~ Watch Me ~

Science-Fiction, Double Feature

The corridors were dead.

Rose hadn't expected to see many bodies wandering Shinra in the middle of the night, but she had thought there might be a stray or two, some late night Tech or Janitor, but there was no one. She couldn't help but find it a tad unsettling, the place was oddly eerie at such a late hour.

"This isn't right." She mumbled, having turned a yet another unfamiliar corner. She stopped get her barrings, stretching as she glanced briefly up and down the corridor.

Rose definitely wasn't on the training floor. Around her, she could see various signs indicating differently numbered laboratories, and specific specimen storage. Not far from where she stood, a glass tank full of what looked to be Materia, glowed ominously. It clicked that she'd accidentally stumbled onto Shinra's highly acclaimed Science floor. She'd heard stories of the place, everyone had, but to be so close to so many possible obscurities, was tantalizing suddenly – she felt almost child-like.

Biting her lip nervously, Rose moved slowly toward the Materia tank, tilting her head thoughtfully at the glowing blobs inside. Intrigued, she placed her hand against the glass, and inside, the orbs glowed brighter.

"Summon Materia." She murmured, not really understanding how she knew. A familiar heat burned not uncomfortably in her hand, and the water around the Materia began to bubble.

"Uh-oh." She breathed, her eyes widening.

Unsure of what to do, Rose quickly snatched her fingers away, grimacing as a large crack suddenly cut through the glass where her hand had been.

Water trickled eagerly through, pouring tellingly at her feet, as her heart leapt into her throat. That's when she heard the voices.

Shit.

Rose felt the colour drain from her face, and she stumbled for possible explanations for what had happened. There was no time to hide, but she spotted a large sheet on a nearby rail. Throwing it awkwardly over the tank, she made it a good distance away before two Shinra Scientists rounded the corner. They were arguing, or at least, one of them was, the other was taunting, though she couldn't quite make out what about.

They stopped speaking immediately when they saw her. One short, dumpy and bearded, the other slender; his long dark hair clipped back loosely in a thin ponytail. Clearing his throat, he observed her coldly over rounded spectacles.

"You're not supposed to be down here." He sneered, his brow quirking lazily.

Rose made quick to apologise. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm new here, and I got lost looking for the training rooms. I – "

"I don't care for your life's story." He cut her off, a bored look now gracing his pale features. "A Soldier's job is not to speak, it is to follow orders, but it appears you can't even do that small part. Did you not see the restricted signs? Doesn't bode well for your future, does it?"

Rose stared, her mouth falling open with suppressed rage. Who the hell was this guy?

Deciding that throat punching him wouldn't do her career at Shinra any favours, she allowed her eyes to narrow, but she attempted politeness. "Yes. So sorry for the intrusion, Mr...?"

"Professor!" He corrected sharply, horribly eager to amend her mistake. "Honestly, girl, do you have any brains, or at least eyes? I am Professor Hojo, head of the Science division here at Shinra. This lesser specimen," He waved dismissively to the man beside him. "Is Hollander. He likes to play at being scientist from time to time."

Hollander, who had remained silent until this point, glared. Not that Rose blamed him, her own feelings towards the newly met Hojo, were more than mutual.

"I am recognised in my own right, Hojo! My accomplishments have been some of the best to enter this company, and I – "

Hojo laughed loudly, and Rose found herself unnerved. The sound incited a similar feeling to hearing nails be drawn across a chalkboard. She felt her face wrinkle with distaste, but paled when Hojo abruptly stopped laughing. She thought he meant to chastise her again, but instead his gaze fixated on something new behind her.

Her stomach sank when she realised what it was.

"That blade..." He whispered, his dark eyes suddenly filled with a hunger Rose couldn't quite place. "Let me see it."

His hands reached out, terribly eager, but she took an awkward step back. "What? Why?"

"I wish to inspect it."

Rose quickly waved him off. "It's just a sword."

"Foolish girl. I wouldn't expect you to understand the treasure you may have. Now, let me see..."

He stepped towards her, and Rose defiantly squared her jaw. "I said no."

Feigning annoyance over panic, she made to leave, but Hojo's claw-like hand snapped tightly around her wrist, inciting a small gasp from her, as he roughly yanked her back.

"Where did you get it?" He pressed, digging his nails sharply into her skin

Rose winced, but determined, she angrily squared her jaw. "I'm going to give you three seconds to let go of me. After that, the sword is going to be the least of your concerns, Professor."

