Lucka couldn't tell the exact time she'd woke up on the General Sofa. It's still not a dream, she pondered. She half-heartedly accepted the fact and sat there for a moment longer, having a good stretch one or two. Sleeping on the sofa would never be her favorite, even if it was a sumptuous one. She missed her bed and a pile of the big soft pillow.
The living room was dark, the lights were all off, and there were no signs of sun rays sneaking into the space behind the dense curtain. She shuffled to stand by the window and peek through the curtain, sliding it open to greet the daw in her sight. The horizon had a blurry Mako green with a faint yellow tint. The sky was empty with no clouds. Beneath it, the cyberpunk city hadn't awakened yet.
Her senses were fully wakened now, and she couldn't go back to sleep. She was hungry. The General only gave her a sandwich for last night's dinner. Would he be mad if she discreetly invaded his kitchen? Or should she ask first? If she was lucky enough, he might also cook for her. She pondered for a while. The General was cold and distant, but it didn't mean he wasn't a caring person, right? He hadn't turned into that sadistic madman by this time. Or would it be best to just wait here until he woke up? But if she did nothing, she'd be bored to death. She glanced back from her shoulder at the bookshelf by the wall. Nah, too early to study.
Hence, here she stood. After hustling her ass off, she stared at the door that she presumed was the General bedroom. She knocked carefully three times. No answer. She tried again and said, "General, I'm starving."
She waited. There was a long moment of silence accompanying her. But before she knocked again, an answer came from the other side. The General sounded huskier than usual when he said, "Help yourself."
She nodded to the door and dashed out to the kitchen. She thought, how many supplies are available for a single man who spent almost all his time at work (and mission)? And not to mention, he was a skilled fighter. He was eminent at killing people on the battlefield rather than cooking in the kitchen. She rummaged through his cabinet and fridge. And of course, without any fun surprise, there was not much.
There was a carton of almond milk, eggs, and frozen veggies. Lucka thought about various recipes and glanced at the most likely a decade-untouched oven. Oh, she should be feeling grateful, at least. There were enough ingredients for two. A peasant frittata would work.
She cooked in silence. The only noise came from the sautéed veggies on the skillet. After the frittata base was done, the oven started cooking. She had fifteen minutes left, so Lucka rechecked the fridge. She decided to make a smoothie from frozen berries she found, which were almost entirely covered in thick ice in the freezer (that looked like it'd been forgotten in months). It would provide additional healthy nutrition. Her host—or a captor—was a well-built man, and she wondered if he'd need more food to eat.
Sephiroth woke up to a faint delicious smell inside his bedroom. He blinked several times as memory played inside his mind. It must be her. He stood and strolled down the hallway, heading straight to the kitchen.
He found her half sitting on the edges of the kitchen island, facing the window while munching blueberries. As he stepped closer, he caught the side of her features. For a beat, he didn't notice he'd stopped at his track by the view.
It was just the way the sunrise shone all over her presence. How significant a change in lighting could portray the extreme opposite image. The first time he saw her, she looked like a ghost. But this morning, she was like early snow melted by the sun. It was almost... majestic.
"Morning, General. Breakfast." She inclined her head towards the counter beneath her and moved to face him.
Her gentle voice brought him back from whatever incantation cast against him. Sephiroth hummed and sat on one of the stools when he glanced over all the food on the counter. I've been living alone for years. I'd spent almost all of my growing phase in the lab, from when I was just a baby. The idea of a woman (in this case, is my captive) greeting me and making breakfast for me in the morning, in fact, it's uncanny, hepondered.
"No wonder the girls keep hounding you day and night," she said and joined him across the table. Her eyes shamelessly slid up and down his features with no expression. "How much would Silver Elite spend to get this special morning photo?"
Sephiroth just realized his hair was still messy, and he hadn't put back his robe or any shirts on. He said, "You won't dare." His eyebrow twitched as he snatched out a fork from the cutlery box.
"Nah, if it only prolongs my confinement," she said and ate her meal with a sigh. "How long do you expect Tseng to get the data?"
"It should be done in one or two days." He ate his frittata too. Surprisingly the taste could rival Angeal's cooking.
"Then what can I do during this time?"—she stabbed the food as her eyes cast down —"you wouldn't bring me to the Headquarters again, would you?"
"I can't leave you here. If you can enter my house easily, you also can leave without difficulty."
She scowled as if remembering last day's conversation and sighed again before she said, "Duh. I can't break your house security. But okay, I get the point."
They ate in silence. After finishing all of the food, Lucka washed the dishes and picked up something from the cabinet.
"Coffee after smoothie is a bit weird, but plain black?" she asked and raised the coffee jar.
His eyes lingered on her for a bit longer. How come the girl knew his preference? Did she know it from the Silver Elite forum? But he rarely drinks and buys coffee outside. He said nothing while giving her a nod, then walked out of the kitchen and headed to the bathroom.
Lucka was leaning back on the sofa while she held a cup of tea and Gaia's thick geographical book on her lap. The book was fascinating. Now her stomach was full. And she was ready to learn something that possibly would benefit her.
