Justifying Curiousity (OPEN)

[Gideon Uriela]

Gideon hadn't anything to do but wait until someone called him back to see Arleen or at least told him what was wrong with her. For now he had sometime to spare and decided to head back to the stadium locker room to retrieve the rest of his belongings. The midday sun had long since past giving reign to the dusk, the copper light began to shine down unto the evening streets from their high perches. Gideon looked up at the street light becoming absorbed in memories for a moment but the nostalgia soon passed. He now wondered what he had gotten himself into with this woman, his curiosity yet again got him involved in a unfavorable situation. The large man drifted back towards the hospital hoping that there was a change in Arleen's condition.

Entering the facility he went to the desk to converse with the attendant, she said that Arleen was awake but the doctor wanted to keep her a little while longer for observation because he couldn't find anything physically wrong with her. She continued on to say that she was allowed to have visitors for a little while and give Gideon her room number. Ambling down the hall Gideon remembered that he didn't like hospitals very much, he never had. It was an illogical dislike of being around old and sick people he guessed. Finding Arleen's room he knocked on the door before entering announcing himself with that distinct velvety tone."Hey Arleen, It's Gideon."

Closing the door behind him he found Alreen laying on her bed and he came to her side pulling up a chair sitting on it backwards resting against it. "How are you feelin'?"[/b] He asked as he lightly placed his large hand atop hers tenderly.

[Arleen Reinhart]

I turned and looked at the man who entered the room with a bit of confusion at first, before realizing who he was. I smiled at him lightly, slightly embarrassed. "Hello again." I watched him as he pulled a chair over and sat down beside the bed before posing his next question. What struck me wasn't the question, but the feeling of his hand over mine. His hand was warm and... comforting? It made me blush slightly.

"W-well, I don't feel like anything's wrong at all, honestly. But..." I paused a moment, gazing down at his hand. "... what happened? I can't remember any of it..." All I remembered was to the point where he'd told me about blitzball, everything else after that was gone. Was there something that happened after that? It was frustrating, not being able to remember something that felt so important.

It also scared me.

I remembered hearing a voice, and that's all. The voice was the source of this, I knew it, but if I told him that, he might think I'm crazy. Or was I really crazy? Without knowing it, I'd entwined my fingers with his, squeezing slightly. I'd joined the military to grow up, to become strong, but still I felt these childish urges? I quickly pulled my hand away from him, looking away. I couldn't be weak, I wanted to be strong.

I had to be strong.

[Gideon Uriela]

From her expression it seemed that she didn’t recognize him at first but that dilemma soon past as she began to smile weakly and Gideon grinned in response.”Fancy meeting you here.” He teased trying to lighten the mood. Judging by her rosy cheeks Arleen hadn’t expected him to touch her the way he did. She didn’t make any initial attempt to pull away which lead Gideon to believe that his touch was welcomed and a stout thumb lightly strummed against the back of her hand. He looked at her intently as she began to explain this his gaze wandered down to their hands following after her line of sight.”I don’t know.. we were talking and you began to rub your head like it was hurting really bad and then you fainted. I assumed that you might have had a concussion or something so I tried to keep your head still as I brought you here…”[/b] Gideon never seen someone just collapse out of the blue before it scared him a little to be honest.

Arleen’s hand clasped and squeezed Gideon’s own which surprised him a little but he said nothing about it at the time. Arleen pulled away from him quickly as if it were a mistake and averted her gaze. Gideon figured that he knew what was going on, she was still a very young woman trying to act tough even though she was scared. ”It’s okay Arleen…”[/b] His soothing voice reassured her as the tips of his fingers lightly brushed up against her hand.”I’m gonna help you get through this.”[/b]

[Arleen Reinhart]

I shook my head disparagingly, starting to feel bad. I had just met this man, Gideon. There was no way I could ask anything of him, and there was no way I should expect anything from him, but I couldn't stop myself from thinking just for a second; it'd be all right, he'd help me. My fingers froze at his touch, and the warmth I felt from his fingers made me want to crumble. Things were not okay, at all. It wasn't OK that I was across the continent from home. It wasn't OK that I couldn't remember how I got there. It was OK that I had randomly collapsed while talking to someone. None of it was OK.

