Before I continue I want to thank all of you for following this story! :D I really appreciate the support. I also would like to point out that again, none of this is beta'd, and I hope the characters don't...seem to OOC, if they do at all. Besides that, enjoy, read, and review to your hearts content and I'll keep writing for you! I'm in the middle of writing several different fanfictions for your enjoyment, so bear with me while I update this one!
-Abandon
"The err is human.
To forgive is simply not our policy."
-MIT Assassination Club Slogan
Sinovia poked unenthusiastically at her dinner. ShinRa needed to supply better meals for employees. Especially employees who didn't want to "buff" up like many recruits did. She wouldn't trade her lean frame for something like Zack's body. Besides, elven beauty was defined by sharp, well-defined features, not built men that swung swords twice their body weight.
"Does your meal not please you?" Sephiroth asked, sitting down beside her. Genesis sat beside her at the long table. "You can request something specific from the cooks if you wish. You are the head of your own department, after all." Sinovia nudged her tray away from her.
"That sounds splendid." Sephiroth looked at her a moment, thinking.
"Are you a vegetarian?" he asked, causing Sinovia to laugh.
"Heavens no! I just prefer to know what I am eating." As a blood elf, whether she ate meat or not was not an issue, unlike the rest of her kind.
"Understandable." Angeal grunted, placing his tray beside Genesis'. His tray was loaded down with carbohydrates. She narrowed her eyes.
"Angeal. Are you training today?" She asked.
"I've already gotten my training done for the day." he responded, confused.
"Then why is your tray loaded down with enough food to supply an army with energy for a week?" He blushed.
"Yeah old man!" Zack agreed cheerfully, when she shot a glare at his meal, he held his hands up in defense. "I'm patrolling the streets this evening!" She snorted at him.
"We are going to be changing your diets.." she mumbled. A few moments later, Zack was digging into his tray and eating no holds barred.
"That, Zachary, is absolutely revolting." Genesis sneered. Zack shrugged, then continued eating.
"Sinovia, I have been told to inform you that you will be in my company constantly three days after the Mako treatments." Sephiroth told her. "Since I will not be joining the others on the mission in Nibelheim. You have no argument with this?"
"I see no problem with the arrangement." Though she didn't understand why her safety was of such great concern. She was merely a replaceable scientist. "However, on the morning of the Mako treatments, you will be arriving in my lab decently early."
"How early?" Zack groaned in protest.
"Seven. Do you have a problem with that?" Her voice contained a venom that Zack apparently didn't notice.
"Of course I do! What normal person wakes up before noon?" Angeal smacked Zack upside the head.
"People who have priorities. Perhaps you should rethink your dreams if you aren't willing to do whatever takes." Zack quieted at Angeal's words.
"Lecture me while I eat." he said quietly. Sinovia giggled at the exchange. Suddenly, her stomach rumbled loudly. Coughing, she looked to the side, embarrassed. She heard the sound of plastic on metal and looked up as Sephiroth slid his tray in front of her.
"Sephiroth, you needn't-" he stood and walked away. Silence encompassed the table, broken only when Zack spoke.
"That was kinda' weird. Wasn't it Angeal?" he looked at his mentor, who also seemed stunned.
"Well..I suppose it was odd." Genesis nodded in agreement. They looked as Sephiroth left the room, then turned to Sinovia.
"Guess you better eat it, he usually won't even let me have his leftovers!" Zack smiled, but Genesis and Angeal shared a look of worry. Sinovia picked up Sephiroth's unused fork, and grit her teeth as thoughts belonging to the General entered her mind. They rambled on at an unseemly speed, slowing and it came to a halt at a single thought.
'Do it. You are acting like a school boy with a crush.'
Sinovia was puzzled, as she looked at the fork. Seeing no blood, it further confused her. Sinovia stuck a fork in a piece of steamed broccoli. Never had thoughts been transferred without blood. She felt Genesis tap her on the shoulder.
"Sinovia, I was thinking about this afternoon, about the recitation you did. Would it be possible for you to recite something else?" She nodded. "Now?"
"Why now?" Sinovia asked, confused.
"As you know, I have to leave the day after tomorrow. Chances are I won't be in a state to listen to any of your poetry after the Mako tomorrow. Consider it a parting gift." Sinovia looked at him a moment.
"So, the Mako does have side effects..." she bit her lip. "Is it the same for all of you?" Genesis shrugged.
"I haven't the slightest clue, did Hojo not leave any data behind?" Sinovia shook her head. "Well, then Sephiroth might know. He's affected the worse. Sometimes locked in his room for a day or two." This alarmed Sinovia.
"Is that why he cannot go on the mission?" Genesis nodded. Sinovia put the fork down, suddenly not hungry. So worried, she didn't notice as the man came up behind her, dressed as a harmless cadet. The hiss of metal leaving the sheath alerted her early enough for her to move out of the way as the blade came down, embedding itself in the table. Angeal was the first to react, pushing Sinovia behind him and drawing the buster sword. Genesis and Zack rose to stand on either side.
