Even as he said those words, Sephiroth was not convinced that they would see any improvement from Genesis' quarter as early as tomorrow. If at all. Far more likely that he would repeat his arguments about wanting to review the training sessions from the comfort of his apartment. A concession Sephiroth would have been inclined to allow if not for Danita's presence. After all, he had intended to do the same- studying training sessions during his off-hours at home. For one, he was too busy conducting training during the work day.
And until Zack and the others catch up to Lilith, leaving her sessions on the central system is out of the question.
"I hope you're right, Sephiroth," Angeal replied with a heavy sigh, interrupting his thoughts. "But that woman hasn't been the most positive influence on him thus far. Not in Junon and certainly not here in Midgar."
He suspected a large portion of the problem centered on Genesis' obsession with LOVELESS. Without the demand of mission assignments to keep him focused, the 1st Class had fixated on it again. Throwing a devoted fangirl into that mindset just added fuel to the proverbial fire. But as he'd said to Angeal before, neither of them could hope to do much about her.
Well, he reconsidered while leaning against a cabinet. There is one thing we could do.
"We could bring the matter up with Lazard."
The other 1st Class raised his eyebrows in surprise at the suggestion. Not without good reason, given that taking that approach wouldn't endear Genesis to either of them. Their philandering friend would likely retaliate by revealing their investigation activities, thinking to get them into trouble, too. A tactic that wasn't as much of a deterrent as it might have been a few weeks ago. Lazard was already aware that they'd continued to pursue the Leviathan matter against his direction, and aside from a few sharp words to Angeal, nothing had come of it.
"And expect him to do what, exactly?"
"No doubt he'd agree that Danita's presence is detrimental in terms of keeping Genesis focused. I expect he would respond much as he has before when a SOLDIER needs to be reminded of his primary obligations."
A long, portentous silence stretched between them, where Angeal debated what to say next. Namely, debated whether or not he was willing to voice one particular time Lazard eliminated what Shinra had deemed an unwanted 'distraction'. Why seeing that tactic used again raised serious misgivings. Although the other 1st Class opted not to wade into those waters in the end, the words hung in the air between them. Unspoken, but understood.
"Let's give it a few more days," Angeal hedged. "Before we do anything that drastic."
"Fair enough."
The wall clock read nearly 19:00, meaning he ought to be on his way to the spare office. Sephiroth pushed away from the cabinet and took a step towards the door, prompting his friend to ask, "Headed home?"
"Shortly. Meeting with Lilith first regarding the extra duties she'll be taking on."
"You aren't thinking to start that tonight, are you?"
"Of course. Why not?"
"Didn't you just finish a training session with her?" Angeal rifled through a few pages on his desk, selected one and gave Sephiroth a hard look. "I put her on a morning watch today."
"So?"
"So she's been working since eight."
"As have I, Angeal. I fail to see your point."
"You just-" his dark-haired colleague exhaled in frustration before trying again. "She's still only a 2nd Class, Sephiroth. We have to be careful that we don't expect too much of them." When he didn't reply, he added, "Or of ourselves, for that matter. It'll do no good if we're unable to react when our enemy does attack."
That last remark wasn't meant to be insulting, but Sephiroth saw no other way of interpreting it. As if a SOLDIER of his caliber wasn't capable of recognizing his own limitations and wouldn't know where to draw the line to remain battle-ready. Not an argument he wished to have, and so he'd address the initial point instead.
"Your concern is commendable, Angeal, but I'm sure transcribing photos for an hour or two won't be all that taxing. Even for a 2nd Class."
With one final reproving look, his friend relinquished any further pursuit of the subject, muttering, "I'll see about shifting her to a later watch for tomorrow, just to ensure she gets some kind of break." A steely glint stole into his eye. "Wendt was a no show for his watch this morning. I'll double him up, since he isn't in the Materia program, anyway."
Sephiroth lingered in the doorway, let out a bemused chuckle and said, "Sometimes, you can be quite the tyrant."
He didn't wait for a response, and left. No sign of Genesis in the hall, but at the far end he could already see Lilith waiting for him. The 2nd Class clearly didn't want to risk being late after the reprimand she'd received earlier. He'd intended to be far harsher, annoyed that he'd had to fetch her. That is, until he'd overheard Kohlen talking about using Materia in Mideel.
