Technicolor Dreams

Chapter: 2

Reflections of a Guilty Mind

Next up in my lovely little dark fic...hope everyone enjoys.

Zel arrived at his apartment and walked inside. He was greeted by his roommate sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn while watching the television. The blonde haired, blue eyed, young man looked up and said, "Hi, Zel. You should come watch this it's pretty good. That Lina girl is a pretty good actress even if she is flat," to greet his roommate and friend.

Zel felt amused but groaned mentally at the same time. 'If he only knew the truth...the horrible truth I keep a secret,' Zel thought as he continued walking and replied, "I'd rather not Gourry...I'm tired and I'm going to sleep."

"Okay Zel. I'll talk to you later," Gourry replied as he went back to the show he was enthralled with.

Zel shot up from his sleep in a cold sweat. He glanced around and then brought his hands up to hold his head. 'Every time I see her....every time it's the same nightmare. Why do I have to know...why couldn't I be ignorant like everyone else,' Zelgadis thought as he still reeled from the nightmare. He soon got a hold of his mind and looked for his clothes. He found them and dressed as he walked out into the living room. Gourry was asleep on the couch like he was most of the time. Zel didn't want to bother him so he slowly walked out the apartment and headed down stairs saying to himself, "I need a drink."

Zel walked for a while until he reached the bar and walked inside. He took a seat at the bar and waited for the bartender to notice him. Said man soon noticed his new customer and said, "What will ya' be having tonight sir."

Zel didn't look up and just replied, "Scotch on the rocks."

Once Zel got his drink he took the glass down in one go. He then pushed his glass away which signaled the bartender to fill it again. After receiving his next drink Zelgadis just looked into the glass as he swirled the drink with his finger. He stared into the swirling drink before he felt something rub against him and looked to his right. There she was the same woman that he knew as Vera leaning on his shoulder. Her eyes seemed unfocused and Zel could smell the strong aroma of alcohol in her breath. She then looked up at him and rather cheerfully asked, "Hey Zel, what are you doing here?"

Zel sighed at the somewhat inebriated woman and answered, "I just couldn't sleep and needed to get out."

Vera frowned and asked, "Aww...is there anything I can do for Zelly," as she slowly ran her hand down his thigh.

Zel closed his eyes for a second as he felt Vera's small hand against his leg. He then laid his own hand on top of hers and said, "You shouldn't waste your time with me Vera...there are much better choices out there," as he finished his drink and got up to leave.

"Zelgadis wait," Vera yelled as she half ran, half stumbled out the door after Zelgadis.

Zel kept walking wanting to be alone and away from all that knew him. He ignored Vera's shouts to wait up and tried to lose her by ducking into the back alleys he knew so well. So it was much to his surprise when he was tackled by a flying mass of black hair. After regaining his breath he stood up and looked down as Vera rubbed her head. She looked up at him and said, "Maybe that wasn't the best idea," as she giggled and stood in front of him.

Zel tried to back away but found she had tackled him into a wall. He stopped as his back touched the wall and watched as Vera came closer. Vera looked at Zelgadis as she said, "I know something is bothering you. Let me help you," as she leaned into Zelgadis and laid her head on his shoulder.

Zel stood still as Vera leaned on him. He didn't want to move quickly since Vera was somewhat drunk and he could hurt her if he wasn't careful. Though he didn't return Vera's feelings he still didn't want to hurt her either. He stood still and tried to remain calm as Vera's warm breath tickled the back of his neck.

Zel soon felt Vera's hands come up and lowered the hood of his shirt to expose his metallic hair and stony neck. She smiled and whispered, "Just let me make you happy Zelgadis," as she lightly, but slowly kissed his neck.

Zel closed his eyes for a moment as he got himself under control and grabbed a hold of Vera's arms and pushed her away slightly. He looked at her and said, "Vera...I'm sorry but this isn't going to work. I hope you can find someone else...and I'm sorry that I can't feel the same about you," as he walked away into the night leaving Vera to stare at his back as he disappeared.

'Lina,' that was the main thought on his mind as he continued to walk back towards his apartment. He couldn't shake the guilt he felt for the things he did to Lina's mind, but there was nothing he could do to stop the manipulation of he mind either. Law enforcement was so corrupt that the Kenjo executives kept them in their back pocket with a simple bribe every month. There was nothing inside the law that he could do, and if he did anything outside the law there would be no coming back. There was only one sanctuary after he broke the law to run to for his safety. 'I don't want to be labeled as an undergrounder either...the only thing for sure with that label is the promise of a slow death,' Zel thought as he rounded another bend. Yes the underground would be his only chance to help Lina. The underground was a group of political radicals and criminals that tried to go against Kenjo Corp. "I don't want to become one of those and just die in some sewer while hiding like a rat," Zel commented to himself as he walked up the stairs to his apartment.

