A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.
WARNING: OOC, LANGUAGE, SUGGESTIVE THEMES.
Chapter 7: Impulsive
He watched her leave from his room. As the doors had closed firmly and he had made sure that he was completely alone, he had finally released the breath that he didn't know he had been holding.
He shook his head and cleared his thoughts.
Only when she had left had he really paid attention to himself. He raised an eyebrow. He was not in his uniform. His hood was missing and his hair had run free.
He blinked and looked at himself as saw that he was half naked. His torso was bare.
With an irritating sense of unwanted excitement, he reached for the blankets and peeked within it in order to see what lay beneath.
He didn't know why…but he felt a wave of displeasure as he saw that he was wearing his pajama bottom.
'…'
'She changed you.' a voice said.
'So she did.' he replied back coolly.
'You're upset.'
'I'm no such thing.' he denied openly.
'You're upset that she didn't leave you completely naked.'
At that, his eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat.
'…'
The voice snickered, 'Cheer up mate! Maybe as she changed you, she liked what she saw…?' it taunted mischievously, earning it a strong blush from the stoic green-haired man.
He immediately shook his head as blood began to invade his face and his brain, "Enough of this nonsense."
xxxxx
Heat and Argilla walked through the halls hand in hand. She didn't know why…but she just wanted to hold his hand. She knew that he wouldn't like it and would probably shove her away when they were in public…but he didn't.
He did no such thing and he just held her hand.
She smiled at that.
She was glad that he was opening up to her more. She was glad that he understood her position with Gale. She was glad that he wasn't jealous.
She giggled.
"What?" the man beside her grunted.
She smiled at that; some things never change.
She giggled still and hugged his arm to her chest and nuzzled her face on his arm, "Nothing…"
He snarled at her, "Keep that up and your face will decorate the wall." he told her bluntly.
She snorted, "I'd like to see you try."
He groaned, "You're embarrassing me!" he hissed.
Yes; in his opinion, she did. When they were hand in hand, it was fine. But when she was hanging onto him like some lovesick puppy, it was different. The holding hands thing, he can tolerate. But this…?
Needless to say, this sort of behavior was getting to him.
She giggled and let his arm free, just contenting herself with holding his hand instead, "Meanie…" she grumbled.
Wanting to change the topic, he cleared his throat and spoke nonchalantly, "So, what do you think the old man wants now?"
Yes; they were both heading to the Strategy Room. It had been the afternoon and they had just finished their training exercises and were planning on grabbing an early dinner only to have their plans thwarted when they had received a transmission from Gale, requesting their presence at the aforesaid room.
Oh well.
Argilla thought for a while, "Hm…I don't really know Heat. The last thing we were talking about was about the Samsara Tunnels…That's it." she finished wistfully.
Heat shrugged his shoulders, "Well, whatever. We'll know when we're there."
A moment later, they had entered the Strategy Room and voila, there was their green-haired comrade.
"What's up Gale?" Argilla asked.
Gale stiffened as he had let his eyes meet hers. It had been an entire nineteen hours since he had seen her…
'I know. I count.' he said to himself as he contemplated the exact number of hours that they had last seen one another.
And now, as he saw her, he couldn't help but feel a lightheaded sensation within his chest; a feeling that was undoubtedly shattered as he laid his eyes on the redhead beside her. He frowned internally at that.
"Hey old man!" his loud voice bellowed, "We're wasting time damn it! Argilla asked you a damn question!"
Gale blinked at that. She did?
He didn't even notice.
Heat frowned, 'Shit man…Damn…' he thought as he was torn in between two equally compelling emotions; humor and lividness.
He didn't know what he should feel at that moment. The situation, to him, seemed so comical…that he could laugh about it all day and all night…but at the same time, it sent him a painful prick in his chest as he recognize it to be a situation that challenged him.
Yes.
The green-haired man challenged him.
