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

WARNING: OOC, LANGUAGE.

Chapter 14: All the Wrong Buttons

"You a lousy trainer sista." a playful male voice teased from behind her.

She smirked, knowing who it was.

She was on her way to the training facility when that voice stopped her. She turned, her scowling face in place, to address the idiot that she knew well and loved, "If you think so Cielo, then maybe I ought to step down. Maybe you'd be interested to take the position." she told him, appraising his leaning form lazily on the wall in one of the city's buildings.

He straightened up immediately as he heard her comment, "Erm. No thanks ja? I don't need a baby who's older dan me." he said defensively as he waved both palms in front of him in a frantic gesture.

"Waaayyyy older." he drawled.

She chuckled; she thought so.

Scratching the back of his head, Cielo walked over to Argilla, "Say mon, where is de super-duper cool Gale ja?"

She frowned at that question. Where indeed?

"Erm…he's a WIP." she said.

"Eeeh?" asked the blue-haired boy.

Argilla rolled her eyes, "He's a 'Work In Progress'."

Cielo blushed and bit his lip, "Oh…right. Heheh…"

"So, um, how is dat WIP thingy coming along den?" he asked casually as they began to walk. Where to? He didn't know.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Slow."

"Hehe…Need help?"

At that friendly and harmless question, Argilla stopped. Hm. Maybe she did need help.

But right now, from Cielo? She doubted he'd be able to give it.

She shook her head, "From you? No thanks." she sneered. "I want my super-duper Gale to be super-duper cool." she said as she chuckled, lowering her speech patterns so that it matched Cielo's.

"Oh come on ja?!" piped in the blue-haired wonder boy as he jogged a bit so that he came in front of her, halting her steps. His eyebrows wiggled naughtily, "Why don't we just…"

She chuckled. He looked so cute when he was doing that.

"Just what?"

"Blow up his office!?" he suddenly exclaimed.

At that, she made a lame face.

"Blow up his office." she repeated, bored.

He nodded excitedly, either not seeing her unimpressed facial expression, or just ignoring it. "When he sees dat his office is trashed, he doesn't haf'ta go back t'work ja?!"

Argilla stood there, doing nothing; she said nothing. Was he…for real? Or was he just wasting her time? Somehow, the former seemed more plausible than the latter.

With a roll of her eyes, she pushed past him and resumed her walk. He jogged beside her, "Aw come on ja? Jus think about it! We won't know wat to do without dose training things and order stuff ja?! We'd be free!!" he said excitedly, thrusting his arms with his opened palms and stretched fingers upwards, towards the drizzling skies.

Argilla snorted, "Yea? And what will happen then? Muladhara would be screwed. And before you know, the other tribes would know and then we'd be knee-deep in crap."

"Eeeeehhh?!"

Argilla stopped and turned to look at him, "If we blow up Gale's office," she began with a high-pitched voice, her tone condescending, "then the bad guys would know we don't have a cluuueee about anything. And then, the bad guys would come here! And then," she said, leaning close to him, making the young man lean back, "they'd feast on worm-food…People like you." she finished.

Cielo gulped at that.

Seeing the satisfactory reaction from him, Argilla brushed past him again.

Cielo stood there, pouting, "Okay mon! You're making a mistake and you know it!" Cielo was getting irritated. His bluff wasn't being taken seriously, "Wat are you gonna do?!" he asked again, calling out to her, "Ask help from someone else!?"

At that, Argilla stopped again. Someone…else?

Cielo smirked. He knew that she wouldn't be able to resist his cute face! Marching up to her, his grin widened. When he reached her, his Cheshire cat grin widened, "I told you so! Dere's no one else who can help you!"

At that, again, a thought popped into Argilla's mind.

Ask help. From someone else. Other than Cielo…and Heat.

But who…?

She blinked in realization. And there, she looked at Cielo, bored, "Huh? What are you talking about Cielo? Just go away! I have training in ten!"

Cielo threw her a hurtful look, "Okay den…I know where I'm not wanted…"

She giggled at him, "You are such…a drama queen."

At that, he stuck his tongue out, "But you love me anyway!"

She continued her heartfelt giggle, now more than ever, as the ever confusing path now seemed to have gotten illumination. Now, because of Cielo's stupid joke, she had another trail to follow.

