Hey guys! This is my second Final Fantasy Type-0 story, considering the other one is a crossover between Type-0 and Final Fantasy XV :)

This story is set during the game, after Class Zero escapes from the Militesi Empire,

being accused for having assassinated the queen of Concordia.

I wanted to add some romance to that scene!

So here's the result:

Quartet

Chapter 1:

Two Lovebirds (Deuce and Rem)

It was fascinating how gracefully the flames of fire could dance. They were many and each of them had its own shape, but together they were forming a pleasant fire that lifted the heart, generating a protective heat. Furthermore, if her surroundings hadn't been so unknown and frightening, Deuce could have imagined she was back at home, safe and sound, in front of the warm fireplace. She had been watching for what seemed like an eternity the gentle flames separating and uniting, as if they were siblings confronting each other. Not a sound awoke her from her reverie, an eerie silence covering the dark grove. From time to time, only the burned wood would crack, but never loudly enough to force her eyes open. She was dreaming of peace and hope, of her country not being at war anymore. And, because a cruel fate was determined to prove her wrong by crushing all her dreams, war bloomed right next to her tired body.

"Tell me! Tell me why you killed my brother!"

"That's none of your business, yo!"

"What? Didn't you hear I said MY brother? Of course this makes it be my business!"

"Would you stop shouting? I've had enough for today."

"How can I? If you won't answer me? Somebody, please, pray tell!"

As she heard the battle being now in full swing, Deuce let out a sad sigh. Fights always brought her morale down, but to hear her colleagues – no, her friends – having a fall out…

"He died because of you all, is this not true?"

"You know, you're really sayin' too much!"

"What a meddler!"

"You wouldn't know what it feels like! To lose somebody you love, somebody who was your only family! I should have expected you to be heartless. Heartless and nothing more to it – you're pathetic weapons of war! You just take orders and go out on the battlefield to annihilate whoever your commander demands of you!"

Nobody dared to say anything anymore, until one of the boys made up his mind.

"Ok, YOU ASKED FOR THIS!"

Deuce let out a cry this time. A veritable cry of fear. Her friends didn't bother to check on her because they were all watching the violent battle between Machina and Nine. The first wanted to find answers to his greatest enigma: why did these young people called Class Zero kill his elder brother. The second, well, he had the quite opposite objective: to shield the truth from Machina. And… beside that… he never backed down from any battle. Especially a one-on-one manly dispute, which provided him with entertainment.

"Oh, this is terrible!" Rem said as she gripped Deuce's arm.

"I know. How has it come to this?"

Deuce hugged her friend and Rem hugged back as the two of them stood and watched with trembling eyes how the raven haired boy – Machina – evaded smoothly all of Nine's furious punches. They so wanted to stop this. Their country was at war, then why would they even fight each other? Shouldn't they join forces instead?

"Rem, what can we do?"

"I… I wish there were something…"

In a lonely corner, Class Zero's first member sat on a small log, counting his cards – his signature weapon, cards that invoked all sorts of magic effects on enemies. Nine's uncensored curses resounded in his ears and Machina's painful grunts only made him shook his head in guilt. If anyone had had to take the blame for letting Izana die on the battlefield, it would have been him. Ace's eyes became teary as he remembered how desperate Izana was when death came closer, closer and closer to put him to eternal slumber. No, no! I don't… I don't want to die! the poor man cried. And all this time, Ace there stood hopeless, unable to cast Cure on him (a magic spell that healed wounds) for it was too late. He kneeled next to Izana's lifeless body, saying his good byes. He joined his hands together on his chest. Only after that did he stand up from the crime scene and he silently cried for another casualty lost in the merciless war between Rubrum – his homeland – and the Militesi Empire. Even though there were rumors lurking around the country that Class Zero was comprised of totally no emotional cadets, exceptions still existed. Ace was one of these. Rem and Deuce and maybe even more others, but these three were for sure.

"Quit messin' with me and fight like a man!" Nine shouted at his opponent.

Machina's anger grew out of its limits as he summoned his Twin Rapiers. He was more than eager to put on a real fight… in the memory of his elder brother, Izana.