'Damn bastard…' he thought as he clenched his hands into fists, 'Just try to move into my territory and I'll tear you apart old man…' he thought malevolently.
It was so obvious that it was practically choking him.
The old man was attracted to his lover.
'Damn…and I didn't think that he had balls for that sort of thing…' he thought with a wince.
"Gale?" Argilla asked again. What was it with them!? Gale seemed so clueless and Heat looked as if he had a world of his own!
Where was everybody!? Weren't they summoned there because of pertinent business!? Sheesh!
At the sound of her loud voice, Gale shook his head and snapped attentively. He touched his forehead, and proceeded to clear his throat, "Yes. Enough stalling…"
"You're the only one holding us up…Damn old man…" Heat grumbled underneath his breath.
Gale heard that. But like he said, there was no more stalling to be had. And so, he let it slide. He looked at the two of them and opened his mouth to talk when another issue caught his attention, "Where is Cielo?"
The three looked around and saw that the blue-haired young man wasn't among them.
Their questions were put to rest when the doors opened, to reveal a running and panting Cielo, "Sorry mon! Had to answer nature's call. Hehe…" he laughed.
The three groaned and Gale touched his forehead. That…was a complete waste of time.
"If there aren't any more distractions, I'd like to begin the briefing." Gale said indifferently, not even sparing Cielo a glance.
"Wat crawled up his ass and died?" asked Cielo as he got in between Heat and Argilla.
Argilla sighed while Heat grunted.
"It's probably just PMS…" Heat grumbled with a ghost of a laugh.
Gale heard that too.
"The Samsara Tunnels, as you know had been recently mapped." Gale said stoically, looking at each of his teammate's eyes, "But I have received word an hour ago that there had been illegals camping out within."
Heat narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Okay; bogies. Right.
"Your mission is to secure the tunnels that lead from Muladhara to Manipura. Your orders are Shoot to Kill. Do not, and I repeat, do not engage in any type of social activity with the targets; negotiation or otherwise. Do not come into contact with any of the targets. Do not touch the targets or speak to the targets."
Argilla felt her hair stand on one end as Gale said his orders. No negotiation…? No quarter striking…? Why?
It was completely unheard of to Argilla. A battle without even the grace of civility towards adversaries…even in the face of their opponents' defeats?
But why would Gale allow such a thing? Was he not the honorable man and the valorous comrade she had come to know him as?
And then, no speaking and no touching…?
'What…what is Gale…thinking?'
At that, Argilla paled and then narrowed her eyes but nonetheless, said nothing.
Gale felt a slight pang of raw sensation as his eyes met hers. Her eyes were filled with disbelief and…was that a hint of betrayal within them…? He had no choice. He had given them those orders because he had to. And so, with the unfeeling countenance that he was famous for, he looked her in the eyes and spoke nonchalantly, "Report back ASAP."
All the excitement within Heat's system died. All this theatrics for a basic turkey shootout? What the hell was Gale thinking sending them to a mission like that? Was he that mad at them that he had decided to give them another bum-assed mission?
Gale noticed the loss of exuberance within his teammate and looked at him blankly, "Any questions?"
Heat looked at him with a bored face, "It's basically a recon mission. Clean and kill."
Gale sighed, "I suppose so Heat."
"Gale, why do we have to kill all of them?" Argilla asked with a frown. "Why can't we allow them quarter…? Or…"
At that Heat rolled his eyes, "What do you mean why!? Because if you don't, then they'll slit your throat!"
Cielo pouted, "Why not just take prisoners ja?"
Gale groaned, "Just don't question my orders."
The three said nothing and Gale continued, "Once that the bodies have been lined up, you are to incinerate them all." came his cold and chilling voice.
At that, Argilla gasped and Heat narrowed his eyes. So it wasn't just a routine mission after all. Something was afoot and he could smell it. But what exactly it was, he wasn't sure.
