-The S.S.P-
"Duh-da-da-da-!"
June jumps out of the S.S.P changing room striking a pose with her guns, Tseng looks to Reno who smiles saying, "I like it!"
June giggles re-holstering her guns to do a silly victory dance, she winks at them saying, "do I look like a Shinra pilot now!?"
Reno and Tseng had convinced her that if she was to be a Shinra pilot she had to look the part, she knew that they were probably looking to perv on her but she made sure not to allow any of that.
She turns to the mirror tying a cream colored bandana around her head tri-fold style, she runs her hands down her body, she wore a sky blue vest and white shirt and beige knee-cut pants that had belts going diagonally across her hips, coming for the belts was a blue and green side-skirt.
She bends down tying her boots, "I look so...cute!"
"You always do," Reno says winking at her, June decides to ignore his blatant flirting by turning to the mirror and fixing her hair.
The Shinra Space program had proved itself to be rather simple, most of the hard work would be done by the scientist below, all June had to do was press buttons when they told her to and jump ship before it exploded.
Though that wasn't her plan, if she couldn't take the shot before time ran out, she would go with the ship, most of her lessons at the program consisted of safe escape pod maneuvers, for her there would be no escape pod.
She pauses looking at herself in the mirror, all she had to do was learn the codes to separate the safety locks on the pods, when she did that the pod would automatically break away from the ship leaving her to her fate.
Suddenly there's a knock at the door, June turns as the door opens, Eji stood there his head bowed, in his hands were her gloves.
"June, these are yours," he whispers holding them out to her.
June folds her arms looking at him doubtfully, he edges close to her and she backs away, "please...please take them, as a token of my gratitude for your help."
She bites her lips looking to Reno and Tseng, they watched with relatively bored expressions.
She takes the gloves muttering, "thank you...I guess."
He nods backing out of the room, she pulls on the gloves saying, "so back to work we go!"
Tseng nods leading her out of the room, she follows him back into Ark-1, Shinra's name for the Space Program Base in Edge.
Dozens of young men and women gathered at the bases near Edge, Junon, Nibelheim and Gongaga to follow their dreams of being the first true members of the Shinra Space Program.
When she'd first arrived at the base, she was prepared to listen to a few lectures about space and move on but the experience had proved very humbling for her.
Usually she felt comfortable with her knowledge of sciences and math due to her time in the Lifestream, but when compared to the science and technology whizzes of the Ark she came up pretty short.
"Are you going back to the simulator," Tseng asks her when they make it to the middle of the main hall, she shakes her head.
Lately, chemical and weapon modding had piqued her interest, and she'd made friends in the sector.
"Actually, I don't really feel like doing that anymore today...I want to head over to Rima's," she mutters backing away from him, he nods saying, "alright."
June smiles turning to run down the congested halls of Ark-1, when she first arrived there weren't many people there but since the scientists and their students had also joined the Ark, there was an upsurge in the population.
"Hey there Miss June!"
June waves to Ranma who stood at the start of the Science wing with the other future way-makers of Gaia
She skids to a halt before the Weaponry Section, it was the least packed section in all of Ark-1, these were the children who grew with the now thwarted dream of becoming Soldiers, Professor Rima comes down the hall readjusting her lab-coat.
"Ah, so you've come again," she says smiling at June who nods following her back down the hall, Rima to June, had a similar air to Tifa, they were both seemingly strong women, and very put together, so naturally June was drawn to her big sister vibe.
They enter the weaponry room and June rushes over to her usual station.
"Eh, you're a little late...still working with Science-heads on the ship stuff," someone whispers next to June's ear.
She nods looking to her partner, Paige Coral, June met Paige her first day at the Ark and after two days circling each other cautiously, they became fast friends.
Like June, Paige specialized in guns and magic, which put them in a strange position at the Ark, where most operatives in weaponry looked forward to being the next Cloud Strife, so seeing exhausted young operatives heaving large swords over their backs was a normal sight in the Ark.
"As you all know, you're going to be in the front lines should the Corrupted Lifestream energy make it to the core cities, that is Edge, Junon, Kalm, and Nibelheim...so it is important that you study your weapons and try to build upon the knowledge that you already have."
Paige cuts her eyes at June and she nods.
Rima wasn't a weapons specialists, her method of going about weaponry work didn't fit the sector at all, studying a weapon wouldn't make anyone good at fighting. However, since Eji was the head of the Science sector, Rima stayed away.
Rima touches the large screen in the middle of the room, and a digital map of Gaia appears, Wutai was now more than 25% covered by the energy and it was trickling into the Mt. Corel area.
"June you're going into space with operatives in the science sector, so you don't have to worry about that as much," Rima says turning to the map.
June nods, and Paige sighs.
"That sucks, we're gonna need your gun-mage skills if we're ever going to beat those things," Paige whispers to June who shrugs.
She didn't have the heart to tell Paige of her work nearly a month before, she couldn't even take those monsters down.
"So today we're going to continue working on your personalized weapons, remember don't use too much Proto-Materia, as it will drain your natural offensive abilities," Rima says walking over to the other side of the room.
Suddenly a large steel carrier descends before them, June takes the gun she'd been working on and Paige takes her own, June clears the table setting her weapon down, to her it was a masterpiece.
It was a large gun, with silver and purple designs, above the guns bullet chamber was a large glass dome, it was where chemical madness would take place. It was made from the strongest glass in the world, once she'd tried to use regular glass, it worked for all of two seconds because when the magic and items she'd placed in the dome began to mix, the glass shattered.
Obviously it didn't turn out good for the people who worked around her, she'd created a Sap Bomb for the ages, their future children would probably still feel the effects.
