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Rogue and Zack 5
With that she hurried through the darkened slums. The streets were still crowded. There was never a time they weren’t in this city. The time of day only decided who was out and about. And in this city, nightfall was never a good thing.
Rogue got through without incident only because she stuck to the busiest of roads and stayed in the ghostly pools of yellow light cast by the scattered streetlights. And she moved fast, in that quick military march that spoke of authority and prayed that she was taken to be a boy.
When she made it to the playground for little kids in Sector Five, she figured someone up there must be listening after all.
There was a swing set, a seesaw, and a little plastic clubhouse with a built-in slide. Without hesitation, she ducked into the clubhouse, laid down on the mulch, head pillowed on her arm, body tucked neatly into the circular curve, and fell asleep, wondering when she’d chosen this life.
The next morning she was already at ShinRa when Zack arrived. She’d had to get there early to steal a shower in the workout room. She couldn’t have him noticing that either. She was curled up on a couch in the lounge, hair tied up in a damp ponytail, rubbing at a kink in her neck when he got there. At exactly 6:30.
“Hey…? Are you always gonna be here this early…?” He asked as he dropped onto the couch beside her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, looking back over his shoulder to her.
“Most likely. I don’t have anything better to do with my time. There isn’t anyone to exactly visit around here for me, you know? You’re my only companion and this is my job. What else is there?”
“I don’t know… You were the one talking about fun before…”
Rogue grinned at him.
“I don’t have time for that right now. I’ve gotta get my a** outta this nasty purple outfit. Seriously. Who the hell picked this color? Even I’m bitching and I’m not exactly a fashionista.”
That made him laugh. He nodded.
“You wanna go to the infirmary then? Get your first injection over with?”
“Yeah, I guess that would be a good idea, huh?” She smiled weakly and got up, slipping her arm casually through his, pulling him up with her. “Lead the way.”
The infirmary was all small, stiff cots nondescript, white linoleum floor, white walls with the random painting of flowers in a vase, done in washed out pastel colors. In other words, boring as hell. So was the nurse. She already had Rogue’s file in hand when they got there, and quickly ushered her to one of the cots to sit down. Zack tagged along and leaned against the wall beside her bed. Emotional support in a wild haircut.
Rogue glanced back at him.
“You’re not my bodyguard… You don’t gotta look like you’re part of the Secret Service.”
“I thought you’d appreciate the gesture.” He shot her another grin, one that told her he’d been ready for a comment like that. Yeah, he was probably the weirdest guy she’d ever meet.
The nurse came back, this time with a needle filled with bright green, glowing fluid. Rogue bristled involuntarily.
“This gonna make me radioactive or something? Pardon if I don’t think that precisely looks healthy…”
The nurse fixed her with a tired, fierce look.
“Missy, if you plan to work in SOLDIER, you get the shot. Plain and simple. And of course it’s not meant to be in a body. Why do you think it causes the aches and fever? The body attacks it. But in the long run it sharpens you.”
With that, she quickly knotted a tourniquet around Rogue’s arm, hunted down a vein, and pressed in the needle. Zack quickly looked away, his hand hastily rubbing the back of his neck. He was uncomfortable.
“Big bad soldier boy scared of needles?” Rogue pitched her tone light and teasing as she looked up at him, feeling the hot sizzle of the Mako rushing through her veins, ignoring it.
Zack angled his glance back at her.
“Once you’ve had a couple’ve those shots, you will be too.”
“I don’t know about that one… It’s not that big a deal to me…”
Zack’s hand dropped heavily on her head, like a big brother and his little sister. His expression and tone were grave, but his eyes fairly danced with humor.
“You’ll learn, Grasshopper. You’ll see…” Then his smile was back. “Even if you don’t get much bigger than a grasshopper…”
“Oh, you’re gonna get it for that one…” She knew her face probably made her look like a kid who’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She didn’t care. He ruffled her hair and his hand dropped.
“You really gonna work through today? You’re not gonna feel like it…”
“I will. Don’t worry… I’m not gonna slow you down. If we even go anywhere. Isn’t that usually reserved for the Firsts? I think you pointed that out yesterday…”
“Yeah, true. We’re mostly stuck around here unless something happens in the city, which isn’t that often… You should be alright. But if you start feeling bad, lay down okay?"
“I can’t even promise you I’ll acknowledge I’m feeling bad.”
He sighed and helped her up.
“You really are stubborn about everything, huh?”
“About this job mostly. Nah, actually, I think you’re right. It’s just about everything.”
Soon enough, Rogue discovered the secrets of Mako poisoning. The fever came first, quickly rising to over one hundred degrees. She could feel herself trembling. Could feel the ache starting to clench deep within her muscles. Zack must've noticed her flushed, sweaty face and stiffened movements, because he quickly herded her into a chair and made her sit down.
“I told you... You really should get home and get some rest...” He crossed his arms, trying to look more distant from her and her situation... But he couldn't pull it off. He was far too sweet and gentle to actually make it work.
“I'll be fine... Really. I'll deal, Zack... So long as there aren't any major battles or anything.” She shot him a shaky smile. “I think I'm capable of handling paperwork and sitting on my a** in any condition.”
Zack’s expression was really doubtful, but he seemed to know better than to press the point.
The next day, the fever and pain were in full swing. Rogue felt like she could barely stand, much less get to ShinRa. But she did anyway. And that was her mistake.
About midway through the day, just walking with Zack, she collapsed. One second, she was walking fine, and the next second, the world pitched backward like a bucking bronco and knocked her flat on her a** as everything faded to black. She was pretty sure she heard Zack calling her name, but it was already fuzzy. And then she was gone. Blacked out.
She woke up lying in the back of Zack’s Jeep, with him kneeling beside her, looking concerned. The sun was a good deal lower in the sky, the inside of the Jeep stained with pale reds and purples as she shakily sat up. His arm was immediately around her shoulders, supporting her as she rubbed her blazing hot forehead. The moisture on her skin was cool, so she assumed Zack’d thrown water on her at some point. Her hair was wet as well. She angled a look up at him.
“Thanks… I didn’t get you in trouble for killing your workday did I?”
“No. You collapsed and I took the day off. We’re sitting in the parking lot, have been for three hours now…” He bit his lip softly. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah… I’m feeling better, thanks, really. I know, I’m an idiot for not listening to you. I’m sorry…” Her eyes shifted up to meet his gaze. Pale silver/blue to deep sapphire blue. “I’ll be okay now…”
“If you’re sure… Give me your address. I’ll take you home so you can get some real rest, okay?”
Ah, s**t… This is exactly what you wanted to avoid…
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