Cielo's heart stopped, 'Burn…de bodies…? Like a barbecue? But why…?' he thought as he began to feel nauseated at the idea.
"You are all dismissed." he said coldly.
The three had no choice. And so, they steeled themselves for the upcoming battles instead.
xxxxx
Argilla frowned as she held her rifle to her bosom tightly. Heat and Cielo were already at the garage, waiting for her. She narrowed her eyes.
A complete shoot to kill mission.
'There's no other way.' she thought with the feeling of helplessness, as she began to walk towards the door. There was a part of her that was displeased with Gale…After all, it was his orders to begin with. She sighed; these were the times when she wished that Serph was there…
If he were present, then, she was sure that she could convince him. But, with Gale, there was no such thing. Once he had made up his mind, that was it. Oh well.
She sighed again; a part of her was displeased with Gale but another part of her justified that there was no other choice. It was that part of her that told her to trust in Gale.
'He must've…had a good reason. A good reason.' she told herself with firm resolve.
And so, setting her feelings aside, she marched towards the door and waited for the metallic doors to part and grant her an exit from her quarters.
She blinked though as she was met with green eyes.
xxxxx
He had felt guilty. Yes. That was the emotion that had penetrated his soul as he looked at her. It had been the emotion of guilt that had pervaded his soul ever since then. Seeing her eyes…those pink eyes of hers peer at his so lugubriously, so disdainfully…so disgustedly.
He couldn't bear it.
Perhaps he was just imagining that she looked at him in that way. Perhaps he was just seeing things that weren't really there.
He didn't know for certain.
But, even still, just knowing that there was indeed a chance that she was indeed gazing at him with such ill will, well, it was enough for him to walk over to her room…and explain.
That was why he was there in the first place. That was why he was standing right outside her door. That was why his eyes were penetrating her round fuchsia orbs.
"Argilla." he stoically called out.
"Gale." she responded, mimicking his tone and demeanor.
At that point, as he saw how she acted now towards him, and as he recognized such behavior to be a mere accurate rendition of his own conduct, he suddenly had the urge to shift uncomfortably in his spot.
So, this was how people perceived him. So, this was how people felt when he evaluated them in the manner in which Argilla now did him.
"About the mission-"
"I won't disobey orders Gale." she said, cutting him off, "Do not concern yourself."
He frowned at that. That wasn't why he was there.
"Argilla, that's not what I came for." he told her.
She blinked; it wasn't…? Then? What was it?
He read the question as he would read an open book as her rose-colored jewels dilated with hope and expectancy. He nodded, "I came to tell you that I…I have my reasons for giving out the order that I gave out. It was not done out of convenience or preference. Rather, it is for the reason of procuring the wellbeing of our tribe members."
So she was right. He really did…have his reasons.
He turned his back to her and took a step away when he stopped and spoke once more, "Return ASAP and I'll tell the group everything by then."
At hearing his trusting words…and his reassuring sentences, a heavy weight seemed to have been lifted off her shoulders.
At least, with this talk, she had known…that she wouldn't kill without reason or thought. She wouldn't slaughter people without mercy because of preference or because of blind orders.
Now, she had something to fall back on; and that was Gale's honorable word.
She smiled as she recognized one more thing about Gale as she watched him walk farther and farther away. He had come to her…to her room just to give her that little pep talk?
Heat and Cielo may assert that he was still the unfeeling bastard that they knew him for…But she knew better.
She saw the subtle and small changes in their green-haired comrade. He was changed; he had changed.
"Thanks Gale."
xxxxx
He stood in front of the dissemination machine with a bored and lame facial expression. Granted, that nothing in his demeanor would even give a ghost of a hint that something had changed within him…But he knew the truth.
And that truth was that he was feeling…incomplete.
He looked around himself and realized, now, more than ever, with a sniper's accuracy, that he was indeed alone.
And…alone in a different way.
