Author's
note: It
took me forever to update this. I'll try to update the next one
sooner.
The chapter is set before the game events.
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GREENSLEEVES
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Dear Madam A. Due the importance of the mission in which you are going to cooperate, this letter won't reveal any data that could endanger its integrity.
Meet with our agent the 02/08 at 20:15 at the entrance of Altamira. Once you've met with him, he'll inform you of your role in the mission.
P.S: Destroy this letter.
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Two days had passed since she got the intriguing letter and she couldn't help but wonder why she had been called for this kind of mission. Normally those kinds of jobs were for Decus. After all, he was the one in the espionage division, not her. She wanted to be known and feared, not the one who works in the shadows and wasn't going to be feared since nobody would know what she was able to do.
As she neared to the meeting point a familiar figure became clearer. Richter Abend seemed to be the contact the letter talked about.
"Hi Richter!" she said in a singing voice.
"You're late."
"I'm so sorry." The half-elf said scratching one leg timidly with her toe. "But I had girl things to do. You already know what I mean." She winked.
"I'm afraid that I don't. But there are things about you that I prefer not to know."
"As sharp as always, hmmm…"
Richter sighed while he readjusted his hair with one hand. "I'll update you on the way to the hotel." Alice nodded and followed Richter to the hotel while he began to explain the details. "I'm aware that you must be wondering why you were chosen for this mission, Alice. Due the importance of the mission the Vanguard didn't want to take any risks. That's why the two best agents of the organization were chosen."
"Well, I feel flattered."
"Let's begin then. Lezareno's company is going to celebrate a ball in order to celebrate the success of sales in Sylvarant. I don't think I need to say that only a few people have been invited to the party." Richter gave a card to Alice. "You'll infiltrate the party under the name of Maggie. A humble servant that fell in love with her master and married him since…" Richter took a breath. "Since they loved each other so much."
"What crap," Alice muttered with some annoyance as she entered the elevator. "A servant with her master… Ptch… It's like a human with a half-elf. I wonder what kind of idiot comes up with these ideas."
"These ideas are the product of the imagination of the leader of this operation."
"What a surprise!" Alice exclaimed with a smile. "Who would have known that you, of all the people, were a hopeless romantic."
Once the elevator arrived to the chosen floor Richter stepped off the elevator before Alice. "I'm afraid that you have-" But his words were interrupted by the leader of the combat squadron.
"How improper!" she said in an irritated voice. "Don't you have manners?" Soon the irritated tone was replaced by a sweet, childish one. "Ladies should step out always first."
"I'm a gentleman, but you obviously can't be called lady." Richter didn't even bother to look at Alice's open-mouthed face. "And I don't have intentions of having a meaningless discussion with you, so let me finish before interrupting me again." Richter took the key of the room and opened the door. "As I was telling you, I'm not your partner."
"You aren't!?" Alice asked while she turned on the lights. "Then, who is?"
"The agent eighty-six has been promoted and will take care of this mission."
"Eighty-six… Who was the agent eighty-six?"
"Your blue prince!" Alice knew that voice. "The charming and unmatched: Decus!" Decus was knelt offering a rose. "Even the most beautiful flower fades before your beauty, my princess." But instead of kneeling before Alice, he was kneeling in front of Richter.
"What the hell is this!?" The red-haired man asked indignantly. "Be serious! You are on a mission!"
After hearing the Richter's annoying voice Decus lifted his head and opened his eyes. "Richter!" Quickly he stood up and took a few back steps. "I already told you that this couldn't work!"
"Excuse me!?"
"Richter you must understand it." He said dramatically in a sad voice. "Our love is impossible. Maybe if things had been different your love for me could have been reciprocal." Decus then offered the rose to Alice. "But my heart, as well as my life, belongs to another person."
Richter frowned and crossed his arms defensively.
Alice took the rose with one hand, froze it with a look, threw it to the floor and trampled it, breaking the flower of love in hundreds of frozen pieces.
