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Detour	By : RoseThorne Category: +S to Z > Slayers Views: 3318 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Slayers, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Detour
by Rose Thorne
Disclaimer: Slayers is owned by a bunch of folks who aren’t me. I’m borrowing them for my perverse pleasure, much as Xellos borrows emotions for his. I make no money from this.
Chapter Thirty Three
Despite the biting temperatures, which had plummeted following the storm, Zelgadis had been more than eager to get moving when it cleared; he was tired of waiting to be attacked again. At least hiking through the snow, he felt like they were making progress. Wading through it, so deep it sometimes required he use Levitation, also allowed him to pretend not to notice Xellos watching him.
Not that it was only Xellos, but somehow Zel was more aware of his gaze than, say, Lina’s.
Moving was better, made everything fall to the background, even if they could only guess where the road was due to the deep snow. Having been stuck for days in a room, having had his attention called to the Astral plane, made his awareness that much worse. He could sense the power behind the Mazoku without half-trying. Little wonder Xellos had felt he needed to shield his Astral self; had Zelgadis been paying attention—or rather known what to pay attention to—he would have sensed him easily. And now that he could, he felt like an idiot for having been so clueless those years ago.
Now he was conscious of the damnable priest on a level he hadn’t expected, and very aware of when his attention was on him. It felt like he was always watching.
Zelgadis had never been fond of being stared at; even when he’d been fully human, he’d been shy. He understood the Mazoku—and for that matter everyone else—was watching him to ensure he wasn’t in danger. But he was tired of being the center of attention, tired of this journey and the never-ending snow and the constant attacks.
As they neared the border of Ralteague and Lyzeille, the terrain gave him something else to devote his attention to, becoming rougher, with hills and sometimes hidden dips that threatened his footing if he wasn’t careful. Bright sunshine threatened to blind glinting off the snow, and the sun’s rays were causing some melt despite the cold—and what melted refroze in the wind. All of it combined to make the hike treacherous. It gave the others just as much difficulty.
Gourry had to steady him when he nearly rolled his ankle on uneven ground and lost his balance, ice under the snow nearly causing a header.
At his murmured thanks, the blond nodded. “There’s a lot of snow this winter.”
That comment stopped the chimera cold, and Amelia nearly ran into him.
“A lot of snow,” Zel repeated, a little numb. He had a growing sense of paranoia—except maybe it wasn’t. “And quite a few storms.”
Lina turned, looking troubled, understanding his concern immediately. “A lot of storms that have hit us.”
“How much power would that take?” he asked her.
“More than I have. Multiple people, or an artifact…”
That didn’t reassure him. Lina was stronger in magic than he was, and if this was beyond her capabilities, it was certainly beyond his.
Amelia broke in, her voice uncertain. “An artifact for weather?”
Zel glanced at Xellos. “Have you heard of something like that?”
“No, but I don’t generally keep track. Weather isn’t an issue for Mazoku.”
“Or it could be the result of newer research,” Lina added. “Guilds and sorcerers are developing new stuff all the time.”
Amelia bit her lip. “Wouldn’t we be able to tell? That the storm was magical?”
Lina started pacing, which couldn’t have been easy in the snow and ice, her hand on her chin, her eyes glazing slightly as her mind worked. Somehow she managed not to slip doing that. “Maybe… but it depends on how. If they generated the elements of the storm magically, or if they just manipulated what was already there, or…”
Zel knew Lina well enough to know she could worry at hypothetical magical theory for hours. In other circumstances, he would too. Right now, it was hard for him to concentrate on anything but a growing sense of dread.
“We don’t have enough information to be sure,” he interrupted.
The redhead glanced his way, her eyes focusing. “You’re right. I guess if we have more storms we could pay attention… but…”
There was an uncomfortable silence for a few moments before Zelgadis broke it.
“We need to keep moving, then. Gain as much distance as we can. Find the crater your spell hopefully left.”
He didn’t wait for a response, instead pressing forward, leaving the others to follow him.
Xellos had been uncharacteristically quiet, and Zel realized the Mazoku’s attention had turned to the sky, much of the pressure of his gaze eased. He was watching for danger, maybe even keeping tabs on the weather.
Zelgadis had to admit Xellos’ presence still relieved him. He felt almost like, despite the strength of their opponents, they could prevail with him on their side. Even if they were somehow controlling the weather.
He still didn’t understand his motivations, why he would choose to help. Why the former priest wanted him to live. There had been… something in the way he looked at him. Something the shaman was afraid to think about.
He knew Ryuzoku could and did hate—regardless of the supposition that they should be the opposite of Mazoku. Zel had seen Ryuzoku commit evil acts, as though the ends they believed in justified the means used to achieve them. They had even committed genocide, slaughtering the Ancient Dragons under questionable pretexts, all for what they believed was good.