Before, he would always cherish those moments. It was those moments, those precious moments of pure and unadulterated solitude that would enable him to become one with his mind. It allowed him to concentrate and allowed him to be Embryon's tactician; calm, cool, collected…and totally focused.
But now…
'The silence…' he thought with dismal disgust, '…is deafening.'
Yes. It was.
"Hehe…"
He stiffened. He turned around and looked from left to right. No. He was…still alone. He frowned; that laugh. That quaint little laugh…
'It's Argilla's.' he deadpanned mentally. 'I'm imagining things…'
He had just received a transmission from them and had been informed that they were still en route to Manipura…and that no targets had been discovered.
He sighed and then stiffened as his heart skipped a beat.
He shook his head, 'They're soldiers…She's a soldier. To feel this…is impractical and pointless.' he thought as he discovered that he was worried about his pink-haired comrade.
His pink-haired friend.
His pink-haired…
'…Lover?'
He frowned at that. Where did that come from?
'Come on…Don't lie. Don't even think about it.' a voice in his head spoke, 'You want her…Don't you?'
'…'
'Stop worrying about her. She'll be fine. Before you know it, she'll be here and then we'll be scheming on how to break her and that buffoon apart!'
'…!' at that traitorous thought towards Heat, Gale's chest constricted. What was he thinking!? He shouldn't do that! He couldn't!
Could he?
xxxxx
"That's the last one." Heat said darkly as they watched from a distance away, as the corpses were reduced to ash.
Argilla said nothing, just crossing her arms, looking intently at the blazing flames in front of her.
"Oh mon. Dat's barbecue dat I won't ever be eating ja?" Cielo asked, sticking out his tongue in disgust.
"Let's go guys." Argilla said, as she turned around and started to walk away.
Heat followed her and so did Cielo. Their job was done. The killing was over and the cleanup? It wasn't their job to do. Someone would fill in for them.
Heat could feel Argilla's curiosity oozing from her. He, himself never questioned orders. He did as he was told and that was that. He followed orders down to the letter.
But now…as he saw his lover's curious countenance, he couldn't help but wonder as well. Why had they been sent down there?
Why had they been ordered to burn the bodies…?
'Never done that shit before.'
"Say, guys," began Cielo, as he scratched his head, "…erm, why did Gale ask us to fry dose dudes?"
Argilla narrowed her eyes, "We'll know when we get back to Muladhara."
xxxxx
"I suppose you are all prepared for your debriefing." came Gale's stoic voice.
Argilla nodded and so did the two men beside her. She said nothing but she had had a hunch of what the situation was. They had been screened by the medics and had been screened for any sort of infection; physical wounds or infestation of bacterial or viral in nature.
She narrowed her eyes in anticipation as the moment of explanation came nigh. She just needed his words to confirm her assumptions.
Gale reciprocated and spoke, "Those people comprised of a group of suicide agents that were entrusted with a biological weapon."
At that Argilla nodded, "A Bio Weapon."
So, she had been right.
"Eh!?" asked Cielo, totally confused. Heat rolled his eyes, "Shut up so that he can speak damn it!"
Gale nodded, "Yes. They were intent of taking Muladhara. By spreading an extremely toxic and lethal Bio Weapon. I've already received a DNA sample of the strain that they have used. But, as of this moment, there is no cure. The virus can enter the system by a wound or a cut…or even by the touch of saliva. The incubation period for the virus is only six to ten hours. They reproduce rather quickly. That is why I asked you all for a Shoot to Kill command and the incineration of the bodies."
"To keep the strain from being spread to Muladhara." added Argilla.
Gale nodded in congruence, "Fortunately, the strain isn't airborne…yet."
"But why didn't you tell us dat earlier mon!?" Cielo asked hysterically, breaking the quiet intense moment between Argilla and Gale.
Ah…that was the second part of the debriefing…
Heat narrowed his eyes, "Why else you idiot?" he asked Cielo, whilst keeping his eyes on the older man, "He didn't want a chance of infection."
