Title: Build A God, Then We'll Talk.
Rating: T
Summary: He's a secret agent on a mission. She's a college student without one. Why does she remind him of his small cousin on road trips?
Warnings: More Swearing, expect it.
Disclaimer: I only own my respective property, nothing more nothing less.
A/N: Props to Chains for being the first reviewer, and much thanks for giving such in-depth and enlightening reviews! I loved them. Why does the idea of a serious reviewer excite me?To your questions, and comments I will add a A/N addressing my response at the end of this chapter, since I don t want to clog the top up to much and I forgot how to do so otherwise. (I remember there being a more direct route, but I've never had the chance to use it.) Initially this chapter was twice as long, but I noticed something that needed fixing. I figured I could post half and fix the second half later. So, without further adieu chapter four.
Chapter Four: Cardboard Cutout
By: Tamuril Telrunye
Leon and I unbarred the gate, pushing to door open gently hoping to avoid the creak that followed. Seriously people, it s called WD-40 buy some.
What lay beyond was a semblance of a smaller then small village, something more likely to be seen in a painting then in modern day truth be told.
"We'll wanna head through the village pretty quickly." Leon said surveying the immediate area.
"Oh?" I said quietly, I didn t see any Ganado s but I did hear voices.
"Yeah, last time visited this little place, it was crawling with unfriendly's."
"Touch ." I pulled my handgun out of its holster, walking forward slowly. "So, how we gonna do this?"
"Head for the church, it s to the right from here. Not too hard to spot. Village isn t too large, but its big enough for us to get separated. If that happens just make it there, I'll wait for you."
"You make me sound slow."
"Nah, I just know where I am going. You don t."
I stuck my tongue out in response.
"Onward then, my newest friend." I pointed dramatically, and Leon raised an eyebrow.
"Whatever."
We jogged down the path lined on either side by broken and defunct fencing, taking notice of a few Ganado s dispersed here and there. Not to many, so we shouldn t have any problem if we dodged around 'em. And as a male Ganado tossed an ax at me, I dodging to the left and waved at Leon. A sort of impromptu 'keep going'.
We dodged and weaved our way through the village, dingy and small as it was shooting some Ganado, but mostly incapacitating. I'd never seen the village before, well without being drugged at the very least so I let my mind take in my surroundings while jogging. The were several houses built around a central fire pit, scraggly chickens dancing to and fro as a scrawny cow mooed from a barn to our right.
I felt my breath catch in the back of my throat as I caught the scent of... Burning meat mingled with singed hair, and my eyes caught sight of something hanging on a hook just above the fire pit. But before I could identify it, Leon slammed into my back forcing me forward. We were more focused on getting to the church than anything else, reaching it within minutes. Pursuit of course, was not far behind.
Leon fiddled a bit with the keys as I raised my gun dancing back, and fourth on my feet impatiently. A hag with a blue scarf got to close, and I shot her in the chest, forcing her back but not doing much damage.
A In through the heavy wooden door, slamming and locking it behind us as we huffed and weezed to the tempo of heavy pounding on the other side of the door. I gulped, thankful that it was made of metal, and by virtue a great deal steadier the a normal door.
"Hu," Leon said, more of a grumble then anything else.
"Hu what?"
"Looks like this 'church' is just a facade."
"Facade? Hmmm," We both looked around a bit. A trap door presented itself in due manner, and I stared sceptically at it before poking Leon to get his attention.
"Hey, think this trap door leads anywhere important?"
"Probably. Let me go down first, don t what you jumping head first into trouble. Trouble."
"Ha ha."
He opened the trap door up, and I busied myself raiding the room for potential supplies. Listening to Leon as he went, and I paused for a moment turning to look at the door to the village. The... Thing on the hook. Something told me not to dwell on it, but I know I should be able to identify what it was.
"Hey Trouble."
"Hu, Yeah Leon?"
"It's clear, come on."
I jogged over to the hole and leaped down, Leon managing to catch me, and set me on my feet. I gotta say, as far as hole's in the ground went. I wasn t impressed.
