"So Zelgadis," Gourry said, where he was laying on the bed, Zel had insisted on taking the floor. "You been here before?"
Zelgadis sighed, "Yes Gourry. I lived here off and on." He noted that Glory and Zelda had gotten the room he'd always stayed in. Gourry's snores brought Zelgadis out of his thoughts. He sat up, looking around the room, then finally got to his feet, slipping out the door, carefully closing it behind him.
He looked around, his bare feet making no noise on the floors. Zelgadis wandered around the first floor a while before he found himself standing outside of Rezo's open door. There was no light within, but he could hear breathing from the bed. Slowly, he paced in, watching the shape on the bed.
"Sit down, Zelda," Rezo murmured.
"I'm Zelgadis, or have you forgotten?" Zel replied softly.
Rezo was silent. "You sound like her. Come then, sit." The Red Priest sat up and moved, putting his back against the headboard of the bed. Zelgadis didn't move for a long moment, then finally came forward to crouch on the end of the bed. "Come closer, Zelgadis. You probably know I like to touch those I'm talking to."
"I know," Zelgadis said softly. "It's taken me almost six years to learn to trust again. I can't trust you though."
Rezo was silent, his fingers picking the fuzz off the top blanket. "Would it help if I apologized?" the Red Priest asked, wishing the darkness for him would be lifted.
"I don't know," Zelgadis replied softly.
"I am sorry for what I did. I hadn't....realized how much it would hurt you. You wanted strength, I needed someone who I could trust to get the Philosopher Stone." Rezo wanted to say that to Zelda, but Zelgadis was the same as Zelda, he simply spoke as if he had been the one to change Zelgadis. Perhaps it would help the boy. "After that, you wouldn't let me touch you. I didn't know what my meddling had done to you, I couldn't SEE it."
"You turned me into a monster."
"Isn't there more to a monster then just appearance, Zel?" Rezo fell back on the nickname.
Zelgadis was silent, "I....don't know," he said finally.
Rezo sighed. "Do I look like the monster I am? Does either Leo or Lina look like they're as powerful as they truly are?"
The Chimera was silent, "You have a point."
"Of course I do. It is what is inside that makes you a monster or not. If you believe you are a monster, then that proves that you are human. A monster wouldn't care how he looks."
Rezo was astonished to hear Zelgadis laugh softly, "Don't say that to Xelloss... He would be upset."
"Xelloss? Priest-General of Beast Master?" Rezo asked.
"The same. He tagged along with Lina for quite some time... probably feeding off my depression and her easy temper." Rezo felt the bed moving and moved his arm, letting Zelgadis settle next to him, the young man's head on the priest's shoulder.
"You've grown," Rezo murmured, laying his cheek against Zelgadis's head.
"Slowly..." Zelgadis agreed.
"I'll find a way." Rezo's words caused Zelgadis to stiffen, "I'll find a way to change you back. Both of you." Zel relaxed again, his eyes falling closed. "I wish... I could have been a better grandfather."
"You were fine until..."
"I was never there. Always off helping others." Rezo sighed softly, petting his fingers along Zelgadis's hair.
Zel grunted softly, "That's what I loved about you. You were always willing to give yourself to help others. I just wanted to come along. I just wanted adventures."
"Go to sleep Zel," Rezo commanded softly, "Tomorrow will be a long day."
"Yes...Grandfather," Zelgadis murmured, heaving a breath.
* * *
Zelgadis found himself standing in the glade he had always trained in, swinging his sword around in unpracticed moves, more like swinging an axe around then the sword he truly held. He heard the clang of Rezo's staff behind him and turned to look upon the Red Priest's face.
"You want to be strong?" asked the priest.
Zelgadis watched, realizing that the dream had changed, Rezo did not lift his staff and level it at the boy, instead, he waited silently, "I want to be with you, Grandfather," Zelgadis answered finally. "I want to help you, but I don't want to be a Chimera."
"Do you forgive me then?" Rezo asked, his eyes opening, blue irises looking down upon the boy, pleading for forgiveness.
Zelgadis bowed his head, "I trusted you..."
"Do you forgive me?" Zel lifted his face, stepping over the log that lay between them. "I'm sorry, Zelgadis," Rezo said softly, his staff falling to the ground as he let it go, holding his grandson/great grandson against his chest. "I'm so sorry."
"I forgive you."
* * *
Zelgadis woke with a jolt when someone jumped on the bed near him. "HI Zel!" Lina said. "What are you doing in Rezo's bed?"
He blinked a few times, looking around and finding the priest gone, himself laying diagonally on the bed with part of the blankets over him. It was morning. "I...." he started to say then caught Lina's smile.
"I understand," she said, "Breakfast is ready, Rezo sent me to get you." Lina slipped off the bed and out of the room. Zelgadis smiled slightly, running his hand through his hair and stretching. Sometimes Lina could be annoying, other times, she was one of the greatest friends he ever had.
Sliding off the bed, he made his way into the dining room. He wasn't that surprised to see Eris working hard at making enough pancakes to feed four human black holes as well as a few others. He simply grabbed two coffee cups and poured. Zelda came in moments later and blinked when Zelgadis handed her one of the cups of coffee.
"Thanks..." she said softly and went to sit somewhere. Zelgadis sat beside Rezo, sipping his black coffee and contemplating.
"I should put a bell on you," Rezo said softly, "That way I can tell which one of you it is." He smiled at Amelia, "Go on," he said.
Amelia continued talking at a somewhat rapid fire pace about how they defeated Kopii Rezo and Zanafar. "But you're a lot nicer!" she said happily. Zelgadis choked on his coffee. "Are you okay Mr. Zelgadis?" He continued to cough, though it sounded more like laughing at times. Zelda was sitting on the other side of the table, turned slightly to the side, and legs crossed. One elbow rested on the table, her forehead resting on her hand. Andrew was beside her, beaming in the usual Life Is Wonderful expression.
Rezo smiled, calmly eating his breakfast, though he was disturbed by the occurrences in other dimensions. He was inwardly glad he'd tested his spell on Zelda, it would certainly keep a lot of terrible things from happening here.
He pushed his plate aside and heard Gourry ask him, "Are you gonna eat that, Ribo?"
"His name is REZO, Gourry," Zelgadis growled but silenced himself when the Red Priest waved his hand.
"Go ahead." Rezo continued to sit in silence, listening to the Inverse-Gabriev feeding frenzy.
"Lord Rezo...?" Eris asked softly, "Are you feeling well? You look tired."
Rezo simply shook his head, "I just didn't sleep well last night." He was unaware of Zelgadis's blush. "I'll be fine." Once again, he was silent, contemplating. When he heard the satisfied belch of Leo Inverse and the happy sighs of the others, he spoke. "Lina, Zelgadis, I would like you two to help me today. The rest of you, find something to occupy yourselves with that doesn't involve blowing up the city..."
Zelgadis sighed, "You have Lina under supervision, Leo's another story..."
"What was that?!" Leo asked, jumping on top of the table, a fireball ready.
"You heard me. Your reaction proves my point." Zelgadis sipped his coffee calmly and Lina sniggered. "Sit down before you break the table and tick Eris off." Leo growled and muttered under his breath as he sat down. "Lina, I've been around you too long.. I know exactly what to say to piss you off."
Lina winked, "And I know exactly what to do to make you blush!" She was rewarded with a glare and blush. "Ouu, Zelgadis has a dirty mind!"
"LINA!!"