Zack stopped short when he encountered a frowning Sephiroth at his desk. Whatever message was on the phone in his hand was the reason for the fearsome expression on his face. Sephiroth sent a response and put the phone on the desk, screen down. The frown was transferred to the material in a folder that sat on his desk. It was the same material he had been frowning at for two days, though his good mood despite it's contents had surprised nearly everyone.
"Still no good news, eh?"
"No, Zack, no good news. I put a halt to the entire thing until a better solution can be found." Sephiroth glanced at his phone when it buzzed and lit up. "I'm loath to bring either of my parents into this, but it appears there is little choice."
"Is that why you're giving that face to your phone?" Zack was curious as to who Sephiroth was texting. He had always been one to call a person instead of sending a text message. The only person he would text to was Vincent.
"Don't you have something better to do than attempt to pry into my person affairs?"
"No, not today." Zack sat down without invitation, smirking. "So what's the deal, anyway?" He nodded at the folder, not the phone.
"It's too risky to continue infiltration. Enough people have died because of Hojo, I won't add more to that tally if possible."
"Agreed. But what's the next step if we can't get in? Blow it up?"
"No," Sephiroth leaned back in his chair, ignoring the buzz of his phone. "An intact laboratory of Hojo's that no one knew existed is too valuable and too dangerous to destroy without investigating." The phone buzzed again, and he sighed as he picked it up. "I thought of a solution, but it's slightly questionable." He paused to respond and put the phone down again. "I'll find out tonight if it even has a chance to work."
"You want to clue me in to your secret plan?"
"Not really."
"Will you clue me in anyway?"
"Maybe." The phone buzzed again, and this time when he looked at it, Sephiroth grinned ever so slightly. "How do you feel about working late tonight?"
"I'm flattered you think of me that way, but I'm not into that sort of thing."
"It involves the diner on Eighth Street."
"Totally in. What time?"
"Seven."
"I'll be there early, then. Secure a booth for us in the back."
"Good."
The rest of the day seemed to go by in slow motion for Sephiroth. There were hiccups in everyday things that sought to frustrate him, like all the printers on the floor his office was on stopped working, or the fact that the coffee maker in his office broke. Once the clock hit six-thirty, he left the building, his coat-tail nearly getting caught in the door on the way out. The diner was busy when he arrived, but he spied Zack lounging in the back booth, fiddling with his phone. There was a tall cup filled with soda that was dripping condensation on the table before him, as well as an empty coffee mug turned upside-down on a napkin opposite him.
"This one good?" Zack asked when Sephiroth sat down. When he nodded, Zack waived at a waitress. "We'll take that coffee now, thanks."
"You ready to order, hon?" She asked in the bored way most waitresses did.
"There's one more coming." Sephiroth said, watching as she poured his coffee, leaving just enough room for cream and sugar. He did not even glance at the menu, already knowing it by heart. "Not for long, hopefully."
"Getting a little hangry there?"
"What?" He paused with his cup halfway to his mouth.
"Angry and hungry at the same time. Hangry."
"Where do you come up with these things?"
"It's how all the cool kids talk." Sephiroth chuckled quietly. "What's so funny?"
"You're far from a cool kid."
"Hey!"
"Geeze, General." A female voice interrupted. "You sure get places early." Both men looked up to find the woman they had rescued from the Lifestream in Gongaga standing before them. She wore jeans and tall, brown boots with a short wool jacket and light scarf. Her hair was was held back by the slouching knitted hat on her head. Zack was slack-jawed, and Sephiroth gestured for her to sit down. She removed jacket and hat, hanging both on the rack conveniently connected to the booth before sitting.
"Zack, this is Yuffie." Zack shit his mouth finally and waved at her from his side of the booth. "I hope you came hungry, Yuffie."
"I plan on making a complete pig of myself." They did not talk much until after ordering their food. The waitress took their order, smiling at Yuffie when she asked for the best slice of pie in the diner for dessert. "So, what's up that you decided to have a play-date with me and Zack?" Her head was resting on her palm, but Sephiroth could see that her eyes were alert and curious.
"In short, there's a very dangerous place that needs to be investigated. I thought you'd like something a little more challenging than my office."
"Oh, now that sounds like fun. What's he got to do with it if you just needed me?" She nodded at Zack at the word 'he'.
"Nothing. He would find out about you sometime, and he's a man I trust implicitly."
"Aww, you're going to make me blush, Sephiroth."
"Blush and I'll have you cited for behavior unbecoming of a soldier and a gentleman." Zack snickered behind his soda. Sephiroth returned his attention to Yuffie. "If you're interested, we can go over details later. You'll get paid, of course."
"Sure. But after dinner. I want that pie." The rest of the meal was enjoyable for all three of them. Zack was astounded at the amount of food Yuffie was putting away before she even got started on her chocolate pecan pie slice. Yuffie even ordered a chocolate shake and pie slice to go. All three of them walked back to where they had parked, Yuffie sliding into Sephiroth's car without even asking. The ride back to Shinra Headquarters was quick, not giving much time for conversation, but Yuffie seemed content to sip her milk shake in silence. Not one drop was spilled in his car, nor did she open the small container the pie was in.
