-- Final Fantasy IX : Have and Have Not -- Chapter Ten : Two Thieves, One Town --

---

Well, here you all go. Chapter Ten. Marcus getting closer and closer to finding Sophia. Eee, so excited! Read and Review as always, please!

---

"Hey. Sleepyhead. Time to wake up."

Sophia could feel someone poking her shoulder, and she almost made to swat them away. Why were the maids constantly waking her! It was probably some ungodly hour ...

"You've gotta start getting ready for our shift!"

Oh. Right. Alexandrian Guard. Kuja. The room full ofidiots she was supposed to work with. Oh, and right, they were jealous of her. Hah. Funny stuff.

She rolled over and blinked sleepily into the yellow light. Her wake-up call was blond, mascara-eyed, blemish-free, and perfectly manicured. But she did look concerned ... maybe even a little interested in the new recruits well being.

"Eve's gonna be bugged if you're not ready in time ..."

"Right. Thanks." She knew she sounded sleepy, and not at all grateful. She'd work on that in a minute. Right now, he head rang with sleep, and the dreams that had plagued her. Sophia, aware that she was being watched with undisguised contempt from most of the room inhabitants, slouched to the shower room.

Someone must have been looking out for her -- the circular shower room was deserted. The off-white tiles under her feet and covering the walls, she noted, were wet, as though the room had recently been used. Now, however, only she was present in there. Her wake up call lurked in the doorway.

It was because of the blond in the door that she walked around to the other side of the pillar in the centre of the room, to where she couldn't be seen from the other room. Only then did she shed her clothes ... and then pause, searching for somewhere to put them where they wouldn't get wet.

"Along the side." Her Wake-Up Call again. "There's a shelf just a little above your head ... You can put your clothes on there. They might get a little damp ... but you're going to have to change into your armour in a little while."

A groan. Sophia started the shower, her clothes safely out of the way, and move under the jet of hot water. "Does the Guard still wear that idiotic armour --"

"Heh, unless you ask for something to cover your legs.

"Great."

Wake-Up Call laughed, hearing the sarcasm in her voice. "Don't worry. The outfitter'll give you something, no problem. He's a cool guy. If you give him long enough, he'll probably make you some full-body armour."

"I'm gonna need it."

"No, you won't. Trust me, our squad doesn't see too much action."

Sophia chuckled. "Gee. That's great." So much for Kuja's getting me assigned to the Guard being a compliment to my abilities ... She sighed to herself, shut off the shower, and glanced around for a towel.

"Here."

She started with surprise as Wake-Up Call appeared at her shoulder, holding out a yellow towel. Sophia swiped it and wrapped it around herself quickly, feeling her face heat up. "Thanks."

Wake-Up call sighed. "I'm Riss." She offered her hand, and Sophia warily shook it. "Uhm ..." She retreated to the other side of the shower, allowing this new found friend to dry herself. "Is it true that Kuja brought you here?"

Sophia shivered. Despite the fact that steam from the shower still lingered, clouding her vision, it was cold in the small circular room. Besides that, a thought had just hit her. Were all these girls interested in Kuja? And, if they were, what right minded man would choose her over them! It put a damper on her lukewarm mood. "Yes. Kuja dragged me here."

Apparently oblivious to the bitter tone that had practically been spat at her, Riss emitted an envious sigh and lent against the tiled wall. "Oh, you're so lucky! I mean, to have seen him up close ... to actually talk to him!"

A snort. "I'd hardly call it talking."

"Well, whatever. Still, you got to spend time with him!"

"Too much time, if you ask me."

"Where did you come from?"

"Treno."

Riss inhaled sharply. "Really! But it takes hours to get from here to there!" she moaned enviously. "Especially if you travelled over land! Did he take you on his Dragon!"

"He has a Dragon?"

"Yes! It's pure white, and ohhhhh ..." She sighed. "I've only ever seen it a few times ... He arrives back at the castle on it occasionally, but I have no idea where it goes after that." Her voice lost the dreamy quality that had reverberated through it, and she looked quizzically at the pickpocket, who had by then acquired a sufficient amount of clothes to feel comfortable exposing herself to the rest of the squad. "So, just how long ago did you hook up with Kuja."

"I've been at the castle since yesterday. And we didn't 'hook up'. He practically dragged me." Sophia's head disappeared inside the towel, as she started to attack the limp mass that was her hair.

"Since yesterday? But, where did you stay?"

Sophia's voice was muffled. "Kuja's quarters." Silence. That was new. She lifted a corner of the towel, just to ensure that something dramatic hadn't happened while she'd been visually impaired.

Riss was gawking openly at her, as if she'd been struck over the head and hadn't quite comprehended it just yet. "You spent ... the night ... in Kuja's room!"

All too aware that the entire squadron had fallen silent. "Rooms," she said sharply. "He has more than one." She dropped the wet towel to her shoulders, and fell silent herself. All the gazes in the room were directed at her. The girls looked ... scared. There was even a glimmer of something resembling ... respect. Wow. That was new. Sophia smirked. "And yes. I stayed the night with him." No! Her brain screamed at her, You most certainly did not spend the night with him! You spent the night being scared of him! And freezing half to death on his couch!

