Copyright infringement not intended. T for language and violence. Thanks for the reviews and the alerts. Made my day. (:

And, so here we aree, chapter one. XD Hope you enjoyy!
::There is a two year difference between the prologue and the first chapter. In the prologue, Katelyn was only fifteen. Making her seventeen in this chapter and the future chapters, until I change this..::

One; Moment

xlx

You've got me poppin' champagne
I'm at it again
Caught up in the moment
But not in the right way.

xlx

"Shut up."

"My friend, your desire is the bringer of life, the gift of the goddess."

"Shut up! I'm trying to do something!"

Kat Harmon groaned in frustration, raking a hand through her hair violently. The papers in her lap were wrinkled and smudged beyond hope, the paper worn thin from her constant erasing.

She couldn't get her work done, not with that particular SOLDIER 1st Class quoting LOVELESS beside her to no end.

"There is no hate, only joy-"

She shot him a murderous look, silencing him effectively.

He was doing it on purpose. Just quoting the damned book over and over again until she was about to snap and throw it out the window.

Just trying to get a rise out of her.

"Genesis, I swear, if you don't shut the hell up-"

"My friend, the fates are cruel. There are no dreams, no honour remains. The arrow has left the bow of the Goddess."

He cut her off.

To quote that damned book.

Kat swore, shaking her head. This was beginning to be too much. If she could just tell Lazard about this, she wouldn't have to do the work or worry about passing it in. Anyone who knew Genesis would know how annoying it was to listen to him quote it all the time.

"What's the matter, Katelyn?"

Her eyes jumped to his bright and playful face, a scowl on her considerably younger features. He had gotten up, as silent as he had always been, and approached her, grinning down at her.

She glared openly at him, crossing her arms over her chest defensively at the sound of her full name. She despised it as much as the man who had given it to her. "Nothing," she answered coolly.

If she had been fifteen, again, and inexperienced with men, she would have been panicking and trying to get away as fast as she could.

But, Kat was seventeen and very experienced with men as it was.

She was not the innocent little girl who could be pushed around by a pretty face anymore. She was the not-at-all innocent woman who refused to fall in love.

With anyone.

Not after what happened to her family.

"Are you sure?"

He stepped forward, invading her personal space.

Kat narrowed her eyes at him, taking a step back to match his every movement. If anyone were to walk in at that moment, they would find the respected and adored - or so she'd like to think - Kat Harmon, SOLDIER 1st Class, being chased backward in circles by her superior and elder.

It would be an odd sight, indeed.

"Of course," she answered, annoyance dripping from her words. Why wouldn't she be? The only thing that was bothering her was him and she longed to tell him this, but he'd make some sort of snide comment and she'd lose her cool..

It would not turn out pretty.

"It seems like you aren't.." he murmured, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Hadn't this happened before?

Two years ago..

When she had skittered away. Afraid of what could happen if she did whatever it was that she wanted to do. Afraid he would think she was just some stupid little girl or that she was confused because of her family.

Not anymore, she thought cheekily. "It seems like you're not an ass, too," she commented, shrugging off his hold. "But, you are."

Genesis didn't seem deterred by her, continuing to approach her. Scowling, Kat placed her hands on his chest, pushing him back while he advanced.

This feeble attempt of distancing them only resulted in her sliding back with every step he took, her boots squeaking against the floor. "Could you.. Can you.. Stop walking!" She cried after sputtering, brows knitted together and a scowl denting her face.

He opened his mouth to most likely make some smart-ass comment about what else he could do besides walking but was interrupted by the high-pitched ringing of both their phones.

Grinning when he turned away from her to answer his phone, Kat brought her own shrieking device to her ear, moving away from the auburn haired First.

"Hey. It's Kat."

The caller snorted, though did not make a remark about the style she answered her phone. She scowled at the wall. "Is he with you?" A familiar voice asked.

There could only be one he that they would know would most likely be with her. She groaned quietly. "When isn't he? Quoting that damned book all the time while I'm trying to finish that paper work." Kat answered, running a hand through her slightly damp hair. "Why do you wanna know?"

A feminine laugh echoed down the line. "Still obsessed with Loveless?" The caller sighed with amusement. Kat smirked, glancing over her shoulder at the grumbling redhead. "Lazard wants you two in the briefing room. Now."

Opening her mouth to make up an excuse why she couldn't go, why she was suddenly deathly ill and going blind and mute and deaf , why she couldn't move or else she'd die, she found that the only sound was the beeping of the dial tone.

Kat swore inwardly.

Of course.

For one year, her luck had been drastically against her.

