AN* Guys, it's definitely been a while. I won't blame you if you need to re-read a few chapters. Please enjoy! x

~ Watch Me ~

~ What Rose Did ~

SOLDIER operatives and the rest of Shinra's army, vacated the battlefield as a unit. However once behind the safety of the treeline, the different factions went their separate ways, keen to return their base camps and evaluate the battle's events.

Rose and Sephiroth were no different. Though after their simmering discussion regarding Shinra's questionable acquisition of the Leviathan Materia, Rose found herself uncharacteristically silent. It bothered her, the lying. The Wutai soldier, Luca, had clearly trusted them. He had taken Rose for her word that they would leave the Summon Materia securely in Wutai hands. When he realised the truth of it; that behind the nodding and the smiles, Shinra had been stealing it regardless, he would label her with the rest. Another Shinra sycophant devoid of morals, and she wasn't sure she liked that.

In fact, she was down right positive she didn't.

"This way." Sephiroth murmured, interrupting her self-deprecating thoughts, and directing her toward the clearing where Kunsel and Sarah waited for them.

Rose nodded, praying that the latter had managed to fight through her injuries, as she stepped eagerly into the early morning light.

Kunsel sat beside a laid out Sarah, but he jumped to his feet immediately upon hearing their approach. Rose smiled, but the gesture soon faltered when she saw the thunderous look across his face.

He looked pissed.

"What part of 'we need to wait here', was it that you struggled with, Rose?!" He yelled suddenly, his freckled cheeks flushed red. "I gave you one order, just one, and you couldn't even follow that! Were you trying to get yourself killed? What are you? A one woman army?"

Rose blinked, completely taken aback. Kunsel's Mako infused eyes threatened to leave their sockets, and she found herself slowly shaking her head. "Kunsel, I –"

"Don't you Kunsel me." He snapped, pointing his finger at her like some reproving grandfather. "You were my responsibility. Yes, you're a half decent SOLDIER, but you're new to this. If you'd gotten yourself killed like some idiot, that would have been on me."

Still in shock, she blinked again. "I didn't mean to – "

"On top of all that." He cut across her hotly. "You also left me alone with a seriously injured Troop, to defend a large area for our squads safe return, in the middle of a god damn war. All in all, I'm fucking furious with you!"

He sliced his hand through the air as if to cement his point, though the anger did seem to be subduing behind his eyes. It was in that moment of calm that he remembered himself, and acknowledged Sephiroth's presence with some extremely forced serenity.

"Sir." He greeted quickly. "Sarah appears to be stable, but I would say we need to get her back to HQ as soon as possible. Before she passed out, she mentioned that this attack was planned, not just by Wutai, but by our side too. I don't know how much Rose has told you?"

He glanced briefly between her and Sephiroth, the latter glancing at her himself with some silent reprimand.

Sephiroth shook his head. "This mission appears to be full of surprises. We can debrief properly once we're back in Midgar. For now, lets focus on our next steps. Have you heard anything from Zack or Angeal?"

"Nothing, sir." Kunsel said quickly, his brow furrowing as if something was just then dawning on him. "What happened with Leviathan?"

"I'll leave Rose to explain that. I'm going to try and get hold of our missing comrades."

Phone in hand, Sephiroth moved purposefully toward a sleeping Sarah. Kunsel's quizzical eyes narrowed thoughtfully at Rose, and she found herself glaring at her mentor/lover's back.

What if she didn't want to explain? Perhaps she preferred Kunsel's glares of fury, to the distrusting ones her fellow Shinra compatriots were giving her on the battlefield? Sure he was going to find out anyway, but did it have to be that second?

"Well?" Kunsel pressed, clearly still angry with her. "What happened? Did Leviathan get fed up and crawl back into his hole, or did Sephiroth decapitate him?"

Rose found her gaze flittering nervously to the floor. She sighed, but it was one of frustration, clipped, not drawn out.

"Neither." She mumbled, folding her arms protectively across her chest. "He just sort of… left. After… after I asked him to."

Kunsel stared, obviously confused. "You want to run that pass me one more time?"

Rose threw him a pained expression. "It's like I said. He calmed down, I asked him to go, he did, and then we left. End of story. Please don't make me say it again. I'm freaked out enough as it is."

Rose knew that Kunsel was aware that there was clearly more to the story, but something shifted in her friend's eyes that told her he knew not to push the matter. His pale features softened for the first time since she'd returned, and he gave her an understanding smile.

"Well, as long as you know you can't just go round picking up ancient city protecting dragons as pets. Get a cat first, they're more independent."

Relief flooded through her, and she laughed. "Noted." Her gaze wandered briefly, and she saw Sephiroth finally talking on the phone. She looked at Kunsel. "I'm sorry I disregarded your orders. Sometimes my emotions run away with me a little, but I will work on it, I promise. I didn't mean to put you in any kind of danger."

