Benny had her hood up and holding herself along her stomach. Zelgadis kept looking at her, wondering what was wrong and how he could help… so, of course, he asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm fine…" she said automatically to him.

(Author cut in: He should know by now that you don't ask women, "What's wrong?". You have two types: The ones who start yelling at you for "assuming" that something is wrong. Those need chocolate and something for the pain… Then, you have the ones who deny that there is anything wrong… even though in their voices you can tell there is something wrong. So, you ask and they say their fine and you just want to kill someone or something to make them even smile as you keep looking at them as you pretend that you accepted their lie and are coloring in a Scooby-Doo coloring book, listening to Chevelle, on a bus on the way to Chicago. Oddly specific, I know. I don't wanna talk about it.)

"No, what is wrong?" Zelgadis said. He held her by are arms gently, staring into her eyes with intense concern.

"I haven't ate recently, is all…" admitted Benny in a forlorn tone.

"When's the last time you ate?" he asked in a tone that was scolding her.

"When I was last on Earth…" she admitted again in the same despondent tone.

"You should know better than to skip meals," he chided.

"I knooooow," she groaned. "I just got caught up in all this crap. And, it's not like I even have the money anyways. I'm in a different world, Mr. Greywords! It's not like I can stop by the nearest Walt-World and buy myself a friggin' bag of crisps!"

"Hey, don't get snippy with me just because you can't keep care of yourself," warned Zel.

"Oh, like I don't have room to give out about how I was sent to a foreign land by force without a full stomach or any preparations?" she argued.

Zelgadis sighed and rubbed his temples. This was going to be harder than he thought.

Benny started walking towards the direction they were heading and asked over her shoulder, "How far do we have until we get there anyway?"

Zelgadis looked at her, still in a mood to argue, and sarcastically asked, "What? Do you want me to carry you?"

Benny stopped and sized Zelgadis up, considering the offer.

"I wasn't serious," he declared, threatening with his eyes. "We're not that far, anyways."

"Look," she said and approached him still bent into herself. "Unless you can get me food now, you will eventually need to carry me if I'm supposed to stick with you from now and until I get back to home." She straightened herself to mostly so she could size up with him as she stood toe-to-toe with the chimera.

His ears folded back, hiding into his wiry hair. He didn't like her in this mood. Yes, she was shorter and both magically and physically weaker than Zelgadis, even on a great day. But, she seemed to be made for killing a certain part of him that made him evil to himself. "I'll get you food. Just… calm down."

She nodded and backed up. She wavered, shook her head, and continued in their direction. "Soon, right?" she asked and wavered again. She seemed to be a oddly dressed starving big cat. Too proud to accept the fact that she needs to eat, but keenly aware of the danger of famine.

"Benny," he sighed, looking at her.

"I know I'm pushy about it, but I really do need to eat…"

"Benny, come here," he said more sternly.

She sighed and shuffled over to him, looking at him almost in a dreamy state. "Hmm? Are we lost?'

"No, we're not lost," he said. "I'm taking you to a restaurant," he answered.

Benny feigned blushing and spoke in a thick Southern Belle accent, "I do declare, Mr. Greywords, you mustn't be so fresh. We just met!"

Zelgadis sighed again and said, "To get you food, Benny."

"But, I don't have any of you all's money to pay you back with…" she mumurmed. "And… And…" She paused to shake her head.

"You need food, Benny Burton," he chided. "Come, eat, keep me company while I drink tea." He chuckled and hooked arms with her. "You'll pay me back by enlightening me on what you know… surely that will kill some time."

"More time than you'd figure, Mr. Greywords," murmured Benny, unintentionally leaning into him every so often as they approach a wooden one-floor stout excuse of a building.

He smirked, "Let us find out." He lead her into the little restaurant. The totals of six small round wooden tables were more than apt enough to bear the size of the tiny room. A fireplace stood to the right with a pair of each of its sides. Four further spaced windows opposed it. The kitchen was way in the back. A pair of cherry wood, swinging doors constantly moved due to hustle and bustle. They let incomplete waves of noise and commands from the kitchen enter the dining hall. Zelgadis pulled down his half masked and smirked again.

