Ooook: Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I understand where you're coming from. I also think that people aren't perfect and that they do crazy emotional things when it comes to feelings. (I've been there) The fact that you see Eden that way is something of a compliment to me, because she's not perfect, and she does stupid things. She makes decisions that don't make sense sometimes and I don't mind that she's a simp. I've been a simp at some point in my life too, and so the emotions that come with this feel realistic to me. It's alright that you feel that way, so thank you for this feedback.


Chapter 236

When I walked around the corner, I already found them, standing in the hallway, talking to each other, heads close together to look at a file. Jack's eyes fell on me, a smirk appearing on her lips when she chose that moment to place a hand on his shoulder and lean into him. Her blond curls tickled his hand. My eyes narrowed on their own accord, and my guts wrenched at the sight. The vision appeared in my mind again, fueling the fire inside of me. She was truly a nasty one, this one. It was about time someone put her in her place. I held my head high, shoulders back. I wouldn't let her get me down.

"What are you looking so smug about?" My voice rang through the otherwise empty corridor. It was a rhetorical question, I knew what she was so happy about.

Reno looked up at my sudden appearance, his cheeks turning red when our eyes met. So, he knew shame after all. "Foxy," he acknowledged me, a smile slowly spreading on his features. He seemed relieved to see me, eager even. "You're here. You okay? Can we talk?" He moved to come over to me, but Jack chose this time to open her mouth and hold him back.

"She's just a bad loser, that's all."

Did she know no shame at all? How could she just stand here in the hallway with him after being turned down like that? She would just keep trying? How could he stand her?

"Yeah?" I challenged her, my muscles tensing up, my eyes focused on her hand on his arm. She would actually physically hold him back from me? I was getting ready to pounce. "At least I don't have to resort to cheap tricks to get what I want."

"Maybe you should have, because you still don't have what you want. Whereas I, will." She let go of him and slowly stepped closer to me, swaying her narrow hips.

"And yet, you didn't," I shot back, taking a step towards her. "And I'm pretty sure you won't. Besides, I've had more than you by far. And it was good."

"Uh… ladies?" Reno awkwardly asked, oblivious to the silent war that had been going on between us since the moment we met. Did he really fail to see that she was doing this to me on purpose?

"You're lying!" she growled through clenched teeth, ignoring him.

"No need to lie about it, you're really no threat to me," I said.

She whipped out her EMR, just as I pounced at her, Reno completely forgotten, looking dumbstruck. She swung it at me, but I easily snatched her wrist and twisted it around. I yanked the rod from her hand in a fluid motion, pressed my arm into her throat and pushed her into the wall. She grunted loudly at the impact. I twisted the rod around in my hand and slammed it tip first into the wall next to her head, where it embedded itself at least two inches deep, sending out little sparks. Jack's eyes went wide at my sudden capacity for aggression, something she had yet to bear witness to. Well, now was the perfect time for that. She'd even had the audacity to unbutton not one, not two, but three top buttons on her blouse, showing a pink lace bra. I could just see down there, right down to her bellybutton. More anger flared up inside me, knowing she'd done it for Reno.

I hissed at her, all friendliness forgotten. "You think you can just show up here and flaunt your stuff on my territory and expect nothing bad to happen? There are things going on between him and I that you can't even begin to fathom with that tiny adolescent brain of yours. So, listen very carefully to what I'm about to tell you. If I see you touch him again, I will break you fingers. If you dare to try and kiss him again, I will knock out your teeth. You show up at his apartment again, they won't find a big enough piece of you to bury. Maybe you don't know me well enough to know I don't make empty threats, and maybe you haven't been around long enough to know my reputation, but it's time you know who it is you're messing with." Her fearful eyes shot over to Reno, who still stood looking dumbstruck. "Don't look at him," I said quietly. "He knows I don't make empty threats. I shot him, twice, just because I felt like it. What do you think I'd do to you, huh? It's a simple warning. Back the fuck off my man. Got it?"

She didn't reply, she just stared at me wide-eyed, but it was good enough for me. I let go of her and left her to go where I was heading in the first place.

"That was kinda hot," Reno commented as I passed him by.

"Don't talk to me," I said icily, but he followed me down the hall anyway, completely ignoring Jack, who still stood glued to the wall.

"What'd I do?" He seemed bewildered. Was he an idiot?

I spun around and faced him, poking him in the chest with an angry finger. "You let her into your apartment. What the hell did you think she was there for? To sell cookies? Did you miss the subtle signs when she shoved her tongue down you throat?"