I turned away from him, holding back the tears that wanted to burst forth. I couldn't cry, it'd be an insult to how far I'd come if I broke down now. I slid out of the opposite side of the bed, locating my beret and putting my hair up in a bun-like construction before putting it on. I touched the grips of Yakusai and Nayami before addressing Gideon. "I'll be fine. I've made it this far on my own, going the rest of the way shouldn't be an issue." I masked what I was feeling in a cold tone. Show no weakness, always charge forward.

Without giving Gideon another glance, I made for the door. If I saw him now, I might falter, and that I could not afford.

[Gideon Uriela]

Arleen shook her head as if bereaved by something, Gideon knew that something was about to go wrong just from that mannerism alone. Gideon understood her situation, but he didn’t fully understand her after all they just met each other that day. He didn’t know how she would react to being in such a situation or how she was processing it all. He knew one thing about Arleen that was obvious to see in her time of distress, she wanted to be strong and possessed a disdainful pride. At the same time she was still just an impressionable young woman despite being in the service. Quickly she turned her back on Gideon, the man who took it upon himself to carry her all the way to the hospital because he was concerned enough about her well being. Gideon to the act as a great sign of disrespect but understood somewhat what the women was thinking or at least he thought he did.

The large man kept his poise venting his irritation through a heavy sigh. Gideon merely watched as the young woman did up her hair and retrieved her belongs. She spoke to Gideon as if she were becoming the thick skinned solider she ought to be before his very eyes and it irritated him more due to the fact that he could tell that’s not who she really ways. As Arleen made for the door Gideon in his long powerful stride caught her with what sounded to be one step. His large hand grasped her shoulder holding her in place as his loomed over her his long raven locks cascading about her head as if it were her own hair. Again the deep velvety tone spilled from his lips, it had a bitter edge to it as if her words had cut him deeply. He was the only friend she had this side of the planet as far as he knew so why would she try to push him away at a time like this, when she needed help the most.

”…Pushin’ me away won’t help what you’re goin’ through..”

[/b] He brought himself closer to her, she became consumed by his powerful presence. ”It had to be fate that you caught my eye, you see this was meant to be. Please, Arleen, don’t turn your back on me let me help you…”[/b] The hurt in his voice faded into an passionate attachment. His chin lightly rested against the crown of her head.[/justify]

[Arleen Reinhart]

His next actions were what I didn't want the most, because it was truely what I wanted the most. I was frozen under his words, and I immediately screamed at myself mentally for it. I was weak. It was undeniable now, that I was weak against these kinds of people; those who were assertive of their standing. Destiny and fate were things I didn't have a standing on, it was like a untouchable zone; I couldn't decide if they were real or not. Sometimes, it felt like they were, and others it didn't, it alternated in a violent and uncanny cycle. So I truly did not know if it was fate that had drawn us together, or if it was just a random occurrence. Though...

Was such a thing for powers other than our own, to decide?

I sighed, leaning back against him, giving it up. Any more would be a war of attrition with a person of his make, and that would just end in frustration. So I gave up, and let the emotions lay bare. I was supposed to be a leader of soldiers; to have them entrust their lives to me and follow me into battle, yet here I was, crying my eyes out in front of what might as well be a complete stranger. This is why I hated his type, I could never defend myself against them.

After the emotions calmed down, I was left feeling empty, cold. It was a familiar feeling, too. It was how I felt when I assumed my rank, and I wrapped myself in the feeling, smiling coldly. "... then help me..." I turned around to face him, feeling the cold setting in familiar places. I had an objective, and it needed to be fulfilled at all costs. He would be helpful to have along... and I liked him. He seemed to be collected, much more so than myself. The only thing I was worried about was being manipulated by him. I was weak against his type, so if it came to awkward situations, he'd have the advantage.

"Please, help me get home..."

[Gideon Uriela]

Who was to say that fate or destiny did or didn’t exist? There are just some things in the world that can’t be explained my mere coincidences. On this particular day they both were in this particular city and in this particular city he laid eyes on her at a particular time in a particular place. If she decided to not enter the stadium they probably would have never met moreover if he wasn’t on that particular side of the field he would have never noticed her. It was kind of funny that they were so close to each other back in their respective homes but they met each other on an entirely different continent. She leaned back against the chest of Gideon signaling that she had given up her charade, Gideon felt relieved but a little too sad. Arleen finally admitted to herself that she wasn’t as independent as she wanted to be but the fact that she had to Gideon knew would weigh heavy on her spirit.

