I had a lot of fun writing this chapter.
The first part is kinda boring as it gives a recap of the bits I skipped over, but at least it's short.
It shames me to say that I was unable to follow Angeal's orders.
That day in the bathhouse was the last time I saw Felicity.
Tseng and Cloud came to find us once they were healed. We gave Angeal a proper burial outside town. The moment was brief, but it gave us a chance to say our last goodbyes. On the way back, Felicity and I walked beside each other, quiet, sharing in a silent bond of sorrow and kinship. The sole consolations of the day were that I found and captured Hollander lurking in Modeo and that Tseng, Cloud and Felicity were safe.
As soon as we returned to Shinra, I was whisked away from the others to give Lazard a full report of the events that passed. When I came back, Felicity was gone.
I was promoted to 1st Class the following day, but the company immediately put me on standby, saying I had been through a lot and needed some rest. However, after a few incidents with renegade Genesis copies, my "vacation" was cut short, and I was sent to Junon. I met up with Cloud and hoped I would run into Felicity too, but it never happened. Whenever I asked the company where she was, they told me the information was classified.
I'm down in the SOLDIER hall, waiting for our troops to round up. Sephiroth said we were to go and investigate the disappearances of a number of SOLDIER operatives in the north. In addition, we'd also look into the emergence of monsters as well as a possible malfunctioning mako reactor in the area.
I turn the corner to find a blond Shinra troop idling in the hall. "What's up?" I ask him.
"I'm having a little trouble rounding up the group…"
"We're in a hurry," I say, approaching, "let's move it."
"Sir!" The troop stands at attention and I get a good look at his face.
"Wha—Cloud?" I exclaim, astonished. A huge grin sets across my face. I hold up my hand and we bump forearms. "Together again, eh? All right!"
He grins. "Thanks. Hold on, I'll get everyone."
He runs off. I smile.
"You changed your hair."
I jump, startled, and whirl around. A few feet away, a woman is leaning against the wall. She's wearing formfitting black pants and a matching pair of onyx boots. I notice the female version of the typical navy, higher-rank SOLDIER shirt on underneath her unique coat. The ebony material stops around the widest part of her hips, tapering in to show off her figure even more than the pants did- and I've got to say, it was quite a sight. Darker dye swirls around the fabric, making it seem like she's wearing shadows. The connected hood is raised, obscuring all of the woman's face save fair skin and full lips. I resist the urge to whistle.
"I kinda like it. Makes you look more mature." She pushes off the wall and advances toward me.
"Yeah?" I ask, my voice settling into the suave, charming tone I saved for the ladies.
She smirks and sashays closer. "Mm… Much handsomer than before."
I cock an eyebrow mischievously. "You think?"
"Oh yeah. I bet the girls are falling all over themselves just to look at you."
"Care to join them?
"Tempting."
She's a few feet away now and my ego is exceptionally stroked. I pull the cheesiest line. "Yes, you are."
"Do you talk to all women like this?" she asks, coming within centimeters of me now.
I grin. "Only ravishing ones like yourself."
"My, you are a sweet talker." Her chest touches mine and she reaches a hand up to comb through my hair. "But I think you might need to cool your head."
Suddenly a cold wave crashes down on my head. The frigid temperature and sheer shock of the impact makes me jolt. I cry out in alarm. I'm soaked.
The woman starts roaring with laughter. She twirls on her heels, giggling like a schoolgirl. I'm left confused as she doubles over. "Ha! Ha! Damn, that was great! I should have taken a picture! Ha! Ha! Ha! Your face was priceless!" She can't control herself anymore. She bobs forward and back, unable to contain her laughter. As she throws her head back for a deep hoot, her hood falls away, revealing brown curls, impish features and glowing, pale-blue eyes repetitively squeezing shut with mirth.
My jaw drops. "Felicity?"
She snorts. "Took you long enough. I mean, I know the infantry armor hid my figure when we met, but you had no clue!" Snicker. "As if anyone would come onto you so boldly!"
I don't even care that she took a shot at my pride or that she doused me with water. I'm just happy to see her. "What are you doing here?"
She's calming down now. Only a few giggles escape her. "I weaseled into this assignment. I'd heard the rumors about Hollander's stolen experiment and the possibility of Genesis still being alive, so I needed in. That, I couldn't resist the opportunity to show you up on a legit mission."
I scoff. "I doubt a SOLDIER like you could show a 1st Class like me up." I take a minute to soak in her reaction at my status, but all she does is roll her eyes. "How'd you even convince Sephiroth to let you tag along?"
"I called him over the phone and volunteered. He graciously accepted the offer, happy to have another 1st Class on the job."
My eyes widen and my mouth hangs open. "You're 1st Class?"
"Naturally." She smirks. "They let me into SOLDIER as soon as I was nineteen. Got promoted to 1st a month after, in August. When'd you get in?"
It's my turn to be haughty. "June. Looks like I beat ya."
"Whatever," She tosses me a teasing glare. "You know that I would have made 1st before you if the company wasn't so sexist." She eyes my uniform. "But seriously, you've been 1st for four months and that's what you're wearing?"
1sts have the right to choose their own clothing rather than wear a designated uniform, but I was fine with what I already had. "Not all of us have the money to buy fancy outfits."
She glances down at herself. "Impressive clothes create impressive demeanor. I give off a powerful countenance that will make the enemy nervous."
I decide not to contradict her or mention that the buster sword on my back would do the same as her outfit. I knew from experience you could never win an argument with Felicity. Instead I present a genuine, white smile. "It's good to see you again."
Her teasing smirk is replaced by an honest grin to mirror my own. "It's good to see you too."
"I tried to find you countless times, you know… after Modeoheim. Where'd you go?"
Pain flashes across her face for a fraction of a second before she reverts back to cheerful. "I was around. The company decided to put me to good use once they saw what I was capable of. I guess you can add hypocritical to the list of Shinra's negative qualities."
I grin. "Well, all that matters is that you're here now and we can be together."
"Yeah." She smiles. "I hear Cloud's coming too. Looks like the country boys are reunited."
My eyes look her over. "I wouldn't call you a country boy."
She laughs and walks away, heading for the elevator. "Come on, Fair. Everyone's waiting."
Hope you liked it, I know I do!
Thanks again for those who REVIEW. I wish there were more of you. I see all the views this story gets on my stats page, and so before I post the next chapter, I'd like 4-5 new Reviews. It's not that much to ask, so I hope you do it.
Thanks again!
