Chapter Seven: The Citadel
(Serah's POV)

It was kinda strange for Arcen, wanting to meet me in person. Usually when we had to do an assignment, he would just call. So this had me a little worried about him. This was so not him. I was walking over to the 800 blocks where he had his appartment. Or well, Cerberus is paying for it. Last time I was there, it was a bit.. of a mess. Hopefully that changed in the past few months.

When I reached Arcen appartment, a young Asari just exited his place. "Oh!", she eyed me from head to toe. My guess was that this was his friend he mentioned. "You must be Serah!", she said and held out her hand, "Reena".

I gave a nod of my head as I shook her head. "Nice to meet you", I said, Reena smiled at me and left. I frowned at the bit of an awkward meeting, but I was here for Arcen and the thing he wanted to tell me. I knocked on the door and as soon as my knuckles hit the metal of the door, it opened, revealing Arcen. I couldn't help myself, I was so happy to see him again, that I hugged him. Arcen was taken back by it, but he did return the hug, causing my cheeks to heat up.

Okay, since when did that happen..

Arcen led me inside and closed the door behind me. I looked over the apartment. Still as I remembered. Maybe that was why Arcen hadn't changed the interior for like.. 5 years. I took a seat on the couch and Arcen took place on the chair that stood next to the couch. His whole demeanor said something wasn't right. He wasn't so... quiet. Arcen always had this certain 'air' about him. One that made you wouldn't want to mess with him.

But this guy that sat before me had seen or heard some shit.

"Okay", Arcen breathed. I reached out to him and grabbed his hand. "I won't be mad, I just want to know the truth", I said. This was true, I just wanted the truth from him, just like he promised. Arcen stared at my hand on his. Okay, I know back in the day I didn't do this, but dude, must you look like that? I was just trying to make him talk.

"The Illusive man told me something about you. The real reason you were created", My eyebrows raised. The real reason for my creation? "So, what's that reason?" I pressed on. Arcen sighed and squeezed my hand a bit. Now it was my turn to look at my hand. Arcen managed to grab my hand and was holding on to it. "Promise me something first", Arcen said. He sounded just like when I met him. I gave a short nod and awaited his request. "I had no idea about this any sooner than you, so don't get mad at me, okay?",

That was kinda weird. Why would I get mad at Arcen for telling me something everyone else hides from me?

"Okay", I said and awaited the secret Arcen was going to tell me. Arcen took another deep breath. "You know you were created as a superhuman with extrodinary biotic powers. But what we both didn't know was... That the Illusive man injected you with a special serum that made you Harbingers eyes",

Wow, hold on. WHAT?!

I stared at Arcen, back at my hands, then back at Arcen. This news kinda made me want to rip my own eyeballs out. Of course I wouldn't survive that due to alot of bloodloss, but my god..

"I-I... Can't believe it", I said. My eyes flooded with tears. I have never in my life cried. So this was a new one for me. I rubbed my eyes, wiping the tears away, but they still came. Arcen moved from the chair to the couch to sit next to me. He wrapped his arms around me and held me to him. Meanwhile I cried into his shoulder, sobbing away.

I think it took me about 10 minutes to calm down and Arcen simply just held me all that time. Then I realised something. Arcen was to me what Garrus was to Shepard. Someone we trusted with our lives. Just like that I remembered something. I backed away from Arcen so I could look him in the face.

"Who was the girl Reena mentioned?", I could see Arcen's brow plates raise and he wasn't looking at me anymore. I frowned at him myself. Why was he acting so strange all of the sudden. Was it because he lied back then after promising me not to? Nah, Arcen wasn't the type of person to feel bad about something like that. "Wait, is that girl someone I know?",

Arcen still didn't look at me, but he seemed even more nervous than before. I placed my hand on his mandible, making him look at me. "Arcen, you can tell me", I said and showed a small smile. Arcen grabbed my hand and took it away. "I must stay completely faithfull to the mission", he said and got up from the couch. I tilted my head with a frown on my face. Why did he act so dramatic?

Oh.. my... god.

The girl Reena mentioned Arcen had on his mind, wasn't someone we both knew..

It was me!

I got up from the couch as well. "You have a crush on me?!", I nearly yelled the last part. Arcen turned around rarely quickly to face me. His whole behaviour kinda hurt me and offended me. "Like I said, the mission is way to important", he said coldly. I narrowed my eyes. "Now all of the sudden I'm nothing more than a product again to you?", I asked. Arcen looked me in the eyes and I noticed he didn't want to do this. "Listen", I said and grabbed his hands. "I don't want to be a product and you are not just my caretaker, you're my friend. Maybe even more than that", I blushed.

Arcen blinked at me. "Wait, you.. ", he couldn't process it. I got on my toes and pressed my lips against his... mouth? Not sure but hey it felt good. Arcen returned the kiss and man. Should've done this alot earlier!

We both backed away. "Serah.. I", I kinda hoped for him to say 'I love you' or something. But the thing he said, broke my heart. "I can't do this", he said. I blinked a few times. He can't do this because he is my sort of bodyguard, my caretaker?

"What if I get myself another caretaker?", I wondered. Arcen shook his head. He grabbed my hands this time and gave a gently squeeze. "No, it's far to dangerous for us to start a relationship", he said. Fair and square. Guy I'm into dumps me, great. I got another set of tears in my eyes and walked out of Arcen's appartment, maybe for good.