Little bit - Lykke Li
She'd been standing still in the corner of the 2nd-floor lobby after she returned to the Headquarters earlier. Following the incredible event today, the sparring and the Church (with that particular unbelievable answer she finally could attain). Lucka was glad she could breathe freely for a moment—at least. She pushed aside the resolution before her head would break apart. They could wait later when she was alone and settled in a healthier mind.
It was fifteen minutes early before the end of the office hours, so the area was still relatively quiet and empty. Lucka had decided to visit downtown with Genesis—as she thought she deserved the break—and patiently waited for him there.
She was facing the elevator door on the farthest end when it made a 'ding' sound. She expected to see Genesis come out alone unless he decided to bring someone to join.
Genesis had changed into casual clothes. A black t-shirt wrapped around his muscular body, topped with a deep burgundy jacket that passed his thigh with a hoodie that almost covered his face entirely. Her eyes slid down to catch his dark skinny ripped jeans, then to the pair of black combat boots which complement his slender legs and how they made an image of him having a taller figure. Genesis looked like a model—to be honest—cool and stylish. No wonder he had a lot of fans. And behind him, the General strolling in his usual uniform.
"So, are you tagging along?" Lucka raised her eyebrows when they stopped right in front of her.
"No, we bump into each other. Sephiroth wants to leave early," Genesis answered in the General's stead and added, "And, it's not an easy task dragging him out from his lavish brooding nest."
General only hummed and steered himself into another direction, dismissively waving his hand at them. "Have fun."
"Bye," she said.
Genesis grabbed her shoulder and brought her outside the building. A white Gaian supercar (that looked like a Porsche) waited in the VIP parking lot. She slid into the passenger seat after Genesis opened the door for her.
It'd been a short ride. In a few minutes, they'd arrived at LOVELESS Avenue. The square hadn't crowded yet. Along the road, some merchants prepared to open food stalls. Lucka took a good time glancing around the lively town ambiance. The city wasn't too different from her town on Earth but just with some cyberpunk touch here and there.
"Let's have dinner first, shall we?" Genesis said with a grin, "what do you want to eat?"
Lucka took a moment to respond. There wasn't any particular food she wanted to eat at the time. But, since she'd mentioned Ryuu's name in the interview yesterday, he stayed at the forefront of her mind until now. "Any Japa— I mean, Wutaian food will do."
"Hmm, I know the best one around here. You will love it," Genesis said with a smug tone. He led her into an alleyway from the nearer end of the square. They were welcomed continuously by the lining of numerous restaurants and cafes from particular contingents across Gaia. It seemed Genesis caught her earlier slip. Thus, he hadn't let the conversation down and bluntly asked, "What was that before? The thing you want to mention?"
Her eyebrows twitched, and she nonchalantly replied, "Umm, Japanese. It's basically a city that has the same culture as Wutai."
Genesis nodded, his Mako eyes glowing below the dusky light of the streets. They stop in front of the Wutaian Restaurant. Genesis chose the spot deep inside the building for the more private seating. Probably to avoid any prying paparazzi and fans that might come around. He then handed her one of the menus.
Lucka chose to eat ramen, while Genesis chose curry beef cutlet. They told the waitress and waited for the food while Genesis resumed their conversation. "Japanese? Interesting," he said, "do you know why two different planets had one similar culture?"
She wanted to retort; Because, basically, the game is from Japan. But Lucka bit back her tongue and said, "Perhaps the God and the Goddess were currently into Orientalism when they created the universes? Maybe Minerva likes sushi that much."
Genesis chuckled softly, but his eyes squinted a little. "There aren't a lot of people who know Minerva. But since you have a specific intelligence, I'm not that surprised."
"I know, right, because the Goddess is fairly exclusive. Despite LOVELESS being well known, people don't entirely believe in the Goddess herself," she said, "they only enjoy the entertainment, not the worshiping activity. Let alone establish a long-term commitment to know her."
"As someone who came from another planet, you sure know a lot about our religious state, huh," he commented.
"I come from the future, remember? And I dare to say my argument is valid. Because even Zack questioned my business in the Church," Lucka said.
