The man stared out his inn room window, searching the stars. Rarely did he take the time anymore just to wonder at their beauty. Life really didn't give him the chance to take brief moments to 'stop and smell the roses', or anything of the like. As he looked at them, a thought entered his head, They sparkle just like Zel's eyes... He chuckled quietly and admonished himself as he sat at the windowsill, "Now, now, that's no way to think. What would she say if she heard you talk that way, hmm? There's only one way I can have that blue beauty, and I don't want that. Not for him." He placed his chin on top of the ruby orb of his staff and sighed. "I want him to come willingly."
Another pair of eyes stared at the stars that night. But the one behind these blue orbs wasn't having such...bittersweet...thoughts. He grumbled as the sides of the inn bed's mattress curved upwards around him. After he had sunk about a foot, Zel had had enough. He rolled out of bed and went out to the balcony attached to his room. "Why did we have to stay in a nice inn for a change?" he grumbled. "Sure, they have better food and baths and things, but the beds are fluffy, most of them made of feathers. I can't have a decent night's sleep in a fluffy bed!"
His head slumped as he thought about that, letting his stone brow connect with the balcony's marble handrail. Stone + Stone = Ow his mind processed as the pain flared into his skull. The chimera slid to the floor and sat Indian-style, his head in his hands. Zel started cursing in every language he knew, and Zel knew a lot of languages. His cursing soon slurred as he held back sobs. It was times like this, late at night when he was all alone, that the sadness and utter depression really set on. Pulling his knees up to his chest and burying his face in his knees, he finally allowed himself to pull down daytime's mental barriers and bailed to the night sky.
Xelloss's ears pricked up at the sound of someone crying. He smirked as he drank in the rich-tasting sorrow. As he nothing better to do, he decided to find out who the meal came from and see if he couldn't get larger portions. He sent his staff off back home, it disappearing with the flick of a hand, and floated up from his seat in the window to the second floor, following the cries. His grin faded as he found Zelgadis huddled in a ball and sobbing his heart out. The priest had never seen his chimera so bad before, so he looked into his mind to see what the problem was. He saw no landscape in Zel's mind; only darkness. Zel floated in the middle of it all, naked in his chimera form and weeping as he stayed curled up in the foetal position. He could hear Zelgadis mumbling to himself through the tears, so he went closer to him to understand his words. "You're an idiot, Zel. You're a freak. You'll never be good enough for anyone, not unless you find your cure. No one truly cares; they just pretend to. If they really did, don't you think they'd see behind that rough exterior you put up everyday? Wouldn't they be able to tell that's not what you're feeling? That all those comments stick into you worse than any blade or spell ever could? Of course not, because they don't care. They don't want to care. They don't understand at all what it feels like. They're not alone."
Xelloss had a look akin to sadness on his face. Such harsh ways he has with himself, he thought. "Zel-kun..." Zel looked up, his reddened eyes meeting Xelloss's closed-eyed grin. He scrubbed his eyes with his hands to wipe away his tears. He turned his back on the trickster. "Go away. You're not really here; you never are. I don't need false promises, especially from you."
This caused Xelloss to blink. No...he doesn't already like me, does he? This could make things much easier. He floated over to Zelgadis and wrapped his arms around his waist, holding the startled Zel to him. "You want me?"
Now it was Zel's turn to blink. Confusion racked his mind. He's never behaved this way before. Never questioned me at all. He gave a ghost of a smile. Definitely never hugged me so gently. Hell, even if this is my mind, it's quite nice.
"Yes," he replied, covering the trickster's arm with his own and closing his eyes. Xelloss mentally rejoiced. A chibi Xel started dancing around. In Zel's mind however, the priest only responded with a smile as he nuzzled the smaller man's neck. "Then why haven't you done anything about it in the outside world, ne?"
He leaned back into the mazoku's embrace. His mind no longer felt so vulnerable, and clothes appeared on his body. He is a modest guy, after all. "Because something like this would never happen out there."
