Note: I don't really have an opinion on animal testing -- I think it's probably better NOT to do it, but if it can possibly be done in a humane way, I don't suppose I should be distressed by it. I don't know much about it myself, though, and won't form an opinion based on a lack of information.
Filia is naturally a high-tempered woman, and being a dragon, she is affiliated with animals, and hates Xelloss for what he did to her people. Xelloss is without morals and is an important person -- and though I could see him in a Lady M. Harris's Darien Shields sort of devastating lady-killer rich unemotional bachelor way, that's not quite Xelloss's personality. He has no morals and is not afraid of getting his hands dirty in business matters, but since he is human in this story (taking away that pure evil quality that being a Mazoku created in him), he has the ability to love, and I decided that when he does love, he is very affectionate and loyal. This is what draws him to Filia -- because she will not love him back unless it is honestly, and when she does, he knows that she will be as loyal as he might wish. However, I can't see a purely emotional relationship bringing them together -- Xelloss is far too unethical and Filia far too physical when she's angry. And the basic personality clash that is going to inevitably happen needs to be undermined by something else. Which is a physical relationship that once Filia gets into, she's not able to get emotionally out of as easily as Xelloss might. That is, sweet and sappy won't work for these two. They need to be doing something physical -- fighting or. . . .*cough*
That's the general idea here. ^_^ And thank you for the reviews. They're VERY much appreciated. I love them. And if you didn't review, please do, even if it's just anonymous. I really really like reviews!

Part 4: Reparations


He didn't call -- not for four whole, agonizing days. Filia went from hopeful to devastated and back several times in only one day. She made excuse after excuse for him, trying to reassure herself -- but she couldn't help remembering the way he wouldn't look at her and his tone in the car.
Their relationship was dead because she'd made a mistake.
More than one mistake, an impish little voice in her head tiraded. After she'd made such an awful display like that, no *wonder* he didn't call! She was probably too much maintenance -- when she wasn't going against every single last *one* of her moral values in his arms, she was yelling at him! Men didn't like easy conquests and they didn't like tempestuous bitches and she was *both*!
Filia buried her face in her pillow and sobbed, hating herself.
Silviel had come over after her shift at the hospital the next day and found Filia crying. So she settled onto her friend's bed and put an arm around her, her heart hurting. How could a man do this to such a wonderful girl?
Filia told her everything, glossing a bit over the more intimate matters, and lay the whole sordid relationship on Silviel's lap. The dark-haired girl was kind and tactful about it all, keeping any reproachful remarks to herself, and agreed to go out and pick up some birth control pills for her friend. She was worried though -- if Mr. Metallium really *was* just using Filia, she hoped that he was quite done with his selfish game.
The hospital was very busy for the next few days, and so she was delivering the birth control to Filia when Mr. Metallium called.
"Xelloss," Filia whispered when she heard the voice on the phone. She motioned for Silviel to stay and went into her bedroom to talk. She sat on the edge of her bed and stared blankly at the dresser. "How . . . um . . . why did you call?"
He was silent briefly, and his voice gave her no clues toward his feelings. "I want you to come to dinner next Thursday, at my house. The man in charge of animal testing at my company will be there -- if you come up with a plan that won't cost us major losses, and can convince *him*, I'll implement it. Be there at seven."
And the line was dead.
Filia walked back to Silviel, cradling the phone to her chest and looking stunned. Her eyes were wide and red and her white and blue pajama top, over her jeans, was rumpled. "We need to . . . um . . . work." And told her what he'd said.

For a week, Silviel spent all her spare time helping Filia come up with a proposition. They asked Eris for help, but didn't tell her the truth as to why -- Filia didn't want her eccentric kind of help again.

They agonized over the matter for days -- but even as it progressed and took shape, Filia wasn't happy. There was too much money lost in the matter -- what if he didn't accept it? Her wits were riding on the whim of a fickle man.
How was she ever going to convince him?

