Kunsel stared at the surveillance screen, impatiently tapping his finger on the mouse. "C'mon Cloud," he muttered, glancing back over his shoulder. If he was caught in here... well, he wouldn't be in trouble, but still. He's a SOLDIER, and the guards who run the station are just that, grunts. He was obviously allowed in here, right?
Finally the small blonde approached the door to his cell, shocked when it opened. Kunsel was a bit hurt. You would think after years of snooping around people would actually believe what he told them, but alas, 'twas the life he led. Cloud had better be grateful, though. And stay away from Shinra. He didn't go through all this work for nothing.
The makoless blond quickly but on the grunt uniform left in the hallway, ignoring the jeers from the less fortunate prisoners in adjoining cells. Good boy, Cloud, Kunsel thought. If he keeps it up he might just get out of here. Garbed in the odd blue clothes and helmet the boy ran from the room, and Kunsel slid a hand over his eyes, muttering "Idiot." You don't run when you're trying to look inconspicuous. Peering at the next screen Kunsel winced as Cloud opened the door right in the faces of two real guards. He held his breath as the boy was talking to them, gesturing wildly. Apparently what he said worked, as the two glanced in to the prison hallway before running off at a trot, one putting his walkie-talkie to his mouth as he went. Cloud went off in the other direction, still running.
Kunsel stood up and pushed in his chair, abandoning the surveillance room to take up the next part in the plan. Walking, not sauntering, Zack is the one who saunters, around the corner, he made it to the elevator and hit the down button, not waiting for long before the door slid open and three more guards flew out, almost knocking him over.
"Sir!" One of them shouted, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Ah, Gethrode, just the man he was about to find. "Oh, Gethrode, just who I was looking for. I was just talking to Calvin. He needs you to finish up his shift, his wife's giving birth and it sounded like there might be some complications," Kunsel responded, keeping his face grave.
The man paled. "Shit!" he shouted, biting his lip and looking at the other two. "You two go back and help with the search, I'll take up surveillance. Sounds like Calvin just had to leave, he wasn't compromised." Gethrode nodded at Kunsel, saying, "One of the prisoners has escaped, we were ordered to recover Calvin, if necessary."
"Good luck!" Kunsel shouted to the three retreating backs, secretly wishing them anything but. He hurried into the elevator, throwing out his arm to block the closing door. Pressing the button for the ground level, he stood back, praying he had gotten on at the right time. The elevator stopped with a beep and Kunsel swore under his breath. He didn't have time for this. He looked to the opening door, an order to hurry on his tounge, only for his voice to fail him when Reeve Tuesti stepped in.
The Genius of Development nodded at him, and he nodded back, hands starting to shake. Tuesti, the Reeve Tuesti was in the same elevator as him, a lowly SOLDIER. Was his helmet on straight? Oh Planet, had he put on deodorant this morning? Kunsel couldn't remember. This man was practically the reason he had joined SOLDIER, as strange as that might seem. The inventor was young sure, but all he had accomplished in his short years was enough to win him a place near the head of Shinra, far higher than Kunsel could even dream. It wasn't just that the man was by far the most competent Kunsel had ever heard of, he was also nice. Nice, gentle, and everything a Shinra executive shouldn't be, and yet here he was. Kunsel had met him, when he was little. Even when the man had just been a teenager he had been busy helping people. Tuesti's little robots had found Kunsel's dad after an earthquake had collapsed the house with his father inside. Once the little machine found him rescue crews had been quick to follow.
And now here he was, standing quivering in front of his idol, about to commit treason. What would the man think of him if he knew? Planet, he couldn't even talk, he was so nervous. What if-
The elevator slowed to a stop, allowing Tuesti to leave. Kunsel sighed in relief, collapsing against the wall. If the man had said anything, even if he had just glanced back as he was leaving, Kunsel might have spilled the whole plot. The elevator descended a few more floors before halting again, allowing a small grunt on board.
"So..." Kunsel spoke, wishing the elevator would lower faster. "How are things back in the barracks?" The grunt glanced back at him, tilting his head slightly before turning back to face the doors. Alright then, no chatter while we wait. I can deal with that, Kunsel thought with a sigh. How was he supposed to remain up to date if randoms wouldn't talk to him? Of course part of the problem was that once they talked to him they weren't just a random any more. They had a name, a face, hopes, fears. He almost preferred it when they, like this one here, kept their helmets on.
The elevator reached the bottom floor and they both got off, Kunsel stopping the MP from heading off at a run. Turning the boy, and this one was quite young, to face him, Kunsel ordered, "Stop running. There's a prisoner loose, and if you go running for an exit someone's going to think the worst of you. If you walk, they're more likely to think that you don't know, as opposed to that you're trying to get out of ordered over time." Planet, the idiots in this place. How did Tuesti stand it?
The boy nodded and they walked towards the main entrance together. He probably should scold him for getting out of duty, but that's not how Kunsel did things. He didn't make enemies, he made acquaintances, close enough to gossip with but not close enough to get favors out of him. Except Zack, but even he had been growing more distant.