"As cold as always my beloved. But I don't care! Nothing worthwhile is easily obtained."
"Stay out of my sight!" Alice said, hiding behind Richter but keeping the distance. "You are disgusting!"
Richter soon moved aside to stop being a wall between the pair. "I won't intervene. Your problems with him are not my problems."
"Why do I have to work with him!?"
"He is the best in his field." Richter answered while Decus smiled proudly. "In that room…" He said pointing a door at his left "is the night dress that you'll use in the ball. I suggest you to dress yourself as fast as you can. You've come late and the ball is about to begin."
Irritated by Richter's words but without being able to find any good argument she entered in the room, slamming the door behind her.
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Laid out over the bed was an elegant black dress.
"I suggest you dress yourself as fast as you can since you've come late and the ball is about to begin," Alice repeated in a manly voice while she dressed herself. "Stupid Richter! Always acting cool. Like he had everything under control. Well… He won't be able to control me!"
After the rant she took a look at the dress. The back was open and the skirt was just above the knees. The dress was black with green embroideries. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled as she tied a green ribbon around her neck like a bow. She loved how the dress fitted her. And even if it didn't exactly show the sweet and cute little girl image she was used to showing, it kept her loli style with a gothic, elegant touch.
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"Richter!"
"Hmm…"
"Do you think… Do you think she liked the dress?" Decus was walking from side to side of the living room nervously stroking his ponytail. "I've spent the salary of two months on that dress. Pure silk of Triet. And it's been made to measure!"
"Could you stop drooling over her? People like you make me sick." Richter said, ignoring his questions. "If you want to lick her boots, go ahead, be her pet, I won't be the one who will be impeded it. But at least don't do it in front of me."
Decus was too nervous to care about Richter's words. "I hope she liked it."
The door opened. As soon as Alice appeared before them some tears began to roll down Decus's face. "By the Goddess Martel… You… You are stunning." He said as he fell kneeling before her astounded by her blinding beauty.
"Stop looking at me like that!" She said hugging her arms around herself. "Perv!"
"Do you… Do you like it?"
"The dress is complete bullshit. The first thing I'll do after the mission is burn it." Decus lowered his face. A new failure. "Let's go to the ball Decus. The sooner we finish this mission the sooner I can burn this dress."
"Decus already has his earphone. Take it!" Richter said giving her a little device. "Put it inside the ear. I'll personally oversee the mission."
"Richter… I'm a big girl. I can take care of anything without anybody's help."
"Who asked you about your opinion? The decision has already been made."
"What are you saying!?" Decus shouted as he rose faster than Richter expected him to do. "Who you think you are to talk like that to Lady Alice!" But he was soon interrupted by Alice.
"Shut it up Dumbo-Decus. I'm strong enough to defend myself!"
Quickly Decus put a hand over his chest and lowered his head. "My humblest apologies, it wasn't my intention offend you."
Alice snorted and left the room.
"My dear!" Decus ran after her. "Wait for me!"
Richter closed the door as the pair entered in the elevator. "I hope everything goes as planned."
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Alice noticed how Decus was looking at her, and she didn't like that look, she knew that look; dilated pupils and biting his inferior lip. That could only mean one thing. He was about to ask her something that involved some sort of romance.
"A-Alice…"
"Yeah?"
"Could you… could you give me your hand?"
"What!?"
"I was just wondering… If you… Well… Since we are a pair now…"
"Can't you see the difference between reality and fiction!?" She replied, annoyed. "If I'm doing this is because I've no other option. We aren't a pair! Never have been and never will be!"
A second latter Alice heard Richter's voice at the earpiece. "Alice. I suggest you to give him your hand. Be unnoticed is paramount."
Alice sighed. "OK Decus. You can take my hand. But put the gloves on first!"
"Of course." He said smiling putting the gloves on. "It's the rule number two after all."
