Disclaimer: Anything that is not mine, is not mine. The game, the characters, they are not mine. The concept of the story is mine, but the elements added that were not originally mine, are definitely not mine. I hope that's enough disclaimer!

It was a disaster.

The clafouti looked worse than the first time she tried baking it many years ago. What was supposed to be the filling of the cake melted into a grisly goop that flowed over the baking pan. She held a deep breath and closed her eyes as Ignis observed her work beside her. She couldn't look at his face. And even if she was brave enough, she knew it wouldn't be something her precious morale could handle.

Ignis' voice made a sound against his throat. It wasn't amusement, nor approval. It was anything but good.

"Well, that was…" Ignis mulled and fought in his head to find the right word. "Surprising. At the very least."

Rinoa peeked from her one eye and watched as Ignis studied her failure with his chin resting on his fingers. She too was fumbling for words. Something must be said.

"Uh…" She trailed.

Ignis clicked his tongue and smiled. "No matter. We can always try again."

Rinoa let out a long exhale. At least he wasn't judging her. Not right up her face anyway.

"I'll have the ingredients arranged for tomorrow so we can at least suppose which part went wrong."

"Everything," Rinoa mumbled.

"Sorry?"

Rinoa shook her head and sighed. "Look, clafouti is not really my piece of cake, but I promise you I can bake something good!"

Ignis kept nodding to encourage her. "Mmhmm?"

Rinoa's eyes wandered in the air. "Like… like…"

What was she good at?

"Cupcakes, perhaps?" Ignis suggested.

"Yes! Wait," Rinoa placed a finger on her lip in thought. "Well, I guess. I get lucky with making it moist in the middle sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

Rinoa eyed Ignis with half assurance. "Yes."

"Maybe some macaroons?"

Rinoa gasped and her face lit. "Maybe!"

Ignis smiled in relief.

"Though…" Rinoa placed a finger on her lip again. "I might be better at toasting them."

Ignis frowned. "From the oven?"

"Well… yeah?"

Ignis sighed. "Then perhaps it is ideal that we return to the basics."

Rinoa flashed her eyes at him. "Basics?! No! I've been through the basics and I know how to bake!"

"Something easier, then?"

Rinoa bit her lips. "Well, I do make a mean creme brulee."

"Ah, finally, we're getting somewhere!" Ignis replied genially. "Creme brulees take time to create, but they are very much worth the wait. I shall prepare the ingredients for the dessert instead for tomorrow's session."

"Tomorrow?" Rinoa repeated. She couldn't wait until tomorrow to try it out and show her true prowess to Ignis. She glanced at her watch and realized that it had been well past five o'clock. Ignis must have spent too much time on her instead of attending to more important things for Prince Noctis, only to waste his hours on a complete failure. She sighed. "Yeah. I guess it could wait until tomorrow."

Ignis seemed to have caught her disheartenment and tried to requite it with a small smile. "First times are always the hardest, not with all the adjustments it would require you. But I must tell you that you may relieve yourself of any worries pertaining to me."

"Pertaining… to you?"

Ignis nodded. "Yes. I can feel the unease reeking from you. If I didn't know any better, I would say you were nervous."

Rinoa hung her head and twiddled her toes against the ground. "No, not really."

Ignis chuckled. "As you are now."

"Oh," Rinoa looked away, her cheeks burning.

"Don't fear of what I will think, Rinoa. If judgement got the better of me, then I will fail as your teacher. Thus, a failure to my King. So fret not, I will guide you through. And I will take it upon me to train you into a fine pastry chef."

Rinoa's eyes almost watered at the dedication he showed. She nodded firmly. "And I won't let you down."

Ignis smiled warmly. "I am glad to hear it." He smacked his lips apart and looked away. "Now, I must go back to his Highness' office and help him attend to his duties. I'm afraid he has quite the tendency to forget his deliverables. As for you, Princess Lunafreya must be in her chambers this time around, if ever it comes across you to visit her before you leave for home."

