Chapter One:

-So special guy is me we fly

In the Shinra training room, Zack Fair, the first class soldier, was doing his daily squats.

"Thirty five...thirty six..." he counted, a concentrating smile on his face.

Suddenly Angeal poked his head in and, when he saw Zack, smiled and walked in. "Hey Zack."

Zack turned, mid-squat and smiled. "Hey, Angeal, what's up?"

"Eh, not much. Got a minute?"

"Sure." Zack finished another squat and stretched before giving Angeal his full attention.

"We have a mission for you. And it's a very important one."

"Alright!" Zack did a fist pump. "What is it?" He took the paper from Angeal and read it aloud. "'Guard a very important personnel of SOLDIER.' Sounds like pretty big stuff."

"Very. It is crucial you accomplish this mission. You will be watched closely be Genesis."

"Wow, it's that important?"

Angeal nodded. "So what do you say?"

"Do I have a choice?" Zack asked with a grin.

Angeal tossed him a container from his pocket. "Take this. It's uh...it'll help you out."

He crossed his arms as Zack tried to open it. "What's in it?"

"Get going, Genesis is known to be very unforgiving."

Zack put the box in his pocket, nodded and jogged out of the room.

In another room in the Shinra building, a lone soldier sat in a spacious room with a bed, desk, and chair. The soldier stared into the broken mirror in front of them, the only clear image being their bright blue eyes.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

A Turk woman wearing a tieless sleek black suit, with the top few buttons of her white dress shirt left suggestively undone, entered without waiting for a response and saluted stiffly. "Ryiah, reporting for duty, sir." She froze for a moment before breaking and smiling and laughing slightly. "I just can't do it...you're all alone here? Where's the rest of your body guards? Can't trust those soldier block heads, I suppose."

The soldier turned slightly to acknowledge her presence, but said nothing.

Ryiah jumped up and sat on the back of the chair, balancing perfectly. "So you're the latest experiment..." She clicked her tongue. "Shame such a handsome young feller as yourself has fallen subject to mako addiction along with...well, you know what happened to you."

Suddenly Zack burst through the door. "Zack Fair, reporting for—hey," he said noticing Ryiah. "Who're you? I thought this was my mission."

"Ryiah Fair, reporting for duty." She saluted and momentarily lost balance on the chair. After a split second, she recovered and smiled.

"Fair?" Zack repeated, narrowing his eyes.

"I'm just kiddin', you're a cutie, but not my type...I like them to have a little more going on up here," she said, tapping her head. "...in the hair department."

Staring up at the two, the silent soldier just watched.

"What?! Who could you have more hair than me?!" Zack exclaimed, running a hand through his hair. "Besides, Sephiroth, of course...he has more hair than I've ever seen..." He paused a moment to frown and stare at the ground before snapping back into reality. "Sorry...uh...hello sir!" His attention was suddenly to the soldier. "I am here to...accompany you!"

"You...know Sephiroth? Ohmygosh, can you introduce us?! I'm such a big fan...he's a hero, you know..." Ryiah said, adding a mumbled, "And that hair..." She suddenly composed herself.

"Now is not the time, Ryiah. I'm here to watch you by orders from above."

"Watch me?" Zack asked. "What is this...oh man, Genesis hired you, didn't he?"

"I'm not at liberty to say...all I can tell you is that I was assigned to oversee you—watching the new soldier."

"I can already tell you're a little crazy...and that this mission may be harder than I expected..." Zack said, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't expect Genesis to be so interested in any of my missions. I wonder what gives..."

He turned to the soldier who sat looking at the two. He had piercing blue eyes set in a pale delicate face that showed no expression. He was dressed in the most under part of the normal Soldier uniform, and, although medium height, was on the thinner side.

"I can see why I have to protect you, though, look at those arms! I'm going to have to call you Twiggy," Zack said with a grin.

"Twiggy...I like that," Ryiah said, turning to him. "Your name is no longer Levei, it's Twiggy."

"It was...a joke." Zack shrugged it off. "So, really, why am I protecting you?"

"You need a reason for doing a mission?"

Zack and Ryiah paused as the bite of the sarcasm in his voice.

"Well, no, I was just curious," Zack finally said.

"I'm dangerous." Levei paused, and muttered. "What did they call it? Oh, I have random outbursts of pure rage and terror."

Zack laughed.

Levei looked at the shattered mirror; Zack followed his gaze and slowly stopped laughing.

"And...I have blue eyes."

There was a pause.

"Oh! You're one of us experiments! Gotcha, no problem! ...I hope you were kidding about that whole rage thing..." Zack said.

Levei stared back at him. Zack turned to Ryiah.

"Did you not see the mirror?" Ryiah asked with a smile.

"..."

"If they were a normal mako experiment, would there be two of us assigned to the case? I don't' think so. This one's highly dangerous...right Twiggy?"

Levei got up and sat on his bed, ignoring Ryiah's question.

"Alright, everyone ready for...wherever we're going?" Zack asked, smiling at the two enthusiastically.

"Hey, whoa, this is your mission, I'm just here to watch," Ryiah responded as she put up her hands defensively.

"Oh, hmm...I guess this is my only mission right now, so..." Zack began doing squats.