When Decus took Alice's hand he felt a chill cross his back. Even if their hands were separated by the glove's material, he still could feel the touch of her hand and it was wonderful. The closest thing to heaven he had ever felt. To his surprise Alice's fingers intertwined with his without any struggle. His heart began to beat madly. Did she like it too? He hardly was able to swallow. When he turned his face to look Alice's she turned away her head so Decus couldn't see it. He took a deep breath. The time of the truth had come. "Ali-" But before Decus was able to break the moment with any inappropriate comment the elevator's door opened and Alice stepped out quickly pulling out Decus with her.
"Names pleas?" An old man asked politely to Decus.
Since Decus was still in his imaginary world of love, flowers and butterflies, Alice answered in his place. "Maggie and Robert Lauren."
The man began to murmur their names while he traced an imaginary line over the list with his finger. "Correct. Here you are!" The man removed the crimson velvet rope that impeded the pass. "Enjoy the evening."
"Excuse me?" Decus asked once back in the reality.
"Let's go!" Alice exclaimed while she pulled Decus in the room by the necktie like it was a dog leash.
Alice looked around. The ballroom was filled with pompous hypocrites that smiled to each other only waiting for the best moment to stab each other's backs. She felt like a fish out of water. While she was distracted looking the environment, Decus whispered something to a man with a cornet aside the entrance. When Alice noticed what was happening it was already too late. The cornet sounded loudly taking the attention of everyone.
"ROBERT LAUREN AND HIS BELOVED MAGGIE HAVE ARRIVED TO THE BALL!"
"That's what you call to be unnoticed!?" Richter screamed in the earpieces. "What the hell were you thinking Decus!?"
Alice stayed stunned with the mouth completely open. If she wasn't in a mission of espionage she would be strangling him and making him know how stupid he was. A waiter passed before her with a tray full of champagne glasses. She took two glasses and gulped their contents down quickly.
"Let's go Decus." She said drying her mouth. "The sooner we finish this, the sooner we can leave this place."
"Alice…" Decus said concerned. "You shouldn't drink that fast. The champagne could make you feel sick."
"I'm a big girl. I think my body will be able to handle it." As she ended her sentence another waiter passed before them and so she took another glass and drank the golden drink. "So don't tell me what I should and what I shouldn't do."
Decus was about to say something but he knew that if he did it would only encourage Alice to dink more only to prove how wrong he was.
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
"Decus! Can you hear me?" Richter's voice said from the earpiece. "Go to the windows."
"Richter is calling me." Decus whispered to his beloved. "Try to enjoy the party without me."
Alice turned around and went to a table full of appetizers. "It won't be hard."
Once at the table, she was about to take one of the appetizers when her hand collided with the hand of another person. But instead of stopping she pushed away the hand and took the appetizer. Then she turned her head and smiled as she ate her food with satisfaction before the other person's face. He had a smile in his face, as though he liked what she had just done. His eyes were blue and he had a long, red hair in an elegant braid. Alice had to admit that he was really handsome. And whoever he was, he seemed to be really rich.
"Oh… So sorry." The blonde said in a childish voice. "It was the last one?" She wasn't going to waste such opportunity to make someone mad just because he was hot.
"Hmmm… That's what it seems." The guy said. "But it doesn't matter. It seems that I've found something better." He continued seductively looking at her. "My apologies. I think we haven't been introduced. I'm Zelos Wilder."
That name sounded familiar to her, but she didn't know why.
"Pleased to meet you," she said bowing and lifting the skirt's hem a little. "I'm Maggie."
"I know. Your boyfriend has made it clear to us all."
Alice blushed a little. "Oh no! Not at all! He is not my boyfriend. He is…" Alice though and said the first word that came up to her mind. "He is my servant! He did that because I told him that I didn't want to be hit on by some random, ugly guy."
"Hehe… So you've invited your servant as your pair? What does a sweet young girl like you without a real pair?"
Alice heard Richter's voice in her ear. "Alice! What are you doing? Follow the plan!"
