Hello, everyone! As usual, I don't own anything. I'm just a fan having some fun writing fiction. Please enjoy!

21-Taking Sides

"Wh-wha…" Pestis stammered. "A-alone? What does that mean, exactly?"

"It means that Azarel wants to have a conference with you one-on-one." Xellos responded. "It's not a difficult concept to understand, professor."

"I mean, I understand it, but… what does Azarel want with me?" The professor glanced around the room, unsure of where to move or what to do.

"I don't know- if I did, I would tell you." Xellos, on the other hand, was making himself comfortable. He began pouring a mug of coffee for himself and leaned against the kitchen countertop. "My orders were simply to deliver the message that Azarel wished to meet with you at this same time tomorrow for a private conference. All other information is confidential." He gave a playful wink. "It's a secret."

"And what if Pestis says no?" Lina spoke up.

Xellos took a sip of coffee. "I'm not supposed to take no for an answer."

"Well, you're going to have to." Zelgadis replied. "No one is going to make Pestis do something he doesn't want to do- we'll make sure of that."

"It's alright, Zelgadis. I've made up my mind." Pestis waved his hand back and forth. "I'll talk to Azarel."

"Huh? But Mister Pestis-" Amelia stammered.

"I'll talk to Azarel- on one condition."

Xellos cracked open one eye. "Oh? And that is…?"

"I will only talk to Azarel if my friends can be present for the conversation as well."

The whole group stared at Xellos. He seemed to be thinking it over, unsure of how to respond. "Well… that is… an odd request for sure… however…" The Mazoku's smile brightened. "I don't see why not! Sure! It's a deal!"

"You're awfully quick to go against Azarel's orders." Lina accused.

"Hold on a moment, Miss Lina. What do you mean by that?"

"Azarel wanted to speak to Pestis alone, right? And she said that she wouldn't take no for an answer, right? Then what room do you have to be allowing for such large discrepancies in your orders and your actions?"

"Lina!" Zelgadis hissed. "We already got what we want. Don't make the situation worse!"

"I'm not trying to make the situation worse. I'm just trying to clarify something." Lina crossed her arms and smirked. "You're not really on Azarel's side, are you, Xellos?"

"Miss Lina, that hurts!" Xellos did his best to sound offended. "How could you ever have believed that I was on Azarel's side to begin with?"

"Wait- so you're on our side after all?" Pestis gasped. "Why didn't you say so before, Xellos! I was getting all worried over nothi-"

"Sorry, professor." the Mazoku interrupted. "But I'm not on your side either."

"Xellos is a wild card." Lina declared. "He always has been- ever since we've known him."

"I have my reasons for sticking close to Azarel. It's due to some research that Lord Beastmaster has been doing lately in the North; I'm afraid that I can't give away any major details, but I must keep an eye on Azarel, just for safety's sake." Xellos took another sip of coffee and continued. "But it's not safe to say that being an enemy of your enemy makes me your friend. I have my reasons for watching you too. If Lord Beastmaster wasn't working her 24/7, I'd probably have my apprentice out here doing surveillance on a more regular basis… but that's not possible, I'm afraid."

"Wait- Lorelei? What is Beastmaster doing to Lorelei?" Gourry hadn't seemed to be paying much attention to the conversation, but apparently he had been listening after all.

"Oh, just the usual initiation that the higher-ups go through before being promoted to higher posts. It's a test, really, to see how well they function under long-term pressure."

"So… the reason that we haven't seen Lorelei around lately is because Beastmaster is holding her prisoner?" Lina asked. "Zara thought that she'd gotten bored with him and dumped him."

"Dumped him? Ah; what a funny idea!" Xellos laughed. "I'll have to tell Lorelei that story. She'd think it was hilarious."

Lina rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. "I doubt that she'll still think it's hilarious when she meets his new boyfriend."

"What was that now?" Xellos opened one eye.

"Nothing. I didn't say anything."

"Huh? What are we talking about?" Pestis looked around in a confused daze.

"Don't worry about it. It doesn't have anything to do with our situation right now." Lina assured him. "We're getting off-topic."

"She's right. Just what do you want from us anyway?" Lyos approached Xellos warily.

"Aw, you haven't learned my catchphrase yet, have you, Mister Lyos?" Xellos chuckled.

"No." Lyos scowled in response. "What is it?"

"That's a secret."

"Then how am I supposed to learn it?"

There was a pause, and Xellos burst out laughing. "Oh! Oh, that's a good one! I'm having too much fun! Hanging around you guys is almost as fun as tormenting Filia! This is great!"

