Well, it's been two weeks and last night I managed to eck out the rest of another chapter. So, here you go! Warning: there is a little smut, but not too much. But forewarned is forearmed, so . . . whatever. . .
Thanks for the reviews!!
Also, the song I listened to during the writing of the dance scene is by Michelle Branch, called "All You Wanted"
Yours,
Ukchana
Chapter 23
Hong
Kong, China
June
7th, 2002
Xellos chuckled with embarrassment as he looked out across the empty ballroom, music playing from the janitor's stereo that sat on a table nearby. "Oh, this is what you meant," he laughed nervously, hand on his neck.
Sighing joyfully, the blonde was spinning through the giant chamber, twirling around like a child. "If I close my eyes, I can see everyone in their dresses and suits, like ghosts of the past." Filia held out her arms as she swiftly turned, her flowered skirt lifting and billowing. "I can almost hear the orchestra."
After a few moments, the woman slowed and laughed as she ran up to him. "Come on," she began, touching his arm, "Xe-"
"Wait," he said, eyes suddenly hard as he took her hands. —Who am I?—he demanded firmly.
She paled a bit and closed her eyes. —Zander. Not Xellos.—
"You said you wanted to go somewhere alone," Xellos began, giving her a sorrowful smile. "What now?"
Returning the smile, Filia ran her hands down his gray suit-coat. "Dance with me," she asked sadly, blue eyes gazing up into his own. "The way you never wanted to then."
He shook his head. "I wanted to," he whispered, pain crossing his brow. "I did."
Eyes widening with emotion, Filia put one hand on his shoulder, then reached for his hand with the other. "It's not a waltz rhythm," she smiled, "but, we can try."
With a nod, Xellos tried to grin, violet eyes sad. "Okay."
Leisurely, they began dancing, then gained more and more speed as the song picked up, spinning in each others arms with the strings and piano in the background.
"Why didn't you dance with me?"she asked as he twirled her and pulled her close to him.
Xellos opened his eyes to gaze down at her. "I couldn't," he breathed, bending her back over his arm. "You wouldn't have said 'yes'."
"I said yes when you proposed," the blonde retorted as she straightened, the strong beat of the song pressing her forward. "So?"
Chuckling, the General-Priest shook his head and swung her across the ballroom.—You also said you were going to kill me,— he added in his mind.
She blushed and ducked her head. —Maybe . . . Doesn't mean I didn't want you dancing with me.—
—I thought you liked all those stuffy young men trying to grab your butt,— Xellos laughed as he twirled her again, her saffron locks whipping through the air.
—No, not particularly,— she replied, azure gaze fiery.
—You'd rather I had grabbed your butt instead?— he chuckled, violet eyes closing as he pulled her up to him, one arm fast along her back.
"Better a friend than a stranger," she whispered, then laughed as he blinked at her. "Gotcha!"
Chortling, Filia grabbed his hands and began to spin around the ballroom with him, staring into his eyes. —Tell me, Xellos,— she asked, giving him a loving smile. —Tell me what's wrong.—
He gazed back at her and released a deep breath as they spun. —I . . . I'm not sure.—
—It's because of this morning, right?— Filia squeezed his hands encouragingly.
Expression closing, the man's violet head fell slightly. —Yes.—
Their spinning continued, the song swelling over them and Filia's skirt soaring around her legs. —Listen carefully, Xellos,— she told him, azure eyes somber. —I was the one who lost control. It was my fault that it went the way it did. Not yours.—
He began to slow their speed, pulling her closer to him as they moved around the ballroom. —But I'm the one who started this mission not realizing what might have happened. Not to mention the fact that . . .— Xellos halted his words, pulling her roughly into his arms and spinning with the music.
"Xellos?" she whispered softly, blue eyes gazing into his own.
He closed his eyes and touched his cheek to hers, his breath warm in her ear. "I'm your friend," he winced almost imperceptibly, "and as such, I shouldn't be . . . lusting after you," he rasped, arms tightening around her fretfully.
