To: zexydemyx66;
You deserve it. Thank you. honestly.
To: Maziodyne;
Thank you very much. That means a lot considering that many if not most OCs get bashed for being Mary Sue and terribly put together.
I'm thinking I'm on a roll with this. I finished this early today and even started on the next chapter. I should be doing a paper for English, but I don't want to stop while my Muse is blessing me. Enjoy. And if you'd like Review, I'd love to hear what you think, even if you're not sure what to say exactly.
Words: 4108
I felt my stomach sink violently. I couldn't think of anything else?
You know maybe something normal to ask? Or maybe something that wasn't so awkward? Like how are things with Cloud? You ready to go home yet? Tell me about your parents, I never met them. Or how do you think it'll be on the ride back with Sephiroth acting all weird? Do you think Shinra will make us hunt down Sephiroth if he leaves? NOTHING? I was arguing with myself my eyes wide, but in those moments I hadn't noticed Zack's reaction or words. Fortunately for me he had said none.
"She's fine. I think it's me. No… I know it's me. Things have changed. I should have realized it sooner to be honest to save her the trouble," I listened to his words; it was all I could offer him. "I didn't do this on purpose. I don't want to hurt her, but when we get to Midgar, it'll be the first thing I do. Apologize to her and hope she forgives me."
"I guess that means you've made your decision," I offered gently. His eyes reached mine and seemed to search for something. He nodded slowly, and I couldn't understand for the life of me why he was just looking at me. He was staring and I noticed him lean towards me a bit.
"I listened to you Evie. I made sure that this was how I felt, I'm just not sure about her," My heart felt like something was literally clawing at it.
"Well that's what I've been saying Zack, you have to know that she feels the same way back before you decide to break up with Aerith. Otherwise you could be happy with Aerith instead of in pain over having no one because this other girl might not like you," I wondered briefly if it was Cissnei. Not that I had heard about her in a long while. Zack knew how I felt about her.
A sad smile crossed his lips, and it pained me to see it, "Yeah that's true." I nudged him with my elbow and offered a smile.
"Don't worry man. Things will sort themselves out. Remember who you are. In the long run, a girlfriend won't help you become a hero. You have dreams to protect Zack; don't let the little things make you forget that." He smiled to smile at this and I returned it nodding towards the hotel. It was all I could offer him. With luck, soon we would be home and Zack could sort out his problems. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but avoiding Zack as much as possible seemed like a good plan. It was affecting my ability to do my job as a SOLDIER. So that had to be the only answer for my problems.
Telling him how I felt would surely ruin our friendship, considering he had this new girl he had an eye on. I waved him goodnight and headed for my room ripping my clothes off and dropping them wherever they wanted to go. Hopefully tomorrow would bring me a little more calm.
(Day Six)
No patrol meant that I could easily stay in my bed just about all day. At least I thought so. Not long after I woke up and flip over onto my stomach did a knock sound at my door. I groaned, flipping so my back was facing the door. I was in a tank top and my underwear. Whoever it was could burn in a bottomless pit.
"Evie!" Zack's voice reached my sensitive ears and as much as I wanted to ignore him, my heart wasn't in the thought. I pulled my pants and shirt from my uniform and answered the door groggily.
"What?"
"You aren't going to be staying in bed right?" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Why does it matter?" He seemed to shrug. "Go bother someone else that's asleep. Like that man we found in the bottom of the mansion. He looks like he's slept long enough." Zack seemed to shiver at this.
"No. We're not waking him up. Just because you have a crush on someone who sleeps in a coffin doesn't mean everyone thinks about him like you do," My eye twitch at how quickly this conversation had went from waking me up to childish crushes. Not that I was denying his words. From the glimpse I got of him, the man was very handsome, but he seemed to like red a lot. It made it seem like he slept in a pool of blood. I shivered myself at that thought.
"You wanted something to do, didn't you? I gave you something to do, now away with you. I have sleep to catch up on since we have no patrols today." He grin seemed to widen.
"Exactly why you need to get up and enjoy this day." I half wished that I could curl up into a ball and pretend to be sick, but it's physically impossible for a SOLDIER to get sick. My shoulders fell and I waved him off quickly, knowing that even if I thought about just sitting down in my bed and ignoring him that it wouldn't work out anyways because I'd feel horrible for what I had just done.
I showered and dressed, taking my time as I pleased. We were in no rush to fill any real plans. At least that's what I had figured. As I stepped off of the last step I sighed softly, tired and wishing to be home or at least somewhere else. Costa Del Sol came to mind and smiled. The thought of sunny weather and water made me smile. Gaia, did I want to go for a long swim.
I ran a hand along my neck in a tired fashion and looked up at the two who were grinning together and I sighed. Today is going to be a long day. All I could think about was my bed back in Midgar on the SOLDIER 1st Class living floor. I sighed softly just thinking about it.
