Author's Note: Some amorous activities ahead- in the last section. Readers beware.

"I…" Kunsel stared down at the motionless body. "I don't know. He was going to- and then I just…reacted."

"You didn't kill him, did you?"

He jerked his gaze up to meet Lilith's, asking her in equal parts contempt and disbelief, "After what he just said to you- do you really care?"

"About him?" Lilith gestured at the Mayor. "No. But I do care that in the event of his untimely demise, our names don't top the list of suspects."

She had a point. Kunsel knelt carefully on the thick carpet and prayed he hadn't delivered a fatal blow. To his relief, he'd only knocked the man out cold. Not even a break in the skin. But most likely, the Mayor would have one hell of a bruise- not to mention a headache- come morning. He shook his head.

"Not dead. Just unconscious- no idea for how long, though."

She sighed in relief.

"Well that's one catastrophe narrowly dodged."

He got to his feet and crossed his arms. For a long time, that's all he did, not quite trusting what he might say if he tried to talk. If he could talk. Kunsel felt like screaming, beyond furious with her now that he realized her true purpose in coming here tonight. The enormity of the risk she'd taken.

"Is it true," he demanded at last. "That Sephiroth sent you to spy on the Mayor for him. Is it true?"

"Yes," Lilith admitted quietly. "The PR angle was a decoy to disguise the real mission and divert his attention."

"Does Zack know?"

"No. As far as he's aware, the PR mission is the reason we're here." She pressed her fingers to her temples and closed her eyes for a second before adding, "My orders strictly forbade me from letting any of you know. I would have told you, Kunsel- wanted to, even- but…"

She seemed at a loss at how to explain. Not that she needed to. Espionage missions demanded secrecy by their very nature. Usually a single operative. Less risk of having the mission exposed…and very easy to deny. He'd done a few for Shinra, so he should know. So no, of course the 1st Classes would not have wanted Lilith to speak of it. A few drinks in Luxiere and he would tell anyone just about anything. Even Zack might have posed a problem; too much like Angeal. Still…

"Even if you couldn't tell the others, you could have told me, Lilith."

"I couldn't. Suppose I failed the mission or something went wrong? I couldn't let you-"

"What? Take the fall with you? Go on with my career and leave you to reap whatever came of the fallout?"

"I can handle it."

"You don't have to take on everything yourself," Kunsel insisted. "Not when it means putting yourself in danger. Hell, you thought you came here alone. No one to watch your back if the worst should happen. And it very nearly did."

"I didn't come unprepared. I knew what to expect from the likes of him."

To Kunsel's ears, the words were strained thin. Maybe she thought she knew what the Mayor might do, but he'd seen the look on her face when the confrontation had gotten ugly. No, Lilith hadn't been prepared for that.

Neither were you, his mind echoed. Admit it- when you heard what he'd said, your first instinct was to rip the man apart.

Kunsel ignored that comment and stuck to his point.

"And what of his expectations, Lilith? Forget the fact that he knew you were a spy. He invited you here for sex and I don't see how you thought you were going to get out of that."

"It's better you don't know the answer to that."

"You weren't actually going to go through with it…were you?"

"God no," she assured him while making a face.

"Then what?" Lilith bit her lip and hesitated, so he pressed her again. "Lilith, just tell me. Whatever it is."

She reached for her purse and withdrew her hand. Kunsel stared, speechless, at the glowing emerald orb resting on her palm. Materia. And not just any Materia- not the low-level elemental magic they'd used as 3rd Classes. Contain. As far as he knew, only the 1st Classes had access to something like this.

"How?"

Lilith carefully redeposited the sphere in her purse and brushed a wisp of hair from her eyes.

"I may have taken a few liberties in the equipment room before leaving HQ."

"You stole Materia? Are you insane?"

"Borrowed," she emphasized.

"Do the 1st Classes know you brought that to Junon?"

"No."

Kunsel felt as though he'd swallowed a mouthful of cotton. Unless directed by Lazard or a 1st Class, the use of Materia was not authorized for the junior ranks. Just having it in her possession was breaking several rules. Ones that could get her expelled from SOLDIER…or worse.

"If anyone found out-"

"I tried to tell you that you were better off not knowing."

The Mayor chose that moment to utter a soft groan, though he did not awaken. Reminded that time was a bit of a factor, Kunsel decided to table the conversation about the Materia. They had to find a way out of this- and fast.

"I don't know about you, but I think it's best we discuss all that somewhere else."

