"On behalf of Junon, let me declare that we are eternally grateful to you all for dispatching that terrible beast from our harbor. Truly, your skill and efficiency is truly remarkable. The Shinra Electric Company should be proud of the work you do for them."
The mayor of Junon continued on with his adulations, although from what Sephiroth could surmise, it was more for the love of the sound of his own voice than anything else. So boring. He wouldn't have graced this little gathering with his presence if Angeal hadn't insisted upon it. And now he was very much regretting having listened to his friend. Was this portly little man ever going to get to the point of this speech?
"….and as Midgar is our largest trading partner…"
Apparently not. He caught Genesis' attention and rolled his eyes heavenward in sheer boredom. His friend returned it with a shrug and a smirk. Maybe Angeal found all this tedium gratifying, but Sephiroth knew his reward would be found elsewhere. So the sooner this meeting adjourned, the sooner he could get to the business of enjoying it.
"…heard of the injury of one in your group."
Those words drew his notice. Sephiroth was curious what Junon's mayor had to say about Lilith's encounter with the Oceanus.
"I hope that the wounds were not serious."
"A gash to the leg," Angeal assured the man. He glanced over to where she stood with the other 2nd Classes. "Easily mended with the assistance of a Healer."
"Excellent news." Now he, too, turned his attention to Lilith directly. With a troubled expression, he suggested in a patronizing tone, "Such a dangerous profession, my dear. So many risks when there are so many other options to choose from. Perhaps you might see today as an opportunity to reflect upon your decision."
Oh if looks could kill a man…this one would be every bit as dead as that serpent Lilith slayed only this afternoon. Junon would mourn the loss of their current mayor tonight, and look forward to the task of electing his replacement tomorrow morning. Her fury at his high-handed advice was palpable. Beside her, Zack and his two friends traded nervous looks as they fully expected her to rip the mayor apart.
But they- and Sephiroth- were sadly disappointed that she did not explode into a tirade as she had this morning. Lilith merely smiled and replied serenely, "Today has given me much to think about, Mayor. I will not forget your counsel when I have a moment for reflection."
Deceptively polite words sheathing a razor-sharp insult. It would seem the lady had learned a lesson from the exchange with Genesis, and was adapting her tactics. Sephiroth knew such an approach would do her no good where his friend was concerned, but they worked on Junon's mayor, in any case. The simple-minded fool actually thought she was complimenting him.
"Wonderful, my dear. I'm glad to hear it."
The urge to chuckle at the absurdity of the situation was almost too much for him. Genesis and Zack were finding it difficult to hold in their laughter as well, the former covering it up with a raspy cough. The other two puppies hadn't quite caught on yet; they weren't quite as quick-witted as their dark-haired friend or the lady, it would seem.
Mercifully, the mayor carried on with his intended speech, drawing their meeting to a close.
"Well, I wish to thank you all once more for your efforts today. Junon is indebted to you, and as part of our gratitude, please feel free to spend the evening on the town- free of charge."
"That's actually not-"
Angeal very nearly ruined the generous offer, but Sephiroth cut him off before he could give a speech about how SOLDIERs didn't require such thanks, or anything about their honor in serving the people.
"Not an invitation to be wasted. I think I speak for the group when I say that we wouldn't dream of disappointing Junon's finest establishments by returning to Midgar without a proper celebration. Shall we be off, gentlemen?" He shifted his gaze to Lilith and raised an eyebrow, "and lady?"
Hamstrung by his desire to present a unified front when they were on Shinra business, Angeal set his mouth in a grim line and made no attempt to argue. No doubt he'd have words to say about this stunt later- after a few drinks had loosened his tongue a bit. Maybe. But Sephiroth wasn't worried about that. Right now, he was all about living it up on the town tonight.
"Sounds like a great idea to me," Genesis answered when no one else seemed inclined to second his plan.
