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Search for the Aqualord	By : RoseThorne Category: +S to Z > Slayers Views: 1533 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Title: Search for the Aqualord

By: Chrissy Sky and Rose Thorne

Summary: A sacrifice from an unlikely source brings new changes to Zelgadis� life.

Warnings: YAOI. Zelgadis/Xellos. Slight spoilers for Rev-Evo.

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Chapter Ten: What a Heart Wants

-

�Oh hey!� Gourry�s voice broke through his exhausted sleep the next morning. �You turned back, Zel!�

Zelgadis groaned, the bright sunlight sharply invading his senses. He sat up and winced as his headache got that much worse. Absently, he took stock of his body. He was an adult again and in combination with the headache, he was still sore from the �wedgie from hell,� as he was sure Lina would phrase it if she were to find out � and he sincerely hoped she didn�t.

�Careful,� someone murmured softly by his elbow.

He blinked and looked down, seeing that he was still partially in Xellos� arms. He remembered quickly what had occurred while he had been a child and the care the former priest had shown him. Zelgadis quickly pushed it from his mind before he could think too much on Xellos� affection or comforting touch.

�Hm?�

�You�re still recovering,� Xellos spoke softly, his words slurring a little. Zel wasn�t sure if he was referring to last night � he was rather embarrassed that Xellos� had seen him like that, and wanted to pretend it hadn�t happened � or something else. It was obvious that the former Mazoku had not gotten much sleep either.

Zelgadis remembered being a child and occasionally waking from a nap or in the night to see Xellos hovering over him, watching him with quiet, thoughtful eyes. He had wondered if the adult ever slept. Seeing how tired and wane he looked, Zelgadis remembered quite a few other things that Xellos had been neglecting as well.

Zel tried to push this from his mind also. It wasn�t too difficult at the moment, given his exhaustion, but he knew he would have to think about it eventually.

�You guys may have been right,� he said. �That spell didn't react well with Rezo's. I feel really drained.�

Xellos nodded thoughtfully. �I was hoping it hadn't.�

The shaman lay back down beside him. �You guys planned to go to a tailor... I don't think I'm going to come.�

�I'll stay with you,� Xellos immediately offered.

He shook his head, trying not to concentrate on the fact that Xellos� arm was still around him, how comfortable that felt. �My shirt's too small for you, and yours needs to be mended at the least. I just need to sleep.�

Xellos� frown was disapproving and anxious. �It�s not safe.�

�I can take your clothes, Xellos,� Gourry interrupted brightly. �They can do what they did with Zel's.�

Xellos tried to hide it, but the suggestion clearly came as an obvious relief. �Excellent suggestion, Gourry-san. I'd forgotten all about that already.�

Gourry grabbed his own clothes and got dressed in the bathroom. When he returned, he grabbed Xellos�. �Dunno when we'll be back. Want me to bring up breakfast before we leave?�

�This inn has room service,� Xellos reminded gently.

�Oh, right! I'll let Lina know. She's probably eating breakfast already.�

Xellos laughed softly. �Yes. Typical Lina-san.�

Only half listening to their exchange, Zelgadis curled up, prepared to fall back to sleep. He felt arms curl around him and decided to let it go for now, settling against Xellos� chest. Zel was far too tired to argue and Xellos� body was warm and familiar. He fell back to sleep quickly.

He slept entirely through Gourry�s return, resting against Xellos for several hours before stirring again. Zelgadis stayed there, enjoying Xellos� warmth far too much before sitting up.

Xellos closed the book he was reading � the children�s book the former priest had read to him from the other night. �Any better?�

Zelgadis nodded mutely, watching him. Xellos still looked tired and too pale, and there were lines of tension throughout his body. He didn�t know how to interpret the tension but he knew he was the cause.

�I�m glad,� Xellos said, setting the book aside with care.