"Lyos! Don't make him enjoy bothering us any more than necessary!" Zelgadis hissed. "Stop being such an idiot."

"Who are you calling an idiot, you-"

"Boys!"

Everyone grew quiet again at the sound of Lina's voice. They stared in her direction expectantly, waiting for her to make some sort of comment about why she had quieted them… but she didn't say anything.

"My apologies, Miss Lina." Xellos finally cleared his throat and spoke up. "I didn't mean to upset you. Are you sure that you'll be alright here for the next few days? Shouldn't you be at home? You look like you-"

"Stop pretending like you care about my well-being." she snapped in response.

"It's only a professional interest, you see. The Mazoku race is very interested in-"

"I'm really sick of the Mazoku race right now." Lina cut him off again. "I'm sick of all you. I'm sick of Azarel and her damn games, and I'm sick of you and your silly riddles, and I'm sick of Zara and his stubbornness, and I'm even sick of Enrique, who I barely know anything about; and I'm just sick of every single one of you bastards."

There was a long silence. Awkward glances were passed between people at the table. Nobody wanted to be the first one to speak or the first one to move.

"Very well, then." Xellos finally interrupted the silence, giving a bow and disappearing suddenly.

"H-he's gone!" Shizuri stammered. "Gone!"

"Good riddance." Zelgadis growled. "We didn't need him here stirring up more trouble."

"Oh, I'm not making any real trouble. Come tomorrow, it'll be Azarel's turn for that."

Everyone stiffened and looked around for the source of the voice.

"Just leave already, Xellos." Lina groaned. "No one likes you."

"I like him!" Pestis whined.

"I mean, except Pestis, but he doesn't count because he has bad taste in men."

"Hey! I didn't mean it like that!"

"Sorry, Professor, but I'm afraid that I'm taken at the moment. Better luck searching elsewhere, alright?"

"Like I said, I didn't mean it like-"

"That's it. I'm done here." Gourry stood up, placed his empty coffee mug in the kitchen sink, and retreated back into the other room. Once again, there was a long silence. Xellos reappeared, leaning against the kitchen counter as though nothing had happened.

"G-Gourry, wait-" Shizuri began, but Lina cut her off.

"Let him go. He needs a moment to himself."

Shizuri sighed, and everyone glared at Xellos. The Mazoku looked around confusedly.

"Why is everyone staring at me? Was it something I said?"

"No; it was something I said." Lina interrupted before anyone could say 'yes.' "I insulted someone close to him- I said some things that upset myself. I really shouldn't have done that, but…"

"I'll go talk to him." Lyos volunteered, standing up and leaving his own mug on the table.

Lina was sceptical. "You? Are you sure you don't just want to make it worse?"

"That's not what I'm trying to do!" Lyos shot back. "That man is the bravest person I've ever met- moreso than I could ever be! And I think it's about time somebody told him that!"

"…okay." Lina returned to her chair with a sigh. "If you think you can help him…"

A slight smile flashed on Lyos' face for a split second before he nodded and left the kitchen in search of their friend.

"Such drama!" Xellos exclaimed. "Oh- dear, it seems that we're out of coffee. Professor, could you brew us another pot?"

"Always happy to!" Pestis chimed pleasantly, beginning another conversation with Xellos while the rest sat in silence, not wanting to stir up any more trouble.

"Hey, Gourry… what'cha doing out here? It's too cold to be sitting outside."

Gourry looked up to see Lyos approaching. He closed the door behind himself and took a seat next to Gourry on the back porch. Behind the chairs, boxes were stacked almost to the ceiling, and small trinkets littered the floor- but the main area was clear enough for people to sit.

"We're not outside if we have a roof over our head." Gourry responded. "I… I'm sorry that I got angry. I hope I didn't hurt anyone-"

"You're not the one who should be apologising!" Lyos interrupted. "That's what I came out here, for! I'm sorry- I shouldn't have been so rude to everyone."

"It wasn't just you." Gourry stared, surprised to see Lyos, of all people, offering an apology. "But… thank you."

"I know I've been rude to you in the past…" Lyos began, and then paused. "You've… never once been rude to me. Hell, I don't think I've ever seen you be mean to anyone!"

"Then you haven't hung around me very long." Gourry sighed.

"I didn't mean people who deserve it- you have a right to say bad things about Azarel. It's not rude if it's justified."

That got Gourry to laugh, just a little. "Tell that to Azarel. She didn't really like it when I attacked her a few weeks ago."

"What'd she do?"

"She was going to kill Lina."

Lyos' eyes widened. "And she got mad because you attacked her for that?!"