But she ignored his words and decided to follow her own funny plan. "Well, I don't think it matters." She said winking to Zelos. "So tell me… Where is your pair?"
"Do you know with who you're flirting!?" Richter asked irritated. "He is Zelos Wilder! The Chosen of Tethe'alla!"
"Chosen!?" She said aloud.
"Indeed… So you've finally recognized me? But that's a title I'm not really proud of. So just call me Zelos. And to answer your question… My pair couldn't come. My lovely banshee is too busy with... Well, that might be too much information. I've come with my sister."
"Oh… So she has jilted you!" She said, smiling roguishly.
"Maybe… But in exchange I've met a-" In that moment a finger strongly touched Zelos's shoulder. The Ex-Chosen turned his head to see who was calling his attention. Robert, the supposed Maggie's servant, was giving him a deadly glare.
"Did you know that you are with my-" But before he was able to finish his sentence Alice interrupted him.
"Why don't you just shut up and go get us two glasses of champagne!?"
"But…" Decus was about to complain when he saw her annoyed face, and he didn't want to annoy her more. "OK." He just lowered his head and went to get the glasses.
"Wow…" Zelos said. "I didn't expect that."
"Well, you know… They never know when they're stepping out of line," She answered sweetly.
The radical change of personality was something the Ex-Chosen didn't expect. The sweet girl had become a bitch in less than a second and become again an innocent girl in the same time. She treated his servant more like a slave. It seemed that he had been wrong with the girl after all. She was just another spoiled brat from a wealthy family.
Zelos sighed. It was impossible to find a nice girl to have a chat in the high society.
"Is something wrong?" Alice asked batting her eye lashes with a puppy face. "Has Maggie done something you didn't like?"
And to tell the truth, that facade of sweet, pure and innocent little girl was touching his nerves. "No… nothing." But he was in a social event and even if he didn't like it he had to follow some rules. Though, he already was used to this kind of girl.
Decus was at the table serving the champagne to his beloved and to the outsider. He was completely confused. "After all I had done… With a random guy? It makes no sense. Why? She didn't trust me and now she is flirting with a random guy. Well, with a random, handsome and rich guy. But it's not fair. I should fight for her! That guy has power, money and the respect of the high society. If she is happy… I should be happy for her, shouldn't I? Still…"
"Decus!" Richter screamed through the earpiece. "Decus! Can you hear me Decus!?"
"Uh?"
"Finally! Once you've served your owner, as the dog you are, begin the mission."
Decus nodded and walked like a zombie where Alice and the rich guy were chatting.
"You're finally here!" Alice said, taking the glasses.
"I was distracted."
"Thank you." Zelos said politely feeling bad for the purple-haired guy.
"Don't you have something to do?" Alice asked to get rid of Decus.
"Yeah…" Decus said lowering his head and walking away. "What should I do…?" He said to himself.
"For us?" Alice asked lifting the glass.
"Yeah… For us." Zelos answered without enthusiasm.
Alice downed the contents of the glass tilting her head back dropping the earpiece in the process. After noticing she had lost it she began the search but obeying the Murphy's laws she didn't find it until she stomped the device.
She moves aside her hair and put back the device in the ear. "Ca- you he-r me Al-ce?" Richter asked.
Zelos noticed that Alice ears were a little pointed. He wasn't racist, but a half-elf in Tethe'alla with a rich family and servants? That was weird.
"Yeah." She whispered only loud enough for Richter to hear.
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Decus entered in the elevator and after pressing the employer's button he sat at the floor.
"I guess that if she is happy I should be happy for her. I'm here to make her happy, that's what I live for. But still part of me wants her to be with me… I don't know what to think. Damn it!"
"Are you talking to me?" Richter asked.
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"But what in the…?" Alice asked aloud. She didn't know why but she could swear that she had heard Decus's voice.
"It's everything going alright?" Zelos asked not really concerned.
"Yeah… Just… Nothing, nothing… Everything is fine." Alice walked towards the windows touching the earpiece. "Could you leave me alone a moment sweetheart?"
