Left Behind
Chapter 2 – A Whole New World of Icky
Sephiroth watched the Turk in his peripheral vision. He'd heard countless rumors about her, but had heretofore successfully avoided contact with her. He thought she was insane, and the episode in the bathroom confirmed it for him. He'd picked up the sound of the water from inside the office, and then the much louder sound of the glass shattering, the door slamming, the shards falling. High ranking officers of SOLDIER first class whispered about her inhuman ability to control her body. Second class SOLDIERs muttered about her skill with explosives and the rumors she had the whole Shin-Ra building rigged to go at the push of a button. Third class murmured about all that, and her beauty. He understood how, even though Jesse was scarred on one side of her face, they thought she was beautiful. Her eyes caught and held you before they moved on, she had the grace of something fey and weightless. The delicate bones in her face were unmarred by her years as a Turk, and to the best of the General's knowledge, the only man alive to ever touch her was Rufus.
For some odd reason, the silver haired warrior found his eyes straying to Jesse's concentrating form by the window with unerring accuracy. A lit cigarette drooped from her half-slack lips, the ash clinging to the tip desperately. Her long, shaggy brown hair fell forward to mostly hide her face from his prying green eyes. He had avoided her for only one reason he would admit: she was the only person he'd ever known of who could possibly be his equal.
Despite her chain smoking, her skin was pale and unwrinkled. She held the rifle in steady hands as she sighted the guards one last time. Sephiroth stood up and stretched lazily while Jesse packed up her things. He held the door for her when they left the office, drawing a partially surprised, partially amused smirk from her. He felt his lips twitch in response and they left the dingy little room behind.
Jesse had grabbed a battered, worn old bag before exiting. The black canvas bag held all of Jesse's equipment, all the ingredients for her art. They crept from shadow to shadow in the failing light to the occupied building, bypassing all the police and guards soundlessly. Sephiroth moved surprisingly stealthily for such a big man. Jesse was faster though, and more daring. She darted across open spaces when the guards were but half turned. She didn't give a damn if she was caught, or so it seemed. The truth? Jesse had a death-wish, and she was ready and willing to take on anyone, or anything.
A few close calls, three defused traps, and one body later, Jesse and Sephiroth were inside the office building, and heading for the basement. They scrambled over a few piles of rubble from earlier attempts to remove the rebels, Seph courteously lending Jesse a helping hand so that she didn't get plaster dust all over her haphazard but clean suit.
The two reached the basement, and Sephiroth stood just inside the stairwell to stand guard. Jesse descended into the darkness, certain that there was nothing down there to fear. After all, just because it was creepy didn't mean there were rogue monsters down there waiting for the unwary...right?
Jesse bit back an irrational desire to ask Sephiroth to come with her. He had his job, and she had hers. Besides, the more valuable person always stayed closest to the exit in case of an emergency. There was no question that Sephiroth was more valuable. Fingers twitching around the handle of her bag, Jesse walked down the dank stairs and into a whole new world of icky.