~ Watch Me ~

First Impressions

The 'Shield & Sword' was nothing special from a visual perspective. It was the same as any other fancy corporate bar; clean and and well lit. Yet, as Rose looked around at the crowd, she could see that most were attempting to appear proper in their high-end suits and attire, while others simply wore either SOLDIER or Troop garbs. This wouldn't have been a problem, had it not been for the fact Rose knew she stood out like a sore thumb. In her leather jacket, over-sized and over used, it was pretty clear that she didn't belong there. Plus she wasn't going to be a favourite of the cleaning staff, not with her boots carrying in the unforgiving dust from outside.

If she was going to keep at least some anonymity, she had better find Angeal quickly.

Rose slipped into the crowd cautiously, hoping that their many faces and bodies would hide her own. Her pulse quickened with each second look she received, not knowing which would lead to the end of her stealth escapade, and which was simply an innocent glance. Laughter from the bar caught her attention, and her head snapped sideways, barely daring to believe her quick luck, as a slow relieved smile crept across her features. Angeal. He was dressed head to toe in his SOLDIER garb, his thick black hair longer than it had been before, brushing lightly across his shoulders.

Rose's smile widened, it had been too long.

Angeal was not alone though; her brother and his friends. Rose noted that the three of them had been given a wide birth, the crowd respectful of their privacy, or simply too intimidated to engage any closer. Rose couldn't blame them, the mere sight of Sephiroth was enough to distract her feet from moving forward. Then of course there was the other, a face she knew almost as well as she knew her own brother's.

Genesis.

"Identification, Miss?"

Rose blinked. She hadn't noticed the bouncer and his identical companion approach, but there they were, matching suits and earpieces alike. She simpered.

"Oh no, it's okay, I'm just here to see my brother, if I can just – "

She made to step around them, but the one who had spoken grabbed her arm, while the other moved in front of her.

"I'm afraid we must insist, Miss." He said firmly, folding his arms across his chest.

Rose said nothing, and the one with his grip on her, tutted loudly and shook his head.

"You fangirls really have a screw loose. How did you even get in here? C'mon."

"But – "

He roughly pulled her arm, causing Rose to stumble, but not before she managed to aim a well placed kick pointedly into the back of his knee. His grip loosened on her as he fell, but his partner immediately grabbed Rose around the waist, lifting her high off the floor in a hastened bid to demobilise her.

Not a very helpful move.

"Let go of me you idiot!" She yelled, more than a little aware that people were staring now.

She fought against his hold as best she could, her thrashing dealing a heavy blow to the bouncer's more sensitive area. He collapsed with a groan, dropping Rose to the floor with an audible thud. She got to her feet in time to see his friend pull out a rather nasty looking taser, vaguely aware that it was probably going to hurt, should he decide to use it.

"Enough."

The three of them froze, but Rose fought a sigh of relief. Angeal.

"I'll take it from here, gentlemen." He said calmly, giving Rose an amused look, that held the right amount of disapproval. "I believe I am to blame for this one's intrusion."

The bouncer with the taser lowered his arm, but only to gesture angrily toward Rose.

"I'm sorry! I don't know how she got in, Angeal, sir. These girls are completely obsessed!"

"I am notapart of his stupid fan club!" Rose snapped, frustrated. "I told you, he's my brother!"

The bouncer scoffed, looking at Angeal sceptically. "This true, sir?"

"For my sins." He said, echoing Rose's own words to the truck driver. "Apologies for the disturbance."

Rose opened her mouth to argue the fact that she did not need to be apologised for, but Angeal held up his hand for silence, and so she translated her words into an eye roll.

"She should really have a visitor's badge, sir. Can't be too careful these days." The bouncer mumbled, giving Rose a less than polite glare, before awkwardly helping his partner off of the floor. His eyes darted darkly between Angeal and herself. "Have a nice evening." He muttered grudgingly.

"You too." She smiled sweetly, only to be met with a painful clip 'round the back of her head from Angeal.

"Cut it out. You have nothing to look smug about." He said, folding his arms pointedly across his chest. "Rose, what the hell are you doing here?"

The mass of spectators had gone back to their evening frivolities now, and yet Rose found her brother's eagle-like stare somehow more unnerving. He'd always had the ability to make you feel like you'd done something wrong.

"I heard you were on leave from Wutai." She said lightly, knowing that for now a half truth would be more easy to swallow. "I wanted to see you. That's not a crime, is it?"

