Bunnii: Thank goodness! A new chapter! I've been trying to update my stories and all of a sudden…. BAM! New story ideas keep popping up into my head. There's one for Angeal Hewley, some yaoi thing, something about Criminal Minds, one for Satoshi from DNAngel, and a few others . it's been crazy! And I still thank all of you for your patience, and your love. I'm hoping I can maybe get a review or two to see how I'm doing. Thank you for your criticism as well. It helps me become a better writer. Love to you all. And s8trgrlhinata: You have not read it. I know that you're a liar because I talked to you on the phone while you commented it haha READ IT, DORK haha
Light flooded behind Niva's eyelids and a splitting headache hit her hard. Groaning, she sat up in her bed. Wait, bed? She looked to see she was wearing her camisole and leather pants. Where was Zack?
"Zack?" she called. She got out of bed when there was no reply and started looking around. She found a note on her coffee table. Picking it up, she read it carefully.
Niva,
I had fun last night and I'm glad you did too. You were a little drunk last night and nothing really happened, so you don't have to worry about anything. We just kissed…. Well, we kissed a lot haha, but it's nothing to worry about. After you fell asleep, I put you in bed and crashed on your couch. Hope you don't mind. I got you some coffee and it's on your counter. Hope it helps with the headache I know you have. I was going to stay until you woke up but Angeal called and said I had some training to do. You can come watch or something if you want.
-Zack
Niva smiled. At least he left a note explaining where he was. Genesis never did…
Niva's eyes widened. Did she just compare Zack to Genesis? Oh, Shiva! Did she really kiss Zack? What would Genesis do if he found out? She really hoped he wouldn't find out at all.
Guilt welled inside her. She actually liked Zack, a lot. But, she was with Genesis. How would she deal with this? Sighing, she knew she would have to put her feelings on hold.
Setting down the note, she saw the flower Zack gave her. Smiling a little, she touched a petal. She wandered into the kitchen to eat and drink that coffee Zack mentioned.
After finishing her morning routine, she walked out of the door, jumping slightly when her phone started ringing.
With a sigh of exasperation, she answered the phone. "Meridian."
"My, my, you do seem rather upset. Is there something wrong?"
"O-Oh! Genesis! I'm so sorry! I… I've had a tiring morning, I apologize. What is it?" The one person she felt nervous about talking to!
"Just checking up on you. Are you busy?"
"Not at all. Just getting ready to head over to the VTR." She didn't even notice the uninterested tone in her voice.
"Is someone distracted?" he teased, although a trace of something else was in his voice.
"Oh, not really. I'm just thinking about some stuff. How's the mission going?"
"Well , I should be returning back tonight. Can I expect to see you?" Mischievousness laced her voice.
Normally, that would have her heart pumping a mile a minute and she would be stuttering, searching for something intelligent to say. She just replied with a nonchalant, "Sure, I'll see you tonight."
"Indeed." She could hear a hint of cold curiosity in his voice. Was he upset?
"Are you alright, Gen? You seem upset."
"All is well, little fawn. Do not be late to your training with Angeal."
"Prompt is proper," she commented with a smile. As she approached the elevator, she spoke again, "Bye Gen. See you later." And she hung up.
Genesis hung up the phone. Something was off. She usually hung on the phone with him as long as she could, drawing out their conversations with any odd topics she could manage to think of. He should bring it up with Angeal.
Niva arrived in the training room on time, smiling kindly at Angeal. "Good morning, Angeal."
He smiled back. "Good morning. A tad late, aren't you?"
She sheepishly smiled at that point. "Heh… I had an interesting night. It won't happen again, sir." She turned to watch Zack fight in a simulation.
"You seem to be on a good mood. Does Zackary have anything to do with it?"
Niva flushed a little. "…A little bit. He's really good at fighting. He's sure to make 1st Class soon."
"Yes, indeed he is. I'm planning on recommending him soon. Let's keep that a surprise though. Has Genesis recommended you yet?"
