A/N: This story is pretty much a commissioned pairing (GenesisxOC) so BIG shoutouts to DarkFire67 for prompting this one. Being a new story, it might be updated less often than my current fanfic (Devil May Cry, anyone?) but it WILL still get attention. With that done, I'd like to say I own nothing but my OC Salvatrice Mantovani (I know, weird name, it's Italian) and the plot. Darkfire67 owns Alicia Herzen and all of her traits.
Chapter 1: Bulldog vs. Dynamite
"Why do we need a new medic anyway? Who killed the last one?" Lazard sighed. His half-brother had definitely let all of his newfound power go to his head. Lazard was not enjoying it.
"Hojo, in a sense. He had something to do with it anyway. I just thought that since I've just started to employ people, that you should look at who I propose you have mend your puppets. I've given you 6."
Lazard was slightly taken aback at Rufus' last comment, but calmly took the folders from his desk and strolled out. He made his way down the winding glass-panelled corridors to his office, catching a few elevators to avoid any Turks. Something about those people really unnerved him. He wasn't sure if it was the suits or the reputation. Either way, they were an entity to avoid completely.
As Lazard sat down at his desk, flicking rapidly through the files given to him, he realised that his brother had made it pretty easy for him. There were 2 men, both with no medical history whatsoever, who had only ever worked in corner shops and café's. He slid the papers off his desk and into the bin waiting for them. 2 down, 5 to go. 3 others were quite similar, but he kept one aside because it said that she had military combat. That must mean she's suffered injury, so she could have at least an inkling of what to do.
The young Director soon came to remember his brother mentioned only 6 files. He had 7. He pulled all of them together on his desk (except the 4 in the bin) and noticed a distinct yellow sticky note on one of them. It said:
'Secretary? For me, naturally. What do you think?'
Lazard sighed at his brother for the second time and reluctantly opened the folder. He immediately saw why he'd chosen this one. There was no denying it, she was quite beautiful. But she had Complete Heterochromia. Either Rufus was too infatuated with lust to not notice that one eye was blue and the other was brown or he just didn't care. Lazard had to admit, it was quite disturbing.
Looking through her records, it was soon revealed to Lazard that she had rather a collection of past occupations. She'd been a dog-walker, library clerk, school teacher, Air hostess and a 911 call answerer. Her name was Salvatrice Mantovani. It soon became apparent that she had quite a collection of people skills. And she liked animals. Joy.
Her Personal details revealed that she was 21. How has she had so many jobs? If she moves around so much, then how was Rufus supposed to get her to stay? Lazard didn't even want to know the answer to that. He slid her file to one side and carried on his decision-making. He was down to 2 now.
One was an acclaimed fighter, black-belt trained in karate and a young prodigy in the use of a katana. The one he'd singled out earlier as having a chance of medical history in tending battle wounds. Her name was Alicia Herzen, born in Wutai although not looking of Wutaian origin, then raised in Banora. Strange move. Still, nothing bad had ever come out of Banora. Genesis and Angeal were amazing SOLDIERs, and although never having tasted them, Lazard knew that the apples grown there were delicious.
He didn't even bother looking at the other file. Bundling up Rufus' secretary and his new medic into his arms, Lazard decided to make his own way to his half-brother's office. His past encounters with the ShinRa mailing staff had taught him that if he ever wanted something doing, he probably had to do it himself. So he did. Naturally, he'd considered using SOLDIERs to do it, but that would only reinforce Rufus' puppet speculation.
"Ah, you're back! What do you think? Come to any conclusions?" His brother smirked.
"Yes. Your secretary has Complete Heterochromia." Lazard sneered, smugly mocking his brother.
"Other than that. I see you've come back with considerably less files." Rufus snapped.
"Alicia Herzen."
"She has no medical history."
"She has no reason to have any. I've chosen her because she's a fighter. Broken bones, Open sores, she knows what pain is. No doubt she knows how to treat it."
"So you've chosen. I see you've got a soft spot for blondes with black-belts and broken bones."
"Alicia Herzen. I see you've got a soft spot for brunettes with eye deformities and exotic names."
"Salvatrice Mantovani…" Rufus sighed, kicking up his feet on his desk and leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head.
"Indeed I have, brother."