Lilith nodded. "Agreed."

"You think he'll remember what happened if we just leave him here?" He frowned, noting the lump on the back of the man's head. "Though there's no help that he won't notice that, I suppose."

"Actually," she peered into the bag slung over her shoulder and withdrew second orb imbued with a seafoam hue. He recognized it as Restore Materia. "I have something to take care of that."

He didn't want to ask, but did, anyway.

"Lilith- how many of those did you 'borrow'?"

"Just the ones I thought I would need," she answered vaguely while tapping into the Mako energy to heal the Mayor's wound.

"How many."

"Four."

Kunsel uttered a curse under his breath before asking, "And the other two?"

"I thought you didn't want to discuss that here?"

"Damn you, this is serious." When she didn't answer, his next words nearly came out as a plea. "Please tell me you didn't take any of the Summons."

Lilith flashed him an annoyed glare as she finished with what she was doing.

"What in the hell would I do with one of those, Kunsel? I wouldn't know how to use one, anyway."

"I'm surprised you know how to use something like Contain," he replied. "Not even Zack has practiced with it."

She didn't seem inclined to explain her knowledge, and they didn't have time for him to keep prodding her about it. Kunsel let the subject go. Lilith straightened up, glanced around the room and gestured at the leather sofa along the one wall.

"I'm thinking it'd be a good idea to put him there- so when he wakes he'll think he fell asleep there."

Kunsel hefted the bulk of the Mayor's portly frame over his shoulder and dumped him onto the couch. He still worried that this would all be for nothing when the man came to.

"He's going to know that his plans were foiled- he's going to know he spent the night alone."

"No, he won't. I'd intended to lull him to sleep using-" she broke off the sentence, the corner of her mouth crooked into a wry smile. "Well, too late not to tell you now. Seal Materia."

"And then what?"

"Cast Confusion and convince him that he had a very good time this evening."

"Using what- Contain? You could have done that using Mystify, you know."

"Couldn't find a copy in the equipment room, so I went with what was available."

"This is all insane. Entirely insane."

"And I suppose you have a better plan?"

He didn't. But rather than have to admit those words aloud, he just nodded towards the Mayor and said, "Better get on with it, then, before he wakes up."

"While I'm at it, I'll persuade him that he never heard anything about a spy or that Sephiroth had anything to do with my being here. Lucky for us that was discovered before he could do any real harm to the mission."

Kunsel said nothing to that, but Lilith could tell he wasn't exactly happy. And he wasn't. The more he thought about what this mission expected of her, the angrier he became. Sephiroth had asked Lilith to take on a tremendous risk. One that the 1st Class hadn't been willing to take on himself. Likely knowing that she wouldn't refuse- even if it meant putting herself in over her head.

He's using you. Lilith would insist that it didn't matter so long as if one day she'd make it to 1st Class. I just hope she doesn't forget that Sephiroth's concern is with his own career and not hers.

Kunsel roused himself from those thoughts just in time to see Lilith activate the Contain Materia, and braced himself against the fierce whirlwind that swept through the study as she cast Tornado. Fortunately, the sparse décor suffered little damage. Just a few pillows scattered on the floor and several books wrenched from their shelves. He set to putting those to rights while she took advantage of the Confuse side-effect of the spell, keeping well away to avoid overhearing whatever she was telling the Mayor. Even if nothing truly happened, the man would believe she'd gone through with their arrangement. Would likely gloat to himself about it.

"Kunsel?"

Thinking of her as a cheap whore.

"Kunsel," Lilith repeated impatiently with a snap of her fingers.

"Sorry, what?"

"We should be going, but I'm going to need your help."

"Help?"

She pointed at a high shelf- rather at the recording device sitting on it.

"I need to get up there to erase the tape and do some tinkering to make it look like the camera malfunctioned and wasn't able to record anything. But it's a bit out of reach, and I don't see any furniture I'd want to risk standing on. So…"

"I'm not sure I could reach it, either."

"Well, I was thinking if you could…um…give me a boost up. I could get a foot hold on that shelf there. It'd only take a few minutes. Five, tops."

The request sounded perfectly reasonable, and it wasn't like they had much in the way of alternatives. Still, Kunsel hesitated to agree. About as much as she had hesitated to suggest it. Maybe it might have been no big deal if she'd been in uniform, but wearing that dress…well, it complicated things. But that tape had to be destroyed or else all this was for nothing.

