Disclaimer: don't own, borrowing for my own amusement
Warnings: Adult themes. Angst, throughout the tale. Major (or, er, General) flirting and talking about sexual situations.
SCOUTING
He knew that Genesis was still mad at him. He didn't blame him, really. After all, he was trying to prove himself as a hero and it was hard with him hovering over his shoulder.
If only Lazard hadn't opened the door.
He smirked. He doubted that he had ever seen such a shocked look on his face before and the woman had made such a strange and yet tantalizing gargling sound. Of course getting caught by the man that send you on missions as well as having a rich woman with a husband on her knees before you, was just a horrible mixture of bad; hence the lecture, not only from Lazard, but Angeal, Hojo and Jack Shinra himself.
Genesis was looking at a copy of that damn silly play in his hand and pouting slightly. He had a new red jacket draped over the seat in the bumpy transport vehicle. He had not said much to him so far. Sephiroth wondered if he should apologize to him. It was not like he planned to join this mission, or rather, forced vacation and saw that he was still quite perturbed at him.
He knew how important becoming a hero was to Genesis and he really didn't want to upset him further.
Tseng was talking to another Turk that he didn't know in a hushed voice. Genesis was the muscle in this job but the muscle got the glory, as he knew all to well. He was not known for his strategy or planning, he was known for going on to the battle field and killing and somehow, that made him a hero.
"Did you read the file?" Sephiroth asked as the vehicle jostled them along the rode. The silence was getting too much for even him.
"I know enough," Genesis responded.
Sephiroth smiled. "I will take that as a no."
"I know enough," Genesis repeated. He heard Tseng sigh and saw him shake his head. He wasn't going to respond to the pesky Turk. Sephiroth didn't like the fact that there were working with Turks on the mission, but he could tolerate them. They were the ones that would do all the boring information gather part and he… well Genesis … would supply the military incite. He would try his best not to interfere with his friends plans. He had upset him quite enough already.
"So, what do you know?" Sephiroth smiled. "Enlighten me with your knowledge of this little mountain town." He made a grand motion with his hand that drew Genesis eye.
Genesis cocked his head to one side, "If it amuses you, General." His voice was dripping with sarcasm, as it always was when he used his title.
Genesis adjusted himself a bit in the uncomfortable transport truck. Sephiroth hated transport trucks. Hell, with the Turks, he thought that they would be going in a helicopter not the stupid transport truck. He thought as a First Class SOLDIER, he would get a little more comfort in the travel. He thought of complaining about the transportation, but then, the transport vehicle was a might bit better than one the troopers had to travel in.
Genesis started to talk. "It is a small town of approximately 900 people. Bearnin boarders on Wutaii and is known for its hot springs, which I am sure that you will enjoy later, sir. The reason that they were is because the mayor of the town does not get along with the Wutaii philosophy due to the fact that they did nothing to help his ailing daughter. I believe that she had some severe mako poisoning and they came to ShinRa for help and ShinRa did; hence, why we are going on a scouting mission." Genesis smiled. "They are more aligned with ShinRa and are looking for a resolution to the war as well, as it is aggravating the monsters in the mountains, which is coming into the town. The town does have a small Milita group. We will be using them as guides as we search the mountains and spy on the edges of Wutaii. I also believe, since the life stream is close to the surface here, the research into the placing of a reactor here."
Sephiroth nodded. "You did crack open the file."
"I read a bit of it," Genesis said. "And Hollander told me that he treated some kid out here a couple of years ago. I believe that he said it was the mayor's daughter, or something. He said it wasn't that bad of a town." He placed a fabric strip on the page he was reading in his horrid novel. "So, are you satisfied, oh, great General?"
Sephiroth found himself chuckling and adjusting his armour. He received a glare from Genesis while he did that.
"Damn it," Genesis growled. "Why did you bring all your armour? Can't you just try to blend into a crowd?" His eyes were on fire and he was angry again. It was yet another reminder that he was the elite solider and he still had to receive that title.
