Hello, and welcome to chapter two! I'm pleased that you're still reading at this point:)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Tales of Symphonia.
"So, what will it be, darling? Making love under the stars or a candlelight dinner?" teased Zelos as the two of them walked along the streets of Meltokio.
"Neither," replied Raine through gritted teeth. Of all the people to ever be on that show, why did they have to pick us? "I have no intention of going out anywhere with you." She was still holding his hand, despite the fact that nobody was watching the two of them anymore.
Zelos took note of this. "Really? Then why are you still holding my hand?" Raine immediately unlatched her fingers and walked with her hands at her sides. "Oh, I see," said Zelos, smirking, "If that's how you want to act, I can play that way too." He turned his head away with a hmph. "I don't want to go out with you anyway," he said in a mock snooty voice.
"Fine, it's settled then, let's not," replied Raine.
"Tch, you're no fun," said Zelos. "Haven't you ever heard of that... reversey... thingy?"
"You mean reverse psychology?" said Raine, rolling her eyes. "Of course I have. Idiot."
"You dare call me, the great Zelos Wilder, Chosen of Tethe'alla, an idiot?" He grinned and flexed his arm muscles. "I may just have to beat you up for that, young lady."
"I'll take my chances of calling you an idiot," sniffed Raine, "besides... That's no way to be talking to your date."
Zelos' jaw dropped. "What! You're actually gonna do it!"
"I have no choice, remember?" she replied dryly, putting her hands on her hips. "Now, before we go anywhere, I need to head back home first to frost that cake I've been baking." Zelos cringed at this thought -- he knew how bad her cooking was -- and silently prayed to Martel in his thoughts that he wouldn't have to try it. She ignored him. "We need to take the Rheiards if we want to make it there before dark. You brought your wingpack, right?"
"Um, no."
Raine clenched her fists and bit her lip, then heaved a defeated sigh. "Alright. You'll just have to ride on the back of mine, then." She released the Rheiard from the Wingpack, and hoisted herself on. Zelos followed suit and sat behind her, lightly holding on to her waist. "Don't touch me, Zelos," she warned coldly.
"Relax, I'm just holding on so I won't fall off," Zelos replied, "Jeez. I'm not a complete pervert, you know?" He almost sounded hurt by her reaction.
"Then would you please prove it tonight? For both of our sakes?" responded Raine tiredly. She accelerated the Rheiard, and it thrusted into the air, the flurry of wind blowing red and silver hair carelessly through the breeze.
"You've got it, professor," he replied, grinning.
"...Thank you, Zelos," said Raine, trying to keep her focus on where she was going. To be honest, she almost liked the feeling of Zelos' soft grasp. She couldn't remember the last time she was in someone's arms, even in a subtle, unintended way such as this. Her mother and father were never there to let her know what it was like to be held; and she and Genis just didn't have a touchy-feely kind of relationship either. ((A/N: I am not referring to incest. Thank you. )) His hands slowly slid lower, and lower, and lower...
"Zelos!" she snapped angrily.
"Sorry, won't happen again," he said quickly, placing his hands up higher.
Finally, they arrived back in Iselia. They coasted and came to a halt at the Sages' house. Genis, Lloyd, and Colette bolted toward the door and stepped outside. "So, did you get hooked up?" Genis inquired, as he looked at Raine. But, seeing that nobody was there except for Zelos, he sighed. "I guess not, huh?"
Lloyd looked at the crimson haired man. "Hey, Zelos. What brings you here?" he asked, not quite making the connection.
Raine opened her mouth to say 'nothing,' but Zelos managed to speak first. "Why, I've been set up on a date with Professor Sage," he replied smugly.
"What? No way!" exclaimed Colette, her eyes widening. "I had no idea you signed up too, Zelos!"
"Why wouldn't I?" asked Zelos, bewildered, "for anything that hooks me up with hotties, you can count me in!" He grinned. Raine scowled at this comment, but stopped after his next comment: "but this time, I got an even better deal; both brains and beauty! What luck, huh?" Raine wasn't sure whether or not to take this as a compliment.
After frosting the cake, which was composed mostly of garlic and was extremely burnt on the bottom, she headed back outside to find Zelos, leaning against the side of the house. "So, are you ready to go?" he asked idly. "Lloyd's letting me borrow his rheiard for tonight, so you won't have to put up with me touching you again."
"No, that's alright, you can give it back to him," replied Raine, getting up on her rheiard, "he might need it for something. I won't mind just this once. Now hurry up and get on."
"Yes, ma'am," replied Zelos, giving a playful salute and climbing up behind her again. Once again they thrust up into the sky. A brilliant sunset blazed across the horizon as the two of them flew into the distance.
And that's it for chapter 2. I'm going to extend this into a third chapter because I'm tired of writing right now. See you all at Chapter 3!
Once again, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions (or even insults) please leave a review and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Sayonara!