XXVI: Scarlet

They had started their day as if the past few weeks never happened, as if the events of the day never were going to happen. Sephiroth had woken Valon with a kiss on the forehead and a cup of coffee for the both of them. After an incoherent groan the silver-haired man assumed had meant "Good morning, thanks for the coffee,", he seated himself on the bed. They drank the dark substance in comfortable silence before they got dressed, after which Valon had made a hearty breakfast, baking a traditional Kalm bread that filled their apartment with its enticing smell. They had eaten together, still enjoying the silence together. It was still early, oh-six-hundred by the time they were done eating, and most people living on the premises were still sleeping or just about to wake up. This was the very reason the General and his SiC usually woke up before even the Gods did – calm and silence were a rarity when living in the Shinra building, so they enjoyed it while it lasted.

After eating their fill of the sugary bread, Sephiroth made them another cup of coffee and placed it in front of the Lieutenant, who now did thank him for the drink.

"It's been a while since we've enjoyed breakfast in peace, hasn't it?" Valon commented as she was blowing at her coffee, trying to get the drink to cool off before taking a sip. Sephiroth agreed with a soft hum.

"The last time was before your escort mission with Scarlet, if I recall correctly."

"Hmm," Valon sighed, taking another sip of her coffee. Truth be told, she felt conflicted. After everything that had happened, she knew the path they were about to walk was the correct one. They were the ones who had to save the world and all that, and for that, they had to make some sacrifices. In this case, the lives of the Shinra executives. It wasn't a secret that the Lieutenant hated the Head of Weapons Development, so she wouldn't grieve the woman's death. However, she valued life and despised bloodshed.

The Monochrome Lieutenant chuckled at the irony.

She knew the woman had to die, though. Sephiroth explained to her that the corrupt executives would see the death of the President as an opportunity to rise to power themselves, and they couldn't risk a mutiny upon their own.

"How are you feeling?" Sephiroth inquired, the question oddly simple for what he was hinting at. The past few days had been a rough ride, while planning their moves they had to keep up a facade, going to work every day and doing what they were told to do by the very same people they were going to kill in just a few days, and it was taking its toll on the black- and white haired woman. She was tired and emotionally unstable, she had found herself lashing out at innocent people at random times, every minor annoyance making her fingers twitch, looking for the comfort of her blade.

Luckily, most people were pinning her behaviour on their workload. However, the rumour mill had started turning the second she had snarled at a SOLDIER Second named Jeffrey Parcel, a man whom had worked under her command numerous times. They weren't friends, per say, but everyone knew they got along very well, so for her to yell at him was out of character. Ifrit's Hellfires, her yelling at anyone was out of character. Thus, people started whispering.

Her relationship with the General was the most favoured subject.

Valon snorted.

"Did you know the SOLDIERs believe our marriage is falling apart?"

"We're not married," Sephiroth answered before taking a sip of his coffee. He couldn't hide the glint of amusement in his eyes as he stared over his cup at his betrothed.

"Yet," came the automatic reply. She couldn't help but grin at him. She downed her coffee in one large gulp and exhaled loudly. "Anyways, to answer your question," she rose, gathering the remnants of their breakfast and putting the dishes in the sink. "I feel fine. It's silly, but I'm just pretending all of this, the events of the past few weeks and everything that's to come, is just a dream. That once everything is over, once we kill the bad guys and save the world, I will wake up with you still snoring next to me."

"I don't snore," the General's lips quirked upwards ever so slightly. "But this is isn't a dream, and I don't believe pretending it to be can-"

Valon silenced him with a chaste kiss on the lips. "I know," she sighed. "I know it isn't, but the pretense helps me cope. Please let me have that."

Sephiroth cursed inwardly at himself.

"But enough about me," the Lieutenant took a seat across her superior and intently stared at him for a moment before continuing. "How are you feeling? You're about to kill your father, and-"

"Forgive me for interrupting," Sephiroth interrupted, not looking apologetic at all. "but I really don't see him as my father."

"I know he's done horrible things to you, but..." she sighed, trying to find the right words. Now that she thought about it, she'd never learned to what extent Hojo had hurt the silver-haired man. She filed the question away, but she had to ask him about that sometimes soon. "No matter what he did, he's still family, you know?"

Sephiroth shook his head. "If there's one thing you, Angeal, Zack and even Genesis have taught me is that family isn't so much about blood ties than it is about unconditional loyalty, acceptance and love, no matter the circumstances."

Valon's expression softened at that, a gentle smile the General hadn't seen on her in a while now gracing her features.

They sat like that for a little longer, both enveloped in their own thoughts, until voices from outside the building officially ended the silence on the premises. Which also meant that it was time to set their plans in motion. Without a word, they rose from their seats. They grabbed their swords from their respective racks on the wall and put on their boots. With one last look around their apartment – they wouldn't come back for a while, after all-, Valon nodded to herself. She then turned and walked out to the hallway, Sephiroth closing the door behind them.