He sighed. "I told you. I plan on monster hunting. That is all." Plus, he knew it was impossible to blend into a crowd and he was not going to cut his hair to appease Genesis on this or anyone for that matter.
Genesis narrowed his eyes. "You are going to find a way to make this your mission or they will twist it to say that you did all the work."
"I have no control over the PR department's press releases. Half of them, I wish they would forget about even printing," he scowled. He hated the way that they played him up in the press sometimes. He knew he was a good fighter and that he was impressive on the battle field, but he didn't need the world to think of him as a hero.
He had never strived to be a hero and would gladly hand over that title to Genesis if he could.
Genesis calmed down a bit; he ran his hand over the cover of the book and tucked it into a pocket on the inside of his coat. "You aren't supposed to leave my sight." Genesis had an amused smile on his face with that. "I even had President Shinra talk to me himself on the matter."
Sephiroth just shook his head. "Yes, we had a conversation, as well."
"What was her name?" Genesis whispered.
"I honestly do not know," Sephiroth answered. He didn't know. She had just grabbed his arm and offered him a prize and he took it. Lazard had said her name; maybe it was Lazard's wife, even though he was pretty sure that he was not married. Maybe it was his girlfriend? He would have to find out why the woman caused so many problems for him.
Genesis was staring at him with those brilliant blue eyes.
"I don't know many of their names," he simply stated. It didn't matter after all. They offered themselves to him and he took them. They were using him because he was the great hero and he was using them for his own satisfaction.
Genesis laughed.
"I didn't think I said anything funny," Sephiroth said and sat a little straighter.
"Oh, but you did. How unromantic you are!" Genesis said. "You will never find love that way."
He rolled his eyes. He didn't need to get lectured on Genesis ideas on love. Most of them came from that damn poem that he kept reciting and how he did have a large romantic streak. The man had flowers placed in his room on a regular basis. It was rather annoying to walk into his room to be suffocated by the smell. For all that, he was pretty sure that he had not seen Genesis try to woo a single woman or man for that matter. He remembered him going on about how he hadn't found anyone that interesting yet. Angeal had mentioned something about him trying to woo someone once, but that was a year ago and nothing seems to have come of it.
"I am not looking for love," he stated. It was a simple fact. He did not want love from these women, he wanted sex and that was all that he was willing to offer. Most of them were hardly satisfying and overeager to return. He had never let one return for attentions. Never.
"Maybe you should be," Genesis said simply. "Then you wouldn't be ruining MY mission."
Of course the conversation went back to that.
"I did not do it to, how did you put it, screw you over," Sephiroth said simply. He was aware that the two Turks were listening to their conversation. "I did not make this decision. This was the best option without created a huge publicity issue and that was why the decision was made. Now. Get over it already."
Genesis made a small grumbling sound. "Yeah, I know," he conceded, "But I am still going to be mad at you."
"If it makes you happy," Sephiroth sighed at his sometimes childish friend.
"It will." Genesis said simply.
Tseng cleared his throat. "We will arrive shortly," he said as he looked at the map flashing on his PHS.
"Good. I am getting tired of this truck," Genesis grumbled.
He agreed.
The town was quite pleasant on all outward appearances. It was not very large and there was a simple main street and there were plenty of people milling about. Not to bad. There seemed to be a few stores and it didn't look like a total hick town. He was well aware of all the looks that he was receiving. He was used to that.
"We will report to the mayor and explain our change of plans," Tseng said and walked off with the other Turk. They were to remain by the trucks. That was fine. He hated the talking part. People were way too frightened by him, and they always said stupid things. It was rather annoying actually, even though he always got his way in the end.
Sephiroth looked over to Genesis who was dusting off the length of his red coat that he was wearing over his First-Class uniform.
"When did you get the coat?" He asked. He had not seen it before today. It suited him quite well. Because of his own preference for his own black leather coat of armour, First's got a little more lea way with their clothing. Not that many took the liberties, but it seemed that Genesis was more than willing to separate himself from the rest. Angeal didn't alter his in the least.
Genesis smiled now. "My parents sent it to me when I told them I got upgraded. I had to make a few modifications," he adjusted his shoulders, "But overall, I was quite surprised that they sent me something not completely unappealing."
