25.Celestia

He insisted on piggy-backing her back to his place. She didn't protest; she was exhausted and he was nice and toasty. It was strange; but she actually felt really safe for the first time in a long time. She should've been scared out of her mind; he could be anywhere. But she was with Red so she'd be ok… She leaned her head on his shoulders and tried to relax. She might've dozed off if it wasn't raining icy cold rain. "Well this is it; I might have something of a mess up there…" He gently lowered her to the ground and tried to wring some of the water out of his pants and jacket.

"I'm really sorry about your date…" she started "I forgot it was Saturday… I should've tried Skylar and Gray's place…"

"Hey; don't apologize. I'm glad you came…" he smiled. "You actually did me a favor; that chick was nuts…" he chuckled; she smiled at him with a light giggle. "She probably just broke a few plates or something before she got bored and left."

"Well she sounds lovely" Celestia joked. "Hey; put me down; I can make it up the stairs on my own."

"I live on the seventh floor you crazy person" he looked down at her ankle "That looks like it might be broken…"

"Nah; n-ast-y spr-ai-n but not b-b-rok-en" she was shivering.

"Come on kiddo; don't make me beg" she rolled her eyes but obliged; it was warm on his back. They started up towards his apartment (now that they had at least slightly dripped off…). He called it right; 2 broken plates; a mug and a glass. His place was really nice; big, open, hardwood floors and lots of windows.

"Wow; nice" she said as she gazed around. "I love the windows…"

He laughed a little "That's probably the strangest compliment I've ever gotten…"

"What? I like windows; windows mean air and light"

"So now you're my realtor?" He laughed.

She laughed a bit "well it is a seller's market…" she shifted slightly on her bad ankle and winced. He helped her right herself "You're gonna spoil me Red" she teased.

"You deserve it" he said in a border-line serious voice as he held her close and rested his chin on her head. "You probably want a shower or something…" he started.

"If you don't mind that would be nice… Oh shoot!" she slung her bag around; as she suspected all her clothes were soaked, her phone was probably trashed too.

"I'm sure I can dig something up for you…" he joked "that is if you don't mind my old shrunken clothes…"

"Well beggars can't be choosy… wait; why do you keep your old clothes that shrunk?"

He laughed "Apparently for occasions like this." He sauntered off to what she assumed was his room. She hobbled over to his CD rack to take a peek. Lots of blues and jazz, nice; her brother played blues guitar and jazz sax so both types of music held a special place in her heart. She was lost in her own little world, reading the back of the case when he put his arm over her shoulders.

"Gah!" she fumbled the CD case. "Oh gosh I'm…"

"Sorry let me…" the both spoke in unison. They burst into laughter in unison too.

"Great minds think alike…" she winked.

"These were all I could find for ya kiddo" he laughed as he picked up the CD case. "Are you sure that's not broken?" he gently lifted her ankle.

"Yea; I'm something of an expert" she giggled "I was a mountain girls' troop leader back in Nibelhiem. You learn the difference between breaks and sprains pretty quick when you're thrown into a camping trip with twenty hyper-active girls. I'll just have to wrap it later."

"I might have a pair of crutches in the closet…" she cut him off giggling.

"Now why would you have random crutches lying around?"

"I broke a leg a year or so ago…" he started "Work related injury. Come on; you look like your freezing…" he helped her walk over to the bathroom.

"You're the greatest…" she hugged him and gave him a little peck on the cheek as she closed the door.

26.Celestia

After she was done in the shower he decided to hop in himself. "I'll wrap that ankle for ya when I'm done" he jokingly ruffled her hair. He had gotten her a blanket, some pillows for her ankle, and put on the CD she was looking at earlier.

"You really are spoiling me Red" she teased as he walked off. She had hung some of her clothes out on the balcony to dry; he told her the laundry rooms got locked at ten. The rain was slowing down; the harmony of the rain, shower, and slow irregular dripping of her clothes created a soothing background noise. She was pulled from her daze when the sound of the shower abruptly cut off.

