 |
Rogue and Zack 4
“Anyway, we've... Established that I'm the job. What do you do for fun then?” Zack asked smoothly, breaking the silence. One that, somehow wasn't awkward.
“Well... Heh, fun? I spar, read, write... I like to go on walks... And I... I kinda sing.” On that last, she looked away from him, blushing badly.
He just smiled.
“Oh really now? Will you sing for me?”
She glanced up at him.
“Maybe I can manage a couple lines...”
Rogue bit her lip softly, swallowed her embarrassment, and plunged in.
“Tonight I'm so alone, this sorrow takes a hold, don't leave me it's so cold, never wanna be so cold, your touch used to be so kind, your touch used to give me life, I've waited all this time, I've wasted so much time! Don't leave me alone, cause I barely see at all, don't leave me alone...” At this point, her voice stayed soft, lilting and sorrowful, her eyes fixed on her hands as she played with a napkin. The place was mostly empty at this hour, so much of the attention she attracted was from the staff.
She trailed off before getting past the first verse, looking up at him from under her lashes, measuring his reaction. Honestly? Zack looked impressed.
“That was... Really good. Where'd you learn to sing like that?”
“I didn't learn. I just do this for fun, you know? I enjoy it.” She shrugged. “Kinda weird. I like to make things... But I'm a master of destruction.”
Zack's gaze softened, his deep blue eyes the color of the sky as it switched from dusk to night. His eyes... They were so expressive. His truly were the “windows to the soul”.
“That's how it goes in SOLDIER. I don't like the killing. Like I said, I joined to help people. I don't like how we have to go about that...” He heaved a sigh and looked up. “Cause I try to be all happy and upbeat all the time... They kinda make fun of me.”
“Oh? How so?” Rogue raised an eyebrow curiously. Honestly... She didn't see how. Not really.
“They call me the puppy...” He smiled softly and ran his fingers through his wild mass of spikes. He didn't quite look embarrassed, no, it was more sheepishness.
“That... Is amazingly fitting and extremely cute! Why do you take that badly? I'd take it and run with it. It's better than 'foul-mouthed b***h' and various other things I've been called.” Her pale eyes gleamed up at him. “I like it. I might call you a puppy myself. Purely affectionately of course.”
“Do you really have to?” he groaned playfully as they ordered.
“Absolutely. I don't see why it bothers you. I'm a dog person. Consider it a compliment.”
“You realize we're both dogs of the military right?”
“Let us not word it that way. Cause if I'm any kinda dog, I'm an attack dog that's not at all trained and only mildly loyal to the hand that feeds it. I could care less about this company. It's not them I'm going to be fighting and killing for. It's for my life and... To be honest? Yours. I like you, you're my partner. I've got your back. No matter what. I can promise you that.”
From the quality of his smile, it was obvious he understood the sentiment and appreciated it.
“Oh God. A pledge of allegiance from a Third Class.”
Didn't stop him from making fun of her.
“Oh shut up. I'm a Third Class that's gonna mop the floor with your a** tomorrow or the next day.”
“The next day. Tomorrow you're going to have to have your first round of Mako injections. You're not gonna like how those make you feel for a long while.”
Rogue smiled ruefully, remembering.
“Yeah. I know. Sore all over, grouchy as hell, feverish... I've seen it. I'm not lookin' forward to it...”
Especially because I'm going to be going through it alone, sleeping on a park bench somewhere.
Not that she was going to tell him that.
“You know, huh? Yeah, it sucked. Every time you go up a level you get a dose. Third, to Second, to First... Takes about a week for the effects of each shot to wear off. Oh, and... If you're really going to be hanging around me, I usually hang out with my original mentor. The First Class Angeal.”
“I hear he's probably the nicest First ShinRa's got. I guess I can see why you were assigned with him. I bet Lazard picked you for me cause we're total opposites almost.”
“Well... Not total opposites.” His eyes came level with her gaze and he smiled again. “We both agree that the point of this job is to help, to make a difference, not to serve this company...”
“Touché. But... Wouldn't ya think that's a tad dangerous? Put the two people who don't wanna kiss your a** together? Then again... I don't know how much they know about your politics, but me? I think I came across pretty clear...”
“I'm sure you did. But they trust me. Angeal... Kind've beat this mantra into my head... 'Chase your dreams, and no matter what, protect your SOLDIER honor'. I take it pretty seriously, I guess.”
“I don't blame you... I have my archaic sense of honor and loyalty... But, if you ask me, there is no honor in battle, only survival. Honor comes into play in your actions and your personality. So... My conscience isn't suffering on the behalf of ShinRa.”
Dinner arrived, and Zack almost made Rogue choke at least three times with anecdotes from his childhood and experiences in ShinRa. She quickly realized he was a sweet, honest man who was everything you thought he was from the moment you met him. Happy by nature, an easy talker, quick with a smile and just itching to make you laugh, yet at the same time there was an almost fragile shyness about him, something that... Wanted to be liked pretty badly. Something lonely.
After dinner, they walked back out to the parking lot and Zack opened up the driver's door of his car. He looked back over at her.
“I can drive you home if you want. It's late, I don't really want you walking...”
Rogue grinned and shook her head, not wanting him to know that she didn't have a home to go back to.
“Nah, I'll be fine. I'm not goin' far, I promise.” On the tail of that, she added. “You seriously don't have a girlfriend? Why the hell not?”
Zack smiled softly and ran his hand along the top of the steering wheel.
“I'm not that good with women... I'm kinda shy around them.”
“You did fine with me today. You're charming as hell when you want to be.”
“Yeah well... You're different. Most women... They're...”
“I'll say it for you. You never would. They're bitches. I'm a different class of b***h cause I'm like a guy.” She grinned and waved as she started off into the darkness. “I got ya, don't worry. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah...” His voice, behind her now, was warm and spoke of a smile. “I'll see you tomorrow. Be safe okay?” Then his Jeep door slammed, the powerful engine roared, and he was gone.
Yupp. Gone. And now I better make myself scarce too. He’s right. Being alone at night around here’s not smart. Sleeping in the park is probably a worse idea but… It’s all I’ve got.
|
 |