"Now it's a party!" Sice laughed when Nine summoned his Spear in response.

"No, this is madness!" Rem stated when she sprang to her feet.

"This has to stop NOW!" Deuce said.

"Let him have his little game. I'm ready. And I'm not afraid to die!"

"Machina, please. You don't know what you're talking about. Sheath your blades."

The teen wouldn't have stopped at all costs, had it not been Rem's terrified voice reaching his ears. He froze in time for a short while as Nine quickly targeted the place where his opponent's heart would be. Other Class Zero members just watched without saying any words, but some were even close to cheering. Sice was, for instance. How she loved a good deal of adrenaline!

"R-Rem? Did you call me?"

Machina dismissed his weapons like she told him to.

"Yes. You're not getting your answer taking them on like that."

"Why stop? I'm having fun!" Nine laughed.

Skillfully swinging his spear, he wasted no time in stabbing the other in the chest.

"Stay down, dog." he snapped, "And learn to show respect to your fellow Class Zero members."

As quick as a flash, Rem jumped to Machina's side.

"Why did you hurt him?!"

She embraced her childhood friend and put a hand on his wound, instantly casting Cure on him. Surprised as he was, Machina could only watch as blood dried up, then magic green waves sewed back his injured tissues. He so wanted to lean on Rem's shoulder – yes, he had been desperately waiting for such a moment – but with the whole Class Zero there to watch them his dreams still remained a sweet fantasy.

"Thank you, Rem." he managed to whisper at her ear.

She just smiled at him before scrutinizing the one who dared to hurt Machina. The culprit, Nine, didn't have a care in the world. He lifted his spear once again to strike a second time and Rem nearly cried in fear at his gesture, placing herself before Machina like a shield.

"Man, you're pathetic!" Nine roared, "Is that how you defend yourself?"

"Let it go, Nine!" another voice shouted at him and he recognized it to belong to the flutist Deuce.

It seemed that nothing could convince the boy. Nobody bothered to put an end to his gaudy show. But what happened next he never would have expected. Awestruck, he watched as a furious deck of cards rapidly flew in front of his very eyes, preventing him from making another move. When he looked to his right, Ace was already by his side, with a disappointed expression on his face. He flicked his fingers and the cards disappeared, leaving behind only a trail of magic dust.

"That's enough, Nine!" he firmly said, "Machina meant no harm."

"Hey! Since when do you rise your weapon at me?"

"Don't change the subject."

And Ace's brows furrowed. He was dead serious.

"Fine, fine! Leave me be, yo! Just a joke, y'know."

"Then I'm concerned about your sense of humour." Ace countered.

That was when Nine stepped down, dismissing his spear and turning around.

"Forget I was here."

Machina watched him walk further away from the 'crime scene'. He couldn't help but exclaim:

"I was expecting a word of apology."

Nine glanced over his shoulder with furious eyes. As a reply, Machina was gifted nothing more than the grotesque sight of Nine rising his long and slim middle finger at him. Was it worth getting up on his feet in order to teach Nine manners? No, of course not. Machina knew that well. First, that night's show had already been on for too long. Second, it was unnatural that Nine could be taught manners in such a short time. So why not save his strength… or at least the little that was left of it? Unlike Class Zero's spearman, Machina used his upper head when he had to appeal to judgement.

"Thank you, Ace, for putting an end to this charade." Rem said.

"Oh, it's the least I could do. After all, the cat's out of the bag now."

He sighed, aware of the fact that he had to explain the reason why Izana died. Whether he liked it or not – and this was the part that hurt him most.

"Machina, are you alright?"

"Y-Yes, the pain is gone… thanks to Rem's magic."

She smiled, content, then withdraw her hand from the place where his wound had been.

"I think I owe you serious explanation."

"Ace, perhaps this can wait till tomorrow." Rem pleaded.

But the raven haired boy shook his head quickly.

"No, I would like to hear now."

Regret shone in Ace's eyes. He beckoned to a pathway that lead through a small forest.

"So be it. Let's take a stroll, shall we?"