He snorted. "Yeah. The thing is that people in our society don't implement any religious practices. Not such belief has formed in our lifestyle. In our modern civilization, the figure of domination was no longer in the shape of deities. Money and power overthrow them."
Lucka put on a reflective look. He was actually working and took a role in the world's succession dominancy company. It was such a contradiction. Although not intended to provoke him, she still said, "Not to mention some people turned into a puppet. Brainwashed by many false promises by worldly means from the authorities."
He paused for a few seconds. "Lucka, that's rude. It's part of modernization. That's how our world works nowadays," he said in a bitter tone, yet his posture was still relaxed as ever. She couldn't tell if he got offended or was just excellent at managing his temper.
Lucka batted her eyes slowly when she peeked at him, her lips pursed down. "Sorry, just my opinion." She drew a long breath, leaning into her seat to look closely at him. "But, it's good to know you still believe in Minerva. About the riddle, the lost act. You have your theory, don't you? Regarding the gift of the Goddess."
Genesis let in the silence hung between them before answering. He studied her intensely. "Yes, I have my theory. So, do you like LOVELESS by any means? You seemed to have depth on it. And how do you know the book?"
"Of course I do. I love art. I majored in Fine Art, and we learned LOVELESS. It's enthralling," she said, lying innocently. "Despite you quoting the lines to hitting on me ruining the experience." She playfully sneered at him. A smirk was still glued on her lips when she noticed their food had arrived.
"Oh? I wasn't expecting that." He propped his chin, a full smile on his face. "But don't you feel honored that a gentleman like me is offering a poetic way of showing interest?"
"No. It only makes you harder to turn down."
"Aw, I'm touched, sweetheart." His smile only widened as he watched her start eating the food.
Nocturne no.2 in E flat, Op.9, no.2
The bookstore had always been one of Genesis's favorite places all-over Midgar. Gratefully it was on LOVELESS Avenue, so he'd have easy access to do one-stop shopping in the town. Although the building itself wasn't big, it had two stories. It was a hidden gem, a little sanctuary in the dull city. What a Holy, small piece of heaven the place was, just like an elixir. It'd revived his tired soul, busy days, and blurry war in the back of his mind.
Whenever he went there, he'd do it discreetly. With no paparazzi and fans, the pure tranquility of being surrounded by books, the smell of the papers, low, hushed voices, and the quiet footsteps on the oak floor. They were just beyond enamored.
The first floor sold new and best-seller books. And the second floor had the rare second-handed collection of literature. After they'd satisfied themselves by checking on the latest books, Genesis led her upstairs.
She tailed him behind, walking shelf by shelf of old publications, her fingers ghostly tracing the hardback's bone as they passed. Their pace fell to rejoin each other. The aisle was too quiet even to draw a breath as no one was there but them. Yet, it didn't prevent her chatter.
"What other subject do you read besides poetry?" she asked in a gentle voice, lower than she used to.
"I read almost everything, but currently, I'm into psychology," he said and glanced at her.
"Psychology? To tame your temper down?"
Genesis smirked. "Partly," he said, "and you?"
"Historical art, architecture, comic books, gardening… well, there's a lot," she said as she glanced up at him.
"Gardening? You're just like Angeal. The bug lovers."
Lucka rolled her eyes. "Duh, we're not into the bug, but the plants, you know."
Genesis only sneered.
Eventually, they arrived at the end corner of the room that displayed various poetry works. Beside the shelf hung a large window and an old piano, which he didn't understand why the shop owner kept there. Genesis caught the brief movement when her slender and delightful finger pressed lightly on the key, testing a few notes. And in a beat, she already sat to play a piece.
The melody was freedom-rhythmic, forming a melancholy mood to a greater extent, bestowed with a depth of emotional feeling. He'd never heard anything sorrowfully beautiful like this. The slow-flowing sustained notes stimulated the unknown despair, twisting inside his chest, crushing his lung until it made him forget how to breathe. Her fingers danced in grandeur. Every move is a poem.
