I'm just going to post all my previous posted chapters all at once... so those of you who never read this story before are getting spoiled! Hehehe... do enjoy. While it last...

TWO : Friction

TWO : Friction

A largefolder fell with a loud smack on his desk.

"Here's another one, Mister G."

He turned his head with a hint of aggravation on his face as he saw what was written on it.

"Thanks, Pacce…You got to be kidding me! Another!"

"Hey Tidus, my bro, Auron asks for us in his office."

He looked at his redheaded partner and sighed, while holding the document holder up, "I bet ya, it's about this!"

"Another robbery? What was it this time?" He walked in and took the holder out of his colleague's hand. "Oh damn…"

Tidus looked up at his friend for a brief moment before turning his eyes back to his paper work, "What is it, Wakka? What did they take this time?" he said, annoyed and not looking up.

"The Sphere of Betia." Was all Wakka said, throwing the documents on his partner's desk and running a hand through his hair. "That can only mean one thing, man."

Tidus had stopped in all of his actions and was looking at him with a smile on his face. "They're back." He whispered and reached for his jacket behind him.

Wakka nodded and then followed him to the door, "You think Auron will give us the case?"

"He has to!" Tidus responded, rounding the corner to the chief's office. "He has to give us another chance." He opened the door, finding Auron standing inside, "We want that case, sir."

The elder man was facing away from them, bent over his desk, apparently looking at some documents scattered on it. "I know and that's why I'll give you the chance." He said in his smoky voice. "This is a large and if not properly taken care of, an absolute media magnet. Useless to say that we don't want that. I trust you guys."

Tidus and Wakka smiled to each other in victory and were about to leave the office.

"But I'm warning you. If you mess this one up too, I will have to give it to the feds and you'll both be degraded to mere officers, you got me? I have sincerely had enough of you two fucking around all the time, so you better solve this case and fast. I trust you on this one because you two have had the most experience on these kinds of robberies and I expect that you'll both use your brains this time and get us the answers we've been searching for over the past 2 years."

Tidus glared to the floor and clenched his jaws together. "How much time do we get?"

"The FBI has agreed to give us 7 days. After that they take over." Auron said, turning around to finally look at the two young men. "Consider that as an extremely large act of confidence towards you. Do not fuck it up, or I'll have your scrawny asses." And with that he turned himself around again, without giving the two another look.

"You know every time I got to see what they've had to do to get to what they wanted I've always been baffled. Baffled of their level of ingenious. Now it's almost like you're looking at a work of art."

Tidus rolled his eyes at the words of his partner and continued to investigate the crime scene.

"Do you always have to think so much on things, Wakka? It's a robbery, there's nothing artistic about it. It's a crime. Point." He said in an exasperated tone. He actually wanted to get this part of the job over with as fast as he could because he had always hated doing it. And the fact that his job depended on this one didn't help his mood either.

"Look." The redhead pointed at the window above of them in the large exposition room, "They came down from the window that I get. But what I don't get is how they didn't even touch the infrared laser beams, even if they had the necessary equipment. It's a very complex maze!"

"They didn't switch the alarm off, so we can already conclude that this person is very agile." Tidus said, bringing his head back on a normal level to look at the perforated glass box which contained the metal cube that once contained The Sphere of Betia.

"What did they use to perforate those two cubes?" Wakka wondered, taking a closer look of the evidence. "Two identical circles."

"If metal causes the alarm to go off…" Tidus thoughtfully whispered, tilting his head to the side and moving closer to the outer box and putting his investigation gloves on. "What matter is strong enough to pierce through any metal without inflicting damage upon itself?"

"Diamond. They used a diamond perforator?" Wakka whispered.

Tidus pursed his lips and squinted his eyes, " They need to be taken to the lab." He took off his gloves, got out of the room and walked to the building's exit. "We're done here."

"Well, well… if it isn't Giovanni and his little helper."

Tidus had just pushed the revolving glass doors to exit the museum, when a blonde headed man came in on his right side. His face grew rigid and he glared at the other blonde while he re-entered the building.

"What are you doing here, Malucci?" He demanded, keeping his voice as calm as possible, "You feds aren't supposed to be here. We're on it."

Malucci just smiled, "And that is a very comforting thought, is it?" He put one of his hands in his pocket and raised the other to run it through his thick golden locks. "I'm just here to visit. Don't worry. I'm not planning on taking over your case. Again." He laughed and turned himself around, walking up the large stairs to the first floor.

"Are you sure you're related to that bastard?" Wakka said next to Tidus' ear, watching Malucci turning left and entering an exposition room. Tidus sighed and turned himself around, not wanting to be here no more. He felt humiliated and angry, but most of all he felt hurt. He and his half-brother had always gotten along just well, until he had made that one critical mistake that had changed his entire life. Because of him Shuyin had lost the love of his life, Ella, in a cross fire. She had been a hostage of a bank hold up three years ago, and Shuyin had been the one who had been assigned to do the negotiations. When Ella came out as first hostage, clad in terrorist gear so the terrorists wouldn't recognise her, Tidus had been the first one to shoot her. He hadn't taken the time to open his radio and wait for the instructions and opened fire immediately, causing all other officers and FBI-agents to start emptying their load in the confusion…

Shuyin never forgave him. They had never talked about the incident, let alone just talked to each other after that. Malucci just made sure that Tidus saw what his negligence afflicted on others with every case he had had to take from him.