We can survive five minutes.

"No problem," he told her; they both knew he was lying. "Let's do this."

"Okay, I think that's got it," I declared as I closed the outer casing of the camera. "We're good to go if you want to let me down."

Kunsel's grip shifted, loosening so that I slid carefully to the floor. I tried not to focus on the warmth of his hands on my waist. Or that we stood that way far longer than necessary before breaking apart. Instead, I busied myself with retrieving my purse from the Mayor's desk and checking the time.

The hour was late- too late to do what I'd come here to do. That and I knew I'd exhausted my limits for casting anything with the Materia after using Contain. Not even for a simple Sleepel spell to keep the Mayor subdued. No help for it; I'd have to come back tomorrow or risk returning to Midgar empty-handed. At least I knew Gerald would gladly accept an invitation for a second night after the false memories I'd stuck in his brain about tonight.

Just have to hope no one reminds him about the whole spy business in the meantime.

I glanced sideways at Kunsel, who still looked upset about the whole business. Once we left this place, I was sure I'd get an earful of his opinions- whether I wanted to or not. The prospect was hardly thrilling, but offered one silver lining. At least I could find out just how he'd figured out I'd be here. So with that in mind, I moved towards the door to the hall.

"Let's clear out."

"What about the mission," he asked. "If we leave, you won't discover what he knows of the Leviathan."

"Can't risk it. I'll have to try again tomorrow."

Oh he did not like hearing that. Not one bit.

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"You saw what happened tonight- what almost happened. How can you think to give him the chance to try again?"

"Look, can we argue about this somewhere else?"

"There's nothing to argue, the way I see it. You have the Materia, so if he shows signs of coming to, you can cast Sleepel. But let's just get this over with while we're here."

I wished I could agree with his plan. Almost did, actually. Tempting to tell myself that I was exaggerating, and that I really could afford one tiny Sleepel spell if it came down to it. But I knew I'd never forgive myself if I took a risk that jeopardized the mission. Regretfully, I shook my head.

"I can't, Kunsel. That last spell wiped me out for the night. I'll need until tomorrow evening before I think I'll be up to cast anything again."

He blinked in surprise.

"Just after one spell?"

"Well, not just the one," I admitted. "I was using Manipulate before the Mayor and I came inside."

"Still, though."

"Using these is nothing like the elemental Materia we used as 3rd Classes. It takes a lot more out of you." He didn't look all that convinced. "Kunsel…that was a Level 90."

His skin went ashen as he comprehended what that meant. There were legitimate reasons why Materia like Contain were restricted to the 1st Classes. Materia spells were all evaluated on a scale of the energy it took to release the spell within the crystalized Mako. The Ice and Bolt Materia from our early SOLDIER days was maybe a 22. I could have cast it at least four times before feeling as drained as I did right now. Not a situation a SOLDIER would want to occur unexpectedly during a battle, but a risk I was willing to take against the Mayor.

"All right," he conceded. "But what if you gave me the Seal Materia? I could cast-"

"Have you practiced with one before?"

"Well, no. But if it means you don't have to come back, I'll take my chances."

At the end of my patience, I snapped, "Am I or am I not a SOLDIER, Kunsel?"

He seemed taken aback at my question, evident by the bewildered tone as he denied with a shake of his head, "I don't see what that has to do with this."

"That's the problem- apparently, you don't. I'm making this decision because I've been given a mission to complete. This is the best option- whether I like it or not- and so I'll do it. And if you truly thought of me as a SOLDIER, you wouldn't be fighting me."

A long silence followed. I didn't wait for Kunsel to reply, turning on my heel and exiting the Mayor's office. The hallway was well behind me before he finally caught up. Mutely, Kunsel fell in step on my left. Or respective footfalls on the marble lobby floor marked our passage, until at last we emerged through the exterior doors to the street. Only then did he find the courage to speak up.

"It's so hard, Lilith." I said nothing, letting him continue. "I know you're right, but it's so hard to keep the concern I have for you as my friend separate from the respect I have for you as a SOLDIER."

I didn't miss the hesitation over the word 'friend', and knew the concern ran deeper than that. Rather than pour salt into that wound by calling attention to the fact, I let it go.

"I appreciate the concern. Really I do. But I need your respect when it comes to the job. I need to know that if I make a decision, you won't challenge it purely out of fear that it may be dangerous. SOLDIER is a dangerous life. No one hid that from us when we joined. We all take risks- have to be willing to take them to do what needs done."

