I.
"You can uh, have my bed upstairs if you want." Cid offered. He nervously rubbed the underside of his nose after placing his jacket on the rack before the stairs. Shera was still by the front door, stomping the snow from the bottom of her boots, and then removing them on the mat. She pulled her hair from her chilled cheeks and blew mountain air from between her lips.
"That's kind of you, Captain, but the couch in the other room is just fine." Shera's smile was a quiet one. She moved past the work lamp he had clicked on, and placed her own coat on a peg next to his. Her shoulder bag was hooked on after.
Cid scratched his chin and shrugged his shoulders. "That couch in there has seen better days. Suit yer'self, I guess." He didn't press her. The Captain paused for a moment; a bit mystified at the sight of her pulling the yellow band from her dark hair. The high pony tail fell and swept over her shoulders. Shera gave the crown of her head and good scratch and tussle, and curiously met his gaze over the warm wash of the work bulb.
He cleared his throat. "I'm gonna dig out one of the blankets from the upstairs storage. I'll be down in a sec. I'd say you're welcome to whatever, but it ain't like you're new around here. Looks like you're goin' right to bed anyway."
"Mm…right." Shera pursed her lips and her expression tensed at her brows. "Are you not?"
"Goin' to bed?"
"Yes, Captain, it's late. Don't you think? I thought you had something scheduled for early tomorrow?" Shera had turned by now. She made a short saunter to the worn down seating off in the other space. The couch creaked in slight protest from the testing force of her knee. Satisfied with her brief assessment, she sank down on her side and propped her head up with her hand. Shera looked like she was going to fall asleep right then and there.
"Eh," the sound of the floorboards filled the short silence between them "won't be up more than another hour." Cid didn't feel the need to specify what he planned to spend that hour doing. His voice was distant. A door squeaked open, and then snapped closed. He was back down the stairs in the time it took her to stuff a pillow under her head. Cid tossed a blanket (it was just as scratchy as the couch was, but it would do) over the back of the couch, and then leaned in to get a good view of his assistant's face.
Shera was giving him a strange look out of the corners of her eyes. Cid couldn't discern what is was supposed to mean. "I'll hold you to that." She lifted her hand from beneath her head to cover her yawn. She brought the blanket over her shoulders. "See you in the morning, Captain."
Cid had the urge to hold another conversation, but he knew better. Ought to leave her be and save his seducing for an appropriate hour. "See ya."
II.
Something groaned and jolted Shera from her deep sleep. She squinted and dragged her drooping hand across the cold surface of the hardwood floor. Her fingertips made contact with the thin frames of her fallen glasses. Sighing, she placed them on her nose and blinked away the hard brackets of sunlight that flashed through the blinds. This…was not her apartment, and this was certainly not her room.
The groan was there again and she gazed up at the source. A pipe that ran up from the wall was shifting. The sound of flowing water came to her ears. Another something was bubbling and whistling in the kitchen. Footsteps from above. Captain Highwind. Right, right…she remembered now.
"Maybe I should have taken the bed." Shera muttered to herself and rubbed out the ache in her side. With a stretch, some of her joints popped. Crossing the threshold into the kitchen, she found the pot on the stove noisily shrieking out steam. She clicked off the burner it sat on and rubbed her eyes. It occurred to her that she had no idea what time it was. Her next thought was to go in search of her phone. Ugh…where did she put her bag again?
"Hey, finally up, slacker?" Captain Highwind's voice almost made her jump out of her skin. She swiftly pivoted on her heel; careful not to anchor her hands behind her on the still hot stove. She intended to meet his face, but found herself taking in the sight of a bare chest. He had a clean shirt thrown over his shoulder, a comb stuck in his wet hairline, and it looked like he'd shaved.
"I…" Shera reminded herself to stop gawking. She didn't know what she was expecting. His current occupation made physical fitness a mandatory requirement, didn't it? "Apologize. I should have set an alarm last night. You wouldn't happen to know what time it is, Captain?" She sucked in her cheeks and redirected her eyes to his face.
