--A few days ago –

Miakis narrowed her eyes. Sitting across the restaurant at the bar, nursing a mug of beer, was a familiar figure. After years of friendship, there was no way she could fail to recognize Prince Faroush, even if he were dressed in a thick cloak and an absolutely ridiculous top hat to disguise his braid.

"Wait here," she snapped at Roog. "No, on second thoughts, grab a table first and wait there." Roog looked hurt, and she relented a little. "That's the Prince over there. I just want to find out what he's doing here alone."

Enlightened, Roog nodded and took a nearby table, where he was immediately accosted by two buxom waitresses. Suppressing a sudden surge of irritation, she stalked over to the bar and jabbed Faroush in the ribs. "Aren't you underage to be drinking, little boy?"

Faroush turned his head and blearily tried to focus on the interloper. "Oh. Miakis? What are you doing here?"

Miakis crossed her arms and sat down on the stool next to him. "It's none of your business. What are you doing here?"

Faroush turned his attention back to the mug of beer. "Whatever. Just trying this alcohol thing. Isn't it a tradition to get drunk when you're feeling depressed?" He took a long pull of beer. "Can't see the point, really. Tastes terrible. Why not grab a drink too? Misery loves company, after all."

Miakis shuddered. "No thanks. I've got excellent company. Where's Lyon?"

"Ha! Had to order her to stay in the palace. Wouldn't have made sense to go drinking with her, now would it?" He laughed bitterly.

"Why not? She must be worried about you. What if you got mugged? Does she even know you're here?"

"So what if I do get mugged? Better than getting Lyon into trouble again." He stared into his beer. "Fat lot of good I would do her. Might even get her killed again."

Slightly alarmed at this despondent shift in the conversation, Miakis temporized, "Well, it's our job, Prince."

Faroush snorted. "Ha! The title of Queen's Knight does not mean 'personal meatshield of the royal family'. Any of you would make a better ruler than Lyms or me." He suddenly seemed on the point of blubbering in his beer. "Is that why she follows me around, do you think? Because it's just her job?"

Understanding dawned. "Ohh… are you talking about Lyon?"

He glared at her. "Of course."

Miakis thought furiously. "Err… maybe."

"Oh." He looked even more morose.

"But you know… Lyms and I are pretty close, and I don't follow her around half as much as Lyon does you."

"Maybe you're just too relaxed." He emptied his mug, and banged his fist on the bar. "Bartender! Another mug of beer, please!"

"Naw… I think you have a chance, you know."

"Really?" He glanced at her hopefully.

"Yeah. I think she likes you."

"Hmmph." His beer arrived, but he ignored it, instead turning to face Miakis. "I can't take it anymore, you know. This whole bodyguard thing. I had a job to do back then, but now… I don't think I could take it if she died for me."

Miakis gestured helplessly. "I know. Don't forget, I had to follow you around after that time when she was injured. You were more humorless than a rock. Even Zerase tried to cheer you up."

"I've got to fire her or something. She's done too much already." He turned back to his beer and took a moody pull. "I just can't figure out how to do it in a way that won't hurt her feelings."

"You'll figure out a way." Miakis rose and patted him on the back. "Good luck. Try not to drink too much, you'll regret it in the morning."

"So I hear." He smiled at her. "Sorry to interrupt your date with your dashing Dragon Knight. I hear he asked to be assigned permanently to Sol-Falena. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, now would you?"

Miakis blushed furiously.

"I've had enough for today, I guess. Beer is overrated," he said, rising from his seat as well. "Thanks for listening, Miakis. Please don't tell Lyms or Lyon about this, okay?"

Miakis smiled angelically. "I'll try to resist the temptation."

"Hmmph." Faroush left the restaurant, and Miakis returned to Roog, who had successfully parried the waitresses and was waiting somewhat impatiently.

"So why was the Prince here? Isn't he a little too young to be drinking?" Roog asked.

"Girl trouble." Miakis winked at Roog.

"Ohh. Well, not everyone can be as lucky as me," Roog grinned.

"And you'd better remember that, Mister," Miakis smirked. She looked at the doorway out of which the Prince had just slouched, and the smirk widened to a feral grin. "Maybe I can do something to help those two out."

A/N: So... that's it for an idea I first got when playing SV and Lyon almost got killed by Dolph and you went on a really really long quest to 'awaken' the Dawn Rune or something like that. It is not a good idea to get romantically attached to your bodyguard.

Aargh! And I don't even like Lyon! She's whiny! Luserina would be a much better match for Faroush! Why does Lyon get 1000x the screen time Luserina does? Or Miakis, even?

The characters might be a little OOC. Especially Faroush, but then, he's the hero, so he's pretty much a blank slate as far as characterization is concerned. I don't care, I think they're nicer this way ;

Hope you enjoyed this fic. Dedicated to 'Public Speaking' by Rayless Night, and 'Someone from Nowhere' by Suikorin. Keep them up, I hate it when interesting stories die on me.