"That's ridiculous," Filia snapped softly, and his purple eyes flicked open as she pulled her head back. "I'm your friend, too," the blonde raised an arm and touched his face with her hand, their gazes caught together. "And I admit that," she flushed deeply but stared up into his eyes, "that I . . . find you very attractive. That doesn't mean that I'm not your friend, or that I don't care."
His eyes squeezed shut firmly as he suddenly clasped her close, still moving with the song. "Filia," he breathed desperately, "oh, Filia."
"I won't stop being your friend," she said, head rested against his chest. "So quit assuming I'll automatically dismiss you just because you're foolish enough to think you did something wrong."
As if instantly rejuvenated by her words, Xellos laughed and straightened, then spun so quickly that the blonde was lifted off her feet. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," he beamed as she giggled in his embrace, "I can't lose you."
Filia dropped to the ground and hugged him, their feet still turning them with the music. "You won't."
With a sigh, he relaxed in her arms, lowering his head to kiss her cheek as the music softened through the air. "Thank you," he breathed, and rose colored her face as he bent to lean his forehead on her shoulder.
Smiling slightly, the blonde closed her eyes, listening to the notes. Thank you, whoever is out there listening, she prayed. Thank you for letting me have this wonderful, terrible, amazing man in my life.
The song swelled and sped, and Xellos suddenly began spinning her again, laughing loudly at her surprise. Chuckling, the dragoness stared into his joyful violet eyes, his gaze so at peace. Finally he's happy with open eyes, Filia told herself, and the symphony crescendoed powerfully, the music filling her soul as round and round they twirled, beginning to lose themselves in the other. I wonder if that means anything.
Softening again, the song slowed their spinning. The strings gently sang through the air, and they found themselves standing still, eyes caught in each other's gaze.
(-(-(-)-)-)
The routes were slow and tedious, rotating through every town. Kendar's brown head drooped as he floated over the crowds of people and militia, invisible and uninteresting.
With a sigh, he glanced up, knowing the buildings were being searched room by room thoroughly. Why should I even do anything? he asked himself, his gray eyes falling wearily upon the shiny windows lining the hotel. The Hylton, he read the sign apathetically. Strange human languages.
The fear and loneliness of the creatures milling below him only heightened his dismal shroud. I know how you feel, you poor cows, he said in his mind. I guess, in a way . . . I'm a cow too. Worthless chattel to be used, abused, then thrown away.
(-(-(-)-)-)
"So," Xellos spoke first in the silence, "you're feeling better, then?"
Filia blinked, and realized a scruffy man in a work jumper had shut off the radio on the table. "I . . . I suppose. What do you mean?" she asked, disoriented with the sudden change in subject.
He held her close to him and bent his head to whisper into her ear. "You were rather dazed the whole morning . . ."
"I was?" she asked, blinking again.
"Yes."
Blushing suddenly, the blonde pulled away and chuckled, "Oh, I was probably . . . you know."
Xellos took her hand. —Worried about me? Upset about . . . this morning?—
—Yes. But now,— she began walking towards the tall windows looking out from the ballroom onto the world, —now I'm better.—
"You barely seemed to see anything around you," he informed her aloud as they found the windows. —A lot has changed, Filia.—
She gasped in dismay as she gazed out the glass, her eyes falling upon the city. "Soldiers. Why are there so many?" She studied the people below them, brow furrowing. "And . . . and the people look so sad," Filia sighed, dropping her hands onto the waist-high windowsill. Beneath, unhappy faces dotted the landscape, the people tired and worn.
Putting his hand on her back, Xellos neared her to lay an arm across her shoulder. —I know . . . Don't forget, forty years have passed. You never kept up with politics. You expected it to all be the same, didn't you. But the British left, and now it's back under communist regime.—
Filia dropped her golden head, unable to see the faces on the street any longer. "It's such a little thing," she breathed. "But . . . still . . . it hurts."
(-(-(-)-)-)
A flicker of yellow caught the corner of his eye, and Kendar exhaled sorrowfully and glanced up at the window.
