3 Months earlier…
"Dumb Namagomi!" Filia huffed, washing her teacups. For the past month, Xellos had come to bother her everyday just in time to stay for tea. Today was the first exception. She'd been ready for him, she would have yelled at him, called him names, and then poured them some tea into the two place settings she'd already prepared. But he didn't show.
She'd waited until the once boiling tea was too cold to drink before accepting that he just wasn't coming today. It felt as though she'd been slapped- or rejected.
The next day, she prepared everything again, only to be once again disappointed.
By the third day, she was worried. What if he was away on a really bad mission? What if he never came back? What if he didn't want to come back? She has this nagging feeling sticking with her throughout the rest of the day.
And then Filia knew. Oh L-sama! She cared about him! This suddenly so obvious conclusion shocked her so much her lax fingers dropped the sadly valuable vase she'd been holding. What was she going to do now?
And then the next day he was back. She hadn't even bothered setting a place for him today, but was still disappointed when he didn't immediately appear. But then again…
"What a selfish dragon you are, Fi-chan! You didn't even place a cup for me." She just stared up at him, as he wagged his finger at her in mock-hurt, before leaning in conspiratorial. "Lucky for me, I brought my own."
Drawing a black cup from Gods- knows- where, he helped himself to her tea. He was taking a long drink, inhaling the blissful aroma, when she regained her wits and slammed her teacup on the table so hard it's a wonder the teacup didn't break—or the table, for that matter—and he looked at her surprise.
"Where have you been!?" She demanded. He blinked at her, twice, before his trickster grin plastered itself on his face.
"Around." Her eyebrow twitched. She could feel him oozing amusement, but his face proved he was confused that she would even ask.
"You can't just not show up, Xellos!" Filia hadn't really meant to say it, but at least now she knew she had shocked him.
"What's wrong, Fi? Miss me?" He teased, winking at her. This time she did break the teacup, and stormed out of the room.
Before she even reached the living room he appeared right in front of her, his nose inches away from hers. He. Was. Too. Close. And his eyes were open, and she could feel them piercing right through her.
She tried to move back, sure she'd be able to think more clearly with a little space between them, but he was having none of that. His hand caught her wrist in a vice-grip and kept her where she was.
"Filia?" His voice was low, serious. So much more dangerous then his mocking, teasing voice.
"I was worried…" She whispered, feeling pathetic.
His fingers ghosted along her jaw, just lightly. And his lips curved up, his eyes soft. "I'll try not to worry you again."
--
Present…
Filia walked forlornly through the trees. She shouldn't have snapped at Amelia like that, the princess was only trying to help, but she just didn't want them to find out. What would Amelia think? What about Lina? Filia sighed. She was being ridiculous.
Sitting wearily down inside a small clearing she'd come upon, she felt his eyes on her, they they'd been so many times before.
"Hello, Xellos." It was said in less then a whisper, but he heard. He teleported a few paces in front of her, and she heard his footsteps coming closer. She knew he could have just teleported instead of slowly making his way over to her, giving her a warning; and she knew he was doing only for her benefit, but she couldn't make herself be grateful to him.
"Well, Filia, you're turning out to be quite a puzzle, now aren't you?" He mused. "It's quite unlike you…"
"You don't know everything about me. Not anymore." Her eyes were squeezed shut, but she was sure he didn't like that comment too much.
He was silent for a long moment."Not yet, I don't. But soon enough, I will." She choked on a sob.
"Don't tell me Zelas ordered you to watch me?" He said nothing, just studied her with his calculating gaze, and she let out a mirthless laugh. "So what's your new mission, Xellos? Kill me? Wait for someone else to? Or maybe she sent you here to observe…"
He didn't even have the grace to look ashamed.
"What's happened to you, Filia?" His eyes were open. She just glared. "You shouldn't do this to yourself, Filia, maybe I can help."
"Maybe not." She stood, and tried to walk away, when he teleported right in front of her, his eyes open, his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm worried."
A/N: Don't worry, Filia's secret is coming out soon! Please review, I'll get the next chapter up sooner if you do! :