Chapter 7: Piercing Joy
That damn ticking clock; never once did it ring a different chime, nor hum a different tune, just the same one repeating itself in an endless loop every sixty minutes. In retrospect, it seemed but a mild irritation which remained no one's responsibility, though never once did it appear to cause Patton unrest as his face indicated. Instead, he merely sat atop the comfy lounge chair Global Command, though his face indicated a disinterest in pastrami sandwiches. Yet that proved only a mild hinderence compared to what his eyes indicated; they read of sadness, of regret, of a lost puppy uncertain of where its place was in this world.
"Patton", asked a sweet, familiar voice which startled him, though one quick glance and his face became a mix of joy and shock upon seeing his friend standing before him, confusion clear upon her face while a small soda can lay clear in her grasp.
"Rachel, hi", replied Patton, his tone one of nervous unrest while he cheeks blushed red with embarrassment.
"Hi...Do you mind if I sit with you", she asked, her own nervous yet calm sounding tone enough to guarantee an immediate response from her equally nervous friend.
"Oh Rachel, you give me too much credit; of course I mind if you sit", he tried to respond sarcastically, yet the nervous tone stuck all the way through, giving her reason to smile as she took her seat beside him.
For just one moment, all was silent for them. Their faces were turned away from one another, their cheeks remained ever so lightly brushed with rose tinted blush while a nervous tint remained engraved in their respective eyes. It was only upon Rachel's sudden clearing of her throat did she turn to face her dear friend once more.
"So, I take it you're on lunch break", she proceeded to ask him rather calmly as he turned to face her as well.
"Yeah, but I'm getting pretty sick of pastrami every other day", the boy replied rather casually, that is before he raised an eyebrow to his blonde friend. "Say, how come you don't have a lunch?"
"Oh, I already ate", she humbly replied.
"Let me guess; meatball sandwich", the raven haired boy asked in a rather cocky fashion, feeling his confidence resurface the instant she sent a devious smirk his way.
"How did you guess", the young blonde asked rather deviously as she took a sip of her soda, yet only concern became evident upon the young boy's face as he witnessed her swig gulp after gulp.
Though once she finally resurfaced for a breath of fresh air did confusion become rather evident in both her chocolate eyes, even her delicate face.
"Is something wrong", she asked rather innocently.
"Well, call me stupid, but I don't think I've ever seen you swig so much coke in one sitting", he explained to his best intention.
"True, but then again, this is my third one today", the young girl explained in a rather casual manner, not that it did much to enlighten the young boy.
"Uh, don't you think you should cut back a little then", he asked in a slightly concerned tone.
"What? You don't think I can control my drinking", she asked him in a slightly stern tone.
"Well, not to sound paranoid, but I 'd think twice about slurring your mouth off at an important meeting", the young boy replied in a cocky manner, one that could only muster a smile from his friend's stern face.
"I appreciate your concern Patton, but I assure you that I'm capable of holding my soda", the young girl calmly explained, taking another swig of her coke as she did so.
"I wouldn't say that. Remember the time Chad betrayed us? You were so stressed out, you drank yourself silly enough
that I had to take you home that night", he asked, his cocky vibrato clear in both his face and his tone as he crossed his arms, despite the minor affect it had upon his blonde friend.
"True, but even you have your off days. Remember last year's Christmas Eve party", she asked, her tone and expression a mere duplicate of his own as she too crossed her arms, watching his cocky expression decimate in a mere matter of seconds.
"Okay, fine...", he began in an embarrassed tone. "But, if you do have any problems, just let me know okay", he finished, his determined words enough to make the young blonde blush a light shade of pink.
"That's very sweet of you Patton, but you really don't have to do that...", the young girl explained, attempting to cover her touched tone with calm integrity even as he smiled towards her.
"Yeah, but...I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you", the young boy explained.
Such words; they were the kind of words to make her turn the other cheek, even as a sweet smile lay permanent upon her lovely face. In fact, they were even the kind to make him turn the other cheek in embarrassment, still flattered however that she took such honest words seriously.