It was Kunsel's turn to laugh, and a teasing smile lit his features. "Ah, I just added that bit to make you feel guilty. I had things covered here.But,you ever do anything stupid like that again, and a Summon is going to be the least of your worries. You get me? Dragon tamer or not."

Rose nodded, relieved. "Understood."

"And the next time we go out," he added. "Drinks are on you. Think of it as emotional compensation."

She nodded. "Seems entirely fair."

The two of them grinned, and Rose was happy to be back on neutral ground with Kunsel. Friends were a new concept for her, she didn't want to lose any of the ones she'd made.

"Pick-ups coming."

She looked up. Sephiroth once again at her side

He pocketed his phone, and gazed pointedly toward the sky. "Angeal and Zack got turned around, but they're already on the copter. The mission was a success."

Rose let out a sigh of relief. SOLDIER or no, Rose had panicked when she hadn't seen her brother and Zack's faces amongst the Troops. You could be the most skilled fighter in the world, but no one was the master of fate.

Accidents happened after all.

"Did they say if they were okay?" She pressed, her gaze flickering unconsciously to Sephiroth's phone.

He smiled. "You can ask them yourself."

Above them the sound of metal thrumming suddenly filled the air. The wind picking up harshly as the Shinra bird descended down readily into their clearing.

Grimacing, Rose threw her arm protectively across her face.

"Kunsel!" Sephiroth called urgently over the sound of copter's blades. "Ensure Reed is ready for boarding!"

"Yes, sir!"

Kunsel ran to Sarah's side, and Rose stepped back from the landing copter, a sudden fear of being cut by the blades irrationally consuming her. The engines didn't stop, not even when the doors flew open, and the vibrations built an uncomfortable feeling in her chest.

Angeal appeared first from the flying metal, immediately followed by a trio of Troops who hurriedly retrieved Sarah. Clearly eager to head home, Kunsel jumped into the bird, but Angeal moved forward, his jaw set firm and serious, as he crossed the short gap in the clearing.

"I need a word with Rose." He said to Sephiroth, his smooth expression betraying none of his intent. He looked back briefly at the copter. "It won't take a moment."

Rose, whose stomach had sunk the moment he'd said her name, realised he was telling his friend to politely go. She studied Sephiroth for any kind of offence, but none seemed to have been taken, and she swallowed nervously as he quietly inclined his head.

"Don't be long."

He left, and Rose looked back at her brother, hoping she was sensing wrongly that this was going to be lecture of god-like proportions.

The darker shift in Angeal's features, told her she was not.

"What the hell was that, Rose?"

She shifted awkwardly. "What was what?"

"Don't start. Leviathan. What happened back there?"

Rose could tell it was taking all of his self-discipline not to raise his voice. She shrugged, pulled off-guard by the urgent rush of his voice, as she searched his gaze for answers. There was something other than a lecture there. Fear. For her or himself, she couldn't tell, but whatever it was, it was doing a good job of making her feel worse.

"I can't explain it." She murmured, suddenly trying to think back. "It just… happened. It's not like I did anything. I didn't plan it."

It wasn't a lie. She hadn't done a thing. Her sole interest was in getting that little girl Yuffie to safety, but Leviathan had had other ideas. It was like he had sensed something in her. Something she didn't even recognise in herself.

Kindred.

Angeal sighed, running a frustrated hand harshly through his dark tresses. "Well you're going to have to explain. At least something to someone."

Rose swallowed hard, wincing at his outward worry. "What do you mean?"

"I've had Lazard on the phone. The other Directors saw what you did, and they're suddenly a lot more interested in you than they should be, not to mention the President."

Rose felt like she'd been punched in the gut. "The… what?"

Angeal quickly waved her off. "It'll be okay, Lazard's going to see what he can do. He said he'll call as soon as we land. Do you understand what I'm saying though, Rose? You've got to be careful. When we get back, do not leave my side, okay?"

"Yeah sure...but I…"

Rose trailed off. She felt like she'd been punched in the chest. It wasn't her fault all this strange stuff were suddenly happening to her. How was she supposed to defend herself, when she didn't really understand what the hell was even happening?

She felt Angeal's hand on her shoulder. She gripped it hard.

"It's going to be okay. We'll fix this."

Rose looked at him, wanting nothing more than to believe that to be true.

She shook her head. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

R&R!

Hey guys! Missed you! I know it's been a while, I do apologise, but life – even in these times – often just gets in the way. Please, if you can, let me know what you think of this? It'll help me gauge whether people want me to continue with Rose's story or not… I hope you do?

A small review, that's all I ask 3

Take care, and stay safe xx