"So, has your boyfriend come over yet," Paige murmurs pushing a bright green piece of Proto-Materia into her gun, June glares at her and she laughs.
"I told you, he isn't my boyfrien-."
"So he's really just some guy who comes to visit you, almost every day," Paige mutters eyeing June doubtfully.
It was true, Cloud did come over almost every day, more like every other day but they never did anything that showed them to be anymore than friends.
Since she'd been transferred to the Ark, Cloud had calmed down a bit, especially after she showed him how she spent her days with Rima and Paige in the weaponry room, but after he left she would go to the science sector to practice her drills for the launch.
She could imagine his reaction when she told him that she'd be 'escorting' the head of Jenova into space.
She smiles lifting her gun to get a feel of its weight, so she wouldn't be telling him.
"He's a friend...nothing...nothing more," she mutters lowering the gun, it pained her a little to say that, when she was gaining stronger feelings for him with every visit.
"So you wouldn't mind me getting his number, he's pretty cute," Paige mutters elbowing her, June eyes widen and Paige laughs.
"Alright so he's not a boyfriend but you like him," she teases poking June in the side, June lifts her hand creating a small space between her fingers.
"This much," she mutters squinting to see Paige through the space.
"Really, so you like him," Paige says fixing her eyes on something past June now, June sighs looking away.
"Just admit it...come on say it," Paige mutters pushing at her, June shakes her head saying, "I'm working."
"Like who?"
Paige laughs when June looks up at Cloud, she gulps feeling a large wave of pressure move from the top of her head to her feet.
"Uh...um, eh...uh..."
Paige laughs when June looks at her for help, Paige nudges her saying, "does she like the Head Goblin at Goblin-Stop...I find him pretty funny."
June slouches over trying to allow her heart time to stop racing, that's when a familiar scent reaches her nose, she looks up to see a Goblin-Stop bag in Cloud's hand, she smiles saying, "you brought me some...how sweet."
She goes to take the bag but he holds it away, "no, this is mine."
June folds her arms saying, "but you know how I love their Goblin Puffs...and you have some I can smell them."
"So," he mutters walking toward the exit, he jerks his head away and June sighs following him.
"Go on you little love birds," Paige sings turning to her gun again.
June glares at her as she and Cloud exit the room.
Whey they enter the hall, June looks up messing with the raised front of her hair that the bandana didn't cover so as to hide her blush from Cloud.
"So, you're almost done with your gun," he mutters looking ahead.
"Yeah," she sighs taking this chance to look at him but when he looks at her again she turns away quickly.
In the beginning she'd taken such a forward role in their relationship but now she felt shy, and shy wasn't usually a part of her persona.
"I've been to Junon," he mutters, "it looks like their pulling out all the stops for this party."
She nods saying, "I heard there's going to be a parade and dancers."
He nods, "the group is going but early...Marlene and Denzel are starting school again."
June gasps, "that's great...life is going back to normal...for them at least."
"Yeah, so that means we go later...8-ish," he says nodding.
June sniggers and he shrugs, "don't want to get stuck with Barret."
"I guess, I'm just happy the kids are going to be in school...," June trails off nodding to him.
Since MAPT's creation and Shinra's release of information about the end of the world, Marlene and Denzel's school had been closed, but since the initial hysteria was over the administrators must have saw it fit that the children go back.
"So, when's the launch," Cloud mutters, "Reno told me everything's in place."
She nods.
"Yeah, everything is about done...just a few more drills," she says scratching her cheek, judging his demeanor Reno hadn't told him anymore than he needed to know, June made it clear to all of Shinra Corp that Cloud was not to know, and if anyone told him they'd experience her soul sucking powers head on.
"Aren't you happy, you're going come home," he says turning to her, she stops as well looking at her feet.
"Of course I am," she says grabbing his arm and giving him a smile.
He nods and they begin to walk again, "when you get back...you're gonna be moving into a new room...Tifa's expanding the bar...so that means..."
"No more hearing Yuffie snore," she cries and he nods.
"And no more-"
"No more late night arguments from Cid and...what's her name again...Shera," June mutters looking up at him.
"Yeah, since she's here they rarely argue anymore," Cloud mutters nodding.
June could remember the day Shera joined the science sector of the S.S.P, Cid barged in followed by Cloud who tried to hold him back.
"You may let your girl play with these bastards but I'm not!"
All Cloud could do was look away as June and Shera tried to reason with Cid, June sniggers, "maybe now...he'll propose."
Cloud shrugs and she sighs.
"Also, when you get back...we're going somewhere...just us," he mutters looking away from her.
"Just us." She whispers. "Where?"
"It's just something I want to show you...it's a place...that's special to me," he sighs looking at her.
"A place that's special to you." She breathes. "If that's the case you know I want to go."
"It's not much," he mutters casting his eyes downward, "but...lately...I feel my life coming full circle...and why not help it along."
June sniggers, "the end of the world...and now your life's coming full circle!"
He shrugs and she falls against him laying her head on his shoulder, "it may seem silly to you...especially when we get there but-."
"No Cloud, if it's special to you...then...it's special to me..."
He nods, "after the launch then, and you come home."
June goes to nod but she stops cold, after the launch...there would be no her after the launch, she looks ahead again this time trying to hide the tears building in her eyes, Cloud turns to her holding out the bag.
"This is for you."
She takes it smiling down at the bag, "you...you jerk,,,you had to see me squirm."
He nods as she opens the bags pushing her face into it, there she allows the tears to fall, she looks up at him with a close-eyed smile.
"Fresh!"
He frowns when he notices the wet streaks going down her face, he goes to touch her but she pulls away skipping down the hall, "wanna see the ship's again!?"
He sighs, it would be the millionth time he saw them but why not.