"No, not yet. I'm hoping he will soon."
"I'm sure he will."
After a few moments of silence, Niva spoke again.
"Angeal, is it wrong to be in love with someone but be liked by someone else?"
"Are you talking about Genesis and Zackary?"
She sighed. "I say I'm in love with Genesis, but then there's Zack. With Genesis, it's just there. I don't really have to tell him anything because I think it's already pretty obvious. But, with Zack, it's different. I've never felt so adored before. He'd told me he likes me but I'm not sure if it's just an infatuation that he'll outgrow. I think he actually means that he likes me. I couldn't bear to hurt him."
Angeal nodded. It was quite a predicament. "Zackary doesn't do anything half heartedly. He would never go into something halfway. He's true to his heart. He's one of the few that still are. But, as you said, Genesis doesn't use words to convey himself." He put a large hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner. "Do what you must to feel free. There will always be a 'what if' but there will never be a regret if you chose the right person."
Niva didn't understand. Did that mean Zack or Genesis? Maybe it meant she should wait before choosing? What did he mean? Before she could ask, Angeal spoke.
"After Zack finishes this simulation, I'll put you in for a while. Let's see how you do at you top level."
She nodded and stepped forward when Zack finished his last enemy.
The black haired 2nd Class beamed when he saw the ANIMA. "Morning, Niva. Did you enjoy the show?" Maybe he should have tried looking more cool while fighting. Less slashing and more suave moves. Maybe he should have taken his shirt off? Or maybe tried getting a cut? Girls dug scars. No, then getting cut would mean he couldn't handle himself! He sighed inwardly. He was such an idiot.
"You did great, Zack. Good job." She smiled and pulled out both of her swords, walking into the middle of the room.
Zack stood next to Angeal as he started the simulation.
"Um… Did she talk about me?" he asked his mentor. "Did she say anything in particular?"
The older man chuckled. "Maybe. I'm not one to gossip."
"C'mon, Angeal! A hint? Please? Something?"
"You'll know soon enough, puppy." Niva had to tell him on her own. The decision was hers and he wouldn't try to influence the outcome.
Zack seemed to sulk a bit. "You're no fun. Any other news?"
"You need to focus on your defense skills. You can't always rely on your strength."
Figures Angeal would change the subject to training.
"Yes, Angeal," he sighed.
"Also, sharpen your mind. You're a bright boy."
The compliment helped perk his mood up a tad. "Thanks."
Niva was busy slashing through her enemies when she started thinking about Genesis. He was coming back tonight. What would she do?
"Do what sets me free? If I new what that was, then I wouldn't be confused." She slashed through two at the same time. Why was everything so complicated? She slashed through more and more enemies, gritting her teeth and lightly growling. She performed a front aerial to avoid the sword of an enemy and swiped a sword at him, finishing him off. She took a stance, ready for more.
But to her surprise, the simulation was already over. How did time fly by so fast? Walking outside of the VTR, she saw that the two others were waiting with praise.
"Well, done," Angeal complimented. "I'd expect nothing less from a pupil of Genesis."
"Thank you, Angeal." She smiled modestly.
Zack smiled brightly at her. "You did great! That flip in the end was a really nice finishing move."
She smiled sheepishly at him. "Thanks, Zack. It wasn't really much though." She let the blush leave her cheeks before looking to Angeal. "Any news on Genesis's return?"
The mentor merely smiled. "he should be returning within the hour. He has some news for you as well."
News? "May I be excused? I'd like to shower since the simulation is over."
"Of course."
Once Niva had left, Angeal turned to his pupil. "We've gained an upper hand in the war with Wutai. Thanks to much patient cooperation, we've gained more allies."
Zack's eyes lit of. "Really? Cool!"
"There's to be a celebration in two days to thank our allies. The Generals have all been invited and I'm taking you with me. You need experience in these situations." He chuckled with amusement. "If you're going to be a hero, you need this knowledge."
