THIS CHAPPIE TAKES PLACE 30-ISH YEARS IN THE PAST. SORRY IF IT'S SHORTER THAN THE OTHER CHAPTERS :) ALSO, THE BEGINNING OF THE CHAPTER TITLE LOOKS LIKE A BIZARRE SMILEY FACE
"We're almost to Nibelheim, Sir," one of the men in the car says to me. I ignore him and look out the window at the rain. We've been on this trip for days, and it hasn't been pleasant. First, no Shinra aircraft were free. Then, the Cargo Ship left my luggage behind in Junon. Finally, the car these idiots rented doesn't have air conditioning. It's broken down twice. Both times I had to get out in the freezing rain and push it out of the mud.
"Once we get to the town, you can change in the Inn. Then we'll take you to the Mansion."
"I can't go there myself?" I ask, eyebrow raised.
"Well, I suppose you could," he shrugs, the patter of the rain letting up slowly. "You wouldn't mind?" I shake my head. "Thank you, Mr. Valentine. Hopefully we can get unstuck without you on the way home!" He and his friend break into laughter and I look back out through the window. My mother's final words to me constantly cycle through my mind, the disappointment clear on her face in my memories.
"You're getting sent to Nibelheim? Vincent, dear, what sort of Shinra nonsense have you gotten into?"
I shake the voice away and try to forget the hospital room she was in when she said that. Her cold fingers grasping for mine, the light leaving her dark eyes... And I left for this Manor instead of staying until her last breath. I scowl and watch the land pass.
And hour later, we arrive in the small mountain town. The two men in charge of my traveling hand me the suitcase we managed to save from Junon. The man who was talking to me earlier is Lewis, and I think the driver is Thomas.
"Here, we rented room one twenty nine," Lewis hands me the key. "Get changed and then report to the Shinra Building."
Although I was annoyed with the fact that these two greasy men were bossing me around, I followed their direction to the inn room. The small space has only two beds and a tiny bathroom that I have to duck to stand in. Why must this room be so short, I mentally complain when I knock my head against the ceiling again. Not everyone in the world is five foot seven.
It's not long before I'm walking up to the front door of the Shinra Manor, the large gray building looking more menacing than inviting. Unsure if I should just walk in or knock first, I raise my hand to rap against the wooden doors. Then they swing open and a short, fat woman with an apron waves me.
"You must be the Turk. Let me fetch Miss Crescent for you." I nod once and patiently wait for her to return with the woman I'm to guard through her work with Shinra's science department.
It's not long before I see two people approaching, the maid and someone taller. My eyes can't leave the beautiful creature before me, from her long brunette hair to her honey brown eyes. Straightening, I concentrate on introducing myself somewhat professionally.
"Vincent Valentine, reporting for duty, ma'am." Her eyes widen and her hands draw together over her chest.
"No..." She says softly, sounding somewhat injured and confusing me.
"Huh?"
"Why would they...?" Why would who what? "Send his....?"
"Excuse me?" I ask after a moment of silence. She looks up suddenly, as if she'd just noticed me, and forces a happy attitude.
"Oh! I apologize! This is the first time I've ever met anyone from the Turks." She's lying. "Lucrecia Crescent. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Valentine." She smiles and looks back at the woman at her side before looking at me quickly and hurrying away. The maid shrugs and walks after her. Frowning at the two in confusion to Lucrecia's reaction to me, I don't notice the girl skipping down the stairs and walking toward me confidently until she speaks.
"She's... A little socially impaired," her voice startles me. The blonde in front of me in a few inches taller than Lucrecia, dressed in a black skirt and a white cardigan. "I'm Violet, her sister." She offers her hand and I hesitantly take it.
"Vincent Valentine. I'm here to..."
"Babysit my sister, I know," she brushes me off. Not quite. "So do you know where to go or..?" Her voice trails off and I shake my head.
"I've never been here before." I look up and around at just the entryway. The mansion seems rather impressive already.
"Well the lab is..." She starts, getting cut off by an angry shout.
"Violet!?" She turns and I look up to see an angry man in a SOLDIER uniform running down the stairs. Something tube-like is clutched in his hand, and Violet's pale eyes grow large, her lips murmuring a curse. The man, taller than I am, towers over her and glares, holding up something I recognize as a syringe, mostly empty. "What the @-$#+% is this?!" This is awkward, I think, watching the two argue. Violet's tongue seems tied as she backs up slowly, trying to come up with an excuse.
"It's probably not what you think..."
"Really?! Or are you lying to me again?!" Who is he? A lover of hers maybe? His eyes, a darker shade of blue, cloud over with rage and Violet bites her lip nervously.
"David..." Her hand rests on his arm. He jerks back.
"Don't David me! You've been lying to me for the past month about this! I thought you'd been cheating on me with that freaking scientist, but as it turns out, you're doing drugs?!" Violet gets angry now and I stand there helplessly. Definitely a lover.
"You thought I was cheating on you with Hojo?!"
