A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.
WARNING: OOC, MODERATE LANGUAGE, SUGGESTIVE THEMES.
Chapter 4: One Step Forward and Two Steps Back
"Are we really doing the right thing?"
It had been a week now since their operation had begun. Since then, they had been sure to drop Gale more dosages of his medicine. The three were pleased at the beginning. They were beginning to see signs of change and curiosity within their green-haired comrade.
But then…it took a turn for the worse.
He had changed so much in such a little time…
She had done this willingly; she had planned half of what had been done and she was happy. It was funny to see Gale struggling with his emotions…But now…seeing him in deep turmoil…
And now, again, not for the first time since this whole thing commenced, she began to feel remorse.
"Eh?! Wat you mean ja?! Of course we are!" said Cielo cheerfully, chuckling lightly. She looked at him with hopeful pink eyes and he smiled, "We're not going anything wrong. We're just teaching him to have fun!"
She was about to say something when she was cut off as she heard a sneer, "What, are you saying that you want to abort the operation then?"
She narrowed her eyes and turned sharply around, meeting the intense gaze of her adorable idiot of a boyfriend, "I'm not saying that! I'm just saying…"
He quirked an eyebrow, "Just saying what?"
Cielo blinked, "Yea mon. Wat got you thinking of backing out now? We've come so far ja?"
She sighed, "Don't you guys see…? Gale has…changed."
Heat rolled his eyes, "Er…isn't that what we were supposed to do? The objective of this whole bullshit of a charade!?"
"De oaf is right sista!" agreed Cielo, nodding his head, looking at her with his deepened gaze.
She bit her lip, "Yes; he's changed…but at what cost?"
"Eh?"
"What the hell are you talking about woman?" asked Heat, confusedly.
She glared at him and then at Cielo, "Don't you see? That from this whole porn nonsense, this whole…game…that Gale had changed drastically! And because of that, his whole life had turned into a complete mess! Come on, you guys saw how mentally conflicted he was! His emotions are running rampant! Just look at him!" she half-yelled, outstretching her arm to prove her point, "Just see him for what he had become!"
At this, the two males before her had shut their mouths.
She gritted her teeth, "You see!? For the first time in his life, he feels lost! He doesn't know what to do!"
"This isn't a game guys." she said in a low tone, "This is about a human being's feelings. Don't forget that."
"Just imagine it…Something that you've believed in for so long…to be…crushed in a blink of an eye…That'll definitely devastate anyone in that place."
"And we have done that him." she whispered, "He doesn't know what to do or what to feel anymore…"
"And it's all because of us." she finished in a low tone.
xxxxx
It had been a week now since the initial shock that he had experienced. It had been a week since the fall of his strong iron curtain reign had begun…a week since the iron hand that stirred his spirit and will had begun to shake…
It had been a week since he had felt this…this weakness within him that refused to leave him be…
No matter how much rest he had had, no matter how strict his diet was…no matter how preoccupied and busy he was, thoughts of confusion and desire would suddenly find its way within him…only to finally scream at him, to beseech it.
He glared then and he glared now.
He would never beseech such thoughts or sensations…
Never.
He had sworn to himself long ago that he would never have anything to do with things like those. The world was in ruins and even if they were within a ceasefire treaty, war was still their next-door neighbor, death still their constant and faithful friend.
'Besides…There's nothing to gain from it…' he thought objectively.
'Sensations felt during the course of orgasm or orgasms are sensations that the human body and psyche can live without. It isn't a necessity.' he reasoned with himself, 'There are more important things one should worry about than…immersing oneself within the quicksand of…' he shuddered suddenly, 'of…for lack of a better term, perversion!'
He nodded to himself.
Yes. That was how he viewed it. Copulation in any shape, form or manner was nothing but the expression of perversion and obscenity!
'Yes…but what's the harm in engaging in it from time to time…?'
'Egads!' Gale thought to himself as he once more, found the vile temptress spewing poisonous silky words into his ears.
He shook his head, 'No.' He then narrowed his eyes, 'There are more things to do and to think about.' he internally reasoned. Yes; there was.
Why were people so adamant about copulation and the subject of, ahem!-sex, when they should be doing something else? Something more productive rather than just the instinctive and barbaric rocking of hips?
He shook his head once more as his skin crawled.
He froze there as he thought he heard a noise.
"Gale…"
He turned sharply around and saw no one. He looked around and saw the cadets loitering about. He was at the mess hall, having a cup of coffee…Well, it would seem that it wasn't working; he was drifting over to dreamland!
He growled.
"Gale…"
He heard it again!
At this time, he allowed his mind quarter. He could do nothing but stand and watch as his face was brandished with the ever-humiliating pink tinge.