"Ya. I do."

xxxxx

She had told Cielo that she had had training. But…

'Forget it. I have…a gut feeling that…'

She didn't know exactly what she was looking for but…

Cielo had told her that she might need help from someone else. And he was right. There was only one way to crack a nut like Gale. Use a vice that was as thickheaded as he was. And there was just one way to do that.

She needed his data. Again.

But this time, she wouldn't merely look at his military performance and records. No. She had to delve deeper than that…

She had to look into the archives of his childhood.

She entered the data storage room and there looked for an empty computer terminal. Once there, she quickly sat down and began her research. After a few minutes of grueling reading and analyzing, she saw the fruits of her labor.

She grinned, "I knew it…"

She looked at the picture before her with a smug grin and then read the caption below.

"Huh…Dissertation activity…eh? I didn't know Gale was into genetics…" she casually said, noting his theses work on them when he was younger.

Well, when he was way younger, that is.

She looked at the picture again squinted. A moment later, she leaned back and raised an eyebrow, "She…Who is this?" she asked, eyeing the female beside Gale with outmost curiosity.

She paled as she saw the name.

Angel.

"Oh my God…" she told herself as she began to giggle.

"Oh my God…" she repeated again. She couldn't believe it. She stared at the young couple in front of her at the computer screen and began to laugh.

She was earning funny looks from her comrades within the very same room but she didn't care.

'It's…her!' she thought with delightful shock, 'Hn…Those two…They're…I never knew they were friends back then…' she thought.

She couldn't believe it.

She couldn't believe that the woman beside Gale in the image when they were but in their twenties was none other than her very own eccentric yet effective physician.

'The gods are strange…' she thought as she continued to giggle.

But then again, this was it. This was the sign that she was waiting for. This was the person who would help her. She grinned; she had a lead again.

xxxxx

Heat scratched his head, "Wait…wait…What?"

Argilla rolled her eyes, "Look, I don't want to do this…But I think we have no choice."

He blinked, "Do what exactly?"

She let out a frustrated sigh; and there he thought that he was smarter than Cielo. She shook her head lightly with her eyes closed before opening them, and directing them towards her red-eyed partner, "You're the one who said that I've spent too much time with Gale, right?"

He narrowed his eyes, his curiosity beginning to wane and displeasure beginning to emerge from his gut, "Yea. What of it?"

Argilla rolled her eyes; won't he just grow up and leave it? Sheesh!

She then cast her face down, "Heat…I think that our plan backfired."

"No shit genius." he replied sarcastically, crossing his arms. "What-did you figure that out when you found that he was trying to get his dick into your mouth?"

He didn't mean for it to sound the way it did…But he just couldn't help it. The old goat's humping tendencies were so obvious that one had to be really stupid, blind and totally retarded to have not noticed it.

Gale might be stoic and calm…But Heat knew the truth. He could see it in his eyes…in the way he looked at Argilla.

Although Argilla told him nothing, he knew that something like that or the other had happened between the two of them while he and the others had been away in their missions…

Like he said, it didn't take a rocket scientist to know that an old goat like Gale could feel the need of good ol' fashioned sex.

Argilla frowned at him; his words just…They just plain annoyed and insulted her. True, she hadn't told him of any of her activities with Gale…but Heat wasn't dumb. He could probably tell anyway by the way Gale looked at her. Her pink eyes pierced his ruby orbs and there she spoke, "Would you just listen?"

"Hn…" he trailed off, turning away, letting her see that he was interested…a bit.

She nodded at his general direction, "Our original plan was to make Gale loosen up…so that he wouldn't give us too much of a hard time. We wanted to make him…"

"More human?" cut-in Heat, smirking at her mischievously, much to her chagrin.

She still nodded away, "Yea. Whatever." She sighed, "The point is, he had…erm…developed those feelings for me and…" she paused as she saw the warning glare that he was giving her, reminding her that she was treading on thin ice.

She swallowed the growing lump in her throat but still continued, "The thing is…he just likes me because I'm the only one who spends time with him."

Here, it was Heat who rolled his eyes, "Then why don't we just do what I told you before!? Just drop him off some slutty place." He paused as he sneered, tilting his face upwards for a totally haughty and arrogant posture, "He was the one horny enough to try and molest you, wasn't he? Those whores there would give him all the fucks and all the attention he needs."

Argilla wanted to slap him.

Correction.

She wanted to hurt him.

Badly.

But no.

