Disclaimer

Square Enix owns Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, not me. Bummer, I know.

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Dark Dealings

Chapter Three: Ill at Ease

The sound of booted feet pounded through Inn, obviously hurrying to one location. Marche, Nume, Montblanc, and Stuart now stood out Etoile's door, Marche pounding on it with one fist.

"Etoile! Etoile, are you alright?! ETOILE?!" He was about to start pounding again when the door gently squeaked open. Etoile's face appeared through the crack, eyes wide and frightened looking. Stuart's brows furrowed in even deeper concern for his friend.

"Etoile, what ever could be the matter? Are you injured? Did someone intrude into your chambers?"

"Wasss it a Peeping Tom? I ssswear, I'll rip him a new one if—"

"Nume, you aren't helping, kupo!"

"Right. Sssorry." As Nume went silent, Marche pushed the door open wider and let himself in. Gently, he led Etoile to the bed and had her sit down.

"What's the matter, Etoile…?" It took a moment for the Elementalist to answer, but answer she did. Her voice was shaking, and it was obvious she hadn't yet recovered from whatever it was had happened.

"I-I'm not sure….I was asleep and dreaming and…all of a sudden, my vision turned crimson like blood, and I heard a scream! It…It sounded like Pheobe, Marche! I'm…I just….this hasn't ever happened before…but I….she…" Etoile began to breathe rather heavily, and Marche hushed her. The last thing he needed was a hyperventilating Viera on his hands. He began to rub her back soothingly, bringing her into a hug to help steady her.

"It was just a dream, Etoile….its alright. Pheobe is alright, I'm sure of it. She's due back this morning so why don't you get some more rest? I'm sure she would be worried out of her mind if you greeted her as you are now." Etoile shook her head. Sleep was beyond her now. Marche looked desperately to his friends for help. He was trained in the sword, not in the ways of comforting women. Stuart, thank goodness, came to his rescue.

"Now now, Dear….don't worry your pretty little head." He gently took her slender hand in his large one. "Let's go get some tea, shall we? I'm sure that will help calm you down. Then we can discuss things, alright? Come now, Dear." With that Stuart lead Etoile down the stairs of the Inn towards the pub section. It's amazing how gentle Nu Mou really are, Marche thought to himself as he watched them go. Montblanc sighed.

"This whole thing has got my nerves leaping, kupo! I've never seen Etoile this upset, have you, kupo?" Marche scratched the back of his head with one gloved hand. It was obvious that he hadn't.

"No, I haven't. Etoile and Pheobe… they're rather close, don't you think?" Marche said thoughtfully. It was kind of strange, really. Pheobe was somewhat distant, a kind of loner so to speak. Of course, she interacted with the rest of the Clan just fine. However, she really seemed to connect with Etoile. Their personalities couldn't be farther apart, though.

"They do, kupo. They seem more like sisters than friends, don't you think, kupo?" It was then that Nume spoke up, causing Marche and Montblanc to jump slightly in surprise. They had completely forgotten he was even there.

"You know what they ssssay, eh? Opposssitessss attract. Etoile isss the light to Pheobe'sss dark, and Pheobe isss the calm to Etoile'sss unsssteady nature." Marche and Montblanc stared at their Bangaa friend. Nume looked at them curiously. "What isss it? Isss there sssomething on my faccce?"

"No, kupo. You just said something that sounded rather….sagely, kupo."

"Yeah. It was well thought out!" Marche exclaimed. Nume blinked.

"Isss that an insssult to my intelligencccce?" Marche grinned sheepishly.

"Uhm…no, not really…I was just…ah—"

"Complimenting your keen wit, kupo!" Montblanc chimed in cheerfully, saving Marche from an untimely doom.

"Yeah! That's it! It was a compliment!" Marche smiled and, once again scratched the back of his head. Nume merely looked at him strangely.

"You humansss are ssstrange. However, I thank you for the compliment. I will go and check on how Etoile and Ssstuart are doing. Sssee you in the morrow, Chief. You too, Monty B." With that, the Bangaa left. Marche and Montblanc couldn't help the grin that spread across their faces.

"Whew…close one. Thanks, Montblanc." The fuzzy little Moogle grinned, his small orange bobble waggling happily.

"No problem, kupo!" Giggling slightly to themselves, they returned to their room. Marche and Montblanc always shared a room. Not because they liked each other in 'that way', but because it was cost effective. Everyone in the clan shared a room with another. He and Montblanc shared a room, Nume and Stuart shared a room, and Pheobe and Etoile usually shared a room. This way, they could save money and spend it on such things as better weapons and armour. On the stairs, Nume was, as he had said, on his way to check on Stuart and Etoile. Once reaching the bottom of the stairs, he looked at the clock. It was currently 1am in the morning. He'd better tell them to get to bed, though he doubted Etoile would be able to sleep. He felt pity for the poor Viera. She was now worried out of her mind, and she wouldn't be much help in an engagement should they stumble into one. Looking to his right, he saw his two friends sitting at a table. Sighing, he moved to join them.

"How isss ssshe doing, Ssstuart?" The Nu Mou looked of from Etoile, a light smile of compassion on his dog-like face.

"Oh, I daresay she'll live. Quite shaken up though, I must say. The poor dear…she won't be finding sleep this moon, no no. If she does, well, good for her says I!" Nume looked at Etoile to see for himself. She was no longer shaking, and she was gently sighing into a cup of tea. Well, at least she was calmed down some.

"Well…make sssure you get sssome sssleep. Both of you. Like the Chief sssaid, we can't greet Pheobe like thisss." With a reptilian smile, he patted Etoile's hand gently before trekking up to his room. Their room only had one bed, he realized. It was probably a mistake at the front desk. With a sigh, he sat himself down at the desk in the corner. Taking off his helmet and robe, he dressed in a plain gray shirt and pants. The desk would be slightly uncomfortable, but he would just have to deal with it. Stuart deserved the bed anyhow. Crossing his arms on the desk, he laid his head down on top of them. The large Bangaa was asleep in less than 10 minutes. Below him, Stuart yawned.

"My dear, this old Nu Mou cannot keep his eyes open much longer." Etoile looked at him, a small smile on her face.

"You aren't old, Stuart…you're only 4 years older than I am." Stuart chuckled.

"I suppose so, yet it seems so much longer at times. I'm afraid that I must retire to my chamber soon. Will you be alright by yourself, Etoile my Dear?" The young Viera nodded her head softly.

"Yeah, I'll be okay. I'm sorry for being such a burden. Thank you, Stuart." The Nu Mou smiled and patted his friend's shoulder.

"If you need my assistance, you know where to find me. When Pheobe returns in the morning, I swear that I shant utter a word of tonight's events." With a wink he trudged up the stairs to his room. Etoile smiled gently. It was nice having friends that cared for you. Ever since she was little, she hadn't a friend o call her own. This Clan was her actual first true friends. Pheobe was, if one could say, her best friend. Why, not even she herself was certain. Pheobe was so calm and collect, while she herself was a bumbling fool. Maybe that was why? Who knew? All she knew was that Pheobe understood her, and she understood Pheobe. Without even realizing it, her head as well as her eyelids began to droop. In minutes, the young Viera was asleep at the pub table, her soft snoring barely detectable. Looking in her direction, the Barkeep smiled softly. Taking a blanket from a back room, he quietly covered the sleeping Viera in it before going back to his work.