She didn't know what would happen after Tseng reported to the General. Would they kill her? Or would they spare her? It didn't matter. When the time comes, she should find a way to flee no matter what. Staying with Shinra brought nothing good. And she'd need knowledge of this world's continent in advance. She hoped in Cosmo Canyon, as she met Bugenhagen, she could study the planet's mainland and find a way to go back.
She was reading the page that described the cave area when a creaked sound from the opened bathroom door distracted her. The General stood by the door with a short towel hung on his head, water dripping from his locks, and a damp white bathrobe wrapped around his muscular body. Lucka was torn between being polite or just following her wit, but in the end, she couldn't hold back her tongue to give a remark at the scene. Majorly because of the distinctive fragrance coming from him.
"Holy wow!" Lucka stared openly at him with a glimmer in her eyes as her hands closed the book with a thud. "So that's true? You're using thirteen kinds of perfume for your shampoo and conditioner!"
His jaw tightened. He said, "You have ten minutes to get ready." He stormed straight to his bedroom.
"Oh. So today, you decided to give me time to prepare." She snorted to the closed door.
Lucka stood to put back the book, wash the teacup, then strode to the bathroom. Granted, she should take a good time for a morning bath.
Sephiroth was almost done with his hair. When a series of knocks on his bedroom door, cutting through the noisy sound of the hairdryer. He ran the last stroke of the comb, cleared up the stuff in one swipe, and shoved them into the drawer dresser.
"Yeah?" he opened the door to find Lucka looking up at him. The girl's white hair was damp, and there was a flush on her cheeks from the warm bath. Her fresh-looking skin highlighted her pinkish lips. Then he caught the sight of her damp-almost-wet t-shirt plastered on her skin.
"Could you please lend me some clothes? I don't have any change. And there are no spare towels in the bathroom, so… yeah." She tugged the hem of her t-shirt, her toes drummed on the oak floor in an awkward beat while she stared up at him with flickered eyes.
Well, he didn't expect this kind of sight. Sephiroth had two bathrooms in his house. One was in his bedroom and one near the living room. It just happened that he used both of them interchangeably. But after she annoyed him, he forgot to put a new towel in the bathroom. He said, "Ah, wait." He withdrew into his closet, then back with a thick white towel and spare clothes. "Here."
"Thanks." Lucka put on a small smile and made her way back to the bathroom. It was the first time he saw her smile.
He closed the door and continued wearing his usual uniform. Once he was done, he walked the hallway and spotted a glass of coffee on the table in the living room. He glanced at the bathroom door. It was still closed. He sat on the sofa and waited for the girl while sipping his warm coffee. Plain Black.
Sephiroth was about to finish the coffee when Lucka stepped out of the bathroom door. She stopped in front of him and lightly brushed her tangled, wavy hair. He lent her his white linen dress shirt and a pair of black jeans with a belt. He couldn't agree more that they looked oddly good on her. Was it perhaps she naturally fits the oversized style? Though seeing her in his clothes brought an unfamiliar feeling to his stomach. He'd never lent his personal goods to a stranger except her. Was it the cause?
"I'm ready, General," she said.
"You look cute in that outfit," Genesis said to her with a smirk, "though, if I didn't know any better. You look like a woman who just slept over at Sephiroth's place."
"Well, I literally slept in his house," Lucka corrected him with a flat tone while her eyebrows raised innocently.
Genesis gave her soft chuckles after seeing the reaction. "You don't wear his underwear too, do you?" He cast an intended mischievous look.
She blinked impassively, but her tone colored with a hint of glee. She said, "Even if I wanted to, The General would never allow me."
"Then do it discreetly. You're good at stealth, right?" Genesis tilted his head as he leaned back on the armchairs beside her.
"He'll know and may accuse me as an enchantress."
Genesis released a hearty laugh, then said, "Oh, my door is open anytime he decides to kick you out."
"Genesis, don't you have any other important things to do?" The General sighed without looking up from his paperwork. Though he said with a level tone, his expression was neutral.
Genesis snapped his head to him. He said, "There's no other important thing to do besides make a company for Lucka. She needs someone who is convivial."
"I need your report before lunch."
Genesis snorted and stood from his seat. "Fine," he said, then addressing Lucka. "See you at lunch?"
"Yeah, see ya'. " Lucka nodded and waved a hand at him.
After the chatty air died down from Genesis's discharge, It was that awkward silence in the room. Lucka watched the General doing his paperwork again. She noticed how his silky hair flowed beautifully to his shoulder. It's really worth the product and effort, isn't it? They look so smooth and soft. Would he be mad if she ran her fingers on them? She didn't mind, though. Would it be worth it if she tried? Oh, why do I want to touch it so badly? Should I?
No way. He would be mad if she attempted touching even a single strand of his hair. Besides, his books would entertain her boredom for the day.
It was lunchtime, and it was super hectic, full of chatter, laughter, and a mass of men everywhere until her head blistered. Lucka stalked behind the General quietly. She brought a food tray in her hand and indirectly hid her presence from every prying eye. They chose the spot on the corner, away from everyone, where the table had been occupied by two people she knew. It was Angeal and Genesis. She slid herself beside the auburn-haired Commander and nodded to him.
