Say My Name

Written by vox shade

v/s: Hey people! A quick update for you people this time. Be happy, I worked throughout my weekend for you. And a little itty bitty warning for some controversional issues here again. Thanks :3

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

Chapter Seven

Sometimes Green Doesn't Suit You.

Nel groaned inwardly. Why was she groaning? Well, looking around, there really was nothing to groan over. The Airyglyph sky was clear of clouds, the snow had stopped for once, winds had become breezes, leaving the sturdy stone courtyard dusted with snow, pure and clean. Except for the footsteps leading from the doorway from the side of the castle. One leading to where Nel stood, leaning against a stone post overlooking the empty training yard. The other had two sets of footsteps leading to the opposite side of the courtyard where animated chatting came in constant bursts. Nel crossed her arms and shivered at the cold temperature (but it was warmer than before) and glanced inconspicuously at the commotion.

The black haired and blue eyed vixen who went by the name Sienna Skye was chatting animatedly with Albel Nox by the stairs leading down to the yard. She had been practically super glued to Albel's heels since their meeting with the king. Since that kiss...

Nel rolled her eyes and made herself look away from the disgusting sight. She didn't really see the skeleton-like trees as she remembered the events of the bizarre day. Their journey from Arias to the royal city, their meeting with Count Noppin, the meeting with Arzei, Sienna barging in and Albel kissing her instead of Nel like every other time except when purposely getting him to kiss someone else...

A distinct flare of anger flared within Nel and she shifted in her boots uncomfortably. She knew what this emotion was. Jealousy. Something she was not accustomed to, but familiar with enough. Who in their lives did not experience this at least once? But this was unreasonable. Why was she, Nel Zelpher, jealous of Sienna?

Despite herself, she looked over again at the talking couple, and cringed when she realized that they looked good together. Albel in all his wicked good looks, and Sienna in her ethereal kind of beauty. She smiled and laughed, tossing back her waves of black hair right then as her blue eyes sparkled, her other hand smoothing her high collared navy blue dress, the exact same colour as Albel's skirt. Neither seemed bothered by the chilly climate as they talked. Nel cursed the taller woman silently as they chatted about something or other – their voices were muffled and the distance a bit too far to make out the words.

Nel brushed the snow off the sleeves of the form fitting trench coat she had brought, knowing Airyglyph's weather. She glowered at the snow falling to the ground softly, remembering what had happened in the audience chamber.

Nel stood in shock as Albel withdrew his lips from the dark haired woman's sultry lips. "I hate you," he whispered. The words somehow filtered through the fog in Nel's head to register that his tone sounded almost... tender?

The girl crossed her arms and pouted prettily. "I should be the one saying that. You have no right, Albel."

"You!" The king's advisor spluttered, "you cannot enter this chamber without leave of the-"

"Settle down, Lied," the king commanded gently. He surveyed the surprised Albel, his eyes roaming from his strange expression to the woman's gentling eyes as she looked at Albel, to Nel mechanically righting her chair but refusing to sit. He sighed. "This meeting has been ended. I think I know what this curse induces my commander to do without you telling me. Now, I believe that Albel and Sienna need time to catch up. I expect any questions regarding this mission to be brought to my attention before you leave tomorrow. Dinner will be served as of now, so please wash up and meet in the dining hall."

All throughout the dinner Sienna had talked about anything and everything. How old she was (nineteen), where she came from, all the way to what size her bra was. But one thing Nel had noticed that she had not spoken of was how she and Albel had met. It was kind of strange how a girl from the countryside could become intimate enough with a swordsman of the royal castle to call each other on a first name bases.

After dinner, Nel had left the dining hall to grab her coat and step outside for a breath of fresh air in the dimming evening. Then, ten minutes ago, the two had walked outside. They had looked at her, exchanged decidedly stiff greetings, then had resumed their conversation, leaving Nel to feel like a third wheel, abandoned on the other side.

Sighing, Nel tucked a waving strand behind her ear and decided to reenter the castle. The breath of fresh air she had come out to experience now felt like a chunk of ice somewhere painful in her chest. I'd better complete that task as well, she reminded herself, inexplicably glum. Kicking up snow in her path, she ignored the two and headed for the thick wooden door and slipped inside.