He walks over to her and she takes his arm again walking him into the Science Sector.
Upon entering the Science Sector, their met with the backs of dozens of science operatives, Eji stood at the top of a podium beaming.
"The Launch will be taking place this Tuesday," Eji calls to the science operatives who stood around him.
June nods when one of them smile at her, but when the operative turns away she sighs, Cloud takes a deep breath looking down.
"Finally," he mutters.
She smiles nodding...
An hour later they stood at the entrance to the base saying their goodbye's, Cloud sits on Fenrir saying, "you can go back to doing whatever it is you don't want me seeing until Sunday...I'll be in Wutai until then."
"So I won't be seeing you until the day of the party," she mutters folding her arms. "Good now I can do all sorts of Cloud-noying things!"
He nods revving the bike.
"But when will you be here," she asks walking over to him.
"8, remember."
"Yeah but...you have a horrible sense of time," she breathes and he shrugs.
"I'll be here." He mutters.
She smiles backing away and waving to him, he puts on his shades riding away, June sighs walking back into Ark-1.
Paige pinches June's cheek saying, "look at you, you're all red!"
June sighs getting to the front of their work-station, she sets her food down saying, "Paige...stop it."
Paige grins when June starts back up on her gun, "so I remember you telling me about you guys going to that shin-dig in Junon...is there a special reason?"
June shakes her head saying, "not really...we're just going."
"You're sure he's not going to propose," Paige asks going into June's bag and snatching a Goblin puff, June quirks a brow pulling her bag to the other side of the table.
"I'm sure that's not it...I know that's not it...we're just friends...just friends going to have a good time," June mutters lifting the gun, "I think it's finished."
Paige takes the gun saying, "hey this is pretty cool...I could never use it though...that sciencey stuff isn't for me."
June smiles giving Rima the thumbs up, she takes the gun saying, "well I'm off Paige-."
Before she could finish her sentence Paige was closing up her station, she grabs June's Goblin-Stop bag saying, "come on!"
June sighs saying, "sometimes I think you only like me for my food."
Paige laughs and they exit the room.
They drift down the hall and toward the cafe, June sighs waving her arms nonchalantly at her sides, Paige gulps down her mouthful of Goblin Puffs to laugh at June.
"What's funny," she asks smiling at her.
Paige shrugs, "every time he comes here you get so quiet when he leaves...you go into that mind of yours and get lost for at least an hour."
"Not true," June says nudging Paige who laughs stuffing her mouth again.
"Mm-hm...you know June sometimes I worry about you," Paige says putting her index finger to the tip of June's nose, "when is that nose of yours gonna finally grow out...because when it comes to this you lie everyday."
"I do not," June mutters looking away.
Inside she knew the truth, she lied more than Paige thought she did, about everything.
"You know what," she mutters grabbing her food, "give me this...I'm going to my room!"
Paige laughs when June marches away from her with a smile, "alright see you June...sweet dreams!"
June waves to her over her shoulder before she disappears down the hall.
"That was good," June exclaims crashing into bed, she licks her fingers looking down the bed at the Goblin-Stop bag in the garbage-can by her door.
Her room in the Ark was twenty times more comfortable than her one at the Healin Lodge, the room's warm peach tones against it's white walls was a nice sight to her.
She sits up grabbing the tab she'd taken from the Healin Lodge, she turns onto her stomach tapping on the screen and it lights up.
"12 messages," she mutters looking down at the small envelope at the bottom at the screen.
She tapes on the icon and the message box springs forward, "three from Yuffie...one from Marlene...five from...Unknown number...today?"
She opens the first message, it read: Hello little hippo!
June sits up muttering, "what the..."
She opens the next: Do you remember meeeee?
"No," she mutters opening the next message.
It read: You said you'd come to visit me little hippo.
And the next: I miss you.
She grimaces opening the last: Mr. Yoshi misses you little hippo.
"Ugh," she mutters tossing the tab aside, why would he message her, and who gave him her number?
She takes the tab again looking through the messages, "two from Tifa," she opens them with a smile, they were the usual, "hello and how are you?"
June swipes the messages away before looking at the next one, from Cloud.
"Just a warning, Yoshi will be messaging you," she mutters aloud.
She smiles shaking her head, she knew he gave Yoshi the number with the purpose of bothering her, she opens the message box, she thinks for a while before swiping him a message.
"I'm going to get you," she whispers sending the message, she falls onto the bed with a sigh.
She turns over getting ready to go to sleep but a beeping from her tab drags her back into action, she smiles when she sees the lit up envelope icon at the bottom of the screen.
She opens the message, "Sunday."
She laughs setting the tab aside, with every passing second, the prospects of Sunday became even more exciting.
She closes her eyes once again preparing to sleep, she allows her thoughts to roam forward into Sunday, so many images filled her mind's eye, things she wanted to happen yet things that she feared.
She wanted to believe that it was a date, but then again it hurt her to think of it that way, when people went on date's it usually meant they liked one another and wanted to spend time together, saying that it was a date would be accepting her feelings and his.
What ever they were.
She groans, she just wanted to sleep but Cloud's face in her mind's eye wouldn't allow her to.
Soon...very soon...
June sighs, she tried not to give the voice any thought these days, it couldn't scare her anymore.
She brings the pillow over her head but as she throws her arm back onto the bed, her hand lands on something foreign.
Something leathery and hard, June's eyes shoot open, the leathery something rose and fell under her hand, it felt like a person.
Suddenly she's turned onto her back by the unknown person, she tries to push them away but they pin her down, laughter fills her head.
Almost there...
She grunts trying to push them away, but they push down on her until she could barely breath.
Never getting away...no matter how far you go...no matter what you do...