'I've been over this before...I can't free her from this but I can make her happy,' Zel thought as he slowly unlocked the door. 'I will make sure that all her dreams from me are the most wonderful dreams she could ever have,' Zel continued as he sneaked through the living room. He walked into his room and quietly shut his door as he whispered his silent oath again, "Lina, I will make sure that you are always happy while I'm alive."

After reaffirming his oath he laid down and went to sleep with a small amount of his guilt washed away.

Zelgadis arrived at work and walked into the production room right as Vera was walking out. He stepped out of the way as she went by, but didn't expect her hand to run across his chest quickly as she passed. Zel watched her as she continued down the hall with a subdued look about her. He sighed and thought, 'I had to let her down...there was no other way around it,' as he walked into the compartment. He grabbed the helmet and set it on his head. "Lina Program Activate: Composer Zelgadis Greywords."

Zelgadis went into a trance again as he began where he left off.

Lina leaned against one of the columns outside the school library as she waited for Zelgadis. She had given her friends the excuse that she had some things she had to do and gotten away from them. 'I would never hear the end of it if they knew the true reason...but do I really care,' Lina thought as she looked up at the sky. "Heh, just think of all the hell I'd catch for this," Lina said out loud while she waited.

"Catch hell for what," came the familiar tenor voice as an arm wrapped around her shoulder and turned her towards Zelgadis.

Lina stopped and looked up at Zelgadis as he smiled down at her. She then smiled and quickly kissed him without warning. The kiss was sweet and innocent and soon broke up. Lina looked at Zel with his shocked expression and said, "That's for leaving me hanging in the shed earlier today."

Zel recovered from his shock and smirked as he asked, "What happened to taking it slow," as he ran a hand through her red hair.

Lina laughed and then replied, "I was thinking that until you went and kissed me before you left the shack earlier today."

Zel smiled and rested his forehead on Lina's and asked lowly, "Well then what do you want to do now that you've changed your mind?"

Lina wrapped her arms around his neck and replied, "How about a movie...if your up for it."

"Sure, why not," Zel replied as he straightened himself and held Lina's hand in his as they walked out of the school yard and towards downtown.

Zelgadis found himself slowly counting the money in his wallet to make sure he could pay for the astounding amount of food Lina was wolfing down at the pizza place they went to after the movie. After affirming he could pay he looked at Lina and commented, "You must play in school sports."

Lina swallowed a bite and replied, "Yeah I do. Why do you ask?"

Zel shrugged and said, "Just from guessing that if you eat this much usually you have be pretty active to not gain weight."

Lina looked at him and asked, "Do you not like that I eat this much?"

Zel waved his hand nonchalantly as he replied, "No, no it's just normally girls with your figure constantly almost die when they eat a chip. I mean there's nothing wrong with them and there's nothing wrong with having some weight on them, but they constantly think that they are morbidly obese because they ate a potato chip."

Lina shrugged and said, "I never really had to worry about that. My metabolism is very high to begin with and I play a lot of sports so I never gain weight," as she smiled and went back to her food.

Zel thought for a second and then asked, "What sport are you playing now?"

Lina stopped again and said, "I'm on the soccer team right now. Speaking of which we have a game tomorrow...could you make it and maybe...maybe cheer me on?"

Zel moved right next to Lina, as her face light up with that cute little blush, and whispered, "I'll always be there for you," before kissing her softly on the lips.

Lina returned his kiss passionately as she lightly nibbled on Zel bottom lip. After a moment the broke apart and Zel said, "Well I need to go pay for the food...be back in a second," as he got up to pay.

They stood in front of Lina's house looking at each other for a moment. "I'll see you tomorrow after the game then," Zel said as he embraced Lina.

She sighed and said, "I'll see you there," as she pulled away and walked up to her door to turn around and say, "Bye and goodnight."

"Goodnight," Zel returned as Lina went inside.

Zel came out of his trance and took off the helmet. He then stood and walked out of the compartment to see Lina with a smile on her face. He walked over to her and brushed her hair away from her closed eyes. He then smiled and said lowly, "I will make you happy."

He then turned and walked away. As Zel was walking out the door he missed the low sigh and the, "Zel...," that Lina let escape her lips as her mind still wandered in the dream.

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

Feedback is requested, please send all comments to findelhe@hotmail.com