"Stay behind us, Miss Erminia." Angeal told her. Now it made sense why constant protection was needed. This assassin was sloppy, which is the only reason she had survived. Sinovia cursed herself for thinking she was safe in this building. From now on, she couldn't rely on luck. She'd have to keep her eyes open and wits sharp. The assassin, who had taken off didn't get far before he was felled by a strong kick by Angeal. Still conscious, he spat at Sinovia. He was rewarded by a sharp kick to the shin, that left him howling in pain.
"Wutai." he confirmed grimly, the man babbling in another language. Cadets, either excited or worried gathered as Angeal bound the man.
"You." he hissed in broken elvish, spittle flying from his lips. "Deity of nature, they will destroy all you love. Why work with these monsters?" She refrained from responding 'birds of a feather flock together', deciding to bow her head. Quietly for only him to hear, she responded in the same language.
"Warrior, you've no idea." She told him, silent for a moment, then added: "Tell them all you know, and die in honor."The man spat at her once more, before screaming in English.
"Imitator!" he howled, fighting Angeal's grip as best he could. "Born bathed in blood, and bathed in blood you shall remain until your dying day, where the devil himself will hold open the gates of Hell to welcome you!" Sinovia winced, and she heard the hard slap of leather on skin.
"You have no right to speak to her." She heard Genesis fiercely whisper. Sinovia turned to face him, staring at him with her bright green eyes flashing. Suddenly, his confidence left him.
"The darkness from where your soul once came, let it return burdened with deadly shame. May pointy teeth and sharp claws drag you down into Hell's great maw." She hissed in return, and his face paled. Though it made her feel better, putting a curse on the man, it still didn't change the fact that the Wutai knew she was elven.
"Hey doc, what was he talking about, bathed in blood and stuff?" Zack asked,
"Nothing important most likely." She shrugged. "Some old myth perhaps, a legend? Maybe he's just angry that he couldn't achieve his mission."
"Never! We have your back doc!" She chuckled.
"I trust you will guard it securely." Sinovia replied with a straight face. This caused Zack to burst into a fit of laughter, which got Angeal and Genesis to look over. Zack ruffled his hair inconspicuously and smiled at Sinovia.
"So are you going to miss us?" he asked, beginning to do squats. Sinovia looked at him fondly.
"Of course I am Zack." He continued to grin at her.
"Hey, hey, hey doc." he continued doing squats. "Do you think I could pick you up?"
"Are you calling me fat, Zachary?" her voice once again was stern. He shook his head.
"Zachary, stop bothering Sinovia." Genesis told him, placing a hand on Sinovia's shoulder. "We should get you back to your rooms now."
They did bring her back to her rooms, much to her disappointment. Zack decided it best for someone to sit in their and wait for the Director to get there, and he readily volunteered. However, Angeal and Genesis voted that Zack search for anymore assassins with Angeal, while Genesis stayed behind. Now they sat side by side on her couch.
"I think I have it." Sinovia spoke up. Genesis looked at her.
"What do you have?" he asked, looking distastefully at Nefario, who had attempted to jump into his lap, and failed. Sinovia picked up the puppy and placed a kiss upon its head before placing it beside her.
"You told me that you wanted me to recite something more. I thought of something." Genesis smiled like it was Christmas, trying to ignore Nefario, who had taken to chewing on his jacket.
"You didn't forget in the excitement?" She shook her head.
"Never." She cleared her throat.
"Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
Thou dost not bite so nigh,
As benefits forgot:
Through thou the waters warp,
They sting is not so sharp,
As friend remember'd not."
Genesis had a confused look on his face.
"Who have you lost, Sinovia?" Genesis asked, and got a chuckle in return.
"Merely a bit from Shakespeare. Not meant to be deep." Genesis rose an eyebrow, and was about to say something more when Sephiroth entered the room.
"I will be taking over the well-being of Miss Erminia." He announced. Genesis rose, taking Sinovia's hand gently in his own. He kissed it gently, before going to leave. Sephiroth placed a hand on his shoulder stopping him. For a moment, words were exchanged Sinovia couldn't hear, then Genesis went on his way.
"To the lab!" She declared when Sephiroth just stood there. Nefario barked, and wagged his tail cheerfully. Sephiroth looked at the not-so-small-anymore canine.
"A puppy?" He looked at Sinovia.
"His name is Nefario. Isn't he adorable?" She made kissy faces at him, before turning to look back at Sephiroth. "And I thought I said 'TO THE LAB!'" She took off, the General's boots clacking on the metal floor as he followed behind her.
Once in her lab, Sinovia took to a routine she had acquired over the past few weeks. Checking the gauges, as well as spot cleaning. As she heard Sephiroth moving about around her, she silently wondered how high of a heel a man could wear before he was considered gay. Eventually, after a trip to her desk, he settled for leaning up against a wall. After a while, Sinovia forgot he was there.
"Did they have chocobo's where you used to live?" Sephiroth asked suddenly, making Sinovia jump.