In short order, their group escaped the mayor's office and found themselves amid the crowds of Junon's denizens, all eager to celebrate that the Leviathan was no more. Still dressed in the same clothes they'd been wearing to battle, the seven of them stuck out noticeably. And while he enjoyed the timorous reverence his attire garnered, that reaction would work against Sephiroth's ideas for this evening's revelry.
"Well, since you insisted upon taking advantage of Junon's hospitality," Angeal broke in. "I insist that we remain as a group."
"You can't be serious," Genesis protested. "You really want to spend all night with…"
He stopped just short of saying the rest of that sentence aloud, knowing that it would only push their friend beyond his limits. Besides, this time Sephiroth doubted his objections had anything to do with rank.
"Yes. Either we go out together, or no one goes."
"But…seven of us? Aren't you worried that'll be a bit much for these people to handle? You have to admit it would be easier to break out into smaller groups."
Angeal crossed his arms, leveling a heavy stare intended to wear down even the most stubborn of wills. It worked, too, since Genesis capitulated with a frustrated sigh.
"Fine, have it your way, then. But don't cry to me if none of us see any action."
The three junior SOLDIERs shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, while doing their best not to look directly at Lilith. Sephiroth suppressed a sigh. That's what comes of inviting females along for a mission. Comments like that aren't so damned awkward when they're not around. But now it was out there, and he supposed they'd all have to deal with Genesis'…appetites. Even Lilith. And if she didn't like it, she could stay at Headquarters next time.
"Either way, I propose a change of apparel if we're to be suitably dressed for a night of celebrating," Sephiroth pointed out when the silence had gone on sufficiently long enough. "The mayor reserved a few rooms at the hotel just ahead for our private use. Make use of the next half hour and be in the lobby. We'll depart from there."
He didn't wait for the rest of them to follow his advice, and headed for the hotel. The sound of footsteps indicated that they had. Genesis and Angeal caught up quickly, neither saying much as they crossed the street together. From some distance behind, Sephiroth heard the hushed conversation between Lilith and her little friends.
"You know on second thought, perhaps I ought to just stay in tonight," she suggested.
"What- because of the leg?"
"Well…"
"Lux, you dolt. Of course it's not that."
"Hey!" the young SOLDIER interjected with mild outrage at the insult. "It was a reasonable question, given the battle today. What else was I supposed to think?"
"Try listening with your ears once in a while. It's obviously about-"
"Dude, speaking of listening- you realize your voice carries further than you might think, right?"
"I'm just saying that after a comment like that, I might think of staying behind, too, if I were her."
"Guys, really," Lilith interrupted quickly. "I don't care."
You don't, do you? Sephiroth chalked her boast up to pure bravado- just trying to 'fit in'. But she'd never seen his friend in action, and reality was going to come as quite a shock when she saw it firsthand. Sephiroth confessed he found the prospect of observing how the lady would handle such a situation amusing.
Would she give Genesis hell as she had this morning, or try something more subtle? Definitely worth finding out. Of course, if he had any hopes of seeing those fireworks, Lilith could not be permitted to stay behind. Sephiroth was about to prod his friend into reminding the group of 2nd Classes of his earlier edict, but then their conversation picked up again.
"So then why not come with us," Zack asked in a puzzled tone. "If it's not the leg or, uh, the other thing…"
"I just don't think a night out is for me, okay?"
"It's not the argument from this morning, is it? If you don't remind him of that, we'll get on fine."
"It's not that."
"Then what is it?"
Their company had more or less entered the lobby, though still spaced apart in two groups. Sephiroth turned his head slightly- enough that he could see the others out of the corner of his eye. Even without a proper view, he could see the lady's growing frustration at her friends. Her exhaled breath resembled a serpent's hiss.
"I don't have anything to wear," Lilith snarled in an angry whisper. "I only brought my gear for the battle- not exactly the sort of thing meant for nightclubs. Happy, now?"
So she did have at least some sense of vanity. Or at the very least, sense enough to know what most women would wear in this situation. Although apparently, she hadn't thought to prepare herself for it.