The General put his hands on her shoulder and squeezed, not quite as comforting as Angeal could, but it still soothed her nerves somewhat.

"Good luck, Lieutenant."

Valon snapped to a perfect salute. "You too, General."

Sephiroth nodded curtly and turned around. Valon watched the man walk away briskly, taking impossibly long strides as he disappeared around the corner in a whirl of silver and black. When she couldn't see him anymore, she made her way to the elevator and pressed the button that would take her to the sixty-sixth floor. She walked through the corridor, only momentarily stopping when she saw Angeal making small-talk with a secretary. The Commander saluted, the secretary bowed respectfully. She bid them a good morning with a bright smile and dismissed them with a wave of her hand. "As you were."

After exchanging one last look with the raven-haired Commander, she walked up to Scarlet's office, her pace a little quicker than usual. She knocked on the metal door and waited patiently for the invitation to enter. When she heard the Head of Weapons Development do just that, she wrapped her fingers around her still-sheathed sword before opening the door.

"Valon Harper, what in the world do you want with me this early in the morning?" Scarlet snarled before the Lieutenant had even closed the door. Despite her animosity, the red-clad woman stared at her intently, no doubt intrigued by Valon's reanimation only weeks prior. The Monochrome Lieutenant saluted.

"I came to check up on you, ma'am," she spoke smoothly. "we haven't spoken since the events on the Marshlands, and I haven't had the chance to see how you were doing after the attack. Not to mention the terrorist attack on the cadet compounds."

Scarlet rose her eyebrows in suspicion. Since when did the woman care about her well-being?

"I'm fine, but I don't see how-"

A soft "hmm" interrupted her. Valon turned around as if to leave, but instead of opening the door, she locked it. Scarlet instantly drew her weapon, although she kept it under her desk and hidden from the Lieutenant's view. Whatever this was, she didn't want to provoke her.

"I'm afraid that won't do," the Lieutenant sighed. She drew her sword and placed her forehead on the flat of the blade, mimicking Angeal's pose. It was a way of showing respect to your blade, the Commander had told her many years ago. And a way to apologize to your blade for making it shed blood that wasn't worthy.

"Are you going to kill me?" Scarlet's voice wavered a little. Valon turned around and dipped her head in a slow nod, her grip around the hilt of her nameless blade tightening.

"I'm afraid so."

"Why?"

The Lieutenant doubted for a moment, but decided against telling her. It would make absolutely no difference if she knew.

"It's a small comfort, but I'll try and make it painless."

Scarlet laughed. Loudly. Valon winced at the sound, the annoying "Kya Ha Ha!" would be echoing in her head for the rest of the day. Only because of that, she decided she'd make the executive's death a little more painful than she had intended. Only a little.

"You think I will cooperate?" Scarlet huffed as she slowly rose from her chair and aimed her gun at the Lieutenant.

"It would make my job easier," Valon shrugged.

"Make your job..." Scarlet's hand was shaking, and Valon couldn't help but snort seeing the gun wobble unsteadily in her hand. A nostalgic feeling crept up at her, the memory of her promotion to SOLDIER First still fresh, despite it being a long time ago. She had used the very same gun pointed at her now to 'win' the duel.

"You won't get away with this, the President will have your head!" Scarlet's voice roused her out of her nostalgia.

"The President will be dead by the time you are."

"But... But the Turks, they-"

"Who do you think disabled all the camera's and alarm systems around here? I'm sorry Scarlet, but it's over," she raised her sword and took a few steps towards her target. "If you-"

A gunshot interrupted her. Then another, and another, six in total. Valon didn't even wince when the bullets entered her body as she felt the Goddess' pull at her consciousness already, her mind focused on telling the Deity off. They're non-fatal, the Mako will take care of it, she angrily thought. She opened her eyes again and cocked her eyebrow at the red-clad executive. Scarlet dropped the revolver, her hands shaking too much. Besides, the gun was useless to her now, all rounds were shot and had failed to kill her assassin. Valon studied her own blood with a bored expression for a moment before she shrugged it off, the bullets already being pushed out by her healing body and the pull at her mind already wavering.

When she took a couple of long steps forward, Scarlet dropped to the ground in fear. Her eyes widened as the Lieutenant crouched before her, the black- and white blade now pointed at her chest. The executive opened her mouth to speak again, but Valon didn't want to hear it. With one quick movement, she stabbed the red-clad woman through the chest, piercing her heart with terrifying accuracy. Then, she pulled her sword back, allowing the blood to flow freely. It only took mere seconds for Scarlet to slide and drop down, clutching her wound as she stared at the Lieutenant in shock. Another couple of seconds and one horrible, gurgling breath later, her eyelids fluttered shut.