"Seven somethin' somethin'." He waved his hand in a round-about sort of gesture. The Captain slicked back his hair with the comb, wedged it between his teeth, and then (to her slight disappointment) stuffed on his black t-shirt. He tucked it beneath his belted trousers and fully joined her in the kitchen. He seemed pleased that she turned down the burner ahead of him.
Shera nibbled her scrunchie down her wrist and threaded her fingers through her messy hair. She combed it back in place and secured the long strands behind her head. "Why do I get the feeling I've missed something."
"Couldn't have missed anything this early. When do ya clock on?" The Captain stuffed his comb in his pocket, brushed past her, and then dug around in one of the cupboards. He produced a mug and placed it down to pour the hot water for his breakfast.
Shera nibbled her bottom lip and studied the curve of his hairy forearms as he popped open a canister of sugar. "I clock on at nine. I usually get some work done ahead of time, though. It makes the day easier. I mean, I do have some of my work, and your work to do."
"That so, huh? Maybe if you didn't mosey like a tortoise, you wouldn't have to drag your ass out of bed so early. Don't you ever take a break, Watts?" Cid's stirring spoon obnoxiously rattled against the ceramic inside of his cup.
Shera was slightly amused and allowed his comment to roll off of her shoulders. "Slow and steady wins the race. Slow down, jackrabbit." Her quip was rewarded with an immediate reaction. Captain Highwind's eyes narrowed and a sly smile made those charming dimples of his dent his jaw.
Shera retreated from the kitchen to retrieve her phone. She could feel his eyes on her back while finally remembering where she'd hooked her bag.
"I don't plan on takin' a nap, Ms. Ergs. " Captain Highwind paused to take a sip from the mug he had brewing. He didn't mind how scalding it was. It placed a fire in his belly that would probably keep him heated all morning. "You sayin' you're gonna pass me up? I don't even think we're in the same race."
Shera hummed and sighed at the sight of all the notifications that cluttered her phone screen. Some were from Palmer. Two missed calls. Most were from her nosy roommate. Ten overly concerned texts. She inwardly rolled her eyes and made it her next task to jog up to the bathroom.
"We could have been."
Now, what in the world did that mean? "Uh huh…I oughta kick you out for your smart mouth, if I owned this shack. So you're freezer burned molasses, and a goddamn riding crop. Some piece of work you are, woman."
Woman? "Captain Highwind, you're so kind. I should probably get going soon." Shera paused before she began her ascent up the stairs. The Captain looked like he was getting ready to depart. His smile was still present on his face while tearing his jacket from the rack peg.
"Smell ya later, Torque. And ah, don't forget to run those launch plans by me."
"Of course. I'll notify you when they recommence progress."
III.
Shera broke away from the general discussion the other head technicians were holding, and secluded herself in a relatively quiet corner. They were awful really; making bets on the cat. If she came back dead, it was back to the drawing board. If she came back alive? …again, back to the drawing board. She had explained that to Captain Highwind, and he had promptly ignored her. She simultaneously understood, and didn't understand his hurry.
"Hi, Maku…" Shera purposefully meekened her voice and cupped her hand around the receiver of her cell phone. She ignored it the first time, but knew better than to ignore it the second time.
"Sheraton, was I wrong to assume you'd call me every week?" Mother Joules' voice was neutral, but Shera could tell she was probably mildly upset.
"I'm sorry, Mama. I've been a bit busy. I've…" Shera unlocked her knees and bent to take a seat on the sturdiness of a metal beam. The soft evening light that fluttered in through the upper windows of the building were warm on her skin. She could feel it heating the fabric of her lab coat.
"Hm?"
"Sorry, I've been busy. They assigned me some addition tasks while I'm here." Shera shoved her glasses back up her nose. She turned her body more away from the entry; not wanting anyone to hear her conversation. "I can't talk for too long, either. They're going over the goals for this up and coming launch I'm required to be a part of this one. I think they want to give me some more responsibility." The thought made her giddy.
Shera could hear rushing water from a distant kitchen sink. Twinkling; probably the cat's bell. She imagined her mother's fat, black cat begging for morsels of dinner at her feet. "Another? And what assignments are they giving you?" Ms. Joules' voice meandered in tone. She probably wanted to discuss the topic Shera was trying to edge away from.