He took me by the elbow to stop me from stalking further down the hall, people were already looking. I noticed Rude rolling back his chair from inside the office, quirking an eyebrow at the sudden commotion.

"I'm here to see Tseng, let go of me," I said to him, not wanting to meet his eyes.

It was all just so embarrassing. Did I just tell someone off for dripping over my man? My man? He wasn't even my man. What the hell had I been thinking, saying things like that?

"Foxy, don't be like that, c'mon..." He lowered his voice, his eyes darting around to make sure nobody was listing in on the conversation. "She came over to talk about her training. She needed help. I'm her mentor, it's my job to help her out. She ain't so bad."

So now she was the damsel in distress? Gimme a break! "Oh my Gods, she went down on you while we were on the phone! How is that okay?!" It burst from my lips without thinking, not believing he was actually standing up for her. This time people really were looking.

"Shhh!" Reno hissed, his cheeks going as red as his hair. "Gah! Are you insane?! Geez!" Down the hall, some female staff stood giggling together, hiding their faces behind a file. They scattered when I glared daggers at them. "Great, now what's everyone gonna think?" Reno grumbled moodily.

"That someone went down on you, good for you," I replied stoically, folding my arms over my chest.

He hid his face in his hands, as if trying to disappear on the spot. "This is so embarrassing..."

"So yeah, good for you, but I really didn't need to hear that." I talked right over him, not caring what he thought of it, so he dragged me along by the elbow into an empty office space, where I just continued as if I hadn't been moved. "And she knew I was on the phone, just like she knew I was going to follow her into your office yesterday. She's throwing it in my face every chance she gets, until she gets what she wants and you honkadonk her."

He grinned at me, which was the last thing I had expected him to do.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

His grin didn't relent. "Ya said 'honkadonk'." I just gave him a blank look. His tone turned more serious when I said nothing. "C'mon, babe, she's still in her teens. What the hell do you take me for? And for the record – though the rumor has already spread, thanks to you – I stopped her and sent her home."

"Why would you, when such a hot, willinggirl drops to her knees for you?" My mood was improving for some reason, but I refused to show it, stubborn as I was.

"Coz, I don't really dig easy, I like 'em hard to get. Guess we'll see what happens."

"What's gonna happen, is that she's going to get her pretty little face broken if she keeps this up, that's what."

"So jealous," he chuckled, seemingly having a ball now that we were alone. "I'm lovin' it."

"Uhuh," I replied, glad the conversation was about to be over. I turned, opened the door and continued down the hall. "Remember Genesis? Were you lovin' that too?"

"I wasn't jealous," he argued as he followed beside me.

"Then neither am I."

"Well played, Foxy lady," he chortled. "I'm coming with you to Tseng, we're doing this mission together. He will fill us in."

Reno knocked and opened the door for me once Tseng ordered us inside. Rude and Elena were already there, waiting for us. Lately, I'd begun taking notice of these little gestures of his, and I scolded myself for wondering whether he did those things for Jack too. I really needed to stop thinking like this, or I might end up getting into a fight again. This was a bad way to start changing my ways.

Tseng was seated behind his desk, looking more serious than ever. "Didn't I say first thing, Eden?" Tseng asked.

Rude was silently standing beside Tseng's desk, and nodded in greeting at my arrival.

"It is first thing, actually," I replied. 9Am was early enough for me to get started, in my opinion. "Haven't done anything else today yet. Yeah, I got dressed. Seemed kind of rude to show up naked." This reminded me of my first day in SOLDIER.

"Not a bad idea," Reno grinned. Elena joined in, but Tseng didn't seem amused.

"I know you don't work for me, Eden, but I would appreciate respect for my requests."

"Yes, Sir," I replied solemnly, surprising myself with my ability to be humble. "Won't happen again."

"Good. Reno, where's Jack?"

"Uh..." He shot me a sideways glance, which I didn't answer. "Not sure, we were just goin' over the Corneo file in the hallway. Bathroom, maybe?"

Just then, the door opened and she entered, looking completely unaffected. Was this the impact I had on children nowadays? None? It angered me, afraid that my threat hadn't caused the desired effect, even if I had overdone it a little. More than a little, actually. It was embarrassing, now that I thought about it again. Having said those things in front of Reno… It didn't matter he thought it 'kinda hot'. Dear Gods.

"Kind of you to join us, Jack. Don't be late next time, understand?" Tseng said, though still kindly, as always. He may seem nice, but something told me he held this team together with an iron fist, though fair and respectful. Tolerant as he may be, he clearly had rules he expected everyone to follow. Like a true leader. It was impossible not to respect the man in return.