Zelos nodded and thanked the goddess Martel as he went with his sister and left the blonde succubus.
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"What I don't understand is why him and not me?" Decus continued. "After all the time we've spend together. I should be her first choice… I mean… We've been together since the orphanage, it's not like I had met her only a year ago. "
The elevator finally arrived to the chosen floor.
"Maybe you've misunderstood me. But I don't care about you, her, and your relationship," Richter said irritably.
"Excuse me mister." A guy said when the elevators door opened. "You can't be here."
Decus took out a handkerchief and soaking it with Eu de Séduction he put it under his nose causing him lose consciousness.
"OK. Communication system down. You've four minutes."
"No way! I'm not going to lose her!" Decus said while he walked towards his destination. "Who knows what he could do to her! She is strong… But I can't trust him! The smile he had… I'm sure he is one of those rich guys who use his social position to get under the skirts of a girl and once he has gotten what he wanted, he leaves the girl, breaking her heart! I bet he only wants her maidenhood! I hate that kind of guy!"
"Turn to the left."
Another ward appeared when he turned the corner but before he was able to do anything Decus punched him in the jaw with all his rage making him fall unconscious.
"I'll always be there for her!"
"Turn right," Richter instructed in a bored voice.
"I won't let anyone take advantage of her!"
Two wards ran toward him, drawing out their weapons. "Don't move!" But before they could do anything else a flask crashed between them causing them both fall unconscious.
"And I'll make all her wishes become truth! Even if doing it sends me to hell!"
Decus typed the password in a keyboard at the left of the door: 1-12-9-3-9-1.
"OK. Download all the data about Lezareno's mining excavations and get out of there."
"I can already see it… Us… In a lovely house… With two children… A girl and a boy! And we will love each other a lot. And our kids will have everything we don't! A father, a mother, money, beautiful things…"
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Alice blushed and was completely in shock, still holding a glass of champagne with her hand. She drank it and quickly took the bottle to refill the glass. Her? A mother? With two kids!? No way! One thing was have a relationship with him and other… Wait! A relationship with Decus!? Seriously! Well… It's not like she didn't like him but love was something she… Wait! Again!? She! Loving Decus!? It could be the alcohol! It must be! It was the only reasonable answer. Maybe Decus was right about the risks of drinking.
"Alice!" Richter's voice sounded alarmed. "Can you see the man with blue hair? He is Regal Bryant, the president. He is talking with a ward. If we don't do something, Decus will soon have more problems than he would be able to handle. We need a diversion."
Alice smiled. She threw away the earpiece and picked up a spoon.
"Attention everyone!" She said aloud clicking the glass with the spoon. "I would like to propose a toast!" Everyone looked at her. "For the Vanguard!"
Everyone looked with a weird expression to the girl and began to murmur things.
"Lady, I think you've drunk too much." A blonde haired girl said taking her by the shoulder. "Maybe you should rest a little…"
Alice quickly twisted the girl's arm behind her and using her as a human shield, she put the spoon under her chin.
Zelos was the first one to say something. "What do you think you are doing? You're kidding, right?"
"Do I look like I'm kidding!?" She shouted with a vicious smile. "One move and she is dead!"
"Well… You surely wouldn't. You are a good actress. But come on… With a spoon? Are you serious?"
"Oh yes… I'm." She soon proved how wrong he was with her. Aiming to a chandelier she shouted the incarnation of one of her favorites spells "A Season in Hell!" making the chandelier fall, wounding an old woman causing panic around the ballroom.
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The sound of the arrows launched by crossbows filled the corridors.
"Yeah! Yeah! I'm pleased to meet you too!" The blue haired man shouted as he ran for his life.
"Take him!"
Decus continued running until he saw a door, then he stopped and turned around with a smile. "This is going to be cool…" he thoughtand he gave an elbow smash to the panel which controlled the door. "Auf Wiedersehen!" But the door closed immediately before he was able to enter. "Crap! Those doors are pretty fast."
