Chapter 6 – Keep Your Poker Face

"Mr. Ambassador, precisely why does Galbadia feel that they need to establish a military presence so close to the Estharian border? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was my understanding that the purpose of these negotiations was to establish peace between the two nations. If Galbadia trusts Esthar enough to sign a treaty with them, why do you feel that you need military force on Esthar's back door? That does raise some concerns."

Squall had to admit, Kylah was definitely holding her own at the conference table. The fact that she was negotiating with her own father didn't seem to phase her. He could see that, as far as Kylah was concerned, she was dealing with just another ambassador. He was someone to be dealt with, negotiated with, and, apparently, nailed to the wall.

"The Galbadia military was merely surveying the area, trying to get the lay of the land," Ambassador Deraldi responded. "The forest area on the northern part of the continent is undeclared and unclaimed territory. We simply wanted to investigate the possibilities in the area."

Kylah chose her response carefully. "So, what you are telling me is that the nation of Galbadia wanted to investigate the possibility of expanding its borders and claim an area that would put it in a strategic position close to the Estharian border? You are saying that the Galbadian government is willing to go into a peace treaty with a nation that it doesn't fully trust?"

Laguna could only sit back and watch Kylah at work, admiration reflected on his face. Silently, he thanked Cid for sending her along on this mission. Never before had he seen anyone so smoothly put one a top ambassador and the president of one of the world's largest nations squarely in their respective places.

"That was certainly not our intent," the ambassador was quick to rush to the defense of his country. "We merely wanted to see precisely what resources could be exploited in that particular area—"

"In other words, you wanted to exploit resources that, by rights, should belong to the Estharian government. If any country should have rights to this area, it should be the country that is in closest vicinity. Don't you agree?"

Laguna struggled violently against a snicker that threatened to fly out of his lips. He watched the Galbadian ambassador and president shot each other exasperated looks. They attempted to silently confer with one another, without giving Kylah the satisfaction of listening in on their conversation. Taking pity on them, Laguna entered the conversation. "Gentlemen, I think it's time we close negotiations for the day. We still have two days to resolve these conflicts. It's very late, so I suggest that we close for the day and retire. We can all pick back up in the morning."

With relieved expressions, the Galbadian representatives agreed and excused themselves from the table.

"Awww, why'd you let them go?" Kylah asked, once she was sure they were safely out of earshot. "I had them right where I wanted them!"

The chuckle that had been building in Laguna's throat finally escaped. "I had to take pity on them sometime. We need them in one piece so they can function enough to actually sign the treaty in a couple days."

Kylah reluctantly agreed. "Okay. I still have two days to finish with them."

Squall shook his head. "I almost feel sorry for them."

Kiros stood nearby, a puzzled expression on his face. "Can someone please tell me why they would want that miserable piece of land?"

Laguna shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe they want to raise chocobos or something."

Kylah snorted. "Yeah, the Galbadian economy is suffering so much that they have to supplement their income by the import of chocobos."

"Okay, maybe they just want to irritate me!"

"It appears that they're doing a good job, Mr. President," Kylah shot him a sweet smile.

"On THAT note," Laguna shot her a look, "I'm going to my suite for the night. See you guys tomorrow."

Squall sat in the silent suite that he shared with Kylah, leaned over the laptop that he had brought with him from Balamb Garden. His brow furrowed as he read over an e-mail that Cid had sent him that afternoon. The message was full of updates from Garden, and of Cass, who apparently missed her father a great deal.

An abrupt squeal from Kylah's room pulled his attention away from the screen. Kylah, clad in a t-shirt and warm-up pants came flying out of her room, a piece of paper in her hands. With a whoop, she jumped on the couch beside him a huge grin on her face.

"They agreed to withdraw!" she exclaimed, holding up the paper. "It just came across the fax machine. The Galbadian ambassador sent a message stating that Galbadia would agree to withdraw all military presence from the forests just north of the Estharian border."

Squall closed his laptop and laid it on the coffee table in front of him. He looked over at Kylah, whose cheeks were flushed with excitement. Her hair was a tousled mess, and all traces of the makeup that she wore to the negotiation table had been scrubbed from her face. The contrast was striking. The cool, crisp, polished negotiator versus the excited, fresh, pretty woman before him.

Pretty? Had he really thought her attractive? Squall closed his eyes briefly, and fought against the image that flashed through his head, once again, of her pinned helplessly beneath him only two days earlier.

"I don't know how you do it," was what came out of his mouth. "How do you talk for hours on end, and accomplish something like that?"

She chuckled. "It's not that hard. Besides, you hate talking for more than five minutes at a stretch. I can see why you wouldn't like my job."