Machina looked up at him, feeling a seed of friendship being planted in his heart. Yes, he accused Class Zero that they were heartless, yet he managed to find somebody for his taste. Somebody righteous and carrying, just like himself. Indeed, Ace was going to be a good friend! So he nodded and rose from the ground to his full, 5'9 height, ready to join forward alongside Ace. The other Class Zero members didn't approve of this, but there was little they could do about it. As soon as Ace and Machina's silhouettes were out of their sight, they decided to head back inside. A small, abandoned wooden house served as their shelter for the fearsome night.

"Well, King and I will stay and watch your backs for half an hour." Sice announced as she summoned her scythe, "Go get some sleep."

They entered the house, one by one. Only Deuce and Rem were left behind.

"Will they be ok?"

"I sure hope so. Machina and Ace are both strong."

"Yes, but who knows what wild beasts lurk out there..."

"Ace couldn't say the secret out loud here. That's why he took Machina with him. Though I don't think they went too far."

As much as Deuce was trying to appease her friend, Rem never pictured herself sleeping somewhere safe with Machina being gone somewhere unknown and dangerous! No. She sat down next to the fire that was still burning slightly. Her face held much concern. Deuce smiled as a random thought got stuck in her mind. She accompanied Rem, not willing to rest as long as she knew her worried.

"Have I told you that… I have a little crush on Ace?"

It goes without saying that she spoke these words in a hushed tone.

"Oh, you do?"

Snapped out of her worries, Rem's eyes were bright again.

"Yes, but please keep this just between us."

"Of course."

Several meters away, there stood Sice and King, surely uninterested in Deuce's romantic business.

"Tell me more. I'm intrigued!"

Rem winked at her.

"Well, I haven't confessed this yet to him."

"Don't be sad. All things happen when they must."

The two of them truly sounded like long lost sisters. Perhaps it was Rem's turn now to reveal how much she cared about Machina: a little too much to call him just a friend. However, she didn't interrupt Deuce.

"I've known him for quite a long time. Then I heard we were assigned in the same class. Then fate brought us together even during missions. They sent me with him almost at all times. Quite curious."

"Yes, and I bet you weren't unsatisfied with that!"

"Ah, don't tease me! Speaking of which, do you think it slipped my eyes the way you tense up every time Machina walks near?"

In a heartbeat Rem's cheeks were crimson red.

"That's…!"

"Come now, Remmy, I can keep a secret."

"B-But Machina and I are…"

Deuce put her hands on Rem's shoulders, laughing silently:

"Deeply in love with each other. You're just too shy to make the first move and he doesn't have the guts to confess to you yet!"

"…I can't help it. We've known each other since we were kids."

Rem hung her head, mimicking defeat. Nevertheless, she was happy that she had the opportunity to share her feelings with a friend like Deuce.

"I see. Who knows, maybe these boys will soon pluck up their courage and tell us they love us!"

"Oh, my dear! It's perfect that you decided to take up playing the flute. Dreamers like you walk the path of music."

This time, they laughed together.

"Now that's a good way to put it."

"Jokes left aside, Deuce, is it true that Class Zero is responsible for Izana's death? He was Machina's brother."

"I don't know, Rem. I wasn't there."

"Then how come Ace knows?"

"Ace was assigned for that mission. He told us all he was there when Izana died. Queen and Nine accompanied him too."

"Nine?!"

Deuce nodded.

"Why do you think he was so angry tonight? He didn't want to take the blame on him. He didn't want Machina to find out he witnessed Izana dying."

A soft breath of wind extinguished the last flames of fire. Night was now in full bloom. Stars began to shine up there, on the sky that knew no borders. Furthermore, it was getting cold. Sice and King stood in the distance like living statues, guarding the small camp.

"Rem, are you sure you want to keep staying here?"

"Deuce, do you have to ask?"

The two locked eyes for several seconds until they said at the same time:

"Certainly."

Then Rem giggled and added:

"Until our charming princes come back."

They shared an embrace as their thoughts drifted off towards two handsome boys – one dark haired, with emerald piercing eyes, while the other was endowed with fair hair and cerulean eyes.

Reviews are welcome! C:

Spoiler: the next chapter will focus on Ace and Machina talking about Izana's death and... a little bit of love? Ok, a lot of love!