Say My Name

Written by shade vox

s/v: Only warning in this chapter, and probably from here on, is that there will be light swearing. Light swearing as in not that intense and not often used. Swear words will include from 'bastard' to 'fuck'. If you cannot handle such language, then please find another fic to read. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: Star Ocean 3 belongs to Tri-Ace/Ubisoft/Square-Enix.

Chapter Two

Dancing Black Towels

What the HELL just happened?

She had wanted to say something... Nel tried to remember, but the only thing that popped up was Naked Albel. And small towels. Maybe she should try a cold shower. But no quantity of cold water would ever erase that image from her mind. It was burned into her brain with a sizzling hot brand, and it seemed as though it would be taking residence in her mind for a very, very long time.

She sat there for some time, trying to erase the image... but that sly smile would pop up and then...

And then the skinny bastard had laughed at her.

"Argh! Shut up!" Nel muttered as his laughter rang in her mind. She stood up and went to her own bathroom and blasted on the cold water and washed her face. The water cooled her red face, and she quickly dried herself off when she was finished. Then she realized that her towel was also small. And black.

A second later, Nel Zelpher was tearing out of her room, trying to run away from the image in her mind when something caught her by the shoulder. "Nel!"

Nel whirled around, "what!" Fayt was there, holding up his hands in a harmless gesture. "Sorry, just thought you'd want to know that you were about to fall down the basement stairs."

Nel looked over a shoulder. Yup, there were the stairs, one footstep behind her heels. Thank Apris for her quick reflexes. "Thanks," she muttered.

Fayt looked concerned. "You okay? You're as red as your hair."

"Nothing!" Nel snapped. She didn't need to be reminded of the cause of her blush when she had just got him out of her head. Black towels danced in her vision.

"Okay... I'll go look for Albel then." Fayt turned to go down the hall when he was stopped by Nel.

"Wait. I'll go. I need to apologize anyway." Nel said before she froze in horror. The words had just popped out, yet she knew it was the right thing to do. She'd walked in on him when he had just got out of the shower. Of course she had to apologize. It was times like these she cursed her conscience.

Fayt blinked, "you found him already? Apologize for what?"

But Nel had already gone.

Floored. Again.

Nel found herself standing in front of Albel's battered door once again. This time minus the strength to even knock on it. Curse Fayt for mentioning Nox. What was she supposed to say? Sorry Albel for walking in on you when you were naked... can I eat you? That would do a serious number on her pride. Can I have your towel to hang on my wall? Nope, that was just her imagination speaking.

The door opened while Nel was still in a dilemma and out stepped Albel Nox. This time, thankfully, in clothes. He was wearing the outfit he usually wore with white and blue hair, and she wondered why. He usually wore his violet one. The one with a slit skirt…

"What do you want now, fool?"

She realized that Albel was watching her with an amused and smug expression. She felt the immediate approach of a blush and stepped backwards to create some distance.

Nel finally remembered what she had wanted to say. "The King Arzei expects you at the next meeting, as does the Queen of Acquios."

Albel arched a fine dark brow skeptically. "That's it?"

Nel looked away and let her hair curtain her face as the blush surfaced. "And I apologize for walking in on you without invitation."

"Speak louder, fool. No one can hear you when you mumble like that."

Nel turned and was about to say it again when she saw the amused glint in his crimson eyes. He was flipping toying with her. "I won't repeat myself, Nox. You heard what I said."

Albel smirked. "You're one lucky maggot. Normally worms who have the luck to see me naked don't live in the next five seconds."

Anger flared inside Nel. He always found the right words to incense her fury further. Deciding to leave before they broke out in a fight (even though her hands were itching for her blades), Nel turned away. "You are as insufferable as always, Albel Nox."

A hand gripped her shoulder in a strong grip and whirled her around. About to demand what in the name of Apris he thought he was doing, Nel's words were blocked by another pair of lips. A pair of very soft, defined lips pressed to hers in a chaste kiss.

Of course, this brought the total number of being floored that day alone to three.

And naughty thoughts? Too many to count.

Just as she was getting over her initial shock, the tall Glyphian pushed her away and glared at her. "I hate you."

Nel blinked. A strange silence stretched over the hallway. Why would he hate her? He was the one who took the kiss. Or maybe it was something else? She spoke the only other reason which came to mind. "Don't get mad at me Nox. You're the one who got himself in trouble with the king." With that said, she pulled herself out of his slightly painful grasp and stalked down the hall.

Confusion

Albel Nox stood rooted to the spot, numb, as the Crimson Blade disappeared around the curve of the hall. He pressed his fingers to his lips disbelievingly. He had kissed Nel Zelpher. Then... he thought he remembered that he had said that he hated her. Neither of the two had happened with his consent.

One phrase summed everything up nicely: What the fuck?

Maybe he was going as insane as everyone thought him to be. Albel was serious about this thought. That or hopefully what had just happened was just his imagination. He hoped beyond hope that this was true. Because when you were a warrior, and made your living off of your battles, having your body act on its own was a scary thing. A skilled person in the art of killing on the rampage was frightening to the community. Imagine what it was like to be that person, stuck in your mind while your body did terrible acts on its own, and unable to explain yourself because you couldn't even speak?