"They're sending up something living. A cat. Her name is Jupiter." Shera softly laughed. "I'll have to send you a picture. We received her fat, like your Chai, but she's been going through her own training. She's skinny now. Anyway," She snorted and regained her original train of thought "We got someone willing to be a ShinRa Celestialnaut. I've been volun-told to be his assistant and work on site with him."
"The Red Diamond has taken another poor sucker, is that right?" Ms. Joules' voice was musing. Shera could hear the distinctive snap of the microwave door in her mother's kitchen.
"Mama, don't say that. The Sucker isn't exactly poor, either. He's kind of…rough around the edges. Captain Highwind is the kahuna I've been duct-taped to. He was hired out of Weapons."
"Doesn't ring a bell. You sound like he's a trouble to be around."
"Not…exactly. He's a little different. Bearable. Kind of handsome."
Ms. Joules grunted. "A man, you mean. And don't get caught up in looking at his face. That's how they suck the soul out of you. One eyeful at a time."
"Mother." Shera sputtered like a horse. She lowered her voice a little further. "He keeps asking if I'd like to meet him places. He buys me lunch sometimes. And he flirts…I think?" If you muscled past his sharp backhand. "I think he likes me."
"Don't get caught up. Keep it professional. You know how that whole scenario goes. How old is he?"
"I'm not sure?" How young, or old Captain Highwind looked depended on his mood. "I have to go now, they're going to begin prep. I promise I'll call you."
"You said that last time…"
"I know. I love you, Mama. Bye."
IV.
Lucky little mother fucker.
Cid greedily eyed the sight of Jupiter being pulled this way, handled that way. It was all fucking ridiculous really. Maybe a good laugh even. They made the damn cat drop five pounds, trained her, and gave her her own little suit. Here Cid was in the prime of his age, anticipating history in the making second to a cat who was oblivious to any concept of what she was participating in. Why a cat of all animals was beyond him, but he was without a doubt A: Jealous and B for BITTER.
And his assistant had the nerve to snap photos. Shera would take a picture or two, and then huddle with a grin over the bright light cast by her phone screen. Maybe that made him a little jealous, too.
Maybe what pissed him off the most, was the distant comments. Of course, ShinRa's Space Program was tracked through the media. It honestly looked like ShinRa was wasting its money on a cat of all things.
(When it could have been fully invested in him.)
Palmer seemed more nervous these days. Have to make good appearances, right? Cid caught ear that the President had stopped breathing down his neck, and was now setting a match to the gasoline under the fella's hot bench. They had one more year to make something worthwhile happen.
(Word was, the Red Diamond was getting big eyes and sharp, biting teeth at something else.)
V.
"Ah, Ms. Lady! There you are!" Shera could literally see the exclamation point ping over Palmer's head. He lit up at the sight of her, excited, and somehow he still couldn't remember her name. She knew his expression too well, that oh-so-jolly little glisten in his eyes. The Space Department director had yet, surprise! another job for her to do.
"What can I do for you?" She removed a pair of gloves. They were covered in cat hair.
"This is going to be a really good one, I can feel it in my gut!" Palmer gave it a pat for good measure. "So, I figure you're my good luck charm, heh! I need you to uh, oh!" He pulled out a crumpled up list from his breast pocket. He squinted his eyes; seeming to have trouble reading his own handwriting. "Double, triple check the new chamber systems. I know you're thorough, so you'll do a good job, right?!" He firmly patted her back.
Shera smothered her instinct to shift her body off to the side. She politely nodded her head and forged a convincing smile. "Sure, of course. If I have at least a small team of good eyes. Those chambers and systems are enormous." He knew that, right?
"Whatever ya need! Say…" Palmer leaned in and wiggled his finger. He urged her to lean in for what she assumed would be some sort of 'secret', and was instantly wary. "If all of this goes dandy, the President will be really happy! With Cap'n up, it'll be even better! We have more projects in proposals to explore, get this, outer planet resources." Palmer leaned in a little closer. Apparently, he was going to mention something even more confidential.
"I see…" He was close enough for her to smell the coffee he had been drinking.
"I'd really wanna assemble a nifty team!" Palmer rasped. "If we get that far, I think you'd make a great addition as a specialist. We'll train you, too, heh heh!"
