Hey! It's been a while since I've updated, right? Anyway, I don't own Final Fantasy VII. Enjoy and review!
"What's wrong?" Tseng asked, looking up from the paperwork.
"Nothing!" The girl replied quickly. She was silently cursing herself for deciding to dress to stay cool. Her shirt showed more of her back than she liked and for good reason. She was even leaning against the wall earning an odd look from her uncle.
The man sighed, "Well, can you drop off the report I've been telling you to take for the last ten minutes?"
"...of course, uncle..." Raiden replied weakly as she stood up straight; not letting her weight rest on the wall anymore. The man looked at her. She wasn't saying or doing anything to tease him or try to be cute or funny. No, she was listening. Something was wrong in his eyes.
The girl grabbed the file and walked out cursing short hair now. If she had longer hair this wouldn't be a problem. If it was as long as her front it would fix this predicament she was in. Now all she could do was rush down the hallways, praying no one would notice what she knew was there. Most people in ShinRa just pretended she didn't exist in the first place though, so what was she worrying about?
It was just a thought in the back of her mind as she walked briskly to some higher ups office, and dropped off the file while getting scolded for being late, and then she left just like that. Raiden let out a sight a relief. That was easy, but now there was walking back that was the problem.
What would she do if someone saw? Deny everything they said about it? Sounded okay to her. What if they insisted though? What if they lifted up her shirt to show everyone? Well, there would be an extremely angry Tseng to deal with, but that wouldn't take away what happened.
She let out a shaky sigh, "...I hate Mondays..."
No one heard her talking to herself, but if they had maybe they would have called her crazy. The girl continued to walk down the hallways, getting closer and closer to uncles office until she felt her whole body fall back and a thud on her chest.
"Oi, Raiden!" A familar voice said as in its familar accent.
"Cait..." The girl sighed, as she pushed herself up with her hands making the robotic animal climb on her shoulder and balance itself by holding onto her face. All the girl could figure was that he wanted to play at the most inconvenient time ever.
"What are you up to, lass?" Cait Sith asked as his tail went side to side against her back.
"Trying to hide out somewhere," She said, "Are you bored or something?"
"Aye," The robotic feline said with a nod.
"Well..." She sighed, "I got nothing else to do today, so I guess I can." Raiden smiled but still the thought of getting out of people's sight was still in the back of her mind.
"You'll play with me?" He asked, since there had been no mention of playing in the first place.
She laughed, "Yeah, what else would I be talkin' about?"
Cair Sith didn't reply to that, but instead jumped off her shoulder and said, before running off, "Catch me if you can, lassy!"
The girl without thinking ran after him saying, "Not cool, Cait Sith! Making me run like this!"
"You said you'd play," He said as he ran like on all fours, increasing his speed.
"Alright, alright; Ya' got me there!" The girl said as they went around a corner.
The cat was outrunning her, since he was a robot and a cat; however, she continued to chase after him. This confused the heck out of the people they ran past since no one knew what was really going on. Raiden was close to running into some people to which she moved quickly to avoid. The girl was actually quite good at dodging and evading things when she wanted to.
"Wait till I tell your Uncle!" An angry man who she made drop all his papers yelled.
"Go for it!" She yelled back with a laugh. Raiden was convincing herself that cat would get tired eventually. Gaia knows she was, but this was Reeve's creation, so it wasn't likely. The inevitable happened which was the girl holding herself up with a hand on a wall trying to catch her breath. "Stupid...cat..."
"What is this I hear about your slacking?" She could hear her uncle's stern, serious voice appear behind her.
"What? Who? Me?" Raiden asked, turning around to face him while slowly walking backwards.
"Yes, you," He said sternly, "You are to report back to me once you deliver papers. You are working now, not playing."
"I was chasing Cait Sith." She said, stepping back again, "Had to get him back to Reeve..."
"Reeve can retrieve his toy himself," Tseng said and grabbed her wrist, so she wouldn't go anywhere, "You are not losing this job."
"Yes, sir... Raiden mumbled.