His mind darted everywhere as his eyes widened and dilated, his imagination running amuck. He saw himself…with her…
In a heated situation…
With her beneath him, gasping and moaning his name…And him, panting and groaning eager to please her…to bring her to the gates of nirvana…
He saw her face, glistened in sweat, her cheeks adorned with the same fuchsia tinge that he had on his face…her lips parted, deep and slow breaths passing to and fro…begging him for relief and fulfillment…
He saw her breasts jiggle back and forth as the inertia of their lovemaking forced her to acquiesce.
"Gale…!!!" she screamed.
He awoke at that.
"Gale."
He blinked and turned his head, only to meet the pink eyes of his comrade, "You alright?"
He was beginning to feel the onset of another blush but this time, as God was his witness, he suppressed it with the very essence of his being and there, with the most stoic facial expression that he could muster, looked at the female with unfazed countenance, "Yes Argilla. What can I do you for?"
"You can do me for free Gale." she smiled seductively, leaning forward, letting him see her heaving breasts.
"W-what?" he asked, wide-eyed at what he had just heard and seen.
"I said, 'can I sit down'?"
He stopped breathing; his delusions were getting out of hand, weren't they?
He immediately nodded, "Yes. Of course, please sit."
She did as she was told and sat across from him. Now, having his renegade blood in check, Gale stared at her face indifferently, "What can I do for you Argilla?"
Argilla smiled, "Nothing much Gale. I just wanted to see how you were doing."
He raised an eyebrow, "Of what need have you to do that? I'm fine and I'm in shape. There's nothing wrong." he finished; unfazed.
Argilla smiled ruefully and looked at the green-haired man meaningfully, "I gathered that Gale. All I'm saying is that you look…quite tense. That's all. I know that you're not a fan of support-groups or…things like that, but all I'm saying is that, you don't have to be alone." she said, taking his hand in hers.
Gale looked from her face to their touching hands and again, he felt his blood surge furiously within his veins, his skin becoming ignited as their flesh continued to make contact…
He suddenly shook his thoughts of her, "Erm…Yes," he said, snatching his hand away from her, "I suppose not. But there's nothing amiss Argilla. I'm fine."
Argilla was disappointed; he was rejecting her. He was still cocooning himself within his own little world…That was the reason why Gale wasn't very popular…Well, in a manner of speaking, he was well-known.
'Yea…Infamous is more like it…'
He was revered by the troops and an invaluable comrade and tactician…But that was as far as he went. He had no one to come home to and no family…
And that made him alone.
And he liked it that way…
She felt her heart sting painfully at that…
She raised an eyebrow as Gale stood, "Now, if that's all Argilla, then I had best leave you alone now. I have other things to attend to."
Without allowing her to respond, he turned and left. Argilla bit her lip as she felt guilty. She looked at him sadly…She, Heat and Cielo had already talked about this but…
No matter how much they talk about it…no answer or moment of clarity would come at hand.
It would remain the same; the objective met, the damage done. The three of them, just to get even with Gale, had turned his life upside down. They had turned his sanctuary into hell itself…
And now, Gale was as lost as an innocent child, no longer seeing the direction in life that he should take. And it was…all because of them.
'I'm so sorry Gale…'
xxxxx
Gale ran a trembling hand through his damp and wet hair. He had just come from the showers and had hoped for a more peaceful time…but it wasn't so.
Now, dripping wet and still in nothing but his white towel, Gale sat on his bed, his thoughts still meandering away…
"…you don't have to be alone…"
He could practically hear her saying such words to his ears…He shivered involuntarily as unwanted delight filled his senses.
He blinked; no.
He narrowed his eyes; no. He had already settled those things before…What could he possibly gain from a relationship…?
A relationship…It was nothing but a burden. It was like…
'Caring for a child…It needs…supervision…Faith…Patience…'
He shook his head in delightful regret, 'Things that I do not have…'
And aside from that, there were things that were needed in order for a relationship to flourish…
'It needs commitment…communication…passion…'
Again, things that he did not posses.
'Besides…I…I do not possess the skills to even woo her…'
He froze right there.
What the heck was he just thinking!? Was he just considering such possibilities?! The possibilities of…of courting a…a woman!?
He blushed as he thought more of where his misguided emotions were directed. It led to her…To her.
To his pink-haired comrade.
He groaned and buried his face in his hands; no…It couldn't be…towards her…? Right…?
He stiffened as his mind suddenly showed him a visage…It was of her…and him…together…situated in a passionate embrace and an even more passionate dance.
His breath came out labored as his heart quickened its pace, his will dwindling…his inhibitions all but forgotten…
"Gale…Gale…Gale…" the phantasmagoric vision of Argilla moaned.
