A/N~ Yes, these chapters are taking long to get out. It's because I'm sort of angry at the fic right now. It's harder than I thought to set things up. But it will all come together soon, i think. Or...Maybe instead of putting up fillers, I'll just skip right to the good stuff XP. Sounds like a plan.
"…Aren't you going to take it?"
"…In a minute."
"The doctor said you needed it now." I clarified, as if Kunsel didn't know. He stared at the thumb-sized pill with animosity. He was refusing to take it, despite the nurses' warnings that he needed it sooner rather than later.
"You're leg will get infected."
"I said I would take it in a minute!" He snapped.
"Just put it in with your food, you won't even know it's there." I tried. His hard-set glare softened.
"Can you break it into smaller pieces?"
"…She said you had to take it whole." His glare returned. "Hey, it's not my fault!"
In a rage, he snatched up the pill and threw his head back and dropped it in his mouth.
Then, he froze still- his throat taut.
"Swallow it!" I yelled, fanning my hands in front of him. He let out a distressed groan and swatted my hands away. I replaced them with a water cup. "Come on- take a sip and swallow!" He shook his head fervently. I slammed the cup onto the bedside table, scattering droplets. "Damn it, Kunsel Monroe- you will swallow that!"
He suddenly gagged, and the pill came out of his mouth in a mess of saliva.
I stomped when I stood up and slapped him with a napkin.
"That's your own fault!"
"Yeah but they should know to give me smaller pills." He retorted, wiping his hands on the side of the sheets. I put my hands on my hips, trying not to further scold him. He raised his eyebrow at me. "Yes, Mother?" I rolled my eyes and sat back down, offering him a second napkin.
"Why aren't they just giving you shots? If pills are so hard for you to take?"
"I don't like needles." He said, staring straight ahead.
"No one does. But it might be easier-"
"I really don't." He continued.
"You're just being dramatic." I countered. He just shrugged, touching the pill with the edges of his fingers. I looked around the empty infirmary and sat back down. "I haven't seen Hojo in here. He usually comes up when a SOLDIER gets hurt like you did."
"Hojo doesn't…" he struggled for the word. "do that for me anymore."
"That's weird. He's usually jumping at the chance to-"
"I know." He interrupted, frowning at his lap. I stopped talking, mostly because he'd snapped at me so suddenly. "Hey, can you…get me some food? I'll try eating it." It was like he was dismissing me. I got the feeling he didn't want me around anymore, and I felt guilty for yelling at him about not taking his medicine. I had the same trouble with taking pills, he just hadn't gotten the chance to see that yet.
"Yeah. Sure."
I took a minute, standing outside of the Infirmary, and sulked. Damn, I was so helpful it hurt. Helping someone take a pill wasn't my thing. Couldn't I just stab something and have that fix everything?
I had a feeling Zack wouldn't be staying long. Missions were flocking to him like a chocobo after sweet greens. After we took care of Genesis' new summon, and after I somehow heaved him back onto the rooftop, the crisis was declared over. But we both knew that wasn't really how it was. Genesis and Angeal had disappeared again, leaving the both of us confused, Zack more hopeful than I was. But I did start feeling something else. Anxiety.
I no longer wanted to force Genesis to come back to ShinRa. The way Hojo was talking to them unnerved me. I'd been stupid. Genesis would be convicted and put into a cell, or a lab tank if Hojo had his way, if he were to be caught now.
I texted Zack, 'Let's meet up in the training room' and went there without waiting for him to respond.
That was the third time in a row I'd texted him without a response. I hoped he would get this one though. He shouldn't have been on a mission, but who knew? He was a 1st now, after all. But I was getting worried. Not for his safety, really, but for us. What was 'us' anymore? Kunsel was either kidnapped, recovering from a kidnapping in the infirmary, or teaching his night classes in between. Zack was always gone on missions now. And me? I got whatever was left, and too much work for the Infantrymen, or too heavy for the Turks. Sure I was a 2nd Class, but that status didn't seem to mean anything.
Zack was busy, so I wouldn't have been offended if he didn't show up, but I got a happy surprise. He was there even before I was, busily occupied with a set of squats.
I tapped the glass as I raced to the door, more excited than I'd been for weeks. And it was a good kind of excitement now too. No monsters were attacking, no crisis to deal with. Just Zack. Though he could be a crisis all of his own.
"You're hairs back to normal, sort of." He panted, ducking down between squats.
"You mean what the electricity did to it yesterday?" I clarified. "Come on, Zack, it still wasn't as spiky as yours. Or this other guy's. Have you met the Infantryman, Cloud Strife?" He shook his head, and s few drops of sweat dropped by my feet. "I swear, his hair is so fluffed up that I named my chocobo after him."
"Haven't seen him yet. When'd you get a chocobo? Oh, was that the thing with Kunsel and his bet? Haha."
"That was the time." I said, tossing and catching one of my swords. "Okay, what're you at? I'm going to start sparring weather you're done or not."