Zelgadis looked away and was silent for a long time. He tried not to think about it, but he couldn�t help but remember the past two days. Xellos had taken care of him without asking for anything in return, and had done so without mocking or malice, seemingly for the sole reason that he cared for the little boy. Zelgadis, as a child, had returned that kindness with absolute trust and a pure, strong love.

�Thank you,� he said.

Xellos lifted his head and blinked his human eyes slowly, but there was no confusion. �No need.�

Zelgadis was relieved that he didn�t have to explain, and tried not to think about how wonderful it was that Xellos understood him so well. He changed the subject. �You haven't eaten today. We should probably get lunch.�

On cue, Xellos� stomach grumbled. �Yes,� he said, laughing awkwardly. �Please rest. I will get it.�

Zelgadis nodded but could not rest, feeling that he had been in bed far too long. He grabbed his clothing and went into the bathroom to change. He pulled his hood up over his head before stepping back outside once Xellos was finished ordering their lunch. He walked to the balcony doors and opened them, letting the breeze in.

�Are they still out?� Zel asked, taking a seat at the table. He kept his head bowed self-consciously and watched as Xellos made their bed with clean sheets.

�Gourry-san returned awhile ago and said that Lina-san wanted to go out again to gather information.�

Zelgadis nodded again. �I'm not going near that shrine again unless we figure out that spell.�

Xellos hummed thoughtfully, almost obsessively tugging and smoothing the sheets down. �If it's tied to the archway in the entrance, we could just blow it up.�

�Maybe.�

�The villagers would be alright with it, most likely. That spell is as inconvenient for them as it is for anyone that enters the shrine.�

�Yeah, but how are we going to test it?� Zel asked grumpily.

Xellos shrugged, his back to Zelgadis. �I don't mind being a guinea pig.�

Zelgadis� immediate impulse was to shout at Xellos for even suggesting putting himself at risk, but he restrained it. �We don't know how that spell would interact with what the Mazoku did to you.�

�Perhaps.�

�Given the power drain on me, it's really not worth the risk,� Zelgadis pointed out reasonably. �I'm not human, so I was able to withstand it. You are.�

Xellos ran a hand through his hair and only then seemed to notice the tangles, for he grabbed a brush. �I am still adjusting to the change,� he said softly after a moment.

�I know. Even if you weren't, it's too dangerous. And given that I don't intend to babysit Lina, we'll have to get Amelia or Gourry to do it.�

Xellos laughed faintly. �Yes. Lina-chan once was enough to handle. Amelia-san would have a nervous breakdown if she had to do it again.�

Zelgadis smirked slightly. �Maybe it's Lina's turn to babysit Amelia. Can you imagine her as a kid?�

Xellos� laugh was a bit more honest this time as he covered his hand with his mouth. �Oh dear, yes. All too easily.�

The chimera smiled, the tension between them abating for a moment. The knock on the door announcing the arrival of their lunch interrupted anything else that might have mended the situation for the moment. Zelgadis pulled his hood further down over his eyes as Xellos answered it, bringing their meal inside.

Xellos set the table for them, and Zelgadis looked away quickly as he caught sight of a bowl of strawberries. He could almost taste them, but he didn�t reach for one. Just the sight of them brought up memories best forgotten, of someone who looked very much like Xellos � memories that were painfully close to the events of the past few days.

�I�m sorry,� Xellos said. �I didn�t order these.�

Zelgadis shook his head. �It�s fine,� he said shortly, pulling his plate toward him and digging in. He looked up through his wire fringe and noticed that Xellos merely poked at his food, only occasionally eating a few bites.

�They probably assumed that the spell hasn't worn off yet,� he said, thinking that Xellos was still troubled by them.

�Seems that way,� Xellos murmured without enthusiasm.

He went back to his food, uncomfortable with discussing it further. The playfulness that usually resided in Xellos seemed almost completely depleted. Zel had never thought in his life that he�d ever see the former Mazoku morose, but he did seem to be approaching some sort of depression. He tried valiantly to ignore it, but Xellos was so damn obvious.

