Disclaimer: I don't own TOS. . Gooooo me!

Authors Notes: First off, this is for Seventh Sage. Merry X-mas SS-san! . Your stories are great and so are you! If you haven't read her fics, GO READ THEM! SHE IS WONDERFUL!

Now, anyway, this fic is YAOI! Male/Male. Further more it is KratosLloyd. And yes, SPOILERS away. For those who don't know, I DO know what Kratos and Lloyd are. I don't care.

Okay? Now that we've got that settled....Merry X-mas SS-san, I hope it's a good one!

-Protection Of You-

Lloyd couldn't sleep.

No matter how he tried, or what he did, he had trouble sleeping. It was as if something was bugging him, preying into his mind and making him feel as if there was nothing he could do. He felt hopeless. Colette's illness was a waning problem on his mentality. How could he protect all of his friends if they kept things from him? Genis and Mithos, Colette's sickness, and Kratos...everything about Kratos.

Lloyd rolled onto his side with a sigh, Kratos had been the center of his thoughts for quite sometime now. Why had he betrayed them? Why had he brought pain onto them?
Lloyd felt stupid for trusting him, even now, he still trusted him. It was something about the older man. What was it?

Lloyd found himself comfortable lying on his stomach, so he continued to lay in that position and wiggle his feet about. It might have been Kratos' eyes, which never held real malice. Only a false sense of untruth, of deceit. Kratos' eyes were always so gentle, so kind. So beautiful.

Lloyd found his cheeks turning a deep red and he buried his face into his pillow. He tried not to groan in annoyance. 'I've been trying to get rid of those thoughts....Damnit...'
His fist's clenched the white sheets tightly, frustration building up into his mind. "Damn you...Kratos...." he murmured, before he felt a soft touch on the back of his head.

Lloyd flung his head up to look at the intruder and his eyes widened, a look of shock taking the place of anger on his face.
"Kratos!?....W-what are you doing here?!"

The Cruxis Angel stood silent, his eyes shielded, void of emotion. Lloyd's face heated up more, and he felt himself inhale a breath of air when the older man's gentle touch brushed his cheek, and ran down his jaw line.

Lloyd felt as if he couldn't move, he was too surprised. He quickly found himself pulled up from the bed, into a gentle embrace from the other man.
He blinked and looked up at the other man's face, questioningly.

"Kratos...?"

It was as if speaking to no one, and he did not receive a response, simply a look. Eyes watched eyes, and emotions ran unguarded like a river. Kratos eyes shone sincerity, and something warm, something Lloyd always saw in Colette's eyes, or in Genis' gazes, but the look was deeper, and more secretive than either of theirs.

It left Lloyd breathless.

Then lips touched his ear, and soft words resounded. "I will always protect you."

"Kratos!"

Lloyd sat up quickly, looking around the Inn's room quickly. His eyes looked for any trace of the other man, but he found none. 'What was that? Was I dreaming?'
He felt alone, and strange. Just then his eyes caught the sword lying beside his bed.
"That's not mine..."

Moving to the side of the bed he bended and picked it up. Moving it his arm be recognized it. 'Is this.....'
Swishing the blade in the air again, he smiled softly.
Words whispered in love returned to him, "I will always protect you."

Lloyd moved the blade closer to his chest, nearly embracing it, he smiled, and looked towards his window. He could see the stars twinkling outside, bright, large, and all knowing. He blushed slightly and nodded to himself, and to the stars above.

"I know Kratos. I know."

Owari