A Poison Based Future

AN: Hi there! This is a kind-of companion piece to 'His Special Lady.' It picks up a little bit after where that one left off, but it can also be read as a stand-alone, so it's posted separately, though that one helps to explain Guy and Natalia's relationship. This focuses on how everyone ends up together. Right now, I have to apologize if the writing style is a bit inconsistent at times, for there were a couple of months between me starting and finishing this. This being said, I still hope you all like it! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss. Namco does.

"Do you really think this will work Jade," Luke asked softly, his fingers twirling the small vial between his fingers. Although his question was to the blue clad man that stood before him, his eyes were instead locked on the worried expression that showed through Tear's mask, her own eyes swimming with emotions that she dare not say. Dragging his gaze away from her, Luke forced himself to focus on the solider before him, though the look on the older mans' face did nothing to calm the pounding of his heart.

"To be honest, I really can't say," Jade replied with a shrug, his hand raising to push his glasses back into place. "If it was just a matter of you drinking the potion, then I could easily say yes. However, as it is, people are involved, and they often, as you yourself have shown me, tend to do the exact opposite of what you would expect. That being said, this should work."

"It has to work," Natalia suddenly spoke up softly, her voice low and dangerous as she stared at the glass container in Luke's hand. "For if it does not..." Letting her words trail off, a silent shudder passed around the room as the others read the threat in her voice, clear as the angry glint in her eyes for the circumstances that had led them to this.

"Of course it will work," Guy said with a false confidence he hadn't felt in a while as his arms wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her close to his chest. Placing a light kiss on the top of her head, he nodded in greeting to Luke, Jade, and Tear before continuing on, his voice light despite the heavy topic they had started in on. "Luke will drink Jade's potion- which, Luke, makes you a much braver man then I'll ever be-he'll pass out for a couple of hours, just long enough to Shu to pronounce him dead, and then Tear, Anise, and I will spirit him away to the safe spot. Without him here, no offense, the counsel will have no choice but to say yes."

"Oh, I agree," Jade cut in, his voice light as he waved his hand in a circle, almost as if he was trying to wave away the issue that had brought them together once more. "You all already have the support of the Emperor Peony and the Malkuthian council of nobles, along with most of the Kimlascan nobles that wish to keep the favor of the two heirs to the throne. Without their main source of conflict, things should settle down nicely for the vote in two weeks, and by the time they find out what we've done, it'll be too late for them to back out without starting a war. Then it'll all be sunshine, flowers, and cheagles for our resident couples."

"I don't like this," Tear admitted after a moment of silence, speaking up for the first time that night as she took a step closer to the group. "Even with the King, Duke Fabre, and General Goldburg on our side, there are too many variables that haven't been accounted for. What if they ask for someone other then Shu, or if they want to hold a service right then?" Her voice trembling ever so slightly as she spoke, showing just how much their plan had been weighing on her mind. Biting her lip, it was with clenched hands that she continued, her head tilted just so so that her hair covered her face, concealing the emotions she was struggling to control. "You all remember what happened when Luke took that medicine in Belkend. The amount was barely off, and he still almost died. Now we're giving him more then enough to kill a rappig, and putting our hopes on the fact that everything will go according to plan. But what if-"