I didn't like this Chapter very much.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII and all parts of the contemplation go to Square Soft or rather Square Enix. I own Evelia and the things based around her.
After hearing a lecture on how to take care of my ears we headed out to get some ice cream. The pulsing in my ears beat harshly with my heart. It didn't fade the entire night.
"Be careful sleeping Evie, you'll hurt yourself." I nodded with a smile and said good night to Zack before heading to bed that night.
I had no idea what he was talking about until I hit my ear accidentally. And Pain pierced through my ear and head. I squeaked in surprise. "Ow…"
--
That was the longest night of my life as far as I was concerned. The pain woke me up very often and I don't like sleeping on my back much. By morning I was tired and not ready for another day at work. I received a phone call from Sephiroth. He wanted me to come talk to him in Lazard's room. After an excruciating 20 minutes of dressing I headed upstairs to talk to him.
"We have to head out on a mission today. A few men of the Army are coming with us. By the way, you've been promoted from Colonel to Lieutenant General, Congratulations."
"I guess but the Army titles don't mean much…" I said as we began to leave together.
"Maybe, but now you have command whenever I'm gone. You're second in Command."
"Oh, wonderful… work," I whispered lightly while we stalked past 3rd Class SOLDIERs.
"I thought you loved your job," he murmured back with a humorous tone.
"And I thought you loved your jaw," he chuckled lightly at my threat. "Not much to worry about I get my job done well enough." I shrugged.
We met up with a few of the army men and headed out together.
I didn't know what we were doing until we landed in a very familiar place. Kalm.
--
"Why are we here again?" I asked looking around the city.
"Apparently Wutai members gang up with the people of Kalm who hate Shinra, we're here to find them and stop any opposition to the company. They're out to assassinate the president."
"Lovely," Sephiroth split us up. His half took the north side of city and mine took the south. He left a few at the truck. He left with his half. I was left with four Captains and four cadets to each captain.
I processed the numbers in my head. "Alright, each Captain will take three cadets with them and search the area I give them."When those parties left I found a Captain left over. He was in the truck getting over the motion sickness. "Well, if you're alright now, I want you to head down this area with three of these guys." He nodded and instantly left. Leaving one with me. I smiled to him and walked up to him. He was literally shaking as he stood at attention.
"Calm down, I won't hurt you. You got lucky kid. Let's go." I set off down a random street walking casually. Due to our lack of incognito, people instantly knew who we were. I clapped the cadet on the shoulder as he nervously walked through the crowd. I could feel his heartbeat rise instantly at my touching him. I shook my head but didn't say anything as I noticed a parting of the crowd as a group of men came running towards me, a group of Cadets and a Captain following them. In an instant I pulled my sword out stopping those running towards me. They skidded to a stop. The group of Cadets and the Captain stopped and I listened as the men dressed in Wutai clothing heaved, and the men in the cadets clothing didn't.
"Surround the prisoners." I said and instantly the cadets surrounded them. "Captain Kheck, report," the man with the red bandana looked around but said nothing. I walked over to one of the men standing in a circle and stared him down. I turned and walked out of the circle. "Remove their helmets." They hesitated, but didn't disobey. I locked eyes with one of the men and I knew he was the Captain. Instantly I took down the Wutai men dressed as a group of Cadets.
When I had finished, the men asked how I knew, "You guys were getting chased. The only reason why you would be breathing so hard is because you don't know the shortcuts they do around town. Besides, from the raggedness of your breathing I knew it was you guys. You aren't made for chasing." I smiled lightly.
--
After the mission had ended in partial success, Sephiroth and I were sent back to Midgar. We now had paperwork to fill out. Sephiroth insisted that we do it. I was falling asleep by the time we had returned to the SOLDIER floor. Fortunately Sephiroth refused to allow anyone else to take me to my room.
"Go to sleep, you have a check up with Hojo tomorrow." I grunted in reply when he left.
I curled into a ball when I was laid down successfully changed into pajamas after showering. "Sleep, " I mumbled once before passing out successfully. I was too tired to notice any pain.
I heard an alarm sound and I woke up slowly to turn it off. My shoulders fell as I realized I had to get up. SOLDIERs didn't have any sick days, Due to the surgery we get we can't get sick.
I groaned, "I chose the worst profession." I sat up a bit pulling my hand through my hair and growled as pain shot through my ears. I sighed. Getting up slowly I wished that I could get sick. I don't remember ever getting sick before.
I wonder what it feels like to be sick and get to stay in bed. I smiled at the thought of staying in bed. I frowned again realizing I wouldn't be able to just get sick like that; weather extremes didn't affect us very much.