June tries to scream but the person pushes down even more, the pressure takes her breath away.
Never...
June continues to struggle until her energy is completely depleted, for the night, the unknown person wins.
"June...hello...are you awake in there," Paige calls knocking at her door, she sighs leaning against the door, she looks at the watch on her wrist. "10:30...and she's still sleeping?"
Paige goes to knock again but the door slowly creaks open before her fist could meet it, she smiles saying, "long night huh, what were you doing...talking to your boyfr-."
She pauses upon seeing June, June stood there holding the door, her eyes were dim and her skin ghostly white, Paige steps into the room saying, "whoa June...are you OK...how are you feeling?"
June sighs closing the door, she turns walking toward the bed but she instead sits on the floor next to it.
"I don't know." She whispers. "I just feel so drained...and so...so sleepy."
Paige bends down in front of her, she leans over looking into June's eyes, "their so dim...you look more sick than tired."
June shakes her head, "...no...I'm just sleepy."
Paige goes to stand but June grabs her arm, "where are you going!?"
Paige smiles saying, "since you're so tired...and you look it...I was gonna leave and let you get some re-."
"Don't leave!"
June gets to her feet rushing around the bed over to the mini-fridge in the corner of the room, she yanks it open grabbing an half empty container of Goblin Puffs, she turns to Paige saying, "look...food!"
Paige laughs when June brings them to her, though the way she edged around the bed was strange.
"Thanks...but their cold," Paige mutters, June snatches the bag away whispering, "Fire 1."
The bag heats up in her hand almost immediately, she passes it back to Paige retaking her place on the floor, Paige nods saying, "thanks, but what's really going on."
June moans lightly looking at the bed, the night before had been terrifying for her, so much so that in-between the lapses of time that she was passed out, all she could do was cry...until she had a dream...
"Strange dream last night," she mutters getting to her feet, "but so nice."
She walks over to the window at the side of the room, "I...I dreamt of the time after the end of the world...the monsters were gone...and-."
The sky glowed in such a way she'd never seen, the people of Gaia all surrounded around one sight, the sun. It shined so brightly, and washed away all their fears.
"I saw everyone there...except...me...and...Cloud wasn't there either," she mutters rubbing her arm, "Paige...I don't think...I know I'm not going to make it but him..."
Paige gasps saying, "don't speak that way!"
June shrugs, "I've accepted already...for me...that's the only way."
She leans against the windowsill saying, "but it was so beautiful...I could feel their happiness and their hope...when in my waking life I was being tortured...maybe it's a sign from somebody out there...somebody who cares...that I'm doing the right thing."
"Why do you think you're going to die," Paige asks rushing over to her.
"I know."
"Then how!"
June smiles saying, "Paige...it was so wonderful..."
Avalanche, surrounded by the Shinra and the operatives of the Ark watched the sun as well, on a hill somewhere, even Paige was there.
"June," Paige grabs her arms and June sighs.
"I'm not like you Paige...I'm not," she sighs, "listen...you may not believe me but it's true.
Paige pulls away from June saying, "what?"
"I'm not like you or anyone else here...I'm...the reason this is happening."
June turns to her, deciding that she didn't care what Paige thought she just needed to get it out, once she's done Paige groans saying, "you can't be serious!"
"But I am...," June mutters looking down.
"And you decide to tell me this now...doesn't that seem like something you should tell everyone at a time like this," Paige moans shaking her head.
June shrugs and Paige sighs.
"So...you're going...to go...ugh...that's so...that's so horrible," Paige cries falling on June's bed.
"It terifies me as well...but what can I do," June utters her voice cracking when tears fill her eyes.
"How many people...have you told," Paige mutters.
"You...and someone else, that's it," June mutters looking out of the window again.
"So Cloud and me," Paige says getting to her feet, June shakes her head and she frowns. "He doesn't know..."
June nods, "and he won't, he may try to stop me and I cannot let that happen."
"But don't you like him...don't you think he should know," Paige mutters walking over to June again.
June fixes her eyes on a small bird nesting in the tree next to her window, she sighs turning to Paige, "for what...so that he can try to save me...I don't want to be saved."
"Damn," Paige whispers turning away from her, "this is really messed up!"
"You won't tell right," June mutters cocking her head, Paige sighs turning to her, she eyes June up and down before shaking her head.
"I won't."
June sighs when Paige moves to the other side of her bed sitting on the floor next to it, she closes her eyes saying, "I won't...but I'm not going to pretend I'm happy with what I just found out...and if he or anyone else asks me something...I won't lie."
"I don't ask that you to...by the time questions are asked...I'll be gone," June mutters getting to her feet.
Paige turns on her now, "how can you be so nonchalant about it...how could you be so selfishly...selfish...people care about you ya'know...if you knew this why do you continue to see Cloud or anyone else...why make the parting so much harder."
"Because I am selfish...my entire existence has been selfish, at first it was innocent but now I realize that my behavior's are harmful but I don't want to let go. I can't let go, not of him...he's all I have," June whispers pacing along the room in a circle, she turns to Paige saying, "Sunday will be selfish...because...if I were really a good person...I'd call it off...how would you feel if you took someone somewhere one day and two days later...their gone...without a trace."
She turns away closing her eyes, "but for one moment...before I go back...I want to at least taste what love feels like," she wipes at her eyes saying, "and he doesn't love me...but for that moment I want to pretend...I want to be held like they do in the stories...and laugh like they do in the movies..."
She sighs wrapping her arms around her body, "I want to go back to the Lifestream knowing that if I had been able to live...I made someone happy and I mattered...whether or not they forget me...I mattered."
Paige groans kicking her feet, "are you sure...are you sure that this is the only way!?"
June nods.
