Epilogue: Redemption or Something

Zelos's bathroom smelt like flowers. In a half-awake sense of amazement, Regal thought about his surroundings. Zelos really did have a wonderful abode—it wasn't his parents' mansion, but that longing was more attributed to a homesick feeling. The walls were pink, the floor a tiled eggshell white. There were fake rubber plants for decoration, and a wooden hamper in one corner. He's got it made; he dozed off again, half-asleep in the bathtub.

Bang! "Hey! You've been in there for half an hour! What are you doing?"

Regal jolted, staring at the bathroom door. He sighed, knowing he had been in too long. He missed being able to take a bath without being on guard. Grabbing a towel, he unplugged the tub and finally answered the voice behind the door, "Sorry, Zelos."

Zelos crossed his arms, shaking his head, "Whatever. I just brought your clothes back. Sebastian takes forever to clean them, you know?"

"Erm . . .", Regal almost opened the door, but he felt just a little insecure stepping out with only a towel on.

Zelos slapped his head, red curls bouncing with his every move, "I won't look, okay?" The door gingerly unlocked, and Regal took back his clothes. Zelos kept his back turned until the door shut again—he would keep his word on that, at least.

Well, if it was Sheena, that'd be a different story.

The redheaded Chosen still talked to Regal as he was dressing, "You know, you've really gotta help Lloyd. Colette is doing weird things to his hair." It was the truth, too. She had gotten bored staying in Zelos's house for the afternoon, so after her bath she started playing with everyone's hair. Raine, Sheena, and Presea let her go nuts, and all three had strands of braids now. Zelos let her play with his hair on the condition that she wouldn't hurt it. He had some braided rosettes, and he planned on taking them out as soon as she went to sleep. She tried messing with Genis's hair, but he was adamant that she wouldn't. He hadn't got away scott-free; Raine made him sit still while Colette brushed his hair.

Regal unlocked the door, finally stepping out. Zelos joked around, "You look like a drowned rat." He mussed up the convict's hair, "Good Lord, did you even wring this out? You're going to get water all over the carpet." A small flutter of wings told both that Colette had picked up on them. She stood with a hairbrush in one hand, a smile so cute it was almost devious.

Lloyd stomped up after her, his hair curled in rings. He snickered, "Looks like she's got her next victim." Regal shook his head, not bothering to retort. Zelos took advantage of that, "Look who's talking, Goldilocks." Lloyd made a face at him, then went to the boys' bedroom. He was going to go play checkers with Genis, which he planned on losing.

Colette got a little bit too zealous, angel wings back out again. At only 5'2", it was difficult to brush Regal's hair without him sitting down or her flying up. She tugged on his shirt, and Zelos laughed at his predicament. He decided to 'call off the hound', "He'll be down in a second, Colette. Meanwhile, I think Genis needs a Mohawk." She giggled at that idea, and raced into the boys' bedroom.

Regal looked like he had forgotten something. He apologized to Zelos, "I am sorry. I did not thank you for saving my life earlier."

The Chosen seemed surprised that he said that, although hindsight made it look normal. He shrugged, "Eh, no big deal, really. . ." A coy look seeped into his expression, "But, for payment, I want you to answer this question for me, okay?"

Oh, brother, Regal thought. Here it comes . . .

"Are you who I think you are?"

That was a strange question. Regal thought about it for a second, wondering what was buzzing through Zelos's mind. It had been 11 years since he had last seen the Chosen, and then Zelos was still a kid. How would he know who he was? A pale thought crossed his mind; he probably heard of his crime, somehow. He probably was keener on his deduction than Regal or anyone else ever gave him.

"Tell me who you think I am," Regal said flatly, hoping that would clear something up.

Zelos crossed his arms, red hair bobbing with the motions of his conversation. He kept quiet so not even Colette could hear him, "Are you a member of the Bryant household?"

"Yes." It was all Zelos needed to know. He had his suspicions from the very beginning, but was shocked that no one else seemed to know who he was. Sheena, at the very least, should have known something with all her Mizuho connections. Zelos knew Regal's crime, who he killed, and almost everything else—now it all made sense. He finally figured out the strange blue enigma.

"Please," Regal requested as he went to get Colette, "Do not tell the others. I will confess in due time."

"Yeah, sure." Zelos let him get away, watching as Colette skipped out of the boys' room. She made him go downstairs, probably so she could talk with the rest of the girls still up in the family room. Zelos pondered on a hollow question for a moment, Did I do the right thing? He never used to think like this, but now was a case for something different. Should I just let him do this at his own pace? He also thought about the strange Chosen that had attacked them today, wondering if he had done the right thing by killing him. Did he know about the corruption of the Martel Church? Damn it, it's too much of a problem to be a good guy some times . . .

Sheena snuck up behind Zelos, pulling on his read hair. He jumped, turning around to greet her. She rolled her eyes, "What, scared?"

Zelos resumed his usual cocky nature, "Never, babe. It's just that your touch is electric."

Typical, Sheena thought. She wondered why she put up with him. She probably had hopes that one day he'd meet that one woman who would beat him into a normal person. Trying to focus on what she was going to say, she changed the pace of their conversation.

"Zelos, I just wanted to tell you something, and don't take this in the wrong way!", Sheena almost yelled at him, finally controlling her emotions. It wasn't fair to cut him down without giving him a chance. She calmed down, and then said, "What you did today was . . .really nice."

