Hi guys! Chapter 3 is done and ready for you to read! JI want to sincerely thank Kender20 for giving me such inspiring ideas and of course helping me construct the story and improve my writing! ;)

Disclaimer: Square Enix owns Final Fantasy, I just own the plot!

Chapter 3: Confessions and Missions


Zack happily ran towards Shinra's office, finally! He got called in for a mission! It's been weeks since his last mission!

As he was running energetically without really paying attention to where he was going, he slammed into something hard and solid as he hit the floor hard from the impact. He heard a deep, annoyed grunt right in front of him and he realized he bumped into a person.

Oh, oh.

Angeal glared down at his student for running so carelessly, he shook his head and said while extending a hand down to Zack:" Next time I'll make you run 130 laps for every time you bump into someone.", Zack's eyes widened in horror at that and Angeal realized that apparently, that happened more often than he thought it did.

Zack grinned sheepishly while Angeal helped him up, Zack said:" Sorry there Angeal but I finally got called in for a mission! I have to go to Shinra's office as soon as possible!", his mentor smirked and said:" I was just sent to get you. We are doing the mission together since it's a little more…demanding.", Zack felt an uneasy shudder rush down his spine as he saw Angeal's smirk.

That can't be good. He asked uncertainly:" Uh…j-just what exactly will we be doing Angeal?", the older man smiled and replied:" Oh, you will see in due time pup.",

Zack followed Angeal outside, the uneasy feeling still lingering at the back of his mind. While they were walking down the hallway in the direction of the elevator to get the top floor in order to board their helicopter, Angeal saw Lena and Genesis talking and laughing.

The First Class ignored the sting of jealousy assaulting him, Genesis was just a friend, almost like a brother to her. He was being unreasonable again around her… he sighed and shook his head.

"Angeal! Zack!", Lena called, waving happily at them. Angeal smiled and waved back, Zack on the other hand grinned happily and walked quickly towards them high-fiving with Lena. He stopped when Genesis shot him a murderous glare, he was still angry at Zack for stealing LOVELESS again from him for the fifth time this week. It wasn't funny anymore…

Angeal smiled and was surprised when Lena took his larger hands in her own, smaller ones and exclaimed happily:" Geal! I have great news! I'm going to Banora to see how Gillian and everyone else is doing. I was hoping you could come too? Zack of course as well! I already asked Gen, but he's busy training with Sephiroth!", her eyes pleaded with him to stay and as much as he wanted to go with her and see his mother again, he couldn't.

He smiled apologetically at her, squeezing her hands while saying:" That's great to hear Lena but I'm sorry, I'm unable to. Zack and I have a mission today and it will probably last for a day or two. When are you going?", the woman frowned sadly and said:" Today…", Angeal frowned and said:" Ah, I see…".

Genesis broke the silence as he said:" It's a shame really, though I'm sure our dear Geal will immediately set off for Banora once he completes his mission, isn't that right old friend?", the grin Genesis sent him made Angeal want to strangle him.

The woman looking between her two friends, blushed noting the meaning behind the words. It was now or never. Angeal cleared his throat and asked:" Lena…may I speak with you for a moment?", his best friend looked up at him and smiled, nodding. As Angeal led her away from the two SOLDIERS, he noticed Zack trailing behind them like a puppy and barked sharply:" Alone.", and Zack stopped in his tracks and backed away.

Zack tilted his head to the side, scratching his dark, wild messy hair. Genesis shook his head, he could only hope they were going to talk about what he thought they were. He hoped Angeal understood the meaning underlying his words, no, Angeal was a perceptive man. Of course, he noticed them. Genesis hoped he would make the first move…


Angeal led Lena farther away from Genesis and Zack, in case the two tried anything funny like spying or eavesdropping on them. After all, what he was about to do was not something he wanted anyone, especially Zack, to see.

Angeal turned around and stood in front of Lena, a serious albeit nervous look on his face. It didn't help matters when Lena asked with concerned, warm eyes:" Hey, what's wrong? What is it you have to tell me?", the man took a deep breath, bracing himself.

"Lena…", he looked into her eyes and continued:" Ever since we were children back in Banora…I've always liked you, you know that. When I left to join SOLDIER I always sent you letters so you didn't forget me-", she interrupted him suddenly:" I could never forget you Angeal! You were the only one, aside from Genesis, who accepted me the way I was! You were…", she bit her lip, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

Angeal looked at her suddenly shy posture and said softly:" You are important to me, more than you may ever know Lena.", "Angeal I-", her eyes widened when she felt Angeal pulled her to him, her forehead resting on his solid chest. She wrapped her arms around him as Angeal held her close, holding her protectively. He whispered in her ear:" I've always been a coward, never able to stand up to those idiots who kept insulting my mother and who kept shunning me because I never found out who my father was…I always had that fear in me, fear for failing to protect those close to me, fear for not making it to SOLDIER and becoming someone important and help people…the fear of not being able to protect you.", a soft gasp could be heard.

