windandwater | A teaser

This is for

yochimmm12, who poked me about this. I really should stop procrastinating on this fic. It's almost done, I just need the beginning bit. I hate it when I write fics backwards.

>_<;;

Title: Smooth Criminal

They had both come together because of Mariemaia; their shared affection for Trieze Khushrenada had made them fiercely involved in the young girl's life. It was as if their loyalty to Mariemaia could somehow cancel the mistakes they had both made with Trieze. The red-haired girl had flourished under their attention, often referring to Zechs as her favorite uncle. Of course, because Mariemaia was under Lady Une's guardianship it was necessary for Zechs and Une to run into each other often.

Noin wondered sometimes why Une hadn't just refused to allow the former Lightning Count access to Mariemaia; she had even asked the Preventers Commander a few weeks ago. The brunette had merely smiled softly, her eyes straying to the framed photo on her desk of the three of them. Then she had looked Noin straight in the eyes and answered: "Because Zechs understands what it's like to miss someone so deeply that you will do anything you can to cherish your memories. And because, despite the circumstances, he loves Mariemaia as much as I do."

Somewhere along the line, Une and Zechs' shared feelings for Mariemaia turned into shared feelings for each other. It was strange to even consider two people such as Une and Zechs being in the same room sociably, let alone having a romantic relationship -- especially since they seemed to be no better than bitter enemies during the First Eve War. But somehow, the two of them had made it work; or at least, they had been trying up until Lady Une's untimely death.

But now Une was gone. Her death had shattered Mariemaia, who had now lost another parental figure in her life. It was no wonder that the young girl clung to the blond man like a lifeline, assuring herself that *he*, at least, was still real and still alive. And the simple notion of being *needed* suited Zechs and kept him from falling headlong into yet another deep depression.

Mariemaia Khushrenada had been there for him.

And so had Lucretzia Noin.

Noin dutifully -- and eagerly -- fallen back into the position of Zechs' backup and support. Their friendship was nothing to be scoffed at. She was truly happy that Zechs had turned to her in his grief. Endless were the nights that he had laid in her comforting embrace, railing at the world about the injustice of losing the second person he had truly loved in his life. Though the Italian woman couldn't help but wince internally at Zechs' self-flagellation -- she knew that *she* was not among those two people Zechs had loved -- she was supportive and strong for the man that she would never stop loving.

The man that should have been hers, had not the world interferred.