He had an easier time ignoring the strawberries. Finishing his meal, Zelgadis pushed his chair back a bit and stared out the window, sipping the rest of his coffee and stealing glances at his companion. Who could be much more than a companion, a part of his mind added unhelpfully. He could still feel Xellos� body and craved it again with an increasing pressure.

Xellos started on the strawberries, ignoring the rest of his lunch entirely.

Zelgadis frowned. �You need to eat,� he said softly. �Don't think I didn't notice that you've barely been eating.�

�I haven't been hungry,� Xellos said evasively.

The chimera looked at him fully, his frown deepening with disapproval. �You should be. Are you feeling ill?�

Xellos lowered his eyes, almost demurely, which was a strange action from him. �Not that I'm aware of.�

�Maybe the food is too heavy for you just yet,� Zelgadis noted, considering. He remembered, at one point, Xellos having only broth during a meal, then mostly banana pudding at another.

�Perhaps...�

�Then you'll have to stick with the basics. It's probably good that they brought these up, then.�

Xellos looked down at the strawberry in his hand thoughtfully. �I... knew a little boy once who loved them.�

Zelgadis flinched and turned away, looking at the village outside. It would�ve hurt less if Xellos had plunged a magically enhanced dagger in his chest. �That little boy doesn't exist anymore, Xellos.� Rezo had destroyed that little boy a long time ago. �Just let it be.�

�Yes,� said the former priest softly. �He�s gone now.�

Zelgadis closed his eyes, pained. He knew he was hurting Xellos but he didn�t know what to say.

He stood and went to stand by the balcony, putting some distance between them. The tension in the room seemed to grow thicker.

He wished, irrationally perhaps, that Xellos could just go back to being a Mazoku already. Then he�d stop feeling whatever he was feeling and Zel could go back to pretending he�d never felt anything from the start. The longer Xellos stayed like this, the more Zelgadis wanted to forget the whole quest, damn the consequences.

�I�m sorry,� Xellos whispered.

Zelgadis turned back, his face carefully expressionless. �You have nothing to be sorry for.�

Xellos kept his head bowed, his bangs covering his eyes. �I didn't prefer you that way. It's just...�

The shaman softened a bit, involuntarily. �What Amelia said last night,� he finished for him, looking away again. �We already discussed this, Xellos.� He paused but Xellos didn�t respond, the silence stretching uncomfortably. �I really just don�t want to talk about what happened. Please.�

�Neither do I,� was the soft reply.

But it was clear from the hints he�d dropped that he did, and that he was only backing off because Zel didn�t want to. Zelgadis leaned against the balcony rail with a sigh.

Gourry came in then, announcing the return of the rest of their group. If the swordsman noticed how uncomfortable it was, he didn�t mention it. Xellos lifted his head finally and Zelgadis could tell the smile he gave Gourry was completely fake.

�Did Lina discover anything new?� Zel asked, walking back inside.

Gourry nodded. �You�ll have to talk to her about it though. I didn�t understand it again.�

�Where is she?�

�In the girls� room.�

Zelgadis glanced at the room next to theirs and considered the wisdom of interrupting Lina and Amelia�s private time. He decided against it. He wasn�t jealous; he just didn�t want to get blasted through the wall during one of Lina�s irrational fits of rage.

The chimera returned to the table and poured himself a fresh cup of coffee. �Did you get your clothes?�

�Yeah,� Gourry answered. �Haven't had the chance to change into them.�

�Oh, so you got Xellos� as well?� Zel asked, dimly remembering the exchange from this morning.

�Oh, sure.� Gourry reached into one of the bags he had brought in, pulling out a bundle of clothing.

Xellos blinked. �� Purple?�

Gourry�s grin was sheepish. �Uh, yeah. They asked what color and it was the first thing to come to mind. It's nice and dark, though. I didn't think you wanted the lavender fabric. They also mended your black ones.�

Zelgadis stifled a laugh at Xellos� expression.

