HQ16: Another rework to connect everything together better.
Words: 2,280
The time spent with Zack anytime after our news was nothing short of forced. Instead of the missions I was sent on before; I had company, someone was always with me. I started to get the impression that Shinra was doing this to keep an eye on me, as if I'd desert them too. I had considered the idea for a moment before realizing that not only did I have nothing to desert for, but more than that I had something or rather someone to stay for.
My brother was still here and in the nearly two years since joining the program, not even a word of him had reached my ears let alone is he was here or not.
Wutai was another story, what seemed to be an end of the war was just a means to end it. The people of Wutai were a strong and proud people, willing to fight even if the reason for the fighting had been lost to them.
Yet every time I was sent there, I kept my eye out. I searched with every one of my sense for anything of the man. When Zack and I were sent out together, it was easy to tell he was trying to restrain himself, despite my lenient tendencies with him. Even Sephiroth was keeping his eye out for him, in his own silent way.
It was seven weeks after the disappearance of Angeal, that I realized how together Zack and I had become. It was like we hadn't missed a beat. We fought back to back with ease, slicing and dodging over and under each other with familiar ease. It wasn't as smooth as the way Sephiroth and I fought together, but for the time spent away from each other, I thought it was smooth.
On the other hand, Sephiroth and Zack had even been pulled together for missions. Something I figured was just a way to keep an eye on the people strongly involved with Angeal. It was almost a trio of powerhouses. Sephiroth, Zack and I got along well and fought even better together.
Sephiroth and I had been student and mentor for something close to year now. We had spent time together before I had even ten missions under my belt. The success of my surgery had spread like wildfire, catching the eye of the city. Soon I was sent as a "body guard" to the President with Sephiroth. When I had asked about this to Sephiroth, he had smirked and looked away rather than answered, seemingly amused by my distress at the situation.
It would be a ten months later when I was his students I would realize that Sephiroth not only found me an interesting girl, but a favorite play toy of sorts. We were close, and at the end of the day Sephiroth was more than just my mentor. He was a friend, a comrade, a brother and a teacher.
Despite Sephiroth being the silent type, he had opened up to me some, and I was even able to understand his wordless actions. Actions as simple as raising an eyebrow that meant so much more than an inquiry.
Lately I had seen less of Sephiroth and more of Zack; moreso during downtime, than anything. Like now, Zack and I had wandered through Sector 8 for some peace and quiet when I had received a phone call. The voice on the end didn't even bother to greet me or even let me say more then three words before speaking and hanging up.
I rolled my eyes and told Zack that something had come up to jog off towards the Briefing room. The owner of the voice was standing with his back to me once I had walked in and I frowned shoving him a bit to show my distaste for his actions.
"You need to learn some manners Tseng, like using hello and goodbye during phone calls," I said as he had snapped his eyes to the one who had touched him. He turned away once I had spoken and brushed at his uniform as if he had hit the ground and got himself dirty.
"More than you it seems," he commented easily with an odd glance. For some reason I felt as though his eye balls were mentally ripping my clothing off and recalling old memories, ones from a few months ago. I had been the reason for more than just one of Tseng's accomplishments, including something to do with the turks and his reason for no longer being a virgin.
"I could use more manners if I want to, but you chose not to. All the time." My imagining his eyes roaming, was no longer imagination as his eyes drifted down and stopped. What they stopped on I wasn't sure, but he responded to my jab.
"I don't like wasting time like you do, I've got more important matters to attend to," he gave a miniscule shrug. An undesirable habit that he had gained from too much time with me.
"Oh, like espionage, assassinations and whatever else you Turks do? Sounds charming."
"Oddly similar to killing on command like a mindless animal," a faux gasp escaped my lips.
"I am not mindless. Besides I'd have more brains than you even if I really was mindless," Tsengs lips parted to respond, but a chuckle and a voice stopped him.
"Alright, alright. Enough you two, I see that your last assignment together has done nothing for your ability to get along," Lazard turned towards the two of us; defensively my arms crossed themselves under his gaze.
"We are getting along," I muttered with a shrug. Tseng glance at me from the corner of his eye, an odd look in them and a smile tugging at his lips some before Lazard pulled us from our locked gaze.
Angeal. He was the issue at hand. Tseng interrupted him however, saying that they should wait for the other one to arrive rather than explain things twice. Just as I was about to ask about who the other person was, they walked in.
Hardly surprised to find it was Zack who came in, with the only thing on his mind that was ever on his mind as of late: Angeal. "Any word on Angeal?" Predictable.
"Hasn't contacted his family either," the Director sighed just as I decided to take a seat for myself. I figured it was easier to hid from Tseng whilst sitting. Considering I was a sloucher, sitting was always a task for me. The SOLDIER armor was not meant for someone with women assets and the insignia along the leather belt armored piece always seemed to choke me. I glanced at my arms, flexing them casually, noting that despite being as strong as any other SOLDIER they weren't nearly as large as theirs.