"Well, to be fair, Lina had provoked her and promised that she wouldn't fight back." Gourry answered.

Lyos lowered his voice. "Wait… why would Lina do something like that…? What was she-?"

"She was testing Azarel." Gourry replied. "She knew that I was watching, and Azarel knew too. It was obvious that, should Azarel attack, I'd be there to defend Lina. Lina wanted to see if Azarel would have the prudence to refrain from putting herself in danger, even when provoked." He paused for a moment. "Azarel failed."

"What an idiot." Lyos rolled his eyes. "And that's who we're so afraid of fighting?"

"Well, she tricked you, didn't she?"

The two men were silent for a moment

"…yeah, she did." Lyos finally answered.

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I was the stupid one in that situation. She knew how to fool me, and I fell hook, line, and sinker."

"She fooled us at first too, y'know."

Lyos blinked and stared at Gourry. "I… didn't know."

"I guess the important thing is that we learn from our mistakes." Gourry sighed. "My grandmother had an old saying for situations like this- fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."

"I've never heard that one before. That's a really wise thing to say."

"Everything my grandmother said was."

They were quiet for another long moment. It wasn't an awkward kind of quiet, like there had been far too much of earlier- it was simply that both of them had run out of things to say, and were both waiting patiently for the other to continue the conversation. Gourry rested his head in his hand and gave a long sigh, watching the small cloud until it dissipated into the night air.

"No offense," Lyos began. "but you look like you haven't slept in weeks."

"None taken." Gourry responded. "I haven't. Not really."

"Thinking about your kid, huh?"

"Who, Zara?"

"Yeah."

Gourry leaned back in his chair. "I can't talk to Lina about it. She doesn't want me beating myself up over all of this… but sometimes I just can't help thinking… that somehow I've failed him as a father…"

"What?!" Lyos jumped up. "How can you say that when you keep yourself up at night worrying about him? How can you say that when everything you've done for the past two months has been to ensure his safety? How can you say that when it's so clear that you love him and would do anything for him…?" The young man's voice wavered, and he fell back into his seat. "…I never had a father. He died before I was born. Sometimes I wonder if things would've been different had he lived. I wonder how he would've reacted when he learned that I had the power of the Aqualord. I wonder if he would've been proud of me… or afraid of me like everyone else…"

"Sometimes uncertainty is better than a harsh reality." Gourry replied. "My father hated me. I was kind of the runt of the family-"

"Y-you?!" Lyos spluttered.

"Well, when I was a kid, I mean…"

"At least you grew out of it." Lyos sighed. "I've always been the little guy, always getting picked on and bullied… I so badly wanted to be a powerful warrior…"

"Size and power aren't directly proportional, you know." Gourry reminded him. "Lina, for instance- I've seen her make grown men cry. Amelia has beaten up Mazoku with her bare hands before. And Zara… he's such a tiny thing, but his magic skills are top-notch."

"Your son; Zara… what's he like?" Lyos asked. "I never got the chance to meet him- I don't even know what he looks like or what his personality is."

Gourry seemed surprised by the question, and had to think it over for a few minutes before responding. "…well… he's one of the smartest children I've ever met. He's constantly in our library reading books- sometimes he'll stay up all night just to finish whatever he's working on. I feel like I learn something new every time I talk to him."

"Wow." Lyos was genuinely impressed.

"He's usually very optimistic, and has the most wonderful smile… but he's also very sensitive. He's very social, and if something interferes with his relationship with a friend or acquaintance, it really gets to him." Gourry closed his eyes and sighed. "I remember… it was at least a year or two ago, but he got really upset and stopped talking to anyone. Lina and I tried to figure out what was wrong, but he wasn't talking- he wouldn't tell us. Eventually we figured out that a group of kids in town had been teasing him about his lisp- it's not all that noticeable, and it's easy to forget about sometimes, but for people who aren't used to the way he talks, it's hard to ignore. It really hurt him, enough to make him stop talking in hopes that the kids would stop teasing him."

"Why can't kids just leave other kids alone? Why do they always have to be so cruel?!" Lyos demanded. "I don't understand!"

Gourry replied, unfazed. "They attack anything different from them. They're young; they don't know everything about the world yet. When they meet something that they don't recognize, they try to deny its existence, which usually manifests itself in teasing and bullying. Some kids are better at accepting differences than others, that's all."

Lyos stared. "Where'd you hear that?"

"I, uh, read it in a book that a friend gave us." Gourry responded. "It's a good read; has lots of nice pictures too."

"So, what happened? Did Lina teach those kids a lesson?"