It was Zack's fault he was doing this at all, actually. The problem with making friends was that once Kunsel was devoted to a person, he never let go. His loyalty was horrendously fierce, even when the other person's wasn't. Which was why he was currently committing treason for the sake of his friend, even when said friend didn't know it.
The truth was, having Cloud locked up was killing Zack. Why the SOLDIER cared so much about the little enigma Kunsel had no clue, but he did know that in the dwindling time Zack spent with him, the Second was absentminded and sad, which wasn't something Zack should be. He was a puppy, a hyper, charismatic child who spent his time running around having fun and pulling pranks, not brooding. But brooding he was, and so here Kunsel was, helping a mysterious prisoner escape.
They reached the exit and Kunsel curved around to lean against the wall, waiting for Cloud. To his surprise, the MP followed him, just staring at him when Kunsel glared.
"What now?" the boy asked, and Kunsel almost fell over. That was Cloud! What- How- He hadn't even noticed.
"Now we leave," Kunsel replied, keeping his cool. It wouldn't do to have people think there were things he didn't know. He started off at a faster walk than before, but not anything unreasonable. This was his business walk, the kind where you walk with a purpose, so that no one wants to keep up with you. Of course, the effect was ruined by a little MP scrambling to keep up with you, but whatever.
Cloud eventually fell into the gait, not in step, his legs were too short, but close enough that the pair didn't look ridiculous. "No, what will I do now?" the boy asked, at least having the brains to speak quietly and keep his head facing forwards.
One of Kunsel's eyebrows rose beneath his helmet. "Now you leave. You leave, stay out of trouble, stay safe, and most importantly stay away from Shinra. I'm not going to get you out again if you get caught."
"You're the one who planned this?" Cloud demanded, and Kunsel was sure shock would have been painted on the boy's face if he had looked down. Planet, why was he always underestimated?
The SOLDIER snorted. "Who did you think was in control, Zack? A mouse would finish a maze faster than him, he couldn't plan his way out of a box, let alone a prison."
"But what's your motive? Did he ask you to get me out? He should be risking himself like this, and it's not like I can do anything anyway, not without mako."
Kunsel was done. He was so done with everyone ignoring him, always assuming things about him about others, about everything. People always assume, that's all they do. That was why he was in SOLDIER, and they were in jail. "He didn't ask me, I did it myself, thank you. And it's true, you can't do anything. I don't know what your goal is, but you're no longer going to work towards it. Did you not here me when I said to stay away from Shinra?"
Cloud shook his head as they neared the train station. "What do you want me to do, become a farmer, breed chocobos for the rest of my life? How am I supposed to do that when-"
Kunsel turned, pushing Cloud against a streetlamp. "Stay. Away. From. Shinra. Maybe after everything cools off I'll let Zack go and visit you, where ever you are, but until then you are to maintain distance. If you get arrested again I swear to all that's holy I will ruin you. You think I'm not able to do something like that? I know enough people. If I can get you out of jail be assured that I can ship you right back in. If Zack cries anymore on your behalf you won't see the light of day again."
Cloud stared at him but Kunsel couldn't read his expression because of the helmet. "You love him, don't you?" The boy murmured, sounding sad.
...What? Why in the world would Cloud think that? Kunsel shook his head, letting go of the boy's shoulders and stepping back. "No. Come on, we have to get you out of here."
They entered the train but didn't sit down, both of them too tense. There shouldn't be any problem, as passengers from the plate were trusted, but the potential of getting caught kept both of them standing, ready to run.
It was odd, Kunsel thought as the train entered a tunnel, descending to through the plate to exit the city. Normally he was able to act calm, even when he was frantic inside though. Now though... "What are you planning to do?"
Cloud glanced at him, helmet once again preventing him from getting his reaction. "I'm not going to give up, despite what you said. What I need to do is unclear yet, but one of my overarching goals is to save Zack. That's something you can be sure of. He was my best friend, and I'm not going to abandon him, even if it kills me."
Kunsel nodded. That was something he could understand. "Just know that if I'm sent to take you out, I will do as I'm told. This," he spoke, making a motion with his hand, "does not mean I am at all attached to you. Get yourself in a mess and I will not be there to help you."
"Understood."
The train slowed to a stop. As Cloud turned to go Kunsel called out, making the boy pause. "If you ever reconsider," The SOLDIER said, a smirk curling his lips, "I hear Choco Billy's hiring."
Cloud snorted, but resolve remained painted on his face. "Sorry, but I don't think chocobo breeding is in my future." He turned and left, not sparing a backwards glance as he left the city.
The train started back, and Kunsel sighed. He hadn't lied, he wasn't attached, but this kid was definitely someone he would like, if the circumstances were different. As it was, it was likely the next time he would see the boy would be on the other side of his sword.
Dreams of The Morrow, Chapter 22: Escape. 2123 words. Updated April 24, 2014.
I'm thinking of making Kunsel a more major character, but I'm not really sure. Also, Tuesti seems to be constantly riding the elevator. Don't know what that bit was about, sorry. Character development, I guess.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed, have a nice week!