The 3rd Classes hadn't been considered for this program because they were simply too inexperienced to make it worth the effort. Nor did Sephiroth have the time to assess them all. Kohlen, however, was on the short-list for the next advancement cycle. And if he already had that kind of experience- not to mention exposure- with Mako, then Sephiroth could make an argument to expedite that advancement and put him in with one of the groups. It would all depend on the outcome of tomorrow's assessment.
Setting those thoughts aside, he pushed open the office door and acknowledged Lilith with a brief nod. She returned it, and followed him inside.
"Close it behind you," he bade her.
"Yes, sir."
Curiosity filled her violet eyes as she crossed the room and took the seat opposite him. Didn't express any of it, but Sephiroth knew she had to be wondering about the purpose of this meeting when he'd already told her they would discuss this evening's Materia session tomorrow. He saw no reason to keep her in suspense for very long; they had work to do.
"Hewley and I have performed a cursory review of the information you provided. It promises to yield insights into the Junon group and will be useful as evidence once the ringleaders are identified. However, the information needs to be transcribed into a format better suited for analysis. Which brings me to why you are here."
Lilith thought for a moment or two, and then replied, "I can certainly apply myself to the task, sir. Due to the current circumstances, I don't have much in the way of after-hours activities, and evenings around here are fairly quiet."
"The transcription cannot be done here for security reasons."
"Oh. Then why…?"
"You will be required to perform the task off-site under my supervision."
Another very long pause. Long enough for Sephiroth to wonder if she might actually decline the assignment. A nonsensical response after the lengths she'd gone to obtain the information. First at the Mayor's apartment, and then in the slums. He would find it very disappointing- not to mention inconvenient- if Lilith balked now. The longer she remained silent, the more he anticipated that would be the case.
"All right," she agreed just as he was about to prompt her for an answer. "If that's what's needed, sir, then that's what I'll do. When do you want me to begin?"
"Tonight." He caught a flash of apprehension from her, and then it was gone again. "Will that be a problem?"
"No, sir."
Although Sephiroth suspected her answer was less than truthful, he pretended to accept it, telling her, "In that case, be at this address in a half hour." He slid a folded piece of paper across the desk. "And I authorize you to make use of any resources you think you may require to ensure you arrive without encountering unwanted trouble along the way."
Angeal wouldn't approve of his approach. His friend would have insisted on an escort. In Sephiroth's opinion, that would have drawn too much attention where it wasn't wanted. Although giving Lilith free reign in the Mako Infusion Room came with its own set of risks. As he watched her take her leave, he gambled that she was suitably equipped to mitigate them.
I don't know why I wasted half my evening on those two and their stupid training program, Genesis fumed as he stalked away from Angeal's office. I should have been home hours ago.
At the very least, he could have been home after he'd finished with Wendt this afternoon. A gruelingly painful hour and a half spent trying to teach the 2nd Class skills he had no business learning. That turned out to be an exercise in patience- patience that Genesis realized very quickly that he did not possess. Which was why he always left the first week or two of the 1st Class indoc training to Angeal, who did.
How could anyone be expected to repeat the same lesson a dozen times without succumbing to frustration? Worse, Genesis still wasn't convinced Wendt understood anything he'd said. The instructions he'd given were as simple as he could have made them. So really, the 2nd Class had no excuse to struggle that hard with something as rudimentary as identifying and probing Materia. Couldn't tell Seal from Gravity. Couldn't tell a basic copy from a mastered one. The man was hopeless.
He better not be, since you've pinned your hope on him to gain recognition from the higher ups.
A sorry state of affairs, all things considered. But until Lazard relented about not leaving Midgar, Genesis wasn't going to distinguish himself through missions as he'd done in the past. Danita was right; he would have to use Wendt. Forge the undeserving fool into 1st Class material- even if it killed him. And once he had, he'd have something to throw in Sephiroth and Angeal's faces.
Bringing him right back to the anger that had started him on that train of thought. They dared lecture him about Shinra policy and protocols? After everything they'd been up to lately? And as for Angeal- Genesis was annoyed with him most of all. He'd taken Sephiroth's side and then tried to act like he could shove the blame onto Lazard. Like Genesis wouldn't see that tactic for what it was.
They don't trust me.
