A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.

WARNING: OOC, SUGGESTIVE LANGUAGE, LIME

Chapter 3: The Man in My Future

"What's up? Something on my face?" Roland asked, chuckling nervously.

Argilla shook her head, "Enough about me Roland. What about you? Don't you have…anyone special in your life?"

"You're the only one special to me Argilla. You know that." he said, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.

She snorted, "Yeah. Keep that up and I'll definitely make sure that you remember me."

Roland winced as he imagined some of the things that she could do to him.

'Probably castrate me.' he thought, gulping, 'Or worse…'

"Seriously," she said, the earlier look of displeasure giving way to a look of cheerfulness, "was there…or is there someone special in your life?"

Roland's smile disappeared from his face, "Once. But…he died."

Argilla gave him a flabbergasted look, "Oh…! I didn't know that you were…a…"

"Huh?" Roland asked, not understand where she was going. Wait. Did she think that he was…? Oh my. Well, it was his fault anyway for making it sound so…suggestive!

'Great…The only woman I've ever confided in thinks that I'm gay.' he thought with disdain.

"You got me all wrong Argilla. I'm not…gay." he said seriously, his eyes flashing at hers firmly.

Argilla sweat-dropped, "Oh you're not?"

Well, she felt relieved to say the least. Roland was…alright to look at. He wasn't ugly or highly unattractive and it would be a loss for the female populace should he really was…rooting for the other team.

'But still, he's nothing compared to Serph.' her inner self said defiantly.

'I know that. I'm just saying that…'

'Then don't say anything!'

"No." he said seriously, laughing a bit, "I'm not. Surprised?"

She vigorously shook her head, "No! Not at all! In fact, I was surprised when you implied that uh…Well, forget about it. Anyway, you were telling me about your…uh, special person."

She rested her head on his shoulder again as she waited for him to tell her his story.

"Well, this guy, he used to be the leader of this place…I looked up to him a lot. He was a brave and kind man. He was really worthy of praise. He was Fred's father."

"Well," Roland paused, "when he died, I just didn't know what to do…I just…It was my fault that he died."

Argilla furrowed her eyebrows, "How is that?"

"I let him die…I left him to die…"

Argilla took his hand in hers, "I don't believe that Roland…You've been with us in some missions now and you have yet to abandon us. Whatever sins that you may have done in the past are in the past. Like I said, that is over and done with. What you could do now, is make amends for that. That's it."

He laughed sadly, "Yeah well…that's just what I'm doing. But sometimes, I just wonder whether or not what I'm doing is enough…Sometimes, I just feel that nothing's ever going to be enough…"

Argilla sighed, "People who suffer all feel that it's never enough. When we were at the Junkland, we felt that our sins must've been so great for us to be punished that way…And that our sacrifices weren't enough."

She pulled back and touched his face, turning it so that their eyes met, "But you know what, just keep at it, and one day, you'll be forgiven. There's always light at the end of a dark tunnel."

Roland felt his heart soften and lighten at her words…and her soft pink eyes. They were filled with so much understanding.

'Serph is really lucky to have someone like her.' he thought with a feeling of envy.

But fighting back the blood that was furiously traveling through his veins, he instead focused on her face and leaned in, "Well…there are other tunnels that I'm thinking of right now…"

He knew that it was a cheap and lewd remark, but it was the only thing that he could think of to throw her off guard and get him off of the emotional high of being sappy. He didn't want to be any more moronic or weak in front of her eyes than he already did anyway.

She slapped him, "You are a pig; you know that?"

So, she wasn't new to sexual jokes was she? No matter how lame…

Suddenly, the air felt heavy with aloofness and awkwardness as they saw that there was nothing else to talk about. And now, they just found one another's eyes.

Wanting to break the sudden tense air around them, he suddenly pasted a silly grin on his face, "Hey, Serph isn't the only man around you know…?" he insinuated shamelessly.

She seemed to have disregarded his comment and suddenly, she flung herself at him, her lips pressing themselves against his firmly. Well, it was either she disregarded his comment or took it into careful consideration as she thought of kissing him.

Roland was taken aback. What was she doing?

'She's kissing us you idiot!'

'Oh right…This feels nice…' he said blissfully as he felt her soft and moist lips on his. He wanted so much to respond to her kiss…He wanted to pry her lips apart and explore her wet cavern…He wanted to unlock her mouth's entire secret…And to taste the intoxicating wine within…

But suddenly, it was all over.

She pulled back and looked at him with a genuine smile on her face, "I figured you needed that after listening through all of my crap."

