Title: Untitled
Summary: A child's trust is a precious thing; easy to earn, and hard to break. Pregame, young Sephiroth.
Author Notes: This will probably be the last update I can post until the new college quarter starts, unless dad fixes the wireless. His computer won't read my discs. And...yeah, again, a one shot written in the dead of the night. Short and bittersweet, like Vengeance. Yay.
-----
If it wasn't for Professor Ghast, his every birthday would have gone by, unnoticed. But because of Professor Ghast, Sephiroth got a simple gift each year, usually a book. He loved books. They took him far away from the lab, away from the mako treatments, and away from greasy-haired, beady-eyed scientists who gave the treatments, ran tests, and poked and prodded him at all hours of the day, and generally made his young life hell. And Hojo couldn't take his books away, because Ghast wouldn't let him.
Ghast made Sephiroth's life better, a little easier. Ghast was always there after the mako treatments, and even if he couldn't make it hurt any less, listening to the older professor talk always helped. Ghast would talk about the places Sephiroth had read about in his books, because he had actually been there. Maybe someday the professor would take him with him.
But then, the professor had disappeared, and Sephiroth didn't know why. The six-year old clung to the hope that he would come back, and waited. During this time, a woman was brought to the lab, and eventually Sephiroth learned her name was Ifalna. When he realized how much time and attention Hojo was spending on her, he felt a little sorry for her. A few weeks later, Ghast returned to the lab, but things didn't return to normal. Ghast was spending more time with Ifalna, and less time with him. Sephiroth didn't like Ifalna after that.
Ghast left again one night, taking Ifalna with him. He'd told Sephiroth that he would be back soon, and he'd take Sephiroth away with him. And so the six-year old waited patiently, never saying anything to Hojo, or the other lab assistants.
But Ghast never came back.
Sephiroth eventually gave up, resigning himself to a lifetime in the lab, his private hell.
----
Author Notes: Erm, yeah...lookit that angst! I seem to be on an angst kick lately. Feedback appreciated!