"Ehhh!?!?!?"
Cielo was officially lost.
Argilla nodded slowly, "That's right. You didn't inform us…because you didn't want the chance of us accidentally infecting ourselves only to panic and return to Muladhara…thus infecting the other people."
Gale said nothing, confirming their speculations.
"You were prepared to leave us down there just in case we get infected. You didn't tell us because there was a chance that we won't focus…and get infected." Heat stated bitterly, before laughing.
"You'd do dat mon?" asked Cielo with hopeful eyes; hopeful that Gale would say no.
Gale blinked, "Yes."
Argilla smiled then, "Cielo. This is the army. This isn't the nursery home. Gale did what he had to do. And so did we. That's all there is to it."
He couldn't believe it. She said…what?
"But I thought we were comrades ja…?"
Heat said nothing, waiting to see how Argilla would get Gale out of this emotional fiasco.
Argilla merely laughed, "Don't you see that it's because we're his comrades that he didn't tell us?"
Heat's eyes were threatening to pop from their sockets. What the heck was she saying? Was she freaking insane?!
She giggled again, "If we knew, we'd tense up. We'd have more chances of getting infected if we knew."
Cielo blinked and thought for a moment, "So, you mean dat Gale wanted us t'fight without us knowing so dat we'd do good?"
She sweat-dropped. Cielo had a way with words…He had an amazing talent at making euphemisms.
"Erm, yea. Like that."
Heat wanted to shoot himself.
'Where the fuck does this woman come up with these sort of bullshit!?' he asked within.
Gale blinked. Well, she had a point…But…that really wasn't what he planned. He just didn't tell them because he didn't want a chance of panic or a chance of deviation from the original protocols.
That was all.
Elimination of tension due to personal sentiment, as she had suggested, was totally not a part of his plan.
And realizing that…made him feel guilty.
She had that much faith in him…? And his sense of camaraderie…? His stomach churned at that. Of course he felt strongly for his comrades…but even in that state, he wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice each and every one of them if it meant saving the entire tribe.
But…as he heard Argilla's words…and looked into her hopeful eyes, he couldn't help but feel…as though he should've felt what she portrayed him to feel.
He said nothing, still as calm and unbothered as ever but felt terribly out of place.
Gale looked at her and there, saw her eyes twinkling. At that point, he knew that her trust and belief in him…had not faltered…but had only strengthened.
He had thought that he had learnt quite a lot from her. But it would seem that he needed to learn a bit more…
xxxxx
"Well Gale?" she asked as she held out a hand to him.
He looked at her blandly. It had been two days now since the incident at the Samsara Tunnels and the sun had just set.
And now, there was his pink-haired comrade, outside his room, asking him for another visit at the dreaded bar.
He blinked, "Argilla…"
She pouted playfully at him, "Don't make me drag you in there."
He sighed; it wasn't that he was trying to be difficult. It was just that…He just didn't know how to dance.
"Argilla I…"
"It would be alright."
Before he cold answer, again, he found himself being dragged away.
Before he knew it, he was within a different place. He blinked and she giggled, "This isn't that rowdy place Gale." she said playfully. He looked around and saw that she was right. The place had a cozy ambience and there was just soft music playing. The people were dressed elegantly and no one spoke any louder than a whisper.
The lights were slightly dimmed but then again, each table had their own lamps in order for the occupants to adjust their illumination.
All in all, it would do, in Gale's opinion.
It was a quiet place.
He looked at her and she giggled naughtily, "You won't faint here."
At that, he felt his cheeks redden.
She held his hand tightly as she moved within the room with him in tow. He didn't admit it before…but having her hand in his that way…felt…
Nice.
"Come on Gale. Sit."
He did as he was told. And there, a few moments later, they were again, sitting across from one another, enjoying their drink.
Argilla leaned back, "So, it's nice huh? Just letting loose…?"