"I know. And I'll try," he offered with an uneven sigh. "I can't make a promise I might break, but I can at least say I'll try."

That was a start. I tilted my head askance to look at him, and seeing the strained expression he was trying to hide, I decided to change the subject.

"So…before you became my second shadow…did you at least eat?"

Kunsel caught the humor in my voice and smiled ruefully. "Uh…no."

"I thought as much. Well, I'm hungry- starving, really. So did you want to see if Zack and Luxiere are still at the pub to join them?"

He was about to answer when an insistent buzz from his hip pocket interrupted our conversation. Kunsel withdrew his phone, checked the screen and muttered under his breath. While he keyed in the code to unlock it, I waited in bemused silence.

"Speaking of," Kunsel groused without looking up. "It's Zack texting me. Wanting to know what's going on."

"No surprise."

"So the question is- what do we tell him?"

Good question. I knew what we couldn't tell him- or Luxiere. Neither of them could know why I'd really come to the Mayor's office tonight. Nor could we say that Kunsel had stopped me before I left; it was too late for that. Regardless, no matter what we told him, at least part of it would be a lie. Which I hated doing.

For the best.

"Lilith?"

"Sorry- thinking," I replied with a start. A moment later, I offered what I hoped would be a workable compromise. "You think they'd buy an account of me meeting the Mayor for dinner, but that I turned him down for anything else? You could say you ran into me on my way back."

Kunsel considered the suggestion, nodding slowly.

"I think that's our best option. But you realize-" he added while typing his message- "that means we can't go back to the pub. Zack'll be suspicious if you order food when you just came from dinner with the Mayor."

He was right. While not normally prone to skepticism, Zack would find that too odd to let it pass without comment. And once he started asking questions, I feared that there'd be no keeping this mission a secret. No, going to the pub was no longer an option. I shrugged.

"Somewhere else, then?"

"Unless you prefer starving."

"I do not."

Kunsel put his phone away. With hands still in his pockets, he swept a look over me. As if making a decision. I tried to resist the impulse to ask after his thoughts- in particular about my attire. I'd said I'd wanted to keep things platonic; that sort of question opened the door to something more.

"In that case," he said at last. "I think I know someplace that'll do just as well."

The Kettlewood was still busy, despite the lateness of the hour. Zack and Luxiere had polished off two helpings of the stew and several rounds of ale while they'd waited for news from Kunsel. Well, he'd waited; Luxiere wasn't quite so concerned. Not even after Zack had explained what sort of invitation the Mayor had likely made to Lilith.

"Sure, it's a shitty thing for her to do to Kunsel," his friend had said. "But I don't see where it's something to make such a fuss about."

And no matter how he'd tried to explain why Luxiere was wrong, the younger SOLDIER wouldn't budge on the point. Eventually, Zack had given up. It just wasn't worth the energy to fight him on it. So he drank his ale and kept a sharp eye on his phone. Almost to the exclusion of all other conversation or activities around him. Which was likely why he hadn't noticed their waitress approaching until after she had already spoken.

"Well, you two sure made up for your friend."

"Doesn't know what he's missing," Luxiere answered congenially. "But you can guarantee I am more than happy to enjoy it for him."

Still trying for a hot date, Zack thought with an inward sigh. No amount of discussion has put an end to that ambition.

Vestra wasn't helping matters, either, by responding to Luxiere's flirting. Not to mention initiated some of her own. Like now, for instance. She sided up next to his friend and reached for his empty tankard, deliberately brushing against him in the process.

"Why don't I get you a refill on this, then," she suggested with a saucy wink. As an afterthought, she looked over at Zack. "You interested in another round, hun?"

"Fine, thanks."

The woman's attention turned back to Luxiere. Her free hand trailed down his arm while she pivoted to whist away with her tray of empties. Over her shoulder, she called back to him, "Be right back, so don't you go away now."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Once she was out of earshot, Zack felt he needed to try again to make the young man see reason.

"It's never going to happen, Lux."

"Says you." Eyes still glued to Vestra's retreating back, he insisted, "She likes me, I tell you."

"She wants a generous tip."

Luxiere settled into his chair and studied Zack from his side of the table. A disgruntled frown furrowed his brows as he laced and unlaced his fingers.

"Since when did you become such a cynic?"