"We will talk about this again when we return home," He stated as he drug her down the halls and back to his office.
The girl sighed knowing that meant an hour long rant on why she was acting stupid. She should have known better. And worse yet now people decided they were going to pay attention to her since Tseng was dragging her down the hallways. Luck wasn't on her side today and the way Tseng was pulling her arm was making things worse for her as her shirt moved up. Some people stared, but what exactly do you think about that? Everyone there had a scar or two. They weren't as bad as hers, but they were working for ShinRa, so their bet was she got caught in some battle. A few planned on asking later, but not with Tseng around. That would be too risky.
"I'm sorry, uncle." The girl spoke up. Her voice sounded upset and the look on her face was so scared it could soften anyone's heart, but it was for a more of a different reason than being in trouble right now.
He simply sighed and shook his head. Raiden continued to look at the ground, not even daring to say another thing to him. He took her to the office and began on some paperwork, expecting her to be a good little puppy and listen. The girl remained looking like this for the rest of the day not even cheering up a bit like Tseng expected her to.
It was part of the punishment. A punishment that was well deserved even though she was more upset about being drug around than anything else. It was like she was a child.
Long_Time_No_See_!_!_!_!
Corona's sleep was dreamless thanks to her medicine. She just couldn't stand anymore nightmares like she had been having after Shion arrived. It was just better this way and kept her safe from any new memories that may appear.
She lied on her side with a soft sigh. She liked it like this with Vincent next to her. He helped keep her bed warm, which was even better for her because her body never seemed to give off enough heat to keep it as nice and cozy like it had been for the past few times he had been sleeping there.
She had woken up closer to him today than she expect, but it wasn't like she was complaining. His steady heartbeat was calming to her while she slept. Now though, since she was awake, she moved away from him, so the noise could no longer be heard. She lightly smiled at the memory of it, believing she was truly fortunate for having him, while her heart ached ever-so-slightly, because of how she so easily betrayed Skyler.
"How," She asked herself, "Did I not try harder to hold on? Is it really that easy for me to leave
a man who claimed he'll marry me?"
She made out Vincent's figure in the darkness before shutting her eyes again to continue her thoughts. "Vincent is awfully handsome, though, and has never been cruel to me, but that's how Skyler started out. He said the same things, but never held try to those sweet words. Maybe Vincent will do the same... but I don't want to believe that. He will be different. This will be different. I will be different.
"I can try that blonde hair dye out and blue eye contacts will do. Just like that girl in the magazine. I'll cut it too and straighten it. Vincent is sure to love it. Change is what is needed, but can I really succeed?"
Corona sat up, looking at her hands in the darkness. Honestly, she wasn't sure if change was the best thing. He loved her like she was, so would change make him hate her? Should everything just stay the same? But what if he sees someone better? She sighed softly, pulled her knees to her chest, and closed her eyes since she was feeling that overbearing sadness hit her again. She didn't know why it was happening to her now, but she'd be damn if she'd let it get the better of her.
She must have been like that for quite awhile since Vincent noticed her distressed figure in the darkness. He sat up letting his black hair fall out of his face and asked, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," She lied and, even if he couldn't see it, she smiled.
"...You don't look fine." Vincent said, softly.
"It's dark, Vincent, you can't see me," Corona stated.
"I know, but I can still tell." He said.
She rubbed her eyes and said, "...You're right. I'm no good at lying..."
"Even so, what's wrong?" Vincent asked.
"I miss my dad and I miss being happy all the time. Now I'm only happy with you and if you leave I'll never be happy again," She said and wanted to cry from admitting it, but did her best not to, "I get so lonely and I have no friends, Vincent. Why doesn't anybody like me? I try so hard to be nice and never yell, but everyone hates me and they punish me for everything I do. Why can't everyone be like you or dad?"
"They just don't know you that well. I'm sure if they did you would more friends than you wanted." Vincent said.
