A/N: All characters and scenes are the property of Square/Enix. I am to blame only for what I have done with them.

Stag Nation

Nooj: If you're done playing, let's go.

Gippal: Chill out.

Nooj: Lost your nerve?

Gippal: Hey, we're talking about Vegnagun. How the heck do you fight that thing? We can't even walk up to it without freakin' it out.

Nooj: Or making it mad. But I've got a plan.

Gippal: If it doesn't work?

Nooj: Death will be my apology.

Gippal: Whatever, man. When a Deathseeker dies, that's no apology. What about Leblanc?

Nooj: Well, she—

"... will have to find another buyer for her spheres. I don't think she'll have all that much trouble selling them."

"Hey, man, I thought you and she were, you know, special friends." He nudged the older man in the ribs.

"Don't do that. Why would you think we were more than business partners?"

"You spend a lot of time at her chateau and you've been seen leaving early in the morning."

Nooj shrugged. "I've slept over now and then but not in her bed. Have you ever seen her room? A man would suffocate in there. The bed's shaped like a heart and the perfume ... You walk in there and you'll reek for a month."

Gippal smirked. "So what are you doing there? I thought she couldn't leave you alone."

"She tries but I've fended her off so far. C'mon Gippal. Let's talk about something else. Like rescuing Baralai."

"You know, I'm really worried about him. Talk about special." Gippal shook himself like a dog after a bath.

"You and him, eh? I thought it was something like that."

"That obvious? We tried to keep it private. No sense stirring up jealousy."

"It's hard to hide from somebody who knows what to look for." Nooj kept his voice neutral.

Gippal stopped and stared hard at his friend. "You, too? I always thought you were ..."

"In the army we have a 'don't ask, don't tell' convention. It gets to be a habit."

"So. You and Baralai?"

"Just looks, no action. He's got the best calves on Spira; have you noticed?"

Gippal capered lightly. "Have I noticed? You ever get a good look at his rear end?" He sketched a voluptuous curve with the palms of both hands. "Firm but yielding, and I do mean yielding."

"Tell me about it." Chattering easily, the two strolled off, hand in hand.