Siren stood silently as she watched the secretary rummage through a box of room keys. The woman sighed and began to curse under her breath.
"Something wrong?" Angeal asked.
"Well, I'm assuming that because she is a woman, that she's going to get her own room. But I can't find any single occupancy keys. Maybe they're all taken…" the secretary mumbled, pulling out a clipboard.
Her eyes scanned over the papers, and she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, all of the single occupancy rooms are taken. What should we do, Lieutenant? I don't think we can just kick any of the soldiers out of their rooms, and we certainly can't have her stay in a room with other soldiers."
Angeal rubbed his chin gingerly, eyes going out of focus in thought.
"She can room with Zack."
Siren raised an eyebrow and looked at Angeal questioningly. Angeal smiled and patted her shoulder lightly.
"Zack is one of the soldiers I'm mentoring. I know him very well, and he's a great kid. His apartment has an extra bedroom that no one is using, so you can stay there."
"Shouldn't I ask him first?" Siren asked.
"We can go meet him, actually. He should be in the training hall. Let's go," Angeal said, pulling the young girl alongside him.
"Thank you very much Mrs. Verdana," he called over his shoulder.
Siren offered a timid wave, and the secretary grinned.
"Good luck, young lady!" she called.
--
"Alright ladies! That's enough for today! I want you all here bright and early tomorrow morning so we can start going over some more of the battle strategies that I made. Is that understood?!"
"Yes sir!" the room of soldiers shouted.
"Good! Dismissed!"
Zack strapped his sword to his back, and jogged up to Kunsel, grinning.
"What?" the soldier asked.
"You did amazing today! You don't know how happy I was to see you knock the shit out of Marlett. I've been waiting to see that for a while," Zack laughed.
Kunsel chuckled, walking toward the doors.
"Well, the little shit deserved it. And he knew he had it coming."
The two soldiers reached the doors when Angeal and Siren stepped through. Zack and Kunsel stopped in their tracks, staring at the pair curiously.
"Angeal, does Genesis know you have a girlfriend?" Zack teased.
Siren smirked and shook her head.
"Don't worry, I've already met the Lieutenant. And I set him on fire."
Zack's eyes widened, while Kunsel laughed nervously.
Angeal smirked. "Long story, and I'll tell you later. Siren, meet Zackary Fair, your new roommate."
Zack's eyebrows furred and he shot a look at Angeal. "Roommate?"
"Uh…hey I gotta get going Zack. Can't be late for class. Nice to meet you Siren," Kunsel said, nodding curtly and taking off.
"Wait…can we like sit and talk about this? Because I have no idea what's going on," Zack said, looking bewildered.
"Let's go to the lounge then," Angeal suggested.
--
"So you're officially the first female SOLDIER? That's pretty cool!" Zack exclaimed, sipping from a can of soda.
Siren blushed and grinned. "Yeah, I suppose now I can put my fighting to good use, instead of always being tracked down by Shinra."
"So Zack, here's the deal. Siren isn't going to stay in a dorm, because obviously that wouldn't be safe for her. But all the single occupancy rooms are taken, so I want her to stay with you. Will that be a problem?" Angeal asked.
"Not at all. The extra bedroom's just been sitting there empty since I got the apartment. Sure she can take it," Zack said, taking another sip of his soda.
"Are you sure it's not a problem?" Siren asked.
"Not at all sweetheart. And I promise I'm a good guy, so you don't have to worry about me. Right Angeal?"
Angeal nodded, and Siren smiled.
"What are you doing the rest of the day Zack?" the Lieutenant asked.
"Absolutely nothing. I just had one class today, and I don't have anything else planned."
"How about you take Siren under your wing and get to know her a little better, since you two are going to be rooming together after all. I need to meet with the General and discuss some things."
"Have you met the General yet?" Zack asked.
Siren shook her head no, and Zack grinned.
"You'll meet him soon enough. If you're hanging out with me and Angeal, then you'll definitely have the pleasure of meeting Seph. Just be prepared…"
"Prepared? Prepared for what?" Siren asked, looking at Angeal questioningly.
Angeal shot Zack a look, and the brunet shrugged.