The insult cut sharply. Sharper than he expected, quite frankly. Despite everything Danita had pointed out about them and his determination not to fool himself into believing they were ever his true friends…moments like this still managed to slip under his guard. This one nearly goaded him into turning back to demand an explanation. Ask them why they didn't trust him to keep their precious training logs a secret- about their reasons for deliberately cutting him out of just about everything lately.
They've already said, he told himself with a derisive snort. It's always about Danita. She's all they harp on.
Did either of them even care to learn more about his goddess? No. Did they appreciate that it was on her account that he smoothed things over with Lilith? Of course not. They'd dismissed her as a distraction and a liability from the very beginning. Just because she-
Best not finish that thought, an inner voice warned him.
Why?
You should know why.
Genesis checked his stride, stopping just outside the lounge door. Comments like that weren't any less disturbing than the fleeting times he wavered about his schism with the other 1st Classes. Were possibly more unsettling, as the split seemed to be against himself. Always arising at the most inconvenient times. Or, at the very least, the oddest of times. He tried to shrug it off, and resumed walking. All in all, not the best timing to cross paths with Wendt.
"Rhapsodos, I-"
In no mood to listen to the 2nd Class chatter on about his prospects for advancement, Genesis cut in to say, "I'm on my way out, Wendt. Whatever you have can wait until tomorrow."
His curt dismissal set the man to sulking almost immediately. Wendt's go-to response to any rebuke or criticism from what Genesis observed. If the man ever hoped to make 1st Class, he would need to rid himself of that childish habit. When interacting with senior ranking officials, it was one thing to disagree; quite another to come across as whining. That's what friends were for- they were the ones who offered a sympathetic ear and commiserated with you when you felt you'd gotten a raw deal.
What Angeal and Sephiroth used to do. Having that thought resurface only added to his annoyance. He thrust it back with a pointed reminder. Well, now I have Danita. I don't need them.
The internal argument had momentarily distracted him, and had, unfortunately, given Wendt the impression that he had changed his mind. The 2nd Class hadn't taken the hint and moved on, ignoring Genesis' indignant glare to say, "I just wanted to let you know that Sephiroth pulled Lilith into another 'private' meeting in that spare office a few minutes ago."
"And this of dire importance for what reason? They're likely reviewing her training session. I highly doubt her performance was spectacular, so Sephiroth might as well deliver it before leaving for the day."
"But she's-"
"Wendt, we've already been over this. Unless you've got evidence- and I mean real evidence- I'm not interested in hearing more speculation or unsubstantiated gossip. It's of no use to me."
"He said something about 'transcribing information'," Wendt replied shortly. "I didn't catch what he wanted her to transcribe. Some 3rd Class nobody was coming down the hall and I couldn't risk him asking questions about why I was hanging around the door."
The man made it sound like he'd made a significant discovery; Genesis wasn't as convinced. 'Information' could encompass any number of things, many of them trivial and far from impressive. Being tasked to be Sephiroth's personal secretary for the administrative bullshit that would no doubt come from this Materia program topped that list. But even if the tasking had turned out to be something else- something important- Wendt hadn't had the balls to stand his ground long enough to find out one way or another.
Wasting both of our time with this pointless conversation. Genesis leveled a severe look at the 2nd Class and expressed his displeasure with a succinct order. "The details, Wendt. Get me the details by tomorrow or we'll need to rethink our arrangement."
"Yes, sir." He took a step to the side and added tersely, "My apologies."
Trae considered his options and could only think of one: He'd have to give the bitch what she wanted.
Don't hate me for this, Noel.
"And what 'gift' would you be prepared to offer if I agreed to join your organization," he queried as indifferently as he could. Just because she had him by the balls, that didn't mean he didn't have some leverage to use to his advantage. Danita remained in the doorway, her expression mildly curious enough that Trae was encouraged to go on. "Right now. If I were inclined to make that deal- what you would be willing to put on the table?"
"Well, Trae," she answered with another cunning smile. "I'd say that depends on what you might want."
So, she'd make him throw down the starting bid in this negotiation. Given the stakes, Trae knew to aim well higher than anything he expected to win. Nor did he intend to begin with the concession he needed to get out of her, as it'd be the first she would strike down. Better to start with something that sounded more impressive, but meant far less to him.
"What you said, for one. I want to make decisions instead of being told what to do. I mean true autonomy- not whatever this one was promised." He tipped his head to Kyle in the cell next to him. "I see just how much rope he got before you hung him, and want no part of that. If I sign on, I want access to the details. I want the why driving decisions about what actions are being taken. And the latitude to influence those actions."