Zack was even more excited. "Is that the new Genesis has for Niva? Will Niva be there too?"
"Yes," he mused. "Niva will be joining us as well. You will be on your best behavior, I'm sure.""Yeah! Of course!"
Niva was washed and dressed when her phone started ringing."
"Hello?"
"Go outside your apartment." Genesis.
Curiously, she did what she was told. When she opened the door, she was greeted with a long missed sight.
The water eyed general was leaning against her door frame.
"Genesis!" She beamed brightly. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest, enjoying the feel of leather and the spicy smell that was Genesis.
"Hello, my little fawn."
She looked up at him excitedly. "How was your mission?"
"Quite drab indeed. Oh, by the way, my dear. I have news for you." He walked into the rrom and showed her a bag that was hidden behind his back.
"Open it," he said.
Cautiously, she took the bag in her hands and opened it. Her bright pink eyes widened at what was inside.
Inside there was a dress! It was long and very slimming. A red one strap dress that looked like it would fit her body loosely.
"Gen…" She looked up at him. "What's this for?" Of course she was grateful, she was just a tad curious.
He had a smirk on his face. "We're celebrating some new allies we've obtained. To welcome and thank them, ShinRa is having a ball of sorts. You'll be accompanying me. You need to gain etiquette experience."
A ball? She looked at the dress and smiled at Genesis. "Alright. And you already know I have the table manners and social skills required of me for this." She laughed lightly.
Genesis gently grabbed the bag from her and set it on her coffee table before her kissed her.
She felt something in her stomach she'd never felt before. It wasn't an exciting butterfly feeling. It was a bubbling in her stomach. Her mind didn't go blank like usual, nor did her eyes flutter closed like always.
She pulled away first and smiled a little. "How was the mission?" She needed a distraction.
Genesis looked at her oddly. Hadn't she already asked that? "It went rather well, I suppose." He went to her bookshelf and looked through the books, picking out her copy of LOVELESS. He flipped through the pages casually. "You've been acting a little odd, little fawn. Has anything been bothering you?"
"Odd? Why would you say that?" Unconsciously, she looked to the flower Zack got her. Maybe it was a good time to change the subject?
"When's the party?" she asked.
Genesis gazed at her from the corner of his eye, but went along with the subject change. "Two days. What are you doing tomorrow?"
She paused to think a little. "Probably train a little, then relax a tad. Why do you ask?" She pulled the dress from the bag and went to hang it in her closet.
"I was thinking maybe you and I could just stay in." He put her book down and looked st her with a placid expression.
"That could be fun." She closed her closet door and turned to him. "You must be tired from your long mission. Do you want to go back to your place and just turn in for the night?"
Curiously, Genesis walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Are you sure there's nothing wrong?" It seemed like her mind was somewhere else. He wanted it on him.
"Just sore from training.' She couldn't name the gurgling feeling in her stomach. She felt slightly relieved when he released her from his hold.
She looked out her window and saw it was dark. She was slightly curious as to what Zack was up to at the moment.
As it Shiva herself was answering her, her phone rang on her coffee table. She wordlessly walked over and picked it up.
"Hello? Meridian speaking."
"Hey, Niva. What's with the formality? Haha." Zack! "How ya doing? Did Genesis tell you about the party?"
"Oh, yeah, just heard about it. And I'm doing pretty good. When did you find out?"
"Right after you left." He chuckled. "Looks like we're both going then."
She couldn't help but laugh a little at his excitement. He was so much like an overexcited puppy. "Yeah sure. You're seriously such a dork."
Zack laughed at that. "Anyway, I was wondering, what are you doing right now?"
"You tell me first and then I'll tell you," she teased lightly, forgetting Genesis was even in her apartment.
"Just got out of the shower." Your turn."
She tried to keep the tempting images out of her mind. "Just hanging with Genesis. He was telling me about his mission."