Not entirely surprising. In the half-dozen times he'd caught a passing glance of her around Shinra Headquarters, Sephiroth had never seen her wearing anything other than the SOLDIER uniform. Granted, he'd never cared to seek her out beyond the workplace, but a reasonable person might easily assume that Lilith wasn't exactly the most feminine type. Did she even own anything dressy?
"Oh c'mon, Lilith," Kunsel's plaintive whine cut into his thoughts. "No one's going to care what you're wearing."
At this point, the lady had clearly decided their discussion was over, and stalked right past Genesis without even a backward glance to her friends. His friend raised an eyebrow at him, no doubt having heard the whole exchange as clearly as he had. Might have dared comment if Zack hadn't rushed after her before she made it to the elevators.
"Hey, hey, just hold up a minute. I'm sure we can think of something to fix this. You don't really want to stay in your room all night, do you?"
"I'll be fine."
The young puppy wasn't making much progress swaying Lilith from her decision, so Sephiroth deemed it necessary to take that upon himself. He sided up to the two, casually pressed the call button and said, "As much as I do love to see a lively debate, I believe both of you have forgotten something very important."
"What's that?" the dark-haired youngster asked.
"Angeal was very clear- either we all go, or none of us go."
"But, surely…"
"So in half an hour, we will be in the lobby- all of us," he added with a meaningful look in Lilith's direction.
She wanted to argue, but wouldn't. Just as she hadn't argued with him about her assignment for the battle. Whether the reprieve had something to do with Angeal's speech this morning, or something about him personally, Sephiroth wasn't sure. Pity. He would have found the challenge interesting, even if she couldn't have won. But although Lilith was thwarted in a direct confrontation, she at least didn't pretend that she was happy about the order.
"Well, I suppose that's settled, then." When the elevator doors opened, she made no move to step inside. "I might as well see how I can make the best use of thirty minutes."
The doors slid closed, leaving him standing with only Angeal and Genesis; Zack and his two friends had remained in the lobby with Lilith. Sephiroth leaned against the polished metal rail, unable to contain his bemused smirk. Of course, that only encouraged his friend to comment.
"You could have just let her stay at the hotel. I'm sure our buddy Angeal here wouldn't have cared if the lady spent the evening in her room while we all had a good time. I mean, you heard her- she doesn't even want to go. So what's your angle?"
Trust Genesis to suspect him of plotting. And to bring it up in front of Angeal, too. So not the time to ask. Even a harmless curiosity to see Lilith try- and quite possibly fail- to fit in with their group would be met with disapproval on his end. So Sephiroth shrugged with feigned indifference and offered a plausible excuse.
"If Lilith goes, it'll occupy the other three looking out for her. I figured you of all of us would have appreciated having fewer rivals for female attention. After all, you were quite vocal about your worries on that score just a few minutes ago."
"I suppose that's one way to clear the field."
"And she did fight in the battle this afternoon," Sephiroth continued. "She ought to see the rewards for it no different than the rest of us."
"Yeah, that was unexpected. An Oceanus just happens to be in Junon harbor the same time as that Leviathan? Not exactly part of the plan."
No, it most definitely wasn't, he admitted silently.
Sephiroth was not at all happy about that, either. Not so much that the lady was involved- rather that he'd been caught by surprise with the unexpected appearance of an enemy other than the Leviathan. No one had mentioned a word of an Oceanus at any of the briefings or in the communications to Shinra Headquarters.
At the very hint of a possible secondary threat, he would have tweaked his battle strategy to have put at least one of the other 2nd Classes down at the far end of the pier with Lilith. Never would have left a weak fighter to guard a potentially vulnerable strike zone alone. If she hadn't held her ground, that Oceanus would have made for some serious trouble- not to mention marred his reputation as Shinra's best tactician.
Absolutely unfathomable. In all his years fighting for Shinra, Sephiroth had never misjudged a battle. Knowing how close he'd come to doing so this time infuriated him. Only the sheerest luck had prevented it. Well, and perhaps some skill on Lilith's part, a thought whispered in the back of his mind. Even the best of luck wouldn't have slain an Oceanus single-handedly.