"Trust me, if there was another way I'd take it," she mutters moving over to sit next to Paige, she sighs thinking back to her dream, "but Paige, that dream...the relief the people felt was almost palpable."
Paige turns to her and June smiles, "if I could do that...then it doesn't matter what my feelings are..."
"Ugh, now I have to think on this all day," Paige whispers nudging June.
June sighs saying, "I'm sorry but...I guess...I just needed someone to listen...to hear my side of the story...before..."
Paige sits up saying, "you could at least leave him a message...a note...something, I think everyone deserves to know the truth."
"True," June mutters laying her head on the bed.
Paige gets to her feet saying, "and the least you could do is tell him how you feel, show him that you appreciate everything he's done for you!"
June nods and Paige grabs her arm, she pulls her to her feet saying, "so Sunday is the day, no more lying to me or anyone else!"
"W-what are you doing," June asks when Paige pulls her over to the closet yanking her clothes out and tossing them onto the bed.
"If Sunday is your last hoorah, you're not going out there dressed like some sort of alchemist reject, no one likes nerds!"
June sniggers when Paige tosses a coat into her arms, "and it's gonna be cold so you're gonna need this."
June pulls the coat closer to her body, she nods, "thanks Paige."
Paige waves her hand at her dismissively, "it's nothing really, you're my friend and...you're doing something that I couldn't do...ever...so in my book June, you're alright." She turns to her this time her eyes sharp, "but if it doesn't work and you gave yourself for nothing, I'll be to the Lifestream as quickly as possible to kick your ass!"
"OK," June says walking over to the bed and sitting on the floor again.
"Now, we need something uber cute!"
June laughs as Paige continues to tear apart her closet.
After that day, June and Paige slept in the same room, both of them trying to pull as much from each other as they could before the end, Paige asked questions about the Lifestream and June about the parts of the world she didn't get to see.
During these times, the real world's time seems to fly by and Sunday arrives in the blink of an eye.
"So then you guys should..."
June looks down at the three sequenced number code copied into her tab, she'd managed to nab it from one of the more chatty scientist, he was also very flirtatious but June preferred to believe that his obvious attraction to her had nothing to do with it.
"Then you should..."
She sets the tab aside, two days and everything would be over.
She looks at the window, from where they were they could see bright flashes of light coming from Junon, the party looked like it was shaping into something amazing.
"And then...hey are you listening to me!?"
June gasps turning to look at Paige who stood in the mirror fixing her hair, she sighs saying, "I know you're hard at thought and stuff but you could at least listen to me!"
June sighs saying, "I'm sorry...what were you saying?"
Paige shakes her head saying, "nothing now!"
She turns back to the mirror and June smiles saying, "really I am sorry!"
She rushes over to Paige mussing in her hair and Paige gasps trying to fight her back but June grabs her arms pulling her out of her chair, Paige points up at her with a smile.
"I'm going to get you!"
June grabs her hand helping her to her feet again, Paige looks at her watch saying, "it's almost 8, don't you think you should be focusing on beautifying as well?"
June shrugs falling onto the bed, "I think I look OK for what we're going to do..."
"See June this is why he's not spider-monkeying you, he's a man and men are visual...give him something to look at," Paige mutters turning back to the mirror.
June laughs saying, "but I don't want to be spider-monkied."
"I'll pretend you didn't say that," Paige mutters shaking her head.
June sighs looking down at her body, she wore the lace dress from the Healin Lodge and a cream colored trench coat, what else did Paige want?
"It's not like he's just so attracted to me anyway," June mutters turning her fingers in one of her waves.
"Yeah right, like you don't see that thing he does...in fact you both do it," Paige mutters getting to her feet.
"What thing," June asks cocking her head.
"This thing," Paige mutters walking over to June, she places her hands above June's collar-bone saying, " yeah June you alright," she then brings her hands to June upper arms, "bought you some Me-Stop...yeah I said Me-stop."
June's eyes widen when Paige grabs her hands saying, "oh Cloud Me-Stop...oh you know how I love that...and to tell each other simple mundane things let's touch all over each other to get our points across, and our free feels!"
"Not true," June exclaims pulling away.
Paige laughs saying, "and you're both constantly checking each other out and pretending other people shouldn't see it!"
June goes to protest but a sharp beep from her tab turns her attention away from Paige who had now begun to reenact her version of Cloud's visits to June.
"He's here," June whispers opening his message, she stands saying, "good-bye Paige...have fun with...whatever that is!"
"Don't forget to kiss him...June don't forget!"
June sighs exiting Paige's room and making her way down the hall, her heart now felt like it was in her throat, this date had been so over blown, it now felt like a wedding.
When she makes it outside she finds Cloud leaning against Fenrir, she smiles when he sits up as she approaches him, as usual his shades were glued to his face, and usually she understood but it was 8PM.
"Hey there Cloud," she mutters looking him over, he nods.
"I'm sorry that I'm a little late-."
She shakes her head saying, "it's only just turned 8...so you're OK."
He gets on Fenrir but he pauses suddenly, June quirks a brow when he turns to her, he sighs rubbing the back of his head, "u-uh...y-you...you look pretty."
June blushes as their eyes meet through his shades, awkward silence slowly builds between them until June sniggers.
"Thank you Cloud," she says walking around him and over to Fenrir, "you don't look so bad yourself."
She sits on Fenrir saddle-side as he sits down again, she wraps her arms around him asking, "did you happen to see how it looks over there?"
He shakes his head saying, "I've been with Yuffie all day at the bar, the others went to see it."
"With Yuffie," June mutters and he nods.
June smiles saying, "aw I knew you guys would come around!"
He scoffs starting Fenrir and off they go.