"Because you think you're a freak?"
"Because I know I am."
"Now, now, Zel-kun, that's just not true at all! I think you're absolutely lovely." Oops, I probably shouldn't have told him that.
"Don't lie, Xelloss."
"I'm not!" he pouted, a whine filling his rich voice. Zel simply responded with a 'humph!'.
"It's true, my Zel-chan. You're beautiful," he tilted his head, bringing it down to kiss the chimera's neck. "And unique as well. I'd love to know what stone would feel like. I want you to scream my name in ecstasy."
"Ooh," Zelgadis cooed as the mazoku worked his way up the side of his stone face. When Xelloss reached the tip of his ear, he sighed, "Hmm....If only this were real..."
"Open your eyes and find out," the priest suggested.
Zel complied with the request, looking down to find two arms wrapped around his waist, someone kissing his left ear, and that he was in someone's lap. Nani?!?!?!?!?!? He started and craned his head around to see the Xelloss's smiling face. Heart racing, he jumped out of the other man's lap and gripped the railing. Xelloss merely continued to smile up at him. "What, was that too much to handle, my little chimera?"
"Y-you...you...you..."
"were really there? Yup!" he nodded. "W-why?"
"Because you were crying," he answered honestly, though nonchalantly. Zel turned away, facing the quiet night. He took in the small city they'd stopped in, the rows of streets converging at the marketplace, a fountain in the centre of it all. He tried to calm himself, but stiffened again when the mazoku put his arms around him once more.
"Daijoubu desu, Zel-kun," he said softly, once again kissing the chimera's neck. Only this time, no doubt could arise saying the kisses were fantasised. "I meant what I said in there. You are beautiful. I want you more than you could ever realise. You don't have to be alone anymore. Do you still want me?" His voice pleaded, despite Xelloss's mental struggle for control over himself.
"...You're not going to hurt me, or leave me, or anything like that?"
"No," came the adamant response.
"You want me?" Shy, unsure.
"Yes." Serious, certain. The man of stone relaxed. He leaned back into Xelloss's warm embrace, feeling content for the first time in a long time. He sighed, a great weight lifted off his shoulders. Xelloss hugged him tighter and rested his head on the other man's shoulder. This is how I wanted it, he sighed. He opened his eyes and studied the chimera's face. Calm, almost happy. He smiled. Yes, definitely how I wanted it. Zelgadis opened his eyes and turned towards Xel's, sapphire meeting amethyst in a way they never had before.
"Want to go inside now?"
"Sure." The two detangled themselves from one another and entered the inn room, Xelloss closing the balcony doors behind them. He turned towards his chimera, only to find he'd gotten himself depressed again, staring at the bed.
"Ah, that won't work, will it?" he cheerfully remarked. Zelgadis answered him with a sour look that said, 'I'm not in the mood to hear stuff like that, fruitcake.' The smiley mazoku just put his arm around the chimera's back and held him close. "No worries! I can fix this!"
With a snap of his fingers, the two phased out the room, reappearing in a large bedroom. "Back in a flash." The priest phased out, allowing Zelgadis a chance to adjust to his new surroundings. The room had a definite 'purple' theme to it. The walls, stained with violet paint, had a textured surface, bumpy and slightly abrasive to the touch. Against the wall across from him, Zel noticed a black cherry desk, kept nice and orderly. Each drawer had a lock; no way anyone peeked into Xelloss's personal files. To the left of the desk, a door of blackest obsidian proudly announced itself as the only entrance and exit to the room. On the desk's right, Xelloss's staff hung suspended in the air, the ruby orb reflecting the glow of five Lighting orbs strategically placed around the room's ceiling. Behind him, an enormous bed took up most of the length of the wall. He could see at least eight pillows of varying shades of lavender piled up top, holding down layers of violet sheets and comforters. To his right and left stood bookshelves containing many texts and lores. Zel started to move towards one of these when his host returned, walking over to him and carrying a bottle of red wine and two flutes.
