A/N: Yeah, I have so many plans, and I just got another demand to add chapter 3 to my TotA fanfic. Well, I'll tell you what- I've got two separate drafts of that chapter, and I have zero idea what to do with the story, so here is this to hold people over.
Really, the driving force behind this is the startling lack of fanfic or even fan art for these two, even for Zatch Bell standards, so enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Laila, Albert, or any other characters mentioned in passing, let alone the series as a whole.
Laila sat in one of the dully candle-lit corridors of the ruins that lead to the stone of moonlight, fumbling with an object in her hand. Earlier that day Zofis had called for a mandatory training session- a test to determine the ancient mamodos' abilities in order to strategically place them. Since the ancient mamodo can't attack each other directly, their spells had been aimed at Penny and Byonko, two mamodo from the present day Zofis had managed to rope into his plans. Laila, however, didn't expect them to fight back. How naive -and now that frog's slime from his bubble attack was dried in her hair.
Laila took another swipe at her hair with a brush and cringed, yet the mat remained. She was so involved with her struggle that she did not notice Albert had come to stand behind her.
Laila went for another yank, but was stopped when a hand grabbed onto the brush. She turned her head and stared back into her partner's empty eyes in confusion, "..Albert?" 'What are you doing?' Laila, dumbfounded by her human partner's actions, released the brush. This seemed to be what Albert had wanted her to do, as he took the brush, then reached inside his pocket, fishing out a bottle of a clear liquid. He unscrewed the cap, and Laila winced when he lifted her hair and poured the crisp, distinct smelling liquid through it. Then he knelt down, and placed the bottle on the ground.
Laila tensed when she felt him connect the brush to her hair, but the pain she expected did not come. Slowly she relaxed, 'The liquid seems to have partially dissolved the gunk. How did you know, Albert?'
Five or so minutes passed before he had cleansed her hair of the offending substance, and now he was brushing just to organize the straying strands. Laila enjoyed having her hair brushed for the first time in years, yet at the same time she felt sorry for Albert. 'How can you be helping me, if you can't help yourself? Or is Zofis's control over your mind weakening?'
"Al.. why don't you wake up? Why can't you free yourself from Zofis's grasp, Al?" she tried once more to reach him. She listened for an answer, but what she heard was not verbal. She felt a stab in her heart of many emotions mixed in one. For an instant she was confused, then she understood. 'Is this how Albert is feeling..?' At this moment, he concluded that Laila's hair had been brushed enough, and he held the brush out for her.
She snapped out of her thoughts, and received the object. "Thank you, Albert," and then she surprised even him. She had turned completely around, and rapped her arms around his torso, burying her face. 'I promise you, Al, I will free you soon.'
She let go and looked up at him fondly. "Now it's my turn to do your hair, Al." She gave a faint smile.