"Heya," she said while tugging a strand of white hair behind her ear.
"Hey, do you miss me?" he asked.
"Yeah, no." She smirked and dug the pasta on her plate.
"You know. My office is too big to be occupied by only one person." He twisted his fork playfully beside her.
Lucka glanced at the General who sat across her, which gave her an indifferent look. She said, "Well, I guess so. Too bad I can't check it 'cause I'm under certain someone's surveillance."
"Then, let me give you a visit." Genesis put on a sly smile.
"Do you always act this nice, brother?" Lucka asked with a frown.
Angeal chuckled and said, "Let's say Genesis is happy after every day just surrounded by a male cadet."
"My friend, your desire is the bringer of life, the gift of the goddess." With a pointless exaggeration, he threw his free hand in the air.
Lucka cringed mentally and decided her pasta was more interesting than him. She didn't hate LOVELESS but hearing it as a pickup line was difficult.
Lucka barely brought the fork to her mouth when someone called Angeal's name. She glanced up to find a man who strolled towards their tables dashingly. A tall, black-haired man with a well-built posture like any other SOLDIER member she had seen. His eyes were as blue as the ocean with a hint of Mako green, a warm, tender gaze that could make every girl swoon away with their charm. Zack.
"Zack…" she murmured the name.
Lucka was so immersed in his presence. She didn't realize the fork had fallen to her plate. While in the corner of her eyes, the General was eyeing her closely. It was just like the time twirling painfully slows. Zack's face was her only focus in the room. She caught her breath, a deep ache in her chest and burning tears threatening to fall. She curled her fingers into a fist. Her knuckle turned white as she tried to calm herself down.
"Angeal! We'll exercise in the training room this afternoon, right?" He was basically bouncing on his feet.
Angeal sighed. He said, "I'm afraid we can't, Zack. They moved the schedule to tomorrow morning."
"What?! No way, not again!"—he threw a fist into the air— "then what will we do instead?"
"Remedial in building your mana." Angeal put his fist to his jaw as he made a thinking gesture and said, "You're still bad at it."
Zack's shoulder slumped down as he grunted. And at that time, their eyes met. Her body tensed when he said, "You got a new friend here?" Zack fixed his posture and gave her a sheepish smile. He studied her for a moment longer.
"Zack, this is Lucka, Lucka, this is Zack." Genesis waved his hand absently back and forth between them.
Zack moved from Angeal and stood in front of Lucka, extending his hand while squaring his shoulder and offering his flashiest smile. He said, "Hey, I'm Zack. You have nice hair."
Lucka managed a small smile as she grabbed his hand. "I appreciate that. It's nice to meet you in person."
Zack's eyebrows raised in confusion as he said, "Oh. Have you seen me somewhere before?"
Lucka shook her head and finally released Zack's hand after another second. But in turn, her hand grabbed over his forearm. She said, "No, I just... know you. How have you been?"
Zack's cheeks blushed a little. He glanced at his arm, seemed more confused, and replied, "Yeah, I've never been this great!"
She shook her head again and looked at Zack with pure sincerity. "I'm glad to hear that."
"Everyone loves the puppy. Oh, I'm so envious," Genesis remarked.
Genesis' voice made Lucka break her gaze. With that, she released him and sat back in her seat. "Stop it, bro." Lucka elbowed the side of his waist. Genesis only snickered in return.
"Um, so catch you around? I've got to get going." He rubbed the back of his neck with a half-curled smile.
"Sure. Have a nice day." Lucka nodded, then he said goodbye to the others. Her eyes were following his back until he disappeared into the crowd.
The girl had been quieter for the rest of the day after lunchtime. It was basically not something appalling because he'd noticed she wasn't the chatter type either. But there was something grim around her complexion that earned his curiosity.
"Is there something wrong?" Sephiroth asked after finishing the meal. He wiped out the grease from his finger with kitchen napkins.
Lucka eyed him across the counter. She wore a frown on her white eyebrows. "No, not really."
"You've become quieter after lunchtime," Sephiroth said. "I saw your reaction around Zack."
She stayed still for some time, perhaps to contemplate her answer. Sephiroth had plenty of time after dinner, so he just waited for her reply.
Then she finally said in a cautious tone, "It's just… I have mixed feelings. I'm happy to see Zack. But I'm sad because I know what will happen to him."
So she still thinks she knows about the future.
He didn't reply because Lucka hadn't finished yet as she continued talking, "Do you believe in destiny? There's a predestine that keeps our way on track. There are both good and bad means. Something should happen this way because if not, other things won't happen that way."
"We can defy destiny. It's in our hands," Sephiroth said.
Lucka nodded slowly, "Are you not afraid if you… let's say you know your fate. But when you're trying to change it... the result isn't what you've expected, even, it turns out to be worse?"
"Then it's for the best."
Lucka just stared at him, as if she was letting his words sink deeply into her mind, but then she said, "... But sometimes there's something we can't change, right? Like both life and death." her eyes suddenly far away. As he realized, she was with him, but her mind was somewhere else. And he knew the meaning behind her words.