Through the transparent surface, a blonde woman gazed out, her eyes nearly welling with tears as she beheld the suffering below him.
The Mazoku rose slowly, mesmerized by her lipid blue gaze. Before he realized it, Kendar found his stocky hands were clutching at the windowsill, his eyes absorbing the compassion and love radiating from her from where they were mere inches away, yet him invisible to her.
She's not feeling it for you, a part of him cried, but his eyes widened as if he could pull the emotions from her.
"I don't care," he murmured, and held his breath. A desperate whimper escaped when she began to turn away, the demon collapsing against the windowsill.
"Gone," Kendar rasped, tears flowing down his face. His shoulders shook as he pulled himself away, disappearing.
Why?
(-(-(-)-)-)
Xellos shook his head slightly; the dragoness' compassion and sorrow at the repression practically sang through the air. "I know, but there's nothing you can do. Iyzeka feels the same way, I think, if it helps your opinion of her any."
Filia's eyes widened as she turned from the glass to peer up at him. "She does?"
"Yes."
Rolling his eyes suddenly, Xellos announced, "But enough moping! Dammit, woman," he mock-growled, "this is a vacation, and I'm not going to have you feeling sorry for anyone right now. Buy some villagers some new clothes if you must," he began to chuckle and back away as the angry dragoness stalked towards him, "but we're going to enjoy ourselves anyway!"
"Hey!" she cried as he started running out of the ball room. "I can be happy!"
Swinging on one tall mahogany door, Xellos spun to face her, the fine suit incongruous with his jovial expression. "Can you?"
She bowled into him, wrapping her arms around him as they laughed together. "Yes!"
"Good." They began to walk down the hall, her hand across the small of his back and his arm on her shoulder. "Because," Xellos' brows rose mockingly, "I wouldn't want to have to leave you in the hotel room."
Filia glowered back, then turned up her nose slightly at the man she walked so near to. "Well if that's the way you feel . . ."
"Gotcha," he whispered into her ear.
She whipped her head around to peer up at his beaming face. "Cut it out, Zander," she drawled, "or else."
"Or else what?" he said as they stopped before the elevator.
Her mouth quirked with annoyance. "Or else . . . something."
Pressing the up button, the violet-haired man looked down at her bemusedly. "Something?"
The doors opened upon an empty car, and she pulled away to run inside. "Or else, 'fill in the blank'," she retorted, laughing at his expression.
Getting a darkly amused expression on his face, Xellos slowly walked into the elevator, then raised one arm to lean against the wall behind her as the door closed. "You shouldn't make empty threats." His violet eyes peered down at her, their noses almost brushing.
"Give me some time," the blonde smiled up at him, unafraid. "I'm sure I'll think of something."
(-(-(-)-)-)
"Let's see . . . there's the art wing, the technology wing, the history wing, the science wing," Xellos scratched his head and winced, "a whole lot of cultural wings divided by time period and topic . . ."
It was time for their first family 'outing', but Valgaav just found himself leaning against a wall and watching his 'parents' peer bemusedly at the museum map.
"Val," Iyzeka appeared at his side happily, "look, I bought us some rice candy!"
The young man narrowed his golden eyes down at her. "How much did you pay for that?"
"Um," she blushed and fidgeted in her long indigo dress, hiding her eyes behind her bangs, "five dollars."
"For four pieces of rice candy?" With a groan, Valgaav closed his eyes and leaned back.
Sadness seeped from her and he heard her softly ask, "So, you don't want any, then?"
He winced slightly and dropped his turquoise head to give her a remorseful look. "No, I do." It wasn't that hard to make himself hug the slight girl, though he struggled between enjoying his lust, hating it or just feeling guilty. "I'm sorry."
Iyzeka returned the embrace happily, squeezing him harder than he expected. "Okay!"
Coughing, Valgaav let her go and rubbed the back of his neck, "Um, great. Thanks for the candy." He took a piece and ate it, trying to look pleased despite his nervousness.