"That's what I thought she would do, but… she didn't. Instead, she took some paper and wrote down a bunch of cruel thing that kids had said to her when she was Zara's age. She gave it to him to read, and you know what his response was?"

"What?"

Gourry was laughing as he continued. "Zara tore it up and started giving Lina a motivational speech like I've never heard before- he could've given Amelia a run for her money! It was the first time in two weeks that he'd spoken, and it felt like he was making up for it, but… by the end of his speech, he'd realized what Lina was trying to say, and he started crying; not because he was sad, but because he felt guilty for trying to distance himself from us when he should've come to us for help in the first place. After that, he ignored the bullies and they stopped picking on him… and we've never had any problems like that again."

Lyos smirked. "What a funny kid."

"He really is, though…" Gourry closed his eyes. "I'm sorry if I'm boring you with these stories, but-"

"No! No! I'm really glad you could share!" Lyos assured him. "To be perfectly honest with you, I know that sort of worry for something close to you. I've been in such a terrible state knowing that my Banisher isn't working, and… I know that I really shouldn't be comparing the loss of a sword to the loss of your son. It's not the same thing, but I don't know of any other way to-"

"You don't have to compare it to anything! I understand!" Gourry exclaimed quickly. "For those who wield a magical sword, it becomes like a part of themselves- it's an extension of your soul almost. And to lose it… it's like losing a part of yourself, right?"

"Y-you… understand…" Lyos breathed.

"When I first met you," Gourry began excitedly. "I really, really wanted us to become friends. Like, I've never really had a friend that knew what I was talking about with magic swords before. Zelgadis is a great swordsman, but he relies on his own magic most of the time, and that's something I could never relate to. With you… your sword was everything you had- it was your life! I'd finally found someone just like me, and I can't tell you how much I wanted to be your friend! You didn't seem to like me very much, so I didn't push it, but… it's nice to know… that someone else knows how it feels…"

Lyos blinked in surprise. "Wh-why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't know. I didn't feel like you wanted to talk to me."

"It wasn't that! I'm a very insecure person- I have trouble figuring out how to act around people I admire. That's all. And boy do I admire you…"

Gourry smiled and looked away for a moment before sighing and continuing. "…y'know, Lyos… it's kind of an odd feeling, and I don't know how to describe it, but I… I suddenly feel like-"

"I think I understand what you're trying to say." Lyos murmured. "I don't know how to describe it either, but I know how you feel."

"So your fingers are completely numb too?"

"Wha-?"

"I was trying to say that I can't really feel my fingers anymore; and I lost sensation in my nose and ears a long time ago. Maybe we've been sitting out in the cold too long?"

Lyos was silent for a long moment, examining his own fingers. He jumped up. "Dammit, Gourry! You're going to make us freeze to death!"

"Hey! It's not my fault!"

"Let's go back to the kitchen, moron. Maybe that purple-haired guy will be gone by now."

"I hope so…"

"I trust you had a nice time, Xellos?"

"Oh, it was FAN-tastic!" Xellos twirled around excitedly as he greeted Azarel. "We drank coffee and argued; people started yelling at each other and a fight almost broke out… good times, good times!"

Azarel raised an eyebrow. "All that fun would explain why you're late, I suppose?"

"Of course! Ah… where are the others?"

"Enrique and Zara? They're upstairs reading a book. Zara has been nice enough to read it aloud to Enrique."

"What book is it?"

"Just some fiction novel about crass materialism and unrequited love. I skimmed it a bit myself- it's filled with lots of romantic angst. I couldn't have picked better reading material for Enrique if I'd chosen it myself."

"You seem quite happy with this turn of events." Xellos settled into a chair. "Aren't you afraid that Enrique might learn to read and get his hands on something that might turn him against you?"

"Impossible." Azarel sniffed. "Enrique doesn't have the mental capacity for reading. He's not smart enough for that."

Xellos just shrugged in response. "If you're so sure, then-"

"Was your mission successful, Xellos?"

"Oh? Yes, it was, actually!"

"And was I correct in my assumptions?"

"Your familiarity with the professor is reliable." Xellos chuckled. "He requested that his friends be present for your meeting tomorrow, just like you said he would. You'll have them all in one place- the trap is set."

Azarel leaned backwards and smiled.

"Perfect."

(A/N: I don't think I've ever mentioned before that I imagine Zara speaking with a slight lisp. It's not something that's so prominent as to define his character or alter how I write his speech in any way, so I haven't mentioned it until now. It's just always been… how I heard his voice. In my head. I don't know. Oh well.)