Danita raised an eyebrow. "That's quite the list of demands."
It was. Demands he knew she would never grant him. Doubtful that she would even pretend to offer him those terms just to coax him into a bargain. Trae just hoped he'd been convincing enough that she wouldn't guess he'd only thrown it out as a red herring. He'd been honest when he'd told Noel that Danita's skills at this sort of game exceeded his own. But he had to try.
"Fair price in exchange for what I stand to lose, I'd say. And what you stand to gain."
"And what do we stand to gain?"
Trae allowed himself a sharp, bitter grin as he reminded her, "I'm a SOLDIER 1st Class. That sort of status buys me access into places that your organization would find useful, I'd imagine. Not just that, but also the authority to demand information from sources who would laugh in your face."
The thought of using either of those tools to help this bitch and her cronies put hard edge in his voice that came out sounding a lot like arrogance. Useful, as it drew her away from the door and back into the room. She took a step closer to his cell. Then another, putting her within reach once again. With her guard dogs gone, the two of them were all alone. Trae suppressed the urge to seize an opportunity to take Danita out; a strike now- even a lethal one- wouldn't get himself out of this cell.
Wouldn't get him to Noel.
"So sure about that, are you?" She extended her arm so that her hand passed between the bars, fingers trailing over his bicep and should before tangling in his hair. Her eyes held his as she leaned forward. "You'd be surprised at how many 'inaccessible' doors can be opened with the right incentive. Or what the most reticent source may let slip when the mind is- shall we say- 'preoccupied'."
Trae wouldn't put it past her to stoop to such tactics. He'd met at least one stuffed-shirt politician during his career who would likely fall for them, too. But even if a dozen or more could be paid off- or bought- with a tumble between the sheets, she still needed inroads to power that existed outside the bedroom. The sooner he convinced her of that the better, as he found her touch nauseating. Trae regarded with a stony expression that let her know the truth of his next words.
"You can't seduce them all."
Danita laughed.
"That I can't, Trae." She withdrew her hand and gestured artlessly at him. "Case in point. And quite frankly, I hadn't intended to try."
"Then you are in need of the kinds of connections I can offer. Else you would have just strapped me into that machine same as Noel."
"I still could, you know." His stare dared her to do it, earning another amused laugh from her. "Working with you could prove very interesting, Trae, if we can come to an acceptable arrangement."
"So let's hear what you have to say, then. Unless you were accepting my terms as is."
"I'm afraid that's not possible- at least not at the outset. Surely you can appreciate that providing you with that much autonomy before establishing a rapport of trust would be an unwise risk on my part." She stepped back. "You have your interests to protect, and I have mine. At present, I suspect they still run crosswise of each other."
Just the answer he'd expected to hear. Danita was still dangling the bait that she might eventually be persuaded to change her mind, but had taken those privileges off the table. A prime opportunity to trading them in for what he was truly after. Trae kept his tone just shy of being openly contemptuous as he prodded her, "Your counteroffer, then?"
"High Maven, we're all set and Edzel is asking if he should proceed."
Danita turned to the big-boned fellow who'd stuck his head and shoulders into the doorway. Another face he didn't recognize. With everyone he'd seen thus far, Trae figured at least a dozen operatives reported up to her. Perhaps as many as twenty. This one could have waited the five or ten minutes it would have taken to get a measure of how much she might bend.
"Tell him I'm taking care of business and will be out shortly, but he is not to begin until I am present."
"Yes, High Maven."
The man disappeared, leaving Danita to resume their negotiations. Or, as he feared would be more likely, to postpone them. A fear that turned out to be justified when she turned back to him.
"I'm afraid we don't have time to finalize all the details to our mutual satisfaction. As you heard, I am needed to oversee the extraction."
"I guess that all depends on what you see as more important."
"Oh, Trae. I meant what I said before. Sparing your lover is simply not within the scope of what I can offer you. Perhaps one day, I can explain why, but know in this moment that you cannot hope to prevent this."
He hadn't intended to ask for that much, having already accepted that Noel was lost to him. But all the better that she thought that had been his true aim in offering up his allegiance. It gave him one last card to play in this losing game.
"Then I want to be there."
"I'm sorry?"
