Say My Name
Written by vox shade
v/s: hey, just wanted to say thanks for all the reviews! XD I didn't know if you should respond individually (remember, vox is still a rookie here) so I'm just giving out an all around thanks.
Disclaimer: Star Ocean 3 belongs to Tri-Ace/Ubisoft/Square-Enix.
Chapter Four
Blackmail Is A Girl's Best Friend
Nel frowned and glared. This has been a shitty day she thought murderously. First she'd been laughed at by Albel for walking in on him, then she'd been kissed by the insane murderer, and embarrassed again to the whole group. She was definitely not in any mood to accompany Albel on the mission of eliminating a conspiracy party when he was a kissing machine and pretend to be his girl friend.
Apris, she needed a tub of double fudge chocolate ice cream right now to calm her grating nerves.
Maria broke the staring contest. "Nel, I think you would be the best candidate to pretend to be Albel's companion."
Nel had already known that. But that didn't stop her from being pissed. She'd already forgiven him of killing her subordinates in war, since she'd killed just as many of his. Then a strange bond had formed when they'd traveled beyond Elicoor, both strangers in the worlds of high technology and where one stray touch could get you electrocuted. But now they were back on Elicoor in Peterney, five months after they'd defeated Luther. But during those five months he'd become the usual Albel the Wicked, and didn't show a flicker of friendliness, or as friendly as he could get anyway.
"I don't need her," Albel spat out, gripping the hilt of the Crimson Scourge.
"And you think I want to?" Nel shot back.
"Whoa, calm down guys," Cliff said with an easy smile.
"You're one of the idiots who started this," Albel snarled.
"I'm going to bed," Peppitta called groggily and exited the room as the grandfather clock chimed nine o'clock.
"Think of it this way," Maria said with an edgy patience. "Nel is capable of fending for herself and won't hold you back. She has a network of information you can tap into. If you are seen together in public then it will further demonstrate the trust between Airyglyph and Acquios. Political issues may even lean towards peace. You can cover twice as much ground between the two of you, and two heads are better than one anyway. Plus, Nel isn't a man, so don't complain."
Nel sighed, resigned to her fate. She'd known it would come to this, and she couldn't argue with Maria's logic. And she'd wanted to help out as well, because her country was at stake. She didn't want to fight another war on her planet again. She didn't want to kill any more people just wanting to defend their homes. But when asked to fight for her Queen, she would not hesitate, and she knew that neither would Albel.
"Fine," she sighed. "Just don't expect any special treatment."
Albel seethed. "I will not tolerate –"
"Albel," Maria cut him off, her temper now evident as she rose from her chair. "This is logically the best way to complete the mission as fast as possible. And while you try to find the culprits, we will be working to find an antidote for you. Stop complaining, or I will be forced to make some rash moves."
Albel narrowed his crimson eyes to slits. "Like attempted murder?"
Maria smiled grimly. "No, I'm talking blackmail."
"What kind of blackmail?" Cliff asked with interest. Mirage and Fayt turned to look at the former commander of Quark as well.
Maria fished out her pen camera from her pocket. "I'm talking about photographic blackmail. I took a picture of Albel and Cliff when they were kissing."
She gave a satisfactory smile at the horrified looks from both men and the smiles of glee from the others. "If you do not comply Albel, I will be forced to make life size posters of these pictures and post them up everywhere. From Acquios to Airyglyph." She was dead serious as she slipped the significant pen into her pocket once again. Fayt remembered it was the same pen she had whipped out when the two men had kissed, even though the memory was slightly blurry because he'd been choking on his soup at the time.
Cliff recovered first. "Albel, you'd better do as she says man. If you don't, our images are ruined. Well, not so much mine, but yours definitely."
Albel was still staring incredulously at the calm blue haired teenager, now flipping her hair over her shoulder in a self-satisfied way. This wench is going to die, he thought. Which was immediately followed by an involuntary, women are scary, thought.
Then he set his mind about, trying to come up with a better solution which would not involve his exposure as a homo (which he most definitely was not), and would avoid letting anyone else call his full name. The search was unfruitful, as he had the gloomy feeling it would be. Anger spiked at this. He so hated to lose.