"Sephiroth is definitely a…unique person. He's a great guy, but you have to peel the layers off before you really see the man for who he is. Speaking of which, I need to go meet with him. So with that, I'll see you two later," the Lieutenant said, getting up from the table and walking out of the lounge.
"Well, I guess I should probably show you your room, eh?"
--
"It's not the nicest apartment, but it's good enough," Zack said, sliding his keycard through the scanner. "Remind me to make you a copy of this, by the way."
The door hissed and opened, and the pair stepped inside.
"It's so clean in here! And this is a really nice apartment, Zack. I seriously can't thank you enough for letting me stay here," Siren said, walking around the apartment until she found the spare bedroom.
"Oh good, you found it," Zack mumbled, walking behind the snow-haired girl.
"You sure no one's ever stayed in here?" Siren asked.
Zack scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Well, I use it as a guest bedroom if needed. A few times when Reno was shitfaced he crashed in here, because it's closer than the Turk quarters."
Siren stiffed beside Zack and grew silent.
"You okay?" he asked. "Was it something I said?"
"No, it's just…" Siren sighed. "Nothing, don't worry about it."
Zack arched an eyebrow and looked at Siren curiously, before silently brushing the matter off. He walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
"You want something to drink? Are you hungry?" he asked.
Siren followed Zack into the kitchen and sat down at the small table. "Uh…no thanks, I'm okay."
"Are you sure? Believe me, you'll rather eat here than eat the shit they call food in the mess hall. Are you sure you don't want anything?" Zack asked.
Siren shifted anxiously. "Well…I guess I'll have whatever you're having."
Zack grinned. "Good. I was just going to heat up some leftover pizza, is that alright?"
Siren's eyes lit up and Zack chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes."
Zack heated up the pizza and offered Siren two huge slices, which she took gratefully. As the two sat at the small table eating, Zack eyed Siren.
"Yes?" she asked between bites.
"Since we're going to be roommates, how about we get to know each other a little better?" he mumbled around a mouth a food.
Siren glowered and Zack's eyes widened and he held up his hands defensively.
"No, no! I didn't mean it like that! I mean maybe we should tell each other something about ourselves. Shit, I'm sorry Siren…"
Siren's face instantly turned guilty and she sighed.
"No, I'm sorry. I'm being overly defensive. But it's just how I am until I really gain people's trust. I've been taken advantage of too many times and…" she trailed, looking away.
Zack cleared his throat uncomfortably and took another bite of pizza.
"Don't worry about it sweetheart. You seem like a really nice girl from what I've seen so far. I promise that you can trust me. Believe me, Angeal wouldn't have let you room with me if he didn't trust me. And he's one of the most overprotective people I know," Zack laughed.
Siren nodded and sipped her drink. "I feel like I can trust Lieutenant Hewley already. He makes me feel like he genuinely cares. Lieutenant Rhapsodos probably hates me right now."
"Genesis? Pfft, he's always testy with new recruits. And the fact that you're a girl who kicked his ass in a spar just rubbed him the wrong way. He'll come around, I promise. Plus if Angeal likes you, chances are Genesis will catch on eventually."
"Are the two of them in a relationship?" Siren blurted out, immediately turning red.
Zack's eyebrows arched and he laughed quietly. "Is it that obvious?"
"So that's a yes then?" Siren asked.
Zack nodded and shrugged. "You're very perceptive," he laughed. "But, yeah they are together, though they usually manage to keep it well hidden. There aren't any rules against officers dating one another, or same-sex relationships, it's just that the two of them like to keep the gossip down to a minimum."
"That makes sense," Siren murmured. "And what about you, Zack? Got a significant other right now?"
"No, not right now. And I haven't really had a serious relationship…ever. Not that I'm opposed to it. I just haven't found the right one," he shrugged.
"Same," Siren said quietly, finishing her pizza.
"All done? Here I'll just take this," Zack said, reaching for her plate and cup.
"Oh, don't worry, I can get it," she said, standing up and trying to grab the items before Zack could get to them.
Zack grinned and placed his hands on top of Siren's. "Don't worry about it. Today's your first day and I want to make you feel as welcome as I can. I've got it."
Siren smiled softly and sat back down in her chair.
"So Siren, you've met all of the main officers of Shinra except for the General. Wanna go meet him now?" Zack asked with an impish grin on his face.