So if they could hate, was it possible for Mazoku…?
Zelgadis shook his head, shrugging off the idea. He was naive to even consider it. Once upon a time, he might have been sentimental enough to believe something so impossible—it was like something Amelia might believe; odd to think he was once that innocent. But the world had taught him not to trust in fancy; that sort of hope was painful. If he fell for something like this… he couldn’t take more betrayal.
Even if it was possible, even if Xellos was capable, it wouldn’t be Zel.
Plain and simple, Xellos had to have an ulterior motive. Zel couldn’t even begin to guess what it might be after everything that had happened, but at least he could use the Mazoku to get out of this mess. For now he was an ally, but like everything else that was transient.
“I think I see a town ahead,” Gourry called a few miles later, shading his eyes.
Lina grinned. “Hey, just in time for lunch!”
Xellos abruptly stopped, frowning as he looked ahead. “Wait.”
He was gone before they could ask for clarification and back before Lina could protest at her lunch being delayed.
And he had a piece of parchment with him.
Zelgadis moved closer to read it and froze.
It was a wanted poster. For him. With a sizeable reward and a crudely drawn sketch that made him look completely inhuman.
Lina was the first to react. “Huh. That brings back memories.”
He knew she was thinking about the bounty that had been put on herself, Gourry, and him, when they’d all had their own posters. But he didn’t feel nostalgic at all.
“But that doesn’t look like Zel at all,” Gourry commented.
“‘Escaped chimera’?” Amelia murmured, leaning in to read the smaller print.
“At least it’s ‘wanted alive,’ I guess.” Zelgadis felt numb. “I don’t have a choice but to avoid towns after all,” he murmured.
He was honestly more offended by the implications of the drawing than bothered by that prospect. He preferred to avoid towns, even in the winter. But this...
“Does this mean no lunch?” Gourry asked after a moment.
Zel realized they were looking at him—even Lina, who he definitely didn’t want to cook for—for guidance.
“No,” he said. “You go eat. Gather information. I have provisions in my pack.”
“But we can’t leave you alone, Zelgadis-san.” Amelia looked torn.
He was about to reply when Lina smiled in a faux-sweet way at Xellos.
“Fortunately, we have our very own Mazoku stalker who doesn’t eat human food. Zel won’t be alone.”
Zelgadis probably would have been a bit more diplomatic about it, but Lina was Lina.
“My, Lina-san, ‘stalker’ is such a strong word…”
Zel rolled his eyes. “I’ll Raywing around the town and meet you a few miles past. You might want to pick up provisions while you’re there, too. It might be wise to avoid the main road.”
Lina grimaced. “I guess.”
It was nothing they hadn’t done before. If there was yet another storm it would get dicey, but they’d manage.
Lina still hesitated, but finally sighed and shot him a meaningful look. “Be careful, Zel.”
“You too.” He returned the look. “The last thing we need is bounty hunters on top of everything.”
“No kidding.” With that, she headed off, accompanied by Amelia and Gourry.
He turned to Xellos and found him burning the wanted poster to ash. Zel watched in satisfaction as the sickly green flames consumed it completely, leaving little more than ash that danced away in the breeze.
-
They had managed to find a small glade off the road, surrounded by drifts but relatively free of deeper snow.
Xellos fiddled with the coffeepot while Zelgadis ate. The shaman had vetoed a fire, not wanting to draw attention from the locals, but there was no reason for him not to have the coffee he usually enjoyed with his meals.
Or rather, generally made up most of his meals.
So the Mazoku carefully raised the temperature of the water magically and was ultimately able to hand Zelgadis a cup of coffee.
He got a raised eyebrow for his troubles, but the chimera smiled after taking a sip.
Even after having accepted what he felt, Xellos still found himself amazed that he enjoyed Zelgadis’ happiness, even if it was over something as simple as an unexpected cup of coffee.
How had the self-proclaimed heartless sorcerer swordsman come to affect him like this? It seemed they affected each other; Lina’s comment about the true reason Zelgadis had been researching black magic healing came back to Xellos. That the shaman would care enough…
Perhaps Zelgadis no longer hated him.
Really, he hoped to distract him from the revelations of the day. The possible power their foes might have and the bounty on him; just as he had used the idea of direct magic manipulation to distract him from his fear—though the effects of that had been unpleasant for the youth.
A simple cup of coffee seemed more effective.
There was much Xellos wished to say, to tell him, but he didn’t want to add to the burden Zelgadis was already carrying. Instead, he took comfort in the silence that stretched between them, the trust the shaman showed in him.