Impossibly strong, lean and quick. Hojo said it had to do with me being female I think. I was assuming that's what he meant by "genetics". I had all the muscle without much of the bulk. I flexed my arm, watching the muscles underneath bulge as if to prove their strength.
I brought my gaze up to Tseng who was glancing at me again from behind Zack. I could feel it again, the feel of his eyes undressing me, then the reminder of his hands doing the same came to mind. I gasped softly, my face heating up at the memory and I turned away to hide my features.
Instead, I brought my attention to Zack and the Director who had noticed nothing out of the ordinary in me and my seat.
"... they can't be trusted," Lazard spoke with a shake of his head.
"Why?" Zack asked, giving me a chance to catch up in the conversation.
"Because they're his family," Zack nodded, looking away with a quiet 'Mhm, mhm.' his hand rose to scratch his head and his gaze turned to me, I smiled reassuringly or I hoped it was because I had been distracted by the extent of how adorable his expression was.
"I had already dispatched some staff, but we've lost contact," my screen showed the faces of two unfamiliar people that I could only assume were Turks. "I want you to go and investigate. These two will be going with you."
Finally fully noticing the man in the suit, Zack crossed his arms as he introduced himself.
"Tseng, of the Turks." I could practically hear the frown on Zack's face appear.
"This job is looking really gloomy..." I chuckled to myself, giving a shake of my head as I stood.
"Let me know when you're ready to go." Zack left with a begrudging nod and despite Lazard being in the room, my heart began to race at having Tseng turn his attention to me. I said nothing, leaving the room as the blood in my face began to spread as more memories flooded my thoughts. I glanced back once, curious as to what Tseng had been thinking.
Tseng and I were confusing as far as I was concerned. We had a mission together within the first few months of me becoming a first, it was just the two of us. Why Tseng and I had been sent out and not another duo still confused be, but it seemed that the cross of our areas of expertise were required. However there was a lot more of close encounters, ducking and hiding than much of anything else.
Something about being squashed together under the moonlight trying to fight for survival that really got to a person I guess. We finished our mission and were on our way back to the rendezvous point when it had hit us. Or interactions with each other since had been minimal at best. Partly because we were never sent on a mission together and partly because I was never wherever he was.
I had reached my room, entering it silently and gathering my belongings quickly. There wasn't much, but everything I took was important on a mission. I made my way back to the room, all the while trying to tear my thoughts away from the memories and only succeeded in reliving the heated moments inside my head. I entered the room to find that Zack had not returned.
"You won't be doing much else but accompanying Tseng," addressed Lazard.
"Tseng can protect himself, what does he need me for?"
"It's in case Genesis and his copies show up. Zack won't be with him, and Tseng will have a hard time defending himself against a 1st," the logic was sound, but I had a sneaking suspicion that was just the cover story to this. I nodded however, despite my intuition telling me otherwise.
Zack returned some ten minutes later, promptly Tseng to speak up, "Ready to go?"
"Routine job, right? No sweat!" Confidence fell off the SOLDIER in waves and Tseng did what he did best.
"I wonder... originally, Sephiroth was assigned this mission. That means it's a top-priority matter." He began to walk away from him, putting an emphasis on 'top-priority. "Be alert or you'll fail."
Sweet guy, I thought to myself.
"And Sephiroth?" Zack questioned with a glance at me.
"Refusing to go apparently," Zack looked to me with an incredulous glance and my hands rose in defense.
"Oh, What is that? They spoil him too much!" I shook my head slowly, watching the way Tseng ducked his head. I had suspicion that it was to hide a smirk.
"Hm. Why don't you say that to his face?" he retorted the moment his expression had returned. Zack pulled away and claspedhis hands together.
He spoke, making an odd expression as he tilted his head and chuckled nervously. "Uh, no thanks."
"Don't even look at me. He'll slice me in half. On the other hand, as beautiful as this is, we should get going." Tseng responded with a quick nod, leading the way out with purpose.
It was on the way to our destination that I found out that we were heading to Banora. Hometwon to both Angeal and Genesis. The idea struck me as odd. I had never really considered that most people hometowns. Sephiroth and myself never mentioned them.
To think that Genesis and Angeal were born in the same town. This town. Made me homesick for a home I couldn't remember ever having.
I let my thoughts be consumed for much of the rest of our flight. Even after landing I was just following Tseng where he walked. It was quiet for the most part. Something my senses noticed before my brain did. I was a bodyguard for a bodyguard. Tseng spoke momentarily about the fact that Turks do all the dirty work.
"If you do all the dirty work, what is it that we do?" my arms crossed slowly, my eyes narrowing at his words.
"The grunt work. The mindless work. The easy things." I scoffed at his response.
"Yeah easy," I muttered as he bent down at a grave. My eyebrows furrowed as I watched him, I didn't understand what he was doing. Zack left soon after, in search of Angeal. My arms unfolded themselves as my eyes followed him into the center of the small town, his head bobbing as he ran to each house. A breeze ruffled my uniform, the hair stuck in my ponytail rustling against my armored shoulders.
Beside me, Tseng stood up looking rather tense. Something was happening.