"I suppose I'll have to meet him eventually. I'm ready if you're ready," she shrugged.
--
"She doesn't use materia? At all?" Sephiroth asked, looking across his desk disbelievingly at Genesis.
"There were no materia slots in her weapon, and she wasn't wearing any bangles. I've never seen anything like it. She's very strong, too. Definitely First Class level," Genesis said, glancing down at his coat and shaking his head.
Sephiroth pursed his lips in thought, but was interrupted by a crisp knock on the door, followed by it opening.
"Zackary," Sephiroth muttered under his breath.
Zack poked his head in and grinned at the two soldiers in the office.
"Hey guys! Seph, I brought someone to meet you," he said, turning around and grabbing Siren's wrist, pulling her into the office.
Siren stepped in and saw Genesis sitting in a chair, with his coat still scorched, and blushed immediately. She cleared her throat and nodded curtly to him.
"Lieutenant Rhapsodos," she said quietly.
"Well speak of the devil," Genesis quipped.
"Obviously you two have met already," Zack snickered. "Siren, this is General Sephiroth. Seph, this is Siren Laurentis, our newest and only female SOLDIER."
Sephiroth stood up from his chair and offered a hand to Siren. She shook it gently and murmured a hello. She stood back and clasped her hands together tightly.
"I hear that you are quite a force to be reckoned with, Miss Laurentis," Sephiroth murmured, looking at the young girl curiously.
Siren's face turned beet red and she laughed nervously. "Thank you sir. I just do what comes naturally to me."
Sephiroth smirked and glanced at Genesis. The redhead looked back at Sephiroth and rolled his eyes lightly.
"So, how are you enjoying SOLDIER so far Miss Laurentis?" Sephiroth asked.
"It's been…interesting so far, sir," Siren said quietly.
Genesis snorted and turned around to face Siren fully.
"Why are you being so quiet and submissive now? Earlier you were one of the most brazen women I'd ever seen in my life," he laughed.
Siren scowled lightly and squeezed her hands together tightly.
"I am still being myself, Lieutenant. Earlier I was in battle mode. You wouldn't expect someone to be quiet and submissive when they're about to fight, would you?" Siren asked through clenched teeth.
Genesis' eyes narrowed. "No, I suppose not. It just seems almost like two different people. I've never met anyone like that before."
"Guess it's time to expand your horizons then, Lieutenant," Siren quipped, earning a playful smirk from Sephiroth and a light chuckle from Zack.
Siren's eyes met Sephiroth's and the General's green orbs flashed lightly. Siren broke the eye contact, blushing.
"Okay Siren, you need to get your schedule and stuff all set up, so maybe we should get going," Zack cut in, noticing the way she kept blushing when Sephiroth looked at her.
"Yes, and I would like a copy of her file too, Zackary," Sephiroth said.
"Sir?" Zack asked.
Sephiroth's eyes narrowed at Zack, and the brunet nodded in understanding. "Yes sir, I'll bring it before you leave for the day."
"Good. It was nice meeting you Miss Laurentis," Sephiroth said, nodding at the young woman.
"You too, General," she said, following Zack out the door.
--
The duo walked most of the way to the registration office in silence until Zack suddenly snickered.
"What?" she asked.
"You like Sephiroth, don't you?" he asked.
Siren's eyes widened and she laughed. "I don't know the man, Zack. I can't like someone I don't know."
"But I saw the way you were looking at him. You at least think he's hot, right?"
"He's gorgeous," Siren said, flushing. "There's no denying that."
"True, everyone thinks he's gorgeous, including me," Zack sighed.
"You two seem pretty close. Ever tried to go any further with it?" Siren asked.
"We tried, but it just didn't work. We realized we're way better off as friends. But I'll tell you now, incase you do become interested, Sephiroth is not the easiest person to be in a relationship with. I won't go into much detail because you'll find out more about him as time goes on, but I'm just letting you know up front."
Siren laughed and looked up at Zack. "You seem so sure that something will happen."
Zack snorted and put his arm around Siren's shoulders. They walked the rest of the way to the office in silence.
~I recognize that look he gave you Siren. That was pure attraction and lust. And I've never seen Seph look at anyone like that before. If only you knew what you're about to get into, kiddo…~