Lost and Found Emotions

Albel frowned as the wooden door leading into the castle shut with a loud thunk of wood against stone, temporarily puncturing Sienna's chattering. Why did Nel leave? Well, it wasn't as if he'd been talking to her, but she had left with a slightly gloomy look on her face, and strangely it bothered him. Perhaps the Airyglyph cuisine didn't sit well with her stomach, but he doubted that that was the reason. Maybe it was because of him somehow...?

"Hey Albel," Sienna poked Albel in the arm to get his attention.

"What?"

"I've got a question."

"Since when have you haven't?"

Sienna scrunched her nose, "well, I just wanna know about that woman. Who is Nel really anyway?"

Albel rolled his eyes, "I've just told you – she's one of the-"

Sienna waved her hand impatiently, cutting him off. "No, I already know that she was one of the people who helped save the universe, and all that. I meant who is she to you."

Albel arched an eyebrow calmly as his heart skipped a beat. "To me? What's there to be said? She is just a team member who happens to be my partner in this mission. Nothing more."

Sienna threw him an exasperated look. "Don't give me that crap, Albel. She's much more than that, I know that for sure."

Albel eyed her and shifted uncomfortably under her tight scrutiny. "You know I have no interest in love."

"None?" Sienna quirked a finely arched eyebrow. "What of that Esme Fontaine ditz?"

"Nothin happened, as per usual."

"But with this one, you're different," Sienna insisted.

This interested Albel slightly. He feigned indifference to hide it, however, not wanting to give the shorter woman a weapon. "How so?"

"Well," Sienna started with an obvious relish. "You always notice when she leaves or enters the same room. And sometimes you find excuses to go in the same direction she went in. And I know for a fact that you don't look at her like you do to other woman, like they were some kind of new breed of worms."

Is that how I act? For the love of-... Albel let out a breath. "I'm a swordsman, Skye. You're trained to notice details like who's in the same room as you, who leaves and who enters. And if I do go in the same direction as Zelpher, then it is purely coincidence. I don't think she's a new breed of worms like the others because she's proven her worth in battle, even if it is only by a margin."

A sudden, sinister sparkle had lit up in Sienna Skye's eyes and Albel only recalled his mistake an instant too late. A dark smile curved on her pink lips as she let out a giggle. "You've lost, Albel."

Albel straightened and gave her a glare. "I have not."

Sienna danced around him to plant herself in front of him, blocking his way with a laugh. "You have! You know you have! I've never heard you call a woman anything other than varieties of insects or other things which crawl on the ground. And you insist Nel's nothing, but then you go and call her by her surname! Just admit it Albel, you've lost it!"

Dances in the Dark

"You have already completed your task?" The king of Airyglyph's tone held a touch of surprise and admiration in his low voice as he regarded the petite red haired young woman in front of his desk.

Nel nodded. "I have. However, you must be careful and not trip over it. It's very sensitive. I have left some space around it so that you may reach your quarters."

Arzei returned the nod. "You have my gratitude, Lady Nel. I was debating whether or not to increase security measures, but it seems you have foreseen it more clearly than I. You will be compensated for your hard work."

"Not at all, sir." Nel crossed her arms. "My duty has called for this, and I am glad to fulfill it."

This prompted a small smile from the king as he set down a piece of paper onto his desk and surveyed Nel with respect. "But you had volunteered to partner with Albel when he required help. For that I thank you."

Nel recognized that the king would not back down from the look in his eyes. And frankly, she didn't really want to correct him any further. She could understand why this man was the king of Airyglyph, both for heart and mind. She gave a small smile and half bowed. "Please excuse me."

The king nodded and Nel turned and left the office, hitching up her bag on her shoulder. She felt better now after accomplishing something after leaving the courtyard. She set out down the hallway lit by torches, thinking about anything else she may have forgotten when a set of footsteps alerted her ears.

