Disclaimer:
– I do not own Final Fantasy VII or its characters. 'Cause if I did… teheee… XD
Warnings:
– Although I like pervy things this is just a little friendship story with a weird Female OC thanks to Akia.
– Also it's the first time I'm writing something in English (Akia don't understand Portuguese and I know nothing in her idiom as well) and I have no English BETA, so I hope you can forgive me for all the mistakes I'll probably make. And if any of you could help me pointing them please do. Thank you! =D
Pairings:
– No pairings…maybe on another fanfic my friends! =)
Summary:
– A weird Turk and a serious Soldier 1º Class were sent to collect samples inside a mysterious and dangerous place. But as long as he follows her instructions they'll be alright.
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Chapter 1
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A black haired Turk entered the Office where two distinct men were waiting for a new meeting. But as per it seemed one of the integrants wasn't there yet. And at the Shinra building time was something that no one could take lightly. That's what made the blond man reach out for his cell-phone and dial. A light frown indicating his patience had limits.
Three rings till someone picked up at the other end.
"Where are you?"
"36th floor and not in a good shape to meet you yet, sir."
"You're already 10 minutes late."
"Could you wait 15 minutes more?... No wait!... I think I'll need 30…"
"Find a way to get yourself here in 2 minutes."
"Sir…" The phone was promptly shut.
Lazard spared a look to Tseng standing by his side. The Turk was perfect as ever. Clothes totally aligned no signs of winkles or dust. He even was sure to give them 2 hours before that reunion to carefully read the reports. So what could be taking that creature so long?
Looking through the room he glanced at the tall soldier perfectly still. Calmly leaned on a wall with arms crossed over his chest, waiting. It would be great if every single Shinra subordinate were serious and obedient as that one. But then his thoughts were suddenly broken by the electronic sound coming from the door.
And to say he was surprised at the figure entering the room in such long heavy strides it was an understatement. Torn black clothes flipping on the air with the movement, what was left of a long leather coat was stuck to the body preventing it to fall; the pants had something similar to claw marks running at their sides a little above the knees, boots appeared to had been crewed by some strange monster and the hair was plastered just like the whole person's body dripping…
"Blood?…" Lazard muttered caught off guard by that horrible vision.
"Not mine… sir." The annoyance was evident on that voice. "Hope you had the time to read the reports."
Lazard just glanced again at Tseng. Looks like the report was quite shortened… He stared at the dirty floor then at the dirty girl. His eyes once again were extremely calm and understanding. Perhaps, some details should indeed remain hidden.
"I gave all of you two hours…" The man taped on the files brought by the older Turk. "What took you so long?" And depending on the answer it could surely call for a punishment.
"I was bitten, sir."
"… Bitten?" Could that person be a little more specific?
Ok. That was it. She did not really want to talk about every single detail but the more she spilled out the earlier she'd get out of there. "I was bitten by some creature I've never seen before so I had to take some blood samples as fast as I could. Anyway I was still curious about the results… I also had a piece of flesh to analyze, sir."
"And that took you 2 whole hours."
"Not really, sir…" She started wondering. "But that thing's eyes gave me a little trouble to dissect without damaging it too much…"
If that man hadn't a tight rein over his actions his eyes would have been the same size as oranges by that time.
"That's rather interesting… Minami." He started clearing his throat a little. The man could imagine her cutting the beast to pieces on a crossed fire just to know what it had inside. Good thing humans never took her interest. "I congratulate you Turks on the last mission accomplishments."
Her face changed at that. A mist of disbelief and irony passed the large blue eyes. A fine reply rose to her tongue but a sideways glance from Tseng made her change thoughts. "Thank you… sir…"
The silence fell in the room and made it feel a little uncomfortable. Her boss was probably waiting for the girl to say something else. But as it seemed, she knew better than to defy the male Turk in that office. Lazard then decided it was time to start the real deal.
He took out of his desk's drawer 2 folders with large marks stamping the word 'DENIED' on them. She promptly recognized those. One of them was sent about one year and a half, the other was presented to the Shinra owner himself 8 months ago. The red marks simply stating her failure to convince him. Her eyes darkened, features going colder than that of the boss.
"Why do you have those?"
'If looks could kill…' The blond thought ignoring the question.
He knew that was a delicate matter for him to be dealing with. Mainly because the owner of those projects did not trust him at all. In fact she hated him. Although that feeling was not reciprocated.
"Do you know why these were denied?" The emotionless superior inquired.
If there wasn't a certain Turk inside the room she was probably not going to answer ignoring the boss question just the same way he did.
"The place is a RED Area, sir." Came the simple answer using the proper color which indicated how dangerous could be that zone.
"And?" Lazard arched his eyebrows. The grasses slightly moving.
"Four expeditions were sent to verify the place last year…" She sighed. "None came back alive, sir."
"Save for you two years prior the expeditions." The man opened one of the folders flipping a few pages and halting at a map. "Why is that?"
"I don't know, sir."
He was kind of waiting for that answer, since the other one she told Shinra was not something any sane person could simply believe. Though it was truth the young girl entered the hostile area dominated by beasts not many could fight against. Aerial photos confirmed the accuracy of her descriptions. Heavily armed men were sent to investigate loosing contact in few days. She simply walked out of the area unharmed.
"There is another simple motive why your project was denied. That alone is reason enough not to even read it till the end." Lazard took his eyes of the papers to fix them at the one he was talking to. "You're requesting to go inside a beasts nest to collect Mako samples… alone."