Danita looked genuinely startled. Good. Just the advantage he could use right now.
"You want my cooperation, you'll get me out of this cell and take me to Noel. You do me the courtesy of letting me be there to say goodbye or I swear I'll make you and everyone else regret I ever set foot in this place."
To Genesis' ear, the man didn't sound all that apologetic. More like borderline insolent. But it just wasn't worth the added aggravation, and so he pretended it didn't exist as he continued on his way. Really hoped that tomorrow wouldn't see a repeat of this miserable routine or he truly would reevaluate how much potential benefit he stood to gain in exchange for Wendt's more obnoxious shortcomings. A prospect that had Genesis suppressing a discouraged sigh.
The elevators were in sight when he realized he'd forgotten to make a stop in the locker room before dropping by Angeal's office. He'd left a few things in his locker while training with Wendt this afternoon. Some of them didn't matter, but Genesis wasn't about to leave his copy of LOVELESS here overnight. Next to his goddess, it was his next most treasured possession. He resigned himself to turning back to fetch it, despite the delay it would cause.
By the time he'd gotten there and back, 19:00 had come and gone by more than fifteen minutes. He'd be lucky to make it home before 20:00 at this rate. And just his luck, the only elevator running at this hour was halfway to the lobby- headed down. Angeal, perhaps. Or Wendt. Or Sephiroth, even. So while the wait annoyed him, Genesis preferred it over the unpleasant prospect of sharing the ride with any of them.
Minutes ticked by with agonizing slowness as the car began its long ascent up to the 49th floor. Had nearly arrived when Genesis saw Lilith turn the corner. She caught sight of him and froze mid-step. No doubt debating whether she ought to find some excuse to wait for the next trip and turn back the way she'd come. Then she squared her shoulders and kept on course; Genesis couldn't say with 100% certainty that he would have done the same.
"Lilith," he greeted her dutifully.
"Rhapsodos," she returned with polite wariness, clearly not entirely at ease.
She's not the only one.
Yesterday's apology- and the reasons why he'd needed to offer one- left him acutely uncomfortable. Never one to admit defeat, Genesis forced himself to see this as an opportunity. A means of gauging his goddess' mood if he could get the woman talking about their lunch date. After the disappointments with Wendt and the other 1st Classes, he certainly hoped that his efforts weren't wasted there. And so when the elevator doors opened, he gestured for Lilith to go ahead of him.
"Ladies first."
"Thank you, sir."
He almost told her that it wasn't necessary to be so formal, but thought better of it. A lack of formality was how he got into the whole mess with her at the outset, so perhaps he ought not to risk making the same mistake twice. So while he cringed at hearing 'sir' from a lady- even one posing as a SOLDIER- Genesis convinced himself it was the lesser of two evils. The doors closed and they were on their way to the lobby.
"So," he began while leaning casually against the hand rail. "You met with Danita over lunch today. Did you ladies enjoy yourselves?"
"Well enough," she replied after a slight pause. "Although her office called while we were still eating, and she had to leave early."
Not what he wanted to hear. He had hoped this outing would satisfy Danita's curiosity about the woman and she'd lose interest, but now he anticipated she'd feel the need to schedule another outing. Rather, she'd expect him to arrange it. Just the headache he needed right now. His lukewarm smile couldn't completely mask how tedious he found the whole business. Lilith marked it with no show of surprise, and then shook her head.
"Have no fear, sir. You won't be called upon as a go-between again. Danita has my number."
Thank Gaia.
"I take it she's interested in rescheduling?"
"You could say that," Lilith replied with a shrug. "Danita mentioned something about having a standing lunch date. I told her I can't make it every day between the watches and training, but-"
"Every day," he repeated, completely dumbstruck at the very idea.
She nodded.
"That's what she said."
"What in Gaia's name could she talk about if she's meeting you that often?"
Genesis hadn't meant to ask that question aloud, but it slipped past him. Lilith didn't answer, for which he was grateful. Her expression gave him enough of an idea what topics might come up; he didn't need to hear that suspicion confirmed. Worse, he couldn't undo this now that the wheels were in motion. And if his goddess had it set in her mind to be friends with Lilith…
Suppose she starts pushing to 'double date' with her, he thought with no small amount of panic. He could just see the impending disaster awaiting him there- especially if Kunsel got dragged into it. If it comes up, I think I'll be using Angeal's 'fraternization' line. It's about time it was good for something.