"Almost done!" He panted, quickening his pace. " Angeal's around again, so I can't get behind on practice." Still tossing around my sword, I leaned back against the wall.
"Yeah, he is around again. And Genesis too. What do you think they're doing, Zack?" He shook his head.
"I've been sent on all these missions where I run into them, but I still don't even know. At Banora, I saw a place where Genesis was making those copies of himself, before ShinRa bombed the place." I kept staring at the floor, but all my attention was on him. "Angeal keeps changing his mind about what he wants, but he still has his pride at least." Zack creased his face in a frown. "He's got a wing too."
"I noticed."
"He thinks it means he's a monster."
"So does Genesis." Zack had stopped his exercises, but neither of us really noticed.
"SOLDIERs aren't monsters." Zack murmured. I nodded, after a short pause.
"Real monsters never admit it." I quietly said. "Real monsters would deny it. Angeal and Genesis are just scared." Scared? Where had that come from. "At least, I think Genesis is." I clarified, clearing my throat after. Without another word, Zack and i picked up our swords and faced each other.
For someone who had just sped through fifty squats, Zack was limber and quick. I'd stretched already, and he was still faster. I was thankful for the two swords. It was confusing him enough so I could throw attacks in as well as defend. I remembered that my strength was compromised, and didn't try to take the six-foot-something 1st Class straight on.
Zack's focus was better.
I noticed that more than anything.
I deflected a downward strike with one sword, then pinned it down with my other blade. Zack simply let go of his sword altogether, pushing it into a spin, and jumped to the other side. The handle landed in his waiting hand, and he took it back without a struggle. I jumped back to regain some distance, and Zack smirked at me, his blue eyes glowing mischievously.
What was he up to?
He whipped out a materia and held it up. Lightning bounced across the floor and jumped onto my sword. I snapped my hand away like something had bitten it, and by then, Zack was prodding my back with his sword.
"You dropped your sword, butterfingers." I swatted him away and reached for my swords. I touched them and was sparked again.
"Ow! Damn it!" I slapped my hands together and jumped around. "I hate being shocked. My hair's already messed up, why'd you have to go and make it all…ugh."
"It's funny." He teased, eyes narrowing. "Spiky."
"Whatever. Why didn't you say it first, anyways?" I asked. "I mean, you didn't say, 'THUNDER' before you cast it." His face lit up in recognition and he laughed.
"Oh, that? Why would you? It just gives your attack away to your opponent." I finally was able to pick up my swords without getting shocked.
"You don't have to?" He shook his head, raven bangs flying. "Hmm…weird, I always do."
"Maybe it helps you focus. I've seen others do it too." He laughed, raising his sword high and jumping. He landed, slashing the air dangerously close to my face. "Omnislash! Haha, just like that!" I laughed a little, but still felt down.
"That explains it." I grumbled. "I've always sucked at using materia. Of course I'd need the extra focus. The Planet never lets me borrow anything, especially not magic." He sighed, and rolled his head down. He looked back up and smiled sadly.
"Cheer up, Hail! You seem so down lately."
"How would you know? You haven't been here in a while." I muttered. I hadn't meant much by it, but Zack took it more seriously. Like it really was his fault. He shrugged.
"I don't know…I haven't talked to you in a while. Not since you got back from Wutai. I've been gone so much…" Now Zack seemed like the somber one!
"Hey, it's okay. We're talking now, aren't we?" I said cheerfully, leaning against the wall beside him. How stupid was i? I had to be more careful not to upset him, especially with our mentors popping in and out of our lives so much. "Oh, congratulations!" I cheered. He cocked his head to the side, just like a confused puppy. "Wow, Zack, if you can't even tell…Maybe you don't deserve to be 1st Class." His eyes lit up.
"Oh, don't i!"Another happy, interest though struck me.
"1st Class…and a girlfriend, impressive." No matter how big Zack's smile was, he could always stretch it a bit more. He crossed his arms and smirked, suppressing those wide dimples.
"Maybe."
"Zack! Tell me!"
"Okay, well, she's amazing, first of all. Beautiful, Gaia, I even called her an angel." Zack proceeded to tell me how he'd survived a fall from the plates by crashing through a church in the slums and landing in an angel's flowerbed.
An angel named Aeris.
He'd gone on a rough 'date' with her and was given the opportunity to show off numerous times, despite having his wallet at one point stolen(by who I wondered) and having to fish for it in monster remains. And she had called him 'handsome'. At least, that's what she'd thought of his eyes.
Just before Zack got around to concluding his highly fabricated tale of unrequited love, he gasped.
"I-I have to go see her!"
"Huh? Is she waiting for you?"
"Well, maybe."
"Maybe?" I echoed skeptically. Sure he was good with the ladies, and i hand't seen him so excited about a girl in a while, but usually they wern't...on the edge of their seat to see him again.
"I said I'd see her again soon, and I don't want her thinking I don't like her!" He stammered, tugging his hands through his hair. "I have to go back!" Then he was running for the door, and racing past the transparent walls waving at me. I just smiled and waved back. Good for him, I guess...
