One For The Money

Chapter 3

"And that concludes, tonight's Auction. Thank you, you lovely lords and ladies, and good night." With the Auctioneer's final monologue to the crowd, he bowed, turned, and made his way behind the curtain.

Zidane waited patiently for Garnet to gather herself. When she did she looked as the last Noble slipped out of the house and made her way to the stage to claim her earnings. Zidane followed her closely ready for whatever layed beyond the red velvet curtains just behind the stage.

Just as Garnet made it to the stage, a man known only all to well to Zidane as Francis Tagore, stepped livily from the curtain to meet her. Willmotts not alone. Should have seen that coming. I'll bet the other two are back there, too.

Zidane tensed but let no change in his demeanor flood through. One wrong move around one of these bastards and...

"Good evening, Her Highness Queen Garnet, I trust the sale was to your liking?" He said smoothly, bowing slightly.

Garnet held her head high and replied with a delighted smile, "It was, I quite enjoyed myself."

"I'm glad to have pleased you." He then turned from Garnet and glanced at Zidane, who held himself with a look of indifference, denying to him any indication of his identity.

Tagore returned the same look back to Zidane. He took them to a small desk that stood off to the left of the stage to sign (and pay) for the items she had bought.

Garnet picked up each paper, read it thoroughly and carefully signed her name. Zidane glanced down at her every so often but kept a sharp look at Tagore.

Tagore cleared his throat. "What interesting company the Queen is keeping, May I inquire the lucky young man's name?"

Garnet looked up at Tagore and glanced back at Zidane. Zidane, surprized, only returned her glance. Damn... he thought. He deffinatly recongizes me. Maybe she'll lie because I'm a thief.

A nasty thought suddenly slapped him in the face; Wait, if she does, does that mean she's ashamed of me...?

He mentaly shook his head. No! What the Hell, man! if she lies, which I hope she does, it would be to protect her or my name. God knows I'm probably on a wanted poster around here somewhere.

"This," She began proudly, "Is my escourt..."

HA! Noble talk for boyfriend, Tagore! Zidane thought, warm with the amount of pride in Garnet's voice.

"...Zidane Tribal."

The look on Tagore's face made him want to fall over laughing. The King knew damn well who he was. Though even after this, Zidane let no other emotion through but pride and amusment. Pride that a grimey thief like him could be with someone as great and beautiful and his Dagger, and amusement at how much the thought of this killed Tagore from the inside out.

Garnet had long gotten back to signing her papers. Once finished she handed them back to Tagore and said, "The money with be here within a week."

Tagore nodded. "Thank you for your always welcomed business, My Queen. Have a lovely night."

"You too, Sir Tagore." With bit of words exchanged, they left.

Garnet and Zidane stepped out of the Auction house into the crisp night air. Garnet had a refreshed smile but Zidane, upon stepping through the threshold became seriously troubled. He laughed for no reason and at the same time sighed with an angry gleam in his eyes. Garnet looked at him as though he'd gone mad, "Zidane? ...are you alright?"

Zidane shut his eyes for a moment and unclenched his tight fists. Garnet watched his trembling hands uncomfortably shift some of the fringe in his collar and then gently take hold one of Garnet's dainty wrists. When he was completely composed again he led with out a word her to a secluded path. By this time she was starting to worry.

Zidane let her wrist go reluctantly and spoke, "That-That man is a bad man." Emotion pulsed though his face. His hands still shook with anger. "You didn't recognize the name? 'Francis Tagore'?"

Garnet answered thinking back, "It did sound familiar, I just assumed he was only a noble I may have heard of. How do you know him?"

Zidane leaned against a building they were near and stared off, "Do you remember the story I told you that first time we went to Dali, after the Theatre ship crashed and we escaped through the Ice Cavern?"

"I do remember you telling me a story. It was about some crooked Noble's doing these horrible things behind the public's eye, and you and the rest of Tantulus had on pure accident 'busted it wide open'."

"Yeah the four Kings, that's the one."

Garnet's eyebrows went up with revelation. "You mean he--? That Noble back there was a--!"

Zidane nodded.

"But you said they went to jail!"

Zidane shrugged and said, "With the amount of money they had those years ago and the number of lackies they probably have, bribing the system was probably as easy as sneaking into a candy store."

"That also means they own the Auction House, too. My God, they could do anything they want with those kind of connections! ...Oh-no, I gave him your name! Zidane why didn't you stop me? I could have just gotten you killed!"

Zidane sighed and said, "I think he knew who I was long before you told him my name. I mean, how many humans are you going to meet on the street with monkey tails? Not to many..."

"We must do something then, We can't let them run around freely!" Garnet cried out. "They're probably plotting some horrible deed as we speak!"

Zidane looked up. "Hold on, Dagger, I don't think you should get involved. I was planning on sneaking in there and seeing what they were up to. They'll probably expect me and set some trap. I don't want you getting caught.

Garnet was taken aback by this alittle bit but persisted, "If these men are commiting some atrocity, then it is my duty as Queen to see it stopped!"

Zidane really didn't want the risk of her getting caught so he tried another angle, "Well even if that's true, Dag honey, you can't fight crime in an evening gown." There, he was sure that one would work.

Instead of Garnet giving up though, she smirked, flipped up the top layer of her many layered dress and pulled out her orange jump suit. "After the auction I had planned on there being some 'Great Zidane Adventure' so I brought it just incase. I mean, trouble really seems to follow you."

Zidane's chin nearly hit the ground. "How the hell did you fit that in there?"

Keeping the smirk in place she answered, "Now wouldn't you like to find out."

"Yes!" Zidane blurted visualizing just how she fit that whole costume in that elegant dress.

"To bad. We have Noble's to bust. Now, watch the street while I get dressed. I'll only be a minute." Zidane gave up knowing now that there would be no dissuading her so he kept watch at the street while Garnet quickly got dressed in a small area between two buildings. When she came out Zidane had taken off the large fringy jacket leaving a loose white silk shirt with laced cuffs and a somewhat uncomfortable pair of pants. Before laying the jacket in the alley he pulled out his dagger which he had concealed secretly in the fringe somewhere.

Garnet wanted to ask how he had done that but knew there were much more press matters at hand.

After he clipped on his weapon and finished messily untucking his shirt he asked, "Ready?" When she nodded he replied, "Alright then, let's go.