Arleen became a torrent of emotion venting her frustrations, Gideon wrapped his arms around her in a comforting embrace, it was the least he could do to comfort her. She turned to face him her cheeks moist with salty humiliation and gave a somber plea. Gideon’s large but gentle hands cupped her face brushing her tears aside with the pads of his thumbs. She trembled as if she was left out in the cold for far too long and Gideon embraced her into his bosom.”You’ll get home, I promise.”

[Arleen Reinhart]

I closed my eyes and let myself go in that warmth, reaching up and laying my hands on the backs of his lightly. His reassurance didn't make me any happier. They were just words I wanted to hear. If there was anything I knew of, it was that in this world, there is never anything that's certain. All is to be questioned, and all is to be suspected. Nothing is ever to be known for certain, because everything changes. Every second. every minute, every hour... things are always constantly changing. That's why, standing there in his embrace, there was no comfort or joy in me. I faked relief, though, sliding on that facade I wore as Major Reinhart, the feeling finally coming back to me. I would not be a soldier in front of him, no, but I wouldn't let him read me like an open book either.

Regardless of it all, I enjoyed the embrace for the comfort it intended. While I could not take the words as truth, I also could not deny the reassurance I felt with the man's arms wrapped around me. In all likelihood, he was probably experience in battle. He was built more like a soldier than just and athlete, and his speech carried a heaviness to it that someone who hadn't been on the field of battle could imitate. He would be a needed friend, and an excellent ally in tough times.

"I'm scared of what I'll find when I get there..." Something was looming in the back of my mind, like an overbearing shadow that could burst forth at any moment. I felt it wasn't something to be ignored, but I just couldn't do anything about it right now. I gave him a smile that conveyed my worry, my fear. What had happened today might be a sign of things to come, and if it got worse than that...

What would I find at the end...?

[Gideon Uriela]

He did what any normal person would do in this situation, but as a soldier and a realist he knew his words would do little to settle the mind of some people, words are just words unless they have been proven to hold their worth. She placed her hands upon him expressing that his him embrace was more than welcomed it was somewhat therapeutic. Pulling back a bit to get a better look at Arleen he noticed that her expression changed almost as dramatically as he did before, she wasn’t trying to pretend to be tough but more like she was trying to protect herself, she was emotionally vulnerable and didn’t want to be taken advantage of. Gideon benefited from the embrace as well, it had been a long time that he held someone like this with good intentions, with no strings.

As opposite of Arleen, Gideon was a person who was almost unemotionally available. Constantly indulging in pleasurable company, alcohol, and drugs he was never satisfied, he tried to use these vices to fill a void within himself that would never go away. He was capable of conveying emotions but they were shallow he was haunted by his past, everywhere it followed. In the end he knew he couldn’t blame anyone but himself for his situation and constant destructive behavior but what did it matter, everything he once cherished was ripped away from him by his own doings. She spoke about her fear of returning home for some reason that resonated with him and he felt the need to share something with Arleen.”I once was a soldier just like you…

I left my homeland of Wutai a great nation of dignity, pride and, honor to become join the private military of the Shinra Corporation. I quickly rose through the ranks to be a SOLDIER FIRST CLASS, we were the best Shinra had to offer we were super soldier infused with mako a sort of radioactive material that serves as the life blood of the planet and cells from a alien abomination known as Jenova. I didn’t understand at first how sick and twisted the Shinra Corporation was; then again I did but refused to acknowledge it. Until they declared war on Wutai, I was torn between my homeland and the company I served. I couldn’t stand by and watch my people be ravaged by war so I went AWOL to fight alongside my country. End the end Wutai was defeated but garnered a moral victory of protecting its land from mako reactors. The war left the country poor and in ruin, to support itself it became a tourist attraction. And I was label a traitor by both sides. I don’t regret my decision the only thing I regret is not having the strength to make a difference in the wars outcome. You still have a chance to protect your home and your pride, you mustn’t be afraid.”

[/b]

[Arleen Reinhart]

"You..."

I honestly didn't have anything that I could say to his speech. He had been a soldier, as I'd expected, but after betraying a military force to side with his own people, he was labeled a traitor by both? Not only was the thought horrifying, it was saddening. He had been forsaken by people whom he had tried to protect for not being strong enough to protect them. I could see the hurt in his eyes after it was all said, and regretted my own declaration of my fears. He wasn't strong, calm and collected. He was a lost soul without a place in the world. That's why he was here, across the continent from his home. He had been rejected there, and no longer knew where to go.

