Title: An Invitation to Sleep in My Arms
Prompt: #42Blanket
Author: destructive sorceress or DS or bnniesmenolikey on LJ omg.
Pairings/Characters: Zel/Amelia
Rating: over PG but not quite PG-13 because I say sex and Zel has a pee pee and I swear sometimes. Pfft.

Zelgadis was not sensitive to cold.

Lucky for him.

And so, while Lina, Gourry, and Amelia shivered in their beds, attempting to sleep through what was probably the coldest winter night in years, Zelgadis slept soundly.

He wasn't even using that many blankets.

Bastard.

His dreams were pleasant enough. It was his standard great dream where he was human again and researching magic with Amelia (when he wasn't having wild, passionate sex with her, of course). He and Dream Amelia were getting into a very heated discussion about controlling the elements that was quickly turning into a conversation about something else when there was a knock at his door.

He had never really been a heavy sleeper, but ever since Rezo had turned him into a chimera, Zelgadis would wake up if a pin dropped across the room. Grumbling, he rolled over onto his back and glared at the ceiling.

"What is it?" he growled. Maybe if he sounded cranky enough the annoying knocking person would leave.

"Zelgadis-san? Can I come in?" Amelia's muffled, sleepy voice asked from the other side of the door. Zelgadis quickly crossed to the door and opened it to reveal a mound of blankets that sort of resembled Amelia. Her face peeked out, sleepy eyes almost hidden by wayward bunches of her dark hair. It was both hilarious and adorable, but somehow Zelgadis knew that if he laughed Amelia might not find it funny.

"Amelia? What are you doing up?" She stood awkwardly in the hallway, unsure of what to do with herself.

"The window in my room is broken, and it's so cold, and I would share a bed with Lina-san, but she is so violent when she sleeps!" Her words tumbled out quickly in typical Amelia fashion as she hurried to explain herself. Zelgadis could only shudder when he remembered the bruises Amelia had received the last time the two girls had attempted to share a bed. "Besides, Lina-san left to share a bed with Gourry-san and I thought they should be…alone…" She trailed off and avoided his gaze. Zelgadis cleared his throat and kindly ushered her into his room, closing the door behind her.

"I can't promise it will be much warmer in here, but you're welcome to sleep with me." Zelgadis reconsidered his words. "I mean, sleep in my bed with me. Just sleeping. Nothing other than sleeping. And no one would be naked. Especially not you." Cursing himself, Zelgadis got into bed and slipped under the covers before he could do any more damage.

Amelia finally emerged from her cocoon of blankets and distributed them over Zelgadis and his bed before climbing quickly under the covers and snuggling up against Zelgadis' bare chest. He heard her mention something about survival techniques and body heat before thanking him and whispering goodnight.

Minutes passed and Zelgadis did not dare move.

The girl of his dreams was in his bed.

The girl of his dreams was pressed up against him.

The girl of his dreams was making the same cute little sleeping noises she made in his dreams.

Suddenly, Amelia shivered.

Don't touch her, his mind screamed; you would be taking advantage of her.

She came to you in the middle of the night asking to share your bed, his body coaxed, why else would she be here unless she wanted something to happen?

Don't be ridiculous! She was cold His mind hissed back.

If she's so cold you should warm her up, his body reasoned.

Don't even think about it, his mind warned.

Zelgadis got tired of his body and his mind arguing and tired of Amelia shivering and decided to compromise. He put his arm over Amelia and gently pulled her closer to his chest. This wasn't taking advantage of her, he was keeping her warm. And his hand was in an entirely platonic area!

Was it his imagination or did she just sigh?


-cmt '07