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A/N: This little fic sprung up from my recent (unhealthy) obsession with Tales of Symphonia…and also Kratos/Anna. Now I’ve scourged photobucket and beyond for pictures of the couple, and while I do like them all (very, very talented artists!), I see most people associate Anna as this very-very-very-VERY-gentle type. (grumbles)
I view her more as a very strong-willed, stubborn, and loyal to the people she cares for – she also has an inner fire that burns in defiance. But, ah wells, you all are entitled to your own opinions. On with the story! Oh, and keep in mind folks, this story is AU!
Edit: Feel free to read my partner parody of this fic, Birthday Present Gone Oh-so-wrong.
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Home Is Where We Belong
“Happy birthday Lloyd!”
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Kratos Aurion sighed as he loosened his tie. It was already lax to begin with, but somehow he felt it was constricting his throat. Or perhaps it was the red-faced man currently yelling mere inches from his face.
“I needed those papers hours ago, Aurion – hours ago! At three o’ clock! And what time is it now?” his client quickly glanced at the overhead clock to confirm, “Past nine!”
The red-haired man was sitting at his large desk; his erect and alert posture giving the impression of a businessman of some kind, his elbows propped on the desk and his fingers laced together in thought. What would be a suitable gift for Lloyd… He wondered, blatantly ignoring his client as spittle rained down on his desk. He inwardly grimaced; and he had just cleaned it too.
A knock at the office door stopped the man’s tirade mid-way. The mahogany door opened to reveal a blue-haired man. Not even sparing the other occupant a glance, he addressed Kratos, “We closing up yet?”
Kratos checked the time – 9:27 – and decided he would make an exception this time. He stood up, beginning to gather various documents, “I’ll meet you outside, Yuan.”
His friend gave a quick nod, and then disappeared from view. Stunned, the client looked at Kratos, then at the door, then back at him.
Bewilderment etched on his face, he sputtered, “You-You’re leaving…?”
Kratos frowned, trying to remember what work he needed to take home. “Promised the wife and kid I’ll be home early today…” he answered offhandedly, paying little attention to the seated man.
“But-! But my papers-!”
The burgundy-haired man shrugged noncommittally, “Wife and kid, remember?” He pulled on his coat in a hurried fashion and grabbed his suitcase. He reached the office door in three long strides, making a motion to flick off the lights.
“You’ll be locked in if you don’t leave now.”
And with that said, Kratos left the stunned man, the whisper of a shutting door echoing his departure.
“There!”
Anna stepped back to admire her work, pleased at how her cake had turned out. It wasn’t burnt, that’s for sure - a far cry from the other 2,039 failures she had baked for practice. Her expression slid to one of wry humor as she remembered the last incident has almost resulted in her burning down the house…
“Mom?”
Reacting instantly to the curious voice, Anna whirled around and used her body to shield the cake from view. “Lloyd!”
The little boy sheepishly held up two arms, a piece of paper and a red color pencil clutched in his hands. “You promised me you’ll teach me to draw.”
Anna let a nervous laugh escape her mouth and quickly began to usher her son out of the kitchen entrance, “I’m sorry honey, I can’t right now – much too busy at the moment!”
Confused, Lloyd’s mouth parted in protest, “But Mom, it’s my birthday!”
The brown-haired woman chuckled mysteriously, her eyes holding bright mirth.
“Exactly.”
Kratos spared a quick glance at the small object in his friend’s hand. He turned away and replied, “No.”
His blue-haired companion sighed tiredly, a scowl marring his face, “You should have done this beforehand…and why are you dragging me into this?”
“I was busy.”
Kratos fingered a small trinket from the shelf, gave an unsatisfied turn of the mouth, and then placed it back. His shoes echoed against the linoleum floor as he continued his search for an adequate present, “And I was hoping for some feedback on what to get for Lloyd…but it seems you’re no help at all.” He paused by a passing container on the floor, eyes scanning through the various toy mage staffs, wands, shields, and other plastic weapons before turning back to Yuan.
“You sure you can’t make it tonight?” Kratos asked, his usual stoic expression softening an inch at the question.
Yuan closed his eyes, not wanting to see his friend’s reaction toward the news, “Martel wants to see this play together…”
Eyebrows shooting up in surprise, the burgundy-haired man felt the corners of his lips turn in a smirk, “I see.”