Zelos was shocked. She wasn't trying to kill him? He tried to get her to explain, almost pretending to be dumb, "And what was that?"

Sheena fumed, controlling her rage. She took a deep breath, sighing, "You know what I'm talking about, you idiot Chosen. The way you were helping Regal without anything to bribe you." She almost didn't add this on, but let it slip, "And, you kinda did save me, too."

He looked at her, almost blankly. Did she just give me a compliment? Ah, man! I'm on fire! Zelos laid back against the wall, another grin on his face, "Well, babe, the way I see this thing, it's like this:

I want you so bad,

You're gunna be mine,

'cause I think you're hot,

and pretty damn fine."

She shuddered. He was doing that stupid poem thing again! It was almost worthless trying to talk to him! Zelos knew he had something wrong when her face turned red with rage. He tried to apologize, "Oh, come on! I thought chicks loved to be serenaded!"

"There's being serenaded, and then there's being written on a bathroom door!" Stupid chosen, she growled to herself, why do you have to love me? Sheena stormed downstairs, deciding to go spend more time with the rest of the girls. At least they weren't gross when they talked about 'figures', unlike Zelos!

"Seriously! I'm sorry!" Zelos cried after her, rushing down the stairs to catch up with her. She loved playing around with his head, sometimes. Maybe she'd let him off the hook easy. Today, however, he was going to have to suffer a little bit more.

Raine met Zelos at the stair steps, a stern look on her face. He would have laughed if she didn't have such a serious expression, her hair still in freaky braids. She whispered, "Zelos, quiet down!" He smirked, muttering, "It's my own house. I can yell if I want." Out of nowhere, he was smacked on the head by her staff. She signaled into the family room, "Get Lloyd and Genis. You've got to see this."

Zelos went and fetched the other two, Genis's hair slicked up into a semi-Mohawk. Colette always did take Zelos just a little bit too seriously. Lloyd had flattened his hair back out, so he looked as scruffy as ever. Sneaking back down into Zelos's family room, Lloyd snorted in laughter.

Colette was never going to make it as a hairdresser—never. She had teased Regal's hair out, a periwinkle blue plume. She also tried braiding some of his hair, long braids occasionally breaking the bird hairdo. He looked like he had been spending the past years of his life half-stoned on a rock stage. It was blatantly obvious he was embarrassed, but she didn't catch on.

Sheena and Raine were snickering in the back, playing cards together. Presea store at Regal's hair like it was a crime scene. Genis was feeling a little bit better about his situation, but Zelos was still going to get what was coming to him. Zelos smirked, beautiful white teeth exposed. Lloyd was the only one who couldn't contain himself, biting back raging fits of laughter.

Regal was rather calm, considering his hair looked like the day after the apocalypse. He slyly spoke, "Problem, Goldilocks?"

Lloyd shook his head, "Nope, Axel Rose." Now, it was Zelos to succumb to his laughter, rolling on the ground. Colette still was oblivious, still picking through Regal's hair. Regal was like a wall of iron, ignoring the entire situation.

Genis got a little bit cocky, jumping up on the couch next to Colette, "Let's try this." He took another brush off the floor, and proceeded to help her in creating a masterpiece disaster. Raine shook her head, now standing up to join her brother. She consoled Regal, "Patience is a virtue." He tried hiding his eyes, too embarrassed for words.

"Oh for the love of Sylph," Sheena sighed, then put her cards down. She joined their insanity, taking a quick detour to kick Zelos in the shin. Perching on the couch's back, she suggested, "Maybe we need to get some gel?"

"That's quite enough," Regal finished nonchalantly, standing up. Colette crossed her arms, pouting like a three year old. Presea shook her head, patting what hair she could reach. She smiled, only saying one word, "Fluffy." Her smirk made Regal chuckle; it was good to see her happy, every once in a while.

Like a little queen, Colette ordered, "You sit back down, or I'll have to make you." Regal gave her a little glance; Try me. Spontaneously, she jumped off the couch, angel wings fluttering sparkles everywhere, and grabbed onto Regal by the shoulders. Zelos gave up, Ah, what the hell, and knocked both of them over. Lloyd jumped into the dog pile, determined now to pin Zelos down—Colette could take care of Regal. Presea, totally confused on the entire situation, shrugged and joined the mess. Raine and Genis wanted nothing to do with the rolling match on the ground, but Sheena drug them into the melee. It was like a giant group of puppies.

Sebastian, Zelos's servant, stepped in for one moment, seeing if the Chosen wanted anything. Noticing the wrestling match on the ground, he gave up. He never knew such a noble quite like Zelos who would be so down to earth. He closed the door, and then decided to go get a glass of wine. Those people would be at it all night long.

That night, they didn't sleep in their rooms. They dropped where they fell, curling up and taking positions on the couch and near the fireplace. It was too cute for words, Sheena cuddled next to Zelos and Colette sleeping on Lloyd's shoulder. Genis was curled next to his sister, who laid back on the couch in perfect slumber. Presea used Regal's back as a pillow, both sleeping next to the fireplace. It was like a little peace of heaven.

It was worth taking that poisoned dart just to be there, in the company of good friends.

-End-

Author's Note:

There you go, and Merry Christmas. May you find . . . something good. Holidays are awesome! (W00t for no school!)

Hope to do more Symphonia stories soon!

December 4-24, 2004 (So many 2s & 4s!)—Zelda's Fox 38