"Don't think this means anything," Albel relented murderously. He released his hold of the Crimson Scourge and crossed his arms and scowled.
The messenger nodded with satisfaction and stepped up to the captain of the Black Brigade holding out a different scroll from the one he had read off of. "Enclosed in this are the details of the mission, as well as some information the King thought you may find of interest." Albel accepted the scroll as the messenger stepped backwards and gave a deep bow. "Please excuse me," he said trimly and exited the dining room, casting one last furtive look over his shoulder at Mirage.
"Well," Mirage said, resting a hand on Cliff's shoulder. "I need to talk to you, Cliff. Now, if it's alright."
Cliff half rose out of his seat, scratching his head. "Uh, actually, Fayt was gonna show me... I mean..." The taller Klausian let out a breath and straightened, "fine, now's good."
Cliff followed Mirage out and the group had the impression that they'd never see him again from the dejected slump of his shoulders.
Maria stretched and tucked in her chair. "I'm gonna go to my room. No one bothers me, got it?"
"We know," Sophia chimed as she stood up as well. "G'night everyone."
"'Night, Sophia," Fayt, Nel and Maria replied. The two girls left the dining room, chatting lightly.
"I think I'll turn in too," Roger said around a yawn. "A man's gotta have his sleep!"
"I'll go with you," Fayt said, standing up.
Their footsteps receded into the hallway and up the stairs, leaving Albel and Nel. Alone.
Nel tucked her hair behind her ear and ordered herself to ignore the tall Airyglyphian as he stood there and watched her. If he wanted to scowl and stand there all night, it wasn't her problem. Besides, she had things to do. The household had a rotating chore shift, and tonight she was the one stuck with dinner clean up.
She slipped off the armor for her arms and gloves, and set to work gathering the dishes. She could actually relax a little as she usually did whenever she did chores because that was the time of day she reflected. Usually about the day, information, or just her life in particular. Since the defeat of Luther she'd been restless, so she'd taken up as many missions as possible whenever offered by her Queen. And whenever she had nothing to do, she felt well, purposeless. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy relaxing every now and then with her friends, but she preferred work.
Turning on the facet (Maria had taught her to use the installed sink), Nel began to clean the dishes. Tomorrow would be her turn to make dinner, if she was home. She might not even be home, due to her new mission with Albel. And now that she knew that he had not kissed her because of some weird mood swing, she felt less tense around him. As confident as she was, she refused to go around alone with a potential rapist.
Well, this mission shouldn't be too hard, she mused. She'd ask Tynave and Farleen to spread the word and look out for suspicious groups or any information at all pointing to one. There was bound to be a few, but since the King of Airyglyph was worried, the group had to be different from the rest. It was sort of surprising to hear of a conspiracy group as well – she thought she'd cleaned out most of them last week in a spurt of restless energy. The only part she dreaded about the mission was the part that she had to act like Albel's … she didn't want to even think it. But she had shocked herself when she'd walked in on him. She'd actually liked…?
"Wake up, fool."
Nel looked over her shoulder at Albel, snapped out of her thoughts. He had an amused smirk playing around his lips. "You've been staring at the water for a good two minutes now."
Nel turned her back to him and started to clean the dishes. "And you've been standing there doing nothing for a good ten minutes. What do you want, Nox?"
Nel could tell Albel scowled when he answered. "The king wants us to travel to the Sacred City first thing tomorrow and inform the queen of the conspiracy group. Then we're to report to him."
"Fine. On our way to Airyglyph we can stop by Arias and I can talk to Claire," Nel said absently as she ordered the dishes on the drying rack.
Albel snorted. "Don't think we can take time off for you to chat with your friends. I want to get this over with as soon as possible."
Nel rounded on him incredulously. "I'm not going to chat with them, I need to put them on the alert for suspicious information. Of all people, I thought you'd know that I place my duty over everything else!"
He shrugged. "You always seem to be sitting in that couch upstairs eating ice cream whenever I get back."
Nel glared, cheeks flushing, "I've only done that twice this whole month!"