"Hey- were you even listening?"
Sephiroth hadn't been, too preoccupied in reviewing the details of their battle this afternoon, and didn't pretend to have heard anything of Genesis and Angeal's conversation.
"No, I wasn't." His friend sighed, irked at Sephiroth's lack of attention, and was about to repeat himself when the elevator reached their floor. "And to quote the lady, I'm eager to make the most of the next half hour. Junon won't wait on us for very long, gentlemen. So whatever it was can wait for tomorrow."
The elevator was gone, as were the trio of 1st Classes. For several seconds, Lilith continued to stare at the closed doors, and then she let out a reluctant sigh.
"Dammit."
Zack felt somewhat responsible for pushing the issue in front of everyone…and for getting Sephiroth involved. Who knew why he'd been so adamant that she come along. But what was done was done, so he offered as much of an apology as he could manage.
"Hey- so, yeah…that didn't quite play out as I meant it to."
"I know."
"So what're you going to do," Luxiere asked.
"Well I can't go out wearing this." Lilith gestured to the right leg of her pants, which were torn from the battle against the Oceanus. "And since I don't have anything else, I guess I've got a half hour to find something acceptable."
"Sooo…?"
"Clothes shopping," she clarified for him with a deadpan expression. "I'm going clothes shopping, Luxiere."
"Oh."
While he was finally catching up with the rest of them, Kunsel seemed unable to contain a question of his own.
"Like- for a dress?"
"No, for a lampshade." Lilith rolled her eyes at him. "Of course for a dress. Geez, I don't see why this concept is so difficult to grasp. Now I have to get going."
The three of them moved aside to let her pass. Kunsel hazarded a look Zack's way and lifted his shoulders in a brief shrug.
"I dunno about you both, but I'm more than a little curious to see this."
"You can't seriously want to go shopping."
"Hell no. But for once she's acting, you know…normal. Which is about as rare as a solar eclipse, so I'm not sure I want to miss it."
"Lilith isn't going to want us tagging along with her. I guarantee you that much."
"Yeah, I agree with Zack. And I need to get to my room to change out of these clothes."
"I guess you're right," their friend admitted with one final look at the door leading out to the street. "She's already gone, anyway."
The elevator returned to the lobby at that moment, beckoning them along the much wiser path of leaving Lilith to her own devices in completing her errand. Zack hesitated only in that if she went out alone and something happened to her, he'd hold himself responsible for it. So would Angeal. But he pushed that worry aside, hoping it wasn't a mistake.
That hope lingered in the back of his mind the whole time Zack traded his everyday gear for an ensemble that would fit in with the nightclub scene. A well-made shirt and tailored slacks. Didn't have much use for them most of the time, since he preferred the more down-to-earth pubs. But he knew the sort of places Genesis and Sephiroth would want to patronize, and came prepared.
Probably should have warned Lilith when I called her last night, seeing as though she's never been on a mission with either of them before like I have.
Would have spared them all the awkward discussion downstairs if he had. Now she was spending part of her pay received for the mission on buying a new dress when she could have brought one with her. Zack sighed, stepping out into the hall. He supposed out of every possible mishap that could have happened to Lilith today, buying clothes ranked at the bottom.
A near-death encounter occupied the top of that list. He'd been almost certain that the Oceanus had stuck a fatal blow when he'd seen Lilith lying so still on the pier today. In the minutes it had taken him to reach her, the litany of reasons why her death was his fault replayed in his head. Angeal hadn't picked Lilith for the mission to Junon; Zack had. Just as he'd been the one to insist she stay when his mentor was on the verge of sending her back to Midgar. He couldn't help thinking that he should have listened.
But she'd been all right- minus the gashed leg, of course. He was angry about even that minor injury. As much with Sephiroth as anything else, since he's the one who had posted her alone on the pier. Had the commander just assumed she would be so far out of the way that Lilith didn't need anyone to watch her back, or had he known about the threat of an Oceanus and set her up expecting her to fail? Or to be killed.