Rinoa nodded. "I might hang around a little longer if she isn't busy. But–" she sighed and looked at Ignis before bowing. "–I am very grateful for your patience and consideration. It really means a lot."

Ignis bowed in return. "Oh, please, no need for this. I am simply doing everything I can to help."

Rinoa bowed again, lower this time. "Please, there's no need to be so kind to me. I'm beginning to think I don't really deserve it."

Ignis matched her bow. "It's my pleasure to give you all the kindness you deserve, and more."

Rinoa giggled and straightened up. "Maybe we should stop bowing, lest we break our backs."

"Right," Ignis agreed, bowing slightly. "Well, off we go. I shall see you tomorrow."

"Yep! Thank you!" Rinoa waved before turning away.

Ignis watched her as she walked out of the swinging door. He huffed and smiled to himself before walking to the opposite direction.

.

.

.

They found themselves outside again – him following Zell through the smaller streets under the shadow of Insomnia's afternoon sun. The latter lead him further into one of the city's many alleys and turned to one building that had a few steps at the front. He knocked on the door and a rectangular hole opened where a pair of eyes peeked.

"What do you want?" the man asked.

"The Lady of the Dragons," Zell replied.

The man paused.

"She looped herself into the cycle," Zell added. Squall noticed the man's eyes narrowed.

Zell smirked a little too friendly. "May we come in now?"

The man grunted and slid his peephole shut. The pair heard heavy gears turning and the door (revealing itself to be made of thick metal) finally opened. Zell glanced at Squall and nodded before they both entered.

The first thing Squall noticed about the place was how it smelled strongly of nicotine. He didn't care to look closely at the blurred images of men who stood hidden from lit part of the shadowed hall. And at the end of the hallway, there stood a man in what seemed like a corporal uniform, waiting by a door. He scanned Squall wordlessly before turning to Zell and nodding. He pushed the door open and lead them in. Squall didn't realize how loud the noise was outside until the man shut the door behind them.

Zell glanced around the room. Papers, bottles, and things he'd rather not give a closer inspection littered the bare cemented floor, surrounding the long desk standing in the middle of it all. It didn't surprise him at all, given the welcome they saw just outside the door. But it was not something he'd expect from the alleged "Lady" of the place.

He turned to the man and shrugged. "Where is she?"

"She couldn't join ye," the man replied. "She told me teh tell ye she's doin' another job."

Zell swayed an arm. "We have an appointment!"

The man shrugged. "She told me 'at if ye protest, to tell ye 'at a girl's gotta earn to eat. She also said to kick ye out if ye protest more, so ah suggest ye two sit doon so we can ge' doon to business."

Zell and Squall looked at each other before looking back at the man. The latter gestured at the two chairs before sitting on the one behind the desk. After shifting to make himself comfortable, he propped his arms on the surface.

"So, whit can we de fur ye?" he asked.

"We need a job at a Citadel," Zell replied.

"A job?"

"Aye, a job," Zell said, almost mimicking the man's accent. As if he realized it, he cleared his throat and repeated his reply. "I mean, yeah. A job."

"Why?"

"We were sent by our agency–"

"Ye mein th' circle?" the man interrupted.

Zell shrugged. "We can neither confirm nor deny. But anyway, we were sent to ensure the safety of Prince Noctis."

"An' ye need te crack some bones in th' palace while at it?"

"That's the order we're given. Getting a job is the best insurance we got."

The man smirked. "Noble cause ye got there, eh? Ah cannu' say it's not sketchy, but definitely risky."

Zell pulled his head back and a crooked smile formed on his lips. "We– uh– thanks?"

"An' it has te be ye two?"

"We'd like that."

The man hummed against his throat and narrowed his eyes. He peered at Squall. "Nah, Ah can only entertain a body."

Zell's brows rose. "A-a body?"

"Yeah, a body."

Looking back at the man, Squall frowned.

The man pointed a finger at Squall. "Ah dorn't loik ye."

Zell's eyes widened. "What do you mea–"

"You don't have to like me," Squall intercepted without looking away from the man.