But it was kinda neat, for an underground tunnel. Although it was also kinda frightening in a 'Tunnel looks like it s gonna fall on me' sort of way. It looked to be dug out of pure stone, the rock face dripped occasionally only adding to the creepy quality of the passage. Although in reflection if its made out of pure stone wouldn t that mean it would be less likely to fall? Or was it more. I dunno, I'm not expert.
It led down and around, sloping gradually further and further down. At one point it widened out, a bright light; temporarily blinding came from a lamp that hung in the middle of the cavern. Light glinting off the ceiling in a few places suspiciously, a closer examination was in order in my mind so I managed to convince Leon to boost me up.
And it was worth the effort. I found an old fashioned hair clip that looked to be made out of platinum or silver, with a large sapphire in the middle and a couple gems that looked to be some sort of Spinal. They'd definitely fetch a good price with the merchant.
Which was an ironic thought, because it wasn t too much later that we ran into him, farther along in the cave.
"Got something that might interest yeh stranger," he said, low voice insidious.
He opened his coat to show us a few new weapons, and we took the chance to stock up on first aid sprays.
I only remembered my stash of items AFTER the merchant closed his coat again.
Leon apparently remembered them about the same moment I did, and I showed the merchant what I had.
"Name your price Stranger."
"I'm naming mine Sam."
Both parties looked at me strangely before Leon rolled his eyes.
"I suppose I should have expected something from you, you've been quiet for far too long."
"Must be a female thing Stranger."
"This female thing is about to shove her size 7 in a couple of uncomfortable places if they don t stop being sexist."
"Eh he he." Came from the merchant, and we got down to business.
A little more wheeling and dealing later I possessed a well upgraded version of the same handgun Leon was now totting, and we were on our way.
Popping up a ladder we came out of what had once been the entrance to a crypt, fancy (Because I've always wanted stone coffin as MY front door) and into a graveyard. A few of the gravestones were of the a strange double variety that couples often got, and many of them had strange letters carved out of the stone.
Everything spoke of a quiet abandon, save the path that led up to the church itself. Weeds grew rampant around the headstones, and between the dilapidated fencing snaking up to wrapping itself around at certain points. A few tree's dotted the landscape, completing the image of the classical horror movie graveyard although it was almost ruined by the much out of place blue medallion that spin merrily in the wind.
A church looming in the distance caught my eye, and I couldn t help growling.
"A church behind a church. I would say it was clever but, well its not."
"Hu." Was all Leon had to say as he came up behind me.
"Ah? Esta!"
"Ah crap." I ducked as a Ganado threw an ax at me, and Leon dodged to the right. Another came up out of nowhere, grabbing me by the neck. His grip was crushingly tight, and I knew I didn t have long to get out of his grasp. Gunshots rang out, and I assumed Leon was taking care of the other while I dealt with smelly. But my grip on the gun wasn t right, and the safety was still on. Lack of forsight on my part, since I knew we were in an area where I would probably have to use it.
I twisted, bringing the butt of my gun down on the male Ganado s head twice before giving up.
Dropping my gun I grabbed his wrists, and swung my feet up kicking. A shriek erupted from the Ganado as I succeeded in hitting a sensitive area, and I dropped to the ground in an undignified heap. Rolling over unsteadily I grabbed my gun and took off up the hill Ganado and Leon on my heels the entire time.
"Te voy hacer picadillo"
"Promises, promises~" I sang out sarcastically, raising my gun as another dynamite throwing idiot raised a lit stick. I managed to hit him in the arm, dodging left behind a stone pillar. Leon jumped to the right as it exploded taking out all three problems in one blow.
"Nice thinking."
"I wasn t." I said brushing myself off.
"Wasn t what?"
"Thinking."
Silence was the only reply, Leon giving me another look.
I couldn t help it if I was just that good... Enter a day dream about doing moon walk and victory pose here.
Either way, it did us little good to tug on the doors of the damn church. Fucking thing was locked, with a strange IMPRINT lock to boot. What kinda crack were these people ON?
"It's, like the size of a coffee cup. We could FAKE it."
"Yeah, we could. One problem with your plan thought genius. We don t HAVE one."
"Oh god coffee. What I would give for a sip of sweet ambro-" Daydreams of a wonderful brown liquid dancing in my head.
"Hey, focus."
"Sorry, tangent."
"Noticed."