The two chatted avidly, excited about something, but I just followed silently, still tired. I hadn't noticed where we were going until I ran into Zack and looked up to see the Grass and Tree from the Shinra Mansion. I took the liberty of plopping down in the shade of the tree and nestling in comfortably. The two didn't even stop me from lying down and falling asleep.
I blinked the tired from my eyes for a moment longer and looked at them; the two were practicing some moves together. Basic self-defense and basic sword moves. I smiled warmly and let the shade and warm sun lull me to sleep.
Zack and Cloud clashed fists, exchanging them slowly as Zack showed Cloud how to receive a punch and turn it on the person punching. A soft sigh reached Zack's ears and he paused, his attention moving away from the words he spoke. He stood straight and listened for the sound again.
"Zack?" asked Cloud with confusion.
"Is Evie sleeping?" He asked glancing at her form. The breathing was even and as he neared he saw her eyes closed. A smile crept up along his features betraying his thoughts to his best friend.
"You ever gonna tell her man?" His shoulders fell and he shook his head, his features filled with pain.
"I don't know man. I thought I knew, but now… I just don't know. It's the worst. I thought about telling her yesterday, but something she said made me stop. Cloud, man, I don't think she feels the same." Cloud punched the SOLDIER in the arm fiercely.
"Of course she does."
"Nice punch," Zack mumbled rubbing where he was punched.
"Thanks," muttered the blonde back. A quick breath sounded from the teen and her form twitched. He could feel the urge to walk over and help her fill his body up, yet he just stood silently. Watching the way her hair fell around her shoulders, the Mako blue eyes hidden by long lashes. Her skin was gently tanned, the vacation they had being the reason and he thought back to then missing the sun and beach. Almost. Back then he was just insanely bored, not wanting to be on vacation when there was so much to do. Her effort to keep him busy was what he had admired most about that trip.
"I'm afraid that if I say anything to her about it that she's going to freak and say she's in love with Sephiroth or something," he paused a small frown on his features as he nodded to Cloud to continue their training. "You should hear her talk about him. Like he's an angel. I mean… I know he's the world's greatest hero, but seriously."
"Everyone wants to be like Sephiroth. Everyone wants to have the relationship she has with Sephiroth. Man I'd sell everything I own to live a day in her shoes as his pupil. That's got to be amazing." Cloud hissed in pain as an especially fierce punch landed in his hand from his best friend. "Calm down man."
"Sorry Cloud… I can't help it." He glanced back over at the SOLDIER sleeping and nearly got socked in the face by his friend. His enhanced abilities allowing him to easily catching his punch and counter it.
"How do you do that?" Zack shrugged easily, saying something about it just being natural. Zack was the one to say they should stop for a bit. "If it'll stop you from nearly ripping my hand off with a punch, sounds good." A chorus of laughter filled the air and Zack fell back on the grass enjoying the weather and the downtime.
Cloud adjusting his helmet was the only noise that could be heard really for a few moments, "What would you do Cloud?" From underneath the helmet blue eyes widened.
"You're asking me? I'd just tell her I think. But if I was in your shoes specifically? I'd wait until we were in Midgar to say anything that way if she did utterly reject me I could hide and not have to see her face." The Raven haired teen laughed at this, propping himself onto his elbows to watch his sleeping friend as she slept.
"I don't know if I can wait until then. I don't know when Sephiroth is gonna let us go home. I think I might ask her to talk to him tomorrow about letting us leave soon, or at the least let him stay and us go back," Cloud nodded as he ripped glass out of the ground, playing with the green pieces before throwing them on his friend.
Mako blue eyes ran over the Evie with silent admiration. How she managed to stay so powerful and have such a feminine form he would never understand. The surgery definitely had something to do with it, he assumed. After becoming SOLDIER she had been able to use to second sword with ease. Without her armor on she looked impossibly tiny in his opinion. His eyes roamed over the curves of her hips, they were just barely there, but as she lay down on her aide they seemed so prominent.
"You say anything to your girlfriend back home?" Cloud's voice snapped him from his thoughts. Zack hadn't told him much about her, considering how he was breaking up with her… or was going to try.
"At best, a few words, but she's assuming something's up with me already. I think she knows… or maybe she's always known. I mean about how I feel about Eves," said Zack with another gaze at the girl.
"Since when did you call her Eves?"
"It's new really. Everyone calls her Evie now. She doesn't like her name much, but I wanted my own nickname for her," Zack too began to pull at the grass and throw it at his friend.
"Hey man!" exclaimed Cloud.
"Don't even! You started it. I'm finishing it." At these words Cloud ripped out so much grass at once that some of the dirt followed. "No. No! Hey!"
As the clump of grass landed on Zack, "You deserved it," stated Cloud.