"What an idiot…" One of the guards murmured. "Take him now!"
"Damn!" And so the persecution started again.
Decus continued running for the corridors until he saw the elevator. Only a few feet separated him from his escape transport when a bunch of guards appeared before the elevator.
"Stake the lances!" Shouted one of them and all the other guards put their lances in attack position making an impenetrable wall of blades. "You! Take him!"
One of the guards ran at Decus but he dodged easily with a dance-like movement and took the lance after the guard fell. Then he aimed at the other guards with his newly acquired weapon and smiled with confidence. "Let's break it down!"
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"Alice! Alice!" Richter shouted her name but he only heard screams and interferences. "Decus can you hear me!? You're out of time!"
"This victory will be for Alice!" Decus just ignored him as he fought against the guards.
Aqua appeared in front of Richter. "I told you Richter. She is paranoid and he is just obsessed with her. They are both insane. Do I need to remember you their test? One word: Psychopaths."
"We have no time for this." Richter said. "If we stay here we'll be in problems. I must keep my identity a secret."
"OK." The centurion said, following her master. "Though I would have liked to see how that sadist-brat messed everything up…"
Richter opened the window of the room and jumped. Before his feet touched the ground he used a wind spell to create an air mattress to soft the landing. "Let's go Aqua. We are leaving this place!"
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Alice began to walk backwards to one of the windows without removing the spoon from the girl's neck. "Tell the wards to put down their weapons if you want this cutie to live."
"Help me, please!" The frightened girl shouted.
"OK. Calm down." Bryant said. "Put down the weapons!"
"You are surrounded." Zelos proclaimed. "Maggie! Surrender now!"
"Please, call me Alice."
"And what does the Vanguard want!?" Regal asked.
She smiled at the question. "I don't know…. And I don't give a damn about it… Right here, right now, all I want is to have some fun." Alice smiled kindly as she closed her eyes. "That's all."
"Damn crazy girl!" Zelos cursed.
Alice ordered the girl to open the window. "Oh… Pho, pho… That makes Alice so sad. No goodnight kiss then Zeloshy?" Once the window was opened she put two fingers in her mouth and gave a loud whistle. "What a shame… You really had a nice look."
"Don't throw me!" The girl begged crying. "I've money… I'll give you whatever you want! Whatever!"
"There are things that money can't buy. NOW SHUT UP!"
"No… no… please… no. I- I beg you."
Before Alice was able to do anything an object hit her hand making her drop the spoon and squeal in pain.
"Enough!" Zelos attacked Alice freeing the hostage. But Alice kept resisting, she was tougher than her appearance made her look like. "Stop resisting…"
"Why?" She asked smiling. "Can a girl defeat you?"
Zelos finally was able to get rid of her with a nudge. But unluckily for the half-elf she was sent to the edge of the long window making her lose her balance. She screamed as she moved her arms trying to grab anything that could help her to avoid the fall but her own weight finally made her fall.
"No! No!" Alice panicked. "Help!"
"Gotcha!" Zelos shouted as he took her hand in the middle of the fall.
"Help me!" Alice screamed with tears running down her face. "I don't wanna die! Please! Hold me!"
Zelos's glove was beginning to slip.
"Give me the other hand!"
Alice desperately gave him her other hand. "I beg you! I'm sorry… Don't let me fall!"
"OK! OK! Hold on!" Zelos was beginning to feel sorry for the poor girl. "Everything will be fine!"
Using all his might Zelos pulled Alice out of danger, lowering her safely to the floor. She embraced Zelos and began to sob over his chest. Concerned, Zelos lifted her chin with a hand to see how she was. When he lifted her head he could swear that he saw the devil itself in her glance for a second. Her pupils were contracted like tips of pins and a sadist grin showed her fangs. Before he was able to react, Alice used all her might to push him through the window.
"Haha! How innocent! I can't believe you fell for the damsel in distress number. Idiot!"
