Author's
Notes: Wondering why I used Guimel and Dalet?
Well Dalet's my favorite 'slayer, but to be honest, I think perhaps I unconsciously
chose these two 'cause of the little they say in the TV show. It makes them
a wonderfully blank canvas with which to paint. Practically all we know about
Dalet is he's vain (and really we don't know that for sure), and all we know
about Guimel is ... well his name I think!"
******
(Don't) Blame it on the Weather Man
Chapter 2: Calm After the Storm
Dalet took off the upper half
of his drenched uniform and slung it on the desk. The rain had soaked through
the jacket and spoiled even the vest, so much so that the water now gathered
at it's hem and began to trickle slowly down the desk's leg.
The thunder had silenced it noise and the last drops of the rain were
now splashing quietly on the window pain. ~Why does it always stop raining
as soon as you get out of it? Sods' law
I guess, well it's been one of those days
~
He pulled his hair back into a ponytail and twisted it, wringing out some
the water that had soaked in during their trek back through the storm, then
with a contented sigh he sank down into a simple-looking wooden chair by his
bedside . Who cared if it was as hard as hell, it was the first chance he'd
had to sit down in hours.
"Ahhhh! At last. My poor feet!! Well now, wasn't that a fun and character
shaping experience!" He flashed Guimel a wry grin and arched one eyebrow
" You, " he said spreading his arms over the back of the chair "
are one incredibly lucky guy!"
Indeed, Guimel couldn't believe
his own luck. On finally arriving back the the Vione, Dilandau had been shattered
and stormed off in the direction of his room announcing that anyone who disturbed
his slumber - and that included the morning call - would be killed on the spot.
Guimel shook himself like a dog, sending tiny droplet of water all over
the place. "Gee, thanks for the shower" Dalet muttered sarcastically,
but Guimel ignored him and set about his own grumble instead: "I'm
sopping wet" He whinged "damned stupid weather's 'caused me nothing
trouble all day."
"WelI I can't yell at the weather, so I'll just have to settle for
blaming you!" he said with a wink.
Somewhere along the last few minutes of their hike Dalet had begun to
see the funny side of their situation and his mood had cheered up considerably.
Guimel on the other hand was still looking worse for wear, but Dalet hadn't
noticed. "Look at what your abysmal flying skills have done to my beautiful
hair," he smirked, " I tell you, if I catch a cold your going to have
a lot more to worry about than Dilandau!" He was grinning like an inane
cheshire cat, but Shesta wasn't paying attention. He wasn't listening. Not really.
"Everyone really hates me right now, don't they?"
Dalet blinked. That wasn't the answer he'd been anticipating. "Huh?"
" Whenever something goes wrong, I'm at the forefront. I'm always screwing up. Gatty was right, I 'cause trouble and then I drag everyone else down along with me."
Dalet blinked again ~what the...~ "I don't think that's quite what he meant"
"...."
Dalet sighed and pushed himself up
out of the chair "Don't be so introspective," he said, coming up to
stand behind Guimel, who was gazing forlornly at his reflection in the large
mirror that was built into Dalets desk "It's bad for your health you know.
Besides, it's not what's inside, but what's outside that counts". He flashed
a winning smile at his own reflection and brushed a stray shard of hair away
from his face.
The corner of Guimels mouth twitched into the very slightest of smirks,
"Vain git".
"Oh, gee! Thanks a lot. I leave the comfort of my nice chair to come over here and cheer you up, and what thanks do I get 'Vain git'. Well that hurts, that really hurts." He looked at Guimel who was chuckling at his over acting. "You tear out my heat when you say such things" He added, putting his hand over his heart for added melodrama. "People think I have no feelings, that I don't care, but the truth is I care a lot. I really do."
"Yeah, you car a lot ..... about your self!"
"Oh!! Ouch! I'll remember that Sheep-boy!"
"Hey!"
"See," He gestured at Guimels hair, which despite being damp from the rain still resembled a giant ball of cotton wool, " That's why we're always using you as the scapegoat. Your the nearest thing we've got".
"Hmmph. I wish it was as simple as that. I appreciate what your trying to do, really I do, but you wont get anywhere. You might as well go get some sleep." His eyes where starting to get that lost, glazed-over look again. "Your probably going to need as much rest as you can get. Dilandau might have put us off for now, but there'll be trouble in the morning. He wont forget so easily. It's my fault, but that wont bother Dilandau when it comes to handing out punishment."
"Look, don't worry about that, we'll handle it when it comes. And don't go stressing over the rubbish we said earlier on. We were all acting a bit out of character then. You were right you know. It's the weather. It get's you down when it's like this, and puts you all on edge, first the fog, then the rain ..."
" ..... "
Dalet closed his eyes ~ This isn't working...I'm not good at this kind of thing .... where the hell's Shesta when you need him. Sympathy just isn't my forte - this is more his field than mine. I think I'm making it worse. Time for a change of direction ~
"But don't you go getting all
cocky just 'cause your The Weather Man," he smirked tauntingly. "You
might have been right about that, but you where waaaaay off when you said you
thought you were a faster 'melef pilot than me!"
Guimels eyes flashed back out of their trance, eyebrows arching about
an inch in the air. Then he turned on Dalet, bringing them down to form a formidable
frown over a glare that would probably have made Dilandau cringe.
~Yes! That worked. I wanted a reaction and I got one. Well done me!~
" Just thought? " Guimel edged " Ha! I don't just think I'm faster, I know!"
"Wrong again. You just don't think!" Dalet teased.
"Your all talk, Dalet"
He sneered. "Want to put your money where your mouth is?"
~Rats. There goes my wage. But what's money? Damn, I'm such a nice guy~
"Fine! Your on!"
"Good!"
"Right"
The two grinned and shook on the deal.
***
Outside the rain had cleared away the last of the fog and now had ceased altogether, leaving sparkling droplets of water clinging to the window pane. The few remaining silvery-lined clouds where finally beginning to part to reveal a beautifully star scattered sky.