Please, anyone but him. Nel let out an exasperated growl when he rounded the corner. She really didn't need to see Albel right now. But there he was, rounding the corner and stopping as he met her eyes. A shadow flitted over his face. "What are you doing here?"

Nel stopped and crossed her arms. "Why are you here?"

Albel snorted. "I can't meet with my own king?"

Nel stepped to the side of the darkened corridor and gestured. "Then don't let me stop you."

He cast her a dark look and marched down the hall, but stopped right in front of her to her surprise. But then, he was always full of surprises, wasn't he? Like feigning he was not interested in romance, yet having a local love which he had not told anyone of.

Alright, back to reality.

Albel stopped squarely in front of Nel, and it struck her just how tall the skinny bastard was. With the flickering torch light casting Albel's face into shadows, he exuded danger through every pore as he stared down at her with gleaming crimson eyes through his long bangs. Nel couldn't summon a word. It felt as if her lungs had constricted to half their size, urging her to breathe in faster and shallower breaths. Every hair jumped to attention with her heart as their leader when Albel suddenly hit the stone wall behind her with both hands, on either side of her head. Instinctively, she pressed against the wall as Albel bent down until his eyes were almost level with her own wide ones. His eyes were prodding, penetrating, and she couldn't move for the love of Apris. Even if the biggest tub of double fudge ice cream was dancing behind the guy, she wouldn't have been able to move to get to it even though he wasn't touching her in any way physically. Only emotionally...

What a messed up reality.

Finally, he cut the razor thin silence. "I won't repeat myself again, woman. Why. Are. You. Here."

Nel gulped and tried to gather her scattered wits, even as she stared back helplessly. "I came here to complete a favor for your king."

An arch of a brow. "What kind of favor would he need from you?"

A small twinge of anger made itself know in her blank mind. Why do I have to explain anything to this liar anyway? What right does this bastard have over me to question what I do? Nel glared back. "Why do you want to know so much about what I do and whom I meet?"

"Don't make me repeat myself, woman," Albel warned softly.

"And I won't repeat myself either. Move it. It's none of your business anyway."

"As much as I hate to say it, we are partners in this mission. And I had the impression that Aquarians value trust in partnerships."

"And since when have you ever invested in trust? Why should I give mine when you clearly do not give me your own?"

"Why are you here?"

"I'm not saying anything, understand? Out of my way!"

Nel's jaws started to ache from gritting her teeth so much, but she refused to budge under the pressure of Albel's eyes. Finally, he withdrew his hands and straightened, his eyes cold and indifferent, mask back in place. Without a word, he turned and walked down the hall, his footsteps echoing, shortly followed by the sound of a door opening and closing.

Silence.

Nel remained leaning against the wall, muscles tense, eyes unseeing. Her anger was empty now, as was her heart. It was only now that she admitted to herself that she had been immature, had let her pride get in the way. Jealousy had played a role too, induced by Sienna's intimacy. Her breathing sounded harsh to her own ears, and blankly she wondered what time it was. It had to be later than nine, because she had spent at least an hour and a half in the king's suite. This reminded her that Albel wouldn't stay in the king's office forever – he'd have to come out soon. Feeling burdened even more than ever, Nel let her feet guide her to the room she had left her equipment in when they had arrived at the castle.

Upon the entry of the room, Nel noticed that someone, probably a maid, had lit the fire in the fireplace bathing the room with warmth and light. She set her bag by the desk and rummaged through her bigger knapsack sitting on the chair and fished out two rolled up pieces of paper tied with a blue and red ribbon respectively. Dully, she remembered that she had to send them out to the Queen and Clair. She had written the reports just before their meeting with the king. Now all she had to do was make her way to the falconry. Airyglyph had no population of pigeons to relay messages to other people, so they had to make due with falcons. This was a bonus because in addition to being able to hunt cooperatively with humans, they were smarter than pigeons and could relay messages faster. With abstract facts in mind, Nel grabbed the papers and left the room quietly.