Albel snickered and turned away, "I'm just being kind enough to remind you, fool, that you have no time to relax on this particular mission. And you can't bring that ice cream with you."
Nel propped her damp hands on her hips and glared. "Don't worry, I won't. And I wasn't aware you had a single bone of kindness anywhere in your body, Nox. And another thing – don't think you can treat me like dirt on this mission. I won't stand for it. In any case, we're supposed to act as a couple. But if you don't, I'll have to seriously consider locking you in a room alone with Adray and yelling your name through the door."
He turned back to face her, eyes crimson slits. "You wouldn't," his tone dripped venom.
Nel flashed an almost Albel-ish smile. "Don't test me, Nox. I'm warning you."
Emerald eyes silently battled with ruby eyes, demanding the other to step down first. The only sound in the dining room was the sound of the water running in the sink, forgotten by both of them. Seconds ticked by. A thump was heard from upstairs. Probably Cliff being hurt.
Finally, Albel sighed disdainfully and looked down scornfully at Nel. "I don't need to waste more time on you, fool. Get up early tomorrow, and we'll leave for your precious Queen." He left the room in a swirl of navy skirt and steel, body language clearly communicating that he thought her so inferior that he could turn his back to her and not worry a bit.
Nel's hands itched for her knives so much they were twitching.
Damn the bastard! Nel thought furiously, whirling around and slamming the facet off. At the rate the two of them were needling each other, they would end up killing the other instead of the conspiracy group. Then she grinned as she remembered what she'd said. Or, instead of killing each other, Adray would be confused to why Albel's hitting on him.
Message In A Bottle.
Albel swept up the stairs after leaving Zelpher behind, slightly tense. She wouldn't actually lock him in a room with the scum would she? He'd thought he'd learned more of her during the time together, but apparently she'd hidden a more vicious side of her. Not that he was one to talk, but to kiss the withering old worm… he shuddered. If it came to that, he'd jump out the window.
He reached the landing and immediately spotted the short Menodix standing by a slightly ajar door in the hall, listening intently. He didn't seem to notice Albel's presence yet, so he just walked on when he heard a snatch of the conversation inside.
"-last time you nearly exploded the oven. Why was that?"
"You know why! Look, I'm sorry Mirage, okay? We just-"
There was a sound like a hammer hitting a nail, followed by a yelp.
"Alright, sorry sorry! We thought the chicken needed more heat, so I installed some more fixtures…"
Realizing it was Cliff and Mirage, Albel slowed his pace. Roger had winced when Cliff had been hit, but seemed as though he couldn't pry himself from the door. What ticked Albel off was the fact that Roger was hiding out here and smirking when Cliff was taking all the credit for the failure. What he hated more than incompetent worms were those who couldn't take responsibility for their actions. So Albel casually touched the wall with his right hand and kept walking, keeping contact with the curving wall until he reached Roger. He made sure he put enough force into his leg when he brushed by him, and succeeded in making Roger fall on his face inside the door. Albel kept walking with a smirk as there was a pause of silence, then…
"Well, thanks for dropping in Roger. You've come at the right time."
"Uhh, actually, I was on my was, er downstairs. Seemed to've lost my way, haha. Sorry to bother ya, I'll be leaving…"
"Nuh-uh man. You're staying, brat."
Snickering to himself, Albel made his way to Fayt's door and knocked before opening it. Inside was Fayt typing on one of those things he called 'computers', but he looked up as soon as he had entered.
"I want my stone back, Leingod."
"Sure." Fayt wheeled around and walked across his room to pull down a small stone from a shelf. "You need it for the mission right?" he asked as he handed it over.
"What do you think?" Albel rolled his eyes.
"'Night Albel."
Albel grunted in response and left the room. Leingod was far too familiar with him to be comfortable. Was this a trait of being a leader? At any rate, Leingod was one of the few he could tolerate for a while out of the whole group, and he also had grudging respect from him.
Trotting downstairs, he turned into the hall and glimpsed Zelpher going into her room. She turned at the sound of is footsteps then slammed the door behind her. He sneered at her door as he passed by. She'll wish she'd never been asked to do this, he thought wickedly, slipping into his own bedroom.