Well, that was one form of insanity. Maybe this was the start?

Voices drifted down the hall and brought him out of his reverie. "You're going to the storage room?" That would be Zelpher.

"Yeah," replied worm number one (Fayt).

"Why?"

"Because the thing we made was somehow acidic." That would be worm number two (Cliff).

A moment of silence as worm number three laughed (Roger).

Then, "you're a dead man walking, Cliff."

"I know already!"

Cliff stomped around the corner and nearly straight into Albel. "Don't just stand there!" Cliff growled as he shouldered by. Albel glowered, but decided to not say anything. He had enough on his mind already without the second worm making a ruckus.

Worm number one rounded the corner, with worm number three at his heels.

"Hey Albel. Dinner's gonna be ready in five minutes, so why don't you go to the dining room?" Fayt suggested as he passed by. "We could've given them Shark Fin soup," Roger grumbled as he followed.

Albel debated if he was hungry or not. After just waking up, he didn't feel very hungry. He reached behind himself to shut the door when his fingers brushed his hair. Looking at the blond strands in his fingers, he realized he'd forgotten to wrap them in the strips of cloth (they were not ribbons – men of his reputation did not wear ribbons in their hair). Rolling his eyes, he turned and entered his room again. After a few minutes of searching, he located his long strips of cloth and began the tedious job of wrapping his hair in two long cords. He had long ago mastered this art and could now do it with his mind wandering as his hands were busy. As his eyes roamed his neat and ordered room, he spotted the violet wet rags on the floor beside the hamper. He glared at them as he started on the other cord. His clothes would no longer be fit for wearing – he'd have to get the royal Gyphian tailor to make him a new identical set.

Speaking of which, he still hadn't been able to find out what had been spilled unceremoniously on him, and what had hit him on the head. By the time he had realized to examine the liquid, it had drained in the shower. All he remembered about it was that it was a neon purple and stung.

Finished with the second cord, Albel stood and grabbed a cloth bag from his desk. He shoved the purple rags inside it and tied it shut with some difficulty, vowing to find who was responsible and make them pay.

Leaving the damp bag by the hamper to take out later, Albel exited his room and remembered when Nel had walked in on him when he was drying himself off. He had known she was outside the door and had definitely heard when she had shouted his name then stopped. He'd even heard her stop breathing as he continued to dry his hair. He felt her gaze travel around his body and had snickered to himself. It was always fun to set up a potential private black mail against his foes. But then, Nel Zelpher was a special exception. In doing this he both teased her and had found out some information of what she thought about him.

Albel chuckled to himself as he walked down the hallway. Her shocked, pink face had been amusing. If he had the chance, he'd do it again.

In the middle of the dining room was a large table which everyone was seated at, scarfing down Sophia's excellent cooking (he'd give the maggot that much credit) while others conversed openly. They didn't seem to find Albel's timing unusual – they were used to the most violent of the group coming and going as he pleased. Albel slipped into his usual spot between Cliff and Fayt, and picked up his fork and knife to start attacking the steak in front of him. Listening in as he ate the succulent steak (medium rare, just as he liked it), he realized that the conversation now was about the meeting. Albel snorted disdainfully as he took a swig from his cup. The maggot (Sophia) was gabbing about which couple she thought would be best to open the ceremony. Only a few others gave half hearted suggestions when she asked when there was a knock on the door. Fayt stood up immediately, "I'll get it!"

Cliff glowered. The lucky UP3 loving bum. He got to escape Sophia's ramblings.

A few moments later, Fayt arrived with a tall man in tow wearing the full Airyglyphian regalia for a messenger. Fayt sat down as everyone turned to pay attention to this important-looking man. Albel vaguely recognized him from court. Sophia had mercifully shut up.

The grey haired man straightened himself up and coughed importantly before taking out a scroll from the folds of his deep red cloak. He opened it with a flourish (the stupid worm was taking too long!) and peered down at it. "I have an urgent message from King Arzei of Airyglyph for the captain of the Black Brigade, Albel Nox. King Ar-"

The moment the first sentence had left the messenger's lips, said Albel turned in his seat, grabbed Cliff's face, and planted a kiss on his lips.

A frozen silence landed on the dining room as everyone stared, jaws hanging, words unable to make themselves heard. The moment stretched into an eternity. Albel Nox was kissing Cliff Fittir, hated team mate. The messenger dropped the scroll. Fayt choked on his soup. Sophia flushed, frozen, eyes wide. Maria whipped out a pen camera. Roger sat gawking, pointing a finger, unable to accuse anything. Mirage was motionless.

The moment passed and Albel thrust the stunned Cliff away. "I hate you."

Another moment passed. Then two. The two were frozen, staring at each other as Albel still maintained the painful grip on the bulkier blonde's shoulders as Cliff just stared dumbly back.

Then...

"GET THE HELL OFF OF ME, WORM!"

"YOU'RE THE ONE ON ME, YOU SICK BASTARD!"

s/v: Well, this concludes a more interesting chapter. Hoping for reviews and ratings! Thanks! -