Sephiroth nodded and quickly wanted to change the subject. He hated it when Angeal and Genesis talked about their parents. Not that he disliked their parents, he had met them on a numerous occasions and they were nice people and had even loosed up a bit around him, so they weren't so stiff. But he always felt uncomfortable when the topic came up.
"The town doesn't look to bad. Quite big for a mountain town," Genesis said as he adjusted his sword belt. "You should be able to find more than women to amuse you here."
He smiled at the taunt. "I guess I will have to make the effort to do so." Sephiroth smirked as he adjusted his own sword on his back.
"Darn right you will. I do not want to catch you in the act," Genesis actually shuttered. "I witnessed way too much of the aftermath already."
Sephiroth gave a light chuckle. "I will do my best to stay out of trouble."
In a firm voice Genesis spoke, "You will do NOTHING to ruin this mission for me or draw more attention to yourself! Already the town's people are looking this way and I see the way those women over there are looking at you and you will not encourage them!"
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes at his friend and turned to him sharply. He knew very well how his friend reacted to some poses that he made and how his eyes would sometimes wander. He also knew how to make Genesis uncomfortable. He made sure that his coat was open a little bit more than necessary and that his head was tilted so that his hair fell half over one of his shoulders as he lowered his voice. "You could provide me with entertainment, Genesis." He was very aware of how his looks and certain actions affected people around him, both men and women.
He watched, as Genesis started a bit and then regained his composure. "You are doing that on purpose."
"What?" he said and straightened himself out. "You have that lovely poem that you have pretty much memorized. You can try to get me to understand what is so fascinating about it." He pushed the hair that had trickled over his shoulder back over. He could hear some women that were watching make little sounds of pleasure. It was going to be a trying week if he could not have one of them for his uses. He never underestimated how a hair flick could affect women.
Genesis shook his head. Usually, he got called a 'jerk' or a 'prick', before he would change the subject. He like the little game that they had. Genesis had never announced that he was gay, but Sephiorth was pretty sure that he was. He had seen his friend's eye wander on plenty men in SOLDIER, but that is all that he had to go on. He had never made a move one way or the other.
"You know, I think that is what I will do," Genesis said. "That is quite an idea that you have there, sir." Genesis was still using that clipped sounding sir tone, but Sephiroth did not like the amusement that was in the rest of the sentence.
"What?" He started. If had to listen to him babble about the great tragedy for a whole mission, he will have to kill him.
"You want me to entertain you, then I will," he said simply with a satisfied smile on his lips. A smug smile. Sephiorth had obviously not thought his comments all the way through or Genesis was getting better at returning his taunts. Either way, he knew that he was now doomed to listen to Loveless, pretty much the whole time that they were in this town. He would have to think twice about his taunting, if he was going to turn it back on him like that.
Genesis leaned close to him and whispered. "It will serve you right for doing that on purpose." His blue eyes were full of fire at besting him at something, even if it was a friendly taunting match that he usually won!
Angeal had chastised him a few times for doing this to Genesis and had warned him that Genesis would get back at him one day and it wouldn't be pleasant. Listening to Loveless for the whole mission would be defiantly most unpleasant. It was fun to toy with the emotion of others; it was one of the few things that he had true control over. He liked the reaction that he got most of the time from his little taunts. Well, there were worse things that listening to a couple millennia old play.
Sephiroth looked at his friend with a lazy smile and then looked back at the other truck that had the geeks, as he called them. The researchers that would examine the increase in the monster abilities and check to see if there area was viable for a reactor and be a all around burden for the scouting mission. There were ten of them. Quite a burden really. He was glad that it wasn't his mission.
He really hated the geeks.
"You won this match," he returned to Genesis simply.
"Yielding will not get you out of the proposal, sir," Genesis said as he looked over the geeks. He was sure looking smug right now.
"You are being a jerk," Sephiorth said before he could get his tongue in check.
Genesis smiled as he walked over to the geeks, leaving him standing alone by the truck.
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