Xellos took the bundle of purple clothing, still blinking. �... I shall go try them on,� he said uneasily, slipping into the bathroom.

�You'd better hope they don't clash with his hair,� Zel whispered to Gourry.

Gourry laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. �Yeah��

�The worst he'll do is pout if it does.� He wasn�t imagining that attractive pout in advance. Certainly not.

However, when Xellos returned, it was obvious that Gourry had lucked out and chosen the exact shade of purple that absolutely didn�t clash with his hair. It was a dark velvet-purple that seemed to draw out the color of his hair to a striking brightness, as well as his eyes. The cut was very good and fit the tall man�s frame perfectly.

Zelgadis felt his breath leave him for a second, his amusement vanishing. �Looks like you're safe, Gourry. It works better than the black.�

Xellos blushed, almost shy. �I don't look like a giant grape?�

He shook his head quickly. �It suits you. It's darker than your hair and eyes. I think if it were lighter there'd be a problem.�

Gourry smiled. �Yeah, it looks really good, Xellos.�

Xellos smiled back. �Maa. Flattery will get you everywhere, Gourry-san.�

Gourry, thankfully, missed the flirtation completely. �I'm going to go take a bath. No one's down there right now. You guys want to come?�

�I will.� Xellos grabbed his staff. �Humans get so dirty...�

�I�ll pass,� Zel said.

�You sure? I can �� Gourry stopped when Xellos touched his arm.

�Leave him be, Gourry-san.�

Gourry nodded uncertainly and left with Xellos.

Zelgadis relaxed, relieved to be alone with his thoughts. He had to gather himself for when he saw Xellos again. He couldn�t give in to how he felt, not when it was so impossible.

But the reminder did nothing to dampen his desires. He wanted Xellos, more than just physically, and it hurt to continue to turn him down.

�Damn it.�

-

He descended the stairs when he felt calm later that evening, though he paused just in the threshold of the dining area, listening.

�Where the hell is Zel?� Lina bellowed.

�In our room,� Xellos replied, sounding bland.

�And why isn't he down here?� the redhead demanded suspiciously. �I'm going to order without him!�

Zelgadis entered finally and took a seat at table. He made sure to put Gourry in between himself and Xellos. �You bellowed?�

Lina turned her glare on him. �Oh, very funny.�

�So did you find out anything new?� Zel asked, wanting to get to the point.

�Yeah.� She flagged down a waiter so they could order. �It seems the spell is on the archway.�

�So Xellos was right,� the chimera noted, carefully stealing a glance at the purple haired man�s way. He seemed perfectly calm, unlike earlier.

�Oh?� Lina prodded in a highly suspicious tone.

Zel shrugged. �We discussed the possible causes of the spell over lunch.�

�And he didn't feel like sharing this with us before,� she noted accusingly.

�You didn't ask, Lina-san,� Xellos replied in a bland voice over the brim of his teacup.

�It was a logical conclusion,� Zelgadis said in his defense, if only to get Lina to move on.

The sorceress sighed, rubbing her head. �Alright, fine. So the people we talked to said it might be possible to either disenchant or destroy the opening, though the latter risks closing it off completely.�

�Zelgadis-san has experience forcing his way into temples,� Xellos murmured.

He shook his head firmly. �I'm not going anywhere near that shrine until we're sure the spell's destroyed. It didn't react well with Rezo's spell.�

Lina nodded. �Alright then. You stand back and let us take care of it.�

�Xellos should probably keep back, as well,� Zelgadis said, remembering the rest of their discussion earlier. �If it reacted poorly with Rezo's spell, it could react poorly with whatever Dynast did to him.�

The redhead rolled her eyes in irritation. �Wouldn't dream keeping you two apart. Practically joined at the hip as it is. Or somewhere around that area.�

�Not nearly like you and Amelia,� Zel noted mildly, refusing to rise to the bait.

�Oh, but it's not nearly as mature as your relationship.�

It was the wrong thing to say. Amelia wibbled and sniffed immediately.