Twenty minutes later Nel had returned to the hallway the bedroom was in, her head and mind clearer than before. After minutes of arguing with herself with voices sounding suspiciously like Fayt and Sophia, she had reached a conclusion. Even though she had no idea how the argument between her and Albel had started, it was clear that she was responsible for half of the confusion over nothing. She would apologize even though she expected him to turn it away, and ignore her feelings concerning him and Sienna. If they really were together, what right did she have to interrupt what they had? And since when had she like him anyway? She didn't like anything about him, ever since the beginning. At least, not in that kind of way. No sir. And she didn't need romance to distract her from her duty. She really had no time for it, what with all the battles she became involved in and covert operations.

Suspiciously, it sounded like she was trying to convince herself.

Nahh. Just wasn't gonna happen.

But if she wanted to apologize, she'd have to find him, wouldn't she? And she didn't know where he was sleeping. Even though she had bumped into so many people who were crowding the halls before. So where was he…?

Nel opened the door to her bedroom and slipped in. Immediately, she recognized Albel's back as he bent over her bed. Wait, what..?

"Umm, Albel? What are you doing here?" Nel's heart thundered in her ears. An mixture of emotions swelled up, and she struggled to suppress them. She had never been good with apologies. Or jealousy. Wait, hadn't she already agreed that she wasn't jealous?

He continued to work, grasping two handles at the bottom of the bed and yanking it, pulling out a cot which had been inside the bed much like a drawer. Nel comprehended instantly. Okay, so I agreed to apologize. I didn't say anything about sleeping in the same room!

The tall Glyphian straightened and turned to face her. His voice was normal again – cold, distant. "During this time of year many nobles return to the capital to gather and enjoy the Season. There is a shortage of rooms in the castle, so we have to sleep in the same room. Don't think I didn't try to change his mind, but the king's stubborn. So even if it isn't your ideal sleeping quarters, you may as well be quiet because we aren't getting anything else."

Nel suppressed the urge to retort, and tamed her anger. Obviously he had not gotten over the argument. She discreetly examined his face and body language as she rummaged through her bag. It seemed as though he wasn't in the mood to listen – her apology might start another argument, because her anger was sure as hell not completely gone. She let out a small sigh as she extracted a small bundle of clothes. "Could you leave the room for a minute then? I have to change."

Albel didn't reply, but he crossed the room without a glance her way and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him with a sound thud, communicating his mood with clarity.

Nel unrolled the bundle of clothes on the desk and flapped the night gown. She had no intention of wearing it tonight. In fact, she had no intention of sleeping tonight at all. She folded it again and slipped off her arm armour, along with the small pouch tied around her waist and set it inside her bag, along with her sleeping gear. She untied her scarf and draped it on top of the chair and slipped off her gloves as well. Her shoes came next, but her socks stayed on her feet. Done, she tied the bag closed and crossed the room to the bed and cot. She would take the cot tonight, as it suited her purposes. She slipped underneath the covers, yanking them up to her chin and making sure that they covered her socked feet. She checked the top of the covers, making sure that it looked as though she really was in nothing but her pajamas. Finally, she called, "you can come in now."

Albel reentered the room wearing nothing but his skirt. He set his armour, claw, and sword by the fireplace without looking at her. She watched as he picked up a small bucket on the fireplace ledge and dump its contents into the fireplace, smoldering the fire out until only half buried embers were left glowing in the dirt. In the sudden darkness, she heard his footsteps draw near, then the creaking of the bed as he settled his weight onto it.

Time passed without a voice. Nel lay awake, feigning sleep, listening to the steadily deepening rhythm of Albel's breathing. Thoughts swirled around her mind, emotions, recounting of events. She hadn't told the truth earlier. Albel had really started to trust her, like earlier in the day before Esme had come by. That peace, reassurance, trust… an ache formed in her heart as she stared up at the darkness, craving it even though she didn't know why she wanted it so much. Wanted it from Albel.

Albel's breathing had become deep and even. Nel reflected that it was time to go. Quietly, she sat up and slipped out of the warm covers and onto the cooling flagstones of the floor. With the faint light of the dying embers, she slipped on her shoes and equipped her armour and daggers. With her vision adjusted to the dark, she made out the unmoving form of Albel, then the door to her left. She tentatively grasped the handle and pulled it towards her. It wouldn't budge. Gritting her teeth, she pulled harder, and after a moment it gave with a shuddering squeak.