The night passed with no incident, and Albel was the first to wake up as per usual, before sunrise. He was a light sleeper, due to the fact that he was visited with nightmares, and would always wake in a sweat. But they only occurred whenever he had a stressful day, but those days had lingering affects.
Quickly and efficiently, Albel dressed himself and equipped anything he thought he'd might need. It wouldn't take them long to reach the Sacred City from Peterney. He'd pick up a few more items from the grocer's if he felt that he needed it later.
Flicking on the lights, he looked around to see if he missed anything. A sparkle caught his eye and he focused on the window. Sitting on the open window was a corked clear glass bottle, with something inside. Albel frowned. He didn't remember that bottle from before. Crossing the room in wide strides, he snatched it up and examined the specimen. The glass was expensive, and the bottle was well made. The cork was coated in gold dust. Inside was a rolled up piece of parchment. Quickly, Albel looked outside, scanning the landscape for any presence before uncorking the bottle by stabbing the cork with one of his claws and wrenching it out with a 'pop!' sound. He shook out the parchment and recognized the texture. Setting aside the bottle, he unrolled the high quality parchment and read the message, first with slight confusion, the second time with anger.
A moment later Nel was startled awake. A loud voice was cursing in her dark room. She reached under her pillow and grabbed a dagger, then turned and sat up. In the doorway was the person she least wanted to see in the beginning of the morning. Albel Nox was tangled in the trap she always set every night by her doorway, slicing the ropes with his claws and showing impressive skill for colourful language.
She lowered her dagger. "Nox, what do you want now? It's before dawn!"
Albel glowered at her as he yanked off the last few ropes and approached the bed angrily. "This was on my window," he said, thrusting a paper in her face.
She took it and noticed it was in face expensive parchment instead of paper. Scrawled on it in green ink in flowery cursive was the following message:
Lord Albel Nox,
It has been brought to our notice that you are the one King Arzei has sent to eliminate a certain conspiracy group. We are in fact, not a conspiracy group – we are merely business men who seek to make profit from war. I am sure that such men such as ourselves enjoy war, maybe for different purposes, yet it is the same thing we seek. We ask you to refuse the king's offer, and we will reward you handsomely with anything you fancy. If you should decline our offer, we will be forced to put certain significant individuals in, ah, danger, if you will.
-Daddy's Little Rich Boys
Nel stared. There was a heart next to their signature. A heart. She felt a shiver in disgust. Glimpsing Albel's murderous expression as he sat down hard on the bed, she re read it and told herself to take it seriously when all she wanted to do was laugh at the sheer pathetic-ness of it. On the third try she pieced it together and looked up at the stoic man whose only expression was apparent in his flashing eyes.
"So basically, if you don't refuse they're gonna kill a few people," Nel said, suppressing a snort of laughter.
Albel glared. "And who would these targets most likely be?"
Nel stared, trying to get her brain to work when it was far too early in the morning. Targets, target… 'significant individuals'… Her head snapped up so fast her neck hurt. "The king and queen!"
Albel smirked, "realization dawns."
Nel jumped out of bed, "but we have to go! Now!" She looked impatiently at Albel, who had looked away and started grinning.
"You might want to get changed before we go," he snickered.
Nel looked down at herself and felt her temperature shoot up a few hundred degrees. Since Albel had barged in without notice, she hadn't had time to change from her night wear. Which consisted of a skimpy pair of deep red bra and matching panties, with a sheer embroidered night gown over it.
"I never thought that'd be your style, although I'm not complaining," Albel said dryly.
"I didn't buy it! Claire gave it to me as a gift!" Nel raised the dagger in her hand threateningly, even though all she wanted to do at the moment was grab the sheets from under Albel and wrap herself in it until she was a cocoon. She started shivering in the slight cold of the morning.
Albel hadn't flinched at the sight of her poised dagger, but merely watched. Then, he slid his normal hand down to his sheathed sword, and Nel tensed... but his hand passed it by and grabbed the sheets. He stood abruptly and Nel's vision was blocked by deep green as the sheets were flung over her. With a startled gasp, Nel tried to get out from underneath, but was held immovable when two strong arms latched around her body in an uncompromising grip.