Genesis seemed rather peeved, although he held it in well. Who was she talking to that was more important than he was?
"Oh, then how about tomorrow you train with me and then we can go out? You know, get some lunch, look for last minute party attire?" He chuckled at the last part.
She remembered the dress Genesis gave her just 10 minutes or so ago. "Oh, Genesis already got me a dress for it."
"Cool. Can you describe it?"
"A long, one strap red dress."
"Red?" He didn't sound like he liked it. "I'm not so sure you'd look good in a red dress."
"Really now?" she mused. "And what color are you thinking?"
"For you, either black, blue, or white. I'm liking blue."
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Whatever."
"So, tomorrow morning at like 7ish? Then lunch?"
"Sure, bye, Zack."
"Bye, Niva." he hung up.
"Was that Angeal's student?" Genesis asked, vying for attention.
"Yeah, he's just commenting on the dress you got for me." She smiled at him.
"Well, he doesn't understand how you look in red." He gave her a seductive smirk.
She smiled back and went over to her dresser, getting a shirt to sleep in.
When she stripped herself of her shirt, she suddenly felt Genesis's arms around her. His hands roamed her smooth stomach and made her shiver.
"Gen…" Not now, she wanted to say. There was a feeling of indifference inside her, but her body was more enticed by the touch that Genesis had perfected.
Maybe Zack wasn't the one with the infatuation. Maybe it was just her. Maybe she was just intrigued by the attention she was receiving. Maybe it was just nothing more than that.
Maybe everything was fine. Maybe all she needed was Genesis.
Niva's alarm went off, waking her from her sleep. It was 5:30am. She turned it off and sat up. Genesis lay next to her, slightly annoyed by the alarm clock.
She got up and grabbed some clean clothes from her dresser and heading into the bathroom.
She took a shower and dressed in her SOLDIER uniform, then she started drying her hair, leaving the bathroom.
"Coffee, Gen?" she asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" he asked with no curiosity in his voice.
"VTR. I need to keep up the training if I'm ever going to be a 1st Class." She started brewing the coffee. "Wanna hear some good news?"
"Sure." He didn't seem interested at all.
"I was talking to Angeal the other day and he says he's going to recommend Zack be a 1st Class. Isn't that great?" She was really happy for him. "Maybe he can teach me a thing or two while you're on missions so I can get to 1st Class too?" She thought it'd be fun training with Zack.
Genesis was silent for a while. What was all this sudden interest in Zackary? He was a tad clumsy and relied mostly on his strength, rarely on his brains. What was so good about being trained by him? If Niva became a 1st Class before him, then she wouldn't have anything to learn from him and she wouldn't feel the need to hang around him so much.
"How would you like it if I recommended you for 1st Class to Lazard?"
Shocked, Niva walked into the bedroom. "Really?" She put her towel in the laundry basket and sat on the bed. Why was he so casual about it? "Do you think I'm ready for it?"
"I'm pretty sure. How about I tell him today? You can go on a mission to prove yourself after the party."
She smiled at him. That'd be amazing, Genesis." She beamed brightly at him. She kissed his cheek and went back into the kitchen. She poured two cups of coffee and continued getting ready. Filled with a new energy. She put some casual clothes into her training bag. It wasn't like she was going behind Genesis's back to train with Zack. They weren't doing anything wrong.
"I'll be back around maybe 3 or 4, kay?" She grabbed her keycard. Genesis probably wouldn't be there when she got back anyway. He was the type to get bored easily when he didn't have his copy of LOVELESS.
"Alright." He sipped at his coffee quietly.
"Bye, Genesis." She closed the door.
It was around 6:50 when she got to the VTR. Maybe Zack would be there after. She was a little early after all.
Surprisingly, Zack was already there. He beamed brightly and waved when he saw her. There was an unbridled excitement in his mako eyes.