Was I being foolish in my analysis? After all, earlier he had seemed so carefree; but it was undeniable. He hid his pain so no one would see it, and constructed the facade so well that no one would see it if he didn't want them to. It made me shameful. I reached up and laid a hand on the side of his face gently, giving him concerned eyes. "Have you cried enough?" As hypocritical as it was for me to ask it, I thought it a valid question. When I first entered the academy, I ran under a "crying doesn't solve anything" policy. However, I came to learn really quick that that's not true at all. Crying relieves one from stress, and allows them to express strong emotions. It gives an outlet.

I asked him, because such a traumatic brand wouldn't go without its scars. He didn't need to lose his emotions as a result of his bad luck. War was a terrible thing, but as long as humans existed, so would it. There was nothing we could do to change that fact, and any attempt in the pursuit of change would end in failure.

I shook my head slightly and moved back to the bed, leading him there. I could regain myself if I didn't have to deal with my own problems. Helping other people with theirs let me do just that. I sat on the side of the bed, removing the beret. "I suppose I shouldn't get to hasty though, otherwise the doctor here would get upset..." I slid across the bed to the other side, getting comfortable. After that, I patted the empty part of it, indicating him to join me. "Come on, get some rest. If you're coming along with me, then the last thing I need is for the man more than twice my size to pass out from sleep deprivation."

[Gideon Uriela]

It pained Gideon to talk about his situation, he was good at hiding what he really felt but the windows of his soul had betrayed him this time. His attitude towards dealing with negative emotions was not to deal with them at all, instead lock them away in this deep dark pit that began to overflow. What hurt even more was the shame he had placed on his family, the suffering they must go through day in and day out eyes cutting through their skin like razor blades as they pass by. ”Your grandson is nothing but a warmongering traitor. Your son brings great shame to the Urilea name.”[/b] He felt alone and lost in this unforgiving world, it wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair he only did as he was told, he only tried to make his family proud, so why did it have to end up like this?

There had been many nights when he was pissy drunk and the black thoughts of suicide would enter his mind. He could never bring himself to do it, he felt that it was the cowards way out Gideon believed himself to be anything but. So he would continue living with this heavy weight on his shoulders, he would never let it go it was his burden to carry. Arleen’s tender hand reached caressed his cheek, it felt good. His eyes met hers once more it and it seemed that she was the one doing the consoling this time.”… I’ll cry tears of blood the day I die.” His sullen reply insinuated that he never cried not once, he casted that ability into the furthest reaches of the pit.

What good would crying do him now, he still wouldn’t be accepted in his home nor would SOLDIER take him back if anything else they’d execute him for treason. He’d had helped one organization bring an entire planet under its control that kept the people in fear with monsters that they created. Arleen moved back towards her bed dragging her new big oaf with her. She sat down removing her beret exposing her hastily made golden bun.”Yeah, I doubt that they found anything wrong with you but they most likely want to keep you overnight for observation to be safe…”[/b] Gideon watched as she scooted over to the side of the bed offering him a place to lay down.

He chuckled lightly at her words then took her up on the offer and removed the large sword that clung to his back and sat it against the wall before laying down. Gideon didn’t know the meaning of sleep really; he would go days without sleep jazzed up on stimulants when he was out in the field a trait that carried on even till the day. Sleep didn’t come easy but when it did it almost always ended in nightmares. There was the occasional good dream like the reoccurring one of a different world, where everything was different then he’d wake up into a living nightmare. He stared up at the ceiling a moment then looked across at her, the situation felt a little awkward for some reason, was he even allowed to be in her bed after all she was in the hospital.

[Arleen Reinhart]

I watched him as he slid onto the bed beside me, , and an idea came to mind. I wrapped my arms around his arm and moved in close, ignoring the awkwardness of the position. It was obvious the conversation had him unsettled, and sleep was a necessary thing. Maybe if I comforted him as such, he'd be able to sleep? I lay there like that, slightly nervous as to how he'd take it. I just only hoped he didn't regard me oddly for the action. "Sleep." I whispered to him, closing my eyes.

The heat from his arm was warm, almost like a blanket itself. I cuddled in closer to the warmth, enjoying the feeling of it for what it was. This was my first time being this close to a man other than my own father, but this type of situation seemed so much more... intimate. The feelings exchanged were feelings that the other could comfort the latter on, not just questionable paradoxes that we couldn't respond to. So I laid there, dozing off to sleep...