They went up in the elevator from the parking deck, getting off on the floor Lucrecia's laboratory was on. She looked around nonchalantly, as though she had never caused any sort of uproar or damage to the hallway. Zack was keeping his curiosity on a short leash, but the minute there was time away from their current objective he would be asking question after question to Yuffie. Sephiroth opened the door and lead the way inside, finding Lucrecia seated at her desk, looking over a file that was an exact replica of the one he had been looking over for two days.
"Mother."
"Oh, there you are, Sephiroth. I was beginning to think you weren't coming this-" She stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening at the sight of Yuffie walking in behind her son and next to Zack. Yuffie simply sipped at her shake and waited for Lucrecia to move or say something. The older woman got up and went up to Yuffie, tilting her head so that Lucrecia could see her eyes in the light and checking pulse rate and breathing. Yuffie allowed her to do all of this, calmly watching Lucrecia fuss over her. "Come on, and grab that folder." She took Yuffie's arm, and went into her lab. Sephiroth grabbed the report and followed them inside, waiting for Zack to enter before closing and locking the door.
"You locking me in, General?" Yuffie was sitting on a chair, casting an amused glance at him as Lucrecia continued to examine her. "That's not polite."
"It's a classified issue we're discussing."
"I see." She watched him as he accessed the computer terminal, pulling up the information he needed that was not in the paper file. Despite her calm demeanor he knew she was watching every move all three people in the room made. The schematics for the building to be investigated came up. "So, that's the place, huh?"
"Yes. The building is located in the Neiblheim Forest outskirts. No power lines or visible generators. Scans show a three room building, with areas underground."
"So, you want to have me break into a shack?"
"It's a secret lab of Hojo's." Yuffie's eyes got sharp as she looked from him to Lucrecia. "You know about Hojo?"
"You could say that. He fucked with the lives of my friends."
"You're about as fond of him as we are, then. Two teams attempted to go in, but only three men survived. I called a halt since the second team's attempt went sour. They've deactivated all the security outside, and even attempted to send in a remote controlled drone, but even that was taken out by internal security we can't figure out a way around."
Yuffie held out her hand for the file, which she flipped through quickly and handed back. Her straw made a 'slurp' as she went for another sip of milkshake. She scrunched her nose at it. Lucrecia took it from her, patting her shoulder as she went to the trash receptacle with the empty styrofoam cup.
"And who gets to negotiate with me about cost?"
"Don't you want to study it a bit more before deciding?" Zack asked.
"Don't need to." Yuffie tapped at her temple. "Photographic memory."
"Niiiiiiiiiice."
"I know, right?"
"Oh now dear," Lucrecia said as she came to stand next to Yuffie. "This isn't something to decide on lightly. I know more than anyone just how dangerous and demented Hojo was, I'd hate to see you get hurt or even killed because of this."
"Hojo's a bastard, right enough. But there's nothing he could come up with that I haven't seen before or can't get around." Yuffie laughed, but it was without humor. "He'd be quivering in his loafers if he was alive and knew I was coming after him."
"How do you know he'd do that?" Lucrecia had crossed her arms. She disliked anything to do with Hojo, but was not about to let her son or anyone else walk into things blind. "I found no record of you in his files."
"Let's just say that Deepground pissed me off royally." For the first time since she had woken, Sephiroth could see her eyes grow cold. When she had attacked him, it had been a burning anger in her eyes, not the eyes of someone ready and able to kill. Sephiroth repressed a shudder, not wanting to think of her as an assassin. "Anyway, is Rufus going to sign my check, or does my tall, silver-haired friend get to negotiate my fees?"
"As much fun as negotiating with you might be, President Shinra is in charge of that."
"Lame!"
"Indeed."
"Oh well, it'll be fun wringing the money from Rufus' pockets."
"There's a meeting in the morning on how we're going to proceed. If you want to take a crack at it, be there at eight."
"You have no idea what you're getting into with me on board, General."
"Nothing I can't handle." Yuffie threw her head back with a laugh. Sephiroth considered retorting with words, but instead walked up and took the container her pie slice was in and began walking to the door.
"Hey!"
"Something you need, Yuffie?"
"Gimme my pie!"
"I believe it's my pie, since I paid for it." Yuffie made a swipe at it, but Sephiroth held it over her head and out of her reach. She made a half-hearted jump for the container. He knew that she could easily reach the container.
"No fair! I'd never hold food hostage to get my way!" She swiped at it again when he lowered the container, but he held it out of reach again. "Oh, you great big bully! Gimme!"
"Say please."
"Oh, you great big bully! Gimme my pie, please!" He handed the pie to Yuffie at this, and she nabbed it, popping the lid and mumbling about what she would do to him if her pie was crumbled.
"You were saying?"
"Hmm? Oh, you're the best and able to handle whatever I throw at you."
"That's what I thought."
