Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Unknown Ally ❯ Chapter 16: ‘I don’t know what to feel now.’ ( Chapter 16 )

Chapter 16: `I don't know what to feel now.'

 

Vincent paced his room, his mind still reeling from his confrontation with Isolda. None of this was making any sense to him and he couldn't understand how someone like her- a ShinRa scientist of all things- would be inspired by him to join Reeve's cause. He thought he had figured this woman out, but the truth was he knew nothing. He didn't know a single thing about her. After five months, he realised he `d been guarding a ghost with a face and a name. He didn't even know what he was to do now.

 

He didn't have to wait long to decide on his next course of action for the door to his room opened. He turned and saw Isolda standing there. She wore a dress of black leather that barely brushed the floor and had a split running the length of her leg, stopping a foot below her right hip. It bared her white shoulders and the long sleeves were hugging her well-muscled arms and an intricate belt of the brightest silver looped her waist. She looked at him, her lovely face expressionless.

 

The gunslinger faced her, his claw slightly raised in case she did anything to harm him. She saw the subtle movement and looked at him.

 

`I am not here to kill you, if that is what you're thinking,' she said. Vincent didn't relax.

 

`What are you doing here, Dr. Charis?' he said, his voice even but edged with wariness.

 

`I came here to talk to you,' she said. `I suggest you sit down.'

 

`I'll stand,' he growled. Isolda nodded.

 

`Do as you please then,' she said. Vincent narrowed his eyes slightly.

 

`Why do you want to have anything to do with me?' he demanded. Isolda looked at him, the first glimmer of emotion coming into her countenance.

 

`You worked with me for five months,' she said. `You protected me. But several weeks ago, your behaviour changed. Why?'

 

Vincent looked at her, his body tense. If she tried anything, he would have no choice but to take her out. `I don't have to answer to you.'

 

`I am not going to leave until I know why.' Isolda stood firm. The gunslinger saw that she wasn't going to move so he decided to give her what she wanted. After all, she'd locked the door when she came in.

 

`I saw you taking files from the archives room,' he said. Isolda looked surprised by this.

 

`I was there,' continued Vincent. `It made no sense to me that you, a ShinRa employee, would need to sneak into the archives room in the dead of night when you could walk freely without arousing suspicion. `

 

Isolda narrowed her eyes as the realisation dawned on her face. `You thought I was a spy?'

 

Vincent glared at her. `Why else would you be stealing files from ShinRa?'

 

Isolda looked hurt as she faced him. `I told you my story. I practically poured it out to you for Christ's sake.'

 

`And I don't believe a word of it.' Vincent glared at her. `How can I believe someone whose been tracking me for the past four years?'

 

`What?!' Isolda's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.

 

`Rufus ShinRa told me that when I was ordered to catch him that day when he was out of his mind,' said Vincent. The memory surfaced and he roughly pushed it to the back of his mind. Now was not the time for light-heartedness. `He told me how you were asking questions about me and trying to find out everything you could of my movements.'

 

`And did it ever occur to you that I could have been trying to find you so I could join the rebels?' asked Isolda, her voice cold with anger. Vincent laughed, a harsh sound like shattered glass.

 

`You? Join the rebels?' He glared at her. `You are of ShinRa. Your loyalty is to them. You have nothing to convince me that you are true in your desire to defect.'

 

The silver-haired scientist took a step towards him. A flash of gold and Vincent's claw was at her throat. She froze, facing down the gunman who glared at her.

 

`Don't take another step,' he snarled softly. Isolda's eyes were filled with hurt as she looked at him.

 

`Don't you feel anything towards me?' she asked. `After all we've been through together?'

 

Vincent gazed at her, studying the tautness of her expression and the brightness of her silver eyes. He sighed, lowering his claw and turning away from her.

 

`I don't know what to feel now,' he admitted. `You keep playing these games……I don't even know whose side you're on because you keep manipulating both. You're just a ghost to me.' He looked at her and saw the hurt and anger on her lovely face. He turned away from her, unable to look her in the eye.

 

`Go,' he said. She didn't move. Vincent turned to glare at her.

 

`Go,' he snarled. Isolda returned his glare, hurt and angered by his hostility.

 

`When are you going to trust me?' she asked. She turned on her heel and walked out, shutting the door behind her.

 

~*~

His privacy didn't last long for a lieutenant came to his quarters a few hours later. Vincent saw it was Sarah, the soldier who Reeve had spoken to.

 

`Mr. Valentine,' she said. `Reeve wants you and Miss Charis in the Shadowfox. He needs to see the both of you before deployment.'

 

Vincent frowned. `Deployment to where?'

 

`Nibelheim, sir,' replied Sarah. `We received a transmission that Deep Ground forces are stationed in that area.'

 

Vincent nodded. `Fine.' He walked out of the room and made his way down to the courtyard where the Shadowfox was ready to move out. He climbed into the vehicle and found Reeve waiting. Isolda was already there, dressed in a leather bodysuit and a long black coat, a bundle wrapped in cloth in her hand. She refused to look at him, focusing only on Reeve. Reeve looked at him.

 

`Vincent, you're here. Excellent.' The commissioner pressed a button on the console built into the heavily armoured vehicle. `All right, Seth. You may begin mobilisation.'

 

`Yes sir,' the soldier's voice came over the speaker. In a few moments, the vehicle was in motion. Isolda stood a few feet away, training her gaze on the commissioner. Reeve turned to the gunslinger.

 

`I was just briefing Isolda on our situation,' he said. Vincent sat down across from Reeve and looked at his friend. `What is it?'

 

`Deep Ground is preparing to attack Edge and have stationed themselves at Nibelheim,' explained the WRO commissioner. `We're going to meet the attack head-on by striking their base.' He looked at the pair. `I want you to be on your guard. There are rumours circulating that they may have their weapon there. So, stay alert. Especially you, Isolda.' He looked at the leather clad woman. `I don't wish to lose someone I just recruited.'

 

Isolda nodded. `I cannot make any promises, Commissioner. But I'll try.'

 

Reeve smiled. `You don't need to be so formal. You can call me Reeve.'

 

Isolda nodded again. `Very well…….Reeve.' She smiled slightly.

 

Reeve laughed. The Shadowfox came to a stop and he rose to his feet. Vincent got up and drew his gun as the doors swung open. The WRO squads were already moving into position, preparing themselves for the inevitable onslaught. Isolda walked past the gunslinger and stepped gracefully down from the vehicle. Vincent stepped down and stood a few feet from her. Reeve looked at him.

 

`Vincent, you will lead them into the manor via the sewers extending from the old mako reactor.'

 

Vincent nodded.

 

`Isolda, you will go with Vincent,' said Reeve. `Cover him. They will be soldiers in the passageways.'

 

Isolda nodded, gripping the bundle in her hands.

 

`All right, move out,' commanded Reeve.

 

With that, the crimson-clad gunman ran to the shaft that led to the sewers below. Without a backward glance at the young woman covering him, or the squad he was leading, he loaded Cerberus and dropped into the shaft. The attack was underway.