Just a short Chapter today SoA fans.

I'd just like to say quickly to Flamingcomet I sent you one of my movie files, but my email account on the blink so I don't know if you got it or not.

I'm having loads more trouble with my website. I'm thinking of maybe using a Devinantart account for the movie clips, but aside from that I'm stumped.

This is a kind of hint of things to come in LoAS, I'll leave you to guess what.

Anywho, enjoy this chapter, and if I get five more reviews, I might update next wednesday (Seeing this is such a short chapter) Enjoy!

THE NOBLE HOUSE OF AIKA NAUTILI!

"Well, here it is," Aika sighed as she unlocked the door, "sorry if it's a bit messy, but you know what guys my age are like right?"

Carlos gave her a half smile, "Not really. I spent most of my childhood on the streets of Lower City. By the time I was your age I was fresh from the Academy and running the show at Esperanza."

"Oh," Aika looked away, "I'm sorry I…I didn't know,"

"Ah, it's alright," Carlos lay a hand on her shoulder, "I put my early life behind me,"

Aika smiled back as he walked into the cabin, surveying the one room house.

It wasn't a lot to look at.

There was a cupboard and side-table in the corner farthest from the door, on the latter of which was a number of homely items such as a small stuffed teddy bear and a picture of Aika and Vyse messing around.

Along the back wall sat a desk with more pictures of people Aika obviously knew, and sitting directly in the middle of the room was a large round table, with several miss match chairs dotted around it.

Built into an obviously purpose built alcove sat a large bed with light red sheets and pillows, along with a mirror on the bed side table.

"It's…clean," Carlos said neutrally.

"Guess it's not what you were expecting huh?" Aika gave him a half smile.

"Oh no it's fine," the former commander said all too quickly, "But I might have to change the sheets,"

Aika's smile widened, "Sorry about that,"

Carlos returned the gesture, before looking around the room again.

An uneasy silence followed. Aika shuffled from foot to foot, while Carlos took a sudden interest in the logs that made up the north cabin wall.

"um…," Aika started to go beet red again, "Do you wanna go up to Lookout Island to see the sunset? Me and Vyse go up there all the time,"

Carlos smiled at the Rogue, "no thanks Aika. If it's alright with you, I just want to find some fresh bed sheets and turn in for the night."

"Oh," Aika's face fell, "Okay then. There are new sheets in the closet, third shelf. I'll come by tomorrow to collect my stuff."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"…Okay."

They stared at each other across the room for a while, each lost in each others stare.

Finally, Carlos coughed uneasily into his hand, "Aika," he gave her a sideways smile as he approached, "thanks for letting me stay here, it means a lot to me,"

Aika looked up at him, her face lighting up at the comment, "Really?"

"Really," Carlos lay a hand on her shoulder, "When I found out I was going to stay here, I thought no one would take me in, that I'd be forced to live in the dirt outside, but you and Vyse made me feel equal, as though the fact I was a Valuan Officer didn't matter, and for that, I thank you,"

and before his mind register what he was doing, Carlos lent down and gave her a brief kiss on the cheek.

Aika squeaked in surprise at what he did, before going slightly dreamy eyed.

"Any time," she mumbled, before absently walking through the door, letting out a content sigh as it closed.

Carlos gave a small sigh of his own as he lent against the back of the door.

"I bet that's got her imagination going," he chuckled to himself.

As he looked around the room, he stripped himself of his armour and weapons, laying them carefully on the table in a decorative fashion, with the armour in the centre, his sword laying parallel to the door, and his pistols crossed just below that.

He then proceeded to change the bed covers, before sitting lightly on the edge.

He gazed around the wooden house, before giving a slightly dejected sigh.

"Looks like I'm here for the long haul," he murmured to himself. He sighed again, before kicking his feet up and laying on the large bed.

As he gazed up at the roof, he felt himself drifting off, he found himself wondering what Belleza was doing right now, and if she was alright…

"YOU'RE WHAT!"

Alfonso blinked in disgust as Belleza shoved her face into his.

"You heard me. Your First Officer is registered as Missing In Action."

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" Belleza threw up her hands, "CARLOS IS ONE OF THE BEST OFFICERS IN THE VALUAN NAVY AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO LEAVE TO DIE ON SOME ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VORTEX?"

"That is precisely what we're going to do," Alfonso sneered, "If you remember correctly Captain, The Admiralty posted him out here in the hopes that he would be blown out of the sky, and praise be to the moons he finally got himself killed…"

"HE'S…NOT…DEAD!"

Alfonso was resisting the urge to cower in front of this enraged woman, "If…if he isn't dead now, he will be soon!" he squeaked, "N…now I suggest you…you get out of my office or I'll…I'll have you forcibly removed!"

Belleza's eyes were now so narrow they were almost closed.

"I'm taking this up with Armada Command," she snarled, before turning on her heel and marching towards the door.

"Don't forget to salute," Alfonso sneered.

Belleza turned around to glare at him so forcefully Alfonso shrunk in his chair when she came back and loomed over him.

"Salute you?" she whispered, "I wouldn't salute you if you were the Lord Admiral himself!"

And with that, she headed out of the office, slamming the door so forcefully it came close to falling off it's hinges.

Here's a bit of trivia for you. in the LoAS universe, the word Tannir means freedom in Acient Silvite.When you read LoAS, you might realise why Tannir's parents called him that.

Anyway, hope you still like this fic. Reviews seem to be a bit scarce these days. Not that I write fics for praise mind you. It just gives me a confidence boost you know?

See you next week.

Dearing.