She had to admit, it wasn't like her to twist things to her advantage like that. Sure, she'd stolen some things to support herself, but she wasn't the type to just extort people like that! That was more something, well, that Kuja would do.

Had he really rubbed off on her that much?

Or was she just trying to gain respect so that Kuja would see her for more than just the helpless pickpocket he'd recruited?

Sophia climbed back to her bunk, just as whispers erupted around the room, sounding like a million tiny insects had just been unleashed. She ran her fingers through her bangs, attempting to untangle them. If she was on the road to gaining Kuja's attention ... why did she feel so rotten?

She sighed. Maybe it was just her disappointment about not actually spending the night technically with Kuja. That was probably it. The last time she'd spent the night with someone was ... never. Now that was depressing.

---

The Castle Armourer was plump and sarcastic and Sophia liked him instantly.

"You're the new recruit?" he'd said to her. "Didn't know they made 'em so scrawny!"

"I'm all muscle," she'd said back, smirking as she noticed the teasing tone in the man's voice.

His laugh was uproarous as he'd herded her further into his workshop, and the fitting had begun.

As she stood, the Armourer had bent and twisted with surprising speed as he took in her measurements. In fact, he was so speedy, that she barely had time to react when his face was almost dangerously close to her chest.

"Settle down, lass," he'd said. "Ye've got somethin' to be proud of there -- stop hiding it's my advice." He'd added that she'd have to give him a minute, as he wasn't sure he even had armour small enough to fit her, and had disappeared into the depths of the shop.

The walls were old and dark, the stone blackened from years of smoke and soot from the metal ovens. The ceiling was low, the air perpetually thick and hot, the flames from the ovens casting flickering shadows in the many dark corners. For some reason, she felt more at home here than she had anywhere in a long while.

As the Armourer returned, she turned a criticising gaze on him, much the way he had her when Eve had dropped her at the door. He wore plain, brown pants, burned in many places (some of those burnsshe suspected had been very painful), and a white sleeveless shirt which stretched almost to its limits across his expansive gut. He wore his deep brown hair shorn in the fashion of a soldier. His eyes were small, dark and calculating, his skin tanned, in some places blackened by soot. Shiny burns could be seen on his hands and arms.

"Well, I've got somethin' for ya ... But ye're gonna have to get it fitted. It was the scrawniest size I have, and I've still gotta take it in some more. So just stand still."

Already feeling uncomfortable enough in the tiny shirt and shorts she had been forced into -- "It's what everyone has to wear under their armour. Trust me, We've seen far better than you in it." -- it was no picnic standing still while the armour was placed onto her, then patiently heated, melted and hammered back into shape until it fit her better. The pauldron had to be taken off of her, broken, and then reassembled before it would fit her properly.

"Hmph." The tone used was trying hard not to be impressed. "Most girls that I fit squirm and whimper, sayin' that I'll burn 'em."

"I'm not most girls." Sophia paused, then added, "You should burn them."

He chuckled. "Well, pauldron's done."

"Er ... Do you have something to cover my legs? At least a little past the knees?"

He regarded her for an additional minute. "Expectin' some trouble out there, are ya?"

"I used to live out on the street; I guess it's told me to expect the worst."

For that, she got a gruff smile before the Armourer turned and, gesturing for her to follow, strode into the depths of his workshop once more. "So. What were ya?" he called over his shoulder. "Moocher? Beggar?"

"Pickpocket. Spy, sort of. I got pretty good at sneaking around."

"Hm. You're gonna find the Guard a bit tame, then."

"It wasn't my idea to join."

"Who's, then?" He stopped, and she had to pull up short to avoid running into his back. "Hmmm ... leg armour ..." He started rooting through some piles.

"It was ..." she paused. If the name had the same effect here than it had with the girls in her Squad ... well, she didn't want that kind of respect here. This strange, portly gentleman was probably the closest thing to a friend she had ... "It was ... Kuja."

He shrugged the name off. "Not many get recruited by The Man himself anymore. Musta done something out of the ordinary to catch his eye."

She chuckled. "You could say that."

"Hold still, sweetheart." She felt a sudden pressure on her legs as her started to buckle the armour into place; she had to lock her knees and clench her jaw in order to keep from falling down. "Well. They're a little too big for you, and they come up a little too high on your thigh ... other than that, how are you doing?"

"It's ... heavy. And the joints feel kind of weird ..."

"Well, they're not placed right because the armour's meant for someone taller. But if you'll come back tomorrow, I'll get your measurements."

---

Eve simply radiated jealousy.

Sophia had to admit, her ego was taking quite the stoking. The contempt flaring in her companion's eyes was lovely. She'd looked that way ever since Sophia had stepped out of the smithy rooms -- since she'd looked her up and down and realised how flattering the armour really was to her companion's petite form. Sophia had to admit, it did nothing for Eve herself.

