Chapter 12
"Yeah, it's all great fun, dad. No not right now, I'm working, but as soon as I can okay? Thanks a lot, you're the best." I closed my phone and grabbed my notes.
"Here you go, Sir, one list of names. I guarantee you, his name is on this very list."
Genesis took the list and looked it over. "These are all employees in Junon?"
"Yes. I know there's many, but my father said he couldn't find out anything else for us, since it's not his job and he didn't want to contaminate any evidence unwanted."
"We'll inform Lazard, and set the Turks on it." Sephiroth said. "Spying is their division. Eden?"
"Yes?"
"Please take your leave."
I didn't understand, it sounded as if I had done something wrong.
Apparently he saw the puzzled look on my face, so he elaborated. "You have done very well indeed, I want you to take the rest of the day and visit your father here in Junon."
I cracked a huge smile and I just felt like hugging him. I decided against it though…
"But, the report, Sir…?"
"Don't worry about that, Eden, we'll take care of that. Trust me, there's many more opportunity to write reports." Genesis smiled.
"We'll leave at O-ninehundred, with or without you." Sephiroth spoke to me while I nodded happily. "Once we get back, we will report to Lazard on your exellent work today, but I'm still thinking it was a lucky shot. You're not there yet."
I laughed. "I agree, Sir. And thank you."
"Go on, girl." Genesis said, pushing me away. "Just don't expect us to go easy on you after this." he called after me as I ran off towards my father as fast as I could.
It had been months since I had last seen him, and I was overly thrilled to see him again.
I had busted in at his work and he had been so surprised he had started crying. We both cried actually. He had taken the rest of the day off, since he could and we had spent the day walking the city and eating out. It had been just like the old days. He was the reason I was so boyish, and girltalk was not his thing. So, instead, he had wanted to know about all the violence. I loved these talks with my dad. I told him about Angeal, and Genesis and the General, and about Zack. Soon, when the subject became friendship though, he had steered it away, afraid I was going to talk to him about 'men'.
The day was over all too soon, and with the promise I would call him, I left his house and made my way to the helicopter. Genesis sat reading 'Loveless', one leg swinging out of the chopper, with his book propped up against the other. Sephiroth was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey" I greeted while I came walking up. "Where's Sephiroth?"
"Hunting" he replied, not taking his eyes off the book.
"…..?"
Silence
"Care to elaborate?"
He looked up at me as if only just realising I was standing there and snapped his book shut. He placed it aside and jumped out of the chopper. "He likes to do that, while he waits. He doesn't like waiting, you see. So, he goes out into the outskirts of the city to hunt monsters. He wants to stay sharp."
"And you want to memorize that book in reverse-writing, so it seems." I stated with a laugh.
He went hunting, huh? Not a bad idea. Probably beats the simulator.
"I already do, yet, it never fails to amaze me. I enjoy it so very much."
I sat myself down in the chopper and swung my legs over the edge.
"I enjoy other things too, though." he added as he came to stand by my side.
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Like, friends. And good company." he looked at me. "I'm blessed with both at the moment."
"I thought Sephiroth wasn't here."
Genesis sniggered. "He's not very good company. He is a friend though. But you, you're both. You did good today, Eden, if you keep it up, it won't be long before you make it Second."
"Yes it will…" I said. "You heard what Sephiroth said, I have a long way to go."
"Why do we have to speak of Sephiroth?"
He seemed annoyed, if only beneath the surface, and I couldn't understand why.
"You feel like you're in his shadow?" I blurted out without thinking.
Genesis' eyes met mine, and there was slight anger in them.
"For always, he has been better than I, it is always the great Sephiroth, the hero, never Genesis. It's so frustrating sometimes." he faced away and stared into the city. Now that is was dark, all the lights were on and it was a beautiful sight.
"Genesis" I started. "You are not less than him. You are not his shadow, you are his friend, his right hand. You have done many great things, like he has, it doesn't matter what name you are given, as long as your heart is true. You're not unnoticed."
He turned back towards me and took my hands in his. "Who notices me, then?"
"I do." I said. "I think you're good person, and well on your way to be a great friend."
He moved again. "I can never have what I want." he was frustrated, staring at the ground.
"Then what do you want?" I asked him.
He stared into my eyes absently and brushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. "The gift of the Goddess."
I felt intimidated and I didn't really know why, but my thoughts were cut off by the arrival of Sephiroth. "Loveless, again?"
"Always" Genesis replied. "Caught anything?"
"I am satisfied."
"And I am cold." I chimed in. "Can we go?"
The way back was silent. Genesis sat staring out the window, deep in thoughts, while Sephiroth sat tending to his Masamune. He had just cleaned off all the blood.
Meant I had time for my own thoughts, something I hadn't had whole day. I really did do good, but Sephiroth had been right, of course, it was only the beginning. Maybe Genesis was right too, maybe he was in Sephiroth's shadow, but it didn't make him any less, simply because he wasn't as skilled.
Sephiroth was a hero, all those stories I had heard about him while I was a Cadet struck me with awe. People said he was perfect, and he came close, that much was true, but he had a cold demeanor. Still, it suited him and his calmness and seemingly cold edge only made him more appealing. I felt he had started to like me greatly over the passed few days, since I had noticed a change in his behaviour towards me. He now treated me more like a friend, even though I would still think twice about insulting him ever again. But Genesis shouldn't feel less than him, I didn't even feel less than him, and damn right I was, and always would be. It pained him greatly, I could see that, but still, I also felt as if there was something else disturbing him as well. Was it me? But why though? Did he feel the need to rival with Sephiroth over me? I recalled what he had said while he had held my hands, and the look on his face when he had touched my hair. It had seemed as if had been about to make a move on me and had been interrupted by Sephiroth. What had he meant by the Gift of the Goddess? I felt sad for him, for if it were true, I knew I couldn't answer his feelings, for I had no such feelings for him. Maybe it would make him even more bitter about Sephiroth. But Sephiroth had nothing to do with that, had he? He hadn't made anything more but professional contact and he had given no indication what so ever that he had even the slightest of feelings for me. If he even could at all. Or did Genesis know something I didn't? They were best friends after all.
All these thoughts pained my head, and I decided to stop lingering on them before I became entangled like I had done in those wires. The memory made me chuckle to myself, earning a curious look from Sephiroth.
He really was a nice guy once you got to know him and learned to see past that exterior.