"I'm sure he wished he wasn't…" Tidus whispered ruefully and walked back to the revolving doors with his hands deep in his pockets. "Come on let's go, okay?"

Wakka watched him making his way through the doors and shook his head sadly. "This has really gone on long enough…" He glanced up the stairs and then turned his head back to see Tidus descending the stairs in front of the building and walking to their car. "Someone has to start talking… and if they're not up to it…"

He ran up the stairs.

"One Bailey's, please."

Taking a seat at the bar, Tidus sighed heavily and tried to forget his day at work. Nothing seemed to change, or it didn't change fast enough. When would they all see that he had learnt from his past mistakes? When would they stop treating him like he wasn't capable of anything?

He watched the creamy substance in his glass for a few seconds then took a sip and closed his eyes again. But he would show them. He would solve this case and prove to them once and for all that he didn't do those criminology studies just to get the shiny badge. He took a larger sip of his liquor and winced at the strong alcoholic taste.

"You should put ice in that. Tastes much better." A voice next to him said.

"Maybe, but it deludes the alcoholic taste too much." Tidus responded and turned his head to find himself looking at his half-brother. "Thought you wanted to avoid me as much as you could." He whispered, looking back ahead of him and taking another sip.

"I still do." Shuyin answered, ordering a Piña Colada, "But I thought that maybe we should talk."

"About what?" Tidus asked, putting his drink down. "You made yourself very clear the last time."

"Look, Ty…"

Tidus shook his head, "Don't give me that shit, okay? You had every right to be angry with me, to even ignore me and disrespect me like you did, but don't you think you stretched it out for too long?" He chuckled in melancholy and raised his glass again, "If you want to apologise it's too late. I've had enough." He poured the rest of his drink in and ordered another.

"I want to help." Shuyin whispered, looking at his brother with a worried gaze. "I want to help you on the case."

"I don't need your help." Was the quick reply.

"Yes you do."

"Since when?"

"Since we found out that Fabian maybe had something to do with it." He said, locking his eyes with Tidus' who had just wanted to grab his new drink and now stared at him wide eyed. He narrowed them after a moment.

"Why should I believe you?" Tidus asked, returning his attention to his drink.

"Because." Was all Shuyin said, starting to get unnerved, "I'm your brother."

"Ha!" Tidus sarcastically exclaimed, "For three whole years I didn't mean a thing to you, and now you want me to just forget it all? No."

"If you weren't so stupid, you'd take the chance I'm offering you right now and safe your career." The other blonde said from between his teeth. He then sighed, "Tidus look, I want us to leave the incident of three years ago behind us, I…"

"I wanted to, but you didn't!" Tidus started arguing. "How many times did I tell you that I was sorry? How many times did I offer my apologies? But it was never enough!"

Shuyin had left his head hang, "What do you want me to do now? What do you want me to say to prove to you that I'm sorry? I'm your older brother and look how I acted. I shouldn't have, I know that you made a mistake and that I should've gotten over it… but I didn't want to. I was so angry, I felt so betrayed and so lost…"

Tidus just stared gruffly ahead of him and refused to look at him.

"There is no acceptable explanation for what I did, but I want to try." He bravely continued, "I can only try if I want us to be like we were before. I lost Elle, but I don't want to loose my brother too. I want to help you on your case if that's what it takes to bring us back together. Oh god, that sounded so corny…" He could feel the lump in his throat loosen itself a little as he saw a hint of a smile on his younger brother's lips. "I'm sorry, Ty. Please forgive me."

"Oh stop embarrassing yourself." Tidus grumpily said, while smiling and hiding his face under his one hand, "Tell me more about what Fabian has to do with the robberies."

Shuyin laughed and threw one arm over his brother's shoulder, "I think I'll try this act on women, since it seems to be working on you…"

"Stop messing with me, Malucci." Tidus whispered, still grinning and sipping his drink. "If it wasn't such a bad act, I would've got let you kiss my feet."

"But you still would've got forgiven me, you wuss."

"Just to make you stop whining, twerp."

They laughed together and finished their drinks.

"So what did he want?"

Lenne rolled her eyes and took a seat next to her friends on the couch in a corner of the lounge club. "The perv just kept babbling on and on about the benefices and about all the important meetings we'd be attending to and the long-term consequences of our alliance."

Rikku took her Long Island and sat back in a comfortable position and watched her friend let herself fall on the empty spot next to her. "Let's just hope that your professional 'friendship' lasts."