It seemed that it wasn't going to get any better anytime soon.

xlx

"Gongaga.."

Kat looked up out of habit, eyes narrowing accusingly. It was the first word she had heard of the entire speech the Director had, and was the only word that could affect her as much as it did.

Her heart had began to race at the mere mention of the small village, bare hands clammy from nerves.

Gongaga?

They were sending her, Katelyn Harmon, to Gongaga?

Were they crazy?

"I'm not going." She stated as if it were a known fact, stuffing her hands into her pockets.

The Director turned his gaze to her, frowning. "I'm sorry, Ms. Harmon, but this is not up for debate." He apologized, though it was obviously not heartfelt. She scoffed, looking away from his leering eyes.

Of course it wasn't. They were just trying to break her, or see how much she could take before she broke.

Well, if that was the case, Kat was certain that it would not happen for some time now. She could be strong if she had to be. Here she was, alive and literally kickin', when every expected her to be dead from trauma and suicide.

Not that she ever thought of killing herself.

She had worked too hard, killed too many people to get to where she was now. There was no way in hell she was going to give up just because she lost her family. She had more to live for.

"So, what are you gonna do? Tie me down? Sit on me? Get the Turks on me? 'Cause you'll have to. There is no way in hell I'm going to Gongaga." Kat shook her head defiantly, smacking her lips together. "No way."

The Director sighed and turned his gaze away from her. "That is exactly why Mr. Rhapsodos is accompanying you." He explained. The man in question grinned as all eyes in the room turned to him.

She swore loudly, gaining the attention again, not caring much about the question eyes.

This was too much. It had to be joke. She was being sent to Gongaga for Gaia knows why and now Genesis, the man who annoyed her more than humanly possible, was going with her?

Where they just trying to piss her off or something?

"No. No. He can go," she informed them, jerking her head at the redhead on the other side of the room. "I'm staying here."

Of course, Lazard ignored her. Of-bloody-course.

Her life was perfect.

"You two have an hour to pack, then report back here immediately." He instructed, not every sparing Kat a glance. "Genesis, would make sure Ms. Harmon does get onto the helicopter and does not try to run off?"

From the corner of her eye, she could see the smirk on her elder's face.

She tried her hardest not to burst into angered tears or a swearing rampage. If only Lazard knew how literal he would take that order..

First, she didn't get her paperwork done.

Second, she found out she was being sent to Gongaga.

Third, she had to go to Gongaga with Genesis.

Three things of importance had happened that day..

All of them made her want to curl up and die.

"Dismissed."

Kat couldn't hold it in anymore. She swore, loudly and violently, while exiting the briefing room in a series of stomps.

Yes, she was not a little girl anymore.

That didn't mean she could throw a tantrum at the unravelling of her life.

xlx

She pushed back a rebellious lock of near-black brown hair behind her ear impatiently, trying in earnest to shove another pair of gloves into the over-flowing duffel bag.

With each shove, she added more force, working her anger out in a more "positive and dignified" way. Or, so Angeal Hewley had told her.

Kat didn't know who she had pissed off in a former life, but she wished desperately that it was he that was going with her. Not Genesis, who would likely find a way to bother the living daylights out of here.

It would be a long trip.

"Times up. Ready?"

She started, nearly falling off of the tall bed.

Her hands clasped at the sheets, hauling her weight into a more cautious position, regarding the chuckling man in the doorway with narrowed eyes.

How the hell did he get in?

You needed keycards to get into rooms, and, as she was one of the only females, quite mature and a First, her room had more locks and security than any other SOLDIERs.

It didn't make any sense how he had gotten in.

Unless...

Lazard. He just loved to mess with her.

Kat sighed, zipping the stuffed bag with a hand and slinging it over her back with the other. She couldn't get out of this. Couldn't even get to her cell phone to call Angeal or Sephiroth and beg them to take the mission for her.

Not with Genesis standing right beside it.

"Guess I don't have a choice, huh?"

He shook his head.

She looked down, shaking her head sadly, then brought her eyes quickly to his. Something was different about him.. Something she couldn't quite place.

Though, and this she admitted reluctantly to herself, he was quite good-looking - or very, but she wasn't in the mood to marvel over a pretty face - and it made sense why she had had a crush on him back when looks were all that mattered.

Pushing him out of the way, she snagged the waiting phone and jammed it into her trouser's pocket. "Alright," she muttered, glancing back at him disdainfully. "Let's go and get this over with."

This would be hell. She knew it.

xlx

Why don't you say so?
Why don't you say so?
Give up and let go.

xlx

So..?
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Until next time,

xWhiteRainx