I do not own Final Fantasy VII. Wow...it's been a while since I last updated, but I suddenly had some more in me for this one.
Too Much To Ask
Chapter XI: The Suggestion
"There's still nothing there." Sephiroth hissed as he read over the individual reports from Zack and Cissnei's latest "mission".
"Let's dig deeper, I'm sure there's still something we're missing." Lazard urged, scanning over the files as if something would magically appear to sate his inquiries.
"If I were you, Lazard, I'd give it a rest and just accept the fact that Zack and Cissnei are just friends!" Sephiroth growled harshly and tossed his stack of reports in the trash.
"What the hell are you doing?" Lazard dove for the rejected files and seized them to his desk.
The silver general just turned away from him and ignored the rhetorical question.
"You've been acting strange Sephiroth, what's the matter this time?"
Sephiroth considered ignoring that one too, but in the end he just sighed and looked over his shoulder. "Scarlet left me."
"Oh, great news!" Lazard clapped his gloved hands together jovially, "We'll get drinks after work to celebrate!"
"It's not great news!" Sephiroth shot up out of his chair. His back was still to the director, his hands planted flat on his desk and his head lowered. Hot puffs of breath escaped his lips, blowing his hair back and forth from his face. "I…I'm so lonely…"
"What? You didn't love her did you?"
"No, of course not! But I…" He clenched his teeth together and finally stood up straight, "…I just don't want to be alone for the rest of my life."
"There are plenty of women out there, Sephiroth, and men too…if you're interested…So don't get bent out of shape over one dumb bitch." Lazard spoke so nonchalantly, as if the conversation held no meaning or consequence.
"You really are an asshole, aren't you?"
"It's my middle name." Lazard's glasses seemed to shine he said that, sending a shudder up Sephiroth's spine. "But anyway…I want more surveillance on these two."
"You're wasting more company funds?" Sephiroth whipped around to face him completely, the shock and contempt evident on his face. "Zack's a dumbass, but he's probably the most dedicated Soldier I've got! I need him for real missions! And I'm sure Cissnei is needed as well. What do you have against those kids?"
Leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms, Lazard sighed with frustration. "I just have a feeling that they're up to something."
"We've been observing them for months, Lazard, when are you going to accept that they are following company rules?"
"Sephiroth, I'd advise you to desist and remember your place." He spat furiously. "I have permission from Shinra himself to carry on with this."
Grinding his teeth together and his lip curling, Sephiroth glanced at the clock. The time was 7:30 pm. "I'm going now." He did not wait for a reply before storming out the door.
Cissnei lie on her couch watching television. There wasn't much on, but she continued to flip through the channels. She was uncomfortable, not because the couch was undesirable, but because she craved Zack. She still had that burning need down there…between her legs. Clenching her thighs together, she tried to ignore the pain, but it persisted in throbbing. Finally she turned off the TV and hopped up from her spot.
Pacing back and forth, she hoped that walking around in foolish circles would flush it out. But the movement only served to cause deeper friction. She moaned in dismay. Her boredom as well, only made it worse.
"Oh, Zack." She whimpered, grabbing handfuls of her hair.
They'd made a pact to forget about that time she kissed him and that their friendship would be nothing more than what it already was, but a shallow promise would do nothing to make her forget how much she wanted him.
So running a brush through her hair and grabbing her coat, she headed out the door, hoping that perhaps grabbing some dinner would make her forget…at least temporarily.
Sephiroth picked at his food with his fork, having had no appetite. He'd not seen or heard from Scarlet for a few days, feeling the weight of her abandonment resting heavily on his shoulders. His heart had long since plummeted to his stomach and pulsed there, barely beating. He paid scarce attention to his surroundings, barely noticing the shadow that passed over the table.
"Is this seat taken?" The youthful voice of a woman asked.
Glancing upward, Sephiroth met the smiling face of Cissnei. She seemed chipper this evening, though it seemed to him that her gleeful attitude was nothing more than a mask to cover up her own acute misery.
"No, Cissnei, please have a seat." Sephiroth straightened up and offered a smile. "How are you today?"
"I'm alright." She was lying and he could feel it. "And you?"
"I'm well."
"Are you sure? You looked like you were about to cry when I walked up." Cissnei didn't beat around the bush.
"Well, I've been dealing with a few issues." Sephiroth said with a slight nod, trying to play it off like nothing.
"Like what?" Cissnei asked automatically as she salted her food.
"Just work problems, you'd find it boring."
"No I wouldn't. We're friends, aren't we?" This time she sounded sincere and looked him in the eyes.
Sephiroth gulped and leaned back, relaxing and surrendering to her. "Scarlet left me."
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Cissnei felt her heart swell up in her chest.
"Thank you, but I'm not fretting about it." They were a pair of liars this evening. "I'm happy she's gone; I can focus on my work…I have a number of missions backed up, and you are assigned to a few of them, and so is Zack. By the way, how is he?"
Cissnei's heart stopped. "Well, he's been great; spending a lot of time with his girlfriend."
"That bothers you?" Sephiroth finally was able to stomach the first bite of his food.
"Well, it's not that." She got defensive, though tried to shake it away.
"It's alright, Cissnei. You can tell me the truth, Zack did."
"I don't know what you mean?"
"Cissnei," Sephiroth looked over his shoulder and around the cafeteria to make sure no one could be eavesdropping. After deciding the coast was clear, he whispered, "You know Lazard has been having you and Zack watched, right?"
"Zack said something like that." She leaned in closer.
"He thinks you two are lovers, and I feel that he's wasting my time and company money on this little game of his. So please tell me now, are the two of you involved?"
Cissnei gulped heavily, her shoulders tensed up, and she averted her gaze. She was wondering now if it had been a good idea to join him for dinner. Perhaps this was his way of punishing her for invading his territory. Considering leaving, but deciding to stand her ground, Cissnei looked him in the eye.
"No, there is nothing at all between us."
"He said you kissed."
Sucking in another ragged breath she said, "It was a moment of impulse."
"So nothing else has happened?"
"Nothing, I swear."
"Good." Sephiroth starting to eat as if he was enjoying his cold dinner.
"But I would be lying if I said I didn't wish that we could be together." She confessed softly.
"I know." Sephiroth was not at all surprised by this; in fact he'd known for a while now that the girl fancied Zack. "It's against company rules…but not a sin. We can't help who we love."
Cissnei just looked down at her food. "There's no way we could ever be together, is there? Neither one of us could leave ShinRa alive; we'd be security risks." She picked at what was left on her plate.
"No one has to know if you keep it a secret." Sephiroth whispered, his deep voice resonated through the air and caressed her ears. She raised her head, her golden eyes were wide.
"What? You mean…" Her breath caught in her throat, shock taking her voice at what he was implying.
"Zack has a tendency to break the rules anyway."
"Yes, but he also has a girlfriend."
"Well, that's something you'll have to deal with on your own." He took his plate and left her to her thoughts. "Anyway, it's better not to tell me what you decide to do; I only made a comment, it's up to you to choose how to handle it."
