Starlight

Continued

Disclaimer: I don't own Gorgeous Carat or the characters…

Laila tried to put a box in the cabinet above the sink but found that she couldn't reach. Climbing up onto the bar she opened the cabinet door and put away the box. Smiling, happy that she'd put the box away, she moved to climb back down but unfortunately lost her balance.

Florian was just suddenly there, catching her around the waist with his warm arms. Laila looked up at her savior and smiled. Just as he was smiling back, a throat cleared. The pair looked to the entryway to see Noir standing there looking at them both with a look that almost managed to hide his unhappiness about the situation. Laila moved away from Florian, wishing that Noir was jealous that she was in another's arms. But she knew that was not so. He didn't like that Florian was holding another person. She glanced at Florian, wondering if he caught onto this.

"Noir, I am relieved to see that you are not as injured as I'd thought." Florian said. Laila gasped, now remembering that Florian had told her about Noir's injuries.

"I'm so glad you're okay." She cried, running over to him. She stopped herself from hugging him, remembering how awkward it had been the last time she'd done so. Besides, what if she hurt him? You should never hurt the one you love, she thought to herself. But Noir hurts Florian… so does that mean he doesn't love him? No, she decided that it did not mean that at all. Noir was just different. He enjoyed whipping people and seeing the defiant glare in Florian's amethyst eyes.

"Come to my study, I wish to show you my plans…" Noir was saying. Florian sighed to himself at this point. This meant that everything was back to normal, back to them reading books and making maps. But at least now they had something to do. With Noir gone there was no incentive to do anything.

The three of them walked up to Noir's study, with Florian slowly bringing up the rear. Laila wanted to be close to Noir as always, but Florian wanted this to go slow not quick. The faster they got to the study, the sooner Noir would be out again.

Where he could possibly be hurt.

Again.

By the time Florian got to the study Noir was already seated behind his desk, with books pulled out, his reading glasses on, hair pulled back; waiting. Laila looked like a student, sitting in front of Noir on the other side of the desk. She stared at him giving all of her attention over. Florian sighed and leaned back on a table close by.

"This," Noir said, turning the book in his hands so that the other two could see the page. "is why I was gone the past few days. It is said to have once belonged to a powerful mage long ago…"

Florian stared at Noir, not really hearing his words that followed. He was gone to get that staff but I haven't seen it. Could he have possibly failed for once? Florian wondered. Noir never failed to steal anything. It was why he was famous. If he'd tried to steal this staff and got hurt that meant he had been dealing with some tough people. Florian couldn't believe that Noir had failed at a mission. It just wasn't like Noir.

"..They've gone to Egypt now so that's where I will be heading next. And while I'm there..." Noir flipped through the pages of another book and turned it so that they could see the picture.

"This is Cleopatra's dagger…" He said and that was all he needed to say. The two listening to him knew how much anything of Cleopatra's would be worth. And this dagger was no simple one. It was jewel-encrusted, made of gold. Laila stared at the picture with wide eyes.

"Wow, I can't wait to see it." She said softly. Noir smiled, glad that she had confidence in him. His eyes drifted over to Florian. Does he believe in me? Oh, what does it matter whether he does or not. Like he gives a damn about my achievements.

"I'll be going as soon as possible, which is tomorrow. I'll have to sort everything out today…" Noir said, looking down at his desk. He riffled through the things on his desk, looking for something.

"Egypt…" Laila said softly with a sigh. Noir looked up at her.

"You aren't going, you know that right?" He asked. Her face fell.

"What! Noir, why not?" She cried.

"I'm going by myself. Besides you have cooking classes you need to go to…" He looked at his pocket watch. "As a matter of fact you should be off now."

"I don't need cooking classes! I need to help you, Noir." Laila argued.

"Yes, yes you do- need cooking classes that is. I don't need any help. Now, go." Noir commanded. She bit her lip at him and turned away to run out of the room. Noir turned back to his desk.

"You shouldn't go by yourself. Especially not after being injured as you were." Florian said.

"If I take my men they will draw attention. Alone I can blend in, be in the shadows." Noir said, flipping through another book.

Florian walked over to the other man.

"I could go with you." He said. Noir looked up from the book to look at the blond. He leaned back in his chair, resting his arms on the arms of the chair.

"Why would you do that?" He asked calmly.

"I told you why." Florian said. "You're hurt and shouldn't go off by yourself."

"I think I can handle it." Noir said a little annoyed. Florian shrugged and grabbed a cloth out of the open first-aide kit on the desk. He poured some medical substance (A/N: use your imagination or whatever, I'm slow right now) onto the cloth and pushed Noir's bangs away from his forehead to expose the bruised cut there.

He gently cleansed the wound. Noir remained unmoved except for a slight wince from the sting of the antibacterial. Florian noticed and bent over Noir to blow gently on the wound. Noir stared at the pale neck not too far from his face. He narrowed his eyes at the blonde, wondering if he was making fun of him. But Florian's face was serious, softly concerned.

A/N: That's it for that 'chapter'. I don't really write in chapters, just more like 'sections'. Whatevz! Hope you like it so far, there's more to come don't worry.