She wouldn't. She controlled herself and instead, let out a quivering breath, "For the last time Heat, we're not doing that."

"Why not?" he asked, mirroring her glaring face.

She frowned, "Gale…loves me because of our bond." Her eyes then narrowed to slits, "It's not just because of some…some feeling of sexual depravation!"

Heat laughed boisterously at that, "No sex involved!?" he asked in feigned incredulity. "No shit!" he laughed but then, suddenly stopped, his demeanor turning a full one hundred eighty-degree turn as he glowered at her, his voice low, "I'm not stupid woman."

She rolled her eyes, "I didn't say you were Heat. Just listen to me! Gale…Sure, there's some physical attraction…" she paused as she heard him snort but nonetheless continued, "But that's not what he yearns for…"

"He yearns for a home." she told him, touching his crossed arms. "He wants to have someone to spend the rest of his life with…Someone to share things with…You know…" she paused again, taking the last step that separated them and leaned the side of her face on his arm, "He's looking for the things that you and I share…"

Again, he said nothing. She was grateful, 'At least, he won't ruin my mood with his stupid garbage-filled mouth…' she internally grumbled, all the while enjoying the warmth that he seemed to surround her with.

"Just like we planned…he loosened up…" she trailed off, her eyes glazing over the setting sun over the horizon, her stomach tying itself up in a knot as she recognized the feeling of guilty déjà vu, remembering the sunset that she and Gale had shared.

"He loosened up alright…but…" she then tightened her hold on him, "But he let things get out of hand." She then sighed, "I let things out of hand. Maybe if I listened to you, this wouldn't have happened." she finished, feeling guilty as she recalled Heat's prior statements of warning and his previous commentes about Gale's seemingly unsavory behavior towards her.

But like the ignorant child, she did not beseech him and had blinded herself into looking past all of Gale's eccentric change in behavior.

And now, she was reaping the fruits of her labors…or in her case, the fruits of her complacency.

"I told you so."

She smiled a bit.

He had said it in a most gentle fashion…

She had expcted him to rub it in her face, telling her over and over that she had been wrong and that he had been right.

But he didn't. He didn't laugh or chuckle or made condescending comments.

He just stood there, letting her lean on him.

"Yea." she said nodding, "You did."

"Hn…" he trailled off, "So what now?" he asked, his tone a bit impatient. "Get on with it. You're wasting my time with all this stupid emotional bullshit."

She grinned; oh well. The calm had been broken. But then again, she had already expected that; after all, it had been Heat whom she had been talking about anyway.

"Simple Heat."

Heat raised an eyebrow at that. Simple? He had a feeling that he had heard that before…Oh yes; he definitely did.

But from where?

He shook his head. Well, regardless, it didn't matter. But what did matter was that he suddenly had a bad feeling about all this…All this plans that Argilla had. All the words that Argilla was going to say next. Her plans, although seemingly so flawless and brilliant on paper and blueprint, would always somehow, for one reason or the other, blow up in her face.

Just like her "Operation: Super Duper Gale".

Well, regardless, if this plan of hers would mean that the old man would stop trying to hump her and get off of his back, then he'd go for it.

Argilla's pink eyes shone and twinkled with determination. She had taken Cielo's advice. Perhaps it was time to throw in the towel and let someone else take the reigns. It was time to let someone else teach Gale how to be "Super Duper Gale".

"We just make him fall in love with someone else."

xxxxx

Night had finally come. He looked at himself at the mirror, a vacant expression on his face, pervading it. He blinked. He didn't look any different. Nothing had changed.

But he was sure that after tonight was over, she'd see that he was the better choice. With a slight nod at his reflection, he turned and left his room.

He arrived at the rendezvous point and saw that his teammates had all arrived. There they all were, standing beside one another. There was Serph to the left with Argilla and Heat beside him and Cielo on the right, leaning on the wall behind him lazily; his arms crossed.

He blushed slightly at that. Had he…been late?

Serph looked at his watch, "Two minutes after the designated time."

Gale turned as his head to the right as he heard a light giggle. Jade met magenta eyes.

"That's a new record for you Gale." she commented with a small grin. He found his stomach churn slightly at that. Why'd she have to look at him in that fashion?

Again, his reverie had been shattered as he heard another laugh, "Not bad old man."

He frowned; Heat always managed to ruin his moods…

"Ja mon!" interrupted yet another voice, "Are we jus gonna stand here all night!?" Cielo asked; a bit annoyed.