The ride to Junon was short and silent, Cloud seemed to be behaving strangely to her, more than once he made noises and grunts as they rode along as if he were annoyed, it isn't until they come into view with the city does he finally lighten up.
"Wow...Cloud look at it," she exclaims looking at the city.
It looked like a completely different place, bright neon lights hung from every fixture in town, a large band played music at the street corners, vendors stood around selling things from potions and clothes to food. June gasps when a female acrobat comes swinging from a ribbon from one side of the city to the other, from her hands she drops glittery cards onto the ground before landing on another building opposite to the one she'd jumped from. She takes another stack of cards before jumping toward the other side again. In the middle of town a large golden clock had been constructed, it seemed to be counting down the time, she frowns doing the work in her head, it was counting down the time until 10.
"I wonder what happens at 10," she breathes holding Cloud tighter.
Cloud veers to a stop at the outside of town, June hops off the bike rushing over to the start of the party, Cloud follows her and she smiles at him.
"Look Cloud...this is...this is just wow!"
He nods as she moves in further, she turns in a full circle to take in more of the sights around her, there were so many things happening at once.
Street vendors tossing small cutlets of meat and vegetable in large wok's, children with painted faces ran up and down the street, and lights glittered everywhere she turned.
Suddenly the female acrobat comes swinging from the side of the building, she winks at June grabbing her hand before she disappears again to the other side of town, June smiles up at the woman but then she feels something in her hand, she looks at the glittery card.
She turns it in her hand, within in the glitter there was an image of a small blue monster with a ruby attached to middle of his head.
"Carbuncle, the guardian of protection and light." She reads as Cloud stands over her to read as well. "When Carbuncle is in your corner there is no way you could lose, so cut loose and have some fun!"
June waves to the woman saying, "thank you!"
She looks down at the other glittery cards on the ground saying, "wow...now I want to collect them all!"
He nods saying, "that's probably what their trying to get everyone do...for what though?"
She shrugs placing her card in her coat pocket, she takes Cloud's hand saying, "let's find something to do."
He nods pulling her through the crowds of people, she bites her lip looking about in wonderment, she'd never seen so many people in one place at once, and everyone was having so much fun.
"Two hours until the end of the world," someone calls from above them, "make sure to get your places in the square!"
June frowns saying, "places in the square."
Cloud raises a brow saying, "really...the end of the world?"
The look to one another and for once without any protest they shrug a shoulder at the same time, Cloud places his hand at her lower back once again leading her through the crowds.
They make it to a street covered in mostly blue and purple lighting, another band played music here but more of a classic kind than the music at the start of town.
Dozens of men, women and children were partnered together and dancing around the street.
"That's right, the winner of the dancing competition gets a free lifetime ticket to the Gold Saucer," a man calls through a mega-phone, June gasps turning to Cloud but he shakes his head.
"I don't dance."
"What about this lovely young couple," the man suggests moving over to them.
June nods grabbing Cloud's hands but he shakes his head, the man smiles saying, "the idea is simple," he points to multiple multicolored squares on the ground, "these are nega-squares...something new that we came up with at the Gold Saucer, their effects are varied but once you step on one we can guarantee you that you won't want to dance anymore and you're out of the game."
June nods and he continues, "dance in tune with the music while avoiding the nega-squares for the longest and you win the ticket."
"Whaddaya say," he says winking at June, she smiles up at Cloud but he shakes his head, suddenly they hear a scream from their side, they turn to see two frogs hopping along the street, the man smiles saying, "yup some of the squares hold the frog ability...it wears off after two minutes though."
June looks at Cloud again saying, "it looks like so much fun!"
He sighs about to speak but the man cuts in grabbing June's hands, "well if you don't want to take her...why don't I show this lovely lady to victory!"
June sniggers when the man kisses both of her hands, Cloud glares at him and June sighs, "but Cloud...I wanted to do it with you."
Cloud sighs folding his arms, it would look pretty bad on his part if he wasn't the one to dance with June, and who was this guy to think that he could steal her away anyway.
He goes to answer her but Yuffie's voice in his ear silences him.
"This is your date Cloud, you can't let another man dance with YOUR date!"
"Well we'll be right back," the man mutters getting ready to pull June away but Cloud grabs her hand saying, "let's go."
June smiles saying, "you'll dance with me!?"
He nods leading her toward the middle of the street, June laughs when he grabs her hand and puts his other hand to her side, she looks around at the people before mimicking the other women's positions.
"Bare with me Cloud," she whispers smiling up at him, "I've never done this before."
He shakes his head saying, "me either."
She gasps as the group stops around them and the band pauses as well, the host grins telling the band to begin and once again the music starts.
June bites her lip as she begins to move, Cloud watches his feet and she watches the other people, both of them quickly went out of step with the music.
"It's like...da...duh..da...duh," June whispers trying to catch up to the music but as she begins to catch up, she nearly runs into one of the nega-squares, Cloud quickly pulls her forward, lifting her off her feet and spinning her to the other side.
"Nice save," she whispers falling into his chest, he nods this time wrapping his arm around her, she looks at the other dancers, most of them kept going but there were a lot of frogs hopping around now.
"We have to win this," she whispers pulling away while holding his hand and turning herself back into his harms, "for Marlene!"
He quirks a brow when she turns away again this time taking his hand and moving closer to him, she giggles saying, "what?"
He shrugs saying, "you caught up fast."
She winks at him and he pauses his face turning deep red, June looks down at his feet saying, "uh Cloud," he shakes his head dancing again, though his steps were as out of place as ever.
She gasps when they trip on each others feet, June nearly falls over but he pulls her forward again, she smiles at him about to get back into dance mode but suddenly she feels something poking against her leg.