"I'm glad we're both early." He smiled happily. He rubbed the back of his head while smiling sheepishly. "I was pretty excited so I kinda got here early."
She smiled back at him. He was so open and honest about things. It was cute. "Me too. So, sparing or team?"
He smirked. "Sparing. Wanna make another bet?"
"Deal." She never backed down from a challenge.
"Good. If I win, you and I are going to get you a better dress for the party. No red." Oh, he was good.
"Fine. If I win, you let me pick your tux." She grinned.
They went into the simulation room and got ready to spar.
It was set in a dark and shadowy city-like structure. The only lights were from neon signs that were flickering lightly.
"Creepy choice much?" Niva asked.
Zack laughed. "Gotta be ready to fight anywhere." They both got into fighting stances and waited for the other to make the first move.
"Ladies first," Zack said with a grin.
She smirked back at him. "How chivalrous." She held both swords together and charged at him. She had speed and litheness on her side. It was in her ANIMA DNA after all.
He swung his sword at her and she just did a back bend, avoiding his attack. She swung her leg up and kicked his arm, hoping to disarm him.
That didn't work. He still had a firm grip on his sword. She dodged another one of his attacks and swung her leg to trip him.
He jumped over her leg and swung a leg of his own at her. He caught her off guard and got her in the stomach. She went back a few feet and held her stomach. That actually hurt! She smirked at ran at him again, going to slash at him with her blades. He blocked her easily and pressed his sword against hers.
"You should give up now. I've got you beat already." he said with a smirk. It wasn't mocking or mean. It was a playful smirk.
She smirked back with the same amount of playfulness. "You really think so?" She released the pressure against his sword and twisted so she slid underneath him as he stumbled forward. He hadn't expected the sudden loss in pressure.
She smirked and flipped her hair back. "Give up, Zacky," she teased. It was nice to just spar like this. No boring speechless simulation drones to fight. Nothing boring. But instead, a playfulness she really enjoyed. She could get used to training with Zack.
Niva was too busy teasing and didn't expect Zack to come at her so quickly. The best she could manage to do was a quick back hand springs until her back came into contact with the side of a building. She cursed lightly. She wasn't used to fighting in closed spaces. She was more used to open fields and areas of the like. That clever jerk.
"So, it looks like I win," Zack said, bracing his weight against his arm that was leaning against the side of the building.
She had to admit, even in such poor lightly, Zack looked entrancing. Inviting even. His teeth gleamed in the darkness and his bright blue mako eyes were vibrant. Were her eyes that bright to Zack?
Niva lightly flushed. She was glad the dark was hiding it. "Okay, Zack. I give." There was such a small space between them, she was fighting to not close it. There was Genesis to think about. She was such a horrible person.
Zack smiled his usual smile and pulled back from her face. "C'mon. Let's get out of here so we can get dressed and get going, ok?"
The simulation city faced and all that was there was the normal white walls of the VTR.
Niva sighed quietly. She was actually expecting him to kiss her. No, it wasn't expecting it. She was hoping he would. She WANTED him to kiss her back there. She was truly horrible.
"Niva, you're the one with the infatuation," she muttered to herself.
"What was that?" Zack asked from across the room.
"Nothing!" she called back, following after him. She was seriously getting herself into some serious trouble.
Bunnii: Hey, kiddies! Sorry it's taken so long. I've been having….. Issues as of late. Anywho, I'm starting to think, I'm not really sure as to which direction this story is going. So, I'm leaving it up to you guys! C: Tell me, my lovelies, should Niva choose the confident, graceful Genesis? Or the excitable little mako puppy Zackary? I can make it work either way so don't worry about the fate of this, dearies. I want at least 4-5 votes for one side so there can be a chapter update. This will probably be the only time there will be a condition to receive the next chappie so I made sure it's not too big since I'm not sure a lot of people read this anyway.
But thanks to those of you who do read my story and I will be updating Tell Me These Words Are A Lie soon. Much love.