Gale didn't mean to be rude but…There was just a question in his head that was begging him to answer it. And now that they were alone, with the atmosphere very casual and warm, he knew that he had to ask her now.
"Argilla, why are you doing all of this?" he asked, his eyes dead yet looking at her intently.
Argilla was taken aback by his question. What did he mean? Was he…offended?
"What do you mean Gale?" she asked back.
He touched his forehead, "This." he responded blankly, "This whole thing. Why are you doing all of this for me? The whole issue with sunsets…and drinks…and bars…and…dancing. Why?"
Yes. He wanted to know. Why did she do the things she did? Was there an objective to this? Was she to receive compensation or a reward should this objective be met…?
Or…
Was she within a wager that she needed to win in?
He frowned at the latter but was equally dissatisfied with the former.
Argilla smiled tightly. So, it had begun at last…
She then smiled cheerfully, "Come on Gale! Let's dance!"
He continued to gaze at her blankly, telling her that he would not move until his question was answered.
Argilla suspected as much…
But…
'Well, you asked for it.'
She smiled at him again, "Gale. I'll tell you when we get out of here. I'll tell you later on tonight. I promise."
Gale blinked.
He understood her hidden message. She was asking him to trust in her the way he asked her to trust in him pertaining to the last mission that he had sent her in.
And so, from a soldier to a soldier and more importantly, from a friend to a friend, he understood. He nodded and took her hand.
He didn't exactly know why he was allowing her to drag him to the dance floor…but her hand in his had assured him that this time, all would be well.
His heart thumped in nervousness now as he found himself within the dance floor, in the midst of other dancers…in front of her. He looked at her and saw that she was staring at him in a most…curious fashion. Why was that so? Was there something on his face? Was she finding his facial expression amusing?
He was beginning to feel unnerved when she finally spoke, "Come on Gale, let's dance." she softly spoke, her other hand coming up to touch his.
He was confused. Dance…? To what music? It was then that he had really looked around and noticed.
'This place is…for couples and couples only.' he thought with a slight feeling of embarrassment.
Before he could contemplate any further, he found himself being drawn to a warm but petite body. He blinked and discovered that Argilla's arms were around his neck and she had placed his hands on her hips.
He blushed, "Argilla…This is…this is highly inappropriate."
She looked at him with a warm smile on her face, "No it's not Gale! This is just a friendly dance." She then giggled, "After all, I took you to some real dancing but…you weren't able to…" she trailed off, insinuating…leaving the rest to his imagination and recollection.
Drat; he needed not be reminded. Thank you.
She seemed to have read the internal message within his mind and so, she let it drop, "Come on Gale, forget about it." She then pressed herself against him, their bodies against one another's in a warm caress, "This is what it feels to dance…"
He was confused. He had…never danced before…Wait; was he dancing…? He looked at his feet and saw them move in accordance to hers.
"You feel that…?" she asked, her face at the crook of his neck.
"Feel what?" he asked back.
She sighed, "That warm feeling? That relaxed and soothing feeling as you gently move…and sway?"
Indeed, he did. But…he had never attributed it to dancing…
To him, was it the dance per se…? Or was it her warm body eliciting such emotions within his cold and clammy shell of a body?
Even with her explanation and reply, the real answer to his query remained elusive.
Even then, as their bodies swayed and moved along with the other…his heart continued to race. And he just couldn't control it.
She chuckled against him, "Just relax Gale. No one would write you a Dance Appraisal report. No one would gauge you…Just…let your feelings go. Just…travel to a faraway place…and imagine that you're not here."
"Not here?"
She sighed as she breathed in his masculine scent, "Yes…" she trailed off, she herself closing her eyes, "Just imagine that you're not here…and you're in a place that you love…"
"In a place…that I love…"
He did as he was told, not really knowing the reason why. He didn't know what her instruction would entail nor know what compensation he would receive at his compliance…but he just did it.