In truth, a perfect moment for reflection. Yet unfortunate for them that such a moment could be interrupted by a passing pair of 44 twins Pete and Peter. Their mere presence proved true enough to snap both from their entranced state, yet their passing conversation is what intrigued them; the mention of the ZERO incident. Though truthfully, it was the type of topic to induce nervous laughter from both of them before they fell silent once more. Silent that is, until the still nervous looking Rachel spoke up.
"So...how have you been coping", Rachel asked, her nervous tone covered well by her genuine yet calm sounding concern.
"Not well", Patton replied rather bluntly as his answer made her sigh.
"Well, I guess that puts us in the same boat", the young blonde replied, her blunt tone enough to catch the attention of her upset looking friend.
"What", he asked in a rather curious manner.
"Oh, nothing important", she assured him. "Anyway, you seem to be handling your situation pretty well."
"Yeah, but it still lingers in the back of my mind...I don't know, it's just like a bad nightmare that just won't go away...", the young boy explained, his regret filled tone ever prevalent as his face suggested that same emotion.
Yet ever so touched was he to find the soft hand of his beloved friend upon his gloved one, enough to find his face turning to meet her concerned looking chocolate eyes, even enough to find himself blushing ever so slightly at her deep concern.
"Would you like to talk about it?...It might put your mind at ease", the young blonde asked, her tone was sweet yet concerned, and her words rang of sincerity.
Yet unaware was she that such sincere words could only muster cringe worthy shock upon his handsome face, shock he seemed desperate to cover-up as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Sorry, but...I don't think that would be a good idea Rachel", he explained.
"Why not", she asked in confusion, even as she watched a deep sigh escape his breath.
"Because you wouldn't understand", the young boy replied, his words enough to make her raise an eyebrow even as he stood up from the couch.
"What wouldn't I understand", Rachel asked, her tone ever more stern this time as she too sat up from the couch.
"Look, I just think you'd be better off not knowing what's on my mind", he explained, raising his voice as he felt his patience reaching its limit.
"Well what are you afraid of Patton? You can't honestly believe I'd be so quick to judge", the young girl asked as she too felt her voice beginning to rise in frustration.
"That depends; you think I'd be this desperate to hide it if I didn't know you", the young boy asked in a rather blunt tone as he watched her face turn from surprise to one of controlled frustration.
"You can't predict everything on my mind", she replied, her tone one of clear frustration.
"I could make an educated guess", he replied in his tone of blunt frustration.
"Really? Then I suppose you know that I'm currently not seeing eye to eye with Fanny? Do you know that I wish I had other matters to attend to besides paperwork? Do you know that as far as I'm concerned, you have nothing to feel ashamed over", the young Supreme Leader said as her voice began to rise into one of anger.
For a moment, her stern yet angered integrity seemed enough to allow the young boy's expression to waver. Unfortunately, it could only last so long before he found the courage to shake off such a nervous hesitation.
"Yeah, well I...I doubt you'd think that", he replied in frustration, turning to face the doorway as he did so.
Yet even as she witness him walk towards the door, the only reaction it could garner from her was a small sigh as she put her hand to her forehead, the immediately after did she begin to follow in his direction.
"I don't understand; why would you mention an issue you have no intention of elaborating on", Rachel asked, her stern yet frustrated tone enough to make her friend sigh in frustration as he turned to face her once more.
"Well how was I suppose to know you'd start prying", Patton asked, his tone of frustration further outlined by his expression.
"Was there any doubt I wouldn't", she asked him, her frustration ever prevalent in both her expression and her tone as she crossed her arms, something her raven haired friend took note of.
"Patton, I can't comprehend why you're acting this way, but you need to remember that your burdens don't trump ours. We're all in the same boat as you, we all memories we regret, actions, even thoughts we regret", the young Supreme Leader attempted to sternly explain, even as her words were met by his unwavering stern expression.
"Do you know that for sure", he asked her rather sternly, throwing her off guard momentarily before she regained her stern composure.
"No", the young girl sternly yet calmly replied.
"Then don't act like you do", he replied in a stern yet blunt tone, only to feel himself sigh upon seeing her stern expression threaten to blossom into anger.