She looks down to see three frogs jumping in between them, June laughs saying, "go away jealous frogs!"
Cloud pulls her closer but suddenly one of the frogs begin to grow between them and morph back into human form, June gasps falling over the man and into Cloud who falls over as well, this time they trip on a nega-square, bright blue light surrounds them and suddenly their covered in thick netting.
"Ouch, sorry but you lose-," the host calls through his mega-phone.
June groans looking at the morphing frogs before them, "cheaters!"
She grabs the net pulling it over them and they get to their feet, she takes his hand saying, "what now?"
He pulls her through the dancing crowd asking, "are you hungry?"
She brings her hand to her stomach, as a matter of a fact, she hadn't eaten all day.
"Starving!"
Cloud goes to pull her toward one of the street vendors but she pulls him back, he cocks his head when she smiles up at him.
"Are you going to wear these all night," she reaches up taking his shades away from his face, he lowers his gaze when she smiles at him.
"I forgot," he mutters meeting her gaze.
June smirks grabbing his hand again, "now let's go find something to eat."
Almost an hour later, they drift slowly down the street each of them holding a snack of some sort.
"This is so nice," June sighs when their showered in another batch of glittery cards, this time she catches one with the image of a woman on it, "Siren," she reads before placing it in her pocket.
"Honestly, who would have thought that the end of the world would be so beautiful," she sniggers.
He nods when she leans against him, she smiles up at him.
"I'm happy I get to share it with you," she whispers closing her eyes.
Cloud sighs when Yuffie begins to have a conniption in his ear, "I am too."
June pauses saying, "really," she turns to him and he nods.
"B-but...I-I thought-."
"You thought wrong, why would I invite you if I didn't want to be with you here," he mutters pulling her along.
"I always thought that I was a burden to you," she mutters taking a bite out of her tube of cotton candy.
He looks at her and she shrugs.
"Sometimes you can...but I am sure we both do that," he mutters looking down into his empty bag of Goblin puffs.
June smiles saying, "true."
"Come one, come all to experience the Alexandria Adelaide's in parade!"
They look up to see the clocks small hand moving toward 10, June gasps saying, "we'd better go now!"
She takes his hand rushing down the street, when they make it to the square their met by the backs of almost everyone that had come to the event, June groans trying to see through the people, she could hear music playing in the middle of the crowd and the sounds of countless feet hitting the ground.
"Ugh, Cloud we're missing it," she shouts over the pounding drums.
He nods looking over the crowd but he grabs her hand saying, "come on."
She quirks a brow when he pulls her away from the crowd and toward the outside of town, "Cloud, where are we going?"
He pulls her down a back street and into a tall building, she bites her lip looking about but suddenly the walls begin to move downward, she turns to see him standing near a lever, his foot rested against it as they moved upward and toward the sky.
"A lift," she mutters and he nods.
Once the lift stops he grabs her hand pulling her away from it, they were now at the mid-level of the city, he rushes over to a short rooftop, he pulls himself up before turning and holding his hand out for her, she takes it and he pulls her up.
He leads her toward building top after building top until they make it to one of the buildings that the acrobat had been swinging from, Cloud jumps down from the building to a balcony not too far from the top, he holds his arms out for her but she hesitates.
"C-Cloud t-t-that's pretty f-f-far," she stammers but he shakes his head.
"Jump, I'll catch you."
June groans looking around at the surrounding rooftops in uncertainty, she didn't want to but the sounds of the drums and cheering people below reel her in, she takes a deep breath before jumping down, Cloud catches her before her feet even brush the ground, she hugs him saying, "ugh...so scary!"
"Look," he mutters to her.
June looks up as he moves aside to allow her to move closer to the railing of the balcony, June gasps.
Below, there were hundreds of Poi dancers in tight glittering suits, they acro-danced down the streets while a band marched alongside them, June claps her hands saying, "it's so beautiful!"
Cloud moves next to her and she smiles at him.
"Cloud this is the best day ever," she cries hugging him.
She nuzzles her face into his chest taking in his relaxing scent, she sighs, she wished the night could last forever, and that Tuesday would just cease to exist.
She turns her head when she feels a light shaking coming from Cloud, his hands shook slightly and his arms did as well, she frowns.
"Cloud-."
Suddenly loud cracking noises surround them, June gasps moving away from him and over to the railing again, fireworks reached into the sky, so close that she could almost touch them.
There were fireworks in the shape of fish, cloud's, people, anything the mind could dream up.
She gasps saying, "Cloud look," she turns expecting to find him staring disinterestedly up at the sky, but he watched her with what looked like worry, or fear, or...she couldn't tell, he held his ear with one hand and his other still shook slightly.
"Cloud-"
He turns away when she makes her way toward him, she grabs his arm and he looks at her, that's when she catches sight of his communicator in his ear, she sighs bringing her hand to the side of his face, he closes his eyes but when she reaches for his ear his eyes pop open, he stares at her in disbelief as she pulls the communicator away.
She purses her lips, "working huh?"
She brings the communicator to her ear only to be met with Yuffie and Barret's voices singing, "kiss her...just kiss her...do it...kiss her...you know you want to!"
June blushes pulling the communicator away from her ear, she bites her lip looking at it, now it was her turn to be nervous.
Cloud stared at her now, his face the reddest red she'd ever seen, she takes his hand muttering, "here."
She puts the communicator in his hand and he sighs, June turns back to the show with a small smile, it was all she could do to keep from passing out.
Inside it felt like her heart could explode, and her head felt as though it was filled with air. She brings her hand to her fluttery stomach, she felt sick but good sick, she gulps down some air trying to soothe her aching throat.
She could feel her mouth getting dry and her eyes watering, she didn't understand, she'd always dreamed of this moment, or hoped for it.