After he finished eating, Zelgadis set aside his pack and cloak, drew his sword, and stepped into a series of graceful kata, using the drifts that littered the clearing as obstacles. His movement started slowly, gaining tempo until he was nearly a blur, though Xellos knew it wasn’t the highest speed he was capable of.
It was fascinating to watch; while he’d eavesdropped on him before, Zelgadis generally performed such exercises alone, or occasionally with Gourry. The Mazoku had never had the opportunity to watch openly, and it was a treat to see the chimera’s fluid grace up close.
The dance ended with a slash so low one leg was nearly parallel to the ground. Zelgadis straightened, trudging back to his pack, slightly breathless. The chimera radiated dissatisfaction.
“Zelgadis-san?”
The youth sighed. “Out of practice.”
He hadn’t seemed so to Xellos, but then he was no swordsman—base weapons were of little use or interest to him. Zelgadis had lost months, had suffered injuries… and wasn’t exactly a paragon of self-esteem. He often expected too much of himself, saw only flaws.
“In the wilderness you may have time to brush up—with Gourry-san’s assistance, perhaps,” Xellos said with a shrug. “But you were quite graceful.”
To his utter surprise and delight—which he carefully kept hidden—a light blush spread across the chimera’s face before he turned away and sheathed his sword.
“I’m only an average swordsman,” he finally muttered.
“I rather doubt you’re merely average at anything you put your mind to, Zelgadis-san.”
Though the observation was simply the truth, Zelgadis never took compliments well. His emotions were a mess. The Mazoku wondered if he should have stayed silent.
Zelgadis’ reaction was forestalled by the appearance of Lina, Amelia, and Gourry in the distance. The shaman shouldered his pack and pulled on his cloak before trodding off in their direction, never looking at Xellos.
“Zelgadis-san, are you feeling okay? You look a bit flushed.”
Xellos somehow managed not to smile.
-
Gourry hadn’t noticed that Zel looked a bit flushed until Amelia pointed it out and was a little worried until he told them he was practicing kata while waiting.
“I’m out of practice,” he murmured.

The blond didn’t know how long Zel had been a prisoner, and then he’d been hurt and all on top of that. He’d even almost died—and he’d seen the way he’d lost hope.
They’d been in fights since, though—lots of them. And Gourry didn’t think he was out of practice at all. But if Zel was worried, he wanted to try to help him feel better.
“Well, maybe we can spar later, Zel,” he offered. “I bet that’ll help.”
So far he hadn’t been able to do much at all. He couldn’t help with magic, and it sucked to have to watch Zel struggle and not be able to help. But this he could do.
He was glad when Zel actually smiled.
“When we stop for the night,” Zel said. “We’ll have to rough it, but maybe we’ll wind up on a more direct route to Atlass.”
Lina sighed. “Yeah, we’ll have to. Apparently all the towns past here have those stupid posters.”
Gourry nodded. “The innkeeper said they were just distributed here yesterday.”
“Oh, and the shopkeeper told me the person who put them up took the south road to avoid the storm,” Amelia added.
“It’s likely they have multiple people covering more than one route.” Xellos had seemed to be just watching them from a distance, but he was suddenly next to Zel.
Zel looked a little flushed again, and Gourry realized it was probably because of Xellos’ closeness. And probably a blush.
Huh.
It did kind of make sense. Xellos had saved him and took care of him when he was sick and hurt, and he was pretty sure the Mazoku liked Zel a lot. Like liked. He hovered, protected him, always watched… and there was something about how he looked at Zel, a strange sort of vulnerability. Gourry remembered Seyrun, Zel’s injuries, how it had been Xellos who saved him and stayed with him, had mentioned his pain so he could get medicine for him.
Like Lina said, Mazoku liked pain—but Xellos didn’t seem to like Zel in pain.
Even though Amelia had a crush on him, Zel didn’t feel that way about her, he knew. But maybe he could like Xellos. Maybe that was what the blush was about. Maybe they’d gotten a chance to talk.
Gourry knew a lot of folks might have problems with two guys like that, or that Xellos was Mazoku. But he figured love was love, and Zel deserved some of that.
Amelia was looking worried again, and Zel might get embarrassed, so Gourry decided to run interference.
“Get enough lunch, Zel? Ready to get moving again?”
The chimera nodded, pulling out a compass. After a moment he turned and gestured in the direction they needed to head.
Gourry passed between Zel and Xellos, clapping each of them on the shoulder briefly. Maybe they’d get it, that he was okay with them being together. Maybe that’d help a little.
As they headed off in the direction Zel had indicated, he hoped they could hurry up and make things safe for him again quickly.
Been a while. I have the next chapter started, so that will hopefully come a bit sooner! Thanks to Chrissy, Tsu, Fawx, and Terra for the beta!
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Detour