Face reddening at the all-knowing tone, Yuan gruffly muttered, “Shut up. Let’s just hurry up and find something for your kid.” He strode past Kratos, attempting to shield his tomato-face from view.
Kratos chuckled softly, and turned his attention back to the dilemma at hand. His dark brown eyes touched every nook and cranny of the small toy shop. Well, Lloyd did express an interest in fighting…
He stopped in front of a medium-sized case, his eyes locking onto the object inside. It was a small sword; looking at the small description on the side, he found it was made of wood but it was polished, painted, and glazed so proficiently it was borderline real. The blade was slender, with intricate silver detailing the edge. The hilt of the sword was cast into the form of a small phoenix; he marveled at the tiny etches.
Picking it up from its case, he held it in his hand, feeling the nonexistent weight of the object; his fist tightened over the sword with resolution.
“Yuan, I found it.”
“Welcome home, darling, how was your day?”
A small curse was uttered just outside of the kitchen doorway; Kratos entered the room, a dubious look on his face. He shook his head in amazement, “I still can’t figure out how you do that.” The brown-haired woman gave him a peck on the cheek as he neared her.
“And I’m planning to keep it that way forever,” Anna replied, grinning mischievously. She pointed to her masterpiece, her chocolate eyes twinkling in delight, “I told you I could bake it!”
Kratos smirked softly, encircling her waist with his lean arms. “I am relieved the house has not been reduced to a pile of ash.”
She hit him lightly on the arm, muttering sarcastically, “Nice to see you have such faith in my cooking abilities.” Changing the subject from playful banter to a more important matter, the wife whispered surreptitiously, “Go get Lloyd.”
Feeling an uncharacteristic excitement bubbling in his chest, Kratos nodded and left in search of his son. He walked through the open door to his room and saw Lloyd lying stomach-down on the floor, coloring a dinosaur book with color pencils. The man smiled wryly as he saw the sloppily colored creature, the hues spilling past the borderlines. He felt his usual cool demeanor melting away at the sight of his son.
Upon his arrival, Lloyd lifted his head and grinned toothily. “Dad!” He leapt to his feet, and ran over to embrace his father’s leg.
Chuckling at the toddler, Kratos bent down and lifted him into his arms, trapping him in a firm embrace, “How have you been, kiddo?”
Lloyd pouted as his father ruffled his brown hair, “Dad, I’m not a kid anymore…”
Kratos merely smiled as he carried his son into the kitchen, where he knew his wife was waiting for them. He hid a grin as he heard his son gasp in surprise upon entering the dark kitchen, a small cake with lit candles waiting for him on the table.
“Happy birthday, Lloyd,” Anna congratulated with a gentle smile, arms folded in front of her apron.
The burgundy-haired man set Lloyd down, and nudged him towards the glowing ambiance of the cake, “Make a wish.”
Taking timid steps, Lloyd’s eyes glowed from the light and from his own excited disbelief. The cake was his. His! Lloyd’s cake. Kratos and Anna, who had been standing side by side, watched their son and held their breaths.
Climbing into a chair, a goofy smile spread across his baby-cheeks; Lloyd closed his eyes for one tense moment.
Took a deep breath.
And blew.
Anna clapped her hands ecstatically, crowing with delight. She quickly procured a knife seemingly from thin air (Kratos lifted an eyebrow at this) and began to divide the tiramisu cake into small, triangular portions.
Flicking on the lights, Kratos brought out his present from its hiding place under the table and presented it to his son.
“Happy birthday,” he said, a mixture of awkwardness, sheepishness, and happiness all in one.
Lloyd’s eyes widened, looking back and forth between his father and the gift. Tentatively, he reached for the oddly-wrapped present, only to begin ripping the shiny membrane in his hasty curiosity.
Kratos unconsciously clenched his fist – a habit he developed whenever he was nervous. Grinning when she noticed this, Anna set the knife down. One hand covering his fisted one, she tiptoed to plant a quick kiss on his cheek.
He began to relax; the tight coil in his stomach unwinding slowly. Kratos closed his eyes to relish in the excited sounds of his son and the sweet melody that began streaming from his wife’s lips.
Home…
Leaning back on the couch in content, Kratos inwardly applauded his choice of a present.
Until his wife choked on her cake.
“Kratos Aurion – you got him a SWORD?!”
I really wanted to get crackin’ on a fic centered on Kratos and Anna’s past…but due to my lacking knowledge…it seems nearly impossible…urgh. Any help from you guys is greatly appreciated!