Behind Closed Doors

By Pixie

&nsbp;

"I won't be going with you tomorrow," Zelgadis announced over dinner.

The rowdy melee taking place at the dinner table ground to a halt as Lina, Gourry and Amelia were distracted from their food by Zelgadis' casual declaration. The chimera found himself the centre of attention as three pairs of eyes focused on him. Disappointment washed over Amelia's features, Gourry's face took on an expression of faint surprise and Lina's eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean, you won't be coming with us?" the redhead asked.

"Just what I said," Zelgadis replied. "When you leave tomorrow, I won't be going with you."

Lifting an eyebrow, Lina inquired, "Any particular reason?"

The shaman shrugged. "Our paths no longer lie together. It's time for me to strike out on my own for a while."

"Oh, I see. How can I argue with a reason like that?" Lina retorted sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"But, Zelgadis-san! You can't!" Amelia burst out. "We have a duty to administer justice to those with evil in their hearts! You can't abandon that!"

As Zelgadis stared at the princess in disbelief, Lina swatted the young girl.

"Amelia," Lina spoke through gritted teeth, "you are not helping!"

Amelia turned to Lina, already starting to protest when Gourry pushed his chair back from the table and rose smoothly to his feet, drawing their attention.

"If you girls will excuse us for a bit? I think Zel and I need to talk."

The girls' eyes swung to Zelgadis, who seemed equally taken aback.

"We do?" he asked.

"Yup," replied the swordsman, walking around the table to stand beside Zelgadis. When he made no move to stand, Gourry placed one hand on the shaman's shoulder, tugging gently.

"C'mon, Zel. This is important." The blond's cheerful smile didn't eclipse the obstinate cast of his features. Resigned in the face of Gourry's apparent determination, Zelgadis sighed heavily and reluctantly stood up. Gourry brightened and latched onto Zelgadis' wrist, dragging the chimera across the dining room. Over his shoulder, he called back to Lina and Amelia, still seated at the table.

"Go ahead and eat dinner. We'll be back soon!"

With that last comment, Gourry continued towing Zelgadis towards the stairway leading to their rooms on the inn's second floor. As the two disappeared into the shadowed stairway, the girls could hear Zelgadis protesting.

"Gourry, I don't know what you think we have to talk about. My mind is made up and I am going to be leaving in the morning..."

Glancing at each other, Lina and Amelia shrugged and turned their attention back to the platters of food scattered over the table.

Some time later, the dining room was empty except for the two girls. Lina was just finishing her third helping of dessert. Amelia was anxiously watching the stairway where Gourry and Zelgadis had disappeared earlier.

"Lina-san? Don't you think they've been gone an awfully long time?" she asked uneasily.

"Don't worry about it, Amelia. Stubborn as Zel is, Gourry's probably having trouble making him listen," Lina waved a hand dismissively, then tilted her head to the side as she heard footsteps. "In fact, that might be them now."

As the footsteps descended the staircase, Gourry came into view, followed closely by Zelgadis. Lina looked smugly at Amelia.

"See?" Without waiting for a reply, Lina turned to regard her companions as they approached.

Gourry led the way to the table where the girls sat. He seemed pleased, blue eyes sparkling brightly and a satisfied grin curving his lips. Zelgadis trailed a few paces behind, following Gourry without prompting. The chimera's normally serious demeanor was conspicuously absent. His eyes were wide and an expression of wondering happiness lit up his face.

When the two halted before her, Lina looked up at them. "So," she drawled, "how did your little chat go?"

"Great!" Gourry beamed and slung an arm around Zelgadis' shoulders. "Zel's decided to stay with us, after all!"

Amelia cheered and immediately began spouting a stream of excited babbling. Lina ignored her, looking between the two men standing in front of her and finally resting her gaze on Zelgadis.

"Really?" she asked him.

He nodded.

"What changed your mind?"

To her surprise, Zelgadis blushed. "Gourry persuaded me that I ought to stay with you for now."

"Gourry did? You're kidding me." Still blushing, Zelgadis shook his head. Lina looked over at the blond. "How'd you manage to convince him, Gourry?"

"You want to know how I convinced him to stay?" Gourry's grin widened. "It was easy. I just did this."

Gourry turned so that he was face to face with Zelgadis. Dropping his arm from the shaman's shoulders to encircle his waist, Gourry pulled Zelgadis' body tightly against his. Reaching up with his free hand, he caught Zelgadis' chin and tilted his face upwards, a gentle expression softening his features. Zelgadis was blushing furiously but not resisting, happiness bright in his eyes.

Lina watched wide-eyed as Gourry leaned forward, catching Zelgadis' lips in a soft kiss.

Some small part of Gourry's mind noticed Amelia's rambling choke off mid-word, heard Lina starting to laugh behind him. He paid them no attention. All that mattered was Zelgadis, the feel and taste of him. The prickly, unhappy chimera was warm in his arms and returning his kiss and had promised to stay with him and maybe wasn't so unhappy anymore. As far as Gourry was concerned, all was very right with the world.

Giggling, Lina regarded the entwined pair before her.

"Must have been one interesting conversation!"

§ end §

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