Becoming 1st class

The cold water pouring down on Laina's head and body from the shower head above her did little to soothe her emotion over what she experience and see for the past few hours since her return to Midgar with Zack, Crisis and Tseng from Banora village. She clench her hand into a fist and punched the wall before her in anger/frustration.

"I don't get you, Genesis." Laina thought to herself. "What happened to you during those two months you were missing and why won't you tell me?"

A knock from outside the bathroom door stopped her thoughts and she heard Phemie's voice coming through it.

"Sister, is that you in there?" said Phemie. "It's me, Phemie."

XXXX

Half an hour ago…

"All right, Phemie. That's enough for today." Mr Swensen said to Phemie. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright, Mr Swensen. See you tomorrow." answered Phemie as she left the item shop and head toward the Sector 7 train station to take a train home. 15 minutes later, she reached her apartment, opened the door and went in only to be surprised by the sound of someone taking a shower in the bathroom. Only when she turned on the lights and see her sister's sword lying propped up against a wall did she relax her guard. She went to the bathroom and knocked on the door lightly.

"Sister, is that you in there?" asked Phemie. "It's me, Phemie."

She heard the sound of the water stopping and some rustling sounds before the door open inward to show Laina (who had the courtesy to cover her body with a long towel before coming out) looking at Phemie, her face a mixture of sadness/anger.

"What's wrong, sister?" said Phemie, getting worry. "Did something happen during your mission?"

"Yeah, you can say that, Phemie." replied Laina. "Look, why don't you wait at the living room until I'm done dressing, alright?"

"A-Alright." replied Phemie as she turned and went to the living room and sat down, waiting for her.

XXXX

A half hour later, Laina told Phemie everything that happened when she, her partner Zack and the two Turks gone through during their mission in Banora village.

"And after Zack and I leave the village, we both turned around and watch as missiles were dropped on Banora village, destroying everything in it." said Laina with her head down while sitting on the couch. A few seconds later, she looked up at Phemie and saw tears slowly sliding down her face, her hands clasped together.

"Hey, don't cry, little sister." said Laina as she brushed the tears away.

"Why would Genesis do that, sister?" said Phemie as she gazed at Laina, who look down again before answering back.

"I don't know, Phemie. I did try to ask him twice but he wouldn't tell me why at all. And neither did Angeal, Zack's friend/mentor."

"…How is he, by the way?" asked Phemie.

"The same as me, Phemie. Feeling sad/depressed over what happened." replied Laina.

They both lapsed into silence until Laina told her to go to sleep, which she did. Minutes later, Laina went to her own room and fell into a restless sleep as well.

XXXX

Six days later, Zack was standing all by himself on the SOLDIER floor, deep in his own thoughts.

"Angeal, the war is over. Everyone here in Shinra is happy for it. But… as for me and Laina…"

Thoughts of Angeal's Buster sword, the time he saw Angeal touch his forehead on it, the time Angeal rescued him and Laina from Fort Tamblin anti-soldier monsters and the words Angeal's mother told him and Laina about sword and honour back at Banora went through his mind.

"Where did you go now?" said Zack as he closed his eyes and open them again when his phone starts ringing. He flipped it open to answer it.

"Zack here."

"It's been a while, Zack." said a familiar voice from the other line.

"Sephiroth?" Zack answer in surprise.

"Is Laina with you now?"

"Uh, no. She's not."

"Then go and find her. After you found her, both of you need to come to Director Lazard's office immediately."

"Alright, got it." said Zack, finishing his call and put his phone away before he went looking for Laina. He reach the elevator and was about to press the button next to it when it open on its own to reveal none other than Laina inside.

"Laina." said Zack, feeling slightly happy to see her.

"Oh. It's you, Zack." replied Laina when she looked up at him.

"Perfect timing, Laina. Sephiroth told us both to head up to Director Lazard's office immediately." Zack told her as he enter the elevator and press "Up".

"For what?"

"We'll know it when we reach there, Laina." Zack said with a small sigh.

XXXX

When they arrived and entered Director Lazard immaculate, spacious office (which in Laina opinion, is a great-looking office), they saw Sephiroth leaning against a long desk at the right side of the office before Director Lazard, who sat at his desk. Sephiroth gave them a brief glance before looking back at the file in his hands.

"Well, here we are, Director." said Laina as she and Zack glanced at Director Lazard. "So what is it you wanted to tell us both?"

"Congratulations," Director Lazard began saying with a polite smile at them. "As of this second, the two of you have been promoted to SOLDIER 1st class."

Laina gasped, feeling surprise and a little happy after hearing it while Zack just sighed, not in the same mood as her.

"Huh. And here I thought that I'll be happier." Zack said as he stared at both of his hands.