"What else was is supposed to think when you're always 'in the lab' and smell like the guy?!"
"I don't know! Have some hope in me maybe?!"
"You freaking lie to me all the time! How am I supposed to believe you?!"
"Maybe I didn't have to lie if I thought you weren't going to hurt me!" David's eyes narrow and he steps closer, fists balled.
"Hurt?! I'll still show you hurt!" It's on instict that I move in front of the woman, a terrified squeak passing her lips as she ducks. My arm blocks the strike quickly, the limb aching horribly where he strikes me. David stumbles back, looking astonished by his own actions. Then his eyes grow dark again and he throws the needle on the floor. "I'm done with you." Then he's storming away and I look back at Violet, the blonde huddled on the carpet, staring blankly at the flooring.
I pick up the syringe and study its contents, recognizing the glowing green substance. "Mako addiction?"
"Yeah," she says, voice barely over a whisper. Unsure of what to do, I crouch beside her and rest a hand on her back.
"And why would you stay with a man that hits you?" She shakes her head.
"He never has." I nod and look back at the stone walls. This is going to be a long few years.
"I may be as socially awkward as your sister, but perhaps you should talk to him after he has cooled off."
"Perhaps," she repeats to herself in a low voice.
~1½ years later~
"He's coming home today!" Violet squeals, clapping her hands together while she bounces around her large room. I roll my eyes when she isn't looking and eye the small child that lays on the bed, tucked under the heavy covers.
"Must you?" I mutter. She scoffs and hits my chest playfully before dancing around more.
"Well obviously you've never been in love, Sir," she taunts. I raise an eyebrow, my mind flashing images of her perfect older sister. She raises hers back, practically reading my mind. "And Lucy doesn't count, that's just a crush." I try to fight the heat that tries to rise to my face.
"How did you...?" She smirks.
"Everyone can tell, Vincent. Besides, aren't you supposed to be guarding her?"
"She told me to keep you out of trouble."
"Well that's no fun!" She laughs and digs through her drawers for clean clothes. Out of the single drawer comes her usual black skirt, dark leggings, her tank top the same color, and that white cardigan. "Get out, I'm changing." I huff, leaving the room and closing the door behind me. I go down the stairs toward the front of the Manor, only to see Lucrecia smiling up at me. With a questioning look, I approach her.
"Yes?"
"The SOLDIERs are back!" I nod back with a sigh. It's not like I haven't been listening to that for the past hour. "Cmon!" She smiles and takes hold of my hand, my heart skipping as she drags me outside of the mansion. By the looks on the faces of the men that get out of the truck, I can tell that something isn't right. One of the cadets on board walks toward us meekly.
"I'm very sorry. Mr. Harper didn't survive the war." My mind moves back to the excited blonde that was dancing around her room like a lovestruck teenager earlier. Violet...
"Oh no," Lucrecia whispers softly. The front doors open and I turn to see the young mother skipping toward us. Her excited mood falls when she sees the men unloading a coffin from the truck and I hold my arm out to keep her from running people over. She shoves me into Lucrecia and out of the way.
"Move!" She hurries toward the truck and looks at the captain hopefully. He shakes his head solemnly and Lucrecia holds onto me tighter. She stumbles toward the coffin cautiously, as if she's trapped in a nightmare. Her legs fail her and she falls to her knees weakly. "No...." Violet's face falls into her hands as she starts to cry, the first splatter of rain falling onto my head. We look up to see that dark storm clouds have rolled in, the rain falling quicker and quicker until it's pouring and I'm watching Violet mourn from the front window.
"Mommy?" I look down to see Violet and David's son staring outside at his mother with concern written clearly on her face.
"Don't bother Mr. Valentine, dear," one of the Manor workers rushes, pulling him away from the glass. I frown at them and look back outside. She's been out there for hours. And the stupid storm hasn't stopped either. It feels like one of those movie scenes where the rain only comes when something bad has happened.
"Is she alright?" Lucrecia steps up to my side.
"I don't know," I shake my head. She sighs and hands me a folded blanket.
"Will you take these to her?" I nod and step out into the cold outdoors, walking toward the heartbroken woman slowly. I drape the blanket around her shoulders, her puffy eyes looking up at me with momentary bitterness.
"Violet," I sigh gently when she shoves me away coldly. She shakes her head and I kneel down beside her, trying to find the bright, happy Violet I know so much better. Instead I find a broken spirit, her drenched head falling against my soaked uniform and her body fitting to mine, trying to find warmth in this freezing weather.
"He's gone," she chokes out, more tears spilling over her lashes. She shudders and huddles closer, trying so hard to hide her moment of weakness. "So... C-cold..."
THIS ALWAYS MAKES ME SAD :( ALSO, I'VE BEEN LAZY LATELY, SO I DIDN'T TOUCH THIS FOR 4 DAYS, MOSTLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE. THAT'S OKAY, I'M ALL GOOD NOW XD I'M STILL EXPLODING WITH IDEAS FOR THIS STORY!