Piece of…! Nel froze, eyes wide as she stared at the bed, just waiting for Albel to get up and demand to know where she was going in the dead of the night. Her heart had decided to move into her throat as she waited, heartbeat thundering in her ears.

Finally, Nel chanced it and opened the door wider, assured that Albel was still asleep from his unchanged breathing. The hallway was dark, unlit by any torch. Nel glanced at Albel again, and felt that she owed something to the still form. Quietly, she whispered, "sorry."

Albel slit open his eyes as the door closed with a soft whine and sat up. Quickly he got off the bed and donned his shoes and buckled on his belt and sword, along with his claw. He had heard her whispered apology, but it only made him wonder about what she was about to do. Was she going to the king...? And if she was, why? He had thought Arzei was interested in Elena...

Nel crept through the dark passages of the castle, keeping to the darkest shadows and as silent and swift as a spy was expected to be. She had rememorized the way to the king's suite and she silently glided up a staircase and took a right at the landing. Thirty paces and she had arrived at the king's door. It was unguarded, as he had said it would be. Quietly, she slipped the key she was given into the keyhole and turned it, hearing the click of the lock. Strangely, the mission impossible song was playing in her mind. Nel slipped it back into her pocket and stepped into the entrance room of the suite. There was little light here, provided by a candle sitting on the table by a mirror hanging on the wall. She glimpsed her darkened silhouette in it before passing it by, closing the door softly behind her.

Quickly Nel wove her way to the room she had been in before earlier that day. The door was open, and small sounds of a struggle and a whispered voice was emitting from the room.

"Zelpher."

Nel's heart almost exploded as she whirled around, hands at her daggers. A tall silhouette of a man stood a few feet away from her. Quickly she whispered a spell and a flame appeared at her fingertips, illuminating a small portion of the corridor. She raised it and the light revealed the man to be Albel, only with shoes, his sword, and claw and wearing a tense expression. Her heart settled down marginally.

"Albel, why are you here? You're-"

"Who's in there?"

"I don't know. I set a trap here today just in case anyone was after the king."

Albel's face became set in a grim look. He whispered a spell and an identical flame flared to life at his claws. He gave a smirk at the astonished look on Nel's face. "Then let's go."

Nel thrust the door open and vaulted in, Albel close at her heels. A dagger flashed in the firelight in Nel's hand, flame in the other as she located the source of the noise: at the floor underneath the window, the only weakness of the room other than the door. Usually the king's suite was guarded by a patrol of knights every night, and at least one guard in the day. But since she had asked the king if she could survey his suite and locate any weaknesses, he had agreed and she had fortified the weakest entryways. This window being the weakest, since there was a ledge outside of the window that was easily reachable via the roof.

Nel darted to the window and yanked a rope from the trap which caused the intruder to yelp and twist futilely. The light cast the intruder into the light. Their legs were tied to the window ledge, which meant that their upper body was tangled and pinned down to the floor. They were wearing black clothes, and a scarf to cover their face. Nel bent down and speared the end of the scarf and pulled it away from their face and stopped as she realized who's eyes she was staring back into.

It was Sienna Skye.

Wait. Wait, wait. Wait wait wait waitwaitwaitwait WHAT THE HELL? Nel couldn't get over her surprise. She just stood there dumbly, unmoving. This was weird. Why was one of Albel's companions trying to infiltrate the king's suite? Was she involved with the conspiracy group? Does this mean that they had a network of information already in the castle...?

"Step aside." Albel crossed the room and withdrew his sword. With a vicious slash, he ripped through Nel's trap and sent Sienna sprawling on the floor with a yelp.

The fall caused the hem of her shirt to fly up, revealing an expanse of pale flesh over lithe muscles. Masculine muscles. And no sign of any feminine characteristics.

Insert Twilight Zone music here.

Nel's jaw dropped. The she was a he! Was Roger right – Albel was in love with a drag queen?

v/s: whooo... getting stranger by the minute, hm? All will be explained in due time... evil chuckle