Lina blanched guiltily. �Uh, well��

Zelgadis smirked. �Did all that �meditating� morning mean nothing to you, Lina?� he asked, hinting at the time alone the girls sometimes spent in the mornings.

�How cruel,� Xellos murmured softly.

The girl glared at them both, not at all amused about being ganged up on by the two of them. �I was going to apologize for what I said the other day, but if you're going to be a jerk��

Zelgadis cut her off, immediately going expressionless, though the reminder was a dagger to his heart. He�d done his best to forget that incident. �Your reaction was hardly surprising, Lina, given that you were a child at the time,� he told her in a firm, almost cold voice, all humor gone. �It wasn't anything I haven't heard before.� He stood. �Excuse me.�

Lina started, her surprise shining in her eyes. �Zel!�

He waved a dismissive hand at her, not turning around as he went back upstairs. He retreated back to the bedroom he shared with the other men, wanting to be alone, but he was soon joined by Xellos.

�Zelgadis-san��

Irritation rose up in him immediately, unabated by the concern shining in the former priest�s violet eyes. �I'd like to be alone right now, Xellos,� he whispered shortly, hunching over so that Xellos could not see his pain.

Xellos hesitated a moment before leaving without a word, closing the door behind him. Zelgadis listened as he slid down the wall beside the door and sat there, almost as though he couldn�t bring himself to obey Zel completely.

The irritation faded quickly, giving way to the pain of old wounds and fears. He glanced at the door regretfully, wishing he had the courage to call Xellos back, telling him he didn�t mean it. He wanted Xellos to stay; he wanted to be with him forever. He wanted to curl up in his arms and forget about the world, even if only for a little while.

What was stopping him? Xellos was human now� and had already expressed a desire to stay that way. For him. Xellos had shown that he was capable of great feeling and compassion, something Zelgadis had never thought possible. Xellos had shown more than a sexual interest in him, that he truly cared, and yet Zel still denied him. It was hurting them both but he couldn�t seem to step through that door to new possibilities.

Was it only because of the Mazoku coming after them? They could find another way, surely. They always did before. Even if Xellos turned back, it was no guarantee that Dynast wouldn�t come after the rest of them anyway.

Or was he just being a coward? Was he only afraid of opening himself up to being hurt again?

Xellos had just spent the last two days unknowingly proving just how genuine he was. Why wasn�t it enough?

He was lying down, watching the sunset through the window, when he heard Xellos speak softly outside. He couldn�t hear the words and was about to work up his courage to call the man back when he heard Xellos stand, leaving.

Zelgadis grimaced and closed his eyes, cursing his spinelessness. Of course if he kept pushing Xellos away he would eventually give up.

Curling up, he attempted to sleep.

-

Xellos had hesitated, seeing how much pain the chimera was in, but left the bedroom obediently anyway. He just didn�t know what else to do and fell back to his natural inclination to obey orders.

He sat outside the bedroom for a time, not able to leave Zelgadis completely yet, and let his helplessness consume him.

Perhaps it was for the best. He was only causing Zelgadis pain this way, and he no longer had a Mazoku�s need to feed off of human pain. It only left him with an intense sense of guilt now.

If Zelgadis did not want a relationship, then the logical thing to do would be to let him go. Xellos could help the chimera in other ways along their current journey. Then he could go back to being a Mazoku and forget the ache in his chest, the one that called for the chimera to be near.

His Zel-chan was gone, and Zelgadis was further away than ever. Xellos didn�t know what to do, but he was tired of the constant ache. It had faded somewhat with Zel-chan but it was back now, stronger than before, as though having a taste of how happy he could be as a human made it that much worse without it.

It made a part of him sick with how helpless he had become. He was following Zelgadis around like some wounded puppy. It had to stop. There was no point. He wasn�t meant to have what he desired, it wasn�t in his nature or his destiny. He was a Mazoku. He had no future or happy ending waiting for him.

He had to give up on Zelgadis.

