AN: So I decided to continue this storyline a bit, hehe. This is based on another chapter from Slayers Medieval Mayhem where Lina and Gourry encounter a man-collecting spoiled aristocrat named Isabella. She wanted to get Gourry to be her bodyguard (along with her hoard of male servants) in exchange for a life of comfort. Our dear jellyfish turned her down of course, but Isabella gets what she wants and goes on to take Gourry away out of his will. This and this is my take on some of the things were said and done in the chapter. Some dialogue is borrowed from it. Again, please read the manga. I don't own Slayers, just love imagining more of what could have happened.
After the encounter with Isabella and her pretty-boy servants, Lina and Gourry followed the auntie who told them about a good place to eat.
"But Gourry, why did you turn down that juicy offer?" Lina asked as they were waiting for their food to arrive. "I mean, even if she's not your type, you could've lived in luxury."
Gourry picked up his glass of water, "The fact is, I can't leave you on your own. It's too dangerous." He told Lina in a matter-of-act way.
Frustrated with how Gourry seemed to be seeing her as a troublemaker, she jokingly replied to tease Gourry. "What does that mean? Are you planning take care of me the rest of my life?" she said in a faux coquettish manner.
"You got it." Gourry said as he drank from his cup, gulping down his water without a care in the world while Lina's face turned as red as a tomato.
"What's wrong?" Gourry asked.
"Nothing. I'm fine. I'm just fine." Lina said, fanning herself fervently with a fan that came out of nowhere. Stupid Gourry, he just said that without thinking. I can't take him seriously. Lina thought to herself.
The meal was delicious, but the auntie put some bluree nuts (they make you sleep) in their meal, and when Lina woke up, Gourry was gone. She knew that it must have been Isabella's work and the auntie was just forced to cooperate.
"I'm off to rescue Gourry!" Lina announced.
"Wait a second. Aren't you afraid of the beast?" Auntie asked, as it was rumored that Isabella kept a beast.
"What happens, happens." Lina said as she proceeded to make her way to the door.
"You must really love him." Auntie remarked.
"THAT'S NOT IT!" Lina said feeling a telling blush creep up. Damn why did she blush so much?
"If you say so." Said the auntie giggling at Lina's blush.
"I don't love him. I don't." Lina told her.
What was that?! Damn it. I don't love him…right? Lina thought as she was trying to slow down her thumping heart and get back to normal body temperature. She fanned herself again. Better not think about that now!
She went to Isabella's tower and found Gourry. Isabella was controlling Gourry under a spell since he refused to cooperate when he was captured. She made him attack Lina, and Lina being Lina, just blasted Gourry away. "Dam Blast! Mono Volt! Bomb Split!"
"You're… a devil.." Isabella said, shocked.
"Not, just not ready to die. Don't worry, Gourry's not gonna die that easily." Lina said in reply.
With this Isabella called forth her beast to attack Lina instead, but Lina came prepared with a picnic basket with bluree nut food and threw it at the beast to eat and the beast fell right asleep. With that, Lina was able to subdue Isabella and make her pay (literally) and get Gourry back.
Back at the inn, and away from the clutches of Isabella, Lina and Gourry took their time to rest and relax. Gourry was indeed alright (for the most part) after Lina blasted him, but since he still got injured because of Lina, Lina decided that they could take their time to rest. Besides, she also wanted to deal with some unwelcome thoughts and feelings that kept assaulting her ever since Gourry carelessly said that he would take care of her for the rest of her life. There was also that comment from the bluree nut auntie.
Damn Jellyfish, saying that so off-handedly. Does he even know what he's implying? And do we really look like a couple?! Then she remembered how Leon also teased them just a few days ago. Her heart beat faster again.
Meanwhile, while Gourry was resting in his room, he reflected on what happened. He was slightly hurt that Lina blasted him away even if there was that implied confidence in his strength and ability to withstand the attack. After all, he was conscious despite being under Isabella's spell and heard everything Lina and Isabella talked about. He even heard Lina say that Isabella could keep him as long as she gave Lina Gourry's sword. Part of him knew Lina didn't really mean it, but still, it hurt. He knew that his connection with Lina was strong. They had this unspoken understanding between them that he really couldn't describe besides the fact that he knew that as partners, they always had each other's back and that was mutual despite what they said about each other. He had a feel for those kinds of things. But, it still hurt him to think that Lina might not really need him, or want him by her side. He had somehow grown to care about the girl, not just as a protector, but as…as what? He wondered at himself.