They'd descended a few floors before Genesis had recovered enough to resume their conversation. Rather than prod further about Danita, he switched topics altogether.
"Rather surprised to see you headed out at this hour," he commented with mild curiosity. "Seeing as though you have nowhere to go."
That could have been phrased better, he thought with an inward wince.
"That's actually why I'm going out. Linel said she had civilian clothes she'd let me have so that I could save gil towards getting a new place instead of using it to rebuild my severely diminished wardrobe."
Her words had a sobering effect, even for him. Genesis hadn't really thought about it, but Lilith had likely lost everything except whatever she'd taken to Junon or stored in her locker. Not just the clothes, but the furniture, kitchenware…personal effects. Even on a 1st Class' salary, he didn't want to imagine having to replace everything in his apartment. Definitely couldn't do it less than a month or two. On hers, it'd take double or triple the time.
Living out of a common barracks room for three or four months…
He didn't know what to say. It didn't seem appropriate to follow up with the kind of flirtatious joke that was in keeping with his general conversation skills when it came to women. And after the last time he'd gone that route with Lilith, it had backfired, anyway. The elevator slowed, nearly at the lobby, and still Genesis hadn't come up with a response. Then the doors opened and she preceded him out. They stood in the eerily empty lobby, regarding one another in awkward silence for a few minutes.
"I ought to get going, sir," Lilith said with a step backward. "Don't want to keep Linel waiting, and I'm sure you're wanting to get home to Danita."
"Yes. I'm sure she's wondering where I am."
"In that case, good evening, sir."
"Evening, Lilith."
She turned and walked towards the opposite set of doors, leaving him standing where he was for a minute longer. Trying to get a handle on things and not quite feeling like he was managing it as well as he ought to be. The day had just thrown him in one too many unexpected directions. Wendt. Sephiroth and Angeal. Lilith. Every time he'd turned around, something wasn't going the way he'd planned. Genesis shook himself out of his daze and headed for the nearest set of doors, grateful to be going home. At least he could count on his goddess to be there waiting for him.
Once around the corner from Shinra's massive headquarter building, I deemed it safe enough to stop. Not for long, just to retrieve an oversize hat I'd 'borrowed' from one of the 3rd Classes. He'd get it back before morning and had no need of it tonight. I, on the other hand, definitely needed some means of disguising my hair if I was going to pass unnoticed through Midgar. Even with the city's ability to lure in people from all over the planet, red hair stood out as uncommon. I caught my hair up at the base of my neck, gave it a quick twist or two, and then tucked it under the hat. Not perfect, but with the daylight fading, a few stray wisps could be mistaken for a reddish-brown.
Now I just need to get to Sector 8 without running across any of Danita's pawns- including Genesis.
Which was why I was taking the long way around instead of the more direct route. It would take more time, but better to be a few minutes late over the alternative. No telling where the 1st Class lived, so I wanted him well on his way before I entered the Sector. Wanted to be sure our paths wouldn't cross again after I'd told him I was meeting Linel.
"At least he bought the story without asking too many damned questions," I said aloud. "Really wasn't prepared to deal with him this evening."
But even if his presence hadn't been expected, Genesis' choice of conversational subjects gave me no unpleasant surprises. In fact, having him ask after my meeting with Danita turned out to be a positive for me. Or so I hoped, anyway. Mentioning that she wanted to see me every day had come as a shock to the 1st Class, meaning she hadn't already vetted the idea with him before coming to me. Either Danita hadn't wanted him to know, or she'd made it up on the spot.
No matter which is true, now I've given her an unexpected kink in that plan, as I don't think Genesis was all that keen on the two of us being so good of friends.
The border with Sector 8 was just up ahead. I cast another look behind me after crossing the street, watching for any signs that I was being followed. So far so good. But now I had to navigate through an area of the city I didn't know very well; had little desire- or the means- to partake of its wide variety of entertainments. And Hewley didn't put 2nd Classes on the Sector 8 roving watches. I didn't even know what sort of building belonged to the address Sephiroth had given me.
Although I have a working theory of what it might be. To find it, though, I'd need to look for a bus stop. They usually had a general map of the streets following the routes and the Sector on the whole. From there, I could get my bearings. Does Sector 8 even have buses?
