February 14, 2013 2:30 p.m.
"Soria, are you sure this is a good idea?" Kaden shuffled around, attempting to dislodge the self-consciousness that was sinking in.
"Of course it is! We'll look amazing and it's just a company dance right? So we don't need to impress anyone right? This is just for fun right?" Soria sounded jittery, wringing her hands together in nervous anxiety. The two friends stood together, the Turk pacing back and forth across the dull beige carpet of the Third Class standard apartment.
"Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?" Kaden yawned, stretching across the torn up couch the young brunette had managed to purchase after receiving her first paycheck.
"BOTH OF US WHY AREN'T YOU FREAKING OUT LIKE I'M FREAKING OUT!?" Soria wailed madly, leaping onto Kaden knees first. The couch creaked in protest as the two girls wrestled playfully before the SOLDIER teen got the upper hand and pinned the caramel colored girl to the floor below.
"Because, to answer your question, I don't plan on asking anyone." Soria flailed wildly beneath her friend, thumping her fists on the floor while bucking recklessly in an attempt to dislodge the SOLDIER.
"What do you mean!? You aren't going to ask-" Kaden shoved her friend's head into the carpet below.
"Why would I ask him…"Kaden climbed almost shakily to her feet, lifting her PHS to check messages.
"Well," Soria shuffled on the couch. "Because you like him. I have never seen you like somebody, so I want you to go for this. To really be happy." Kaden's eyes clouded for a moment before she wiped a gloved hand across them.
The brunette's lips twitched, right hand clutching her cellular device slightly tighter than necessary. "I've always been happy Soria. You were by my side, making sure I didn't completely ruin my future on someone hardly worth my breath. If anything, you would be happier if you had gone your own way. You wouldn't have had to deal with…everything that's wrong with me."
Soria made her way across the small apartment to where Kaden stood, back turned and steely black eyes locked onto the opposite wall. The Turk pulled the barely older girl into a sisterly hug, feeling the self-guilt eating through the SOLDIER's defenses.
"You're my sister Kaden, I'm not going anywhere without you. You saved my life more times than I can even count. I won't just abandon you because of things you can't even control." Kaden growled, trying to pull away. Soria wouldn't allow her though, she knew what would happen if she did. Kaden would recede into herself, holding all of her emotions inside until they began to literally tear her apart from the inside out; and she would do all of this just to spare Soria the worry. But what Kaden never seemed to understand was by doing this, Soria worried all the more.
"If anyone ever found out-" Kaden sounded as though she were choking on each word as it left her lips.
"We would explain to them how you didn't choose any of that. You aren't a terrorist. You aren't a murderer. You protected both of us before I ever learned to fight, isn't it time you let me help you just a little?" Soria had gotten through to her, she knew it from the defeated sigh Kaden released.
With a slow nod, Kaden turned expectantly to her friend. "What are you going to have me do?"
Soria held up a magazine, offering it to the brunette.
"Talk to him." Kaden stared for several tense seconds before turning her attention back to Soria.
"Only if you talk to-" Soria smiled.
"Deal."
February 14, 2013 4:00 p.m.
The seventeen year old General of Shinra's SOLDIER hadn't seen the Third Class SOLDIER since that fateful holiday where she had gifted him with something…unique. Genesis later said the word to describe the gift would be heartfelt.
The auburn-haired male would also go on to say it was completely wasted on someone as antisocial as the Silver Elite. After examining the gift, the meaning behind it, and the thought she must have put into it, Sephiroth was more or less in agreement.
"Tell me Seph, have you a date for the party tonight?" Genesis was perched on the corner of the Silver Elite's desk, staring at some non-existent flaw in his finger nail. Sephiroth shuffled through a few more papers, the fluorescent lighting doing little more than giving the teen a headache.
"Genesis," Sephiroth began, keeping his tone neutral. "Why would you ask that when you clearly know the answer?"
A Cheshire grin spread across the Crimson Commander's lips as he glanced at his friend. "There is a particular Third Class I thought you would perhaps-"
"You are obviously more idiotic than I previously thought. Just because some child who got lucky is infatuated with me and gives me a gift does not mean I will return any of those pathetic feelings." In all honestly, Sephiroth was slightly curious about the girl. She was determined, stubborn, agile, and full of potential. But she was a child. And any interest he showed in her would only be viewed as a weakness.
"Only got lucky?"
"That is what I said is it not?"
"It is…." Genesis's words trailed off as he fiddled with on of his buttons.
"I didn't think I stuttered." Sephiroth's eyes didn't leave the document in front of him.
"Very well, I can tell when a subject should be dropped. So tell me, did you hear they are hiring a new woman to head the TURK training department? Her name is Sarah or Sophia or something of the sort…"
Kaden chose to step away from the slightly ajar door at that point, a throbbing pain emanating from deep within her chest and spreading throughout her entire being.
This was like no pain she had ever felt before. This was….
A tear trickled down her cheek and dripped onto the carpet below.
Kaden only hoped Soria was having better luck than herself.
February 14, 2013 4:00 p.m.
"Angeal? Could I maybe…talk to you?" The SOLDIER Commander turned to look at the shuffling girl.
"Soria, what is it?" Needless to say, after that surprise Christmas gift, the two were close enough to be considered almost friends.
"I," Soria sucked down a breath. "I was just wondering if you had a….a…..date to the dance thing." The word date was lower than a whisper as Angeal moved closer to the girl. A smile tugged at his lips as he realized how much courage it took for the youth to as he this.
"Soria," he reached out and rested a steady hand on her shoulder. "I would be honored to go with you. But only as friends." Soria didn't look fazed in the slightest, she was giggling and bouncing before flinging herself into a hug with the Commander.
"Angeal…" Soria asked, her face still pressed into the center of his chest.
The nineteen year old sighed. "Yes Soria?"
"Why can't we date?" The honorable Commander chuckled at the childish tone she used.
"The age difference is just-" Soria perked up again turning to stare at the man with her chin resting on his chest.
"So as soon as I'm older we can date?"
"If the feelings are still here, then maybe." Soria grinned, hugging him tightly.
"I'll take that!" With much forced will, Soria disentangled herself from the man of her affections.
"I have to go check on Kaden! See you tonight!"
Angeal smiled as he watched her go, shaking his head good-naturedly before turning to make his way toward Sephiroth's and Genesis's offices.
Author's Note: Things are beginning to slowly unravel. Not just romance wise, but plot wise as well. Thanks for reading!