I thought about being sick as I go dressed for a checkup with Hojo. I pulled Harpenger onto my back easily but with tired sluggishness. Leaving for the training room the SOLDIER floor was crowded with SOLDIER scheduled for a checkup. I never realized I had a checkup on the same day as so many people. They began whispering loudly as I walked by, I ignored the attention and walked inside silently. Hojo looked at me.
"Sephiroth was looking for you." He said in his wheezy voice. I just nodded a bit. "Well let's get this over with." I shrugged and a few of his helpers each took me away one at a time. I was the only SOLDIER to take their exam without anyone in the room. I was the only female which was why I had to go first.
After going through all the measurement test and my health level is analyzed I'm pushed in for a fight against my digital self a month ago. Defeating myself was easy and I was soon free to go. Hojo told me I was schedule for a Mako infusion test tomorrow and that I had to come down to his lab. I shrugged and figured he was right. I left the floor without saying anything. I smiled when the fresh air hit me downstairs and then realization hit me. I wanted to sleep. I took one last breath and turned right around to head back to my room.
I feel asleep after cleaning my piercings again.
--
I woke up groggy as all hell and looked at my clock. It was a few hours later. Now 12 in the afternoon. I woke up at seven and made it to my eight o'clock appointment to be in there for about forty five minutes and head down stairs, enjoy the air for a few minutes and then come back up stairs. Rounding the numbers a bit I was back in bed at nine. I smiled at the three hours I had slept and took my time getting out of bed this time.
I had to put my combat boots back on along with all my armor. I headed downstairs to check up on my mission status. I was free for the day, unless I took up a few missions. I wasn't in the mood for missions so I headed downstairs. As I did, I realized why I was free. Rufus had decided to visit. That also explained why Sephiroth was gone.
Sephiroth noticed me instantly and in turn the president. "Ah the SOLDIER we were looking for." He waved me over and I looked at Rufus. He smiled and I narrowed my eyes in warning.
"Nice to see you too Evelia," he said walking towards me. I clenched my teeth, holding back any smart ass remarks.
He walked away to talk with his father momentarily and I turned to Sephiroth, " I did not wake up for this."
"You are requested every time Rufus is here. Don't be surprised."
"Aw come on! I've been sixteen for like two days, this is the worst thing to do to ruin my week," I complained with fingers ripping at my hair. Rufus turned around and grinned before taking me away.
--
"Today, I'm going over to school in Midgar. You're coming with me as my protection," I glared knowing where this was going instantly. "You're going to get dressed up in a uniform…"
"Is that the only reason why I ever have to be your Body guard? So you can use me in your little escapades?" He smiled mischievously. I closed my mouth and stared surprised at how dazzling he looked in that one moment.
I shook my head releasing the thought. "Usually my dearest." I growled and was soon pulled away to be thrown into a assembly line for teenage SOLDIERs, who had to go from SOLDIER to normal within an hour. I was stripped of all of my SOLDIER related items; from material to armor. I was thrown into a tub, where people bathed me in a very expensive body wash and shampoo. I was pulled out to be dried and dressed in basic clothing. Then a uniform that fit me a little small was thrown on. Next was my hair. A Woman dried it and blew it as someone else pulled up my socks. After trying to figure out how to do my hair I was pushed into some shoes to be pushed down towards a woman who put make up on my face. After that was finished a women with jewelry that looked beyond expensive went through her options and found the ones that looked best on me. She shoved three rings on my fingers and a choker type necklace. When they finished they stood around me admiring until Rufus walked through them.
He looked me over and the look in his eyes scared me, "Beautiful…" I didn't say anything until I saw myself in a mirror. I didn't recognize the face I saw. But my face contorted at the same time the one in the mirror did. I looked back to Rufus who had walked over slowly.
"Kill me. Anyone…" I murmured. I looked back to the women who had dressed me and they had stone faces on. I gave them a grim smile but a young girl gave me a look of admiration. I smiled warmly at her and she returned it her face beginning to glow.
It seemed that Rufus noticed this gesture, "You've become an image of success and hope for women and young girls. They want to be like you, beautiful, strong and rich. While being confident and self reliable," I glanced over to him with an uncertain look. He glanced back and didn't seem to be lying. I looked away and he pulled his arm around me. I was around his height and little taller due to my shoes. I said nothing, but watched as his arm made its home around my body.
This is going to be a long night. I thought grimly. I took a deep breath. Rufus guided me along ad my head seemed to be in a daze. Today was just NOT my day. I was sleepy, my ears were hurting from the abusive assembly line and I was with Rufus. Could this get ANY worse?
Staring out the window silently I knew I was jinxing myself, but still. Usually it rains when people say that. But it doesn't rain often in Midgar. I sighed lightly and when we stopped Nothing really went through my head. I was totally out of it. I thought of how I could be warm in a bed, or bothering Zack, because we all know that's my favorite pastime. I smiled lightly at the thought. I felt a grip around my waist tighten as we walked into a warmed area. I blinked to see what I was looking at.