He wasn't, usually. But lately Zack had found it more and more difficult to hold onto his optimism. Since their first Junon mission, really. Too much secrecy and shades of honesty that he never had to deal with before. Questions about things and people that he should never have to question. Hard not to develop a more cynical outlook in the face of all that. A complex reaction to a complex situation; to Luxiere, however, he kept his answer simple.

"It's a different world lately."

"I guess." After a pause, the man queried, "So you think Kunsel was able to stop Lilith from going to that thing with the Mayor?"

"I think he would have answered my text if he had."

"Could be arguing with her and hasn't seen it yet."

"That was well over an hour ago."

Luxiere shrugged. "Those two could drag out something like that, easy."

Not untrue, but instinct told him that their friend had arrived too late. Although if that were the case, Zack would have thought Kunsel would have been just as likely to send him a text saying so. To see no response at all was both puzzling and ominous. He glanced at his phone again. Luxiere, meanwhile, moved onto a different yet related subject.

"If you ask me, things would be a whole lot easier if they'd just quit denying that they want each other."

"It's none of our business, Lux."

"Oh c'mon- tell me you haven't thought about it yourself."

He'd tried not to. Did everything he could to let Kunsel and Lilith have their privacy and not get involved. He certainly didn't want to tell either one of them how to run their personal lives. But Luxiere was right in saying he did give the matter thought. Just not in the same way.

Whatever this is- or isn't- between those two is a liability.

Romantic relationships always were in their line of work. They distracted men and women alike, and caused them to make decisions that weren't always in their best interest. Decisions that were outright dangerous sometimes. For a SOLDIER, that kind of mistake often got someone killed. Which was why he didn't condemn those of his colleagues who preferred to keep things casual. Not even Genesis. When he stuck to women who wanted a meaningless fling, anyway.

In Kunsel's case, Zack worried that his friend was teetering on the edge of making the kind of mistake that could put not only himself, but all of them, at risk. Following Lilith to her appointment with the Mayor might have pushed him over that edge. And the more time passed without hearing from the man, the more he worried he was right.

Luckily, the waitress returned with Luxiere's drink, saving him from having to give voice to those thoughts. Her arrival redirected his friend's attention. Ever hopeful that he might convince the lady to invite him to her place. And if Zack thought he had a chance in hell of that happening, he'd be a bit more pointed in explaining that they were going back to the hotel- unaccompanied.

While those two flirted with one another, Zack picked up his phone to text Kunsel again.

«HEY MAN- WHAT'S GOING ON?»

He hit Send, no more hopeful that he'd get a reply this time, but unable to do nothing. Just as he was about to set it down again, the display brightened with the receipt of an incoming message. Zack read it eagerly, praying for the best. If nothing else, at least for news that Lilith was all right.

«BEEN WAITING AT THE HOTEL- SHE LEFT BEFORE I GOT HERE»

«JUST GOT BACK FROM DINNER WITH THE MAYOR»

Just dinner? Zack couldn't bring himself to ask if it was more than that. Then again, was a little early if she'd met him to do anything else. So maybe it was just dinner, after all. He sent back more important follow up question instead.

«SO EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT, THEN?»

«IT'S FINE»

The terse reply said otherwise. But it didn't sound like anything catastrophic happened, so Zack didn't question any deeper. If Kunsel was upset with Lilith for accepting the invitation, he could sort it out with her on his own. And with his immediate concerns alleviated, Zack switched gears. Best to let their friend know what the plan was, in case he was wondering when to expect them back.

«GOOD TO HEAR. LUX AND I ARE STILL OUT- HEADED TO THE HOTEL IN THE NEXT TWENTY MINUTES OR SO»

«OKAY»

Zack waited for a more concrete acknowledgement- maybe some idea what Kunsel and Lilith would do in the meantime- but he received no additional messages. After a minute or two, he gave up, figuring they'd be at the hotel. Probably still arguing. He put the phone away and sighed heavily.

"That him," Luxiere asked with a nod.

"Yeah. Finally."

"And?"

"He didn't make it back in time, but she's back already. Said it was just dinner."

"See? Didn't I tell you? Worried over nothing."

Luxiere's tone was nothing short of triumphant, taking the news at face value because it meant he was right. Zack still wasn't entirely certain that everything was as straightforward as Kunsel's texts had made it seem. But as he had no appetite to debate the point, he merely shrugged. Denied his opportunity to revel in the moment, his friend's expression turned sullen. When a few minutes passed and Zack showed no signs of remorse for spoiling Luxiere's fun, the man gave up. In the end, his curiosity got the better of him.