"Understood, Sir," Jack replied, though a lot less humble than I had. She took up position on Reno's other side, silently claiming his presence. This angered me even more. For now, I ignored it, instead focusing on what I came here to do. If I overstepped my boundaries, I might get kicked out, and I really wanted to be part of this mission.

"As we know," Tseng continued, seemingly content with Jack's apology. "Don Corneo is active once more. Mostly in Junon and Edge, but he has taken his crimes elsewhere as well. We've speculated that it is he who is responsible for the troubles in Edge and Junon. After a thorough investigation, we've found these speculations to be true. It seems we now know who's at the head of the underground organization." Shinra had been investigating this for some time, without much to show for, really. I felt proud that I had been one of the people to find out. How he'd done it however, was beyond me.

"I thought Corneo was a small time criminal?" I wondered out loud. "How the hell did he manage to expand his empire over both Junon and Edge in three years time?"

"Shinra's downfall," Tseng explained calmly. "We've been preoccupied with the construction of Edge, then the Stigma and Deepground. Shinra has no current army to speak of and the number of Turks isn't quite enough, either, as you can tell. Corneo has taken advantage of the opportunity and has merged with Junon's underworld, taking over."

"Dude's got some nerve," Reno commented moodily. "Right under our noses. This is our turf."

"Corneo knows no shame," I added. "I have a personal matter to settle with him. I assume he needs to die? For real, this time?"

"We have some questions for him first," Tseng replied calmly. "Please understand we have our own reasons to obtain him." I nodded, knowing that if I went with them, this was how it was going to be. Their rules, their orders. "Good." Tseng got up from his chair and turned on the large screen on the wall behind him. "Now, these are the parameters." A picture appeared on the large screen behind him, showing the mansion from above, along with added markers indicating the guards I had spotted. We couldn't be sure about more guards, but we knew about these at the very least.

I could choose to go alone and do things my way, but somehow, that had never made life any better for me. Also, I'd made Reno a promise that I wouldn't, and I refused to break that promise. So, I chose to do it their way. From the corner of my eye, I saw Reno observing me.

I looked back at him, surprised by the gentle smile he gave me. "What?" I asked him quietly.

"Just glad to see you're finally learnin'."

I snapped my head back to the screen, not wanting to acknowledge his compliment. Now that I had calmed down, I felt uncomfortable about the things I had said. Like him being my man. And the fact that what he had given me had been good. That night had been amazing, but I shouldn't have mentioned it. Besides, we'd had a few pretty heated moments after that.

On Reno's other side, I noticed Jack throw him a glance, obviously having missed what he had said to me and not liking it one bit. I liked it a lot. What transpired between us was none of her business. Letting her come up with her own conclusions was more satisfying anyway.

"This is a satellite image taken yesterday, after Eden's report," Tseng continued to inform us. "We believe this is the premises we're looking for. We've seen guards and a large amount of girls entering the grounds. As we know, Corneo has a weakness for young women. I suggest Jack infiltrates, as she is the youngest of you. Then –"

"Please tell me little miss underage isn't going to be joining us." It seemed there were some things I would never learn, however.

Reno let out a partially suppressed snicker, but I heard it. As her mentor, it was slightly out of place, but he'd never cared about being appropriate anyway.

"Please tell me miss fat-ass isn't joining us," Jack chimed, her face red, telling me she'd heard it too. "She's not even one of us."

"Uh, I think I'm more one of them than you are," I shot back at her. If she thought she had anything on me, she was sorely mistaken. She was soon to find out that if she rose to the challenge, she was in for a treat. "We've been on operations together before. You're barely out of your diapers."

"And you're fat," she retorted.

Elena's eyebrows rose nearly up to her hairline, and she even managed to furrow them up there. It seemed she'd taken more offense to the insult than I had, and I appreciated it, now more than ever.

"No, I'm not, but seriously?" I asked Jack. "That's a great argument to take me off the operation." Did she think she could get to me by throwing high-school insults my way? I knew I wasn't fat, and I had never been insecure about the way I looked. Her attempts to insult me were getting nowhere.

"You're not even human, by the way," she added, hoping that would do the trick. "You're a freak." Jack huffed and looked away from me.

Now, that struck a little closer to home. Little witch.

I gave Tseng an incredulous look. "I'm hoping you can solve this before I have to take measures into my own hands and make a complete ass out of her. Because I can and I will." My hands were already itching to do just that. Secretly I was hoping he'd tell me to handle it, but I knew he never would. This was Tseng we were talking about.