[Gideon Uriela]

Suddenly Arleen wrapped her arm about his own, he looked at her with a curious eye.”Hm?”

[/b] Gideon knew better but from the outside someone could misinterpret their closeness, her soft skin radiant skin pressed against something that olive in color in felt thick as if it were hardened against the elements. Eventually the awkwardness subsided and he warmed up to the idea and scooted in closer to her attempting to not draw much attention to the act itself. She whispered softly for him to sleep, to humor her Gideon merely closed his eyes sleep wouldn’t come that easy. She cuddled closer, clinging to Gideon eagerly as if she needed this. It felt good to be needed for a change. They could relate to each other on a level that normal people couldn’t.

Opening his eyes they glowed in the darkness softly he peered over at Arleen and began to wonder about her, for the first time in a long time he genuinely to an interest in another person. He began to wonder what her life was like, what kind of family she came from. He smiled faintly and turned on to his side trying not to disturb her as he did so. Looking at her face to face Arleen seemed some peaceful and serene as she slept, Gideon reached his free hand up hesitantly and gingerly stroked her hair once. Gideon had a weakness; once he began to care about a person he became attached to them and felt that he needed to do everything within his power to protect them. He sighed lightly and tried to find sleep once more, emerald jewels gradually closing. After awhile he finally fell asleep into a dream, Arleen was there it. Everything was partially washed out in the brightness of the sun.

He tried to speak but he couldn’t he tried to move but his body felt as heavy as lead he was on the ground amongst some tall grass. Arleen had tears streaming down her face, a hot bullet casing landed in his hand. He struggled more to move, to speak he wanted to call her name. A volley of fire whizzed past Arleen and she collapsed on top of him. She placed her hand against his cheek smearing blood on it Gideon wasn’t sure if it was his or hers. She spoke to him but her words made no sound, another shot rang out and Arleen collapsed. Gideon’s eyes snapped open and he was breathing heavy a cold sweat on his forehead.[/justify]

[Arleen Reinhart]

I had been sleeping well, and I felt like I was on a cloud still when I woke up. I was still sleepy, but I felt his discomfort. He had actually fallen asleep, but what had caused him to wake up? I sat up slightly, using my arm to prop myself up. He was breath erratically, and something seemed to have scared him. Well that's no good... I thought concernedly. Even in such a situation, he still had fears in the back of his mind? A smile came to my lips as I got an idea.

I straddled his arm, hugging it tightly and letting my legs press against him slightly as I cuddled in close. I set my chin on his shoulder letting a small sigh out to tease him away from his worries. "There's nothing to be afraid of..." My voice was a soft whisper, and contained all the reassurance I could offer him. If there was anything to worry about, it was how close together we were right now, but that was intended on my part. For him, I would be a woman, not a soldier, because that was what he needed.

And most times, a woman's best tool was her charms.

[Gideon Uriela]

It seemed that Gideon woke Arleen in the struggle against the night terror, he sighed rolling on to his back wiping the perspiration from his forehead. His heart was actually racing, his dream seemed so real at the time, he couldn’t move or speak at the time it made him wonder if he was already dead and his eyes were just open. So it was a dream about them dying together in battle.”How sick in my mental am I?”[/i] He wondered dreaming of death was never a good sign, but there was something peaceful something beautiful. Maybe it was because Gideon didn’t want to die alone, the notion was selfish. Out of his peripheral he could see Arleen sitting up on her elbows he didn’t notice her smile.

She moved in to take a hold of his arm once more but this time wrapped her legs about it as well. Her supple thighs were fervid and smooth, her closeness allowed the fabric of her undergarments to brush against his forearm. Arleen's sudden forwardness had his thoughts muddled as he looked at her a little dumbfounded a wry grin contorting his lips out of habit.”What’s this?”[/b] She rested her chin against his shoulder, so near he could feel her breath caress his lips as she sighed seductively. Gideon began to wonder if he was still dreaming, before she said there was nothing to be afraid of. Gideon tried to fight by his male urges, what simple creatures men are able to misinterpret a touch a something more than just that.

But what was her reason for being so close to him in this manner, like this he felt a stirring in his nether region he hopped would subside if he didn’t let his raunchy mind free to its own devices. He sighed lightly before his deep velvety tenor spilled forth.”I’m not too sure about that….”[/b] He tried to hide the baser instincts that wanted to take control again his eyes betrayed him with a lustful gaze.