There were a few minutes of frustrating silent fighting where Nel tried to wriggle out of Albel's grasp as Albel kept his arms wrapped firmly around her. Nel didn't try to use her dagger – she couldn't see, and swinging her dagger around recklessly was stupid, no matter how much she wanted to do it. And even though she was furious – she really didn't need this at the crack of dawn – her energy ran out, so that she was slumped in the dark, panting hard, sweaty and held in an iron grip against a warm body which made her sweat even more. And for some damned reason, she was trembling. Maybe she used too much energy so early in the morning.
So she stood there, panting, trembling, sweaty, knees shaking, blind, tired, refusing to say anything because it felt as though if she said the first words she'd lose some kind of battle. But slowly, as time passed, she found herself leaning against the warm wall behind her, drifting off, relaxing her grip on her dagger. She caught herself just as she felt Albel shift, then suddenly his voice was speaking in her ear.
"You're trembling."
Nel's temper shot up again and she twisted around again to free herself when with a shock, she fell with a painful jarring of bones on the wooden floor. She quickly thrust the blankets off and looked around for the bastard when she spotted him in the doorway holding the bottle and message, smirking at her.
"Consider it payback for looking at me when I got out of the shower, worm."
Ten minutes later Nel stormed out of her room, fully clothed, fuming, and suffering throbs in her temples. How could he have taken advantage of her so easily like that? Or worse, how could she let him? She was slipping, losing her grip fast. There was something about him that got under her skin. She'd kept a fair distance before – Nel concluded that she was going insane because of the mission and the circumstances of her position in the mission. It couldn't possibly be due to anything else. She just needed to become adjusted to the circumstances and she'll be back to normal. Nel paused by the kitchen door (the kitchen has two floors. Strange) and took deep, calming breaths. It wouldn't be right if she entered the holy castle in a full-blown wrath.
When Nel had calmed down, she pushed the kitchen doors open and stepped in, noting that the lights were already on and the humming of machines filling the room quietly. Looking around, she didn't spot anyone so she went upstairs, leaving the workshop part of the kitchen behind. Emerging on the second floor, she nearly jumped a foot when she heard the sudden the clang of metal and the screech of metal scraping on glass. There could only be one other person up this early in the morning.
Nel rounded the metal appliances and rubbed her eyes through the bright white lights to be welcomed by the sight of Albel the Wicked about to kill the oven. He was kicking it in apparent frustration, and shifting around a handled pot sloshing with what sounded like water.
"...idiotic useless complicated piece of crap created by filth, work you heap of junk!"
Nel couldn't help it anymore, so she let out a small chuckle as she approached. Albel glared at her and ceased his abuse.
"What are you laughing at, worm? You took long enough!"
Nel snickered and reached past him to turn the knob on the oven to make the coil underneath the pot turn cherry red with heat. "You need to turn the knob to make this work."
Albel looked from the knob, then back to her, then brushed past. "I don't need it. Don't assume I was trying to cook with that thing anyway. And hurry up!"
She almost forgot her anger as it gave way to amusement as he stomped down the stairs and eventually out of the kitchen. Turning, she turned the knob to 'off' and took the pot off of the oven and to the sink. She'd spotted the ramen wrapper beside the pot on the counter earlier, and chuckled again. Who knew that Albel the Wicked, so competent in battle, wouldn't know how to boil water for ramen if his life depended on it?
Nel's stomach alerted her to her hunger, and she set about to making two bentos. Albel hadn't made his breakfast, and he should be hungry by now. If he fainted when traveling, he'd only drag her down. Or that's what she kept telling herself anyway, even though he'd woken her up before dawn, aggravated her beyond belief, embarrassed her...
Think about that later, Nel told herself firmly as she set about pulling out the ingredient from the fridge.
Nel left a note on the dining room table, saying that she may not be home in time to make dinner and the first place she'd be visiting would be the Sacred City of Acquios. Grabbing the two wrapped bentos and sliding her arm armor back on, she dashed out of the house and down the street as the early morning shoppers were starting to filter in as the sun poke its head above the line of roofs. She wove her way around milling wives and old chatting men to Peterney Square, scanning the crowds for any sign of navy blue skirts or clashing black and blonde hair.