A butler met Filia at the door and she was ushered into a room she hadn't seen before -- a dark mahogany dining room with dim lights and a long, shining table. Two place settings were on it, and she was shown into one of the chairs. Across from her was a tall man with dark violet hair and a lab coat, and something strange about his face. Trying not to seem rude by staring, she arranged her papers by her plate and straightened her skirt -- she was wearing a no-nonsense blue business suit and had her hair pulled back efficiently -- and then glanced up at him.

Yes, something definitely funny about his face. Something around the eyes. . . .
"I'm blind," he said simply, and Filia started. How did he --? "Don't worry about it. Shall we get to business?"
"Oh, yes," Filia replied, still dazed. She opened her folder and reached for some notes.
And then, as her research was laid bare, she gained confidence and spoke with authority on what she had found. And the man in front of her listened, silently.
Behind a dark mirror in a corner of the room, a man sipped wine and watched them. A woman stepped in and addressed him.
"Dinner's about ready. When would you like it?"
"Put it in the oven and I'll get it when we're ready."
He turned and looked at the woman -- her hair was greying and her face was kind. She was very good about not asking uncomfortable questions.
His voice softened. "You look tired, Gladys. Go on home -- I'll take care of things here. And tell Rezo's driver to bring his car around -- he'll be leaving soon."
"And Miss Copt?"
His voice was too casual. "I'll take her home. Later."
The cook gave him a compassionate look. "She's a nice girl, sir."
He smiled winsomely, looking at the blonde woman in the next room again. "Good night, Gladys."
"Good night, sir."
When she was gone, he entered the dining room silently, toying with his wine glass, and stood in the shadows while Filia continued her case. After a few more minutes, he got tired of their conversation and sat down at one of the chairs in the light. Filia gave him a glance but continued on, and if her voice quavered a bit more than it had, neither man commented.
Rezo was frowning as he asked about certain issues in her research, and though he could probably tell by the tone of her voice that she was distracted, Xelloss could see it in the way her eyes would keep flickering toward him.
He stood and drew the attention of both of them. "Thank you Miss Copt. I'm sure Rezo will think very seriously about your proposal. Rezo, your car is out front. Take her research and I'll expect to see the report on my desk by Monday."
Filia stood as Rezo left and dusted her skirt off, uncertain. "Thank you for giving me this chance," she started, fiddling nervously with the hem of her jacket as Xelloss shut the dining room's door after Rezo.
"Blind men have remarkably good ears," he told her in a soft, conspiratorial voice. He got close to her, eyes lazily trailing over her blue suit and making her knees tremble. She gave a small whimper as he drug her to him and pressed his mouth against hers, his arms convulsively tightening around her waist as her arms slipped around his neck.
She was dazed when he moved to her throat, still keeping her as snug against him as possible while he kissed her.
"Xelloss," she whispered, voice hoarse. She half pushed him away, half clung to him. "Xelloss." Her mind snapped to their problems and she managed to push him away completely. "This isn't right--" she moaned a little as his hands continued over her curves, her head falling back and eyes closing, "honey, stop. . . . Please."
His hands left her reluctantly, and his lids were heavy as he stroked her cheek. "What's wrong?"
It took Filia a moment to get her bearings. She swallowed and removed herself from him completely. "The last time I saw you . . . and . . . you didn't call." She looked away from him, aware of how prudent and unsexy her hair looked in its severe French braid. "I'm sorry about . . . I'm . . . I had Silviel get me some pills . . ."
He was looking down at her averted face, and his eyes were tender. He reached for her and pulled her to him, holding her gently and smiling kindly into her eyes. "Stay the night with me," he requested.
She blinked and gasped and looked lost, her heart speeding up. "But . . . you . . . I . . ." she looked away, trying to calm her breathing, and something occurred to her. "What the . . . WHY?!" She shoved him away, glaring. "After we had that fight and you dropped me off like that and I WAITED for you to call and now you want to just jump into bed again?! I'm not your dime-a-minute slut, Xelloss! I appreciate what you've done tonight about the animals, giving me this chance, but if the only reason you're doing this is so that we can have . . ." she stumbled over her words and her eyes faltered, "relations . . . again. . . ."
"Sex," he corrected sedately.
"What?" She was confused.
"We had sex," he said again, harshly, and put his hands on the table on either side of her hips. "And I, personally, would like to do it again. You said you were on birth control now, right?"
"Xelloss," she stammered, looking for a way to escape him. "You're not being rational," she whispered.
"I'm being perfectly rational. If you come into my house looking like that and smelling the way you do," he began, eyes closing with the scent of her. "What can I do but expect--"
"Looking like WHAT?! This is the most sensible outfit I own, Xelloss! And I don't have *any* perfume on, and I'm hot and tired and I want to go home!" She was almost in tears now, and kept wishing something would make him go away -- or at least explain this whole mess to her. She was dreadfully confused.
But instead of a revelation, the doorbell rang. Xelloss sighed, opened his eyes, and growled, "Whoever it is, dies."
It was Silviel.
He was unbearably cold. "Yes?" His expression was as unwelcoming as the eyebrow he lifted.
"I'm here to pick up Filia," she whispered, and Filia had never been prouder of her friend. Silviel was slim and delicate in the face of a cold, intimidating man, but she didn't waver a moment in her purpose. When he tried to send her away, she only restated her intentions even more firmly.
"I'm here, Silviel," Filia stepped around Xelloss and smiled soothingly. Silviel looked pleased and reached for her friend, but Xelloss stopped them with a hand. His words were only for Filia, and he looked carefully into her eyes.
"Filia. Stay the night," he asked again.
"Um . . ." she stammered, thinking about it.
"We have to go home, Filia," Silviel said, her gaze firm and her hand unyielding on Filia's arm. Now that she had hold of her friend, she wasn't going to let go.
Filia's gaze slipped away from Xelloss. "Okay." And they left.