The redhead was so joyful that he felt like curling up into a ball and dying. I will NOT use this as an excuse to cop a feel, he repeated over and over in his head, I will not make-out with her just because I have impunity now, he glowered at Xellos and Filia, who were practically hanging off each other as they argued over where to go first, even if XELLOS does it.
"Okay!" the purple-haired man announced from across the wide lobby, "we've decided to start in the very boring, oomph, I mean," he laughed as Filia glared at him and readied her elbow, "the very educational art wing!" He nervously chuckled at the piercing stare of the blonde beside him.
Shrugging, Val said, "Whatever. Okay, let's go, Iyzeka."
"Right!" she giggled, skipping up the stairs ahead of them.
Val's face screwed up in perverse bewilderment, then he glared at his 'father' and followed Iyzeka up the stairs. "Hey! Wait for me, and no more sugar for you!"
Behind him he could hear the adults talking. "Veria," Xellos was whining, "it's just that art is so dull!"
"Oh really?" His mother laughed at him, and Val felt even more confused. Is it just me, or have they changed a LOT since Xellos first told us about Telgaln a week ago? the boy wondered.
They caught up with him as he followed Iyzeka through the wide doors into the main hall of the museum. Arm in arm, the two were practically beaming as the blonde continued, "You're so bloodthirsty, wanting to go to the history wing just to find out about the wars they had."
"Hey," Xellos mock-growled at her, tightening his hold around her waist and making her giggle, "art is sissy stuff for women, war is man stuff."
"MAN-STUFF?" Filia laughed heartily at the General-Priest as he wrinkled his nose at her.
I can't believe I'm even here right now, Val flushed in embarrassment. "Um, me and Iyzeka will see you in the art wing," he managed, "so, you guys can act like doped-up love-birds by yourselves, bye!"
Quickly, he marched off after Iyzeka, calling, "Hey! I said to wait up!"
She just giggled and kept running, disappearing around a corner. With a groan, the green-haired teen quickly followed her, finding her gazing with interest at the paintings and sculptures filling the corridor.
"Isn't it so pretty?" the petite girl asked him, emerald eyes widening. She pointed at one painted tapestry. "the colors faded over the years, but I bet when it was new it was breathtaking. Don't you?"
Val opened his mouth and blushed, off-put by her quick calm. "Uh, yeah." Her serious gaze sent a wave of heat through him, and he looked away, clearing his throat. "I'm sorry I was so mean before."
"It's okay!" she smiled, then took his arm and gazed up at him somberly. "I just want you to be happy."
Flushing again, Valgaav adjusted his collar, finding himself drawn towards her. "Iyzeka." Hey, man, you're really starting to act stupid here, a part of him reminded. Just cause she wants you to be happy doesn't mean she wants you to—
A whisper in his ear woke him, "Your parents are coming," and he realized that he was inches from kissing the grinning girl. With a wink, Iyzeka pecked him on the lips and pulled away, chortling. "You studied art, Val," she asked as she hopped over to a large mural, "so tell me about this painting!"
He glanced down the hall to see his mother and Xellos rounding the corner, then blushed and looked back at Iyzeka. How did she know I studied art? Val grumbled to himself, humiliated.
Sighing, the young man caught up to the blue-garbed girl and gazed at the parchment behind the glass, then shyly began to tell her about it. "Well, the style and design tells us that the artist was poor, because it's done in what was considered a modern style in that era but with only black paint on the white paper . . ."
Iyzeka gazed up at him happily and squeezed his hand. Turning bright red, the slender young man attempted to continue his lecture on art.
(-(-(-)-)-)
"Look, Vee!" Xellos cackled happily at the souvenir stand, "you can buy pieces of the great General Tsu's sword!" He leaned against the kiosk and waved a dull piece of metal at her, his tailored gray suit a modern incongruity with the tall stone walls and columns surrounding him.