Ryiah jumped over and leaned to Levei. "I think he's into you, he's totally showing off."

Levei shook his head.

"What are you guys whispering about?" Zack asked with a suspicious look.

"The mission," Levei responded.

"Oh, sweet, fill me in!"

"Sorry, official business."

"But...I'm part of this mission."

Levei looked at Ryiah.

"Now, now, Twiggy, we have to share some of the details to be fair. Go ahead, fill him in."

Zack crossed his arms and looked at Levei expectantly.

"Say something to keep him in line."

"Who says I need any help staying 'in line'? I've got this under control. In fact, I don't need any Turks watching my back."

"Alright."

"...what? Alright?"

"Yep, alright."

"Hey...so you're just gonna leave?"

"You're on your own kid."

With that, Ryiah got up and walked out.

Zack turned to Levei, his arms still crossed. "Can you believe that."

"I've grown bored..." Levei responded as he picked up a book from the nightstand.

"No time for reading! We've got to go start training!"

Before Levei could respond, Zack pulled him up from the bed, and dragged him out of the room.

Outside of the Shinra building, Zack began leading Levei to a nearby monster-infested area.

"We should be okay, just a little further," Zack pressed, unaware that monsters started noticing their presence.

Suddenly one jumped in front of Levei.

"Don't worry!" Zack exclaimed, reaching for his sword. "Uh..."

"...what?"

Zack slowly turned to Levei with a smile and scratched the back of his head. "I think I forgot my sword back at Shinra...heh..."

Standing nearby on the phone, Ryiah ranted to the person on the other line. "Yeah, he was totally okay with it, can you believe this guy?! Well, we'll see how long he lasts without some back up, just wait until the kid unleashes their true potential," she said with an evil smile. "What? Why am I bothering you? Why am I bothering you?! Tseng you jerk!"

She abruptly hung up and pouted.

The first monster that jumped out stared at the two, taking slow, methodical steps toward them.

"Don't panic, don't panic, he's dumb...uhh..." Zack looked around frantically and found an umbrella nearby. "I'll just have to use what I've got..."

He got the monster's attention and killed it swiftly. "Yeah!" He turned to take Levei's hand to start running, then, when he turned back around, was met with a large hoard of monsters. "This...is going to be a problem...You can fight, right?"

Within seeing distance, Ryiah was bent over laughing. "A-a-an umbrella? You must be joking! Where is he even taking the kid? I thought he was ordered to keep them on grounds...hm..."

"Who's protecting who here?" Levei asked.

"I'm protecting you, but..."

Levei sighed and pulled out his phone. "I hope I have that girl's number..."

"Girl's number? Jeez kid, you move fast...you've been here for, what, five minutes and you're already pickin' up chicks."

Killing another monster, Zack turned to Levei and noticed he had taken off his gloves. "You have some...feminine hands there."

"And you have a feminine face."

"What?!"

Suddenly a monster lunged for Zack, but Zack realized too late. Just as it was about to strike, Ryiah appeared and pushed the monster out of the way.

"Surprise! I knew you needed me!"

"Needed you?! What are you talking—that girl? How could you do this to me, Twiggy? I had it under control."

Another monster lunged for Zack as he hung his head.

Ryiah was ready and shot it once with her gun, instantly killing it.

Zack looked up. "H-hey...I was gonna kill that!"

"A gun is more trust worthy than an umbrella," Levei noted.

"It's an umbrella that was being used by a professional!" Zack countered. "...what did you say anyway?"

Ryiah held up her phone. "'Assistance is necessary. '"

"Ah, come on!" Zack leaned back covering his face with his hands.

"It's not like I was really leaving you alone with the kid...that would be most inappropriate, right Twiggy? Plus..." she added with a whisper-shout. "I think he has a little crush on you."

Zack looked flustered. "Wh-what?! Don't joke like that!" He side glanced at Levei.

"I have better things to do," Levei replied simply.

"Okay...you're very shady..." Zack said to Ryiah.

"I won't deny that, I am a Shady Lady by reputation." She winked. "Now let's get back to HQ. I think it's Twiggy's nap time."

"Hey, I thought you were here to observe, this is my mission."

"Okay, Zack, what should we do? I have observed that Twiggy looks mighty sleepy."

"We're going to the market," Zack said, narrowing his eyes. "I need to pick up some earrings."

"Oooh, do you have a girlfriend?" Ryiah teased.

"No...they're on sale."

"'Nap time' isn't necessary," Levei said.

"Oh, don't fight it," Zack said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I remember my first week...I caught up on a lot of sleep." He smiled. "Well, let's get there and get back so we can all rest."

"Great! I needed a break from all this work." Ryiah wiped her forehead. "I'm off to get something to eat~! See ya!" She turned to leave.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!" Zack exclaimed.

Ryiah glanced at him over her shoulder. "Hmm?" She grinned.

"I mean...you really should stick around...I'm sure you're contractually obligated or something."

"Someone forgot to bring their sword," Levei added.

"Hey! I'm just as good with just an umbrella! ...but...you can stay to make him feel better." Zack put a hand on Levei's shoulder.

"Awh, you guys!" Ryiah rushed over and put an arm around the two, awkwardly reaching one arm up for Zack and trying to keep a tight grip on Levei who tried to get away.