Xellos appeared inside Zelgadiss' room and watched the chimera as he stood by the window. The moonlight shone on his lavender hair and reflected brightly in his solemn blue eyes. The image was breathtaking and Xellos remained in the darkness for a long time simply watching him. When Zelgadiss sighed and turned from the window Xellos suddenly realized how late it was. He approached the chimera and wrapped his arms around his lover's waist from behind just as Zelgadiss let his cloak fall to the ground.

"Gomen ne Zel-kun," he whispered into Zelgadiss' ear as the chimera relaxed against him, "I lost track of time."

"It's all right," Zelgadiss replied softly, letting his head lean back to rest of Xellos' shoulder, "I'm glad you're here."

Xellos smiled and began to kiss down along Zelgadiss' neck. The chimera was in an odd mood tonight. Normally a more... physical apology would be required. It was all right though, he would provide that sort of apology anyway.

Zelgadiss went to the bed easily, but his strange mood still persisted. He removed Xellos' clothing slowly, stroking the creamy skin for an eternity after each piece fell to the ground before he finally moved onto the next one. Xellos had been far hastier, divesting the chimera of his drab clothing within seconds. Caught as he was he used his mouth and hands in an attempt to persuade Zelgadiss to hurry, but it proved to be a futile effort, his lover would not be rushed tonight regardless of the late hour.

When his clothing had finally departed, Xellos slid his burning body closer to his lover as they collapsed onto the bed, he was eager for the release Zelgadiss' hands had promised him. But still he was denied. Zelgadiss held him close, pressing their bodies together but not allowing his mouth or hands to reach their desired destination. Xellos whimpered slightly, rubbing his hips against his lover's and feeling the proof of Zelgadiss' need, why was he holding them back?

"Zel-kun," he whispered into Zelgadiss' ear as his hands traced teasing patterns over the chimera's back. "What's the matter?"

The chimera's only response was a low moan caused by Xellos' movement, the mazoku groaned in frustration.

"Zel-kun, I need you." He begged.

Zelgadiss sighed heavily and his eyes drifted shut, "Hai Xellos, I know." He whispered and finally stopped restricting Xellos' movements. Finding himself free to do as he liked, Xellos finally reached his goal, his mouth circling Zelgadiss' shaft, drawing his lover into the moist warmth, drinking in the chimera's moans the way he shortly drank the results of his ministrations.

He looked up to find Zelgadiss with his head tilted back, his hands twisted in the bed sheets. The sight caused him to smile, until Zelgadiss looked down at him and he was able to see the tears in the chimera's eyes.

"Zel-kun?" he asked with surprise, moving up to wrap the chimera tightly in his arms, "What's wrong? Please, tell me." But Zelgadiss still didn't answer, he just wrapped his arms around the mazoku, letting Xellos trace soothing patterns over his tense muscles until they finally relaxed. He sighed then and began to nuzzle Xellos' neck gently, causing the still-aroused mazoku to moan.

"Zel-kun, I can't-"

"I'm all right now Xellos," he whispered, nibbling on the mazoku's jugular.

"Are you sure?"

Zelgadiss smiled against his neck and then ran his hand gently down Xellos' hard arousal earning another moan from the mazoku, who pressed himself closer to that touch as his hands sought out his discarded cloak and the vial he kept hidden in the pocket. He poured some of the think liquid over his hand and kissed Zelgadiss again as his slid his moist fingers gently inside the chimera's body. He chuckled deeply at his lover's pleased reaction, then gasped when Zelgadiss took the vial from him and began to apply the liquid with deliberate, teasing strokes.

Xellos moved his fingers faster, coating Zelgadiss as quickly as he could, his body was burning and Zelgadiss' caress was only fanning those flames, he couldn't hold back any longer. He removed his fingers gently while catching Zelgadiss' hand and holding it above the chimera's head. His lover's blue eyes were bright with need, and something else that Xellos couldn't quite identify, but which filled him with a strong, very different kind of longing. The feeling was so intense that he paused momentarily, looking down at Zelgadiss with wonder.

"Xellos?" the chimera looked confused, "What?"

Xellos shook his head, "Nothing," he whispered, capturing the chimera's mouth as he finally drove himself into his lover Zelgadiss slowly, answering the need of his body and his lover's soft demands, but he could not hold to that pace. He had denied himself too long, and his release came far sooner that he wanted, racing through his body with the force of a forest fire, leaving him weak and gasping for air.

His body was relaxed and sated now, and yet, that strange sense of longing still remained. He couldn't identify it, nor could he make it go away, it sat in his chest, unmoving and unignorable. With a sigh, he rolled next to Zelgadiss and pulled his lover against him once again. The chimera snuggled closer, running his fingers gently across Xellos' back in a relaxed manner. And still the feeling of longing remained.

"Xellos?" Zelgadiss sounded concerned and Xellos suddenly realized that his body was tense. He tried to force himself to relax, but he was only moderately successful, what was this feeling?

"I'm all right Zel-kun." It was a mostly true statement.

"Are you sure?" He asked, switching his light caress to a deep massage, Xellos sighed appreciatively at the change, running his hands fondly over the chimera's metallic hair.

"Yes, I'm sure."

Zelgadiss looked skeptical, which he had ever right to be, and Xellos laughed before kissing his lover's concerns away. It seemed to work, and they were soon cuddled together again under the blankets, slowly falling asleep.

And still the feeling remained. Xellos was confused, what did he want? Very shortly, he received his answer.

Zelgadiss was very nearly asleep, but he snuggled closer to his lover and murmured, "Ai shiteru Xellos." And with those words the longing within him vanished only to be replaced by an almost paralyzing sense of joy. This was what he had seen earlier in Zelgadiss' eyes, he held his sleeping lover tightly, treasuring both the chimera and the words he had whispered, and then he too fell asleep, lulled by the sound of Zelgadiss' peaceful breathing.