"Lovely," groaned Benny under her breath. "We're never gonna get a seat here. Look, I can wait, Zelgadis. I really can…" She hid her hands into her hooded sweatshirt's sleeves until only her fingers showed.

"Riiiiight," he drawled. He snapped his fingers and a petite young waiter came up and looked at the two as if he was trying to figure out who was the scarier looking one. "Table for two, and we'll start off with a tea for me and some soup and wa—" Zelgadis began instructing.

"Tea also for me, please," Benny interjected softly.

The waiter looked confused at the hooded lass, "S—Ma'am?"

"Table, tea, and soup," nearly barked Zelgadis. "Do you think you can handle that?" he added in an irritated.
"Zel," softly chided Benny and blushed as she realized what she did. She corrected quickly, "No need to be rude, Zelgadis."

He blushed faintly and turned to the incompetent waiter. "Look, this woman needs food and she's been through a lot today. I'd appreciate it if you make pace with her service."

The waiter swallowed hard and led them to a table next to a window. At the table next to them sat a mauve- haired man, dressed in black and yellow. His wooden staff lay propped against the near by corner. A glimmer hit the man's eye when he recognized Zelgadis.

"Looks like you have a fan, Zelgadis," Benny said near his pointy ear as they sat down. "Or do you know him?"

"That's Xellos. He's a monster," Zelgadis nonchalantly responded as he sat to Benny's right, facing the window, placing the purple-headed monster to his right.

"Are your monsters like my world's demons? Because I feel like I can't trust him," whispered Benny. "In fact, I want to kill him."

"Umm?' he thought out loud. "I don't think so… not exactly like yours. But, your instincts are right on the trust issue."

Both smiled warmly when their tea pot and cups arrived to the table. "Thank you," they simultaneously said. They even mirrored each other as they blew at the steam of their portion and test tasted the hot liquid. But, they contrasted each other when Zelgadis smiled and continued sipping his tea and Benny looked for sugar. "No sugar," she growled. She shrugged and was about to sip without the sweetener when a white porcelain bowl full of sugar cubes was suspended in front of her by a white gloved hand.

"One or two?" a cheery voice asked.

Benny looked up to find the monster from the neighboring corner table cheerfully looking down at her. "Is it poisoned?" she asked in full accent, forgetting where she is.

The monster got confused and Zelgadis answered, "No, that's not his way. If he wanted to kill you he would want a more… hands on approach. Right, Xellos?"

Xellos chortled and smiled, "Now, Mr. Zelgadis, why would do that? I don't even know her." He turned to her and opened his lavender eyes, "What *is* your name and what are…" He stopped talking and observed Benny dropping her eighth and ninth sugar cubes in, take up her spoon, stir it in the cup, take a sip, set down the spoon, smugly grin, and continue sipping on her hot sweet tea. "My aren't you unique."

"Mhmm," answered Zelgadis as he continued to sip on his plain tea.

"What's your name?" Xellos asked again, hoping to actually get an answer this time.

"Benny Burton," she answered in her Mid-West Americanized accent, and took another sip, smirking again. "So, a monster, eh?"

"Ah, I see Mr. Zelgadis has informed you," Xellos answered as he glanced at the chimera. Zel just lifted his tea up and nodded, smugly. "I see you're away from your usual troupe. Why is that? Did you get bored of the absurdity?"

Zelgadis' face instantly changed from humor to irritation in nothing flat. He was about to speak when Benny tartly spoke, "Beg your pardon, Mr. Xellos, but will you refrain from speaking in such a manner to my savior?' She held his ethereal gaze, her cup held to the table.

Xellos blinked at the eccentric stranger again. This was an interesting new feature to his usual venue. Who would have thought that someone would not give a hoot what he was? She treated him as if he were to be held to the same standard as all others.