He nodded in agreement. "True. But, I also don't see how talking accomplishes anything. It seems, to me, that action seems to get more results. Sometimes talking doesn't work."

Kylah considered his statement. "I agree, to a point. Talking doesn't always work. When you reach that point, it's time for more…aggressive negotiations."

Squall raised an eyebrow. "Aggressive negotiations?"

She smiled devilishly at him. "Why do you think I chose to become a SeeD? If they won't listen," she wiggled her eyebrows, "make them listen."

He shook his head and chuckled. "That's an interesting attitude to have."

Her eyes widened in shock. She pressed a hand to her chest in mock horror. "What's this? An actual laugh from Squall Leonhart."

An offended look crossed his face. "I know how to have fun," he said, defensively.

"Now that I don't believe."

"Why not?" he asked.

Kylah considered her answer. "You always look so serious." She screwed her face up into a frown as if to imitate him. "I don't think I've ever seen you really smile."

A sigh escaped his lips as he sat back against the couch cushions. "I haven't had a whole lot to smile about."

"Sure you do," she argued. "You have a beautiful daughter, a job that you love, and were married to a wonderful woman who adored you, or so I've been told."

"The key word there is 'were,'" he said, evenly.

She gazed at him for a long minute. "You know, you said on the train that there's no point in dwelling on the past. Yet, from where I'm standing, you dwell on it every day. You're so afraid of being hurt again that you shut yourself down to the point that you don't enjoy any aspect of life. That has to be a miserable way to live."

Gathering her courage, she leaned in closer and gazed directly into his eyes, just inches away. "Yes, you've been hurt. And you lost someone very dear to you. But do you really think that Rinoa would want you to spend the rest of your life wallowing in self-pity and misery? Don't you think that she would want you, and Cass, to be happy again? Rinoa's life ended, not yours. If she really loved you as much as it seems that she did, I would think that she would want you to get on with your life and stop living your life in the past."

Abruptly, she stood and stretched. "Now, I'm going to go call Laguna and let him know about this latest development in the negotiation process. Then I'm going to bed. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, she turned, walked into her room, and closed the door.

Squall could only stare after her. He really wanted to be angry with her. Partly because she'd had the nerve to say those things to him.

Mostly, because he realized with a sinking feeling that she was right.

"It looked like you guys accomplished a lot today."

Kylah, glasses resting on her pert nose, looked up from the notes that she had taken during that day's negotiations at the sound of Squall's voice. He'd been exceptionally quiet all day, and he had startled her.

"Yeah, we really did," she agreed. "We have a few final details to go over tomorrow morning, and then the treaty should be ready for signing the day after."

"Good," Squall grunted, relieved that it was nearly over.

Laying her notes aside, Kylah looked at him with sympathy. "You're bored, aren't you?"

He flopped down on the couch opposite her, and sighed deeply. "I'll survive."

"Maybe. But this really isn't your cup of tea."

"I won't argue with that," he responded, mildly.

Kylah looked thoughtful for a moment. "I've had enough talk about work," she finally said. "Let's do something to relax."

Squall gave her an odd look. "…..Whatever."

"No, seriously! What do you do to unwind?"

His only response was to continue to give her that annoying look.

"I know! You play poker! Every week, with Zell and Irvine!"

"How did you know about that?" he asked. "I thought those were secret."

"What-ever! Everyone knows about that."

He mulled that over in his mind. "Even Selphie?"

"Of course."

A laugh threatened to escape his lips. Poor Irvine. He really thought he had the girl fooled.

"Do you have any cards?" Kylah asked.

Squall shook his head as if to clear it. "YOU know how to play poker?"

She grinned. "Who do you think taught Irvine? Five card stud or draw?"

"….Whatever."

They sat on the floor opposite each other, the coffee table between them. Both Kylah and Squall were intently studying the cards they held in their hands.

Actually, Kylah was pretending to study her hand. In actually, she was studying Squall through the fringe of her lashes. Part of being a good negotiator was being able to read people. Squall was good, she would give him that. He had an excellent poker face. There were, however, small telltale signals that he gave off depending on the type of hand he had.

Squall, for his part, was beginning to get nervous. Kylah was good. Very good. Zell could never play with her. He wondered how on Earth Irvine ever had.

"Well?" Kylah asked at length, a challenging look in her eyes and a small smug smile teasing the corners of her lips.

He glared back at her, then looked his hand over one more time. She was nearly impossible to read. Finally reaching a decision, he replied, "I call."

Her face finally giving way to that smile, Kylah placed her cards one at a time face-up on the table.

Squall groaned. "A pair of 8's and a pair of 10's? All I had was a pair of sixes."

