Soldier Keep On Marching On

Investigations

The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies.

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"Kain! What are you doing here?" Aiden asked in complete shock at her friend's sudden appearance. She shot a quick glance behind him and felt air rush from her lungs as she noticed the door had closed behind him.

He couldn't believe his ears. She had to be lying! There was no way - not in a million years, Aiden could have been responsible for Hughes' death. It was unthinkable! He cast a quick look at Riza standing beside her. They wouldn't joke about death like that.

Kain shook his head and stepped back. Riza moved quickly and before he knew it she was blocking the exit. "You set him up to get killed?" he echoed. "Both of you?"

Aiden gripped the desk in front of her and stared at the man only to see his dark eyes staring back at her full of fear, horror, and anger. Damn it all! She set her jaw and kept her face impassive as he continued on, ire seeping into his tone.

He kept his head on a swivel and periodically looked back at Riza until he rounded on her. "The Colonel trusted both of you! I thought he was your friend! I thought Elicia looked up to you as an aunt! The Colonel trusted you to keep him safe and this is how you repay him? What? Was it because he was department head?" Kain growled, taking a few steps farther into the room.

Aiden was insanely thankful for the thick walls that wouldn't likely contain the sound of a gunshot but could very well muffle shouts to the point of the other room not hearing a thing.

Her eyes darkened dangerously and her lips pulled back into a sneer. "Don't ever accuse me of killing my friends for the sake of a fucking promotion."

Fuery scoffed. "There's no need when you already said so yourself."

Riza eyed the two warily. She could see the gears turning in their minds as they stared each other down and for a moment she hoped Aiden would clue in Fuery about the happenings, but they were in the middle of Central Headquarters and anyone could walk in or overhear if they weren't careful enough. There wasn't time to take any chances and judging by the look on her face, Aiden knew it too.

Aiden's gaze hardened and her mouth was set in a firm line until she spoke, her tone lilting with a danger that made Kain question if the voice came from her at all. "You won't tell anyone, Kain. Because if you do, then I'll have to resort to using less than honorable methods to keep your silence."

She smirked at the man but on the inside, she was dying. One too many people knew already and it was only fair that this was her punishment for dealing Riza into the game. She was the one who'd brought up the subject but Aiden was the one who named him. Out of context she could understand how he drew the conclusions he did but there wouldn't be any time to give him context. So painting herself in a bad light was her only choice.

Riza could know and Kain couldn't. One more ally knew the truth and another was to be turned away from her. That was her price.

He went to open his mouth and retort but Aiden cut him off. "Your mother and father just moved to Central, isn't that correct? To stay closer to you? I remember well how they welcome me when I visit."

"You stay away from them!"

"Oh, I will, so long as you stay quiet. But then again, I don't really need to threaten them, do I? All I need are just random citizens; a few women and children here and there and I know you'll keep quiet for their sake. Do we have an agreement, Sergeant Fuery?"