He stiffened and straightened himself. He looked at himself and saw that the knot of his towel had become undone. He narrowed his eyes as he saw his attentive member and frowned, "This will not do…" he told his manhood; scolding it.
He forced himself to stand and there, he walked over to his closet. He pulled out his nighttime attire and donned it on himself casually. He looked at himself when he was done and blinked, 'Would she…' he began, mentally trailing off.
He froze it right there.
He was doing it again.
Why was he thinking of her!? Her of all people?!
He groaned as he found himself back in square one. He let out a strangled breath and got into his bed. He shouldn't think of such things…He had more important things to worry about…
And besides…
'She's…she has Heat.'
It would be wrong for him to…cut in between them.
Wouldn't it?
xxxxx
Argilla looked at Heat and Cielo. They were fooling around again. They had just finished their shift at the kitchens and were preparing for retirement for the night.
She turned and switched her thoughts to Gale. She frowned slightly; she still felt sorry for him…Maybe it was time to call it quits…
She stiffened as she felt arms around her waist and a pair of lips on her earlobe, "Hey…what do you say to some…late night planning?"
She snorted, "Planning for what? The next Gale operation?"
He chuckled, "Well…not necessarily…"
"Eww mon! Don't do dat here ja!?" said a grimacing Cielo.
Heat chuckled, "Heheh…Jealous?" he asked, grinning.
Cielo blushed but nonetheless glared at the redhead, "Am not! I could get a girl too!"
Argilla rolled her eyes and pried Heat's hands from her waist, "Guys, we have to talk about Gale." she said resolutely, ceasing the mindless babble that her comrades had seemed to find themselves in.
"Wat about Gale now?" asked Cielo as they started to walk through the darkened streets.
"Tch…" spat Heat; he had an idea of what she would say…
"I think that we should stop all this."
Their passé halted and she was met with an irritated face from Heat and a shocked expression from Cielo, "Why?! Why now?! He's starting to come around ja?! Come on! I mean, he isn't dat strict in de training crap ja!? And…and…he doesn't send us on bum missions no more!"
Heat remained quiet, his eyes on her, wanting to know what it was she was to say.
She sighed and looked intently from Heat's surprisingly calm countenance to Cielo's flabbergasted facial expression, "That's just it! He isn't the Gale we know! He's…he's changed too damn much!" she then glared at the two as their faces told her that they neither understood her point nor did they care, "He's being too distracted! It might affect his battle performance!"
At that, Heat froze; damn.
They had completely forgotten…
Gale, no matter how annoying, was still leading Embryon at Muladhara at that moment. They couldn't let him be emotionally distraught; at least, not that much…
It would spell disaster for them!
Cielo groaned and banged his head on the wall, "Ugh…well, whatever mon. You guys just do wat you think is best. Cielo don't know…" he finished with a sigh, "But mon, Gale is so close to being cool…ja?" he asked as he looked at Argilla's pink resolute eyes.
Argilla bit her lip; sure…but…
This game was getting out of hand…That was all she wanted to say to her teammates. She wanted to make Gale into a better person…Not wreck him emotionally beyond repair…
"Can't we just balance out de Gale dat is brilliant wid de Gale dat's cool?" Cielo asked, bending, his hands on his knees, looking up at Argilla the way a child looked at his mother expectantly.
Argilla bit her lip harder, "W-well…that's gonna be a challenge…"
She paused as she heard a groan; that was Cielo. She sweat-dropped, "Don't worry Cielo. Leave everything to me." she said with a smile.
Cielo raised an eyebrow before returning her smile, "Okay mon! I'll leave everything to you! Don't blow it ja?" he playfully warned.
She beamed and nodded enthusiastically, "Mn!"
He nodded and returned her smile and waved, "So, mon, sista," he began as he looked from Heat to Argilla, "I had better get some sleep…Me gettin' too sleepy ja?"
Heat snorted, "Yea. You better. You don't want your ass to fall asleep in the streets again and have Gale throw you in detention for inappropriate behavior."
Cielo glared at him, "Hey! Dat was an accident! How many times do I hafta tell you mon?!"
Argilla sweat-dropped. Heat and Cielo had amazing talent in this. They had the amazing talent of getting themselves sidetracked. She sighed and interrupted the two, "Goodnight Cielo. Sweet dreams." she cooed sweetly, diverting the azure-haired man's attention from Heat to her.
"Eh?" began Cielo who then sweat-dropped, "Hehe…Oh yea! Goodnight sista!" he then turned to Heat who merely smirked at him like a Cheshire cat, "Stuff it stupid oaf!" he said, glaring.
Heat said nothing; he really just wanted to get rid of Cielo.
