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

WARNING: OOC, MODERATE LANGUAGE, SUGGESTIVE/ADULT THEMES

Chapter 9: Let Me In

His face darkened as he stared at the door that he had just closed. He knew that it was overly rude to do what he had done…But he had no choice.

He really didn't feel like associating himself with her at the moment.

He closed his eyes for but a moment before turning around to walk over to his chair. Once there, he sat and once more, found his mind in pure thought.

His life had taken a drastic turn in its path. Before, he had known what his life was to be. He had had it planned out. But now…as she had unexpectedly immersed and assimilated herself within the very fibers of his life, he had been on a rollercoaster speeding aimlessly towards oblivion.

He frowned.

There was no use crying over spilled milk.

Now, there was only the path that lay ahead. His eyes became steely and his nerves tensed. This was his job; to be able to find solutions to problems…

And that was what he was going to do.

She had made him realize within a mere few days what had taken him a lifetime to elude. She had crumbled and destroyed what had taken him a lifetime to build.

She had shown him…the truth. She had made him realize…that he had indeed wasted his youth. Yes, he may appear young…but he knew the truth. He had lived his life without any sort of stimulation that his age had become stagnated…being in a constant state of prolonged hiatus.

And that was not all that she had made him realize.

She had made him realize…that there were other things in the world…that would make him…whole.

He groaned as he finally comprehended what his heart had been yearning for…He buried his face in his hands as he slumped forward, his elbows on his knees.

Her.

It was her.

She had shown to him the bountiful and beautiful world…She had liberated him from his prison; from the bleak prison that he himself had built around himself.

His eyes narrowed as a flash of red zipped within his mind.

Heat.

He was still a problem.

'What about Argilla?' he asked himself.

He straightened himself from his position and leaned back on the chair.

She said she cared for him. She had taken the time off her schedule just to be with him didn't she? That had got to mean something!

'Perhaps she and Heat are having problems…'

At his speculating thought, another entity had manifested itself within his thoughts, 'Quit being a pussy! She had shown you all the signals damn it! She came to you for how many nights in a row?!'

'…'

'And now, she was just here, wasn't she!? So, what the hell are you waiting for!?' the mocking and seductive voice within him roared.

'But Heat…'

'Hahah…Why are you so concerned about that bastard!? If the woman was so interested in him, why would she turn to you…? Why would she waste so much goddamn time on you!?'

'…'

'Game. Set. And match.' the demonic force within him said triumphantly.

Gale stiffened as he suddenly saw a flash of her image in his mind…

He blinked rapidly. It was decided.

xxxxx

The night had finally expired, making way for the rebirth of the sun. His leave was over, and he was once more on duty. Well, technically, he was on duty again. But then again, even in his official leave, he had unofficially been on duty.

And today would be no different. He was on duty then and he was on duty now. With his head in charge of his demeanor and his emotions and heart in check, he braved the next morning.

He looked over his companions with dead green orbs.

He saw the object of his desires from the corner of his eyes but dared not let his eyes settle on her. She was standing beside her oafish lover and he couldn't help but will displeasure at seeing the display.

Suddenly, he remembered his predisposition about Muladhara's rules on public displays of affection. Or rather, its lack thereof.

He grinned evilly within. What he wouldn't give to have a strict law prohibiting the displays of affection in public…Whether it be holding hands to embracing.

Heh. He wondered how the two would fare…?

Perhaps he should speak to Serph about that…

But then again, if he and Argilla were to get together, that law would work against him…rather than be in his favor. He frowned internally. No. He can't. So, he supposed that he had just leave things as they currently were.

Things would change soon enough.

And so, as he saw the two of them in their comfy positions, he couldn't help but scoff.

Well, not really.

He could only manage a scoff disguised as a cough.

"Ey, you okay mon?" asked Cielo as he bent his body forward while tilting his head to the side out of concern.

Gale still found that awfully strange.

Suddenly, remembering where he was, he immediately straightened himself, "Yes. Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

He ignored the looks from his teammates and cleared his throat, "Now that that trivial moment is over, I believe that it is time for today's briefing."

The four leaned in towards him expectantly and Gale touched his forehead, "Today's mission would be a reconnaissance mission."

Argilla could feel Heat beginning to laugh and she squeezed his arm, telling him to hold his tongue. Quiet surprisingly, he did as she asked, "Alright damn it…" he grumbled.

Gale heard that.

It didn't use to bother him, but now, those little antics and mannerisms that Heat and Argilla had for one another that once seemed trivial, unimportant and masked, were now out in the open, magnified for him to witness.

And the worst part was that…he just didn't like it.

Not one bit.

"This time though, a team of three would infiltrate the Brutes faction."

"W-wat!?"

That was Cielo.

