"My name is Zelgadis," The Chimera says, "I believe I saw you inside."
Sapphire eyes glint as they pierce the gloom in a quick appraisal of Lina's condition.
Lina is a mess, hair askew from the mad dash out of the club, tears of frustration drying on her cheeks, all the while holding back the fear of finding herself in a dark alley in an unknown neighbourhood.
In an attempt to collect herself Lina makes a feeble joke, "I'm sure you see a lot of women in your line of work."
"True enough." Zelgadis offers a wry smile, "But some women are exceptional enough to be remembered."
Embarrassment at the compliment colours Lina's cheeks a rosy shade of pink. Despite the severity of her situation, Lina distinctly feels a shiver run down her spine as she looks at The Chimera. Within such a close proximity Lina sees how handsome the young man truly is. With his athletic body (so much more enticing while clothed) and striking features it isn't hard for Lina to imagine him a star attraction at the stripclub.
"It's locked," Lina stammers nervously. "The door, it locked behind me."
Zelgadis slowly moves his eyes from Lina to the door behind her, "That door is not actually meant to be used, it's more of an emergency exit. If you wanted to leave the club you should have used the door you came in through."
Refusing to admit that she had been blind-folded when she arrived at the club with her friends, Lina offers a half-truth.
"I got confused with all of the noise and made for the wrong door," Lina says, "so sue me."
Try as she might to sound brave, Lina's voice quavers a bit at the stupidity of her situation.
Zelgadis takes pity on her, "Come on, I'll take you to the front of the club."
As Zelgadis walks towards the end of the alley he notices that Lina is not following him.
"Well, are you coming?" Zelgadis demands.
"What are you doing out here?" Lina suddenly questions. "I mean, shouldn't you be inside getting ready or something?"
Annoyed at the unexpected query Zelgadis states, "I needed some air. Now come on."
Still lagging behind Lina wonders where her friends are, and finally asks, "Um, where are we?"
Zelgadis stops short, "We're on one of the streets beside the club, if you follow me I'll take you to the front."
Lina, slightly red, clarifies, "No, I mean where is the club."
"You're kidding right?" Zelgadis asks stunned.
"My friends had me blind-folded when I got here," Lina finally admits. "I have no idea where they've taken me or how to get home."
After confessing to her situation Lina trails her eyes on the ground before her. A slight wind blows one of the clubs flyers onto the toe of Lina's shoe, Lina kicks at the piece of litter despondently. Struggling to convey the desperation of her situation to a complete stranger, Lina cringes in shame.
"I would call a cab," Lina's voice wavers slightly, "but I left my purse on the table inside."
I must seem like such an idiot, Lina thinks to herself. This guy must be laughing his head off at my expense.
"Are your friends still inside?" Zelgadis questions.
Suddenly Lina feels angry with herself for caring so much about what some stripper thinks.
Looking up at Zelgadis, Lina defiantly states, "I don't know."
"Well I can't take you into the club from the front entrance, I have to use a back way for obvious reasons." Zelgadis says to Lina, "If I drop you off at the door do you think you can find your friends inside?"
"I'm sure I'll be fine," Lina says to Zelgadis in spite of how un-fine she feels.
Checking his watch Zelgadis utters a mild expletive. "I've got to get back, I'm on soon."
Gathering her courage Lina mutters, "Well then, thanks for your help. Bye."
Unable to abandon Lina (much as he would like to), Zelgadis utters a sigh of frustration. Lina, meanwhile, is furious with her friends for putting her through this horrible experience. Thoughts of revenge and torture are interrupted by a voice that sends tingles straight through Lina's body, much as she is loathe to admit it.
"Okay, here's what we'll do," Zelgadis finally decides, "I'll drop you off at the front and you can look for your friends inside."
Lina hides her disappointment at The Chimera's statement, she had been hoping for a little more help then that.
"If you can't find them, you can wait for me and I'll take you home."
Lina's mouth drops in shock, she had not been expecting that much help.
"I shouldn't be too much longer," Zelgadis offers. "I'm sure you won't mind enjoying the show a while longer anyways." Zelgadis gives Lina a small smile.
"Oh God." Lina says unhappily, without thinking, "More?"
"You don't like the show?" Zelgadis asks, slightly offended.
Lina stammers, "I just...well...I didn't know we were coming here and I was surprised..."
Lina, unwilling to offend someone who just offered her a great deal of help, doesn't want to admit that under normal circumstances she wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this.
Lina's mumbling is interrupted by a low chuckling, apparently Zelgadis is enjoying the red-head's discomfort. Pulling herself together Lina turns around and stalks off in the direction Zelgadis had been heading before she stopped him a few minutes ago.
"Wait," Zelgadis' voice rings clearly through the night. "What's your name?"
The question sends Lina's mind whirling. Unformed thoughts of herself and this stranger spin rapidly through her head.
"Why," Lina breathlessly questions, "would you need to know that?"
"If you're going to wait for me, I need a name to give the bouncer." Zelgadis answers pragmatically, unaware of the effect he is having on Lina.
