~ Watch Me ~

Ready, Set, Cardio

Rose returned from her training with Sephiroth, feeling more than a little worse for wear. During the early hours of the morning, every movement felt as though her body was walking upstream against a particularly forceful current, by lunchtime, it was as though it had been hit by a truck. It made her journey through Third Class training, all that more soul destroying.

Their thirty minute break window couldn't have come soon enough, after five hours of combat, strength, and cardio. Rose and her large bottle of water, found an empty corner and eagerly collapsed into it. Sighing, she pressed her back tightly against the wall, her sweat drenched skin hungry for the chill it emitted. She groaned.

"Hey! Rose!"

Zack. How did he manage to look so alive?

Lifting her arm, she waved as best she could, but she couldn't lie, it was an effort. In his usual cheerful manner, he all but skipped over to where she sat. She noticed a small carton red carton in his hand, as he crouched down beside her.

"You should eat this." He said, dropping it into her lap. "Protein is important." He gazed over her briefly. "How you fairing up?"

She nodded, keen to prove she could push along with the rest of them. "Yeah, not too bad." It wasn't a complete lie, being dead would have definitely been a lot worse. She broke the seal on the protein shake, and downed it. "Thanks."

"No problem. Maybe later we can drop by the shop and get you a load. It's always best to be prepared."

He gave her a thumbs up, and she laughed breathlessly.

"Sounds good." If she could move by then.

"It will get easier." Zack promised, probably noticing her strained expression. "You've not even had your mako infusion yet, and trust me, that's going to help a lot. Half the guys in here were nowhere near as fit as they are now during their army days. You'd have run rings 'round them."

Rose smiled. She wasn't sure if Zack was just trying to make her feel better, but she appreciated the gesture regardless. "I guess I'll just have to get on the protein shakes until then."

"Sounds like a plan!" He grinned, straightening back up. Offering her his hand, Rose allowed him to pull her effortlessly to her feet, though she fought to stifle another loud groan, and he quickly gestured her across the room. "C'mon, there's someone I want you to meet."

Making their way pass twenty or so others, Zack lead her over to a bench where a guy sat hunched over his phone screen.

"Kunsel!" Zack called eagerly, kicking the guy playfully in the shins.

Kunsel sat up, barely noting the attack on his person, and swept back strawberry bangs from freckled features. His light gaze fell not on his friend, but on Rose.

"You made it then?" He noted drily, offering her a smile that wasn't unkind. "He was worried you were going to collapse. Twice he almost broke line to check on you."

Rose looked sharply at Zack, who suddenly looked very sheepish, and became very interested in the toe of his boot.

"He's exaggerating." He mumbled awkwardly, his hand roughly knocking the back of Kunsel's head. "Besides, you're clearly fine, and if that was the case, I was obviously more than mistaken, right? You did great."

Placing her hands on her hips, Rose quirked a dubious brow. "I see. Apology accepted." She said flatly, holding out her arm to Zack's sitting partner. "Rose."

"Kunsel." He grinned, giving her hand a firm shake. "Long time friend of this one." He nodded to Zack. "For my sins."

She laughed. "I bet."

"Hey, cut it out." Zack whined, flopping himself down on the bench. "A guy has feelings y' know."

They stayed and chatted like that for the rest of the break. Rose was happy, she quite liked Kunsel. He had a strange manner about him for a SOLDIER, like he had only happened onto the role, and was just going along with things for the time being; a free-spirit. There was no arguing his loyalty to Zack though, she could tell the two were close. She'd never had a friend like that.

The rest of the afternoon consisted of more cardio – three hours running to be exact – and then a weapons run through. This was where Rose really struggled, she'd had no previous experience with weapons, none of the Troop training the others had had. Luckily Zack and Kunsel were there to keep her from sinking beneath all the jargon, and by the end of it all, she was able to take apart, and fully load two of the standard Shinra guns. Rose made a mental note to ensure she built up her knowledge of these things, she doubted she would be able to float along for long, otherwise.

Training ended, and Rose was relieved to have made it through without lagging too far behind the others, though admittedly, no one else looked quite as close to death as she did.

"Rose!" Zack appeared at her shoulder as she gathered her rucksack. "Kunsel and I were going to head out to a bar later. You wanna come?"

Kunsel clapped his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Be good to have two of us keeping him out of trouble."

"Me?" Zack's eyebrows threatened to disappear into his hairline. "You're the one that started the fight outside that brothel last time." He glanced awkwardly at Rose. "It's not as bad as it sounds."

She rolled her eyes. "How could it be?"

He smiled, chagrined. "Soooo, that a yes to the bar?"

"Erm." Rose quickly looked down at her phone. Sephiroth had said he would contact her about their next training session, but there were no missed calls or messages. It would likely be a few days before she heard from him again, he was busy, after all. She nodded. "Okay, what time? Bearing in mind I definitely need to shower." She said, shuffling squeamishly in her clothes. She was pretty certain there wasn't a single part of her that didn't smell of B.O.

"Around 7?" Kunsel shrugged. "Gives you time to put your face on – kidding." He said quickly, noting the angry flash that must have crossed her features. "I'll buy you your first drink, how's that?"

She rolled her eyes. "Sounds good to me."

Zack grinned. "Awesome!"

They made to leave, but before they reached the door, Rose heard her name called harshly across the room.

"Hewley! Get over here!" It was their trainer.

"Meet you in the lobby later." She said quickly, running back to see what he wanted. He pocketed his phone as she reached him. "Yes, Sir?"

"That was the director. He wants to see you in his office."

"Oh. I mean, when... Sir?" She added, tripping over herself. She still wasn't used to the use of titles.

"Well it's not bloody yesterday, is it?! Get up there!"

"Yes, Sir!"

She turned, making a hasty journeyback toward the elevators. Their doors pinged open, and she caught sight of her sweaty appearance reflected in the mirror – she really wished there had been time to shower. Maybe she didn't smell as bad as she thought, but from the faces of the elevators other occupants, that clearly wasn't the case.

The doors shut, and her nerves did a nauseating somersault in her stomach.

She guessed this would be the 'little chat', he had referred to on their previous meeting.

She just hoped Lazard was as good a man as everyone said he was.

AN: Thanks for reading again, guys. Really hope you're enjoying it. Hope everyone is staying safe, take care. And if you have time, reviews are always appreciated.