At that point, Gale smiled within. Cielo had done right this time. He had done right.

He nodded at the four of them, "I apologize. I won't happen again."

xxxxx

Gale could feel his muscles tightening and his breathing quickening. There they were. At the rowdy and noisy bar that Argilla had taken him to. His heart was pounding and he couldn't help but clench his hands into fists as he was once more in front of a test that he had failed once before.

Serph and Cielo had already gone on ahead to look for a favorable spot and now, there was just him, Heat and Argilla. He wanted to put on a lame face for that.

Why oh why did he always mange to find himself in these sorts of situations?

His silent contemplation was rudely interrupted by a dark low voice, "What's the matter old man? Never been here before?" came a snide remark.

Gale turned to see a scowling Heat. He looked at him firmly and prepared to speak when Argilla interjected, "Gale's been here before. Right Gale?" she asked cheerfully.

He blinked.

Argilla then turned to Heat, "We've been here a couple of times."

He watched as Heat slightly glared at her smiling form and he cleared his throat, "It is not important." The two turned their heads towards him, and he touched his forehead, "Let's get to our seats."

Heat shrugged his shoulders letting the issue of his lover defending the old goat go, "Whatever." He turned his head and saw Cielo waving at them, several feet away while Serph sat on the chair, looking at them lazily.

Heat led Argilla away while Gale walked a step behind them. He frowned as he watched Heat's hand wander from being on Argilla's waist down to cup her buttocks naughtily.

"Ack!" she squealed unexpectedly and there slapped her lover, "Stop it!"

"Ow damn it!" he bellowed, feigning anger.

Gale laughed at that. To him it had been a victory.

'One point for me and none for him.' he thought proudly.

xxxxx

Argilla watched with astonishment and with a hint of annoyance as Heat and Gale seemed to have a world of their own. They had been within the bar now for over an hour. When they had ordered their libations for the night, she hadn't expected for Gale to order the strongest they had in the house.

She made a lame face at that; she didn't expect him to order what Heat did.

And now?

Well, there they were, having a glaring contest.

Whereas before, their get-together was warm, with Serph Cielo and her speaking every now and then, telling funny stories and whatnot, now, there was just silence. She wrinkled her nose in exasperation in that.

Now, there wasn't just silence. There was a silent precession of anticipation.

Serph and Cielo were as curious as she was as to the preordained adjournment of this…display. There were Heat and Gale…having a drinking contest; each attempting to decipher the other's boundaries.

Heat had jokingly said that he didn't mind Gale having what he had in his drink…and that Gale had to be careful since his body wasn't accustomed to such overwhelming alcohol content.

She had expected Gale to ignore the taunt and move on. But instead, Gale saw Heat's taunt with his own.

With a haughty countenance, he had taken his glass and had drunk every last drop of the liquid in one gulp.

She scratched her head back then, sighing. It was going to be a long night.

xxxxx

'Can't…let him win!' he told himself as he gulped down another liquor-filled glass. He knew that it had been completely unlike him to think this way…

But he just couldn't help it.

There they were, having a drinking contest. Well, it wasn't an all-out declared contest…and it wasn't with the whole team either, but it didn't matter. Heat had challenged him to a duel and he would not be a coward and refuse it.

Hell no!

'Hn…You just want to look like a stud because she's here…' a voice said to him, tickling his patience and ruffling his resolve's feathers.

'It matters not.' Gale reasoned within; he was going to be this duel's victor and that was that.

"What's the matter old man?" drawled and sneered the redhead from across him, his lips tugged upwards for a seemingly triumphant grin, "Too much for the old bones?"

He glared at him and shook his head, pushing his small glass towards the younger man's direction, "Not at all Heat." He then gestured to his glass, "Please do the needful."

The redhead just frowned and poured more of the liquid into Gale's glass before speaking, "Just tell me when it's enough." he winked, "We don't want you to have the worst case of a hangover…You know, puking all over the place…that sort of shit."

Gale's eye was close to twitching but he suppressed it nonetheless and remained calm. Heat was insulting him down to the very core…but he won't let him have the last laugh! Ooohh nooo! He had entered this friendly game with the best intentions…but he intended to win it; no matter what.

"Oh I won't do that Heat." he said coolly, shaking his head a bit, "Thank you for the advice. I'll be sure to learn from your mistakes." he retorted snidely.