I got my answer on the next block; thankfully, the one I wanted. No one was around, so I walked over to study the backlit digital map carefully for a minute or two. Even better, I managed to find the street- not a main boulevard or even one of the busier side streets. Judging by the layout of the streets around it, I got the impression that those blocks were residential in nature.
"Doesn't mean that the address is a residence." I memorized the turns I'd have to take to get there and then set off again. "Lots of smaller shops set out in those types of places to attract local business. Could just as easily be a tea house or something."
Words I'd keep telling myself in the hopes they'd turn out to be true. Very little had gone as expected this evening, so I felt I was owed that much. Definitely was owed something for having to deal with Wendt three times in one day. Following my less than stellar performance with Sephiroth, I'd made a beeline for the barracks room with the intention of getting a dose of my meds. Not the injections, as I would have been too groggy to keep focused for the 1st Class' mysterious meeting. But I had a less potent oral medicine that sometimes worked just as well.
Or would have if Wendt hadn't shown up, I griped to myself.
He'd walked into the barracks room just as I'd slipped the bottle back into its discreet storage pouch in my locked rack compartment. The pills were hidden in the palm of my hand, thankfully, so at least he hadn't seen them. At first, I thought he'd come in looking for Brown, who would have been headed back to his evening watch and might have passed through here. But no, he wasn't. Wendt was there with the sole purpose of annoying me about my meeting with Danita.
"Which would have been obnoxious enough at any time, but the prick just had to stay so long that the pills weren't salvageable and I didn't have time to get more."
Not without being late a second time. After the warning I'd gotten the first time, I figured I could survive a little longer and just take an injection dose after finding out what Sephiroth wanted. Except that plan hadn't worked out so well, either. Sephiroth's assignment left me completely blindsided. Not so much the task itself- I could appreciate why the 1st Classes would want the information transcribed. Just was surprised he would pick me for the task over Zack or Kunsel.
Well, Kunsel, anyway. I'm not sure Zack would be a good fit for this sort of thing.
Kunsel would, though. He always had a talent for piecing information together and connecting dots- not to mention keeping what he discovered a closely guarded secret. I'd often wondered why he hadn't put in to be a Turk instead of signing up with SOLDIER. Veld would have made good use of those skills. But as Kunsel was at Sephiroth's disposal, I would have thought the 1st Class would have seen him as the more desirable candidate.
"Although, if this address is what I suspect it is…perhaps he isn't."
From a strategy perspective, selecting me did present a distinct advantage. If he was inviting a 2nd Class to his own apartment, best to have all the angles covered in case the arrangement was discovered. No one was going to think twice about assuming we were screwing around; the same could not be said if Sephiroth brought Kunsel here.
Still will make my life hell if anyone does find out and the rumors start flying. Worse than the fallout with Genesis. And I don't even want to think about what the guys will say.
Maybe they wouldn't believe the gossip. From what I'd heard at the meeting this afternoon, even Luxiere was aware that things weren't always what they appeared around Shinra lately. But whether they believed the rumors or not, just having them spread around Headquarters would be enough to damage my relationship with all of them- Kunsel in particular.
Why Kunsel? After all, you no longer have a relationship with him. Or did you forget?
"No," I shot back, despite knowing I would be better off ignoring the taunting questions. After the day I'd had- and the parts of it yet to come- I was too tired and cross to make the smart decision. "And that wasn't my decision."
Wasn't it?
The end of the block came up quickly, owing to the brisk pace set by my agitation. One of the many theaters in this Sector occupied the next block, the sidewalk clogged with the constant mix of patrons arriving and leaving one of its shows. Lucky for me, I would be turning off here and wouldn't have to wend my way through them. No telling who else might be lurking in that crowd.
Well?
Well, what?
You didn't answer the question.
"It's done with," I said with undertones of regret and finality. "Picking apart who did what won't change it."
No wheedling rejoinder from my inner thoughts, which allowed me to concentrate on the last leg of my journey. Or at least as much as I could concentrate with the damned ache inside my skull edging ever closer to becoming a full-blown migraine. And since I hadn't had the time to get more meds with everything else I needed to do, the next several hours promised to see my condition only worsen. I just hoped I could keep it together long enough to get to my destination, perform my task and get back to Shinra.
Speaking of the first of those…I thought as I checked the address of the building in front of me. It looks as though I've arrived.