Doing a small victory dance as she collected the cards, Kylah flashed him her brightest smile. "Care to go again?"

"You already have half of my next paycheck! What more do you want?"

"The other half?"

He had to chuckle. "Forget it Deraldi."

She shrugged casually. "Oh well. Can't blame a girl for trying."

"…Whatever." Squall reached out to collect his deck of cards.

Muscles aching from sitting in the floor so long, Kylah stretched her arms up over her head in an attempt to loosen them. As she did so, her shirt rode up from the bottom revealing her flat, sculpted stomach.

Squall nearly sprayed her with the water he was sipping. Choking, he gasped for breath. For the third time that day alone, he was assaulted with the image of Kylah, pinned beneath him a few days ago.

Kylah was not oblivious to his reaction. She fought back a laugh, and gave him a coy smile. "So, what's on your agenda for tomorrow?" she asked, attempting to change the subject.

"What? Huh?" Squall sputtered. "I thought we were negotiating?"

"We are, in the morning," she replied, patiently. "Negotiations end at noon, remember? The presidential dinner and ball are tomorrow night. To celebrate the anniversary of the defeat of Adel?"

He groaned. He had conveniently forgotten about that small detail of their assignment. Laguna had asked the two of them to attend as presidential "guests." Outwardly, they would merely be guests of the president. They would also be there to see to Laguna's personal security, should the need arise.

"I guess you can't handle that one on your own?" he looked at her pleadingly.

"Not a chance," she shot back. "You're going. Like it or not."

Heaving a big sigh, Squall nodded. He absolutely hated stuff like this.

"Look at it this way," Kylah said. "You're getting all afternoon off. Go do something fun."

"What are you going to do?"

"Ellone asked me to go shopping with her. She hasn't found a dress yet for the ball."

"Why did she ask you to go?"

She shrugged. "Possibly because you don't know a thing about dresses?"

"Good point," he conceded. "I'm going to bed."

"Night!" she called out gaily. She leaned back against the couch with a small grin. Tomorrow night just might prove to be interesting after all.

Kylah rolled over sleepily and peered at the clock by her bed. Groaning, she pulled the covers up over her head.

Three in the morning, she thought. Why don't I sleep better when I'm away from home?

With a sigh, she climbed out of bed, pulled on the robe she had left lying on a nearby chair, and started for the door. Her throat was parched, and she needed a drink.

She pattered softly into the kitchenette and found a glass, then filled it with water. Tiptoeing over to the window, she pulled aside the curtain and gazed out over the sleeping city of Esthar.

The view from the Presidential Palace was amazing. Her breath was nearly stolen by the sight of the lights and glass of the city, even at night. Maybe more so at night. Most of the city's residents were sleeping, but one could still see lights and movements, even at this late hour.

Kylah was so wrapped up in the sight of the city below that she jumped when she heard a noise from across the room. Startled, she dropped her glass, splashing water down the front of her robe. Reaching into the pocket of her robe, her fingers quickly found the hilt of the dirk she always kept on her, and braced herself for action.

Her gaze came to rest on an equally startled Squall, who was exiting his own room. His dark hair was sleep-tousled, and he had pillow creases on his cheek. She quickly sucked in her breath when she realized that he was clad only in a pair of sleep pants. The sight of his bare chest and arms filled her mind with memories of those arms holding her helpless beneath him as fire roared through his grey eyes.

Squall nodded toward her dirk, which was still pointing in his direction. "You'd kill a man who wanted a drink in the middle of the night?"

She flushed, though she could not have said if it was from the images in her mind, or the embarrassment of the water on her robe. "Um, no. I was just, um, startled. Here, let me, ah, get you some…water that is."

"I think I can handle that much," he assured her. Filling his own glass, he stepped over to the window to see what she was looking at. Leaning over her shoulder, he surveyed, the city. "Looks quiet down there."

Warmth crept up into Kylah's cheeks at his nearness. She was ever so thankful for the darkness of the room. "Uh, yeah. It does. That's good, right?" She turned to look up at him, pulling away slightly.

Squall felt strands of her hair brush against his cheek as she jumped away. He turned to look at her, and found himself only inches from her face. Moonlight through the window splashed against her face, revealing a warm blush in her cheeks. A soft scent of something light and fruity teased his nostrils. Somehow, his gaze turned down toward her full lips. Now it was his turn to flush. Abruptly, he pulled away as quickly as if he had been burned. "Um, yeah. Quiet is good." Quickly, he gulped down his water. "I'm, er, finished. I'm going to bed, now. I mean, back to bed."