Filia was on set after a long day, putting feed bags on the horses, when hands circled her waist and a chin rested on her shoulder.

"Xelloss," she blinked at him, uncomfortable. Why was he here? She didn't want to have to kick him out. . . .
"Shhh," he replied, his eyes closed, and started to sway with her, pulling her more firmly into his embrace. After a moment he started laying soft kisses on her throat.
She finally roused her energy to pull away and faced him, though he still held her hands. "Xelloss, what is this about? What are you doing here?"
"I figured out," he said, "what was upsetting you." He played with her hands and pulled her closer. She was breathless with the proximity of him. He looked good. "Filia," he said sincerely, "I wasn't mad at you the other day, about the birth control. I was just scared, honey. I," he took a breath and glanced at a horse, "don't *want* to get you pregnant. At least," he took her face tenderly between his hands, "not until the time is right."
She frowned and pulled away. "What do you mean by *that*?"
He sighed explosively and looked at the ceiling. "You are so *frustrating*!" She backed away a little, startled at this quick change of attitiude, but he grabbed her shoulders and held her at arms length, forcing her to look at him. "Why do you have to assume everything I say or imply is something bad?! Why can't you just accept the fact that I *might* want to have children with you eventually and realize it for the expression of commitment that it is?!"
She blinked at him, unhappy that he was yelling at her, and fought back tears. "Well why didn't you just say that?" she sniffled.
He gave a low laugh and kissed her softly. "You never gave me the chance. You're always running away." He kissed her again and she allowed herself to enjoy it.
But he had to ruin it.
"I want you to move in with me," he said, holding her gently afterward.
"What?" Filia looked up at him.
"I've already lined up the movers. They'll be at your apartment by five," he rattled on a little bit before Filia stopped him, too stunned to be furious.
"Wait a minute. You sent movers to my house without even consulting me?"
He blinked. "I thought you'd be pleased."
"You don't know anything about me, do you?" she whispered, heart prickling with suppressed anger, frustration, and sharp traces of disappointment. She left him, angry and sad.

Iryl: There! For Random Minion, she had a spine. . . . . Kind of. *scratches head* Okay, so it was more Silviel, but Filia will do something for herself eventually. I promise.

I enjoy the reviews, and especially the opinions on the characters, good, bad, or in any way TYPED. As long as they're reviews, I'm the happiest kitty in the litter bo-- umm . . . tuna tin. Yeah.