And there went my sparring partner.
But that reminded me how I was supposed to be getting food for Kunsel. Well, even if he was just trying to get me out of the room, I still had to come back. I went down to the cafeteria, which was just setting up for lunch, and filled up a tray with random food. I picked off whatever looked good, but still passed by the violet-colored apples. It bothered me that I couldn't remember what Kunsel liked.
I tapped my finger on the side of the counter, pondering over which flavor of jello to get him. I was actually going off of color instead of taste. There was green, orange, and red. I hoped the flavors were something like apple, orange, and cherry, but I eventually decided against getting jello at all and went with vanilla pudding. Sure it still looked like a Flan monster, but it didn't jiggle around like one as I walked with it.
He would like vanilla though, right? You couldn't go wrong with that flavor. Sure, chocolate was good in chocolate form, but it got too sweet in ice cream and pudding form. It just-
"No! You know what I said about him being here!"
"Kunsel, please. He just wants to help-"
"No he doesn't! Get him out of here!" Hearing Kunsel's frantic yells were enough for me to start running down the hall, but it was the soft, tricky voice that really alarmed me.
"Really, he's so incoherent right now you should evoke his self-speaking rights and let the doctors handle-"
"Get him out!" The tray clattered against the waxed floor as I raced inside. A nurse gave a feeble attempt to halt me, but I quickened my pace and forced her to leap out of the way. Another doctor stood beside Kunsel's bed, along with Hojo. Except Hojo was the one holding the needle. Holding it dangerously close to Kunsel.
"What are you doing!" I demanded, quickly shoving myself in front of the scientist and Kunsel.
"Hail…" Kunsel's voice was just above a relieved whimper. I didn't look away from Hojo, who hadn't even taken a step back yet. Now the needle was closer to me. He looked out the door to the hallway.
"Quite a messy girl, aren't you?"
"You don't need to be here." I said, contradicting myself from what I'd told Kunsel earlier.
"Actually, you are the one who is unnecessary company." He added.
"Hail-" Kunsel's voice was higher now.
"I'm staying right here." I continued, nodding at the needle in his grip. "Until you put that away." Hojo shrugged.
"Well, since you asked so politely." He swung that hand around as if reaching for the medical kit, and Kunsel reacted explosively. He pulled me back with his arms, and I fell awkwardly on his legs before I could even get my hands out.
"Kunsel, I'm fine!" I snapped in confusion. What was that about?
"Just a slip of the hand." Hojo assured me, waving his hands, one of which held a syringe. "Didn't even scrape you-"
"You liar!" Kunsel blasted. "You stabbed her with it!" Did he? I felt my arms, searching for a tiny dot of blood. But there was none. He'd gotten pretty close to me with the needle, but he never-
"See? Monroe is obviously in no condition to leave here yet. He should be under constant surveillance." Hojo stashed away the needle, distracting the doctor with his words. Hojo clapped his case shut and stood ready to leave.
"When you see that he's in need of…further care, feel free to contact me. Though my schedule is busy with my…" His eyes narrowed at us. At me. "My other patients."
I pulled away from Kunsel, shakily padding myself down.
"He- he stuck you with that?" Kunsel asked, between nervous swallows. I shook my head, though I wasn't saying no quite yet.
"No!" I snapped. "He didn't…don't worry. He was just trying to freak you out." I assured him.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave now, Darvey." The doctor interrupted.
"Didn't you see that!" Kunsel demanded. "He-"
"You calm down, Monroe. I won't hesitate to put you back on sedatives." I swung my head to see him.
"Sedatives?" I repeated.
"Forget it." He murmured. He was deathly pale though, even his lips.
"Darvey. Move." I stood up, glaring at the doctor and slowly made my way out of the room. Almost at the door, I turned around.
"Kunsel!" I saw his bright eyes flash to me. "I…I dropped your food, sorry." His lips twitched into a smile.
"Don't worry about it. I'll-"
"Out." With a rough shove, the doctor cleared me of the infirmary entirely, locking it right in front of me.
Sheer panic, and uncontrollable shaking. I bolted upright, and ripped the blanket off my legs. A coat of sweat dripped all over my skin, and the blanket was suffocating.
My breath came out as a choked yell, and I had to clap my hand over my mouth to not wake up Kris. But a moment later I pulled that hand away to look at my palm.
Like always, there was a thick scar. But I could have sworn it was stinging now. I cupped it with my other hand and slowly relaxed.
I'd been dreaming. Not even my usual odd dreams, but simpler. Whatever I'd been dreaming about, it had ended after I grabbed a sword with my fingers and cut my hand off.
"Hail?" Kris murmured.
"It's nothing. Go back to bed." She was too sleepy to argue. I took one more look at my intact hand and reached for the blanket again.
A/N~ Oh, for future refrence, can you guys tell me what you like most, or want to see more.
Fights? Or...
...Romance?
Please review! XD