Clasp

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"Neh, Zel, no need to get out!"

He glanced up, towel wrapped loosely around his waist, slipping a little over his hips. I stall momentarily, but keep my sunny grin on my face, knowing he'll just account it to my less than stellar intelligence.

"I was getting out anyway."

Completely unruffled as usual, smooth voice almost sending a shiver up my spine. Too smooth maybe? Over analyzing, Gourry. Doesn't Lina always say not to think? Or is it try to think? I forget. Oh well.

What was I doing?

"You've only been in for a minute, soak a bit."

Perfectly innocent comment. He considers it as I drop my own towel and splash into the hot spring, this inn's bath. A moment later, Zel let's his slipping towel finish it's slipping and drops into the pool beside me. Lina always says not to stare ... of course, Lina wasn't looking at him like that.

"Fine."

A quiet acquiesce after the fact, but that's just typical. He leans back lazily and closes his eyes, slowly relaxing in the hot water. That was relatively bloodless, I bet he was considering it himself. Eh? Oh, wine.

I pour a glass and let the thing float along, savoring the alcohol. Nice flavor, very mellow and low key. And Lina thinks I know nothing. Obviously she was never raised in Zelphilia. He's elegant even when he is relaxing. Kinda innocent too. I've always wondered what his skin feels like when not covered in several layers of cloth ...

Dumb girls, why do they have to start a fight right now? Don't they have anything better to do? Like gossip. I nab the floating bottle and get a refill just as Zel cracks a eyelid in irritation.

"They're loud, aren't they."

He's gives me look of supreme resignation, a 'aren't they always?' look. I shrug, a little irritated myself. They just had to spoil the mood. Rolling his eyes, he smiled just a bit.

"Women ... "

Yeah, they're a wonder. Don't see why you're so calm with this. Of course, you aren't sexually frustrated over your own friend ... maybe that has something to do with it. Maybe Zel's asexual now. Or straight. Hmmm, never thought of that. He gives me weird sideways look. I clear my face and raise the wine bottle.

"Want a drink?"

He shrugs and grabs a glass from the floating table thing, holding it out for filling. I pour and refill my own glass again. Yum. I wonder what alcohol tolerance Zel has. Out straight away or drink under the table type? Straight out type, he looks a little spacey already. I can use this.

"Want a back rub? Bristle or wire?"

Maybe his inhibitions are just lowered, he doesn't look totally wiped. He smiles a little and turns, giving a shrug. Smiling stupidly (I have a whole arsenal of stupid smiles), I slide the brushes over my hands and then over his back.

This is fun! So pleasantly responsive as he arches into the rub, leaning into my arms. Just like a cat. I should've gotten him tipsy before, could've been ... interesting. I'm not the brightest torch in the bunch, but maybe getting him suitably sloshed and in bed might have been a bad plan. This one is better. Much better. What was it again?

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