Heat said nothing save for an icy death glare, already working its way through his bones and muscles, slowly paralyzing him.

Gale stole a glance at the female beside his contender and flushed red; she was there. Now, more than ever, he was emboldened and empowered. He couldn't lose to Heat. Not now and not ever.

He could lose more than that; he could lose her faith in him. He concentrated and drank another glass that was given to him. He stole a glance at the female and saw her beginning to seem…uninterested.

His heart burned and his blood boiled.

He was losing her!

No!

He won't lose her!

He just had to double his efforts!

"Ugh…" she groaned aloud, earning her both his and Heat's undivided attention. "Why don't you guys grow up?" she asked.

He blinked; what did she mean? He was very much grown up; a fully matured and grown man…who was just testing the limitations of his body pertaining to its tolerance to the consumption of alcohol! What was wrong in that?

"Just stay out of this woman."

That was Heat.

He sighed; that man would never know finesse. Gale internally grinned; and that was why he was going to win Argilla over.

He looked at her and saw her roll her eyes, "I give up…" she openly declared, making Serph, who had been thus far solemn, chuckle.

He turned back to Heat and without hesitation, drank the contents of the glass and thought darkly, 'Do not underestimate me…'

xxxxx

Heat was getting irked.

What the hell was the old man doing?! Was he really this stupid enough to do what he was doing!? He was really intent in winning, wasn't he?

Well, two can play at that game!

Heat grabbed the bottle of liquor and poured it unceremoniously to his glass, before hastily bringing it to his lips, swallowing its contents.

He won't lose!

Of course not!

This was his game damn it! His game!

But regardless, he was laughing. This was hilarious! The old goat was doing all of this, just for a chance to impress Argilla?

Aa…

Gale had fallen, hadn't he?

And he had fallen far…too far and too fast, too hard.

'Ouch…' Heat thought with a wince. But no matter, he wasn't in the sympathizing mood. Why would he be!? The old goat was attempting to steal what was rightfully his anyway!

'Damn bastard…'

xxxxx

Argilla's eye twitched. Yup. She was right. The contest was taking forever…And it was getting boring. No; that was a mistake.

It wasn't boring.

It was getting tedious.

She had her face rest on her palm, with her elbow on the table, watching them…

But nonetheless, it was still amazing…and pretty much unexpected for Gale to have held up as long as he did. She had known for a fact that Gale wasn't a drinker; not at all. And if any of her previous engagements with her enigmatic green-haired comrade was any indication, she would've testified, without a shred of a doubt to Gale's strict conduct when it came to alcoholic beverages and his ever abstinent nature pertaining libations.

She blinked, now that she thought about it, she never would've really thought that Gale could withstand the effects of intoxication. She scratched her head; at least, she hoped not.

She looked at Gale intently for a moment and saw how his cheeks were slightly flaring with the crimson hue. His facial expression though, remained the same. But it was his eyes that betrayed everything.

His usually sharp and piercing eyes, although still possessing the aforesaid attributes were now a shade duller and mundane in countenance.

'He's trying to fight it…' she thought knowingly, 'But it won't be long until he's completely wasted.' she thought with convinced premonition.

'Ugh…A drunk Gale.' she thought as she wrinkled her nose, 'Just what the world needs…Another of Heat's disciples.' she finished sourly, turning her gaze to her grinning lover.

Her face fell and her expression became lamer; he was enjoying himself wasn't he?

She squinted and intently peered at his eyes. He was occupied with Gale and hence paid attention not to her or her actions. There.

She wanted to laugh.

He may be grinning…but it was a façade.

He was getting jealous of Gale again. He was there, trying to prove to Gale that he was the best, wasn't he?

"Typical…" she whispered under her breath dryly.

"What?"

That was Serph.

She turned to him, "Nothing sir." She scratched her head sheepishly and smiled just the same way, "Hehehe…"

He chuckled in return, "They are…taking this really seriously."

She made a lame face, "Sir, that's an understatement."

He chuckled again, "I think so too."

The two were broken from their chat as they heard the two grunting at one another. Again, Argilla looked at them and felt her annoyance mount.

She was getting irritated; they were like two boys refusing to share their toys! There they were, having that intense glaring contest. The tension was so high within the table that it was beginning to choke her.

She turned and saw that Cielo had fallen asleep. Aw, her poor special little guy. He had been bored hadn't he?

