"Seph, that's just not fair!"

"Perhaps, but a Fair will do it."

"Even if it's actually funny it won't make me happy."

Sephiroth didn't bother to answer and continued with his work.

"Ya know it's Christmas Eve today?" Zack asked then and Sephiroth blinked. It was? Well, it didn't change a thing for him. He had never celebrated Christmas and he wasn't about to start. He never detected the great atmosphere of it. Christmas was something foreign to him, something he would maybe want to try, but when he'd been younger. Now he felt too old to care.

"Was clubbing yesterday and had a feeling this would happen..."

Sephiroth turned at him with a question in his eyes. Zack was grinning, which usually wasn't a good sign.

"Yes?"

"I have a great plan, Seph! Made it up yesterday, it's brilliant!"

Zack leaned forward.

"We'll flee!"

Sephiroth looked at him with scepticism.

"Somehow I don't see the brilliant part of the plan..."

"No, no, no... Look, I took care of everything. We'll leave this note for Heidegger, it's bulletproof! I wrote it yesterday in the club, the best alibi. I have it somewhere... wait... here!"

Zack gave him a piece of paper and Sephiroth read it through aloud.

"Hello Heedeagaer. We not working today. We going home... Today Christmas you brainless pig bastard...Hey, Stevie, that's my glass you idiot..."

Sephiroth looked up at him.

"It must have taken you ages to write this."

"Shit, I thought it was better..." Zack muttered. He waved his hand then.

"Doesn't matter, we're going anyway. Just leave it be, we can finish it tomorrow. Unless you're afraid of what Heidegger would do."

Sephiroth opened his mouth to calm down Zack's eagerness and assure him he didn't care about Heidegger at all but eventually changed his mind.

"Right," he said then. "You can go."

"And what about you?"

"I'll be going home soon too."

Sephiroth could see him thinking about something, hoping he wouldn't realize it.

"Don't you wanna go with me? Being alone on Christmas sucks."

Sephiroth had been alone on every Christmas in his life. He didn't know any other way.

"Why?" he said without thinking, the word just slipping his lips. Zack seemed caught off guard with this question.

"Because you're supposed to spend the time with someone. Your family or friends. It's actually quite nice, you know."

Sephiroth shook his head.

"Go and find yourself some company then."

Zack kept starring at him for a few more seconds before saying goodbye and leaving. Sephiroth returned to filling the reports. How was he supposed to remember this? It happened a month ago... Stupid Heidegger... Brainless pig...

Sephiroth stopped. He didn't know why he heard the quietness of the office so clearly all of the sudden. Did he get used to Zack's ramble so much? He rested his head against his palm, breathing in deeply. He would go home, if only he believed it would make him feel better. Suddenly the phone on his desk rang and he picked it up.

"Yes?"

"Sephiroth? It's Heidegger. I need to speak to you immediately. I must make a speech at the charity reception in the Golden hall. You must be there too, you're expected. Meet me outside on the parking lot. And hurry up."

"With all respect, Heidegger, I don't think - "

"I said hurry up, it's important!"

Heidegger hanged the phone and left Sephiroth standing there. He found himself being irritated to such a degree he unknowingly torn the report apart. Golden hall? It was the most luxurious part of Midgar and Shinra was holding a charity reception there? Such hypocrisy! Suck falsity! Not even the tiniest amount of money would ever get to some "people in need," he knew that already. There was no way he was going to take a part in this.

Sephiroth was already on the parking lot, looking around to see the fat silhouette. That Heideggerd was an excuse for a human being.

"Hello..." someone said into Sephiroth's ear. Sephiroth turned after it, meeting Zack's eyes.

"Zack?" he asked with amazement.

"Sorry, Seph. I know that was mean. But it was for greater good, ya know."

"Wait... It was you on the phone?"

"Yep... Doing my Heidegger impression. I wasn't bad, was I?"

Sephiroth didn't know if he were angry, confused or amused. Zack came out of the shadows, standing beside Sephiroth's car, hands in pockets.

"This is plan B."

"Plan B?"

"Yeah..." Zack sighed. "I think you're overworked... Well, get in."

Sephiroth just stood there, bewildered a little. He quickly regained his serenity and gave Zack a look that made the other man's smile disappear.

"Before you start," Zack said, "trust me I didn't wanna play a prank on you. I just wanted to lure you out of the office, that's all."

"What for?"

"That's a surprise. C'mon, Seph, you'll like it, trust me."

Sephiroth was about to refuse it instantly. But it was like something stopped him so he stayed silent. Zack was waiting, his look pleading.

"All right," he said then, being too tired, too confused to care any more. Zack beamed at him, opening the car's door on the driver's side.

"Do you really think I'll let you drive?"

"Please, Seph! I'm a responsible driver, really! And it's part of the plan anyway."

Zack put on his beggar expression and Sephiroth rolled his eyes.

"You say people give gifts to each other on Christmas? This is mine," he said then and Zack gave him a broad smile.

"Yay!" he exclaimed. "Let's go, let's go!"

Sephiroth didn't know if Zack weren't doing it because of him but he truly was driving carefully. They were going through the long streets glimmering with Christmas lights everywhere, snowflakes falling in the rays of their headlights. There were groups of people walking slowly along the road, little children holding their parents' hands. They passed by the main square that was huge, with a colossal Christmas tree in the middle and crowds of people gathering around it. Fortunately Zack let it behind, moving away from the rush. Sephiroth felt himself relax a little bit, his headache diminishing.

"I hope you'll like this place..." Zack muttered. "One of my dates took me there."

Zack parked the car and led him through an empty street, snow cracking under their feet.

"Here we are," Zack said. They were somewhere above the city because there was a view that contained almost the whole Midgar with the shining main square.

"Midgar can be pretty when it's dark, don't you think?" Zack asked and Sephiroth nodded. He was saying something about his village and Sephiroth semi-listened, giving him a thoughtful look. It wasn't long ago since he scolded him for something at work. He was harsher than necessary and he knew that. Zack looked quite shaken afterwards and Sephiroth felt guilty for that. And now Zack was standing there and just casual talking like he forgot about it completely.

Sephiroth knew people were afraid of him and he didn't object. He was good in controlling his emotions and feelings but there were times when he just couldn't do it any more. And there was no way to control it when it happened. Zack seemed either forgiving or not caring about it. Although Sephiroth doubted both those options, he liked having Zack by his side and he never regretted his decision to name him his second-in-command. Even if he weren't able to tell him.

"Seph? Are you OK?"

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow over this genuine question.

"What? Yes, yes I am..."

For the first time he could say he didn't lie in this cliché phrase. The look at the city in dark, with all those yellow and red lights, with the great Christmas tree glowing and snowflakes slowly falling around in silence had a soothing effect on him. And Zack's presence also played some role in it.

"I wonder what Heidegger will do..." Zack said. "I know he's a stupid gorilla but still..."

"I wouldn't worry about that," Sephiroth said. "I believe I accidentally left your note on your desk."


Chap four done.

Next: Zack dares to pay a visit.