Before she'd left the Armourer, she'd begged some heavy leather boots off of him, that came up to near her knees, as well as some metal knee-guards. It wasn't as good as the armour she'd (hopefully) soon receive, but it was a start. And it'd keep her lower legs safe, just in case of trouble.

Now, as she tried not to look bored as they paced slowly through the halls (in Sector 4, coincidentally very close to Kuja's quarters), she couldn't stop her mind from wandering. She knew she was supposed to be looking for something out of the ordinary ... but honestly, there was nothing even remotely suspicious, unless you counted the way Eve kept glaring at her. Sophia wasn't sure whether she liked the fact that Eve was carrying a sword, and that she wasn't allowed to. Especially not with the looks she was giving her ...

Then again, Kuja wasn't too far off. If Eve tried anything, she'd always have an excuse to go and see him ...

But would he think that she was weak if she did that?

She shook her head slightly. She was stupid for thinking that. Eve wouldn't try anything. At least ... not out in the open. Anyone could walk by while they were in the hall. She'd wait until they were somewhere secluded.

Maybe she just had an overactive imagination.

"Don't shake your head around like that!" Eve snapped at her. "You're supposed to be keeping watch!"

"I can't see anything if I've got hair in my eyes."

"If you didn't need to look like such a boy you could tie your hair back like the rest of us and you wouldn't have a problem!"

"Tch. Better not let Kuja hear you. He's got longer hair than you do."

Eve flushed and said nothing more.

Maybe there were some advantages to her overactive imagination. She was never at a loss for a comeback. That was a talent. Or ... maybe it was just annoying ... Would Kuja find it annoying?

No! No, shut up! Stop thinking like that! If you don't get Kuja out of your mind, you're going to end up like Eve!

Well, if she did end up like Eve, maybe Kuja would take more of a fancy to her.

That's it. You're hopeless.

She sighed. She probably was. Oh well ... only about six more hours of aimlessly pacing the same hallway. That was something to look forwards to.

---

When Marcus arrived at the Alexandrian castle, he was, as always, surprised by it's grandeur. And the number of guards protecting it. Groups of two or more, positioned in niches along the walls, or patrolling at random -- he knew, for he'd tried to map it all out before. There was one way in ...

But the stairway, if he remembered properly, led to the Queen's room. And that was one place even he wasn't bold enough to go. Not without a source on the inside, first.

He chose a seat on a nearby bench, and glanced around absently. He didn't expect to just see her out on the streets ... But, still, a man could hope, couldn't he? The only people around were stuffy nobles, heads held high, backs straight. Not one pickpocket in the bunch. And certainly no one like her. Marcus felt a sigh escape him. Everyone in the crowd around him was either dyed dark brown or blond, wearing frilly clothes, carrying canes, waving their capes. (Although, the latter was admittedly stylish ... Marcus made a mental note to acquire a cape. Hey, it might impress his Pickpocket, when he found her. He might as well make a good impression. Besides, it'd make his rescue of her far more dramatic.)

His gaze was drawn back towards the castle. If she really was in there ... where would she be held? He hated to admit it ... but he'd never seen any prison cells in the castle. If she was being held there, against her will, he'd have no idea where to look for her! And with all the guards crawling all over the place, there was no way he could afford to make a mistake! But he just had to save her!

Marcus forced himself to take a deep breath and began to calm down. All he needed was a source inside the castle, and he'd always been the best at finding someone to help Tantalus out. Tantalus had a reputation, and people were quick to help them ... as long as they weren't the kind that would rather get them caught. He sighed. Around the Alexandrian Castle, there were bound to be more of the latter. He was going to have to watch his step.

Speaking of his step ... there was a guard eyeing him from beside the castle door, so he'd better take some more of them. Hauling himself to his feet, he turned his back to the magnificent castle, and headed towards the business district.

As he walked, he mulled over what he knew. Sure, she'd been taken captive. But did that necessarily mean that she was being held as a prisoner? Well ... no. One alternative was one he didn't even want to think about. But there was another chance ... If she'd been working as a thief out of necessity, instead of a love of the craft, then she'd probably have taken any way out. Including working at the castle. Or ... for that guy ... He winced. No, he couldn't think like that! Best keep it positive ...

When he found her. What would he do? After breaking her out, they'd probably have to run like hell to get away from the guards (and whatever else they might have in there that they could send after them). He'd have to remember to get himself some new daggers, or maybe a sword, something that shone nicely in the light, just in case he had to defend her. Once they were out of the castle ...

His imagination ran away with him. Once they were out of the castle, once they were safely nestled away, out of the guard's grasp, she'd probably be exhausted from the run. He could take her up in his arms, she'd lay her head against his chest, and just rest. He'd have to say something heroic. Something like "I just had to come save you, my love. I can't live without you." Would she like something that mushy? Would she just push him off if he said something like that? Maybe he'd have to lead her around the city a bit first, to tire her out. He'd say that he was just trying to lose the guard, though, of course.

His travels led him to the inn, and he smiled as he looked upon the elegant stone building. What a coincidence ... he had just been wondering where he'd take her after they broke out. With another smile to himself, he headed inside.