Filia glared at him and crossed her arms over the flowery print across her chest. "That is NOT a piece of anyone's sword!" she hissed, then rolled her eyes as Xellos gave the vendor a fifty dollar bill and came back with his prize. "Zander," the blonde began flatly, "you know as well as I do that that piece of scrap is just a rip-off!"
"But it's memorable!" the violet-haired man beamed, eyes closed and hand behind his head. "Come on, even though I'm almost entirely certain it's not real," he laughed as they headed back to Val and Iyzeka, "it's a souvenir!"
"Souvenir," Filia groaned, then stopped and frowned at the heavy suit of armor behind the glass that the kids were looking at. "Why are we in the war wing again?" she asked desperately, smoothing her flowered skirt.
They ignored her, Iyzeka pointing and talking excitedly to Valgaav, who shook his head and chuckled. "No, Iyzeka, I don't really think that the Shaolin religion destroyed the Chinese culture, let alone that the Communist government saved all of China by destroying the temples."
"But!" the girl gaped, "it says so right here!" She stabbed the glass, indicating the 'informative' plaque behind it, her indigo dress swaying with her passion.
Val shook his mint-green head at her, then ran a tired hand through his spiky hair. "You can't believe everything you read!"
Filia sighed and glanced up when Xellos leaned his elbow on her shoulder. "Yeeees?" she drawled, eyes lazily narrowing.
"Where do you want to go next?" the Mazoku asked politely, holding out the tour map of the country. "There's a little province to the east, you could buy them some gifts if you want. A month's supply of food for the village," her expression darkened with annoyance as he chuckled, "maybe new shoes for them all, hey!" The violet-haired man laughed and dodged as she tried to elbow him.
Glaring, the dragoness crossed her arms and sniffed. "Just because you've been sooo mean about it, I WILL then!"
"Eh?" He blinked at her, then his face turned a sallow white. "Um . . ."
"You and I," Filia ordered, rounding on him, "are going to go bring food to some poor villagers. We'll find the most needy village and make sure they all have enough to eat for a week!" She poked him in the chest soundly.
"But, Veria darling-"
"No 'Veria darling' is gonna save you," Filia beamed at the uncertain Mazoku. "Get out your wallet, that money would be better spent on feeding poor people!"
—
Val frowned, a sudden flicker of worry veiling him as he overheard his 'parents'. "Hey," he straightened, leaning back against the display glass, "do you think we could go out tomorrow instead? I feel like exploring the city more today, and," he dipped his turquoise head, "I think it would give you enough time to find out the best village to help. Right?"
Xellos and Filia stared at him, then glanced at each other. "Sure," the blonde began softly, then smiled. "Where would you like to go then, Val?"
Iyzeka took his hand with concern and beamed up at him. Sighing, Valgaav smirked and shrugged. "I donno'. There's the boat rides on the barges, there's the Hong Kong Zoo, even some traditional Chinese theatres."
We can't leave . . . Val realized, and exhaled heavily. I . . . I don't know why . . .
"Well," Xellos beamed, "what do you ladies wish to do?" Inside Val's head, the Mazoku asked, —Hey, what's wrong? Are you having more of your 'feelings' again?—
—Yes,— the boy replied, watching as Iyzeka and his mother discussed the city. —All I know is that we can't leave the city. If we do, something really bad will happen. I'm hoping we can find the stone in the museums in Hong Kong before we have to leave.—
"Okay," Filia announced, "we'll go shopping, then!"
The boy groaned, but only shook his head and smiled. —But, Xellos, how ARE you planning on finding the stone?— he asked, the question having been troubling him for a while.
—Magic, of course. Mistress Zelas knows more about the stone than I. When I spoke with her, she told me that it was no coincidence that we found the first fragment in the highly magical camber of the Ejyptian ruins. We'll find it in an area with great magical power, because the currents and eddies of time draw the fragments to sites of power.—
Nodding, Valgaav followed his 'parents' as they moved through the halls of the museum, a frown touching his face. Where is there the most magic. Thetiny maroon-haired girl beside him took his hand and he closed his eyes.Show me, he demanded, a peculiar inner strength pushing outward, show me where it is, LADY!