Four pairs of eyes glued themselves on the blue-haired boy.

All the color from Cielo's face suddenly drained as he found his lips quivering and his heart pounding at what he had just heard, "You…you want de three of us to go dere in Brutes territory and pretend to be like dem…!?" he shrieked in total disbelief.

At that, Heat's lips tugged themselves upon an impish grin, "So fucking what?! This is great!" he said, overjoyed.

Gale's inner demon was prancing around. He knew that the redhead would love this mission…It was exactly what he had planned after all.

"I suppose that this is a good opportunity to gather intelligence work…" Argilla commented as she touched her chin in wistful thought. She then turned to Gale, "But how would we integrate ourselves amongst their men?"

Gale looked at her stoically and again she felt like wincing…but she kept a straight face. She wouldn't crumble in front of him.

He turned away from her and let his green orbs land on each of his teammates and spoke, "The Brutes are holding a contest the day after tomorrow. The contest is to see who is among the best in their tribe. Possibly for selecting the heir after Varin Omega's reign. The whole of Ajna would be there; commoner or soldier, man or woman. It would be of little effort to intermingle."

"Sounds feasible…" Argilla trailed off in thought.

The green-haired man nodded at her, "Yes. Only three of us would go. That way the number would neither be too large for them to detect nor too small for us to be ineffective."

Alright. This was it.

"Who would volunteer?"

"I would." a low but exuberant male voice replied without hesitation.

"I'll go." another solemn male voice said.

"Me too!" an excited female member said.

"So dere Gale!" said a now smiling Cielo, who was apparently relieved that the positions for the mission had already been filled, "Dat's three people! When do dey leave!?"

"You seem so eager for us to go idiot." a sneering male voice said.

Gale turned to see Heat scoffing haughtily at the younger man. Argilla chuckled, "Be nice." she said playfully, her eyes twinkling as she looked at his ruby orbs.

Gale's stomach churned at that but he was forced to relinquish such a feeling when he heard Serph chuckling too.

"No mon! Not eager! Not at all ja?" Cielo replied, sticking his tongue out as he hid himself behind Serph.

"Right." Heat replied, rolling his eyes, "Well, whatever. So, when do we leave?"

Aa.

Yes. That question.

Well, they had made merry and had pranced around convivially about this mission enough. It was time to burst their bubble.

Gale blinked, "It is not that simple."

At that, the four's playful countenances disappeared and again, the room was filled with tension.

"Varin's general would be there. He would be the one presiding over the proceedings. Varin himself would be absent…that is why this event is such a waste. But nonetheless, we need to halt their advancement. That is why, this mission…is an assassination and a recon mission combined."

Muscles tightened and eyes were hardened and turned steely; their breaths blocked and labored. So the truth came out.

"Why the fuck didn't you tell us that first old man?" Heat asked, muttering to himself darkly.

Gale ignored him.

"Azazel is too much of a murderer for us to leave alive. That is why we need to stop him before he gets out of hand." came Gale's statement, still as calm as ever, "That is why there is a handicap to this mission."

At this, Heat's eyes narrowed, "What handicap?"

Argilla could feel her heart beginning to pound. Now, she was nervous.

"This is an all-male mission." he said flatly.

At that, Argilla's eyes widened. Heat would be there undoubtedly…but she wouldn't. 'But…he'd be alone…!' she thought worriedly.

Gale had seen the emotions dancing in her eyes. She had opened her mouth to speak but he would not beseech her.

He shook his head, "There is nothing I can do. If you were to accompany them, you would only be a liability."

Her face reddened at that, "How the hell would I be a liability!?" she asked, enraged.

Heat frowned and grasped Argilla's arms, "Hey. Cut it out. The old man's right."

Gale felt a pang of irritating pain on his heart at Heat's words…and his actions.

Serph shook his head, "Argilla…"

Cielo frowned, "Dere's no choice, eh brudda?" he asked, turning to Gale.

Gale nodded at him and there looked at Argilla who had nothing but the words "Bloody Murder" etched onto her features, "You are a sniper Argilla. You expertise is eliminating targets from afar, which is nullified in this mission. This mission deals with hand to hand combat and close encounters, to which, you are ill-trained for."

She spat but said nothing. He was right.

But it would seem that the lecture wasn't over. Gale wasn't through, "Your concern for your lover is severely misplaced Master Sniper." he spat malevolently, although it was effectively concealed.

Serph had seen it though and looked at Gale, "Stand down Gale." he said resolutely.

Heat looked at Serph with narrowed eyes. He had seen it too eh? He clenched his hands into fists at that point. Gale had gone too far. There was nothing more that he would love than to march over there and beat the shit out of him…but he was somewhat glad that Serph had decided to interfere before things could get out of hand.