"Are they meeting us here, then?"

"No. I imagine given the hour, they're staying at the hotel." What he'd say next wouldn't brighten Luxiere's mood. Zack braced himself for the coming argument as he added, "Just as well, too, since we were about to head back once you finished that round."

As expected, a thundercloud of unhappiness loomed on his friend's face. He was quick to protest the idea.

"Maybe you're leaving, but-"

"Lux, it isn't happening with the waitress, so you'd just better accept that now and cut your losses."

"Like hell- look, I'll prove you wrong."

Luxiere waved a hand aloft to attract Vestra's attention, and she immediately turned her steps towards their table. There was no stopping the impending disaster; Zack could only watch and wait for it to happen.

"Did you need something, hun?"

"Just the answer to a question I've been wanting to ask all night."

Vestra's smile hovered on her lips, but he thought he read the slight dread in her eyes. She knew exactly what his friend was about to ask her. Probably got the question a dozen times a night. For his part, Luxiere didn't seem to notice. He launched right into his single-minded entreaty.

"I was wondering whether you had any plans for the evening once your shift ended, and whether you'd be interested in sharing them with me."

That could have gone worse. He'd seen Luxiere deliver some truly awful lines to women in the past, so he'd been prepared for something truly cringe-worthy. At least they were spared hearing that, but judging from the slightly apologetic frown on Vestra's face, his decent pick-up line wasn't going to help him in this situation.

"Oh you're such a sweetie," she told him. "But I've got the closing shift tonight. By the time I'm through, my only plans involve sleep."

"Sleep you can do any night," Luxiere suggested coaxingly. "But how often do you get to make a trip to Junon memorable for a visitor looking for adventure? I know I'd make it worth your while."

"I'm sure you would, but I truly can't."

Usually, his friend would take the hint at this point. He may be a bit of an awkward sort, but rarely made himself too obnoxious. This time, though, Luxiere let his determination get the better of his common sense. It was painful to watch as he tried again in an almost wheedling pitch.

"Just for an hour? You can't spare just one hour?"

The waitress' patience and goodwill was wearing thin- if not worn through. She had been holding out in hopes of not spoiling her chances for a decent tip, but was about ready to give up in favor of a blunt rejection. Her whole posture changed and she took a step backwards. Zack thought he might have seen her glance towards the bartender. Not good. He decided it was time to step in before Luxiere got them both thrown out.

"The lady said she wasn't interested, Lux," he asserted, voice firm and authoritative. He didn't need to use that tone often, but in times like this it came in handy. Especially with this particular brown-haired SOLDIER, who usually recognized it as a hint to take his head out of his ass. "You've asked her and she said no. So let's leave it go."

It worked as he'd expected. Luxiere reacted as if he'd gotten cuffed upside the head, mouth closing before he could utter whatever he'd thought to say next. His cheeks flushed, likely with embarrassment when he realized how he must have sounded a moment ago. Zack felt bad for the guy, but he'd tried to warn him. For a minute, Luxiere toyed with the half-empty tankard in front of him before his shoulders slumped in disappointment. Without even making eye contact with Vestra, he nodded.

"You're right, I know. I just…" he trailed off without finishing the sentence, looking downright miserable.

Vestra, bless her, took pity on the young man's ego. Or perhaps she felt guilty for giving him false hopes before. The look on her face softened and she approached the table. Even laid an arm across his shoulders.

"Tell you what," she proposed gently. "I bet I could still give you something to remember about visiting Junon."

His friend perked up ever so slightly.

"Oh?"

She leaned in close and planted a rather enthusiastic kiss on Luxiere's lips. Lasted no more than a minute- maybe two. But when the woman pulled away, his friend sat with a slightly dazed expression. She shook her head and laughed at him.

"If I were the type, I might have gone with you, SOLDIER boy," she sighed lightheartedly. "But that'll have to be enough for you."

And with that, Vestra breezed away again. Luxiere grinned at Zack, good humor restored with that small victory.

"Well, I think we were both right," he conceded. "And since it looks like I've seen the last of her, might as well head back to the hotel like you wanted."

"Yeah, I guess so," Zack replied absently, not really paying attention to a word he'd said.

"I'll go settle the tab, okay?"

"Sure."

Luxiere darted a funny look at him, but chose not to say anything. He got up from the table and headed for the bar. As Zack watched him go, his thoughts were consumed by a single question:

How'd she know we were in SOLDIER?