Pleased that the oaf said nothing, Cielo turned, huffing arrogantly before walking away the streets.
She waved at him as he walked briskly.
And now, she was alone with Heat. Her thoughts meandered over to Gale once more; and their planned course of action. She was glad though that Cielo trusted her to decide. Now, there was just Heat.
"Heat…" she turned.
He shrugged his shoulders, "Whatever man…But let me tell you, if he becomes an asshole again, I'd hold you personally responsible…" he finished silkily, leaning dangerously close to her face.
She leaned back and giggled a moment later; he understood. Well, it would seem that he wasn't a brainless oaf after all!
xxxxx
Alright. She was officially alone in this mission. What mission? The mission to retain Gale as their brilliant strategist…but modify him to be Super-Cool Gale.
She waited for him.
She knew that he would be retiring for the night…She had just sent Heat away and now she laid in wait.
She crossed her arms and continued to wait. She had a plan up her sleeves…She knew that Gale wouldn't be able to resist!
She stiffened as she heard a faint noise. She stole a peek from the corner and saw Gale leaving the Strategy Room. She grinned. Well, it was time to get this show on the road!
She turned around and looked at the two boxes in front of her. She slowly knelt down and took them into her hands and started to walk…
She turned a corner and…
"Whoa!" she exclaimed in feigned surprise as she undoubtedly collided with someone.
She shut her eyes as she fell on her rear, the boxes on the floor with their contents littering the floor.
"Argilla…!"
She smirked within.
She opened her eyes and met the green eyes of her present leader, "Gale! Surprise seeing you here!" she said with a smile.
Gale blinked as he looked at her. There she was, sitting on the floor, reclining back slightly, supporting her weight with her elbows…giving him an ample view of her exposed chest. His blood, once more was awakened.
'Damn…!' he silently cursed.
He shook off such thoughts and immediately straightened up and held out a hand, "Come on."
She smiled wider and took his hand without question. Gale's body pulsed with electric sensations as their palms met. He wondered then; did she feel it too? He looked from their touching hands and into her eyes and saw them sparkling.
He smiled within; maybe she did after all!
"Oh man!"
He blinked and saw that she was already having her back turned from him, her hand no longer grasping his. That was fast. He didn't even notice her move.
Having regained his superlative mental acumen, he nodded, "I apologize Argilla. I had not seen you coming."
"That's alright…!" she mumbled cheerfully as she grabbed the fallen objects within the box, which happened to be a load of books, and scattered random papers and arranged them together.
Gale blinked and too knelt down to retrieve the fallen books and papers. A few moments later, they were all set. Argilla made for the two boxes to carry them.
'This is your chance…'
'What are you talking about…?' Gale asked the voice.
'…Heat's not here.'
That was all it had said. It had disappeared.
Gale could feel his inhibitions slipping farther and farther away as the sensual side of him began to resurface, feeding him with images of her and him together…
He looked around, 'No…It's late…I'm sure that Heat's here somewhere…'
His worrying had all been for naught as he realized that she was, indeed, alone. He shook his head. No! He would not be swayed! His resolve would not falter!
"Okay Gale! I'll see you around!" the female in front of him said cheerfully, clutching the two boxes in front of her. She…did look rather silly in his eyes. The boxes were large and were quite tall that he could see only her eyes from the way she held them.
His instincts told him to leave her alone and retire for the night…But there was another part of him…that didn't want to…
He watched her walk away from him and there caught sight of her swaying body…
Gale could feel his resolve faltering, 'Good grief…'
He shook his head. No!
'Why are you being so stubborn…?'
'You are trying to seduce me…Trying to trick me…' the green-haired man thought venomously.
'Just giving you what you want mate…Just what you want…' it taunted evilly.
'Who…are you?' asked Gale, getting impatient. It had been a few weeks now since this voice had surfaced in his mind. Before, he made decisions easily; receiving no questions or qualms from different sides of him. Heck, that was because his whole self was unified!
But…ever since that recording…everything had gone haywire…
His whole personality had become fragmented! It was as if he had developed another version of himself in a span of just a few weeks…!
Everything had become confusing…
And…she…
She exacerbated the whole thing.
'You're going to let a woman carry all that load and let her walk all alone…in the middle of the night?' the voice asked in incredulity.
'…'
'You're such a coward…'
'I'm not a coward…!' he shouted at himself.
'Yea? You sure are acting like it.'
With a growl, he lightly strode over to where the female was and overtook her, "Argilla." he said in a stoic manner.
"Hm?" she asked in feigned curiosity.
He wasted no time and grabbed the brown boxes from her, "Let me…"
Argilla smiled at him meaningfully, "Thanks."
xxxxx