Title: Who said it would be easy?

Category: Anime/Manga » Slayers

Author: Kikimora

Beta: Deritine

Language: English, Rating: Rated: T

Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Romance

Published: 10-05-09, Updated: 12-06-09

Chapters: 13, Words: 55,829

I know I read too many Harry Potter fanfics, especially those Sevitus and Severitus ones with the Abusive!Dursleys warning. But then, I think, making stories travel across fandoms is not a bad idea.

Here be SPOILERS for my latest Slayers fic in RUSSIAN: since I don't believe that I (or anyone else) will ever translate my epic "Evil Stepmother" into English, I bravely use the main ideas from it in this new, (hopefully) shorter fic. (By main ideas I mean 'Xellos gets Lina to babysit Val' and his reasons for it, not the 'Ancient Dragon resurrection', not the 'tragedy of the Seven Dews city' and not the part where Lina learns Mazoku language ^_^ ). This doesn't mean ES isn't going to be finished, it's just that sometimes I need a change of perspective (and language).

Then, this fanfic is an experiment for me, and not just once, but twice: I have never tried a POV fic, and I'm writing in the Present tense. I do that not just to make my own life harder, but because a story in 1st person (IMHO) needs a good reason for being told in the Past tense (like being a diary, memoirs, a statement in a legal process, etc), otherwise it doesn't work for me. In present, though, it can be attributed to some kind of mind-reading. ^_^;

Aaaand finally, a WARNING to Filia-fans... Well, I really tried to make it easier for you, but still, you'll find that Filia here is less than nice. She has some excuses for being so, and anyway she's much better than in ES where she, frankly speaking, goes nuts because of being forced to raise a person she's once killed... still, you might want to skip some passages. ^_^

Chapter 1

I made it. Just a second before it is too late, I made it. They are all there; gigantic crowds, myriads of loathing eyes. All trained on the boy, small and calm with resignation. A brave little one he is, isn't he? That's an odd feeling that I get when thinking of him this way – as if something inside me shrinks leaving a vacuum.

Those thoughts cross my mind as I rip the air to get to him, grab him and vanish before he even has time to be startled.

I found out about today's planned event, surprisingly, from Milgasia. The Elder turned out to be the only one with a hint of dignity. He tried to stand up for the boy, but as the other two Elders were in majority, he was locked up in his own house until the sentence was carried out. It was from imprisonment that he managed to communicate their plans to me through Astral. He demanded that I did not hurt anyone, of course, but still it was a desperate gesture on his behalf. I think he was actually quite surprised that I even considered saving the child. I told him, of course, that L-sama obviously wanted the last Ancient Dragon to live, and I couldn't just ignore her wishes. I don't think I convinced him, though. I wouldn't have been convinced in his shoes.

What was even worse, Filia did not object. She was there, I noticed her, standing by the wall, all solemn and pale. But silent. Most likely, they gave her a thorough brainwash, otherwise she would have fought tooth and claw for her hatchling. She can be almost as fierce as Lina when it comes to defending someone or something she cares about. Just to think of all those times she found me in the house with Valteria... Oh yes, the latest blows still hurt. But, unlike Lina, Filia sometimes can't tell good from evil that easily. She tends to obey authority too much. Especially since that last time she stood up to her Elder he got killed along with her whole people. That must have given her quite a scare... I can't really blame her for not protecting her ward. She is alone against the world, young, gentle and doesn't do sublte. After all, not everyone has to be as foolhardy as I am.

That is what my Mistress has made abundantly clear after the latest confrontation with Rezo, the Red Priest. Should've watched from afar, she said. Should've let Lina handle it on her own, she said. Shouldn't have wasted power or get wounded, she said. I nodded like a bobblehead, and apologised, all the way knowing perfectly well that there was no chance I'd have stayed away while Lina was getting hurt. It's Lina we're talking about, after all. Of course, Mistress doesn't know anything yet, but I will soon have to tell her. I have almost finished rearranging and distributing my duties. Maybe in a couple months I will be free. Too bad the Dragons couldn't wait to attempt Valteria's execution until then. Now I'll have to find a safe place for him to stay while I'm still busy.

Coming out of my reverie I notice that the child in my arms is scared senseless. I put him gently on the ground while still keeping my hands on his shoulders – I don't need him to dart away at this point.

"Val", I say in my best soothing voice, "you're safe now. No one will hurt you."

He is shaking and breathing heavily, poor thing. I rub his arm a little and he gives a start. He is really tiny, even for his five years. His hair turned out red this time, not teal, but he's still got those mesmerizing golden eyes, like faery lanterns.

"Hush", I say. "I will not harm you. You will be all right."

"N-no", he finally masters some voice; and I hate the next thing he says. "You are an enemy! Let me go!"

I stifle a sigh.

"I know you were told all kinds of things about me", I say calmly, "but look at those who did it. They were trying to kill you a minute ago. Don't you think if they turned out to be bad, then I may turn out to be good?"

He shakes his head with terrifying confidence.

"No. It's just that I am bad, too. You should have let them kill me."

