AN: I decided to play around with the Medieval Mayhem timeline a bit by making chapter 4's events happen before chapter 2. This is based on chapter 2 of the manga where Lina and Gourry are tasked to retrieve the Crystal Goddess from a thief named Black Fox. I made some tweaks to suit the storyline I'm going for too. The Slayers is not mine. Most of the dialogue and events here are from the manga and I just placed some behind-the-scenes thoughts. I'm just such an LXG fan and I just really have fun imagining what could have happened. Please read the manga! It's fun! :D
Lina landed on her butt on a pile of trash trying to catch the Crystal Goddess that Black Fox tossed. "MEOW!" She looked under her butt and realized that she also landed on a cat's tail. "Oh Sorry. Are you hurt little kitty?" She asked the cat, patting its head gently.
Black Fox observed this tender exchange. "Beautiful…" he said as he watched Lina.
"Huh?" Lina said, annoyed that he was still there.
"The Crystal Goddess' beauty…pales next to yours." He said to Lina.
Hmph, trying to distract me I see. Lina thought although she enjoyed the compliment. "I won't give it back to you no matter what you say!" She replied.
"Heh. If I could…I would steal your lips and heart."Black Fox proclaimed.
"Huh?" Now Lina was just confused. What is this weirdo saying?
*tak tak tak* Gourry finally caught up to them.
"WAIT A SEC!" Gourry shouted, standing in between Lina and Black Fox.
"As long as I'm here, no one's getting near Lina's lips!". He declared.
Lina's heart skipped a beat.
Black Fox then made his way to escape, revealing that what he tossed was a fake Crystal Goddess and that the real one was still with him. "Heh. Heh. Please wait for me with baited breath, Lina." He said as he departed.
"WAIT! STOP!" Lina tried to chase after him in but a heavy hand clamped her shoulder.
It was Gourry.
"Lina. I promise to protect you!" He said with a confident smile.
Lina blushed profusely. "Wha…WHAT A STUPID THING TO SAY!"
Lina then turned away from Gourry, trying to hide her embarrassment, and made her way back to the inn. Gourry just followed her.
Xxx
"Huh? Did I say that?" Gourry asked Lina as he was eating his food.
Lina was telling him about what he said the other day about promising to protect her from Black Fox.
"I must've been drunk." He was. "When I get drunk, I don't remember anything I say, even if I'm acting sober." He told Lina. He hoped she would buy his act.
The truth was, he remembered everything he said. He had too much to drink because he was trying to get distracting thoughts about Lina off his mind. That night when he wondered to himself what Lina meant to him, he realized that he knew the answer. Lina was not just a friend to him. She came to mean much more to him as time went by, going from one adventure to the next. He remembered what Leon said, and it clicked. Leon was right. Or at least, his impression was. He wanted Lina not just as a friend, but as what would people would call, a "girlfriend". His heart still beat faster at the thought. Knowing Lina though, he didn't want to scare her away. He treasured what relationship they had, and would never want to risk breaking that just because he cared for her as more than a friend. But when he heard what Black Fox said about stealing Lina's lips and heart, he wasn't able to control himself and said what he truly felt. Ugh I am stupid.
Lina was used to Gourry's forgetfulness so she didn't really take him seriously. Still, it felt good when Gourry said that yesterday. It felt like he saw her as a woman to defend, and not just some kid. Sometimes I wish he would just take me more seriously and see me as a woman too. She thought wistfully. Anyway, she had to say something.
"I don't care if you remember of you were drunk. A promise is a promise Gourry!" She finally said, not knowing what else to say. He should at least keep a promise!
"Stop squabbling and finish your dinner and go get the Crystal Goddess back!" Their employer shouted, interrupting them.
"Tea time!" A servant announced, bringing in some tea. Lina took the cup, but smelled something fishy. She quickly threw the cup at the servant. "That's a clever disguise Black Fox!" She said. Suddenly their employer collapsed.
"You tried to slip me a mickey?!" Lina accused.
"Oops, you found me out. I was planning to kiss you while feigning artificial resuscitation." Black Fox smiled. "Well, I'll be back." He said and proceeded to escape.
Lina and Gourry gave chase.
There was a crowd and Gourry was separated from Lina. "Go get him Gourry!" She shouted at Gourry who was way ahead of her.
Lina losing Black Fox and Gourry, decided to stop by a food stand to eat some more since their meal was interrupted.
"Lina." It was Gourry.
"Sorry, but Black Fox got away." He said. "I'm sorry. I made a promise and…next time Black Fox shows up…I'll fight him to the finish!" Gourry said with passion.
"Well..of course you will." Lina dismissed this and walked away. Gourry followed her like a dog would follow its master. "Quit following me!" Lina said irritated.
"Why? How do I know when Black Fox'll show up? Gourry asked.
"I gotta go to the bathroom.." Lina said and made her way to go.
Gourry held her shoulder. "I'm following you to the bathroom, to the tub, wherever." He said.
What's he saying now? Don't tell me he's drunk again? Lina wondered.
"You won't be exposed to anymore danger as long as I'm around."
"Oh..Gourry…" Lina said, now touched at Gourry's sudden caring attitude. Then Gourry pulled her into a hug.
"I'll protect you! Just you wait and see!" He said as he held her close.
It was too much all of a sudden. Lina couldn't take it. It was too embarrassing! And out in the public too! "BUR..BURST RONDO! DARE BRANDO! MEGA BRANDO!" She fired at Gourry.
After the explosion settled, Gourry was right beside Lina. "Huh? What's going on? Is that me?" He looked at the roasted figure on the ground. It turned out, it was Black Fox in disguise as Gourry.
"How'd you know it was a disguise?" Gourry asked Lina as he was examining Black Fox's handiwork. "Look it looks just like me." He said holding the mask.
"Ehehe. I sent him flying 'cause he grabbed me out of the blue." Lina said covering up her mistake.
Xxx
In the end they bandaged Black Fox and didn't turn him in. The villagers told them that he only robbed from rich people with bad reputations. Also, if they handed him to the law, the villagers would get mad and get their hides.
With Black Fox all bandaged up and feeling better, he said his goodbyes. "You've beaten me. I guess even a beautiful rose has its thorns." He said to Lina. Then He looked to Gourry. "Well, I guess you can have her lips back too." He said to him.
Gourry felt his ears heat up at those words. I wish. He found himself thinking.
Black Fox made his way. "Later…My beloved Lina!"
And then he was gone.
TBC