Hojo sneered, but before he could speak, another voice cut across him.

"Riling the new recruits already, Hojo? Surely you have better things to do?"

Their three heads turned in unison, the sound of Sephiroth's measured tone enough to cut through their growingly precarious argument despite it's softness. Much to Rose's surprise, Hojo smiled – seemed happy even.

"Ah, Sephiroth, done with your studies I presume?" He noted almost proudly, his voice losing some of it's former edge. He nodded appreciatively at the first class SOLDIER. "Good – excellent. The girl is – "

"Meant to be preparing for her training tomorrow." Sephiroth cut across him gently, his cat-like gaze briefly meeting Rose's. He continued. "Delaying her from doing so can only impact negatively on her performance. Perhaps it would be best to continue this conversation at a later time?"

Hojo did not answer immediately, but Rose felt his grip on her loosen, and she took the opportunity to snatch her wrist free.

"Perhaps you are right." Hojo agreed thoughtfully, unaffected by her reaction. "There is always time for these things. I will do my theory first, then I will extract the blade." He added, giving Rose a deriding smirk. "I have little patience for female theatrics."

"What!" She hissed, her emerald orbs steeling over. "Who the hell do you think you're – "

"Rose."

Hearing Sephiroth speak her name, silenced her instantly. There was no anger, but a calm subtle warning, to let matters lie. She dropped her gaze resignedly.

"Professors." Sephiroth murmured in parting, giving Hollander and Hojo the briefest of nods before he turned to leave, lightly gesturing with his head for Rose to follow.

She dismissed Hojo with the slightest of looks, but rightly remembered herself, and smiled politely at Hollander.

"It was nice to meet you, Professor Hollander." She said pointedly, indifferent to the dismissive scorn of his colleague.

Hollander looked surprised but nodded, and Rose, relieved to finally be out of the situation, jogged to catch up with Sephiroth's ridiculously long strides – he was worse than Angeal.

"Your Brother will be happy to know you're establishing yourself so effortlessly." He said softly, barely slowing as turned to head toward the elevator.

Rose felt unforgiving heat rise to her cheeks, and quickly dropped her gaze. Her brother's friend or not, Sephiroth was technically her superior now, she doubted that getting caught arguing with senior staff members in the early hours of the morning, was ever going to be a smart career move.

"I was just trying to find the training rooms." She mumbled defensively, following him cautiously into the elevator. She rubbed tentatively at her now bruised wrist. "I didn't plan to run into Professor Psycho, back there."

Sephiroth said nothing, but a single gloved hand reached out to her, his fingers pointedly outstretched.

"Let me see."

Rose blinked, aware of his sharp profile looking down at her expectantly. Nodding shyly, she allowed him to inspect her skin, her mouth oddly dry, as she watched his fingers brush knowingly over the small purple blemishes that now marred it.

"No permanent damage." He said eventually, finally allowing Rose her arm back. "Once you have your Mako infusion, these sort of injuries will no longer cause you concern."

He hit an elevator button, and Rose frowned.

"Mako infusion?"

"All SOLDIER members have to go through the procedure. It is what gives us our infamous eye colour." He explained, watching the floor numbers quickly rise above them. "I'm surprised Angeal never explained this to you."

"I guess he didn't really have a chance." She admitted, worrying thoughts suddenly scurrying through her head. She fought to keep them from showing. "Um, what does it do?"

Rose had always wondered about Angeal's eyes. A few years after joining Shinra they had lost their Mother's emerald green, and become a pair of glowing sapphire orbs. She hadn't realised the cause behind them at been so intrusive.

"The process makes you stronger." Sephiroth answered simply, cutting off her thought process. He stepped off onto a new floor, and Rose poked her head out onto the corridor.

"This is the training floor." She realised, looking at Sephiroth with a new sudden interest. "Are you going to train?"

Rose felt a bubble of excitement swell in her belly. She had never been the die-hard fan her Brother and Genesis had been, but she wasn't ashamed to admit that she had never forgotten the stories they'd told her of Sephiroth's battle abilities.

"He's supposed to be something else, Rose. Completely undefeatable. Imagine what fighting alongside him would be like..."

"Can I watch?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. They tumbled freely into the air.

Sephiroth, smiling lightly, inclined his head. "Strange. I was about to ask you the same thing."

Rose's forehead crinkled, confused. "...Huh?"

To her surprise Sephiroth laughed.

"Come." He said lightly. "I'll explain."

R&R!

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