Nodding quickly in agreement, Kylah placed her glass in the sink and fairly sprinted to her own bedroom. She practically slammed the door closed, tossed her robe back across the chair, and dove into her bed for safety.

Burying her head under the pillows, she groaned. She could have kicked herself for acting like such an idiot. Smooth, Deraldi. Real smooth.

Rolling over, Kylah stared up at the ceiling and contemplated the scene that she had just fled. Okay, so he had a great body. A fantastic body, at that. That didn't change the fact that he was an emotionally repressed jerk.

Or was he? She had to admit, Squall had been a lot nicer to her the past few days. Opening up a bit. Even joking around with her. What had changed? They had become comrades, friends even. She had even found herself having fun with him at times.

She let out a deep sigh and snuggled down beneath the covers in an attempt to settle down for the night. Silently, she prayed that her mind would stop thinking of Squall Leonhart and would eventually settle down for sleep.

On the other side of the suite, Squall was tossing and turning restlessly in his own bed. A thousand images seemed to tumble through his mind as he struggled to go back to sleep. Kylah, speaking softly to him of a truce on the train ride to Esthar. The passion in her eyes and her voice as she argued with Ambassador Deraldi and President Caraway at the negotiation table. The teasing light in her eyes as she sent a gentle jibe toward Laguna during strategy sessions. The way she had thrown her head back and laughed while playing poker with him earlier in the evening.

Of course, she wasn't perfect. He recalled the annoying way she stuck her nose where it didn't belong in regards to Cassidy. Of course, there was also the patient, caring way that she had dealt with Cass. Then again, she loved to argue and push his buttons until he blew up at her. Thinking of that was a mistake, because it brought to mind the fury in her blue eyes as she battled him in their sparing match, the way her muscles flexed under her workout clothes, and how surprisingly delicate she had felt pinned beneath him in the cargo bay….

With a frustrated cry, Squall sprang up out of bed and began pacing. He had to sleep, he knew that much. Somehow, he doubted that sleep would come now. Anger seeped up to the surface, though he wasn't quite sure whom, exactly, he was angry with. Needing something to take his frustrations out on, he abruptly pulled his fist back and connected it with a nearby wall.

He immediately regretted that maneuver. Pain exploded through his fist. More frustrated than ever, Squall flopped back into bed. His fist hurting, his head whirling, and his body betraying him, he struggled to fall into a miserable sleep.

"Gentlemen, it has been a pleasure. I believe that we can call these last few days a complete success."

The group of weary negotiators sat around the table in the conference room congratulating one another. The completed treaty lay in the center of the table. Both parties would be signing it tomorrow afternoon at a major, international press conference.

Laguna offered his hand to President Caraway. "Mr. President, I look forward to opportunities to meet with you in the future."

Caraway smiled in return. "As do I. This has been a most pleasurable visit, President Loire.

Kylah sat back in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. They had done it. Somehow, they had negotiated a treaty that was satisfactory to both countries. She could scarcely believe it. She surveyed the room, mentally taking note of the part that each person had played in the outline of the treaty.

As she looked around, her gaze brushed past Squall, who had taken his usual place in a nearby corner away from the conference table. He was watching her. Her eyes met his for a brief moment, but she quickly looked away. She flushed, not quite sure how to feel about it.

Well, Squall thought to himself, at least I'm not the only one.

Abruptly, she stood and addressed Laguna, Caraway, Ambassador Deraldi, Kiros and Ward. "Gentlemen, it truly has been a pleasure. Let's all enjoy an afternoon off. I think we've earned it. I'll see you all tonight!"

"Elle, are you sure about this?"

Kylah surveyed herself in a three-way mirror in one of the small dress shops in Esthar. She tugged a bit at the skirt of the dress. It did hang well, and complimented her blue eyes and red hair. The dress was very simple. Midnight blue silk clung to her curves, fitting just a bit looser around her legs to allow movement for dancing, and was slit on one side right up to just above her knee. It was sleeveless, it's straps tied at the top of her shoulders. A plunging neckline revealed just enough cleavage to be tempting.

"It looks fantastic on you," Ellone observed. She had chosen her dress a few moments ago, a becoming gown of cream satin with capped sleeves and a high waist. It was soft, feminine and very demure. Quite different from Kylah's dress. "It will definitely catch a lot of male attention."

She nearly hesitated on that point. After the previous night's encounter, Kylah wasn't sure she wanted any more male attention. "I'm not sure…"

"Oh, come on," Ellone persisted. "It's a beautiful dress, and it looks stunning on you."

"Okay," Kylah finally relented. "But if I'm going to buy this dress, I'm going to have to take care of some other issues, as well." Turning, she faced Ellone and gave her a bright smile. "Take me to your manicurist."