Apologising [Attn: Elena]

[savedbyasong]

Characters: Shion and Elena
Setting: Room 2-09 backdated to the 6th October
Format: Prose
Summary: Shion goes to give Elena back her gun and apologise
Warnings: Mentions of terrible things ala Ganondorf and torture and stuff.

Shion took a deep breath, the fear that had been completely absent when he had first taken the gun he now held in his hand and marched up to face off Ganondorf a week ago was back with a vengeance. This had to be done though, he had to apologise and face her eventually.

Reno had forgiven him, like he usually did whenever Shion messed up; Shion wasn't sure what to feel about that but it was reassuring. But Reno wasn't Elena, Elena was terrifying and Shion didn't think she would forgive him as easily.

Taking a deep breath he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Comments

[provenworth]

Sweet summons, it felt so good to be normal size again. Being stuck as only six inches tall was not a pleasant experience. It was embarrassing that she, a Turk, had to ride around people's shoulders and run around in that pilfered hamster ball. Reno was probably not going to let her live that down for a while.

She had been laying in bed, jacket off, tie loose and first few buttons undone, staring up at the ceiling. Her conversations with Cloud and Reno sat uncomfortably in her mind, making her question whether or not Reno was withholding information from her. Chewing at her lower lip, she frowned. Damn this Tower and the things that happened in it.

At the sound of the knock, she lifted her head, staring at the door. She hadn't expected any visitors, so the visit was a surprise. Legs swung over the side of the bed as she pushed herself up onto her feet, moving to the doorway. A part of her warned that Ganon could be on the other side, waiting to do something even more horrible than making her tiny. She would have been armed, if not for the fact her gun was missing. Again.

Giving a little sigh - Reno did have a point, death didn't have to have such a heavy weight to it if she was brought back, and if Ganon wanted to kill her, who was she to stop him? - she opened the door a crack and peered out.

"....Shion?" Pulling the door open, honey-colored eyes blinked down at him. "C'mon in. What's up?"

[savedbyasong]

Shion blinked at her with bright red eyes. So Reno hadn't told her... Shion didn't know whether that made this easier or harder.

"Um..." He stepped into the room and held out her gun, "It doesn't have any bullets left in it... sorry... I'm sorry I took it..."

[provenworth]

Lips pulled into a worried frown, noting the redness of his eyes; a sign he'd been crying recently. Which wasn't a good sign, given the capability of the Tower and those in it. Elena hesitates, waiting for his response, closing the door slowly once he entered her room.

Half-turning towards him, her eyes went from his face, drifting downward to his hands before stopping at the firearm. Her firearm. The one she'd spend hours, not to mention several thousand gil, to modify into a clean, efficient machine. The one that had been with her through her years as a Turk.

Eyes narrowed angrily, her mouth pressing into a thin line and she turned fully to face him. With one hand she reached out and snatched the weapon from his hand, dropping the magazine to confirm it was, indeed, empty before slamming it back into the grip with a loud 'click'.

"Just what are you doing with my gun? Who gave you permission to take it?!" Her tone is sharp, her anger evident in the articulation of each word. "This isn't a toy, Shion! Just what the hell did you need it for that you felt you had to steal it?"

[savedbyasong]

Shion forced himself not to flinch because he had told himself he would deal with the consequences whatever they may be. It just wasn't easy... "I..." He forced himself to concentrate and not drift off, to not panic. He went through every exercise Reno had ever given him for remaining calm. And again.

"I... I went after Ganondorf... He hurt Reno, Xion and you. I know I shouldn't have taken it without asking... I was... I was angry..."

Breathe in, count to ten, recite the periodic table in his mind, breathe out. Calm was not easy.

[provenworth]

"You did what?"

Eyes widened, shocked at both his boldness to even make such an attempt and the sheer stupidity behind it. Granted, Shion probably was unaware - as she had been - about just how powerful and dangerous the man was.

"Did you even-? What made you think that-?"

Words, she was having trouble making them in her current state of lividity. Pointing at her bed, she furiously motioned for him to sit, the action a voiceless command as she walked past him, placing the firearm gingerly on the top of the trunk.

