TOO STUBBORN TO TRY

Author's Note: I think I might start a series of short stories based around little Z/A "moments" in the show that are canon, but maybe add to them and add more details.

This one, for example, takes place during Episode 7 of Revolution. Enjoy!

Amelia was loathe to put a "label" on her relationship with a certain sexy blue chimera, if only because she was afraid of ruining said relationship.

If she were to label it, though, she wasn't even exactly sure what she'd call it. They weren't dating, per se. They weren't lovers. They were best friends with a little something else hidden beneath the surface.

It was that little something else that Amelia was terrified of losing.

When Zelgadis had come back to Seyruun at her request, she was actually surprised. Thrilled, but still a bit surprised. She would have been less surprised if he had turned her down. But he hadn't, and that cemented their relationship in her mind. That one small gesture spoke volumes. Because it was Zelgadis, and Zelgadis didn't like to show he had any feelings at all aside from depressed, evil, pissed and annoyed. Every now and then he would give a faint smile, and the fact it was usually directed at her was not lost on Amelia.

All these thoughts swirled through the head of the princess of Seyruun as she stood in her small but comfortable cabin on a cruise ship Lina had the bright idea of boarding on Seyruun's dime.

She adjusted the straps of her tight sundress and spun around. It was nice to get out of her traveling clothes and into something more comfortable, at least.

There was a knock on her door, and she opened it to reveal the aforementioned sexy blue chimera.

Amelia's heart started pounding so hard, she was afraid he might hear it. He was dressed more casually than she'd ever seen him, in a white hooded sweatshirt with a zipper up the front, and fitted black pants. He wore no gloves, or anything to hide his usual features, although she assumed that's what the hood on the sweatshirt was for.

She stood gawking at him awkwardly, trying desperately not to check out his ass.

For his part, Zelgadis first noticed Amelia's cleavage. Then he noticed her legs. Then he caught himself and started blushing profusely. But watching the princess' face, he felt confident that she hadn't caught his slip-up.

In fact, watching her face was an odd sort distraction because she kept staring at him with her mouth half open and unmoving.

"Amelia?" Zelgadis finally broke the awkward silence.

At the sound of his voice, she seemed to snap back to life and stammered, "S-Sorry Zelgadis-san! I wasn't expecting you! Please come in, I'm almost ready."

Zelgadis stepped into the room and sat down at the foot of her bed, casually observing as Amelia finished putting on a few pieces of simple jewelry and some perfume.

She could see him in the mirror, and he wasn't even trying to disguise the fact that he was watching her. That fact did little to calm Amelia's suddenly frazzled nerves, and she fumbled with the clasp of the little necklace she was trying to put on.

In the mirror, Zelgadis rolled his eyes with some impatience. Then he got up and stood behind her, grasping the two ends of the necklace chain.

"Here, let me do it," he said. Amelia stiffened and she felt his hands brush the back of her neck.

Then she felt the necklace jerk, and Zelgadis swore.

"Damn it!"

Amelia spun around to face him, and he looked annoyed, holding half of her necklace chain as the other half fell to the floor.

He looked at her, sheepishly. "Sorry, Amelia. I broke it."

She smiled up at him and said, "That's okay. I'm not mad. Thank you for trying to help."

They stood there like that for what seemed like hours, just looking at each other. It was as if unspoken words were hanging in the air, stifling them.

Finally, Amelia was the one to back away and bend down to pick up the little silver chain from the floor.

"I'll buy you a new one," Zelgadis said, surprising the princess. He was just full of surprises today!

"You don't have to do that, Zelgadis-san," Amelia said, waving her hand dismissively and smiling. "I don't even need a necklace like this; I hardly ever get to wear it."

Zelgadis looked thoughtful and said, "Then maybe I'll buy you something else."

It was then that his "normal" Amelia came back to him by jumping at him and grasping at his arm, squealing.

"Zelgadis-san, the love and justice in your heart has made you more generous and handsome than ever!"

Zelgadis was about to tune our her justice speech, but the last part got his attention.

"Made me more WHAT?!" he said, holding Amelia out in front of him with both arms.

Amelia giggled nervously. "Um, more generous."

"After that."

The giggling became even worse and she mumbled, "Isaidyoulookreallyhandsomerightnow."

Zelgadis thought his face must have been on fire, because he was blushing so hard. He let Amelia go and headed for the door.

"Come on, Amelia. Let's go see if the others have left anything for us to eat. I also noticed there's a masseuse on board…"

Amelia let out a sigh of relief. She was glad she hadn't made him feel bad or uncomfortable with her compliment. She never meant to say it; anyway, it just slipped out.

"Coming, Zelgadis-san," she said cheerily as she followed him out of the room.

Subsequently, she finally took a moment to check out his ass. It was quite nice.

Amelia smiled to herself. She would never give this up. Not for any other person, not for Seyruun, and not even for the world.