. When he was happy, he smiled. Daddy apparently had all of this backwards.]

But you're crying. You should smile!

[He takes his hands and places them on either side of Kratos' mouth, trying to curl his lips up into a smile.]

xD eh better late than never~

[flamberge]

[The action makes his smile widen all the more. Those little hands on his face just fill him with so much joy. This moment right here is a true miracle.]

Sometimes people cry when they're happy.

Yaaaay good

[boredallready]

[Lloyd stares at him in confusion for several seconds. This whole thing is obviously still not making any sense to him, but Daddy had just said he was happy, right? One that part sinks in, Lloyd just laughs a bit.]

Ah ha, seeeee? You smile!

[flamberge]

[Laughter can't help but escape him. The boy does have a point; there is a smile on his face. It's amazing, though. Not an hour ago laughing ever again felt like a fantasy and now it comes so very easily. Though Lloyd may not realize it, Kratos truly owes his life to him.]

Yes, I suppose I am.

[boredallready]

[Lloyd continues to smile for a second before he expression turns to confused.]

What happened, Daddy? Where are all the trees?

[flamberge]

[Explaining the finer details of the situation to a toddler would be impossible so the reply is going to focus on those trees.]

We're far away from where those trees were, Lloyd. Very far away.

[Hopefully it would stay that way for a while, too. Going back there to face the place where Anna met her death... Kratos isn't sure he could handle it just yet.]

[boredallready]

[Unfortunately, that answer just raises more questions.]

But why? Where's Mommy and Noishe?

[flamberge]

Because.

[And that last question... Yup, it's time for a subject change.]

Are you hurt anywhere?

[boredallready]

Huh?

[That answer wasn't good enough, but fortunately he's easily distracted by the next question. He thinks about it for a while, looking himself over and otherwise showing he probably isn't hurt if he's taking this long to figure it out.

But he still points to his elbow after a bit. He liked the pretty lights that Daddy could make, what was wrong with that?!]

I think that Nikki can come back in now Kaito?

[flamberge]

[Although it might seem as though there are no visible injuries, it's something better left not risked. Healing didn't take much effort and no way is Lloyd going to suffer if at all avoidable. As soon an area gets pointed to, Kratos places a hand over it and casts a quick First Aid. The familiar glow follows and puts an end to any possible damage to the area.]

Better?

Yep!

[boredallready]

[Lloyd watches as he uses his magic on the spot. It always looked so cool when he made sparkly light like that! Lloyd spins around a little when he's done.]

Yeah! All better!