Copyright infringement not intended. T for violence and language.
Here we go, chapter five! Thanks for the reviews and I hope you enjoyy! XD
Five: Looks.
xlx
She looks at me but then I look back at her,
She turns away.
xlx
She huffed impatiently, glaring at the bubbling water as if it had personally assualted her. In her mind, it had.
It wasn't her fault. Honestly, it wasn't. Maybe Lazard should think about who he chose for a mission before he hauled them in and forced them into it. Maybe.
Then, he wouldn't have to worry about a pissed woman SOLDIER marching up into his office and slapping him so hard her hand stung.
Kat grinned at the memory, her hand still smarting from the blow. It was worth all the pain in the world to see the men's faces. Genesis and Zack had been shocked, having followed her to attempt to stop her from doing anything she'd regret later, and Angeal had been..
Well, Angeal had been as pissed as she.
That was why she was currently at her dorm, doing the dishes after having cooked all of them - Zack, Genesis, herself, Angeal and Sephiroth - supper. It was her punishment, one she couldn't quite understand.
How did this make her know slapping her higher ups was a `no-no´?
It didn't. That's how.
"Need help?"
Kat glanced over to the male figure, glaring at the white book in his hand. That should have been her punishment, Angeal should have made Genesis read LOVELESS to her for four hours straight. It would be a tense, angry and awkward punishment.
Something that would make her regret slapping Lazard.
"Go to hell."
Genesis blinked at her. She blinked back, holding his gaze for a moment before she dropped her eyes to the dishes, swearing when her finger was pricked on an abnormally sharp knife. It felt like a dagger. Who the hell ate with a dagger-knife?
Probably Sephiroth.
Or Angeal threw it in there to make her feel bad and bleed some more. As if she hadn't lost nearly all of her blood and wasn't still exhausted from the mission. Kat sighed, eyes flickering to where Genesis still stood.
What did he want?
"What do you want?"
He smirked and she rolled her eyes, dropping the plate without a second thought, not even remembering the nearly over-flowing water. It splashed up the front of her white shirt, cold and soapy and indeniably wet.
Kat gasped, looking down at the dripping shirt with distaste and shock. How was it that she always ended up doing something incredibly stupid in front of him? Either it was forgetting about a torn shirt - which she had replaced for one of Angeal's - or soaking it, or doing something equally as stupid.
Her eyes moved up to his, wide with shock. He watched her curiously, almost examining her reactions.
Did he plan to do this or something?
Was this what he wanted? To piss her off and make her do something stupid just for a laugh?
Probably.
"Go to hell." Kat repeated, turning back to the dishes though she had no intention of doing them, thoughts turned to her cold shirt and how she'd fix it. She could go to her bedroom, but then Angeal and Zack and Sephiroth would see and there'd be questions and snide comments and..
She couldn't do that.
Tossing a glare at him, her fingers found the top button, proceeding to push the little button out and went down to work at the others.
A red-leather gloved hand caught her bare own, pulling her hand from the button-up the shirt. "What are you doing?" He asked, voice tense and sort of hoarse. Was she doing this to him?
Kat was no stranger to men, absolutely not, and knew how to have a man begging on his knees in heated moments of passion, but... She never expected this from the cocky Genesis, who never made a move on her or even acknowledged her short-lived crush on him.
It was not expected at all.
But, it was sort of entertaining.
"What do you think I'm doing? I'm trying to get out of this damned thing!" She shook her head, her free hand travelling to the next button. Instead of watching her fingers progress and make sure she wasn't just picking at a string, she watched his face.
His eyes, considerably darker than their usual azure shade, followed her fingers. His expression was growing into something that she had seen on other men, something that her fingers fumbling with the buttons as her heart sped up to a nearly fatal rate.
Yes, she'd seen it on other men.
Before she slept with them.
Genesis looked up to her, eyes burning with an emotion that made her try to stumble back. She was his equal, was a 1st Class, and, at one point, was his protégé. She had to remember that and so did he.
When Kat had been fifteen, and had secretly dreamt of him looking at her like he was now, she knew it had been just that. A dream. Something that was likely never going to happen.
But, here it was..
She would have been thrilled if she was fifteen.
Now, she was scrambling to keep a hold on reality.
Kat was not fifteen anymore, she was seventeen. No longer a girl, very much a woman.
Genesis wasn't twenty anymore, nearly twenty-two now. There was no difference in his attitude in general, but when it was directed towards her..
It seemed like everything he did, he did to purposely get under her skin.
"Do you need me to help you? 'Cause it seems to me that you're having trouble," he murmured, taking a barely noticable step towards her.
Yes, she was having trouble.
Trouble with breathing, that was.
Her breath caught in her throat, eyes glued to his. Azure and azure. Mako-inhanced vision, beyond perfect, didn't miss a single thing. Which meant she didn't miss every emotion that flickered in his eyes and on his face.
She didn't miss a thing.
Kat chuckled nervously, creeping back with every step he took.
