HIATUS.

    NOT THE POINT.  before he can open his mouth to articulate as much, roche’s all up in his face. adamant that he not look fazed, cloud purses his lips and averts his gaze. arms remain folded across his chest, one finger idly tapping against the metal of his glove.  ‘ what’s this guy’s problem ? ’  he thinks, quiet. can’t help the subtle twitch of his lips when the other continues his unbridled taunting.

    “ i didn’t thank you for anything, ”  he begins, making the mistake of allowing his gaze to meet with roche’s once more. there’s something unnerving about it;  not only this guy’s lack of concern for personal space, but meeting the gaze of another SOLDIER.  (  they’re similar, is what he tries not to consider  /  berates himself for thinking,  even fleetingly.  )  his posture stiffens, brows forming a defensive scowl.

    “ i’ve had my hands full takin’ out your colleagues, so being ambushed by some crazy guy on a motorcycle isn’t exactly a blessing. ”

❝   TSK  ...  touche  ,   ❞  responds  the  older  as  posture  straightens  ,  lack  of  distance  alleviated  somewhat  by  a  step  or  two  backward  .  he  can’t  help  but  wonder  what  it  is  about  this  one  that  intrigues  him  so  .  there’s  the  sword  on  his  back  of  course  ⸻  and  then  there’s  himself  ;  a  foolish  man  trying  desperately  to  seek  the  dead  in  the  living  .  this  one’s  different  ...  much  too  different  to  be  his  lost  friend  .  he  pretends  being  referred  to  as  ‘crazy’  doesn’t  sting  .  he’s  gotten  used  to  it  ...  or  so  he  tells  himself  .

there’s  the  shift  of  something  ⸻  another  fractured  piece  of  him  bearing  its  face  .  a  hand  reaches  for  his  opposite  arm  ,  squeezing  .  the  hard  edges  of  cocksure  expression  on  his  chiseled  face  soften  somewhat  .

❝   YOU  MAY  BELIEVE  WHAT  YOU  WISH  TO  BELIEVE  ,  poupée  .  mere  words  cannot  absolve  SOLDIER  of  the  fact  we  are  shinra’s  dogs  ...  hardly  loyal  ,  i  suppose  ,   ❞  responds  roche  rather  nonchalantly  ,  pacing  slowly  past  cloud  with  cross  arms  .  ❝   oh  what  ...  you  honestly  believe  any  of  us  works  for  shinra  anymore  because  we  get  a  kick  out  of  it  ?  or  maybe  you  think  there’s  some  sort  of  badge  of  honor  we  get  ;  being  shinra’s  top  dogs  .  hah  !  SOLDIER  ...  is  a  sorry  den  of  unfortunate  little  souls  .  always  has  been  ,   ❞  the  older  SOLDIER’s  gaze  is  far  -  off  ,  as  if  the  body  resided  here  and  the  soul  resided  elsewhere  .  he  supposes  it’s  always  been  like  that  ⸻  living  life  in  halves  .  

❝   you  know  ...  to  be  honest  ,  i’m  tired  ,   ❞  he  suddenly  says  ,  his  gaze  drifting  to  an  open  palm  ,  as  if  unable  to  recognize  his  own  hand  before  he  balls  it  into  a  fist  .