She stiffened again as she felt the overwhelming persona of her lover and comrade. They were still as stiff and rigid as ever, neither yielding to the other.

Oh boy…

'This tension is enough to give me a heart attack.' she thought with a slight choke.

But as she once more looked at Cielo's sleeping form, she figured that perhaps the tension wasn't that high. After all, Cielo slept right through it, didn't he?

But that was beside the point!

Heat and Gale were behaving like children!

"Guys!" she finally said, vexed and exasperated, "Stop it! That's enough!"

The two paid no attention to her and kept on drinking…

She growled and clenched her hands into fists, grinding her teeth together. How dare they ignore her!?

Serph looked at the sleeping Cielo to the fuming female. He sweat-dropped; Gale and Heat would settle this on their own…and it was obvious now, to him at least, what they had been contending for. He wanted to laugh.

He shook his head; he had prided himself with having the most cohesive team. But with the display that was currently divulging itself before his very eyes, he wasn't so sure anymore.

He knew that if Argilla stayed any longer, she'd completely blow her top. He also knew that he had to do something to diffuse the feud between Heat and Gale. He had to come up with a plan; fast.

He scratched his head. Well, there was one thing to do.

'Take their object of affection.' he thought lamely.

That was why he stood and held out a hand for Argilla to take, "Dance with me?" he asked her.

Argilla turned to him, "Eh?"

As she saw his opened palm, she nodded and stood, taking his aforesaid hand in hers, "Let's sir!" she beamed.

The pair left their positions and took the first step forward when a bellow stopped them.

"Hey!" drawled a red-faced redhead, "Where the fuck are you going?" he asked, his eyes piercing Argilla's eyes.

Argilla rolled her eyes, "I'm going for what I came here for Heat!" she said in an angry pout, her eyes now narrowing at his, "You can have Gale to yourself! Hmph!" she huffed in a snotty fashion, dragging a clueless Serph away who didn't even get to have a say in the whole thing.

"Hey! Get back here!" Heat yelled on after her but growled and cursed under his breath as she disappeared within the sea of people.

He grumbled childishly and there grabbed his glass one last time and looked at Gale, "You'd never get to beat me in a drinking contest old man. Get over it." With that, he walked out from the scene and followed his silver-haired leader and his fuming lover.

Gale narrowed his eyes; that wasn't supposed to happen! At the instant that Heat disappeared, he stood. He paused for a moment though as he felt his head slightly throb. Wait; did it throb now? Or had it been throbbing for the previous hour?

Somehow, he thought that it had been the latter rather than the former.

'No! Enough of this!' he yelled at himself, gaining control of his body, urging it to walk forward. He had been in countless life and death situations. He would not allow the mere fact that he was intoxicated to allow him to lose a battle!

With a low growl, he followed the redhead. He didn't care whether or not the dance floor was packed with people or not.

xxxxx

The two stood in the middle of the floor. Serph smiled at the female in front of him languidly. He wasn't the dancing type but he knew that he just had to take her away from there.

"Sorry about Heat and Gale." he told her, leaning at the crook of her neck so that she may hear.

Argilla wanted to laugh as he apologized, "Why are you apologizing for!?" she asked laughing as she leaned towards him, "They're just stupid kids!"

Serph smiled and was about to reply when he found his partner snatched from him. He looked up and met the redhead's blazing eyes and his smirking lips, "Mind if I cut in?"

Serph blinked, "Not at all. Where's Gale?"

Argilla, who had been attempting to pry Heat's large fingers from her wrist pouted, "Yea. What did you do to Gale?"

Heat turned to her, "Why are you so interested?"

She pouted at him, "For all I know, you could've killed him and stuffed him in a dumpster."

He chuckled darkly at that and leaned in closer to her face, all the while pulling her closer to himself, grinning like an elf, "Wouldn't you like that?" he asked silkily, their noses touching.

She leaned back, "Eww…Heat you reek!" she said disgustedly, noting the strong stench of alcohol in his mouth.

Serph rolled his eyes; well, he knew where he wasn't wanted. And so, he turned and left. Gale and Cielo were probably getting lonely.

He stopped when he heard Gale's voice.

"Heat," the green-haired man spoke calmly, "we have not finished our friendly game." he reminded the redhead.

Heat groaned; why can't the old man just understand? He thought that Gale was smart! Then why the heck was he acting like a child!?

