Chapter 2

The Truck ride was miserable and bumpy, luckily Markus was used to it from all his years in soldier. The boat ride was cramped, and long, but he spent his time looking at her. Finally he realized that he didn't ask about the mission, so he walked over to her. She looked up from her book as he neared her, and set it down.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"Ma'am, I believe that you are supposed to brief me on the coming mission."
"oh right, well it's simple really. Their has been site of some lights being on inside the old Shinra Mansion, and we're going to check it our."

"Ok, any information on what it might be."

"It there was, would we be going to investigate?"

"No, sorry ma'am"

She didn't respond to him at all, but instead picked up her book, and continued to read. He took this as a hint that it was time for him to go, and walked away. After he was out of site, he leaned against that wall of the ship. How could he get her to actually take him seriously. Before he could think of an answer, a flash of red blurred his vision.

"How's it going soldier boy? You do realize that she's way out of your league don't you?" Reno said

"What are you talking about?" Markus responded, pushing him away.

"aw come on, I've been watching you watching her since we got on the train out of Midgar. You've got it bad for a worse lady."

"Shut up, you don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure I don't, but I'll warn you, she's too snooty for you, she's all about the Turks."

"Whatever."
"You know what you need? A drink." Reno held out a flask.
"You're kidding, I would never drink during a mission." Markus smacked it away.

"oh well, more for me." Reno said, and then he inverted the flask, taking a swig from it, ignoring Markus's look of disgust.

"You really do have a unique personality don't you?"

"Yeah, I gotta make up for my other half's lack of one."

"Oh, you're married?"

"Fuck no, I'm talking about Rude, he's already in Nibelheim."

"Oh, right, ok, I'm just going to go now."

"Where, we're on a boat?"

"Just over here." He said, pointing in the direction that he had just come from.

"Whatever." Reno said, stumbling off.

Markus walked over the edge of the boat and leaned against it, looking out towards the horizon. After awhile he heard footsteps coming near him. He turned around to tell Reno to leave him alone, but instead found himself face to face with Elena. Her cold demeanor had diminished, and unless he was mistaken, she was blushing.

"I… um… over heard your conversation with Reno." She said.

Markus's eyes bulged in horror, and he quickly turned back towards the ocean. She walked next to him, and leaned on the railing.

"Is he right? Have you been watching me? Are you interested in me?" She asked

He looked towards her, and noticed she was looking out to sea as well, as if trying to avoid eye contact. Trusting that his instinct was correct, he swallowed and answered.

"Yes, from the moment I saw you, I thought that you were extremely beautiful." He instantly felt himself glow scarlet with embarrassment, but the urgency to hear her response kept him looking at her. She turned towards him, and their eyes locked for a moment. An eternity passed between them in that instant, and then they both looked away embarrassed.

"maybe after the mission, we can go have a coffee." She said, blushing as bad as he did.

"yeah, I'd like…"

his last word were drowned out by the blast of a horn, announcing that they had reached their destination.