A whirr hissed through the thick walls of the museum as the wind outside began to howl, and Iyzeka clutched him.
Tell me . . . he smiled slightly, eyes still shut. Please.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Minya
mountains, China
June
7th, 2002
Kendar sat alone amidst the foliage, rain pattering down steadily around him. Every lesser demon was searching the earth for the only true remaining original High Beast and his dragons . . . Kendar knew he wasn't needed.
The Mazoku slumped forward, letting the memory of the blonde woman roll over him like a warm wave of air. They . . . they don't need me, he told himself, gasping as he felt his pain returning, the memory receding like a dream. Telgaln doesn't need a second, he needs a slave. Why must I be that slave?
It used to all be so much better . . . Her Highness Dolphin had let them do whatever they wished. But after centuries passed, her mind began to wander, and her Greater Beastmaster, Telgaln, took over. The absent-minded ruler became just a figurehead for Telgaln's politics.
How could he have killed her? Why was it that he continued to live when she died . . . that I continued to live?
The rain slowed, water dripping from leaves onto his still form.
But . . . but that woman . . . Cerulean eyes flashed in his mind, kindness flowing from them . . .
Kendar stood, his broad shoulders bent with the heavy cloud of sorrow that hung over him. I . . . I have to see her . . . just one more time, he told himself, gray eyes widening in desperation.
The mountain mists enveloped him, leaving only his footprints behind.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Hong
Kong, China
June
7th, 2002
Stepping outside of the museum, they found the sky darkening before them, wind whistling through the trees and skyscrapers.
"Well," Xellos' eyes narrowed as he led them to the horse-drawn carriage, "looks like a monsoon about to start."
"What?" gasped the blonde next to him, fixing him with a stern gaze. "But, a monsoon can't start now, we're on vacation!"
The horses whickered as they got into the carriage, Xellos extending his hand to his 'wife' and helping her up. Around them, the crowds of people began to disperse, covering their faces from the biting wind.
Filia pouted as she sat down, beginning to shiver as the cold breeze cut through her flowered dress. "Zander," she whined as he got in beside her, "how can we go shopping, then?" Her blue eyes begged adorably.
Glaring at her, Xellos drawled, "I'm sure that there are still some boutiques and malls that stay open even when the wind blows hard." This earned him a punch in the arm, and he sighed.
Behind them, Val and Iyzeka settled down next to each other.
With a deep breath, the violet-haired businessman straightened his suit-coat and ordered, "Driver, take us to the shopping district."
"Right away," the Asian man answered with a slight English accent, and snapped the reins. With a little jolt, the horses cantered down the narrow street in the growing mid-day darkness.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Kendar searched everywhere in the growing storm, but finally the short demon found her in a women's clothing boutique.
He stood in the background and stared at her as she moved languidly between the racks of dresses, pointing out colors and patterns to a young girl with her. Occasionally, the two would speak to a man in a business suit and a teenage boy who both sat on a bench in a shadowed corner of the store.
The Mazoku ignored the men completely, however, concentrating instead on the light-toned human female. After finding a nice spot to sit in air above the cash register, Kendar relaxed and began to study the woman.
Occasionally, she would brush her saffron bangs from her face as she laughed, her large azure eyes gazing at the clothing happily. Sometimes she would frown at the men, other times she glanced at the girl beside her with obvious confusion or suspicion.
The brown-haired demon sighed with strange sadness when he realized that the man in the darkened corner was her husband and the boy her son.Why am I disappointed? he wondered. If I wanted to, I could stalk her, catch her alone and take her if I so desired. But a part of him shirked from the idea, a sickening pain touching him at even the thought. What's wrong with me?
Veria. They were calling her Veria. An odd name, but somehow pretty and familiar in a way. Kendar sighed and pulled his knees to his chest, gaze following the blonde as she moved to change her clothes.
I could follow her and watch her undress, he considered, but something in him negated the idea. Frustrated at himself, he scowled and turned his thoughts inward. Why am I here? What is it about her that draws me so?