The ache only increased at the thought.

He hugged himself for a moment, remembering the small, trusting weight that he had held just last night. �I'm sorry, Zel-chan. I can't keep my promise to you...� He couldn�t stay with Zelgadis if the chimera did not want him. It rankled to break the promise anyway.

Xellos left quietly and slipped out a window up to the roof, his movements agile despite how sluggish he felt. There on top of the building, he watched the sun fall beyond the horizon and attempted to gather himself. It was quite dark before he felt ready to head back inside.

Returning to the room, he slipped inside quietly, eyes immediately drawn to the bed. Zelgadis slept there, though fitfully, and Gourry was nowhere to be seen.

Xellos frowned and considered his options as he dressed for bed. He was just contemplating making himself a bed on the floor when the chimera whimpered.

His resolve, flimsy though it was, shattered. He lay down beside Zelgadis and whispered soothingly. �Shh. It�s alright��

He wrapped his arms around the shaman and held him close, hoping to urge him to a deeper, more relaxed sleep, but instead Zelgadis stirred.

�Xellos?�

Xellos stiffened, looking down into sleepy eyes, feeling uncertain.

Zelgadis� eyes quickly closed. �I'm sorry. Don't leave.�

Surprised, Xellos relaxed and smiled faintly. �Alright,� he promised softly. �I won�t leave.�

�Thank you,� Zelgadis said, resting his head against Xellos� chest.

Xellos petted his hair lightly. �No need.�

Zelgadis fell into a much more peaceful slumber and Xellos, relieved, soon joined him.

Tomorrow would bring whatever it would. For now, he wanted to sleep.

-

Gourry must have come in some time during the night after Xellos, but Zelgadis did not remember sensing him. He stayed still in Xellos� arms, feigning sleep and absently listening as the swordsman got dressed and left quietly.

When they were alone, Xellos still slumbering peacefully, Zelgadis allowed himself to think about things with him.

It wouldn�t be easy. Xellos was still adjusting to being human and might reach a point where he would change his mind and want to be a Mazoku again. Zelgadis was still searching for a cure � futilely, he was sure � from his last little adventure with trust, and he wasn�t sure he could open his heart again. He was still partly afraid to trust anyone, let alone Xellos.

But he did trust him now. Xellos had earned it while he was a child, and it was still there. He trusted him, and he loved him, though far less innocently than Zel-chan had. Zelgadis blushed just thinking about it.

The strange thing was that even remembering his insecurities, resting with Xellos like this was very comfortable.

Xellos made a soft sound in his sleep, surprising Zel. He rubbed the other man�s back gently, remembering how Xellos had done that to comfort him before.

The sounds continued and Zelgadis, concerned that he was having a nightmare, shifted enough to look up. He relaxed when he saw Xellos was smiling in his sleep. The more he listened, the more the noise sounded like a kitten meowing.

The memory of Xellos the mewing rabbit stirred and Zelgadis smiled slightly. Xellos continued to make the noise for some time before eventually growing quiet. He continued to smile though.

Hesitantly, Zel reached up and touched the other man�s hair. The purple strands were as soft as silk even to his hard fingers.

Xellos was soft and warm now, and he retained the quick, mischievous mind he had always had. He was different now, but he was still Xellos. The mewing somehow made that obvious.

Suddenly there was a harsh banging on their door. �C'mon, sleepyheads! I want to check out the shrine! Oi!�

Zelgadis sat up, startled, leaving Xellos� arms. Thankfully Lina didn�t barge in.

�Noisy,� Xellos whimpered, stirring finally.

Somehow, this was what made Zel irritated, not the sorceress herself. Xellos needed all the rest he could get. �Go eat breakfast. We'll be down in a minute.�

Lina sighed dramatically. �Uh huh. Horny idiots.� She stormed off loudly, presumably heading downstairs.

�For someone sexually repressed, her mind wanders easily into that direction,� Xellos whispered.