I unwittingly tighten my grip on his shoulders, fighting hard to keep my face straight. No need to scare him further. But what a bloody thing to say! Clearly, they didn't just brainwash Filia. I open my mouth to tell him that, of course, he is good, only to realize that there is no way in the world that he'll believe me. Who would've thought the Dragons could screw him up so badly...

"Listen, Val", I finally manage, "what do you think of humans?"

He frowns, clearly disliking my change of topic.

"They are OK", he says after a moment.

"Which means... they are good?.." I supply.

"Uh", he nods.

"How about... I leave you with some humans. They watch you and find out all kinds of stuff about you and then they decide if you're good or bad?"

"But the Dragons've already decided I'm bad", he says looking down.

I expected it.

"Yes, but I say you're good. And right now it's their opinion against mine. So we need a third opinion to settle it. See?"

I hope he can understand me. He gives me an appraising look.

"Okay", he finally says. "If the humans don't mind..."

I stifle a sigh again. Either he's seen my point or he's still got some self-preservation instinct. Anyway, looks like he isn't going to run back to the Dragon lair yet. Good. Now I only have to convince the "humans".

Lina owns a house in Sailune suburbs. She doesn't spend much time there, though, as she is on the road nine months a year, but she's bought the property anyway and even applied for citizenship – although I think it has more to do with the recently instated stipends for unemployed than with anything else.

Thankfully, she seems to be at home, even though it is now mid-summer. I wish I could talk to her in private before bringing Val, but I have no place to leave him; and something tells me it won't help building up his trust for me if I asked him to have a walk in the garden while I go through things with Lina.

So here he is, diligently trudging alongside me, two of my fingers firmly clasped in his small hand. I feel that funny shrinking thing again. I knock at the door.

"C'min!" she welcomes in her high-pitched voice, and Val startles again. He must be horribly distressed to react so painfully to everything.

"Lina-san, could you please show yourself?" I ask as we enter the sitting-room finding it empty.

She runs down the staircase in a clatter of heels against polished wood.

"Oh, Xellos, it's you!"

"Yes, and this is Valteria", I say before she can voice a guess. I watch her closely.

"Hello", she says, smiling in an unsure fashion. "How are you doing?"

Val stays silent for a second, but I feel him tense, and his face adopts an odd expression akin to grief.

"I am fine, thank you, Madam", he says quietly.

"Good!" Lina concludes cheerfully, and then turns to me. "So what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

I decide that there is no reason to put off telling her. She will throw a tantrum anyway, and probably hurt Val's feelings, but at least, if I am straightforward, she will take him in.

"I was wondering, if perhaps you could put him up for a time being", I say matter-of-factly.

"WHAT?" predictably, Lina is surprised out of her wits. I repeat my request.

"Wa- wa- wait," she finally manages. "Why me? Why him? Why YOU? Where's Filia, dammit?"

I start calmly answering her questions one by one.

"You – because there aren't many people in the world that I can entrust with a child. Him – because being among Dragons is dangerous for him at the moment. And Filia was at the Earth Dragon King Temple just a few minutes ago, but she is a little bit confused about what is to be done with Val from now on."

"And how is he –" she points a firm finger at Val, "your business?"

I cringe a little at her gesture, but Val doesn't seem to be disheartened by it. I don't want to outright lie to her, but telling the truth isn't even an option, so let's compromise.

"Actually, Milgasia saw it fit to ask me to take care of him."

"Oh really?" Lina appears scornful, but I can tell she is surprised. "I should say I thought better of him."

"You can think of him even better still", I inform her looking forward to her reaction to what I am going to say next. "You see, the Goldens were going to execute the boy."

Lina blinks.

"You mean, kill him?"

"Yes, although... in front of so many people who clearly knew what was going to happen and were quite happy with the idea... I should say that's called execution."

"But what for?" she exclaims, and I her voice adopts a slightly hysterical pitch.

"No idea. Why don't we ask the accused? Ne, Val, why do you think they wanted to kill you?"

"Because I am bad", he supplies flatly. "I will grow up and kill them all."

Unlike myself, Lina doesn't even try to keep her face straight, and Val actually takes a step back. I take care not to tighten my grip on his hand: I don't want him to feel trapped.

Finally, she speaks, and her barely audible words lift the weight that was threatening to bury me alive.

"He's staying here, then."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak in case something I say might make her reconsider. She looks at me appraisingly, just as Val had.

"Why do you care about what happens to him?" she asks.

"Oh, but that is, of course, a secret," I beam, ignoring the metaphorical cold sweat on my metaphorical back.

She chuckles.

"I see. Good. That means, it's a prominent reason, at least."

When did she learn to read me? She hasn't finished talking to me, though.

"The Dragons will be a pain in the ass. I suggest that you leave me some means of communicating with you, just in case there is an urgent situation."

I pretend to be a little reluctant.

"Uh, all right, I'll think of something."

She glares, which means I was convincing.

"Okay, Val, let's go get you settled in," she says cheerfully, reaching out to the child. He doesn't even twitch. Lina turns to me once more,

"Well, Xellos, what are you still doing here? Get out!"

"Eh, sure", I mumble and vanish, but I don't actually 'get out'. I want to see for myself how things are going to develop from this point.