Title: You Leave Me Behind, You Rejoin Me Again
Day/Theme: July 8 - time will kiss the world goodbye
Series: Tales of Symphonia
Character/Pairing: Colette, Lloyd, some Zelos
Rating: PG
Note: Well, this is kinda long. And weird. Plays with the idea of Colette and Zelos being immortal. And no, I don't know about the title shut up.


How many years had it been, Colette wondered, since they had last stepped outside their self proclaimed tomb? She had long lost count of the days, or the years rather, since they had sealed themselves inside it. They mostly slept away the years - if you could call it sleep - and only awoke for brief periods. Still, it had grown lonely, especially when Zelos was not awake when she was. She longed to venture outside again - it had been far too long since she had seen the sun. It had only been probably a few days - maybe a week - since she woke up from her last sleep, but the lingering loneliness she had felt over the years was heavy in her heart.

But, Colette could still remember the horror of people faces the last time they had been outside. How they had called them monsters, chased them off, even when they were just trying to help. They had finally had to seal themselves off - mostly for their own sanity and protection. Better to have the people remember them as saints, rather than monsters.

She clutched at her Cruxis Crystal, cursing that she had ever put it on. They had really become like all the other angels - trapped in undying bodies. They had long since left their dear friends - their families - to the flow of time, and they were stuck. Both of them had longed for death ages ago, but neither could find the heart to do it. They knew both Lloyd and Sheena would hate to see them reduced to killing themselves. Lloyd's last words still rang out in her ears - he had promised to find her. But, it had been centuries since she had heard those words, and she had long given up hope that she would ever see him again - even reborn, like in those stories Sheena had told them.

Colette sat on the edge of her "bed" - which was nothing more than an ornate burial platter. Zelos had thought the idea clever - so if they were discovered during their sleep, they would be left as artifacts, rather than something to fear. Zelos was sleeping on the other bed, the clear crystal barrier up around him that they put up when they slept for long periods. He really did look like a martyr like that - untouched by time, his hands folded gently on his chest.

Still, she knew this meant he wasn't going to awaken anytime soon, and she would be alone for months, or even years, like she had before. She wanted out - if only to see the sky one more time, and the wind on her hair. She was going stir crazy, and her loneliness for a familiar face was driving her up the wall. Maybe, if she was just gone for a little while, no one would notice? She knew Zelos had snuck out before, and she understood why.

She only debated for a moment longer before she snuck out their hidden entrance, which was nothing more than a crude tunnel hid by rocks. The sudden urge to leave had been too great, and she followed it, going outside as quickly as she could. Once outside, she breathed deep, so glad to be out again. It looked like it was late afternoon, and the field they were hidden in was still undisturbed. Colette laughed, running through the field, pondering about finding a town and having a dinner for once, or just interacting with some people before she went back to her solitude with the other Chosen. She was so tired of being alone all the time.

It was a shock to her, of course, to see someone out in the field. The young man wasn't far off, and looked as if he was traveling. He had caught sight of her, unfortunately. "Hey!" he called, running over to her. Colette felt frozen in place, as if she was a rabbit caught by a predator. "Is there a town nearby? I'm a little lost."

It was as he drew closer that she really felt the shock come in though.

He looked almost exactly like Lloyd.

Some things were different - the curve of his chin was a little different, and his eyes were not the fierce brown she remembered, but a brilliant blue. Not to mention he was so much taller than her Lloyd. But still, it was if he had walked out of her memories, the same goofy, nervous smile plastered on his face like she remembered. It knocked her senses a little loose, and all she was able to croak out was a feeble, "W-what?"

He just smiled at her, scratching the back of his head - yet another thing Lloyd used to do when he was nervous. "I'm sorry. Must've scared you. My name is Lloyd, would you be able to help me, miss?" His voice even sounded the same, carrying the same gentle tone she had always loved.

She could feel the tears coming on the edge of her eyes, and she knew she wasn't going to be able to stop them. Even if this was just some horrible, cruel joke or dream, she could believe it. It had been so long since she had seen him this clearly, even in her fading memories. This was almost too good to be true.

It was startling him though, and he flailed, thinking he had scared her more. "A-ah! I'm sorry, is- is something wrong?" he asked, reaching out to comfort her. He stopped though, looking at her a little closely. "...Have I met you before? You seem rather familiar."

She sniffled, unable to hold it back any longer. She dove into his arms, sobbing into the poor boy's shirt. "It's me! It's Colette!" she sobbed out, clinging onto him for dear life. "I-I..." she tried so hard to say more, but she couldn't find the words. She didn't care anymore if this was a dream or not, or if he shunned her. She had missed him so much.

She could feel him stiffen under her touch, but he relaxed in a moment, staying still. She sniffled again, finally daring to look up at his face. He seemed in a doze of sorts, staring off into nowhere with a slack-jaw look on his face. "Colette..." he mumbled.

"Yes!" she stressed, clinging onto the front of his shirt tighter. "D-do you remember me?"

He stayed still for a moment longer before shaking himself out of it, looking at her with new eyes. "...Colette," he said warmly. "So, you're the one I've been looking for all this time," he said, laughing lightly at something he knew.

She felt the tears well up again, this time in happiness. This had to be a dream. "R-really?"

He smiled, pulling her close, giving her a gentle squeeze. She felt that, she noted. Maybe... maybe it wasn't a dream. "I promised right?" he said, softly. "That I would find you. I'm sorry I took so long."

Colette clung to him, suddenly so glad she had snuck out. She had found him - found him - and she was with him again. The past millennia could be forgotten - she would have him again, and spend their fleeting time together and relish in it. Even Zelos would be overjoyed to see Lloyd again - if she was able to awaken him. But any worries she had were stilled for the moment. She was in his arms, and she was happy and safe.

If she had him, she would never be alone.