Edonil: Now that we're done our shopping trip, its time to see how Steiner has dealt with learning of Kuja's girlfriend (if you don't remember, he found out in chapter ten). And now presenting… THE DISCLAIMER!
Disclaimer: You know why I'm here. I'm here to tell you that I really need to get a life, and start working on my original fiction, because I can't do anything real with FFIX, because it ain't mine!
Claimer: I can, however, do something with Crims and Sarah, because they are mine. Except that they sort of need the cast of FFIX to function…
To Change
Chapter Twelve
"There you are!" Kuja turned to see Captain Steiner. Wonderful. Not even five minutes in the palace, and he'd already met up with the rusty moron.
"Can I help you?" Kuja asked, his voice betraying none of his thoughts, and his face a mix of cheerfulness and earnestness. He wanted these people to like him, after all…
"Where were you all morning?"
"I believe I already told you. I went to see my girlfriend."
"For some reason, I don't believe you."
"And why is that?" Kuja asked, pretending curiosity. It figured that the stupid knight didn't trust him. Kuja probably wouldn't trust him if their positions were reversed.
"I don't understand why anyone would date you. Well, unless she's the lowest, most pathetic, cold-hearted killer-"
"And what makes you think she isn't?" Kuja cut in, hiding his face in a mask of indifference. The way Captain Steiner was headed, he was probably going to insult Crims, and Kuja didn't want to know what he'd do when that happened.
"What is her name, where did you meet her, why did she stay with you, and what does she know about you? And is she the lowest, most path-"
"Her name is Crims, I met her when I was travelling to Alexandria, she stayed because she was also travelling to Alexandria, I told her everything about me, and she is not low, she is not pathetic, she is not cold-hearted, and she is an assassin."
"WHAT?! Why was she coming here?"
"Oh, that reminds me, does Zidane have any enemies?"
"No. Why?" Captain Steiner's eyes narrowed.
"She came here to assassinate him."
"WHAT?!"
"Don't worry; I convinced her it wouldn't be in her best interest to complete the assassination. But she refused to tell me who hired her- she said it was bad for business- and the person may try the same thing again. So does Zidane have any enemies?"
"No."
"I suppose I should also ask Zidane; he may know something you don't. Where can I find him?"
"Around." Captain Steiner was being vague; a bad sign.
"You don't trust me?" Kuja asked, his face completely innocent and trustable.
"No."
"And why ever not?"
"You destroyed Terra. You tried to destroy Gaia. You're probably still crazy. Therefore, you are untrustworthy."
"I will not try to persuade you otherwise," Kuja said, hoping to catch Captain Steiner off guard, and seem like a good person at the same time.
"What do you mean?" It seemed to be working.
"I can not condone my past actions, and you have every reason to distrust me. I will not try to change your mind; I deserve it." Kuja changed his expression to a mix of sadness and determination. "I only hope my future actions will prove my trustworthiness to you."
"Oh." Captain Steiner screwed up his face to think. Kuja could imagine the sound of rusty wheels turning in Captain Steiner's brain. He almost laughed. But he didn't; it wouldn't fit with his current expression, which was still sadness and determination. "I… I suppose you could go see him, if you put it like that… I think he's in the North Tower."
"Thank you, Captain Steiner," Kuja said, nodding politely. The rust-covered fool looked too confused to answer, so Kuja didn't wait for a reply.
---
"Zidane, there you are!" Kuja exclaimed.
"Hi Kuja. Where've you been?"
"Out and about."
"Care to be more specific?"
"With a friend."
"Oh." A pause, then, "OH!"
"It took you a while to figure that out," Kuja commented.
"Well, yeah, I keep forgetting… Never mind."
"Ah. Of course." Apparently Zidane kept forgetting Kuja wasn't gay. Kuja really would have to do something to dispel those rumours.
"So what brings you here?"
"My girlfriend is an assassin, and the reason she was travelling to Alexandria was that she was paid to assassinate you."
"WHAT?!"
"Don't worry, I convinced her otherwise." Hadn't he had an almost identical conversation with Captain Steiner…? Never mind that now. "I was wondering if you had any enemies I was unaware of."
"Uh… No, I don't think so. Garland's dead, you're… different, and I think that's all. Maybe one of the Treno nobles? They're a weird bunch."
"Indeed." Kuja could sympathize with Zidane there; he'd lived among the fools from Treno for quite a while. He might even still have a house there… And there was that auction house he'd usurped from the previous owners. The source of his income. When he had time, Kuja would have to look into a few things.
"So, care to tell me anything else about this 'Crims'?"
"Um… Her name is Crims, and she is my girlfriend."
"Anything else? Where's she from?"
"What do you care?"
"Just curious. So, where is she from?"
"Treno."
"What part? Was she rich or poor?"
"Poor."
"Really? Huh. I thought you'd choose someone… I dunno, classy or something."
"Well, I didn't."
"Ok. So, what's she like?"
"She's… saucy and reckless and cheeky and… amazing"
"You're crazy. Absolutely stark raving bonkers."
"Why do you say that?"
"Can you hear yourself talk? You just described a nightmare!"
"I beg to differ!" Kuja argued, affronted.
"Whatever. So, when can I meet her?"
"Pardon?"
"I said, 'when can I meet her?'"
"I don't know…" What would Zidane say when he found out about Kuja's… child-to-be. It was a terrifying thought. "When do you want to meet her?"
"I don't know. Is she free this afternoon?"
"She was rather tired when I last saw here…"
"A woman was tired? I thought that was impossible. Does she tire easily?"
"Not normally, but…" How could he say this tactfully? Was there a way to say this tactfully? "She's… pregnant. With my child."
"WHAT?!?!?!"
Edonil: That seems like a good place to end. Don't you agree? A cliff-hanger. Now to go on to the next chapter…