Zelgadis blushed and glanced down at him. �Did you sleep okay?� he asked, remembering the troublesome night before.

�I think so.� Xellos� sleepy smile was wide. �For some reason, it feels like I slept much better than I have been.�

His blush deepening, he ducked his head. Feeling soft fingertips on his cheek, Zel looked up again, meeting concerned violet eyes. �If that helps you sleep better... I don't mind,� he said, wanting to sooth the concern.

Those eyes widened. �Zelgadis�� Xellos murmured, dropping the usual honorific as he cupped the chimera�s cheek, gently caressing.

Zelgadis closed his eyes and didn�t move, wanting to concentrate on what little sensation he could feel from Xellos� hand. It was soft and warm against his cool face. He dimly felt soft lips and warm breath as Xellos leaned up, kissing his forehead. Zelgadis exhaled as he did, both surprised and thrilled. He could really feel it, and it felt wonderful.

Then he felt a kiss on his nose and, startled, Zel opened his eyes. Xellos was smiling, looking quite happy. He put his hand over Xellos� and smiled slightly in return.

Xellos� smile grew.

Zelgadis reached up, touching the former priest�s hair again, closing his eyes to again concentrate on the texture. �Your hair is very soft,� he said after a thoughtful moment.

A light flush came over Xellos� pale features. �I'm glad I washed it last night. It gets oily when it�s dirty.�

�I probably wouldn�t feel that,� Zel admitted, embarrassed.

�Hm.� Xellos turned his head, nuzzling the shaman�s wrist in obvious adoration. Zelgadis� heart fluttered.

He let his hand curl to rest on Xellos� cheek, feeling his skin, wondering how anyone could look so happy just from his touch. He thought about where this touching might lead, and he wasn�t afraid of it anymore. But he couldn�t initiate it; he would never be that brave.

�Lina's going to get impatient if we don't get down there soon,� Zelgadis finally said, hesitantly, hoping.

Xellos smiled at him. �Yes. She's likely to fireball the room if we linger.�

Zelgadis didn�t move though, watching Xellos, who stayed still as well. The former priest did not try to kiss him, though Zel wanted it so badly it almost hurt.

Disappointment growing, Zelgadis let his hand fall away from Xellos� face. �You should get dressed.� It wasn�t a big deal, he tried to assure himself. Maybe Xellos was nervous too.

�Maa. Yours are wrinkled.� Xellos tried to straighten them futilely.

Zelgadis blushed lightly. �They�ll be fine.�

�You can always try on your new ones.�

�Oh. I forgot about those,� Zelgadis confessed, startled.

Xellos smiled cutely. �You get dressed first.�

He nodded, bashfully rising and slipping into the washroom to dress. He waited inside as Xellos dressed, only exiting when he was sure that the former priest was ready.

Xellos smiled when he saw him. �Oh my.�

Zelgadis glanced down at his clothing, concerned, though he did not see the problem or what Xellos found amusing. �What?�

�It�s very nice,� Xellos assured with sincerity, coming closer and fixing the collar of Zel�s shirt to his liking.

�Thanks,� Zelgadis answered softly, blushing.

He could see now that the smile wasn�t amused, but excited. �They're very well made. Is it easy to move?�

The chimera nodded, swallowing hard at the hinted eroticism in that smile. �Yeah. Good fabric.�

Now the smile turned mischievous. �I suppose I won't have to go back and punish the tailor...�

Zelgadis blushed. He remembered how angry Xellos had gotten with the tailor while he�d been a child. Would he really do something like that, for him? The thought was more worrying than it was flattering. Even so�

�Just a joke,� Xellos assured.

Zelgadis smiled back, still flushed.

Xellos motioned to the door. �Shall we?�

�Yeah.�

So they hadn�t kissed again yet. Even so, Zelgadis left the bedroom with Xellos, feeling cautiously optimistic about the whole thing. He hoped Xellos was too. He didn�t want the stupid former priest feeling sad again on his account.

-

TBC.
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