"Care for a drink?" he asked casually.
"No, thanks." The priest continued in his singsong voice as he sat down the bottle and glasses on his desk.
"Afraid I'll take advantage of you while you're half insensible?" Zel blushed.
"Uh...sort of..."
"Nah, that's alright. I can see how you might think that. I've done it before, you know. But I won't with you, my Zelgadis." He smiled. "You're too precious to break."
Zel gave that oh-so-adorable smile of his. "I'm glad you feel that way." He closed the distance between the two of them and caught Xelloss in a gentle embrace. He rested his head on Xel's shoulder as Xel's arms wrapped around him once more. This is going much easier than I planned, the mazoku thought to himself.
"So, am I going have to seduce you or can we just head straight to bed?" he whispered into the chimera's long pointed ears. His soon-to-be-lover's response came in a trail of kisses up his neck and chin to his ear as Zelgadis whispered back, "Oh, there's no need to seduce; let's just go slow, okay?"
They made their way over to the bed and laid down next to one another. Zel happily found the mattress soft, yet able to support his massive weight. Xel stared at him for a moment, his slit-pupil eyes trailing up and down the other man's body. "Too many clothes," he concluded, then pulled Zelgadis up into a sitting position. He quietly undid the buckles to the two belts, tossing them gently to the floor. Next came the cloak, untying the laces and undoing the circular clasp, letting the heavy ivory cloth puddle on the ground. He took off his own gloves, then slipped his hands underneath Zelgadis's shirt, pulling it up and off as he trailed his hands along the stone chest. Zel moaned as Xelloss touched him; it had been far too long since he had had this level of intimacy with anyone he thought to himself. Suddenly, the hands left as the trickster announced, "Your turn!"
Zel smirked as he began to undress the mazoku. With his still-gloved hands, he expertly undid the triple-clasp of the other man's cloak, then set it and the cloak on the plush amethyst carpet at the foot of the bed. He untied the wrap around Xel's waist slowly, winding the fabric around his own hand, then lightly tossed the bundle off the bed. After that, Zel took off his gloves and repeated the priest's actions as he lifted off the golden yellow tunic and let it fall as well. As he pulled back to admire Xelloss's smooth chest, he noticed a silver chain with a pendant on it that hung from his neck. He took the pendant in his hand and examined it. An outline of a circle, inlaid with four red gems and a strange inscription between each gem. Coming down from the top of the pendant, a dragon made of gold wrapped around a sword, its features twisted in a state of eternal agony.
"What is this?" he asked, an air of wonder filling his voice. Xelloss merely smiled.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later. Come now, you haven't finished yet!"
"Neither did you."
"I will soon enough. Now finish your part." He grinned, a naughty glint in his eyes as he moved so Zel could take off his boots. He did so, untying the cloth around each ankle and sliding each boot off in turn. He rubbed Xel's ankles as he flared out the bottoms of each pant leg, then moved his hands up his lover's legs and undid the pants. Zel bade him kneel on the bed and he did so. The chimera then pulled his pants down and found himself with nothing left to take off. Guess he wasn't kidding about the "bum to the breeze" comment after all. Xelloss giggled at Zel's staring at him.
"See, I said I wanted you!" he happily exclaimed. He kicked off the rest of his pants and took his stone man by the arms, laying him back on the bed. He took off Zelgadis's boots, then climbed on top of him, coming down to kiss him. Zel eagerly returned the kiss, his hands starting to wander about Xel's chest. However, Xel pulled away, winking and wagging the no-no finger at him. "Not yet, my dear, not yet."
