"I certainly hope you aren't planning to bring her to the office all the time dear, she's just going to get in the way. We need all our focus on the campaign right now and can't afford distractions."
Cloud may not be in love with her husband, but his Chief of staff Genesis Rhapsodos definitely was and it was clear the fiery woman did not approve of her leaders new wife.
"Don't be ridiculous Genny, Cloud is free to visit me whenever she likes, and besides, I like having her here." Sephiroth lifted his gaze away from the papers he was signing to offer a warm grin to his new bride who smiled shyly in response "She makes this drab office feel brighter"
"So would a jar of flowers. I'll buy you some to stick on your desk and you can send her home"
The silver haired man frowned at his long time friend as Cloud shrunk into herself, edging further into the corner of the seat she was occupying, already as far out of the way as anyone could get in the spacious office.
Cloud really wished they wouldn't talk about her as if she couldn't hear them.
"I said she can stay" The silver haired man snapped causing Genesis to reel back in distress at being spoken to so harshly. It was obvious the outspoken woman was accustomed to getting her way.
Sephiroth had invited Cloud here himself, eager to integrate his new wife into every part of his life, after all she would be standing beside him throughout this; but the way Genesis was raving anyone would think the blonde had just barged in unexpectedly and demanded all attention be immediately directed her way. Even now her accusing glare held the shy woman pinned to her seat.
"Actually..." He decided, glancing between his watch and his wife's nervous stance "...I'm hungry. Cloud my love would you like to accompany me to lunch?"
Cloud felt a swell of relief and grabbed her bag as Sephiroth began to rise from his chair. Genesis bristled in anger "I already ordered lunch, its being delivered at 12. I can call and have it here sooner if you like, we really don't have time for this! Angeal tell him!"
The press secretary blinked in confusion as Sephiroth and Cloud passed him in the doorway, the silver haired man ushering the blonde out ahead of him, pointedly ignoring the other woman's protestations.
"Tell him what?" The dark haired man asked "Good morning Mrs Crescent" he added with a smile as the woman passed him.
"Oh good morning Mr Hewley" Cloud smiled as she waved back at him, already part way down the hall and glad to be away from that office.
...
"What was that about?" Angeal asked closing the door behind him and taking a seat.
Genesis was fuming. "That stupid little hussy is going to ruin this campaign I just know it!"
Angeal frowned "Gen, Cloud is a very nice person. I can't imagine her having a negative effect on the campaign"
"No negative affect!? She has been here one morning and already she has dragged him away from his work for frivolous activities"
"Frivolous activities? They went to lunch"
"We don't have time for lunch!"
Angeal just stared at the woman who was now pacing back and forth across the room angrily, not even bothering to dignify her ridiculous statement with a response.
"Why did he even marry her? He can do so much better!"
Angeal sighed and pulled a stack of papers towards himself trying to find anything to focus on that might distract him for his friends ranting. He couldn't remember exactly how long he had been in love with Genesis (and some days he was hard pressed to remember why) but it was long enough to know that her own devotion to Sephiroth was an endless source of pain to him.
A large part of him had hoped the other mans marriage would put an end to the redheads pining but instead it had only intensified.
A knock at the door interrupted the two, to the great relief of one of them and a nervous looking intern poked his head around the oak doorframe, "excuse me ma'am, I have a lunch delivery for you"
The unfortunate young man had to duck as a heavy book came flying at his head "WHERE WERE YOU FIVE MINUETS AGO?!"
Angeal sighed and continued reading as the woman's anger reached a new level. Only her genuine dedication to the campaign kept the neatly stacked piles of paper safe as she stormed about throwing practically everything else in reach at the nearest wall.
...
"How's your meal?"
Cloud blinked down at the plate of...something...in front of her. "It's lovely thank you"
"You know I never really take the time to eat out. Genesis always has food brought to the office for us. But this is nice. We should do it more often."
Cloud smiled and voiced her agreement with as much enthusiasm as she could muster poking at the something for a while before taking another bite. It really was lovely. Everything was lovely. Strange and new and confusing but all very nice. She really had no reason to complain.
It didn't stop her feeling sad though.
Lost in a world she still felt completely out of place in.
They had been married a week.
Was that long enough to say the honeymoon period was past? Not that they had had a honeymoon. Sephiroth was at a crucial stage in his political work. Couldn't afford the time off.
Later he told her. That would come later.
"I'm sorry about Genesis" The former soldier said eventually when he sensed that his wife's sombre mood was not going to lift on its own. "I know she can be a little...difficult sometimes. She's just very passionate about the campaign..."
What else is she very passionate about? Cloud wondered spitefully.
"...she thinks you're here to distract me..." Sephiroth continued "...and I must say, you are highly distracting" He finished this statement with a smile and a wink that helped some way towards calming Clouds mood.
He really was good, she thought to herself.
More and more over this last week Cloud had witnessed the evidence of her husband's affections. Going out of his way to make her feel comfortable in her new environment. To take an interest in her interests. To include her in his life.
She in turn had been cold and withdrawn. Shying away from him and wallowing in her own distress. It really wasn't fair she thought, sitting up straighter in her chair and taking a deep calming breath before putting on her most sincere smile.
He was trying. She should at least match his efforts.
"Well since I'm distracting you the least I can do I pick up the slack. Tell me about your campaign; what can I do to help?"
The smile he gave her could have lit the room.
I have no actual knowledge of politics beyond what wikipedia tells me so please ignore anything that makes absolutely no sense. Thanks. Chapter length should increase as we go along.