"What?" Roland asked, trying his best to look offended. Of course he wanted a kiss. He had wanted one ever since he laid eyes on her. But then, his hopes and ambitions died as he once caught her and her silver-haired leader locked in a dance of lips.

Well, she was taken.

Oh well, tough luck.

"No…I really enjoyed it…I really enjoyed our conversation." he trailed off offhandedly.

She then punched him playfully on the arm, "Don't give me that crap Roland. I'm not stupid."

He winced, "I never said you were…"

She giggled, "Then don't say anything anymore. Leave it at that." She knew that Roland liked her. But still, she didn't want to alienate him from her just because she knew. No. That wouldn't be fair to him. She'd treat him like a friend, just like everyone else, crush or no crush.

The line was just drawn as to what she was to do as she knew of his infatuation with her; to flirt or not.

'Nope. Of course not. But right now, I feel that I could bend the rules a bit.' she justified inwardly.

Roland chuckled, "Alright, alright. You got me. Fine, I did want a kiss. Happy now?"

She giggled and rested her head on his shoulder again. This time, feeling a bit empowered, Roland put a shaking hand over her shoulder. She sighed in contentment, just inhaling his scent.

She giggled again.

He smelled different from Serph.

Serph smelled like sandalwood and of the fresh rain, but Roland smelled like something else…Something that she couldn't figure out.

"Hey Roland?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you wear perfume?"

He laughed, "Well, yeah." Well, that caught him off guard. They were just discussing about life and their emotional problems and then suddenly, she was going to ask him about his…perfume?

"Which one?"

Roland sweat-dropped. She really wouldn't know even if he told her; so, why bother? But still, he saw this as another opportunity to rile her up.

"You smell like something, but I can't figure it out. I've smelled this before. I just know it!" she openly declared, raising her head from his shoulder to look at his face.

Roland leaned in closer to her, "Well, you'd just have to keep smelling me I guess, until you figure it out…" he commented suggestively again.

She slapped him playfully and rolled her eyes, "Yeah sure. I think you're in way over your head moron. You already have your one bloody kiss. Don't count on that happening again. Or getting more than that for that matter!"

He sweat-dropped at her comment, but chose to ignore it.

He leaned in once more, "I just think that you shouldn't just invest everything on Serphy- boy. I mean, there are other men out there too…"

She snorted, "Really? Know anyone personally?"

Roland sweat-dropped, "Yeah…" he leaned in further, their faces merely an inch apart, "Me…"

"The man in my future?" she asked, whispering against his face, her breath on his cheek.

"If you want me to be…" he whispered back, leaning in, slowly closing his eyes.

"Argilla?"

The two froze. Argilla turned her head and there, she saw Serph looking at her with his head tilted onto the side, a look of confusion and a bit of hurt written in his eyes.

"Serph!"

He wasn't supposed to see that. She was just having some harmless fun with Roland…It was no biggie; not really. It was just that Serph came at the wrong time; that was all. It wasn't as if she had any intention of really taking Roland or his silly proposals seriously.

'I mean, come on!' she told herself…

But still…

'The man in my future huh? Well…maybe…Who knows?'

She looked back at Roland, "Tough luck Roland. Maybe in the near future. I'll see you later." she said firmly, smiling a bit, hitting him firmly on the arm. And with that, she hopped out of from where they sat and ran over to where Serph was.

"Sorry about that Serph." she told him sincerely, beaming at seeing him. Well, he was probably not mad at her anymore. But seeing her with Roland, alone atop of the HQ might give him the wrong impression.

"Was I interrupting something?" he said, jealousy evident in his voice.

She was right. He did get the wrong impression. Well, she'd best remedy it as quick as she can. The last thing she needed was for him to be mad at her again after he had gone over the first issue that got him mad in the first place.

She turned back to look at Roland and waved goodbye before turning to look at Serph's deep silver pools, "No, you weren't. Come on. Let's go."

"Yes. We have to talk." he agreed, as he led her through the doorway. She nodded; it was time to face the music.

Roland looked on after them even after they were long gone. He felt his lips and grinned, "Well…maybe in the near future huh? I'll hold you to that Argilla."

xxxxx

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Argilla asked, as she climbed on their bed.

Serph followed her and when he was comfortable, he sat up and looked at her, "I heard you whisper Heat's name in your sleep. Why?" he asked sternly, with no emotions gracing his words.

Argilla nodded; it was that subject huh? Time to bite the bullet.

"Well, I had a dream about him." she responded just as sternly, mimicking his tone.