He lifted Zel slightly so he could bring down the ivory pants over his bottom, then slid them off, black little briefs and all. He gained a shiver of pleasure from his lover as he did so. "Well, now we're both undressed, I guess it's time to play, ne?" Xelloss came down upon the chimera, lips locking in a sweet embrace. Their hands began to wander yet again, eliciting gasps and moans from both of them. The trickster teased his chimera, caressing everywhere but the one spot that screamed for attention. He finally relented, taking Zel into his hands and stroking his length. Zelgadis felt he would explode when Xel replaced hands for mouth, sucking and circling with his tongue. At last, his release came, and a course of pleasure went throughout his body. He began to relax as Xelloss took him out of his mouth, but then he went up for another kiss. Xel's own arousal rubbed against him, and he could feel the fires that had been quenched rising yet again. As the kiss ended, the chimera looked up at Xelloss.
Panting, he gasped, "Surely you're not satisfied, ne?" The mazoku smiled, happy that Zel wanted all of it.
"Of course not! The night is still young, and I haven't had my turn." His lover started to move to sit up, but he stopped him with a hand to his chest. "No, I'll have my fun in another way. We'll both have fun." He gently pushed the chimera back down on the mattress and spread his legs further apart. Xel caught a slight blush on Zel's cheeks.
"Whatever are you blushing for now, my dear?"
Zel looked at him sheepishly. "Um...I've never...uh, you know...with a guy...um..."
Realisation dawned on his features. "Oh! You've never gone this far before..." he said, wonder and worry in his tone. Xelloss slipped back down, catching Zelgadis in a hug. "Do you still want to - " His words were cut off by two fingers to his lips. Zel smiled at him.
"I said I wanted you, ne? I still do. I want to be with you," he whispered, his hips rocking slowly against Xel's.
"I need you." That was all Xelloss needed to hear. He kissed the chimera passionately, moving back into position as he did so. Barely breaking the kiss, he told him, "The first time will hurt a bit, but trust me, you won't regret it." He then plunged into Zel, causing the smaller man to cry out, both in pain and pleasure. They stayed that way for a few moments so that he could get used to the feel, then Xelloss began moving, thrusting in a constant rhythm. The two soon gasped for breath as they pumped together in unison, hips meeting hips over and over again. Zelgadis climaxed again, screaming out his lover's name at the peak, but the other wasn't yet finished. They continued thrusting, the large bed creaking under their combined weight yet remaining firmly intact. Zel came again, this time Xelloss climaxing with him. Utterly spent, the lovers readjusted themselves, Xelloss exiting and Zelgadis curling up next to him, their heads resting on the soft pillows.
"Next time, Zel-chan?"
"Mm?"
"You take me, ne?" Zelgadis smiled softly, his mind already shutting down into slumber. He rested his head on his lover's head.
"Alright."
"Good."
"Xelloss?"
"Yeah?"
"What are we going to tell the others?"
The trickster's smile returned. "We can tell them we're lovers and we've been going at it like monkeys all night long!"
<///_-\\> "Fruitcake."
"Thank you!" ^_^
"Seriously though...are we lovers?"
Xel opened his eyes and looked into the chimera's. "Of course we are, Zelgadis. We made love."
"You could've as easily done that with anyone else if you seduced them."
"But the point is that I didn't seduce you. We both did this quite willingly." He sighed. "Plus, I said we made love, Zel-chan." He rested his head on Zel's. "I don't know about you, but that was a first for me."
Zel looked at him again, then kissed him softly, tenderly. "Yeah, me too. Oyasumi nasai." He pulled a handful of the purple sheets up over the two of them and went to sleep. Xelloss kissed his forehead before lying back. "Oyasumi, Zel-chan. Sweet dreams."
The sun rose above the sleepy little city, calling the people to work for another day. Lina strolled down the hallway of the inn towards the stairs when she spotted Xelloss coming out of one of the rooms. "O-hay-o!" she exclaimed. "Man, I had a good night's sleep! Those beds were sooo soft and fluffy. How about you?"
Xel smiled softly, eyes closed. "Oh yes, I had a wonderful night, Lina-san." And for once, so did my Zel.