Zack didn't like having those kinds of thoughts about the man who was supposed to be their leader. Leaders protected their team- the whole team. But if Sephiroth hadn't intended for Lilith to fight the Oceanus alone, he would have to have been unaware of it. Not exactly the most comforting thought, either. Sephiroth always knew everything about the enemy before going into a battle.
If this time proved to be different, then maybe Lilith wasn't so crazy for the questions she was asking before the battle started. Maybe they should have been more interested in who created the Leviathan. Zack bet that whoever did was also responsible for the Oceanus. He'd have to bring it up to Angeal tomorrow; tonight was not the right atmosphere to talk about work when everyone would be focused on having a good time.
And speaking of…I ought to get to the lobby. It's nearing seven-thirty already.
A short ride in the elevator later and he soon found himself standing with Kunsel and Luxiere again. They'd both changed clothes, and were casting curious looks around the downstairs lounge. He did likewise, scouting for Lilith. But she didn't appear to be among any of the hotel patrons milling around. His gaze lingered for an extra second on a lovely auburn-haired woman standing next to the bar in a charcoal grey dress. She'd just shaken her head at a man who looked to be offering to buy her a drink. Zack left the pair to their conversation and kept on his search.
"We appear to be missing someone," Sephiroth's voice noted from behind him. Zack turned around in time to see all three 1st Classes approaching their group from the direction of the elevators. With a slight frown, their leader continued, "I do hope the lady understood that attendance was not optional."
"She'll be here," Zack promised. "Lilith went out to buy something suitable, but she said she'd be back in time."
Now Angeal threw him a disapproving look; Zack knew what he was going to say even before the words left his mouth.
"Said? You let her go out alone?"
"She didn't need a babysitter to go dress shopping," he argued futilely. "And it's not like she hasn't been to Junon before."
"That's not the point, Zack."
"Lilith can take care of herself."
"Do you have her cell number?"
"Well, yeah. But I'm sure she's just still upstairs getting ready. If we give her a minute or two, she'll…"
"Call her."
Zack swore inwardly, pulled his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through his contacts to find Lilith's number. She better damn well answer, he grumbled as he brought it up to his ear. The phone rang once, then twice. On the third ring, he didn't know whether to be annoyed or to panic. What if she didn't answer?
His call went straight to voicemail. Zack didn't bother to leave a message, hitting the button to end the call with mild irritation. Everyone else was looking at him expectantly, but Angeal was the first to say anything.
"Well?"
"She, uh, didn't pick up."
"Great," Kunsel muttered. "So now what do we do. Lilith could be anywhere."
His friend wanted to give him a big 'I told you so'. If they'd just gone along with his idea earlier, they wouldn't be in this predicament, and Angeal wouldn't be staring daggers at them for having lost Lilith. Like she wasn't an adult who was responsible for her own actions. The three of them were about to catch hell all the same, when Lilith appeared from out of nowhere.
"So sorry- I got bored waiting down here by myself and lost track of time over at the bar. I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long on my account."
That apology came from the woman he'd seen only a few minutes ago- the one in the grey dress. Zack had to check twice to be sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. That was her, right? He had to admit that wearing that dress with her hair let down she looked very different from the Lilith who fought with them on the battlefield today. Or even the one who spent her days training at Shinra.
He wasn't the only person to notice, as Luxiere's eyes practically fell out of their sockets. Thankfully, Kunsel nudged him in the ribs to get him to stop staring. What really worried Zack, though, was how Genesis and Sephiroth might react to such a dramatic change in her appearance. Neither of them looked overly impressed at the moment, but that didn't mean a damn thing.
There are plenty of women in Junon for you to score with tonight, Genesis, he warned silently. So you best stick with them and just leave our friend alone.
To his dismay, Genesis chose to answer Lilith's question with a disarming smile, "No trouble at all. And since it looks like we're all ready- what's say we show ourselves a good time?"
"By all means, my friend," Sephiroth agreed in a smooth chuckle. He didn't look away from Lilith as he added, "I daresay we shan't be disappointed."
3
