Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Owner of a Lonely Heart ❯ One ( Chapter 1 )

Title: Owner of a Lonely Heart

Author: Yugure

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Supernatural/Drama/Angst/Horror/Romance

Disclaimer: If you think Slayers et al belongs to me… I humbly request you step back into sanity.

Author Notes: Perhaps this will be Halloween fic, but I don't know if I'll be done with it by October 31. I'll try, though. :) This fic was inspired by the song "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart, which is a snazzy 80's song with an interesting premise. The title of this fic is from the song "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes, another snazzy 80's song. Ummm… much Z/L-ness. Also, I've given Zelgadis black hair, because I happen to like the idea of him with black hair. One of my favorite fanartists has some very nice pieces of work with him as a raven-tressed beauty, so I'm a bit partial. If it bothers you that much, imagine him with whatever color hair you want to.

Chapter One

She tried to ignore him. It wasn't easy.

He sat directly between the door to the kitchen and Lina's assigned section of the restaurant. And considering the way the building was set up, with the counter running along that back wall and the cash registers behind it, she had to pass him every time she rang up a bill, too. Normally Lina was very good at ignoring people. So good that she had been reprimanded more than once for snubbing rude albeit paying customers. Her co-workers admired her single-minded determination at paying attention only to her job; for it, she received a sort of special rank among them. But this guy… this guy was definitely threatening Lina's status.

It wasn't that he was awful to look at. In fact, he was quite pleasing to the eye - an observation Lina immediately smashed to bits as she ducked into the kitchen area and grabbed a tray of food. It wasn't that he said anything weird, either. He hadn't said a word since arriving, except to order a coffee from Amelia, Lina's best friend and fellow waitress. Although Lina had to pass his table to get everywhere she had to, he wasn't actually in her assigned section. And it wasn't even that he was staring at her or looking at her in any odd way. Well, not that she could tell.

He was wearing sunglasses.

This wouldn't really be a cause to raise any sort of alarm, except the fact that he was inside a building with already dim lighting. That, and, as Lina confirmed once again by glancing out the window, it was well after nightfall.

So what kind of guy wore his sunglasses at night?

"Lina, stop dawdling," Filia snapped, nudging the frozen girl with a sharp elbow and an equally sharp voice. "It's busy tonight. We can't afford to slack off."

"I'm not slacking off," Lina snapped back. With the huge rush of tourists looking for a meal and the weird guy and personal problems better left unexplained, Lina's patience was pulled as taut as it could go without breaking. Ignoring people could, of course, only go so far. Every jerk that slapped her rear, every child who spilled ketchup and salad dressing all over the table, every self-righteous yuppie who didn't get his filet mignon just this or that way plucked ferociously at the tight line of Lina's tolerance. If she had any less control, she'd be twitching.

"Here you go, sir. If you need anything else, let me know," Lina said through gritted teeth. She whirled on her feet and snagged Amelia's arm as the petite brunette rounded on a man who, apparently, had made a derogatory comment about her bust size.

"Leave it alone, Amelia," Lina whispered harshly as she dragged Amelia away.

"I don't know why I put up with this job," Amelia sighed.

"Because we're paid for it. Now quick, tell me, who is that guy you've got sitting by the kitchen? The one who only ordered a coffee?"

"What about him? He's just some guy. Although…" Amelia and Lina made their way toward the kitchen. They passed the guy in question and kept their voices low. "… He's been here every night for the past week or so. He always sits in the same place, and he always wears his sunglasses."

"Weird. But why the glasses? It's already twilight in here 24/7, why make it darker?" In the kitchen, Lina took another tray of food and dropped off an order. Amelia and Lina both stood behind the counter as Amelia tallied up a bill.

"Maybe he's a vampire or something," Amelia commented lightly. Lina rolled her eyes.

"Right. I'm fairly sure that vampires can survive against artificial light. Has he said anything weird? Does he ever order any food?" Together the two girls glanced up at the man in sunglasses.

Big mistake.

He was looking in their direction, and even though the tint on the glasses made it difficult to see what, exactly, he was looking at, Lina knew instinctively that he was looking at her. It was a feeling as old as time itself - the feel of a predator's gaze on its prey. Lina shivered and averted her gaze. Amelia had felt the scrutiny as well, and she ran a quick hand across the goosebumps on her arms.

"You still giving me a ride home later?" Lina asked.

"I'd love to, but my shift ends two hours earlier than yours does. If you want, I can come back for you." Amelia finished up the bill.

"No, that's okay. I'll catch a ride with Filia or Martina."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Talk to you later."

They split up. The night continued to be a mess of chaos and annoying customers. Lina saw Amelia several more times but never had a chance to stop and talk. The strange guy with the sunglasses stayed for a while longer and eventually left. Lina nearly forgot about him as she went about her work.

After closing, Lina slung her bag over her shoulder, punched out, and was just about to exit the restaurant when she remembered she didn't have a ride.

