"Captain? What—?"
"Get out of my way." Alex pushed Sophia roughly aside, and she gave a little gasp of surprise. She stared after him, worried. He stopped suddenly and whirled around to face her.
"Where are Dio and Lucciola?" he demanded.
"Uh…? I… I'm not sure," she stuttered, caught off guard, "They usually hang around Claus, though, so…" He had already left before she even had a chance to finish her sentence. She sighed.
"Claus!" Claus turned around, startled at the tone in Alex's voice.
"Uh… Y-yeah?"
"Where are Dio and Lucciola?"
"Dio said he was going to the kitchen to get something to eat…" he said, and Alex abruptly turned and left.
"What the…?" Claus said softly to himself, confused.
"All right, Lucciola! Let's be on our way now!"
"Yes, Lord Dio." Dio grinned and marched out of the kitchen, Lucciola following him loyally. Right as he opened the door, he jumped a bit to see Alex standing there.
"Ah! Captain, you startled me!" he exclaimed, "So, what brings you here?"
"Come with me," he said shortly, turning around.
"Hm? But I was going to talk to Immelman."
"I don't care. Follow me."
"Where are we going?" Dio asked, running up to him. Alex glanced quickly down at him, then said shortly,
"To the Guild." Dio nearly froze in his tracks.
"W-What?"
"You heard me. Come along." Dio's gaze hardened.
"Of course not!" he exclaimed, "I'm not going." Lucciola put a hand on Dio's shoulder.
"It'll be all right, Lord Dio…" he started, but Dio pushed his hand away. Alex stared at the two of them, and said,
"You're coming with me. That's an order."
"You are no captain of mine!"
"Is that so? Delphine wants you to come, too."
"She has no control over me."
"I don't care. Don't make a scene." Alex turned back around and continued walking.
"Lord Dio…" Lucciola started. Dio glanced at Lucciola pleadingly, and he sighed. Slowly, hesitantly, Lucciola reached out his hand and put it in Dio's, and Dio smirked as he pulled it away. Alex turned around once more and said,
"Hurry up."
"Fine…" Dio grumbled, following Alex sullenly. Again Lucciola sighed, but followed as well.
They were nearing the hangar. Dio's hand fidgeted. Lucciola's gaze remained unwavering. Dio sighed and lashed out his hand.
Alex froze with a sharp intake of breath. The feeling of cold steel against the back of his head was familiar.
"I said I'm not going," Dio said softly, glaring. Alex couldn't see him but could tell he was near hysterics.
"Yes, you are."
"Did you not hear me!" Dio exclaimed, his grip tightening on the gun, "I'll kill you!"
"I'd rather you not," Alex said simply, and suddenly he whirled around and brought his leg smashing into Dio's stomach. He groaned and put an arm around his stomach, kneeling down.
"I… I won't…" Dio protested, and he fired the gun. It missed by several feet. Lucciola put a hand on Dio's shoulder and took the gun from him.
"You're just going to get hurt, sir," he said softly, and Dio shook his head.
"I won't go… I won't…"
"Get up." Dio looked up to see Alex staring down at him. "I'd calm down if I were you. I doubt Delphine will hurt you; she said she missed you." Dio shook his head but he slowly stood up.
"You don't understand."
"I really don't care if I understand or not. You're coming with me, so you'd better get used to it. Let's go." He walked on as if nothing had happened. Dio stared at him, his eyes wide, then his gaze hardened and he started to say something when Lucciola said softly,
"Lord Dio…" Dio sighed, stood up, and followed Alex slowly, angrily, but followed him all the same.