Lloyd is grateful that Anna seems willing to drop the subject, not really emotionally steady enough to deal with the complicated relationship he has with his father, not in front of her, not without making it obvious that there is more going on to this than she realizes. Honestly, Lloyd wishes he could understand his father, wishes he could understand Kratos past the grief that clouds your faith in the future, shared between father and son from completely different, yet sickeningly similar scenarios.

But her words break through his walls, just a little, and he’s able to shoot her a weak, but genuine smile. Maybe Lloyd will never have the love of his own birth mother and father, but this Anna seems cool. And knowing that another Lloyd will get to enjoy the attention of his mom, that Dirk is probably filling in the blanks that Kratos will leave behind - that helps him swallow down the sadness that lingers on his heart like a leech. Lloyd’s still hurt, he’s still - he knows why Kratos wouldn’t want him - (Lloyd killed his brother) - But. At least he’ll get this, even if Lloyd knows he’ll have to give this up, too, this ground he and Anna stand on.

“Thanks... mom. I’m glad I got to meet you.”

The dried teartracks on his face feel itchy, so he wipes at his face with his sleeve. He tilts his head in the direction of the campsite, with an expectant glance, antsy to get back to Sheena, ready to continue ignoring the shit he’s packed away and refuses to talk about. “Ready to get back to camp?”