"You little dirty whore!" Zelos shouted clinging at the edge trying not to fall. "That's how you repay me!?"
"You have made a good point. Since you've been nice with me I'll be nice with you." Alice said while she lifted her feet ready to stomp his fingers. "I'll give you a chance. Do you want to be my pet!?"
"Leave my brother alone, you crazy bitch!"
Alice turned her head surprised by the female voice. "Uh?" But as soon as she saw a pink-haired girl two hands pushed her through the window making her fall from the high building.
"Aaaaaaaahhh!"
Zelos heard the girl's scream until it abruptly stopped. He didn't have the guts to turn his head to check the unavoidable fate of the blonde girl. Deep down he felt sorry for her but nothing could be done. She was dead now and he was going to have the same fate if nobody helped him. "Some help here?"His sister and Regal managed to pull him over the floor. "It was close…" He said breathing heavily.
"Are you OK Zelos?" Regal asked. "Those windows are dangerous. We should do something about it."
*Whhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeee*
After hearing the strange sound coming from the outside everyone looked through the window.
"You must be fucking kidding me." Zelos said not really believing what he was seeing.
Alice was flying over a big, purple, balloon like monster. "Why? Aren't you happy to see that Alice is fine…?" She said in an obviously faked sad voice. "You are so mean… Anyway I got to go. Ta-ta…"
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"Is he laughing at us!?" One of the guards shouted. "Finish him!"
"I'm afraid I can no longer waste my time with you." Decus said arrogantly. "My beloved waits for me."
"What are you talking about!? You won't be able to pass!"
Decus aimed the guards with the lance. "Like a woman's heart, every wall has a weak spot." Then he ran toward the guards.
"Keep the positions! He will end impaled!"
"Look at this. I'll only do it once!" Decus leaned the lance in the floor and using it as a pole launched his body over the surprised guards, landing in the elevator with his arms open wide. "Am I not the most impressive guy in this world or what?"
"Take him!"
The elevator closed the doors before the guards were able to turn around. "What a bunch of losers." He said smiling, but the smile faded as soon as he arrived to the main floor. Ten guards were aiming at his chest with their crossbows. "Hello? This isn't the ball room isn't it?"
The only response he got was a lot of red shining dots aiming at his chest and the sound of the crossbows secures being removed.
"May the merciless embrace of frost take thee!"
"Fire!" A guard ordered.
"Absolute!"
Abruptly some sharp icicles came out from nowhere wounding deadly the guards how weren't fast enough to get away of the lethal ice attack.
"Decus!"
"Alice!"
"Come out!" Alice said from the outside of the building. "Let's get out of here."
"I'm coming my dear!" Decus walked over the wounded guards making them scream in pain. "I can't believe that you've come for me!"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, just that-" But he suddenly stopped. Alice had a red shining dot on her chest. He didn't need to think twice. He put himself in the trajectory. An arrow drilled his back making him fall in knees in front of Alice's disbelieving eyes.
"Decus!" Alice knelt to see how her lover was. The arrow had hit him in the shoulder. She stood up and put herself between the guard and Decus. "You!" She aimed at the guard with a murderous look while he reloaded his weapon. "A Season in Hell!" A bolt hit him sending him several feet backwards making him either unconscious or dead.
"Ah!" Decus tried to pull out the arrow only managing to break it. "Damn!"
"Can you walk?"
"Yeah… Shhhh… Gaaaaaaah!" Though the wound wasn't mortal it was still painful, and any involuntary movement of the arm was followed by an intense pain. "I'm OK… It's just a superficial wound."
"Aramis!" The rounded beast landed at Alice's command.
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"I thought that you wouldn't make it." Richer said when he saw Aramis.
"What a lack of trust…" Alice said in a hurt voice. "We had some problems but no one important was injured."
"Where are the documents?" Richter asked.
Decus landed, complaining a little, and gave the object to Richter and explained how left the place as soon as he got it.