She shifted a little and sat up to try to fend off sleep. It was about twelve thirty. She laughed a little at herself; she was wearing an old pair of gray gym shorts and a gray 'Shin-Ra training academy' hoodie. She was literally swimming in gray cotton poly blends. He came out a few minutes later; in a blue long sleeve shirt and black runner pants; but still sporting the goggles, how very odd. "Wow; it's strange seeing you in something other than that suit…" she giggled.

"Well if it were up to the boss I'd never be able to take it off" he joked "I'm gonna have to try to patch up the ankle…" he lifted her leg gently; she winced a little in spite of herself.

"Sorry" she blushed a little

"Hey; I told you don't apologize…" he winked as he started to unroll the bandage; she shifted slightly so he could get a better angle.

"Ok; I have a goofy question…" she started.

"What's that Blue?" he smiled; she giggled no one had ever called her that; she kinda liked it…

"Is there a story behind those tatts?" she motioned to the sides of her face.

"Ya know you're the first person ever to ask me that…"

"Fine then be a smart ass and don't tell me…" she laughed.

"I'm serious" he pouted; she laughed which made him smile. "Well I had this Uncle; Uncle Boyd. He was an aviator, loved to fly. He was my favorite uncle as a kid; I loved it when we would go to his place outside Kalm every summer. It was like the highlight of my year. He was always out flying when the weather was nice so nine times out of ten when I saw him he had these little marks on his face from his goggles." He seemed to squirm a little as he finished the ankle; he absent-mindedly ran his hand up and down the front of her leg as he spoke. "He passed away when I was twenty… massive coronary; took us all by surprise. He was like the least likely candidate in my family for heart problems. I was supposed to go see him the following month…" he sniffed lightly; trying to hide it. "So I guess it's kind of a memorial/tribute thing… that and the goggles" he cracked a sad smile.

"Aw hun; I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry" she shifted so she could hug him. "That's really sweet…"

He chuckled a little "It's alright, I was just about to pry myself…" she turned so she wasn't facing him; she didn't want to look weak. She perched herself on the edge of the sofa as she started to speak.

"Well; it's kind of a long story…" she gulped "Basically I told him I was leaving and he kind of flipped out. He started smacking me around a bit…" she fought back the tears that were burning in the back of her eyes; she wasn't going to cry over Trent… never again.

"That bastard" she heard Red murmur behind her.

"Well I guess I just had a realization that It was either fight back or…" she was choking on her tears "Well I don't wanna think about it…" he wrapped his strong arms around her from behind; she loved being hugged from behind. "So I decked him; I think it shocked him a bit because he just stood there reeling. The next few minutes were kind of a blur; I tried to run, he grabbed at me, I twisted my ankle. He tried to hit me but I ducked out of the way and he clonked his head on the countertop. He's still alive and all; it wouldn't have even affected him if he wasn't sloshed. I made sure he wouldn't choke on his own tongue or vomit or anything and then I grabbed my clothes and split… He's gonna be furious when he wakes up." The tears had won and she let them fall.

"Maybe I should go over there…" Red started.

She turned and looked him right in the eye "Please don't" she pleaded. "I… I'm…" she was crying full force now; damn useless tears. He pulled her head down onto his shoulder and slowly reclined wrapping her in his arms.

"Shhh… Ok, you win" he whispered, she hugged him hard. "I'm just glad you're here…" They passed a few moments in silence; he dreamily stroked her hair as she relaxed.

"I owe ya' one…" she started.

"No you don't; I'm just keepin' a promise. That's what friends are for right?"

"Red; you're the best" she murmured.

"You're half out aren'tcha?" he teased

"Uh-huh"

"Well in that case, g'night Blue" he reached to shut off the lamp behind him; luckily all the other lights were out, he wouldn't have to get up and disturb her.

"G'night Red" she whispered as he kissed her forehead lightly.

Author's note: Ah; title makes sense now; doesn't it (it only took me 10 sections right P)? Anywho; I really like these chapters; I think they're cute. I feel it's a good place to end for now; I have more written but I'm still tweeking. Hope you enjoy

KFConti