"Does Mother know?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "Obviously."

Angeal sighed, raising his eyebrow with a shake of his head. "Why didn't you say you were coming? I could have met you off of the train." He frowned. "How did you know I would be here anyway?"

"I found a flyer about this place in your room at home. Thought it would be a good place as any to start – your little fan club outside confirmed it." She grinned, unable to stop the smile spreading eagerly across her face.

"Don't start." He said quickly, looking somewhat embarrassed. "I had no control. It just... happened."

Rose giggled. "No, no, I think it's nice that so many people have come together to appreciate you, brother. They seem nice – if a tad intense."

Angeal laughed. "You're not wrong."

"I – "

"Well, well. So the little bird has finally flown her nest."

Rose looked up, meeting the eyes of the man that had at one time meant more to her than air. Luckily, she wasn't a little girl any more, and her childish crush had faded upon the discovery of some simple common sense. With time Rose had realised that he'd only ever seen her as a child, a needless interference in his and Angeal's high-climbing dreams.

She steadied her breath. "Hello, Genesis."

"It's been too long." He smiled, turning to beckon forward their third counterpart. "Sephiroth, come meet our dear friend's sister."

Rose immediately began to protest, not wanting to disturb them more than she already had, but Sephiroth had already left the bar. It was strange, seeing him in the flesh, when she had heard so many stories about him her whole life. After all, Sephiroth had been the reason that Genesis and Angeal had chosen to join SOLDIER in the first place. It felt somehow unreal now. His appearance didn't help, of course, not when it was as much handsome, as it was unnatural – long silver hair framing glowing cat-like eyes, was a strangely drawing combination.

"A pleasure to meet you." He said, a soft smile etching it's way slowly onto his features. "Angeal speaks about you often."

"He does?" Rose questioned, admittedly surprised. She turned to Angeal. "You do?"

"Only when I'm giving examples of how not to react in a situation." He replied playfully.

Rose frowned. "Oh."

Angeal threw his head back with a laugh. "Don't look so serious!" He chuckled. "I'm only teasing."

"Rose never did take well to being teased." Genesis added unhelpfully, speaking directly to Sephiroth. "Once, she didn't talk to me for weeks, because I left her to find her own way out of the mines beneath our town."

"I was eight, Genesis. It took me hours to find my way out of that place." Rose glared, the memory of it still fresh in her mind.

He smirked. "It served you right for following us in the first place. Besides," He tugged at a loose tendril of her hair. "You were never in any real danger. Angeal and I always knew where you were."

Rose folded her arms over her chest. "Hmph."

"Leave her." Angeal said softly, rightly sensing that this wasn't a subject to push. He looked to Rose. "I gather you're intending to stay at least for tonight?"

"At yours if that's okay?"

"Aren't I lucky." Angeal rallied playfully, knocking lightly into her shoulder.

Rose smiled, hopeful. "I'm sorry – it won't be for long." She added, looking slightly sheepish. "Besides, there's something I need to talk to you about... privately."

She glanced awkwardly toward Genesis and Sephiroth, making it a clear that this wasn't something she was eager to share, and Angeal nodded understandingly.

"Okay. Genesis, Sephiroth, I'm afraid I'll have to cut our night short."

Rose shifted guiltily at his side, but the pair nodded calmly, seemingly unperturbed.

She smiled apologetically.

"It was nice meeting you." She said to Sephiroth, treacherous heat rising to her cheeks, as his emerald eyes met hers. She quickly turned to Genesis. "I guess it was good seeing you again, too."

Slightly mocking, he raised his glass to her. "Likewise, little bird."

Glaring, Rose quickly turned on her heels, eager to get going with Angeal. Making their way out of the club, he lightly brushed her shoulder.

"Where are your things?"

"Huh?"

Angeal gestured briefly to her ensemble. "I gather that this isn't all you brought with you?"

"Oh! Oh no, I have bags, or rather, Barbara has them."

"Barbara?"

Rose grinned mischievously. "Trust me, you're gonna love her."

{-}

AN: Couldn't wait to put the next chapter up. Felt like the last one was too much part of this. I'm happy to finally get Sephiroth and Genesis in (hopefully I wrote them okay), and some of the brother/sister relationship between Angeal and Rose.

Take care, Chocobos, and I hope you enjoyed. Your feedback makes my day – good or bad – it's all direction. x