So, his suspicions had been proven correct. Gale was attracted to Argilla.

Cielo looked from left to right; from Serph to Gale. What the hell just happened? Everyone seemed to know; everyone except him.

Why the heck did that always happen to him?

"You're out of line soldier." Serph commented, his silver eyes flashing dangerously, letting the green-haired man know that he knew.

Gale wanted to roll his eyes but nonetheless, kept his calm façade, "I apologize. That was uncalled for."

Heat and Argilla saw through his flimsy excuse though. Heat wanted nothing but to butcher him but Argilla…

She felt nothing but mixed feelings towards him. Why did he say that…? Was he…? Her heart stopped, 'Is he…jealous?'

'But that's ridiculous! Why would he be jealous? He doesn't even like me!' she thought defiantly. Of course not! And those thoughts in her head about them…together…? Those funny thoughts…? Those thoughts were just that; just thoughts. Her thoughts, to be precise.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when he spoke once more, "The contest is for males only. The contest would last for three days and three nights. The initial plan is simple enough. Infiltrate the crowd and enter the competition. Win and assassinate Azazel. The escape route had already been drawn. You leave tomorrow at first light. Any questions?"

There was none.

Gale was satisfied. He turned Serph, "Are we to proceed?"

The silver-haired man nodded and Gale looked at his teammates once more, "You are to assemble here at 0500 hours. Dismissed."

xxxxx

She embraced his nude body as tightly as she could, pulling herself even closer against him. She had her head on his chest, listening to his calm heartbeat. This was the last time she would be making love to him until he came back.

She closed her eyes and sighed.

A vein popped out of her forehead though as she heard his teasing chuckle. She rose from her position and gave him a sneering look, "What the hell is so funny?"

He grinned at her, "You are."

At that, Argilla got up and sat. She took the white sheet and pulled it to cover her nude frame. Once covered, she crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him as he also sat up. Their eyes met, "What's so funny about me?"

He shook his head as he continued to lightly laugh.

"You're worried." he said as he stopped laughing, his eyes boring deeply within her pink pools.

At that, she softened her gaze at him, "Why wouldn't I be? What if you get your butt kicked out there? And then…then…" she chanted.

Heat smirked at her behavior; it would seem that he still had the appeal eh? But still…she was being worried over nothing!

"Listen woman, I don't plan to die out there."

At that, she looked up at him, and he nodded, "I'll definitely kick their Brutes asses and win that tournament." he said confidently.

At that, she joined him, "Don't forget that Serph and Cielo would be there too. For all I know, you could lose during the elimination rounds and Cielo might take the cup."

Heat growled at her and glared at her, feigning anger and grabbed her by the waist and arm, pulling her to straddle his sitting form, in turn, making her sit on him, "That'll never happen and you know it."

She scowled but then…after a moment of thought, as she saw his eyes search hers for encouragement…

She capitulated.

She sighed and embraced him, "Yea…You'll definitely kick the crap out of them…"

He smiled as he buried his face at the crook of her neck, inhaling her addictive and alluring fragrance, "Damn straight. I'll definitely come back."

He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes. Suddenly his lips turned into a naughty grin, "I have to come back…so that I can screw you senseless."

She grinned back, "I'd like that…"

Their conversation had ended as their searing kiss begun.

xxxxx

It was 0400 hours. She watched as her lover had prepared meticulously for the mission. She smiled at him and giggled a bit as she noticed the irritated look on his face.

That usually happened when…

"Where the hell are my gloves!?" he thundered.

She sweat-dropped, "You're wearing them…"

Heat stopped his rummaging within his closet and blinked. He looked at his hands and as sure as day, there they were, clinging to the slender yet large form of his fingers and hands. He sweat-dropped and his cheeks were instantly tinged with bright pink.

"Whatever."

She giggled at that. He was so cute.

She stood up and walked over to him, embracing him from behind, "You just be careful out there. I won't be there to save your ass."

He rolled his eyes but then again, he appreciated her concern. He moved from her arms so that they faced one another, a grin on his lips set for her to behold, "Don't worry about me woman. I should be the one worried about you." he finished with his grin suddenly vanishing.

She blinked, "Me?"

He nodded, "Be careful of dirty old men who might want to jump you and hump you while I'm gone."

She blinked, "Huh?" She then blushed as she read the message that he was attempting to impart, "Y-you mean Gale?"

He nodded, "Granddad wants some sugar." he drawled, sneering a bit as he did, his words laced with bitterness.

She rolled her eyes, "Heat! You and your crazy ideas." she said as she shook her head.

At that, he growled and grabbed her face firmly, forcing her to look at him. He narrowed his eyes at her, "I'm not making this up woman. That old dog is in heat and he only has one thing on his mind: to fuck you."

She blinked but said nothing.