"Oh," whispers Lina. Unwilling to even think about the track her mind was taking not five seconds ago she states, "Lina, Lina Inverse."
So once again Lina finds herself in the midst of a group of crazed women, intent on gorging their eyes on the sight of many naked men gyrating strictly for their pleasure.
In other words, Lina was in hell.
For the past twenty minutes Lina had been searching this mass futilely for any sign of Amelia, Filia or Sylfiel. Unable to bear the crowd, or so she told herself, Lina finally retreats to the bathroom.
How do I get myself into these situations? Lina wonders to herself.
Standing in front of a large mirror Lina gazes into her own red eyes, trying her best to stay calm. Crude shouting can be heard from outside the bathroom. Thankfully no one enters, leaving Lina alone with her thoughts. Thoughts involving a certain lavender haired young man.
Can I trust him to take me home alright? Lina thinks. He seemed decent enough, but he's a stripper for God's sake.
Lina sighs at the futility of her situation.
Unless I want to call Luna, it seems I'm stuck with Zel's help, Lina trembles at the idea of telling her older sister that she's been abandoned somewhere in the city at a stripclub. Needless to say, this scenario is not truely an option for Lina.
Raucous noise suddenly fills the restroom as two inebriated women enter, laughing loudly. Lina takes this opportunity to step into the main room, in order to see if the show is anywhere near finished. As Lina glances around she notices that the room has emptied some, seemingly some of the women have already left. Lina hoped that this was a sign of the night dying down. As she cautiously peeks towards the stage, Lina's breath catches in her throat. Zelgadis is onstage, performing his last routine of the night. Lina's cheeks flame as she recalls her conversation with The Chimera not too long ago.
I'll never be able to look him in the face if I watch this, Lina thinks to herself.
Yet Lina finds herself unable to avert her gaze, wondering what it would be like to see someone naked before even knowing their last name. Finally, shame at her train of thought hits Lina and she once again retreats to the bathroom.
Some time later, when the screams and music have calmed, Lina creeps out her hiding spot once more.
Seeing that the club has emptied Lina approaches the bouncer, a gruff man with more than his share of facial hair. The nametag on the bouncer's chest reads 'Dilgear'.
"Um, hi" Lina begins. "I'm supposed to give you my name. Lina Inverse."
"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" the surly bouncer responds.
Lina begins to panic, "Zelgadis said to give you my name, that you would show me where to meet him."
Dilgear begins leafing through some papers, "Oh yeah, Lina Inverse right?"
Throat dry, Lina simply nods.
"Follow me then," abruptly the bouncer walks towards the back of the club.
Lina timidly follows the large man through a door set into one of the back walls of the club. As they walk through the door Lina begins to wonder where they are headed.
Just don't take me backstage, Lina silently pleads. Anything but that, please.
Fortunately, Lina doesn't find herself in a throng of semi-nude strippers. Dilgear has led the red-head to a sitting room, sparsely furnished with a threadbare couch and two wooden chairs. The room has a cold feeling to it, as if hardly used. Lina hardly feels comfortable in this empty room, waiting for a stripper she has only just met to take her home from a club full of naked men.
"Wait here," and with that the bouncer is gone.
Finding herself alone once more, Lina sits down on the couch and prepares to wait. It isn't long before the door swings open once more and a handsome face peers in at Lina. Looking up expectedly, Lina is disappointed to find that Zelgadis hasn't arrived but another stripper has.
As Gaav traipses through the waiting room, he slowly sizes Lina up. Red hair nearly sweeping the floor in it's length, blue eyes that stare so intently Lina feels as if her very soul has been penetrated. Abruptly, and without warning, he sits down next to Lina on the couch. Very closely.
"Waiting for someone?" Gaav fairly purrs in Lina's ear.
Shifting slightly, to give herself more room, Lina answers, "Yes, but it isn't you."
"Too bad," Gaav offers Lina a feral grin.
Lina answers with a smile just as ferocious, "Not really."
Unexpectedly Gaav bursts into laughter, "Zelgadis sent me to tell you that he would be along shortly."
Lina's mind whirls in confusion at this message from such an unexpected source.
Getting up Gaav moves towards the door, "If you ever get tired of that guy, give me a call. I like your attitude."
With that the strange man leaves Lina to herself, wondering if perhaps this whole night isn't just a strange dream.
Ten minutes later Zelgadis finally enters the sitting room, looking as poised and confident as ever.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long," Zelgadis says. "I'm the last one on, so I'm usually the last one to leave as well."
Not knowing exactly what to say, Lina simply nods her head.
"Well, let's get you home." Zel finally announces, leading Lina out of the room.
The two leave the club, heading towards one of the side streets that surround it. Following Zelgadis, Lina is lost in her own thoughts. Not noticing that The Chimera has stopped walking, Lina plows into him from behind.
"Oh, sorry Zel," Lina mumbles to Zelgadis.
"Zel?" The Chimera asks.
"Well, your name is Zelgadis right?" Lina explains.
