| Flirting |
| I want you to want me Lina glanced over at the companion striding along beside her. He�d been very quiet all day. She saw his eyes flicker towards the side of the road. Curious, she expanded her senses and noticed what he had � the twenty or so Lesser Mazoku hidden in the underbrush. With a wink for him, and a grin to the rest of her friends, she assumed an arrogant pose and called out �We know you�re there! Come out, come out, wherever you are!� I need you to need me Lina merrily blasted monster after monster. She knew that her friends were holding their own. These Mazoku weren�t very challenging. An explosion behind her caused her to turn and discover the charred remains of one Mazoku who�d tried to sneak up on her. Beyond it, her quiet companion gave her a sardonic look. She grinned back. She always knew she could count on Zel to watch her back, even more so than Gourry. And he was a lot more effective at it. I�d love you to love me Later that evening, as they made camp, Lina kept trying to catch Zel�s eye. She loved their little non-verbal communications, like in the Dragon Ruins, and in the Clair Bible shrine. She hoped he liked it too. It was different from her partnership with Gourry. And the difference was important. I�m beggin� you to beg me Lina watched Zel sip his tea, nose buried in some manuscripts they�d found earlier. The manuscripts detailed some more obscure branches of white magic. Lina knew Zel was hopeful that they�d provide a cure for his chimera state, but part of her hoped he didn�t find anything. She thought he looked just fine. I�ll shine up my old brown shoes, put on a brand new shirt Come home early from work, if you�ll say that you love me. The next morning, Lina took some pains with her morning ablutions. She put on a different outfit, this one made up of red pants and a yellow top. She brushed her hair a bit more carefully. Hoping he noticed, she slipped out of her and Amelia�s tent. Zelgadis sat next to the remains of their fire. He hadn�t moved all night. From the sour expression on his face, Lina guessed the manuscripts were worthless. He didn�t look up as she approached. �Nothing?� she asked. �Nothing. Here, if you want them, they�re yours.� He pulled the pages from his cloak and handed them to her. As he did, he looked up. Lina could see the pain and disappointment on his face. Suddenly, she felt the need to comfort him. �I�m sorry, Zel. But maybe the next one, right?� Didn�t I, didn�t I, didn�t I see you crying? Oh, didn�t I, didn�t I see you crying? Feeling all alone without a friend you know you feel like dying. Oh, didn�t I, didn�t I, didn�t I see you crying? He closed his eyes a moment. She didn�t think he�d even acknowledge her uncharacteristic sympathy, but then he gave her a small wry smile. �Maybe.� Something flickered behind his eyes. �New look for you, huh?� With a grin, Lina assumed a flirty, confident pose. �Well, different. You like?� He sat perfectly sit for a moment. Lina couldn�t read his expression. Suddenly, she was afraid she�d gone too far. One couldn�t just �come on� to Zel like that, he was too sensitive. She breathed a mental sigh of relief when he said, �It�s�very becoming.� �Thanks!� He noticed! Internally, she was jumping up and down in glee, but on the outside, she just gave him a wink. �That�s me, the wonderful, beautiful, Lina Inverse!� She proclaimed with a toss of her hair. Surprisingly, Zel blushed. �Um, yeah. Beautiful.� Their eyes met. Lina�s smirk became a true grin. Despite his blush, Zel smiled back. Lina sat next to him, delighted. They kept glancing at each other and smiling as she stirred up the fire, getting it flaming for breakfast. I�m finally getting through to him, Lina thought triumphantly as she rose to fetch water for morning tea. She could feel his eyes following her. I�m getting through, she thought. I want you to want me I need you to need me I�d love you to love me I�m beggin� you to beg me I�ll shine up my old brown shoes, put on a brand new shirt, Come home early from work, if you say that you love me. Didn�t I, didn�t I, didn�t I see you crying? Oh, didn�t I, didn�t I see you crying? Feeling all alone without a friend you know you feel like dying. Oh, didn�t I, didn�t I, didn�t I see you crying? Music by Cheap Trick (or Letters to Cleo, depending on which version you�re listening to!) |