Crisis Core: The Novel

Chapter 42 - Visions of Past and Present [Part 2]

"Yikes!" Zack's face went stark pale. "That sounds like Angeal alright, sticking his neck out for someone else—literally—in the darkest times."

"That day is one of many nightmares that make me slam the wall at night in a dead sleep."

"Were you okay?...Back then, I mean."

"I don't remember much after they put me in ISO, but I remember Angeal was the first thought I had when I came out."

"And you guys were close ever since?"

"I didn't see him again for a while."

"So how did you start hanging out? How'd you become such good friends?"

"Well, let's just say it was hard to blend in at SOLDIER..."

***

In SOLDIER, rookies had to run "the Guantlet." Everyone held their sword straps in the air to beat new blood into the ranks, but dropped them as the last new recruit walked into the cafeteria.

Sephiroth strode like a ghost, slow and deliberate. Eyes remained trained on him on his way up to the lunch counter, where the head chef handed a specially-prepared tray containing some form-molded substance that looked like cat food. He sat alone at a corner table.

Noise levels increased to garbled sound in Sephiroth's implant. He turned it off, escaping into the lull of pure silence. Someone sauntered into the cafeteria, and Sephiroth sank down to hide.

A tall, broad-shouldered boy with a pony-tail walked in a cool stride through the fray of troops, jamming out to the Bee Gee's on his Walkman. He stopped to quick-fix his hair in the window, shooting a one-up at his reflection. I'd do me.

"Angeal!" someone waved at him.

"Yo!" he threw up a peace sign.

He strolled up to the lunch line singing in a high-pitched hum as if he were the life of the party...as if lunch hour was a party!

"Hey, what'd you do last night, Angeal?" one of his buddies asked him.

"Tch, two co-eds."

All around him bowed. But he stopped star struck at the cashier.

"Hi! I haven't seen you around before. Are you new?"

The girl didn't make eye contact.

"Yes, it's my first day."

"Well welcome to SOLDIER. I'm Angeal. If anyone gives you any trouble, come to me okay."

"Thanks. I'm sure I'll be fine."

"What's your name?"

The girl hesitated, annoyed now.

"Dolly."

"Short for Dolores, that's my mother's name!" It wasn't his mother's name, but it got her attention. "Beautiful name, it reminds me of her every time I meet someone with it. I haven't seen her in a long time and it's not a common name, so I'm glad I met you today."

"Thanks. You and your mom are close?"

"Oh yeah, she's a sweetheart of a lady, used to work in the R&D Department. That's why I joined Shinra, to make her smile." He'd joined because she was his foot in the door, but no one had to know that. "So listen Dolly, what do you do for fun?"

"...I read." She was onto him, he had to be slick.

"Yeah? What do you read?"

"I read John Green." She said the author instead of the book title, attempting to blindside him, but Angeal swooped in.