She knew her kitchen better than he, but he had the advantage of sight whilst she had the advantage of living there for two years. She knew where each wall, counter and flat surface was and carefully steered herself out of it's path.
"No, no. I'm fine. Honest."
If it had been any other man, she would have readily toyed with his emotions and self-control, easily teasing him and leading him on until he was crying for her.
But, this wasn't any other man.
This was Genesis Rhapsodos, SOLDIER First Class and her former mentor and friend - or so she'd like to think.
And, this was nearly going too far.
Where the hell was Angeal or Sephiroth, or, even, Zack?
Why was no one stopping this?
Why wasn't she stopping this?
That was a very good question.
One she didn't have an answer to.
"Yeah, you are." Genesis agreed quietly. Kat's face flushed and she forgot momentiarly about the wall behind her. Her back pressed up against the cold surface, smooth paint ruffling her hair. He continued to advance, like a predator stalking it's prey.
She hated being the prey.
If he didn't back off soon, she couldn't be held responsible for her actions. She'd blame it all on survival instincts.
They - Genesis included - would have to understand then.
When his hand planted firmly above her hand, she struck out, palm cracking against his face. Kat winced as her hand began to pulse, smarting from the assualt.
Of course, she had used the same hand she slapped Lazard with.
Damn.
What was with these SOLDIER boys and their abnormally hard heads? It was just not fair to the women of the world when they deserved a good slap.
"What the hell?"
"Katelyn Harmon!"
"Uh..."
"What is going on here?"
Kat jumped at the two authorative voices, eyes darting to the scowling men in the door way. Zack stood between them, scratching his head and trying in earnest to look at her partially exposed chest. Second time in a day, she thought. This better not become a habit.
"Huh? Nothings going on, I swear," she answered Sephiroth's question first, ducking around Genesis with the grace of a natural fighter. "It wasn't me, Angeal. Honestly, and Genesis.." She shook her head, trailling off.
Any harm that came to his person from her was worth any punishment from her elders.
"Go get changed." The dark haired man ordered, trying, like the youngest boy, not to look at her attire. "Now."
Kat ducked her head, hair creating thick and dark curtains that framed her face and effectively hid her flaming face from view. "Yessir." She muttered, scampering pass the men and boy in the kitchen doorway.
"Maybe if she wore appropriate clothing, she wouldn't have these problems." Sephiroth growled when she passed.
His words only made her face grow hotter and glow redder.
Maybe she wouldn't.
But, then, maybe she wouldn't be she.
xlx
Kat groaned for the hundredth time, raking her hands through her sweaty hair violently, fingers curling in the chocolate locks tightly.
It was late, later than she usually stayed up, and though her body and mind could go weeks without sleep, she craved it desperately. She didn't need to sleep. She wanted to. She desired the warm embrace of unconsciousness.
Not this hell of waiting for it.
It was torture.
The thing that bothered her most was the fact that she just couldn't sleep. Hour ago, Kat had sent the men home and tried in earnest to fall asleep. Her covers were currently crinkled and more messy than they had ever been, pooling at her waist when she had pushed herself into a sitting position.
It wasn't hot, it was too cold, actually, and that made her even more confused as to why she was still awake. Usually, cold weather knocked her out.
All curled up in the thick and downy covers, with thick pajamas and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, warming her to the core.
She had settled down with all of that.
Still, no sleep came and it was driving her mad. Insane, really.
Gaia, she hated this!
Grumbling to herself, Kat slid out of the bed, shuddering from the cold hardwood floor beneath her feet. She marched down the hall to the kitchen, grabbing the handle of her still steaming cup of coffee angrily.
The mug was scorching to the touch and the burning liquid scalded her throat, warming her entire body pleasantly. Her muscles loosened from the radiating heat, allowing sleep to sink into her previously rigid and tense body.
She smiled contentedly, eyes fluttering shut in bliss while she walked blindly to the living room, flopping down onto the couch with a soft groan.
Finally.
After hours of waiting for and trying to sleep, she could finally sleep.
Sleep made things final.
Sleep closed days.
And, with the way the day had been going, she would be more than happy to end this day on a good note.
Kat's eyes flashed open at the thought, heart beginning to race, and she cursed. This was why she refused to fall in love - not that she was in love. It would keep her up at night when she wanted to sleep so badly.
She was no stranger to love and it's many forms.
But nothing said she would willingly give up her rights, her life, and what made her Kat Harmon for a man.
No matter who he was or what he meant to her.
She was she and nothing would change that.
Especially not something so weakening and vulnerable as love.
Especially not that.
Kat swore, again. She was destined to stay awake all night with these damned thoughts with a still aching hand.
Great. Exactly how she wanted to end this day! It made her whole life complete and perfect!
Not.
xlx
And I know, know, know,
That she could care less about love,
It's just for fun,
I'm just another one.
xlx
So..? (:
I won't get the next chapter up in a few days, I think, because my power might go out any minute tomorrow. It'll hopefully be up by... Monday? :S
Anyway, despite that, I hoped you enjoyed!
Reviewww! XD
Until next time,
xWhiteRainx