And so begins the start of my Shadow and Relm stories. This first one is not terribly interesting, it is just what happens when we first meet Relm in the game. But it had to be done. If I am going to accurately represent the relationship between Shadow and Relm as it ends up to be in my other fic Interceptor’s Duty then I must put in ALL of the situations that would be important, including those in the game.

Dialogue is taken directly from the game, except for a few lines I added at the end for effect. I love theatrical license.

I do not own Final Fantasy VI, if I did Shadow and Leo would be alive and there would be a PS3 remake already out. I also do not make money from this fanfic. If you paid for it, I’m sorry to say that you have been duped.

This was NOT what he had been hired for. Shadow drifted away from his companions, over to the far side of the room trying his best to look distant and unconcerned. And succeeding wonderfully. He reached down to scratch Interceptor between the ears, tuning out the old man’s prattle in favor of his own thoughts, which at this point mostly consisted of how soon could they leave. Old memories of this place and its people spun around inside his head, threatening to break his concentration, but he kept them at bay by plotting the quickest route out of this town, back to the boat.

His precious concentration was broken when a door on the other side of the room, the one that lead to a stairwell, opened up.

“Grandpa, who’re they? Are they friends? Can they use magic too?” the little girl said happily. Had anyone bothered to glance at Shadow, they would have seen his eyes widen in shock at the sight of the girl. She was tiny and thin for her age, ten Shadow knew, but seemed to be in perfect health. Her short red-blond hair fell messily over her face and she had a smear of paint on one cheek. She bounced over and inspected Locke and Terra, peering up into their faces with an appraising look, almost like she was sizing up an item at the Jidoor auction house before bidding.

“Sh-shush!” the old man frantically tried to quiet her. Jumping away as the old man grabbed at her, she happened to glance into the shadows that one assassin was trying so desperately to disappear into.

Her eyes lit up, “What a cute doggie!” Behind his mask, Shadow’s lips twitched. Interceptor, cute? He was sure she wouldn’t think so if she had seen the black dog tear the throats out of the monsters outside town. But of course she hadn’t, and now she was coming closer, reaching her hand out for Interceptor to sniff.

“Back off. He bites,” he said in a last ditch effort to stop the girl from coming near. But Interceptor did not bite. Instead he sniffed the offered hand and wagged his tail as a tiny hand scratched him under his chin.

Three pairs of eyes stared at the assassin in shock. Terra and Locke because they had never seen anyone besides Shadow touch Interceptor without being bitten and the old man, Strago, because he had not realized that the assassin was there. Shadow stared back indifferently.

Snapping out of his surprise induced trance, Strago yelled at the girl, “Go back to your room!”

The girl looked up from petting Interceptor. “Why do I have to go to my room? You never let me have any fun,” she pouted. Stubborn, Shadow thought, I knew it.

“Because I said so! Now shoo!” Strago retaliated. By the tired look on his face, Shadow could tell disputes like this were common.

“. . . Fine,” she sighed. She patted Interceptor on the head before starting to trudge across the room. And darnit if that dog didn’t follow her! When she realized she had a companion, the girl giggled happily and darted up the stairs, Interceptor at her heels. Shadow could feel Locke and Terra’s incredulous stares. So what if my dog takes a liking to someone else, he mentally snarled at them.

“Oh dear . . . Seems to have taken a liking to your dog,” Strago sighed. The girl must have heard him, because an audible, “Hmph,” came from above them.

“That child . . .” Strago shook his head, “my apologies.”

“It’s fine,” Shadow said softly, “he usually doesn’t like other people though . . .” Yes, thought Shadow as he looked up the stairs, he usually would rip their hand off for doing what that girl did.

Strago and the others must have talked for a while longer, but Shadow tuned it out again. Instead he listened to what was going on above his head. The little girl was talking to Interceptor, showing him around her room. She showed him her paints and her brushes, and told him that once she mixed some black paint she would paint his picture, because he was such a handsome dog. Talking to him like she would a human, she asked him if he wanted to play a game. Shadow couldn’t help smiling a little when Interceptor woofed in response. He heard her say, ‘Okay fetch it is,’ and then the telltale thump of a ball being thrown against the wall. Claws scrabbled on wood floor boards and Shadow assumed that Interceptor had retrieved the ball, because it thumped against the wall a second later.

“Thanks for your time,” Locke told Strago as he and Terra headed for the door.

“Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful!” Strago replied, a relieved grin plastered on his face.

Of course you are, liar, Shadow thought. Seeing his companions finally leaving, he turned to go as well.

“Interceptor!” he snapped. A moment later the big dog was at his side, panting happily. The little girl ran down the stairs, despite a cry of dismay from Strago, and over to them. She wrapped her arms around Interceptor in a tight hug, then scratched him once more under the chin.

“Bye-bye,” she said sadly. Stepping back, she looked up into Shadow’s eyes. And smiled at him.

“Can you bring Interceptor by again some time?” she said hopefully.

“Relm!” Strago yelled.

Shadow just stared at her. Stared at her for longer than he should have. She met his stare, looking right at the gap in his mask that showed his yellow green eyes and blue dyed skin, looking at him with her pretty hazel eyes. Pretty hazel eyes that showed not even a trace of fear.

“Relm!” Strago yelled again.

This snapped Shadow out of his trance. He ripped his eyes away from the little girl and stalked after the swiftly retreating Locke and Terra. Interceptor hesitated at first, but at the snap of his boss’s fingers he ran to take his place beside the fleeing assassin.

You like? You hate? You think it is just like all the other Shadow and Relm fics out there? Review please! The next chapter will be when Shadow saves the party in the burning building.