"Understandable." Director Lazard said with a nod as he cupped his chin. "Too much happened too fast."

"That's true, Director." said Laina sadly, her earlier mood diminished.

"Zack, Laina. I'm afraid that I'll need both your assistances again."

From the corner of her eye, Laina saw Sephiroth putting the file down on the desk behind him before he crossed his arms. Zack glanced at him as well.

"Are you pushing another assignment onto us?" Zack said sarcastically at Sephiroth.

Sephiroth sighed before glancing at them. "My apologies."

"Yeah, whatever." Zack answer before turning his gaze away. Laina look at them both before she shakes her head.

"I'll fill you both in on the assignment soon but before that…" Director Lazard told them. "Both of you go to the briefing room and change into a SOLDIER 1st class uniforms."

Both Zack and Laina nodded before they left his office.

XXXX

They went into the briefing room and take out the SOLDIER 1st class uniforms from the supply pods before they both turned around to change, their backs facing each other.

"You shouldn't behave like that just now in Director Lazard's office, Zack." Laina began saying as she took off her purplish sleeveless shirt before putting on the black one.

"Shouldn't I?" replied Zack as he change his shirt. "I know I should be happy when Director Lazard told us that we've been promoted to 1st class but…"

"But the reason why you're not happy is because Angeal isn't here to congratulate you on your promotion, is it?"

"Yeah, that's right!" Zack snapped out after he's finish changing his soldier outfit. "He's gone, he's not here right now because of Genesis! It's his fault that Angeal's gone!"

Now that really set Laina's mood on fire. She went to stand before Zack, glaring at him (right after she finish changing her outfit, thankfully). "How dare you? You think you're the only one who feel betray and in pain? What about me and Phemie, huh? We too lose someone close to us for the past 4 years as well! So don't you go and think that you're the only one who feels this way!" She half snarled/half shouted at him.

Finished, Laina spun around and left him as she exited the briefing room. Now alone, Zack punched the supply pods in frustration/anger while he mentally berated himself before leaving the room, intending to apologize to her.

(I know I skipped the part where one of the Shinra scientist began telling them about materia fusion but I just don't feel like putting the part in it.)

XXXX

"Laina, wait!" Zack's voice called out from behind her as she entered the elevator, he swiftly got in after her seconds before it closed. She crossed her arms while staring at him, still pissed off.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Zack said apologetically to her. "But you do know that some of what I just said is true in a way."

Laina continue to stare at him in anger until she sighed with her eyes close, uncrossing her arms. "Yeah, I do know that, Zack. It's just that…"

Zack didn't let her finish her sentence as he pulled her into a hug to console her. Embarrassed, she struggle to free herself from the hug but his arms stay firm around her.

"Zack, let go of me now. This is a really wrong time for you to do this." said Laina, still embarrassed.

"I know that, Laina." replied Zack. "But still I wanted to do it. To… console you somehow."

"Why?"

"Because…" Zack stop to take a slightly deep breath and was about to continue when the elevator door open, telling them that they have arrived at Director Lazard's office. Laina pull herself away from Zack and attempt to calm herself, which worked, albeit slightly.

"Whatever you're going to say to me just now, Zack. You can tell me about it next time." Laina said to Zack as she went into the office. "Shoot! Another missed chance!" Zack cursed slightly to himself before he went in as well.

XXXX

"The Shinra company has decided to eliminate Genesis and his cohorts." Director Lazard said to the both of them (Sephiroth as well) as he stood up. "This includes Angeal as well."

"What?" said Laina, feeling as if someone had just punch her right on her solar plexus.

"And you want us to do it?" Zack asked him, feeling horrified after hearing what he just said.

"No, the Shinra Army will handle it."

"What about me and Laina?" Zack said as he took a step forward.

"They don't trust both of you." replied Director Lazard as he looked at them.

"They believe that both your emotions for them will hamper your judgements." Sephiroth said behind them as he walked across behind them to the other side of the room.

"Well, obviously!" Laina answered back. "The both of us just can't bring ourselves to do it!"

Sephiroth turned to look at them both. "That's why I'm going too."

Zack slowly turned around, glaring at Sephiroth. "To kill them, is it?"

Laina's gaze move back and forth between Zack and Sephiroth stare-off until they heard an alarm go off and red lights began glowing in the room. Shutter rose up and covered the many files Director Lazard had in his office.

"An intruder!" yelled Director Lazard.

"Where?" Zack demanded as he switch his gaze from Sephiroth to Director Lazard.

"Close by." replied Director Lazard. "Sephiroth, the president! Zack and Laina, the entrance!"

"Got it, Director!" replied Laina and the three of them hurriedly exited his office.