He imagined himself…in a free field…with a warm breeze passing through him…The skies were blue…and the clouds were playful…
His ears suddenly perked up as he heard the music stop.
He opened his eyes and was met with his pink-haired friend, who was, by now smiling at him, "Well, that wasn't so bad right?"
This time, no nodded, "No, it wasn't."
xxxxx
They had reached her quarters and again, there they were, saying goodbye. Argilla smiled at him, "Goodnight Gale. I had a nice time. I hope you did too."
She knew that he wasn't going to reply. But be that as it may, she shouldn't forget her manners; that and she really wanted Gale to know that she indeed had a wondrous time.
"Argilla…" he trailed off, insinuating for her to…
"Whoops!" she suddenly exclaimed as she laughed, "I almost forgot. Your serious query demands an explanation!" she said in a mock serious tone with her lips set on a grin while her eyebrows were furrowed together, attempting to sound the way he did and use the words that he used.
"…" He looked at her, amused, to be sure, but it would never leave his mind. No; his face was as blank as an idiot's test paper.
A moment of pure silence suddenly engulfed them and there, her grin vanished, replaced now, by just a tight smile, "Gale. I did it for you."
"For me?" he repeated, still as confused as ever.
She nodded, "Yup. For you."
"Why?"
She sighed, "I know that it isn't my place to assume things…But…" she cast her head down and spoke, "I never see you hang with us Gale. Whenever the guys and I would visit town, you're always too busy or too tired to go. I…I missed having you there."
She then looked at him again, this time with a sad face, "I just thought that you could…maybe chill more often so that when we do ask you to come with us, you'd finally say yes."
"I just think that…"
Here, Gale cut her off and spoke, "Argilla, I appreciate your concern…however I am not in need of a…"
"That's exactly the point Gale!" she said with her tone raised, her eyes wide, "You're not doing anything! Life…is passing you by! Can't you see that?!"
"What?" he asked, bemused.
She shook her head and closed her eyes momentarily before opening them once more, "You've lived your life…without ever having lived. The military isn't everything that life has to offer. There is…so much more Gale." she said in a low tone, "There is so much more for you out there Gale…I just…I just don't want you to waste your life."
At that, Gale narrowed his eyes, "You presume too much Argilla. But nonetheless, I cannot dislike you simply because of your expressed opinions. Goodnight." he said unfeelingly as he turned away.
Argilla bit her lip, 'Stupid! Now you've lost him!'
"Gale! Stop!" she said as she zipped up to him, grabbing him by the arm, "Gale I didn't mean to offend you!"
He frowned although she couldn't see it as she was behind him, "I am not bothered Argilla."
At that, she growled, "Gale…Why are you always disciplined!? Why are you so god-damned straight-laced?! Can't you ever do anything out of…irrational thought!?"
At that, he turned to her with a raised eyebrow, "What are you talking about woman?"
She growled and glared at him, "Gale…why does everything have to have reason with you?! Why can't you understand that there are things that people do without reason?!"
She could see the shock in his eyes but no, she wouldn't let up. Not this time. She had been patient enough with Gale.
This time she wanted to be blunt with him.
"There are things that we do out of complete impulsiveness! Can't you underst-"
She was cutoff however as she found his lips latched onto hers…
She had been too shocked to move…
She felt his arms snake around her waist and there, once they had encircled her, she had been drawn to his muscled chest.
In shock, she had unwittingly parted her lips, sending her unlikely partner to take it as an invitation within.
He ventured within her cavern hotly, lashing angrily at her. She could feel all of his tension, his aggravation and anxiety be poured into that kiss.
Her hands went to his chest and pushed him away but he held on.
A moment later, he finally released her.
Their eyes met and there her pink shocked eyes met his cool green eyes. The silence was choking the both of them and there Gale spoke, "There is your impulsive act Argilla. Goodnight."
She blinked and before she knew it, she was alone in the hallway.
"Gale…"
xxxxx
