Talk to Me
by Kye
Part 3: Xel Speaks His Mind
That night found her standing (fully clothed) at the edge of the bath. This evening was not as chilling as the one previous. In fact, a warmth had settled into the town, nestled comfortably between too hot and too cold.
She raised her eyes, searching out the figure that was Xelloss.
"Xel?" she called quietly. "Xelloss, are you here?" No answer was forthcoming. Lina felt an unexplicable tug at her heart. Disappointment? She didn't really mind the idea. She sat, wrapping her arms around her knees.
"Please be here," she whispered. And instantly, yet all along, he was, sitting quietly at her side. Not too close-- he wasn't trying to be obnoxious or frightening. Quite the contrary; he looked nervous, awaiting his judgment.
/But it can't matter that much.../ some petty doubt whispered in her ear. /Yes it can/ she replied forcefully. /I wouldn't be here otherwise/
"Why did you say what you said, last night?"
"I thought I told you already, Lina-chan."
"Please, don't do that," she implored him, looking straight into his face. He sighed.
"Why do you think-? I'm sorry. You just said not to do that. But I-" he bit his lip. "I love you."[1]
She'd been so afraid he would say that.
"Xel..." She looked back at him. He was hiding in the shadows, afraid and certain of what she would say. It was impossible, she knew. Them, that was. A mazoku and an evil-slayer? It would be over before it began. How could she even think such a thing?
"Idiot," she muttered to herself. Then she realized what she'd said. "No, Xel, I didn't mean y--" She fought to explain.
"Don't worry about it," he interjected softly. "It' s not your fault. And you're right."
"But I wasn't-" she broke off. There wasn't any point in talking to someone who wasn't there.
by Kye
Part 3: Xel Speaks His Mind
That night found her standing (fully clothed) at the edge of the bath. This evening was not as chilling as the one previous. In fact, a warmth had settled into the town, nestled comfortably between too hot and too cold.
She raised her eyes, searching out the figure that was Xelloss.
"Xel?" she called quietly. "Xelloss, are you here?" No answer was forthcoming. Lina felt an unexplicable tug at her heart. Disappointment? She didn't really mind the idea. She sat, wrapping her arms around her knees.
"Please be here," she whispered. And instantly, yet all along, he was, sitting quietly at her side. Not too close-- he wasn't trying to be obnoxious or frightening. Quite the contrary; he looked nervous, awaiting his judgment.
/But it can't matter that much.../ some petty doubt whispered in her ear. /Yes it can/ she replied forcefully. /I wouldn't be here otherwise/
"Why did you say what you said, last night?"
"I thought I told you already, Lina-chan."
"Please, don't do that," she implored him, looking straight into his face. He sighed.
"Why do you think-? I'm sorry. You just said not to do that. But I-" he bit his lip. "I love you."[1]
She'd been so afraid he would say that.
"Xel..." She looked back at him. He was hiding in the shadows, afraid and certain of what she would say. It was impossible, she knew. Them, that was. A mazoku and an evil-slayer? It would be over before it began. How could she even think such a thing?
"Idiot," she muttered to herself. Then she realized what she'd said. "No, Xel, I didn't mean y--" She fought to explain.
"Don't worry about it," he interjected softly. "It' s not your fault. And you're right."
"But I wasn't-" she broke off. There wasn't any point in talking to someone who wasn't there.