As it turned out, Kunsel's suggestion was a restaurant and bar doing business not too far from the club we'd been to on the last mission. Not nearly as exclusive, but a lot nicer than the pub Zack and Luxiere went to, I bet. We chose to sit at one of the high-top tables closer to the bar. Before too long, a server came to take our order. I could have eaten half the dinner menu; I settled for a dish of roasted chicken.

We ordered drinks and waited for our meals to arrive. In that time, I managed to discover just how he knew what I planned to do this evening. Luxiere. While Kunsel and Zack were busy with the reporters, our good friend had been trying to keep himself occupied and overheard enough of the conversation to piece things together. I'd been so worried about the other two that I hadn't really thought of him. Should have known better.

Our ordered drinks arrived. As we sipped them, the conversation turned to plans about how to handle the Mayor situation for tomorrow. Lots of back and forth with him about the second invitation I needed to secure. And while I couldn't shake the suspicion that Kunsel's motives were more personal than he would admit, I couldn't deny the logic that having the two of us at the town hall would make searching for clues a lot easier. So we agreed that he'd shadow me like he'd done tonight, and once the Mayor was lulled to sleep, he'd join me in the office.

In the midst of all of that, the server brought out our entrees- which were devoured in between argument and counter-argument. Another round of drinks had come and gone, even, before he'd hashed out the details enough to suit us. Would have been a natural point to call for the check and head back to the hotel; I tried to ignore Kunsel's raised eyebrow when I ordered another double rum and soda instead. Nothing wrong with staying out a little longer.

Except something was wrong.

The feeling had been building since leaving the Mayor's office. An overwhelming sense of revulsion and…dread. Revulsion for the encounter I'd had with the Mayor tonight. Dread for what I knew was to come tomorrow. No matter how much I tried to suppress them both, they kept creeping back. Throwing alcohol at the problem wasn't the right way to handle it, but I was so tired of the fight and just wanted to be numb for a while.

"You don't seem to be in a hurry to get back," Kunsel remarked when I offered no explanation for what was, for me, an uncharacteristic interest in liquor. "Any particular reason?"

Rather than admit to my uneasiness, I tried to deflect the question with a touch of humor.

"Way I see it, the less time I have to spend in that sorry excuse for a room, the better."

He didn't buy any of it, expression flat and grim. Nor should I have expected any different. How many times had he seen me use this tactic in the past? Enough to recognize it this time at least. Not smart to be so transparent if I intended to keep what was truly bothering me a secret.

Maybe that's why you said it- so you wouldn't have to.

The server brought my drink and retreated to the far side of the room, gathering up discarded dishes and tidying up in general. Most of the establishment was empty at this point. Kunsel and I were two of perhaps a dozen patrons. That likely had something to do with his decision to press the subject.

"I think we both know that's not why."

I traced a fingertip over the rim of my glass, saying nothing for several minutes. Not wanting to delve into the issue, but not wanting to come up with another lie, either. My hand stilled and dropped to the tabletop. I glanced up at him, feeling extremely weary.

"Kunsel, can we not do this? Can't we just leave it at having a few drinks at the end of a long day?"

With reluctance, he agreed to let the matter drop. Our conversation stalled for a while after that. We focused on our glasses or on the dimly lit room around us. And despite the liquor's potency, it didn't do anything to stave off the uncomfortable feelings I wanted to bury. If anything, they only grew stronger.

Best not to order another, I told myself dismally. Just call it a night and try to get some sleep.

We paid our checks and found ourselves once more on the streets of Junon. The very dark streets. It seemed that even fewer lamps were lit at this hour, and the shadows pressed close. I pulled my elbows in towards my body, acutely aware of the warning signs of another episode. That'd be two in one evening, unless I could snap myself out of this. But if I could just make it to the hotel- get off the street- then I'd be all right. Just a ten or fifteen minute walk, that's all.

I couldn't move. Not a single step.

The weight of everything just came crashing down, rooting me to the spot. The Mayor. The other men who'd been just like him. The memories of my past that had been raised from the dead. All of it layered one atop the other, burying me until I could hardly breathe.

"Lilith?"

Hold it together, Lilith. The silent order wasn't quite as convincing as I wanted it to be. I tried again. A SOLDIER doesn't fall apart when things get tough. A SOLDIER wouldn't be afraid. A SOLDIER would fight back and win the battle no matter what. Isn't that what you joined Shinra to become? So fight, damn you.