"You two are kind of morons," came a third husky voice. The blonde and the raven haired boy snapped their attention to the voice. She had woken up. She was rubbing her eyes slowly, a yawn escaping her lips.
"I guess we woke you," Zack asked softly.
"Not for long, I'm not staying awake to watch you two throw mud at each other. I have more important meetings to attend to," Zack felt himself bite back a smile as she turned, her back facing them as she fell back asleep.
"We gonna let her sleep all day?"
"Yes. You are," She called. Zack motioned with a finger to stay silent. Cloud nodded glancing at her a few times before laying back and waiting as Zack listened for her breath to get even once more.
"It's things like that. Instead of just getting up, she flips over and keeps sleeping. Then the things she says sometimes, no other girl would say those things. She's nothing like any girl I've ever talked to. On top of that she's been around since like Day one. She's the only one who's ever been a part of my life for this long," said Zack softly. He picked apart the piece of grass in his hands, his one elbow keeping him propped up. "She's seen me through thick and thin, and I'm fairly sure she would keep seeing it through if I asked her too. She can be too selfless I think. She may not seem like it, but if I or Sephiroth asked her to do something she'd more than likely do it."
"The tabloids don't emphasize her real personality much. They usually mention about how strong she is. Or how kind to children she is. Then how attractive she is," added the blonde. He shrugged running his own eyes over her frame. There was a silence, until Zack laid back with his hands behind his head. The weather was pleasing and the breeze just enough to lull the two boys asleep themselves.
I felt my body wake up slowly, the smell of grass floating around me. My eyes fluttered open just as a breeze flew by. My hand moved to push me up from the ground. I managed to wiggle until I was leaning against the nearby tree; the two boys not far away napping themselves. I smiled gently at their forms noting how relaxed Zack's features were as he napped. It was quiet for a few moments more, I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the tree listening, smelling, and just enjoying the moment.
The breeze was cooling, the sun warming, and the moment serene. It had been a little while since I had last experienced something like this. A tiny smile flickered across my lips and despite all my napping I could feel something want to go back to sleep in my body. I let it take my consciousness away every so often, but what felt like ten minutes wasn't. Eventually I just lay back down. I glanced at the boys; Cloud was spread eagle asleep and Zack had turned on his side, the Buster Sword still stabbed into the ground a little way away from him.
I pulled my phone out and laid it next to me before returning to the nap I was enjoying. Tomorrow I would be so energized I knew it would be and it was going to be the best.
It was glowing blue inside the building. From what I didn't know, but I was running faster than I had even thought possible. This place was a death trap, whatever it was. I just knew it was dangerous to be here. Voices, suddenly there was people talking. I ripped through the door to see Tifa and Zack on the floor half passed out. My eyes slivered up to see the person who did this. I couldn't make out their features, a woman. She didn't seem human. Her eyes were glowing purple and her hair was a silver color. The most striking thing about her features was her blue skin. She was beautiful in an out of this universe kind of way.
Her hand rose, palm up towards me. It was as if she was asking me to come with her. But wasn't she the one who did this to Zack and Tifa? I wasn't sure and suddenly they didn't seem so important. Her lips moved, but I didn't hear her voice. I felt like she was calling to me, and I obediently walked up to her. Her hand was cold, and suddenly I wasn't wearing any gloves. As she held my hand I felt my uniform fly off and be replaced with new clothing. Whatever this clothing was it fit snugly against my body, but was easy to move in. Her lips moved again, and all I could do was stare into her eyes as she spoke.
A gust of wind hit me; suddenly, I was taller, stronger, better than others. A voice that reminded me of bells repeated three words inside my head, "Destined to rule, destined to rule, destined to rule…" There was a voice next to me, the woman in front of me smiled and pulled her hand away just as the owner of the voice next to me slid an arm around me, pulling me to his side.
I didn't know it was a male, I didn't look at the face and the voice seemed to have no tone to it. I just knew. I could sense them at my side. A voice in my head spoke reason, What about Zack and Tifa?
It was quickly shut out from the feeling of a finger on my chin. My eyes were still glued to the woman who seemed to nod her permission. I noticed then that she seemed to be floating. I couldn't see her legs, but I had just assumed they were there. The person next to me didn't have a face, but for some reason I knew he was just like me.
He was born better and stronger than the rest. I was to be with him and together we would be destined to rule. He was handsome, I couldn't see his face, but he was handsome, just as I was beautiful. Where we were faded and we were somewhere else. Somewhere new and everyone here worshipped us like the supreme beings we were.
My dream jumped, suddenly I was walking in a beautiful garden, and all the plants were lush and beautiful.