My jaw dropped a bit. It apparently was a school. It looked more like a giant effing mansion. I looked to Rufus who was smiling. Then I noticed the people staring at me. I looked around a bit freaked out. Rufus said nothing as I waited. He pulled me along and it seemed like a casual dance for these kids. I took a deep breath and realized even the music had stopped. A boy walked up to us with a couple of girls hanging off of his arms. I glanced at him warily.
"Ever the one to make a grand entrance eh Rufus?" came the smooth voice. My eyes widened and I absorbed my surroundings a bit better. My face fell when I saw a large banner. It was a School Dance. But this was a school that Shinra paid for. Obviously Rufus would come here. I've never been to the school Rufus went to, but I have been to many other schools.
"Of course, Jude." The girls looked at me now, both of them had faces that were amazingly beautiful, but the way they wore their uniforms made them less classy. It was silent as the two glared at each other. Music started back up after people bowed in respect to Rufus. My shoulders sagged a bit. I was ready to slap myself in my face.
"You realize that his isn't an attempt on your life?"
"Of course I do, how else would I get a SOLDIER 1st Class to leave that building for a dance?" I took a deep breath. This was going to be a long night.
--
I was right naturally. Rufus made sure that I wasn't at his side almost the entire time. Many of the guys there were staring me down like a piece of meat. I took a deep breath. I realized then that I was going to be taking a lot of those. I shook my head. Then I stopped everything and exhaled. I plastered a smile on my face and tried to enjoy the night.
Hard to do when it involved dancing, talking and being a school girl. Rufus decided to flaunt me greedily, and many were jealous. Some even tried persuading me into being with them instead. None of them doing it the right way. I punched the ones who tried pulling me into a nearby classroom. It wasn't often that I was alone, but I was flocked whenever I was. After some time, the many guys learned that I wasn't interested in them in anyway. I had been left alone for twenty minutes when some guy stood up on the far side of the room. He was tall and attention grabbing. From the looks of it, Jude was the second richest kid in the school. But this new guy was the best looking in the school. The way every girl stopped to look at him as he walked by made it obvious. I glanced at him and turned around looking for some cookies to eat.
We never got cookies in the mess hall. Not that I ever go there anymore. I smiled warmly at the taste in my mouth. I looked around for Rufus, but he had just walked outside with some blonde bimbo who's skirt was too short. My face fell and I rolled my eyes, "Dumbass," I mumbled. I turned back to grab a couple more cookies and then get a tap on the shoulder.
"If you're trying to get me to-" I spun around talking as I did so until I was staring at the tall guy from before. He had chocolate brown eyes, light tan skin and black hair that flipped out around his head. I cleared my throat and looked away to look back a second later.
"You're the girl Rufus brought in here?" I opened my mouth to answer but nothing came out. He smiled a little and I found that it was infectious, and smiled with him. I glanced down to his shoulders, which were broad and strong. I smiled again.
"I…uh… yeah." He chuckled a bit walking around me to grab a fruit. He moved to the healthy table glancing over it. I looked over the sweets table getting a plate and picking up the different sweets. He picked up some fruit into a plate copying me with healthy foods. I nearly choked in disgust. But I sat down by the balcony Rufus had just left through. The guy followed me silently. I glared to my right before turning to him.
"Can I help you? Does my uniform say how can I help you?" I asked with a cookie at hand staring into his eyes that reminded me of the cookie I was eating, "No? Then stop following me. Jeez…"
The guy laughed heartily. I glared some more before adding, "Besides the stench of your vegetables makes me want to puke. I'm trying to enjoy my fattening food here." He laughed some more and I gave him a freaked out look before trying to play off not knowing the guy I didn't know.
"They were right about you then," His voice was deep and smooth, like chocolate to my ears. "You aren't like the girls here. I heard that you were turning down any guy that asked you to dance."
"That's right, are you here to ask me to dance?" I said turning to glare at him, locking eyes with his dancing eyes.
"Maybe, depends on if you're worth getting to know." I raised my eyebrow slowly… a smile creeping on my face.
You know that shit when you read a story and the writer is all like Reviews make me WANT to write again and then they write and shit… That so works. I got the review in my email as I was heading to work with my friend and I laughed at the feeling that bubbled up from reading it. I decided to finish this chapter for you though. This is another subplot to give the story some… idk lengthiness to it. The originaly was done by this chapter and we haven't even left for Nibelheim yet. :D In Nibelheim it'll be all like EVIE AND ZACK TIME! AHHHHHHHH! Yep… Thanks for the review technically anonymous, Big Bang.
I got kicked off last time I posted this up. it was supposed to be up a few days ago. Sorry.