A/N: This is the return of The Smirking SOLDIER, but it's been edited and suchlike for readability, and for it to fit in more with the minifics I've been writing. Most of the original story will be the same, and I'll edit where and when I can. I've noticed that one or two people don't like the name 'Atrophy', so John Valentine will just be called John. Anyway, if you want to read it again or if you're a new reader, I hope you enjoy! -AtrophysFinest.

The Smirking SOLIDER

Chapter One: Crippling Memories of a Beautiful Past

Tiffany Lockhart sighed at the sight of two of her best friends, Zack Fair and Aeris Gainsborough, eyes locked, noses twitching, grinning at each other as they reluctantly pulled apart from a romantic kiss, aboard the deck of the airship recently acquired by AVALANCHE, along with a new party member, The Tiny Bronco, and Cid 'Captain' Highwind, a proud lover of the skies, a highly sought-after mechanic, equally proud to carry the name 'Highwind' and constructor of the Gaia-famous Shin-Ra airship, The Highwind.

Keeping her gaze locked on the unbeknownst couple, Tiffany painfully recalled the memories she shared with her first love, the deceased SOLDIER First Class member, John 'Atrophy' Valentine. Shutting her eyes tightly in a futile attempt, rouge tears streamed down her pale cheeks as she gripped onto the railing for support, only just noticing the obvious drop to her death.

Cursing quietly, no-one seemed to notice her, no-one except for a pair of deep, violet eyes which studied her from the Main Hall, where the sleeping quarters could be found.

Noticing a presence behind her, Tiffany's head snapped up, her gemstone-like eyes glimmering in the morning sun. She spun round on her heel, making a beeline for the cabins. Fumbling against the pitch-black wall till she found and flicked the awkwardly-placed light switch, her heart sank when she saw that everything was normal. Well, not to her. Nothing was ever normal, not since that day.

"Since the day he died..." Tiffany sighed, clutching her pendant, the one physicality of her lost love that remained in this world for her. Opening the door to her cabin, she entered the room and closed the door behind her before throwing herself onto the bed, the pillow muffling her cries and sobs as she remembered the day she last saw him.

"Hey, now, Tifa, listen to me, please," John said, flicking his long, unruly hair behind his head with a smirk. "I'm all ears, John. Well, I'm not JUST ears!" Tiffany giggled loudly, obviously pleased with her own joke.

Smirking again, the SOLDIER First Class sighed sarcastically at his girlfriend's joke, secretly amused by it. Noticing this, Tiffany lightly punched his shoulder. "You and I BOTH know that you liked that joke, John!"

With no thought of a verbal response, all the SOLDIER member did was smirk and gently pull his lover into his arms. Clutching his chest, Tiffany raised her head to meet her boyfriend's eyes, a perfectly mirrored smile on both of their faces. "Tifa, the train to Midgar will be here soon. Before I have to go, I have something for you. Close your eyes and do not open them until I say you can. Okay?"

Nodding frantically, Tiffany's heart raced, wondering what the gift would be.

Smirking again, the First Class lanceman and rifleman gracefully ran his fingers through Tiffany's fragrant, deep-chocolate locks as he inhaled the fragrance, distracting his giggling partner before running a thin, stainless steel chain around her neck.

Caressing her cheek as he walked around to face her, he retained his smirk, folding his arms triumphantly. "Miss Lockhart, you have permission from SOLDER to open your eyes and examine your gift."

Tiffany's eyes widened when she saw the crystal pendant, her glistening eyes reflected in the gemstone. "Oh, Gaia... Is this... Is this Materia?" Nodding at this amazed woman, he sighed happily.

"Well, Tifa, that piece of Materia is nothing that you can find in any shop, not even in Midgar. The gang and I, whom you all know from the SOLDIER Floor, back when you were an intern?" John paused a moment before continuing.

"We spent a weekend up in the Northern Continent, doing survival training. Heh, Zack even managed to outdo The Great Sephiroth when it came to the race up Gaea's Cliff. Still, Sephy's excuse was that he dropped his Masamune and had to fall back. He didn't drop it, at all. Angeal cast a Confu spell on him, the poor guy's katana was strapped to his belt the whole time!"

John paused again. "Long story short, we got cut off from the rest of the Third Class members, who were falling behind, and ended up in a place that Genesis named the Whirlwind Maze, and the home to something quite unbelievable. HUGE Materia! Anyway, you know that there are five main types of Materia, don't you? Yes, of course you do." John took a deep breath before continuing.

"Before the rest of the platoon radioed in, we noticed Angeal cutting off some of the Huge Materia with his Buster Sword. Glancing at each other, we all nodded and each chose the Materia that we wanted a memento of. I was the only one who chose the Independent Materia, and now, it's yours. No arguments, before you get carried away. This almost one-of-a-kind Materia is in the pendant, and it's a symbol of my undying love for you, and to prove that I will always be with you, even if not physically."

Tiffany grinned and pressed her lips against those of her smirking boyfriend, wrapping her arms around his neck and whispering something that only they could hear. The reply she received melted her heart once more. "Your hero will return and save you once more, I promise."

The sound of the train's whistle broke the couple's kiss, and John knew he had to go. Tearfully mouthing those three words towards the coach, Tiffany watched her lover return the gesture, placing his hand his ribcage, over his heart.

Draining the last of her tears into the damp pillow, Tiffany raised the pendant and kissed it, before swallowing a lump of bitter sadness in her throat. "Why did you have to die...?"

End of Chapter One