Shera pretended to cough. It was actually her suppressing her instant impulse to shriek.
VI.
She hoped no one had heard her hit her head. Shera groaned more than the pipe she'd run into. "You'd think they'd draw these maps up better." She puffed out her cheeks and quietly complained.
Minding her steps this time, she took a swift glance at the checking crew moving ahead to another chamber on a platform above. Shera took a pen from her lab coat pocket and crossed off the (thoroughly examined) sections she'd assigned herself to. One more stop before she could join the rest of the crew.
She untucked a clipboard from beneath her arm and pulled up the regulation numbers and directives for the ENGINE ROOM. "Let's see…" The LOX tanks were listed under the 'crucial machinery', so she figured she would assess them first. Shera craned her head upward over the massive tanks to view the pressurization meters. She cut her hazel eyes at the specified numbers, to the meters, and then back again…
"Who…the hell," She flipped the directive over and over, trying to make sense of what she was reading "wrote this?" The paper gave clear commands, but she was very sure that it was all wrong. Maybe the writer had mixed things up? Liquid oxygen needed to be monitored differently than gas. When the chamber warmed up during launch…She didn't even want to think about it. Shera would have to catch up to the rest of the crew later.
VII.
The damp chill of the night made Shera wish she had brought a blanket. It was still cold after all that time had passed. She would be glad when they started switching these launches to occur at reasonable times. It wasn't late at all, actually, it was entirely too early in the morning. The sun hadn't begun to rise yet. It was going to miss the show.
"So, did ya place a bet?" The tobacco in Cid's cigarette was long gone. He was satisfied with his one cancer stick for the night (morning? He hadn't slept) and was content with chewing on the orange filter.
"On Jupiter?" Shera resisted rolling her eyes. She shifted over to allow Captain Highwind to take a seat. They were observing from a good distance away on one of the lifts. The control room was buzzing in the distance. "No. I don't know what I'd bet on." That was somewhat of a lie. She just didn't want to think about it. All of it made her anxious. Her fingers and her hopes were crossed. Please, let this go well. One step closer.
"Y'know, whether she's gonna come back." Captain Highwind plucked the filter from his mouth and flicked it off somewhere. Shera peered over at him. He was wearing a pair of brown, leather goggles on his forehead. She wondered where he'd gotten them from. "Probably wasn't smart to nab a cat. They've got nine lives, right?"
Shera's shoulders shook with her laugh. "So they say. I think her prior weight took lives one, two, and three. They've dropped her a few times. Whatever training they had her do has probably taken the rest."
"For all their goddamn fuss, she'd better come back. That's my hope." Captain Highwind propped his forearms on the rail and sighed. The dew that settled on the chipping pipes plastered his arm hair to his skin. The strong line of his neck and shoulders were exposed beyond the collar of his shirt. Every time he leaned over the rail a bit more, muscle rolled beneath the work tanned surface. He must have felt her watching. Shera adverted her eyes a split second before he turned his head.
"The eyewear is new." Shera folded her hands in her lap. The launch pad, though slowly, was starting to mist. She should have been in the control room, but it didn't appeal to her right now.
The Captain tapped one of the securing straps. "My mamma's barons. They're kinda old school. She made me promise I'd wear em' up. Not that they're gonna let me when I suit up, but it's worth a shot. Big hen won't stop askin' me when I'm gonna be on TV."
"They're going to televise the launch?" Shera's eyes widened behind the rims of her glasses. She didn't know why she hadn't assumed.
"Like hell they will! Everyone on this big hunk of rock ought to see me make history! I mean space, the great unknown! This mother fucker right here," The Captain have himself a hearty, audible pat on his chest "is gonna be up there with the stars."
Shera's expression softened. She lifted her knuckle and nibbled to distract herself from the blush that was filling her cheeks. She was glad the sun wasn't there to reveal her face. "I'm pretty envious, Captain."
"Envious?" One of his blond brows arched.
"What I wouldn't give to be in your place. Don't get me wrong, I really do love what I do now, but when they were first recruiting for the third phase of the program, I would have loved to have been drafted onto a flight team."