His eyes leisurely trail up from her hands and linger at her eyes. And oh. Oh, Gaia, those eyes were telling a thousand words. Perhaps the unspoken stories that never escaped her mouth. The longing and aching haze, the heart-wrenching loneliness. It was the rawest emotion he'd seen from her. For the short encounter in the past few days, she almost always looked flat, but now? The nakedness of her expression lured him in a way he couldn't apprehend. He was paralyzed; her grace mesmerized him, trapping him into an endless glass wall, transparent yet easy to break.
He even noticed how her hair fell beneath the pale light outside the window. It flows like a moon river. They made him want to sail his fingers there, caressing every pearly tangled strand until he drifted far away. The time was no longer relevant. As he found, her mere presence was an ethereal crime.
"It's Chopin," she said, finishing the dramatic end and stopping within a low note. "Nocturne No.2 is my favorite." She faced him. Her mask was back. There was no trace of a single vulnerability on her complexion.
The actual moment had been short, but it sank deeply into his subconsciousness, which coaxed him into the obsolete obscurity. As the spell broke, he'd witnessed an epitome from the gift of the Goddess.
Lucka noticed Genesis had been solemn since they headed back to her house. He insisted on taking her home because it's Midgar, after all, and he was the one who asked her to go out. The night hadn't been tired yet. When she glanced out of the car window, there were no stars. But only painting lines of bizarre brightness from the city's light mix with green Mako fumes above the highway.
"Thanks for showing me around. I have a lot of fun," she said with a thin smile once they stepped out of the car, and Genesis handed her a paper bag with some books inside.
"There's still so much to explore. Let's hang out again next time," Genesis nodded with a thoughtful gaze. His finger casually ran to unveil his locks. In a flash, the tips of his earring catch the faint light.
"Sure, I'd like to," she said with a shrug. Her eyes followed down how Genesis's hair fell back in grace.
"So, the next one should be a date?" The corner of his lips curled into a flirty smile with that charm of his. Yet, It didn't affect her.
"Still trying, huh?!" she said with a frown, shoving her hands into her suit's pocket and kicking out rocks near her feet. "No promises."
He chuckled. "Go, you must be tired,"—he nudged Lucka's shoulder playfully towards the entrance door direction—"see you tomorrow."
"Mm-hm, Night." She walked closer to the building, and at the same time, the glass door slid automatically. She glanced over her shoulder to find him still standing beside his car. Genesis's eyes lingered into her with an unreadable expression, yet it had a depth that made her stomach roll. Why did he look at her like that? She hurriedly turned her head back when the door closed.
Lucka unexpectedly had been fast asleep during the night. She hadn't had the chance to even think about the revealing answer in the Church. The physical tiredness and last night's sleep-deprived took over all of her willpower. Regardless, she woke up with a fresh mind and body in the morning.
Lucka was in the middle of doing a loose high bun when the doorbell rang. She took a little run to welcome her guest, and it turned out to be someone she hadn't expected.
"Good morning, I believe you're Lucka? I'm Cissnei." The auburn-haired girl greeted her with a professional smile.
Lucka replied with a small smile, her head tilted in curiosity. "Good morning, Cissnei. Shall I help you with something?"
"Boss sent me to assist you with your cover mission."
"Tseng? Oh, okay. Are we leaving now?" she asked tentatively. Lucka had assumed it'd be Tseng to escort her, but it seemed he had another plan for her.
Cissnei was staring at her from head to toe. Her eyes scrunched up while giving her a considerate look. "Hmmm, not in your uniform. Let's go to my room. We should change into something." She stepped out and walked to the next door.
Lucka's eyebrows raised in delight. "Oh! We're neighbors! I'm so glad it's you!" She was more than happy to know that finally, she had a female companion. Since her arrival, she'd been surrounded only by men. And as a male was different from a female, she'd still need the girl's stuff to keep her femininity around. She couldn't help being excited.
She trailed right behind her. When Cissnei opened the door, she couldn't contain a smile. "I love your house! It's got soul," she said truthfully, seeing the interior of her house had a lot of personalized touches.
"Thanks. It's where half of my salary went," Cissnei said with a chuckle. She led her to her bedroom and straightly entered the walk-in closet room.