He snarled, "Why the hell do you think he sent us out there?"

She frowned, "Heat, it's just a coincidence. It's for the…"

"For the best?" he asked, "Come on Argilla. You could've easily been part of the infiltration team. What? No towers for sniping? Give me a break." he said as he laughed humorlessly, throwing his head back as he closed his eyes before stopping and looking back at her seriously, "You can easily snipe the bastard from afar…"

"But…"

He shook his head, "You're right. It would be difficult…But it can be done. He just didn't want to. He wants you to remain here."

As he read her disbelief in her eyes, he just wanted to smash her skull onto the wall. How stupid could she be?! Gale was practically drooling all over her and she couldn't even see that?!

He pulled away from her completely and started to walk away, doing his mental checklist once more.

"You just wait and see Argilla." he stopped and looked at her again, "You just wait and when the time comes, you'll see what I mean."

She blinked but said nothing.

He sighed; three days and nights without her…

This wasn't the way he wanted them to part. And so, he shoved all thoughts of Gale out of his head and focused on her instead. He walked over to her and pulled her against him, his hand snaking around her petite waist while his other hand came to caress her face lovingly, "I'll see you in a few days."

She smiled and leaned further into his touch, "Yea…"

xxxxx

Gale and Argilla watched as the three drove away. The mission had commenced. Once they were out of sight, the two had headed back within the city.

They made their way within the Strategy Room and were plagued with silence.

Now what?

She crossed her arms, "What are my orders?" she asked him stoically.

Gale was stunned at that. She stood there…regarding him coldly. No. He shouldn't think that way. She said it herself that she cared for him.

Maybe now that Heat was out of the picture…maybe she would be able to show it to him more freely…

Now that Heat was gone, she wouldn't feel the least bit awkward…or the least bit guilty if she were to care for him. Now, they could begin where they had left off…

He touched his forehead, "I believe that there is still the paperwork that needs attention." he replied.

With a curt nod, she left him alone.

She was still angry at him…

Wasn't she?

No; she'd forgive him soon, won't she?

'…'

xxxxx

It had been two days and a night since he had left. She let out a staggering breath. Her heart pounded. She could only wonder as to how they were doing. There had been no transmission from them.

No. They were ordered not to. That way, they would not be suspected or caught. She paled at that thought.

'No…Serph and Heat…are the best of Embryon…And Cielo's the master escape artist…There's no way that they would be…'

"You are worried about them." a voice said from behind her.

She blinked.

She had not been in the Strategy Room and was out on the streets…in the park…

And more specifically sat on the bench that she and he did all those days ago. She turned around and saw the blank face of their tactician. She looked away, "Yea. I am. Aren't you?" she asked.

He walked over to her and stood just a step from where she sat. She looked at his back expectantly.

"No. I am not." he told her coldly.

"…!" she gasped, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. She couldn't believe that such words…would ever leave his lips…

And she thought that…he cared…

Gale turned around and looked down at her, "They are the best of Embryon. They would succeed."

Argilla searched his eyes…and there saw only truth. She wanted to slap herself at that time. She had been mistaken…again.

She was wrong…He did care.

She was glad.

He had…changed…

Hadn't he?

Before, he would've preferred that such sentiments to be effectively concealed from the public…but now, he had uttered such sentiments to her…Well, he had expressed them to her in the only way he knew how…And for her, that was more than enough.

It had imparted more than she could ask for…

Her student learned a lot. He learned quickly in the matters of the heart.

But still, all that aside, he would probably want to be alone. And so, she stood, "Well Gale, I had better be going." she said with a tight smile.

He blinked at her, "Argilla…"

She looked at him with a curious facial expression, "Gale? What is it?"

He blushed a bit and there…turned away, his eyes on the now dying sun, "Where is that…bar located within the city again?" he asked unfeelingly, attempting to be as nonchalant as possible.

At that, her heart melted.

He was apologizing…wasn't he?

There was still the issue of their awkward kiss…But, she deemed that it was unimportant at that moment.

That, and that it was an accident.

Yes. That was what it was; no more than aloof accident that happened all the time between friends. There wasn't a point in highlighting the events and blowing them out of proportion. Not like the way Heat did.

'I don't know what he's talking about…' she thought defiantly, shoving her lover's words out of her head.

She smiled at Gale, "I'll show you the way Gale. I've got time to kill."

xxxxx

A/N:

Azazel: A demon in the Christian religion who was believed to be the lord of goat demons. In Leviticus, it tells of a ritual where the Lord tells his priest to prepare a lot of goats one for Him and one for Azazel used as sin offerings. The goats would then be released in the wilderness where Azazel resided. It is because of this ritual that the word "scapegoat" came to be. And through this ritual, Azazel became the "scapegoat".