"What about a thank you!" Decus demanded touching his shoulder.
"I've no one to thank!" Richter said as he entered the base. "It's your job."
"Being grateful wouldn't kill you!" Alice protested.
"Since when do you care?" Richter asked.
Alice took a back step. "I-I don't care. But I won't let you treat him like that." Decus smiled. "That's my job!" Decus looked down again.
"Whatever…" He said finally leaving.
Alice entered the Vanguard's building followed by Decus.
As always, even being wounded, Decus accompanied Alice to her room but when he was about to go to the hospital wing, Alice told him to enter her room. Hospital wing or Alice's room? For Decus the answer was obvious; his arm could wait. Once they entered the room Alice looked to both sides of the corridor and closed the door.
"Remove your jacket and your shirt." She ordered.
"Alice! I would love to." Decus said in a singing voice. "But you've drank a lot and I can't take advantage of you. That wouldn't be fair."
"What are you talking about!? Are you dumb!?" She said as she took a black box.
"The torture kit!" Decus exclaimed joyfully as she took out some instruments of pain. "So you still keep my gift of Valentine's day after all."
Decus was smiling at her. "You never know when you'll need to torture someone." He was still smiling. The doors were closed and she had her torture kit. Any other person in the same position would be in fear. But he was just smiling and looking happily at her. Like he knew that she wouldn't do anything bad to him. Were they that close? Alice took a hook-like knife and put herself at Decus back. Not even a question. He was at her mercy, she could kill him if she wanted but he just waited for her to do the next movement. And she did. She smiled as she began to cut his flesh, but she didn't enjoy it. He was bleeding, but she didn't like it. He was moaning in pain but… no… She actually felt tingly. But she began to worry anyway, and she wasn't sure why she was feeling tingly and if it was good or bad.
"Something wrong?" Decus asked.
"No! I was taking a close look to the wound. That's all." Luckily for her, she was at his back so he couldn't see her sudden blush. What was wrong with her? Finally she healed his wound with her healing powers. "Done!"
Decus turned around and took her hands with his. "Thank you Alice."
Alice looked at their hands for a moment and felt even weirder. "Don't be silly." She said still looking at their hands. "It's not the first time I've healed you for doing stupid things." She finally took her hands away. "When will you stop? It won't make me love you! And you could die."
"I couldn't allow it to happen! What if the arrow hit you in the heart?"
"I could have dodged it!" She protested defensively, well aware of her lie.
"I couldn't take that risk. I would die without you. So I would prefer to die for you." Decus explained.
"Stop it Decus." Alice demanded. "The wound is already healed and my head is beginning to hurt more than usual with your words."
"I told you. You shouldn't drink alcoholic drinks."
"I'll drink whatever I want. Now just leave my room!"
"As you wish." He took his clothes and opened Alice's door. "I'll bring you some headache pills tomorrow."
"Idiot! Put your clothes on before leaving!" But it was too late. Marta was already blushing and looking at them with a disbelieving look.
"A-Alice… Decus…" She said looking at his naked abdomen and Alice lying in the mattress as she tried to match the pieces in her young and innocent mind.
"Hey Marta!" Decus said smiling. "How are you doing?"
Marta covered her red face and ran away as fast as her legs would let her.
"Get out of here immediately before someone else sees you!" Alice shouted, closing the door. She took a deep breath as she dropped herself on the bed. "That idiot… As if rumors weren't already bad enough."
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R&R
Hints:
1º Decus being the agent 86. The "agent 86" is the protagonist of an old parody show. Like 007 but in comedy.
2º The password "1-12-9-3-9-1."= A-L-I-C-I-A (Regal's dead girlfriend)
3º Greensleeves: An old love song about an unrequited love.
Note: Why did I make Alice use a spoon as a weapon?
Well from my PoV any spell-caster as Alice need something to channel her spells. Otherwise her own spell could hurt her. If you launch a bolt or flame ball with your hand you'll burn your own hand. That's why you need to use something to channel the spell.