Not really wanting to get into a discussion on appropriate nicknames Zelgadis gestures towards a beat up Honda Civic, "Here we are."
Lina is surprised to find the passenger door already unlocked, "Aren't you afraid of theft?"
"There's nothing really worth stealing in here," Zelgadis says. "I'd rather a thief just take whatever they find, rather than break one of my windows."
Lina doesn't quite understand the concept, but decides to leave the topic alone.
As the car pulls off Zel asks Lina, "Do you mind if I stop for a coffee?"
"No, actually I wouldn't mind a cappucino myself," Lina answers.
Zelgadis neatly pulls in to the parking lot of a local all-night cafe. As the pair enter, Lina finds some of the tension of the night slip from her shoulders.
Thank God I'll be home soon, Lina thinks to herself, and this horrible night will be over.
Lina and Zelgadis order their respective drinks and wait for the woman at the counter to prepare them.
"Would you mind if we stayed here for a minute?" Lina questions Zelgadis. "I just need a moment to get myself together."
"No problem," Zel anwers. "I wouldn't mind a break myself."
So the two sit down with their beverage of choice and eye each other nervously, wondering what in the world they could talk about.
"Is Zelgadis your real name?" Lina asks unexpectedly.
Blowing on his coffee softly Zel murmurs, "Hmmm?"
Lina elaborates, "Zelgadis. It's kind of an unusual name. Is that your real name or some kind of stage name?"
Zel's lips curve upwards into a faint grin, "It's my real name. I guess I'm used to it, it doesn't sound all that unusual to me."
Lina seems incredulous, "Not unusual? What kind of name would you find unusual then?"
"How about Gaav or Zangulus?" Zelgadis replies, "I find it hard to believe that those are their real names, and I've known Gaav my entire life."
"You mean everyone at the club uses their real names?" Lina cries.
"Well most of us have unusual names to begin with, maybe we were born to be strippers." Zel looks bemused at the idea.
Much to Lina and Zelgadis' surprise, they find that they have much to talk about with each other. Zelgadis tells Lina about how he became a stripper in the first place, how his best friend's brother Gaav got him into the whole business. Lina tells Zelgadis about her family, and how she hopes to work for her father's company once she finishes her commerce degree. Indeed the pair spend hours discussing their very different lives to one another, conversation only halting when the Lina and Zelgadis find themselves staring at each other amazed at the seeming familiarity of two complete strangers.
Sometimes it is easier to express your most private thoughts to a stranger then to the very best of friends. This is how Lina felt, sitting next to Zelgadis and thoroughly enjoying the company of this young man who has lead such a different life then her own. Lina found herself sharing with Zelgadis her extreme fear of her older sister Luna, her uncertainties about the career she had chosen for herself, and even her anxieties about her relationship with Gourry. Through it all Zelgadis listened with a patient ear, encouraging Lina to speak but offering no advice.
In her turn Lina found herself the one listening to Zelgadis' story. Lina learned that Zel had lost his parents at a very early age, and had to fend for himself more often then not. It seemed that Gaav and Val (Gaav's little brother and Zel's best friend) were the closest that Zelgadis had to a real family. However, Lina is not the neutral ear that Zelgadis had provided. After hearing about Zel's family Lina cried out in despair, upon discovering that Zel had a degree in english and was attempting to get published Lina loudly suggested quitting the stripping and getting a "real" job. Unoffended Zelgadis simply tried to explain to Lina that his current occupation offers him enough money to live on while allowing him the time to focus on his writing, grudgingly Lina finds that she must agree.
So the night continues, and before Lina and Zelgadis realize it the sun has begun to peek across the horizon.
"Oh crap," Lina suddenly realizes how late (or early) it has become.
Zelgadis stifles a yawn, "I didn't realize the time."
Lina gets up hurriedly, "My sister is going to murder me."
"Then we better get you home before she wakes up," Zel says smiling charmingly.
The two get into the car and arrive at Lina's home in record time. Interestingly enough once home Lina seems reluctant to leave the Civic, stalling as she prepares to leave.
"This, um, was nice," Lina stammers.
"Yes it was," Zelgadis offers Lina a soft grin that makes leaving even harder.
"Well, see ya." Lina reluctantly opens the car door.
Zelgadis notices the red-head's unhappiness with a quick smile, "Oh, undoubtedly."
Lina catches a note in that last sentence that lets leaving this interesting man a little easier. Gathering her courage Lina shuts the car door and walks up the path to the front door of her home.
Trembling as she puts the key into the lock, Lina heaves a sigh of relief once she steps across the threshold. The sound of Zelgadis' engine dies away as The Chimera heads towards the other side of town, where his own home lay.
Quietly Lina goes up the stairway, towards her own room. The house is silent, and Lina pads as softly as possible across the carpet of the hallway. Once inside her own room Lina dresses for bed and crawls underneath the thick coverlets. Sighing softly young Lina Inverse slips into formless dreams involving a certain lavender haired youth.
Part 3 | Fanfiction