Paine kept looking at Lenne attentively, "It won't be easy if their personal friendship is as much as inexistent. Lenne."

Lenne had been resting her head on her younger sister's shoulder, "I know, but I can't do it in another way. Urgh, I need a drink."

Yuna gazed over at Paine briefly and sighed. She didn't know why, but she felt herself attracted by this Fabian…"Why didn't you just not go, Lenne?" she asked, resting her head on top of her sister's. "Why didn't you tell him off?"

Lenne grunted, "You don't know him, Yuna." She sat up and ordered a Vodka Martini from a passing waitress. "He never takes a no for answer. And besides, I couldn't afford myself to do so, what kind of an impression would that have got made on my future partner?"

Riku sighed and smiled, "Why don't we change the subject, huh? This is kind of a depressing one…"

"What about those two guys over there? Yuna? Lenne?" Paine suggested, smiling above her drink and pointing at the object of sudden attention. "What do you think?"

"Argh, no, Paine. The mere thought of a creature controlled by the limp object in between it's legs makes me puke." Lenne spat, taking a large sip of her Vodka Martini and then fishing the olive out and putting it in her mouth. "I need another one of these." And she raised her glass at a passing waiter indicating that she wanted another.

"Wow, they're hot!" Rikku exclaimed, sitting up a little to have a better look, "Are they twins?"

"Don't you have your affectional future husband waiting at home for you?" Paine said teasingly. Her smile quickly turned itself into a frown as she saw Lenne receive another Vodka Martini and empty her glass in record time.

"Hey you can't blame a girl for admiring…" Rikku dreamily whispered.

"Admiring perfectly shaped buttocks…" Yuna added hungrily, " I don't mind keeping them both to myself."

"It's double trouble if you ask me." Lenne giggled, obviously starting to get dunk and starting her third glass.

"Okay, that's it. I'm taking you home, Missy." Paine stood up and grabbed Lenne by her right wrist, "Party is over. You got a meeting at 8 o'clock tomorrow."

"Yes… that's true… but I don't want to go…" Lenne whispered, standing up with the help of her friend. "I don't want to go, Paine."

"If we don't go, we'll have all of these gorgeous men coming after us and we don't want that now, don't we?" Paine whispered, helping her to the exit.

"Yuck, no we don't." She faintly whispered, "I'm so tired."

"You guys, I'm taking her home, Yuna need a ride?" Paine said, looking back at her friends.

"No it's okay. I want to admire the view a little more." Yuna whispered still looking at the two ignorant guys at the bar.

"Be careful." Rikku said, waving them goodbye.

"I'll see you tomorrow." And with that they both left.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Rikku whispered after a while. "Go talk to them, they look pretty decent to me."

"You think so?" Yuna asked, arranging her skirt and top. "How do I look?"

"Desperate." Rikku decided then broke into a laugh at her friend's worried look, "No you look hot, girl."

"Okay, wish me luck."

"May the power of the Manolo Blahniks be with you!"

Yuna laughed and rolled her eyes to the ceiling as she stood up.

"Oh… Gorgeous babe at 3 o'clock."

Shuyin pushed his brother slightly with his elbow. Tidus watched her approach from the corner of his eye while he pretended to drink. As she took place next to him at the bar, he felt another elbow push from his brother.

"Offer her something, you moron." He whispered.

Tidus swallowed a little and then turned himself around to face her with a huge grin on his face. He didn't know why he started to show his teeth like that, but he immediately knew that he looked like a complete retard. And that was confirmed by the fact that she got startled as she looked up at him.

"Oh! Eh… hi." She said, timidly.

He could hear Shuyin slap himself on his forehead and he stopped grinning. "Hi. Hello." He said and he wanted to slap himself.

"Hi." She said again, averting her gaze a little.

"I'm Tidus." He quickly said, feeling unbelievably clumsy.

"Yuna." She said and held out her hand.

"Beautiful name." He whispered, taking her hand in his. It was soft and manicured and he didn't realise that he was holding it longer than needed. "Eh sorry." He apologised and wiped his hand off his pants. He saw her looking at his hand and then at hers in a questioning manner before he realised what he had just did. "Oh! No, no… it's just that…that… I get sweaty hands when I'm around beautiful girls like you…"

"Smooth…" Shuyin whispered behind him.

"So you mean to say that you meet a lot of beautiful girls?" Yuna asked, testing him.

Tidus smiled, "I don't get sweaty hands often, but when I do it's kind of exceptional."

"What do you mean?" She asked tilting her head to the side. She was starting to think he was cute.

"Really beautiful girls are hard to find these days… when one presents herself it's exceptional. It's…special." He whispered, looking at the way her lips opened and closed themselves as she listened to him. "And I think you're beautiful."

Yuna smiled, flattered. Maybe this guy could be labelled as more than 'cute' or 'hot'.

Maybe he could be more. But it was still maybe.

Don't forget to feed the 'review'-button... feedback is very much appreciated...

To be continued…

-Diamant Noir-