"Ah dorn't?

Squall lifted his eyebrows and tilted his head to a side to confirm his response.

"Ha! Yoo've got a tongue fur someone who needs me mer than Ah need ye!"

"We were sent to ensure that the crown doesn't fall into the wrong hands and that it stays with the Lucis bloodline," Squall said. "Failure to do so may bring Insomnia down, and everyone with it. This job does not require you to like me. It only requires me to keep the future King safe, which I assure you I can do. But if you fail to take a chance with me, then you can only have yourself to blame if something you don't like happens to the Prince or the King just because I wasn't there."

A grin slowly grew on the man's lips as he observed and contemplated on the truth and threat of Squall's words. He chuckled by the end of Squall's spiel and nodded. "Noice try. Am impressed," he said. "But nae–" he cocked his head at Zell. "–Ah will only send heem in."

Squall nodded once. "Very well."

"WHAT?!" Zell yelled. The man jumped on his seat at the height of Zell's voice.

Squall turned to face Zell and shrugged. "Guess it's up to you now."

Zell's eyes widened as he glanced between Squall and the man who were both looking at him. When the futility of defeat caught up with him, his head fell on his lap and his frustration betrayed him in a grunt. "Fine. Fiiiine. And I thought I'll have Leon to give me orders and make it easier."

"You already have your order," Squall said. "Don't screw up."

Zell grunted again.

The man reached for a drawer under the desk and pulled out a form. He slid it toward Zell. "Here's an application f'rm. Fill everythin' in it an' I'll han' it te' th' Lady wi' mah recommendation. She'll tak' care of everythin' from hir'."

Zell sighed as he pulled the paper closer and scanned through the page. His forehead began to crease when he reached a section. He looked up at the man. "A gardener?!" he asked in disbelief. "Dude, really?!"

"Ain' nobody calls me anythin' but Biggs, loon! An' aye, a gardener. That's th' only job we got fur ye. Got a problem?"

"I have never taken care of a plant in my life!" Zell cried. "The King is going to off my head when I kill all his plants!"

"Then giv' it beck."

Squall shook his head and pressed a hand on the form. "We'll take it."

Zell whirled at Squall with a face so frightened as if all the hopes and dreams he had envisioned for his life had left him.

"It's better than nothing," Squall told him, maintaining his cool composure. "We are thankful we even got something."

After a moment of pondering on his next words, Zell groaned and began scribbling on the form. "Ah, crap. What did I get myself into."

"That looks lovely!"

Rinoa smiled as she watched the creme brulee mixture began to sizzle inside the oven. Lunafreya was also crouching beside her, marvelling at the dessert as it danced inside the ramekins. She began to remember how it tasted the first time Rinoa baked one for her. The taste of its success was unforgettable, despite how many times her cousin claimed it was a failure.

And now she would have the pleasure to taste it again.

"How long still?" Lunafreya asked.

"About 20 minutes more," Rinoa replied.

"Would you two ladies mind giving me a look?" Ignis asked behind them.

"Oh, no! No at all!" Lunafreya promptly stood straight and nodded at Ignis. Rinoa followed.

Ignis bent over to take a peek at the creme brulees and hummed in approval. "This looks promising."

Rinoa smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

Lunafreya looped an around Rinoa's. "I never doubted you, cousin."

Rinoa giggled. "Thanks, Luna."

Ignis stood up and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Though this isn't exactly the baking I promised to teach you, I realized that your strength is in flourless desserts. We'll start from there and gradually advance toward actual baking until you are a virtuoso in pastry making."

"Yeah, I think that's a good start," Rinoa replied. She looked down her belly that bulged against her apron and patted it. "That's a goodbye to my diet! Heh heh."

"Oh, Rinoa, you are anything but fat," Lunafreya vouched.

"It is only natural for a good pastry chef to gain a few pounds. But, if you are indeed conscious about your–" Ignis cleared his throat. "–weight, might I suggest a more active lifestyle."