"Jack is part of my staff, and therefor part of the team. She will join us. She needs field experience," he said to me. Not the words I wanted to hear, but it was to be expected. Then he addressed Jack. "Eden has been our consultant during operations before. As a mercenary, she has a lot of field experience. As former SOLDIER, she has insights and skills we lack. She will also be joining us. She is as much a part of this team as anyone. I will have no arguments about this, or among you. Respect each other. We are a team. Act like one." He turned away and continued to go through the screens.

We took the reprimand quietly, but she shot me a look none the less, one I answered with a lot of venom of my own.

Reno subtly entwined his fingers with mine. Was it an act of comfort? Understanding? I didn't care, all I cared about was that it made me feel real good inside. He let go as soon as Tseng faced us again.

"As I was saying, Jack should infiltrate. Jack, this is serious and very dangerous."

"I can do it, Sir. I fit the profile. I can get in easily and capture him."

"It won't be that easy," I added, thinking back on my time inside the mansion. "He has a lot of guards in there, trust me."

"And how would you know?" she challenged.

"Because I infiltrated that way before. Acting as one of his girls. I've been inside one of his compounds, I know how he works."

"Excellent." Tseng looked at us both. "Jack, if you need help, ask Eden. If she has done this before, her information could be vital."

"Yes, Sir."

I already knew she wouldn't ask me a damn thing. I, however was too old to pass for a seventeen year old. I had barely made it in last time, for being too old, and that had been over three years ago.

"Eden, I need you to keep an eye on the premises. If possible, I would like you to ask Ollie to give cover. I know how skilled he is with a sniper-rifle. This –" He brought up another satellite photo. "Is the church across the premises. If Ollie joins you, this would be a perfect place for him to take position."

"Done," I said, knowing all too well that Ollie would jump at the opportunity to have some adventure. "He's in."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you ask him first?"

"No need, he's in." He'd be more than eager to help out, all I had to do was call him. Now that Eva was sort of on board, I hoped we would continue to work together on every mission from now on.

"Very well," Tseng nodded. "While Jack infiltrates and attempts to keep Corneo occupied, we will work our way in, slowly and preferably, stealthily."

"Guess that's why you stay outside, Eden," Elena said to me, actually making me laugh. She wasn't so bad after all. Not now that there was a new dragon in town.

"Eden," Tseng said to me. "I understand reading files isn't your forte, but I'm going to need you to read it. Mission details are in there and I need for this operation to go smoothly. You did well on the Underworld operation, we need another success from you."

"Will do."

"The rest of you, you know what to do. We head out this evening 1700. Be ready and be sharp. Any questions?"

"Yes, Sir," Jack spoke up with a hint of unease in her voice. "Am I to have sex with the target?"

I snorted loudly at her bold question, unable to stop myself.

"What's so funny?" she snapped at me. That hadn't been very nice of me.

"I'm sorry, there's nothing funny about it, I apologize." I meant it. I remembered all too well those hands on me in the back of that car, and it wasn't pleasant. I didn't wish that upon anyone, not even my worst enemy, which right now, was her.

"Are you sure you're a girl?" she asked me. "You act like a guy all the time."

"I can vouch that she is definitely a girl." Reno replied in my stead, giving me a supportive wink.

Jack's face flushed with anger as she worked out his meaning. I, however, couldn't help but feel pleased with his reaction, though it flusteredme too. To me it meant he was still on my side and not hers. Well played, Mr Magic Fingers.

"As if that's something to be proud of. Look at her," she sniped back at him.

Her sudden hostility towards him surprised even him. Now her anger wasn't just pointed at me, but also at Reno, and he didn't deserve it. I had had enough.

"Please do," I said. "And while you're at it, note that even though my boobs are real, I actually did get to second base without getting my ass kicked out."

Now it was Elena's time to snort. She slapped a hand over her mouth to cover up. Rude looked at us as if we were crazy.

Jack fumed at me. "My boobs are not fake!"

"Enough!" Tseng suddenly said, louder than I had ever heard him speak. "This childish behavior ends now. Eden, I expected more from you. You are no longer in the academy, you are a senior here, lead a good example, if you please. Jack needs to know she can come to you about this. You've been through it. Are we clear?"

My narrowed eyes shifted from Jack to Tseng. "I'm here for her if she wants to talk, but, with all due respect, I'm not taking shit from anyone. Never did and never will." My willingness to adapt to their wishes only reached so far, and I wasn't about to change who I was and act like a subservient doormat because it was more convenient to them. Even I had my limits, and my pride.

Tseng sighed in defeat. "Everyone dismissed. I want a word with Jack about tonight."