"Why?" he asked again, his voice as unfeeling and cold as ever.

Argilla took a deep breath, "Serph…Heat…is…a part of my past. I just know it. That dream wasn't just a dream. It was a memory…And in that memory, well, he was the one for me."

She gazed sadly at him as his eyes met the blanket. She cupped his face in her hands, "But it doesn't mean anything Serph. It doesn't. He was then…but you're the one with me now."

He forced his eyes to meet hers and he looked into her pink jewels with the outmost of fragile hope.

"You're the one with me now…You're the one I want to be with Serph. Not him." she whispered as she pulled herself closer to him, kissing him on his lips, her lips nipping on his bottom one.

She chuckled as he groaned and pulled her tight against his firm chest.

"But…" he said, hesitating, pulling back from their chaste kiss, "What about Roland?"

Argilla arched an eyebrow, "What about him? He's a friend Serph…nothing more…But…"

"But?" Serph was bracing himself for the potential damage that her words might inflict on him. This was the cliché "yes, but" statement after all.

"But…it all might change in the future. Who knows, I might fall in love with him one day." she said honestly, trying her best not to hurt him but let him see the truth within the sands of time.

Time changed people.

"Heat was my past; you are my present…and one day, Roland might be my future." she told him nonchalantly. She saw the hurt in his eyes and she immediately sighed, "Don't look like that Serph. After all, who ever said about me leaving you? It might be the other way around. What if you decide to leave me for Sera? Or any other woman?"

There. She had taken Roland's advice. She had voiced out her feelings and fears to Serph. Granted, she didn't say it in a soothing or gentle way, but she didn't really want to appear too sappy in his eyes. Besides, being too sappy was too out of character for her.

"It won't happen." he automatically responded; his steely silver eyes burning with determination.

"And you won't fall in love with him." he said with a tone of absolute finality.

"And how do you know that?" she openly challenged him.

"I won't let you."

"You won't?" she told him, openly defying his statement.

He shook his head and grasped her arms tightly, "I won't…let you fall in love with him. The future has yet to be written…I…I will write it right." he replied with outmost sincerity.

Argilla almost became teary-eyed at his response…It was exactly the type of response that she wanted to hear…

She suddenly tackled him on their bed, taking him by complete surprise…He chuckled at her eagerness…She kissed him with arduous fervor and he complied, letting their hot tongues dance with each other's…

Soon, they found themselves totally unclothed, their bodies just aching to be with one another…Serph ran a hand through her body, a jolt of electricity passing through his veins as he did so…Argilla shuddered in bliss as she felt his feather-light fingers on her burning skin…

Oh how she craved this man…

And not long after that, they had united their bodies…and their souls. And now the night had rolled even darker and the hour grew ever late, the two had long settled within each other's arms.

Argilla suddenly thought of Roland. Well, it would seem that he wasn't such a moron after all. His advice came through and it was because of him that she and Serph understood one another on a whole new level. She snuggled closer to Serph; her arm draped over his bare body and slowly closed her eyes, falling limp against the warm caress of slumber.

Serph held the woman in his arms gently yet firmly. He thought of what she had told him. It hurt, yes, but it was the truth.

The only thing certain about the future was its uncertainty. She could fall out of love with him any time and she could fall in love with Roland any time.

It was true that time and circumstance can change a person, but it was also true that a person can remain the same for the rest of his days. He could fall in love and stay in love with the same person for the rest of eternity.

He can change that truth so that he could change the future…

And that was what Serph wanted to do. He wanted to change the possibility of just being Argilla's present…and becoming her past as she moved on with Roland…

No. He wouldn't let that happen.

'Not in this lifetime.'

xxxxx

Roland climbed in his bed and lay down with a smile on his face. Sure, that she was with Serph as he thought these thoughts, but at least, he had achieved what he had wanted.

A kiss.

He blinked. He thought for moment, his countenance serious, and suddenly, a moment later, he burst out laughing. Before, as she explained to him the nature of her existence and her comrades' as well, he had found it a bit hard to swallow.

He even had himself doubting whether or not she had been of flesh and blood.

But, as she kissed him that evening, he knew that she was real. She was indeed human as he was or anyone that he had ever met, for that matter.

And then, his thoughts wandered to the last thing she told him.

"Tough luck Roland. Maybe in the near future. I'll see you later."

'Maybe in the near future…'

Slowly, he closed his eyes, letting sleep overwhelm him. Maybe someday, they could be together. Who knows?

There was always hope.

xxxxx

FIN