The Captain's features shifted. His expression became a mix between intrigue and incredulousness. "I feel like you make a lot more sense now, Hertz. What stopped ya' from begging for it?"
"The begging part." Shera sighed. In that moment, she wanted to lean against him. "And the being young part. And the part where I'm young and a young lady at the same time." Her tone dragged on the last statement.
"I forget about that." His face eased into nonchalance. "You act so old, I forget yer' young." Captain Highwind did something she wasn't expecting, and took her hand. Hers was tiny compared to his, and though equally worn by hard work, softer. She couldn't discern if he meant to observe something, or play with her fingers. It made the impulse to lean against him stronger. "Wouldn't take you up with me, though."
Shera's mystified expression dropped from her face and hit the ground several feet below them. "And why not…?" She could tell he was marinating in her response. Captain Highwind's eyes crinkled in absolute delight; just soaking in her expression. Shera made the most deadpan face she could muster.
"Because you work like the paleontologists dug you up, Joules."
"…" A silence stretched. Shera relaxed her bristled shoulders. "Did you run out of energy conversions, Captain?"
"Nah, I have four more I ain't called you yet. I just want you to know I hear ya." The Captain pulled her by her hand and draped his arm over her shoulders. He was warmer than she was expecting him to be. She could smell his long gone cigarette in his clothes.
The first tinges of orange hit the horizon. It wasn't the rising of the sun. The area intercom was loud and echoing across cleared out acers of land. 5…4…3…2
Shera didn't stop herself from leaning against Captain Highwind this time.
VIII.
The dumbest headline all year as follows:
SHINRA POWER'S CALICO KITTY SAFE AND SOUND ON SOLID GROUND
ShinRa twenty five is a success! Company prepares to launch its first pilot into space to pave the way for future exploration.
IX.
Alright, get a grip on yourself Highwind.
He was so excited he probably could have started salivating.
Cid's thigh jigged out on the other side of his high barstool. He was starving, but he couldn't force himself to eat no matter how hard he tried. He ran his mouth a mile a minute. And Shera let him talk and talk and talk, like she usually did.
"She won't come out from under the lobby desk, but she's fine." Shera tapped her spoon against her lips. The diner was busier than usual. Familiar, roughed up faces had piled inside to celebrate?
"Pft," Cid snorted and raised a mug of steaming coffee to his lips "she'll get over it." Everything went just as planned. More or less. The cat was still breathing, right? Which meant he'd have his turn now, finally. Finally! "You know they're throwin' me the last leg of training. Palmer was squawking about some sorta press conference schedule."
Shera nodded her head; pony tail bouncing with the movement. She stuck her spoon back in her bowl and tilted her head to catch his eyes. "They're going to need you for a lot of documentation, Captain. You're the Space Department's poster boy."
He snickered at the thought. Cid placed his mug down and managed to fork up some sopping sweet pancakes. "Poster boy. I kinda like that. Why don't you start by taken more photos of me insteada' sunrises every damn morning."
Cid heard her hum and saw that feisty twinkle in her eye across the bar top. She was going to say something snarky, probably, but stopped herself. "What's wrong with sunrises? Besides, I'm sure the department plans to take plenty of pictures of you, once you've received all of your certifications. It's been a long course, hasn't it?"
He waited to finish chewing before speaking. "Long is an understatement, Ms. Chevaux. Boy, I tell ya. A roller-coaster wouldn't make me flinch now. If I haven't got a stomach made of steel from flyin', I sure as hell have one now."
She laughed. It was ginger and crisp; like a silver bell. "I can see you're excited. I'm excited for you, Captain." Shera's smile was all kinds of sugar. It took Cid a while to reply. It wasn't often that Shera smiled with her teeth. She had a slight gap between her front sets. With her ugly yellow sweater, and big granny glasses, she was the most adorable thing he'd ever laid eyes on. He wasn't the sort of man to hold butterflies in his gut, but they were making themselves known right then. Stomach of steel, his ass.
"Hey…" The butterflies in his stomach must have turned into obnoxious city pigeons. Cid had something he wanted to ask her, and he wasn't sure how. Uh, maybe he should have thought it over before opening his mouth, but it was way too late now. Her brows shot up on her forehead; seeming to sense that the change in topic was important.
