Zel knocked on Lina's door to warn her he was about to come in--surprising Lina could be potentially fatal--then opened the door.
He was greeted by a pillow, which hit him in the chest. "Good morning to you, too, Lina."
Lina looked surprised, then embarrassed. She moved her mouth as if to say "gomen," then remembered she couldn't speak, looked at Zel and offered a little apologetic shrug.
"You thought it would be Amelia?" Zel guessed, figuring that the pillow would've hit about where Amelia's head would've been.
Lina nodded, then gesticulated.
"She made you angry this morning?" Zel translated as best he could.
Lina nodded again, smiling, pleased that Zel knew what she meant.
Zel sat down next to Lina where she lay on her bed. He laid a hand gently on her forehead, checking for fever.
Zel didn't realise that his current shirtless condition was not helping Lina's temperature get any cooler. Lina couldn't tell him that, though, and wasn't so sure she would even if she could.
Zel frowned. Lina did have a fever, and she looked awfully flushed. Someone would have to watch after her for the day. It was pretty obvious who: Gourry couldn't, as he wouldn't know what to do to help Lina, and he'd annoy the hell out of her; Amelia couldn't, as she was already on Lina's bad side; that left Zel to play nursemaid. He sighed. The things he did for lo--er, friendship. Friendship. The things he did for friendship.
"Lina, I know you're probably not in the mood to be annoyed today, so I'll bar Amelia and Gourry from coming in."
Lina grinned at him and mouthed "arigatou." Then she looked thoughtful, and pointed at him then at herself.
"Yes, I'll be the one watching after you, if that's all right."
Lina nodded emphatically, pleased that the only one who seemed to understand her quasi-sign language would be the one looking after her. Not to mention the only one who wouldn't annoy her to the point that she'd commit murder.
"You'll want breakfast, I'm sure, but I don't think your normal diet would be a great idea. I'll bring you some oatmeal and herbal tea."
Lina frowned, but since he was probably right, she didn't try to protest.
"I'll be right back," he said as he closed the door behind him.
Lina found herself hoping that he wouldn't remember to put a shirt on.
Unfortunately for Lina, Zel ran into Amelia in the hall. "Amelia, you and Gourry are not to disturb Lina today. Where is Gourry, anyway?"
"....." Amelia stared at him, bug-eyed. Now that she was all the way awake, seeing Zel sans shirt...talk about mind-boggling!
"What--" Zel looked down, noticed he wore no shirt, blushed, then retreated to his room. Amelia sighed in disappointment, then headed off to get some breakfast to cheer herself up.
Zel saw Gourry snoring on the floor just as the swordsman had been when Zel had left. "Just as well," Zel muttered as he pulled on a shirt.

_________

--Elizabeth, Trickster Priestess ~_~