"Look Rachel, I...It goes beyond honour or even a bad memory... I'm just not sure if you're ready to hear what I have to say...", the raven haired boy explained.
And as he did, his tone became soothing, his blunt mouth line transformed into a saddened frown, even his black eyes softened slightly while maintained their frustrated glisten. In truth, it was enough to soften the young blonde's stern expression into one of genuine concern as it had been prior. It remained ever so, even as she watched him turn to face the doorway once more.
"Well, I apologize for prying when it wasn't necessary, but I only did so because I care", she explained, her tone a mixture of stern yet genuine sounding concern.
"Yeah, well don't even bother", he replied rather coldly, unaware of the hurtful expression upon her delicate face before it hardened into a stern expression once more.
"Very well then...I'll see you around Patton...Come and chat with me when you decide to act your age", she sternly replied as she made her way passed him.
Quickly, she made her way towards the doorway, her face stern yet clear with anger. Yet, unaware was she to the necessary mental smack the young Drill Sergeant delivered to his regretful looking face.
It appeared all too quiet, even all too dim within the confounds of Rachel's busy office. Everywhere one looked, it seemed cloaked in shadows, the only visible light source available a small desk lamp strong enough to illuminate the paperwork laying in front of the young Supreme Leader. Yet a solitary glance at her, and it appeared believable that her mind seemed torn between the occupation paperwork, and a secondary matter entirely as her frustrated chocolate eyes depicted.
"Why must you be so stubborn Patton", she asked herself in thought as her chocolate eyes remained ever so upon the sheet of paper staring her down.
"Don't you realize that I'm suffering too?...Don't you realize that I...that I..."
Yet, she seemed at such a lost to finish her thought. Though quite clear was the sorrow that slowly glossed over her chocolate eyes, the subtle drooping of her head as her hand reached over to her heart, even clenching at it momentarily. Though quick was she to dismiss such a state with a remedial sigh, and a slow collapse into her chair. All she required was a moment of tranquillity she told herself, allowing her eyes to remain shut as she felt herself carried away by the blissful silence titled nothing.
She felt so calm, so peaceful, enough that remained unaware of Patton's presence outside her door minutes later. True, his face depicted a nervous expression, even allowing a quick gulp to slither down his throat. Though eventually did he find the courage to knock upon the door, unfortunate for him though he received no immediate answer.
"Rachel...", he asked though received no answer, giving him reason to knock once more. "Rachel...", he asked again, raising an eyebrow when no answer came once more. It was only shortly after did he finally have any sense to let himself into her office, admittedly nervous by his unwarranted welcome.
"Look, Rachel, I just wanted to apologize for earlier...I didn't mean to upset you, it's just-"
Though one look upon the young girl, and he could only feel surprised upon her current state. There she lye in wake; her body was leaned up against her comfy office chair, her head lay off to the side, her arms remained crossed over another, even her mouth was opened ever so slightly to allow her passage of oxygen. She seemed at peace, lost within the realms of her own tranquillity. And truthfully, it seemed enough to soften the young boy's face into a warm smile as he made his way towards her, even placing a strand of hair away from her peaceful face before feeling himself become entrance by such sleeping elegance.
"Well, you certainly look peaceful, don't you...", he asked the sleeping girl, his tone a dreamy whisper as he felt himself falling deeper into such peaceful bliss the more he glanced at her.
Though eventually, he could feel reality beginning to settle in as his mind reminded him of the responsibilities he held today on his own base. Though ever prevalent was his dreamy state as he he kept his entranced eyes upon his beloved friend, caressing her soft cheek ever so delicately before leaving an inevitable kiss mark upon it.
"Sweet dream my love...", the young boy replied in a dreamy whisper, his smile ever prevalent as he then made his way for the door. Though blissfully unaware was he of her quiet murmuring, that is before she spoke.
"Patton...", replied the young blonde in a groggy yet sleepy tone, catching his surprised attention as he turned around to face her once more in complete silence.
A quick nervous "nah" however, was all it took to forget the incident as he made his way out of her peaceful environment.
End chap.7