Kunsel called my name a second time, sounding more than a little concerned. I exhaled and forced myself to take a step forward.

"I'm good."

"You're lying," he argued tonelessly. "But if that's what you need to do, I won't try to stop you."

"Kunsel…"

"No, really. It's fine."

Now who's lying?

It wasn't fine. None of any of this was fine. I wasn't even sure how to make everything all right again. If it could be. The simple, straight-forward path I'd envisioned when I'd joined SOLDIER had rapidly disintegrated over the past few weeks. In its wake, just a quagmire of indecision and insecurities. I half-turned to face Kunsel, unable to mask either. He stared back, equally burdened by the strain of trying to pretend to be okay with the status quo.

We stood that way for so long I lost track of the minutes. The more time passed, the more seriously I questioned why I was forcing him- forcing both of us- to pretend. Would it truly be that wrong to…

Before that thought reached its conclusion, I smothered it with a stern lecture. We've been over this- that is not a smart decision if I want to be a 1st Class someday.

Who ever said every decision you make has to be smart? That surreptitious question arose from a particularly rebellious corner of my mind. Usually dormant, but especially active over the past two days. And it wasn't through with me yet. Someday could be a long time away- or never. What do you want now?

I wanted to say a distraction- a few hours where I didn't have to think about the specters of past and present that were haunting me. If that were true, I could resist any temptation to agree with that voice in my head. Because I could never use Kunsel in that way. But it was more than that. A need I couldn't quite put into word or thought- and yet there none-the-less.

In a moment no doubt I would someday name as weakness, I gave into it.

Kunsel must have seen the change in my expression. He didn't move as I closed the distance between us. Didn't speak. I took his hand in mine, a silent message of my intent. Only then did he find his voice.

"Lilith, I don't want you to think you have to."

"I don't."

"And you're not just…" he couldn't finish, but I knew what he was asking.

"I'm not."

"But yesterday-"

"I know. And I can't promise that I won't have second thoughts tomorrow." I let out a slow, quavering breath. "I don't know if it's enough, Kunsel, but I can give you now."

I could see the debate rage in his eyes. Now was a poor substitute for a man who wanted much more. And the price he might pay for it later weighed heavy in that decision. Did he risk ruining a friendship if this ended badly? I waited until he'd made up his mind.

"Now is more than I ever expected to have."

Without disengaging my hand from his, I took a step towards the hotel. Kunsel shook his head, not moving. I stopped, confused.

"What?"

"Not there. Not in that wretched place. If now might be all I get, Lilith, then it'll be in a room worthy of the occasion."

The room was paid for- a very nice room, but the couple was too preoccupied to notice. The door closed, leaving them half-stumbling in the dark until their eyes adjusted. Lips met- eager to taste each other for the first time. Their light, feathering explorations quickly gave way to ardent, open-mouthed kisses. Her teeth scored his bottom lip, surprising him with her aggressiveness. He traced the shell of her ear with the tip of his tongue before trailing his lips down the line of her throat.

Fingers fumbled at buttons and zippers, accompanied by the sounds of fabric rustling over skin. The discarded clothes fell to the carpet in susurrant whispers; neither of them cared about that, either. Hands traced teasingly over the planes and curves of skin laid bare to the pale moonlight. His cupped her breast while hers slid down the valley of his spine. With each successive foray, urgency built between them.

The lovers tumbled into bed, driven by the need for more. Touches and kisses deepened- grew more intimate. Once or twice, she cried out as passion strained the limits of her control. He reveled in the sound, and yet withheld the release he knew she craved. Not yet. No need to rush when they had all night. As he contemplated the ways he intended to make the most of it, her hands and mouth played skillfully with his body. Now he was the one silently- or not so silently- begging to be brought to completion.

She denied it to him.

Holding out against that sweet agony was a test of willpower and endurance. For both of them. The need for release burned and couldn't be ignored any longer. She drew him close, arching against his hips; he slid into her with a groan. And for some time, their awareness narrowed to the rhythm of their bodies moving with one another. Until at last, the end came for both of them in shuddering oblivion.

They embraced one another in the aftermath, shaking- dazed. Gradually, heartbeats calmed. Breathing slowed. Neither spoke, unwilling to break the spell. He merely held her, stroking the wisps of hair back from her temples as he gazed into her eyes. She reached up to entwine her fingers at his nape and pulled his head down to kiss her.

As a cloud drifted across the moon outside, sounds of passion rose again from within.

6