Oh my dear lord. What a delay!
Anyway, I must admit, I don't know how I feel about this chapter. It's very heavy in dialogue and not enough action or humour. I'm sorry! But I wanted to update before Christmas. Anyway, tell me what you think, anyway!
Also, I realize I change some details in the original CC script, but they will be rather minute and probably not key in the plot anyway. I haven't decided if I'm going to mess with the plot a little more, though.
As always I own nothing but Edie.
"I'll wait for you out here," I nodded towards Zack as he waved a hand lazily and entered the Briefing Room. I stood just outside the door near the Supply Pods and leant as casually as I could against the solid wall opposite the glass one. A Second Class was hovering near the Mission Board and when he looked at me questioningly (I assumed, because his expression remained a mystery behind his helmet), I winked.
I don't know why I winked at him. Sometimes I do stupid things for no reason. Go figure.
I also don't know why I decided to follow Zack to his meeting. I felt rather dickish after choking before, so I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to continue being in his company, further putting myself at risk of making a bigger dick out myself.
But maybe I just realized I had nothing better to do, because between my friendship with Zack, work and whatever it is I have with Kunsel, I have no life.
Anyway, I was leaning against the wall attempting to be all casual and aloof when the Second Class spoke.
"You're dating, Kunsel, huh?"
My eyes, which had been glued to the floor at an attempt at cool apathy, flew up towards the man near the Missions screen.
"Uh, I guess," I don't know, am I? "How'd you hear?"
"These things get around."
"Great."
I looked away from the SOLDIER and to the interior of the Briefing Room. I recognized the blonde head that was Lazard and the mess of black hair that was Zack, but I didn't recognize a third man who had his hair tied back in a slick, black pony tail.
"Hey," I asked without actually looking at the Second Class, "Who's that?" I pointed at the unfamiliar man. Zack caught this gesture from within the room and gave me a funny look. I gave him the finger.
"Tseng of the Turks," the faceless SOLDIER informed me, "Looks like he's got a horse tail stuck to the back of his head, don't it?"
I snorted appreciatively, "Ah, yeah. Tseng," I had heard all about him, of course, and I had actually seen him around Shinra before. I had just never made the connection between face and name.
"Neighhhh..." the SOLDIER sniggered to himself quietly as he turned back toward the Missions Board. I snorted again as my PHS went off.
"Ed's Exotic Eatery; where we bring Wutai to you! Can I take your order? "
"Wha- Edie?"
"How may I help you, Kunny Wunny," I turned to the SOLDIER who had asked about Kunsel and I winked suggestively, gesturing at my phone, "I miss you, Baby Boo."
Kunsel laughed, "Cut it out, woman. Are you trying to gross out Zack?"
I huffed in mock insult, "Why can't I just express my affections without being accused of an ulterior motive? I think we should see other people."
"Oh, the pain," Kunsel teased, "But, hey! When I'm done with this mission, meet me in Sector 8. We can hang before we do dinner tonight."
"Okay," I agreed, "How's it going by the way?"
"Not bad. We've isolated the thing which is good, because the Thirds were literally cornered. Anyways they're out. None hurt too bad, 'cept Cohen. Rather nasty open wound on his left thigh-he's gonna need to be taken to the Infirmary. Other than that, I think it's their dignity that suffered any real damage."
"What the hell is it?"
"It's a Behemoth; admittedly a rather weaker type, but still a pain in my arse. Although-"
Whatever Kunsel was planning to say next was cut off by a rather shrill screech on my behalf, "WHAT? WHAT THE FRACK IS A BEHEMOTH DOING IN THE SLUMS?"
"I dunno, Ed. But there's something not right about it. It's pretty agitated, and by the looks of Cohen's leg, pretty powerful, but it can hardly stand up right. It's kinda just sitting there at the moment, like it's tired out."
"And so you decided to call me for a little chat instead of playing hero?"
"Actually, Luxiere-I dunno if you know him or not-he's trying to get close enough to it to check it out without risking being minced by it. See if we can work out what's so off about it. Aside from the fact that it's here in the Slums, I just know something isn't right about it."
"Well, go take care of it. Be careful, okay?"
"Will do. I owe you dinner, remember?" He hung up and I sighed tiredly. Being worried takes a lot out of me.
"That was Kunsel, right? He'll be fine; he is a SOLDIER after all," the faceless Second assured me, "And a pretty good one. After Zack, I'd say he'll make First in no time." I nodded in agreement.
"What's a monster like that doing in the Slums?" I shook my head, "Where would it even come from?"
"Well, the only place I've seen a Behemoth is in Training simulations which are run by the Science Department. I hear Hojo-"
"Ed," I turned towards the 'whoosh' of the door to the Briefing Room as Zack came through it, "Still here? Hey, Mitchell." He nodded at the fellow Second Class.
"Hey, Zack," he nodded back, "If you're going on a mission, take a look at the supply pods."
"I remember," Zack grinned mischievously, "Yet you never cease to remind me."
"Can't rely on that attention span of yours," he teased, "Anyways, I'm out."
As the SOLDIER, now known to me as Mitchell, left the room I turned to Zack, "You're going on a mission then?"
"Yep!" he breathed enthusiastically, "Guess it's why I've been on standby for so long."
"So," I pushed, "Where are you going then, pup?"