"So, any other brilliant ideas." Leon said, propping his hand on his chin.
"We give up, and go home?"
"Unfortunately, we need Ashley for that."
"Damn it. AGH can t we just... I dunno, fake it?"
"You look in NO way like Ashley."
I sighed in defeat, "Ok, sooooooo... We could always look around. The key has to be around here somewhere."
"There might be a back door. We should try looking around."
"If you say so," I scratched the back of my head. We searched around a bit and found another door which was also locked, and a strange dial.
After a bit of fiddling I pointed out to Leon that the markings were the same as the grave stone carvings and we managed to get a strange green stone out of it after solving the puzzle. But nothing that could help us with either door.
"Dead end?"
"Nah, there's the other path. Looks longer, but the damn key is probably down that way."
"They would too, jack-asses."
"You are not polite company." Leon said, grinning.
"What was your first clue."
Whatever he had to say to that was lost when his communicator went off, loud ringing reminding me of a video game I use to play. Damn Metal Gear.
"Leon. Have you reached the church yet?" came the voice of Hunnigan.
"Ah...well, yeah. Sort of..."
"Leon, did I mention not to take the scenic route? At any rate, Ashley's inside that structure. Rescue her. Hurry!"
"Not pushy at all is she?" I said.
"Nope. Well, we better get going."
We rounded the bend and I suddenly deflated.
Another catwalk. A catwalk that looked to be made of old fencing, and rotted trees. A catwalk that I wouldn t normally go within fifty feet of if you paid me.
What was with these people? Did they have something AGAINST solid ground? Leon didn t notice me stop until after he dispatched the female Ganado that had her back turned towards us.
"Nice to know your right behind me."
"Not solid ground." I said, voice pitching a little high.
"I noticed."
"I like solid ground."
"Come on, if I leave you here you might get kidnapped by Ganado s again."
I debated for a moment before gathering my courage and stepping out onto the rickety walkway. Bastard. Had to go and be right. Hell.
"Hey," He said catching my attention, "Just focus on me Ok?"
"Ok." I stepped forward a bit, focusing on his back as he proceeded to talk me down the damn cat walk. Not that I could tell you what exactly he was saying, I was kind of zoned out focusing on his back. He had to help me a few times, cause there were gaps in the boardwalk. But I did it.
It seemed to take forever, but I was a state somewhere between frozen stiff, and passed out almost the entire way down until my foot caught on something, and I nearly went plummeting to the wet and rocky death bellow. I felt like the biggest baby, honestly. Where was my backbone? I can pump a Ganado full of holes but can t stand to be more than a few feet in the air? The fuck was with that.
I seriously needed to rethink my priorities, starting with my fight or flight response. I mean, come-on I froze every time I was too close to the edge of something.
Grumbling to myself, we made it to the door on the other side of the catwalk Leon taking care of the Ganado s in the area along the way.
The next area was wide, and fortunately for me entirely on solid ground. Crows congregated in the center cackling to each other as I headed towards the first little hut in a row of three. A grumbling noise seemed to be coming from somewhere close, probably on the other side of the monster sized gate.
Monster sized gate, that was a little ominous... I am not ignoring the fact that it sounds like growling, nope. I just want to get the heck out of here.
A/N: Your right about the military fatigues, and the fact that Krauser wouldn t wear them out in public if he were trying to be discreet. Honestly there was a reason for him being in his uniform, but I decided to nix that before posting. Probably should have changed his outfit, but wasn t thinking of that at the time.
As for the typos, yeah that s all me. Some might be intention, as I usually have an odd way of saying things. But for the most part, not so much. Spell check can only get one so far, and my self appointed Beta-reader has been MIA for two weeks.
I would also like to note that for the first two chapters, the transfer from word to turned my ENTIRE story into a text wall. I was distinctly displeased. Which would explain the confusing jumble of commentary between both Leon, and Trouble, I intend to fix this before posting this next chapter.
Also, thank you for pointing out how Krauser and Troubles dialogue was confusing, I hadn t even realized that until I looked back at it and went Is she trying to mimic his speech patterns or something?
Thank you for your rating as well, I will be honest and say I had a blonde moment wherein my thought process went "But what would I DO with six umbrellas?" Before I whacked myself, I love your system of rating.