When she could look at Cloud with loving eyes knowing that he felt the same, so many times she dreamt of it, but why did she feel like crying now.
In the dreams, when he admitted it, she jumped him like a spider-monkey, as Paige would say but that was the farthest thing from her mind now.
"Cloud," she whispers in a weak hoarse voice.
"Yeah."
He drifts over to her and she leans against his arm, "you know...there's no place I'd rather be...right?"
He leans against the railing nodding when she looks at him.
She smiles saying, "for a long time...I've-."
At that moment a firework in the shape of the planet rises into the sky next to them, they both move away as its lights spread onto the balcony, June looks to Cloud who watched the sky his face showing something that she rarely saw in him, he looked contented.
June brings her hand to her arm when another firework meets the sky, but she couldn't look at it, Cloud now had all of her attention, the lights danced off of his face and eyes in such a beautiful way.
She walks next to him again looking at the railing, "these days with you...I appreciate so much...you...you've made the road ahead seem not so scary...just seeing you happy...makes me happy...and if I...if I could make that forever, I would."
He looks at her and she bites her lip, his eyes looked so soft now, their usual shocking blue, toned down to the color of the morning sky, he seemed afraid and the trembling of his hands denoted that.
She holds her hand out for him, he looks at it before bringing his shaky hand to her own, she smiles when he begins moving closer to her, the pounding in her ears grew louder with every step he took, and her knees grew weak.
"But...I-I...I can't," she whimpers casting her eyes downward
Cloud stops in front of her when their bodies meet, another firework reaches toward them and June leans back to look at it.
"Just beautiful," she breathes.
"Yeah," he whispers.
June turns to him, she bites her lip when she notices his eyes already on her, June takes his hand pulling him even closer, if this was going to be their last moment she wanted to make it count.
She gets to her toes and he brings his hand to her waist helping to hold her in place, she smiles placing her lips near his ear, "sneaky compliment...huh?"
He drags her closer as she brings her hand to his face, Cloud reaches up taking her hand in his own as she begins to move her lips towards his.
They linger there for a moment, their lips just barely touching, Cloud's hand now shook around hers, she edges closer deepening the kiss.
Her first kiss, was nothing like she imagined it.
In the movies she'd seen, everything was so well timed, and the lovers touched each other in all the right places.
Both she and Cloud seemed to hold a hunger for one another, that their kissing skills just could not match-up with, they pause trying to catch their breaths.
Cloud strokes her hand and she looks at him again, he runs his hand down the length of her arm until it met her elbow, he wraps his fingers around her arm pulling her closer, this time taking the lead.
June closes her eyes trying to catch to catch up with him, he clearly had more practice than her but for her it didn't matter, they could practice all night.
Never getting away...
June shudders when he pulls away leaning his forehead against her own, June gazes into those eyes once more, now realizing just how far her selfishness had taken her.
She whimpers as tears begin to fill her eyes, Cloud pulls away his eyes wide with shock, June turns away from him to find the streets below emptying, she wipes her tears away whispering, "I'm sorry."
Now the scary feeling that had once made her happy, was coming out of her in the form of tears.
Life wasn't fair to her, and she hadn't been fair to Cloud.
"I'm so sorry," she whimpers moving away from him.
Cloud leans against the railing now, he could hear small shouts coming from the ear-piece in his fist now, he shoves it in his pocket as he watches June pretty much break down before him, inside he felt stupid though he tried not to show it.
For so long, he thought that maybe if he was the one to come around, everything would just fit into place, he had never thought that maybe she didn't feel the same way.
"Take me...back...please," she croaks turning to him.
Cloud nods walking past her and over to the edge of the rooftop, but what could he do, she didn't feel the same way, he couldn't force her to.
But the way she cried, he'd never seen anything like it.
Was it that bad?
By the time they make it to the outside of town, Cloud had already resigned back into his shell, inside he cursed himself, so many times he told himself that he wasn't good enough for her.
Everything about her was so new and innocent, who was he, a man who had done so much wrong, to try to keep her with him.
How could he be so deluded, into thinking that someone like her could truly want to be with someone like him?
He'd spent so much time protecting her, trying to show her that as long as she had him, everything would be alright but it had all been for nothing.
He glares at the sky when they make it back to Ark-1, and how could he be as stupid as to listen to Yuffie, he turns his head in her direction when she gets off the bike, her body still trembling from the tears she shed.
He starts up Fenrir saying, "good night."
June turns to him as he puts his shades on, she rubs her arm saying, "thank you...for taking me out...thank you for everything."
Cloud nods driving forward, she bites her lip watching him disappear into the darkness of the night.
June sighs turning to Ark-1, as she begins to walk toward the building Reno and Rude come walking out, Reno laughs saying, "eh June late night...you cheating on me?"
June brushes past him without a word, Reno looks at Rude who shrugs.
When she enters her room, she finds Paige on the bed reading a book, Paige sits up with a grin.
"Your back earlier than I-...eh...June...what's wrong," she mutters crawling toward the end of the bed.
June removes her coat saying, "I've made a mistake...a big one."
Paige sighs when June falls onto the bed releasing fresh tears.
I'd never hated myself so much, I had gotten what I wanted but what about everyone else. To me, I'd become a parasite, leeching off of the world and everyone I'd come into contact with. They gave me their all, and I gave them zilch. Still I wonder, have I been forgiven? Has my countless tears managed to wash away my mistakes? No, that's stupid. I came into the world, I saw, and I lost the game...but...I smiled all the way through it, or at least I tried. I smiled and laughed so much, that part of me even started to believe the lie. Cloud, did I fool you as well?
Next: The Fantasist's End