Nel spotted Albel sitting alone at a table by the shop in the center of the square, cold and untalkative as the serving girl fumbled in front of him, asking him if he needed anything.
"I don't need anything. Leave."
The serving girl flushed and stumbled away, making her way to another table with whispering older women staring at the back of Albel's head. Nel frowned and went up to stand beside the chair opposite of Albel, setting the wrapped bentos on the table. "You didn't need to say that."
Albel eyed the wrapped boxes in front of him. "The maggot was pestering me."
"You didn't have to word it so rudely."
"Since when did you become my mother?"
"Since I found out that you couldn't even boil water or be polite to strangers."
"Shut up. Worm."
Nel crossed her arms and glared at the stoic swordman as he crossed his arms as well and looked away. What a pain in the ass. I can't believe I have to pretend I like this bastard. Nel took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She had to be calm, entering the Sacred City in a full-blown rage was disrespectful to Apris. And by Apris, was she hungry.
"Here," Nel said, and swept a bento towards Albel as she picked up the other.
He looked down at it, but she caught the gleam of interest in his eyes. "What is it?"
Nel had stuffed the cloth in her pocket and started to eat her bento (teriyaki chicken, rice, salad) with chopsticks. "Chicken and rice. Some salad. And don't just sit there, we need to get moving."
Albel seemed to debate about it, and it seemed his stomach won because he stood up and picked up the bento without a word or gratitude.
"I See."
"...and therefore we believe that you and the King of Airygylph are in danger." Nel bowed her head down again to look at the red carpet as she rested on a bent knee.
The Queen had taken the news in a stride, as Nel had known she would. The serene expression on her face had never wavered when Nel had told her about the conspiracy party, or the potential threats.
"And you just let them threaten Her Majesty without scouting around and looking for them? What if they had followed you?"
Too bad Lasselle couldn't keep his mouth shut as gracefully as the Queen could.
Nel looked up chillingly at the advisor. "We've only received the missive this morning, and we hardly need to be followed for them to know where the Queen spends most of her time. I had thought that this was common knowledge, as usually queens spend time in their castles."
Albel snickered behind her. He'd refused (as always) to bow to the queen, or even to his own king, so he'd stood behind Nel with his arms crossed as she had explained everything.
Lasselle glared, "regardless, I-"
"Silence, Lasselle." The Queen of Acquios commanded and looked at Nel. "We do not doubt you, as you have served Us well in the past. We give you full permission to survey Our country, and whatever you may need you may relay the message or speak directly to Us at any time."
"Serves you right, annoying scum," Albel smirked as his red eyes landed on the furious advisor.
"Now see here –"
"Lady Nel," the Queen said quietly and beckoned with a finger. Nel approached the throne and stood on the second step, a respectful distance away from her as the two men argued.
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"We are curious to know how you may work cooperatively enough with Lord Albel to complete this mission. We know that you have accomplished much together in the past, yet We have heard information that Lord Albel has returned to his former state prior to your adventures during the last five months. What is your guarantee on this mission?" The Queen gazed at her expectantly.
Nel bowed her head and stifled a smile. "Actually, Your Majesty, we do have a guarantee. You see..."
The conversation went by as the two men continued to argue (Albel was starting to swing his claw around). The Queen looked up with a shadow of a smile on her deep coloured lips.
"Would you like a demonstration, Your Majesty?" Nel asked politely.
"Yes, We would."
This time Nel couldn't suppress the smile as she turned to face the two men at the bottom of the stairs. "Lord Albel Nox shall be accompanying me from here on," Nel made sure her voice was loud enough to carry over their argument.
And the result was not disappointing. It was priceless.
Albel Nox, grabbing Lasselle, hated pompous advisor and general stuck up idiot, kissed him. There was a moment of total silence that fell over the court as everyone stared. Nel thought she cracked two ribs just by holding her laughter in.
The Queen smiled. "I see."
v/s: well, this one didn't come out as well as I thought it would. Comments?