Her eyes stared in awe. Cissnei got a lot of stuff here. A bunch of clothes, bags, shoes, everything. She wondered, was half of them a costume for her covers or just her collection?
"So, what's the mission?" She waved her hand and glanced around in excitement.
"I'll explain it on the way. Now let me work on you," she said with a sly smirk, dragging Lucka towards her vanity.
Lucka wore civilian clothes, setting up her cover identity as a wildlife photographer, with a terracotta shirt, cream cargo pants, and a pair of combat boots. She wore a brown, wide fedora hat that shielded her face from the bright sun on her head. Her disguise looked highly convincing, completed with a camera and the installed Tele lens that hung on her neck.
She also wore a straight-haired wig. It was a new thing for her, so she felt uncomfortable at first. The color was black (Cissnei said her white hair could easily draw attention, that's why she needed a wig). It was supposed to match the mascara Cissnei had put on her eyelash. When she saw herself in the mirror, it was like seeing a whole different person.
Cissnei also dressed up, her outfit style was more of an earthy safari look, and she wore a blonde wig. She cladded in a button-up short-sleeve shirt with a matching color with her shorts, a pair of combat boots, and a hat in a paler color from hers.
They were waiting inside the car in Midgar's outer deserted area (the car! It was the Gaian style of Volkswagen safari). Cissnei had briefed her about the mission. Lucka learned from her explanation they'd spy to gather photo evidence. It was none other than the convoy of Shinra intelligence. They'd bring Shelke Rui to Midgar. By the mentioning of her name earlier, Lucka went entirely mute.
She knew the girl but acknowledging it didn't help anything. She felt so sick as if it forcefully tore apart her morality. But she couldn't help her. She wouldn't intervene in something she couldn't take responsibility for. Therefore, like a floppy dog, she obediently followed the order of her supervisor.
"You know, this order originally came from Veld, then handed to Tseng. The mission wasn't the President's order. That's why you assigned this cover, to avoid suspicion from some Shinra patrol who will be passing by." Cissnei said, using her binoculars to observe the convoy that just came across the land. They'd parked the car within a moderate distance from them.
Lucka was confused. She asked, "What? Then what kind of mission is this? Are you guys distrusting the President?"
Cissnei grimaced at her question. "Something happened. Though I don't know what it is. But, the Turks are like a family. And a family trusts each other." Cissnei looked at her. She showed a grim expression. "We don't trust people outside the Turks."
Lucka gave a vague nod. She was about to reply when the loud and rapid sound of gunfire rang in the air. They snapped their heads to the source of the commotion. Both of the woman's eyes widened in shock.
"The hell was that?" Lucka glanced at Cissnei when the auburn girl had already stepped out of the car and ran a few feet ahead. She followed right behind. Cissnei used her binoculars to have a better look at the target while Lucka observed through her camera Tele lens.
There was an ambush on the convoy. The girls were watching from afar. By the massive violence she'd witnessed, Lucka finally recognized who the assailants were and how the look of their uniforms could make her nauseous. That was right. How could she forget such an important thing? She almost missed it. The game never stated when the actual event would occur. They'd migrate Shelke to Deepground.
Cissnei removed the binoculars, her eyes narrowed sharply, and her jaw clenched tight when she faced her. "Veld suspicion was right," she said, her voice growing urgent, "stay here. I should back them up."
"What?! No way. Are you making me a watchdog? It looks pretty bad. I should help!"
"No, I'm not allowing you! You'll violate the order. Focus on completing your mission. Take the photo for evidence!" She jogged away from her.
"Seriously?! Our comrades are in danger!" Lucka didn't have any forethought before she said to her, "aren't they from Deepground?" she pointed in the battle direction.
Cissnei glared behind her shoulder. "How do you—?" Then she stopped as she finally made a quick decision. "later. You owe me one. We're charging. 'cmon!" She took the driver's seat, Lucka followed shortly, and they drove to the battlefield.
Just then, Lucka reflected, was it a good idea to reveal the future information? Could it give her any trouble later?
Or, even worst, would she mess up the timeline?
She didn't know.