"Hey, Filia, can you give me a ride home tonight?" she called back. Filia was rushing around the back room, apparently looking for something of reasonable importance. With an exclamation of victory, Filia snatched up a pair of red stilettos and hurried over to the door.

"I'm sorry, I can't. I've got a date, and I'm going to be late if I don't leave right now," she said, holding up her shoes as evidence. Lina sighed.

"Fine, fine. Is Martina still back there?"

"Yeah, I think so. 'Night Lina! See ya tomorrow! Oh, don't forget to lock up!" Filia left the building. Lina tapped her foot impatiently on the tile floor.

"Martina, you there?" There was no reply. Lina made her way back to the break room and poked her head inside. Nobody lingered behind. Lina cursed softly under her breath. Where the heck had that silly girl gone? She probably skipped out early, right under Filia's nose, Lina thought acidly. Sometimes Martina is just… UGH! Words can't even describe her…

There was no other choice but to leave. Lina stalked out into the night, locked up the restaurant behind her and turned to peer into the shadows. She could have called Amelia to come pick her up, but Lina hated having to owe anybody anything. She didn't have enough money to call a cab, either. That left walking. Well, it wasn't THAT far, was it? Summoning up all her courage, Lina set out for her apartment.

She wasn't exactly a weak girl. She could definitely pack a pretty hard punch if the need arose. However, gangbangers with guns were more than a match for a small young lady, as were rapists, muggers, etc.

Lina shook her head to clear her thoughts. She forced herself to keep her mind averted from the possible dangers that awaited her in the dark alleys. Stick to the streetlights, mind your own business, and move fast. Simple rules, really.

When the trio of shadowy figures stepped out in front of her, though, the rules were the farthest things from Lina's mind.

"Hey pretty lady. Come with us and we'll show you a good time," the leader said, his unctuous voice oozing like slime. Lina refused to back up a step when he took a step forward. Backing away would only encourage them.

"No, sorry. Excuse me," she replied, voice firm and unwavering. She moved to the side, in attempts to move past them, but they flanked her.

"Hey now. Don't run off like that. We didn't mean to scare you," the one on the right said. He grinned, yellow teeth peeking from behind scabby lips.

"Someone is expecting me," Lina lied. By the way the men laughed raucously, they knew she was lying.

"Sure they are." The one on the left reached a hand out to grab her arm. Lina dropped into a martial arts stance; not that she knew any martial arts, but maybe it would be enough to make the muggers/rapists think twice.

"Look, don't mess with me, okay? I can kick all your asses in mere seconds," she barked. More lies, and unfortunately lies the derelicts didn't believe.

"Feisty, eh? I like 'em like that," the leader said. As if on cue, all three scumbags made a move to grab Lina. Lina shuddered as their revolting fingers wrapped around her wrist. She managed to get a right hook out to connect with one man's face, but the others grabbed her wrists and prevented her from causing any further damage.

Something pale flashed in Lina's line of vision, and the next thing she knew, she was thrown against a grimy brick wall. Falling to her knees, she watched as a smartly dressed figure in black proceeded to exchange blows with the street ruffians, who seemed to be on the receiving end. Lina rubbed the sore spot on the back of her head where it had smacked against the wall. Spots of light lanced out and danced across her vision. This is not good, she thought, wincing in pain. Hurt, confused, and now feeling the midnight chill creep into her bones, Lina huddled against the brick bulwark and regarded the fight on the sidewalk. The stranger in black finished his job, disposing of the unconscious bodies by way of trash bins in the alley. Lina noted, with mild awe, that the stranger had exhibited inhuman capabilities. The scuffle had lasted only a mere seconds - time it takes most people to blink.

Shockwaves of pain undulated through Lina's head. The stranger knelt in front of her.

"Are you alright?" he asked, voice cultured and with a slight indescribable accent.

"I think so," Lina replied, her voice thick with pain.

"I'm so sorry about that. I didn't mean to push you so hard to the side. I only wanted you out of the way," the stranger continued. He kept his hands to himself like a polite gentleman, allowing Lina room to move.

"That was you?" Soft black hair curling slightly around his face, ice blue eyes set in an alabaster face… Lina blinked a few times, willing the pain to recede. It refused, seeming to have a mind of its own.

"Yes… I apologize…" The stranger glanced at the ground next to him and picked up a pair of sunglasses. He carefully pocketed them away, but not before Lina superimposed them over his pale face.

It's him! she thought, feeling a twinge of surprise and suspicion. The sunglasses guy!

It was at this time that Lina's body decided to mutiny. Severe trauma to the head was not good. How she could have even hit the wall with enough velocity was completely beyond her current thinking capabilities, but that didn't change the simple fact that she had. She was unconscious within moments.

The stranger sighed in exasperation. He was annoyed that he used such excessive force. Usually he was much better at restraint, but tonight… it was probably just a fluke. He hadn't fed in a day; maybe his judgement was impaired.

Never the matter. He had to get this young woman off the street. Carefully checking the street for witnesses, he gathered the small, supple body into his arms and disappeared into the night.