[savedbyasong]

"I..." This wasn't working, calm was a world away and Shion was trembling again. He could finish her questions and give her answers, that he hadn't thought at all, he had just been angry. But his voice wouldn't work.

He sat, pale and studying his hands, glancing at Elena fearfully.

[provenworth]

She's a small figure filled with fury and frustration, pacing in silent contemplation in the center of the room. It was good that he at least understood the unspoken order, that helped keep her anger in check.

Ah, but she couldn't quite blame him, now could she? He acted out of passion, of loyalty to Reno and the other Turks. Sure, he was misguided and needed to better focus his anger and hone it until a very dangerous blade that struck down those who opposed him. But that would come in time. For now, though, he had broken a very important rule - you did not take a Turk's weapon without permission.

Turning her attention back towards him, his apparent fear earning a sympathetic frown. Standing in front of him, she folded her arms across her chest, frowning down at him.

"What you did was very, very reckless, Shion. Going after Ganon like that - you could have been hurt! And how do you think Reno and I would have felt if something very terrible happened to you?"

[savedbyasong]

Shion sat trembling on the bed, he had known she was going to be angry but he was used to Reno's anger, which was quick to flare but usually fizzled out within a few moments to be replaced with quiet disappointment, in some ways harder to deal with but infinitely less terrifying.

"I... I know, I'm sorry... I wasn't thinking." Though he scowled at the last bit, because it had been their own recklessness that had caused him to go after Ganondorf in the first place.

"I know..."

[provenworth]

For several moments she's silent, staring down at him with crossed arms, using the time to reflect. This wasn't exactly something that was entirely his fault - as much as she'd had to say it. What with Reno running off and doing his own thing and she putting her nose into places she might not have been putting it, Shion's reaction was quite natural.

It made her remember a very similar situation that she herself had been in.

"No. No you weren't. I know you were upset about what happened and you wanted to act. But acting too hasty can cause mistakes and even put your own life in danger."

Oh, Shion. She saw that look and she understood right where it came from. Arms unfold and, in a single fluid movement, she moved closer both hands rested on his shoulders.

"So let me teach you more about how to properly use a firearm and how to react better under stressful circumstances. Reno'd have my ass if something happened and I didn't do my part to help train you."

[savedbyasong]

Shion blinked at her in terror when she grabbed his shoulders, he stared at her, too scared to look away or even blink. He knew what she was saying was true, he had heard it all before and when he wasn't angry, when his friends weren't hurt or in danger. He could believe it and follow the rules. But even though he understood her he knew that he would just forget again next time something happened. Or more... it wouldn't matter. He wouldn't care.

At her offer he blinked in confusion, she still wanted to teach him? After he had stolen her gun? "Alright..."

[provenworth]

If she was one thing, Elena was patient. Having to have managed working with Reno and Rude under their previous circumstances, she had to be. And she understood exactly where Shion was - she'd been there too. And her life had been in equally perilous danger - it was not safe to hang upside down against the side of a mountain.

Squatting down, her hands staying firmly on his shoulders, she gave a little nod. "Good. Reno was right about picking you. You've got the passion, we just have to teach you the skills. And between the two of us, you'll do just fine. So long as you try your hardest."

[savedbyasong]

Shion blushed, since Elena was the one who had been so angry that Reno had chosen him to hear her say that shocked him, he smiled. "I will Elena! I'll try my best!"

[provenworth]

A little smile, amused with the little blush and smile that made Shion all the more endearing, crossed her features. It was no hidden fact that she had questioned Reno's choices as recruits. They - Shion and Xion - were young and innocent children. But, in the short time she'd been with them, there was no denying that they had potential.

"You better. Because neither Reno nor I will go soft on you. That's not how we were trained and we won't treat you any differently. Once we're done with you, Shion, you'll be just as effective as us."

Standing, she released her hands from his shoulders, and put her hands on her hips. "Now. How about we start our training in one week?"

[savedbyasong]

"I know." Shion didn't want to be treated any differently, he had spent his whole life being soft, not knowing things. Not being able to fight for himself. Being a burden on others who had to protect him.

Except that thought was too close to the accusations the drones had thrown at him, and he had to concentrate hard to make the image of Rat dying over and over again leave his mind.

He nodded, "Alright."