Gillian Hewley lived alone in a neighborhood that consisted of a few nearly identical houses clustered together. Sephiroth had expected that, knowing Angeal's upbringing was a modest one from occasional hints in conversations.

He was looking forward to meeting Gillian, and not just for the agenda he had in mind. From the way his friend spoke of his mother, she was very dear to him, perhaps the most important person in his life. Angeal's infrequent but fond musings about the memories involving her had led him to form the idea of a warm and caring woman, someone he rather liked to think was what his own mother would have been like.

The reality turned out to be different, at least based on the first impression. Gillian Hewley welcomed Genesis and Sephiroth in a polite but slightly distant manner, and after a few minutes of small talk that consisted of her almost pointedly not looking in Sephiroth's direction, she excused herself and disappeared into the kitchen.

Bewildered and a little stung, the silver-haired SOLDIER turned to Angeal for an explanation, only to find the latter also blinking in confusion.

He spoke cautiously. "I'm assuming that wasn't the norm for her."

"Something is clearly amiss," said Genesis, smiling in the way he did when intrigued by an occurrence. "Angeal, you haven't been badmouthing our friend here, by any chance?"

"Ha ha," said Angeal, rolling his eyes.

This was his opportunity. "You don't mind if I go talk to her, do you?"

Angeal frowned at him, but it wasn't one of disapproval. "I don't know…"

"Is there a problem?"

"You're not exactly known for your tact, Sephiroth."

"I'll be sure to be on my best behavior," he said with a smirk, and Angeal relented with a sigh.

"Do you want some help with that?"

In retrospect, saying that was probably not the best idea, considering a 'no' would have left him out of excuses to enter the kitchen. But Gillian said 'Oh, that's kind of you' and Sephiroth joined her in her work.

After a few moments of silence, she said with a chuckle, "I wasn't very subtle, was I?"

"Not really, no," Sephiroth admitted. "And seeing as I have never met you, I don't understand what I could have done to offend you."

"It's not anything you did," she said. Then she fell silent.

He could tell, though, that more was forthcoming and she was simply gathering her thoughts. So, he did not press her, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand. Not that it required much attention; if there was one thing that he was good at, it was wielding a blade.

"You look so much like her."

Sephiroth's head snapped up. Gillian Hewley's expression was a mixture of emotions that were hard to tell apart, but there was no mistaking who she could be referring to.

"My mother," he whispered. "You knew her?"

"I did," Gillian responded, just as quietly. "What do you know about her?"

"Not much." His mouth had gone dry. "Not… enough."

"Would you like for me to tell you what I know?"

Sephiroth stopped just short of responding. There was something in her tone, in her eyes, that did not match the sensitive issue she was speaking of.

She was not asking out of the goodness of her heart; she wanted something from him. And by allowing himself to be alone with her, he had given her the perfect opportunity to demand it.

This was not the time to allow his emotions to cloud his judgment.

"I know she worked for Shinra," he said quietly, making sure to wipe his face clean of any expression. Gillian blinked, looking taken aback. "I suppose that also makes you a Shinra employee. Not surprising, considering you allowed them to experiment on your child."

He spoke the last words in a low, even tone, and was rewarded with the desired effect as Gillian took in a sharp breath, all of the color draining from her face as she stared at him with wide eyes.

"I haven't told Angeal," Sephiroth said calmly, still not raising his voice. "Yet."

She swallowed hard. "What do you want?"

There it was. The tables had been turned. It was almost painful, how easy it had been to make her believe that he would do something like that to one of his closest friends. And yet, it wasn't surprising. After all, this was far from the first time Sephiroth had used his dubious reputations to gain advantage.

"Just what you offered."

She looked down at the kitchen counter and let out a long sigh, her shoulders drooping. "I suppose it was a bit foolish of me to attempt what I did."

"Yes, it was," Sephiroth said, matter-of-factly. "Points for effort, though."

He watched as Gillian visibly steadied herself, her shoulders straightening. "Midnight, the square," she said. "I'll wait for you."

He inclined his head. "I'll be there."

A subtle tension remained between them throughout the rest of their visit. Both Angeal and Genesis seemed to have picked up on it. The former kept glancing at Sephiroth with a disappointed expression, and Sephiroth had to stifle an amused smile at the realization that his friend had mistaken the sense of animosity to be due to some sort of fault with his mannerisms towards Angeal's mother.

Genesis… he was another story entirely.

The redhead had always been extremely perspective, especially when it came to behavioral changes and emotional cues. He did not say a word, but Sephiroth was not exactly surprised that, on walking out of the front doors at ten minutes to midnight, he heard a voice that stopped him in his tracks.

"My friend, do you fly away now…?"

Without turning, he said, "I expected you to last a little more than three days, Genesis."

There was a moment of silence, and Sephiroth would have laughed if the situation wasn't so serious. Trust his overdramatic friend to forget his promises at the prospect of a grand entrance.

"I suppose an apology is in order," Genesis admitted finally.

"Indeed. However, I would settle for an unhindered exit."

Glowing blue eyes flashed with amusement as his friend made his way to his side. "I have to credit you, Sephiroth. Life is never dull around you, not even in the most uneventful place I have ever had the dubious pleasure of seeing."

"I assure you, the excitement is quite avoidable for you."

Genesis did not speak for a moment, openly studying him. "Does this concern me?"

"No." The response was immediate.

"Angeal, then?"

Sephiroth could not keep the surprise from his face, and Genesis's lips curved into a slightly mocking smile. "You keep underestimating me, my friend."

He shook his head a little, dismissively, looking the other SOLDIER in the eye. "This is regarding something very… personal to me. As I said, this is not related to you in any way. And apart from the source, whose identity I suspect you already know, I have no reason to believe this impacts Angeal, either."

"It is the source I am curious about," Genesis mused. "If it is the person I suspect… how can they possibly know anything about you?"

Sephiroth took a long breath, and then said simply, "I'm going alone, Genesis."

"What if it's not up to you?" Genesis challenged.

The anger that statement evoked was almost enough for him to summon Masamune. "This does not concern you," he emphasized, his voice frigid with suppressed rage. How could Genesis try to rob him of this? Did he truly not understand how much this meant to Sephiroth?

Of course, Genesis, with his privileged upbringing with two parents caring for him – how would he?

As that thought crossed his mind, he suddenly had to look away and clench his fists. The fact that Genesis, with all this, envied him… It was laughable.

When he turned back, Genesis was looking at him strangely. It was an expression Sephiroth was familiar with, but he had only ever seen it directed at Angeal, and even that, very rarely.

Concern.

"If she tells you anything about me, I'd like to know it," his friend said simply, and then stepped aside, leaving the path open.

Sephiroth gave him a nod, and then walked past without looking back.

Be sure to tell me your thoughts!