"This way there won't be losses, sir."
This time, the one to sigh was the blond guy. "Did you know President Shinra won't allow the company to lose such a reliable and talented Turk like yourself?" And then closing the folder he continued the questioning. "Why so sure you could come back alive this time?"
"I'm not sure, sir." She replied.
And before continuing the black haired man cut her second speech. "Of course you are."
The girl frowned and quickly glanced at her senior standing beside Lazard's desk.
"This past 6 months you went there about 7 times." The blond man retook the speech getting her attention back. "You probably stopped after realizing you've been followed till a certain extent."
Cold blue eyes fixed the Turks'. They were openly muttering the word 'Traitor'.
But that did not even move the man. He kept the same still statue and wouldn't lose his pose no matter what was thrown at him. That irritating attitude made her eyes narrow dangerously.
"He's only doing his job." Lazard continued guessing her thoughts and smirking a little. "A real Turk knows where his loyalty should really lie."
She really knew about the part where Turks were keeping eyes on her. She sensed it. She smelled their presence everywhere she was outside her duties. And Tseng was receiving all the reports about her. But the girl was naive to believe he had no reason to tell Shinra.
"After Tseng's reports about you having some kind of a way to get in there coming out unharmed, and reading these projects, I believe you saw something really interesting in those newfound Mako caverns…" The blond said in a wondering way. "But since we don't know what exactly that type of Mako is capable of, collecting samples and studying them may tell us if the company should really waste money and forces to take possession of those caverns." A little pause followed as the man reached out for another document inside the same drawer and placing it evenly on his table. "So I talked to the President myself explaining the facts my own way. I even told him I'd take responsibility on any unfortunate ending of the new expedition."
Her eyes flew wide at the paper the boss pushed her way on the desk. An authorization signed by the President Shinra, Lazard and other heads of the company. She had special motives to study the Mako from that single cavern and probably nobody else knew them. The girl even thanked the gods no one else dared to get near that Red Area after all those deaths. And of course, Lazard wouldn't send anyone under his own responsibility for nothing.
"Why are you doing it?" That question was inevitable.
But the blond only smiled bitterly at her distrust. "Those studies could be profitable to Shinra. I obviously think the company should give it a try." Suddenly he was serious again. "And isn't that what you want? Doesn't that make it easier?"
Easier? Yes it did. But at a terrible price in matter of pride.
"Director Lazard" The cold female voice started slowly after long seconds thinking. "You surely know you're one of those members from Shinra I wouldn't like to own any favors…"
"I'm well aware of that." The same discreet smile got back on his face. "But this could be a chance of discovering something that would bring lots of profit to the company. And as per 'Owning a favor' don't worry about it." He then glanced at the other Turk. "You should thank Tseng for showing me these files."
Now to say she was surprised at the other Turk's attitude was a COMPLETE understatement. Why the hell her tutor had to do that? She would not bother to ask. He would just not answer. Those thoughts made her forget for some minutes the body covered in drying blood.
"However, there are some little things I changed about your project." Lazard spoke not caring about the frown displayed on the little face. "This new expedition cannot be made by only you. Also it could be risky to send a lot of workers, so… I took the liberty to indicate two scientists, beginners in Shinra that would be instructed to follow your orders. With no complaints." He added before she could say something. "We'll also send some Laboratory assistants to help with the research. Shinra will set up a little laboratory in the nearest town where they will stay waiting for the samples."
"If they're really staying…" The girl's voice sounded a little hesitant.
"They will." The man assured. "But unfortunately, for you, the President is not willing to risk letting you go into that dangerous place alone." He saw the tilt move her head and the frown going deeper. "And to make sure your escort will also get out of there unharmed I had to point out a Soldier."
Her body went rigid with the revelation making Tseng open his eyes and stay at attention. A slim dirty hand came up to her brow and slid to her eyes while the soft giggles filled the room. And as suddenly as they started they were gone. Was that man insane? Everybody in the building knew that Turks and Soldiers were like water and oil. Add the fact that a men's pride would never let them get bossed around by women that could only turn out in one result. Failure.
Noting that no answer would come from the female Turk, probably not on Tseng's respectable presence, the blond man continued, fixing his glasses on a perfect nose bridge. "That's the only way you'll get allowed to set foot on a Red Area again."
Still with eyes hidden and head bent down an almost dead murmur could be head coming from her lips. "Did you know… that not following my recommendations probably got the other expeditions to disappear?" Then she finally looked at the boss sounding the most somber. "If one not follows my advices in there it could possibly get us both killed."
"I believe you." Lazard evenly answered. "That is why I'm sending someone serious enough at work that will certainly follow every single of Shinra's orders and mine. And those include following your instructions."
"Can't I even choose someone I may… trust?" Or perhaps run away from.
"It's already decided."
Silence fell again inside the office. Disbelief in her eyes. Little amusement on his.
"I…" She started slowly. "Do not really want to ask who that person is…"
The Director's eyes unceremoniously fixed a quiet figure inside the office. A presence she missed while entering the room solely worried to face her superior. Turning round she could not prevent her eyes to go wide at recognizing that specific Soldier. And the young man's serious face only kept staring blankly at them. Surely heard all that talk.
"Miss Minami" Lazard started enjoying her surprised state. "Please, meet one of the 1º Class Soldiers: Sephiroth."
That was promising to be a hell of a long day.
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Hope my friends won't kill me for this one too… *runs*