He recalled the window . . . the light in her eyes and the sorrow pouring out of her. The compassion.
I want that, he realized. I want her to look at me like that, I want her to want to help me the way she wants to help them. His mouth opened in shock, but it was the only true answer.
Before he could consider it further, a voice spoke in his mind. –Kendar!— it shouted, and he hissed in pain. –Come here NOW!—
—Yes, your Highness,— he answered. Casting one last glance at the closed dressing-room door, the Mazoku departed.
(-(-(-)-)-)
Filia yawned as she hung up her new clothes in the hotel closet, feeling understandably sleepy after the large dinner they'd enjoyed. Her golden hair and the flowery dress still dripped with water, but the dragoness was too exhausted to change her clothes.
The monsoon had become a raging torment a mere hour after they had left the museum, and even now she could hear the hard raindrops striking the windows and the howl of the wind buffeting the building.
Filia shivered, then jumped at the voice in her ear, "Veria, you should change out of those wet clothes, you'll get sick."
Laughing nervously, the blonde looked up at Xellos and winced. "You scared me! I guess this storm is making me jumpy." Dropping the hanger in her hand, she sat down on the bed and watched the demon as he rubbed his wet hair with a towel. Already changed, he wore black khakis and a navy polo shirt, refined as ever.
"Hey," he blinked his violet eyes at her, "don't sit on the bed, you'll get it wet!"
"Oh!" she stood up quickly, blushing as she realized where her thoughts had been straying. "Right."
Xellos sighed and dropped one hand from the towel on his head to take her own. Clasping her hand gently, he smirked, "Why don't you take a shower, it'll warm you up."
She could feel his eyes wandering and she flushed, but knew there was nothing she could do. –Xellos, stop staring at me!— she yelled at him in her mind, but nodded outwardly. "Okay."
—I can't help it, your dress is wet and clingy,— he laughed in her head, and Filia suppressed the urge to smack his butt.
—Jerk,— she thought back half-heartedly as she began stripping, —How about THIS, then?— She smiled smarmily at him as she slowly began taking off her dress, and chuckled as he stood still, staring at her. "You want to watch me undress?" she teased.
Xellos blinked, hands falling to his sides as his eyes began to narrow, mouth twitching amusedly. "Well, of course I do," he slowly approached her, "but I think the kids would wonder where we were, don't you?" —Two can play THAT game, Filia,— his mind-voice jeered, —but don't you think you're pushing 'Zander' a little far?—
Filia gasped as he pulled her underwear-clad body into his arms, then glared up at him as he smiled cheerily. "Oh yeah?" she laughed as realization hit him, "well, I'm still all wet, so now you are too!"
"That's okay," he grinned darkly, and clutched the back of her head in his hand. "It's worth it."
She blinked just before he kissed her, and found herself kissing him back. —Hey, cut it out!— she clamored in his mind, then twitched as his conflicting emotions struck her.
—Dammit, Filia, you started this. I just had to play in-character. You'd better take your valerian tonight, by the Lady. Ten or twenty pills!—
Breaking the embrace, Filia tossed her head back and stared into his lustful violet eyes. "I have to take a shower," she breathed, then leaned up to kiss his neck, right under his ear. "Sorry."
—
Xellos closed his eyes as the blonde entered the bathroom. That was very, VERY close, he forced himself to smile when he wanted to frown.
With a sigh, the Mazoku removed the newly-wet polo. Grabbing a new shirt, he put it on and sat on the bed to think. I shouldn't have let down my guard just because we were out in public all day. From now on I will keep the hormones suppressed the whole damn day if I have to.
The strangest part, he mused, was how easily they were slipping into it. After this mission, I'll have to establish a strict policy of no physical displays of affection until we get used to the appropriate way of things again.
If only Filia would stop forgetting that our characters are MARRIED, he scowled sourly. Shaking his head, Xellos headed for the door. Maybe I can get my idea for the evening started with the kids while she showers.