"It's because I'm a freak," She said, hiding her face in her knees, "I'm never gonna be like you, Yuffie, Cid, or Raiden. I'll always be a freak and no one is gonna be my friend. I'll be alone forever... I don't want to see the world end, Vincent. Why couldn't they just let me die? It is so lonely living here and my heart always feels like it aching and it's like the whole world is moving on without me and all I can do is watch."
"You're not a freak." The man stated.
"Then why am I not like anyone else?" Corona asked, "Why can't I at least be normal enough to have more than one friend?"
"Maybe it's because you don't get out very much." Vincent said, "And normal is just how one looks at it."
"It's so dangerous though..." She stated.
"Isn't everything though? Taking risks is just something people have to do in life."
"I can't..."
"Don't say that so soon."
"No, Vincent, I really can't. Dad will be upset if I leave the house too much..."
"Corona..." Vincent said, "All of these problems you have are leading back to the fact you don't go out much. Maybe you should try to get out a little more; perhaps volunteering somewhere or getting a part time job will help you meet more people."
"My father will be upset if I leave too much," She said, sounding distant now as if the sadness was pulling her away, "He won't love me if I go away, so I have to stay here. You don't understand."
"He isn't here anymore, Corona..." Vincent said
"He's gonna come back and I'll be waiting for him when he does..." She said as she tried to sound okay and felt a tear escape from her eye.
Vincent sighed, "I really don't think he is coming back, Corona..."
"He'll come back... He's just too busy for me right now, but when he's done... He'll come and we'll be a family again..." She said, choking on a sob.
Vincent stayed silent. He knew that would impossible, since her father had been dead for many years.
But what did Corona have to hold onto now? She needed this right now. She needed to feel less alone and even if it made her sob, she could try to work out a story in her head that would make everything okay. Her heart ached and she wished her dad would come to say calming words while holding her and stroking her hair like he had done in the past when things were so much better for her.
If there was any way she could feel like her old self she was willing to try it, since her father was the man who raised her, saved her, and gave her anything she wanted, except for freedom. Now, the idea of leaving and chancing her father's wrath scared her.
She hugs her legs tighter, trying to stop her sobs, but it was no use. She had lost like always. Vincent moved over closer to her and attempted to comfort the poor girl.
"I-I'm sorry," She said between choked back sobs and hugged herself even tighter.
He shushed the girl and wrapped his arms around her, "It's okay..."
She pointlessly wiped away the tears, only giving room for new ones. "I'll be better... You're right. My dad isn't coming back... ever..."
"...I'm...I'm sorry." was all he could think to say.
"Don't apologize for something that isn't your fault," She said in an fragile tone and kept her thoughts to herself this time.
He stayed silent again. What do you even say to someone who lost a parent? I'm sorry just doesn't cut it.
"So, you think I need to get out more, huh?" She asked with a pathetic laugh as she wiped her eyes with the palm of her hand and sniffled.
"Well, it wouldn't be bad for you." He said, softly.
Corona moved herself away from him. "Vincent, did I ever tell you how sick I was before I got Shion...? She is supposed to help me, but she gets tired sometimes. If she stops for too long, I'll die from some random illness. Going out there is too dangerous for someone like me..."
"I wish you would just give it a try..."
"...Would that make you happy?"
"It doesn't matter if I am happy or not. I want what's best for you," He stated
"How would this be 'best' for me? I just told you I could die... Is that what's 'best' for me? Death?"
"No, you won't die."
"How do you know?"
"I just do." Vincent said
"And if you're wrong?" She asked.
"Then if you happen to face death so will I."
"...You're stronger than me though..."
"I wouldn't say that."
"You wouldn't say a lot of things, but it's true..."
"But you are stronger than you think." He stated.
"That's kind of hard for me to believe right now," She said and lied back down, since her head felt heavy.
"I know, but all it takes is you trying to believe it is so," Vincent replied, "but for now you may want to get some rest..."
Corona nodded and sighed. "I'm so tired..."
Vincent lied back down, but was still kept close to her, "If you have any bad dreams or get upset again don't hesitate about waking me up."
"Alright... Thank you, Vincent," She said and a soft smile came across her mouth, "Good dreams..."