[ToS] Errands

[sunrises]

Yeah, I know I'm supposed to be on hiatus. ♥;; But I felt like writing and bumping some stuff off my to-do list before I tackle more personal projects. (My Roxas/Olette challenge is dragging itself on, I swear. B-but I'll finish it some day!)

Title: Errands
Fandom: Tales of Symphonia
Relationship: Zelos+Genis [friendship]
Summary: Zelos and Genis can't shop for groceries like normal people. It just wasn't possible.
Disclaimer: ToS belongs to Namco. I'm just borrowing these characters one final time, okay?

Walking through Meltokio with Zelos was like walking on spikes. Every single girl in the city seemed to have feelings for him. (Why? He looked more like a girl than a actual guy, with the long hair and pink clothes and whatnot.) Genis didn't mind being ignored. Really.

He just hated how a simple errand could take more than two hours with Zelos in tow. They had to say hello to every girl and have a conversation too. Was it really that hard to say 'hello' and just move on?

Apparently. Sighing for what seemed like the hundredth time, Genis tugged on Zelos' sleeve as they passed yet another teenage girl. "Do you really have to do that?"

"Do what," Zelos innocently asked with a grin. "Are you blinded by my awesome charm?"

"You kidding me? I'd just like to get back to your place with the groceries before next week!"

Zelos rolled his eyes as the two kept moving forward. "Relax, kid. We'll be there in plenty of time."

"Really," Genis bluntly said, letting go of the sleeve as he headed into the grocery store. "You mean that even when we talk to every lady in your path, we'll still have plenty of time for dinner?"

"Of course," Zelos beamed as he expertly walked down the aisles to pick out a box of crackers. "I mean, Regal's doing the cooking, right? It should be fine."

Genis sighed as he took a box of cereal into his arms. "That's not the point. Can't you ever do a simple errand in less than an hour?"

"Is the little man jealous of my skills?"

"Heck no! I just want to get back and eat," Genis muttered as he headed to another aisle. "But that's apparently too much to ask."

Walking quickly to keep up with the half-elf's speed, Zelos lightly bopped him on the head. "Didn't I tell you? I'm the Chosen of Tethe'alla. Of course I'm gonna be Mr. Popular with everyone I meet."

Genis couldn't help snickering despite the sudden pain. "Oh really? An attitude like that isn't going to help you win over the half-elves."

A flicker of doubt passed over Zelos. If Genis didn't know him better, the kid would've sworn that he had just imagined it.

"Oh? And how would you suggest I win them over?"

Genis shrugged, moving onto the next aisle after he picked up some tumeric powder. "Not really sure. Humility, I guess."

"Humility, huh," Zelos muttered, sidestepping a shopping cart. "So I guess I would need to go the whole nine yards to win them over."

"I just know that Mr. Popular Chosen of Tethe'alla won't help you," Genis smugly replied as he headed to the check-out, groceries carried neatly in a basket. "You'll need to act different."

Turning to Zelos, he added, "Oh, and you need to pay for the groceries. I forgot to bring the budgeted money with me."

Zelos sighed, groaning as he brought out his wallet. "Jeez. Guess I'll have to fork over the dough after all."

The rest of the walk home went smoothly, Genis noticed. Zelos was actually willing to carry half the load - true, there wasn't much, but Zelos never offered to help - as they made the trek back to the mansion.

And it was quiet. Normally, they'd be bickering about something stupid. Once, it was about Presea, another Mithos and his strange obsession with his sister. They'd even discussed Lloyd and Colette one time, but that one ended in agreement. Everyone knew that Lloyd and Colette were in love with each other. Well, except for Lloyd and Colette.

"Zelos?"

Zelos blinked, looking up. "What?"

"You all right?"

"Yeah, don't worry," Zelos cracked a grin. "I was just thinking."

"About the girl we just passed?"

"Nah. She was rather cute, though..."

"I'm sorry I asked."

"Hey!" Zelos glared at the child, nearly whopping him with the grocery bags. He paused, causing Genis to keep going for a while until he remembered. Turning back to face the Chosen, Genis stared.

"You sure you're okay?"

"You said I'll have to win the half-elves over differently, right?"

"Y-yeah," Genis slowly said. "But what's that got to do with anything?"

Zelos softly smiled as he caught up with the half-elf. "So... I think I know how to win you over. You want to go over math homework after dinner?"

"Do you really," Genis muttered as they continued walking in harmony. Looking over at Zelos, he said louder, "I guess? I wasn't even aware that I still had homework."

"You do now," Zelos cheerfully commented. "Looks like we'll get home in time for dinner and lessons!"

"Hey," Genis's eyes widened. "You did that on purpose! You didn't talk to the ladies because you knew a better method of torture!"

Zelos winked as he started running faster. "May~be!"

"Why, you little--"

The citizens of Meltokio commented later that they had never seen a weirder sight. The Chosen of Tethe'alla, laughing as he was trying to outrun a twelve year old with a bag of groceries. He certainly had odd taste in friends.

But he seemed happy. They were close friends, and no awkward conversation - even one about winning half-elves over - could break their bonds apart.