"When I come back,"
"Yes?"
"They'll probably want me to see the President. I'll take ya into Midgar with me. On a real date. Got some stuff I wanna show ya."
"Oh…" Shera fiddled with her fingers. The long ends of her lower bangs swayed with her head.
Ah, fuckin'…maybe she didn't like him like that.
"Or, er, y'know, I could—"
"I've never been that far up before. I mean, I'm not from here, either. I'd love to go with you, Captain."
That was a yes, right? Get a fuckin' grip on yourself, Highwind.
X.
"You can worry about all those faxes and forwards later, alright." Cid was bold enough to place his arm around his assistant's shoulders while they walked. She wasn't much shorter than him, and she appeared fully accepting of the gesture. He really did wish she didn't keep so much to herself. Cid wanted to know what she thought of him. Or if she had a boyfriend…or if she was looking for a boyfriend… Like he gave a damn about being professional.
Shera made a low sound. She jingled her apartment keys in her coat pocket, and batted a rock or two with the hard toe of her boot on the pavement. "I feel like I'm so behind, though. They also need me tomorrow morning after I'm done doing check-in with you. They're going to add some last refinements that will make twenty five, number twenty six. It'll be at least half year worth of work to really perfect things and secure another round of fuel for exit and reentry."
"Blah, blah, blah. Don't worry about all of that right now. You're off the clock. Don't you ever get work off your brain, Shera?" The feel of her first name on his tongue was a bit strange. He'd get used to it.
His assistant came to the stop at the top of the familiar terrace of her second story apartment. The front entry way to the double locked door was embellished in hanging pots; overflowing with vines and labelled herbs. There was a pair of yellow rain boots near the welcome mat, and an equally yellow watering can perched up on a cracked windowsill. "It doesn't feel like work when you love it, Captain."
"I can respect that." Cid stood there with her beneath the shade of greenery. The street thinned below as the equipment hauling trucks heaved by. "Call me Cid, alright? Off the clock."
"Hmm…I'll think about it. Thank you for the meal, and walking me home tonight. I really appreciate it." Shera produced the proper key from her cluttered keyring and poised it before the lock.
"Wait, a sec." Cid paused her. The fucking pigeons were back; flailing and smacking into the glass walls of his stomach. He moved slowly so he wouldn't startle her. Cid could clearly see her watch him take a gentle hold of her chin with his gloved hand. He leaned in, and she closed her eyes.
XI.
"NOOOOO, MAKU YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!"
"Sheraton Alani Joules if you don't stop with the screeching, I'm going to hang up on you."
"I'm sorry, Mama. I just, EEE! I…right, no screeching." Shera unattractively cleared her throat for emphasis. "I just wanted to tell you I had a good day." She folded her knees beneath her on the creaking cushion of her bed. Shera placed the pad of her finger along her bottom lip and gently rubbed. She could still feel how warm he was.
"It certainly sounds like it. Are you only going to call me when you have a good day now?"
"No, no, no…I have some things I'm going to send you in the mail, okay. Your birthday present, too." Shera gently sighed through her nose. She traced the full line of her top lip and tried to keep a grin from stretching her features.
"You can't pacify me with gifts, dearest, but I suppose I have no choice but to accept. I want you to call me more, okay. I get worried when you don't. You're there all by yourself."
"I'm not by myself, Mama. Miso is here, my roommate. And—"
"Captain Highwind? Is that what you were going to say?"
"Maybe. He keeps me company whether I want it or not." She giggled and immediately regretted it. Mother Joules gasped on the other end of the line. Shera was not a giggler, and hadn't done so since…
"So Cid from fourth period math pulled on your pigtails? Hm? Sheraton?"
"Very funny mother. Just because you've had a bad time with these demons you speak of, doesn't mean I will." Shera winced and pressed her teeth into her tongue. She shouldn't have said that.
"…"
"I didn't mean—"
"I know what you meant." Ms. Joules tone was unreadable. "Call me back after you've showered. You should tell me more about him."
"Um, I will." Shera dropped her hand and pressed her lips into a guilty line. "See you in a little bit."