"Yeah, I tried that," Rinoa said. "But, my previous job. It's taking too much of my time and energy I barely had any left by the end of the day."

"It's never too late to start now."

Rinoa gave him a half smile. "Yeah. It's not."

Ignis paused and took a moment to gaze at Rinoa. Her hair fell down her shoulder ever so faintly, half-hiding the embarrassment he could read from her face. If a girl like her so fragile fought to seek comfort for herself and not see it, then where else would she get it? His lips parted to say something until his moment was distracted by the shrill ring from his phone. He excused himself and headed out of the kitchen.

After making sure Ignis was out of sight, Rinoa turned to Luna and scrunched her face. "He's cute."

Lunafreya's eyes widened as she stepped back and covered her mouth as if she saw a ghoul.

Rinoa let out a hearty laugh. "What?"

Lunafreya shook her head and pulled her hand down. "It just occurred to me that perhaps I have made the right decision to have you employed in the palace kitchen!"

Rinoa's mouth opened and punched her cousin slightly on her forearm. "Oh, you…"

"Maybe it is time to catch yourself a kind man and steal his heart! I have never imagined the possibility that this man could be Ignis!"

Rinoa rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Nah, I could never steal his heart. I mean, that guy? I bet he already has his eyes set on a sex bomb. I mean, I'm the bomb. As round as a bomb, that is."

Lunafreya took another step back and her eyes traveled all over Rinoa. "You are most certainly not as round as a bomb. What an odd thing to say."

Their banter was interrupted by the alarm from the timer Rinoa set for the dessert. She turned the oven off, wore her rubber mittens, and carefully took the baking pan out of the oven. She placed it on top of the unlit stove to cool it off, and the air was instantly filled with the sweet smell of cream and burnt sugar.

"Well, either way," Rinoa continued. "I need to shed some pounds. I'm keeping this diary to track my weight over time while I maintain a diet. Since taste-testing is part of my career, I have to cut down on some of the other food and make room for the sugar. Maybe salads instead of pasta. Fruits instead of cakes. And I'll try to walk as much as I can to and from the Citadel."

Lunafreya smiled. "If this will make you happy, then I am certainly glad that you have found the inspiration to initiate it. More so if this will make you healthier."

"That's what I want, too. And what I'm expecting to happen," Rinoa replied. "I'm overweight for my height and age. And I want to enjoy life while I'm young. How can I enjoy it if I'm not confident?"

"Are you not positive on how you see yourself?"

"Not right now, no," Rinoa replied. When Lunafreya frowned, she rolled her eyes and held her hand. "I'm okay. I'm fine. And I'm working on it."

Lunafreya forced a smile and nodded. "Then I shall see to it that you will remain happy in your endeavor."

Rinoa shrugged reciprocated a forced smile. Food was at the heart of her life, and taking it away from the life she had always known would change many things. But different could be good. After all, it was different that she wanted for herself.

Another hour later, after realizing that Ignis was probably not coming back for her, Rinoa decided to wrap things up. She, with the help of Lunafreya, had kept the ramekins into the fridge to set it overnight and decided to call it a day. After Rinoa bid Lunafreya goodbye at main hall, she passed by one of the studies where she heard Ignis' voice. She slowed down, careful to make any sound, and took a few steps back as she drew herself closer to the wall.

"One more alleged member of the syndicate was spotted at the train station yesterday," a man with a deep gruff voice said. "This followed the unexplained explosions and damages up the Shinra alley the other day."

"Gunblade wielders?" Noctis asked.

"Yeah. According to our witnesses," the gruff man replied.

"Do we have a name? If this person is not a Lucian, then there's the probability of records," Ignis said.

"If the syndicate was able to get its hands on gunblades, then common sense says they can duplicate fake passes because they are tight with the black market."

"Or they are the black market," Noctis said. After a short silence hung in the air, Noctis shifted on his chair. "Gladio, could you take a look at the records at the station? Confirm the presence of the syndicate? They must have at least pictures, right?"

"Yeah, they should," the gruff man said.

"I don't like how this will turn out," Prompto said.