"Yeesh! Scare me, will you." She stood from where she crouched. "Yes, they did have chocobo's. I have a ranch, in fact, where I used to breed them part time."
"You breed chocobo's?" Sinovia nodded.
"Only in the summer, when it gets cold in Midgar." Sinovia brushed something from her shirt that's origin she'd rather not know. Mutation or not, she still couldn't tolerate cold that well.
"What is the name of your ranch? Perhaps I know it."
"Oh? Do you like chocobo's?" Sephiroth shrugged.
"They aren't the most pleasant of creatures, but they have their uses." Sinovia giggled at his response.
"It's called 'Infinite Hamlet'*." A brief look of surprise crossed Sephiroth's face.
"You support..Infidis. In the chocobo races." He left his spot on the wall to approach Sinovia.
"Yes, unbeaten champion or something. He trains some of our chocobo's for us." Sephiroth shook his head.
"You have another reason." Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. "For joining ShinRa."
"It's best to have two reason for everything, Sephiroth." She knelt beside a gauge, and tapped it. It was dangerously close to red.
"Well, what is it?" he asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I said I was a fan girl, would you?" Inspecting the paneling, she looked at Sephiroth. "Could you get me my tool kit? It's somewhere on the table." Sephiroth didn't budge.
"Tell me." Sinovia sighed.
"A legacy, Sephiroth. I wanted to leave something behind." Sephiroth's eyes softened. "As I am a woman, I can't join SOLDIER. I can't become a TURK and get my name in the history books because you never hear about TURK's and ShinRa controls all published work. I'm greedy Sephiroth."
"You are merely human." He spoke, and she felt he didn't believe what she said. He turned on his heel. Sinovia breathed a sigh of relief. She really didn't expect him to leave it at that. He probably wouldn't.
"Well, human or no, I'm stuck here. So, can you get me my tools?" Sephiroth picked up the box, and handed it to her.
"Are you serious about not giving us the shots?"
"Deadly. Could you hand me the core over there?" She pointed to the glowing green tube. Sephiroth picked it up, and inspected it.
"What is this?" He tilted it, watching the small white ball roll back and forth inside.
"Stop playing with it like a child with a new toy, and give it here." She said flatly. Sephiroth immediately handed it over, the curiosity either gone or hidden expertly. She unscrewed the panel carefully, but it didn't save her from the smoke that came pouring out of the fire inside. Coughing violently, the tube fell from her hand, falling on the floor and rolling away from her. Stumbling away, she nearly fell, saved by Sephiroth, who gently lowered her to the floor.
"Miss Erminia."
"Euck. More potent then I thought." She hacked off, rolling on to her side and coughing.
"What did you inhale?" he asked, cold fingers going to check her pulse.
"Iron." The faerie killing metal. Luckily for her, the building had been built of an odd metal resembling steel, though there were some parts made of iron. Most had been torn out by carefully directed cadets and scientists, but apparently they missed a few pieces.
"Will anything ease your pain?" Sephiroth asked, though she knew his suspicion of her was growing with every minute. She almost heard it in his voice.
"Fresh air." She coughed out, black bile rising to her lips. Sephiroth wasted no time, picking her up from where she lay, and dashing out of the lab, kicking the door open since his arms were full.
Back in her rooms, he laid her on the couch.
"Are you sure you are not poisoned?" He asked, walking up to the windows that made up most of her room. With a swipe of his hand, three or four opened, letting a fresh breeze in. If it were not so dark, one would also be able to see the small droplets of rain that hit the floor, leaving marks in their wake.
"Unless someone was trying to kill you instead by poisoning the broccoli, I doubt it." She spoke is a raspy voice. Leaving the smoke-filled room had helped her breathing, but her lungs still burned.
"I wouldn't doubt it." Nefario, who had crawled underneath the couch, peaked his head up to see Sinovia. He barked happily, wagging his tail. Seeing her state, his wagging soon stopped, and he whined, trotting over to Sephiroth and pawing at his boots.
"There is a room opposite of where I sleep. In it, there is a plant, with leaves the shape of cat paw's. It is smaller then my thumb, but it will help my lungs heal from the damage." If not for her inhuman eyesight, she wouldn't have seen the frown that graced the commanders features. "Would you pluck me one and bring it here?" Her sentence were ended with an extremely violent cough, which persuaded the General to run the errand. As soon as she heard the door click shut, she realized how dark the room truly was. With the thin sliver of light that allowed her to see in the shadows, she noticed an unnatural movement among them. Thunder crashed, and lightning flashed, revealing the Wutai operative, not too much later. Sinovia swallowed hard, her throat still raw. She almost felt...helpless.
"Sephiroth..." she spoke as loud as she possibly could, but to no avail. Man, she was having a bad day.
Oh Goodness, I hate leaving you with cliffhangers :/ I do apologize, but it is how the dice has rolled. If you're really nice, I might just let you have two chapters the next time I upload! As always, read, review and follow for more!