"Evie, what about us?" My eyes snapped up to see a group of people. I recognized their faces, I knew these people. They were important to me. The man at the front spoke again, "You've doomed us." I locked eyes with him, Zack. He was bleeding everywhere. Suddenly they all were. "Why would you kill me?" He asked.
My lips opened to reply that I hadn't killed him. That I would never kill him. I would rather die by my own sword then to strike mine through him. Then as if to contradict my thoughts, my arm was thrusting Harpenger through his torso. He coughed blood, much of it landing on my face, and his body crumpled to the ground.
A woman with long dark hair in a white lab coat came running over to me. Her features unrecognizable, but she was dear to me. She repeated my name, over and over. The tone of her voice changing every time she spoke.
Shock. Confusion. Disbelief. Sadness. Pure despair. Then the tone changed and started to become deeper. "Evie, Evie, Evie. Evie!"
My eyes flashed open suddenly, Mako eyes returning the stare. "Gaia, took you long enough." It was Zack and Cloud. I could see their faces. I could feel the grass beneath me, the armor on my shoulders and the boots on my feet. I was here and that was the dream. "You okay?" I sat up and stared at Zack, my eyes running over his kneeling form. No wounds, no cuts, no blood, and my sword was nowhere to be found.
His hand reached out to touch my back and I couldn't help it. I jumped towards him, my arms wrapping around his neck. My arms crossed along his back and my fingers gripped at his shirt. I wanted to scream with joy. He was okay, but I whispered, "Zack… you're okay."
Slowly his arms fell around my form, his nose nuzzling into my hair fondly, "Yeah Eves, I'm fine. Tip top shape." I couldn't help the tiny smile that ran along my features. One hand eventually ran up to hold my head against him, his thumb rubbing along the back of my head. The other wrapped around my waist, his thumb rubbing against the fabric on my body.
"I'm glad you're alright," came my whisper, my nose nuzzling into his neck. His scent was intoxicating I found, it was masculine and clean, like fresh linen and body wash.
"Bad dream?" he asked softly. Briefly I wondered where Cloud had gone, and I wanted to pull away. My hand released his shirt slowly and they uncrossed themselves. I pulled away from him, locking eyes as I did so. His hands fell to his lap.
"Terrible." He smiled comfortingly, his hand raising to run a hand through my hair and brush his thumb over my cheek.
"It's going to be alright Eves. I'm here," I wanted to retort back sarcastically, but not now. I wasn't going to ruin this again. "Want to tell me about it?" I dropped my eyes and shook my head slowly. His hand touched my chin, bumping it once to regain my gaze.
I couldn't hear Cloud's breathing, and I lifted my eyes to look for him. "Cloud left for a bit." I looked at Zack and nodded once. It was silent between us. It was enjoyable, his hands were close to mine and I wanted to grab them and hold them. Knowing there was blood still in his veins and heat in his body, I felt my body fill with content. He was alive, and unharmed.
Suddenly I felt hands playing with strands of my hair; I turned to see Zack fingering my waves. My hair was growing at an insane rate while we were here. I had a sick feeling that it had to do with the Mako reactor that was in town. I watched him silently, recalling how he had said that he enjoyed it.
"Sorry about jumping on you like that Zack," He leaned forward and shook his head.
"It's fine. It's not every day that you have a bad dream and the hero Zack is there to save the day." A small chuckle escaped my lips and I pushed him away as the famous smug smile crossed his features. Oh how I had missed it.
"Thank you though…" I added softly.
The day had passed us by, that last dream had me knocked out for some time. The sun was setting. Zack stood up first, offering me a hand before saying we'd be eating at Cloud's place tonight with him and his mom. The walk was quiet and our hands kept brushing pleasantly, but in the back of my head I kept wondering. Who was that woman? What was that about? Was it just a dream?
I tried to brush it off, but even as the night progressed the dream itself faded, but my questions remained. I was scared about sleeping tonight, if I even could. As we relaxed at Cloud's house I wondered briefly what to do. Naturally my first thought was to go to Zack, but I decided not to. Choosing instead to act like the big girl I was.
Somehow at the end of the night, when we were walking back to the hotel I felt drained. Tired beyond belief and Zack seemed surprised.
"How are you tired? You slept all afternoon." I laughed and shrugged.
"I have no idea. I doubt more sleep will help, but maybe I can just sit in bed hoping to get signal on my phone." I shrugged again waving goodnight silently going to my room. If I don't sleep well tonight from all my napping, tomorrow is going to be a hell of a day.
(insert dramatic music) Next chapter is when shit will hit the fan. Get excited. And how about that dream, eh?
As a sort of forewarning, the destruction of Nibelheim in Evie's view will be a mix between Last Order and Crisis Core. Crisis Core was a lot less graphic than Last Order, but if the town is going to be destroyed and everyone killed, well you can't just not have dead people laying around. So I'm going to do my best to merge them into a believable way.