"None of us does."

"What made you say that?" Noctis asked, his voice almost broke at Prompto's inference.

"I'm seeing a pattern here," Prompto said. "Like, everytime there's a slightest hunch a member of this syndicate is spotted, something bad happens. One possible member spotted, and the next thing you know, explosion comes out of nowhere, people going missing, or worse. Remember what happened in Hammerhead? Now another possible member is spotted. What's next?"

"And we still don't know how to spot them for certain."

The sounds of their voices began to muffle when one of them must have noticed the open door and finally closed it for good. Rinoa didn't realize her heart stopped until she began moving. It wasn't the presence of a syndicate that haunted her thoughts. What was the syndicate? The word itself sounded like a collective trouble, and it would seem that this trouble was infesting the quiet city of Insomnia. No, she was braver and more sensible than that. She was sure it was not something the King or the Prince couldn't handle. It was the sense of loss she read from the Prince's voice that had truly shaken her.

"Someone's on our tail," Squall muttered as his eyes brisked through the message on his phone.

"Now someone's on our tail?!" Zell grated as panic crossed his face.

Squall coolly pushed his glasses up his nose and slid his phone back into the pocket of his coat. Does this guy have to panic everytime something bad happens?

"What? Say something, Leon!"

"Keep your voice down," Squall growled. "Think this through before you react."

"I can't think! I don't know what the hell is going on and how this someone is suddenly on our tail!"

Squall kept his silence and began walking down the shaded alley. It was Quistis who sent the message. Someone from the palace had been tracking the Circle's activity in Insomnia, all thanks to the careless mess the intrusion of Seifer's group had made to their mission. They were supposed to be discreet, invisible at the very best. And now they were anything but that.

"Hey! Wait up!" Zell called back and ran to his side. "Aren't you telling me what's going on?"

"Nothing you should be worried about," Squall replied. "All you need to know is that you are indispensable the moment you signed that application form."

Zell gulped beside him. "A-and how about you?"

Squall shook his head. "I haven't caused anything for this to happen. The Circle will take care of it. We just have to be on our toes."

Zell looked around warily, the first rule of the Circle in his mind. Never talk about the organization outside the Circle.

How could this guy defy this so easily?

When they reached the open streets, Squall returned to his silent self even after Zell's attempts to make small talks.

"So, uh, I start tomorrow at the Citadel, right?" Zell began, which was met with no response.

Squall's gaze remained forward as he lead the way back to the apartment, his mind wandering at the possibility of the Citadel mistaking their mission's cause as damaging. Were they at the right place just because Quistis told them so? Were the Circle's orders really that simple to follow?

"Yo Leon, you suppose this station will bring me to the Citadel?"

Squall blinked and turned to Zell before veering his eyes to the train station.

"I mean, this is Insomnia's main line, right?" Zell said, partly unsure but confident in his familiarity.

Squall blinked a few more times as his eyebrows began to meet.

The Citadel. The station.

The Circle.

"Run."

"What's that now?"

He watched the flow of the train's passengers as they went in and out of the station. Of course Zell would be traced back from the station.

Of course.

"RUN."

Squall cursed at himself as he watched more people enter the station. He knew the Circle would take care of it, but the Circle was never graceful about it. They would burn fingerprints or cut tongues if that's what it took to cover their tracks.

Whatever it took.

Should he warn the attendant? If he did, he would be involved in the inevitable investigation at the aftermath. It would compromise him and the mission, and the Circle never took well with compromises.

"Run where?!" Zell was growing apprehensive.

Squall watched as a familiar face walked out of the station's entrance. She stopped midway and turned back around.

"JUST RUN."

Squall began to race for the entrance, just as Zell started sprinting the other way. And he damned himself for not running any faster when he pushed her down just as the fire and the flying debris from the explosion hit him at the back and on his sides. Her scream drowned against the rupturing sound of the blast until he felt his body hit the ground and skid against the cement. The cries and screams that followed were the last things he heard before his head hit something hard and his consciousness had left him.