He scratched the back of his head absent-mindedly, "General Rhapsodos' hometown."
"Oh, Banora," I said, nodding knowingly, "Home of the Dumb Apple, too" I added. Zack sniggered slightly.
"And how is it you know about the Dumb Apple?"
"My mum-" I paused, re-thinking what I was about to say, "I was told stories as a kid. They only grow in Banora."
I could tell that Zack had noticed the little slip up, but he knew me well enough not to push it. Not this time, anyway.
"Well, anyway. I leave when I'm ready, with the Turk," he motioned over his shoulder at the horse-tail headed man, who was speaking to Lazard, "We're supposed to do some investigating."
"Well, before you go, come with me. I'm going to Sector 8 to meet up with Kunsel."
He looked slightly hesitant, "Oh, but, I don't want to intrude."
This struck me as odd. The three of us had always hung out and he had never turned down a chance to hang before.
'Things have changed,' an annoying voice hissed in my head. Gaia, I hate my conscience sometimes, what with its morals and crap-makes life a lot less exciting.
I'm right though.
Suppose so.
"Well, he asked for you," I lied, "And should be done with this mission by now. You can ask him how it went. I'm sure he'd be happy to share details."
I felt strangely relived when he smiled and nodded in agreement, "You're right as per unusual."
And with that he strode across the room towards the door.
"Did you just say 'as per unusual'?" I slid across the room in my flats after him, "That's not how the expression goes."
"I know what I said."
"ZACK-"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Edie!" Kunsel greeted me enthusiastically, pushing himself off the edge of the Sector 8 fountain, then sort of skidded to a halt, "Zack?"
"Why did you make my name sound like a question?" Zack grinned, the mischievous sparkle in his eyes threatening to explode in glitter all over Kunsel and I and the rest of the Sector.
Kunsel coughed, regaining his composure apparently, and offered an apologetic smile, "My bad. I didn't mean to," it was at this point I realized he was mocking him, "You're not a question, Zack. I apologize profoundly."
I rolled my eyes.
"Good, cause I'm not a question," he was grinning madly now, "I am the answer!"
And there went my eyes again-doing fracking cartwheels in my sockets. These guys are going to make me go blind-or cause my eyeballs to fall out.
"Anyways," Zack began, plopping himself down on the edge of the fountain, "Tell me about this mission."
Kunsel recounted what he had told me over the phone including concluding details. Apparently as soon Luxiere got too close, the monster reared and was set to attack. He and Kunsel were forced to destroy the creature which meant that they were unable to retrieve a sample.
Zack seemed rather intrigued by it, but put it down to a break out of sorts.
"Yeah, but, what are the odds-something that big breaking out and going unnoticed?" I wanted to know. Zack shrugged.
"It's best not to dwell on these things. I mean, has anything been right lately?" He frowned slightly, before his lips quirked upwards in a genuine smile again, "As long as it isn't a swarm of monsters, hey? I'm glad you're alright, Kun."
Kunsel's warm, brown eyes lit up when he smiled, I noticed. A lot like Zack.
Erh.
"Thanks," he nodded, "Anyways, we should probably split up here if you wanted to get around Sector 8."
Zack tilted his head to the side in confusion, "Huh? You invited me down here just to leave me on my own?"
Now it was Kunsel's turn to look confused, "Oh, I assumed you were doing your own thing before a mission or something."
Uh oh.
"I thought Edie said that you wan-"
"What Zack means to say is," I stepped in between the two men, waving my arms in front of me comically, "I thought the two of you could brief each other after your mission and before his." I informed Kunsel and gestured at Zack.
"Ooooh," they almost sung simultaneously.
"Well, where are you off to?" Kunsel asked turning to look at Zack.
"Banora," Zack's smile slipped a little, "For some investigating."
"Home of Genesis," Kunsel nodded, "And Angeal. Those two go way back, apparently."
Zack's smiled disappeared completely, "Old friends, huh?"
"You didn't know?"
"Well, I guess I just never made the connection," he shook his head, "Anyway, it doesn't even matter. Just because they're old friends, doesn't mean they're working together." he was smiling slightly, but it was odd, almost like a grimace-his tone defensive.
"No one was suggesting that, Zack," I assured him.
"Right," he nodded with a genuine, full forced smile this time, "Well, I should get going! I'll let you two love birds alone."
I glared at Zack, envisioning burning a hole in his perfect face.
"You sure?" Kunsel asked, but he sounded strangely relieved, "We were just going to wander. Nothng special."
"Yeah," Zack nodded again and clapped his hands together, "The sooner I leave, the sooner we investigate, and the sooner we may have Angeal and Genesis back!"
"Right!" I smiled at him, "Go get 'em, tiger."
And even as Zack said goodbye and turned to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that things weren't right. The dynamic of my friendship with both him and Kunsel and even, he and Kunsel, had changed.
I could understand why, I mean, when two of your best friends start dating, it's always awkward for a while.
But as I watched Zack's retreating back, and Kunsel was trying to direct me away from the fountain, this vision of Zack and a faceless woman embracing forced its way into my head.
"Oh frack," I breathed out loud, causing Kunsel to look at me like I had just sprouted a third arm.
What would I do when Zack found someone?
So, what did you think?
Oh, and
Merry Christmas!