Lena grasped Angeal's broad shoulders tightly, hugging him closer. She whispered with a small smile:" Angeal…", she stood on tip toes and suddenly kissed him.

She kissed him. Actually kissed him. It was short but sweet and affectionate nonetheless.

He was stunned as she slowly broke away and smiled brightly at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She caressed his cheek and confessed with a blush:" You're very important to me too Angeal. I thought of you every day since you left for SOLDIER, I kept being worried that's why I sent you so many letters. I was scared that one day you may not send me one back and…and instead that an envelope may arrive…", she locked gazes with him as she smiled warmly and said:" But I never gave up in believing in you. I knew you could do it, despite your past. That's why after I gathered up the money and courage I followed you to have you close and…maybe finally confess my feelings…", her eyes shyly averted from his blue ones.

But he was having none of that. He surprised her as he pulled her close this time to initiate the kiss, it was longer, more passionate yet sweet. Once they broke apart Angeal smiled the possibly warmest, most open smile since his childhood. He nuzzled her cheek affectionately and said:" I love you too Lena.", the woman smiled, hugging him again and whispering she loved him as well.

What the couple didn't notice were the two figures peeking from a far corner, Zack grinned wildly and Genesis shut his mouth by firmly placing his gloved hand over it, he whispered:" Shh, don't make a sound or we will be skinned alive by Angeal and possibly Lena too.", the boy nodded, internally doing a happy dance for his mentor.

After Angeal and Lena finally appeared again, Genesis and Zack pretended to be waiting and conversing idly.

Angeal said:" Alright, let's go Zack.", the boy nodded at his mentor, his blue eyes shining in happiness which earned a suspicious look from Angeal. Lena smiled at them and said:" Be careful on your mission, ok? Come back soon!", the two nodded at her and once Zack turned his back, Angeal sent her a meaningful smile.

The minute his friends were out of earshot, Genesis smirked almost evilly and leaned in close to Lena saying:" Now…for a friendly talk, you seemed to have taken quite long didn't you Lena?", the woman blushed in embarrassment. Of course, they were spying on them! She hit him hard on the head, holding her head high and marching away from her childhood friend. Genesis rubbed his head and followed her, all the while that mischievous grin was plastered to his face.

Zack kept glancing at his mentor the whole time they were being flown to a hamlet (AN: "small village") called "Ancient Cove", it was the weirdest name Zack ever heard, especially for a village but it didn't matter for the mission.

Zack looked at Angeal and asked:" So, Angeal, what are we going to do on this mission?", Angeal only smirked and said:" Oh, you will see…", Zack shuddered at the evil glint in his mentor's eyes.


"SERIOUSLY?!", Zack shouted at his mentor, completely flabbergasted at what the hell his mentor was asking of him to do! Just what kind of crazy mission was this?! What sane SOLDIER would do that? Why did people even EXPECT SOLDIER to do such jobs anyway?! They had people for it!

"Quit your complaining and get on to the task pup.", Angeal said as he cleaned the soft back of the horse that was whining happily at the attention it was receiving, lightly bumping it's nuzzle against Angeal's outstretched palm.

The young SOLDIER Third Class sighed heavily, opting to just do as he was told. He stuck his tongue out in disgust as he heaved large heaps of…uh… horse/cows and whatnot remains and throwing them into a wheel barrow. He scrunched his nose up at the foul smell, he glared heatedly at his mentor and barked:" Oi! Why do I get to do this stuff and you get to be way over there petting horses!?", Angeal said simply still cleaning the horse:" Because you're Third Class and I'm First. I had to do that too back in Banora, I doubt there aren't any stalls in Gongaga.", Zack exclaimed:" Of course there are old man! But usually my ma and da do that!", the older man shook his head and said:" Then it's time you learn how to do it so you are able to come back and say you actually accomplished something.",

"Not everything is about becoming First Class and obtaining fame Zack. What's important is how you treat people around you and how much effort you put into protecting people and help others grow and improve. I didn't become First Class for the money and fame.", Zack asked curiously, innocently:" Then why did you become First?", Angeal smiled and said:" To help and protect people around the world, all the ones who are unable to stand up to themselves. I wish SOLDIER was more focused on that rather than fighting and getting into war, if the people weren't so poor and desperate, wars would barely exist.",

Zack listened intently to what Angeal was trying to teach him, it was important and he didn't fully understand it yet but he had a feeling that in the far future, when he was older, he would.

And not in a easy way.


Well, chapter 3 finished! I hope you guys liked it! Please read and review! J