Author's Comments: This new story is proof of my self-inflicted pet peeve: coming up with new ideas for stories despite the dozens of unfinished ones sitting around in my computer. I got the idea of doing this series from watching a random episode of Criminal Minds: Behavioral Analysis Unit one night. I just thought to myself, "Kingdom Hearts characters in a government security-type of atmosphere...huh" and this little idea formed. Hope you enjoy reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts.
They were everywhere. Everywhere. His skin tingled and crawled whenever he heard their voices. The air buzzed with their optimistic enthusiasm and boundless (for now) energy. He could practically smell their high hopes and naïveté…and it almost made him gag.
The recruits were here. The rookies. The new guys.
Cloud stifled a sigh as he jammed his finger on the downward-pointing triangle for the elevator. He hated this time of year. In the past, he'd been able to mentally prepare for incoming new agents because of the occasional combat training clinics he'd been asked (forced) to help with, but since he was out of town on assignment this year, the sudden surge of youthfulness in the headquarters building upon returning was a bit…overwhelming.
"I hate name tags."
Especially since his younger cousin—whom he had no idea was considering joining the force—was one of them.
"But how else is anyone gonna learn what your name is?"
And especially since his younger cousin happened to be friends with the division assistant director's younger brother who was also the most simple-minded, almost childlike recruit in this year's group.
"They can just ask. Common sense."
"But won't that get annoying?"
"Not as annoying as possibly forgetting to put on or take off the stupid name tag in the first place."
Cloud eyed the panel of illuminated floor numbers above the elevator doors. What was taking this elevator so long?
"Hey Clou—I mean, Agent Strife, how long are we supposed to wear these things?"
Finally the doors opened. "At least for the next week," he murmured, stepping into the empty elevator with the two spiky-haired recruits close behind.
"Dammit. I just know I'm gonna forget to take it off today…"
"Then write yourself a memo. Stick a post-it on your forehead. 'Don't forget to take off name tag.' See if that works."
"The only thing that'll do is make me look like an idiot."
"Ooh! Better yet, don't take the name tag off. You'll get that waitress' attention easily."
"Wha—? Sora!"
"When she points out that you're still wearing it, you can be like, 'Hey, now we both know each others' name' and then she'll ask you why you're wearing a name tag and then you can talk about your job as a newly-instated government agent—"
Thank God Cloud's office was in a completely different building.
"That's not exactly something I should brag about to everyone."
"I'm not telling you to brag to everyone. I'm just saying it'll impress that waitress."
The elevator gently stopped, opening its doors to a large room littered with desks and chairs and ringing phones and papers and filing cabinets and whatnot. People bustled around busily, weaving among work stations and taking phone calls and discussing case elements. Typical.
He smirked inwardly as he stepped out of the elevator. Both newbies didn't—couldn't—say a word as they followed him and let their blue eyes roam curiously. He began counting down the seconds until one of them tripped over his own feet—
"Oof."
Cloud snorted in the back of his throat. Well that was fast.
"You're such a klutz, Sora."
"Shut up."
He stopped in front of a pair of desks situated across each other and equipped with computer systems, pointing to each while naming the desk assignments. They stepped behind their desks and sat down—Sora with excited comments spewing from his mouth and Roxas with silent apprehension. "Protocol is strictly enforced," Cloud told them monotonously. "Violation of protocol will result in probation."
"He means no Facebook-stalking that waitress, Roxas."
"It's not like I know her full name, Sora."
"You don't need to know her full name anymore now that you're a special agent—"
"Welcome to the force," Cloud muttered under his breath as they continued bantering back and forth, turning to leave for the elevator. He was done with his responsibility as their senior to get them settled in. The absence of Sora's chatter and Roxas' muttering buzzed in his ears after he entered the elevator.
He wondered when his next relocation assignment would be...
When the doors opened to the lobby, he strode out and spotted the brunet scar-faced assistant director heading for the building exit. They greeted each other with a silent nod, falling into step with each other through the automatic doors and through the courtyard to the main administrative building. The breeze blew away the tension that had coiled in his shoulders and arms from the presence of the recruits. Cloud took in a deep breath and exhaled, releasing his mild stress.
"I'm going to give Sora his first assignment as a special agent," the assistant director informed him as the doors slid open.
Cloud glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Sora's first assignment? Already? He just got here.
They both stopped in the middle of the marble lobby. Leon met his gaze out of the corner of his own eye...and smirked. "Want anything from that coffee shop down the street?"
For the second time that morning Cloud snorted. "I was going to tell Roxas to get me an expresso, but if Sora's going to get the coffee, then Roxas should get lunch from Teef."
Leon nodded approvingly and pressed the elevator button. "Tell him I want a pastrami reuben."
Author's Afterthought: I know. It's short. I'm thinking of making this a multi-chapter fanfic of random moments of Kingdom Hearts characters in this kind of setting or maybe even just centering it around Roxas and Sora. What do you think? Please leave a review! Thank you for reading!