Argilla groaned as well.

Oh boy.

She and Serph left to ease themselves off the trouble that Heat and Gale had; but instead, they followed them.

Heat shrugged his shoulders, "I think we did." he said with a bored face, "I think I want quality time with Argilla." he said, clearly taunting the other man.

As Gale saw how possessively the redhead held on to the female, and how Heat had uncouthly dismissed him as if he were an adversary that was not worth even an ounce of his attention.

He gritted his teeth, "Are you saying that you do not want to finish what you've started?"

Heat frowned, "I'm saying that I'm through with you."

Argilla began to speak but Heat pinned her with his dangerous glare and told her to hold her tongue. She acquiesced.

Gale narrowed his eyes, "Then you admit defeat."

At that, Heat snapped and tucked Argilla behind him as he faced Gale, ignoring the warning statements that Serph made.

Heat laughed bitterly, "What the fuck are you talking about!? I had the last drink!" he declared, pointing to himself.

Gale narrowed his eyes thinly still. By now, the people had lessened at the floor, as they felt the tension rise within the elite team of their tribe.

The jade-eyed man shrugged his shoulders, "I could've had it if you hadn't run."

Heat's red eyes flared angrily, "I did not run." he said in a menacingly low tone.

"Is that so?" Gale asked calmly, crossing his arms.

Heat growled, "What-you want something from me old man?" Heat challenged as he let go of Argilla's hand, walking away from her and towards their strangely-acting tactician.

Gale said nothing.

Heat sneered, "Why don't you just come off it Gale?" he asked. "Just admit it. You want her, don't you?"

Gale said nothing but held his ground.

Heat scowled; he thought so.

"You don't deserve her." came the flat reply from Gale.

Heat glowered at him, "At least I have her. I can have her in my bed anytime I want…" he told the green-haired man, leaning towards his, wiggling his eyebrows with his piercing red eyes conveying taunting truth. "I can screw her anytime, anywhere…and she'll scream my name…and my name only. Not yours…" he finished with a tone of absolutism and finality that he was sure it would break the older man's spirit and psyche.

Gale's heart was pricked with Heat's sharp words. But he won't let it end there.

"That's because she pities you." he told the young man in front of him.

"What!?" Heat bellowed.

Serph narrowed his eyes, "Heat. That's enough." He then turned to Gale, "You too Gale. You're way out of line."

Heat narrowed his eyes, "I'm off duty sir." he said to the silver-haired man, gritting his teeth angrily, never taking his eyes off the tactician.

"Heat! Stop it!" yelled the female but again, Heat paid her no heed.

Heat sneered again, looking at Gale from head to toe mockingly, "At least, I'm not sly and conniving enough to send the woman's mate away continuously so that I'd have time to get into her panties…!" he hissed angrily, his eyes boring infuriatingly at the other man's.

Gale said nothing. So, the buffoon knew. But then again, he'd never admit to that.

"I do not wish to go 'into her panties'." Gale finally said, after taking a small moment to size up his opponent. His jade eyes glowed in insult and injury, "I only wish the best for her. I want her to be with someone who can level with her on the intellectual level…and not simply on the primordial calling of sex."

Heat was stunned at what Gale had said. Was he saying that…that he was too dumb to be with Argilla?

Gale saw the wounded look within Heat's eyes. There. He had hit a nerve. All he had to do…was put salt in it.

"She craves more in a relationship Heat. She wants and needs a man; a real man." he said, stressing on the word "real".

Heat froze and said nothing.

Gale was smirking within, 'Now…The final blow…'

"She needs a real man. Not just a penis that grew a face and red hair." Gale finished, drawling, relishing the look of utter devastation in Heat's eyes.

Heat couldn't breathe.

Gale had a lot of nerve to assume that about him…

"Say that again in my face old man." he taunted Gale; his voice a dangerous low, his tone promising peril for those who would hear his words. He no longer cared for the world; or how bad this would look for his reputation or if he would be court-martialed or whatnot. Gale had thus far treaded on thin ice. And now, he had crossed that line.

He didn't care if Serph would demote him. He didn't care even when Argilla hung on his arm, attempting to restrain him.

Gale merely laughed, "You're a boy Heat. You aren't a lover to her. You're a child. A child suckling on his mother's breast."

At that, Heat snapped and lunged for him.

xxxxx